Chapter Three
Arthur eyed his Knights incredulously as they walked into the Meeting chambers, their shoulders hunched and shame written across their faces.
They were wearing trousers that were about 4 inches too short on each of them, and chainmail that was about 3 sizes too big - something that was impressive considering their number included Percival. Their cloaks which should be red were a rather fetching shade of pink, all of them were wearing boots that had the toes missing and appeared not to have socks as their toes were poking out. and all of them were shivering as though they had taken a cold bath.
"What….on the earth?" He muttered as soon as they reached the front of the room.
"Our apologies for our appearance, My Lord, there seems to have been some sort of mix up with our laundry, and in the armoury….and all our boots seemed to have been attacked by mice," Leon said tilting his chin up.
"Someone...look into…" Arthur waved his hand at the Knights, "This," he decided on in the end.
"Of course My Lord," His chief of house staff nodded, but he noticed that the man seemed more busy trying to glare at the Knights than anything else.
"Where do we stand on the situation with the woman known as Lamia?" Arthur asked and wanted to groan when Leon, Percival, Gwaine, and Elyan flinched and the rest of his Knights, advisers, servants and staff all glared at them, all but Merlin of course.
"You killed her, definitely, and from what she said she did not give any indication that there was another like her," Merlin smiled brightly.
"Sire, our actions were inexcusable," Elyan said painfully, his eyes filled with remorse as they looked at Merlin. The glares stepped up a level.
"I have read the reports, yours and Merlin and Gwen's, you were under an enchantment, there was nothing that you could have done," Arthur frowned.
"No! Sire! Our actions were….we were...we hurt Merlin! And Gwen!" Gwaine added the second part on and Arthur was now totally lost when Gwen rolled her eyes, exasperation written across her face while Gaius rubbed his.
"It was an enchantment, it wasn't any of your faults what happened. And it is only a few bruises!" Merlin tried to wave off, except everyone felt the tension in the room rising, like a pan about to boil over and pour boiling water all over them. "I bruise really easy, that's all!" Merlin tried.
"Merlin, please stop talking," Arthur rubbed his eyes when Bors actually started crushing the meal goblet in his hand.
"Right,"
"Please punish us, Sire!" Percival begged.
"It was an enchantment! I can't punish you for an enchantment," Arthur tried to stay patient.
"But...we hurt Merlin!" Elyan frowned.
"And he has told me that you were not all to blame, the one who is to blame is dead. The deed is done," Arthur shook his head. "Now moving on…."
"Sire!" Leon interrupted making Arthur blink at him. "We deserve at least a night in the stocks!"
"Oh very well, as you're all so eager to be punished for something that is not your fault, fine, a night in the stocks!" He growled out, more annoyed than anything else. He was baffled when the only person that seemed upset by the decision was Merlin. The four Knights in question looked relieved, the rest of the Knights vindicated, Gaius and Gwen just more exasperated.
"Sire!" Merlin started to protest.
"ENOUGH!" Arthur bellowed. "Can we move on please!"
He growled before carrying on determinedly with the meeting, ignoring the glares Merin was giving him. Things had been stilted between them for weeks now anyway, ever since he had accused Gaius of being a traitor, even though he had reinstated Merlin to his manservant, things were not the same. Merlin had been distant and….hurt. It was the reason that he had gone out on the damned mission with the Knights to begin with.
When he had reached the castle in time to see Merlin nearly bitten in half by the damned...thing...whatever it was, he was sure his heart had stopped. He wasn't sure that it had started back up properly to be honest. The thought that he had come so close to losing Merlin, and because he had hurt Merlin and caused him to want to leave the castle, leave his side for a while. He felt sick to his stomach.
"Bit chilly isn't it," Elyan sighed, wriggling a little to get comfortable. No matter how much they had asked Arthur wouldn't put them in the stocks in town where they would have gotten the full punishment for what they had done, he refused to allow his Knights to be displayed that way. Instead, they were in the privacy of the Courtyard.
"Winter is coming in fast now," Leon agreed.
"My toes have gone a little numb," Gwaine hummed squinting down at where his toes were still sticking out his toeless boots.
"Oh, we have company!" Percival's back had to be hurting from the angle he was at, but he was focussed on the household staff, servants of the castle and Knights who were making their way out the castle towards them.
"Oh….dear!" Leon managed to say before they all closed their eyes tight as they were pelted with tomatoes and other rotting foodstuffs from the large crowd. It seemed they did not need to be in the town to get the full punishment.
"I...oh for the love of…." Arthur paused, shook his head, and carried on walking completely bemused now after taking in the image of his filthy Knights standing grinning happily at him from the stocks. "I absolutely give up," he groaned.
"Merlin, stop this is our punishment," Leon complained.
"I don't care, it is silly that you're being punished for something that is not your faults!" Merlin glared as he finished cleaning up the wiggling Knight and checked his handy work. All of them were looking a lot better and smelt better too.
"Merlin no!" Gwaine groaned as the young man then went along the line covering them with cloaks and blankets.
"I don't care. I don't blame you, and this was not your fault, you shouldn't be punished for it!" Merlin said firmly before coming around and holding out a piece of meat to Elyan's lips with a determined glare.
"Merlin?" Kay asked as he and Lance stopped in front of the stocked Knights halfway through their nighttime patrol. The two of them looked amused at the row of shameful Knights who were now wearing gloves, had proper boots on, had scarves around their necks and had all been tucked nicely under blankets.
"He fed us too," Gwaine nodded mournfully.
"It was delicious," Leon sighed.
"Only Merlin," Lance laughed he and Kay starting to walk away.
"Can you at least take the blankets away!" Elyan shouted after them.
"And risk Merlin's wrath? Nope!" Kay shouted back.
"We won't tell him!" Percival promised.
"He'll know!" Lance shook his head before waving over his shoulder at them.
"He's right he would know," Elyan sighed nodding.
"He always does," Gwaine huffed.
"Are you happy now?" Arthur raised his eyebrow at the four Knights as they all tried to straighten their backs with varying grumbling and groaning.
"Yes, thank you, Sire," they nodded.
"I give in," Arthur shook his head. "Oh, and by the way?"
"Yes?" They asked when he turned and fixed furious blue eyes on them.
"If I find out that Merlin has one bruise because of any of you if I find out you have shoved him, or hurt him again…..it will not just be a night in the stocks," He said lowly, meeting each of their eyes.
"We understand Sire,"
Arthur turned to leave and paused when he found Kay, Bors, Lance. Galahad and Lamorak standing behind him. "Yes?"
"We would just like to add that if you hurt Merlin again, we will take him away from you," Lamorak said softly.
"Pardon?"
"We have not said anything, because Merlin is dealing with it and we don't interfere with him punishing you," Arthur blushed slightly at Kay highlighted the fact that the Knights were all aware Arthur was being punished for what happened.
"Normally we leave well enough alone, but this time you really hurt Merlin," Bors frowned.
"Enough to drive him away from the castle," Lance nodded.
"Enough to drive him into danger," Galahad crossed his arms.
"So, if you hurt him again this way, we will protect Merlin, and we will take him from you," Leon answered quietly, but firmly.
"This is none of…."
"Merlin is our business," Bors said sharply.
"Sire," all of them bowed politely, gave him one more glare, and then left him standing in the courtyard feeling completely lost….and more guilty as they pointed out how much he had hurt Merlin.
THE RULES:
1) You always protect the King
2) You obeyed the rules
3) You conducted yourself with honour, chivalry and decorum.
4) The eyes of the kingdom were on them, they should always remember that
5) Arthur's training was hard, and demanding, but it would make them the best
6) They were above no one else
7) At all times make sure that Merlin is near King Arthur, he was much more pleasant with the Manservant in sight.
8) The way they spoke to each other did not mean that they hated each other.
9) Never, Ever try to hurt Merlin, do not make fun of him, do not laugh at him, do not in anyway physically or emotionally hurt Merlin. That was the swiftest way to find yourself in the furthest village of the kingdom shovelling dung - if you were lucky - no one could pin down who made sure you ended up there but you would find yourself there and for a very good reason on paper.
10) Merlin would follow them everywhere, into every situation, and he would do everything that he could to protect Arthur - which was why he had the respect of so many of the Knights.
11) It was their responsibility to protect Merlin. He never went into dangerous situations with armour, he was not a fighter at all, in fact he was quite clumsy and often ended up tripping and falling. Merlin was skinny and small and looked like a stiff wind would blow him over, and they must do everything that they can to protect him.
12) Arthur protected Merlin a lot of the time, but if Arthur was not by Merlin it was their DUTY to protect Merlin.
13) Repeat. Merlin MUST be protected.
14) Never ever question Merlin when you catch him sneaking around
15) If you have to speak to him when you catch him sneaking around, offer an excuse for him, he comes up with terrible ones.
16) If Merlin appears to be trying to kill King Arthur it is not what it seems, protect Merlin and find out what is going on, Gaius likely will be able to heal him.
17) Protect Merlin, even from Arthur if need be.
"How did we lose them both?!" Gwaine wailed throwing his hands into the air.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"What are we going to do?!" Bors asked frustrated.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"Both of them! Both of them!" Elyan waved his hands in the air.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"I mean...both of them?! How do we lose both of them?!" Lamorak spluttered.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"How does this keep happening?" Leon whined.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"Normally it isn't during the middle of winter, in the middle of a blizzard, in the middle of bloody nowhere!" Galahad moaned.
"Oh...oh...oh..oh…" Geraint groaned.
"Geraint! Will you stop!" Gareth snapped.
"We're dead men though, dead! No one will forgive us, we lost Merlin in the middle of a blizzard in the middle of nowhere, we have no clue where he is! And the King of course. We're going to be in so much trouble! We won't be lucky enough to see the Dungheap from THE RULES!" Geraint wailed.
"Ok, we just...Arthur is with Merlin, he will be ok, he will look after Merlin, he will be ok," Leon muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
"He doesn't wear much, his clothes are far too thin for weather like this, even with the cloak I managed to convince him to take," Bors sniffed.
"He's going to freeze, his boots don't look damp proof for drizzle never mind this snow," Gareth scrubbed his cold face.
"Oh, what do we do, poor Merlin!"
"There there Bors, we will find him," Lance patted Bors on the shoulder.
"You're not taking this seriously enough!" Bors shook his said seeing the near cheerful look on Lance's face.
"I have faith in Merlin and Arthur, Merlin and Arthur together? They will be just fine," Lance shrugged.
"Maybe we need to go over THE RULES again," Elyan squinted at Lance.
"They will show up just fine, don't worry," Lance grinned.
"Here!" Arthur breathed out a sigh of relief, hurrying towards the hut and throwing the door open. "Merlin! Hurry up and get inside! Before I just leave you out here!"
"D...d...don't be s...s...such a...a...a d...ick!" Merlin stammered out through chattering teeth as he hurried up the steps.
"Get inside Merlin," Arthur rolled his eyes. He quickly shut the door behind himself as soon as the two of them were inside.
Merlin stood in the middle of the small room, his thin arms wrapped around himself, standing there shuddering and shivering so violently it looked as though it hurt.
"Merlin," Arthur sighed. He looked quickly around the hut taking in what they had. "You need to take off your clothes Merlin, they're soaked, wrap yourself in these," Arthur grabbed a few blankets from the small bed in the hut and threw them at Merlin.
He turned his back on Merlin with some reluctance and hurried to the fireplace to get it going and heating up the small space. He thanked whoever was listening that there was a good stack of wood beside the fireplace, anything outside would take forever to catch considering how thick the snow was, and he did not want to have to go back outside to collect wood.
By the time he had the fire crackling away and starting to heat up the cold air of the hut Merlin's bare feet stepped up next to him, his pale, bare legs sticking out from the blanket.
Arthur looked up, opening his mouth to say something but frowned concernedly when he saw the blue around Merlin's full red lips and realised how pale he actually was.
"Merlin," He frowned standing up, he yanked his gloves off and felt Merlin's cheek, hissing at the feeling of the icy skin. "Stand here,"
He moved Merlin to stand in front of the fireplace completely and tugged the blankets even tighter around his too thin frame, before he yanked off his cloak and threw it over Merlin's shoulders.
"A...A...Arth...ur no….y...you," Merlin shook his head reaching for the cloak. Instead, he found his hand captured and placed between Arthur's who gently started rubbing it trying to get the heat back into the freezing limb.
"When we get back I am buying you a proper winter wardrobe," Arthur muttered.
"I...I...I t...thought y….you c...couldn't s...s...show fav...outism," Merlin shivered. "A...a...and you h….have a...a...a trai...tor to f...f...find,"
"Do not remind me please," Arthur sighed.
"J...j...just try n...not to ac...cuse G...Gaius a….again so s….s...soon," Merlin huffed.
"Merlin…." Arthur frowned slightly but Merlin withdrew his hand from Arthur's and tucked it firmly back into the blankets, turning his head away.
Things had been tense between the two of them for weeks now, since his false accusation of Gaius, and Arthur did not know how to mend that bridge, he did not know what he could do or say to fix things between them.
"Merlin,"
"Is t….there anything t...t...to drink?" Merlin asked turning to face the fire.
"Right, of course," Arthur watched Merlin's back for a moment before he stepped away and went to explore what they had in the hut.
The answer was very little. There was some food, enough for maybe 1 day or 2, there were a couple of stores of beers, some form of juice, some tea leaves and from the window Arthur spotted a well close enough by.
Aside from that however there was not much else. He found a few more blankets, there was 1 bed, two chairs and basic dish wear. He came across something he could hang Merlin's clothes from and moved it close to by where Merlin was standing and quickly had his servant's damp clothes hanging over it.
He stood back and his eyes again drifted to Merlin.
"I don't know how to fix the mistake I made," Arthur admitted quietly. Merlin jerked and turned slightly towards him before a sadness swept over his face.
"You have nothing to fix," Merlin muttered turning back to the fire.
"I clearly do, you have not been the same with me since Gaius," Arthur sighed.
"Have you thought…." Merlin started to say before he drew off and pinched his lips together.
"Have I thought what?" Arthur stepped closer.
"It doesn't matter," Merlin shook his head.
"It matters to me," Arthur said firmly.
"Arthur, leave it! I am cold and tired and fed up, now is not the time to have this conversation," Merlin snapped.
"Then perhaps now is exactly the right time to have this conversation!" Arthur could feel his own temper rising. "Look at me Merlin!"
"Do you think perhaps I am fed up!?" Merlin snapped, spinning around with angry blue eyes.
"Fed up?" Arthur felt his heart sinking and feeling as though Merlin had slapped him.
"I am fed up of...of...I am fed up of…." Merlin sighed, all that fire and anger washing out of him. "I am fed up of you claiming to be my friend, but everyone else's word being worth far more than mine," He turned sadly back to the fire.
"That is not true, Merlin…" Arthur frowned.
"I told you that it was Agrivane, I told you he was the traitor in your court, a man that you have not known well, a man that only appeared when your father was ill and not with his senses. It was him then and this is him now! The only ones who knew about this mission were us, the Knights, Agrivane and Gaius. The Knights would never, ever betray you. That leaves me, Gaius and Agrivane. Going by your previous record shall I just march myself into the jail cells?!" Merlin spat out.
"Merlin…."
"Or perhaps you would like to blame Gaius, again! You didn't quite kill him off last time, you might succeed this time, finish off what your father started!" Merlin could feel his temper boiling over now. "You profess to trust me and that I am your friend, you spout out about how much our friendship means to you, but my word is never enough! Because I will never be anything more than a servant in your eyes!"
"Merlin! You are more than a servant to me!" Arthur frowned.
"No! No I am not! I knew that Morgana was evil, I knew that she was up to no good, but I couldn't say anything because you would never take me at my word, you would never take my word over hers, and she and I knew it! Se even threatened me with it! But at least with her I understood, you had known her your whole life, you loved her and trusted her because you had a shared history together. But Agravaine! That hurts, knowing that you will never believe me over him even though you barely know him!"
"Merlin Agravaine is my Uncle he…."
"Is working for Morgana!" Merlin roared.
Arthur stared at him stunned.
Merlin was standing there in nothing but his undershorts, his skin pale and glowing in the faint light coming through the windows and from the fireplace crackling behind him. His blue eyes were glowing with anger and his sharp face was set in stern lines. But he was trembling visibly, and the way his chin was tilted up showed how upset he really was.
"I….Morgana?" Arthur breathed out. Merlin sucked in a breath and covered his mouth.
"I am sorry Arthur, I shouldn't have told you like that," Merlin's eyes went from furious to remorse in a blink.
"Merlin….is he really…" Arthur frowned to himself, his own suspicions around his Uncle flaring back to life. He strode across the room and gripped Merlin's shoulders tightly, staring into his eyes. "Is it really him? Is he the traitor? Morgana...why…"
"Yes it's him," Merlin said sadly, and everything on his face said that he didn't think Arthur would believe him. He was resigned to it in fact.
"Why? Why has he...why?" Arthur felt hollowed out again.
"You believe me?" Merlin frowned.
"Yes, Merlin I believe you, of course I do. You wouldn't lie to me," Arthur sighed releasing his shoulder and dropped onto the rug in front of the fire, staring sightlessly into the flames as he took in what Merlin was telling him. Agravaine his Uncle had been the one to betray him, and he had done it for Morgana.
"I am sorry Arthur," Merlin knelt next to him, cautiously placed his arm over Arthur's shoulders.
"Why Merlin, why is he doing it?" Arthur drooped, leaning his body into Merlin's as his brain spun faster and faster.
"I think revenge against your father, for your mother's death, and I think he is obsessed with Morgana," Merlin sighed. He leant forward and rested his forehead on Arthur's back as he hugged his friend, "I am sorry,"
"Why Merlin, why must all my family betray me?" Arthur's voice was shaking with grief and anger, confusion and the self-flagellation Merlin had known he would do.
"Because your family are all pricks!" Merlin said hotly.
"Merlin!" Arthur was so shocked by the declaration he lifted his head to stare at his manservant, all other emotions pushed to the side.
"Well, they are!" Merlin said hotly. "If your moron of an Uncle can't see how amazing you are, what a good king you are and the fact that you're an even better man! That your mother would be beyond proud of who you have become and what you have achieved!"
"Merlin…" Arthur blinked at him.
"No, she would be so proud of you Arthur! You have become a good man, and the family that you have created around you love you and would never betray you!"
"Family I have created?" Arthur blinked.
"The Knights, Gwen, Gaius, Geoffrey, everyone is loyal to you, they love you, they would never ever betray you!" Merlin nodded.
"And you? Do I have you?" Arthur asked softly looking at Merlin intently and with an expression Merlin could not pin down.
"Always," Merlin said softly. The word was so simple and yet meant so much.
"Even with your magic?" Arthur raised his eyebrows.
His hands snapped out and caught Merlin around the waist, spinning him around and pinning him on his back on the rug in front of the fireplace, pinning his hands down either side of his head and pinning his hips down with his own.
"Calm down you Clotpole," Arthur rolled his eyes.
"You...you know?" Merlin asked slightly aghast.
"Merlin, I know that you think I can be an oblivious and cold hearted absent bastard sometimes, but do you really think that I would allow you to go running into dangerous situations with no armour, weapons, or hand to hand skills if I didn't know that you could protect yourself?" Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Bu...but…"
"Just promise you won't leave me, please Merlin, promise you won't leave," Arthur dropped down releasing Merlin's wrists and wrapped his arms around Merlin's waist, burying his face into Merlin's neck instead, a faint tremble setting into his body and his voice sounding heartbreakingly vulnerable in ways Merlin very rarely heard.
Cautiously, still waiting for some reaction other than...this to the revelation that Merlin had magic. But instead, he seemed to be trying to bury himself into Merlin, his still cold nose pressed against the bare skin of Merlin's neck. And then his words registered.
Merlin combed his fingers through Arthur's golden hair just as he felt him starting to tense up. He wrapped his other arm around Arthur's broad shoulders, rubbing gently.
"I promise I will never leave you," Merlin said firmly. Arthur jerked slightly and pressed even closer to Merlin, holding him tighter.
"You can't promise that, you can't. Everyone leaves, everyone realises that I am not enough," Arthur protested, but he held on just a little tighter.
"You're everything," Merlin said softly. "You're everything to me, everything. I will never, ever leave you, Arthur,"
"Yes, you will, even if you never leave Camelot, even if you never leave my service, you will meet someone one day, you will marry and have a family and you will still leave me behind,"
"Arthur," Merlin pressed against Arthur's shoulders and with reluctance, the King leaned up enough so that Merlin could see his face. Merlin gently stroked Arthur's cheeks and peered into his hurt blue eyes that had seen so much betrayal and disapproval. "Arthur, what are you trying to say?"
"It does not matter, however, I have you in my life, I will be happy," Arthur smiled so sadly, shaking his head and avoiding looking at Merlin stared at the fireplace instead. At least until Merlin's thumb stroked under his eye as he cupped Arthur's face.
"What are you trying to say?" Merlin asked breathlessly.
"It doesn't matter Merlin," Arthur shook his head trying to dislodge Merlin's hands.
"There is never going to be anyone else Arthur," Merlin shook his head.
"Yes you will and…"
"Arthur, there is no one else for me," Merlin breathed out.
"No one else? You have...you already have someone?" Arthur frowned.
"No, you Clotpole! The only person for me, is you. So, I can promise with some certainty that I will never leave you, because I am ridiculously, sadly and pathetically in love with you. It is why I haven't been with anyone in the years that we have known each other, it is why I will never leave your side, and it is pathetic because you're going to have to marry some princess and I will have to stand by your side and….mph…."
Whatever else Merlin was going to rant about was lost into Arthur's mouth as the blond leant down and sealed their lips together. He tenderly cupped Merlin's jaw as he kissed him, his fingers gently stroking over moon pale skin that he adored.
The manservant was shocked at first, and then he realised that Arthur was kissing him and his body exploded to life, adrenaline going through his system in the same way it did when he rode on the back of Kilgharrah. He clung onto Arthur and pressed deeper into the kiss, unable to believe that he was finally getting to kiss him.
And from the way Arthur sighed into his mouth, it seemed as though he couldn't believe that they were finally getting to kiss either.
"The Knights would betray me I think," Arthur said softly, curling his arm tighter around Merlin. The younger man sleepily took his eyes from the fire and turned to see Arthur smiling amused.
They had spent an unknown amount of time lying in front of the fire exchanging kisses, some passionate and toe-curling, some lazy and exploring. All of them learning the other in yet another way.
Finally they had parted and Arthur had gathered the blankets and pillows on the floor while Merlin threw more logs onto it and stroked it higher, and then the two of them had curled up contently together in the little nest, bare skin pressed together deliciously as they both waited for their brains to catch up with the last few hours.
"What...no they…"
"They would if I hurt you I think. I would have a full riot on my hands," Arthur chuckled leaning forward to press their noses together. "They adore you,"
"No, they're friendly sure but…"
"Merlin, they adore you, they're like a bunch of overprotective mothers," Arthur laughed.
"Stop interrupting me," Merlin pouted.
"Sorry," Arthur smiled, and then just because he could pressed a kiss to that pout. "And they prefer you, I think they would skewer themselves if any of them genuinely hurt you, considering how often you manage to get into trouble it is a genuine concern that I have," He added with a mutter.
"I manage to get into?" Merlin squinted at him looking unimpressed.
"Fine, we, mainly you but we," Arthur before chuckling when Merlin shoved at him. He captured Merlin's wrist and raised it to press a kiss to Merlin's wrist. "They are a little obsessed with your happiness though,"
"They're not, but ok, where are you going with this?" Merlin narrowed his eyes. "You usually use that tone when you're trying to tempt me into something stupid,"
"Yes they are. But, well, if I don't do right by you I am fairly sure that they will kill me, sneakily, but they will kill me. So, we should probably get married," Arthur said, aiming for casual and missing by a mile.
"What?! Yes, I was right, that is stupid! Arthur, you can't marry me!" Merlin sat up sharply staring down at the King stunned, and then he registered the broken expression on Arthur's face. "Arthur, I am a servant, your marriage...it needs to be political, we both know that, we both know that the council will never let you marry me," Merlin managed to choke the words out through the tears filling his eyes.
"Wait, let me get this straight because there have been more than enough mixed messages between us. Your only objection is that the council won't agree with our marriage, because I should be marrying for political reasons?" Arthur sat up and spoke calmly and clearly, the same way he did in meetings.
"Yes, Arthur look…"
"Ok, that's fine then. We will announce our engagement when we get back," Arthur nodded and then lay back down. The git actually had the cheek to hold his arms out expectantly to Merlin and look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Arthur have you not listened to a word that I just said. A political marriage, which means that you can not marry me!" Merlin growled poking at Arthur's chest. He yelped when Arthur captured his wrist and yanked him back down into his arms.
"Exactly, it will be a political marriage,"
"You're not making sense," Merlin groaned, desperately fighting down the hope building in his chest.
"Well, your engagement present is that I am bringing magic back to Camelot and reversing all the anti-magic laws that my father implemented, in a months time it will be spread across my whole kingdom and all the neighbouring ones that magic users will be welcomed back into the land, I have been working with the Council for months to get this done properly," Arthur looked nervously into Merlin's eyes as he watched the words sink in. The wizard lay on his chest, opening and closing his mouth in shock. "I think this is the first time that I have actually seen you lost for words,"
"Shut up," Merlin growled. "You're...you're serious?" He asked.
"Yes, completely. So, see our marriage would be political, to the right eyes," Arthur shrugged.
"How?" Merlin frowned. That little flicker of hope was rapidly growing inside of his chest, warming parts of him that had been cold and terrified since he had overheard a conversation between Uther and Arthur and realised that he was destined to watch the man he loved marry, have heirs and make queen or king of someone else.
"I am bringing magic back, it is going to be a dicey political position for a good while. The King being married to a powerful magician, having someone with magic in a position of such power, would strengthen the allies I hope to make and encourage people into realising that it is not a trick to lure them back,"
"A political marriage," In all the years that he had been imagining Arthur's political marriage, he had never, ever, not once imagined himself being the person Arthur would marry.
"You know that it is not a political marriage for me right?" Arthur said sharply, tilting Merlin's face towards him. "I love you, Merlin, with everything that I am I love you. You're the reason I get up of a morning, and you are in my sweetest dreams of a night. You are my hopes and my dreams, you're my strength and my heart. You have made me a better man, and I know that with you at my side, as my Consort, I will be a better King. Merlin, you're everything to me, everything. And even if I couldn't put this to the council as a political marriage, I would still marry you, if I could convince you considering how shockingly self-sacrificing you are….and why are you crying? Oh gods, Bors is going to skewer me," Arthur muttered holding Merlin close.
"What...I….ask me?" Merlin breathed out against Arthur's heart.
"What...oh…" Arthur sat up and held Merlin's face between his hands. "Merlin, no matter what happens in life, I know that I can get through it with you at my side, as long as I have you I can be stronger and steadier than Excalibur. Marry Merin, marry me and make me the happiest man alive?"
"Yes, yes, a hundred times yes!" Merlin laughed throwing himself at Arthur and scattering kisses over his face. "What?" He pulled back as he felt something cool being slid onto his ring finger, looking down he realised that Arthur had slipped his mother's ring onto his finger.
"I know that it is not new, or something that I have bought for you, but there is no ring with diamonds or sapphires, gold or silver, that would be as precious to me, or express my love for you in the same way that this could, and you deserve nothing less," Arthur said nervously.
"I know Arthur," Merlin smiled cupping his face and pressed their lips together sweetly. "I will treasure it always. Arthur, you're everything to me, everything, I love you, I always will. Someone I know said that we are two sides of the same coin, I didn't let myself dream that I could be lucky enough to have this. I love you Arthur, so much, with everything that I am. Everything that I have, everything that I am is yours,"
In the light of the blazing firelight the two of them came together, their words of promise hovering in the air between them, the skin warmed metal was heavy and full of meaning resting on Merlin's finger, and as the warlock clung onto him Arthur was aware of the metal pressing against the skin of his arm, his shoulder, his hip or his face as he made love to the man who had owned his heart for so long.
"Merlin! Are you ok! It is so cold out here!" Bors boomed throwing his cloak around the young servant.
"Are you hurt?"
"Did you find somewhere warm?"
"Did you have something to eat? You must be starving,"
"Did you have something to drink?"
"I have food!"
"I have water!"
"Guys!" Merlin shouted holding up his hands and blinked at the Knights surrounding him, all talking over one another.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking," Arthur said dryly.
"What is that on your finger!" Gwaine shrieked suddenly making everyone jump, and then the Knights eyes all narrowed down onto the ring on his finger.
"For the love you hold for me please tell them that you want to marry me!" Arthur said rapidly, actually taking a step back when the Knights as one all turned to glare at him.
It took ten minutes and Merlin and Arthur becoming more and more incredulous to convince the Knights that they were happy, that yes Merlin wanted to marry Arthur, no he had not forced him into it, and yes he was very happy. Finally, they seemed satisfied and passed around their congratulations to the two of them, ignoring the pointed looks Arthur was shooting Merlin.
"So what now Sire?" Leon asked.
"Now we are going back to Camelot and my scheming, traitor of an uncle is going to be arrested and tried for treason, and hopefully we will entrap Morgana using him," Arthur grit out.
"Your Uncle...Arthur I am sorry," Lamorack shook his head.
"No one is to go easy on him, at all, he is the cause of hurting Merlin a good few times and endangering his life. Do we understand each other?" Arthur looked over them all.
"Yes sire!" They all chorused, ignoring Merlin's embarrassed grumbles.
"The horses are this way," Elyan motioned in the right direction and they carried on their trek through the snow.
"Sire, I want you to know that while a lot of people are going to be happy about your marriage, a lot of people, including the council will not be, something I am sure you're aware of, and well, what I am trying to say is, all the Knights will be behind you," Leon said after five minutes of the Knights shooting looks at each other, clearly trying to choose a spokesperson.
"Thank you, and I will appreciate your support. However, this will be being publicized as a political marriage for those that might protest," Arthur smiled wrapping his arm a little tighter around Merlin when a blast of wind hit them.
"Pol...itical?" The Knights chorused confused.
"Merlin is a magician, I am bringing magic back to the Kingdom, so marrying Merlin will seem perfectly political to those that might protest," Arthur nodded.
"Magician?" The Knights blinked.
"It's a warlock actually, I am much more powerful than a magician," Merlin shrugged.
"Magician," The Knights parroted.
"So, no problems there!" Arthur said brightly. "Sorry I did not realise that I had the wrong term, why didn't you tell me last night?" He frowned to Merlin.
"I was a little distracted with other things last night," Merlin laughed.
"What other things?" Bors broke out of his shock to glare at Arthur.
"Love declarations!" Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Right," They all narrowed their eyes at him.
"I give in," Arthur huffed leading Merlin away as the Knights trailed after them all grumbling and huffing under their breaths.
THE RULES:
1)You always protect the King
2) You obeyed the rules
3) You conducted yourself with honour, chivalry and decorum.
4) The eyes of the kingdom were on them, they should always remember that
5) Arthur's training was hard, and demanding, but it would make them the best
6) They were above no one else
7)At all times make sure that Merlin is near King Arthur, he was much more pleasant with the Manservant in sight.
8) The way they spoke to each other did not mean that they hated each other.
9) Never, Ever try to hurt Merlin, do not make fun of him, do not laugh at him, do not in anyway physically or emotionally hurt Merlin. That was the swiftest way to find yourself in the furthest village of the kingdom shovelling dung - if you were lucky - no one could pin down who made sure you ended up there but you would find yourself there and for a very good reason on paper.
10) Merlin would follow them everywhere, into every situation, and he would do everything that he could to protect Arthur - which was why he had the respect of so many of the Knights.
11) It was their responsibility to protect Merlin. He never went into dangerous situations with armour, he was not a fighter at all, in fact he was quite clumsy and often ended up tripping and falling. Merlin was skinny and small and looked like a stiff wind would blow him over, and they must do everything that they can to protect him.
12) Arthur protected Merlin a lot of the time, but if Arthur was not by Merlin it was their DUTY to protect Merlin.
13) Repeat. Merlin MUST be protected.
14) Never ever question Merlin when you catch him sneaking around
15) If you have to speak to him when you catch him sneaking around, offer an excuse for him, he comes up with terrible ones.
16) If Merlin appears to be trying to kill King Arthur it is not what it seems, protect Merlin and find out what is going on, Gaius likely will be able to heal him.
17) Protect Merlin, even from Arthur if need be.
18) Just DON'T let Merlin out of your sight.
19) Merlin may have magic, but he still needs protecting!
"I don't even think that is legal!" Geraint shouted madly.
"I am fairly sure it is, I write the laws! And it is none of your business anyway!" Arthur shouted back throwing the fruit bowl at Merlin for him to cover himself with. Considering he was too busy glaring at Geraint and not looking at Merlin, he grimaced at the yelp of pain that came from behind him.
"Arthur!" Geraint scolded horrified. Before Arthur could even fully turn around to check on Merlin Geraint had crossed the space between them, taken his cape off and threw it around Merlin, covering him gently. "Come on Merlin,"
"Hey!" Arthur protested as his Knight started leading his Consort to the door.
"Don't worry Merlin, I will look after you. Let's get you something warm to wear and get you something to eat,"
"But…." Merlin stammered.
"You can't just take him away!" Arthur protested.
"You're an animal and don't deserve someone as pure as Merlin!" Geraint threw him a glare of the type Arthur had never seen before.
"But…." Merlin tried again.
"I can't believe you! You should be treasuring him not treating him like some...some…." Geraint sucked in a breath shaking his head as he tightened his grip around Merlin and pulled him to the door.
"But…"
"I wasn't...I didn't….this obsession with my Consort is absolutely ridiculous!" Arthur bellowed as Geraint walked Merlin through the door.
"But…"
"Don't worry Merlin, we will protect you," Geraint assured him.
"But I want my orgasm!" Arthur heard his husband's wail from further down the hall as he stood naked in the middle of his room wondering whether he could replace all his Knights.
THE RULES:
1) You always protect the King
2) You obeyed the rules
3) You conducted yourself with honour, chivalry and decorum.
4) The eyes of the kingdom were on them, they should always remember that
5) Arthur's training was hard, and demanding, but it would make them the best
6) They were above no one else
7) At all times make sure that Merlin is near King Arthur, he was much more pleasant with the Manservant in sight.
8) The way they spoke to each other did not mean that they hated each other.
9) Never, Ever try to hurt Merlin, do not make fun of him, do not laugh at him, do not in anyway physically or emotionally hurt Merlin. That was the swiftest way to find yourself in the furthest village of the kingdom shovelling dung - if you were lucky - no one could pin down who made sure you ended up there but you would find yourself there and for a very good reason on paper.
10) Merlin would follow them everywhere, into every situation, and he would do everything that he could to protect Arthur - which was why he had the respect of so many of the Knights.
11) It was their responsibility to protect Merlin. He never went into dangerous situations with armour, he was not a fighter at all, in fact he was quite clumsy and often ended up tripping and falling. Merlin was skinny and small and looked like a stiff wind would blow him over, and they must do everything that they can to protect him.
12) Arthur protected Merlin a lot of the time, but if Arthur was not by Merlin it was their DUTY to protect Merlin.
13) Repeat. Merlin MUST be protected.
14) Never ever question Merlin when you catch him sneaking around
15) If you have to speak to him when you catch him sneaking around, offer an excuse for him, he comes up with terrible ones.
16) If Merlin appears to be trying to kill King Arthur it is not what it seems, protect Merlin and find out what is going on, Gaius likely will be able to heal him.
17) Protect Merlin, even from Arthur if need be.
18) Just DON'T let Merlin out of your sight.
19) Merlin may have magic, but he still needs protecting!
12) The King is an animal and a pervert and Merlin must be protected from him