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~x~
“... is he?!?”
“...your fault!”
“...before it’s too late!”
Merlin sighed, and put in a valiant effort into Ignoring the Ruckus. He figured, as the official Court Sorcerer and King Consort, he’d have at least the tiniest bit of time for, you know, himself, for a change. To work on his projects, to teach his acolytes, to learn… Alas.
“My Lord!”
Merlin closed his eyes with a suppressed sigh. Not only have they found his hiding place, they were now close enough and loud enough to be heard whether he wanted to or not.
“My Lord!”
Another voice came, just as frantic, and Merlin rubbed the bridge of his nose. Took a deep breath. Twirled just fast enough for his new and very majestic looking cape swoosh impressively behind him.
“My Lords.” His lips may have twitched just the tiniest bit at the very appropriately awed expressions on the faces of the lords before him. “What can I do for you on this fine day?”
There was some shuffling then, as the lords attempted to all push each other forwards and not end up the one having to speak. Merlin huffed. Just the once. The shuffling ceased.
“My Lord, we’re, um…”
A bit more shuffling. Merlin’s eyebrow twitched.
“The King…”
That got Merlin’s attention. “What about the King?”
“He, um… He seems to be missing,” squeaked out lord Gwumbsaw, immediately cowering behind lord Fumbpoh when a thunder rumbled outside the window at his words.
“He’s what.” Merlin, needless to say, was not amused. It took some serious skill to lose an entire bloody King. He’d know.
“We’re so sorry, my Lord, he had just dismissed the council for the midday meal, and then when we all reconvened… He… um…” Lord Druffly swallowed. “He just… sort of… wasn’t there?”
Merlin nodded. “Right. Of course. Naturally.” With that said, he huffed again, turned on a heel, and left his tower. “Don’t touch anything!” he hollered over his shoulder as he went and was very satisfied indeed, to hear squawking noises as the lords on their council hurried after him and out of his tower as fast as their fat little legs would allow.
~
Merlin’s lips were definitely twitching now. With his arms crossed over his chest, he observed the scene before him, doing his utmost best to not coo himself silly. There, right in front of him, in the middle of a forest clearing, on a big, soft looking blanket… there they were. Bathed in the warm summer’s sunlight, his King, with one hand behind his head (head, mind, that had a flower crown of all things, on top of it) was sleeping soundly while cradling a little snow-coloured baby dragon to his chest with his other hand.
Merlin swallowed, his throat tight with affection and love and just… Joy. He moved towards them on silent feet, unwilling to disturb the peaceful picture.
Aithusa’s head snapped up, a warning growl beginning in the back of her throat, only to turn into a joyous chirp when she noticed who it was that was approaching them.
Merlin lifted a finger to his lips and she quieted down, glancing quickly towards her sleeping golden pillow.
Merlin crouched down by the blanket, kicked off his boots and inched closer slowly. Arthur had so few moments to rest of late, he’d be damned if he were the one to disturb him unnecessarily. When he finally made it to his King’s side, Merlin cooed softly, there, on Aithusa’s tiny head, sat a tiny flower crown as well.
“Aren’t you just the most beautiful of princesses, darling,” Merlin whispered softly and placed a gentle kiss on her snout. She happily burped a puff of smoke all over his face in response.
Merlin chuckled, patted her back, making her purr and turned to take a closer look at his King.
After watching Arthur snore like a tiny baby boar for a few more moments, Merlin grinned and curled up beside him, snuggling onto his chest and tossing a leg over Arthur’s. Sleep took him between one beat of Arthur’s heart and the next.
~
Merlin woke up wrapped up in Arthur’s arms, his King’s fingers soft and gentle in his hair. Aithusa had migrated into the picnic basket Merlin had not noticed before. There was also a very annoying clanging of… the warning bells? Merlin blinked. Yawned. Stretched.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Arthur murmured, sounding amused.
Merlin hummed happily, raised his head and kissed his husband lightly. And then promptly frowned when the bells continued to ring, getting more irritating by the second.
“Ugh,” he groaned, turned his head towards the castle and huffed out a breath, his eyes sparkling gold for just a moment. The bells went silent.
When he turned back towards Arthur, Arthur had an eyebrow raised, and a very amused grin on his face. Merlin shrugged, his own lips twitching up in response. He leaned in for another kiss. The lords of their council had interrupted his me-time, and he was not above taking it out on theirs. Merlin wrapped his arms around his husband’s neck and deepened the kiss. The bloody lords could bloody well wait.
~x~