Hidden Royalty Chapter Sixteen

Merlin had not yet been squishing his face against the window when Arthur pointed out to him that he could see Mercia. At first sight the country looked quite a lot like England. Maybe a bit more rural, in Merlin's opinion. He couldn't enjoy the view for very long because all the standing around made his side hurt like hell and he sat down on the couch with a soft grunt. Luckily Arthur didn't seemed to have noticed that, he had his back turned to pick up his drink.

The speakers crackled and the captain announced them docking quite soon. Merlin was happy because he didn't think that he could hang on much longer, his elbow ached and he was just generally tired.

And then there was the strong wind that made big waves and iit just wasn't the best thing for Merlin right now as the boat went to one side to the next. Normally he would probably not even feel it, but now he did. He had clenched his eyes shut and nearly bit through his lip at how much pain it caused to his left side as he didn't want to cry in front of his parents nor Arthur and was barely succeeding in that.

Arthur started to notice though and when Merlin opened his eyes Arthur asked softly if he was alright. Of course Merlin didn't want all this concern for him and shook his head, putting up a soft smile. But Arthur wasn't born yesterday and crouched down in front of Merlin. By now, Merlin was taking in short shaky breaths.

Hunith and Balinor had been laughing at something as they stood up from their seats, but when they looked back to see if Merlin and Arthur were ready to go they saw Arthur sitting on his haunches in front of their son.

"I don't know what's wrong, but he looks in pain." Arthur explained once Hunith and Balinor reached them. Hunith ruffled through her purse and pulled out a bottle of painkillers and popped two pills out. In the meantime, Balinor asked one attendant for some water. Hunith handed over the pills to Arthur who in turn pushed them into Merlin's hand.

"It'll help with the pain." Arthur said. Merlin slowly opened his eyes and looked at the two pills before popping them into his mouth and then accepted the glass of water Balinor handed over to him.

They waited anxiously to see if the pills would indeed work within minutes like the doctor had promised and after give or take four minutes they saw Merlin relax just a little bit more.

"I'm sorry." Merlin murmured when he saw all the concerning faces around him. "I'm doing better now." He gently stood up, although still winced by the motion.

Balinor held out his hand if Merlin needed or wanted some more support. "Are you really sure?" He asked. Merlin nodded and gave the man a smile.

Still a bit wary, but trusting on Merlin's word, Balinor nodded and moved to the exit. Two cars were already waiting at the end of the dock to transport them to the Mercian palace.

Merlin came down the stairs and looked around him and inhaled deeply through his nose. The air smelled fresher and cleaner here in Mercia… weird how that was his first thought of being in the country.

He once more shared a car with Arthur and soon were on the way to what Merlin believed was the palace if he heard Arthur and Balinor correctly. He was a bit nervous, but also excited to see the palace and wondered if it would be as big and beautiful as Buckingham Palace.

And then there was this talk from his father at the boat, about how a surprise would be waiting for him in that very same palace and Merlin asked what it was - because he for one hated surprises, but his father had just chuckled and telling him that it wouldn't be a surprise anymore if he told him.

For now, Merlin had momentarily forgotten about the surprise. He was too occupied by looking out of the window and see landscapes and farms pass by, only to be replaced minutes later by metropolitan area, which he could only vaguely compare to London. They drove further away from the busy city centre and drove through a little calmer part of the city where Merlin could already see an immense building on top of a small hill greeting them from the distance. He turned to Arthur with his mouth only just opened. "Is… is that…"

Arthur nodded.

Unlike Buckingham (which had mostly been only shielded off in the front by gates) the Mercian palace had not only gates, but also two small areas of trees at either side of a driveway, which in Merlin's eyes must've been at least half a mile long.

The gates opened and the car began his ascend on the driveway. The further they went up, the more beautiful surroundings began to appear. Behind the field of trees there were lawns with flowerbeds and water ornaments, but the most beautiful thing must've been the palace.

When they finally stopped in front of it, Merlin got out of the car, not even waiting for Tom to open his door. He was looking up to take in some details of the building, from what he could see, it was built out of pearly white stones and had stained glass windows. It was standing tall and mighty and Merlin would never had guessed to ever see such architecture.

And then his gaze was broken by Balinor who came to stand next to his son. Around him, lackeys were hurrying to the cars to get the suitcases out of the cars and into the palace.

"Are you ready for that surprise now?" Balinor asked, grinning just a little bit. Merlin eagerly nodded at which Balinor turned to Lancelot, who in his turn mumbled some words into the headset. Merlin frowned just a little bit, the surprise must be quite a big one if the security of his father had to communicate through earpieces.

He didn't frowned for long though, because just seconds later the door on the front opened and Merlin saw two persons he knew rather well.

"Will! Percy!" He yelled and was about to run up the small staircase when he was held back by his father who had gripped him at the elbow. Balinor looked with a small scowl on his forehead to him.

"Take it easy Merlin. No running yet."

~oOoOo~

Merlin couldn't be any more happy. His two best friends were with him again after he hadn't seen them for almost a full week. Although, Will at first was acting strange around him and Merlin guessed it was because of the supposed title he suddenly carried, but after spending time with Percy, Will and Arthur, Will had been falling back into his usual persona and nearly even forgot that Merlin was a Prince now.

If anything, he now even embraced the fact of his friend being one after he had been served on all day.

They whole group now sat in one of the many sitting rooms, or the drawing room as Balinor had called it, and had just been served a cup of tea when Balinor had come up to Merlin. He stood nervously in front of his son and didn't know what to do with his hands. He first clasped them together in front of them and then let them hang at his side, before finally settling on clasping his hands behind his back.

Merlin had looked up at him expectantly.

Balinor swallowed. "Merlin, can I… can I talk to you for a second?"

Merlin had no idea to why the King was acting this nervous. But to find out, he had to talk to his father, so he nodded his head and stood up and Balinor extended his hand to the door.

Merlin followed Balinor through some corridors before they ultimately ended up in the garden… or at least one of the many gardens. This one in particular was full of flowers and trees that decorated the sides of the gravel paths that seemed to go on for miles and miles. Merlin saw that there was also a huge swan pond with a large fountain in the middle of it and in the distance he could make out a tennis court.

Balinor sat down on one of the many stone benches scattered all throughout the garden and gestured to the spot next to him for Merlin to sit. And so Merlin did. He turned to his father, silently waiting for what his father would tell him. However, there wasn't a story that was following the short silence, it was a question, at least there was one after all the rambling.

Balinor first shifted in his seat, looking every bit of nervous. Merlin just waited but thought that Balinor was acting really weird.

Balinor saw that Merlin gave a small nod as encouragement, and Balinor breathed deeply in.

"Merlin, I want to do something, but I didn't want to do it without your permission. I do hope I get your blessing for it, because I'm not sure what I would do if you didn't, but of course I will understand when you won't. I just hope you will agree to what I am going to ask you, but if not than -" The King's rambling really started to confuse Merlin and he had no idea what point his father was trying to make. He drew his eyebrows together and looked at Balinor with a tilted head. He decided to cut his father off, because neither of them would accomplish anything this way. He stretched his hand out and placed it on top of his father's knee.

He wasn't supposed to even use the word, but it somehow left his mouth. "Dad." Merlin said and was surprised at himself on how easy he had said it. It was weird, that for sure, but still it wasn't feeling totally wrong either. He supposed that he just has to get used to it.

But it certainly helped, because the minute he had said it, his father had stopped his rambling and looked back at Merlin with a nearly shocked expression and when Merlin saw that his father wasn't going to talk, he said, "Just ask me what you wanted to ask."

Balinor sighed and placed his own hand on top of the hand Merlin had placed onto his knee. "You have to understand that I love you mother very much. I've never once stopped loving her all the years she wasn't with me, and I'd like -" He paused, blowing out a puff of air. "I'd like to have your permission to ask her to marry me."

This time round it was Merlin's face that held a shocked expression. He just stared at Balinor. He wasn't sure what question he was about to get, but giving permission for marriage was nowhere on the list of possibilities. "You're asking… me?" Merlin shook his head in somewhat disbelief. "It really isn't my place to say, is it?" He stated.

"But I am asking you. I'd like to have your blessing and I don't want to do things behind your back. I want you to have a part in this and if you're against it, then I will not ask her. I want to do everything right from now on and I hope to start a family someday, with Hunith and you."

"There's only one answer I can give." Merlin began and a smile started to spread over his lips. "I haven't seen my mum this happy in a really long time. I don't know you that well yet, but I really do think you're only wanting the best for my mum. So… yes. If that's what you want, than you have my blessing."

Balinor let out a breathy laugh and reached into his pocket. He got out a small black velvet box and opened it to let Merlin see what was inside. A beautiful white-gold ring with a big oval red ruby, surrounded by two rows of smaller white diamonds. Merlin gaped at the sight of it and Balinor started to get nervous after he hadn't heard a comment on it.

"D-do you think it's alright?"

"Alright?" Merlin shrieked. "It's amazing!" Merlin answered breathlessly as he gaped once more time at the white gold ring. He tilted his head up to Balinor and gave him a pointed look. "She might kill you for it being too expensive, but she will love it."

Satisfied with that answer, Balinor let out the breath he didn't knew he was holding and shut the box and put it back into his pocket, only to replace it by a small silk pouch. "There is something else." Balinor commented when he brought the pouch in front of him. He opened the strings on both sides and tilted the pouch on its side.

Merlin was anxiously waiting to what kind of bomb his father would drop on him now and saw that there was a ring hidden in the pouch. The ring was now lying on Balinor's flat palm.

"This ring has been an heirloom in my family for generations now. It has been passed from father… to son." Balinor said soft as he handed over the ring to Merlin, who accepted it with a shaking hand. He looked utterly gob smacked at the object.

In comparison to the ring that was meant for his mother, the ring that was now placed into his hand was a simple silver seal ring. In the seal was a rearing horse engraved, which he had seen a couple of times throughout the city and in the palace and it probably was the national symbol of Mercia. Merlin traced his fingers over the emblem before looking back up to his father.

"If you'll accept the ring, you will also accept you becoming Crown Prince of Mercia." His father added, making Merlin's eyes widen and Merlin pushed the ring back into his father's hand.

"I can't." He shook his head. "I really can't be a… a Prince. I'm just not cut out for it and I'm sure I'll screw up immensely and if that's not the only thing, I also -" But Merlin couldn't give any more reasons to why he wasn't capable of being a Prince, because Balinor placed a firm hand on Merlin's shoulder and looked at him with a small scowl.

"Merlin, stop degrading yourself right now. You are a Prince whether you like it or not. It's in your blood, but I want you to accept it as your duty. Now, I will not force you into making a decision but I really hope you will make one that will give the people of Mercia hope again. They were anxious that there wouldn't be an successor who had Emrys blood."

Merlin rubbed the temple of his head with two fingers. "But the people of Mercia couldn't actually be-"

"They will love you." Balinor interrupted and handed the ring back over to Merlin.

"But… I'm gay!" Merlin burst out, as if that would make him suddenly less appealing as a Prince. But the only reaction he got from his father was a soft chuckle.

"I have noticed that." Balinor schooled his features into a more serious look. "Merlin, really, your sexuality has nothing to do with your abilities to be a Prince. It's whether or not you will accept the role you were born for." Balinor stretched out his arm and placed his hand over Merlin's, squeezing it softly. "I don't need an answer right away. Just… think about it, because I know you still have to adjust to the idea. But I know you will make the right decision." Balinor smiled at his son.

Merlin finally nodded, closing his hand and feeling the ring dug into his skin.

There was a soft clearing of someone's throat and Merlin turned to see Percy's brother Tom standing there who inclined his head to the two people in front of him.

"Ah, Tom. Glad that you could come." Balinor said, gesturing the man forward. "Merlin, Tom will be your personal bodyguard as of this moment."

"Your Highness." Tom said to Merlin, who just thought it was really strange to be called that by other people. It didn't necessarily sent a shiver over his back, but it did gave him a weird feeling in his stomach. He also knew that he could debate all he wanted about not needing a bodyguard, but there was no way that his father would let him go without one. He heaved a sigh and looked up to Tom.

"Well at least you're someone I know a bit already. But please don't address me with any titles." Merlin pleaded, albeit a bit sternly.

The agent looked at the King, who in turn just shrugged it off. If Merlin didn't want to hear any titles from his personal guard, than that was his choice. Tom looked back at Merlin. "As you wish." He said before he was excused by Balinor.

Merlin rubbed his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand, the ring still clutched tightly into his left hand. Balinor placed a hand on his son's back. "I know that there's a lot changing in your life in just a short time, but Merlin I want you to tell me when it will become too much for you to handle."

Merlin nodded softly and raised his head to look once more at his father. He needed a change of subject, so he asked, "When will you ask mum?"

Merlin immediately saw the worried look on his father's face disappear and being replaced by one of pure happiness and there was maybe even a twinkle in his eye.

"I was thinking of doing it today."

"Feeling nervous about it?"

Balinor nodded fervently. "You have no idea." He stood up. "We should get back inside. I have prepared a room for you, so you can rest." Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but Balinor cut him off. "Nothing you will say will change my mind. Now come on." He grinned at his son, who just grumbled in response.

~oOoOo~

Merlin was woken up by Arthur in time for a late lunch and after they were finished, Balinor asked Hunith if she would like to join him for a stroll. Merlin had just been smirking at that and giving a thumbs up when Balinor looked back to his son. Merlin knew what his father was planning to do and only told Arthur, Percy and Will about what was going on, when his parents were out of sight.

Not an hour later, Hunith came bursting into the room holding up her hand. "I-I'm.. I'm engaged!" She finally stammered out and showed Merlin and the rest the ring that Merlin had already seen hours prior. Balinor just calmly followed into the room and gave Hunith her moment.

Hunith had bit her lip as she looked at Merlin. "I… I hope you're not mad that I have accepted it." She softly said and had been expecting that Merlin would be angry for it. That's why she was so surprised that her son stood up from his seat and had hugged her. Not too hard, he didn't want to risk pressure on his wounds, but Hunith felt that the hug was genuine and some stiffness in her body disappeared.

"Thank you." Hunith whispered into Merlin's ear.

~oOoOo~

Late that evening, Arthur was lying with Merlin in one bed.

There had been an awkward moment where Merlin had told Arthur about his lack of… experience when Arthur had started to kiss him into his neck and onto his shoulder, but Arthur had kissed him softly and said that it was alright, that it was nothing to be ashamed of. Merlin did feel a lot better that he had got it off his chest, but still asked Arthur to sleep in the same bed as him to which Arthur had agreed. Tonight he just wanted to be near Arthur, because Arthur had been his support in everything that had been going on in the last week.

When Arthur had started to kiss Merlin, he wasn't even planning on doing some… hard physical activity, since Merlin was in not state to participate,. But because he now knew that Merlin was a virgin, he was planning on something special. But that was a thought for later, right now he was comfortable to have Merlin in his arms and he pressed a kiss to Merlin's bare shoulder.

"It suits you well." Arthur commented as he was looking at the silver band that was now slipped on Merlin's index finger

"Hmm. I guess so." Came Merlin's meager response.

"You don't regret your decision right?"

"No!" Merlin answered quickly, turning his head into an awkward angle to look at Arthur. He turned back with a sigh. "No I'm not. It just feels weird, you know."

"I actually do know." Arthur chuckled, showing Merlin his own ring that he got when he was named Crown Prince. Merlin rolled his eyes and tried to slap Arthur's thigh as best as he could from the position he was lying in.

"You will do fine Merlin. You have me, you have your friends and most of all, you have your parents. That's all you need." Arthur bent forward to peck a kiss on Merlin's hair. He heard Merlin yawn and he knew that Merlin must've been exhausted from today's events. Arthur softly caressed Merlin's arm and he didn't had to wait long before he heard Merlin's breathing evening out.

"Sleep tight." He murmured onto his boyfriend's shoulder and kissed it one last time before he shifted himself into a more comfortable position. His arm stayed possessively and protectively slung around Merlin's waist for the entire night.

The next morning at breakfast, Merlin told Balinor about his decision and he thought the man's face would split in half if he wouldn't stop smiling that broadly. He stepped towards Balinor when the man had asked him what made him accept. "I thought about what you said yesterday and you're right. I can't run away from who I should be and I'm not planning too. I know it'll be hard in the beginning, but I'm giving it a chance."

Balinor clapped both hands together. "Excellent! Now we can inform the people of Mercia. I'll make sure that it's announced by us in an exclusive television segment this afternoon."

Merlin's eyes widen. God, he hadn't thought about that and to top it off, he wasn't exactly the most well-spoken person in public events. Balinor saw his son's sudden change of emotion and gripped him at the shoulder. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. I'll do the talking, but you'll need to be there so the people know who you are… if they weren't already aware." He added under his breathe. Merlin heard.

"Really Merlin. All you've got to do is smile. Now we must get ready, I will sent up a suit up to your room."

Merlin's face immediately fell, Will laughed loudly and Balinor frowned at why both teenagers reacted that way. Had he said something wrong? He felt Hunith leaning towards him and whispered in his ear, "He has never liked suits, he says he feels too confined in them."

Balinor chuckled lightly at that, getting a scowl in return from his son. "I'm sorry Merlin, but that's just the way it is. It's what the people expect of royalty. You can wear normal clothes anytime you want, but when you'll have to do a public appearance, people expect you to be formal. It's been like that for centuries. Just ask Arthur."

Merlin stared with a hopeful look at his boyfriend. He hoped that Arthur would prove the opposite, but instead he saw Arthur nodding his head in an almost guilty manner.

Although Arthur couldn't help stop a cheeky grin to form in the corners of his mouth. He couldn't wait to see Merlin is a perfect fitting suit.

Merlin groaned. His head fell into his hands as he started to murmur, "I thought it was supposed to be fun to be a royal."

~oOoOo~

Somewhere in Mercia, two people watched with a scowl on their face at the flat screen TV. Every possible channel showed Balinor's live announcement that Merlin would officially become Crown Prince of Mercia on his nineteenth birthday celebration.

Morgana walked up to the TV and turned it off with a growl. She turned back around to face her little brother.

"That crown was ours! But the minute we found out that uncle Balinor had a son, we knew that that Merlin boy would get the crown before us. I can't let that happen, it's ours!"

"Calm down Morgana. We'll get it eventually, don't worry."

"Mordred!" Morgana shrieked. "How can you be so calm! We tried to assassinate him by hiring that hitman, well that plan failed miserably. He only got injured, god knows how much sympathy he has already gotten from the Mercian people. No, we need to think of something… and fast." Morgana sat down at the table, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping on the glass table top one by one.

A few moments later, she looked up to her little brother. A plan was starting to form into her head.

"Oh I know that look." Mordred commented. "What do you have in mind sister?"

She smirked at him. "I think it's time to bring out that lovely charm of yours, brother."

Mordred shook his head and waved his arms in front of him. "Na-ah. No Morgana, we're related!"

Morgana tutted. "Mordred, Mordred, Mordred. How naïve you are. You're not getting involved with him, you'll just have to get close to him, be a friend to him. Besides, he's our second cousin. And I hardly call that thing family."

"I don't know Morgana. Besides, it looks like he's pretty serious with Pendragon. What if he ruins everything." Mordred answered, rubbing his forehead.

Morgana stood up to walk up to her brother and pointed her finger at him. "Mordred we have done everything to make sure that we would be the first in line for that throne, you will not back out now." She waited a few seconds before asking, "Now are you in, or not?"

Mordred stared at the ground for a short moment before lifting his head. He looked his sister straight in the eye with determination as he answered, "I'm in."

THE END.

PS. This is sort of how I imagined Hunith's engagement ring to look like /watch?v=luKYo8s3LwI#t=25 (just paste that after the YouTube link).