Archive of Our Own

~ Arthur ~

Bandits. Why did there always have to be bandits when something was going well?

Arthur tried his best to slow his breathing and racing heart. Merlin would be okay, he really would be. Gwaine was with him so it wasn't like he was alone with his poor sense of direction and nonexistent defensive skills. 

Not that Gwaine was his first choice among his knights to be looking after Merlin. To be completely honest, Gwaine was probably still hungover from his late-night escapades and to be trusted the least with Merlin's safety. But still. He would be okay. Anything otherwise was unacceptable and would not be tolerated. He forbade it. 

They had been in the middle of a hunt, Merlin purposefully ruining every opportunity of catching anything and sassing the king when confronted about it, at the moment the bandits attacked. 

Even after taking out a good chunk of them, the knights and Arthur were still outnumbered and had to flee. If only he'd been closer to Merlin at the time of the attack. Then they wouldn't have had to split up, and they would just be bickering like always, on their way to meet back up with the knights. 

It hadn't been until Morgana's men captured Merlin that Arthur realized how easily he could lose his manservant. Merlin had been with him for so long, made it through so many battles and threats that it seemed almost impossible for him to get hurt or even die. The relief he'd felt being reunited with him had been so immense that he even dismissed his own rule of no hugging to wrap Merlin up in his arms with the full force of a bear. That day he'd vowed that they would never be split up like that again. 

Only here they were. 

Split up. 

Again. 

"Sire?" Leon's calm voice cut into his spiraling thoughts. "We'll find them soon enough. You shouldn't worry too much. Merlin's been in far more danger than this before. He'll be alright." 

"I know," Arthur sighed solemnly. He was glad that Percival and Elyan were too far back to hear the exasperation in his voice. 

"Gwaine- well Merlin's smart. They'll think to meet us back where we last saw each other. And if not, they'll be waiting back in Camelot snug next to the fire." 

Nodding, Arthur charged ahead of the group. 

~ Merlin ~

Merlin sighed loudly. 

His feet hurt. 

Gwaine had been prattling on for more than an hour while Merlin grew a new sort of sympathy for Arthur and his prattish, 'shut up Merlin'. He would try to blabber less in the future. Maybe. "

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Gwaine teased, catching onto his growing irritation. "Is it the princess?" 

Merlin tripped over his feet and with a bit of help from Gwaine, righted himself again. He wiped the dirt from his palms onto his trousers, embarrassed. 

Gwaine just kept going. "He'll be fine. Sure he's a bit thick-headed at times, but he can take care of himself. I know you like to be his knight in shining armor." He delivered the last sentence while bumping Merlin's shoulder with his own. 

The gesture said all it needed to. Gwaine thought it was cute. Silly how someone as small as Merlin considered themselves the finest warrior in Camelot's protector. 

Oh well. He was used to people seeing him as small and helpless. 

Except it didn't hurt to hear someone other than Gaius tell him that they believed in him. He missed Lancelot for that exact reason. It had been almost a year since his sacrifice, but the loss still ached just as much. 

"Someone's got to look after Arthur. We can't all slack off on our duties and waste our time in the tavern." 

Gwaine took no offense and merely chuckled. "If you say so. We should make a bet." 

Merlin groaned. All he wanted was to be left to his thoughts for more than five seconds. "A bet on what?" He asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"I bet that Arthur's run himself stark mad worrying about you. I'll ask the knights when we see them again." 

"No way." Merlin rolled his eyes. "Arthur's probably more irritated that he has to circle back around to retrieve us. You know what? I even know the exact words that will come out of his mouth when I see him again." 

"Oh really?" Gwaine challenged. 

"Yeah. He'll say," and Merlin deepened his voice to mimic that of Arthur's, "Get lost did you, Merlin? Well you're not incapacitated, at least I don't have to drag your sorry arse back to Camelot. Make my dinner, Merlin." 

Merlin felt a swell of pride when Gwaine laughed at his performance. Trust him to laugh at a joke mocking the king of Camelot. 

"You know why he does that don't you?" 

"Yeah. He loves to get a rise out of me." 

"You two are so oblivious that it's almost comical." Gwaine shook his head. "It's all a front. He does it to mask his true feelings. With that oaf raising him, I'm hardly surprised Arthur's as emotionally constipated as he is." 

"And what are his true feelings?" Merlin asked, breaking off a twig from a tree as they walked. 

"He has a fondness for you. I can tell because when he's annoyed at me, it's actual annoyance. But when he gets annoyed with you, it's more of a doting annoyance. Trust me, there's a difference. The amount that you get away with is unfair." 

"You're delusional. I'm always having to muck out the prat's horses as punishment," Merlin complained. "You know what? Fine, let's make the bet. If I'm right and Arthur is annoyed when I see him, you have to do all of my extra chores for Gaius when we get back. For a week." 

"Fine. And if I'm right?" 

"Then I'll pay off your debt at the pub." 

"You were probably going to end up bailing me out anyway." 

"You mean Arthur would. Well he told me that you're going to have to pay for your own drinks from now on. This would be coming straight from my own pockets." 

"Okay deal. But you have to come to the tavern with me when we get home. You've been around Arthur for too long. We need to loosen you up a bit. I bet it'd make him mad too." 

"Deal."

~Arthur ~

Finally having reached the meeting point where they'd last seen Gwaine and Merlin, they'd made camp much to Arthur's objections. He wanted to search the surrounding area just to be sure neither men were lying dead or wounded in the woods. But it was dark and had been a long hard day of walking (the bandits had stolen their horses), so the knights insisted they catch some sleep and continue their search in the morning. 

Arthur had a plan of his own though. It was unlikely that he'd be getting much sleep anyway, being worried half to death for Merlin's sake, so as soon as the knights were all out, he would keep on looking and return when the sun rose. 

Sitting around a little fire, the knights were stuck in a conscious silence. Elyan was the first to break it. 

He cleared his throat. "How about that dinner eh?" 

The dinner had been atrocious and they all knew it. Without Merlin's cooking, the rabbit that they caught hardly counted as a meal. Roasted over the fire, the meat came out dry and had to be chewed for long minutes before it could be swallowed. 

Nobody responded. 

Percival laughed. "It sure is quiet without Gwaine to fight for the center of attention." 

It really was quiet. Too quiet for Arthur's liking. 

Miraculously, as if Arthur had manifested it, there was the sound of a twig snapping in the darkness behind him. When there came a grunt and hushed whispers, Arthur knew there was only one thing that could carelessly make that amount of noise and it wasn't an animal. 

Gwaine and Merlin together. 

He hopped up and drew his sword as a precaution. His knights followed suit. 

"Who's there?" Arthur questioned the darkness beyond the trees surrounding their makeshift camp. 

The voices were too preoccupied with their bickering to hear him. "I can't see a damn thing Gwaine. How do you expect me to keep bloody quiet?" 

Merlin. The tangle of nerves in his chest unwound themselves for the first time that day. 

Then there was Gwaine's, "Sorry, I guess I'll just feed you to the wolves then and hope I can make my escape." 

Their footsteps faltered. "Look, there's a fire in the clearing." 

"Ah ha! Good eyes you stunning man," Gwaine's playful voice came. 

Arthur's stomach flipped unpleasantly at Gwaine's flirtatious tone. It seemed to do that a lot when the duo were together. Somehow, even as the king of Camelot he felt invalid in the shadow of their lighthearted friendship. It was almost as if Gwaine had stolen his place as Merlin's best friend. 

"We can hear you, you idiots!" Arthur yelled into the dark. "What if we were a camp of bandits? Have you learned nothing as one of my knights?" 

"Well you're not a bandit are you?" Gwaine's loud footsteps drew nearer until his figure was outlined by the light. 

"No."

"Then there's no need to worry is there?" Gwaine patted him roughly on the shoulder twice as a greeting and went to join the rest of the knights by the fire. As his mischievous low voice asked who had the whiskey, Arthur squinted into the dark once more. 

Merlin only tripped a little making his way into the clearing, which Arthur thought was quite an accomplishment on his part. When he righted himself and gave his goofy grin, Arthur sighed in relief. 

As long as Merlin had that stupid smile on his face, everything was as it should be. 

"You miss me?" Merlin asked, pleased to be getting the first wisecrack out upon their reunion. 

"Not in the least," Arthur said, immediately countering this statement by pulling Merlin in by the shoulder to look at him. "You're all in one piece?" He asked, trying to gather his courage for what would be their second hug since the Morgana incident. 

Merlin gave a curt nod, looking up and down at himself. "Seem to be." 

Arthur released his shoulder and gave him a playful shove. He watched as Merlin got that disappointed look in his eyes, the look that plagued his sleep for nights on end after so many silent refusals to offer more than perfunctory gestures of friendship. 

The shove would not do. 

After an awkward beat of silence, Arthur tracing a symbol in the dirt with his shoe, he took a deep breath. Better to do it fast and without thinking, he thought and went for it. 

Merlin seemed alarmed at first and even made a sort of squeaking noise upon impact since there had been no warning and he was almost knocked over with Arthur's enthusiasm. Then he relaxed into it, the tension in his shoulders subsiding. He tentatively wrapped his arms around Arthur's middle but seemed to be the same amount of confused. 

"Are you feeling alright?" He asked into Arthur's ear. All of the knights except Gwaine were looking at them with the same amount of bewilderment that shone in Merlin's voice. 

"I was worried." That was all Arthur offered as explanation. He refused to let go. Merlin was an amazing hugger and it had been so long since Arthur had ever been offered something like this. 

"Shit." 

"What?" 

"I have to pay off Gwaine's debt at the tavern." 

"What?" Arthur frowned. Merlin's thoughts were apparently elsewhere. 

But Merlin just sighed. "It isn't important. Why are you acting weird?" 

"Would you rather me not hug you?" Arthur asked shyly, suddenly self-conscious. "Because I'd… I'd like to more often if that's alright with you." 

"Of course it's alright. I've just only been gone for a few hours and this seems. . . I dunno. Random? I thought you were opposed to hugging." 

"I was at first when I didn't know you all that well but now. . ." Arthur thought the silence would speak for itself but Merlin seemed insistent on clear answers.

"Now what?"

"Well I quite enjoyed the first one and it made me reconsider." 

"The first one?" Merlin said with gaps between each word. 

"Yeah," he agreed and broke away. The knights' stares were beginning to burn into his back. "It was a good hug. Don't speak a word of this to anyone though. C'mon. How do you fancy rabbit for dinner?" 

~Merlin ~ 

The first hug? Well this was the first hug, wasn't it? How had he missed the first one? You'd think it would be something worth remembering. 

As the knights chatted on, Merlin wracked his brain for any sliver of memory involving an embrace. Maybe he'd been drunk when it happened. Though that wasn't very likely considering he'd only been to the tavern with the knights once or twice. Perhaps it had happened so fast that he didn't register it happening at all. 

This predicament plagued Merlin's thoughts for an entire night so that by morning he was dead on his feet.

The trek back to Camelot felt ten miles longer than it was but the satisfaction of making it just in time for dinner was worth it. As usual, Gaius set two glorious bowls of porridge across from each other and gestured for Merlin to take a seat and tell him all about his adventures. 

"Bandits?" 

"Yes, a whole lot of them," Merlin sputtered through a mouthful of food. 

"Unfortunate indeed," Gaius replied, a mild look of disdain on his face for the sloppy eater in front of him. "Well I'm pleased you're back and unharmed." 

Merlin brushed over this in pursuit of more relevant talk. "Yeah so anyway, Arthur hugged me when we got back for the first time (usually he just hits me), but he said that it was our second hug. The only problem is, I don't remember there being a first." 

Gaius shrugged, just as unknowing. "Maybe he dreamt it." 

Merlin made a thoughtful noise. "Maybe. I'm going to figure this out though. I don't like when things don't connect." 

~ Arthur ~

"So," Merlin began cheekily in the morning while buttering Arthur's toast. "Can I get another hug right now?" 

"No you may not. They're only reserved for special occasions." As much as the thought pleased him, Arthur could only have so much of Merlin's affections or he might combust. 

"Special occasions huh? So what . . . What counts as a special occasion?"

"Danger. Grave peril. I don't know Merlin." Arthur was getting flustered. "Why?" 

"No reason," Merlin replied with the peak amount of suspicion in his tone. "So you'd say our first hug happened in the midst of danger?" 

Of course it had. Morgana could've killed him. Arthur scrunched his eyebrows at Merlin, trying to puzzle him out. "Yes I'd say it was." 

"So you're saying that I would have to put myself in danger again to earn your affections?" 

There was a clink as Arthur set his fork down and straightened in his chair. He didn't say anything. The irritance in his features was enough. "Merlin that's not–"

"Fine fine." Merlin put both his hands up in surrender and suspiciously sauntered out of view. "Or I could just–" 

Before Arthur had time to react, Merlin threw both his arms around his neck from behind. Trying to pry Merlin off was no easy task and only resulted in maniacal laughter as Merlin took joy from his discomfort. 

Well discomfort might have been the wrong word to use. More like panic. The kind of panic that was also part confusion and part indecision. Arthur's face was sure to be as bright as a tomato. "What are you doing?" Arthur shouted in alarm. "Let me go you lunatic!" 

Merlin's cheek tickled Arthur's as he spoke."You said you wanted to hug more often. Well I'm hugging you more often whether you like it or not!"

Arthur finally stopped struggling and Merlin finally let go. He had a smug look on his face when Arthur twisted around in his chair to glare at him. 

Merlin just giggled and began to clear up breakfast while Arthur tried to compose himself before his meeting with the council. Now Merlin had done it. He wouldn't be able to think straight for the rest of the day. 

~ Merlin ~

Merlin contemplated Arthur over a tankard of mead. He still had not figured out the mystery of their first hug. Not that the drink making his brain swim or Gwaine being as loud and obnoxious as ever were much help. 

Sat around a long table in the rising sun were, Gwaine, Elyan, Percival, Leon, Sir Brennis, Sir Geraint, and a few other knights. They all shouted in camaraderie, shoved each other roughly, and spilled more mead than they actually drank. The scene was one of unfamiliarity to Merlin. He preferred quiet nights in the king's chambers with space to be warm and relaxed in his drunkenness rather than being overwhelmed with chaos and noise. Merlin supposed Arthur preferred that scene as well, or he'd be celebrating with his knights. 

"A toast to the king!" Gwaine shouted and everyone else raised their tankards and shouted as well. Merlin halfheartedly raised his. 

"A toast to knighthood!" Percival shouted, which resulted in several other shouts of, to knighthood! And, to us! 

Several more toasts took place at which point, Merlin had given up and opted to sip his drink quietly. 

"Alright Merlin?" Gwaine asked after him, catching on to his decline in energy. 

"Yeah." 

"Missing your king?" 

Without thinking too much, Merlin replied solemnly, "yeah." 

"Ah well his royal highness couldn't be arsed to drink with us. I bet he would've if you had asked though." 

Merlin just laughed. He didn't know if that was quite true. It would've taken a lot of persuading. 

"What are you thinking about?" Gwaine gestured to the bartender for more drinks. 

"Something that Arthur said last night."

"When you two were exchanging your loving embrace?" Gwaine chuckled. 

Merlin blushed. "Yeah. He said that it hadn't been our first hug. Except I can't remember there being a first. I don't know why it's troubling me so much."

"I thought it was when you went missing for three days." 

Merlin certainly didn't remember ever going missing for three days. He lowered his cup and stared at Gwaine blankly. "When did that happen?" 

Elyan, who was sitting across the table from them and had just tuned into the conversation, butted in. "About three weeks ago. You don't remember that?" 

Three weeks ago had been the fomorroh debacle and his encounter with Morgana. There was no memory of a hug. Merlin groaned. There had been many comments made about that day that didn't quite connect. He'd have to add this to the list.

"No. . . I don't remember."

"Yeah Arthur was really worried about you." Percival had now joined in. "Couldn't concentrate on anything else until the search party brought you back to him." 

Leon, in his collected manner said, "And when they didn't, he dropped everything to go search himself. Completely besotted is what he is." 

"I never want to be around the king again when he's worried about you," Gwaine continued. "Right prat he can be. Complete arse. It's like all his patience disappears along with you." 

"Oh you should've seen the state he was in when you'd been struck by the dorocha. Wouldn't speak for the rest of the journey, he was so upset." Leon shook his head as if remembering a terrible memory. 

All of this was news to Merlin and maybe a bit too much of it. He held his head in his hands. It was giving him a terrible migraine.  

But Elyan just continued their Arthur rant. "Oh my gods and when Merlin's in a mood, so is his royal highness. Training is absolute hell when they're having a row or Merlin won't talk to him." 

"Do us a favor and keep him in a good mood, could you?" Sir Brennis joked from farther down the table. 

"When Merlin's unhappy, nobody is happy!" Someone else shouted. This made everyone laugh and the chaos returned. 

It was almost like they were sharing an inside joke that Merlin was not a part of despite being the center of it. Why wasn't he in the loop? Arthur always made it a point to throw verbal punches at him before anything else. He hadn't known that Arthur cared all that much. 

All of the sudden he had an overwhelming desire to see the king. Just as he stood up to leave, the tavern door swung open and just the person he'd been looking for came skulking in. 

Their eyes met and immediately Merlin sat back down. Arthur was upset and Merlin's desire to see him dwindled. 

However, Arthur seemed to have other ideas. 

Merlin sipped his drink and pretended not to see him until he was standing right there, staring down at him. 

"Merlin," he said threateningly. 

"Yeeees?" 

At this point, the whole table was looking at them both, waiting to see what would happen. Arthur leaned down so that Merlin had to look at him. He rested an elbow on the table and his face blocked Elyan's from view.

"What do you think you're doing here?" 

Merlin shrugged. "Drinking?" 

"You weren't there to prepare my chambers for the night." The accusation was less hostile and more dejected. 

"I sent George to do it." 

"I. Don't. Want. George."

There were snickers from the knights and Arthur only briefly glanced at them before refocusing on Merlin. "And now you're going to be hungover tomorrow." 

"Don't be upset princess," Gwaine spoke on Merlin's behalf. "We were just having a bit of fun. Merlin never gets a break." 

Arthur glared at him. "Come on Merlin. You can give me your excuses on the way." 

But Merlin wasn't going to be ordered around like a rebellious housewife so he crossed his arms stubbornly and refused to move. 

"Sit Arthur. Have a drink," Leon attempted to compromise. 

"Fine," Arthur gritted out between his teeth and reluctantly dragged a chair up to the table beside Merlin. 

Pretending not to be disappointed that Arthur had not pressed harder or forced him to leave this chaos, Merlin continued to sip his drink, eyeing the king carefully. 

When the barmaid ventured over to their table again, Arthur refused the ale offered to him. 

Gwaine finished off his fourth tankard with the sort of graceful flourish only Gwaine could manage in his half-drunken state. He scowled at Arthur's empty hands. "Too good to be drinking with your lessers?"  

"I'm not here to drink, I'm here to look after Merlin who will be no doubt incompetent at getting himself all the way home without passing out in the street, the lightweight that he is and I can't very well do that if I'm drunk off my tits now can I?" 

"I'd have gotten him home just fine," Gwaine said a bit too loudly and patted Merlin on the back causing him to cough and sputter over his drink. 

"I appreciate the thought, Gwaine, but really…" Arthur gestured up and down at him. He was barely able to stand, teetering on his feet. 

Just as Gwaine had been about to defend his drunken state, his eye caught on a pretty barmaid who had been watching him from afar all night. He held up a finger that promised this argument was not over and swaggered over to the woman. 

Several tankards later, Merlin was feeling quite exhausted from all the laughter and meaningless chatter and laid his head down on the table. It would only be for a second, he told himself, and if he happened to close his eyes. . . 

~ Arthur ~ 

Arthur had zoned out of his knight's conversation for a long time and was completely relieved to see Merlin dozing peacefully, his neck bent at an uncomfortable angle. Now he'd have a valid excuse to leave with Merlin in tow. 

The original plan had been to collect him and bring him back to Arthur's chambers so that he could put the prince to bed like he did every night at approximately the same time. Arthur had grown accustomed to this routine and would not stand it being interrupted so that Gwaine could get his servant alarmingly drunk. But, Merlin was no longer in any state for their routine and Arthur wasn't a complete tyrant. He supposed he could put Merlin to bed just this one time.

He shook Merlin's shoulder roughly to wake him. "Merlin it's time to go," he shouted to be heard over the noise. 

He snorted unattractively as he lifted his head, eyes confused and hair sticking up at a weird angle on one side. "hnnghh?" He grunted. It seemed that he'd lost the ability for human speech. 

"C'mon," Arthur cajoled. "You want to sleep in your bed don't you?" 

Merlin rubbed at his eyes and said nothing else, silently accepting Arthur's help to steady him on his feet and lead him out of the busy tavern. 

The contrast of temperature was immediate as the door swung shut behind them and a chill sucked all the warmth from the tip of Arthur's nose and cheeks. 

He told himself that it was because of this that he kept Merlin pressed to his side, arm curled around his waist on their trek back to the castle. This and Merlin's incompetency at walking in a straight line. 

He was dead weight that clung to Arthur's shoulders like a lifeline and had to practically be dragged through each street with such difficulty. Arthur didn't mind much however. He rather liked having to take care of Merlin while he giggled stupidly in his ear. Merlin was a different person tipsy. Mostly due to the fact that the alcohol had washed away what little filter he already had along with his perception of Arthur's personal space. 

"Where are you taking me?" Merlin slurred, head dropping down onto Arthur's shoulder.

"To Gaius. So he can sober you up for tomorrow." Arthur tried not to acknowledge the stutter of his heart that fell in time with the bobbing weight of Merlin's head. 

Merlin lifted his face to pout up at Arthur. "But I want you to take me to your rooms instead." 

Arthur gulped. "Do you now?" 

"Yeah," Merlin sighed sleepily and rested his head once more. 

When Arthur didn't reply, he just kept on chattering. 

"Did anyone ever tell you," He began but never finished his thought. 

"Tell me what, Merlin?" 

"Did anyone ever tell you how pretty you were?" 

Arthur stopped walking abruptly. His heart was thumping in his ears. He replied tentatively, "some people. Never heard you say it though." 

"Stupid of me," Merlin said absentmindedly, readjusting his head and rubbing against Arthur's shoulder like a cat.

"What made you think of that?" Arthur continued on walking. 

"I was just remembering your hair. And that made me think of other things." 

Laughing, Arthur accidentally jostled Merlin off his shoulder which earned him a pointed glare. 

"What other things?" 

"Things like you sleeping n'" Merlin grunted and his knees buckled underneath him. "N' m-tired. I'm just going to lie down for . . . A . . . Moment." 

Arthur stumbled forward, Merlin's hands still wrapped around his neck. He giggled at Arthur's struggle. 

Arthur ducked out of the loop of his arms and shook his head. "You are not taking a nap in the middle of the street Merlin. Come on, up you get." Try as he might to get Merlin's limp form up again, it was no use. He stubbornly batted Arthur's hands away and pillowed his arms under his head, completely content to fall asleep on the cobbled road. 

"Please Merlin. Help me out," Arthur pleaded, shaking him. 

"I was also thinking about your laugh. I wish you'd do it more. I would say that the lack of smiling lately has something to do with Agravaine but I suppose it could be other things. . ." 

Arthur ignored the hapless comment about his uncle and proceeded to haul Merlin over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, one arm dangling loosely over his back. Merlin was as light as he looked and they resumed their journey back to the palace at a steadier pace than the one they had set with him on two feet. 

Merlin kept talking, filling the silent streets with his slurred speech. "You did smile though. Th' other night." 

"When?" Arthur asked, surprised Merlin kept track of how often he smiled. 

"After we hugged. M' a great hugger." 

"Yeah, you are," Arthur admitted before he realized he'd said it out loud. 

But Merlin's soft snores replaced his chatter and Arthur figured he wouldn't remember the confession anyhow. 

Arthur obeyed Merlin's wishes and brought him to his rooms. Not because he wanted to keep an eye on him but because he didn't want to make the trip to Gaius' and back. Ok maybe he did want to keep an eye on Merlin but the distance was a contributing factor. 

Merlin stirred as Arthur accidentally bumped his head against the door on their way into his chambers. 

"Ow," He moaned sleepily. 

Arthur muttered apologetically, "sorry," and proceeded to lay his drunk friend down as gracefully as possible on top of his bedsheets.

"Did that on purpose," Merlin grumbled, rubbing the spot on his head. 

Rolling his eyes, Arthur brought him a goblet of water and ordered him to drink it. When it was gone, he brought another despite the frown from Merlin. 

"Drink up." 

As Arthur watched him sip a third stubbornly slow, he settled onto the edge of the mattress and began uncertainly, "Did you have fun tonight?" 

Merlin nodded and there was a beat of silence before he shook his head. "Not really." 

Laughing, Arthur mused, "Then why on earth did you go?" 

"Lost a bet with Gwaine." 

"Hm. Sounds about right." 

"It wasn't pointless though," Merlin said in defence. 

"I'm sure." 

"Really," he argued sloppily. "I l-learned valuable information." 

"Yeah? Like what?" Arthur took his cup to the table and came back to help Merlin under the covers. 

"Like the influ- inuf- infli," Merlin struggled to find the word. "the influence I have over you." 

There was no denying it. Everyone knew that the king's manservant was one of his weaknesses. The only surprise here was that Merlin hadn't realized it yet. 

Arthur grabbed one of his ankles, pulled off his shoe, and tucked it underneath the sheet, proceeding to the second one. 

"What are you doing, Arthur?" 

"Tucking you in." 

Merlin asked no further questions. He just let Arthur guide his limbs into the cool weight of blankets fit for a king. There was something intimate about it, Arthur thought. Or maybe it was merely the way Merlin's bright eyes never left him throughout the task. 

When all was done, Arthur patted him awkwardly and made up a bed on the floor. After putting out all the candles, he settled in. 

It was when the night seemed to have finally grown tired and Arthur's eyelids began to droop heavily that Merlin spoke again. 

"Arthur?" He asked softly, as if to test that he was still awake. 

"What is it, Merlin?" 

"Will you hug me now?" 

Arthur was quiet, thinking of what would be the right response. 

"Arthur?" 

"Right now?" 

"Yeah." 

He sat up and peered in Merlin's direction. He could just make out the inquiring stare he'd come to know so we'll through the dark. 

When he shuffled over to the bed, Merlin didn't make any indication that he was going to sit up, let alone stand, so Arthur had no choice but clamber over his bed on all fours. 

The position was awkward at first. Arthur tried to hug him with as little contact as possible, his head resting on Merlin's chest and his hands curled up into fists by Merlin's sides. But, Merlin didn't seem to mind. He tugged Arthur closer and brushed through his hair with daring fingers. He refused to let go, so Arthur had no choice but to snuggle closer. 

Merlin was drunk. 

There was no shame in wanting to fall asleep like this. He would blame it on Merlin's clingy state in the morning. 

"You hold influence over me too," Merlin whispered into his hair. "I'd do anything for you. All you have to do is ask it." 

Arthur's cheeks heated up at the insinuation. Perhaps he'd test Merlin's promise in the morning when his other more rational thoughts weren't being drowned out by the rise and fall of sleepy breaths, the scent of alcohol in each exhale, or the way fingers stroked rhythmically through his hair, a tenderness that had never been offered to him before. When he wasn't so wrapped up in feeling young and carefree again. 

"That is a dangerous promise."