"I can't believe you're still not telling me where we're going." Merlin chuckled, following the map and turning left. Arthur was sat smug in the front seat.

"It's a surprise," He reminded him.

They drove for a bit longer and to Merlin's observation, civilisation was slipping away. Just nature left.

"Woah, Arthur look at that, isn't that beautiful" He said, pointing to a meadow of lavender. Arthur nodded and looked.

"Right, dismount here." Arthur said. They'd drove to a high clearing beside a forest. Merlin laughed under his breath and parked.

"Is this it?" He asked, looking around. Arthur nodded. "It's beautiful." Merlin breathed. He'd never been here before. This clearing was full of lush green grass and daisies. To the left were meadows of lavender and also sunflowers.

Arthur opened up the boot and unloaded the luggage.

"I think it's called camping now." Arthur said. "But it's just like we did in Camelot."

Merlin was speechless.

Together, they set up the tent and the sleeping bags and firewood.

"This is just... amazing," Merlin said. Every time he looked around, he broke into a smile. Arthur couldn't help it either - they were both grinning madly.

"Come on, let's have lunch."

Arthur set up a blanket on the grass a little way out and brought over the basket he'd packed for lunch. There was some of his special homemade lemonade, sausage rolls, cherries and strawberries, sourdough bread (courtesy of Mandy) and meats and cheeses.

They kept cracking jokes and laughing til their cheeks hurt.

"This was such a nice idea." Merlin said softly. "Thank you."

Arthur lay down on the grass with his hands resting on his stomach.

"I felt I needed to." He said. Merlin lay down next to him.

They stared up at the bluest sky in the world and the white clouds that danced across it.

"Ever since I came back, you've just been so...comforting and helpful." Arthur said. "I can't even begin to understand how hard it's been for you over all the years. So this is a thank you."

Merlin was quiet.

"And it wasn't your fault, you know. I know you disagree because you're a stubborn idiot," Arthur said, turning on his side to face Merlin. "But really... it wasn't your fault."

Merlin's breath was hitching slightly and he turned to face Arthur too.

"Really?"

"Of course."

-my soulmate-

This is it, Arthur thought. I need to tell him.

"You mean a lot to me Merlin." His voice came out funny, a little thick.

Merlin looked surprised but Arthur pushed on.

"Dying... dying never scared me, Merlin. I knew it was going to come. I always thought I'd go out mid-battle, with a sword in my chest. But losing.. losing you. That was the part that scared me."

Arthur could barely breathe and he couldn't look at Merlin. He opened his mouth.

"Because it was always you. I had a crown. A palace . A kingdom.

But I didn't have you.

You were the thing.

The thing that I would have traded everything for.

because it was always you.

and it always will be."

Arthur turned to look at Merlin again and saw the gold swim in his eyes. He's crying, Arthur realised. That was true, thick tears were slipping down Merlin's pink cheeks.

"I..." He couldn't choke words out.

Arthur started to laugh. He felt relief washing through his system, kicking the fear out and locking the door. He blinked in surprise to find himself crying too.

"Oh come here, clotpole." He laughed weakly, pulling Merlin in so he had his head on his chest.

They lay like that for a while, Merlin's shoulders trembling and Arthur just holding him and squeezing him tight.

"I-I love you Arthur."

"I love you too Merlin."

And it was like time had stopped. It didn't matter when they were, be it Camelot or 21st century, they were together. Laid in the grass, as it ruffled slightly in the breeze. Lavender swayed and wafted the scent over to them. Birds flew over above and greeted each other in their language. It was beautiful.

Arthur had done it, he'd told Merlin his feelings. A light, loose feeling was spreading through his stomach and his chest and into his head.

Merlin didn't know he could feel this happy. He'd lived through some dark years and it seemed that every year was just getting harder but now... he felt happy again, a feeling he'd almost forgotten. His memory flashed back to a poem he'd written, years and years ago, when he was feeling lonely.

Something about Arthur being his soulmate.

How accurate I was, Merlin thought, as Arthur's fingers played with his hair gently.

.