FULL DISCLOSURE: My knowledge of Brasil and it's culture are limited to just 1 friend...who moved out when she was 7 haha so please bare with me...
Hmm so originally I intended for this to be around the same length as last chapter...but then it took control away from me haha
Hopefully you guys like it, because really soon we're getting back to the main plot, still just those 2 as the focus however for the moment
We'll get to Arthur and Mordred soon
43 days after Florida
Well, here they are in Rio de Janeiro…just not exactly what Merlin was hoping to do here.
How was he supposed to remember that the famous Brazilian Carnivals were months away…?
New year...same old shitty memory...
"I think you're making me hate this place, I didn't think that was possible…" Merlin grunted as he tried to loosen the collar of his red dress shirt.
"Chin up Merlin tonight will be fabulous, and would you stop fiddling with your shirt." Morgana quickly smoothed out the wrinkles on his collar and chest before finally deciding it was as good as it was going to get.
Now they're on their way to the best nightclub in the city to celebrate the end of their six-week dance boot camp and show off their moves.
What? Well…
6 weeks ago
"We're nearly at Rio and thank god I got Merlin to finally drive the car that we've owned for 5 years, because after 4 hours of driving from the airport I just can't be bothered." Morgana really seemed to be taking this whole streaming thing seriously…why? Well Merlin can't fathom it but hey if it means she found a hobby better than shopping who is he to get in the way?
He probably jinxed it but that's future Merlin's problem.
In other words a few seconds from now...
Morgana was showing her audience all the nature and landmarks that the surrounding area to Rio provided.
What exactly was the appeal to just talking to strangers on the internet?
Well apparently, you can get paid if people like you enough.
Once she told him that well, he decided he liked the internet even less.
Have people really grown so shallow in this day and age? Goodness…
Finally, she told her little fans that she's going to chat with them later…great.
"Merlin look, you're actually getting admirers in my chat feed."
Merlin glanced at her phone quickly and returned his eyes on the road before snorting.
"I hope you realize that you've probably just cock teased lots of people by doing that."
Morgana rolled her eyes "Oh my someone's sure getting big for his britches."
"Perhaps it's long past time for me to remind you as to why."
"Is that so?"
Surely, she wouldn't mind if he pulled over for a quick tumble in the backseats…or maybe on the roof of the car…
"Of course that'll have to wait my dear, we're finally here." She pointed ahead to see the city in clear view.
Well, drat…
Oh well, at least later they can have more meaningful fun.
"It does feel great to be back in Brazil again, it's carnivals give me so much memories of how Venice's used to be." Merlin smiled remembering all the wild carnevale moments he experienced during the late Medieval and Renaissance periods. Even after he and Morgana got married, both wished to experience it together.
Morgana looked confused. "Uhh Merlin we're pretty early for that, the carnival isn't until April."
Good thing he wasn't driving so fast or else they would have flown from the seats…seat belts be damned.
Morgana had to chuckle when she heard his groan.
"So why are we here again?" Merlin would rather drive off a cliff at this rate, but who knows?
Maybe she'll suggest something fun, it's not like he has any ideas of his own.
"Dancing."
And he's been proven wrong yet again…
"…"
"Dancing Boot Camp specifically."
"You're joking."
"Afraid not."
"You already know how to dance."
"Of course but not the modern styles, you on the other hand know none. You always turn any attempt I make to teach you into a sexual fantasy you conjure up."
"As if you don't enjoy them."
Morgana snorted, hiding a blush "Not the point."
Merlin groaned once again "Who cares about dancing? What's the point of that?"
"The point husband dear, is to simply loosen yourself. Let yourself feel free, have fun."
"…"
"Okay?"
"Hmph, which television show did you get that one from?"
"Oh piss off!"
"Was it the Young and the Restless?"
"Keep it up Merlin and you'll end up regenerating from being run over, backed up, and run over some more!"
"Ooh feisty." His smirk was really both annoying yet mischievous, it did make her happy though that he's been getting a lot more relaxed as their holiday progressed.
Now she just needs to keep it that way…they can't let anymore surprises catch them off guard.
As soon as they entered their destination they met with their dance instructor and their fellow students.
How fortunate that they have magic to speak Portuguese…
Of course this being a 6 week program they essentially had to master the basics that very 1st week if not less.
For Morgana it was a breeze, seeing as how she already knew how to dance for royal balls or formal gatherings, but never for something as casual as simply dancing among normal people.
For Merlin well…
He's just glad Morgana wasn't allowed to stream this horseshit.
He was never that graceful on his feet, at least not without magical aid. And he can't exactly do that with literally many pairs of eyes directly on him, so he had to actually try and avoid not making a complete and utter fool of himself.
People actually find this fun?!
By the 2nd and 3rd weeks they learned some actual famous Brazilian dance forms - the Samba & the Forró.
Merlin remembers seeing Nobles of all eras doing those boring movements at feasts or weddings and he could swear those would have been a lot easier than this.
His hips haven't felt this sore in ages.
Morgana looked like she was having a blast, well bully for her.
He supposes he should expect more dance trips in their future. He wants to feel bothered by it but it's really hard when he sees genuine happiness in her eyes.
Ugh fine, he'll do some stupid dance JUST ONCE and so long as he gets to keep seeing her shake those hips in one of her sexy dresses.
Weeks 4-5 were about feeling out different partners to always adapt to someone else's skillset, and oh boy did that try his patience.
If he didn't step on someone's toes, than his were stepped on and after the 17th time he really had to try hard not to turn the entire class into piglets…
Morgana was pretty far ahead of most of the class that she and a few others got to move on to the Carimbó dance form...that he's definitely not going to even try to master.
Finally, the last damn week of this nightmare…performing all the dance moves with their instructor and not feeling like a dunce.
He had to have done something right for everyone was giving him a round of applause.
"Am I done now?" Merlin could only hope.
Once Morgana had completed her dances the instructor congratulated all his students and gave everyone their certificates plus a class photo. Encouraging them to show off their skills and expand on them as best they can.
Merlin just gave his certificate to his wife and immediately went back to the car as she stayed and chatted with their fellow alumni.
He could use a nap, and a bath.
Maybe he really is an old man…?
Oh well, talking to people takes a lot of energy these days. Not his fault.
He's pretty sure he dozed off once Morgana returned since she tapped the window and asked for the keys.
At least she was driving this time.
But remember when he said that dancing was undoubtedly in their future?
Yeah he didn't think it would be the very next night…
Present
"Kill me…" Merlin thought before remembering "Oh right." Immortality…forgot…
Music was blasting all over his ears, people were either drinking themselves to a drunken stupor or grinding hips on the dance floor.
Morgana got herself a caipirinha while Merlin himself would just have water…he and alcohol never mixed well.
She finally managed to drag him to the dance floor and well fine, he did say one dance after all.
"You realize this isn't what we learned right?!" Her voice felt distant with all the noise around them.
"I told you that was a waste of time and money!"
"It's always nice to try something new Merlin!"
"Funny you put nice and dancing in the same context!"
"Oh shut up and shake those hips!" *Smack*
…Did she just smack his bum…?
"I thought she wanted a dance not more foreplay?"
I mean hey he won't complain…
The DJ than spoke on the mic to everyone in attendance.
"Todo mundo se divertindo?!" "Everyone having fun?!"
"Sim!" "Yes!"
Did Merlin ever mention that Brazilian Portuguese sounded a bit more catchy than typical Portuguese?
"Ok, hora de duas pessoas aleatórias nos deslumbrarem com a dança!" "Okay time for two random people to dazzle us with dance!"
Well that doesn't sound good…
Morgana looked hopeful she would get picked, she always was an attention seeker.
Hey more power to her, as long as it wasn't hi-
Fuck...
The spotlight flashed directly at him…
Morgana looked giddy as she smirked at him, giving him a nudge towards the stage.
The things he does for love…
Everyone beckoned him to get on the DJ's stage along with another man.
He looked around his age, well the age he's currently presented as at least. Mid 20s, bronze skinned, rather flamboyant garments are on his person.
Who is he to criticize fashion? As his beloved wife likes to say.
The club began to cheer them on and Merlin can't deny he feels rather…uncomfortable doing this.
Why can't he just poof himself out of here again?
Then Merlin saw Morgana cheering him on from the audience and well if that wasn't a confidence booster he didn't know what was.
The DJ began blasting a new tune as Merlin and his new partner readied themselves, Merlin keeping a close eye on which kind of dance this man will use.
Aaaannnd he was doing the carimbó uggghhh.
Morgana had better appreciate this!
As the twirling began, the man smiled at Merlin. Pleasantly surprised to see Merlin keep up with him.
"Thank the gods I didn't eat anything…" Merlin really felt he was going to puke, he'll never understand how Morgana could do this and not feel like crawling under a rock.
Though he will admit he did feel a certain adrenaline when he and his partner began to circle each other…and quite awkward when he bent backwards in front of Merlin. Curved hips? He did not have…
*Clap* "WOOOOO! Come on Merlin! Shake it like you mean it!" Morgana shouted from the clapping and cheering crowd.
"She better not be filming this!" Merlin was really regretting not paying more attention in that boot camp, how was it his fault that he was going to have to perform this literally the night after?!
Oh god now here comes the split…yep that's painful…
"Oi tá muito bom!" "Hey you're pretty good!" His partner shouted as they were nearing the end of the dance.
"Eu realmente não sou!" "I'm really not!" Merlin was practically counting down the seconds…
"Keep it up! Everyone loves you!" Morgana kept cheering with her phone held high, of course she was getting all this on her livestream. She doesn't know when she'll ever see Merlin let loose like this again.
Her chat feed was blowing up with a mixture of laughing emoji's, hearts, a few shots at his performance, and some…very explicit…she'll pretend she didn't see those.
As Merlin finally lifted and twirled his partner around and ended the song in a slow motion…finally it was over.
The DJ bade for everyone to give it up for Merlin and his talented dance partner, the former blushing while the latter blew kisses at the crowd.
"Sério, essa foi uma das melhores danças que eu tive!" "Seriously, that was one of the best dances I've ever had!" His partner shouted as the people returned to their activities.
They both got off the stage as two other people were chosen to take their place.
"Não foi um acidente de trem, então suponho que seja suficiente…" "It wasn't a train wreck, so I suppose that'll suffice…" Merlin spotted Morgana and groaned as he saw her pointing that damn phone at him, fine he'll stay with his new best friend…!
"Meu nome é Tomi Edun, definitivamente devemos fazer isso novamente em breve!" "My name's Tomi Edun, we should definitely do this again soon!" Tomi offered his hand, which Merlin shook…at least it wasn't a high five.
"Billy Appleby. Nativa?" "Native?"
Tomi denied it, "Não, acabei de me mudar para cá da Austrália durante o verão. Ainda bem que eu fiz português na faculdade ou estaria fodido haha!" "Nah, I just moved here during the summer from Australia. Good thing I took Portuguese in college or I'd be fucked haha!"
Merlin quirked a brow, this guy seems practical. Learning languages could only open doors for someone.
Not that he would understand he always knew all of them even before he realized he did.
All those Greek and Latin scrolls in Camelot? Yeah he supposes he's cheating using magic but hey who wouldn't?
"Great so you speak English."
"Haha yeah sorry but you tend to develop a habit among natives ya know?
Merlin agreed, everywhere he's traveled to in his years he's refrained from speaking his native tongue…not just because it was already becoming less spoken which was even more so outside Albion. But he gets less hostility from people if he can communicate in their own language. Respect he supposes it all boils down to.
"Is that your wife? I think she's calling you over." Tomi pointed over at Morgana who was waving at Merlin.
"Yep. Thanks for not making me look worse than I was"
"Oh please, you held your own rather well. I really do hope you'll be around next week for another round."
"Anything's possible I guess, let's see if the wife thought I did well first."
Then some dancing couple bumped into Tomi who in turn was knocked into Merlin causing them both to collapse on the floor.
Ugh well if this is what he can expect next week he may have to let Tomi down gently…
Once Tomi got up and offered a hand to Merlin…that's when he noticed something.
His facial features…his eyes…hell even his voice…
Oh gods not again…
How could he forget Gwen's brother?!
Elyan.
Merlin swatted his hand away and got up on his own, the low mobility in the room and the noise and now the fucking fact that Gwen's now reincarnated brother was looking at him with concern in his gaze and -
"Merlin are you okay?!" Tomi looked as if he didn't know what he was looking at
Merlin looked at him alarmingly.
"What did you say?!"
"I asked you if you were okay?!"
"No! What did you call me?!"
Elyan's reincarnation looked confused? A bit creeped out but answered anyway "I called you by your name, Billy…"
Merlin breathed a sigh of relief…he didn't know what he would have done if Elyan remembered his past life…
Than he felt an arm wrap around his shoulders…
"Tomi was it? Thank you for the performance and for helping out my dearest Billy, I'll take it from here." Morgana was confused as to what could have triggered Merlin's reaction.
Merlin shook off her arm and marched to the exit like a man on a mission. Only further causing concern for the two he left behind.
"Is he alright? I hope I didn't do something to offend him?"
Morgana shook her head "Trust me it was nothing to do with you, Merlin just always breathes better when he's out and about. Again thank you Tomi, please enjoy the rest of your night." At least she hoped that was the case...
As she walked out, Tomi waved but still looked on in concern.
It was very windy out, but luckily she spotted Merlin near the corner of the street, away enough from bystanders. He was leaning against a building with a hand covering his face.
"Tomi is Elyan." He uttered as she got within hearing distance.
To say she was shocked was an understatement…yet another Camelot knight whose death she caused has come back to haunt her.
Destiny's next attempt to separate Merlin from her.
"This is getting fucking aggravating…" Morgana rubbed her forehead, trying not to scream and attract attention to themselves.
Merlin thought about it, he didn't really care much about Gwaine and Elyan but…he knew this was the fates trying to tempt him to follow their way. He guessed that its old tricks of forcing him via torture no longer worked…well it's about time that fact got to the heads of the old crones.
Gwaine was a fun guy but seeing as how he was one of the many people who never knew the real Merlin, he honestly could not say if he would have been on his side had he known about his true nature. His only meaningful connection to Elyan on the other hand was Gwen. Even then his time with Elyan was a mere fraction compared to the decades he's watched over his sister, Merlin's former Queen. Destiny really seemed to be pulling out all the stomps for something…
Morgana on the other hand was more shall we say…panicky.
Two knights back to back reincarnations…two knights she killed. What was Destiny trying to prove?
What if Merlin decides to leave after all?
She wasn't sorry for doing what she did. She was only sorry she did them for anything other than freeing her kind! The throne that used to be the sideshow became the main focus but she will never feel guilt for killing those who would see her burnt for merely existing!
Merlin's hug interrupted her mental rant "I know."
Morgana willed herself to remain from breaking down in public, just glad that Merlin didn't say much. She really hated appearing weak like this when she should be strong.
"Stop that."
Morgana looked up at his serious gaze.
"You're not made of stone, you're allowed to feel just as much as I do. That's what you tell me time and time again."
Morgana sighed, and hugged him back tightly.
Merlin's eyes flashed gold as he stopped time. People's freezing in their movements, even the wind seemed to stop.
He carried his wife to their car and put her in the back seat to lay down.
Merlin took a deep breath as he entered the driver's seat, seems now it's his turn to take the reigns of this holiday.
Couple of hours later
When Morgana realized they had already driven to the surrounding countryside the moon was at its peak in the sky…but Merlin stopped the car.
"Merlin? What are you doing?"
He didn't answer her though as he got out and went to open her door.
"Come on."
Morgana quirked a brow but grabbed his hand anyway as he led her to a meadow with glistening trees and bright stars.
Merlin took her phone…wait what?!
"Uhh Merlin? Are all your screws tightened?
"..."
"Merlin?"
Then she heard it…her favorite song.
'My Immortal' by Evanescence.
Merlin placed her phone atop a rock and went back to her, now sporting a smile.
"I did owe you a dance my lady." He then wrapped his arms around her waist.
To say she felt touched wouldn't do it justice. Merlin stepped out of his comfort zone just to comfort her…and he wonders why she loves him?
She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder as they began to move slowly.
At some point Merlin magicked the moon's gleam to brighten even more.
"You know I didn't think you actually paid attention when I listed off my favorite songs." She whispered to his ear.
"Whatever you love I make it my business to remember, precisely for occasions when you need the reminder like now." Merlin leaned his face atop her head giving it a gentle kiss.
Morgana really wished they could make this moment last the rest of eternity.
To think, this was their life. If she was told centuries ago that she and Merlin would not only be boned through matrimony but romantically dancing in a beautiful meadow…she'd have incinerated them before laughing at the ashes.
Now she only wishes this was always their lives.
Clearly Destiny isn't going to give up, and will only ramp up its assault the more it fails.
But the fates haven't won yet. They never will, they can't drive them apart. If Merlin's sheer presence isn't proof enough, then she doesn't know what else to say.
"You're my entire world Morgana, I hope you remember that."
Morgana gave a flirtatious smirk "Careful Merlin, we may end up defiling the soil any second now."
Merlin kissed her with a fervor "You know fully well that that smirk of yours drives me crazy…" He began unzipping her dress.
Morgana jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist "That's what I'm counting on"
Fine, she guesses Merlin got his way in the end after all.
Here they are making sweet love out among nature…
So it's what? 1 win for him and 9999 for her?
Still, she isn't going to be a sore loser about it, not when she'll be sore in other places.
So this little mini arc that these two are on are really allowing me to flip the dynamics.
Up until now Morgana was the strong and secure one while Merlin fed on her strength.
But now with Destiny actively trying to drive a wedge between them, it's up to Merlin to reassure her for her own good as well.
Since well...Destiny doesn't exactly like Morgana.
Anyone actually miss Arthur and Mordred? Yay? Nay?
