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Arthur put his notes down looking out the window. He sighed as he looked around his empty room. Where the hell was Merlin? He looked back out the window again eyes widening seeing said servant slowly walking towards the castle. He looked exhausted. Arthur remembered Gaius said Merlin was in the tavern. He bit his lip. He didn’t believe that like at all. Merlin only ever went there to look after Arthur and the knights when they went out. He walked back over to his chair sitting down, head in his hands. He will have to have a talk with Merlin. He had to see why his servant was hiding things from him like this. He had been so silent lately and it scared him. He waited several hours before Merlin finally walked into his room. He looked up as he walked back and forth silently doing his chores. There it was again. Silent. Merlin, his Merlin, was never silent. Arthur stood up. He didn’t know what he was going to do but he wanted to make him talk. His heartbeat picked up as he watched Merlin for another moment. He noticed a slight glow on his lips and he raised his eyebrow. Magic? But why would he be sensing that on someone like this? He got close. “Late night in the tavern again?” merlin looked about ready to bolt. Arthur just looked down at Merlin’s lips. If he had a spell on his lips, why hadn’t anyone broken it yet? He took a deep breath. This was risky but….maybe he could break it? He had to try.
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“Late night in the tavern again?” Merlin hated that excuse. He was very very close to snapping. If Arthur said another thing, he might actually. He had to hold his tongue. So he cast a silence spell on himself. “What? Cat got your tongue?” Arthur got closer and Merlin’s heartbeat picked up as the prince had him cornered, pressed up against the wall. Merlin just wanted to run and hide. He didn’t want Arthur to see him so vulnerable. God already the amount of times he has scares him. Arthur looked down at his lips for a moment then back at Merlin. Arthur took a deep breath. “I hope this works.” Before Merlin could do anything in reply to that, Arthur kissed him. Merlin felt the magic slip away from his lips. His eyes widened. He DID NOT expect his ‘true love’ to be PRINCE FUCKING ARTHUR!? he didn’t think anyone was going to break the damn spell that’s why he fucking used it in the first place! Arthur pulled away and just stared at Merlin. “T-that…” he laughed awkwardly. “Did not actually think I’d be the one to break it…”
“B-break…” Merlin held his lips. “You knew about the spell?”
“Oh come on Merlin, you’ve been silent for days. I take one look at you and I see a glow around your lips. It was magic. I didn’t think that would actually work.”
“A-and now that it did?” Merlin pulled away from Arthur grabbing his laundry. “Thank you Prince Arthur but you know I was fine not talking to you.”
“Merlin.”
“No, you dollophead.” Merlin turned to look back at the Prince. “you don’t understand. That spell was supposed to be unbreakable.”
“Merlin, what does that even mean?” Arthur grabbed his arm stopping him from leaving the room.
“Just pretend that didn’t happen” he pulled away.
“I will not.” Arthur stepped in the way.
“Arthur-.”
“I kissed you, Merlin.” Arthur smiled. “Not the other way around. I kissed you.”
“That still means nothing.” Merlin looked at the basket in his arms.
“Nothing? Means nothing?” He laughed. “Merlin, you have your voice back. You thought this was unbreakable.” Merlin looked up meeting the princes eyes. “Meaning you thought nobody loved you.”
“What?”
“The spell.” Arthur shrugged. “I recognize your magic when I see it, but what I want to know is why the hell you thought it was a good idea to cast a silence curse on yourself like that”
“M-my magic?” Merlin froze eyes widening.
“Merlin, I’m not that much of an idiot.” Arthur smiled. Actually smiled. “I’ve known about your magic since the day you were poisoned.”
“A-and you didn’t…”
“You saved me.” Arthur held Merlin’s hand. “You made sure I was able to get you that flower, and then you saved me so many more times after that. You only used your magic for me not against me.” Arthur chuckled, “except for the few times in the tavern.”
“But you’ve known? All this time?” Arthur laughed as he brushed some hair from Merlin’s face.
“All this time.” He looked at Merlin’s lips and then back at Merlin again. “And yes, Merlin.” Arthur leaned forward kissing him again. When he pulled away he moved the hair from Merlin’s eyes again. “I share the same feelings for you as you do me.”
“This would have been so much more awkward if that didn’t work.” Merlin laughed.
“Come rest with me, you look like you need it.” Arthur pulled Merlin to the bed.
“But if-.”
“Nobody but the knights would ever dare step foot in here. And besides they only come in emergencies and I don’t see that happening anytime soon. So what if someone sees anyways?”
“They’ll tell your father for one…”
“Just rest Merlin.” Arthur laughed as he pulled him close. Merlin closed his eyes and for the first time in a very long time, he actually slept with no dreams.