Arthur knocked and waited for Gwen to open the door.
"Arthur." She said surprised, smiling that gentle smile that would always make Arthur's heart skip a beat. A conflicting emotion when he remembered he was technically already married through an ancient magical rite.
"Guinevere, I'm hoping to speak to Morgana, if possible."
"Of course, Arthur, I'll ask her." She opened the door and entered. "My lady, it's Arthur, he wishes to speak with you."
"You may tell him he doesn't need to show his face outside of court to me ever again." Morgana was heard inside and Arthur rolled his eyes, entering anyway.
"Thank you Gwen, I need this conversation to be private." Arthur said and Gwen looked at him confused before doing a quick curtsy and leaving.
Arthur watched Morgana sit, seething in rage at his blatant disregard for what she wanted. She was behind her desk, reading a book that she put down.
"I have nothing to discuss with the likes of you. What you did to Merlin, that has no forgiveness." She hissed. Arthur felt a pang to his chest and looked away for a brief moment.
"Morgana, if there's anything I regret most in this world is how I've hurt Merlin, but I'm making sure to never hurt him again." He said.
"You follow Uther's order like a dog. He certainly trained you well." Morgana said hatefully.
"Morgana, please, I have something important to discuss with you. If it helps you listen, at all, it has made fa… Uther Pendragon's faults all the more clear to me." Arthur said. At that Morgana looked at him for a long time before nodding. Arthur came to sit before her and let his elbows rest on the table as he pondered how to tell her.
"Well?" She pushed.
Arthur took a deep breath. "We both have the misfortune of sharing a father. You are my half-sister." Arthur said. She stared at him, looking like she was fighting anger and amusement, not knowing on which to settle for.
"And who told you that?" She asked.
"The great dragon underneath the dungeons." Arthur said plainly. "Your mother was burned at the pyre for practicing magic even though she learned before the great purge. Your sister was sent away to be trained by high priestesses when your mother realised she had been tricked into lying with a man that was not her husband."
Morgana's amusement faded away bit by bit until she was only glaring at Arthur. "He killed my father too, well… Gorlois. His best friend, he sent him to a battle promising reinforcements that never arrived." She said. "Too many coincidences to forgive, don't you think?"
Arthur nodded. "I am so sorry, Morgana, for what he's done… and… for letting him order me into the same crimes he committed so long ago." He whispered looking down in shame.
"No… Arthur. You are nothing like Uther." Morgana reached out and held his hand.
"Morgause is your sister." Arthur said.
"I know." She said softly looking down. "She told me. Everything else? I'm not sure she knows. Or maybe she does, who knows. I'm sure she doesn't trust me entirely, the way you have." Morgana said softly and reached to hold Arthur's hands, giving them a firm squeeze.
"I don't know what to do, Morgana." Arthur whispered. "Everything he's ever said, about honour, magic, strength, they're all lies."
"There's nothing we can do, he's the king." Morgana said and Arthur looked away.
"I refuse to believe his lies any longer, or act according to them."
"What will you do?" Morgana asked.
"I don't know." He said. "I will bring magic back to the kingdom… but I'll have to think on how to do it."
"Morgause could help." Morgana said smiling. Arthur wasn't certain.
"We have to be careful, Morgana. Not everyone with magic is evil, but there have been far too many seeking revenge against all of Camelot. My duty is still to protect the kingdom and its people." Arthur said. "Let's not be rash… we must think this through carefully, lest we end up on the chopping block for treason."
Morgana nodded. They both stood, as they had to go to lunch with Uther. Morgana smiled at him. "I used to think I was alone in the world… now, within one season I've obtained a sister and a brother."
Arthur's heart swelled as she said that. "Even with a father… I always felt so alone." He smiled as he realised when that changed. "Until Merlin came…" He looked down. "Now I have you… sister." He said the last word with difficulty and Morgana beamed, wrapping her arms around him. Arthur held her back just as strongly.
The door opened and Gwen came in, freezing as she saw them hug like that. She curtsied, keeping her eyes down. "My lord and lady, it's almost time for lunch." She said.
"Thank you, Gwen, we'll be right there." Morgana said and Arthur offered her his arm, which she took. They walked to the dinning room together, holding each other up as they faced their father with a forced smile.
oOoOoOo
Merlin hurried as he made his way through the castle. He was late. He left the bark with Gaius, running out before his mentor could apologise for earlier. Then he had to make his way to Arthur's rooms, to change out of his very warm jacket, since it was probably going to be far too warm in the banquet hall with it on. Then after serving Arthur he had to come here and sweep and scrub all the floors and then… well, he'd think of that later, first he had to get to the banquet hall.
Arthur was looking deeply annoyed by the time he came in and Merlin made his feet move faster. He took a jug of wine and went to pour into Arthur's cup. Arthur grabbed his neckerchief and pulled him closer. "Where the hell were you?" Arthur demanded.
"Apologies, sire. I was helping Gaius. Took too long." Merlin said.
"You're telling me the truth?" Arthur asked with narrowed eyes. "No one slowed you down?" He asked. Merlin looked at him a little surprised.
"No… I'm fine Arthur." Merlin said softly. Arthur was worried about him? Arthur let go of the neckerchief and Merlin was able to stand back, trying to process Arthur's actions. He smiled.
Merlin felt his stomach tighten with hunger and sighed, looking at the food longingly. He couldn't wait for this to be over so he could go grab his meal.
Arthur looked much less miserable now than he did before. He would keep leaning over and whispering to Morgana and they would both break into a smile and sometimes laugh at whatever secret joke they had amongst themselves. It was a strange sight but it made Merlin happy to see Arthur somewhat… carefree for once.
He smiled and looked away, only to see Uther with a serious and worried expression looking at Arthur and Morgana's interactions. What on earth did he have to worry about? Uther glanced at Merlin and glared at him before returning to his meal.
When he made it to the kitchens he pretended he didn't notice the looks the maids were giving him.
"Hello ladies, anything left over for lunch?" He asked casually. The young ones giggled, appreciating him calling them ladies and the elder ones glared at the young ones. The cook assembled a quick meal for him that consisted of a chicken thigh, bread and cheese. "Wow, thanks cook." Merlin said, sitting with the girls that had smiled at him, eating the food.
"Here, better to have you drink this than have it thrown away." One of the other maids said and Merlin thanked her. It wasn't the first time he popped into the kitchen for a last minute meal, but it was definitely the first time since everything that happened. But the girls were giving him some hope that things would return to normal some day.
"Thank you." Merlin said, drinking the half-cup of wine with the meal. The younger maids didn't talk to him, but even back when things were normal they didn't have much to say to each other. When he finished the maids took the plate and cup away. Merlin thought the wine tasted a tad bit different than usual, but didn't pay it any mind with how hungry he'd been.
With a full stomach and a lighter heart, he took on his chores with determination. Arthur was in his rooms working on a speech, while Merlin cleaned up his rooms.
"What's got you in such a cheery mood?" Arthur asked after a while.
"I think the kitchen maids are starting to come round. The younger ones even smiled at me today and one of them even gave me some leftover wine to have my lunch with." Merlin prattled on.
"Well… that's good." Arthur said and returned to his speech writing. After they were both done with their respective chores, Arthur asked him to come on a brief hunting trip to the forest behind the castle.
They went on foot, not bothering with the horses for the short trip. Arthur carried the crossbow and merlin the rope for any catch they could get. At this time of year, with the snow, the best they could hope for was some rabbits. The deer usually went deeper into the forest at this time. Merlin tried looking around as he always did, even if he didn't really enjoy the sport that Arthur loved so much. But Arthur seemed more interested in just talking.
"How's your mother been?" Arthur asked.
"Oh, she… she's been doing well, no more bandits mentioned in her letters." Merlin said. "She always asks about you, making sure I'm doing my job properly." Merlin joked.
"Do you miss it? Ealdor?" Arthur asked. Merlin looked at him, meeting the other's bright blue eyes and shaking his head.
"Not anymore." He said softly. "I miss my mother, surely, but… not the village."
"You never had a girl you were interested in?" Arthur asked.
"Me? I… not in Ealdor…" Merlin thought about Freya. He looked down.
"There is someone." Arthur said.
"No, I mean, yes there was someone, but not anymore." Merlin said.
"What happened?" Arthur asked.
"She… was cursed. Her curse led to her death. I didn't know her for long but… she knew my faults and accepted me for them. I suppose… I've never had anyone else who'd ever done that for me." Merlin said. Arthur stayed quiet and Merlin looked up to see him looking at him.
"What kind of faults?" He finally asked. Merlin looked away. Of course he meant magic, but how was he to say that?
"It doesn't matter." Merlin said. They walked in silence, the snow crunching beneath their feet. Or his feet. Wait, Arthur had stopped. He turned around, only to have his face pelted with a handful of snow.
"Don't look so sad, it doesn't suit you." Arthur said, grabbing another bunch of snow and sending it his way. Merlin dodged this time and let a smile break through his lips. He grabbed his own clump of snow and sent it straight for Arthur.
A war ensued with the two of them pelting each other with snowballs. Arthur through sheer skill, Merlin using his magic without Arthur noticing.
Out of ammunition, Merlin knelt down to prepare more clumps of snow, assuming Arthur was far behind his own tree. A shadow loomed over him and he looked up to see Arthur holding a giant collection of snow with both his hands, almost as big as a boulder.
"Do you surrender?" Arthur asked.
"I surrender!" Merlin said, holding his hands up defensively. Arthur laughed and let the snow boulder drop to the side, extending his arm for Merlin to take. Merlin took it. Arthur pulled him up. They stood very close, trying to catch their breath. It started to dawn on Merlin what a silly thing he'd just done with the prince and they'd both done it naturally.
Arthur's eyes flickered down to his lips and Merlin's heart skipped as Arthur reached to cup his cheek, leaning in. Their lips pressed together and Merlin gasped softly, reaching up to hold onto Arthur's coat as he kissed Arthur back. He didn't stop to think on why Arthur was kissing him. It just felt too good to stop. "Merlin…" Arthur whispered his name like it was a lifeline and Merlin leaned in to kiss him once more, savouring the contrast of Arthur's warm mouth against the cold of the air. Everything begun to spin.
"A-arthur… I'm getting dizzy." Merlin said.
Arthur pulled back amused. "That good, was it?" He teased but worry seemed to settle on his face as Merlin didn't answer. Merlin leaned against him, head spinning for a few solid seconds before his mind settled. "Merlin?" Arthur asked, cupping his face, looking at him all over. "You look so pale. We should return." Arthur said.
"But we didn't catch anything." Merlin said.
"Who cares about that?" Arthur scoffed and pulled him along. But Merlin felt much better already, they could have stayed but Arthur insisted otherwise.
Arthur took him straight to Gaius, who checked him all over. "You are quite pale. Have you been eating well?" Gaius asked.
"I have, I'm fine, really." Merlin said. "Didn't I say the kitchen maids gave me a really nice lunch?" Merlin told Arthur who nodded.
"You also said they gave you wine." Arthur said.
"You think they could have slipped something in it?" Gaius asked Merlin. Merlin opened his mouth to deny it but then he remembered that the wine had tasted strange.
"I… don't know…" Merlin said.
"I'll ask the staff." Gaius said. "To make sure it's not anything harmful."
"Thank you, Gaius." Arthur said, a hand on Merlin's shoulder the entire time. Merlin noticed Gaius glancing at the hand more than once but pretended he hadn't noticed.
"I would advise you both to get into some dry clothes. You're both soaked and it's a cold winter this season." Gaius said.
"We'll do just that, Gaius, thank you." Arthur said and Merlin stood, following Arthur out of the room.
Once in Arthur's rooms, Merlin stoked the fire and Arthur placed his shirt near the fireplace, where the heat could dry it faster. "Come on, Merlin, physician's orders, we have to dry our clothes. He said.
Merlin began to undress, very conscious of the way Arthur was looking at him.
"We should get in bed, to keep warm." Arthur suggested with mock innocence that send a thrill down Merlin's back. It did feel nice to lie down after running around all day. Lying naked with Arthur under his bed sheets. His face filled with heat. He definitely wasn't pale anymore.
"Anything else, sire?" Merlin asked, looking at him.
"One more thing." Arthur said and leaned in to kiss him softly. "There. Now rest, until we know what they put in that wine you should rest more, specially with the banquet tonight." Arthur said. Merlin wanted to argue but sleep did sound great. He closed his eyes and fell into a pleasant nap, while Arthur watched over him.