|Two Worlds Apart|

Chapter Three•

Finally, Arthur was on his way to find Merlin. Arthur had explained what had happened to Gwen, he couldn't quite understand it himself but there was something going on with Fabian and something going on with Merlin and Arthur needed to find Merlin, find out what was wrong and fix it.

Gwen was excited to be involved in the mission to getting Merlin back, she'd quite fancied him when he first arrived but then she shortly discovered that Merlin most definitely didn't feel the same. Gwen watched Merlin and Arthur from the sidelines, being their third friend and felt within herself that what they shared was more than friendship. It was love. However, that might've been absolutely ridiculous but Gwen was sticking to her theory until one of them proved otherwise. It must've been hard for them, if it were true. Being together would be absolutely forbidden, and so telling each other would only make things worse. Gwen knew that if she were wrong, they would have her head for such assumptions. So she never mentioned it.

"But why?" Gwen thought out loud. Her eyes grew wide with panic. What would she say?

"But why what, Gwen?"

Gwen smiled sheepishly and put her head down.

"It was nothing, sire."

Arthur was intrigued. He raised one brow. "Go on. Tell me."

"I had these friends, a few years ago, they were madly in love. They always had each others backs, always made the other laugh and felt deeply for one another. The only problem was, they were the same sex. I wondered, and my apologies sire. Why isn't it allowed?"

Arthur felt a knot in his stomach. "Well, I think the problem falls on who is ruler, and what their opinions are. Treason for loving whom you love, regardless of who they are, will not be a rule in my kingdom. Who are these friends you speak of Gwen? You must tell me their names."

Gwen bit her tongue. At Arthur's soft opinion in the matter, she thought she may as well tell him what she thought.

"I believe, sire. The friends I speak of, are you and Merlin."

Arthur looked at Gwen and chuckled, "you can't be serious?"

Gwen regretted what she said immediately.

Arthur looked away from her and towards the track. He thought to himself, there's absolutely no way that Merlin likes me, we aren't allowed to like each other. That's the end of it.

"Is that..." Gwen said, squinting towards a body in front of them in the distance.

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted, immediately jumping from his horse. He ran towards Merlin as fast as he could and turned him on his front.

Merlin coughed, his vision was blurred but he could make out the voice. It was Arthur. Why had he come back for him, didn't he like Fabian? He didn't need him anymore, he didn't need him ruining his image. He had Fabian. That piece of shit Fabian.

"Gwen, help me lift him onto my horse. I will walk from here."

Gwen helped and tried not to cry. Poor Merlin, some of his wounds were turning from purple to green now, he still looked awful. He was cold again, his lips were dry and white. Why did he feel the need to leave? Gwen rolled her eyes. He left because they keep trying to deny their feelings for one another. He left to remove himself from the equation, to protect Arthur.

Merlin was angry, he knew they were taking him back to the castle but he didn't want to go. He didn't want to be anywhere near there, anywhere near Fabian. He didn't care to see Arthur and Fabian's friendship grow, he didn't want any part of Camelot anymore. He didn't want to know why Fabian did this to him, he didn't want to know anything. He wanted to go and be with his mother.