Hey! Here's another Merthur Song fic. As usual, I don't own Merlin or anything to do with it. Enjoy!
Song title from "I Swear" by John Michael Montgomery
"Arthur, just listen. I think if you take some time to calm down, maybe take a different approach, the council will see reason. Maybe together we could-"
Arthur whirled around, face bright red, angrier than Merlin had ever seen him before. "Oh, because you know so much about the council? You have no idea how nobles think! I was raised in this life; I think I know what I'm doing! I don't need the help of a peasant farm boy who's better off planting the crops than running a kingdom!"
By the time Arthur was done shouting, his chest was heaving. But, the moment he looked at Merlin's face, all his anger drained away. His sweet Merlin had tears streaming down his pale face, blue eyes shining with pain and hurt so deep Arthur felt tears of his own gather in his eyes.
The blonde reached for his husband. "Gods above, Merlin I'm-" When Merlin backed away from his outstretched hand, Arthur thought he physically felt his heart crack. The raven covered his mouth with one hand as a broken sob finally escaped his lips. Before Arthur could react, the younger man was running out of their chambers, the slamming of the doors echoing definitively across the stone room.
Arthur swept his arms across their dining table with an angry roar, scattering the empty dishes from lunch across the room for poor George to pick up later.
"You stupid idiot! You stupid, pompous arse!" he yelled, ripping a hand through his hair. With footsteps determined to fix his royal screw up, Arthur set out in pursuit of his hurting consort.
0000
Arthur found Merlin exactly where he expected him to be: his old room in Gaius' chambers, curled up on the old, stiff cot he used to sleep on before he moved into Arthur's room when they got married.
Arthur quietly sat down beside the warlock, the sliver of distance between them physically hurting Arthur. Whenever Merlin cried, Arthur's first instinct was always to gather the raven in his arms to soothe him. But he had a feeling now his affections wouldn't be well received.
"What are you doing here, my lord?" Merlin grit out after a few minutes of awkward silence. Arthur winced.
"I've come to apologize," Arthur murmured, watching forlornly as a tear dripped off the end of the warlock's nose. He angrily wiped it away.
"There's no need, sire. I don't see why someone of your status should bother apologizing to a peasant farm boy like myself." With that, Merlin laid down on his side, facing away from Arthur. The blonde sighed and lowered himself down until he was lying beside Merlin, the small bed barely big enough for the both of them.
"Merlin," Arthur whispered to the ceiling, "I am so, so, so sorry. I didn't mean a word I said, I was just upset with the council and took it out on you. I wasn't mad at you; hell, it's impossible for me to ever be mad at you. I know that's no excuse, and I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just wanted to come and tell you that I didn't mean a word of it. You are the most important person in my life, and I hate seeing you hurt or upset, even more so when it's my own damn fault. If you don't want to sleep in the same bed as me tonight, I understand; I'll have a servant set you up in one of the guest chambers. I just needed to make sure you didn't go a second longer thinking that anything I said was how I really feel."
Merlin didn't move a muscle throughout his entire speech. Arthur would have thought he was asleep had it not been for the way he stiffened and relaxed at different parts in the speech. When the room remained silent for another minute, Arthur made to get up but was stopped when a cool hand clamped around his wrist. He turned back to see two bloodshot blue eyes gazing up at him.
"You weren't lying though, Arthur. That's the problem. I know what I am. I know I'm not meant to be nobility. I know many of the elders only put up with me because they fear being beheaded by you if they don't. You're right; I do know more about planting crops than running a kingdom. Sometimes I feel like I'm still the same dumb peasant boy running around playing dress up as the King Consort."
Arthur's eyes softened even more, the tears finally escaping and running down his cheeks at the pure resignation in Merlin's voice.
"No, Merlin, no," he whispered, crashing down beside his husband, "You are the smartest person I've ever met. The people absolutely adore you because you understand them. The fact that you don't come from nobility is what makes you such a great ruler. You understand the hardships the commonfolk go through, and you can identify with them on a level I could only dream to. I've been a better king because you're by my side, guiding me, advising me. Never once have I questioned your abilities as a leader, despite what some uptight elders think. They're clotpoles anyhow."
This earned him an amused snort from the raven. "That's my word."
"And it describes them perfectly," Arthur said with a small smile on his face. He pulled Merlin into his arms, relieved when his husband didn't resist him.
"I'm so sorry for all of this. Just know despite my own idiocy, I love you more than life itself. What can I do to make this up to you?"
Merlin seemed to contemplate for a moment. "Cuddles," he said finally, worming farther into Arthur's arms.
The blonde laughed, nuzzling Merlin's head with his cheek. "That I can do."
Done! I promise this is under a thousand words. The notes are throwing it over a thousand though. Thanks for reading!