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The ground beneath Merlin is soft, the grass yielding to the weight. He can feel the earth itself breathing through him, magic sparking around him as Arthur kisses him. Flowers blossom from his hair like a circlet, perfectly crafted just for him. They pull away for just a moment and Merlin notices the stars in his golden hair. And he pulls Arthur back down by his tunic, red fabric bunched in his fist as his free hand brushes the stray locks of hair from the prince’s face.
He wonders; for how much longer they can stay like this? Before the knights begin to look for them and the forced distance between them feels like an ocean that threatens to swallow them whole. He wonders a lot of things, but most of all, he wonders how long they will have
How long; until their return to the castle? With Uther’s steely gaze and the secrets that Arthur keeps. When he has to look upon Arthur’s father with the knowledge that he wants to destroy the very magic that flows through Merlin’s veins.
They don’t think about it. The future will be different. Their future will be different.
But now, with the sun still high, privy to their stolen moment, they can just be Merlin and Arthur. No titles, no threats. Just them .
Here in the woods, they hold each other with no thoughts of what happens after. And for now, they’re content.