Just a little over a week had passed with no change. Arthur had been assured by the physician that Merlin would be fine, that his body had been under a lot of stress and was still healing. But the king still felt an overwhelming worry.
He had just finished breakfast and had the current servant tending to him take the dishes away when Gwaine burst through the door.
"Sir Gwaine, what is it that's so important that you couldn't knock." Arthur sighed.
The knight smirked. "I mean if you don't want me to bother you I could always come back later."
The knight was met with an unamused glare and shrugged with a grin.
"He's awake." Was all the knight had managed to say before the king was rushing from the chambers.
Arthur burst through the door to the physician's chambers, drawing several heads in his direction. Apparently, everyone seemed to have heard of Merlin's awakening and beat him to the room.
"Hey, clotpole, where's the fire?" A tired voice came from the bed. And gods, Arthur never thought that insult could sound so beautiful. Merlin laid propped up in the bed. He looked every bit as dead as he probably should have been.
He noticed Merlin was shirtless under the blankets with bandages covering his torso. But that wasn't what drew his attention. No it was the large red burn scar peeking out from the gauze that stunned him.
Merlin followed the blonde's gaze and tensed before covering it with the blanket. As if that made what he saw disappear. But Arthur decided it was meant for another time.
Instead he sat on the bed next to Merlin, running a gentle hand through black hair. Merlin closed his eyes as he relaxed to the touch.
"Merlin." Arthur muttered, his voice low, almost a growl.
Opening his eyes, Merlin saw Arthur staring at him, his expression hard and dangerous.
"Arth-" His voice cut off his lips on his. He closed his eyes, allowing the kiss to deepen as he felt Arthur's tongue poke at his bottom lip. The kiss was a short one, but intense nonetheless.
It held every emotion Arthur had felt the last few days. The fear of almost losing him, the anger that Merlin had been forced to suffer so much alone, the pain he felt when he thought he had lost his other half for good. But most of all, Merlin could feel the love Arthur held for him.
Arthur pulled back, allowing the two to breathe. "Don't ever scare me like that again, do you hear me?" His voice deeper than Merlin had ever heard it, there was a raspiness to it that sent a chill down his spine….but in a good, intoxicating way.
"I can't bear to lose you, Merlin." He admitted flat out, not caring if he was being watched. And Merlin felt a very familiar sensation.
He loved Arthur, he'd know that for a long time. But with all of his lies and secrets, he had held himself back, believing Arthur would be better with someone who wasn't a monster.
But in this very moment, with Arthur's intense azure eyes staring him down, Merlin couldn't look away. Couldn't think of anything other than Arthur. Maybe...Maybe he could love all of Merlin?
He was tired of all the lies, he just wanted the man in front of him and Merlin found, he was completely willing to take the biggest risk of his life for this man.
Swallowing down the lump forming in his throat, nervousness seeping through his bones. 'Here goes everything.' he thinks.
Taking a deep breath Merlin spoke, his voice clear and steady and stronger than he felt, "Arthur,"
The king gave a hum of acknowledgement, seeming to know what Merlin needed and more than willing to give it to him.
With an audible breath he thought, 'No turning back now.'
"There's something I have to tell you."