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"One day." He'd always say, whispered into the night,"One day, we won't have to hide."
He has an quite idealistic vision for the future, Merlin has to admit.
But Arthur's plan has its flaws.
Would they even make it that far?
At this rate, it doesn't seem like it.
Not with Uther going strong in health, and strongly "suggesting" Arthur marry any princess remotely his age.
One would think, after the troll incident, Uther would be less inclined to set up marriages with just anyone who comes knocking, claiming royalty.
Somehow Arthur always manages to avoid getting himself married off, though a little magical intervention is often required.
So perhaps, if they decided to portray Arthur as all around unfit for marriage, as Merlin suggests, they could continue the secrets between them until Arthur takes the throne.
However, there are other ways of not making it that long.
Such as now, Morgana smirking at them from the doorway of the spare room they'd slipped into.
They were unaware for the moment, too interested in each other and Morgana would never give herself up until the moment was right.
"Arthur, we don't have time for this, you have to be in a meeting in-" Arthur swiftly halts the worries, pressing a kiss to the words.
"We've got enough time for a quick kiss. And just think, one day it will be perfectly acceptable for us to be late because of this."
"Hmm, I still think people won't be happy we're wasting time kissing when running the kingdom is your job."
"Who says it's wasting time?" Arthur says, leaning in to demonstrate it's a perfectly good way to spend time.
"Really, Arthur, we must be going. The meeting starts soon!"
"You know why I don't want to go to the meeting, Father is just going to tell me the family visiting in a sennight has a beautiful daughter who would make a most advantageous bride."
"Surely he can think of other topics to discuss."
"Apparently not." Arthur sighs, pressing another kiss to Merlin's lips.
"Sometimes I wish I could just tell him and he'd understand. I know he'd never be alright with us, but I just wish I could say 'No, I'm not going to marry a princess, I'd much rather marry a manservant, thank you.' "
Ah, here is Morgana's moment.
"Be careful what you wish for, dear brother." She says, enjoying the way they spring apart as if burned.
"Morgana!" Arthur says, immediately beginning to twist the ring on his finger, "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to learn Gwen and I have been right all along."
"I didn't tell her!" Merlin protests in response to the look Arthur shot him.
"You and Gwen stand around gossiping for hours! You probably let it slip how much you adore me."
"Ha! If anything, I'd tell her the true extent of how hopeless you are without me."
"Oh don't worry, I will most certainly be filling her in." Morgana says, still smirking, though it nearly changes to a real smile when she thinks of Gwen's response.
"You can't!" Arthur cries.
"I think you'll find I can do whatever I please." Morgana replies cooly, raising an eyebrow.
"But this can't get out! You know how he'll react, he'll send Merlin away and marry me off as soon as he can get a Lady here!"
"Arthur, telling Gwen is a far cry from telling the king. Gwen knows how to keep secrets."
"Very true, she found out about my magic before anyone else."
"What?! Gwen knew before me too?!"
"Oh yeah, wayyy before you. Pretty sure she suspected when I didn't die from a deadly poison."
"I'm always the last to know these things." Arthur complains, definitely not pouting.
"That's because you're the one going around saying you wish you could tell everyone all about your secrets." Morgana says, laughing at his face, the pout that hasn't changed since he was little.
"Well you're the one telling me to be careful, as if you're going to tell someone other than Gwen!"
"Oh, I only said that to scare you. There would be no point telling, as I rather like Merlin, though his choices in courting could use some revaluation. And why tell on you being in love with your servant, when you could make the same accusation about me?"
"Perhaps you knew I wouldn't, as one of us actually has honour."
"Now, Arthur. I don't think missing your meeting is very honorable."
Arthur looks around as if suddenly remembering where he is and what he's doing, panicked look crossing his face.
He rushes out of the room leaving only another quick kiss with Merlin and a harsh glare with Morgana.
Though the parting gifts were quite different, the response is much the same, cackling following him down the hall.