Disclaimer: I do not own the Merlin series.
Chapter 10 Sweet Dreams
Merlin watches Arthur and Uther greet the rulers of the five kingdoms. They are here to talk about a peace treaty. However, not everyone wishes for it. Kink Alined wants war, and is going to use Arthur and King Olaf's daughter, Lady Vivian, to do so. Alined's servant, Trickler, creates a love potion and uses on Arthur to fall in love with Vivian.
Arthur is getting ready for the feast.
"Merlin? What's this?" Arthur asks.
Merlin eyes Arthur's thumb poking through an opening in his shirt.
"A hole in your sleeve," he says.
"Yes, I can see that. Now fetch me another," Arthur replies.
Merlin does so.
"Do you think your father will try marrying you to Lady Vivian?" he asks as he pulls the new shirt over Arthur.
"Anyone who tries to even say hello to her will have her father to deal with," Arthur says.
"Like having their head in a vat of hot oil," Merlin suggests with a laugh.
"I do have my own vat of hot oil," Arthur says, taking Merlin in his arms.
"Yes, I… you're blushing," Merlin replies.
Merlin smiles as Arthur pulls him away.
"No, I'm not," Arthur protests.
"It's all right," Merlin says.
Arthur then walks back up to Merlin, their noses almost touching.
"Merlin?' he asks.
"Yes, Arthur," he wonders.
"Get out."
"Yes, sire."
Merlin leaves with a smile on his face.
xxx
Merlin walks into Arthur's chamber the next morning to find Arthur looking out the window.
"Good morning, Arthur," he says.
"You are right about that, Merlin," he replies.
Merlin notices Arthur is fully clothed.
"You're dressed?" he asked.
"And why wouldn't I be?" Arthur wonders.
"I thought after last night…" Merlin starts to say, but his mind drifts off.
He did not want to leave when he did, but he had decided it best with five kings in the castle, he was not going to take any chances.
"I do have some skills," Arthur says.
"Indeed you do," Merlin replies with a laugh.
"Today's the day, Merlin. Today, I make a proclamation of love," Arthur says.
Merlin is taken aback.
"Weren't you the one saying you wanted to keep this a secret?" he asks. "I mean, not that I'm not happy, but what are you going to tell your father?"
"What does my father matter?" Arthur wonders.
"Well, that's one way of approaching things," Merlin replies under his breath.
"How should I express my feelings?" Arthur asks.
Merlin bites the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh.
"Flowers are always nice," he suggests.
"Excellent. Get some," Arthur says.
"What?" Merlin asks in shock. "I don't think it works that way."
xxx
Merlin meets up with Arthur after when of the treaty meetings.
"Did you get the flowers?" Arthur asks.
"I left them in your room. Although, I'm not entirely sure who they're for," Merlin admits.
"There she is," Arthur says.
"What?" Merlin asks, turning to see Lady Vivian and Gwen.
"I will woo the Lady Vivian if it's the last thing I do," Arthur vows.
"What?" Merlin yells.
"Don't act so surprised," Arthur says, leaving a stunned Merlin in the corridor.
"Oh, no," Merlin replies.
Remembering his performance at the feast, Merlin realizes that Trickler must have something to do with Arthur's new found love for Vivian.
"She has no interest in me," a depressed Arthur says as he gets ready for bed that night.
"Maybe you should go back to your old love," Merlin suggests.
"I don't have an old love," Arthur says.
"Right," Merlin replies, looking down.
xxx
They next day, Merlin finds that Vivian, too, has now been put under the love potion. When he finds the spell to reverse it, it doesn't work. It takes everything in Merlin not to rip them apart when he sees them kissing. Arthur accepts King Olaf's challenge to a duel to the death.
xxx
Morgana finds Merlin looking out the window. He thinks of what the Great Dragon had told him. Only a kiss from Arthur's true love will break the spell.
"Merlin, shouldn't you be helping Arthur?" Morgana asks.
"I'm not going to watch him die. He's enchanted, Morgana, and only true love's kiss will break it," he says. Morgana laughs. "What?"
"You don't think you're his true love?" Morgana asks.
"He doesn't love," Merlin answers, also giving a laugh. "How can he?"
"Search your heart, Merlin, and I'm sure it'll say otherwise," Morgana says with a kind smile.
Merlin nods and runs down to the tent where Arthur is.
"Merlin, there you are. Finally come to help?" Arthur asks.
"No," Merlin answers.
"Well, that's rude," Arthur says.
"Then let me apologize," Merlin replies.
Merlin pushes Arthur against a poll holding the tent up and kisses him. When they part, they stare at each other for a moment. Arthur then groans in pain.
"Merlin?" he asks. "Where am I?'
"You're in the middle of a fight, and you're losing."
xxx
Arthur is able to stop the fight, and the peace treaty is signed. Arthur and Merlin go walking back in to the castle after saying goodbye to the kings.
"I hope they don't come back too soon," Arthur says, referring to King Olaf and Lady Vivian, who was still under the love potion.
"No, it might conflict with your one true love," Merlin replies.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur asks.
"You heard me. I have proof," Merlin says, his smile so big he did not think it could ever fade. "We kissed in the tent."
"If you mention it again, I will kill you," Arthur replies, although he also had a smile on his face.