I don't own Merlin sadly, it belongs to the BBC.
This is a request from Kenya1234 and is therefore dedicated to them. I want to thank them for giving me this chance to write this as I have really enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. :D
Summary: In return for helping Gwen, she introduces Merlin to the rest of the gang. While it is love at first sight for Merlin, Arthur is a closed shell. Can Merlin break down the wall Arthur has built around his heart and get into where Arthur is determined no one will ever get to?
This story is the longest I have ever done it has 38 chapters.
Warnings: Malexmale. Ygraine alive, Uther nice lol. AU.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes
Ygraine knocked on Gwen's door and only waited a few seconds before it was opened by Gwen who was glowing and looking well for being seven months pregnant. "Oh Gwen love you are glowing."
"Thank you. Do you want to come in?"
"Thank you." Ygraine said and walked inside, smiling when she saw her daughter sat on the settee. "Hello darling."
"Mother."
"I came to see Merlin to talk to him about Christmas dinner but just as I pulled up I saw him drive away with Arthur. I was about to go when I saw your car, I just knew you would be with Gwen discussing your wedding so I thought I would come up."
"Mother there is nothing to help me with we are only discussing Gwen's dress."
"Great! I can help." she said as she sat herself down next to her daughter. "Now then Gwen's dress if it is to be low cut she will need a necklace around her neck otherwise it is going to look bare."
"No it won't." Morgana argued.
"Yes it will. Look if you have a dress that cuts right across the bust and then have nothing from there upwards it looks bare, plus you know Gwen better than I do and I know she always has her necklace on."
Gwen lifted her hand to hold the necklace in question. "It was what Lance gave me on our second date. I have never taken it off."
"Well you can wear that Gwen."
"And what kind of necklace will you be wearing?" Ygraine asked, looking at her daughter.
"I won't be wearing one."
"Oh you are wearing a high neck dress?"
"No."
"So you know what kind of dress you are wearing?"
"No." Morgana said while Gwen said "Yes."
"Guinevere!" Morgana said.
"Hey, don't start on Gwen." Ygraine said. "So, may I see what kind of dress you have picked out?"
Sighing Morgana picked up the magazine she had hid when she heard her mother at the door and turned to a certain page.
Ygraine looked at the dress and had to hide her surprise. The dress her daughter picked out was absolutely gorgeous, it was a simple low cut dress with thin straps, jewels across the chest, lace in certain places finishing off with a long train. Knowing her daughter was looking at her she pulled a face.
"What don't you like about it?"
"Oh nothing, it is a nice dress."
"But?" Morgana asked.
"I can't see you in it; I pictured you more in a corset dress that flowed down to the floor, pure silk, just gorgeous."
"Really?" Morgana asked.
"Yes. Just go into a shop and try a few different ones on before making your mind up. Now then." Ygraine said as she started to look through the magazine. "Let's talk veils."
Morgana stood up. "Let's not. I have to get going Gwen I will give you a ring tomorrow." she said before giving Gwen a kiss on the cheek and leaving, saying nothing more to Ygraine.
When Merlin and Arthur got back from the pub they were surprised to see Leon stood outside Arthur's front door. "Leon?" Arthur asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I need a bed for the night."
"You're serious?" Merlin asked.
"Yes. I can explain more inside I just need to get warmed up first."
Arthur nodded and quickly unlocked his door. Once inside Arthur lit the fire while Merlin went and made some hot drinks, when Merlin came back Leon took his drink, thanking Merlin before taking a sip. "Oh that's nice, got to love coffee with a bit of brandy in it."
Arthur laughed. "What's happened then Leon?"
"Well Morgana got back from Gwen's and told me that Ygraine turned up saying she disagreed with what Morgana said about Gwen's dress and having to wear a necklace so it doesn't look bare or something I don't know. Anyway then she was telling me how when she reluctantly showed Ygraine her dress Ygraine immediately disagreed again saying what she thought she should be wearing and not to make her mind up yet and to try a few dresses on first."
"And what did you say to that that got you now sleeping in my spare room?" Arthur asked.
"I agreed with Ygraine."
Merlin couldn't help but laugh. "Don't worry Leon I will be telling her on Christmas day that it was all me."
"Thank you Merlin, I do agree with Ygraine but we knew that I was to agree with her whether I did or not."
"So it would cause arguments and Morgana will finally see what she did to Arthur." Merlin said, smiling when Arthur took his hand.
"Well it is just for tonight; Morgana will take me back to spend Christmas Eve night there as I have her present." Leon said making all three of them laugh.
Christmas morning Arthur was woken by kisses, he opened his eyes and saw Merlin smiling at him. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Merlin."
"Can I open my present now you are up?"
Arthur laughed. "How long have you been awake?"
"Just an hour or so, come on I want my present."
Arthur laughed and got up, Merlin hurrying downstairs while Arthur showered and dressed for the day.
Merlin picked up his present and started to unwrap it when Arthur said he could, taking his time with it he pulled away all the paper and opened the small box to find a key, he picked it up with his thumb and finger and placed the now small empty box down. "A key?"
"Yes. It is a key to my house. It's not an invite to move in but it is a step in that direction, when you finish work if you don't want to go home you can come here and just let yourself in."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes Merlin."
Merlin beamed and threw himself on Arthur making the blond laugh as he fell back with Merlin on top of him. "I am guessing you like your gift then?"
"Like it? I love it!" Merlin answered kissing Arthur deeply, only pulling back when air was needed.
"Can I open mine now?"
"Of course." Merlin answered, handing Arthur the small box.
Arthur unwrapped his present with the same delicacy as Merlin did his and opening the small box he gasped and started to stutter a little. Merlin placed a calming hand on his arm. "It isn't an engagement ring Arthur don't worry."
Arthur looked up, "sorry I just thought that."
"I know, Freya thought it was when she saw it. This ring is to symbolise what we have, what I feel for you, what I will always feel for you. Tell you that I love you with everything that I am I only want one kind of future and that is with you in it, it shows I will never leave you and that I will always love you, always."
Arthur looked up. "It's a promise ring."
"It is. I hope for you to wear it."
Arthur placed it on his finger. "I will never take it off. I love you Merlin."
"I love you too Arthur."
Later that day Arthur and Merlin turned up at Ygraine and Uther's baring gifts. When they walked in they saw that they were the last ones there as Hunith, Balinor, Leon, Morgana, Dolma and Dragoon were already there. "I know we got carried away after exchanging gifts but I thought we would be here on time." Merlin whispered to Arthur.
Arthur laughed and was about to answer when Dragoon slapped Arthur on the shoulder. "We all turned up early laddie." he said before turning to Merlin. "Thank you for your present laddie."
"You are welcome Granddad."
Ygraine hugged Arthur before spotting his ring. "Oh Arthur that's gorgeous!" she said, holding his hand to take a closer look.
"Thank you. Merlin got it me for Christmas, it's a promise ring."
Ygraine looked at Merlin. "What did you get?"
"I got a cabinet and a drawer along with a key."
"I don't understand." Morgana said.
"I gave Merlin a key to my house so he can come and go as he pleases and he has a cabinet in my bathroom full of his things that will stay there and a drawer for his clothes which will stay there." Arthur said.
Uther placed a hand on his son's shoulder, smiling when Arthur looked at him. "I'm happy for you son."
"Thanks father."
After they had all exchanged presents Ygraine led them all into the dining room where the table was decorated up, she told them all to sit while she and Uther went to get the food, once the table was covered with food and Ygraine and Uther were sitting, everyone started to help themselves to food, filling their plate with different things.
When everyone began eating Ygraine turned to Morgana. "Arthur told me that Leon spent the night at his as you kicked him out. You can't do that to him for giving you his honest opinion love."
"I wasn't, I kicked him out because he agreed with you. This is mine and Leon's wedding, ours and ours alone it is down to us to decide how it happens you can't keep pushing in mother when it has nothing to do with you."
"Morgana that is a little harsh." Uther said. "Apologise to your mother."
"But she is father, she is pushing and pushing and trying to get me to change my mind on things and I am in two minds about everything now and I am unsure of what to do!"
"You should talk to Arthur about all these feelings Morgana; he knows what it is like as he has been through them himself. Of course his were a lot worse." Merlin said.
Morgana turned to Merlin and looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well it is like I said, you just said how Ygraine with her pushing is making you feel and I simply suggested that you should talk to Arthur about it as he knows how you feel as he has had someone push him into something, make him have two minds and not be sure, only difference being here is that he ended up getting his heart broken."
Morgana narrowed her eyes, looking as though she was thinking, gasping and her eyes widening when she realised. "You told mother me and Leon set a date!"
"Yes I did."
"Why?"
"To get you to see just a glimpse of what you put Arthur through with Cenred."
Uther cleared his throat. "Excuse me." he said as he stood up. "Morgana, Merlin, Arthur, kitchen, now."
Merlin, Arthur and Morgana followed Uther into the kitchen and closed the door behind them. "Now we haven't got everyone around us the conversation can continue." Uther said.
"What do you mean to get a glimpse of what I put Arthur through?"
"Arthur hid it from you but you have no idea what you put him through with Cenred, taking his side and not Arthur's even though Arthur told you what he was like and then when he tells you I told him I loved him you do the same thing and stick up for me making Arthur feel bad, so you were putting him through it again without realising."
"I'm not understanding your point; shouldn't you be thanking me for sticking up for you? And Cenred, well I thought he was nice, it wasn't my fault he turned out so bad." she snapped.
"I understand that but only knowing me for a few months and growing up with Arthur who is your brother and knowing his insecurities you stick up for him. What if it was the other way around and you were in a bad relationship with Leon and he was using you and Arthur brushed it off saying no stick with him he is a good guy you have it wrong."
"Well, I, um, I guess would expect him to side with me, but-"
"But nothing. You hurt your brother so much and you were starting to do it all again with me." Merlin said.
"I didn't know that at the time, and I apologized for that!" she instantly defended.
Uther cleared his throat. "Yes you did but even I knew your heart wasn't in it, you didn't mean it Morgana. This is why Merlin did this and told your mother and planned this, you mother screwing with your head and having you not being sure about your choices is only a glimpse of what you put your brother through, Merlin did this to get you to see that."
She looked at them all before her eyes fell on Arthur, looking him over, "Is that really how you felt?"
"No. What you feel right now is only a glimpse, it hurt what Cenred did you know how much it hurt because you saw it nearly break me but some of that was you with your words and pushing."
"It's not my fault." she said, her defence breaking, sounding almost desperate.
"I didn't say it was your fault it wasn't, Cenred doing what he did got me like that but it didn't help at all you defending him even when you found out." Arthur whispered.
"That's not what I was trying to do." she whispered sadly, "I just wanted you to be happy, like I am with Leon."
"You want your brother to be happy you do what I do with Arthur's relationships." Uther said. "Absolutely nothing. I sit and listen. That's it."
"And that is all I need." Arthur agreed.
She looked between the two of them before lowering her head slightly, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize…"
"But now you do?" Uther asked, knowing his daughter had more to say.
"I'm so sorry Arthur; I should have been far more supportive towards you than I was. I'm-I'm sorry for messing with something so important as love, and even possibly chasing you and Merlin away from one another."
"And Cenred?" Uther pushed.
"I will never speak to him again! Who does he think he is, treating my brother like that!"
"You said all of that to Arthur when you helped pick him back up, haven't you anymore to say about what you put your brother through while he was with him?"
Uther looked from his daughter to his son. "We will leave you both to it, come on Merlin."
Merlin leaned over and kissed Arthur before leaving with Uther.
"How about we-"
"No." Arthur interrupted, folding his arms.
"You don't even know what I was going to say."
He rolled his eyes, "Oh, please, Morgana. I know you, I know that look all too well. That's your 'Let's get revenge' look."
"We should, the way he treated you-"
"Yes, but I am getting over it and going back now will only hold me back from moving forward. Can we please just let it go?"
She looked at him, searching his eyes, "Fine." she sighed.
He smiled, heading for the door, "Thank you."
"Arthur," she called, making him stop. Walking up to him, she looked into his eyes, a remorseful look on her face. "I really am sorry. I just-I don't know. I'm sorry."
He looked at her, then smiled, "its okay." and turned to leave but was stopped as her arms came around his neck, pulling him into a tight hug.
"It's not," she sounded choked up, "It really isn't, and I know that, because I know you as well. At least I used to, I will, though. I will try harder to be more supportive of you, to help you and only think of you, and one day, hopefully, it will really be okay. I will try to make my misbehaviour up to you, I promise."
She let go leaving the room, missing the shocked, but fond expression that Arthur held onto his face.
Merlin seeing Morgana leave the kitchen made to walk past her to see how Arthur was but was stopped by the brunette. "Yes?" he asked, looking Morgana in the eye.
"Thank you Merlin."
"What for?"
"For what you did. I understand why you did it. I see now, Arthur and me talked and he said it is okay now, I know it isn't but I am going to make it up to him. I just want to thank you for opening my eyes." she said before hugging a surprised Merlin.
"I had to make you see."
"I know." Morgana said as she pulled back. "Thank you."
Merlin smiled and walked into the kitchen to see a shocked looking Arthur. "Are you alright?" he said, hurrying over and taking the blonds hands in his.
"Yes. I just saw a side of Morgana she rarely shows. Thank you Merlin. I feel so much better."
Merlin smiled and pulled Arthur into a hug, pulling back enough to kiss his boyfriend. "Anything for you Arthur. I love you."
"I love you too Merlin." Arthur replied, returning the kiss.
What do you think?
Chapter thirty eight which is the last chapter :( will be up tomorrow :D
Review? x