Merlin hadn’t thought twice about following him.
He had found him near the lake, rinsing his face with fresh water. He approached slowly, then clasped his hands to his chest and rested one shoulder on the trunk of a tree.
“Unfortunately, idiocy cannot be eliminated with a little water, otherwise at this time you would be healed”.
Arthur didn’t even turn around. He had heard it coming, obviously.
“Do you speak from personal experience?”
Merlin snorted, smiling. He slowly approached the shore of the lake and sat down next to Arthur.
“You’ve been pretty quiet around the fire.”
Arthur did not answer, unsure of what to say.
“Yet you know that thinking too much hurts you.”
This time it was Arthur who snorted, hitting him with the shoulder to make him lose his balance.
“So?” urged Merlin after a moment’s silence. “What’s the problem?”
Arthur smiled without amusement. What was the problem? Good question. He didn’t know that either.
“Does it have anything to do with my magic?”
It took Arthur a moment longer to understand that sentence. He turned to Merlin, his brow frowning.
Merlin shrugged, a little uncomfortable.
“It’s… It’s been a while since I’ve noticed that… I don’t know, you seem a bit tense when we talk about it and-”
“Merlin,” Arthur interrupted him in a bored tone. “I have no problem with magic. Do I have to remind you that I lifted the ban and that we have been working with druids and Catha for almost a year to make Camelot a safe place for everyone?”
Merlin nodded absentmindedly. Then, keeping his gaze down on his hands, he murmured, “But I didn’t ask you if you have second thoughts about magic, Arthur.” He said in a subdued tone. “I asked you if you have any problems with my magic.”
Merlin turned to look at Arthur and found him staring at him with confused eyes. “Why should I have trouble with your magic?”
Arthur shook his head, exasperated.
“Well, if it’s not that what then? Do you think I haven’t noticed that every time I talk about some… past adventures you react strangely? And don’t even make me start about how you act with Lancel-”
Arthur rolled his eyes with a bored verse.
“This is exactly what I am talking about,” Merlin exclaimed, waving his hand to emphasize Arthur’s reaction. “What’s your deal with Lancelot?”
Arthur gnashed his teeth. Lancelot here, Lancelot there. There was no talk of anything else.
“I have nothing against your precious Lancelot, don’t worry.” Arthur realized he looked petulant but at that moment he really didn’t care.
Merlin frowned, confused. “My precious Lancelot? Arthur are you feeling good?”
And that was the height for Arthur.
