Note: An explicit chapter. Merlin and Arthur spend their final night together before Arthur leaves for Mercia. Arthur also has a farewell present for Merlin.
26th October
Finishing for the half-term, making it Arthur's final day at college, finishing at half-day meant that Arthur and Merlin had time to spend together. Hunith had decided to take them as well as their friends out to the ice skating rink, where due to everyone being at work, the place should be empty. Morgana had since moved in with Gwen, but kept her head low whilst she was still at college, fearing the worst.
Once they had paid for their hour on the rink, brooms were being used to clear the rink to that the ice was fresh before they went on. Arthur was usually one who would try out anything, but he was a little afraid of this sport, gripping onto Merlin's hand.
"C'mon Arthur! You're going to be fine."
"No I'm not."
"Have faith Arthur. It's like riding a bike, you just need balance and off you go." Merlin stepped onto the ice. Arthur gripped onto the barrier as one foot went on, Arthur not liking the peculiar texture of the ground, and held onto Merlin as he placed his other foot on. Gwaine being Gwaine was bonkers across the ice, unafraid to fall over. Morgana and Gwen were pretending to be ice-skaters and do the fancy footwork, often falling over themselves in a fit of giggles. Merlin barely managed to get Arthur to the middle when he stood behind Arthur. Arthur cocked his head back and forth, wondering where Merlin was, almost headbutting Merlin at the same time.
"Arthur? Arthur! You're fine. I'm behind you. Now, pretend you're pushing a trolley or even walking, or pushing something heavy. We've got to go forward, so one foot in front of the other, starting with your left. Put the weight onto each foot and push forward. Ready."
"No." Arthur went along anyway. Merlin held onto his hips as Arthur gently pushed forward, barely going anywhere. "Left. Right. Left. Left Art...thur!" Both Merlin and Arthur slipped and went down, Arthur petrified that he or Merlin would hurt himself.
"Are you okay Merlin?"
"I'm fine. How about you?"
"Again?"
"That's the spirit." For the remainder of the hour, Merlin and Arthur built a team-task of gently pushing Arthur around the rink, Arthur growing a little more confident as the time went on. Some are lucky to go to the ice rink when they are kids, maybe older. Arthur nor Morgana got a chance to go, with their dad always working with his now defunct business, so Arthur was glad that he finally tried something new.
Dinner was spent at the restaurant of the ice rink, Merlin and Arthur having a table for themselves, having a sort-of romantic dinner together, constantly stealing glances from each other as if they'd only just met.
Initially, after the day out, Arthur was meant to go home with Catrina because of leaving the morning after, but Arthur had other ideas. Arthur asked permission from Catrina if he could stay with Merlin as their last night together, which due to the circumstances, Catrina agreed. Merlin arrived home in a foul mood and immediately went to his room as soon as they walked in. Going to change out of his daywear, he was down to his jeans when he walked in and brought some towels in with him, about to take a shower before going to bed. Depressed as it was, he could hear a tapping at the window. "Whatever it is will you..." Merlin glanced at the window and noticed Arthur on the ladder again. His face lifting, he immediately unlatched the lock and pulled Arthur in.
"Arthur? I... I thought that was it?" Arthur closed the window from behind, latched the lock back on and grabbed Merlin's towels, chucking them onto his bed and then bringing Merlin forward into his arms, Arthur drenched from the rain. Arthur's hand trailed down Merlin's arse and rubbed circles across the cheeks, Arthur occasionally trying to shove his hand down to touch, of course the jeans and underwear being a constant obstacle. "I wanted to properly say goodbye, if you know what I mean." Arthur winked and thought about the towels. "Were you going for a shower Merlin?"
"Yes, thinking I was all alone and then going to bed alone."
"Hmm, that can change you know. How about a little something now and then a shower once we're done?"
"A little something?"
"I know there's something you've been wanting for a very long time and now you've got an opportunity." Arthur rubbed deeper as he brought their hips together, rolling his hips into Merlin. "See, I know you want it. There's something you asked for the first time I fucked you."
Merlin pondered for a moment, trying to think as he was constantly being teased by Arthur, Arthur biting Merlin's bottom lip as he thrust his tongue past Merlin's lips to meet with Merlin's own. "Everything?"
"Your wish shall be granted." Arthur grabbed a hook of Merlin's jeans, easing Merlin down onto the bed and throwing the towels out of the way as he devilly grinned, the button popping open and pulling the remainder of Merlin's clothing off, Merlin lifting his hips to help out. Arthur's clothing was also soon off and then Arthur practically pounced upon Merlin, not knowing where to start.
"Stay tonight." Merlin asked in between kisses.
"I intend to."
"Stay forever."
"One day I will. One day I'll be able to wake up next to you every morning of my life." Arthur reached out for Merlin's hands and clasped them together, before turning Merlin over onto his front, hands wondering over Merlin as Arthur came to Merlin's backside. Merlin lay there moaning until he squeeled when he felt something warm and very wet exploring his crack and hole, Merlin grabbing the sheets. "Oh my Arthur!"
Arthur raised his hand, his hands on each of Merlin's buttcheeks, "Shh and enjoy", Arthur cooed as he leant back down and continued, his tongue dancing everywhere, preparing Merlin as Merlin's cock throbbed underneath him, Arthur batting Merlin's hand away as he flipped Merlin back over, enough preparation done, and went straight in on Merlin's cock, no warnings given as he made Merlin hang on as long as possible, favouringly sucking and licking the length. To finally allow Merlin to come, he made Merlin hoist his legs up so he could bend down between them, entering Merlin as he fucked Merlin as hard as possible, Merlin unable to keep quiet. Poor Hunith.
Time had ticked on through the night, Merlin and Arthur finding every possible way to keep bringing each other off, knowing they'd be sore the morning after, it was getting on for four in the morning when they eventually called it a night and sank beneath the sheets, Merlin spooning Arthur. They whispered things to each other before they went to sleep.
"Arthur? Where do you think we'll be in 10 years time?"
Arthur rolled onto other his side so that he could face Merlin. "Well, I don't know about me. I don't know what my career is going to be. But I do know is that we will be together, married and with our own children." Arthur noticed with the moonlight peeking through the curtains how it caught Merlin's features. Arthur leaned up and kissed the one side of Merlin's face, working his way down until he reached where his heart was and lay down atop of Merlin. "You're so beautiful Merlin and I want you to be mine forever." Merlin stretched, now a bit sore and kissed Arthur's temple, working his way down until he met his lips, which with no light was rather a complicated task.
"Do you like lying there?"
"Yeah, I like listening to your heartbeat. It gives the confinement that you're with me, and I want the sound to penetrate through my ear drum so that it stays with me while I'm away."
"You'll write won't you? I certainly will."
"I'll do anything to keep in contact. But now sleep my love." Merlin stroked the strands of Arthur's hair until they were both asleep.
Unfortunately they only got a few hours together, and by half seven, Arthur really needed to be getting ready. Merlin was woken to whispers being spoken from Arthur. Merlin turned around and snuggled into Arthur.
"Can't you stay?"
Arthur stroked Merlin's hair, trying to brush the strands into place. "You know I can't. Gaius knows about the procedure for the next month so we'll write to one another. But I've got to go. But less than a month time and I'll be home. And you can guarantee I'll come back."
"How?"
"Shower first, then I'll show you." Merlin complied and both showered together, Merlin drying off Arthur's hair with a towel as Arthur done the buttons on Merlin's shirt. Once dried and dressed, the time now getting on for nine, Arthur grabbed Merlin's hand where he reached into his bag.
"This is how I can guarantee I'll come home." Merlin stood into the middle of the room as Arthur bent down on one knee, Merlin gasping with joy. "This is not for the decoy Merlin."
Down on one knee, Arthur spoke the words. "Merlin, I know it's early and we're young and it makes no sense, nothing does but... Will you be my husband?" Arthur opened the box and slipped on the gold ring around Merlin's finger, a hand pulling Arthur up as Merlin nodded, grinning and chanting "Yes!" until Arthur cut him off.
"Merlin? I've got to go now."
"I'll miss you."
"I will to, but I'm here in your heart so I'm always here. And when I'm back, that's where it all begins." They shared a kiss at the window as Arthur made his way down the ladder and towards his former house. Hunith came in as Merlin locked the window and noticed the ring. "Merlin? Who gave you that?"
"Mum, Arthur gave it me. I'm marrying him." Although Merlin was young, Hunith was overjoyed as she hugged her son. "But once we're of age and have the money."
"He make a wonderful son-in-law."