The months passed and Arthur had began to find his way back to routines and a stable life. And day by day, as the time did it's work, he started to think less and less about the princess. He had noticed that Merlin seemed happier around him, and more or less everyone else as well.
A knock was heard on Arthur's door and he looked up to see Morgana entering his chamber.
''Hi, do you have a minute?'' she asked.
''Please, enter. What is it?'' he replied and pushed the paperwork he was doing to the side.
''I want to tell you a secret, a secret that everyone soon will know, but that I want you to hear from me first,'' she said a little mischievous and Arthur laughed at her face expressions.
''Okay, I'm intrigued now. I'm all ears,'' he said.
''Prince William is going to ask for my hand,'' she said with a squeaky voice before starting to jump up and down in excitement. Arthur's eyes widened, surprised by the announcement, but the surprise turned quickly to a genuine smile as he rose from his desk and walked up to her.
''What?! Congratulations!'' he said before he hugged her and lifted her from the ground.
She laughed with joy and placed one hand on his arm as soon as she was returned to the ground.
''Thank you, Arthur. It means the world to me that you approve of this,'' she said and he looked at her with a warm feeling. He felt like his sister was getting married.
''As long as you are happy Morgana, I am too,'' he smiled.
''And if he would dare do anything to you, just know I will disable him limb by limb,'' he added and Morgana started to laugh.
''Uther will be thrilled when he learns of this, when is the wedding?'' Arthur continued talking and the smile on Morgana's face slowly started to fade. Arthur frowned and did not understand what caused her to react like that.
''What?'' he said confused. She looked at him for a while before putting a smile back on.
''Nothing, nothing. I... I hope he will be happy,'' she said, Arthur felt the lie.
''Of course he will, he loves you and for you to marry into royalty – he could not wish for a better life for you,'' Arthur said, deciding to go with her lie since he did not want to take away her happiness by arguing. She gave him a soft nod in return.
Arthur followed Morgana to the crown room where they were sure they would find Uther, and they did.
''Hi,'' Morgana said entering with a big smile on her face.
''Ahh, there she is, the most beautiful bride there will ever be,'' Uther said sentimental and you could tell that he was holding his tears back. Arthur noticed the knight from them east that was standing behind him, and and the opened letter that he held in his hand. His father must have gotten the news from Prince William just some seconds ago.
''So, you know,'' Morgana said with joy as Uther nodded before taking her head between his hands and placing a kiss on her forehead.
''Yes, and no one is happier than me,'' he said as him and Morgana started to throw nice words between each other, something that Arthur didn't pay much attention to.
''How exciting, ha?'' Arthur said and leaned closer to Merlin. Merlin looked at him with a pale gaze and swallowed what looked like nervousness in a gulp before replaying.
''Very,'' he said tensed and Arthur frowned.
''What is it, Merlin?'' Arthur asked in a serious tone.
''Huh? Oh, nothing. Nothing,'' he said and tried to look for an escape. Arthur was about to demand an answer just as Uther clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
''My bellowed ward, a bride – ahh, one can't be more blessed. We must start planning right away! We can't have it this season of course, but we must start sending out invitations for next season as soon as possible,'' Uther said, looking like he was about to explode by happiness.
''Wha- why could we not do it this season? There's plenty of time,'' Arthur laughed at all the excitement and looked at Morgana. She immediately turned her gaze away when she met his eyes and looked at Merlin. Arthur smile slowly faded as he now turned towards Merlin too, but his servant only lowered his gaze to the ground, signaling that he did not want to be there.
''Arthur, don't be ridiculous, you know very well that it's bad luck to have two weddings the same season,'' Uther snorted and turned to Morgana again.
''Now, now. Leon, send for the chef – this must be celebrated with a proper feast!'' Uther said and collided his hands in a clap.
The colors on Arthur's face had disappeared as silence filled the room after Uther and Leon had walked out. Left stood Morgana, Merlin and Arthur himself.
''Merlin,'' Arthur said after a while and Merlin looked up.
''What wedding is to be held this season?'' he asked as silence once more filled the room.
''The wedding of Duke Lincoln, and Princess Elena, sire,'' Merlin announced at last. Arthur's heart started to pound loudly as the whole room around him disappeared. In some flashes, he could see both Morgana's and Merlin's lips move, but he could not hear any sound come out. After a while, some sound echoed back, he could hear the words sorry, and wanted to, – words that he guessed phrased that they were sorry for him finding out this way.
''I need some air,'' he burst out and Merlin and Morgana stared at him as he walked rapidly out of the room. Arthur walked with big steps towards his chamber and felt how his heartbeat became louder and louder as the thoughts in his head flew uncontrollably. He slammed the door after him and with the bang, everything just silenced for a few seconds. But then the voices and the pounding came back. He breathed heavily as he walked into the bathroom. He filled a bucket with water, whimpering at everything his body was feeling, and lifted the bucket when the water reached the top. He walked with it over to the bathtub and climbed in before laying down. He tilting the water over his head and it became silent again for just a few seconds, then the noise came back. He tried to take control over his heartbeat by slowly thinking about calming himself. When he gained control over his body again, he let the emotions out as tears started to fall down his cheeks.
''Oh my G- Arthur!'' Merlin gasped as he ran into the bathroom. He placed a hand on Arthur's arm but flinched it back as quickly by the coldness of Arthur's soaked shirt.
''You're ice-cold, Arthur!'' he said gasping but Arthur didn't react. Merlin took the bucket that laid in the tub and started to pump warm water into it. As soon as it was filled he went over to the bathtub and poured it in. He repeated this movement five times before the tub was filled with warm water. Arthur had stopped shaken by now and Merlin began to undress him by first taking his shirt off, then his boots and then his pants. The underwear's he left on to not make it too difficult. He placed Arthur's soaked clothes on the ground before he crashed down on the chair beside the tub. Now looking at Arthur that still had not said a word.
''When?'' Arthur said at last and Merlin sighed with a compassionate look.
''Two months, you travel within six weeks,'' Merlin replied and Arthur nodded slowly.
''The invitation came this morning,'' Merlin added and Arthur continued to nod slowly.
