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It had honestly been a completely and totally normal day, as their “completely and totally normal days” tend to go.
It started with Merlin bursting into Arthur’s room later than he should have. Merlin attempting to drag Arthur out of bed all while His Royal Highness flailed about and yelled at him, making the task nearly impossible as Merlin moved on to dressing him.
Then they broke their fast with the other knights, who all wasted a good portion of their food by throwing it at each other like a bunch of children.
Then the knights and Merlin ride out to track along the rumours of an evil sorceress taking shelter in an abandoned tower nearby. Her being a sorceress wasn’t necessarily the problem, it was the terrorising the poor commoners of the village nearby that was the issue.
Then after having located her, the knights dismounted from their horses and prepared to fight.
All came to a head when Merlin and Arthur were separated from the others and quickly found themselves locked in a square room with no exit.
Merlin sighed as he walked around the 8x8 foot place, hand running along the wall as he tried to find a crack, a gust of air, anything that might lead to their escape.
“Where did the room even come from?” Arthur asked, slashing his sword uselessly at the wall. Merlin glanced at him with an annoyed eye roll as he continued his search for a weak point.
“Magic, obviously you clotpole.” Merlin insulted and Arthur turned to shoot him a kingly glare over his shoulder before facing forward and slashing at the wall again.
“How do we escape?” Arthur whined now, slashing again at the wall.
“Working on it,” Merlin said, completely exasperated as Arthur struck the wall once more. “And honestly, what do you think you’ll achieve by doing that? It’s solid smooth stone.”
“Better help than whatever it is you’re doing.” Arthur shot back before attempting to now stab the wall. Merlin tried to stifle the laughter that bubbled up his throat as Arthur was knocked off balance by his own jab and fell backwards.
Arthur turned quickly, pointing at Merlin with one hand, still laid on the floor, with a sharp glare. “Shut up!”
“I hadn't said anything!” Merlin said, laughing now as Arthur gave him an offended stare. Arthur made to get up, but his armour had unhooked when he fell back, and his chestplate swung forward, knocking him off balance and he fell again.
Merlin now doubles over in laughter and Arthur glares at him.
“When we get back, you’re going in the stocks.” Arthur threatened and Merlin scoffed, reaching a hand out to offer Arthur assistance in standing. The King takes it and is pulled to his feet before Merlin.
“That threat starts to lose its weight when it’s a daily thing.” Merlin informed. “At this point, you’re going to start a famine in Camelot.”
“I’d have no problem if my manservant were the least bit competent.” Arthur shot back but side, looking up at their box of doom. “How tall do you think these walls are?”
“About 15 feet,” Merlin glances up and shrugs. “Possibly 20. Why?”
“I’m going to climb out.” Arthur said and Merlin turned to Arthur with a raised eyebrow. Arthur turns to face him and frowns, flicking his forehead. “That’s an awful thing to pick up from Gaius.”
Merlin bats his hand away with a frown but takes a step back. “Go ahead, I’d love to see you try to climb this.” Merlin said, crossing his arms and leaning back against one of the walls.
Arthur huffs at him and crosses his own arms, surveying the wall carefully before he shrugs out of his unhooked chestplate and places it on the floor.
Merlin watches as Arthur stretches a bit, as if preparing to actually scale the wall.
Arthur inhales deeply, then backs up to where Merlin is, before taking a running start at the wall and jumping up, his boot grazing the wall and lifting him higher for just a moment, but with no footholes or anything to grab onto, Arthur was doomed to gravity and slid down the floor in seconds.
He turned to Merlin, who watched with an unimpressed gaze.
“I can do it.” Arthur insisted, backing up again and running once more, only this time aiming for a corner.
To his credit, he did get some height this time, pivoting his weight off of one wall to another, then onto another, but it stopped there when Arthur could no longer force his momentum any higher and he fell once more.
Merlin watches this go three more times before he steps forward and grabs Arthur’s arm.
“As entertaining as it is to watch you behave like an utter imbecile, you’re going to tire yourself out like that, or hurt yourself. Whenever we get free, we still need your energy and strength to fight the sorceress.” Merlin informed.
Arthur shared his gaze and begrudgingly agreed, his shoulders relaxing some.
“Talking about me behind my back?” A voice called from above, and Merlin and Arthur both looked up to find the woman from before perched on top of the wall.
She was a younger woman, with tight brown curls that framed her face neatly, her skin soft and deeply tanned, she wore a tattered dress the fluttered in the wind and she had her legs crossed as she poised herself on the wall. Had she not been attacking innocent people, one might think her beautiful.
Arthur scrambles to pick up his sword that he’d discarded and quickly moves to stand in front of Merlin with an arm out to his side, keeping his servant back, staring up at her.
“Free us!” Arthur shouted and she grinned maliciously, looking behind Arthur at Merlin.
“I have no intention of killing you,” she stated. “But you’ve gotten in the way of my fun, in the way of my revenge, and therefore a punishment is owed, don’t you think?”
“Quit your nonsense babbles and free us, witch!” Arthur shouted and Merlin winced at the pure malice the word witch was coated in.
The woman’s eyes leave Merlin to focus on Arthur now. “I’ll free you, but freedom comes with a costly price, Your Highness .” She says the title with such disgrace, she makes being a noble sound worse than being a peasant.
“Stop these riddles!” Arthur told her and she shrugged.
“Fine,” She said. “I’ll give you your freedom, but you have to tell each other a secret that the other doesn’t know. Of the deep dark variety. Simple exchange, no?”
Merlin feels himself pale and hopes Arthur doesn’t notice. The King simply scoffs at her like she’s being ridiculous.
“How would you know what our deepest secrets even are?” Arthur said. “We could just tell you whatever lie we so desired.”
“Hm, I suppose you’re right,” The woman said, suddenly looking deep in thought. She grins suddenly, sharp and malicious, and snaps her fingers. “I know!” She murmurs words under her breath, a raspy tone taking to her voice and Merlin felt fear grip him as her eyes glowed brightly.
Suddenly, the walls shook, as if coming to life, then slowly, the left and right walls began to move towards each other.
“The box knows your secrets,” She informed. “Once you say them, you can leave. If you’d rather die, however, you can hold your secrets.” And with that, she was gone.
“What?!” Arthur shrieked, running at one wall and trying to push against it, forcing it to not crush him and Merlin to death.
“What does she mean?!” Arthur shouted and Merlin tried to push the other wall backwards as well, but both their attempts were futile as the walls only moved closer.
“It seemed pretty cut and dry!” Merlin shouted. “Confess our darkest secrets and we don’t die!”
“Well that’s not very fair!” Arthur complained and Merlin shot him another exasperated look before stepping away from the wall. Something crunches under the wall, making a terribly loud crack and groaning noise until it slid under the wall, pancaked.
“This isn’t working,” Merlin noted and Arthur turned so his back was against the wall.
“Oh really?! I hadn’t noticed, I thought we were making incredible progress stopping the walls of doom!” Arthur shouted and Merlin gave him a deadpanned look, arms crossed.
“No need for sarcasm.” Merlin grumbled and then shook his head. “Come on then, tell me your deepest, darkest secret.”
“Why do I have to go first?!” Arthur complained. “Merlin! I order you to go first!”
“You can’t order me to do that!” Merlin shot back and then took a step forward and dug his index finger into Arthur’s chest. Arthur looked down at the finger like it had personally offended him. “Just for that, you go first.”
“How does that make any sense?” Arthur grumbled.
“Tick tock, you’re wasting time.” Merlin said, taking a few steps back to lean against the other wall. The room had already been small and the walls moved faster than either would’ve liked and Merlin was just now actually beginning to worry. He turns away from Arthur for a moment and mumbles under his breath, trying to muster any sort of spell that could get them out, but to no avail. The walls must be enchanted because he can’t feel that familiar tingle of magic in the back of his mind. Wonderful.
“Ugh fine!” Arthur shouted after a long moment of silence. “Okay, okay.”
Merlin is silent, turning to give Arthur his full attention, and hopefully giving a gentle look that lets him know he won’t judge Arthur or think any less of him for whatever secret he’s about to reveal.
“I hate being king.” Arthur said. “I despise it, I truly do. And I know, I know I complain about all the work, and everything I do, but that’s not even what I hate most! It’s the power, the fact that no one around me regards me like a normal human being, walking around on eggshells near me, like they’re scared of me. And it’s foolish, truly it is. I’ve been blessed with this life, but I hate it. And I can’t escape it either, because if I’m not king, a tyrant or an evil doer might take over, destroy everything I’ve worked to fix. But that doesn’t mean I don’t hate it.”
At Arthur’s admission, the walls slow, just a bit. Which provides some relief, since Arthur and Merlin were now barely at arms reach apart.
“Oh,” Merlin said, voice gentle. “I- I never would’ve guessed. I mean- Especially with how you treat me.”
“What do you mean how I treat you? ” Arthur asked, glaring gently at Merlin.
“Well it’s just- I mean, you order me around, berate me for not calling you my lord or sire or any other pratty title.” Merlin informed.
“Well that’s-” Arthur rolled his eyes. “That’s not because you’re my servant, that’s because you’re my friend. If you had any other social standing, I’d treat you the same.”
“Gee, thanks,” Merlin grumbled and then stared at the wall, not meeting Arthur’s eyes.
They were both silent for a moment before Arthur reached his leg forward a bit.
“Sorry to interrupt your silent pondering, but this room is getting quite too claustrophobic for my taste.” Arthur said. Though the walls had slowed, there was still just barely enough space for comfort. “What's your secret, Merlin?”
Merlin ducked his gaze to stare at the solid stone floor beneath their feet, silent for just a moment more before he inhaled deeply.
“I’m a warlock.” Merlin said, not raising his head to meet Arthur’s eyes.
The walls, instead of stopping or even slowing, creak loudly before going faster, pushing Merlin and Arthur together. Both men react in alarm, Arthur raising his legs up to try and push against the wall while Merlin pounds at the wall.
“What the hell?! Why didn’t it work?” Merlin shouted and Arthur suddenly looks nervous, swallowing thickly. “I’m a warlock! A sorcerer, a magic user, you stupid box! That’s my secret!”
“Maybe it’s another?” Arthur suggested as he tried to push the walls apart. He fails and lowers his legs.
“No, Arthur, it’s not!” Merlin shouted. “I’m a sorcerer, have been since I was born and I’ve been hiding it from everyone!”
“Not well,” Arthur said with a thick voice.
“What?” Merlin asked and Arthur sighed, resting his head back on the wall.
“You being a warlock isn’t your secret because I know you’re a warlock.” Arthur said and Merlin frowned, eyes wide.
“What? No, that’s- That’s impossible!” Merlin shouted. “You would’ve- I don’t know, you would’ve-”
“What? Would’ve what, Merlin? Killed you, exiled you, hurt you?” Arthur asked, voice heavy with hurt. “Do you really think so lowly of me?”
“No,” Merlin said, breathless and leaning forward to rest his head on the wall before him. “Not of you. Your father.”
“He’s been dead. For a while .” Arthur said.
“It was never the right moment,” Merlin said. “Why didn’t you tell me you knew?”
“We can talk all about this more, after we escape the crushing box of doom.” Arthur said, groaning as he no longer could really even move without touching both walls. “Could you please tell me your other secret so we can escape?”
“I don’t- I don’t have another secret!” Merlin insisted. The box didn’t agree, because it groans lowly and begins to crush faster.
“ Mer lin, please!” Arthur shouted. “We are both going to die of your stubbornness so for the love of Camelot what is it?!”
Merlin swallowed thickly, eyes burning as he groaned out in pain, the walls finally beginning to crush them both. Arthur shouted out, screaming and Merlin hears a sickening crack sound that shoots through his heart. He shuts his eyes tight, hands pressed firmly against stone as he wiggles and tries to escape his fate.
“I’m in love with you!” Merlin shouted. All at once, the walls stop, there’s a low groan from them and suddenly, they pull apart before vanishing into thin air.
They’re both silent for a moment, collapsing to the ground and heaving heavy breaths. Arthur’s cries sound like a wounded animal as he collapses completely to lay on his back, one hand draped over his left ribs.
Merlin crawls over to him, breathless, but he lifts a hand and rests it over Arthur’s ribs, mumbling a spell under his breath and Arthur gasps and sits up, no longer in pain.
Merlin sits back, putting a foot of space between them as he looks around. They aren’t in the forest they were in before, at least not where they had been. They had been moved about 100 feet away from where the others should be.
Speaking of the others, they should get back to them, help fight the sorceress.
“Arthur,” Merlin gasped out, getting up to his feet. He was more shaken up from being forced to confess his darkest secret than he had thought. That and he’d already been sporting a small injury from earlier in their trip, it had been hot as hell in the small space, and he had been crushed just a little. “The others.”
Arthur waved a hand at him lazily, getting to his feet and looking for his sword and chestplate. Both were strewn a few yards away, completely crumpled and useless. Arthur whines at that and Merlin can’t help the twitching of the corner of his lips at that.
His small smile drops when Arthur turns and points at him. “We’re talking when we’re done with this fight.” Arthur insisted and Merlin swallowed thickly and nodded.
It’s over quicker than Merlin would’ve wished. The other knights had already worn down the sorceress, and with some magically aided help from Merlin, the witch was down in moments after they arrived.
Which means they need to talk.
Arthur’s pulled Merlin away from where the other men are licking their battle wounds and eating their food so they can have privacy to talk.
Merlin wasn’t sure what he was more terrified for, the conversation about him hiding his magic for all these years or the fact he was in love with Arthur.
He’s a liar because he absolutely knows which is more terrifying of the two.
“I’m... sorry for anything I’ve ever said that might’ve led to your hesitance in confiding to me that you’re a sorcerer.” Arthur said and Merlin nodded, not meeting his eyes. “I’m sorry for all anti-magic statements I’ve ever made in the past, that probably didn’t help either. But- You knew I was working on making magic legal again, not even that helped?”
“It wasn’t that.” Merlin said, not meeting Arthur’s eyes. “It’s just- It was never the right time. And I was worried about what you would think about me for having hid this for so long.”
Arthur is silent for a moment. “Do others know?”
Merlin nods small.
“Who?”
“Well Gaius, of course. Uhm, Lancelot found out by accident. Morgana suspected, meaning Gwen probably suspected. Gwaine- Gwaine knows too.” Merlin said and then stood up. “But I didn’t tell any of them. Besides Gaius. Everyone- they just found out by accident.”
Arthur sighed deeply. “It’s a wonder you’ve been able to keep it a secret this long, really, Merlin. I’ve known since the start.”
“The start?” Merlin asked, aghast.
“Well, not the very beginning.” Arthur admitted. “But when you confessed to a room full of people you were a sorcerer to save Gwen? I knew then, that you were telling the truth. But I had to cover. After that, I wasn’t entirely sure, but then I started to notice things.”
“...Like what?” Merlin asked and Arthur grinned, reaching forward and grabbing Merlin’s hands.
“That despite all the chores you do, your hands are never thick with calluses.” Arthur runs his thumb over Merlin’s knuckles and the sorcerer can’t control the blush rising in his cheeks. “You have cuts and bruises over them, sure, but never thick calluses like most of the other servants did. And that most magical creatures that should’ve been impossible to destroy, were destroyed as long as you were there. And you’re not very quiet with those incantations, you know?”
Merlin flushes more now out of embarrassment. “Well no one’s pointed it out before!” Merlin defends, taking his hand back. “Why didn’t you ever tell me you knew?”
Arthur sighed and shrugged. “I wanted to forget it at first, pretend it wasn’t real. Because if it was real, you were at a great risk living in Camelot, especially when my father was in charge. And then... Then it’s because I wanted to wait until you were comfortable enough to tell me. I didn’t want to pressure you before you were ready.”
Merlin scoffed with an eye roll. “You’re ridiculous, Arthur.” Merlin said.
“Says the one who’s been poorly hiding his magic for years.” Arthur retorted and then his expression turned more serious and Merlin ducked his gaze again. “Your- Your other secret though.”
“We don’t have to talk about it,” Merlin insisted. “If you- If you’re disgusted by what I feel or if you feel guilty, it’s fine. I’ll- I’m not sure I could move on, actually, but I won’t act on these feelings or expect you too. And if you’re uncomfortable with me working for you I understand if you want to-”
Arthur interrupts him by grabbing his shoulders and shaking him a little, startling Merlin into finally meeting his eyes.
“Gods, Merlin, would you let a man speak before you jump into conclusions?” Arthur said and he was smiling widely.
“Jump to conclusions?” Merlin echoed and Arthur rolled his eyes.
“Yes! One, that if I didn’t return your feelings I would get rid of you and two that if I didn’t I would be disgusted by you? I would never!” Arthur said and Merlin nods, not fully paying attention because...
If.
If.
“You-” Merlin cuts himself off then frowns, giving Arthur a confused look. “What do you mean?”
“For a sorcerer, you are quite daft, you know.” Arthur said and then moved a little closer. “You idiot , I love you too.”
Merlin stares wide eyed at him for a long moment before he pulls a face and taps his own ear.
“Sorry, I think I misheard you,” Merlin tilts his head as if to hear better and Arthur just takes the offered moment to whack him upside the head. Merlin flinches, but looks at Arthur with a sparkle in his eyes.
“You moron,” Arthur said, words dripping in affection. “I love you too, okay?”
Merlin smiles a soft, happy smile at him before he shakes his head and scoffs.
“How could you , King Arthur of Camelot, this- This incredibly strong knight, the brave and heroic leader, love me? Just... plain old Merlin?” Merlin asked and Arthur whacked his head again.
“Okay stop that before you cause permanent damage!” Merlin shouted and Arthur rolled his eyes.
“Then shut up!” Arthur shot back. “That’s the love of my life you’re insulting there!”
Merlin gasped lowly under his breath, eyes wide and searching Arthur’s, to see if there’s any hint of regret, or anything that would indicate that Arthur had slipped up just then.
But Arthur just stares back at him with a teasing glint in his eyes and a gentle smile.
“I’m the love of your life?” Merlin asked and Arthur rolled his eyes.
“Well of course,” Arthur said, like Merlin was a proper idiot and this had been an obvious fact all along. “A powerful sorcerer who’s been saving my arse almost a million times a sennight? Who makes me laugh and makes me angry sometimes? That makes me truly feel whole being with? What kind of idiot would I be to not have someone like that be the love of my life.”
Merlin smiles softly now, looking into Arthur’s eyes softly. Any ounce of insecurity, fear and anxiety he’d felt prior melted away with Arthur’s words.
“You’d be a downright clotpole,” Merlin said and Arthur grinned, hands lifting to gently cradle Merlin’s face in his hands. Merlin felt like he was the world with how Arthur held him, how his eyes, while teasing, lit up with adoration as he looked into Merlin’s.
They just stare at each other for a long moment, and it’s been too long that Merlin isn’t sure if it’s awkward or not for him to reach out to touch Arthur back now.
He decides to Hell with it, he surely hadn’t thought this would end as well as it had, what’s a moment of embarrassment?
Merlin raises his hands to clutch at Arthur’s waist, holding on like he’s worried this is all a dream and he’s going to wake up soon.
“Merlin, I love you,” Arthur said, firmly, and though he’d said it a few times before already, this confession, whispered gently to just him, Arthur’s breath tickling Merlin’s lips, eyes staring through him like Arthur saw every part of Merlin, it felt more .
Not more anything, just more .
“I love you too,” Merlin said, trying to match Arthur’s voice, trying to push all his meaning into his words and Arthur smiles, hums a little, before leaning forward and closing the small gap between them, their lips brushing gently against each other for a few moments.
The skin of lips brushing against one another, chaste, gentle, loving, adoring. Merlin felt so unbelievably loved in this moment, something he truly never thought he would get.
Not this kind of undying, determined and whole love. Not from anyone, and certainly not from Arthur.
Yet here he was, in Arthur’s loving hold, lips pressed together.
Arthur’s lips move some then, brushing against Merlin’s and Merlin copies, copies what Arthur does the kiss swallows him whole.
Still slow, still loving, their lips slotted against each other then pulled away, meeting each other once more as they kissed each other more.
Merlin had never kissed someone before, not a real kiss like this. Kisses on cheeks, on hands, on foreheads. Lips against lips for mere seconds before, yes. But he’d never had this, this loving exchange of lips moving against lips.
He just hoped he was doing well enough for Arthur, that he was mimicking and copying him well enough that Arthur wasn’t disappointed.
Arthur’s tongue swiped against Merlin’s bottom lip and Merlin couldn’t hold back the breathy gasp that escaped him, welcoming more of Arthur each moment.
Merlin’s own tongue met Arthur’s, and it felt strange for a moment, tongue against tongue, but the feeling was quickly something to get used to and Merlin followed Arthur’s lead yet again.
Their tongues danced in a waltz only meant for them, and Merlin felt dizzy with the love he held for Arthur. The love he no longer had to hide. The love he was allowed to finally act on.
He gripped Arthur’s waist tightly, a breathy whine escaping him as Arthur’s tongue broke away from his, licking inside his mouth now, exploring like Arthur wanted to find every part of Merlin and claim it as his own.
One of Arthur’s hands slid from where it laid on his cheek to his hair, fingers weaving through the strands of loose, short curls, and burying themselves, bringing Merlin all the more closer.
The kiss was passionate now, slightly heated, but loving, adoring, caring, fulfilling, breathtaking.
Merlin never wanted to part from Arthur, he thinks, for a hysterical moment, that it would physically pain him to tear himself away from Arthur.
But they’ve already been gone for a while to talk, gone for even more than to do this, to kiss , and the other knights were surely going to begin to wonder where they’d wandered off too, if they weren’t worried first.
Merlin pulled back and a higher pitched whine strangled itself from his throat when Arthur’s lips chased after Merlin’s.
Merlin raised a hand to rest it on Arthur’s chest, smiling shyly up at him. “The others will wonder where we’ve gone too.” Merlin said and Arthur pouted at him.
“To Hell with the others, I finally have you, I don’t want to part for a moment.” Arthur said and Merlin flushed, elbowing Arthur to put some distance between them.
“Who knew the royal prat could be such a romantic?” Merlin teased, but it didn’t have as nearly as much effect as he would’ve liked, as his voice was hardly a whisper, amazed.
Arthur grinned and wrapped his arms around him, pulling him into a tight, secure, and safe hug.
“I’ve always been a romantic,” Arthur instead, suddenly turning Merlin in the hug so he had an arm wrapped around his shoulders, pulling him in so he could harshly ruffle his hair. Merlin groaned and tried to escape his hold. “You’ve just been too oblivious to realise my attempts at courting you.”
Arthur releases Merlin then and turns to join the other knights back at their small camp area.
Merlin blinks once. Then twice. Then sprints after Arthur.
“Hey wait!” Merlin shouted. “Courting? You’ve been courting me?! Get back here, I know you can hear me!”