Authors Note: HEYO! XD This is my second go at a Merlin fanfic. Please, please tell me what you think; I would love to know XD I have only seen the FIRST THREE seasons of Merlin, so YEAH :)
I own nothing and no one, apart from the following: Lucan.
Good Uther, Good Morgana, Ygraine is alive, Magic is allowed!
Please, please review XD
Arthur
Walking through the Square on a warm summer day, such as I was doing now, never failed to calm me. Seeing the Kingdom I would one day rule over in such peace, no one living in fear because of some threat, it always allowed me to just...relax. That is until I'm jolted out of my peaceful mind set by some imbecile, who's not watching where he's going.
"I am so sorry!" the child – he can be no older than sixteen – rushed. "It's just, there's so much to see here, and I've never been to Camelot and it's all so amazing! I just got distracted and I'm trying to find someone who lives here now, and I have no idea where they are, only that they're in the castle, I really didn't mean to bump into you! So, yeah, sorry."
How someone could talk so fast, I didn't know. But, being a Prince, I had learnt how to hide my surprise at many things. Standing up straighter, while I sorted through what the boy had stuttered out, I took in his appearance.
The boy had black hair that hung down just below his ears, covering his forehead too, though it did nothing to hide his ears that stuck out of the sides of his head. Unnaturally bright green eyes, wide with an innocence that most children in Camelot had, but never kept long due to the evils they were subjected to. He was pale and thin, almost to the point of looking ill. He was taller than some, though he was still growing, coming up to the height of my shoulders.
"Lucky for you, I'm in a forgiving mood today." I told him. "Who are you looking for?"
"You're going to help me?!" the boy asked, eyes wider and breaking out into a goofy grin. "Oh, thank you! That's great, just... Thank you! I'm looking for a family member of mine. His name is..."
"I think I know who he is, follow me."
"Thank you so much!"
The boy didn't stop talking, or thanking me, as we made our way towards the castle. Honestly, didn't he ever run out of breath?! But, somehow, I managed to block out the incessant noise, focussing on finding the one he had come looking for. I didn't have to look far, finding the Knight on the training field with the others.
"Gwaine!" I yelled over, the Knight in question looking up.
Gwaine ran over, Percival – no surprise there, those two could never leave each other alone...mother and Morgana thought it was sweet that they were, and I quote, 'so in love' –, Lance, Leon and Elyan all following behind.
As the five of my best Knights, and five of my closest friends – if we weren't counting Merlin here – came to a stop in front of me, I turned slightly, so they could see the boy that was hiding behind me slightly.
"Arthur!" Gwaine grinned. "What seems to be the problem, Princess?"
"He yours?" I asked, rolling my eyes at my Knights antics.
"No. I've never seen him in my life." Gwaine frowned.
"I thought you said you knew who I was talking about?" the kid mocked, raising an eyebrow at me.
The nerve!
"Do you know who you're talking to?" I demanded.
"A prat?" he replied, instantly.
"Excuse me?!"
"A prat. A clotpole. A dollophead. You take your pick."
"You should watch your tongue; I could take you apart with one blow."
"And I could you apart with less than that."
"I've been trained to kill since birth."
"And how long have you been training to be a prat?"
A strange sense of déjà vu came over me in that instant, but I shook it off. Right now I had to confront the complete arrogance of the child in front of me, who dared to speak to me as such.
"You can't address me like that." I spat.
"Oh, I'm sorry. How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?" he replied, smirking slightly as he bowed a little.
As I opened my mouth to put the boy in his place, it hit me then of whom he was actually looking for. Of course! Only someone that knew Merlin would have the nerve to talk to the Prince of Camelot like that, just look at his friend Will. Sighing, I turned towards the five Knights who were desperately trying not to laugh.
"I'll go fetch him from Gaius." Lance told me, coughing slightly to hide a laugh.
Merlin
It was nice having the day off. Not having to run around the castle to complete any chores for once. Even Gaius had nothing to keep me busy! It was brilliant! Ok, so maybe it was a little boring, but at least I wasn't mucking out the stables or anything. I sighed, leaning back in the chair I was sitting on, as I flicked through my book of spells. Not having to hide my magic took such a weight off of my shoulders that it felt...I couldn't find a word to describe it, but it was good! Though, that didn't take away my boredom.
I was about ready to actually get up and see if there was anything anywhere that I could do, when a laughing Lancelot burst into the room. My heart was pounding from the unexpected entrance, and I couldn't help but feel a little worried at my friend's actions.
"Merlin, friend, we need you on the training field." Lancelot beamed, still chuckling. "There's someone wishing to see you and I fear that if you do not break it up, then Arthur may snap."
"To see me?" I mused. "Who is it?"
Lancelot took a moment to calm down, taking a deep breath, before answering me.
"He didn't give a name. Looks about sixteen, black hair, green eyes. Looks a little like you, actually. Leon told me he thinks he said almost exactly to Arthur what you did to him before you both had a small battle in the Square."
I was pretty much running past Lancelot before he had even finished speaking, smiling all the way.
When I reached the field, I saw exactly what I had expected. The boy Lance had described was attempting to get under Arthur's skin, saying things similar to what I would on a daily basis to the Crowned Prat. Arthur, to give him credit, didn't seem to be falling into the trap though. But he did look as if he was about to hit the boy as hard as he could.
"Lucan!" I yelled, as I got closer.
The boy in question stopped mid word, turning. The mischievous smirk changed instantly to the childish grin I hadn't seen in years! Lucan pushed past Arthur and the four other Knights standing with him, running towards me as I was to him. We didn't stop running until we crashed into each other, near the small group, both of us laughing as we hugged each other. I hadn't seen Lucan in ten years, when he was six and I was fourteen. Since then we had both changed, but it was hard not to recognise each other. Especially when people would always confuse us for the other. According to Lucan they still did! I only knew this due to the daily letters we would receive from each other, which we sent to each other by magic – duh. Yes, yes, that's right. Lucan, the sixteen year old boy who, by the way, wouldn't and couldn't harm a fly, had magic. It shocked me when I first found out too.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, beaming like an idiot. "Not that I'm not happy about it!"
"Mother finally agreed to let me visit. I've been asking to see you since the last time we saw each other, and then we found out that you had been sent here." Lucan told me. "I begged and begged for her to let me come here, and finally she allowed me to! So, here I am!"
"I can see that. Come on, I'll show you around."
Pulling back from the hug, I kept my right arm around Lucan's neck, pulling him towards to castle.
Arthur
"I am not in a bad mood, Morgana!" I yelled.
My darling sister, while I did love her, could be so annoying that I honestly wanted to ask Merlin to cast a spell on her to shut her up. His magic was more powerful than Morgana's, he would be perfectly able!
"Oh, so the reason you locked yourself in your chambers is because you're in a good mood, then?" she spoke, calmly and almost amused. "Arthur, Leon's told me you've been acting like this since Merlin went off with Lucan. You're not jealous, by any chance, are you?"
"Leave me, Morgana!" I yelled again.
"Arthur, are you jealous?"
"I mean it, Morgana."
"Arthur..."
"LEAVE ME!"
For a moment, there was nothing. Just silence. But after a short time, I heard the sound of footsteps fading away. Sometimes my sister could be so infuriating! Especially when she was right... Well, when I say right, I don't mean to agree with her that I was 'jealous', as she put it. No. Prince Arthur is never jealous! I was just rather annoyed that a sixteen year old troublemaker could capture the attention more than me.
I lay down on my bed, staring straight up as I ran my hands through my hair. I couldn't have been lying there like that for more than five minutes when there was a knocking on my door.
"Morgana, I swear, if you don't leave..." I started.
"Arthur Pendragon, you will open this door." mother's voice sounded.
Instantly I jumped up, hurrying over to my door to unlock it. I may have been twenty four, but I knew better than to disobey my mother. Even father knew better than that! I opened the door to allow my mother into my chambers, closing it again after she glided in. Mother stood in front of me, hands on her hips. For the first time in a few years, I felt like I was four again, being scolded for running out of the castle and onto the training field, scaring everyone.
"Come on, tell me what happened." mother said.
Sighing, I did just that.
Merlin
"And that's the end of the tour." I chuckled, as Lucan and I made our way back to mine and Gaius' chambers.
"This is so much better than I thought it would be." the sixteen year old smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. "And you get to use your magic freely here. I wish mother and I lived here too."
"Maybe you could one day. You never know what could happen in the future."
Lucan seemed to be dragged into his own head then, imagining the day that he could possibly stay in Camelot. When we were kids we would always wonder what it would be like to live in other places, Camelot especially. We always wondered what they would look like and what the people were like.
"So, who was that prat from earlier? And those other people he was with?" Lucan asked, once inside mine and Gaius' chambers.
We both took a seat at the table, across from one another, my open magic book lying to the side.
"Well, you had Percival who was the really tall one. Gwaine was standing next to him, black hair, grinning like he was drunk." I explained. Gwaine still insists he flirts with everyone, even though he's with Percival. Lancelot, or Lance, was the one to run and get me. Leon, blonde and curly hair. Elyan was the last, he's Gwen's brother. Gwen was the one I introduced you to near the kitchens."
"Right." Lucan mumbled, nodding. "And the blonde prat?"
"Arthur."
"As in, Prince Arthur."
"Yup."
"Whoops."
Arthur
Mother always had a way to get me to tell her everything, just like now. Even if there was something I didn't want to mention, she would get it out of me in an instant. By the end of it, we were sitting on the edge of my bed, just like we used to when I was a child. It was amazing how mother hadn't changed how she was in certain situations. It was...oddly comforting.
"Honestly, Arthur, just go talk to him." mother told me. "I'm sure this is just a misunderstanding."
"I'm sure it's not, mother." I sighed.
"Arthur, just talk to the boy. Or I will."
"But..."
"No buts. I mean it, Arthur. And do try to get it done before the ball next week, dear; it would be so nice to see you there with someone."
"Mother..."
"Now come on, no more sulking."
For the week leading up to the ball, I didn't have a chance to speak to Merlin. He was either doing what a manservant should, or, when he was with me, going on about Lucan. Then, anytime I tried to talk to him outside of my chambers, Lucan would suddenly appear out of nowhere! In the end, I just left it. It was obvious that Merlin was happier like this.
Of course, that meant my mood did not improve in the slightest. In fact it was made worse every time Merlin talked about that boy, or when said child appeared. I didn't know who he was, but I didn't like him. I certainly didn't like how he and Merlin seemed to be so close. No, I didn't like it at all.
No, mother couldn't be right with this. This wasn't a misunderstanding; I knew what was happening here oh so very well. But to hell if I wasn't going to find a way to put a stop to this once and for all. I just had to figure out how and when.
Merlin
The summer ball was one that Morgana and Ygraine – the Queen had insisted I call her by her first name since the first time we met – always put on around this time of year. It was tradition really, and ever since I had been in Camelot it had always been my favourite. It was never too hot or too cold, everyone was always in high spirits. Gwaine didn't even seem to be as obnoxious when he was drunk. It was always a good time to just relax and have fun. Especially when every year I would be excused from my duties so I could enjoy it that same as everyone else. The best thing about the ball this year? I had someone I could talk to properly, without them making some sort of inappropriate comment or joke.
I had already told Lucan that if he ended up drinking I would not let him get off lightly. He was only sixteen, and as his guardian at the time I had the responsibility. Now I just had to make sure to keep Gwaine away from him...
"But, Merlin... I don't know anyone." Lucan muttered as we walked towards the hall, side by side.
"It's fine. There are a few people I can introduce you to, and they will love you." I told him. "Well, they will if they know what's good for them."
Luckily, I knew the right thing to get him to relax when he was feeling nervous. Well, I would know, since I've known him all his life. Hell, I was only just outside the room when he was being born! I was one of the first to hold him. We were both so similar, and not just because we both had magic. So, of course I would know how to make him feel better. It was the same with Arthur. Even though I had only known Arthur for a few years, I knew how to calm him down when he was in one of his moods, or cheer him up when he was feeling down. It was easier to get Arthur feeling better again than it was anyone else, which never failed to surprise me.
Opening the doors to the hall once we reached them, I couldn't help but laugh at the look on Lucan's face. The look of awe and amazement on his face as he took in the decorations and the people and the everything was something I was sure was on my face when saw it all for the first time.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to some people." I grinned, hooking my arm around his neck, dragging him over towards the five Knights, Gwen and Morgana.
Like I said, they loved him. I knew Gwen and Morgana would take a liking to Lucan before he even started talking or introduced them – they're exact words being 'aw, he's so cute'. As I predicted, Gwaine tried to get him drunk – thankfully Percival was there to back me up and keep Gwaine in check. Lancelot, the great guy he was, took a liking to Lucan, talking to him as if they had known each other for a while. Percival, Leon and Elyan were the same, though slightly more reserved since they had only just met him.
"And you were worried." I chuckled a little while later, nudging Lucan as we stood there, watching everyone dance.
"You would be to!" Lucan protested.
"Well, no, not really. I was fairly alright with talking to people when I first got here."
"Shut up, Merlin."
"You love me."
"Well, yeah."
"Nope!" a voice interrupted.
Looking up, Lucan and I both found Arthur standing in front of us. As soon as we had, Arthur grabbed my arm, mumbling an 'excuse me', before dragging me off, outside the hall. I glanced back at Lucan, both of us confused.
Arthur dragged me further down the corridor, further away from the hall. I kept quiet, not wanting to worsen the Prince's obvious mood. Of course, it was then that my back had the pleasure of meeting the cold wall, when Arthur decided to push me against it.
"Ok, you will be quiet while I say this, Merlin. Understood?" Arthur asked, quietly.
I nodded, swallowing slightly.
"Good." Arthur nodded, continuing. "Now, I'm not saying this because I'm not ok with it. Because I am. I'm fine with Gwaine and Percival, so I'm fine with you. But him, no I don't like it. Be with anyone you like, just not that kid. You know, I really wish you told me about him in the first place, so I didn't start falling in love with you like I am now. And I..."
I took the opportunity to surge forward then. I had heard all I needed to, and I just couldn't help but give in and do what I had wanted to do for a while now. I cut off the Prince's rant by pressing my lips to his, effectively shutting him up. To be honest, I thought he was going to push me away, but never had I thought he would kiss me back. Arthur-freaking-Pendragon was kissing me back! Was I dreaming?! If I was I never wanted to wake up. If I wasn't, I wished on everything that he wouldn't regret this. Arthur pulled me up to a standing position, so I was no longer slouched against the wall, not pulling back in the slightest. When standing up properly, my arms had slid upwards to wrap around his neck, my right hand fisting his blonde hair gently, as Arthur's hands rested on my hips. His tongue ghosted across my lower lip, making my mouth open slightly as a small moan escaped. It was like I had no control over what I was doing anymore, but that was fine by me. Arthur's grip on me tightened as his tongue dived into my mouth, not that I was at all surprised that he would take the lead here. I was surprised, however, when Arthur dragged me closer, lifting me up a little. My closed eyes – when did I close them? – going slightly wide, my hand in his hair gripping slightly together. His tongue brushed against mine as we continued, but all too soon we pulled away. Breathing heavily, Arthur placed his forehead on mine, his eyes shut tight, as if afraid to open them. I couldn't help the kind-of-dazed smile that spread its way across my face, as I felt heat rise to my face and colour my skin red.
"And you call me the idiot." I breathed, quietly.
"What do you...?" Arthur started.
"Lucan's my cousin."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw the realisation cover Arthur's stupidly handsome face, along with a slight blush that I had never seen on him before.
"My dad had a sister. She had a small bit of magic herself, but nothing like my father, since he was a Dragonlord. Lucan inherited the magic from her." I explained, smiling fondly. "We used to live in neighbouring villages, but haven't seen each other in ten years; we've only ever sent letters to each other since then. We used to see each other every other week, and I would help him control his magic as well as trying to control mine. Lucan was the first friend I had before Will; he was the only other person like me that was still a child. We grew up more like brothers than cousins, which is why we're so close. By the way, I may have started to fall in love with you too."
There was a small silence, and for a moment I had no idea what Arthur was going to do. I bit my lip as I waited, staring into blue eyes, waiting. It was after a few seconds that Arthur started smirking.
"Well... I'm glad that's sorted then." he whispered.
Before I could reply, Arthur leaned in again, giving my mouth something a lot better to do.
Now, would you like another chapter and make me bump this up to the next rating or not? Just let me know :)
By the way, I take prompts for:Sterek (Teen Wolf, Derek/Stiles), Merthur (Merlin, duh) and Wolfstar (Harry Potter – Sirius/Remus). I do any rating and I'm willing to give some a go, if anyone wants me to :)
Please review XD
Thanks XD