Chapter twenty-five

Proposals and reunions

"Merlin!?"

Merlin jumped at Arthur's bellow. "Right, time to go." Ariana pouted and he shook his head. "No, that's not going to work on me."

She leaned forward slightly with her lips pursed. "It always does." Merlin groaned and kissed her quickly as she giggled. "Called it!"

"Lucky." He closed the book that they'd been reading and handed it to her. "Tuck it away."

"If it ever gets discovered I can always say it was mine." She said as she got up and moved to his bedroom. "And I couldn't get in trouble for Uther still must protect me, no matter how much I dislike it."

"I'm glad, I'd hate to see you getting executed for using magic."

"You mean," she said as she sauntered up to him slowly. "that you'd hate to have to clean up the mess I'd make after blowing everyone away.

"You wouldn't."

She swatted his behind. "I would to and you know it!"

"Ariana, I love you dearly, but I would appreciate if you could refrain from getting me in trouble."

"Come on," she took his hand. "I'll go with you and face the mad monster."

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted.

She grinned. "Race you there!"

"You're crazy!"

"I'm not the one who proposed when I was dangling off a cliff!"

"It was an accident!" He protested. "The ground gave way and I told you not to be standing there!"

"So?" She stopped and faced him while counting off on her fingers. "The first proposal, you asked me in my mind, and you only bothered to propose because Arthur suggested it."

"That is not-"

"And the second one, you asked me to marry you, on bended knee, with a bouquet of roses and lavender in the other hand!"

"I'd forgotten you were allergic to lavender."

"The third, you proposed while we were crossing over a log in the river. Something about…..crossing bridges together in life together?"

he nodded, biting his lower lip. "Well….it was a good idea."

"And…was me falling in the river part of the idea?"

"No, not really."

"And after the fourth, which was me falling off the cliff, this fifth proposal was the worst."

"I thought it wasn't."

"A ring in my wineglass? I choked on it! And then, you wouldn't let me look at the ring after you brought it up for me!"

"I just….want the moment to be right. and…I had to clean the ring up, your throat isn't, the cleanest place in the world."

"Merlin," she patted his face fondly. "you can't come up with a romantic proposal to save your life!" Ariana tossed her head and looked ahead of her just in time to crash into Arthur. "Sorry!" she groaned. "Are you ok?"

Arthur stared up at her in astonishment. "No!"

Merlin pulled her up off Arthur. "Sorry."

Arthur brushed himself off. "Why am I not surprised?" Arthur's expression changed. "How do I look?"

"Fine." Merlin said.

Arthur frowned. "Just…fine?"

Ariana glanced at him. he was in his best clothes and he looked so nervous. She patted his shoulder. "You look perfect, trust me." She smiled. "Gwen's waiting for you in…my old chambers. Go see her."

Arthur nodded and he turned and strode down the hall. Merlin took her hand and grinned. "Now, you follow me."

"Where too?"

"Just follow."

"I'm going to, but if this turns out badly I was Gauis to examine my head when we return!"

Gwen's heart pounded in her chest as she sat on the edge of her bed. Uther, to her surprise, was planning on receiving her this night. He'd been too busy to receive anyone and tonight, she'd be seeing him for the first time since he'd banished her. what would happen to her?

would Uther still consider her a servant and have her sent out of the kingdom or execute her for daring to defy him? she didn't know! And Arthur! Did he still love her as he claimed that he'd love her forever? Had she come her to her death? Had she come here simply to make a fool of herself? How had she gotten into this mess? How had she let Ariana talk her into this?

The door creaked open and her heart jumped in her chest as she spun around to see Arthur in the doorway. She rubbed her hand nervously along the neckline of her bright, blue silken dress.

"Arthur."

"Guinevere."

She bit her lip at the way that he said her name. He said her name when he was either very happy or when she was right and he was trying not to admit it. she couldn't say anything after that.

Arthur, sensing the longing in her soul, stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. She held her breath as she ran her hands up his from his waist to his shoulders. Tears leaked down her cheeks and she tried not to cry as she relished the feeling of Arthur's warmth and strength enveloping her.

Arthur's lips tenderly kissed her forehead and slowly, gently trailed soft kisses down her cheek, her chin and her neck. She trembled and gripped his shoulders tighter.

"God, I missed you." He breathed. "I can't believe….that we're really here."

"Neither can i." She inhaled and looked upwards at the ceiling. "Arthur, Uther won't-"

"He doesn't know it's you. he knows that we've been corresponding, I'm in love with you, and I will marry you tomorrow."

"Arthur."

He kissed her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His chin rested ontop of her head. "I missed you so much. I love you. And when you love somebody, you keep them close. You never let them go. I won't, ever let you go again."

"Come on." She followed him warily through the corridors, out of the castle, and down to the fountain in the Camelot courtyard. Then she saw dozens of candles lit, glowing all around the fountain. She stared at the glowing, crystal, red roses that sparkled in the water.

She stared at him in amazement. "Merlin."

"Arthur ordered everyone to stay away while I prepared this." She smiled at him as he seated her on the only section of the fountain without candles. He exhaled and looked down at her before kneeling. "Ariana, I know you said I couldn't…plan a romantic proposal if my life depended on it." She laughed lightly and ran her hand over his. "And you're probably right."

She smiled. "You're doing fine."

"Could you," he hesitated before asking. "stop talking for a moment?" She arched her brow but nodded at him. "I'm nervous enough, even if this is, the sixth time." she smiled as Merlin reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver ring with multi-colored stones all around the band. "Ariana, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she smiled broadly. "I will, I will marry you Merlin." As he slid the ring on her finger, she whispered. "I take it back Merlin."

"Take what back?"

"That…you couldn't come up with a romantic proposal to save your life. This is…very romantic."

Merlin cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair. She moaned and leaned deeper into Merlin's kiss. A sudden rush of heat flowed over her body at Merlin's kiss and she smiled against his lips.

Then a stinging caused her to pull apart and look at the sleeve of her arm. "I'm on fire!" She shrieked. "Merlin!" she jumped up and tumbled backwards into the fountain again. "Merlin!" She spluttered.

"No more!" He said. "I am not going to propose again!"

"I'm not going to accept a seventh! I've had enough!" she smirked. "Now…why don't you join me and kiss me?"

Merlin laughed before sitting on the edge of the fountain. "My pleasure."

"I said," she grabbed a hold of his coat and tugged hard. "get in here!"

"Ariana," he said catching his balance. "the banquet? Remember?"

She groaned. "Right." The sound of trumpets caused her to groan. "Now, I've got to show up in the banquet hall looking like this!"

"You look wonderful."

"Merlin, you're a terrible liar."