Chapter Text
The days went by. The weeks passed with Arthur in search of a modicum of restraint.
Merlin had limited his caresses, understanding Arthur's discomfort due to them, and had moved away from him, the sad look avoiding him every time, a flash of pain in his posture every time he observed the king, before turning around and continuing his chores.
Arthur suffered with Merlin, but he could not give up. Instead he should have done what was best for Merlin, at least until Gaius brought a solution for the situation.
It was after a couple of weeks that Arthur realized he couldn't do it. His decision had been right, but Merlin was losing weight visibly, his clothes fell extremely loose on him and Arthur couldn't just sit there and do nothing .
He reached over to him, held him and kissed him, all while he mumbled an apology.
“Gaius told me about the love potion,” were the words that left Merlin's mouth, making Arthur gasp in response. Of all that could have caused Merlin's discomfort, he never imagined it would be something said by Gaius. Although, perhaps, Merlin was afraid of not having free will. Or worse, he was now free from the potion and despised Arthur for not having noticed, or for having taken advantage of it so shamelessly. "Merlin..." The protest, or plea, that Arthur was about to make was stopped by Merlin, which said. “I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at me . I remember the vial, I… I thought it was water, for some reason, and I just drank it. But I don't feel any different. I feel as usual. Maybe less worried, or less eager to hide, but I don't feel trapped , I don't think it's made me feel anything I didn't feel before ."
Arthur blinked. “Then why did you leave? If it doesn't feel like you're in chains or constrained?”
“Because you think so, and I was making you uncomfortable with my affection. So even if it hurts, I want to make you happy." Merlin blinked, his blue eyes extremely bright in the candlelight and sunlight. Arthur felt so unworthy of the man standing before him. Who would fight against the urges of a love potion for him ?
Maybe… maybe Morgana was right. Maybe Merlin had always loved him and now he didn't feel the need to hide it anymore. Maybe he didn't have to love him, and he wasn't forced to act like this. Maybe they could be something more.
Maybe there was hope for Arthur.
“I love you, Merlin,” Arthur said, before leaning in and sighing. “I stayed away out of a sense of duty. You are not you and I was abusing your situation. You never kissed me, you never let on that you felt something so strong and deep for me. And I was so happy when you did that I didn't even question it. I'm sorry, Merlin. I love you, now and until my dying day."
Arthur leaned in to kiss Merlin, and as their lips met, both were enveloped in a golden light, a light that surrounded them and emanated from Merlin.
When they parted, Merlin put a hand to his temple. “What the hell just happened?”
*****
That potion needed a statement from your loved one, to be undone.
Merlin loved Arthur, and to free him from the potion, Arthur had to love Merlin.
Merlin laughed, passing a hand on Arthur's shoulder and saying. "Well, that's sure to be a good story for the wedding."
The ring with the Pendragon symbol shone brighter as Merlin spoke these words.
Yes , Arthur thought, as he reached down to kiss his betrothed's lips, it would make a beautiful story.