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A small tinkling sound fills the air and crawls into Merlin's ear. At first, it gets drowned out by the council meeting and he decides to leave and let Arthur suffer through this misery alone but shortly after shutting the heavy wooden door behind him, the sound becomes louder, causing the uncomfortable feeling of dawning pain.
When he tries to follow the long corridor and find Gaius, it turns into actual pain that continues to grow with every step. As he reaches the stairs he feels like his head is being split in two. He drops to his knees, desperately holding his head in his hands.
The doors to the council chamber are thrown open, revealing Arthur in the very same position. They don’t notice at first, too caught up in pain and confusion. Eventually, Arthur looks up and spots Merlin on the floor who is looking at him intensely, clearly already trying to figure out what was going on.
For a short moment the blonde cannot help but admire Merlin for it, then the agony hits again and he bends over. When the waves of pain finally ebb once more, Merlin shakily starts crawling towards him, coming closer quicker and quicker.
At that, Arthur realizes it as well—the closer Merlin gets to him, the more the agonizing sensation fades, leaving nothing but a faint ringing in his ears when Merlin reaches his side and drops to the floor once more, lying flat on his back still heavily panting from exhaustion.
“What in hell was that?” Arthur asks, voice still a bit shaken.
Merlin doesn’t answer, stares straight at the walls instead but Arthur can tell that he is thinking of something probably already half way on his way to the solution. Arthur had long stopped trying to figure out where his servant’s wisdom came from, especially considering his incredible idiocy most of the time. Instead he had started relying on it, trusting Merlin to guide him around all of the potential mistakes he could make.
“Out with it, Merlin. What do you think?” Arthur demands and Merlin turns his head to look at him.
“Do you feel anything now?”
Arthur pauses to feel his body trying to find anything unusual. “No, nothing.”
“See, that’s weird. If we were ill, there’d have to be something. Anything. But nothing should mean we’re healthy.”
“So if we’re not sick, what else… Oh-”
“Yeah, oh. It must be magic.”
“But why are we feeling better then? Was it only a weak spell?”
Merlin shakes his head but clearly hesitant to add anything else.
“Merlin, tell me what you know. Can’t be more idiotic than your usual prattling.”
“It’s just… A weak spell is usually not that strong nor specific. I fear it’s something else.”
“What?”
“It must be a curse.”
“Not again.”
“I fear so.”
“And who would curse us? There are plenty of reasons to curse me, I am not that thick but why curse you?”
“I am around you a lot?” Merlin guesses and Arthur shakes his head.
“See? I don’t get you, Merlin. How can someone be so wise yet dumb? That’s no reason.”
“If I am sick as well then I cannot call out for help,” Merlin tries to defend his theory.
“Yeah, but I was not alone with you when it hit me. You had just left.”
“That’s true,” Merlin mumbles and Arthur furrows his brows.
“You think that’s it? The pain came because you left? What are we? An old married couple?”
“Certainly behaving like one,” Gaius who has just arrived on the scene mutters behind them. “What happened?” He demands to know.
Both feeling like boys again who had gotten themselves into trouble, comply and tell the old man what they experienced and every possible explanation they had come up with yet. Gaius listens to them seemingly lost in thought and when they finish, he is quiet for a while.
“Get some rest, the both of you. I need to do some reading.”
Merlin looks at Gaius puzzled. He knows the man far too well to miss that Gaius thinks he knows what is going on. That is what worries Merlin. It must be quite bad if Gaius doesn’t want to say it before being entirely certain. The old man turns around to leave and the two young men get to their feet as well.
“Well, if it really has something to do with me leaving... Stay here, Arthur.” With that Merlin breaks into a light jog following Gaius.
The pain comes back not as strong as before and he can put a bit more distance between Arthur and him before he breaks down once more. A quick glance towards Arthur tells him he is not alone with that. As quickly as he can manage, he crawls back to Arthur.
“You are such an idiot!” Arthur complains still clutching his head tightly.
“At least we now know for sure,” Gaius replies before Merlin can.
“You planned this,” Merlin realizes and the court physician smiles apologetically.
“I knew you’d come up with that, Merlin.”
Merlin rolls his eyes. “So, what is it then? I know you know.”
Gaius sighs. “We should talk about it away from prying eyes and ears. Stay together and meet me after getting a bit of rest.”
Merlin grunts in frustration but Arthur puts a hand upon his shoulder.
“Merlin, he is right. If you feel even half as drained as I do, we should get some rest.”
Merlin furrows his brows. While he had felt the effect from whatever was attacking them quite clearly while being away from Arthur, he feels fine now.
But he simply shrugs and follows Arthur who had already begun walking to his chambers. Their walk is silent. They are both lost in thought, only slowly understanding the extent of what was happening.
“Until we find a way to solve this, we cannot be away from each other,” Merlin realizes and groans.
Arthur looks at Merlin from the side. “So not too much is going to change after all.”
“I will have to sleep in your room! If we’re lucky I can use the rooms next to you but still. This is going to be horrible.”
“Need to get away from me so badly?”
“No… Yes! I already know you’re going to become even more of a prat now that I cannot escape you.”
“You flatter me.”
“Sod off.”
“No need to become flippant.”
“Oh, yes there is! I am tied to you!”
Arthur opens the door to his chambers and makes his way to the bed. He drops onto it and sighs with relief. “Let’s try it then. Whether you can sleep in the other room.”
Merlin nods and slowly moves towards the door on the opposite side of the room. When he reaches it the ringing in his ears almost becomes too much and he knows he will not make it to the bed only a few steps into the next room.
“Wow, this is amazing,” Merlin deadpans and returns to Arthur’s chambers. He grabs a chair and sits down, propping his feet up on Arthur’s bed.
The blonde eyes him curiously. “You’re feeling better than I do, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I feel like a carriage has run over me while you only appear as gangly and pale as ever.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
“I mean it though. You are feeling alright, aren’t you? Maybe this is directed at me and you somehow got in the way.”
Merlin rolls his eyes. This is not exactly how magic works but who was he to tell Arthur that?
“I feel alright, yes.”
Arthur furrows his brows and bites his lips. Merlin stares at him for a moment, captivated by the image. He shakes himself out of it and tries to relax into the chair.
They talk about it a bit more but they run in circles, always ending up where they started. At some point Arthur falls asleep and Merlin looks outside the window, occasionally glancing at Arthur.
This would now become his personal hell he decides. Having to be so close to Arthur all the time could only lead to disaster. There are just too many things Arthur cannot find out about. Not only his magic even though that plays quite a crucial part. It's more than that.
It's all those shared moments Merlin cannot forget, all these touches and the beautiful laughter. He cannot deny that whenever Arthur looks at him with his deep blue eyes his heart rate quickens and it feels like a swarm of butterflies has gone rogue in his chest.
He had known for some time now and when he realized, he wasn't even surprised. It's what Arthur does to people. They fall for a courageous heart and honest eyes, a bright smile and surprising wit.
Arthur is a prince through and through. In spite of his prat-like behaviour, Merlin and most people who get to know him see past that rather quickly. He might be a prat, but his values and the determination with which he defends them more than makes up for it.
Merlin believes in the prophecy and their destiny with his heart and soul. He simply knows that Arthur will be the King of Camelot. No other, not before nor after him, will ever compare. And Merlin will do anything in his power to ensure his reign.
-
Arthur wakes after a few hours. It takes a bit of persuasion on Merlin's part before finally getting the prince out of his bed and into Gaius' chambers.
Gaius looks at them silently for a long moment, apparently sorting his thoughts.
"I think I know what it is," He begins and they both look at him with anticipation.
"It's a very old ritual that must have been performed. But it is not used to curse others. Usually lovers seal their love with it and strengthen their bond. But since this has been performed on you and not by you, you feel the painful effects of it. They usually don't appear because shared love or magic eliminates them."
Merlin stares at Gaius with horror. Arthur and he both know that there had been less effect on him. It probably dawns on Arthur as well because he turns to his side to stare at him. Redness creeps up Merlin‘s neck and cheeks, trying to avoid Arthur‘s gaze.
“Magic and love?” Arthur repeats and Merlin cringes.
Gaius clears his throat. “I’ll be back soon,” He excuses himself and leaves them to it.
Merlin sits down on a stool and buries his head in his hands.
“So..?” Arthur starts and Merlin sighs. “We have not been cursed but someone has performed a ritual… for us? And since you’re not affected that means..?”
Merlin groans and closes his eyes.
“So, you’re in love with me?”
Merlin’s head shoots up and he stares at Arthur. “I… You… What?”
Arthur tilts his head questioningly. “Are you?”
Merlin doesn’t answer, instead he swallows visibly.
Before he can reply Arthur's eyes widen. “Wait… You have magic? Is that why you cannot answer? Or… or is it both?”
Arthur keeps on staring at him, making Merlin feel like a rabbit facing a snake. He doesn’t even know where to start, which of his many secrets to confess first. He doesn’t realize it at first but tears make their ways down his cheeks.
“Merlin,” Arthur sighs and squats down in front of him. “Is it true then? You have feelings for me?”
Merlin struggles to find the bravery in himself to open his eyes and look at Arthur, who can read the answer to his question in Merlin’s eyes immediately. Carefully he takes Merlin’s hand, his thumb carefully stroking the back of Merlin’s hand.
“Stop crying, you fool. I think I feel the same. I am not sure what it is but I know it’s not worth your tears.”
Merlin smiles softly at that. “I still have magic, Arthur.”
Arthur breathes in deeply and then nods slowly. “A thought I will have to get used to. But I will.”
“You are not mad?”
“Maybe a bit. You are an idiot for risking your life like that.”
“I am meant to, Arthur. I am meant to be by your side and help you become king.”
Arthur smiles at him. “I am not quite sure what this means but I am sure you’ll help me understand.”
Merlin grins brightly at that and hugs Arthur tightly.
“Thank you, Arthur.”
-
With intertwined hands, mirroring their intertwined souls they march on, following their path and writing a story that would bear legends. However far their paths might separate them, a string as thin as a single hair, glowing and shimmering like liquid gold keeps them connected, tied together through fate and love and destiny.