Author's Notes

Hi everyone! Here's Chapter 10 of the Glitter in the Air installment! The end is nigh and I hope you've enjoyed reading this story so far! So here's Dancing in the Firelight, a short and sweet little chapter that I personally love. Chapter 11 will be up by the end of the week! Have fun, enjoy the read, and spend a few minutes reviewing!

Toodles!

DANCING IN THE FIRELIGHT

Arthur was in a hot spring with Galwaine, surrounded by thick bushes that offered some degree of privacy. For the last twenty minutes, the friendly giant had been trying hard not to look at the bare-chested Prince of Camelot, yet had failed miserably. Earlier, Hunith had sent everyone off to get washed and ready for the dance with people whom they weren't romantically linked with. Galwaine had tried to make polite conversation with him, but Arthur was in no mood at the moment to talk. How could he be, when he had seen the look on Merlin's face after dressing him? What's wrong with him? Did I say anything to upset him? As far as Arthur knew, he had done nothing that would have upset Merlin, yet Merlin had looked as though his heart had just been broken.

"Did you have a fight with Merlin?" Galwaine asked. "I mean...I'm sorry, I have no right to ask."

"No. No, it's all right Galwaine," Arthur soothed and watched a wave of relief ripple over the man's face. Arthur looked down at the steamy water and then back up at him. "We didn't fight, but he just sort of... I don't know, looked as though his heart had just been crushed. I asked if he was all right, but he lied and said he was fine."

"He sounds a bit like William," Galwaine answered with a small smile. "William sometimes gets sad for no reason, but I know that it has something to do with me. I try to find out what I've done, but he always answers that he's fine."

"What do you do when he gets like that?" Arthur was hoping that he could find an answer through Galwaine's own previous experiences.

"I tell him that I love him and that no matter what he does or says, that will never change. Or I cook him something that he likes, or I find another way to make him happy."

Arthur thought for a moment, trying to wrack his brains for something that he could do that would make Merlin happy. Cooking was definitely out. I could always say that I'll make sure he never goes to the stocks again, he thought and smiled warmly at the idea. Galwaine looked away and reached for the bar of soap off to one side.

"What happens at the dance, Galwaine?"

"Oh, it's the highlight of the day. There's a huge fire that everyone dances around, and there's as much wine and ale as you can drink. Has Hunith told you that you and Merlin will be having the first dance?"

When Galwaine didn't receive an answer, he looked over to see an incredulous look on Arthur's face.

"Me and Merlin? Dancing together? In front of everyone?" Arthur was trying to imagine what it would look like, the two of them dancing together. "No, Hunith definitely left that bit of information out."

Galwaine smiled and proceeded to tell Arthur everything there was to know about the dance.

*****

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table

The walk before the run

"Are you looking forward to having the first dance, Merlin?" William queried and looked over his shoulder to the bushes where Merlin was slowly getting dressed.

"I guess," Merlin murmured, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of earlier.

"Is everything all right?"

"Of course it is," Merlin answered and turned around to see William looking at him.

"Why do you say things are all right when they're not?"

Merlin looked down.

William pulled his best tunic on over his head, re-emerging with his hair sticking up.

"I think I know what's wrong," he said. "When I first found out I was in love with Galwaine, I felt so out of place. He was so much better than me in every way. Yet there he was, telling me that he was in love with me, too." William paused and looked down at his hands, smiling at the memories. "I was so sure that our relationship would end after a few weeks because I thought that someone like me didn't deserve someone like him. So, I began to push him away because I knew that not being with him would be a fate worse than death."

"What happened?" Merlin asked, afraid of what he was going to hear because William's experiences echoed the one that Merlin was having now.

"Galwaine carried on being Galwaine. He didn't know why I was trying to distance myself from him, but he tried to understand in his own way. He would sit us down and talk about anything, and sometimes I spoke about a few of my insecurities. Do you know what he did?" Merlin shook his head and pulled his own tunic on. "He held my hands, looked into my eyes, and said the three words I needed to hear at that precise moment. From then on, whenever I feel insecure, I think back to that moment and my uncertainty fades away."

"But Arthur's a prince, William. A lot more superior than me..."

"You and Arthur are so good together and after tonight, nothing will ever go back to the way it was. Your time together as partners has started, and every moment that you share together adds to the many that you've had as friends. You need to take things as they come and not create problems that aren't there."

It was true, and Merlin felt better. He smoothed down his tunic and smiled as the feeling of butterflies returned to his stomach.

"Let's go dance."

*****

The huge bonfire, contained within large logs, was ablaze, and the sound of music drifted over the crackling of firewood. Everyone was dressed in their finest clothes and buzzing with excitement about the dance. Everyone was with their partners, except for Arthur. Where is Merlin? He looked around in a slow circle, making sure that he took in everything. When Arthur came back to his starting point, he let out a sigh and looked down at his clothes. He was dressed in a pair of dark brown breeches with his favourite ruby red tunic, the very first one that Merlin had given to him. The golden dragon on the back seemed to come alive with the glow from the bonfire, and Arthur had received more than his fair share of lust-filled looks. I hope he likes how I dressed, Arthur thought and tugged the tunic down to make sure that it looked its best. When we get back to Camelot, I'm going to make sure that Merlin buys the clothes he wants me seen in. A dimming in the noise level brought Arthur's attention back and he followed everyone's gaze, and then gasped audibly.

Merlin was standing there, dressed in new dark tan leather breeches. The material clung to his slender body in all the right places. As Merlin slowly walked towards Arthur and the bonfire, Arthur felt his heart doing flips at the prospect of dancing with him. The dark brown tunic that Merlin wore looked new as well, and Arthur spied dark red detailing around the cuffs and neck line. He had only ever seen Merlin in his scruffy jacket and worn breeches. I think I'll be buying some clothes for Merlin as well when we return. Merlin soon stood in front of Arthur, and everyone turned their attention to the couple who would start off the dancing.

"I'm not used to getting dressed up, so I hope I look all right," Merlin murmured, head down as he inspected his clothing. Arthur tilted Merlin's chin up so that he could look into Merlin's eyes.

"You look perfect, Merlin. Just perfect."

The breath before the kiss

And the fear before the flames

Have you ever felt this way?

Arthur nodded towards Hunith, who gestured for the musicians to begin the first dance. Arthur stepped back and bowed deeply, the same sort of bow that he would give to a visiting king or to his own father. When he straightened to stand tall, Arthur could see that Merlin was smiling warmly. Holding out his hand, Arthur gave Merlin an answering smile when Merlin accepted it and pulled Merlin to him. With all the dance practice that he had had from royal feasts, Arthur effortlessly made sure that Merlin was pulled tightly to his own body, thus ensuring that Merlin didn't step on his toes. Merlin let his forehead rest against Arthur's as Arthur let his hand rest on Merlin's waist. Arthur closed his eyes as they swayed with the music.

"Arthur?" Blue eyes opened to look at Merlin. "I... I wasn't all right earlier. I was feeling really uncertain about what's going to happen tomorrow and it sort of scared me, and rather than talk to you, I ran. But I'm here now... if you'll have me."

Arthur closed his eyes and tilted his head upwards, capturing Merlin's lips with his own. I'll make sure you never feel uncertain of us again, Merlin, I promise. As their lips slid against each other, Arthur felt something pulling from deep within himself for the third time that day. Merlin's tongue slipped into Arthur's warm mouth, and Arthur took the opportunity to let the hand on Merlin's waist slip down and squeeze the love bite he had given Merlin earlier. Merlin pulled back and smirked at him.

"The one time I thought we were going to have a really romantic moment, and you go and do that."

Arthur just smiled and looked at Merlin, completely happy. He cupped Merlin's face in his hands, looking deep into Merlin's eyes.

"I love you, Merlin," he whispered.

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