In which Merlin and Arthur both let slip a casual "I love you" and don't realise it until an hour or so later.
AN:
This is based off a Tumblr post. The only reason why I'm posting this is because I don't want the first thing I post on this site to be a crackfic from a fandom that I'm not even in!
There is no set timeline but the knights are all here. Uther is clearly aware enough to have meetings but he doesn't even turn up.
This can be Merthur romance or bromance, it's up to you.
Merlin mentally ran through the list of things to do for today. The clotpole's chain mail and sword? Done. Off to training? Done. Had he told Arthur about his father's meeting? Yes. Then it was Gaius's errands (in progress) and then- Merlin, forgetting he was carrying a basket of laundry, dropped said laundry down the stairs, before promptly tripping over the pile of clothes and yeeted himself down the remaining three steps. Everyone in the corridor turned to look at him, before realising it was just Merlin again, and then hurried on with their respective tasks. Merlin stayed lying on the cold floor, muttering unintelligibly to himself over and over.
Gwaine was the first to find him. "Ah, my favourite knight!" he sang, walking down the stairs to join Merlin. "How's the floor down there, Merlin?"
Merlin continued to mutter.
Gwaine leaned down to hear Merlin better.
"I just told him I love him. I just told Arthur I love him. Why did I say that? It just slipped out? I can't believe I told him I love him. Why would I do that?"
Gwaine let out a chuckle and slapped Merlin's shoulder. Merlin didn't even register it. "So you finally realised it! 'M proud of you mate! What did-" he was cut off by a shout from the top of the stairs by Sir Leon.
"SIR GWAINE. GET BACK TO TRAINING!" He bellowed, voice carried by the stairwell. "Sorry mate, gonna have to leave you here. Good luck with the princess, eh?" laughing, Gwaine sprinted down the corridor, shouting at Leon to catch him first. The castle staff milling about the corridor wisely stepped to the side, all knowing to stay out of Gwaine's antics.
Gwen found him half a candle mark later, still lying on the floor. She was carrying a basket but she put it down to help Merlin. "Merlin! Are you alright? What are you doing lying there on the floor like that?" asked Gwen, already picking up clothes.
Merlin was still muttering.
"Merlin? Merlin!" He was still ignoring her and Gwen began to get worried. She shook him lightly, hoping he would snap out of it.
"I told Arthur I love him. I told- oh Gwen! You're here! Help me!" wailed Merlin, grabbing Gwen's hands as he finally realised she was kneeling in from of him. "Calm down Merlin, your rambling isn't helping. I mean, not to say that you aren't helpful when you ramble but ah," Flustered, Gwen cut her own ramble off and tried to get back to the issue at hand.
"So… you told Arthur you loved him and then you'd see him for lunch? And you didn't even realise you'd said it until now, where you decided to drop clothes all over the hallway?" Gwen summarised what Merlin had told her. She folded another shirt as she struggled to hold back a laugh at her friend's predicament. She couldn't help but be reminded of the time when Edmund had told him one of the maids had a crush on him. Merlin had looked at Edmund and then at Gwen, presumably looking for help, eyes wide like he'd never considered the idea, that Gwen hadn't had the heart to tell him that Sally wasn't the only person who had a crush on him. At times like these she remembered Merlin may be knowledge-smart but he definitely wasn't people-smart.
Merlin frantically nodded. "And don't forget it just slipped out!"
"I didn't forget," said Gwen dryly, handing the remaining clothes to Merlin, who carefully put them in the basket. "Well, I'm happy for you but you really should be getting on with your work or you'll be up all night." She ignored Merlin's groan as he slowly picked up the laundry before adding, "oh wait, what did Arthur say? Did he say it back?"
Merlin frowned, struggling to remember. "Oh, no, I don't think so. He said I- wait-!" His ears burned. Gwen looked at him puzzled at his reaction. Wondering for a moment how the situation would have gone, understanding dawned on her. "That's great then!" (Is it really unexpected that Arthur would say it back? she said internally.) Too late, she remembered the effect the first revelation had had on Merlin. "Oh Merlin, don't drop the laundry again!"
Alas Merlin dropped the basket again, spilling out newly folded laundry everywhere, and fell over.
Arthur was in the middle of a sparring match with Sir Leon when realisation hit him.
However, it was not the only thing that hit him.
Mid punch, Arthur's eyes widened comically before freezing. "Wait, did I just- oof!"
And to Leon's great horror, he punched the Crown-Prince of Camelot right in the face.
"Sire! I- you-! I apologise! I thought you would duck, sire! Please forgive me!"
Arthur lay on the ground and ignored the flustered Sir Leon's apologies and the loud guffaws of Gwaine in the background. Rubbing his jaw absentmindedly, he rewound this morning's Events. Merlin had told him he loved him. AND HE HAD SAID IT BACK. What on earth possessed him to say it back?! His reputation was ruined! He couldn't be going soft now! He would have to make Merlin promise to pretend it never happened. He, Prince Arthur, did not go around proclaiming his undying love to people! Only girls did that!
After the initial shock of watching Arthur get punched in the face had worn off, the knights crowded around Arthur. "Is he alright?" asked one knight uncertainly. Gwaine couldn't stop laughing. "Good thing you did cheat and dragged me back to training, eh? I wouldn't have missed this for the world!"
Leon glared at Gwaine rolling around on the floor in tears. Whether he was angry at Gwaine for claiming that he had cheated He hadn't cheated and it just so happened that the cook was walking in Gwaine's direction! (Negotiating with her was terrifying.) And couldn't Gwaine at least show some propriety? Prince Arthur had just been punched in the face! (By him.) For the love of Camelot, thought Leon, this has been a terrible day. Lancelot shook his head. "Gwaine, please show some respect," he said with a straight face. What a liar, thought Percival. Anyone who knew Lancelot properly would know he was laughing his armour off inside.
"My lord?" said knight #2.
"Perhaps we should take him to see Gaius?" suggested Elyan.
Sir Leon was still apologising when Arthur came back to reality. Somehow they had moved from the training grounds to Gaius' chambers. Gaius was busy squinting at Arthur and declared the Prince was did not have a concussion and simply needed to stay hydrated. "What is going on?" demanded Arthur. To Leon's displeasure, Gwaine slapped Leon's shoulder and said, "Ah princess! Well Leon here punched your lights out!"
Leon winced and began apologising yet again. Arthur told Leon there was no need to apologise, they had been over this before, and then demanded that everyone leave the room as he required some peace and quiet to discuss some urgent matters with Gaius.
"Have some water first, sire." said Gaius, pouring Arthur a cup of water. "Now what is it, sire?"
"It's about Merlin. He's not in any trouble," Arthur added quickly, when Gaius looked alarmed. The look faded and Gaius looked at him flatly, clearly done with his nephew's antics. "But this morning, he ah…" Gaius raised an eyebrow and waited.
After much fiddling with the cup of water and lots of deliberation (not stuttering, princes do not stutter), Arthur finally managed blurt the words out. "Merlin-declared-his-love-to-me-this-morning!"
Gaius' eyes glinted and he cackled to himself. This was his great chance to get Arthur back for constantly getting himself into mortal danger. Waiting, Gaius watched Arthur trying to hide his embarrassment by taking a big gulp of water. "Ah, so you want my permission to give his hand in marriage!"
Gaius had timed it perfectly. Arthur choked and spat out water everywhere. Prepared, Gaius simply moved to the side, watching the prince choke and splutter. "Is that not it?" Gaius asked innocently.
Arthur decided to leave before he accidentally broke a pot or something. Flinging open the door, he walked right into Merlin, who was flapping around like a chicken shouting, "GAIUS HELP ME!"
There was a very long pause as they both stared at each other. Gaius took the time to mop up Arthur's spilled water.
"You- we- I-" Merlin tried, before giving up. Arthur held up a hand and said, "we shall never speak of this again," before regally diving past Merlin and sprinting for his chambers. Obviously agreeing, Merlin also turned around and sprinted towards the castle entrance, presumably hoping to die in the forest out of sheer embarrassment.
OUTTAKES:
Crew: Set 1. Staircase part 1. Take 2.
Gwaine: Ah, my favourite knight! *leaps down the stairs but trips and falls, joining Merlin on the floor*
Director: Gwaine are you alright?
Gwaine: *slowly lifts a thumbs up* thank Camelot for the mats eh?
Director: CUT!
Crew: Set 1. Staircase part 1. Take 3.
Leon: GET BACK HERE!
Gwaine: you'll have to catch me fir— woah! *slips and falls*
Leon: *chasing after Gwaine, too slow to stop and also slips and falls* woahh— oof!
Director: what the— are you two alright? CUT!
Crew: *run up or down to check on Gwaine and Leon* *collective scream*
Director: oh my— why is everyone falling down?
Crew: Set 1. Staircase part 2. Take 14.
Gwen: *begins to pick up clothes*
Merlin: *rambling* and then I said I'd see him later and then… *continues*
Gwen: *still picking up clothes* uh huh Merlin: *finishes his lines and joins Gwen in picking up clothes*
Both of them: *still picking up clothes*
Gwen: why are there so many clothes?
Merlin: *frowning* I don't know… but isn't this a flapper's dress from the '20s?
Gwen: *lifts up a brightly coloured boot* you can't even wash these! *throws it away and picks up a fez*
Director: CUT! Who the heck put so many clothes everywhere? Crew: *starts picking up costumes*
Crew: Set 3. Gaius' chambers. Take 10.
Gaius: Ah, so you want my permission to give his hand in marriage! *takes a sip of his own water*
Arthur: yes Gaius: *chokes and spits out water* you wot?
Arthur: did I stutter Director: that's not in the script!
Arthur: oh come on, but that was a good one!
Director: CUT!
Crew: Set 3. Gaius' chambers. Take 17.
Arthur: we shall never speak of this again Merlin: I agree Both of them: *nod*
Arthur: *tries to walk right*
Merlin: *tries to walk left*
Both of them: *walk into each other* ouch! You're meant to walk the other way! *both try to walk in the same direction*
Director: CUT!
