Merlin's Kisses
By Unknown Book
Chapter 5: Can You Guess Who's Next?
(A/N: Sorry for the slightly late update. I decided to do some last-minute revisions.)
It was both a blessing and a curse that Leon "didn't" point Merlin in the direction of Caerleon's kingdom. Everything went wrong.
It was the basic, "troop-gets-attacked-by-bandits" type of day on the way back from their journey, and Merlin should have been more careful. He could have predicted it. He could have prevented it. Instead, his secret's been revealed.
He's been outed as a sorcerer.
Arthur hadn't taken it well but showed no signs of anger. He simply stared in shock. He ordered the knights to lower their weapons—excluding the Round Table knights, who'd never raised them in the first place—and for the rest of the trip, he remained silent.
They arrived back in Camelot, and the party he traveled with waited silently for Arthur's order; it never came. Arthur hopped off his horse and practically darted into the castle.
Merlin, thrumming with nerves, couldn't take it any longer; he too left the scene. He ran up to Gaius' chambers and into his room, ignoring the physician entirely.
The warlock now sits in the center of his bed. His knees are pulled up to his chin, and he stares off absentmindedly as tears pour down his face.
Merlin expects guards to come for him at any minute now; he flinches when there's a knock on the door.
Slowly, the old wood gets pushed open to reveal the rare sight of a somber Gwaine. He enters the small room, followed by the rest of the knights in a single file line.
Just as with Percival that one day, there is no speaking, and there doesn't need to be any. When Merlin curls in on himself a little more, he's silently questioning the knights, and he gets his answer just as silently.
Gwaine approaches without rash movements, and when he finally stands next to Merlin's small cot, he reaches down to plant a gentle kiss on Merlin's tear-streaked left cheek.
The knight then sprawls himself across the foot of Merlin's bed as Percival and Leon approach. Percival kisses Merlin's right cheek, and Leon kisses his forehead. Merlin gives a dim smile as he scooches forward on the bed. His feet are closer to Gwaine now, and the two tallest knights sit behind him. He leans back on them when they've settled.
Lancelot and Elyan approach the bed next and do much the same. They plant kisses on Merlin's cheek and forehead, respectively, before they also take a seat and lean into their friends.
Gwaine crawls closer to join the cuddle pile on Merlin's tiny bed. He presses his back to Merlin's chest, and Merlin releases a weary giggle as tears continue to drip down his face.
None of them know how long they sit there, but it's long enough that Merlin's sniffles quiet down, and his tears dry.
If you thought this chapter would include Arthur's turn at a cheek kiss, you'd be incorrect. This is Merlin's turn. However, Arthur does make an appearance.
There are muffled footsteps before the door to Merlin's room is opened once again. Arthur must've been in a hurry and had unknowingly reached his destination. He's already surprised when he looks up but becomes even more so when he sees the heap of men on Merlin's bed.
A few awkward moments pass of Arthur gapping like a fish. He looks like he wants to say something, but he clearly doesn't know how to begin. In a very unlike Arthur fashion, his eyes turn to the floor, and he picks at the documents under his arm.
A beat passes before Arthur finds his voice. "I came to speak to Merlin."
"We've noticed," Gwaine gruffs from his spot in Merlin's lap.
"Right," Arthur says as he looks back down. It appears that he'll have to speak through Merlin's circle of protection. The knights don't appear to be moving anytime soon.
"I came to apologize to you, Merlin." Arthur's gaze meets Merlin's before he continues; his voice is low, but still loud enough to be heard in the silent little room. "All this time, you've been hiding a part of yourself, and I certainly didn't make it easier for you. I wish you'd told me, but I didn't make that easy either." Arthur slowly steps closer to the cot; the knights look a little more on guard. "It's no wonder you've been silent all this time, it's because this kingdom isn't safe for you. The current laws would have me behead you before dusk." The knights are ready to hold Arthur back at a moment's notice. Gwaine is no longer lounging in Merlin's lap, he's near the edge of the bed, ready to pounce. Arthur continues before they can make any movement.
"Which is why I've come to share some of the law revisions I've been working on."
All unease drops from the knights' shoulders, and they look a little whiplashed. Merlin sits there in awe, as he's been doing from the moment Arthur entered the room. Arthur pulls the documents from under his arm and begins to read the first passage.
"'From this moment on, magic users are not to be punished for use of benevolent magic. Magic that breaks other laws of Camelot shall no longer be punishable by death. Creatures of magic are now allowed within Camelot's borders and will be protected with the same rights as Camelot's citizens: a right to trial, a right to roam freely, a right to safety, and so forth—'" Arthur breaks off when he notices the knights are urging him to get on with it. "Er—I went on to discuss how the 'punishment should fit the crime,' but we can discuss that more later. I just need to get these documents signed by myself and my newly appointed Court Sorcerer, and they'll be law."
"Really?" Merlin questions.
Arthur nods to him. Merlin sits up and gently maneuvers around the knights to sit on the edge of the bed, while Arthur walks closer. "How did you write these so quickly?" He sniffles and wipes his eye. He's tearing up, but he hasn't absorbed enough of this to start bawling yet.
"I've uh—been working on these for a while now. I just didn't tell anyone. But now that they're finished, I just need my Court Sorcerer to sign them." Arthur waits for a beat as Merlin absentmindedly nods. "Sooo… Sign here please." He holds the documents and a quill out to a blank-eyed Merlin.
"Once you sign, it becomes law. You and your people will be free of injustice from Camelot's court." Arthur is smirking by the time Merlin catches up.
Merlin jumps up, shoving the documents aside, to throw his arms around Arthur's neck and pull him into a kiss. Except, this kiss isn't on the cheek or the forehead, it's on the lips.
The knights break out into whoops and hollers when Arthur kisses back, even Gwaine, who, while upset that Arthur beat him to it, is glad that Merlin can be much happier now.
(A/N: Next chapter is the bonus epilogue! :3)
Arthur: I'm getting married.
Merlin: *tearing up* Oh…Who's the lucky spouse?
Arthur: You. Sign here, please.