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Uther hits the table and stands up before the nobles as Arthur calms down from laughing.
“Standing here, seeing so many happy faces, seems almost like a dream. I can tell you I have not felt like this in a long time.”
“What drunk?” Arthur chimes in. Uther hits his arm with his napkin.
“Drunk with happiness.” The room fills with laughter again and Arthur takes a sip of his wine. Uther turns back to face Morgana, his back to Arthur. “I would have searched the entire world. The seas, the skies, the stars, for that smile.” On cue, Morgana’s lips curl up and she smiles widely. “To have it stolen from me was like a blade to my heart. Morgana, there are no words. You mean more to me than you will ever know.” Morgana takes a sharp breath. Merlin realizes this is the most care he’s ever seen Uther show towards anyone. Even his own son. Merlin’s eyes flick to Arthur. He’s smiling but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “To Lady Morgana.” Uther raises his goblet up. Everyone else follows suit.
“To Lady Morgana.” Fills the room. Everyone toasts and sets down their cups. Merlin looks over at Arthur again. His smile has slipped briefly and his eyes hold sadness. Merlin furrows his eyebrows. Arthur catches Merlin’s eye and masks the look Merlin had seen with one of cheer. The prince quickly looks away and begins talking to the knight sitting next to him. Merlin, although confused and a little concerned, looks around the room, occasionally glancing at the prince.
***
Merlin walks down the corridors towards Arthur’s chambers. The prince had left the feast before Merlin had noticed. When he reaches the large doors, Merlin takes a breath to prepare himself to face the possibly angry prince. He can almost hear Arthur yelling at him for not leaving the feast with him. With one more breath, Merlin opens the door carefully. To his amazement, the door doesn’t make a sound and he’s able to slip inside the room without the prince noticing. However, this means the prince doesn’t stop what he was doing. Which was crying, Merlin realizes. Arthur is sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. His shoulders shake with each sob that passes through his lips. Merlin pauses at the door. He doesn't know what to do. Will Arthur be mad that he’s just standing there staring? Or will he be glad that Merlin’s there? Merlin pushes that thought out quickly. There’s no way Arthur would actually be glad to see him. He slowly walks over to Arthur. He kneels down and hovers his hand over Arthur’s leg.
“Arthur?” He whispers, not trying to scare the man. Arthur startles anyway and looks at Merlin. The brunette places his hand on Arthur’s leg hesitantly and settles it when Arthur doesn’t brush him off. Merlin’s eyes are full of concern and a small amount of fear. Arthur, knowing he was caught, doesn’t try to pretend like he wasn’t crying. “Are you alright? What happened?” Arthur just shakes his head and drops it back in his hands. “Can I sit next to you?” Merlin keeps his voice soft. He moves when Arthur nods. Now sitting next to the prince, Merlin puts his arm around Arthur’s shoulders. “I won’t pry. But, I’m here. You can trust me.”
“Don’t go.” Arthur’s broken voice says. Merlin feels his heart ache.
“I won’t.” Merlin rubs Arthur’s back gently. After a few minutes, Merlin gets an idea. “Sire?” He waits for Arthur’s questioning hum. “Would you like me to prepare a bath? Maybe that will help you relax and maybe even feel better.” Arthur contemplates this for a moment.
“I don’t want you to go.”
“I won’t.” Merlin quickly replies. “I’ll ask George or someone else. I’ll stay here. I promise.” With this, Arthur nods.
“Alright then.” Merlin smiles triumphantly.
“Give me one moment.” Merlin stands and walks to the door. Sticking his head out, he just catches a servant. “George!” The man turns at his name and walks towards Merlin. “Can you bring up some water for a bath?” George nods and walks away. Merlin closes the door and walks back to Arthur. He places a hand on Arthur’s arm. “We have to get you behind the screen. Unless you want George to see you like this.” Arthur shakes his head and stands. Merlin looks at his face. He’s stopped crying, but his cheeks and nose are red and his eyes are bloodshot. Merlin leads him to the changing screen and sits Arthur down on the small bench. Merlin kneels down in front of the prince and looks in his eyes. He reaches up and wipes a tear away from Arthur’s cheek. A knock at the door startles them both. Merlin stands up and puts a finger to his lips, telling Arthur to stay quiet. The prince nods and Merlin turns away to open the door. George walks in with a few more servants with buckets of water. They fill the tub and leave after Merlin thanks them. Merlin walks back to Arthur. He gets the prince to stand and undresses him. As Merlin folds his clothes, Arthur walks to the tub and lowers himself into it. He lets out a sigh of relief as the warm water soothes his muscles. “How does it feel, Sire?”
“Amazing.” Arthur opens his eyes to see Merlin stepping out from the screen. “Thank you, Merlin.” Merlin smiles shyly.
“You’re welcome, Sire.” Normally, when Merlin uses his title, it sounds almost like he’s mocking the prince. But not now, now it sounds sincere and like any other servant. Merlin locks Arthur’s chamber doors before he sits next to the tub, facing Arthur. “Do you want to talk about it, Sire?” Arthur looks at the water then past Merlin at the wall, before returning his gaze to his servant.
“It seems silly now.”
“That doesn’t matter. You were upset, I want to know why.”
“Why? Why do you care?” Arthur seems to close in on himself mentally.
“Because you’re my friend and I want to make sure you’re okay.” Arthur’s heart swells at the sincerity. “And, when you’re upset I tend to get water thrown on me which is very uncomfortable. To have to walk around the castle all day with wet clothes is just-” Merlin cuts himself off laughing. It grows when Arthur joins in and splashes him with the water in the tub. Merlin smiles at Arthur. The prince’s cheeks are pink and he’s smiling widely. Arthur opens his eyes when his laughter dies down.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just nice to see you smile again. You have a very nice smile, you know.” Arthur’s cheeks turn more pink and he ducks his head a little.
“Thank you, Merlin.” Arthur looks back up at him. “So do you.” Now Arthur smiles at Merlin’s red face.
“You didn’t answer my question, Sire.”
“Please, Merlin, drop the Sire . I thought we were friends.”
“I believe I said you were my friend, not that I was yours.” Arthur sits up a little, suddenly turning serious.
“You are. You’re my best friend.” Merlin smiles.
“Stop avoiding the question, Arthur.” Arthur sighs. “If you don’t want to tell me that’s fine. But I don’t like knowing you’re upset and I’m not helping you.”
“It was silly.” Arthur continues before Merlin can say anything. “My father was happier than I’ve ever seen him and it was because we got Morgana back. Which, don’t get me wrong I’m thrilled to have her back. But, I couldn’t help but feel like he wouldn’t be that happy if it were me instead.” Arthur drops his head again. “Nobody would.” He adds under his breath. Merlin feels his heart clench and he reaches over to grab Arthur’s hand from where it’s resting on the side of the tub. Arthur looks up at their hands.
“I would.” Arthur smiles a little.
“Really? You wouldn’t enjoy not having to run around for someone? For me?”
“Oh no I would. I would definitely enjoy not getting water thrown on me. But I would miss you. And I’d be thrilled to have you back. Even if it meant getting water thrown on me everyday. Because it doesn't matter. Because you’d be here.”
“I don’t do that that often, do I?”
“Eh.” Merlin laughs softly. Arthur glances at their hands again, drawing Merlin’s attention to them. “I’m sorry.” He begins to unthread their fingers, but Arthur’s other hand on top of his stops him.
“Don’t be.” Merlin looks into Arthur’s eyes and holds his hand tighter, making Arthur smile.
“I can’t speak for your father, and I won’t say he would feel the same joy if it were you. But what I can say is there are more people who would miss you and there are more people who would be even happier to have you back.”
“Like who?”
“The knights, Gaius, Gwen, Morgana…” Merlin laces his fingers with Arthur’s. “Me.” He shrugs a little. Arthur sits up more in the tub and leans towards Merlin. He places his right hand on the back of Merlin’s neck and pulls the sorcerer into a deep kiss. Merlin kisses back immediately and places his free hand on the side of Arthur’s face. Arthur pulls away a few seconds later, but doesn’t move far.
“Merlin?” They keep their eyes closed, trying to catch their breath.
“Yes, Arthur?”
“Will you join me?” Merlin opens his eyes and moves away from the prince a little. Arthur opens his eyes and looks at Merlin. “You don’t have to.”
“I will.” Arthur smiles and Merlin stands. He goes behind the dressing screen and places his now folded clothes next to Arthur’s. He slowly walks from behind the screen and draws closer to Arthur. Arthur’s eyes are closed and his head is resting against the tub. He looks up when the water starts moving. Merlin sits across from Arthur, blushing brightly when Arthur smiles.
“Come here, Merlin.” Arthur motions for the servant. Merlin nods and moves towards Arthur. He lets Arthur pull him into his chest, between his legs. Merlin relaxes against the warm skin. The blond begins tracing small patterns on Merlin’s chest while he takes in his friend’s scent. “Thank you.” Arthur whispers into the silent room.
“For what?”
“For being here with me.” Merlin smiles and turns his head to look at Arthur.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” Arthur smiles back at him. He leans down and kisses Merlin again. This kiss is softer and more loving than the first. After they part, Merlin cuddles into Arthur’s chest again.
They sit in the tub trading kisses while Arthur holds Merlin until the water turns cold. After Merlin shivers, Arthur helps Merlin up and out of the tub. They take towels from behind the screen and dry off together. Once dry, Merlin goes to the wardrobe and gets out Arthur’s nightclothes.
“Get some for yourself too, Merlin.” Merlin pauses and looks at Arthur shyly before doing as the prince says and grabs another outfit. Merlin helps the prince into his clothes. “You’re turn.” Arthur says with a smirk. Merlin furrows his eyebrows. Arthur tugs on the brunette’s towel, making it fall to the floor, and he helps Merlin into his clothes the same Merlin had helped him. With a red face, Merlin takes their towels and hangs them over the changing screen. “Will you stay with me tonight Merlin?” The sorcerer turns around when he hears Arthur’s uncharacteristically quiet tone and is met with a shy looking prince. Merlin smiles a little and walks to the blond. He takes Arthur’s hands.
“Of course, Sire.” The blond gives Merlin a genuine smile. “Come on.” Merlin leads them to the bed and gets in, holding the blanket open for Arthur. The prince climbs in after the sorcerer. They get comfortable with Merlin curled against Arthur’s side and the prince’s arm around Merlin’s shoulders, holding him close. “Are you feeling better, Sire?” Merlin’s voice is soft, not trying to upset the prince again.
“Yes.” Arthur squeezes Merlin tighter for a moment, making the brunette smile. “Goodnight, Merlin.” Arthur places a kiss to his head.
“Goodnight, Sire.” Merlin laughs when Arthur cuffs him on the head lightly. “Sorry, goodnight, Arthur.” Arthur merely rolls his eyes fondly, making a mental note to get Merlin to stop calling him sire in private, and holds Merlin until they both fall asleep.