ayoungboy | We found love in a hopeless place

It's been 5 years since this whole nightmare began, and both sides had sustained incredible casualties. The whole of Europe was fairly decimated, but England was definitely the worst. Perhaps the worst of it all was the fact that Merlin didn't know if Arthur was dead or alive. Yes, he thought about him often. How stupid they'd both been. Merlin was willing to fight for what he believed in, but it hadn't been about him - it should have been about them, about working it out together. It should never have come to this.

He still wears the engagement ring on his finger. He's almost lost it once or twice, but it's still there - and he makes sure to take care of it and clean it, repair it. But that's not what this meeting it about; he's been selected to represent the magical community in the negotiations. All they wanted was their freedom back. Magic wasn't inherently evil; it was people that used it for nefarious purposes, people that mistreated it. They were willing to help put those people in jail. If only the non-magic users would understand.

They're meeting on what used to be Parliament, reduced to rubble, now. Merlin's fiddling with his hands, twisting the ring nervously. They've set up wards already; there are a few other magical delegates and guards there, but Merlin is to do the central talking. Still, there's only so much they can guard against, and if the non-magic users decide to attack…well, the magic users weren't going to be too keen on reopening negotiations after that.

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"I'll see you soon," Merlin promises, kissing Arthur's cheek.

"I hope so." Arthur smiles, letting go of him.

Merlin doesn't disappear, collecting their plates and waiting to see Arthur off.

Arthur puts his shoes and coat back on, heading for the door.

Merlin winks and waves a little, smiling fondly.

Arthur spends his day back at the camp to convince people to show up for the pre-trial meeting. Most of them refuse out of fear but some just on principle. In the end, Arthur only manages to convince a handful of people to accompany him. He wishes he could just call Merlin prior to the meeting to discuss his concerns but since there are no phones anymore, Arthur is left alone with his worries.

Merlin has trouble of his own. Morgana had kept him all day with the council, making her case to strike against the non-magic users while they were weak, and violate their truce.

Arthur grows more and more frustrated that he has absolutely no means of reaching Merlin in any way. After three days of no word, he decides to take matters into his own hands. It takes him several hours but by mid-afternoon, he stands in front of the guards who protect the grounds of the magic user community, demanding to speak with Merlin.

The guards are taken aback by his reckless courage, and yes, hurry to find Merlin.

Arthur tries his best not to look nervous and hopes that nobody kills him before Merlin arrives.

"Arthur? What are you doing here?" Merlin is there as soon as he hears, confused and worried to find Arthur at the front gate. "Is everything alright?"

"No, it's not. Otherwise I wouldn't have risked my life coming here." Arthur crosses his arms in front of his chest. "This was the only way to reach you though."

"No one's going to hurt you." Merlin assures, frowning. "I'm sorry. Morgana has been trying to start a revolution back here…I should have sent a message but I swear I haven't had a moment's peace."

"Morgana." Arthur echoes, looking grim. "Let me talk to her."

"I…don't think that's a good idea, Arthur." He had suggested it himself, before, but she had been particularly unreasonable and 'viva la resistance' lately.

"She's my sister. She won't hurt me." Or so he hopes.

[sorry! I got really sick. It's bacterial >.>]

"I don't know. I honestly don't know anymore, Arthur." Merlin sighs heavily. "I have to come with you."

[ oh dear D: I hope you're better now! I was out of town for the last few days]

"Fine, then come with me." He doesn't need a bodyguard to talk to his own sister but he's willing to humour Merlin if it puts his mind at ease.

[ooh, where at?]

Merlin beckons him inside the gate, waving to the guards that it's okay. And yes, it will make him feel better. Before, he would have said it was probably fine. But after all the shit-stirring Morgana had done these past few days? Extra precautions couldn't hurt.

[Berlin! I visited a friend of mine.]

Arthur keeps close to Merlin, not wanting to cause any more trouble than there already is.

[ooh, fun! :D ]

People stare as they pass, but nobody looks hostile; more curious, some excited at the fact that a non-magic user had the courage to enter their camp.

Arthur tries not to make direct eye-contact with anybody, still somewhat weary of the magic user community as a whole. He hopes that the meeting with Morgana won't end in disaster.

Merlin ducks into a tent, leading Arthur out the other side past a few guards, into a more secluded section of the camp, where the leaders congregated.

Arthur is still feeling uneasily and sticking closely to Merlin's side - though he tries not to show it. No need to give off the impression that he's scared.

"She's in the far back," Merlin explains, not straying too far from Arthur either.

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