This was a hard chapter to write and the only reason this is being able to be posted is that I need a break from cramming for finals. My head is going to implode. And my boyfriend thinks that I am cheating on him… yes with Arthur and Merlin.
Merlin POV It had been nearly three months since Arthur had called off the search for Morgana. My back had healed completely, only scars are left in there place. My mother had taken a job in the kitchen, I had asked her to not to return to Ealdor, fearing what Morgana would do if she found her. Gwen had returned to her job as a maid, staying in the east wing of the Castle with her brother. Arthur hasn't said much, always in his own little world, much like Uther after Morgana's betrayal.
Arthur sat in a chair near the window, overlooking the square. He seemed to spend a lot of time sitting in that chair. Yet, unlike Uther, Arthur still attended to his royal duty. The problem was that Arthur had not gone on any hunting trips or to track down the evil magical monsters. It was beginning to worry me.
"Arthur?" I called to him, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"Hmm?" He mumble, never looking away from the window.
"How are you feeling?" I rested my chin on his shoulder.
"Fine." was all he said.
"Still not sleeping?" I guessed.
"No, I spend the nights walking around the palace." He yawned. I tried to to remember the last time I saw Arthur sleeping, not since Morgana's return "Come here." I said, grabbing his hand and pulling him over to the bed, I pulled back the duvet cover and pushed him onto the bed, and tucking him in like a child.
"Merlin, I am the King of Camelot, I do not need to be coddled like a newborn." He huffed.
"I will stop when you have returned to your prattish self." I joked.
"Oh you want to see a prat?" He asked, grasping my behind and pulled me onto the bed with him. Not minding I laid my head on his chest. I could feel his calloused fingers push the back of my shirt up, and trace the scars on my back. It was not long before his breathing slowed and his hand only rested on my hip. I lay there for a moment, before attempting to get away. I slowly moved his hand from around my waist. Arthur on the other hand, did not like the idea of me moving. He grabbed me tighter, pulling me to his chest. He grumbled something, before I decided just to take a nap with him. Yet, my mind had decided not to let me sleep, so I just laid with him.
Gwen's POV
I knocked on the door of Arthur's chambers; well, it is more like Arthur and Merlin's chambers now. The young men have been inseparable since my return, possibly before that. When I received no answer, I pushed open the door. I was greeted with a humorous sight, Merlin awake, propped up in bed with a book in his hand and Arthur fast asleep with his head on Merlin's chest.
"Shh." Merlin told me, pressing his index finger to his lips. I smiled and left, as the door closed behind me, I began giggling. I trotted down the stairs towards the kitchen to tell Hunith. We had grown quite close, she had almost become a mother or a close friend over the past year. She awed at the thought and demanded that I show her. We then giggled like school girls, making our way up the stairs. About half way up, we ran into Lancelot, Percival, Gwaine and Elyan. "What is with all the giggles?" Lancelot asked, placing a hand on my back.
"Merlin and Arthur." I said, attempting to contain my laughter.
"Oh, don't tell me, you caught them in the bath together too?" Gwaine laughed "No, better. Arthur is sleeping all curled up on Merlin's chest." "Let us see!" Gwaine yelled, already sprinting up that stairs, with the other knights following close behind. Hunith and I ran after them Gwaine, without knocking pushed open the king's door. On sight of seeing their king sleeping like a girl, the knights erupted in a roar of laughter. The noise was plenty to wake Arthur; the king hijacked to his feet, grabbing the sword next to his bedside. "What are you doing?" Arthur demanded.
"Well we weren't spying, M'lady." Gwaine laughed.
"What did you call me?" Arthur seethed.
"M'lady. Or would you prefer to be called Queen Arthur." Gwaine asked a fuming Arthur.
"Run." Percival whispered in Gwaine's ear, He did just that as Arthur sprinted after him, sword in hand.
