Merlin was the first to wake up in the morning, his arms felt like lead. He gently ran his fingers through Arthur's hair. It was something he would never get enough of.
Arthur opened his eyes, everything was slightly blurry. "Merls?" His voice was thick with sleep.
"Go back to sleep darling." Merlin kept his voice low, he watched as Arthur closed his eyes again, surrendering to his dreams.
Merlin bit the inside of his cheek. The air felt off, and his magic was buzzing under his skin, trying to search for a release.
He lost himself in his thoughts as he allowed Arthur to get an extra hour's sleep. He knew that Arthur hadn't slept well.
"Darling, I need to get up." Merlin's voice was low when he woke Arthur up. He could see the small frown, and he gently pressed a kiss against it.
Arthur's hands tightened against Merlin. Everything in him screamed to keep him close.
"Arthur?" Merlin's voice raised slightly. The last two days behaviour wasn't normal for Arthur. He knows that Arthur is scared, but even in the past when he was scared he didn't cling to him like this.
"Please…" Arthur trailed off. He felt irrational and stupid for not wanting to let Merlin go but at the same time, everything screamed inside him that he needs to stay with Merlin at all costs.
Merlin was silent for a moment before he kneeled down in front of Arthur. "Do you want to go with me to the meetings?" He didn't know where the question had come from. Arthur didn't show that he was interested in politics, even if they did have discussions in the evenings about what was debated the day.
When Arthur nodded, almost so hard that he had whiplash, Merlin moved to the side giving him space to stand up.
Arthur pulled Merlin into a hug. "Can I wear one of your tunics?" His voice was low. When Merlin said yes, Arthur pulled back slightly. "Thank you."
He kept his eyes on the floor, he didn't know what was wrong with him. But he was going to follow his feeling and stick as close as possible to Merlin.
Just before they left there was a knocked on the door, Arthur went to answer it. He gently took the small packaged from the woman.
With a nod, she left.
"Merls." Arthur's voice was tight. "I have something for you." His hands tightened around the packaged. He was slightly surprised that it had come so early but at least he could now give it to Merlin.
Merlin put his comb down, turning to Arthur. As he took the packaged from Arthur, he gave him a warm smile. "Thank you, darling. What is for?" There was a softness to him, that kept Arthur silent for the moment.
The smile that Merlin gave Arthur, made him almost jumped. "Thank you, darling, it is beautiful." There was a chain that it could be put around the neck.
Merlin easily slipped it over his head. He pulled Arthur against him, giving him pecks all over his face before he buried his face into the crook of Arthur's neck.
He held the omega close to him, he didn't want to let go.
"Come darling, unfortunately, we need to face the world." Merlin gave Arthur a last kiss before they started the trek to the council room.
It was just before midday when the door's burst open, two guards were flanking a pissed off Uther Pendragon.