"So where are the girls?" Merlin asked as he tidied Arthur's room the next morning- after having not left it all night. "I haven't seen Morgana or that princess practically since they've arrived."
"Why, you fancy one of them?" Arthur said with a grin as he pulled on his trousers. Merlin grinned and quickly continued his work. He did not need to be distracted right now.
"Not my type," Merlin replied dismissively, keeping his eyes on the ground so he wouldn't grin. "How bout you?"
Arthur couldn't keep the grin off his face as he said, "Me neither."
Merlin grinned, feeling a bubbling feeling erupt in his chest, overwhelming all of his emotions. He'd never felt this happy. It was… indescribable. After last night, well, there was no need to be unhappy. It was just that they made love- and that was a whole other matter that Merlin would have to think about when his head was less foggy- it was how clear Arthur had made it that he needed Merlin, and he wanted to need him. That, in it's own way, was better than what happened afterward. But that part was pretty good too.
"So what are they doing?"
"Oh, I don't know. I think Morgana was told to entertain the girl while we do the political things. They're probably picking flowers or something…whatever it is girls do." Merlin smiled and busied himself with cleaning Arthur's room.
"Of course sire. Picking flowers is Morgana's favorite activity."
Arthur sent him a glare, but it was ruined by a smile. "Well either way, they are out of our way for their visit. I think the princess might have come just because her father didn't think she could be trusted alone."
"What's a princess going to do? It's not as though she could do anything irresponsible with her whole kingdom watching?"
"I don't know," Arthur replied, his lips twitching. "Royalty can get up to all sorts of trouble if they put their minds to it."
Neither Arthur or Merlin stopped grinning the rest of the morning.
"Merlin!"
"Gwen?" Merlin said, turning at her voice. She was running towards him, a smile on her face. "Shouldn't you be with Morgana and the princess?"
"No," Gwen said, trying to regain her breath. "I've got the day off. I was hoping we could spend the day together?" She looked at him eagerly, biting her lip.
"Sure," Merlin said with a hesitant grin. He continued walking. "So how are the girls?"
"Oh fine," Gwen said, rolling her eyes. "The princess keeps worrying about something, but she won't tell Morgana. Probably something to do with boys or something."
"What?" Merlin said, his pulse speeding up. "Could it have to do with the peace talks?"
"Oh no," Gwen replied dismissively. "Whenever they talk of that she seems happy and pleased. But something's worrying her. Probably pining for a prince back home."
Merlin smiled back, reassured. "So what would you like to do?"
"I don't know," she said with a big smile. "Whatever you'd like."
"Well I usually am working for Gaius… but I suppose on my days off I go to the market." He glanced away. Normally, on his days off, Merlin spent his days off in Arthur room, polishing his…shoes.
"That sounds lovely," Gwen replied, linking their arms. Merlin held his up awkwardly. This was getting a bit out of hand. Maybe he should stop her…
And tell her what? Oh, sorry Gwen. We can't be together cause I'm in love with Prince Arthur.
Silence was best.
They spent a slightly awkward afternoon together, one filled with many awkward pauses after Gwen made a not-so-subtle comment about love and Merlin.
They'd been walking down an alley, when all of a sudden she says, "You know, love is a very weird thing, isn't it?"
"Err…yeah." He replied, not at all happy with where this was going.
"It's so complicated," she sighed and let go of his hand. He stared at her in confusion. She turned and looked him in the eye. "So many love triangles." Then she'd turned and continued on, talking about crops and pretending that hadn't happened.
But that was all Merlin could think about. Did Gwen think she loved him? And what was that comment about love triangles? What did that mean? Did she know?
No, she couldn't. She must think he's in love with someone else is all. Or simply not in love with her. That must be it.
When he finally excuses himself to do chores- that don't exist- he heads straight for Arthur's room. It's stupid, really, and risky, to be seen together so often when he's supposed to be servant to another man, but he can't help himself.
But when he arrives, Arthur isn't there. He searches through his quarters, then down the hall. He looks over the practice courts, but nothing. Finally, he checks the throne room.
A guard is posted outside. Usually, that means the king is having a private meeting. But Merlin had learned the secret passageways within a few weeks of coming to Camelot. He quickly turned around and moved the tapestry of a bowl of fruit out of the way, revealing a small door. He swung it open.
He was in the antechamber to the throne room. Luckily it was empty. He strode across the room quickly to reach the door. He teased it open slightly. He heard hushed voices on the other side.
"Arthur, you don't really get a say in this. You've already turned down one perfectly-"
"Father, this is not your decision! You can't just- just decide-"
"I can and I will. Now, we'll need to make arrangements-"
"No father! I refuse to go along with this! This is ridiculous! I will choose when I'm ready, not now, in the middle of peace talks!"
"That is why this is so important! You must do it now!"
Merlin stared at the door. What the hell were they talking about? Arthur had already completed his test to be a true knight or whatever it was. He had a perfectly good sword and a perfect servant. What did he have to choose?
"I'm not Father. This is something I have to do for myself."
It's something that Arthur doesn't like, Merlin concluded. Possibly something he would normally like, but since Uther chose it for him-
"I have already accepted the offer! As soon as peace talks are signed, you shall marry the Princess! No exceptions!" Merlin heard Uther storm from the throne room, though it was like he was hearing it from miles away. He looked down at his hands- they were numb. Actually, his whole body was numb. He stood, feeling like he was standing beside his body, not in it, and opened the door to the throne room.
Arthur was standing in the center of the room, staring at the door his father must have left by. He turned at the sound of the door opening. Merlin took one look at Athur's hopeless face and felt his heart burst into pieces.
As usual, sorry for the horribly long wait. I'm trying to keep up, but school has started and blah blah blah excuses. So, hope you liked it! I'm really not sure about this chapter, tell me if you think something needs to be fixed. I need to go to bed, and I need to get this chapter up before I do! So, thoughts? Also, did anyone catch the slight Harry Potter reference there? I couldn't resist throwing it in :D
Hope this cliffhanger thing isn't too shocking, I had to put it in some time!
I don't have time to reply individually to reviews this time, just know that I appreciate them all so much- along with the alerts and favorites- and you guys are awesome! Thanks :D
