Disclaimer-I do not own Merlin or any characters you recognize.
This is my 1st fanfic so please be gentle with me.
To Love A Prince
From the day he had arrived in Camelot, Merlin had constantly been at the centre of all trouble and had repeatedly saved the life of Prince Arthur, the heir to the throne. Of course, Merlin's heroism often went unnoticed. For Merlin was not an ordinary servant by any means. The young man was a truly powerful wizard. With his magic, Merlin was able to save the life of the Prince again and again. However, he could never real his gifts or King Uther would have him executed.
Not only did the young warlock have to keep his magical talents hidden, he also had another secret with which he had to guard with his life. He was hopelessly in love with the blonde haired, blue eyed and all around prat of a Prince.
Merlin could not remember the precise moment when his heart began to flutter at the sight of the young Prince, or when his flesh first began to itch for the royal prats touch. To him, the development of his feelings was very much a blur.
Upon first meeting Arthur, Merlin had hated the arrogant bully and could barely stomach the sight of him. Then slowly he began to sympathize with the other boy who had so much pressure on him and in time he came to respect him. As time went on, the warlock saw new sides to the heir of Camelot and in what seemed no time at all he considered Arthur not only his Prince and master, but also his friend. Then just as quickly, Merlin fell madly in love with Arthur.
How he had managed to keep his feelings a secret for so long he did not know. At times he was so sure that everybody knew exactly how he felt for the Prince and he half expected to be thrown in the stocks.
After a hard day's work Merlin would return to his room and dreams of Arthur would fill his head as soon as he hit the pillow. Yet he would always wake up alone and a fresh wave of heartbreak would burn through his veins as he made his way to the Prince's chambers to serve the beautiful man who would never love him back.
On one such morning, Merlin rushed to Arthur's rooms hoping his master wouldn't be too mad at his lateness. When he entered the room without knocking his blue eyes landed upon the Prince arguing with the Lady Morgana.
'Good morning Merlin.' Morgana greeted cheerfully.
'My Lady.' Merlin replied as he gave a slight bow.
Morgana beamed at him as she crossed the room with the train of her dress trailing along behind her. She paused beside Merlin at the door and cast a wicked smirk at the Prince.
'Perhaps we'll continue this discussion later.' She said with a gleeful tone in her voice. When the red-faced Prince glared at her she released a small giggle before sweetly bidding him farewell.
'I won't ask.' Merlin said hurriedly once Morgana had left.
'You're late.' Arthur pointed out as Merlin moved further into the room and set his breakfast down on the table.
'Aren't I always?' Merlin replied cheekily with a lopsided grin.
The Prince glared daggers at his manservant before slumping into his seat and playing with his food.
'You know sire, you're supposed to eat that.' Merlin told him.
'Unless you want it over your head I suggest you shut up.' Arthur quipped.
'Er, right sorry.' Merlin mumbled as he began remaking the bed.
After making sure the Prince wasn't looking, Merlin leant forward and deeply inhaled the smell of Arthur's sheets.
'Merlin.' Arthur called.
'Yes sire?' Merlin asked quickly dropping the sheets and rearranging them on the bed.
'Nothing, forget it.' He told him with a sigh before pushing his bowl of untouched food away.
'You haven't touched your breakfast.' Merlin commented.
'Wow Merlin, nothing gets past you does it?' The Prince asked sarcastically.
'Is something wrong?' The dark-haired boy asked concernedly.
'Oh no Merlin, not at all, everything's just perfect.' Arthur retorted.
'Does this have something to do with Morgana?' Merlin asked.
'Yes, no, I...maybe.' Arthur answered as he looked out his bedroom window.
Merlin quietly observed the other boy waiting for him to say something more. He didn't have long to wait.
'She's just so...so...infuriating.' Arthur said eventually. 'She always seems to know everything and she's always bloody right and she just has to rub it in and waltz around with a smug grin acting all superior.'
'She does?' Merlin asked and Arthur glared at him. 'I mean...yes...she does. You're right it's...infuriating.'
To Merlin's delight, Arthur let out a light laugh and the angelic sound caused a forest of fairies to fly gracefully in his stomach. After a few minutes of silence Arthur seemed to calm down and he reseated himself at the table and ate his breakfast.
Just as Arthur was finishing his food there was a light rap upon his door.
'Come in!' Arthur called.
The door slowly opened and a timid looking Gwen hesitantly sidled into the room.
'Sire.' She greeted with a curtsey before sending a brief smile towards Merlin.
'What is it Guinevere?' Arthur asked as he studied the coffee-coloured girl.
'Forgive me my lord.' Gwen said bashfully. 'But my Lady requests that I deliver you a message.'
'Oh fine let's hear it.' Arthur groaned.
'She says,' Gwen cleared her throat nervously and her eyes looked fleeting at the door as she wondered if she could run fast enough to get away from the Prince is he decided to attack. 'She asked me to say...um...well she asked me to sing really...er...'
'Please just say it Guinevere.' Arthur asked her in a tone of forced calm. 'I promise I won't get mad.' He assured her. 'At you.' He added.
'Right, thank you sire.' Gwen said still sounding nervous. 'Well Morgana says...Arthur's in love, Arthur's in love.' The handmaid sang the last bit before fleeing the room.
Arthur banged his fist angrily on the table causing Merlin to jump.
'Bloody Morgana!' Arthur hissed.
'Um...sire?' Merlin asked cautiously and the Prince rounded on him.
'It's not true.' Arthur told him sternly. 'Not a word of it do you understand?'
'Yes sire, of course sire.' Merlin replied.
'Get out Merlin.' Arthur ordered suddenly.
'What? But Arthur I...' Merlin began.
'Just get out!' Arthur snapped and the young wizard promptly fled.
As he walked down the palace corridors he managed to catch up with Gwen just as she was about to enter Morgana's chambers.
'Oh Merlin.' Morgana said upon seeing him beside Gwen. 'Do come in.'
Merlin followed Gwen into Morgana's rooms and stood awkwardly not sure what to do with himself. The two girls perched themselves on the bed and both were laughing, though Morgana was laughing much more than her servant.
'I do wish I had been there to see the look upon his face.' Morgana sighed wistfully.
'He looked positively murderous my Lady.' Gwen told her. 'I think Merlin and myself are lucky to be alive.'
'Oh Arthur wouldn't hurt Merlin.' Morgana said confidently before falling into another fit of giggles as she witnessed the blush rise on the boy's pale cheeks.
'I should probably go.' Merlin told them as he edged towards the door. 'I'm sure Gaius needs me.' He lied.
'Merlin.' Morgana positively purred. 'Come here.' She ordered as she beckoned him with an elegant finger.
He nervously stumbled over towards the bed and the two girls took a hold of one of his arms and forced him to sit between them. Identical smirks spread over their faces and Merlin was suddenly terrified. The way Morgana and Gwen were looking at him now was much scarier than being in the presence of the King or indeed any magical creature or evil sorcerer.
'Oh Merlin.' Gwen said in her bright gentle voice.
'Dear sweet Merlin.' Morgana said in a voice that rang with mischief.
The young warlock let out a whimper in response.
'We know something about you Merlin.' Morgana informed him. 'Don't we Gwen?'
'Yes we do.' She confirmed in a bubbly manner.
'W-what?' Merlin squeaked feeling a strong sense of dread.
'You love Arthur.' They sang together.
'Don't be ridiculous, of course I don't.' Merlin tried to deny but the girls weren't fooled.
'Oh come now Merlin, you don't have to pretend.' Morgana told him. 'We've seen the way you look at him.'
The wizard opened and closed his mouths a few times before deciding to just stay silent. He closed his eyes tightly and prayed that when he opened them he'd be tucked up in bed and find that this was all a dream. Unfortunately, when he reopened his eyes the girl's were still sat either side of him with wide knowing grins on their faces.
'Please don't tell him.' Merlin begged pitifully.
'Don't worry, we won't say a word.' Gwen promised.
'But you will.' Morgana said matter-of-factly. 'You're going to march right up to Arthur and tell him how you feel.'
'I...what?' Merlin spluttered his skin turning deathly pale. 'Are you insane?'
'He loves you too Merlin.' Morgana assured him and she sounded so confident he almost believed her.
'That's impossible, he'd never...he doesn't...' Merlin babbled.
'Yes he does.' They told him in unison.
'I've known Arthur a long time.' Morgana stated. 'He can't keep his true feelings hidden from me. It's so obvious that you two are meant to be together.'
'You're like two sides of the same coin.' Gwen interjected.
'Precisely.' Morgana agreed. 'But you know what Arthur's like, he's far too proud to ever admit his feelings.'
'That's why you have to make the first move.' Gwen told him gently.
The two girls looked at him expectantly but he had no idea what it was they were expecting.
'Well?' Morgana asked impatiently.
'Well what?' Merlin asked in confusion.
The girls rolled their eyes both clipped him around the back of his head.
'Ow!' He exclaimed as he tenderly rubbed the back of his skull. 'What was that for?'
'For being such a...male.' Morgana replied. 'Now, are you going to tell Arthur how you feel or not?'
'No way.' Merlin answered immediately and both girls looked severely disappointed. They folded their arms across their chests and pouted slightly as they looked up at him through their long lashes. 'Don't look at me like that.' The boy pleaded as he felt his resolve beginning to break.
'Please Merlin.' Morgana asked. 'Arthur's like a brother to me. All I want is to see him happy.'
'And I want to see you happy.' Gwen told him. 'And you two would make each other happy.'
'No, I can't...there's no way.'
'Please?' The two girls asked together dragging out the word.
'Fine, I'll try.' Merlin agreed and the girls beamed in delight. 'But if I end up in the stocks or the dungeons I won't speak to either of you ever again.'
With that said he pushed himself off the bed and raced out of the room, stumbling slightly on his way. He was on his way back to his own living quarters with Gaius when he saw the Prince strolling down the hall. Mouth suddenly dry and heart hammering, Merlin ducked behind a statue of a lion.
'Merlin what are you doing?' Arthur asked him as he looked down upon him.
Blushing in embarrassment Merlin stood up from his unsuccessful hiding place.
'Nothing sire.' He replied.
'Go get my horses ready.' Arthur instructed. 'We're going on a hunt.'
'I thought the hunt with the other knights wasn't until next week.' Merlin said.
'It's not.' Arthur told him. 'But I'm in the mood for a hunt now so you and I are going.'
'I...just us?' Merlin squeaked.
'Yes Merlin, now go prepare the horses.' Arthur ordered.
Merlin nodded before obediently heading out to the stables. A strange sensation burst to life in his stomach. He would be alone in the company of Arthur away from the castle, perhaps he could tell the Prince how he really felt for him. That way, if Arthur reacted badly he could use his magic to knock him out with a tree branch and ran away back to Ealdor. As he tended to the horses he wondered if Morgana and Gwen were right. Could it be possible that Arthur returned his feelings? Merlin suddenly felt very excited and very scared about this hunting trip. Whatever happened, Merlin was sure it would change their relationship forever.
To Be Continued...
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