Hellooooo I am very sorry for not updating any sooner, I have been busy with university. But alas here is the next chapter. I have noticed that my writing style has been waning a bit, probably due to the busyness during the first few settling weeks of uni but dont worry IMMA TURN IT UP.

Chapter 9: Get Lucky

Dusk had arrived and Merlin was already fashionably late. Arthur wanted to make sure everything was perfect and for that, he had to wear the perfect matching set of clothing. It wasn't that Merlin had started preparing for the date late, it was more like Arthur had spent more than one hour deciding which clothes to lend. After finding the 'perfect' set of clothes, Arthur would change his mind and present another set. Merlin scowled throughout the whole process, growing tiresome of the prince's indecisiveness but went along with it anyway.

"To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't mind wearing even your sleep wear to the date. They are expensive enough to be deemed formal wear. And I'm pretty sure I can dress myself." Merlin claimed.

"Don't be ridiculous. I wouldn't want you getting food all over them and I'd have to sleep in it smelling of whatever you had eaten." Arthur says, frantically fumbling among the gold buttons of the embroidered shirt he had put on Merlin.

The clothes were slightly ill fitting on Merlin's much smaller frame especially since the illness had taken away more pounds from his body. The trousers were especially a problem as they continued to slip past Merlin's waist. A belt had been put in place but an extra hole had to be poked out. Arthur also took the extra time to style Merlin's bushy hair, brushing out the tangles and patting it flat. Merlin quite liked the treatment, as opposed to having a bucket of dirty water being poured over his hair. As much as how relaxing it felt, Merlin took notice that Alfie has probably been waiting for him for a while now.

"Arthur, don't worry about the hair, Alfie has probably been waiting for a bit now. Thanks for...well," Merlin points to his clothing and his face "All of this anyways."

Merlin released from Arthur's grasp and grabbed his satchel. Just as he was about to leave the room, Arthur set his heavy hands on Merlin's shoulders bringing him close, eye level.

"Hold on there, you are not leaving without a pep talk. This is your first date for christ sake!"

He settled Merlin against the wall, the lanky boy resisting and wanting to get on with the damn date.

"Listen here, my man servant friend. There has come a time, in every man's life, where they have endured a horrible date and usually, this date would be the FIRST DATE. But I don't want you having a disappointing date, I need for this date to go perfectly!"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "For god's sake I'm pretty sure I will be fine! Besides, Alfie seems like a sweet boy."

"My point is, you used to be an awkward, slightly uncomfortable and completely unfunny, pimply faced loser. Now, since everything we have done for Camelot, people WILL be seeing you as slightly cooler than you actually are. Now I beg of you, DO NOT RETURN TO THE SAME AWKWARD, SLIGHTLY UNCOMFROTABLE AND COMPLETELY UNFUNNY PERSONA!" Arthur worries. Merlin only shook him off, already confident in his princely clothes and gussied hair.

"I will be fine!" Merlin repeats once again, an attempt to calm the prince.

"Okay, brethren now go have fun!"

Merlin bows to his prince. Then he spins on his heels and walks towards the door to leave.

"Oh and take my horse!" Arthur shouts across the room.

"Will do!" Merlin replies, already intending to take the prince's horse anyways.

"AND TELL ME EVERYTHING AFTERWARDS!"

By then, Merlin had already left the room.

Arthur sat on his bed, unable to shake the ugly feeling deep inside of him, envious of Alfie. In a way, the prince is happy that Merlin is on a date, but upset that it couldn't be with him. Alfie is a good looking boy, he had to admit, with his golden locks, bright turquoise eyes, strong jaw line and soft puckered lips. If this date goes on well enough, there may be a second date. Then if all their dates are successful, they may become official which leads to possible marriage if Camelot allows it. And what if the date goes badly...

Arthur then remembers, Merlin's condition. This may be the only obstacle preventing Merlin from achieving all of this from his bucket list. Obviously, they cannot rush things, but time is ticking.

Arthur then sprung up from his bed. He removed his current clothes and put on the clothes Merlin had been previously wearing. It was very snug but wearable enough. He may as well be there watching Merlin and Alfie to make sure the date goes well.

Bursting through Morgana's chambers, disrupting the peacefulness of the ward's nap, Arthur rummaged through her chests in search of anything to disguise his face. Morgana moans in frustration as she is awakened by the cluttering noises the prince was making.

"What on earth are you looking for?!" Morgana spat, voice still sweet sounding despite her annoyance.

Arthur continued to look through her chests and drawers. "Anything to cover or hide my face. Like a hat or a hood." he replies.

"Well, you could just ask instead of messing up my drawers!" Morgana says. She swings her legs off the side of her bed and grabs the hood placed on the nearest chair.

"Here, take this. The hood was too big for my head anyways so that must definitely mean it would be large enough to hide half of your face."

She hands him the green hood and a bonnet. Needless to say, once the prince tried it on, the combination of tight fitting clothes and the feminine bonnet and hood made him look ridiculous. But the prince couldn't care less, as long as people do not know it's him.

Then, the prince remembered one missing piece of his disguise...if Morgana would like to cooperate.

"I will be needing one more thing by the way and you may not like the idea..." Arthur says.

"What is it?"

"I need a moustache to ensure that they cannot make out my face completely. Or preferably a beard so...I may need some hair."

Morgana runs.

/

/

/

Merlin walks into the tavern finding Alfie in the corner of the room. He smiles brightly at him when they make eye contact. Eerily, the tavern was peaceful.

"Hi, Alfie. Sorry I am late, Arthur has become a perfectionist and took too much effort in making sure I don't look a mess."

Alfie chuckled. "Oh don't worry Merlin, I have just arrived a few moments before you anyways. By the way, you look stunning in gold and black."

Merlin blushed. "Oh thank you, Alfie. And you look as sweet as ever."

The two settled and made their order. Arthur had arranged for the tavern to cook the pair a meal each just this once, and to minimise the amount of rowdy men that entered to make the atmosphere peaceful. Simple bribery was obviously used for this to happen. The servers even brought the pair a scented candle to be placed between them for the extra ambiance. Merlin thought to himself 'Arthur had definitely outdone himself on this'.

As the night goes by, Merlin finds himself enjoying Alfie's company and Alfie returning the same feelings. He had found out that Alfie owns and manages his family farm most of the time. In his spare time, he thoroughly enjoys poetry, a trait in which Merlin also enjoys. As Alfie excuses himself to the restroom, a server walks by Merlin and hands him a note.

How is it going and why haven't you two kissed or held hands yet?

-A

Merlin glances behind him to find a hooded figure with a ridiculously long moustache smiling at him. Merlin, slightly unnerved at the stranger, ignores him and returned to his food.

"Pssssst!"

Merlin turns around again and notice the moustache is gone. The hood was lifted to reveal the grinning prince.

"Arthur what in the hell?!-"

Arthur placed his index finger on the centre of his mouth, a sign to keep quiet. He giggled to himself, acknowledging how ridiculously extra he is. Merlin, slightly unimpressed at Arthur despite his efforts, felt a bit embarrassed knowing Arthur had been watching. He had told some personal things to Alfie, a few embarrassing stories here and there. Now Arthur may have heard.

Alfie returns back to the table with a bottle of wine.

"Oh my, Alfie. How much was that?"

"Don't worry about it. It's on me." Alfie smiles sweetly.

"No I can't let you pay for this yourself!" Merlin pulls out his satchel and offers to pay back the boy but Alfie insists.

As the pair were sipping on their wine, Merlin slightly tipsy from being a lightweight, Alfie decided to finally reveal a few secrets he knew he was not meant to reveal.

"Merlin, how exactly do you perceive your relationship with Arthur?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Why would you ask that?" he asks.

"I was just wondering. You two seemed close, which you are I'm assuming."

Merlin sipped his wine loudly, slightly embarrassed knowing that Arthur could hear everything. As of this moment, he knows his mouth and brain have no filters when under the influence.

"We are servant and prince. Just that I guess. I guess you could say we have become best friends."

Alfie looked unconvinced. "Are you sure?"

"I guess." Merlin's face is turning red. He knows fully well his feelings for Arthur. Alfie was definitely sensing something no one else had noticed. He had no idea how as he thought he had hid it pretty well. Alfie leaned his face closer to Merlin, signaling to whisper in his ear.

"Here's the thing, Merlin. I have been in love before although I have never been on a date. I can tell that Arthur cares dearly for you."
Merlin laughs a bit. "Of course he does! I've saved his ass more times than I can count!"

Alfie shook his head. "No! Not like that though. I mean, in a way that lovers care for each other."

Merlin choked on his drink. Spluttering. He managed to mutter out a 'what?' in the process.

"I'll let you in on a little secret." Alfie looks up at Merlin in the eyes.

"Before I met you, Arthur says that you have a condition and that in your bucket list, you wanted to have a first date and probably get married. I know that Arthur has been helping you accomplish the rest of the things on your list as evident by this date with me. I think, that the reason why he wants the entire date to be perfect, is because he loves you. And I know he loves you more than as a friend."

Merlin laughed it off. As much as he wanted Arthur, hearing this sounded slightly unrealistic. Arthur seemed one hundred percent hetero. Plus, he is the prince!

"So Arthur loves me, that's why he set me up on a date with you? Hardly makes sense, I'm sorry!"

"No really, he loves you. Do you know what he told me before he got you ready for this date? He told me to make you happy for him. On behalf of him. He loves you so much that he is willing to let you go with me so that you can complete your bucket list. The only question here is if you love him back. Well, do you?"

Alfie eyed Merlin, watching the slightly drunken warlock redden in complexion and slowly nodding his head, overwhelmed by the emotions rushing through him. Emotions of sadness, happiness and relief all at once as tears started to roll down his sunken cheeks.

In a hushed tone, his voice breaking, he whispers "I do."

Alfie smiled at his response. His hands locked with Merlin's as an attempt to help the boy regather his composure.

"Then go to him. Tell him. It should've been him on this date with you, and it should be him who should have you." Alfie encourages.

At this point, Merlin couldn't be happier. He gave Alfie a quick peck on the cheek and thanked him before jumping out of his seat.

Arthur, alarmed at the rate at which Merlin was darting towards him, didn't have enough time to question him as Merlin grabbed his arm and pulled them outside the tavern.

"Merlin! You can't just leave your date!"

"Yes I can! He let me!"

The pair found themselves behind the tavern, where no one was watching. Arthur was surprised with a tight embrace, Merlin's arms snaking around the prince's thick neck and burying his face into his chest.

"Woah, what is all this for?" Arthur exclaimed when suddenly noticing a liquid seeping through the shirt he is wearing. He cupped Merlin's face and noticed the tears on the boy's face.

"Hey, what's wrong? Did he make you cry? I swear to god I will punch that boy-"

"No, Arthur! It's not that." Merlin says, in between tears. "I'm just drunken, in love, and I know that you are in love too! I've been told and I know you do not want to hide it any longer! So please just tell me! I need to hear it from you!"

Arthur grasps Merlin's form. He leans down, eye level to Merlin's. "So it was obvious? Who did you hear it from?"

"From Alfie. Please, is it true?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, Merlin."

"Just tell me! I need to hear it!"

Arthur hesitated. Maybe Merlin already knew and is crying because he's upset that their friendship has been jeopardised by his feelings. The prince mentally prepared himself. The truth had to be let out.

"It's you, Merlin. I love you! There I said it! And I am sorry."

Merlin suddenly pulled the prince's face to meet his. Their noses touched. Merlin, full of emotion, gasped out "I love you too, your highness."

And slowly, Merlin pressed his dry lips onto the prince's softer, moist lips. In their minds, passion, pleasure and pain intertwined with the sweet taste of their own poison lingered as their lips mimicked each others, and their tongues danced with each other. Arthur never thought that this kiss would bring out so many emotions that had been locked inside of him for years. He lifted Merlin's body up into his arms and carried him never breaking the contact between their lips as they let passion control their actions. Merlin broke the kiss, hands tangled in the prince's hair. A few silences were shared between the pair, aware of the sin they had committed. Then out of no where, Arthur began to giggle. Merlin soon followed afterwards.

"Well who would've known, that all these years I had been crushing on you, you were actually crushing on me back!" Arthur exclaims. He brings Merlin back to his own feet to lead towards the horse.

"I know! This is crazy!"

"We've done crazier!"

"Markarth."

"Dragon riding."

Arthur smiles at the memories. "And I guess, this first date and first kiss is ticked off your list."

Merlin returns the smile. "Yes. And I am happy the kiss was with you...although the first date isn't."

"Oh so you don't considered what we had done together before hand as dates?! I am offended!"

"I don't consider Markarth as a date because we could've been completely ravaged by those thieves!"

The two bickered off into the moonlight, just like an old married couple as they rode their way back into the palace.