Day Twenty Five: Gazing Into Each Other's Eyes:

He could do it. All he had to do was reach in and…

No.

No, he couldn't. His fingers shook, his heart pounded, his stomach burst with butterflies. Arthur Pendragon couldn't. Physically. Do it.

He tried breathing, but it came out ragged and only made him more nervous.

Hold it together, Arthur, for God's sake.

Arthur took a deep breath. "Merlin?" It was barely a whisper and Merlin hadn't heard him. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Merlin?"

Merlin looked up from his book. "Hm?" He looked to Arthur, expecting, waiting. It didn't help that the love of his life was curled up in a blanket, reading his favorite book, and sitting there with his damn messy hair and stunningly blue eyes.

Those eyes. Arthur remembered when he and Merlin first looked each other in the eyes. The bookstore was packed with people buying last minute books and other odds and ends before the start of a new school year. Arthur was messing around with Gwaine and Leon, acting stupid and immature in the notebook isle.

Arthur wasn't paying attention to where he was going and backed right into Merlin. All the books he was carrying toppled to the floor and Merlin cascaded into a postcard rack, knocking it to the ground.

Arthur said his apologies and helped Merlin with his books. While they were both crouched down, Arthur glanced up. He had to stifle his intake of breath. Merlin's eyes were a stormy sea of anger, no doubt directed towards Arthur. Despite the glare, Arthur couldn't stop staring at him.

"Um…thanks," Merlin tugged the text book from Arthur's hands; creeped out by Arthur's staring.

Arthur blinked, "Right…yah." Arthur stood up and was about to turn away, "Again, sorry…about…"

Merlin waved him off, "Whatever," he said. Then under his breath he muttered, "Prat."

To this day, Arthur hasn't told him that he heard Merlin mutter those words. Even now, lost in his azure eyes filled with curiosity, he didn't want to tell Merlin, but tonight was different.

Arthur cleared his throat, "Um…I have something I want to give you."

Merlin tilted his head, "Oh?" A small smile played on his lips, his eyes sparkling with excitement. It wasn't often Arthur gave Merlin random gifts. He should do it more often, because that look on Merlin's face was addicting.

"Yeah, so uh, you remember our camping trip, right?"

Merlin scoffed, "Yes, we almost died." He folded his hands on his book, waiting for Arthur to continue.

"Right…well, before we almost drowned to death, the day before, in the caves, I found something-"

"What? You found something? Why didn't you tell me? What is it?" Merlin leaned in, intrigued and a bit annoyed. He squinted his eyes, hiding some of the brilliant blue.

Arthur dug into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out the round metal he had discovered in the cave. He had done research and discovered it was a sigil. "The dove means constant love, a harbinger of good tidings." Merlin took it from his hands, mesmerized by the glint of gold.

"It's…wow," He breathed, smiling. Arthur grinned and rubbed his hands together, the surprise wasn't over yet. "Why did you wait so long to show me?" Merlin asked, pulling Arthur from his silent worry.

Arthur looked into Merlin's eyes again. They were calming, serene, and it helped to control his nerves long enough so he could turn and face Merlin completely. Merlin smile as he furrowed his brow. "What has gotten into you?" Merlin's expression changed from amused to exasperated, "Do you need something? What is it, money, sex, all the above?"

Arthur couldn't help it. He chuckled and shook his head, "No…not quite. You're right though, I do want something, but it's something that money can't buy and sex can't complete, Merlin, I-" Arthur choked, his nerves tightened his throat. He let out a long breath and continued, "Remember when we met? I ran into you in the bookstore?"

Merlin rolled his eyes, "More like tackled me, but yes, go on." He leaned on his knees, his head in his hands.

"Well, after I said sorry, you brushed me off and called me a 'prat'."

Merlin gasped, "You heard that?" Arthur laughed and nodded. "Jesus, Arthur, why did you ask me out? I was so annoyed with you and thought you were a pompous dick."

Arthur laughed nervously, "Because I knew behind your annoyance with me, there was something more. There was something about you, and I couldn't put my finger on it, but once I did…Merlin, you captured my interest the moment you called me a 'prat'. I'm-" His voice shook, "-I'm glad I continued to bug you and learn more about you. Never have I found someone who loves me not because I'm rich, but because they saw something under the title of Uther Pendragon's Son. You saw my insecurities and accepted them, you know I let things get to my head, but you love me anyway." Arthur leaned back so he could reach into his other pocket.

Merlin sat up straighter, "Arthur, what-" He took an intake of breath and slapped a hand over his mouth, his eyes widened, brimming with tears.

Arthur held a little, black felt box in his hands, his fingers trembling as he peeled back the lid. Arthur was shaking, he couldn't ask the questions, the question. Arthur sat there with an open mouth, his words caught in his throat.

He didn't have to worry about asking the question though. Merlin flung himself into Arthur, knocking him back on the couch, kissing him fiercely. The words didn't have to come out of Arthur's mouth, because Merlin already knew.

Merlin's hands clutched at Arthur's blonde strands. His kisses became more urgent, wanting. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin, clutching the little, black box. Merlin pulled away and smiled. "Yes," he whispered, "Yes, forever and always."

Arthur gazed into his eyes while he processed Merlin's words. His heart burst in his chest, overwhelming him with joy and love and happiness. All he could do was watch Merlin's eyes light up, sparkling like sapphires, and even the black of his pupils couldn't stifle the gleam of his eyes.

When he finally found his voice, he whispered, "Yeah?"

Merlin laughed, his chest rumbling against Arthur's, "Yes. I love you, my clotpole."

Arthur smiled, "I love you too, my idiot."