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Everything around them was still.
There was only the sound of nature surrounding them — the chirping of crickets, the creaking of branches as the wind knocked them together in its gentle pass.
Arthur could hear the slap of wings of a bird setting off, the blood thudding in his ears, his heart hammering against his chest and the unmistakable sound of nervous breathing on both his sides.
They were trapped.
There was no denying it.
Everything had started as usual.
They had set off for another quest, Gwaine had been chattering about nothing in particular (probably about another tale in the tavern), Elyan and Percival had been bickering at the back, Leon had been trying to hide his amusement, Arthur had been talking to Lancelot who had been constantly checking on Merlin (who had been on edge and flinched whenever someone moved faster than expected).
Another one of his funny feelings, he’d said.
Oh, about that, Arthur probably should have listened to his friend.
Maybe then the sorceress they’d come to capture wouldn’t have caused a giant rock-fall to trap them in the Valley of the Fallen Kings.
‘Princess, I think it’s the perfect time you let us know about our escape plan,’ said Gwaine, glancing at Arthur from sideways with an awaiting gaze.
Arthur — not in the possession of such a plan — shifted in his stance uncomfortably.
It was his fault they were in this situation, and yet he had no idea how to get out of it.
Well, it’s always easier to get into trouble, rather than out of it.
‘Gentlemen,’ Lancelot stepped in, voice carrying a soothing, yet pointed tone. ‘Maybe we should all come up with a plan,’ he said.
‘I agree. What do you think her plan was?’ Leon inquired curiously.
‘Well, we’re in the Valley of the Fallen Kings,’ Merlin pointed out with a shrug. ‘It’s common knowledge that something terrible happens here.’
As if on cue, there was a shrieking laughter piercing through the air.
Everyone reached for their swords, and Arthur pushed Merlin behind him instinctively, ready to protect him at any costs.
‘Oh, don’t you worry, Camelot knights!’ The voice said, sounding amused. ‘I’m not going to harm any of you. At least not yet,’ she laughed. Gwaine hissed at the response, then stepped forward, raising his chin to appear taller.
‘Why don’t you show us where you are?’
‘Where would be the fun in that?’ She replied with a hint of mockery in her tone.
‘What is your plan with us?’ Arthur spoke up, a hand still lingering in the air at Merlin’s side protectively as he stepped forward. Merlin felt something warm bloom in his chest.
‘I have a little challenge for you,’ the sorceress said enigmatically, then stopped for a second or two to build the tension. ‘If you answer my questions correctly, I will let you go.’
The knights looked at one another in confusion.
‘What questions?’ Lancelot asked finally. The sorceress let out a devilish chuckle before replying.
‘Every right answer is the cost of a life,’ she said. ‘You answer one correctly, one will live. You answer two correctly, two will live.’
They all looked at each other in alarm.
‘Here’s the first one,’ she said, not really giving them time to adjust. ‘I have lands, but no houses. I have water, but no fish. What am I?’
Her question was followed by silence.
‘What?’ Percival asked intellectually, looking around to reassure himself that he wasn’t the only one not following whatever was happening.
‘We have to solve this riddle,’ Leon told him helpfully.
‘It’s not like we have much choice,’ Merlin sighed.
Arthur didn’t like the fact that his servant was right. He didn’t like it when his hands were tied.
‘Fine. So, who knows the answer? What was the riddle? I have lands but no homes, water but no fish? Or something like that,’ Arthur said, looking around expectantly.
‘Nature?’ Elyan guessed with a shrug. Leon shook his head.
‘Fish are part of nature,’ he explained. Elyan pursed his lips into a thin line in defeat.
‘Well, what do you suggest, then?’ He asked. Leon opened his mouth to reply, only to realise he had nothing to say.
‘What could have lands but no houses?’ Gwaine mused aloud, placing his hands on his hips, seemingly deep in thoughts.
They remained in silence for a while, everyone trying to figure out the answer.
Much to their surprise, it was Merlin who spoke up.
‘A map,’ he said quietly, causing everyone to turn to look at him in surprise.
‘That’s,’ Leon said, thinking it through. ‘That’s not bad,’ he admitted. The others nodded in agreement.
‘Is this your answer?’ The sorceress asked suddenly.
They all shared a look before responding.
‘It is,’ Arthur confirmed, hoping Merlin’s solution was correct.
The woman kept a beat of silence, then chuckled in amusement.
‘That is right,’ she said, causing everyone to sigh in relief. ‘Are you ready for the next one?’ The Prince sighed in annoyance.
‘What is your next riddle?’ Arthur relented, turning his head towards the sky, as if trying to figure out where their capturer was.
‘You measure my life in hours, and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and I’m slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy,’ she said, her voice ringing eerily in the valley, creating another wave of pressure.
‘Sorry, guys, I’m not good at riddles,’ Gwaine commented with a helpless shrug. Many seemed to agree with him, much to Arthur’s dismay.
‘I don’t care if you’re not good at them. Think, Gwaine. Otherwise one — if not more — of us will die,’ the Prince told him. Gwaine let out a small sigh, crossing his arms in frustration. ‘Well? Anyone?’ Arthur asked, turning to the others.
Lancelot glanced at Merlin who shrugged gently at him.
‘A candle,’ he said, earning five pairs of stunned eyes to focus on him. ‘What?’ Merlin asked, a light blush creeping up to his cheeks.
‘I didn’t know you were smart, Merls,’ Gwaine smirked at him with an awed glint in his eyes.
‘Well, while you all complain and moan, one of us has to think,’ Merlin said quietly.
‘All right. So, a candle; that’s the answer?’ Arthur asked.
‘Yes. Unless you have a better idea,’ Merlin replied.
‘It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just… our lives are at stake,’ the Prince tried to explain himself.
‘I know, but this is the only answer we have. And it’s correct,’ Merlin said. ‘Even if she expects another answer, it is still correct. She would have to accept it.’
‘He’s right, Sire,’ Leon said, agreeing with Merlin. ‘She told us to give her a correct answer. She didn’t say there was only one.’ Arthur thought about what Leon said, then nodded in approval.
‘Right.’ He turned towards the sky once again. ‘The answer is a candle,’ he said into the air.
The sorceress clapped, impressed.
‘Very good,’ she said in a motherly tone. ‘You’ve got a clever one, don’t you?’ Her question remained unanswered. ‘All right. Two riddles answered, five more to go.
‘Here’s the next one: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?’
The knights shared a look of concern. Merlin, however, took the lead again.
‘An echo,’ he said confidently, catching everyone’s attention.
The sorceress laughed.
‘Well done, Merlin,’ she said, amusement and wonder mixing in her tone. ‘You should all consider yourselves lucky to have someone like him.
‘But will you be able to answer this one?
‘What disappears as soon as you say its name?’ Merlin huffed a laugh at the easiness of the riddle.
‘Silence,’ he said, oblivious to the way everyone was gawking at him.
The sorceress must have been taken aback, because her amusement disappeared.
‘It’s correct,’ she said, now getting slightly mad. No one has got so far. ‘Okay, here’s another one: it belongs to you, but everyone else uses it.’
Merlin shook his head.
It was him who was amused this time.
‘Oh, come on, that’s a pretty lame one. Every child knows the answer to that,’ he scoffed.
Gwaine turned to whisper at Percival.
‘I don’t,’ he said. The giant knight agreed with him silently as they both watched Merlin in awe.
‘Really?’ The woman said, getting irritated. ‘Then what’s the answer?’
‘Your name,’ Merlin replied easily.
‘That is also correct,’ she admitted reluctantly. ‘But I bet you won’t know this one:
‘What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?’
‘Nothing!’ Gwaine huffed, baffled.
‘No,’ Merlin said quickly, silencing him. ‘Give me a moment!’ He said, wrinkling his forehead in concentration. The others shared a disbelieving look, unable to mask their shock any longer.
Just when the sorceress was about to give voice to her satisfaction, Merlin spoke up, banishing her sudden hope and joy.
‘The letter M,’ he answered.
A loud shriek pierced through the sky, startling them all. Arthur raised his sword, stepping in front of Merlin once again to shield him from a possible attack.
The sorceress didn’t attack, though, instead, she calmed down (judging by the noises), and gave up the seventh riddle.
The last one.
‘A girl has as many brothers as sisters, but each brother has only half as many brothers as sisters. How many brothers and sisters are there in the family?’
Gwaine was about to faint at this point.
‘Is it bad I forgot what the first line was?’ He asked, probably meant as a rhetorical question.
Either way, he received no answer.
‘Quiet, Gwaine!’ Merlin shushed him with a dismissive wave, then placed his hands on his ears to block out any possible noise.
‘Merlin, give this one up,’ Elyan said suddenly. ‘This doesn't even have a meaning,’ he tried to reason with him, but it was too late.
Merlin already had the answer figured out.
‘Four sisters and three brothers,’ he said finally, exhaling sharply. ‘Now, I believe it’s time you let us go. Seven riddles with seven right answers. We won your game,’ Merlin said, ignoring that everyone was still gaping at him. ‘Now you’ll need to let us go.’
There was a beat of silence before the woman laughed.
It sent shivers down their spines.
‘Well, well, well,’ she said, mischief ringing in her voice. ‘I see you’re a very bright mind,’ she carried on. ‘All right, you may go.’
Just in time, the rocks lifted from both sides of the valley, freeing its ends and offering escape.
‘Under one condition,’ she added quickly.
The way she said it made Merlin realise they were far from over.
‘You have to answer one last riddle,’ she said, earning another wave of complaints. ‘Quiet!’ She thundered, causing sudden silence to befall them. ‘One last question, and you may go.’
Merlin was already fearing what it was.
She sounded way too smug for it to be another easy riddle.
‘Which one of you is a sorcerer?’
Merlin’s heart started beating impossibly fast.
No, he can’t be revealed — not like that.
He wanted to tell them himself, but it wasn’t the right time yet.
‘What?’ Arthur asked, looking baffled. ‘That is an outrage. None of us is a sorcerer!’
Merlin looked at Lancelot for help. The man nodded at him gently, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.
I will protect you, no matter what.
Merlin blinked back a few tears.
‘Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock,’ the sorceress urged him, her voice echoing in the valley like a curse.
‘None of us practises magic,’ Leon said into the air as well.
No…
Merlin chewed the nail on his thumb, trying to stop his lips from trembling.
He didn’t succeed.
He could feel the hotness under his skin — like fire which he’ll meet once they return to Camelot.
‘Arthur,’ Merlin said, much quieter than he’d expected. His voice was gone, his heart was beating rapidly and the blood was rushing in his ears.
‘This is ridiculous,’ Arthur exclaimed, shaking his head. Merlin could no longer keep a straight face, his lips trembled violently, his cheeks flushed and his eyes watered, but he didn’t let his tears escape — not yet.
‘Arthur,’ Merlin tried again, but it came out more like a noiseless whisper.
‘Merlin? What’s wrong?’ Gwaine asked suddenly, taking a step closer to the shivering man.
Arthur turned around, noticing the state Merlin was in.
‘Merlin?’ He asked, his voice steady, but nervous.
Merlin continued chewing on his nail, trying to calm his erratic breathing, but he failed.
‘Arthur,’ he repeated for the third time, looking as apologetic as he could muster.
‘Merlin,’ Arthur said, watching him with an awaiting gaze.
Lancelot stepped closer, ready to shield his best friend away from whatever was coming.
Merlin glanced at him quickly before looking back at Arthur.
‘Arthur, I’m sorry,’ he mumbled, so quietly the Prince nearly missed it.
‘I don’t understand. Why are you sorry?’ He asked, although it was quite obvious he was losing control over his thoughts.
The others looked at Merlin in stunned silence, understanding the situation.
Percival stumbled back with wide eyes.
Elyan gasped noiselessly.
Leon looked utterly flabbergastated.
Gwaine’s expression was unreadable.
Lancelot remained composed, taking another step closer to Merlin.
‘I wanted to tell you,’ Merlin said, letting his hand drop beside him. ‘I swear I did — I do,’ he carried on desperately.
Arthur shook his head in denial, a confused smile moving to his lips.
‘What are you on about?’ He asked, voice trembling. Merlin sent him a pleading look. ‘Did you overdo your brain by solving these riddles? Come on, Merlin, you’re talking nonsense,’ he shook his head again, as though it would make everything false.
Merlin could no longer hold his tears back.
Two fat drops of tears escaped his eyes and rolled down his red cheeks.
‘I’m a —’ Merlin’s voice choked up.
The other knights couldn’t help but pity the man.
Percival nudged Elyan in the shoulder. The man looked up at him, and when he saw the determined look in Percival’s eyes, he nodded.
They would protect Merlin.
‘I’m a sorcerer,’ Merlin uttered out, taking a loud sniffle. ‘I have magic,’ he said, his whole body trembling. ‘And I use it for you, Arthur. Only for you.’ He sounded desperate, and each knight could see that.
Elyan and Percival shared a look with Lancelot.
He nodded at them.
They nodded back.
They all looked at Leon, not knowing what to expect.
Much to their surprise, the older knight nodded back.
‘Merlin, you are not a sorcerer. I would know,’ Arthur declared, blinking rapidly.
Merlin let out a tearful chuckle.
‘Look, here,’ he said, raising a hand — palm turned up. ‘Upastige draca!’
A dragon.
There was a dragon flying above Merlin’s palm, made out of fire.
But that was impossible.
There was no fire around, Merlin shouldn’t be able to do this.
Arthur stumbled back, a shuddering breath escaping his lips.
‘Wha —?’ He whispered, unable to tear his gaze away from the dragon, even after it dissipated into thin air.
‘Merlin,’ Lancelot said, trying to get the warlock’s attention, but he was too fixated on Arthur.
‘Arthur, please,’ Merlin said, his pulse uneven. ‘Just… Let me explain, please,’ he was begging.
Merlin was begging.
‘You’ve lied to me, all this time,’ Arthur said, his gaze lifting to meet Merlin’s.
Arthur wished it hadn’t.
Merlin’s eyes were swimming in tears, his lips trembling, his breathing coming out as quiet sobs.
He looked pathetic.
‘I’m sorry,’ Merlin said.
‘You don’t even deny it,’ Arthur huffed. ‘How could you?’
‘Arthur —’
‘— HOW?!’ Arthur bellowed, body shaking in anger.
‘Arthur, I’m sorry, okay?’ Merlin exclaimed, raising his voice, too. ‘I’m sorry!’
‘What difference does it make?’ Arthur asked, laughing like a man going mad. ‘You are nothing but a liar.’
That’s not true.
‘How can I trust another word you say? Hm?’ Arthur continued and raised a finger at him. ‘How can I ever trust you again?!’
‘Arthur,’ Lancelot warned him, but the Prince didn’t listen.
‘Get out of my sight,’ Arthur whispered quietly.
Merlin had never seen him this angry before.
But he couldn’t leave, not until Arthur understood.
‘Sire,’ Leon tried as well, but his attempt at calming Arthur turned out to be unsuccessful, too.
‘Didn’t you hear me?!’ Arthur shouted at Merlin, making him flinch violently. ‘Get out of my sight!’
Merlin was openly sobbing now.
How could this day go so wrong?
How could they go from laughing in the morning to yelling in the afternoon?
‘Arthur, please,’ Merlin whimpered.
It couldn’t end like this.
Lancelot and the others took another step closer.
Gwaine looked at them in surprise, but when he realised what they were intending to do, he joined them.
There was no way he was going to let Merlin get hurt.
‘Merlin,’ Arthur said in warning. ‘I don’t want to hear it.’
‘But —’
‘— I said. I don’t want to hear it,’ Arthur repeated, his tone showing no emotion other than fury and betrayal.
Oh, but Merlin was getting angry, too…
‘You don’t want to hear it,’ Merlin said, his sobbing dying down.
The knights couldn’t help but flinch at his tone.
Merlin tilted his head, his lips parting in a bewildered hiss.
‘All this time,’ he started, fisting his hands. ‘I have been protecting you. I have done everything for you. Everything!’ He snapped, catching Arthur by surprise. The Prince’s eyes widened — stunned. ‘I have been living in fear, each damn day. Not knowing whether it was the last day I lived.’
Arthur shivered.
The look in Merlin’s eyes changed.
It was no longer pathetic, nor miserable.
It was dark — filled with hurt, anger and something akin to revenge.
‘Did you honestly expect me to reveal myself when your father was murdering my people?!’ Merlin yelled indignantly.
It knocked the air out of Arthur’s lungs.
‘You have every right to be upset,’ Merlin said, quieter now. ‘But I have every right to explain myself.
‘You’re right, I have been lying to you. I didn’t like it, but I had to. But what do you think I’ve felt all this time?’ Merlin asked, not really expecting an answer. ‘Do you have any idea what it was like to live with the knowledge that if you knew about my true nature, you would hate me? Do you have any idea what it was like to watch people burn at the pyre, even at the mere suggestion of casting a spell?’
Arthur stayed in silence, trying to digest everything Merlin was saying.
‘I never studied magic, I was born with it!’ Merlin’s voice choked up again.
The knights could only gape.
Arthur could only stand in shock.
‘It was never my choice. I never decided I wanted it! Your father would have me burn, because of the way I was born, because of something I cannot do anything about!’ Merlin shouted. ‘And despite all that, I wanted to tell you,’ he huffed a wet laugh. ‘I wanted to tell you, because I didn’t want to lie to you.
‘But I couldn’t. Yes, I was fearing my fate, but also Gaius’s, my mother’s — yours.’ Merlin wiped away his tears angrily. ‘I know you are not your father, Arthur. I know you are just and kind, and that you will be the greatest king this kingdom will ever see.
‘But I also knew I couldn’t put you into a position where you had to choose between your father’s laws and I.’ Arthur’s tears rolled down his cheeks at this confession.
That was what worried him…?
‘And I didn’t want you to hate me,’ Merlin continued, his anger wearing off and being replaced by sadness once again. ‘Every time I thought you would change your views on magic, something terrible happened and you said it was all evil.’
Arthur was crying at this point.
Not loudly.
But genuinely.
How could he say something like that to Merlin?
‘How could I tell you I was born of it?’ Merlin asked, trying — and failing — to hide the hurt in his voice. ‘That I am magic itself?’
‘Merlin,’ Arthur whispered, trying to reach out, but his muscles were like stones. He couldn’t move.
‘I’m so sorry, Arthur. I truly am. I am sorry for lying, I am sorry for betraying you, but I am not sorry for saving your life.
‘For so long, I had no idea what my magic was for, but then I met you, and someone said to me my destiny was to protect you.’ Merlin laughed sadly at the memory. ‘I was convinced they were wrong. I was convinced you were a prat, and at first I only stayed out of duty.
‘But as months went by, I realised that you could change. That you weren’t just a spoiled prince, that you were a man worth protecting. Worth risking my life for.’ Merlin looked down at his hands. ‘So I stayed. Not out of duty, not because of destiny. But because I believed in you, I still do.
‘And because you were my friend and I didn’t want to lose you,’ Merlin said finally, looking back up at Arthur.
He didn’t know what he saw in the Prince’s eyes.
Maybe he didn’t even want to know.
‘Don’t worry, Arthur,’ Merlin spoke again. ‘I will leave.’
It landed like a punch to Arthur.
No, Merlin, wait —
‘You won’t have to see me again. Just as you wished,’ Merlin sighed deeply as he straightened up.
‘Merlin,’ Arthur tried again, and finally, he was able to move a finger. ‘Merlin, wait —’
‘— It’s okay, Arthur,’ Merlin shook his head. ‘You’ve made yourself quite clear.’ Another dose of tears escaped Arthur’s eyes.
‘Merlin, please— Don’t go. I’m sorry,’ Arthur said and took a step closer. ‘I’m so sorry, Merlin, please… Forgive me.’
It was Arthur’s turn to cry openly and the sight broke Merlin’s heart.
‘Arthur, you don’t have to —’
‘— I do!’ Arthur cut him off, taking another step closer. ‘Merlin, I’m sorry for yelling. I’m sorry for pushing you away, I’m sorry for blaming you. You’re right, you had every right to explain yourself. And while I’m still upset, I know now you had no choice. I gave you no reason to trust me with your secret, and for that I am forever sorry.’
Merlin sniffled at Arthur’s speech, getting the slightest of hope that maybe, maybe everything would be alright.
‘I got so angry at you, because after everything we’ve been through, I thought you were the only person I could truly trust — the one person who would never betray me.
‘When you said you had magic I didn’t take your side into consideration. Merlin, I am sorry I wasn’t there for you.’ Arthur finally reached his friend and placed his hands on his shoulders tentatively. Merlin let out a quiet sob.
‘I’m sorry I yelled at you. I also didn’t look at it from your side. You’re right, you have been betrayed by so many people, from enemies to family, it was only expected you’d get angry,’ he sniffled, bringing a shaky hand up to place it on Arthur’s. ‘I’m sorry I lashed out on you.’
‘No, I’m sorry I said those things to you,’ Arthur said, squeezing that one hand Merlin had offered him.
‘Arthur, you had every right —’
‘— As did you,’ he interrupted the raven. ‘I’m sorry, Merlin.’
‘I’m sorry, Arthur,’ Merlin said, then — without any care of the consequences — he tackled Arthur into a hug.
Arthur hesitated no second with wrapping his arms around Merlin, pulling him so close it was bordering on the edge of impossible.
Merlin buried his head in the Prince’s shoulder as he held onto him tightly.
The relief that surged through him knocked the air out of him.
He wasn’t going to die.
Arthur didn’t hate him.
He shuddered from the force of it as it settled down, and Arthur held him through it, rubbing circles into his back soothingly.
The knights watched them with teary smiles, sharing triumphant and knowing looks with each other.
Once Merlin also realised they were also present, his head snapped up at them and he stilled for a moment.
But then he saw the smiles that were cast at him and he couldn’t help but sob happily.
They all went to them and wrapped them up in a giant group hug.
Merlin loved every second of it.
Arthur didn’t.
He very much appreciated his knights’ efforts, but he and Merlin were having a moment.
Oh, well, as long as Merlin was happy, then it really didn’t matter.
* * *
On their way back, they all listened to Merlin talk about his adventures.
Some were hilarious, some were heart-breaking, but at least Merlin now had them all to support him.
After their shared group hug, Merlin had taken down the sorceress.
He did not have to keep his magic a secret, after all.
Needless to say, everyone (minus Lancelot) was stunned by the power Merlin possessed.
‘Tell me something, Merls,’ Gwaine said, once they settled down for the night in the woods, around a fireplace. The warlock looked up at the knight from where he was sitting — beside Arthur, leaning into him comfortably. ‘How could you solve those riddles? I mean, they were pretty tough.’
Everyone looked back at Merlin curiously. Arthur rubbed Merlin’s shoulder with his thumb, watching him expectantly.
The warlock smirked up at them.
‘How do you think I’ve kept this clotpole alive?’ He said, nudging Arthur in the side teasingly. ‘These riddles were child’s play compared to Kilgharrah’s cryptic advive.' The knights’ brows knitted in confusion.
Oh, that as well…
‘I think I may have not told you about everything yet,’ Merlin said with a sheepish smile.
‘Merlin,’ Arthur said pointedly.
‘What? I am telling you now,’ Merlin argued back defensively. ‘Okay, so — don’t be mad.’ Arthur’s face twitched at that. ‘I am also the last Dragonlord,’ Merlin said, biting his lip.
Arthur’s jaw dropped, as well as the others’ — (again, minus Lancelot).
‘You’re what?!’ Gwaine exclaimed in disbelief.
‘But then it means that —’ Arthur started, and when he saw the sorrowful look in Merlin’s eyes, he gasped. ‘Balinor was your father.’ Merlin nodded at him. ‘B-but I thought you said you didn’t know your father!’
‘I didn’t. Gaius only told me about him the morning we set off.’ Arthur could only stare at him, dumbstruck. ‘I didn’t really have much time to spend with him.’
‘Merlin, I am so sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault,’ Merlin told him earnestly. ‘I didn’t tell you, you couldn’t know.’ Arthur now pulled him fully into his embrace, and Merlin melted into his arms effortlessly.
‘I’m sorry to interrupt,’ Elyan said suddenly. ‘But I’m afraid I’m a bit lost.’
Lancelot sent him a look, but started explaining anyway.
After about ten minutes of sharing Merlin’s grief, Gwaine exclaimed.
‘So, you are not only the most powerful warlock to ever live, you can also command dragons!’ His grin could not be washed off from his face.
Merlin chuckled at him, then bowed dramatically — as much as his sitting position let him. (And Arthur’s arms. Merlin was now placed between the Prince’s legs, with his back pressed against the blonde’s chest. Arthur’s arms rested around his middle and Merlin hands were upon them, some of their fingers intertwined loosely.)
‘Indeed. Also, I’m kind of the King of the druids,’ Merlin said, guffawing when he saw the shocked look on the knights’ faces.
‘You are a King?’ Arthur gaped at him.
‘Well, I told them not to call me like that,’ Merlin explained, suddenly turning humble again. ‘I hate it when they do it. They also like to call me Emrys, no matter how many times I’ve told them my name was Merlin.’
‘Wait, wait, wait!’ Arthur said, suddenly more alert than before. (He had been too busy looking at Merlin like a lovesick puppy.) ‘You are the sorcerer Morgana fears?’ Merlin sent him an incredulous look.
‘I have just told you I was the most powerful warlock. Is it really such a surprise? By the way, not only Morgana fears me. Everyone does. They just don’t know it’s me. They fear Emrys, but apart from the druids, no one knows it’s me.’
‘You never cease to amaze me, Merlin,’ Arthur told him in wonder and Merlin blushed.
‘Well, you’d get bored,’ he replied cheekily, casting a glance above his shoulder to look at the Prince.
The knights shared yet another knowing look.
‘I would,’ Arthur agreed and smiled so fondly Gwaine had to gag in the background. Of course — lost in their own paradise —, neither Merlin nor Arthur noticed him, which made everything all funnier.
Merlin turned a darker shade of red, smiled shyly, eyes flickering over Arthur’s face.
The knights rolled their eyes in amusement.
‘Can’t you two just kiss now?’ Leon commented as he took a large sip of his waterskin. (There was no water in it, might I add. My man knew how in love his Prince and his servant would be, so he’d packed himself something that would make him forget about how single he was.)
Merlin (if that was possible) turned even redder.
Arthur (still feeling the need to keep his pride), looked at Leon with a new glint in his eyes.
‘Well, if you insist,’ he said, and before Merlin could object (not like he wanted to), Arthur placed a gentle kiss on the warlock’s lips, basking in the warmth and sensation they brought him and the loud cheer that erupted from his knights.
‘Finally,’ Leon chuckled up at the sky, as if thanking God for finally opening up the eyes of those two dollop-heads.
Arthur pulled back with a giant smile on his face, and it only widened when Merlin mirrored his expression.
‘Guys, I think I just solved another riddle!’ Gwaine exclaimed suddenly, causing everyone to turn to look at him. ‘Arthur and Merlin are in love with each other!’
Arthur threw a lump of wood at him.
‘This was no riddle, Gwaine,’ Percival told him matter-of-factly.
‘It really wasn’t,’ Lancelot agreed with a smile.
‘It was a riddle to me?’ Arthur said, earning a punch in the ribs from Merlin. ‘Ow.’
‘That’s ‘cause you’re emotionally constipated,’ Merlin retorted, then exclaimed loudly as Arthur pinched his side in revenge. ‘Ow!’
The Prince just grinned at him victoriously.
‘Seriously, Princess,’ Gwaine said, ending their bickering. ‘If you hurt my man, I’m going to murder you.’
‘Your man?!’ Arthur exclaimed. Merlin buried his head in his hands.
God, his life…
‘Guys, don’t argue over me. I’m no one’s man.’ Arthur sent him an offended gaze.
‘Excuse me?’ Merlin sighed theatrically.
‘Jesus, Arthur, you’re such a possessive prat,’ he said in disbelief. ‘Fine, I am your man, happy now?’ Arthur grinned like a child.
‘Very.’
‘I feel like a wife,’ Merlin muttered quietly.
‘More like a mob wife,’ Arthur added thoughtfully.
‘Oi! I soon won’t be your man either,’ Merlin warned him, with a threatening finger raised at him. Arthur just rolled his eyes and hugged him closer, then kissed his cheek softly. Merlin relaxed into him immediately and rested his head against Arthur’s shoulder.
‘I don’t think Arthur will ever hurt him,’ Lancelot said to Gwaine who smiled at the man in agreement.
‘Nah, I don’t think so, either. But still, Princess should know his place.’
‘I agree,’ Elyan said.
‘So do I,’ Percival added too.
‘Hang on!’ Arthur exclaimed. ‘You do realise you are all planning treason right in front of me?’
‘Yeah, Princess, relax. Nothing unusual.’
‘This is wonderful,’ Arthur huffed. Merlin chuckled quietly, looking at the knights with gratitude.
Not because they would kick Arthur’s ass (well, maybe because of that too).
But because of the care and love they’d shown him.
Merlin felt like he couldn’t be happier.