Disclaimer: I do not own anything :D
A/N: So, hi! Here's chapter four :D Thank you to all those who followed, favorited, and reviewed the previous chapter.
We're nearing the end, lol. One more chapter and "Bewitched" is officially over (unless, of course, I get more brilliant plot ideas). But for now, please do read and then review! Enjoy!
Bewitched by WickedlyAwesomeMe
Chapter Four
Ealdor was still nice and simple. Merlin actually forgot the vast meadows and the towering trees, the friendly people and the quiet markets, the warm days and cool nights. Being here brought back pleasant memories of her childhood, memories that were void of any heartaches and fear. And she knew she should be happy she was back home.
But sadly, it wasn't Camelot.
Months flew by after she was banished from the wonderful kingdom, and Merlin had no connections or news whatsoever from the kingdom. Everyday, she would sluggishly stand up from her bed and do chores for her mother, wishing, dreaming, hoping that today, Arthur would come for her.
On the day that she arrived back from Camelot, Hunith welcomed her heartbroken daughter in her arms. She already heard the news from Gaius, and knew that her daughter was upset.
"Things will be better soon, I promise," she appeased, and Merlin had clung to her words like they were her lifeline.
Things had been uneventful ever since. Without Will to keep her company, being in Ealdor became extra lonely. Hunith tried her very best to cheer her up, and Merlin was ashamed of herself for putting her mother in such a position, but she just couldn't really bring herself to smile widely once again.
One day, though, after coming back from the woods to gather firewood, a horse stood waiting right in front of their house and she thought it was Arthur now waiting for her. She dashed with amazing speed, to greet him, to hug him, to see him because finally, finally, they would see each other again.
But instead of Arthur waiting, a somber Sir Lancelot greeted her instead. Hunith already had tears in her eyes, and Merlin dreaded that the knight's presence brought bad news.
"I came to deliver a letter from the Prince," he said, bowing his head, unable to look directly in her eyes.
Merlin clutched the letter to her hands and read its contents. Every line Arthur wrote brought horror in her heart and tears turned guttural, Hunith had to hold her tight just to calm her daughter down.
"… I plan to sacrifice myself in the Isle of the Blessed. Gaius said it is the only way to close the tear between the living and spirit world. Gaius said it was the only way to banish the Dorochas."
She had heard about the Dorochas invading Camelot and its nearby villages, and Merlin never realized they posed a greater danger to Camelot.
"… I'm sorry, Merlin. Please don't wait for me anymore."
The windows in their house rattled because of her despair and both Lancelot and Hunith helplessly watched.
"… After all this time, I still love you, Merlin."
And then, she knew that the only solution to this whole thing was to sacrifice herself in his stead. After all, she was destined to protect him, to keep him from dying so that he could establish the greatest kingdom for the next generations.
Hunith loudly protested, but her mind was set. Tomorrow, she would embark on a journey towards the Isle of the Blessed to save Arthur.
Sir Lancelot was supposed to accompany her, to direct her where the Prince was, but that night, the noble knight slipped away. In the end, it was Lancelot who sacrificed himself for the Prince and the kingdom.
Merlin bitterly cried from the news, knowing how her friend, Gwen, would be distraught from the situation. "It was my fault," she told Hunith, clutching her mother tightly like a child. "I-It was my fault. I should have gone earlier than him."
She mourned for the loss of her friend, and she knew that Sir Lancelot du Lac would never be forgotten in history, hailed as the noblest knight among the noblest knights.
"Uther is dead."
Merlin's eyes widened in shock, as she slowly looked at her mother. Hunith was gazing worriedly at her daughter, trying to gauge her reaction.
The young sorceress, on the other hand, heavily leaned against their small table and thickly swallowed. "I-I don't know what to say," she said, emotions swirling inside her heart. Uther is dead, her brain kept on chanting, and she absolutely had no idea how to feel about this particular topic.
Ever since Morgana betrayed the whole kingdom, she suspected that the king would be too distressed. He was growing old, and heartache weakened his soul. Even though she never voiced it out loud to Arthur, she knew that he would never recover from Morgana's betrayal.
"Arthur…" Merlin said, her eyes widening once more. "He must be…"
Hunith gently smiled at her daughter and nodded her head. "He has been crowned as the new King of Camelot," she said. "Gaius sent me a letter early this morning, and the new king had undergone the ceremonies so that the crown will be passed onto him."
Merlin took a sharp intake of breath, disbelieving that Arthur was finally where he truly should be. All the dragon's prophecies and reminders seemed to monumentally peak at this news.
Arthur was finally king, and he would soon bring about the great changes that the dragon's words promised.
But then the happiness she felt was momentarily forgotten, properly thinking of Arthur this time. She wondered what he must be doing right now. What he must be thinking or saying. But more importantly, she wondered what feelings must be residing in his heart.
"Arthur must be feeling lonely," she said, frowning deeply at her hands. Her mother stood up from her chair, and she sadly looked at her. "I wish I was beside him when he discovered of his father's death."
Hunith sauntered towards her daughter and placed a fond kiss on her forehead. "I'm sure you've always been with Arthur, even though you are physically miles apart," she said.
Merlin hoped what her mother said was true.
It was supposed to be a fairly normal day. Merlin expected nothing out of the ordinary to happen. She woke up, feeling the same. Hunith prepared the usual breakfast and she went out of the house to do her usual chores. The village market was, as usual, very quiet and somber; the whole placed screamed of scarcity and once again, she was reminded of the fact that they were being ruled over by an incompetent king. She met the usual neighbours and greeted them amiably. Sometimes, they shoot her curious looks because, well, she disguised herself as a boy to serve in the Kingdom of Camelot and was banished for it. It wasn't exactly an ordinary experience.
It had been over a year now ever since she was banished from Camelot. Although there was still a part of her that yearned to go back, somehow, the hope of returning was slowly dwindling. She was starting to grow accustomed to her life in Ealdor again and leaving it, with her poor mother and her friendly neighbors, would be difficult once more.
"Have you heard the news?" she heard, passing by two old mothers, heads together as they gossiped between themselves. Merlin couldn't suppress the small, amused smile from growing. Ealdor was a small, dreary place, but it wasn't void from gossips and rumors, too.
"What are you talking about?" the other woman asked.
The other woman's eyes brightened with delight as she shared the news to her friend. "The King of Camelot has arrived, with a few of his knights, mind you, and oh what a pleasant sight they are!"
Merlin's world seemed to freeze with that little news for her hand went limp and the basket she was clutching was now a messy heap on the uneven ground. The two women gave her strange looks, but she ignored them and darted past them, her heart thudding loudly because he's here, he's here, he's here.
Her eyes already filled with tears upon spotting the knights that the women talked about. It was Sir Leon who she spotted first, talking to burly Sir Percival. Sir Gwaine and Sir Elyan were patrolling around, eyes darting to and fro in alertness.
It was Sir Gwaine who saw her first, and his eyes widened at her sight. "Merlin!" he exclaimed, and she expelled a too-girly squeal from her mouth and rushed forward, meeting Gwaine in the middle, who pulled her into his arms and lifted her into the air.
"Pretty lass, it had been a while," he said, a cheeky grin growing on his face. He gestured at his companions, who all brilliantly smiled at Merlin. "I'm sure you remember all of them."
She earnestly nodded and she felt so happy she didn't know what to do.
"Your king waits inside," Gwaine then softly whispered against her large ear, and she prettily blushed, because he's here, he's here, he's here. "Go on."
He completely released her and ushered her inside her house. Merlin, feeling utterly ridiculously, started trembling with emotions and more tears streamed down from her eyes. It had been a while ever since she last saw Arthur, and she didn't know what she would do once her eyes laid upon him.
Sir Leon, with a gentle smile, opened the door for her, and she nodded her head in thanks. Merlin slowly walked inside and she momentarily stopped breathing. Arthur, with his glorious hair and eyes, stood beside one of their small windows, gazing outside with a faraway look on his face.
Hunith, who apparently was inside, stood up from her stool and kindly smiled at her tearful daughter.
"I must leave you, then," her mother softly whispered, before scrambling outside, and leaving the two alone.
Once she was gone, Arthur chose that time to finally look at her, and a soft sob escaped from her lips. He still looked so the same, so devastatingly handsome, with the usual twinkle in his eyes and the lovely smile on his lips. The only difference, though, was the crown that he was now proudly wearing and the cloak that boasted of his new status in his kingdom.
"Merlin," he breathlessly greeted, prompting her to start running towards him and throwing her arms around his shoulders. He easily caught her with a laugh, slightly stumbling at her impact, but he held her tight and deeply buried his nose against her hair. "Merlin," he murmured once again, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against her curly hair.
She had no idea for how long they stayed in that position. It had been too long, and she missed him so much that she must be allowed to hold him until she wished to stop.
"I came to take you back to Camelot," he told her a few minutes after and hesitantly, she pulled back and looked at him with trouble on her face. "I already talked to your mother, and she said that the decision lies to you."
She looked away from him, conflicted. "My mother is old," she started. "I-I can't leave her…"
"I've already arranged for some knights to check up on her every once in a while," he said with a smile. "She will be provided appropriately, with enough food and medicine for the following days to come." He was so utterly proud of himself, but Merlin couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes.
"You shouldn't have," she said, prompting him to frown.
"I thought you'd like the arrangement," he said, baffled. He crossed his arms and cocked his head to the right, clearly confused. "Leon thought it was a brilliant idea and well… I was kind of excited to tell you that."
Oh, his plan was brilliant, all right. But she couldn't accept this. Arthur was already burdened with his kingly responsibilities; Merlin reckoned it would be very much unfair to him if she also burdened him with her family matters.
"Let's do it this way," she slowly suggested, careful not to anger him. "What if every once in a while, I go back to Ealdor so that I could visit my mother and take care of her myself?" With the way his frown deepened, she knew he did not like her idea at all. "You could give me whatever you wish for me to give to my mother, and that's it." He was about to open his mouth and protest, but she cut him off. "And if, you refuse, then I regret to say I have to stay here."
Her last words were uttered with difficulty, nervously swallowing as she waited for his answer. She'd be damned if she stayed here for the rest of her life. Her home was here, her mother was here, but Camelot was different.
She belonged in Camelot.
To her utmost relief, Arthur expelled a huge sigh. She could detect a small twitch at the corner of his lips. "You know, you do realize it has been a year ever since we last met, right?" he said. "I expected our reunion to be a little more… affectionate." Her cheeks reddened at his implications. "But then, I'd forgotten that it is you we are talking about, and you have this knack of refusing to listen to me. So, really, I'm not surprised."
Merlin chuckled and threw her arms around him once again, not minding that he was now the king and she used to be a banished citizen. All that mattered that he was here right now, and that he wanted her to return to Camelot.
"I came to take you back to Camelot," he said once again, his lips brushing lightly against her forehead. "Will you come with me, Merlin?"
She lifted her eyes and looked at him and smiled brilliantly. "Yes," she said, her smile widening when Arthur beamed. "Yes, I will come with you."
Arthur flinched, limping closer to his bed as his head continued to throb. Just a while ago, Julius Borden poisoned him and his council and the after effects of the said poison were still wearing off. Gaius thought they were lucky he merely gave them a low dosage; if at least a drop or two was added, then Arthur and his council might all be buried six feet under the ground.
His bedchambers opened and in came Merlin, who refused to meet his eyes. She now clutched a small vial, presumably Arthur's medicine, and silently placed it on his bedside table. Ever since she came back from Ealdor, Arthur gave her the position as the Court Physician's apprentice. It would be very inappropriate to rehire her as his manservant… well, maidservant. He very much wanted her to take his boring manservant's place, but he knew she wouldn't allow such an arrangement. Her true gender was now out in the open, and people were bound to talk.
"Thank you, Merlin," he stiffly said, still miffed with the fact she was partly blamed for the fiasco that Borden had caused. Gaius, of course, told him everything and he couldn't believe Merlin's momentary weakness.
"He was a person of magic," Gaius told him. "And although Merlin's momentary lapse of judgment had caused harm to Camelot, she must still be forgiven. He was, after all, one of her kind."
As if he couldn't forgive her, really. Gaius should have known better. But he was still mad at her, all right. An important egg, one that he never really knew before, was stolen and inside it was actually a baby dragon. If it fell on the wrong hands, there might be a dragon invasion once again.
"Arthur," she finally stated, her face twisting in shame. "I'm sorry."
Arthur sighed and shook his head. "It surprised me how you easily trusted this… this Borden," he snarled in annoyance, rolling his eyes at the mention of the despicable man. "Some of my men were injured, Merlin. I was poisoned, and he almost killed you. What does this even teach you?"
Merlin guiltily looked at her feet and licked her lips. "I promise not to trust others instantly," she said. "It was very stupid of me."
"Well said, you idiot," he said, ushering her close. Merlin hesitated for a while, before heeding his command. He reached forward and grabbed her hand, waiting until her eyes finally connected with his. "And the egg? What happened to it?"
"It hatched," she answered.
His hold on her and tightened.
"I-I don't really think it'll cause destruction, Arthur," she quickly explained. "It was… err small."
"But it still is a dragon," Arthur reminded her. "One day, it will grow up and it could cause destruction to the kingdoms."
To his surprise, Merlin lightly smiled. She pointed to herself and stated, "You're quite forgetting that you are in the presence of a Dragonlady, my lord. I can order the dragon."
He snorted, unable to suppress his amusement. "And that, Merlin, makes you fearsome," he said, glancing briefly all over her body. With blue, wide eyes, dishevelled, curly hair, and a delicate frame, no one would really know that she has the makings of a Great Sorceress. It didn't help that she looked absolutely breathtaking, with a smile that could brighten his day and a touch that could calm him down.
She glared at him in offense, but he chuckled nonetheless.
"Arthur?" she whispered, opening his door and peeking inside. The pensive king was sitting on his desk, and his eyes instantly latched onto her form when she entered. Merlin gave him a small smile, which he surprisingly didn't return. Arthur shifted his gaze away from her, baffling her more.
"You must rest, Merlin," he deadpanned. "It had been a tiring day."
Merlin frowned.
Something was wrong.
She walked slowly towards his desk, her eyes intently gazing at him. Just a while ago, his army was victorious against Queen Annis' army. When Arthur killed King Caerleon, his wife, Queen Annis, waged war with Camelot, and Arthur realized the gravity of what he had done. For days, Camelot was under the threat of war, and Arthur desperately tried to appease the queen. As a fairly new king, he did not wish to bring destruction upon Camelot yet.
"What you did back to Queen Annis' champion," she softly stated, disregarding his earlier command. "That was very brave, Arthur." And it was, because even though he had the upper hand, even though it was obvious that he was already the winner, he refused to take the man's life and instead spared it.
Merlin smiled, knowing that Arthur's reign as the new King of Camelot would bring wonders to this kingdom. What Uther lacked, Arthur made up for them magnificently, and she couldn't wait for the future years to come.
"Thank you," he softly said.
She was actually expecting him to boast (jokingly, of course), but it surprised her how somber and serious he looked right now. Unable to keep her mouth shut, she walked closer to him and asked, "Is something the matter, Arthur?"
The king shook his head. "You must rest, Merlin," he urged.
"Not until you tell me what troubles you," she interjected, frowning when he scowled.
She was being persistent and she wouldn't leave until he told her. Arthur had a long day, too, and she knew it wouldn't do him some good if he kept his troubles in his heart. She could see that he understood her stubbornness, and sighed in defeat, slowly rising on his feet. She waited, watching him as he sauntered towards one of his vast windows, and stared outside.
"My confrontation with Queen Annis… it just proved how big my responsibility as the new King of Camelot is, Merlin," he quietly started, his eyes never leaving the scenery outside. "A lot of people depend on me, and one small mistake can cause drastic results."
Why he was telling her this, she didn't really understand.
"Do you understand what I am trying to tell you?" he asked.
Earnestly, she shook her head. "No, I honestly don't," she bluntly said. She could see his reflection and the way a corner of his lips briefly lifted.
"The words I told you before you left for Ealdor a year ago, do you still remember them?" he asked so quietly, it was almost inaudible.
Merlin caught it, though, and blushed scarlet. How could she forget such words from him? Every day, every night, she longed to hear those words again. His confession was the sole reason why she continued to hope that he would come back for her one day. His confession was the sole reason why she was determined to return to answer him back.
Ever since she came, though, she never really found the right time to truly confess to him. There were times when she thought it was the right time, but some things would happen and she would be terrified. What if his feelings for her changed? What if he didn't love her anymore? The thought scared her so much because after all this time, after all those days, her feelings never changed for him.
Merlin didn't really expect for anything to happen between them once she returned to Camelot. He was, after all, the king, and he has a duty far greater than anybody born in this kingdom. She knew he had a reputation to uphold, a responsibility to follow, but sometimes… sometimes, she wished he was just Arthur so she could properly love him. She was especially wary to be around him these days, because people talk, and she becomes infuriated. Arthur wasn't worthy of any of their rumours and people must realize what greatness awaited them now that Arthur was king.
"Merlin?" he urged when she didn't answer for an eternity.
"Yes," she simply said, afraid that her voice would betray her. She was starting to understand what he was trying to tell her, and her poor heart couldn't take it.
Arthur slowly turned away from the window to properly look at her. His eyes were bright and unreadable, and Merlin could feel a lump forming inside her throat.
"I want you, Merlin," he earnestly whispered, the tone of his voice speaking volumes of what he truly felt. "I want all of you and you have no idea how much I want to kiss you right now."
Merlin bit her bottom lip and took a step back. I want you, too, she kept on repeating to herself. I love you, I love you, I love you.
"But you must understand that I have a duty to my people," he continued, his words completely breaking her heart. "And you must understand that I have to set my selfishness aside. I must be a good king to my people." He visibly swallowed at the look on her face. "Do you understand me?"
She did, so much so it hurts, but that didn't mean that she accepted it. She was selfish, too, and she'd waited for so long for him. She couldn't give up now. He couldn't give up now.
But she was forgetting something, of course. Arthur was king, and the words of the king will always be absolute.
Thus, she wryly smiled back at him. "I think," she started, her eyes already filled with tears. "I think a good king listens to his heart. I think a good king do as he sees fit."
His eyes hardened with her words.
Merlin, who desperately needed to leave, curtsied. The action was foreign to her. It had been a while now ever since she curtsied to him, especially during the days when she was still disguised as a boy and curtsying wasn't required from her.
Her act of curtsying established the relationship that they must have for the next few years – he was her king and she would always be his servant. Nothing could ever happen between them.
When she straightened up, her tears steadily flowed down from her eyes. Arthur had a pained look on his face, and she could see that there was conflict inside him. Therefore, Merlin spared him from the inner turmoil and instead turned around and fled, her tears turning uncontrollable and guttural as she neared Gaius' bedchambers.
Maybe, it wasn't the right decision to come back to Camelot after all.
Agravaine de Bois infuriated her so, and Merlin didn't really understand why. There was something about him, something she couldn't put a finger on, that made him such a mysterious and dangerous person to her. She hadn't really given him much thought, especially after she arrived back to Camelot. Since Arthur was new to his position, Agravaine, who was Arthur's uncle, volunteered to aid his nephew. Arthur was grateful of his uncle, but Merlin thought that Agravaine had some ulterior motives.
Of course she never voiced her suspicions to Arthur. It was obvious he cared for his uncle, and he'd be furious if she carelessly flung accusations like rotten vegetables. Besides, after their heartbreaking conversation a few weeks ago, something changed in their relationship. She still continued to help Gaius with his work, and Arthur sometimes visited, but there seemed to be a wall now built in between them.
The next few days were days filled with misery, but Merlin struggled to pretend that everything was all right. She busied herself with her new work, and socializing with the other servants in Camelot. Her pretense years back made her wary of any company, believing that her secret would be revealed easier if she made new friends. Now that her secret was out, she ached for some friends.
Now things were slowly coming back to normal, but Merlin suspected something big. Agravaine seemed much more fidgety and nervous, but obviously excited, and the young sorceress dreaded for the coming days.
One day, the King and his knights went out for a little hunt and Merlin came across them while picking some herbs for Gaius. She didn't really want to accompany them while they heartlessly killed innocent animals and Merlin was about to return to the castle, when mercenaries suddenly attacked them.
Everything was a blurry of spells and swords and for some strange reason, Merlin ended up fatally wounded. The next thing she knew, she was in the company of Arthur and him alone. The worst part was she was in so much pain.
"You've been wounded," he worriedly pointed out. "We must return to Camelot immediately."
And she tried, she really did, but she was too weak from her wound to continue. Thus, she told him that Arthur must leave her.
"Are you barking mad?!" he exclaimed in anger, but she refused to listen to him. She pushed him away as she created a diversion, huge stones now tumbling down in between them. She could hear Arthur's fearful shouts, but she soon passed out.
The next time she gained consciousness, Morgana was staring opposite her. A few banters and insults were exchanged, with Morgana in disbelief that Arthur's manservant was actually a girl. Once again, Merlin was reminded of a friend that she had lost in Morgana, and wished that she could still change.
The High Priestess then introduced her to a many-headed snake that was unknown to her. A Fomorroh, that was how Morgana called it, and she spoke about manipulation and killing Arthur. Morgana had knocked her unconscious once again, with a lingering feeling of a slithering snake at the back of her neck.
The next time she woke up, she was in Gaius' bedchambers. She never remembered returning here, that was why she looked at the occupants in confusion. Gaius, who was holding a foul-smelling poultice, stood beside a worried Gwen and a fearful Arthur.
Apparently, for the past few days, she was trying to kill Arthur. The news had horrified her, but Arthur assured her, with a jesting lilt in his voice, that she was the worst assassin he had ever seen in his whole life.
They devised a plan for her to kill the Fomorroh residing behind her neck, and again, she turned herself into the old lady. It wouldn't do them some good if Morgana discovered that it was her who had protected Arthur after all this time.
To say that Morgana was terrified to see her was an understatement. Merlin wondered if Morgana had seen her in her dreams. The dragon spoke of their intertwined destiny, after all. With Morgana's ability to foresee the future, sooner or later, she'd dream of Merlin, too.
An epic battle commenced and Merlin was horrified to discover that Morgana grew powerful, but not powerful enough because in the end, Merlin still emerged as the victor. She killed the Mother beast of the Fomorroh and was finally free from the its manipulation.
Before she was to leave, though, she saw him, Agravaine de Bois, and that confirmed her suspicion of him. She knew that right there and then, she must keep an eye on Arthur's uncle. Else, she feared for the future of Camelot.
"I'm sorry."
Merlin stiffened, but she refused to turn around to face Arthur. Her heart was still too raw from what had happened to Gaius and she could not believe that the king listened to his blasted uncle.
She could feel tears springing inside her eyes as she remembered the accusations they threw to Gaius. They all suspected of him as the traitor, and she couldn't believe that Arthur, of all people, believed them. Even after all the sufferings and sacrifices that Gaius made for his father and him, even after all the great deeds and workings Gaius did to protect the people of the kingdom, Arthur believed that it was Gaius who betrayed them all.
"It isn't me who you should be apologizing to," Merlin coldly said.
She heard Arthur sigh, and his quick shuffling of feet. "I already did, and he forgave me," he revealed in shame, as if even he believed it wasn't right for Gaius to forgive him easily. "And then, he suggested that I owe another person an apology."
"Oh blast, you absolutely do," she hysterically cried, this time turning around to face him in fury. "I tried to tell you, didn't I? I tried to tell you how your… your uncle framed Gaius because he was so keen to get rid of him." Her eyes filled with more tears. "You should have known better, Arthur. Gaius is loyal to you."
"I'm sorry," he once again said, his voice filled with guilt and regret and she just couldn't stay mad at him.
Merlin sniffed and haphazardly wiped her tears away. "I am partly to blame, too," she said. When Arthur questioningly looked at him, she continued, "Gaius told me of Morgana's desire to know who Emrys is. They've tortured him so that he could answer and Gaius" – she shook with emotions – "revealed it to Alator of the Catha, a priest and warrior. He swore not to tell any soul, though."
"I don't really understand how this could be your fault," Arthur truthfully said.
"I am Emrys," she revealed, licking her lips. "That is what the Druids call me and I am quite sure that Morgana saw me in one of her dreams."
Arthur's stare hardened. "Then, you are in danger," he said, very alarmed.
She shook her head, a wry smile appearing on her face. "Arthur," she started, "the moment I was born here on Earth, I'm already in danger. That is the price of my destiny, and we can't do anything about it."
He pursed his lips tightly, unable to reply back.
"Morgana is gaining more power," she told him instead. "And I… I fear for Camelot. Agravaine…"
Arthur closed his eyes in pain and took a sharp intake of breath. "What am I to do about him?" he inquired, surprising her. The betrayal that he felt was raw and obvious on his face, and all the anger she had for him now dissipated into thin air.
"I think it is best if we still keep him close," she suggested. "To make him believe that you still have his trust. If you act rashly, Morgana will know that you suspect of Agravaine, and a premature attack might happen. You cannot risk your kingdom once more, Arthur."
He vigorously nodded. "You're right," he said, expelling a soft, weary sigh. "I just…" He shamefully looked intently at her eyes. "I'm sorry, Merlin."
The young sorceress took a sharp intake of breath and walked closer to Arthur. He looked so tired and distressed and as a small act of comfort, she reached out for his hand and squeezed it tight. "What does this teach you, Arthur?" she asked, a sad smile appearing on her face. She clearly remembered the time when he threw the same question to her.
"That you are always right," he said, absent-mindedly lifting a hand to brush any wayward tears from her face. "And I must stop acting like a huge prat and listen to you more."
Merlin nodded her head. "I hope you keep that in mind," she lightly admonished. "And yes, I forgive you."
A wide yawn tore away from her mouth. Arthur shot her a quick, amused look and when she noticed his gaze, she scowled and rolled her eyes.
"This isn't the time to be amused, my lord," she berated, lifting a hand to now rub her tired eyes.
A Lamia, that was what Gaius told him a while ago, and Arthur was still in disbelief. He knew his knights are mighty and noble and utterly brave, but when a monster, albeit disguising as a beautiful one came, they all fell one-by-one. This certain event just proved that women, no matter how the male population denied it, would always be the cause of their downfall.
"How are my knights?" Arthur inquired, absent-mindedly nodding his head at the patrolling knights standing guard in front of his bedchambers. He opened the door and ushered Merlin inside, quickly following her and closing the door.
"They're in the process of recovery," she said, taking one of the vacant seats. Arthur chose to saunter towards his desk and frowned at the towering amount of documents on his table. Because of this whole Lamia fiasco, he'd neglected his kingly duties. It was a little annoying to know that ever since he became king, his responsibilities tripled. Somehow, he longed for the days when he could still meander around his kingdom free from worries and responsibilities.
"Hmm…" Arthur said, "that's good to know."
Silence settled in the room and Arthur allowed it. He busied himself in fixing his documents, wondering where to start. There were documents about land feuds, about fights of properties and inheritance, and a lot more that drove him insane. No wonder his father was a grumpy man; the amount of petty complaints were annoying and ridiculous.
"Is there anything you wish for me to do, Arthur?" Merlin softly asked. He looked up from a particularly ludicrous complaint (seriously, who sues someone for stealing a bowl of rice?) and stared at the Court Physician's apprentice. Merlin quickly met his eyes before briefly looking away, now focusing her eyes at his rich walls and lovely curtains.
Arthur frowned, silently disappointed. Ever since he "broke-up" with her, she wasn't the same anymore. He knew there was a wall that was established between them, and no matter how much they tried, they would never be back to what they were before. Unless, of course, Arthur tells her to ignore those stupid words he'd uttered and apologize for being a prat and a clotpole. He was tempted to do so for so many times already, but then, he'd be reminded of his responsibilities as king and he just… couldn't.
The king racked his brain for any decent excuse, but in the end, he came up with nothing. "Nothing, Merlin, thank you," he finally said, expelling a soft, defeated sigh. "You may go."
It might just be his imagination, but disappointment briefly flashed on her face. But then, it was gone, and she was on her feet and Arthur desperately, desperately wished she could at least stay.
"I'll be leaving now," she said, clearing her throat to get his attention.
Arthur looked at his papers on the table and nodded his head. "All right," he replied.
"Good night, sire," she whispered and Arthur swallowed. This was it, she was giving him a chance to stop her from going, and Arthur silently groaned. Every day, it was getting harder and harder to avoid her. It would have been easier, especially because she wasn't his manservant anymore, but his body always betrayed him and he sought for her, no matter how frustratingly annoying his heart and brain were combined. But once he sees her, then things would be all right, and then they would not because he'd remember that their relationship wasn't good.
The king clenched his hands into tight fists underneath the table and stiffly nodded his head. He refused to look up to see her before she leaves because then his resolve would break, and he'd be blubbering excuses just to make her stay.
He heard her footsteps, painstakingly slow in his room, and every step she took broke his heart. Arthur had caused this between the two of them, and he should be relieved that she was following his orders. He must stay strong, he must be true to his words, he mustn't waver now.
Arthur froze when he heard a dainty sniff and he knew, right there and then, that she was crying. He closed his eyes and painfully leaned his forehead against the table. "Merlin," he rasped out, and her footsteps halted. "I-I think there is a rat running amok inside my room. I've warned Damian about it for days, but can you believe that my new manservant is much more incompetent than you were? I honestly think you'd be able to do this job quickly than him."
Finally, he looked at her and Merlin was still facing away from him. She was furiously wiping the tears on her face, trying to show that nothing out of the ordinary happened when in fact, she was being ridiculously obvious about it.
Merlin then looked over her shoulders, her eyes a little wide and red from the tears that silently escaped a while ago. There was a small smile tugging on her lips, though, and Arthur's heart skipped a beat. "Of course, sire," she finally answered, already getting into the task of hunting the rat.
Arthur sadly smiled at her crouched form, silently cursing himself for being swayed so easily. But then, of course, he'd forgotten the little lesson that he should have remembered after the whole Lamia fiasco – women, no matter how adamantly men deny it, would always be the cause of their downfall.
When she entered Gaius' bedchambers, the King was there, seated on one of the benches, with his shoulders hunched and his eyes downcast. Merlin felt her heart fluttering briefly inside her chest, frantically stopping herself from dashing inside and drawing Arthur into her arms.
A few days ago, Arthur and his knights came across a Druid shrine. Merlin, who was with the small group at that time, warned them of the sacredness of such shrines, but they all thought that she was just being a 'girl' and her fear was honestly uncalled for.
Angrily, she scoffed at their ignorance and left in the end. Turned out that a few days after, she was right about the Druid shrine and Arthur and his knights hadn't listened to her, because Elyan then was discovered to have disturbed a well back in the shrine and was possessed by the restless spirit of a boy.
For days, they all thought that Elyan had gone mad. Agravaine (blast that man) even suggested for Arthur to kill Elyan because if he didn't the knight would continue pursuing to kill him. To her utmost horror, Gaius somberly concurred to Agravaine's words because apparently, the boy couldn't be put to rest because the man who had killed him, Uther, was already dead.
She knew this was a particularly difficult phase in Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table's lives. They were considerably close; a brotherhood formed that no one could easily break. But at the end of the day, Arthur was still king and they were merely his knights – if the king's life was in danger, then the knights would eradicate the threat, even if he was their friend.
On the night before Elyan's execution, Merlin followed Arthur as he dashed inside the forest. She meant to be inconspicuous, because she had no idea what she'd tell him if he discovered her. Ever since Gaius told them of the awful truth, Arthur hadn't been the same and she swore he was planning something. Merlin was determined to find it, and apparently Arthur suspected it, too, because he pointed out that he knew she was there but didn't question her presence.
They walked in the dark forest, and Merlin constantly coaxed for him to tell her what he planned was. But Arthur refused and the entirety of his plan was only revealed when Elyan emerged, still possessed, and a deadly sword on his hand.
"Gaius was right about everything, except one," Arthur guiltily revealed, falling on his knees. "It wasn't my father who led that raid that night. It was me."
Merlin then understood why the boy was so keen in killing Arthur instead. And the king, remorseful and tearful, reverently asked for forgiveness and the boy must have seen his sincerity because he was forgiven, and Elyan was spared.
Now, the unconscious knight was in his room, resting, and it was Merlin who attended to his needs. She was surprised to see that Arthur was in Gaius' bedchambers, and when she finally announced her presence, he looked up in worry.
"How is Elyan?" he asked.
Merlin smiled in assurance. "He is all right, Arthur," she said, nodding her head. "There's no need to worry now."
He visibly relaxed and grinned, vigorously nodding his head. "I'm glad, I'm glad," he said distractedly, getting on his feet. He looked frazzled and dishevelled, and the dark bags under his eyes were prominent. "I think… I should just…"
She moved towards him, her steps hesitant, and tried to reach for his arm. She flinched for a while, before deciding to rest it on him in the end. Arthur stiffened, darting an alarmed glance on her hand, and once again, she was reminded of their conversation back then. With tight lips, she made a move to remove her hand from his arm, but Arthur lifted his other hand and placed it on top of hers.
Her cheeks gradually grew red, actually forgetting how warm and big his hands were. "A-are you all right, sire?" she asked, clearing her throat in nervousness.
His grip on her hand tightened. "I've done terrible things in the past, Merlin," he started hoarsely. "Terrible things that I am not very proud of. The Druid boy… he was proof of how naïve and ruthless I was back then." He nervously swallowed, but he intently held her gaze. "What does that make you think of me?"
Merlin's eyebrows knitted together. "I don't think a servant's opinion matters, my lord," she said, tugging her hand away. Arthur, though, held on tighter, and she helplessly stared back into his eyes.
"It matters to me," he quietly confessed, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the closest thing to a confession, and Merlin briefly closed her eyes, overwhelmed by the emotions dancing in her heart.
"I-I think," she then answered. "I think that doesn't change how I view you, Arthur. In fact, I thought you became nobler and wiser and good because you've acknowledged your mistakes and you humbled yourself down by asking for forgiveness."
Arthur smiled, slowly unlatching her hand away from her arm. Instead of pulling completely, though, he fondly held her hand and gazed into her eyes. "You truly think that?" he asked.
And Merlin, fearing that her mouth would betray her, merely nodded her head.
For a moment, something flashed in Arthur's eyes, something she had seen a few times before whenever he looked at her and only her. The dormant hope in her heart, the hope that was slowly diminishing because of his new status in Camelot and the words he had uttered to her weeks ago, was suddenly awakened and she could feel tears building up at the corner of her eyes.
It was scary to think that despite his blatant words that requested for her to stop waiting for him, to stop hoping, she still had this unwavering faith that one day, things between them would be wonderfully great.
It was scary to think that she was too deeply in love with Arthur to give up on him.
"Merlin?"
The young sorceress almost jumped in surprise, swivelling around to see a sheepish Gwen.
"I-I'm sorry to startle you. I just thought you might need a… err… friend today," the maidservant whispered, the sheepish smile on her face now slowly turning into a sad one.
Unwittingly, tears gathered at the corner of Merlin's eyes and she looked away from her friend, afraid that she would breakdown. "R-really, Gwen," she shakily answered. "Y-you really shouldn't have bothered I…" The words died down from her lips as a sob choked out, and to her horror, they never stopped.
"Oh, Merlin," Gwen tearfully whispered, walking inside to envelop her distressed friend into a hug. "Everything will be all right."
But the thing is, it wouldn't, because Arthur was betrothed to Princess Mithian and it was painfully obvious that they were mutually attracted with each other.
A few days ago, Princess Mithian of the Kingdom of Nemeth, came to Camelot to settle a land dispute between her kingdom and Camelot. Merlin didn't really put much thought about her visit, thinking that Arthur could settle it with his vast knowledge and kingly characteristics, until, one night, he announced to his whole council that he was to be married to Princess Mithian as compensation to the dispute.
Merlin swore her whole world stopped when the said princess, beautiful and kind and so, so gentle, stood up from her chair to be introduced to the whole council. It was obvious they were pleased with the king's decision (Agravaine being the most pleased among all) and all Merlin could think was that she felt sick in the stomach and she had to flee the Banquet Hall.
The next few days were a whirlwind of heartbreak and tears, and Gaius, worried for his ward, constantly kept her company. Merlin appreciated his efforts, but Gaius' presence wasn't enough to comfort her broken heart. The Court Physician even desperately sent a letter to her mother to tell her of the news.
"If he isn't for you, then you must accept the reality, my love," her mother wrote to her, unable to travel from Ealdor. "This doesn't mean that you cannot love anyone anymore, Merlin. This just means that there is a far greater man who suits you."
Her mother's words brought slight comfort to her, but her heart was too broken to accept any logic and reasoning.
Gwen constantly accompanied her, too, trying to distract her with chores and even talks that were nowhere near sensitive. Merlin found these little moments with Gwen a comfort, because she was heartbroken once. Guinevere still loves Lancelot, and even his death wouldn't extinguish that, but Gwen managed to live for the following days. It gave Merlin some hope that perhaps, one day, she would be well, too.
She managed to avoid Arthur at all costs. She even steered clear of places where she knew Arthur would be frequent. The king took tonics for strength and endurance and usually, Gaius would send her to deliver them. But Gaius, knowing the state of her heart, brought those tonics to the king instead.
Merlin thought she was managing well. Her heart still constantly ached, but she didn't randomly burst into tears whenever someone asked her how she was. During times when her presence was required in meetings, she trained herself not to look at Arthur at all. She congratulated herself for staying strong, and she knew that one day, she would be all right.
The walls that she desperately built, though, went tumbling down one night, when Arthur burst into Gaius' bedchambers. Merlin instinctively stood up and hid inside her room, horrified to discover that the tears she held back for the past few days steadily streamed down from her eyes.
"Merlin," Arthur called, banging his fists against her door. "Merlin, we need to talk."
But she refused to go out and hugged her knees closer to her chest. She could hear Gaius' muffled voice and Arthur's enraged answers, and she desperately, desperately wanted him to go away. It took about an hour for Arthur to finally give up and leave, and Merlin was back to picking up the broken pieces of her heart.
She thought she could avoid him for the following days, but Arthur cornered her. She was about to leave Gaius' bedchambers, intent on going to Gwen's house to help the maidservant with her chores today. Gaius was already in the village, attending to patients struck with cholera. Just when she was about to leave, King Arthur himself barged inside and locked the door behind him.
"Move," Merlin harshly spat, outstretching her right arm. "Move or I'll make you."
She forgot that Arthur was a determined man. She forgot that Arthur could be annoyingly stubborn. He closed the gap between them and tightly held her arm, looking intently into her eyes.
"We need to talk," he rasped out, and in that moment, she properly saw his face. She caught glimpses of him from afar, with a laughing face and twinkling eyes, whenever he was with Princess Mithian. For days, she believed that he was happy, and although her heart was breaking into a million pieces, she was glad that at least one of them would end up happy. But now that she was properly looking at his face, she saw the how sallow his skin was, how dark the bags under his eyes were, and how utterly tired he looked.
Perhaps, the laughing face and the twinkling eyes were a mere pretense.
"I'm busy, sire, and I am sure you are, too," Merlin finally replied, her shoulders sagging in exhaustion. "I don't really think we need to talk."
Something flashed in his eyes and his hold on her arm slackened. "You're mad at me," he pointed out and she pursed her lips, at loss of what to do or reply. "You're mad at me."
He completely pulled his hand away and took a step back. "You must understand that I have a duty to my people," he started, his voice strangely tight and soft. Merlin felt a lump forming in her throat. "You must understand that I have to choose my people above all else."
She vigorously nodded her head because she understood him, completely, and that was what hurt the most.
"Mithian…" She felt her heart constricting when she heard her name. "Mithian is a kind lady. She has the makings of a great queen."
She closed her eyes and wryly smiled. "I-I figured," she said. "She is kind, Arthur." It would have been easier if she was a troll or an evil witch.
"I'm sorry, Merlin."
And she released a guttural sob because he should damn be. She earnestly cried because their situation was so complicated. She never asked for this. She never asked to fall in love with him. She never asked to have a destiny that was intertwined with his. It was simply unfair.
Arthur made a move to touch her, but she recoiled back. His hand limply fell back to his side, the pain of their situation also etched on his face.
"W-why did you even ask me to return?" she asked, lifting a hand to wipe her tears away.
"I am a selfish man," he replied back, a wry smile on his face.
Merlin sniffed and openly stared at him, her eyes wide and wet with tears. "I love you," she finally confessed. She saw the shift on his face with her confession. His eyes widened, he took a sharp intake of breath, and the pain on his face intensified. "I love you, Arthur."
She knew that her confession wouldn't change anything, but it was a relief to say it out loud. "A-and it is my destiny to protect you," she said, wiping her remaining tears away. "So whatever you choose, whatever decisions you make, I'd always support you, Arthur. R-remember that."
She strode past him without a single glance back, hoping that despite how things between them didn't work out like what she had hoped, they would sooner or later live happy lives.
Two days later, a heartbroken Princess Mithian left, with Arthur's promise of surrendering the lands that his kingdom had captured from her ancestors.
And Merlin… Merlin was confused.
"You mustn't listen to him, you know."
Arthur sighed, lifting his head as Merlin strode forward and sat on the log beside him. She was pointedly looking at him, quite serious with the words she stated a while ago, and he couldn't help but lightly smile at her. Sometimes, it awed him how much faith Merlin placed upon him.
"But Tristan is right," the king quietly said, shifting his gaze on his hands. "I am a terrible king."
Weeks ago, Morgana, allied with Helios and the Southrons, attacked Camelot. They were too powerful to be held back, and soon, the enemies swarmed inside the formidable citadel, wrecking havoc and instilling fear in the hearts of his people. Arthur, anguished and angered, fought blindly against them, wishing that at least one of those was Morgana.
Merlin confounded him, that blasted girl, when she beseeched for them to leave and he insisted that they stayed and fight. He was still miffed with the fact that she used her magic against him, but he gradually accepted the situation that they were into. Helios and the Southrons was a formidable army, almost rivalling the mighty Knights of the Round Table, and somehow, he was slowly despairing from the idea that they could reclaim his throne.
It didn't help that they were travelling with smugglers. Tristan and Isolde was what they called themselves. He was very wary of their presence, especially because they were the kind of persons he'd instantly send to the dungeons or even to death. Tristan, the leader of the smuggling group, seemed to share his mutual hatred because he made it a point to verbally accuse Arthur of his incompetence and his selfishness.
"Tristan doesn't know anything," Merlin protested, a scowl blooming on her lovely face. "His judgment is uncalled for."
He was touched by her defense. Merlin made it obvious that she disliked Tristan, too, and the only reason they kept on travelling with them was the fact that they were actually safer together and Isolde, who was injured after they were attacked by Agravaine and his men, was a kind, sweet woman.
"I don't think we can win this time, Merlin," Arthur said, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "We're fighting against a mighty army."
Merlin bristled on her seat. "You're forgetting something," she lashed out, tightly crossing her arms against her chest. With her eyes ablaze, her hair a lovely disarray, and her cheeks ruddy, she was beautiful, and Arthur found himself breathing deeply to calm his nerves. "You are in the presence of a sorceress."
He smiled at her ridiculous passion for stating her true identity. It still baffled him how Merlin could be so proud of her magic when they used to be in the age of The Great Purge. Although he was tolerating magic now, the law about persecuting sorcerers hadn't been rebuked yet. It would be utterly dangerous for her if she showed random bursts of magic.
"I'm going to think of a plan," she vehemently said, intently staring into his eyes. "I'm going to think of a plan that would ignite that dormant hope in your heart and I swear, we will reclaim your throne."
Arthur sighed and nodded his head. Tristan's words were now forgotten, and he believed Merlin's words. One thing he learned after being in her presence for years was that she was always right. If she proclaimed that they will reclaim Camelot from Morgana and her evil clutches, then Arthur knew that they would.
"Arthur?" she asked, peeking inside. The said king was sitting on his chair behind his desk, and when her head came into view, he straightened up. "Damian said he couldn't serve you today. He's suffering from a cold so I kind of volunteered to take his stead." She fully stepped inside and smiled at him. "If it is okay with you, of course."
The king absent-mindedly nodded his head, prompting her to raise an eyebrow. She didn't say anything, though, and instead went to doing her chores.
It had been a while now since she cleaned Arthur's bedchambers and with dismay, it was in a terrible state. When Arthur said that Damian was more incompetent than she was, he wasn't joking and merely riling her up. Goodness, it was like a great typhoon wrecked havoc inside!
"Has Tristan been well?" Arthur asked, slowly rising up from his seat.
Merlin gave him a quick glance and she sadly smiled. "I think he will manage," she said, her heart going for the poor man.
A few days ago, they fought against Morgana and Helios' army so that Arthur could reclaim his rightful position in the kingdom. With the magical sword now in his possession, Merlin knew that Arthur would have a chance to defeat the invaders. He never really believed her little story about the sword in the stone, but she knew he appreciated her effort, especially because his people who survived believed her story and became more faithful to their king.
The sword didn't fail them, for Arthur was able to slay Helios. Morgana was heavily wounded, but she disappeared into nothingness before they could battle. The surviving Southrons either fled or killed themselves; others were immediately imprisoned and punished by execution.
There were a few casualties in their part, and sadly, one of them was Isolde. Poor Tristan, his heart was broken, but at least, Isolde died nobly by saving the King. Tristan didn't blame Arthur, though; during their days of hiding, Tristan finally saw the great king that Arthur was and would be, and became loyal to him, too.
With Isolde gone, Arthur gave Tristan a chance to change his smuggling ways. Tristan embraced the change, too afraid that if went back to being a smuggler, it would only remind him of his lost love. Arthur gave him the position as a blacksmith in Camelot, having witnessed his skills before, which Tristan gladly accepted. Ever since then, Merlin was the one who took care of the heartbroken Tristan, making sure that he was well.
Merlin sauntered towards his laundry bin, bending down to collect them into her arms.
"Merlin," he called.
The young sorceress straightened up and looked behind, questioningly looking at Arthur. The king was strangely looking at her, and before she could even decipher his look, he strode towards her. He stopped when he was a hairsbreadth away.
"Sire, wha - "
The words died down from her mouth when Arthur bent down and captured her lips. She was too stunned to move while Arthur tightly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. He was kissing her so fervently, so passionately and her head started spinning.
She soon responded, matching his fervor and holding him tight. Her knees buckled and if Arthur wasn't holding her, she would have been a messy heap on the floor now.
His kisses then turned slow and sweet, and he was giving her a few more pecks before he completely pulled away. Arthur was heaving, but his eyes were alight and twinkling. The arms on her waist tightened and he leaned his forehead against her curly hair.
"Merlin," he murmured again, his breath warm against her cheek.
Confused and disoriented, she raised a hand and weaved them through his glorious, blond hair. "I-I don't understand," she replied.
Arthur slowly pulled away from her and he looked down at her, earnestly and fondly, that her breath hitched with emotions. "After what happened to Isolde, I was s-so terrified," he said, his eyes narrowing in fear. "You are not exactly the most danger-free person in this kingdom and I thought… I thought what if it was you who died? I-I cannot afford that. I…" He paused and swallowed, his blue eyes tumultuous and conflicting. "I cannot lose you."
Merlin smiled and brushed away some of his hair away from his face. "I'm not going anywhere," she assured him. "We're two sides of the same coin, remember? Whatever you do, whatever decisions you make, you cannot get rid of me that easily, Arthur Pendragon."
He gave her a gentle smile and lifted a hand, placing it daintily against her cheek. "I had been such a prat to you these past few months, hadn't I?" he asked. "I've caused you so many worries and heartaches. I shouldn't be worthy of your forgiveness."
Merlin frowned, steadily growing confused with the words he was saying. When Arthur pulled away and took a few steps back, he continued, "I am your king, and you are my servant. That's the way we have always been, right?"
At loss of what to do, she merely nodded.
"And I, being a complete bastard, told you that that's what we're always going to be," he murmured, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "You told me once that a good king follows his heart; that a good king does as he sees fit."
He gingerly clutched her hand and held it tight. "I love you, Merlin," he continued, and her heart skipped a beat. "From the first moment I laid eyes on you in Ealdor – filthy, innocent, beautiful – I fell in love with you. I might sound like a besotted fool but that is the truth, and nobody can change that."
She worried her bottom lip and looked at the ground in embarrassment. "I love you, too," she whispered, her cheeks gradually warming.
Arthur released a joyous laugh, prompting her to look at him again. "I have been so stupid, so stubborn to think that for me to be the great king you always yammered about, I must choose my people above all else; that I must not follow my heart, whatever it screams for me to do," he continued. "I pushed you away because I thought being together… being with you is wrong. But you bring out the best in me, you make me feel that I must be a better person, and that is a good thing."
He lifted her hand against his lips and he kissed her knuckles. Her cheeks reddened more, but apparently, Arthur wasn't finished. "Oh God, I love you," he repeated, now leaning his forehead against her hand. "I love you so much it is terrifying to think that sometimes I would gladly give up everything I have, I would gladly thwart away everything that I own, just to be with you."
Tears sprang in her eyes and she shakily smiled. "I'd do the same for you," she said, nodding her head.
To her utmost surprise, the next thing Arthur did was get down on his knees. "Please be my queen," he declared, his voice soft and vulnerable. "I-I can't bear to be apart from you anymore, Merlin, and I fear that I might do stupid things again and hurt you more. So I'm asking you now to marry me, and I'd cherish and love you forever."
The tears now fell and she fell down on her knees, too. She threw her arms around Arthur's neck, dropping kisses on his face. "Yes," she claimed. "Yes, I will."
She nervously strode inside, aware that all eyes were on her. Merlin concentrated on her walk, afraid that she would trip and make a fool out of herself if she didn't. It was her special day after all, and she couldn't afford to be the laughingstock in the kingdom.
Merlin then pointedly ignored everyone around her and focused ahead, with a beaming Arthur Pendragon waiting for her.
Her heart swelled with love, knowing that a few hours from now, she'd be his wife. She'd dreamt about this day, waited for this day, and for it to happen now made her disoriented and giddy.
She finally stood beside him and he held her hand, guiding her until they were standing in front of Sir Geoffrey of Monmouth. He presided the wedding ceremony and honestly, all the words that came out from his mouth were senseless babbles to her.
"You're dazing off," Arthur murmured against her ear and she grinned. He knew her too well. "Idiot."
She couldn't be blamed now, could she? She was too excited and happy and all she could focus on now was the fact that she was marrying Arthur.
They soon exchanged rings and sincere vows – vows that made Merlin teary until Arthur lifted a hand and gently brushed a tear away.
"I now present to you, man and wife," Sir Geoffrey finally proclaimed.
Arthur brought a hand against her cheek and leaned down, finally sealing their future with a sweet kiss.
A servant then came forward, with a pillow on his hands and a crown sitting on top of it. Arthur briefly kissed her hand before letting her go, as Merlin went down on her knees and bowed her head.
"By the power vested in me," Arthur declared, lifting the crown from the pillow and slowly placing it on top of her head, "I crown thee, Merlin of Ealdor, Queen of Camelot."
The crown now sat atop her head and Arthur held out his hand, his smile now reaching his ears. Merlin placed her hand on top of his and allowed him to pull her up. Arthur bent down and gave her a sweet kiss, before turning her around for the crowd to behold.
"Long Live the Queen!" he boomed, and Merlin shakily smiled.
"Long Live the Queen!" they exclaimed in return. "Long Live the Queen!"
And Merlin, now queen of the kingdom she love, gazed down at the people, silently promising to be the wise and good queen that Camelot deserved.
A/N: End of chapter! How'd you liked it? Tell me in your reviews :D
Honestly, I was so happy I managed to finish this chapter XD I had a hard time trying to figure out what to do, how to still somehow stick to most of the canon plots in the series while Merlin is a girl. But yeah, I guess I'm happy with how things happened here in this chapter.
That's it for now! Once again, don't forget to review :D
With love,
WickedlyAwesomeMe
