A/N: After this one, there's seven more chapters to come. Thought I'd let you know. Thanks again to all those who've liked, read and reviewed. My heart swells with joy every time the numbers go up!
Disclaimer: I will never own Merlin. Unfirtunately…
Chapter Six
Soon it will all be over, buried with our past.
We used to play outside when we were young and full of life and full of love.
August fifth, 600 A.D.
The sun was high in the sky when Merlin woke up. It wasn't at all midday height yet, but it was too close to it to ignore the fact it was getting late. He didn't open his eyes straight away, though. He as too comfortable for that. His head was propped on Arthur's chest, his hand resting on Arthur's abdomen. Arthur's arms were around him, keeping him close. Said arms tightened around him for a second, letting him know Arthur was no longer asleep.
"Have you been awake for long?" Merlin asked, his eyes fluttering open at last. It was very unusual for Arthur to be awake before he was. The King wasn't a morning person at all; it usual took Merlin the better part of an hour to get him up and about. Although it had improved a little since Arthur had become King.
"No, not really. And I had a good way to spend my time; I was enjoying looking at you. you looked so peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake you. You needed the sleep. Things have been crazy for you lately. Morgana made so many people sick that I didn't think I'd be seeing you until the week was over. I knew you wouldn't stop until you'd saved everyone," Arthur murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Merlin's head.
Merlin shifted, claiming Arthur's lips in a proper kiss. He hummed into it, making Arthur smile. The King knew full well what kind of effect he had on Merlin, and the warlock was well aware Arthur was affected in the same way be his touched and kisses. He'd even admitted to it on a few occasions.
The knights had always claimed Merlin was the only one who could make Arthur do what they wanted, and Arthur had surprised them by saying they were right when he'd trained with them a few days ago. They'd been together for a few months now, and Arthur was growing more comfortable with their relationship with every day that passed.
Of course, Merlin had asked him why he'd let them in on something that was so personal to him. He'd immediately added that it hadn't made him uncomfortable or anything, but that he was simply curious.
"Because they're my friends, and if they accept me it doesn't matter what the inhabitants of Camelot think. As long as they respect me as their King, that is," Arthur had explained his actions, earning himself a kiss from Merlin while the warlock flung himself around his neck. It was the only thing Merlin had been able to do. For once, he'd had no words to say how he was feeling.
"We can't stay in bed all day. Lord George is arriving this afternoon and you have to prepare for your meeting with him. And I'll have to make sure everything is prepared for the feast we're having in his honour. You haven't been King for a long time, it's important you make a good first impression," Merlin said, not bothering to hide the regret in voice.
Arthur buried his head in Merlin's hair, mumbling something unintelligible. Merlin wasn't about to let that slide past him, though. They'd promised not to keep any secrets from one another after the while magic situation, and he wanted Arthur to keep being honest with him.
"What was that you were saying? I couldn't quite make it out," he teased, carding his fingers through Arthur's hair. It was only just long enough to do that effortlessly, but he enjoyed the feeling of it none the less.
"I said that you don't have to do that anymore now that you're the King's lover and eventual consort. You're not a manservant anymore," Arthur said, finally lifting his head so that his breath ghosted over Merlin's ear.
Merlin curled into Arthur even further, drawing an intricate drawing on the skin of Arthur's stomach. It was very tempting to stay there like that, to ignore the world and the responsibilities life brought and enjoy the love and peace they were sharing.
"I know, and I won't do all of the things I did before. But I need to help. It's my duty as the King's lover and eventual consort to make sure everything inside the castle goes smoothly. A Queen would have had the same duties," Merlin gently reminded Arthur, using the same words to refer to himself as Arthur had used before.
Arthur sighed, but didn't comment on what Merlin had just said. Instead, he let go of him and rolled away. Merlin mimicked the movements, only to the other side. He did, however, drop a kiss to Arthur's shoulder before they started dressing. That earned him a small chuckle.
"I'll have your clothes for the feast ready when you get back here to wash up tonight. I should have more than enough time to lay them out while you finish your practice. Oh, and your armour has been cleaned and your tunic's been mended; you can wear it to the practice grounds," Merlin said.
He secretly smiled when Arthur immediately pulled the green tunic out of his wardrobe. The blond loved it more than all of the others he owned, for some other reason. Merlin had never figured out why that was, and it intrigued him more than a little. One day, he would simply have to ask Arthur about it.
Merlin himself slid into a red tunic and a pair of brown breeches. They were of a far better cut and fabric than his clothes had been before his relationship with Arthur had deepened. He still felt a little uncomfortable with being able to have all of this while others who were just as deserving had to make do with a lot less.
But Arthur had said he needed the clothes, and his lover had been more than right. His old clothes had holes in them and weren't very warm. He would freeze to death in no time when winter returned if he didn't accept the tunics and breeches Arthur had had made for him.
"Will you watch the knights and I train today? I know you have a lot to do, but I like having you there. That way I only have to look at you to know you're safe. Because magic or not, I'll always worry about you when you're out of my sight," Arthur said, turning towards Merlin.
Merlin was still busy pulling his tunic over his head, so it took him a second to find Arthur's eyes. If he hadn't already been in love with the man, those words would have made him lose his heart to him in that instant. As would the mixture of love, trust and hope in Arthur's eyes.
"I know you like it, so I made sure I could be there. They're not expecting me in the kitchen until a little after noon, as they can handle luncheon by themselves. I'm only helping with dinner," he explained.
Arthur pulled Merlin flush against him when he said that, causing the raven haired man to giggle. It was something Merlin hadn't done all that often before Arthur and he became a couple. Now, it was as natural to him as breathing. The way Arthur changed him was sometimes scary in it completeness, but never because Arthur changed him in a bad way. Arthur made him a better person in every way possible.
Merlin extended his hand to Arthur, who immediately took it. Most Kings would have refused to let themselves be seen whilst being dragged around by a servant, but Arthur had no such qualms. He'd learnt that love was more important than what people thought, that his father had been wrong in assuming that the people (especially the servants) were worth less than the knights and the royal family.
Today, Gwen was nowhere to be seen. That was an absolute pity. Merlin had wanted to drag her out to the practice grounds with them. She had fallen hard for the charms of Lancelot, and he knew Lancelot felt the same way. He had decided to push them just a little so they could be as happy as Arthur and he.
Arthur had apparently noticed Merlin's gaze wandering around, because he squeezed the warlock's hand. The words he uttered were spoken so softly that no one except for the two of them would be able to hear them.
"She won't be back from the market for a while longer. I put her in charge of picking up the food we don't have here yet. I think she knows of your plan to get her and Lancelot together. Of, don't worry, she wants that too. She just thinks you should give them a little longer to figure it out without your help," he added when he saw Merlin quirk and eyebrow at his words.
Merlin's nerves settled a little upon hearing that. And now that he came to think of it, waiting a little longer might actually be preferable to meddling. If they worked things out themselves, it would be better for their relationship. It would make them stronger and able to lean on one another.
Before Merlin knew it, they were at the training grounds. Regretfully, he let go of Arthur's hand and walked over towards the small wooden stool he kept there. Arthur walked over to the knights, who were already gathered there. Gwaine waved at him, and Merlin returned the gesture.
After that, he turned his attention to Arthur again. The King was directing Percival to take his place in front of him.
Soon enough, the sound of swords colliding was the only thing to be heard. Except of course for the knights cheering both swordfighters on. Merlin knew Arthur liked the fact the knight would cheer for the both of them; on the battlefield, he said, they were all equally able. Even if they still had to take his orders.
Merlin intently watched the men. They seemed to be dancing instead of fighting, that's how fluently and gracefully they moved. They were lethal as well with those sharp blades in their hands, but that didn't change the way he felt.
"All right, pair up! I want to hear you all fighting, do you understand? When we're done, everyone should smell like the foulest opponent you've ever faced. I need to smell and see you've worked today. Ready? Start!" Arthur shouted, immediately moving in on Gwaine with his sword held at the ready.
Merlin watched as they began their fight, a dance that differed slightly from the one Arthur had previously been engaged in. And as he began to watch Arthur's feet and arms move, he knew he'd never grow tired of watching his one true love do anything. Not even if it was something as dangerous as this.
August eleventh, 2012
"Merlin? Merlin, are you all right?" Arthur asked, the worry clearly audible in his voice as it washed over the man he was addressing.
Merlin shook his head in a way he hoped was imperceptible, trying to keep his face straight as he met Arthur's blue eyes with his own. He'd just spent a considerable amount of time lost in a memory that had been brought on by seeing Arthur wrestle with a large wooden branch. He'd been using it as a fake sword in his fight with Gregory and Simon.
Arthur had met the boys merely an hour before. Just like the last time, the blond had ended up on Merlin's doorstep unexpectedly. The boys had been there as well, and they'd been very curious as to who the visitor was. Merlin had offered to ask them to return home so they could have a moment to themselves, but Arthur had said that wasn't necessary. Then, he'd let the boys guide him out into the backyard to play with them.
Merlin had been sitting on a chair to keep an eye on all three of them, and he'd been reminded of a similar day he'd had a very long time ago. Only then, there hadn't been any children involved, there'd been knight with real swords involved.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just got lost in my thoughts, that's all. But that doesn't mean I didn't see Simon win the battle," he cheekily added, knowing Gregory would want a revenge and counting on Arthur feeling the same way.
The way Arthur's brow furrowed told him he'd been right in assuming that competitive streak had never left the blond. Just like his sense of justice and his anger when he was lied to had never left him. He'd discovered that when he'd tried to hide the fact he'd sprained his ankle last week. Even over the phone, Arthur had been able to tell he wasn't being completely honest.
"Then I suggest we have another fight and you pay closer attention. Because I'm pretty sure I'm the one who just won," Arthur said, sounding almost as young as the two boys he was playing with to Merlin's eyes.
Simon and Gregory giggled, pouncing on Arthur so the stick he'd been holding went flying. They tickled him, something Arthur hadn't expected. Beneath the weight of them and with their small fingers poking into his sides, the former King of Camelot was soon gasping for breath.
"Won't you… come and help me… deal with them?" Arthur asked in a broken way, all the while trying to hold both children at once despite the fact they were just about too big to really do that easily.
Merlin grinned, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. It should be more than enough to let Arthur know he'd started this battle and he'd have to find his own way out. The man was more than intelligent enough to figure that out. And it would probably spur him on to show Merlin exactly how well he could deal with the two boys. Arthur really hadn't lost his touch yet.
What Merlin didn't expect was for things to go quiet and to find himself being dragged out of his chair, straight onto the grass. Apparently, Artur had managed to capture Simon and Gregory and had persuaded them to join him in his attack on Merlin.
Merlin squirmed and laughed, halfheartedly trying to escape. He enjoyed playing with the boys and he wasn't all that ticklish, so it wasn't unpleasant at all. It was also very nice to hear Arthur instruct them on where to tickle him next.
But when Arthur joined in and touched his finger to the spot above Merlin's floating ribs, his breath caught in his throat. It had always been one of the most sensitive places on his body, and no one but Arthur knew about that. Simon and Gregory stopped tickling him instantly, their eyes flickering between the two adults. Arthur's eyes were on his, something dancing in them Merlin didn't dare to name for fear of being wrong.
The moment passed when Arthur extended a hand and helped him up off the grass, though, and Merlin smoothed down his clothes to avoid having to hold onto it any longer than he really had to. He didn't trust himself not to reveal his true feelings for Arthur if they stayed that close for much longer.
"Come on, boys. Your parents wanted you home for dinner and it's five already. You shouldn't make them wait too much longer. You can come back tomorrow. I have some new tricks to show you," Merlin said after a few seconds, well aware the silence was growing more unease as time ticked by.
The boys' faces lit up at the invitation, but they would have been back the next day one way or another. They were even more predictable than Arthur, and that was saying a lot. It was a relief the boys were good company to have, else Merlin might not have had this much fun on a regular basis.
Arthur followed them inside but stayed quiet as Simon and Gregory said their goodbyes. He waved at them when they left, but that was it. It had Merlin a little worried, though he stayed silent. He wasn't sure it was a good idea to bring whatever had just happened up. Arthur was obviously trying to deal with it, and being questioned about it most likely wouldn't help the process along.
Therefore, Merlin asked him something entirely unrelated. That way, he might be able to restart some kind of conversation and this wouldn't be awkward for much longer. That didn't mean he didn't have his fingers crossed almost in the physical sense as well as the figurative one, though.
"Are you staying for dinner? I have enough spaghetti to feed a small army, so you're more than welcome to. I'll have to freeze the rest of it anyway," Merlin said, gently smiling to let Arthur know he wasn't scared or fazed at all by what had happened when they were outside.
"I'd like that. I hadn't prepared on cooking, to be honest. I was planning on stopping at a take-out and eating that. It isn't the best food you can get, but it beats having to cook for a single person," Arthur offered, his head cocked slightly to the side.
Merlin nodded in silent agreement. He liked cooking in general, but it was a hell of a lot more fun when he did it for his friends as well as himself. It was a lot more rewarding that way, and he didn't have to freeze three quarters of the food at the end of the day. Because he never succeeded in making just enough for him alone.
"Oh, I could boil the spaghetti if you want me to. That way you don't have to do anything but set the table," Arthur suggested, sounding very hopeful for some reason. He desperately wanted to help, that much was obvious, but the reason eluded Merlin. He'd never seen Arthur like this, not this day in his second life and never in his first one.
"The pasta's on top of the kitchen cabinet near the sink and the pots are right over there. There's a pot of pasta sauce in the refrigerator. I made it this morning, so all you have to do is heat it. I'll be around if you need anything," Merlin grinned, brushing past Arthur to reach into the cabinet and retrieve two plates.
He knew it was risky, but unlike the first time around he didn't think taking risks was a bad thing. Arthur and he could have been together for a few more years had he not been foolish enough to think he would surely lose the friendship they'd built if he said something and Arthur didn't feel the same way. This time, he was walking the fine line between just enough and just too much.
He couldn't help but look over his shoulder as he placed the plates onto the garden table. Arthur looked so at home in his kitchen that it surprised him. It tugged at his heart, strengthening his resolve to keep soldiering on until Arthur remembered his past life and their relationship in it. This was progress, so there was hope.
He just hoped they would continue on this road of progress and that things wouldn't stagnate. Because he had no idea what he'd do then. All he knew is that he didn't trust himself not to use magic then.
And that could have disastrous consequences. That much the past had taught him.