Timeframe: Set when Arthur is still the crown prince, meaning Uther is still alive, but Arthur knows of Merlin's magic. This story happens shortly after the magic reveal. Also, this is an established relationship Merthur who are still at the early stages of their relationship.
The door to Arthur's chambers opened and the royal prince stopped his worried pacing, barely holding back a relieved sigh when he saw the red-and-blue figure of his clumsy manservant at the doorway.
.
"I fear the day when my father sends his men to investigate the next time Gaius uses that darned tavern excuse again. Where have you been, Merlin? You were missing for two whole days!"
The object of his worry just gave him a very-Merlin look, that was reserved exclusively for Arthur it seemed — one that conveyed 'dollophead' loud, clear, and fond without saying the word.
Merlin made his way over with a tray of Arthur's dinner held tightly in his grasp, something cheerful missing in his gait — a thing that Arthur's close scrutiny immediately picked up. Arthur's brows furrowed even deeper as he detected a limp out of all bloody things, despite his idiot's obvious effort to conceal it.
"I'm sure you could fare two days without me, Sire."
Merlin's overly-light tone had the opposite effect on Arthur than what the warlock might have intended. In two long strides, the prince closed the distance between them and grasped Merlin's shoulders, gently forcing the raven-haired man to look at him.
"Merlin, we talked about this..."
Merlin sighed. "Arthur, stop worrying." Then, in a display of sudden sweetness, the warlock glanced up at him and gave a quick peck on Arthur's cheek, smiling shyly before wrenching himself out of Arthur's protective grasp.
"Now, if there isn't anything else you need—"
Arthur growled in exasperation and with no small amount of force, he dragged the stubborn warlock and firmly sat him on the bed, as Merlin let out a small noise of surprise.
"Arth—"
The golden-haired prince shushed him with a stern look, and—disregarding Merlin's half-hearted protests, he ran his hands in a practiced motion over Merlin's body, checking for injuries—and after brushing aside that darned neckerchief and finding a half-healed slash over Merlin's shoulder and upper arm—Arthur huffed an exasperated breath and glared at his sheepish warlock.
"Gaius fixed that earlier." Merlin shrugged with his other shoulder, his eyes adopting a shifty look which made the prince narrowed his eyes. "He was sort of mad at me right now because you know I'm still rubbish at healing spells. Now don't you start stressing out, you prat, there's nothing to be worried about."
.
Arthur very much doubted that Gaius was mad for that reason.
This has became an increasingly exasperating routine between both of them ever since Arthur was finally aware of Merlin's secret—and with the magic revealed, so did the truth about Merlin's secret activities and the mystery of why many of the kingdom's troubles had been solved mysteriously— which, of course, never involved a tavern. But Merlin... Merlin being Merlin—his stubborn, ridiculously dramatic, clumsy, endearing and self-sacrificing stupid idiot—was not used to their new honesty policy.
The prince thought he had drilled it hard enough to his stubborn idiot's skull when Merlin was caught for the first time, but apparently not enough against Merlin's stubbornness.
.
How could he make Merlin truly understand that Arthur was just as protective of him as Merlin was of him—and even more so because of the magic? Because that only opened Arthur's eyes on the sheer number of times Merlin was exposed to more dangers beyond Arthur's wildest nightmares—and he was not able to protect his idiot!
Merlin had argued back that he did not want to worry anyone. If only he knew how much Arthur had been stressing himself out for Merlin's sake — that stupid sorcerer certainly hadn't got enough bloody self-preservation sense for himself, so Arthur would have to do it for him. What kind of stupid sorcerer would come to Camelot to use magic right under his magic-hating father's nose? Or use magic to save the same kingdom which had persecuted his kind? Of course it's only his Merlin.
Sometimes Arthur just wanted to knock some sense into his stupid, survival-instinct-challenged warlock... preferably, before that buffon decided to do yet another very Merlin-like stupid thing, such as throwing himself in front of Arthur when they were facing an errant sorcerer— because yes, it bloody happened just a week ago.
At least, the sorcerer looked horrified and muttered something about hitting someone named 'Emrys' with a magical spear, but he was actually competent with healing magic and was able to help them.
He would be damned to forget that incident anytime soon despite Merlin's insistence on the matter. He'd had his nightmares as a haunting reminder, thank you very much.
.
Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Arthur fixed a regal stare to his slightly squirming warlock, which boded no room for dishonesty. "Merlin you idiot. What happened? I want the full truth."
"Umm... well, I was a bit preoccupied..."
Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it again, seemingly confused. Arthur started to grow impatient.
"...and?"
"Well, actually I'm not sure what happened either," Merlin began to babble. "There was this group of revenge-bent sorcerers and they could command a few beasts—"
"Hold on, define a few?"
"—shush, Arthur, there were only about ten magical beasts when I got there."
"And you still went after them... alone!?"
"It's not like I was looking for trouble." Merlin scowled at the prince's near hysterical tone. "Trouble was looking for one certain dollophead royal pratness, and I was just there to intercept them. Honestly, I don't know what happened... Might've caused an explosion or two and I..," Merlin winced in embarrassment, "... might have hit my head? Then it all got blurry and the next think I know, I missed delivering your breakfast twice. Sorry 'bout that.."
Seeing that Arthur was quickly showing signs of hyperventilation, Merlin continued quickly, "But it's alright! I got your dinner now, didn't I? Besides," the warlock grinned, sweet and somewhat menacing at the same time, "you should see the other guys."
.
Arthur ran a hand over his hair, relief and exasperation mixing together into a budding headache. "Merlin, what have I told you about not doing these... adventures alone anymore?"
"Yeah, well," spluttered the raven, "I would never risk you no matter how much of a clotpole you are."
And there it was, Merlin's infamous stubbornness that had frustrated royal prats and dollopheads everywhere.
"You're a total buffon, you know that?" growled Arthur, but his eyes were soft and worried as his fingers gently shifted Merlin's tunic and neckerchief back to their former position, covering the ugly half-healed slash that made Arthur's gut clenched with angry protectiveness. "Don't you think I would feel the same about you?"
Merlin's blue eyes instantly widened in guilt. "Arthur, I—"
But Arthur couldn't stop now. Years of being conditioned to repress his feelings had made him unwieldy in expressing his emotions, but Merlin would understand. Merlin needed to understand. "I would risk the whole kingdom and my very life if it means I would never see you hurt again. Do you have any idea how much I've been worried sick—if you had died out there, I would have no idea at all...," Arthur trailed off, his voice wavering beyond his control under the weight of his emotions.
Merlin looked as if he was shocked into silence, and Arthur internally vowed that he would spend many more years — they had a future together after all, he would make sure of that — affirming to his stubborn and self-sacrificing warlock how much he mattered.
However, Merlin's face morphed into an impish smile. "Aw, you were worried about me. Now who are you and what have you done to my Arthur Pen—mmffh!"
.
Arthur pulled back a little from the sudden snog hesitantly, but then Merlin surged forward to kiss back with a stronger fervour — and the royal prince made sure to pour all of his love and the worry he'd been holding for the past two days into the kiss.
"Idiot," he whispered fondly to the side of Merlin's lips, trailing little kisses all over the warlock's sharp cheekbones and face. Merlin gave a soft laugh before entwining his fingers in Arthur's hair, and fell backward on the soft bed. When the prince started to nose his warlock's neck and his eyes fell on the wound again, he drew a sharp breath and felt Merlin's hands cupping his face.
"I'm alright." Azure orbs flecked with gold shone at him softly.
"Merlin, never again...," Arthur almost pleaded.
"I...," Merlin paused, eyes watering a bit with the sudden rush of love coursing through his veins. The warlock caressed his king's face as if he was the most precious thing in the world. "I can't promise you that. I'm sorry, Arthur."
"Then I'll come with you."
"Arthur—"
"I don't want you to be alone, Merlin. Not anymore. As long as you'll have me. I love you."
Merlin's face softened. He drew himself up to kiss Arthur once again and they both lay on the bed, the warlock lovingly nuzzled Arthur's neck and intertwined their bodies.
"I love you too," Merlin whispered. "Though you really should see the other guys."
The prince rolled his eyes fondly, arms protectively encircling Merlin who had laid his head on his chest with his eyes closed and face peaceful. The consequences of the past two days clearly had caught up on him.
"Hmm, what happened to them?"
"...dead. Never going to be a threat to your life ever again."
"Merlin..." Hearing the dead, emotionless tone of Merlin's voice still gave him goosebumps to this day, even though it had been awhile since he knew of Merlin's secret, and consequently the number of kills Merlin had made in his name. It still broke his heart bit by bit.
But the warlock just sighed contentedly in Arthur's arms, exhaustion quickly pulling him to sleep.
.
Arthur stayed awake long into the night, heart in his throat, listening to the soft snores of the warm weight on his chest and hugging Merlin close to him — although mindful of his protector's healing injuries too.
He loved him.
Gods, he loved him so much that it hurt.
And he hated that ultimately, there was no way he could keep Merlin from doing his destiny — protecting Arthur and Albion. But destiny be damned, Arthur would have to protect Merlin better.
When he became king, everything would change — and hopefully no more vengeful threats to Albion due to his father's legacy.
He would make sure that Merlin would be as safe as here, in his arms, to hell with destiny and fate which threatened to take him away almost everyday.
.
He would not let Merlin be alone again with everything he had.