Hey! I was pretty excited when I thought of this little story, and I had to write it. I hope it's as cute as I imagine. I don't own Merlin, but I hope you still enjoy!
As long as he lived, Arthur would never get enough of waking up to the feeling of Merlin in his arms.
It didn't happen nearly as often as Arthur would have liked it to, what with Merlin still in the habit of waking up before the sun rose from his days as Arthur's manservant and a farmer before that, but the king liked to think he was slowly breaking his husband of the habit after all these years.
Even as the king, Arthur tended to have the luxury of sleeping in here and there. He always had liked to sleep a bit more than was probably socially acceptable for someone of his status, but he never really cared. Anyone who had a problem with it ran the risk of the stocks or worse.
Usually, Merlin was out of bed and already bustling around their room preparing for the day by the time Arthur even opened his eyes, so it was a rare treat for the royal when he woke before his consort as he did this morning.
Arthur gazed down with a fond smile at Merlin's head resting on his chest. He softly stroked some of his black locks out of his eyes, though his efforts were more for himself than actually aiding in keeping the hair out of the raven's eyes. Merlin's hair looked like rats had torn through it in the middle of the night, locks sticking up in almost every direction possible.
Merlin sighed contentedly, squeezing his arms around Arthur's waist just a little tighter in his sleep. Arthur chuckled silently, careful not to disturb the sleeping warlock. He needed all the rest he could get.
With his nightmares and demanding duties, Merlin was often seriously lacking in the sleep department. On the off chance that Arthur woke before his husband such as then, he did everything in his power to make sure he stayed asleep as long as possible, even if that meant he himself not moving and possibly missing a morning council meeting. The old cranks would only want to talk about grain taxes for the fourth time that week anyhow.
The king gently ran his thumb along Merlin's prominent cheekbone and smiled as the prince unconsciously moved towards the touch. Arthur adored all the different versions of Merlin, but sleeping Merlin was one of his personal favorites. It was one of the only times when he got to gaze at Merlin's ethereal face, completely lax and absent of any worries. Merlin tended to be so stressed and anxious during the day that in sleep was the only time he looked truly at peace, and Arthur drank it in like he needed it to survive.
Which he felt like he did. Seeing Merlin happy over the simplest things like the daisies blooming in the royal garden or a small kitten he found emaciated and scared to death outside and wanted to keep it (and really, Arthur never could say no to his husband. So, the cat stayed, much to the king's chagrin. Now all his things were covered in its fur. He supposed he could live with it, though, as long as Merlin's face kept lighting up like the stars as he cuddled and cooed at the little creature.)
No, Arthur was absolutely not jealous of a four-pound rat covered in fur that Merlin had proudly named Maizy, no matter was Morgana said.
Merlin shifted and snuffled softly, cerulean eyes blinking open slowly. Arthur gave him the brightest smile he could muster.
"Good morning, love," he said quietly, tucking a particularly unruly lock behind his husband's ear. Merlin smiled sleepily at him.
"Watching me sleep again, are you?" he asked in a hoarse voice. Arthur rolled over and managed to grab a goblet of water by his bed without forcing Merlin off of his chest.
Arthur handed him the glass, and he gratefully drained it. "Don't be so full of yourself. I was merely contemplating my schedule for the day while you slept the morning away."
Merlin hummed and rolled his eyes. He could see straight through the prat any day. "Well," he said with a cheeky smile, "since I've apparently slept the morning away, it would seem I don't have time for morning kisses. I have to make sure George has fed Maizy."
A scowl settled on Arthur's face. His heart practically melted watching Merlin rest, and the idiot returns the favor by worrying about the cat before his own husband.
Okay, so maybe he was a little jealous of the cat.
"I don't think so," Arthur grumbled, grabbing Merlin's wrist and yanking him back so he was straddling Arthur's waist. He grinned.
"I knew you couldn't resist me, my king," Merlin murmured, their lips only a centimeter apart.
"Merlin?"
"Shut up?"
"You got it," Arthur said, cutting off Merlin's come back with a chaste kiss and pushing him back into the mattress.
It looked like the council meeting was going to be even later than he had thought.
Done! I hope you enjoyed!