Day Four - Part Two

They went to visit the museum of mining, which was situated in an actual graphite mine. Merlin wanted to talk to Arthur, so he took the chance, when boarding a mining train, and seated himself next to Arthur.

“It's Vivian's seat,” Arthur grumbled.

“She's sitting with Gwaine,” Merlin said and thought about thanking Gwaine later.

“Your boyfriend isn't exactly faithful.”

“He's not my boyfriend,” Merlin said, annoyed.

“Shag pal then?” Arthur asked sharply.

“Geez, why are so offensive?”

“Look, I don't really care what you do at night. Just leave me alone.”

“If you so don't care, then why don't you talk to me? Why do I have to leave you alone?”

Arthur didn't answer and they spent the rest of the ride in silence. Only when the train stopped Merlin talked again.

“I won't bother you again. At least I can tell Gwaine to fuck off with his stupid theories, which obviously aren't right, and enjoy the rest of the day. Away from you, of course. Because, apparently, I'm not cool enough to be your friend after all.”

He tried to sound light, but some of the bitterness, he felt, probably leaked into the tone of his voice. He got off the train, leaving stunned Arthur behind.

* * *

The guide talked about history of mining, showed them the equipment and explained how it worked. He even turned off the lights for a minute to show them the pure darkness of the tunnels.

What followed was a few squeals and some laughter. And Morgana took it as a chance to snog Leon, who looked dazed for at least an hour afterwards.

At the end of their tour they were all given a piece of graphite as a souvenir. As soon as they got out in the open, the big battle began. Girls ran screaming from the boys, who tried to smudge their faces, and Merlin watched them, amused. At least until someone rubbed his face with piece of graphite too. He turned around, ready to see Gwaine grinning at him, but found Arthur instead.

“What do you think you're doing?” Merlin spluttered.

“You're the only girl that won't take revenge for ruining her make-up. I'm just being practical,” Arthur said with a shrug.

“I could take revenge for constantly being called a girl, you know?”

“But you won't.”

Arthur smudged more graphite over his face.

“Or I can play along,” said Merlin with a grin. “And now I'm fighting for equality.”

He shot out his hand and left a dark smear over Arthur's cheek. Arhur's expression was priceless.

“Sorry, did I ruined your make-up?” Merlin asked cheekily.

“You little...”

Arthur tackled him to the grass and sat on top of him. He tried to smudge every part of Merlin's face and neck, he could reach, even as Merlin squirmed and fought under him. Merlin managed to push Arthur back a bit, but Arthur captured his wrists and pinned them to the ground above his head.

They stared at each other, breathing laboured. Merlin licked his lips and Arthur followed the movement with his gaze, before shaking his head and pushing himself up and off of Merlin. He offered him a hand, which Merlin accepted and let himself being pulled up onto his feet.

Gaius and Morgause finally managed to get a grip of the situation and shoo them all towards the bathroom and then back to the coach.

Merlin thought about last few minutes, smiling to himself. He knew Arthur apologized. He didn't do it verbally, but it was obvious, that he was sorry for making Merlin think, he wasn't worthy of Arthur's friendship.

* * *

The rest of the day was another blur of historic buildings in Cesky Krumlov. It's not that they weren't beautiful or that Merlin didn't like it. It was just classical planned tour, so many sightseeing in so little time. It got a bit overwhelming. Merlin was kind of glad when they left town and drove to their last stop for the day.

They would have a relatively short trip along the river Vltava, which was more of a brook in here, not far from it's spring. The anomaly in here was called Certova stena (Devil's Wall).

The area was full of granite boulders. They were scattered over the steep hill, that wasn't visible much because of the greenery. The others laid in the watercourse. The story bound to the area talked about a devil, who wanted to stop the building of the nearby monastery by making a great dam, so that water would flood the place. But he didn't manage it and the dam broke, scattering the boulders everywhere.
 

With the fresh air, the sun shining through the trees and the tale still tumbling through his mind, Merlin found the picture just perfect.

And it got even better when Arthur fell in step with him. Vivian stayed in the bus, claiming she wasn't interested in some stupid rocks.

“I talked with Morgause about the next camp.” Arthur said.

“What about it?” Merlin asked.

“She said there would be bungalows for two, three, four or five people.”

“Yes. So?” Merlin raised eyebrow at Arthur in question.

“The ones for five are only two and there would be more groups interested, so I told her, that we would take one of them. But now I'm not sure, if I shouldn't ask you first.” Arthur gushed out.

“Why?” Merlin was confused.

“Well, I thought that... you know...”

“Actually, no, I don't know.”

“You and Gwaine...”

Oh... He was so angry with Arthur in the mine, that he forgot, he wanted to explain the situation.

“There's nothing between us.” Merlin said. “I swear!” he added after seeing Arthur's disbelieving look.

“If you say so,” Arthur shrugged.

Merlin knew that the affair still wasn't over, but this was a step in the right direction.

* * *

Their arrived at the camp around six and their plan for the rest of the day involved small rental boats at the coast of the water reservoir Lipno. They brought their bags in their bungalows and then gathered at the pier. Everyone got their swimming vest and started with occupying the rowboats.

Valiant and Sophia joined Merlin as he watched the water.

“Come with us on our boat. We don't have a fourth member,” said Valiant.

“Why would I do that?” Merlin asked cautiously.

“I wanted to apologize for taking the pills from you. It was pretty stupid.”

Merlin didn't believe his ears.

“I'm not sure...” he started.

“Take it as a peace offering,” Val interrupted him.

Merlin watched him for a second longer.

“Alright then,” he accepted, hoping he didn't do something completely stupid.

* * *
 

  

 

Merlin was sitting next to Sophia. Valiant and Alvarr were at the rows. They were silent for most of the time, so Merlin watched the lake and it's surroundings and the others in their boats.

Gwen and Morgana were chatting and gesticulating wildly, while Lance and Leon paddled towards the centre of the lake. Gwaine and Arthur were with Vivian who obviously talked about something neither of them found interesting. They weren't too far from them, so he could hear her annoying voice, but thankfully didn't understand, what she was saying.

They were far from the shore and Merlin clutched the side of the boat as Alvarr moved and it started swaying.

“Getting seasick, Emrys?” he asked.

Merlin shook his head.

“Did you really believe that story about apologizing?”

Merlin just gulped and thought about calling for help.

“Isn't it hot in here, Val?” Sophia asked. “I think, Merlin looks a bit heated.”

And then Val pushed him over the edge of the boat.

He splashed into the water and immediately went under. The vest pulled him above, so he wasn't in danger of drowning, but the wave came over and splashed him in the face, just when he was breathing in.

The panic overtook him and he started flailing his limbs without any order. He heard someone shouting, maybe it was even his own name, but he wasn't really sure, because his mind was screaming only 'I don't want to die. Please, don't let me die.'

Something wrapped itself around his middle and he tried to escape from it, too afraid that it would pull him under, but then there was shouting close to his ear and a body along his back.

“Don't trash around so much. You're going to drown us both even with the vests on.”

Arthur. Arthur was saving him.

He let himself being dragged, coughing the water out and breathing the oh, so sweet air freely. Gwaine pulled him up on their boat before helping Arthur.

“Vivian, sit next to Gwaine,” Arthur said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because Merlin needs the space.”

“Why should I move because of some nerdy kid. I'm a future prom queen.”

“Shut up and move.” Arthur growled at her and the anger in his eyes made her do it.

Arthur helped Merlin from the bottom of their vessel and stroked his back through another fit of coughing. When it was over, they were already halfway to the coast and Arthur pulled Merlin to his side.

“Are you alright?” he asked, still stroking Merlin's back.

“What do you think?” Merlin answered, voice a bit raspy.

Arthur only pulled him even closer.

They reached the pier before the others did. Merlin stumbled as he went towards the beach, but Arthur steadied him.

“I need to sit,” he said and Arthur led him to the nearest patch of grass.

“You shouldn't stay in that wet cloth too long.”

“I know. Just give me a minute.”

Arthur got off his vest and helped Merlin out of his afterwards.

Val and his team landed then and Arthur shot up from his space beside Merlin.

“You!” Arthur yelled at Valiant and looked like he was ready to kill him.

Merlin grabbed his hand.

“Leave him, Arthur. It doesn't matter. I'm fine.”

“It doesn't matter?” Arthur was watching him with utter disbelief.

“It doesn't matter?” he asked again. “That bastard threw you in the water and you're telling me to leave him, because it doesn't matter?” He was furious.

“Please, Arthur...”

He yanked his hand from Merlin's grip and marched to Val, who stepped a few steps back unconsciously.

“If you or any of your pals touch Merlin again, if you even think about it, I'm going to make your life a living hell.” He thrust the vests at Valiant. “Now, get out of my sight, before I change my mind.”

Merlin was watching him adoringly from the ground and looked away to not give himself away as Arthur turned around.

“Let's go,” he said and hauled Merlin to his feet.


A/N:
The site for the graphite mine are only in Czech, but you can at least look at the gallery: www.grafitovydul.cz/cz/fotogalerie/v-podzemi-dolu-25/

More info in English about Certova stena (Devil's Wall): http://www.jiznicechy.org/en/index.php?path=prir/certovka.htm

Once again, the camp exists. It's called 'Na Terasach' and here's the site (only in Czech): sites.google.com/site/kempnaterasach/