Title: Love Story (Waiting)

Author: Forensic Fan '93

Beta: None

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Angst.

Characters: Merlin, Arthur

Mentioned: Morgana, Gwen, Lancelot, Leon, Gwaine, Elyan, Percival.

Pairing: Merthur, mentioned Gwencelot.

Set After: AU after Series 1.

A/N: So most of my other readers are probably wondering when I became a slash fan. To be honest? I don't know myself. But seriously, with comments like "two sides of the same coin"? Come on, people! As a friend of mine says "with comments like that, you know one is always laying on top of the other". :D Italics equal the present day. Normal like this indicates the past life. Spoilers up through Le Morte d'Arthur.

Word Count: 1,801

Summary: 'We were both young when I first saw you. I closed my eyes and the flashbacks started…' Arthur sees the newest transfer student at his school and is transfixed.

Disclaimer: I don't own Love Story by Taylor Swift, nor do I own Merlin.

So, I have to say, my day started off pretty shittily. My car decided it didn't want to start (stupid piece of shit) and I had to rely on my half-sister to get me to school on fucking time. Fuck my life, right?

I got on campus. I just wanted to make it to first period chemistry. Seriously!

Something caught my eye. Well, more like someone.

I will be the first to admit that I am bi-sexual (not that I'd ever tell my Father that, nor Morgana). And this man was not your average handsome guy. He was more beautiful in a coltish sort of way.

He was sitting up against a tree, looking at a map of some sorts. Probably of the school. He finally noticed me staring (and yes, I was staring) and caught my eye.

I see a flash of a red neckerchief as they're about to behead that man for practicing magic.

He squinted at me as if trying to figure out if he knows me, because I know he looks familiar to me. I close my eyes, not knowing what else to do.

I look out across the court yard as my father gives his typical speech on how all magic is wrong and it needs to be eradicated from Albion.

I see the flash of red and blue against all the browns and greys that the peasants normally wear and it throws me off for a second. But not so much as this man. He looks like a person who always has a smile on his face, no matter what. And, good God, those cheekbones. They look like they could cut through my chainmail at the slightest of grazes.

I'm not even looking at the man accused of sorcery, but at this young man. What is it about him that is so captivating? I shiver in the warm summers air as I just stare at him.

And when Father makes this Merlin my manservant, I'm almost angry at the man because I don't know how I will control myself around him. So I act like an arrogant prick while he's around. When he accuses Valiant of magic, I believe him immediately. I don't know why. But I do. When it turns out that Ewan died and I don't have a witness, I am upset. Not because I think he lied to me (no, never that) but because he did make me look a fool in front of my father.

At the end of the tournament after I have killed Valiant, and Morgana and I fought, I watch Merlin sidle his way over to me. I give him as close to an apology as I ever do and I hire him back. When he says I can buy him a drink, my heart and stomach leap into my throat and start flip-flopping every which way. "I can't very well be seen buying drinks for my servant."

Only later would I find out that he was a warlock, using MAGIC to protect ME (which went against everything I had ever been taught. Morgana and I were always taught that magic was evil and no sorcerer or sorceress alive would ever do us any good). Merlin and I had, according to Morgana, "finally admitted your bloody feelings for each other, thank the Gods!" We were sleeping together.

Uther (I can no longer think of him as "Father") ordered Merlin's head to be cut off. I pace in front of Merlin's cell door, having bribed the guards away, tears streaming down my face. I deny those tears ever happening. I beg him to use his magic. His Gods given magic that he would escape.

He just smiles at me sadly and says, "I'm happy to serve you til the day I die." My Merlin's voice is soft.

"You can't serve me unless you're still here, idiot! Leave! When I'm king, I'll lift the ban on magic and you can take your place by my side. As my King-consort and my Court Sorcerer!" I say sharply, trying anything that will get him to leave and let us live our lives together later on.

Something sparks in his eye. He smirks that mischievous smirk at me, and I know in that instant that I've won this battle. "Alright."

"I'll be waiting. All that's left to do is run. I'll be the Prince and you'll be my Princess," I murmur, wanting nothing more than to hold him to me and kiss him.

Merlin smiles that wonderful dimpled smile at me, and turns on his heel and vanishes with a little pop of air being sucked into where my wonderful Merlin once stood.

Morgana is furious at Uther for not listening to us when it came to Merlin. She and I are becoming closer and closer. More like the brother and sister we know we are. She and Guinevere cover for me whenever I sneak out to go see Merlin. Sometimes even Gaius covers for me. I am under the impression that the whole of the castle turned their backs on Uther when he tried to kill Merlin. The only time Uther receives a hot meal now days is when either Morgana or I are eating with him.

I normally end up sneaking out of my window with a rope I keep hidden in my room. Morgana and Gwen will say, if I am caught missing, that yes Prince Arthur is in here with us. (And knowing them, they'll come up with some excuse like "he's using the chamber pot right now, so you can't come in".)

I then rush through the garden and the courtyard to disappear into the Darkling Forest to find Merlin. I always know where he is. Merlin says this is because his magic calls to me. At least, that's what the Great Dragon beneath the Castle has told him. I believe they're both right.

But until I see Merlin, I'm always quiet and careful not to get caught because if I am, Merlin and I are both dead if Uther ever caught us. There is some of the Guard loyal to him. After only a few minutes of walking into the forest I see the blue bulb I know to be Merlin's magic guiding me toward him.

"Merlin, you idiot, what are you doing so close to the castle?" I say, smiling as I wrap my arms around his too-skinny waist. "Are you even eating, idiot?"

Merlin just smiles up at me, wrapping his arms around my neck and pulling me in for a kiss. "I am. Mum makes sure of it."

It gladdens me to know that he's at least getting fed. I can feel the muscle he's built up in the years since he's been away.

"Uther's out for your blood, you know," I murmur after stealing a quick kiss. I lean my forehead against his. I reach a hand up to start stroking his ears. I love his ears.

He only nods against me. I feel his legs start to buckle as I continue stroking his ears.

We stood there, not speaking for a long time, just holding each other, making sure that the other was still alive and as healthy as we could be, until I knew I had to go. Uther would be getting suspicious soon if he wasn't already.

"I'll be waiting. All that's left to do is run. I'll be the Prince and you'll be my Princess," I whisper in his ear. I feel his shiver against me, and I smile slightly. I pull away and move out of reach slowly. I miss him already.

Three nights later, I meet up with him again, this time with horrible news. Uther wants me to marry Princess Elena. I disagree strongly, and Morgana and Gwen stand behind me on this decision. Uther has put his foot down. "Merlin, he's trying to tell me how to feel about this girl that I will never fall in love with. Ever." I pull in a deep shuddering breath, leaning my head against Merlin's shoulder. "This is so difficult."

"Don't worry," he whispers. "We'll make it out of this mess."

Not even a year later, Uther was found murdered by a Druid boy. The Druid boy that Merlin, Morgana and I had helped escape. Mordred. I hear his voice inside my head and he says, "If you don't take care of Emrys, I will come after you, and make you suffer more than your father ever did."

I project back like Merlin has taught me. "I won't hurt him. I love him."

I see the smile curve his face and I know I've just won myself some very powerful allies.

My first act as King is to gather the Knights of my Round Table. Morgana and Gwen sit to my left, Lancelot beside Gwen. I have given the two my blessings. Leon sits next to Lancelot, then Gwaine directly across from me, Elyan, and finally Percival. The chair to my right remains empty for my Merlin, my Court Sorcerer and my King-Consort.

My second act is to remove the ban on magic, but if they are found murdering someone with magic, they will face the same punishment as if they had used a sword to kill someone.

I wait, and I wait. The only ones who understand what I am waiting for are Morgana, Gwen and Lancelot. They all have met Merlin.

Slowly, as the days pass, I begin to wonder if he's even coming back. Thoughts flick through my head. Is he still alive? Is he even able to make it here?

It has been a year since I saw him last when I feel the familiar call of Merlin's magic. I drag Lancelot with me because I am not allowed to go anywhere without a guard nowadays. Lancelot stays with the horses as I meet Merlin in what I have dubbed "Our Clearing".

I explain to him that I was worried about the idiot and he smiles at me.

"I've never felt so alone," he murmurs into our kiss.

He doesn't say anything as I kneel to the ground and pull out a ring and say, "Marry me, Merlin. You'll never have to feel alone. I love you and that's worth more than my kingdom. I send a letter to your Mother. Let's get you an outfit for the wedding." When he just stares at me, I said, "Merlin, just say yes or no already!"

He nods yes and I slip the ring onto his left ring finger. I let him tackle me to the ground in a hug and kiss.

I saw him stand up and put his map down. One name fell off those wonderfully pink lips of his. "Arthur."

I smiled as he moved closer to me and I linked hands with him. "Merlin…"