Chapter Text
In less than two week’s time, at the end of the tournament, Arthur would be announcing his engagement. After that, there’d only be another month before he’d be crowned prince and married. He’d no longer have nights like this, waiting up for Merlin to join him. Instead, Merlin would leave Arthur behind to lock himself in the antechamber at night.
It seemed like laying in bed in each other’s arms was the only time they really had together lately. What would happen when they no longer reliably had even that?
Merlin would be staying in the antechamber, wouldn’t he? Or would he return to Gaius’s tower, sleeping once again in that little room far from Arthur?
“Something on your mind?” Gwaine asked, and Arthur looked over at him, a little surprised to be reminded of Gwaine’s presence.
“No.”
“Really? Because you’ve been reading that one page for an alarmingly long time.”
Arthur dropped the page to the desk and crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. “Fine. I’m just sitting here considering how wrong my life has gone to end up with you here. In Camelot. In my room. With your dirty boots on my bed.” And using Merlin’s pillow.
“Because you paid me to come,” Gwaine reminded him, smiling up at the canopy of the bed. “Besides, my boots,” Gwaine said, wiggling them for emphasis, “wouldn’t be on your bed if you hadn’t ordered me to get away from you.”
“You were reading over my shoulder,” Arthur said through gritted teeth.
“I was offering you my help.”
“I don’t need your help reading my reports nor would I want you gossiping over any of this,” Arthur said, gesturing over the documents, “with all your friends down in the tavern.”
“I don’t gossip!” Gwaine said, scandalized. “I collect gossip and leads. For Merlin. I only wanted to offer you some friendly advice.”
“I don’t need advice from you. I have been doing this for years on my own.”
“Ahh,” Gwaine said, grinning broadly. “Then why do you let Merlin read them?”
Arthur sighed and rubbed his temples. “Please tell me Merlin isn’t telling you confidential information.”
“He trusts me and my experience,” Gwaine said defensively.
Because of course Merlin trusted Gwaine. “Why couldn’t Leon be the one to sit in here with me? At least he would have been useful.” He’d trust Leon to go through the reports with him.
“Because you already dragged him around all day. But don’t worry, Princess. Merlin will be back soon and I’ll get out of your hair for the evening.”
“Soon? I’ve been over every scout report three times since the last time you said soon!”
“No need to get snippy.”
“I’m not snippy.”
“Just because you get to have dinners and garden parties all day doesn’t mean the rest of us don’t have important things to do.” Which seemed rather ironic coming from the man who was currently lounging in Arthur’s bed rather than doing anything useful himself. Guarding Arthur was just an excuse to be lazy apparently.
“I would gladly trade with you,” Arthur grumbled. Gwaine would have probably enjoyed every minute of the garden party. “Then I could go off and do… whatever it is that you do all day.”
Gwaine smiled. “I’m afraid I would have had to turn you down had you offered. My visit today with Bodwyn was much more enjoyable.”
Arthur slapped a hand down on the desk as he sat straight up, his chair creaking in complaint. “What did you just say?”
Gwaine sat up enough that he rested on his elbows so he could look at Arthur. “I visited Bodwyn today. To reschedule Merlin’s clinic,” Gwaine said, his tone innocent.
“Uh huh. Do I need to worry about rumors surrounding your visit?”
Gwaine seemed to contemplate this for a moment before shrugging. “Maybe.”
Arthur sighed, dropping his head into his hands. “How’s Merlin’s training going? Can I banish you yet?”
“You’d miss me too much if you did.”
Arthur glared through his fingers which only earned him a laugh.
“Speaking of Merlin’s training, we did go a few rounds today before I dropped him off with Morgana. He’s actually improving faster than I’d thought he would.”
“Is he?”
Gwaine’s hand rubbed at his chest with a grimace, and Arthur noticed a bruise faintly visible at the bottom of his deeply open collar. “Got me pretty good today. I’m starting to regret teaching him how to throw his daggers.”
“Glad to hear it wasn’t Merlin getting hurt again,” Arthur said pointedly.
Gwaine looked a bit sheepish. Hopefully still remembering his and Arthur’s last ‘discussion’ about that. Just because it had been Morgana laying the blows, Arthur couldn’t forgive the instructor for letting it happen. Arthur didn’t just let his knights hurt each other when under his care.
Arthur sighed again and leaned back in his chair, thoroughly exhausted by the day. There’d been so much conversing that he’d barely had time to even worry about Merlin traipsing all over the woods without him. By the time he’d slipped away from dinner, Merlin and Lancelot had already returned, though apparently unsuccessful. Still, he’d not seen either man in person yet.
“Merlin is probably just as anxious to see you as you are him.”
“Just shut up, Gwaine,” Arthur said wearily.
“This,” Gwaine gestured at the bruise on his chest, “happened just after I told Merlin about your little run in with Sophia today.”
“He did that out of anger?” Arthur asked, appalled.
“To be fair, I was refusing to talk about it until he beat me, so he did.” Gwaine grimaced as he rubbed it again. “Adeptly so.”
Merlin fought for him, at the thought that Arthur had been in danger. Early in their relationship, Merlin had insisted that he wanted to ride with Arthur to be able to fight to save Arthur himself. It seemed that was quickly becoming a possibility.
Voices from outside drifted through the door. One he recognized as Merlin’s.
Arthur found himself already on his feet and halfway around his desk before he had the conscious thought to move. He forced himself to stop, his hand gripping the edge of his desk like an anchor.
Laughter rang out and the door opened.
As Merlin stepped into the room, his smile disappeared almost as soon as he crossed the threshold, his eyes immediately searching the room until he locked onto Arthur and strode directly for him.
“Merlin-”
His boyfriend’s body hit him hard enough to knock the air from his lungs as Merlin pulled him into a tight embrace. Merlin didn’t say anything. Just held him.
Arthur returned the hug and Merlin sighed contentedly, adjusting to rest his chin on Arthur’s shoulder.
From the bed, Gwaine pointed at Merlin and mouthed, “I told you!”
Arthur flashed Gwaine his bow fingers, which just made Gwaine chuckle.
When Lancelot finally stepped inside and closed the door, Gwaine had just gotten out of their bed, but Merlin was still holding on tightly to Arthur.
“I missed you, too,” Arthur said with a chuckle, patting Merlin’s back.
Merlin gripped fistfuls of fabric at Arthur’s back. “You are never going to let yourself get cornered again or I will never let you out of my sight again.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?” Arthur asked. “Because I wouldn’t mind having you glued to my side forever.”
Merlin pulled away. “I mean it, Arthur. After everything we’ve done to try to keep you safe-”
“I know, Merlin. I promise, it wasn’t intentional.”
“Okay,” Merlin said with a deep sigh. “But are you sure you’re alright? She didn’t do anything to you?”
Exasperated, Arthur explained, “Just like I told Leon repeatedly, all she did before he showed up was thank me for saving her and her father.”
Merlin studied him skeptically for a few moments before nodding once. “Alright.” Then Merlin brandished a finger at him. “But if you start feeling weird or something seems off, promise that you’ll tell one of us.”
“If I notice anything, I promise I’ll say something.”
“Good.”
“I will take my leave, now that you two are here,” Gwaine said, walking to the door. “Since I know you two will need an early start in the morning to make it back in time for the clinic, Arthur, I will see you bright and early.”
“Why you?” Arthur asked with a groan.
“Because Leon’s already getting dragged on your little ride in the afternoon, so he’s taking the morning for other things.”
“Like what?” Arthur asked.
“Not my business,” Gwaine said with a shrug as he opened the door. “Now you three have fun, but remember: the tournament is coming up the day after tomorrow, so you need to start conserving your strength, Princess. Can’t have you staying up all night just because you haven’t seen each other since morning.”
“Goodnight, Gwaine,” Merlin called, one fist still clutching at Arthur’s tunic. Gwaine sent him a wink before closing the door.
“Would either of you be offended if I take my leave and head to bed?” Lancelot asked.
“No,” Arthur said quickly. “Sleep well.”
“Thank you, sire.” Lancelot gave a small bow of his head and slipped out of the room, the lock on the antechamber door sliding into place.
-
Once in bed, Arthur immediately curled into Merlin’s side, who pulled him close and held him there.
“I'm glad you made it back safely. I know you were with Lancelot, and that he’d rather die than let anything happen to you, but today was miserable without you,” Arthur murmured against Merlin’s chest.
“You didn’t enjoy all the women vying for your attention?” Merlin asked, combing his fingers through Arthur’s hair.
“No. Vivian practically accosted me because Morgana wanted to test some theory about whether or not the enchantment was growing stronger or not - which it’s thankfully not. Then one harpy practically admitted to counting down the days until my father and I died so she could take over. I just… most of them couldn’t care less about me. All they see is the title.”
“And your handsome face,” Merlin pointed out, remembering Mithian’s arrival. “And your skill with a sword. And how you treated the children today. And-”
“Do you want them to like me?” Arthur asked.
“Yes,” Merlin said earnestly, and then he considered what it would mean for them to like him. “And no.”
“You have to pick one or the other.”
“I want everyone to like you,” Merlin explained, “to know you are good and kind despite how you sometimes come across. I want you to be surrounded by people who support you and have your best interests at heart. I just…” He thought back to his conversation with Morgana. “I worry what would happen if they like you too much.” If they get possessive and jealous about Arthur's affection for him.
Arthur scoffed, and Merlin was glad Arthur couldn't see his reaction on his face.
“You mean like Vivian?” Arthur teased. “Because that would be rather terrifying.”
Merlin nudged Arthur's head gently with the shoulder he was laying on. “I don't mean enchantments, but in some ways, yes like Vivian.”
“I doubt we have to worry about that,” Arthur said flatly.
“Why not?”
“Do you find me more than acceptable?” Arthur asked. The question seemed ridiculous, but Arthur’s tone was serious.
“‘More than acceptable’?”
Arthur nodded.
Merlin hugged Arthur. “Yes, Arthur. I find you more than acceptable. Why would you ask it that way?”
“Someone called me acceptable today,” Arthur said, his distaste evident.
Merlin nodded. “So she had a better first impression of you than I did when we met.”
“I don't want to be just acceptable,” Arthur mumbled, his arm wrapping tighter around Merlin’s middle.
“Well, I find you extraordinary,” Merlin said, kissing the top of Arthur’s head.
“Yeah?” Arthur asked, his tone lighter.
“Of course I do.” He started rubbing the back of Arthur’s neck with his fingers. “And whoever you choose,” Merlin said, his voice growing quiet, “we'll make sure they feel the same. You deserve someone that loves you.”
“That's why I have you.”
Merlin held him a little tighter.
-
Merlin pushed the handkerchief into Arthur’s hands. “Gwen finished the sewing project for Vivian, and you need to give it to her today.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Arthur shoved it back into Merlin’s arms. “I can’t give her a gift! She’s already calling me her future husband! She thinks I already proclaimed to everyone that she has my heart!”
“Oh. That’s… not great.” But Merlin pushed it back into Arthur’s arms. “But you still have to!”
“Why me?”
“It’s actually a… a magic repellent of sorts.”
Arthur froze with the cloth in his hand. “A magic what?!”
Merlin pulled Gwaine’s excuse from his memory. “It’s just some herbs that are supposed to disrupt the enchantment! Gaius thought it had a chance, so Gwen sewed them in for us, but Vivian has to carry it, so you giving it to her will ensure that she does!”
“It’s going to look like I’m favoring her!” Arthur said, shaking the cloth in Merlin’s face.
“Well… then give everyone else a gift too!”
“Like what?” Arthur asked flatly.
“Um… poems?”
Arthur glared at him.
“Fine. I’ll see if Morgana has anything that you can give out. Do you know how many you, uh, would favor?” Merlin wasn’t sure if he hoped Arthur said a dozen or just one.
Arthur considered for a few moments before saying, “Three.”
Merlin’s gut twisted. “Three?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I can’t slight Bayard’s daughter, so I’d like to give her one. And Elena, or my father would likely disown me. And Mithian.”
Mithian.
“Morgana likes her,” Arthur added.
Merlin didn’t trust himself to speak, so he just nodded, but Arthur was staring down at the cloth in his hand.
Merlin walked to the antechamber and lightly knocked on the door. “Lancelot, are you nearly ready to head out?”
-
“Arthur!” Sophia said with a wide smile as she stepped out from around the corner, blocking Arthur's path to the stairs.
Gwaine pressed himself close to Arthur’s side, as if protecting him. The move made Arthur feel a bit silly, as if he were defenseless himself, needing to rely on a bodyguard to save him from a woman.
Sophia’s eyes flicked over Gwaine with annoyance, but turned her attention to Arthur. “I hear you are going for a ride this afternoon.”
“I was invited to accompany Morgana as she rides with a few friends,” Arthur acknowledged.
“You have yet to give me a tour of the area. I think-”
Gwaine stepped forward. “My lady, surely you aren’t attempting to invite yourself to Morgana’s plans? That would be rather… crude, don’t you think?”
Her eyes narrowed for a moment before she flashed a large smile at Arthur again. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind, if you’d agree.”
Arthur chuckled. “If you believe that, you don’t know Morgana.”
Sophia pressed her lips together as she composed herself. Then she tried again. “Aren’t you the prince?”
“Why don’t you remind Morgana of that and see how that goes,” Arthur said. “Until then, please excuse us. We have to-”
“Arthur? Arthur! My love!” Vivian’s voice called from behind them.
“Oh, crap,” Arthur hissed, shoving past Sophia as he and Gwaine practically threw themselves down the stairs. Once at the bottom, Arthur skidded to a stop, motioning back upstairs. “We needed the first floor-”
“My love! Wait!” Vivian’s voice echoed down the staircase.
“Too bad,” Gwaine muttered, grabbing Arthur by the arm and pulling him further down the corridor towards the kitchens.
“Gwaine, wait! I don’t want the entire kitchen staff to see me hiding from a woman!”
“Then it's a good thing we aren’t going to the kitchen.”
“Then where-”
Gwaine yanked Arthur behind a tapestry that fluttered shut just as Vivian’s voice grew clearer. “Arthur?” Vivian called.
Arthur held his breath and Gwaine stood between him and the tapestry, keeping Arthur pressed against the stone wall, motioning for silence. Arthur didn’t let himself breathe again until Vivian's footsteps hurried past, raising a bit of a ruckus down the hallway as she entered the kitchen.
“How’d you know this was here?” Arthur hissed as Gwaine peeked out.
Gwaine flashed him a smile and whispered back, “Most of the servants know it’s here. They use it to hide when nobles come through to avoid extra chores.”
“Do they?” Arthur asked, thinking of times where he’d looked for servants and couldn’t find any. Luckily for him, Merlin was usually around. Until he wasn’t. At least now Merlin was telling him when he was disappearing.
Gwaine hummed an affirmative to his question.
“How many of these hiding spots are there?”
Gwaine shrugged. “A fair few, I’m sure.”
“And how did you learn of them?” Because Arthur had never even heard of them, and he’d lived here his entire life. Did his father know? Or Leon? Because if not, this seemed to be a rather important security risk. Especially if servants were comfortable telling people like Gwaine about them.
“When I find myself with spare time, I like to spend it with company.”
Of course Gwaine would spend his time distracting the servants. “What-”
“Shh!” Gwaine hissed, pressing himself back inside as the scampering of slippered feet hurried past the tapestry again before it faded away.
“And what do you do with said company? In dark alcoves like this?” Arthur asked pointedly, though still whispering.
“Exactly what you’re thinking, Princess.” Gwaine had no hint of regret or guilt in his voice as he peeked around the tapestry again.
Arthur grabbed Gwaine by the tunic and shoved him into the wall, leaning close to his face. “You cannot be doing such things while my father believes-”
“Calm down,” Gwaine whispered, placing his hand on Arthur’s chest to push him back gently. “This all happened before your supposed claim on me, alright? That little misunderstanding has seriously restricted my options for companionship. Most are terrified of slighting you. Or don’t want to hurt Merlin.”
“Merlin? How would you messing around hurt Merlin?”
“Because he leads your little harem. Everyone knows he’s the one that presents us to you, and if we step out of line, that’ll reflect on him, and Uther wouldn’t be pleased.”
“What do you mean everyone knows?!”
Gwaine waved his hand through the air and Arthur interpreted that as the entire castle. The pit of Arthur’s stomach sank. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not,” Gwaine said.
“My father, he’ll-”
“He’s the one that sent a letter to the head of the guards threatening them to keep their noses out of your business after one tried to tattle to Uther about us.”
“He did what?!”
“And the servants all find it sweet that you allow Lancelot to still be with Gwen, despite him warming your bed each night now. They love Gwen.”
“Are you going to ask for the same? Because I’m not giving you leave to make your way through the entire castle!”
“You’ve already given me permission with Bodwyn, and that’s been enough.”
“So now everyone knows that my lovers apparently need more than just me to be satisfied?” Arthur asked, incredulously.
“Only because you’re so taken with Merlin. That’s been obvious since the day he arrived.”
“It wasn’t-”
“Oh yes, it was.”
Furious, Arthur shoved past Gwaine and into the hallway.
“Arthur,” Uther’s voice said calmly.
Arthur froze and turned on his heel to face him. “Hello, Father.”
Uther’s eyes moved to Gwaine, who had only half-exited the alcove. Uther sighed. “I see you’ve found the hidden alcoves. Don’t get caught. The ladies are about,” Uther said, mimicking Gwaine's earlier gesture to indicate the entire castle.
“We know. That’s why we were hiding,” Gwaine said.
Arthur elbowed Gwaine in the gut. “Sorry, Father.”
Uther just shook his head and walked away.