Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Oh no, you didn't?" Merlin's blue eye were the size of saucers as his friend walked into the room.

Percival began laughing, unable to verbally express his amazement at Gwaine's new look. The other man's hair was now as short as his own. Gone were the locks of chestnut brown that hung around his face and neck...and the natural curls at the ends, were a thing of the past. Even more startling, was the clean shaven face which appeared completely out of place on the former knight and made his nose seem just a bit longer.

"Well," he said flippantly. "You said so yourself, that you don't want to make the bride angry. So...I consulted Martha and we debated between a tux or my Dress Blues. She felt it would be more fitting for me to wear the uniform...since you are wearing your UNIT dress, as well."

"All my years...and they have been many..."

"...As you keep reminding us." Mickey quipped, rolling his eyes.

"I never thought I would see you with short hair." Merlin wiped away an invisible tear and sniffled, glancing at Percival. "Our little Gwaine is all grown up."

Unconsciously, Gwaine flicked his head, as if trying to knock his now non-existent hair back. "Eh, I'll have to go back to work sometime. I figured I might as well get the worst part over with."

The wedding itself was an affair grander than Merlin personally wanted, but this day was for Martha. It was a lesson he learned long ago when he first suggested to Mithian that they tone things down for the massive ceremony when they joined. The Nemethian Princess, already stressed beyond reason over the state of affairs, held her chin high, teardrops glistening in her eyes. She diplomatically explained to her soon-to-be husband that a royal wedding was not to be taken lightly. It was a day she had dreamed of since she was a small girl, and it was what her mother would have wished for her.

"If that is what you truly wish, we should find a compromise and I will find a way to send all the visiting dignitaries home." Mithian let an unvocalized sigh hang in the air.

Properly browbeaten with guilt, Merlin acquiesced to his bride and, despite his own frayed nerves, never said anymore about it. As he had stood next to her on the dais in the Great Hall, the crowds of people faded away. The glowing smile and sparkling eyes of his princess made it all worthwhile. He never again argued with any of his wives when it came to that one particular day of their lives. Merlin would live on and see other weddings, but for the women he had married throughout the centuries, he was happy to let them decide their own wedding day.

Martha was no exception. Even though he had to remind her on occasion that it was HER day...and not her mother's.

Francine Jones had cried from the pews as her eldest daughter spoke the vows of marriage. Merlin had to bite back a smirk at the spectacle his new mother-in-law was creating.

A DJ played music 'too loudly', according to Percival, who was still adjusting to the modern lifestyle. The guests gathered in a lavishly decorated banquet hall filled to the brim with flowers, balloons, organza, and streamers as the newlyweds made their way in. The announcement of the couple's entrance raised a loud cacophony of cheers and whistles. Soon they were seated at the table on a raised platform while dinner was brought out. After the main course was served, the toasts began.

Most were rather predictable, wishing Merlin and Martha the best, as they set out in their new lives together. But then came the one Merlin was dreading...Gwaine, in his position as best man, was handed a microphone.

Gwaine smiled and ran his right hand over his head, still unused to the lack of hair after so many years. "Wow, what do I say? I could tell you all a lot of secrets, but then he'd probably do something horrible to me. So, that really wouldn't be such a good thing."

He cleared his throat and grasped the back of his chair, to keep his balance. "A long time ago, I was feeling a bit lost in life and that's when I met this man. I helped save him that day...but little does he realize, just how much he saved me. He proved to me, at a time when I didn't believe in much, that there was still something good out there. I watched for a while and helped him out when I could...or whenever he would finally swallow his pride enough to actually ask.

"It was by some miracle that we were recently reunited, and he once again helped me to find belief in myself and the world. I really can't imagine my life now without my best friend.

"I've only known Martha for a very short time, but she is as amazing of a woman as any I could imagine, and I'm grateful that she came into his life...Someone who can be there for him, the way he has been there for others.

"Merlin, you really deserve this happiness I now see in your eyes and your step. Martha, you really have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, do you?" Gwaine winked roguishly at the bride.

Merlin shook his head and shot Gwaine a mirth-filled glare. Martha laughed and smiled. "Perhaps not, but I look forward to finding out."

"Percival!" Jack Harkness smiled and placed his hand on the large knight's shoulder. "Care to dance?"

Stiffening, Percival glanced around nervously. Mickey had explained a bit more about the Torchwood Captain, and how modern society was more accepting of people such as Jack. However, that didn't mean Percival wanted to be on the receiving end of such attention. His eyes darted about, as he tried to search out his friends for assistance. "Um...I'd rather not."

Unfortunately for Jack, he wasn't a man let sleeping dogs lie. "Oh come on, it's just a dance, not like I plan on taking you to bed with me. Okay, actually I wouldn't mind if that's where it led to, but it's just here on the dancefloor, you're perfectly safe." Unable to help himself, Jack patted Percival on his backside.

Mickey, holding a video camera, managed to capture a digitized version of the action.

Faster than anyone could blink, Percival's closed fist connected. All it took was a single swing to send Jack sprawling across the floor in a 'dance' he wasn't expecting.

Many of the guests who knew of the Captain's antics laughed, others gaped in shock. The music paused for a moment as Gwaine suddenly appeared next to his large friend. He suggested they get some air, while a host of women began offering to help Jack to his feet.

During the commotion, no one but Martha noticed when the groom faltered temporarily, as if overtaken by an instant wave of fatigue. "Are you okay?" She asked, her voice heavy with concern.

Steadying himself against his new wife, Merlin blinked and swallowed, "I don't know. Something just happened."

"Yeah, Percival didn't take well to Jack's advances."

"No...it was something else," he whispered.

He held the sword in a ready position, facing against an opponent he could barely see.

Nothing... except for the briefest of glances through the visor slit...and he didn't understand or like what little he saw.

He felt the movements. He knew the battle...but he was weak.

It was wrong. All so wrong.

His muscles felt cramped, but they weren't even moving.

The man with a sword in front of him hardly had an ounce of skill, and yet somehow managed to get the upperhand.

For a brief second, his vision cleared and he saw the room around him. Filled with treasure and something else...

Soundlessly, he tried to screamed her name...

Then there was nothing.