Hey guys my first Merlin/Arthur fic :] let me know what you thought!
"Sire? Sire?"
"What?" Arthur shouted at the terrified servant by the door.
"I've finished all the work for today…"
"And what would you like me to do about that?"
"…"
"WELL?"
"Sire, I was wondering…if maybe…"
"If what?"
"Well…I could take the day….off-"
"SPIT IT OUT MERLIN!"
"Ethan…"
"What?"
"My name, sire, it's Ethan…not Merlin…"
Arthur shook his head and put his head in his hands, "Yes, yes I know that, take the rest of the day off then Ellen…"
"Ethan…"
One look from Arthur and the poor boy ran out the door to enjoy the air of freedom, while the prince stood up from his desk, feeling exactly the opposite of free.
Arthur sighed and leaned against the wall staring out the window, as his mind buzzed with thoughts, trying to figure out what was wrong with him; Father was fine, Morgana's dreams weren't bothering her much anymore, Gwen and Lancelot were quite happy, the whole kingdom of Camelot seemed happy and safe….
Yet Arthur felt like he was suffocating, and then really empty, like something was missing, like someone was-
The blonde man shook his head, forcing himself to think of something else but his mind refused to listen and all his thoughts disappeared, while one face entered his mind, one smile that lifted his heart and the world was good again, perfect.
Arthur stood up straight, and punched the wall facing him, no, STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM! HE IS GONE….FOREVER.
A voice made him jump up and he turned to face Morgana tsking, "Why are you taking your anger out on that poor wall?"
The prince turned away and shifted some papers on his desk, "I was just-It was-"
"Oh save the excuses we both know you miss him."
"I don't know who you're talking about."
"Really? Well then it's funny how every servant in the castle is named "Merlin" when you require their services…isn't it?"
Arthur flushed in anger, "I was just used to him that's all…I couldn't care less about him…I'll get over it."
The brunette sighed "yes, but you loved him…"
As silence took over Morgana sighed and stood up slowly, "He's coming back…soon."
Arthur whipped around as she started to leave the room, "Why?"
The woman tilted her head, trying to hide the smile threatening to escape her lips, "For the wedding remember?"
"Oh right…yes…when?"
Morgana really did smile then, "Whatever happened to, "Merlin, I couldn't care less about him"!"
She watched as her brother's gaze shift uncomfortably around the room avoiding her, "Just wondering…"
Morgana shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure, guess we'll just have to wait," and with a small smile, finally left the room, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts.
~2 years earlier~
"mmmfpggdkjgdmmm" Arthur laughed at the muffled voice coming from under his covers, "Merlin, love, you need to get up."
"mmmgmmm"
"What are you saying?"
"I don't wanna mfdfkjfksdm"
He smiled and pulled the covers off of his lover, kissing the smaller boy's cheek slowly, "pleaseee"
Merlin smiled, suddenly opening his bright blue eyes, "did you just call me love?"
"What? No you were dreaming, now get your lazy butt up and eat breakfast."
Arthur's voice was stern but the brunette on the bed giggled at the blush rising up his neck, "YOU DID, DIDN'T YOU?"
The prince tried to think of a lie but couldn't help to smile back at the goofy grin on Merlin's face, so he jumped on the bed and tickled the boy until tears were streaming
down his face, "what was that? What did I say?"
"N-nothing p-pro-mise!"
Arthur let the poor boy catch his breath before laying down beside him
and grabbing one of his hands, leaving small kisses on the knuckles.
"I love you"
"mm love you too"
"How about we stay in bed today?"
Merlin shook his head frowning, "can't, remember? Prince Elliot's coming for a visit and you've got to go receive him."
The prince groaned, "completely forgot about that... Alright how about we get all our errands complete and meet for a nice little dinner back here in the evening?"
Merlin's brow furrowed in confusion, "you're really keen on spending time together today..."
"mhmm because today's a special day..."
"really?"
"yes"
"is it your birthday?"
"nope"
"my birthday?"
"uh...no..."
"Gaius's birthday?"
"it's not a birthday! It's a surprise..."
"oh..."
"mmhm"
"is it Uther's birthday?"
"MERLIN!"
Gaius watched fondly as the boy before him finished his food in record time.
"Merlin?"
"hm?"
"Is there somewhere you have to be?"
"gotta finish all my errands..."
"well there's no rush, you've got all day..."
"Arthur wants to have dinner, got something to tell me"
"like what?"
"won't tell me, says it's a surprise"
"a surprise?"
"yes"
Gaius laughed as the raven-haired boy stared in confusion, "what?"
"nothing nothing..."
Merlin yelped as a hand snaked it's way around his waist, while he was
polishing up Arthur's equipment.
Arthur grinned and hid his face into the boy's neck, "missed you"
Merlin pushed him away, smiling fondly, "Someone will see"
"let them, after tonight, none of that will matter..."
Merlin frowned, desperately wanting to know the surprise.
Merlin was delivering his last package for Gaius when he heard his name mentioned in Morgana's chambers, "and you won't believe what he
thinks the surprise is!"
"What?"
"My birthday!"
As he heard roaring laughter Merlin peaked through the crack to see Arthur explaining their whole morning conversation to Gwen and Morgana. He shrunk lower into
the door as Gwen pointed at something in Arthur's hand.
"When are you giving it to him?"
"Tonight"
"He's going to be so happy!"
Merlin frowned, shifting slightly, trying to get a good look at the object but the door moved with him, creaking loudly.
As footsteps approached the door, Merlin quickly did an invisible spell
and held his breath.
Arthur stepped out and the invisible boy's eyes practically dropped put of there sockets as the object in Arthur's hand stared him down.
A ring.
A gold only-could-be-afforded-be-a-prince ring.
And he ran.
Even when Kilghargah landed in front of him, Merlin was a mess, pacing
back and forth, talking to himself...
"It's too fast... No why would it be too fast? We love each other right? ...but I haven't even told mother about us yet-"
He whipped around at the sound of the dragon's chuckle.
"How long have you been listening?"
"Long even to know that you, young warlock, have gotten yourself into another mess with the junior Pendragon."
"Yes, I mean no... It's different this time...before it was about life and death or-or saving Camelot but now..."
"What is it?"
"It's...Arthur's going to ask me to marry him tonight."
"Do you love him?"
"Yes"
"How would you feel if he died?"
"...I'd...I would follow suit immediately!"
"Well then what is it that's bothering you boy?"
"Magic, my magic, he doesn't know about it yet."
"and he isn't supposed to, he is not ready yet,"
"He loves me and trusts me! And he's thinking of marrying me, he has the right to know!"
"Then do as you please!" with that the dragon left snarling.
"Merlin, you're early!"
Arthur frowned and stood in the middle of the door to his chambers, keeping the room hidden.
"I need to speak with you immediately,"
The prince tilted his head in thought, then immediately began to follow the other boy, seeing the tension in Merlin's eyes.
Neither spoke as they made there way to Gaius's chambers, knowing that it would be empty while he took his daily rounds about the castle.
Merlin locked the door, then turned and sat Arthur down, kneeling in front of the other man, and took his hand.
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course, what is it Merlin? Is everything okay?"
Merlin nodded, "Yes everything's...everything's fine, and Arthur you know I. Love you right?"
The prince nodded,
"-and would never let anything bad ever happen to you right?"
Arthur laughed out loud at that, "I think I can take care of myself just fine Mer-"
He quickly stopped laughing as a single tear fell down Merlin's cheek, wiping it away Arthur took the boy's face into his hands, worriedly, "What is it?"
Merlin took a hold of Arthur's hand and picked up a lone flower left on the floor beside them, and held back a sob, managing a small whisper,
"Promise you won't hate me?"
Arthur chuckled and kissed his forehead, "I couldn't hate you if you turned that flower into a hammer and knocked me out cold right now,"
Merlin laughed humorlessly, "Not a hammer no...but how about.."
Before the prince could wonder what was going on the raven-haired boy's ocean blue eyes flashed gold and suddenly a small butterfly took the
place of the flower.
Arthur watched in shock and stood up slowly, Merlin followed, stepping forward and wrapping him in a hug, "I needed you to know, before-"
Suddenly Merlin was pushed back by several guards as Uther walked in, "What did I tell you Arthur?"
Merlin struggled with the guards and tried to make sense of what was going on.
The prince stood at the same spot as before, now staring at Merlin, " I-I trusted you, and you-you enchanted me!"
The smaller boy wailed, "no! You've got it all wrong Arthur I could never-"
"Silence! Guards take him away!"
Uther closed the doors quickly behind the guards and patted his son's shoulder, "we've been suspecting him of sorcery for a while now Arthur, I'm sorry you had to see
it this way, but now you know how they can trick you into doing things, I knew the minute you said you wanted to marry him, it had to be sorcery! He's a servant!
You're a prince!"
Arthur shook his head, eyes filled with tears. "all this time..."
Uther nodded sadly and kissed his forehead, "I'll see to it that they execute him immediatley, the sooner the enchantments off the better."
As the crowd gathered around to see who was going to be burned today, Gaius, Gwen, and Morgana rushed to the dungeons and comforted Merlin who spoke three
words.
"He betrayed me."
Morgana shook her head, "I'm sorry Merlin! I tried talking to both of them but they just won't let up, I wish there was something else."
Gaius spoke up then,"there is!"
They all turned to the older man instantly.
"What?"
"The Ruthest stone, it's a stone that glows when the man holding it is under an enchantment, if Arthur holds the stone, we can prove that he isn't under any
enchantment!"
Gwen smiled, "Where is it?"
Gaius frowned,"That's the problem, the stone is in the king's vault in
his chambers,"
It was Morgana's turn to smile, "How's that a problem?"
Arthur sat next to his father as Uther gave the instructions to execute Merlin.
Suddenly the doors burst open and Morgana was brought in by gaurds,
"Sire!"
Uther stood immediately and glared at the guards "How dare you touch her!"
"Sire the Lady Morgana was caught stealing from your vault!"
"borrowing!" Morgana corrected.
Uther glanced at the item in Morgana's hand, "Anything she took is hers to take I have nothing to hide from my children."
The guards bowed, apologized to Morgana leaving the room, as Gaius and Gwen took their spots in the corner.
Uther sat back in his throne, "Morgana darling, what is it that you needed from the vault?"
"This" the brunette brought out her hand and threw the item at Arthur who caught it on reflex, perplexed, "Morgana!"
Uther's brow furrowed and the then realization flooded him, " the ruthest stone"
Morgana came forward, "it glows in he hands of someone who has been enchanted...and it sure doesn't seem to be glowing right now."
Arthur raised his eyebrow then almost choked as it hit him, the stone wasn't glowing! And he was holding it...which meant... "Merlin didn't
enchant me!"
The king pushed him back in his seat and glared at Morgana, "I admire your efforts at trying to help my dear but we have seen the boy perform magic with our own
eyes, and for that the execution will continue!"
"No! Father, Merlin has been nothing but a good and loyal servant to Camelot since the day he came and God knows how many times he's saved
Arthur's life! You can't do this to him!"
Uther stepped down to her eyelevel, "You will remember that you are talking to not only your father but also your king! I know exactly what the boy has done!
Sorcery! And he will not be forgiven for that!"
Hearing that the woman backed away, "he's a good man father" and left
the room in tears.
When the king left soon after, Gwen and Gaius approached Arthur begging him to save Merlin.
"I can't" Arthur had tears in his eyes, "there's nothing we can do to save him now...he still did magic..."
Gaius then proceeded to explain to the crying mess of a prince, how many
times Merlin had helped him and how he was ready to willingly give his
life for Arthur with Nimueh, how he had saved the people of Camelot more times then any of them could count.
Arthur hid his face in his hands and stifled a sob, then stood up, wiping his face, "We have to help him escape"
Gwen shook her head,"We can't the guards are everywhere and then the king will know it was you!"
"No he won't," Gaius moved towards the door, "I'll take care of Uther."
Gwen rushed through the dungeons while Arthur took care of the guards, stopping in front of Merlin's cell, "Merlin! Get up!"
The blue-eyed boy stood up, "what is it Gwen?"
"We've got the guards distracted open this gate hurry!"
Merlin did as he was told and the two ran towards the secret exit.
Each grabbing a horse and following the two figures in front of them
as they left Camelot.
Getting far enough, the group stopped and Merlin knew this was goodbye,
"thank you all, I will never forget this,"
As they're hoods dropped, Merlin smiled slightly at Morgana and ignored
Arthur completely, making the prince swallow the lump that had
suddenly formed in his throat.
Then turned and road off, disappearing into the horizon, as Arthur gave his tears permission to fall freely.
-present day-
Merlin smiled for the first time in a very long time at the letter he got about Gwen and Lancelot's wedding.
He was esctatic for his friends and Gaius had even sent a new tunic for him to wear, which was really a please added to the end of the
question, "will you come to the wedding?"
Merlin remembered the man and smiled fondly yet again, Gaius had done a lot for him, from teaching him the best of magic to erasing Uther's
memory of him and Merlin knew that this was his way of calling in the favors. He'd have to go.
As he wrote back Gwaine read over his shoulder following along, "Woah! Gwen's getting married! And you're invited! And you're saying no because?"
Merlin glared at him and Gwaine snickered, "Arthur? He's the reason you're not going? Because you've still got feelings for him?"
Merlin flinched, "yes... I'm not going because of him, but because I hate him not because-"
"hey hey relax...you should go,"
"no I can't"
"I'll go with you, come on! you owe that to Gwen, AND Gaius."
"thanks but-"
"he can't do anything if you're already moved on right?"
Merlin shook his head"no"
"yes, hi new boyfriend"
Stepping foot back inside Camelot, after two years, hit Merlin harder then he thought it would, everything was a reminder of Arthur, and the moments they spent
together, in love. Every moment now a shattered memory Merlin didn't want to go through.
The toughest part was seeing the castle, the tears slipped his eyes without notice and Gwaine patted his back comfortingly. Reaching Gwen's house, Merlin wiped his
face and put on a convincing smile, knocking on the door hesitantly.
When the door opened, Lancelot grinned at him and the two shared a quick hug before Gwaine followed and Gwen called them inside the house.
Meeting them in the corridor, looking completely flustered and a nervous wreck was Gwen, who embraced Merlin so tightly he thought he heard something pop, "it's so
good to see you"
Merlin nodded his head and hugged back, truly happy to see his friend again, "Gwen I've told the guards to watch for-"
Merlin went rigid and slowly came out of the embrace to face his new fear.
Arthur Pendragon.
Arthur smiled slightly, stepping forward, however the smile was quickly replaced with a look of hurt as Merlin stepped back and grabbed Gwaine's hand, dragging him
past the group, "We need to get freshened up!"
Arthur leaned against the wall from the shock of seeing his lover...2 years...and he looked exactly the same, his Merlin. Suddenly remembering Gwaine, Arthur whipped
around to Gwen, "Why is Gwaine here?"
Gwen shrugged and looked at Lancelot for help, "I don't know"
Laneclot cleared his throat, "I believe that they are...seeing each other"
And with those words, Arthur Pendragon left the small house blinking tears.
Merlin hid in his room that evening as Gwaine went out to the tavern, to get drunk and Gwen and Lancelot went out to get last minute things
for the wedding.
The bell rang and Merlin grudgingly got up to open it, finding a very happy Gaius behind the door, a grin lit up the boy's face as he wrapped his arms around the old man "Gaius!"
Gaius chuckled and entered the house, "Thought you'd come into town and leave without seeing me huh?
Merlin shook his head quickly, "No I swear I was going to come but then...I got distracted..."
The older man nodded sympathetically, "Arthur?"
Merlin shook his head quickly, "Um no, just stuff for the wedding, how have you been Gaius?"
"Good, and you?"
"Just fine..."
"That's a lie."
Merlin looked away as Gaius grabbed his sleeve, "He's really sorry Merlin, the poor man hasn't gotten a decent night of rest since you left, has been punishing himself-"
"then let him! he deserves it!"
"Merlin!"
"No Gaius, I trusted him, he said HE LOVED ME! I told him the truth, I loved him more than anyone in this world and-and he BETRAYED ME!"
Merlin turned to continue but instead closed his mouth and glared at the door, Gaius followed his gaze to the door, "Sire?"
Arthur looked like he had been crying and Gaius quickly stepped out the door to give the two some privacy, "I'll see you tomorrow then boy."
There was an uncomfortable silence, then the raven-haired boy turned to retreat to his room, quickly stopped by a hand on his arm.
He whipped around and Arthur flinched away at his cold tone, "Don't. Touch. Me."
The prince didn't bother to stop his cries then, "Merlin, I miss-I missed you so much, I'm so sorry, I-I-"
"Don't-don't say that! you're not sorry, you betrayed me!"
Merlin shoved the other man back and ran into his room locking the door, falling to the floor, leaning against the door, closing his eyes as if in pain when he felt Arthur do the same on the other side, sniffling.
"I'm sorry Merlin, I love you, always."
