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It was a lovely evening at the tavern, ale was flowing, people were laughing, and the knights were making fun of Merlin.
"... And that's how Merlin managed to trip on his own feet 12 times in 12 hours !" Said Gwaine, laughing with his hand over an embarrassed Merlin's shoulders.
"I'm not that clumsy, you're mean," He said, sipping on his ambrosia. "And it even helped you catch these bandits"
The knights laughed, and toasted to Merlin's clumsiness all throughout the evening. At least, until a breathless servant called for Merlin.
"You're needed in the king's chambers," he said. "The king needs you there as fast as possible"
"Do ... Do you know why ?" Asked Merlin, trying to hide his tipsiness as much as possible, although the state of the knights around him and his breath betray him.
"No, I'm sorry," said the servant, who began panicking. " But please, he seemed angry"
"I'm coming, then. I'll do my best. I just need to walk ... Straight. And not fall " said Merlin, who struggled to lift himself up from his chair.
The walk back to the castle was, somehow, sobering. When they made it to Arthur's chambers, the servant (who didn't give his name) ran away like he had the devil chasing after him. It didn't reassure Merlin about Arthur's state.
He knocked softly. "Yes !" Answered Arthur, sounding upset. Merlin tried to enter making the least sound possible, and without knocking anything over or tripping on anything. But, he ran into the table. Which allowed him to be greeted by an angry "Merlin !" From Arthur, who was reviewing documents on his desk.
"What did you need me for ?" Asked Merlin, extremely thankful for the walk back to the castle.
"Yes, I needed your opinion on some of Camelot's laws. About taxes. I think that a simpleton's point of view would be interesting." He said, nearly hiding his smile.
Merlin sighed. "Prat," he said. "So, what taxes need revising ?" He asked, walking towards Arthur's desk.
"None, actually," Arthur let out a small laugh. "I just needed a friend to drink with. All of this," he gestured towards the papers spread out on his desk "has been a bit overwhelming lately."
"So, I'm your friend now ?" Merlin said, smiling. He then remembered his earlier drinking at the tavern, and his smile dropped. "But, you know, about the drinking part... I'm not exactly the best drinking buddy there is, if you know what I mean ..."
Arthur rolled his eyes. "Come now, Merlin, I know all about your little adventures at the tavern, so I know for sure that you are a great drinking buddy," Arthur propped his chin on his knuckles "and surely you're well-rested, since I specifically told you not to go to the tavern, right ?"
"Of course, your majesty" said Merlin, forcing himself to smile. "Do you want me to go fetch some ale ? Or some mead ?"
"I have some of your favorite ambrosia in the cupboard. And, since I have an even number of bottles and we will finish ours, there's no need for cups, right ?" Arthur said, looking proud of himself.
"Indeed" Merlin answered, turning himself towards the cupboard to hide his exasperation. He thought that he could finish a small bottle of ambrosia with Arthur, but he would need an excuse to escape before the second. Surely, he would think about something until then. He opened the cupboard, and found six big bottles of ambrosia. "Fuck" he muttered under his breath. He would have to drink very slowly and wait for Arthur to be drunk to escape, then.
When he returned with two bottles in his hands, Arthur was sat on a chair before the fire, and gestured him towards the other. He waited until Merlin was seated, and asked him to pass him the bottles, so that he could open them.
They began drinking slowly, as expected. Arthur ranted about the laws, the kingly duties, the council, his father's men and almost everything that annoyed him. Merlin was thankful for that, but he unintentionally took too many sips while stopping himself from interrupting Arthur's rambling. It was an especially hard task, even though Arthur's lips looked so... Captivating while he talked.
"And that's why I want to repel the ban on magic." Arthur said, looking for Merlin's approval.
"What ?" Merlin asked, surprised by the sudden mentioning of 'magic' by Arthur's lips.
"So you don't think I should ? I know magic seems so evil, but I personally don't think so. I can see so many uses that everyone would benefit from. For example, during droughts -"
"Yes, no, I see what you mean. But it's so ... Sudden. Unexpected"
"I know. But I've actually been thinking about it for a while. Especially since, you know..." He said, gesturing towards Merlin.
"I know... What ?"
"You know, you... You're... You ... have it"
"I have..."
"Magic ?"
"How ? How do you know ?" Merlin asked, eyes as wide as plates. "And since when ?"
"It's been ... A month, I think ? I just put the pieces together. The strange coincidences around you, the good luck, the trips to the tavern,..."
"Oh."
They drank in silence for a while, until both their bottles were empty, taking in the weight of the revelation.
Merlin got up to bring the next bottles, and didn't manage do walk straight. He sniffled.
"Are you crying ?" Arthur asked, worried.
"No," Merlin said, a sob lost in his voice "you're the worst dollophead ever. You knew I didn't go to the tavern and still forced me to drink with you." He said, while erasing the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
Arthur got up, and put a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Please don't cry, Merlin. I... I didn't mean to. I was just a bit jealous, I think. Of the knights. Of Gwaine." He said, while gently stroking his shoulder.
"Jealous ? Why ?" Merlin asked, turning himself around with Arthur's help, who put the bottles on the floor.
"Because... It's complicated, Merlin."
"You know of my darkest, deepest secret. So you have to tell me" Merlin answered, sulking.
"It's not dark and deep," Arthur rolled his eyes "you use your magic to do your chores"
Merlin's mouth gaped open. "You knew ? And didn't say anything ? What if I got caught by someone else ?"
"I'm the king, Merlin. I can do whatever I want. Even not executing you"
"But," Merlin said, pointing his finger at Arthur "I didn't forget. Why. Were. You. Jealous?" He asked, making sure to emphasize each word.
"For... You don't have to know that"
"I do"
"I'm the king"
"But you look like a frog"
"That doesn't make any sense, Merlin"
"Neither do you"
"I love you"
"Tell... What ?"
"I'm in love with you," Arthur sighed "and always has been"
"Even when you tried to kill me with a mace ?" Merlin asked, doubting his ears. Surely it couldn't be true. He couldn't be in love with him too.
"That was me trying to look handsome and manly"
"You don't have to try, though," Merlin laughed " but you looked more ... Deadly"
"Hmm, understandable" Arthur said. They scrutinized each other for a while, scanning each one of the other's details. Their eyes, the tip of their nose, their lips. Then, they kissed. It was unclear who gave the signal first, but they lost each other in the kisses, until they were both breathless.
"I love you" Merlin said.
"So, you agree on lifting the ban on magic ?"
"Of course," Merlin said, smiling "but do we get married before, or after ?"
"After, I want to show you off"
Merlin happily sighed. "I love you"
"I love you too," Arthur answered, smiling like he never did before. "It's the best night of my life"
"So far" Merlin completed