Title: The school play
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Prompt: Nativity- nicked from Ddraigcoch's Advent Calender LJ page
WARNINGS: General fluff, more questions posed!
Disclaimer: Merlin not mine *sob* It's the BBC's though I want to rob them and get away with Bradley and Colin ^_^
Summary: Arthur is not happy about being dragged to Mordred's school play
Note: Day 9. I think nearly everyone can associate with this! And if you can't think your selves lucky!
"Do I have to go?" Arthur pouted.
"Yes. Come on. You promised him." Merlin griped Arthur's thigh reassuringly as he parked the car. They climbed out and joined the other families walking into the school. They found seats and sat there waiting. Arthur began to fidget nervously. "Stop it." Merlin hissed at him. "You would think it was you who was going to be on that stage. What's up with you?"
"Just brings back bad memories." Arthur replied but refused to say any more. Merlin decided he would make it his mission to find out what it was that Arthur was refusing to tell him. He took his boyfriend's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Finally the lights went down and the whispers died to nothing. A spotlight appeared, showing a girl and boy in their school uniforms. They were there to narrate the story. Merlin guessed them to be in the oldest class. Another girl appeared in a blue dress as the lights faded up. Merlin guessed this to be Mary. The girl knelt in the middle of the stage imitating housework.
"Mary was alone, when suddenly the room was filled with a bright light." The lights brightened and 'Mary' covered her face. Another girl appeared wearing a white dress, large white wings and a silver tinsel halo.
"Mary, do not be afraid for I have come with joyous news." Merlin nearly cried out as Arthur gripped his hand so tight he thought he heard the bones crack.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" He whispered at Arthur. The blonde gave him a guilty look.
"Sorry." He whispered back. Merlin rubbed his hand carefully, eyes back on the play. They continued to watch as Mary went and told a young 'Joseph' with a stuck on beard that they were expecting a baby who was the son of god. They then 'walked' to Bethlehem, where three inn keepers turned them away as their inns were full, but the last, feeling sorry for them showed them the stable. It was here that the baby Jesus was born and a convenient manger was placed on the stage.
They watched as the barn animals appeared around Mary and Joseph to see the baby. Merlin only just managed to hold back a laugh when he realised that poor Mordred had been landed the roll of the donkey. Merlin was fairly sure that his cousin would probably be one of the scariest donkeys to have ever existed. The way he was staring at the doll in the manger should have set the thing on fire. He was joined by a cow, a pig, some chickens, a goose, a cat and some mice. They all stood there 'admiring' the baby as the narrators went on to explain about the great star in the sky, another poor child dressed in white with a silver cardboard star attached to her head and was surrounded by other little stars, one of which was more interested with playing with his star head dress than wearing it.
The narrators went on to explain about the shepherds sitting in the fields watching their sheep, unaware of the great miracle, until the angel visited them and told them. Lots of little angels joined her and the stood with the stars in the 'sky'. It was here that Merlin noticed Arthur tense up again. His back rim rod straight, his mouth a thin line, he even looked a little pale. Taking his eyes away from the stage for a moment, he placed a hand on Arthur's thigh and squeezed it slightly. Arthur looked at him and gave him a small smile. Merlin felt better when he saw him visibly relax, but wondered what Arthur had against angels.
The shepherds and sheep made their way to the stable. King Herod also made an appearance, played with great gusto by one of the older boys. Merlin thought he could have a great career as an actor. The three wise men also arrived which signalled the end of the play. The children were all clapped as they split up into their classes and each class had to perform their song.
Mordred finally got to perform 'Jingle Bells' and managed to find Arthur and Merlin in the crowd. He held their gazes for a moment and gave a small smile and continued to sing.
When they left, Merlin sat in the car thinking. Something happened in that play, something important that he didn't know about Arthur, and he would find out.
Merlin dubbed the mission 'Arthur and the angels'.
