His Love

BOOK 2: Chapter 11

The morning of Merlin and Arthur's wedding came about very quickly. Preperations had been swift as Uther did not see any sense in waiting, and Merlin and Arthuer were so keen to be wed they had no objections. Merlin was in his old chambers with Gaius. Since their engagment the pair had shared Arthur's room unofficially, and against Uther's wishes, but it was a the worst kept secret in Camelot's castle.

"Gius this has shrunk" Said Merlin spinning around to try and inspect every angle of his outfit.

"Don't be ridiculous Merlin, it can't have shrunk" Gaius said with his eyebrow raised in disparagment.

"Magic?" joked Merlin with a cheeky grin. Gaius let out a long suffering sigh.

"I think it's rather you that have grown." he said, looking at Merlin's small bump on his stomach in the rich blue tabbard.

"Arthur like's to make sure I'm fed" Merlin said defensively pouting. Merlin frowned again. No matter what he did lately, he seemed to be losing the litheness of his form. He blamed it on all the rich feasts Arthur insisted he attend as an honoured guest rather than a serving boy. His servant body wasn't used to such richness.

"I can't have you breaking on me Merlin" Arthur's voice boomed from behind him, startling Merlin and Gaius.

"Arthur!" Cried Merlin pulling Gaius in front of him and trying to hide. Gaius stumbled, startled.

"Arthur!! We're not meat to see one other!" he called from his hiding place behind his friend and mentor, peeping out from behind him. Arthur rolled his eyes. He hadn't finished getting dressed yet, clothed only in his lose shirt and tight brown breaches, soft new leather doots hugging his calves. He still looked radient thought in the early morning sunlight that streamed into the room. Merlin's heart flipped over in his chest. At the sight. Arthur responded with cock grin and stepped around Gaius who stepped out of the way and into Merlin's space.

"I had to see you before to bring you your gift" He said smiling. Merlin blinked owlishly.

"Gift? But I didn't get-" He began but Arthur cut him off.

"I know. I wanted to get you something" Just then, Merlin noticed a badly wrapped parcel in his hands.

"I wrapped it myself" Atrhur said with pride and rocked forward on his toe.

"I can tell" replied Merlin with a grin.

"Open it!" Arthur said and nodded towards the present he pushed into Merlin's hands. With a bemused grin he turned the package over and began to unpick it gentley.

"Merlin. Stop being to picky." Merlin grinned in Arthur's face and Arthur gave hima wrye grin. He wretched at the wrappings away to reveal a wooden box. It was a nice box engraved with not patterns and a metal latch.

"It's very nice Arthur..." Merlin said with a slight froown and Arthur snorted.

"Open it, Merlin" Merlin's face cleared and he flipped the latch open and opened to box to show a metal disk. He took it out. Aurthuer took the box from him. It was heavy. He turned it over and saw an owl engraved upon it with a banner and the motto of the Pendragon family house. In it's talons it clunthed a brack of some leaves.

"It's a seal!" Merlin said and looking into Arthirs smiling face.

"It's YOU'RE seal Merlin. I had it made for you" Merlin said nothing ahast at the thought that Arthur had shown and his consideration. Tears bagan to well up in his eyes threatening to spill donw his smooth pale cheeks. Arthur began to look worried thinkgin he had done something wrong and somehow offended his love on this special day. He could not live with himself if he now ruined the strenght of there relationship.