Uther watched his previous council reaction when Merlin walked in with Arthur, holding his hand. There were glares sent there way, but no one muttered a word. He could see a few of them making distaste fulled faces.
He knows them, they would put on a smile for the night, congratulate him, but when morning comes and the doors close behind them, it would be arguments after arguments.
He could see that his son was happy with Merlin, there was something in his eyes that just softened when he looked at the younger man.
Uther was silent as he took a tankard from one of the servants when they walked past him, his attention was drawn to the door, Loararyn came waltzing into the room, her eyes search through the sea of people.
Uther knows that she wouldn't be happy with what she sees Arthur in the hands of another. His eyes moved back to his son.
He was talking with King George, Merlin kept close to him, making sure they were seen as a team, he noted the way Arthur's eyes would move to Merlin, how it softened and shined with love. How the corner of his lips would move with the slightest hint upwards.
Uther signed, he would miss out on his son's life, because of his actions. The magic had just made his feelings stronger, the resentment that Arthur's mother – Igraine- died in childbirth. He talked with Gaius after everything that had happened for a long time.
He could now see how he was in the wrong, even when it is still a hard pill to swallow. His eyes were pulled back to Loararyn when he saw her walking closer. There was a slight hardening around her mouth, but for the most part, did she put on a big coy smile.
It didn't look like she was doing a lot but just falling in with the conversation. It would be rude of her to ask the king to dance with her since she was just a girl.
Arthur ignored Loararyn for the most part, keeping the conversation focused on the king. His hand tightened slightly around Merlin's.
With a tired sigh he kept inside, he excused them, he would rather be in bed than deal with this, but that is something that he just can't stand up and do.
Loararyn followed him when he moved away. It was Merlin who turned around. "Is there something we can help you with?" His voice was slightly cold, the girl gave him the creeps.
"I just want to learn the king better, is there something wrong with that?" She kept her voice low and even.
Arthur glared at her. "There is, I have told you numerous times to leave me alone." He was tired of this.
With a nod, they didn't wait for her reply just turned and left.
No one noticed Loararyn slipping out. Whispering a mild mind control spell, she put the servants serving the king under.
Putting the potion into the king's goblet and then turned around back to the ball. She will have her way, one way or another.
Merlin frowned, his hand tighten around Arthur's. He could feel magic in the air, but he couldn't figure out if it was good or bad.
"What's wrong?" Arthur kept his voice low, he didn't like the way Merlin was tensing up. Something was going on.
"Magic is in the air, and it is relatively strong magic." Merlin frown deepened, his eyes scanned the crowd. His eyes landed on Loararyn just as she walked back into the room, there was something off about her.
Arthur tensed up but forced himself to relax again, the fact that they now know there was a threat, meant that they couldn't show they know.
"Relax Merls put a smile on your face. Don't let them know you felt that." Arthur whispered the words into Merlin's ear, as he pulled him onto the dance floor.
They danced until it was time for dinner, Merlin had sent out a pulse of magic every few minutes, but the magic had faded.
He gave Arthur a slight smile, he could see the worry in Merlin's eyes and he wished that he could take it away, but unfortunately there was nothing he could do.
Merlin's eyes drifted over the people in the room, everyone looked happy and settled. Why couldn't the feeling something is going to happen just go away?
Arthur picked up the chalice that George just put down, his eyes drifted to Merlin, just as he drank from it.
For a moment it felt like everything was going to freeze, his heart started to pound against his ribcage, his head felt like it was spinning.
"Arthur?" He could faintly hear Merlin's voice but it sounded far away. What the hell was in the chalice? He could feel Merlin pressing closer and for a moment it felt like his skin was burning up.
Arthur pushed himself up, his movements felt heavy like his limbs were filled with lead.
Merlin grabbed him before he could meet the floor. "Arthur?" Merlin was surprised when Arthur grabbed at the tunic he was wearing.
The shivers running through his body worried Merlin, but he knows that the best for the moment was to get him out of the room.
He gave Gaius a grateful smile when he helped him to pull Arthur onto his feet, with slow movements they managed to get him out of the room. Merlin knows that he should head back and calm the people down but his instincts screamed at him to stay with Arthur.
When he heard Uther talking to the people he could sigh in relieve.
"What happened?" Gaius's voice was soft as they put Arthur into bed, he was still shaking. His eyes wide and slightly glanced moved around the room.
"Don't know, but I have a feeling magic was involved," Merlin muttered as he directed his magic into his hand. He could feel the taint in his blood.
"Love potion." Merlin frowned slightly. This wasn't how a love potion usually works and he glanced at Gaius.
The old man gave Merlin a slight grin. "He loves you so much the potion can't force it to change to someone else, no it is trying to purge itself. Kiss him and he should be better. A true loves kiss can break any love potion known to man." Gaius was in wonder at the effects and he wished that he could study it further.
Merlin gave Gaius an owlish look before he leaned over Arthur, gently pressing his lips against Arthur's dry lips.
Soon the trembling died down and Arthur relaxed into the bed. His eyes opened slowly, he touched his head and wondered what had happened.
When there was a knocked on the door, Gaius went to answer it, he lifted his eyebrow at the girl in the door. Her dress was scandalous on a good day.
"Yes?" His voice was low as he looked at her. This was supposed to be a queen one day, Gaius wanted to snort. She was fit for a brothel and that was that.
There was a faint grin on her face. "I was just wondering if it would be possible to see the king for a second." Her voice was soft like the old melodies.
For a second everyone froze and Merlin descended on them like a bat from hell. It was magic that was used to hurt Arthur, the same magic he could feel in his blood is on this wence.
"What did you do?" Merlin's eyes were like molten gold as he glared at her.
Loararyn froze up as she stared at the sorcerer in front of her. She screamed in her head, unwilling projecting to everyone that had magic in her surroundings.
Merlin and Gaius winced slightly at the loudness in their minds. "Stop it and just tell me what you did." The order was clear in Merlin's voice.
Loararyn straightened her back as she glared at Merlin. "I did nothing." Her voice was firm. She wilted slightly under Merlin's glare.
"Don't give me that, I can feel your magic in his blood. You gave him a love potion." Merlin could feel his magic searching for a way out, but he kept it under tight control.
Loararyn glared at him. "I did, I would do whatever is needed to help my people, no matter who I have to hurt to do it." She didn't notice that Arthur had made his way over.
Arthur listen what was going on at the door, he could feel the magic in the room radiating around them.
He was the first to notice that the guards had there spears ready. "Arrest her. I will deal with her tomorrow." Arthur wrapped his arm around Merlin's shoulder. His body still felt heavy and his skin was burning.
Merlin was tens as he watched her trashing against the guards but they didn't seem to have a problem to keep her under control.
Gaius turned to the king but before he could say anything Arthur dismissed him. He turned to face Merlin properly, there was a dark look in his eye.
Merlin gently pulled Arthur closer to him, he could feel a shiver running down his body and he gave Arthur a slight grin.
Arthur leaned slightly forward, giving Merlin the change to pull away if he wanted but he leaned closer, closing the distance between them.
I hope everyone is still enjoying the story. Comments are welcome and constructive criticism as well. You can also find me on Tumblr lover-of-midnight.