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[This time, the recording starts with a long, drawn out sigh. Then, surprisingly, it's still Merlin's voice that rattles off the voicemail in tones of long-suffering.]

Hello, you've reached King Arthur Pr--Pendragon. He isn't here to answer your call because he's incredibly important and busy. If you leave a message here with me, I'll make sure he gets it because I am a good servant--and friend-- [he adds the last bit in a rush, accompanied with a thwap!, an 'ow!' and an 'I heard that,' then forces the rest of the words out through gritted teeth] and will do anything my master asks of me.

[A couple seconds pass, then Merlin speaks again, this time sounding a bit further away, like he isn't speaking into the bracelet anymore.] There, happy now? If you ask me, the other one is still better-- Shut up, Merlin. It's time to do yours next. Wait, what --

[ click! ]

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[Merlin's been jittery since Arthur broke into the argument between Merlin and Uther. Stupid, noble prat that he is.

Surely the talk couldn't talk more than an hour? Merlin finally gives in and makes the call.]

Arthur, are you there?

[ But it is not done within the hour, and it is not until the second has gone by does Arthur ring Merlin back. He took the time to retrieve his bracelet from his room and situate himself someplace far from the house to just ... breathe a while. ]

I am now.

[Merlin immediately answers, having been waiting for that return call all this time.]

What happened?

[ Silence for a moment, and perhaps the sound of something ruffling - clothes, likely, he's moving - and then a heavy exhale. ]

I think it's a mercy I'm still breathing at the moment.

[...what. Merlin hisses with something like surprise and anger.]

He didn't--he didn't do anything. Did he?

[ A huff of air. Maybe it's a laugh. ]

Don't be stupid, Merlin. He's my father.

[That's a relief, though only a small one.]

I only jumped to conclusions because you made it sound that way, you prat. Where are you?

[ Silence again for just a moment. ]

Your lake.

It's not my lake, really. [Automatic reply, even as Arthur might hear the pounding of Merlin's feet down the stairs and the slam of a door.]

I'll be right there.

You're the only girl I've seen sat about it like so.

[ Said very blandly. You can almost hear the dismissive handwave. ]

I'll be here.

[It doesn't take long for Merlin to get there, pushing himself to his fastest and ignoring the burn of his side as he is. Panting slightly as he arrives, Merlin spots Arthur and walks over to him.]

You...you left?

[Or was he ordered out of the room? Merlin feels a punch of guilt for being the cause of this, though Arthur insisted on stepping in.]

[ Arthur is laying down in the grass at the bank of the water, hands folded behind his head and eyes staring straight up to the sky. They're a stormy blue rimmed with a quiet red - not from crying but sheer frustration and strain. The argument was not as heated as their worst, but it was so much harder, even without the constant shouting.

He feels tired, and he looks the part. But other that that little red ring, Arthur looks perfectly calm as the stagnant water.

When Merlin approaches, Arthur doesn't move outside of blinking, and doesn't turn to face him when he speaks calmly. ]

Remove my boots for me.

[It says something about Merlin's anxiety that he does as he's told without protest. Merlin's seen first-hand how hard Uther is on Arthur at times, and add magic to the mixture...that talk definitely could not have ended well.

Merlin kneels by Arthur's legs, lifting first one with his hands, and then the other as he tugs the prince's boots off. He sets them neatly off to the side--another surprise--eyes scanning Arthur's form, taking in his friend's exhaustion. At that close range, the red-rimmed eyes are difficult to miss.

Allowing a moment of anger at Uther for driving Arthur into this state, Merlin sighs and pushes that aside for later. It's Arthur he needs to focus on right now, not Uther. Quietly, Merlin lowers himself to the ground and mimics Arthur, shifting until his shoulder is just shy of touching Arthur's. The other arm reaches up to pillow his head comfortably.]

What happened?

[ The moment his boots are off, Arthur scoots down on the grass just enough to dip his feet into the water with a satisfied sigh. It soaks through the bottoms of his trousers, but he doesn't much care. It's cooling, where his entire body seems aflame with adrenaline and anger. Calm. Staing calm. ]

Much better.

[ He waits for Merlin to settle, for his words to float about them and melt into an almost forgotten thought, before speaking again. ]

I believe what happened is commonly called treason. If I'm not entirely mistaken.

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