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Arthur watched with strange fascination as Merlin performed his duties, but this time with his magic. Muttering spells beneath his breath, or just nodding his head at objects and they moved at the command.
Ever since he found out Merlin had magic, it had entirely changed his view on it. He had been raised that magic was evil, and it corrupted everything. But Merlin...
Merlin was pure good.
A little strange, but pure good either way.
And if someone like Merlin had magic, maybe it wasn't all bad after all.
Since then, Merlin had explained to him that magic itself wasn't evil, just sometimes evil people used it. Uther had focused on those people, on the minority, and in doing so had changed the minority to the majority.
"Oh, you have a few hours to yourself this afternoon." Arthur said after a moment, and Merlin raised an eyebrow at him.
"If you're going out, I'm coming with you. Someone has to keep you alive after all." He hummed, and Arthur scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"I'm the King of Camelot, Merlin. I can handle myself."
Merlin just nodded, rolling his own eyes.
"Anyway, it's not that. I have a meeting with some druid elders later. Peace treaty stuff, lifting the magic bans. You can have that time to yourself."
Merlin stopped, and turned to face him confused. "Why?"
Arthur spluttered for a moment. "Because... I'm the King and I said so."
"You should know by now, I stop listening when you start a sentence with 'Because I'm the King'."
'He's lucky I like him.'
"Just... Take the time off. I can handle one meeting. Go... Study medicines or gather herbs or whatever it is you do to relax." Arthur huffed, and Merlin rolled his eyes.
"I haven't known a relaxing day since I came to Camelot ten years ago." He muttered, eyes glowing for a moment as he finished the last of his chores.
"Then go have one."
Merlin glanced at him, his eyebrow raised again. "You're serious?"
"Yes!"
Both men were quiet for a moment, before Merlin sighed, but nodded. "Fine. You've got your 'stubborn prat' look, so I'm not winning this one."
Arthur responded by throwing a pillow at Merlin, who froze it with his magic, and sent it back. It landed on Arthurs bed.
"Okay that's cheating."
"It's instinct." Merlin countered.
Arthur shook his head fondly.
'He's really lucky I like him.'
----------
Arthur was regretting saying Merlin didn't have to join him at this meeting. At least then it wouldn't be so boring.
No, it was needed. Even if his mind kept drifting off, wondering what Merlin was doing.
"Okay, the last thing we need to discuss. Your signatures on this treaty are helpful, but treaties are not absolute. They have been broken in the past." One of the druid elders said, and Arthur nodded, knowing that all too well.
"Understood. What can I do to prove to your people that I am serious about this?"
The elders shared a look, and Arthur wasn't sure he liked it.
"We were wondering if you would consider letting one of our own into your household. Through the only bond that is stronger than a signature: marriage."
'Oh great, here we go again.'
"Marriage. I understand your reasoning for this, but... I cannot agree."
"And why not?"
Arthur was quiet for a few moments before exhaling slowly.
"One of the reasons I'm wanting this peace between our people is so no one has to live in fear of what could happen if they are themselves. This includes myself. I... I am not interested in marrying a woman."
The druids were quiet briefly before shrugging.
"That is completely okay sire. If that is the truth may I suggest a man?" One of them said, and Arthurs eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected that response at all.
"You seemed shocked. Magic is about expressing yourself, being true to who are. We know many druids and sorcerers who love the same gender as them. So, if that is your only concern, we will be happy if it is a man that you marry, and joins your house."
Arthur's mind was spinning again.
"Uh, yes. That was my only real concern." He didn't know how he managed to not stammer, but he managed it.
"Wonderful. May I suggest Emrys? He is the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth, and him joining your house would be a sure sign that this peace will last."
Arthur was quiet as he processed this, before a thought came to mind.
"May I make a suggestion?" He asked, and they nodded. "My manservant, Merlin. He recently told me he has magic. His reveal is what made me realise magic itself isn't evil."
The druids just smiled.
"Ah, so we are in agreement then."
Arthur nodded, before the druids' words sank in.
"Wait what? No. I'm saying I want to marry Merlin, not this... Emrys you spoke of."
The druids shared a confused look.
"Sire... You're talking about the same man."
That did it. Arthurs world fully tilted. Merlin, bumbling, strange, sassy Merlin... Was the most powerful sorcerer to ever walk the earth?
What?
----------
Arthur had been sat staring at his fireplace for a few hours now. Once the initial shock had worn off, he and the druid elders had come to an agreement: Arthur would marry Emrys- Merlin. As long as Merlin agreed though, that had been Arthurs condition.
But now, his mind was racing again. Merlin, his Merlin, was the most powerful sorcerer.
He knew Merlin had magic, but he hadn't realised just how strong it was. Merlin used it mostly for chores now that most of the threats to Camelot had been stopped.
His eyes darted to the door when it opened, and the object of his racing thoughts walked in.
"Hey, how did the meeting go?" Merlin asked, closing the door behind him.
"We need to talk."
Merlin tensed, and Arthur mentally cursed. That was not how he had wanted to start this conversation.
"The meeting went fine. Treaties are signed, everyone's happy. The druid elders just have one more... Condition. A way to prove I'm serious about wanting your people to be free." He continued, and Merlin nodded slowly.
"Please tell me you know what this condition is, because druids can sometimes be a little... Druid-y."
Arthur chuckled softly, before nodding.
"They want a bond that is stronger than a signature. A marriage."
Arthur noticed the way Merlin's shoulders seemed to tense, a flicker of something almost like pain in his eyes, before he smiled.
"You finally getting married then? Who's the unlucky man?" Merlin tried to joke, but Arthur heard the way his voice cracked slightly.
Arthur knew he should tell Merlin the truth, but something in his eyes made him pause.
"I... I don't know yet. The elders are going to ask the sorcerer they want to see if he's willing. I'm not sure on his name."
That wasn't technically a lie, since he wasn't sure if Merlin was actually called Merlin, or Emrys. It had confused him greatly.
"Here's hoping it's someone with common sense, since you don't have any."
Merlin's reply was normal for him, but something about his tone was off. Like he was trying to hide pain.
"You're hilarious. I should make you the court fool."
Merlin chuckled a little, before looking away.
"Is there anything else you need? I said to Gwaine I'd meet him at the tavern soon."
Arthur shook his head.
"No. Go. Do not rack up a huge bill again, understood?"
Merlin spluttered. "That was one time!"
"One time I don't want you repeating." Arthur countered, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Prat." Merlin huffed, before he walking out.
Arthur stared after the door for a moment, before he looked back at the fireplace. He'd talk to Merlin soon, once he had gathered his thoughts.
----------
It had been a few days since the magic ban was lifted, and the kingdom was still wary, but starting to see how magic was actually pretty useful in everyday life.
Merlin was at the market, getting some more fabric because Arthur had managed to rip a hole in his cloak while training earlier. He'd been distracted recently; Merlin just assumed it was because he didn't know who he was marrying.
"Emrys."
A voice rang in his head, making him look up. There was a druid a few feet away, and once they made eye contact, the druid indicated for him to follow.
Merlin did so reluctantly, hoping Arthur wouldn't notice he was gone longer. He knew the clotpole was in a meeting though, so he figured he was good.
He followed the druid into the woods, and after a few minutes they stopped.
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine Emrys, we just need to ask you something." The druid said, and Merlin nodded.
"I'm sure you're aware of our plans to have Arthur marry one of our own."
"He mentioned it, yeah."
"Excellent. Have you agreed?"
Merlin looked at him, confused. "Agreed to what?"
The druid mirrored his expression. "Marrying Arthur. We suggested you; he countered using your other name."
Merlin froze.
"He what?"
"You didn't know? It was his condition that you agreed to it."
"No. He... He said he didn't know who you guys wanted him to marry."
The druid looked even more confused.
"As I said, he suggested you, because he knows you have magic. He was shocked at our using the name Emrys, but he agreed."
Merlin was seriously tempted to throw something at the king later.
"I... I need to talk to him. May I go?" He asked, and after a moment the druid nodded.
Merlin smiled gratefully, before he was heading back to the castle as fast as he could. It wasn't like the other servants weren't used to him running around like a headless chicken after all these years anyway.
----------
Merlin pushed open the doors to the council chamber, where Arthur had a meeting with some of his knights.
Arthur looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, while the knights shared a fond smile. Only Merlin could get away with interrupting a meeting like this.
"Merlin? Is everything okay? You look like you've seen another ghost mate." Gwaine called.
Merlin ignored him, locking his eyes on Arthur.
"We need to talk. Now."
Arthur was quiet for a few moments. "We can talk later, Merlin. This is important."
Merlin walked up the table, and with a flash of his eyes all the papers rolled up. "No, now. You lied to me."
The knights shared a worried look. It was rare they saw Merlin like this.
"I'm the King, Merlin. You can't just barge in here and demand to-"
"I thought we established I do not care when you start sentences that way." Merlin cut him off.
After a moment Lancelot walked over, eyeing his friend nervously.
"Merlin, take a breath."
Merlin glanced at Lancelot, before locking back on Arthur. "You told me you didn't know who the druids said they wanted you to marry."
Arthur tensed.
"Okay, meeting over. We'll continue this later." He said, eyes darting to the knights. They shared a wary look, before nodding, and one by one left the council chamber.
The two held eye contact for a moment.
"You lied to me, Arthur. One of the elders just told me the truth about that meeting."
"You can't say anything about being a liar, Merlin. You hid that you were a sorcerer for years."
"To stop Uther from burning me at the stake!"
"I would never have allowed that to happen!" Arthur snapped, standing up. "But thats not the only thing you've kept from me, is it?"
"Don't yell at me, I'm the angry one here." Merlin snapped back. "And what the hell are you talking about? I haven't kept anything from you. I told you I'm a sorcerer, told you I'm the last Dragonlord. There's nothing else."
That was a lie, Merlin hadn't told Arthur how he felt about the stubborn prat- but Arthur didn't need to know that.
"Oh really?" Arthur scoffed, and Merlin's shoulders tensed. "Tell me something then, Merlin. Who's Emrys?"
Merlin froze.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Merlin spluttered for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't know, a druid?" He didn't know why he was lying. The druid earlier had told him Arthur knew that he was Emrys.
"Stop lying Merlin. You're not good at it."
"Oh really? And you're suddenly an expert on what I am and am not good at?" He huffed, glaring at Arthur.
"The druids told me. They told me you're Emrys."
Merlin was quiet, before scoffing slightly. "It's a name the druids and other magical beings call me, I don't know why. But we're not arguing about that right now. We're arguing about how you lied to me, Arthur."
Merlin took a sharp breath. "You told me you didn't know who the druids wanted you to marry."
"Because I was still wrapping my head around the fact that the man I care about was still hiding things from me!"
Both men froze.
"What did you just say?" Merlin whispered.
Arthur was quiet, before looking away. "Nothing. Doesn't matter."
Merlin went still, and the pieces fell into place.
"The druid told me that when they suggested you marry Emrys, you said you wanted to marry me instead." He watched Arthur tense. "Is that true?"
Arthur was quiet, before exhaling slowly. "Maybe."
"Yes or no, Arthur. Do you want to marry me?"
"Are you proposing?" Arthur asked, eyes wide and face flushed.
Merlin went to say no, but then he realised his wording.
;Well done Merlin.'
"If I was... What would your answer be? Not because of the druids or lifting the magic ban. If I was just... Asking."
Arthur was quiet for a moment, before exhaling slowly again. "If... If you were asking me, my answer would be yes."
He walked around the table to be stood next to Merlin, a nervous look in his eye.
"But kings don't get proposed to. They do the proposing."
"Thats the same as saying 'because I'm the king' Arthur."
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Shut up for a second, clotpole."
Merlin huffed at him, but stayed quiet, surprising Arthur because Merlin had never known how to be quiet before, but this time it was appreciated.
Arthur took Merlin's hands in his, making the sorcerer blush.
"Merlin... Will you marry me?"
Merlin smiled at him.
"Can I talk now?"
"Merlin!" Arthur tried to frown, but he was laughing.
Merlin snorted, before lifting a hand to cup Arthurs cheek.
"Yes, you cabbagehead. I'll marry you."
Arthur grinned, before he was pressing his forehead against Merlin's, his hands moving to hold his waist. Merlin's breath caught in his throat, his face flushing even more.
That's when the council chamber doors crashed open, and their friends tumbled the floor in painful grunts. The two men jumped apart, looking confused and slightly embarrassed.
"Were you... Listening to our conversation?" Merlin asked, watching their friends get to their feet.
The knights made uncertain noises, before Percival pointed at Gwaine.
"His idea."
"Percy!"
"I owe Gwen money now." Lancelot muttered, and Leon patted his shoulder.
"Why do you own Gwen money?" Arthur asked, and Lancelot rubbed the back of his neck.
"We maybe have a bit of bet going on. Whether the two of you would admit how you felt about the other in a normal conversation or an argument." He chuckled nervously.
Merlin shook his head fondly, before looking back at Arthur.
"No more secrets. No more lies."
Arthur met his gaze and nodded.
"No more secrets. No more lies." He repeated.
Merlin smiled at him, before he was wrapping his arms around Arthur to hug him tightly, and Arthur instantly returned the embrace.