Facts one needs to know for this OS: Arthur is King, but Uther is alive, Morgana is still a baddie, but Freya is Uther's ward, masquerading under the name "Rosamond".

Merlin awoke in the red adorned room, and it took a second for him to remember why he was there. He tilted his head down, seeing the reason. Her beautiful face, still laying asleep on his bare chest. She looked utterly at peace, a smile playing on her innocent lips as one hand rested near his shoulder. One arm around her, he stroked her dark brown hair with the other, smiling to himself as he remembered the night before, and the secret ceremony before that. Everything had changed now. She was his.

And he was hers.

He had never suspected that he would ever belong to someone in this way. After all, his destiny dictated almost everything about his life, and even after she had been resurrected he had never allowed himself to picture a life with her. Now… Here it was.

He tilted his head and gently kissed the top of hers, continuing, absentmindedly to play with her hair. She did not get much peace these days. She needed it.

"My Freya…" He whispered softly, remembering the day he had tried to convince her to take Morgana's dress. So long ago. "My princess…" He paused, not believing his own words, "my wife."

She stirred, sighing deeply, barely opening her eyes as she looked up at him, a smile immediately coloring her face.

"Morning," he said with a soft grin, and they leaned closer, until their lips met, parting quietly, the whole scene a dream to them both.

"Morning," she said, rolling slightly and stretching her arms, her smile that of a child waking to a pleasant surprise. "Sleep well?"

Merlin nodded. Of course he did not get much sleep, there was too much for him to worry about, and they both knew it, but last night he had spent his waking hours watching her sleep, as the moon light and shadows cloaked her shoulders. To be truthful, those hours coupled with the peaceful slumber afterward, however short, had been more gentle on him than most dreams he had. Part of him believed that if he was able to have her with him, to watch her sleep every night, to hold her, perhaps, then he would be able to get back to a normal night's sleep. But that couldn't happen. Not yet. But he wouldn't think about that now.

"How about you?" He said, caressing away a stray lock of hair, "no nightmares?"

Her smile grew broader, as she moved closer to him. "None whatsoever."

They kissed again, smiling as they did so, the warlock, whispering to his bride with a wry smile. "Did I mention how amazing you were last night?"

She chuckled, "You weren't so bad yourself either," her eyes twinkled with mischief, "although there is one thing you were wrong about…"

"What?" He said laughing, knowing full well, one of her jests was coming.

"I'm amazing all the time." She cocked her head impishly while playing with her hair and Merlin suddenly sat up, gathering her to him in his arms.

"But… Do you know what else you are?" His hands rested on her back and hers on his chest, as they both gazed contentedly into each other's faces.

"No," she whispered coyly, "tell me."

He chuckled, swiftly surprising her by turning, and pinning her back on the bed, causing her to laugh as she landed softly, with his face looking down upon hers. Her giggles died away as he rearranged her hair with the back of his hand, pausing at each word.

"You are my beautiful…. Brave… and Loving... Bride." He leaned down again, and they fell into each other's embrace for a time, and he did not let go when their lips parted, instead, smiling down at her with a mix of disbelief and joy.

"And you are my wonderful adoring husband," she said happily, "who, for once, has made me feel like the luckiest person alive."

There was a pause in which neither needed to say anything, until the one phrase was whispered, like a single drop of rain.

"I love you." He said softly.

"I love you too."

They leaned in, again, forgetting all else, but the contentedness of each other's arms for another single second, until a harsh rapping interrupted them.

"Rosamond!" It was Uther, his voice slightly raspy with fatigue, his son, the King, probably away at a meeting. "I should like to speak with you!"

"Oh God!" She muttered, nearly rolling out of bed at the same time as Merlin disentangling herself from the sheets as she got dressed. How was he going to get out when the old king was right at the door?

"Quick!" She said, opening the panes "climb out the window!"

"What?"

"Just do it!" She whispered, and he hurriedly complied, as he adjusted his trousers, climbing over the edge of the sill.

"We've got to find a better way of doing this!" He said chuckling as he hung on to the scaffolding.

"We'll figure it out!" She said, leaning down to kiss him, realizing something. "Damn!" She quickly hurried away, grabbing his tunic from off the floor, leaning out over the edge, helping him put it on.

He pushed himself up into an unexpected kiss, and I felt my arms wrap around his shoulders again.

"Isn' that supposed to be done in reverse?" He said mischievously, our lips meeting yet again.

"Oh, go on now!" I said, laughing, "this is not the last time something like this will happen I'm sure."

"Something?" He said, smiling devilishly, "I seem to remember many things happening last night…. Things that should happen again. And again. And again…"

I laughed outright as he tried to push himself toward me again, and I tried to keep my voice down ," Ha ha! Don't talk about that now! it's in broad daylight for goodness sake! We can do those things again, I promise! Just go before you get your head chopped off!"

He leaned in and kissed me one last time, "I'll be waiting."

I watched as he climbed down a few feet and then went to answer the door. There was Uther, looking happy yet bedraggled. He had never been the same since Morgana left. I backed away, allowing him room to get in, going toward the open window so he wouldn't notice.

"Hello, my dear," he said looking around the not so tidy chamber, eyes lingering on the bed. "Restless night?"

"Quite." I said with a smile, my wrist against the window sill, and to my amazement, and horror, a hand grasped it. "Oh!"

"Everything all right?" Said Uther looking puzzled.

"Yes," I muttered with a pause, as I felt Merlin's lips silently meets my left wrist. I was going to kill him.

"I was just wondering if you would care for our ride today?" The King Father looked confused. I had forgotten it was Saturday. Damn.

"Of course!" I said in a rush as I tried not to focus on Merlin's hand, caressing the laces on my back, "I'll be right out!"

Uther nodded and left, and no sooner had he closed the door. Then I turned around. "What do you think you're doing?"

But Merlin only laughed uncontrollably. "' Restless night?' Ha ha! I can't believe you kept a straight face!"

"And I can't believe you didn't get caught!" I said, laughing, but still irritated. Just because were married doesn't mean we are off the—

but he had silenced me again with a passionate and comforting kiss. I was dazed for a moment, enabling him to speak.

"I know, I know, my love," he said, smiling, "I'll be a good boy next time. Just give me a chance to enjoy this all right?"

There was a twinkle in his eyes that nothing could darken and I finally was able to feel it too." All right— husband."

He kissed me one last time before climbing down.

"Make sure Arthur doesn't see you!" I called in a whisper.

"He never does!" Then, smiling foolishly he shouted, "I love you!"

"Shh!" I whispered hurriedly, but I couldn't stop giggling as I closed the window.