Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or Love Like Winter
The last ever chapter/update and I still have to put that stupid disclaimer :P
Well, it's been fun. And here I, Opium Poppy, also known as Ozzie-star and Da Wizard of Oz, present the final chapter of LOVE LIKE WINTER *applause*
Hint: Make sure you read until THE END.
Okay then, *tears* on with the fic.
Epilouge
NOW – WEDNESDAY – 10:11
"Merlin! Arthur has sent for you." Gaius called up the stairs.
"Well, he has to wait!"
Merlin looked at the mess that was once his room and at the splatter of emerald shards in the centre.
"Never mind," the sorcerer dismissed "I've got to see Arthur!"
He wiped his face with his neckerchief before grabbing a new one and rushing downstairs (as much as one can rush whilst hopping).
"Merlin?"
"No time, got to go find Arthur, my room is not my fault. Bye!"
The door slammed.
ABOUT ONE WEEK EARLIER – TUESDAY –13:47
After Merlin had been woken up, heavy with blushes and stuttered explanations about the 'death grip' on Arthur's hand and the prince's usual 'Merlin, you idiot' they went to meet Uther. Well, after Morgana had had the opportunity to call Arthur an idiot back. He had insisted he could stand and walk by himself and then promptly collapsed not one step from the bed.
The trio eventually arrived in the throne room. Morgana was the only one to walk unattended; the other two were supported by guards on both sides because "Merlin on crutches is a disaster waiting to happen."
Uther heard their accounts (Merlin's was slightly edited) on what happened and then did something to surprise them all. He offered a reward.
"For killing a known and dangerous sorceress, whatever you want, withi-"
"I want to learn to fight! I have a sword. I will use it."
Morgana quickly cut in before Uther could say those two words which would grant him the right to refuse whatever he decided. She glared at him when he began to refuse so he simply nodded then turned to Arthur.
The crown prince instructed his guards to place him by Uther's throne. When they retreated he voiced his request "I want permission to pursue Merlin."
"What!"
"I wish to court him."
The king waved his arm dismissively "Go."
When the pair were alone Uther shouted "You cannot marry a SERVANT!"
A picture of Merlin in a wedding dress came to mind and Arthur blushed "I didn't say I wanted to marry him father, I only asked to court him."
"You can't court a servant, Arthur, you're a prince."
"Well, make it so he's not a servant! Give him some land, give him a station, I don't care! I just want to marry the- ... oops."
When Uther regained consciousness Merlin was called back.
A FEW MINUTES LATER – TUESDAY – 14:01
"You, as well as a request of your choice, are granted a small piece of land and the title of baron because-" the king paused and glanced at Arthur "the title of baron for the most significant action in the vanquishing of the witch. You do, however, still retain all your duties and responsibilities as my son's manservant."
Uther studied the boy, he was tall, not much muscle, clumsy, doesn't know his place, inattentive-
Merlin was getting quite nervous under the unblinking stare of the man "Umm, sire?"
The king continued to look – he did have a certain charm? And his bone structure was good, his eye's rival Arthur's, loyal too. As he should be towards his prince. But Uther knew it was more than that. Perhaps I can see a little of Arthur's attraction towards the boy. Hmm, nice skin, too, pale-
"Father!"
"Ah, yes, Arthur?"
"Merlin knows what he'd like."
Uther nodded at Merlin.
"I'd like a party, sire."
TWO DAYS LATER – THURSDAY – 11:03
"Well, would you look at that." Morgana was looking out of her window observing the scene below. Tullus, on his day off, had offered to accompany Gwen to the forest who wanted flowers for her sick neighbour. On the way they had clearly ran into Lancelot and Gwen had introduced them, she was looking rather like a third wheel now though. Lancelot kept touching the servant's arm and Tullus was actually smiling. In public!
There came a knock at her door, she stayed silent until it began to ease open and then she shouted "YOUR'E LATE!"
"Sorry." Said Merlin sheepishly, poking his head around the door, she held out a hair brush
"All's forgiven if you don't tell Arthur what I did to his sword," it was just too bad that metal wasn't harder than the keystone... or his head "So, what's going on with you and Arthur?"
"He's acting weird!" he whined, Morgana tutted when his hand paused, brush halfway through her hair "He actually got the stable hand to do his job for once instead of making me muck the horse out! He keeps humming and the other day I caught him picking flowers."
Morgana giggled.
"It's not funny, they turned up outside my room, with a note! Gaius was laughing whenever he saw me all day."
"What did it say?"
He handed it to her, seconds later Gwen arrived, having decided to postpone her trip (Lancelot and Tullus were no longer outside the window, perhaps on a walk? Or, most likely, in Lancelot's room at the inn) "What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Merlin grunted.
Morgana merely held out the scrap of paper.
"Oh my gosh! Is that meant to be-? Oh my-"
The only man present just waited impatiently for the two women to stop laughing.
Gwen was first "Who was it for?"
"Me."
"From Arthur!" she said in shock before the giggles returned.
All of a sudden Morgana was tired of the whole fiasco.
"Merlin, you know he likes you, you heard him on the journey," she nodded solemnly as he blushed "don't complain, he's being nice! Arthur, nice! Besides, from the looks of that," a thumb at the note "he's trying to court you."
She got up and pushed Merlin out the door mid-babble and sighed "Boys," she turned to her friend "So, Lancelot and Tullus?"
FOUR DAYS LATER – MONDAY – 07:47
"Wake up, Arthur. Yesterday Gaius pronounced you healthy so you have training with the knight's and also a meeting with Uther and Morgana, her sword fighting lessons need arranging. Breakfast will be here soon, Cook's sending someone up, bye."
Merlin swung out the room on his new crutches. "Merlin, wait! Merlin! ...dammit."
LATER THE SAME DAY – 14:21
Arthur wandered the castle aimlessly; he had just come from the meeting with Morgana. He thought about the 'Merlin Situation', he was at a loss, he didn't know a thing about poetry and didn't want to; he'd asked the palace gardener about flowers but gave up on that once the first bunch showed up in a jug on his table.
He had asked Gwen, who suggested a gift, so he had left a new neckerchief on Merlin's bed two days ago, it hadn't been worn.
He asked Gaius and the man suggested Merlin's favourite meal, he had ordered it sent to the physician's quarters only to learn Merlin had been in a meeting organising his party all day, he had eaten there with Uther's accountants.
Furthermore, he was being avoided. Merlin had been a model servant, preparing things in advance, laying out outfits before the prince woke up, completing tasks quickly and efficiently so Arthur had to dismiss him early for lack of work.
He'd also successfully dodged every conversation which was not work related. The prince couldn't even drag him on a hunting trip since Merlin still hopped around on crutches, despite his being surprisingly good on them. He could navigate corners, stairs, and even his tower's staircase all with ease and precision.
THE NEXT EVENING – TUESDAY – 20:57
Arthur stood outside Morgana's room; he had been there nearly five minutes. I can't believe her! She was the one who called this meeting but wasn't even here, he had only been waiting this long because she said it was about Merlin.
"Arthur?"
He turned around "Hi, Gwen." He said sullenly.
"What are you doing here?"
"'M meant to be meeting Morgana but she's not here."
"Oh?" Gwen walked past him, into the room, then called him in after her.
"Mmm Arrth –er? Arthur!" Morgana had been dozing in her chair but woke suddenly.
"Morgs! I was waiting for ages!" he said, knowing calling her that annoyed her,
"Did you know you used that name for Morgause?"
Not the reaction I had hoped for.
"What?"
"Merlin's been acting all weird because he's nervous, you've all-of-a-sudden started being nice to him, also, you confessed to him whilst you were delirious."
"I did what?"
"I believe you said something along the lines of 'Merrin, I wuv you' you may have also mentioned that 'Morgs' couldn't have him and two others only by description; you seemed to mean Tullus and Erec-the-no-longer-a-knight." Morgana was thoroughly enjoying the look of horror on Arthur's face.
"What do I do...?"
"Tell him again, of course." Said Gwen, the, until now, silent spectator.
"She's right. Oh, by the way, the reason Merlin isn't wearing the neckerchief you sent is because he likes it too much, he wants to look after it, I believe he's saving it to wear at his party."
And suddenly Arthur was all smiles.
"I'll tell him now!"
"NO!" Morgana and Gwen screamed simultaneously.
"He's going to Ealdor tomorrow, he needs his sleep." Gwen explained.
"Yes," Morgana continued "He's moving his mother and some of the other families onto his land and inviting them to Camelot for the party, too."
The two girls seemed to forget Arthur as they gushed about the upcoming event.
"There are to be no servants, food will be cooked and set out in advance, the whole town is contributing."
"Yes, Merlin said the cook deserves a time to be on the other side of the festivities for once."
"It's across the whole place, too! In the castle's banquet hall, the palace grounds, there will also be stalls giving free stuff on the streets."
"He said, if he could manage it, there would be some sort of show by the lake aswell."
As Arthur eased open the door to sneak out Morgana sent one last message after him.
"Two things, Arthur. One, when you're told what happened to your sword, don't ask to look at it, you might cry. Secondly, Merlin's not leaving until about noon but you won't see him for days if you miss him. Make sure you don't."
THE NEXT MORNING – NOW – 10:15
Merlin dithered outside Arthur's rooms, suddenly nervous.
"Come in, Merlin." Arthur called from inside.
He went in a little apprehensive. "Hi, Arthur."
"I have something to tell you... I'm not sure how to put it." He took a deep breath, taking less time than he wanted for fear the other man would run away "Merl-"
"You know what, Arthur? I feel the same way; maybe I should leave until we both figure it out! I just need to go and tell Gaius about that potion Morgause drowned in."
"Wait! Merlin, I really need to- hang on, what did it do anyway?"
"Well-"
"If you say 'nothing' or 'I don't know' I'll run you through."
"It was going to take something from me." Said Merlin, quietly, hoping Arthur couldn't work anything out from it.
The prince thought about what Gaius had told him about seductresses, they lured prey to them then ate them. This one was actually a witch so maybe that means something. A potion couldn't make Merlin easier to eat though, could it? Why would a witch want to eat him anyway?
Then Arthur remembered "Mostly they seduce virgins so they can devour them in other ways prior to the actual eating."
By this time Merlin had manoeuvred himself out of the room but heard
"Merlin! Did that potion~are you a virgin?"
Laughing, he made his way down the corridor, passing Morgana on her way to sword practise, she stared after him confusedly.
Meanwhile, Arthur made chase after the man on crutches, dazedly wondering how a potion could rob someone of their virginity.
"Merlin! Merlin!"
Fin
Silly Arthur, he got distracted, looks like we've had a little of every pairing except MerlinxArthur at this point. Thanks everyone, btw, for voting in the poll, it's still open for all those who haven't. XD Anyway, read on, since I only decided to do this because my usual page break just didn't look right after all those time skips. Suppose I took a bit of a risk, hope no-one misses the last bit.
Erec made his way to the cave he had left just a week earlier; he intended to collect Morgause's goblet and sword to sell.
He entered the cave but stopped dead at an unexpected sight then turned tail and ran.
The large cauldron was still there, so was the potion. The goblet and sword lay undisturbed but, near the base of the cauldron there was a spillage. A trace of some, now dry, golden liquid and then there was another.
And another. It looked distinctly like a human handprint.
They formed a trail; splatterings and smudges of gold marring the orange leaves, leading into the fringes of the dark forest.
The shadows of that area seemed just a little darker than normal.
THE END
The real end, cue tears! I'm quite sad, please everyone review and tell me what you think of my story, a big thankyou to all my reviewers, alerters/subscribers and everyone who stuck this story in their favourites. I LOVE YOU!
But, as you can see, I've left it open for a sequel, if you want one and I can think of a plot then I'll have to do one, of course :) Thank you again.
Final note: Please review even if this story is 30 years old by the time you're reading this! Think of it as a birthday gift (it's soon :D)
Bye! (Oh, I don't want this to end yet! D: Good bye!)
Oh, thought of something I can say: Lolz to Morgana mangling Arthur's sword on the keystone :)
BYE! (for the last time)