Thank you for reading, hope you like the new chapter and thank you for all the comments. Please don't feel that you have to comment or anything. I just wanted to make sure that there was nothing wrong with the story being updated and you could read the chapters. I've always known that for a number of reasons there was never going to be a lot of people reading so I expect it. It just seemed odd that no one had viewed or visited the last five or so chapters on fanfic.
A silence fell over the couples. No one really knew what to say. Merlin and Morgana both felt, as they were the ones coming to Arthur and Gwen with news about a huge change they should let them ask any questions they would have, say anything they felt they had to. They of course hadn't quite realised how shocked they would be by their news and that was only the first part of it. Arthur and Gwen's shock made it hard from them to formulate any questions apart from a one word one that seemed to be repeating over and over again in their heads, what.
Gwen, always the voice of reason and calm spoke first. "Congratulations."
She said as she hugged Merlin, who was the nearest to her. Kissing his check as she pulled back. She moved to embrace Morgana in the same way. The witch like her husband had been was frozen, not quite sure what was happening. This was not the reaction she had been expecting. They had expected that Gwen would take the news the best, but not this well. She was grateful of course, but still surprised. Pleasantly surprised.
While they had hugged their friend both Morgana and Merlin kept one eye on Arthur. They couldn't read any emotion from his face. He looked blank and didn't make any eye contact with anyone. Once she pulled apart form Gwen Morgana Spoke to him directly. Not able to handle the awkward and uncomfortable silence.
"Arthur." She said quietly. His eyes turned towards his sister, like he had been miles away and only now realised that their were three people standing around him. "Say something." She asked gently. Hoping she didn't sound as desperate as she was beginning to feel.
"There isn't very much to say-" He started in a calm even tone, before Merlin cut him off.
"Not much to say." He snapped.
"Yes." Arthur replied calmly.
Feeling that things could very easily escalate into a viscus argument. Were things were said in anger that could not be taken back, Gwen moved to stand closer to her husband, ready try and calm him or hold him back if necessary.
The king carried on, not noticing or caring the tension that was growing around him. "There is nothing to say because your telling us facts. Facts that can not be changed. So there is nothing to say." No one could argue Arthur's logic. "Don't mistake that for not caring, there is just nothing to say." He added quickly, not wanting to seem harsh or uncaring.
As he said it was not that he and Gwen didn't care, they just didn't having anything really to say because in the end it didn't change how they felt about Merlin and Morgana.
"You asked Morgana and she said yes, now your getting married. Nothing I or Gwen say is going to change that." Arthur said. "And we'll support you with what else you choice."
Merlin and Morgana were deeply touched by Arthur's words. They had expected him to be more resistant, at least at first. Not wanting to risk disturbing this peace, they felt it was best not to correct him. Let him know that they had already gotten married. It had not occurred to either of them that they would hurt Arthur and Gwen by getting married without them. At the time it felt like the right decision. Now they worried they had been wrong. They wouldn't let things get out of hand a very small ceremony with their family here that was all. They communicated this to each other with only a few brief glances. As much as they believed that they were doing this for Arthur and Gwen a part of them felt a little relieved that they would get to sure a moment with those they loved here.
Gwen took his hand, a warm feeling of pride came over her. He truly was not the spoilt and arrogant young man that he had once been anymore. None of them were the people they had been when they were brought together. There had been difficult times, but the queen was proud of all of them for how far they had come. What they had achieved and they could make possible in the future.
The atmosphere calmer and being almost time for lunch, Gwen suggested that she and Merlin go to the kitchens to ask for enough food for all four of them to be brought up to the kings office for them. They could set, eat and talk more in a more relaxed and familial atmosphere. None of them realised that they had slipped a little into their old rolls. It felt oddly like nothing had changed that years had rolled back and Merlin and Gwen were walking the halls of the castle going about their jobs. Taking care of Arthur and Morgana. Bringing them their meals. So much had changed though. Now they were married to Arthur and Morgana, they were all actually a family now. They Made this trip so that the siblings could speak to each other in private and so that they could do the same.
"Stop looking so nervous." Gwen said as they walked towards the kitchens.
He turned towards her. "How are you so calm."
Gwen gave a small shrug as she smiled. "Because I'm not that surprised I suppose."
"How are you not surprised." He asked now, his voice rising a little.
This time Gwen stopped and turned to face Merlin, Pulling him a little to the side of the corridor so they weren't in the way of the two maids that were walking along the corridor in the opposite direction as them. "I'm not surprised because I've always know how you felt about Morgana. You were not subtle." He had to admit she was right. "I Always slightly hoped that maybe she might feel the same way. I knew she carried for you, but then." She didn't have to go into anymore detail. He knew very well what had happened. "But you were able to move on from that, so she had to still care for you."
"That's what I'm hoping." Merlin said sounding a little deflated.
"You don't need to hope." At first he didn't listen to her, thinking she was just offering reassurance automatically. Then she added. "She did marry you after all."
He looked at her shocked, then tried to pretend that he didn't know what she was talking about.
"You and Morgana are already married." Gwen stated simply like it was something ordinary. He was about to protest, but she lifted a hand to silence him. "Neither of you would want a large production and where better to get married than the village you grew up in."
There was no point denying it. So he didn't try. "Arthur-"
"Doesn't need to know." Gwen said as Merlin gave her a strange look. "He probably already dose. He just, we want to share something that important with you. I think he wants to show his support too."
"All the ways I saw this going I never...I never imagined it would go this way."
Gwen placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your family. That means we accept you for who you are."
"I'm sorry." Merlin said in a low voice, feeling lower than he had in a long time. She looked at him like she didn't really understand. "It was never that I didn't trust you. I just, I never trusted anyone with that."
"Merlin."
"I also didn't want to put that one you. Make you carry that secret too. Mostly I didn't tell you for selfish reasons, but a part was because I care about you too."
"Merlin." She said again as she gave him a hug which he didn't return at first. "We know who you are. All the rest is just decoration."
"Believe me, no one is more surprised than I am." Morgana said when she was alone with her brother.
"Then why." Arthur didn't sound angry or hurt just very confused.
So was she. When she stopped to think about it she couldn't make sense of how they had got to here. "It felt right, I don't know."
"Please try." He asked. "Everything seems so turbulent right now and I'm having a hard time staying standing." He admitted.
Morgana was taken a little aback by Arthur show of vulnerability. It wasn't surprising though in a few short days he lost his younger brother in law and father. Found out his most trusted friend had been lying to him the whole time he had known him. Now that same friend was telling him was going to marry his sister. She felt more sure now that she shouldn't tell Arthur that she was already married to Merlin. So she did her best to help him and herself make sense of another major change in their lives. "We were arguing-"
"A healthy way to start a relationship, let alone a marriage." Arthur couldn't help but snipe.
"I don't think anyone used the word healthy." She said back, making them both smile. "He just came out with it, out of nowhere. That he loved me." She was hesitant to say more. She didn't want to share what was such a personal thing with anyone else. "I honestly can't work out the logic of it, but he proposed and I said yes. It made sense at the time and it feels right now. That's the best I can offer."
"As long as your happy." Morgana didn't say that she was and Arthur knew her well enough to not expect her too. She was as close to happy as she had felt in years and that was good enough. It was somewhere to build from. "Be careful, please." He asked and she nodded.
"How was the funeral." She asked after a brief silence. Mentally kicking herself for how stupid the questions was.
Arthur seemed to straighten up as he answered. "As well as it could." He tried to sound formal, but he was clear that it had been hard for him and that he felt the lose of his father greatly. For all the things that Uther had been he had been a good father to Arthur for the most part.
"I'm sorry." She said her head lowered not able to met Arthur's eyes.
"For what." He asked sounding confused.
"For not being here. I-"
"I understand." Her eyes lifted to met his as Arthur walked over to her. Placing his hands on her shoulders. "I would have liked you here, but I understand why you couldn't be. I had Gwen I wasn't along."
Morgana gave a nod, feeling very relieved, but still guilty. Then quickly before he had a chance to step back, She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his chest. Arthur returned his sister's hug as she comforted him over the lose of their father. It didn't feel enough to make up for not being with him at a difficult time, but it was all she could do.
The siblings were still hugging when their wife and husband returned. Morgana expected Arthur to jump back at the sound of the door opening, but he gave her a last embrace before he let go. Then he and Merlin pulled the small round table that stood in the corner of the room out into the centre so they could all sit around it. It was not long till a small meal for the four of them was set out before them. As they ate they talked. Merlin told stories of how he had used his magic to aid them. Making them look back at events in a different light. He heavily curated these stories. There were things that he didn't want to tell them and things they shouldn't know. There was still an atmosphere of slight tension around his magic, but he could tell that Arthur and Gwen were trying and that meant a lot to him. It was better than he ever expected the situation to go.
The conversation turned to the planning of the wedding. The second wedding. Gwen gave a soft smile as she shared a look with Merlin. Morgana noticed and quickly caught on that Gwen knew they were already married. It was decided that they would have a small ceremony that Arthur would perform would take place on Samhain in around a weeks time. As the weather had begun to turn towards winter it would take place in the great hall. Though it would only be filled with a small group of the people closest to them. A large banquet would then fill the hall in the evening. This would be filled with the whole court. Merlin and Morgana were against this idea, but Arthur pointed out there would be a feast that evening regardless they might as well compline the two to save on the expense and the labour. This practicality got him a harsh stare form Morgana and a blow to his leg under the table from his wife.
"What." The king asked sounding shocked. "It's the truth."
When they were finished eating Morgana and Gwen left to move Kara's things into Gwen's old room so Morgana could have hers back. Leaving Arthur and Merlin. At first they didn't know what to say. There was so much it was impossible to know were to start. Eventually Merlin found the only words that seemed appropriate. Words that had been said a lot recently.
"I'm sorry."
Arthur looked at him across the table. "What for exactly. There is an awful lot to choose from." It seemed despite being generally understanding of the new developments given the chance Arthur couldn't help but snipe a little.
"I'm sorry that I didn't come to you first-"
"About what exactly your magic or marrying my sister."
Merlin was sure that Arthur was mainly just taking any opportunity to unnerve him like he always had. Like he was sure he always would, but he didn't want to risk truly angering him. So he didn't rise to the bait.
"Both." Arthur nodded accepting the answer. "But I wouldn't change anything." Arthur gave him a strange look, curious but wary. "Because I wouldn't risk where we all are now."
"Do you love her." The king asked looking Merlin right in the eye.
Merlin couldn't help but let out a chocked laugh. "You were the one that noticed first." Arthur did not seem to see the humour in his question. He needed a real answer. "Yes, I love Morgana."
"You tried to kill her once."
"If there is anything that I would do differently it would be that."
Arthur looked like he wanted to be convinced, but found it hard. He took in a deep breath as he stood up and moved around the table. Merlin felt it best to stand up as well. When he reached him Arthur placed a firm hand on his shoulder and looked him right in the eye.
"I know well that Morgana is more than capable of taking care of herself. If you hurt her I doubt I would have the chance to harm you before she did so herself." Merlin smiled another small smile. He was sure that Arthur was right. "But she is still my sister, so I will say what should go without saying to make sure we are clear. If you hurt her in any way I will hurt you twice as painfully. Are we clear."
Merlin met Arthur's stern gaze. "If I hurt her, I will yet you kill me. I won't put up a fight."
He was being overly dramatic and ordinarily that kind of earnestness would be meet with mocking and derision. Arthur didn't say anything though. He met Merlin's gaze and found that he believed the other mans sincerity
"Good." He said as he gave Merlin's shoulder a squeeze. "I am happy for you, both of you. I'm surprised, but I am happy."
"Thank you."
Arthur removed his hand and took in another deep breath. "I should be the one thanking you."
"Arthur-"
"No, you have been a loyal and hardworking servant and a good friend. I know that I will never fully grasp how much you have done for me, for Gwen. But I want you to know that I am grateful."
"That means a lot, thank you."
"We'll miss you, I'll miss you."
The words, I'll miss you too were about to leave Merlin's mouth when the fact that he would no longer be living in Camelot, in this castle anymore hit him. He and Morgana hadn't really spoken about it. There was no question of course that they would live in Avalon. Morgana was queen, she couldn't leave. Merlin had been focused on the moment that he didn't think about the future not really. He would miss the people, but he didn't think he would miss the place. Now he thought maybe he would, at least a little.
"It will takes years to train someone else to do your job." Arthur said, seeing Merlin's mind was racing with the magnitude of everything.
"That's if you can find anyone else that will put up with you." Merlin said with a smile.
"It truly will be hard to replace you."
"It was an honour to serve you king Arthur." He held out his hand which Arthur took. It was hard to tell who moved first but soon the were sharing a half hug. "But never a pleasure." Merlin couldn't help but add as the pulled apart.
It didn't take long for the two queens to move Kara's few possessions into the next set of rooms. The younger woman basically only had a few things that she could carry with her. Apart from the chance of sheets there was really nothing different about her room since the last time she was in it. She didn't know why but she always half expected it to be different, but it was always the same.
As if she was the one with magic and as able to read Morgana's mind Gwen spoke breaking the silence in the room. "This room will always be yours. You'll always have a place here. You and Merlin." She couldn't help the smile on her face when she said the last part.
"Did you encourage him." Morgana asked suddenly thinking she understood better what Merlin had been thinking.
"No." Gwen shook her head. "If anything I think Arthur and I have been discouraging him."
"So you knew."
"Suspected."
"You never said anything."
"I didn't think there was any point."
Morgana let the subject drop. There was another more pressing subject she wanted to talk about. "Are you truly alright about Merlin having magic, lying to you all this time."
Gwen had been shutting a window that Kara had left open so she had her back to Morgana when she asked her the question. She took a second to turn around and answer. "I can't say it doesn't hurt. That I don't look at things differently now...but he's still Merlin."
Morgana listened not sure how she felt. She was relieved that Gwen was so understanding. That Arthur had had some time to process it by himself before he had to speak to Merlin. It had all worked out better than either she or Merlin had expected. And that made her feel strange a little sad maybe, she wasn't sure what emotion she was feeling. She couldn't understand why she felt this strange way.
Before she could become to stuck in her head Gwen was by her side and she was asking about what kind of dress she wanted for her second wedding. The conversation fell into a normal pattern like the many other pointless conversations they had had over the years about dresses, hair and jewelry. It was nice though, that like her room there were somethings it seemed that Morgana could count on to stay the same, at least in part.
When he parted with Arthur Merlin like Morgana returned to his old room. He knew Gaius would be there. He would have finished his work for the day. At least the work he could not do in his rooms. As he expected when he opened the door without knocking the old man was there sitting at the large table, a bowl of soup before him. He stood to great Merlin warmly. He hugged him when they meet in the center of the room. He didn't think there was any point in holding back so he told Gaius that he had proposed to Morgana. He was going to tell him the truth, that they were already married. But at the last minute he changed this mind. It didn't feel right it everyone seemed to be lying to Arthur.
He had not expected Gaius to be happy, but he expected him to have more of a reaction. Gaius just stood there not saying anything.
Finally a few seconds later, when the silence felt it couldn't drag on any longer Gaius said something.
"I hope you'll both be happy."
"Gaius." Merlin said is name like a question.
"I only want you to be happy and safe."
"And you don't think I will be, we will be." Merlin said his voice getting louder.
Gaius's voice remained calm and even. "I don't know. No one can. I just...I don't think it will be as easy as you wish it to be." As he spoke he placed his hands on Merlin's shoulders. "If your happy, then so am I"
"I'm happy."
"Then that's all that matters." He said simple.
Later in the evening the knights were told they would have their evening meal in the great hall with the royal family and the returned Merlin and Morgana. Whose engagement was announced to them. They gave a cheer of congratulations to the couple. A fact that greatly surprised Morgana and deeply touched her.
Later when she was in her old room preparing for bed she head a noise like a gust of wind from the window behind her. Turning round she saw her husband standing at the other side of the room.
"What are you doing." She hissed quietly as she moved over to him.
"What. We're married." He said at a normal volume.
"Not here." She said still quietly.
When she was with reach he reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Here and everywhere." She gently tried to push him back, but there was no heart in it. She didn't want to. "After all this time, I'm not wasting anymore time."
Giving in as she knew she would, Morgana let Merlin pull her in closer as they stepped back towards the bed.
Thank you again for reading. I hope that you liked it and that the last nine chapters will be a good ending that doesn't disappoint. I hope this wasn't to boring a chapter. I felt like there should be time given to the four main characters talking with each other about everything that had happened and being truly honest with each other before the end of the story. When I started writing it was going to be one large conversation between all four but I thought splitting it up worked better stopped it getting to boring. I'm a little worried that everything that still needs to happen is going to fit into the nine chapters left. So if there is anything that you feel has to be resolved then please let me know so I can make sure that I don't forget it.
As always any comments, feedback or ideas that you have are very welcome.
