A/N: A fic inspired by the song My Dearest from Guilty Crown. -v-) Though what inspired me the most is its English Cover by AmaLee, check her out in YouTube, I love it! ;D

Some parts of the song fits Merlin more though, so I'm wondering if I should make Merlin's side too... :/ Ah, well, let's see the reaction of this one too. Oh, and, because I suck at titles, I simply take it from the song's title. :'D And, I suck at summaries too. -,-;; Lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. :'3

English isn't my native language so I'm sorry for any grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Warnings: M rated because there's a bit of... sex, but nothing too graphic. Still that rating simply to be safe. :/a

Disclaimer: Merlin isn't mine... Not even the song... or the cover. :'D

My Dearest
~Arthur's Side~

When we first met each other, we were simply strangers, him a peasant, me a royal, a Prince. Our first interaction wasn't even the best. We fight. I thought he was an idiot, albeit a brave one, picking a fight with his Prince. Turned out I'm not his Prince after all, he's from Cenred's kingdom. The one-sided fight ended with him being in prison. He's a peasant, lacking in both strength and training, how can he beat the Prince of Camelot who has trained ever since he could hold a sword?

The boy was released the next day, the Court Physician begging for his release. He was the Court Physician's ward.

Our second encounter was on the lower town. I was simply patrolling while he's probably doing errand for Gaius. I couldn't help but tease him. Taunting him to the point he accepted my challenge again despite knowing I'm the Prince of Camelot now. I don't even know what happened after but a series of bad luck just followed me as I tripped around. Luckily, he was distracted by something, or someone, at the last minute, giving me chance to strike back. This time, I prevented the guards from dragging him to the prison.

Our third encounter, he actually saved me. Despite our previous encounters, he still saved me, pulling me just before the knife plunged on my seat. The King, my father, gave him the honor to be my manservant. Really, he was simply a peasant, how can he be my manservant? I could see from his face that he felt reluctant too, but it was the King he was talking to, he couldn't simply refuse and tried to walk away without getting punishments despite it was supposed to be a reward. He could only nod dumbly.

As a manservant, he was a bad one, never listening to orders, always talking back, clumsy to the point that he could trip over nothing, still, I wondered sometimes why I haven't fired him yet. I realized that the change was actually refreshing for once. It was only with him that I could laugh freely, not burdened by the duty of a prince for once. Besides, obedient, always following orders manservant was simply too boring. He could be wise sometimes, and even if I hate to say it, he often guides me here and there. The thing I like the most about him was his loyalty. He was loyal to the point that I would think that he's an idiot. He would follow me anywhere, through hunting trips, adventures, quests. There was even a time he followed me through war. Bad thing is how he always prioritizes other people's safety and well-being before his own. Really, he couldn't even protect himself, why must he be such an idiot?

The time I discovered his magic, it was something petty. He was simply using his magic to polish the armors in his room. I was about to inform him on going to a hunting trip tomorrow. I couldn't believe my sight at first, he was on his bed, reading a old, big book, armors floating while being polished. As soon as he looked up, I could see the flash of gold and the clatters of armors that followed. We stared at each other for awhile after that, I immediately forgot what I was going to talk about. He was the first to break the silence, stuttering and making incoherent words in fear.

In the end, I gave him a chance to explain. At the end of the story, he was looking at me with fear and underlying hope on his eyes. Even I was drilled to hate magic from the day I was born, I simply can't hate this idiot, loyal manservant of mine. He has sacrificed a lot for me. He was always with me at every waking moment and never betrayed me even when he could do it any time. How could I betray him now? I could see how happy he was, looking at me as if I'm his savior, when I finally choose to keep quiet about his magic and accept him. I wondered since when I have gone this soft.

I was still uncomfortable with him using magic around me at first. Especially after seeing how powerful he was in occasions. But as time passed, I was starting to get used to it. He also helped a lot in bandits and other magical-related problems. I was content with it for now.

Somewhere along the way, I seem to have fallen in love with this idiot. I didn't realize it at first, but somehow, I always searched for him. If he's not with me, I felt insecure. I thought I was in love with Morgana's maid, Guinevere, at first. I even courted her. Ironically, it was her that pointed out that I was in love with my manservant. I called her ridiculous at first but with further coaxing from Morgana and more time to think about, every time I see that idiot and every time he smiled at me, I felt a sense of protection and the need to always keep him smiling and laughing like that. It was then when I realized how screwed I was.

The time I confessed and we actually became a couple was when a royal family visited our kingdom. His daughter, Vivian, was a rude and arrogant woman. I found it hard to believe that I could fall for her even with the enchantment. I found that being enchanted wasn't so bad if you need a true love's kiss to break your enchantment and that true love is someone you love back too. He thought about making Gwen kiss me at first. But Gwen pointed out that it was not her that I loved. I owed Gwen a great debt. When the enchantment broke, I found like my heart was finally completed, and the first thing I see was the face of my manservant, blushing slightly. I could see worry in his eyes. I smiled at him and finally said those three words to him. We embraced and kissed one more time after that. I went to the battle after he wished me good luck, proud and confident.

When I saw him hurting himself, I don't know what to say. Heck, I don't know what to think. It was a few days after I was crowned King. Officially, since the first time it was simply a quick coronation to fill the weakness of Camelot. His tear-filled eyes looked at me in surprise and horror. Everything happened almost in a blur after that. Him scrambling to his feet, trying to wipe both his tears and blood before falling back down, dizzy from the lost of blood. Thank the Gods I managed to catch him just in time, preventing further injury. He was immediately unconscious after that. I brought him to Gaius who was as shocked as I am.

I didn't leave his side until he woke on the night. Most of the people, including Gaius, were already asleep. He walked up groggily, asking what I was doing here and why I looked like I haven't slept in days. It was immediately replaced with that same fear from before and stutters of apologies when he remembered what happened though. My heart felt like it shattered into pieces seeing the person I love in this condition. Worse, I didn't even realize it until now. I embraced him tightly and muttered a single apology. He immediately broke down and cried. Words flown out of his mouth, saying how he was a monster, how he was evil, how many people dead in his hands, how many people he couldn't protect despite his powerful magic, how many people have been sacrificed in his place. I embraced him, telling him that it will all be fine, that he's not alone anymore, that this time, anything he can't do alone, we'll do it together, I won't let him shoulder all the burden by himself.

It was at that same night when we became one for the first time. I stayed with him all night, showering him with whispers of love and gentle kisses all around his body, lingering a bit longer on the scars on his wrists, crisscrossing one another. I tried to be gentle as I can, not wanting to break him further, he was fragile as it is. Our first time was slow, not desperate or needy. I make sure that his comfort and pleasure came first. I told him how precious he is, how he is my world and my everything, and that all of me is his.

I will make sure that he never hurt himself anymore after that. I will never let him get out of my sight.

Morgana looked at me as if she knew about it the next day. She couldn't have, no one was around at that time, I'm pretty sure of that. She said that she saw it on her dream last night. Damn seers, I thought. Morgana's magic has been discovered quite some time ago, even before I was King. We kept it a secret between the four of us though.

When the court demanded me to take a wife and produced an heir, I refused. At least, I tried too. They were persistent, attacking with reasons that were hard to counterattack. Finally, I gave in. they arranged an invitation for the Princess of another kingdom. I talked to Merlin, he understood, the need for the Pendragon to have an heir. He gave me the 'okay'. I was still not sure though, I understood Merlin easily now, I can see the jealousy and worry in his eyes. Still, he said nothing. At the very least, I'm going to respect him and not bringing it up.

When Princess Mithian came, we welcome her as we welcome all the other nobles. She was unlike other princesses, she was kind, easy to talk to, and an adventurous person. We clicked well. If it wasn't because my heart was filled with love for Merlin, I might have no complaints on marrying her. At the end of her visit, I apologized that I wasn't able to fall in love with here and I wouldn't want to marry someone I didn't love. Surprisingly, she understood. She even teased me about how my love for my manservant can't be more obvious.

That night after Princess Mithian left, we make love. Our love making was more intimate than before, realizing how deep our feelings are and the feelings of not wanting to let go. As I was buried inside his tight heat, I hoped that the time would stop and let me feel this happiness forever. Morning still came though, but it was fine because I believe that no matter how many days passed, my love for my manservant would never change. I hoped that our happiness could last forever instead.

Years passed, I have officially make my manservant my Royal Consort and Court Warlock. On the day of the announcement and coronation, tears of joy flow like river. We clinged and kissed each other, enjoying our session together now that he was officially mine. My heart swelled with happiness now that we don't have to hide our relationship and he don't have to hide who he is anymore.

That one time I missed my father greatly, I was given a chance to visit him in the afterlife. I made a mistake that I deeply regret though, I turned back just before I went back to the living world. True, my father's spirit went loose on the living world, attacking the Knights of the Round Table, Gwen, and even Morgana. What I can't mostly forgive was when my father attacked Merlin though. He told me how disappointed he was, having a sorcerer and a man as a lover, how that is not what he had raised me all this time, a disgrace to the Pendragon. I didn't care though, he is dead, his reign and injustice has ended, it was now time for mine, I won't let the past prevent me from the kind of King I want, trying, to be.

At this point, a war was definitely inevitable. Merlin went ahead first, wanting to recover his magic. I sent Gwaine with him, just in case. I kissed him before he left, making a promise that we will definitely see each other again, alive and well. I gave the insignia ring, a ring that let the bearer rule the kingdom, to Gwen and Morgana, trusting them to run the kingdom in our absence. The war was bad, so much death, so much blood shed. Camelot was gaining an upper hand though. Merlin soon came, his magic blasting most of the enemies away.

My last enemy was the druid boy I saved long ago, Mordred. With a sword that looked almost like Excalibur, he looked at me with rage and hatred. The move was fast. He plunged the blade into my abdomen. I could faintly hear Merlin's shouts and cries and the feel of his arms around me. Just at the corner of my eyes, I could see Mordred blasted away by an invisible force, his head colliding on the sharp, jagged stones behind. The sound of the impact was unpleasant to the ears and I wondered if he's still alive.

I felt a firm pressure on where I was stabbed and looked up to see Merlin's crying face, I brought my hand to his face, trying to wipe away his tears in vain. It just kept on flowing uncontrollably like a waterfall. I wondered why Merlin was crying, is he sad? Is he hurt? Did someone hurt him? I opened my eyes to tell him that it's fine, you're fine, we're all going to be fine, but instead, I coughed out blood and Merlin's desperate cries became louder. Is Merlin crying for me? Am I dying?

I tried once more. Raspy voice that I recognized as mine came out, trying to comfort Merlin, my beautiful Merlin. I wanted the tears away from him. I told him not to worry, not to cry, that I will always live in him, as long as he's alive, I will, as long as he remembers me, as long as I'm in his memory, I will always live and that one day, we could be reunited once again. I asked him to smile for me, one last time, I want his smiling face to be the last thing I see after all. He did. Despite the tears streaming down on his face, he smiled, he tried his best to smile. I smiled back, showing him that I was happy to the very end of my life.

And everything went black.

The next thing I realized was how wet I was. I opened my eyes to find myself on a lake, standing, like an idiot. I looked to the bank, and I saw him. He ran desperately into the lake, trying to reach me, crying my name all the time. I couldn't believe my eyes, how he didn't change at all since the last time I saw him. The same face, the same voice, the same eyes. He was dressed differently though, a style that was unfamiliar in Camelot. I didn't know how long was I unconscious, I'm pretty sure I was as good as that before. Looking at how different the surroundings were, I didn't know how much time passed. But when I'm in his embrace, I felt warm, and I felt like I'm finally home.

"I'm back", I murmured as I embraced him just as tightly as he did.

"Welcome back, Arthur."

~Tsudzuku

A/N: So... what do you think? :'3 Um, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it!

-Kai