Title: Hope
Author: Hermitknut
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: U
Genre: Pre-slash, drabble
Wordcount: 153
Summary: Merlin finally dares to hope. Drabble/thought-stream set in Sins of the Father, series 2.
"Maybe it's not as simple as he would have us believe."
Something awoke inside Merlin's mind at Arthur's words, but he hardly dared to acknowledge it. Was this it, he wondered?
"One day Arthur will become king, and he will know you for what you are."
Was it now? Was this what would open Arthur's eyes? Would this be the moment, the change, the metamorphosis, when Arthur began to open his mind and see further than his father's black and white morality?
After so long, Merlin finally began to allow himself to hope that he wouldn't have to hide any longer. But he restrained himself, determined to get this right. He could not afford to reveal himself accidentally now – Arthur wouldn't yet just step away from the beliefs he'd been raised with.
Merlin played the role of concerned servant and friend, for now, but all the while watching, hope growing in his heart.