Merlin One Shots

Prince Merlin

Merlin isn't Arthur's servant in this

also imagining him as irish

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"Father, i do not want to marry some princess!" Arthur said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"Arthur, it is for the good of our kingdom and for the good of Nemeth, Camelot needs allies, and bringing our kingdo-"

"I know, father, but i cannot marry somebody i don't even know!"

"You can, Arthur, and you will," Uther said sternly, giving Arthur a look that told him to stay quiet.

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Arthur put on a fake smile when the princess and her family arrived, and kept that fake smile as he was forced to show them to their chambers. Luckily for Arthur, it was late and he didn't have to interact with her again until morning.

He went to bed that night a little annoyed, and couldn't get to sleep as a result of it. He swore he was hearing things outside his chambers, but forced himself to get his head together.

Wait, he thought, that is coming from outside...

Arthur quickly and quietly jumped out of bed, grabbing his sword, and started toward the door. He opened it slowly to reveal a figure, though the figure quickly slipped behind a wall out of view.

"Reveal yourself," Arthur said calmly, sword drawn.

"I'm sorry, my lord," he said softly, stepping out into Arthur's view once again.

"You?" Arthur lowered his weapon immediately, it was Merlin, the prince of Nemeth, "may i be of assistance to you, my lord?"

He shook his head, "i just couldn't sleep. I'm sorry to have woken you."

"You didn't; i couldn't sleep either," Arthur said softly, and almost continued, but he couldn't tell his future brother in law that he didn't want to marry.

"Forgive me for asking, but is everything okay? You seemed..." he paused, looking for the right word, "distracted, earlier."

Arthur looked up at the prince, he felt somehow like he could trust him, "well, to be completely honest, i'm not best pleased with having to marry a woman i do not know. Our fathers insist it's for the sake of the kingdoms, but i cannot deny that i feel it is wrong."

"I understand that," Merlin nodded, "i wouldn't want to marry my sister either."

Arthur laughed, and the smile on his face was a genuine one for the first time in a while. He looked up at Merlin and had a thought, "since we both can't sleep, would you like a secret tour of the castle...?"

That was how Arthur and Merlin ended up hiding from the king at first light. They'd spent the whole night wandering the castle, Arthur sharing little stories about his life within. They enjoyed each other's company, stopping to sit in the throne room for a while, and only realised how long they'd been talking when they noticed the sunlight starting to creep into the castle windows.

"We'd better get back," Arthur said and Merlin nodded in agreement, both of them jumping to their feet quickly.

Arthur led Merlin back through the castle and towards their chambers, however he had to pull the prince to hide behind a wall as he heard footsteps approaching.

"It's my father," Arthur whispered, both men squashed against each other to avoid being seen.

"Good job we left," Merlin muttered, poking his head around the wall, "he's going into the throne room."

Arthur pulled him back, hiding him once again, though this time their faces were less than an inch apart. Merlin's breath hitched in his throat as he looked at Arthur, eyes flickering down to his lips for a fraction of a second. Arthur watched his eyes and felt himself leaning in slowly, but they both pulled away with a start when they heard the doors slam shut.

"It's clear," Merlin whispered, looking down the hall again. Arthur wasted no time in grabbing Merlin's hand and sprinting back toward the chambers.

This time they weren't lucky enough to be able to hide. Gwen turned the corner at the end of the hall and stopped, startled, as Merlin followed Arthur, hand in hand, down the long corridor. Both of them stopped in their tracks, looking at Gwen as if they were rabbits in headlights.

"Guinevere..." Arthur said slowly, not really knowing how to explain himself.

"My lord," she nodded to Arthur, then turned to Merlin, "my lord."

"My lady," Merlin nodded back, making Gwen blush.

"Do you need anything, my lords?" Gwen asked quickly to try and hide the pink in her cheeks.

"If you could, y'know, not mention this to anybody..."

"Especially our fathers," Merlin nodded in agreement.

"Of course, sire," she nodded, "but may i ask what this is...?" It was then that she noticed their hands were entwined.

"Well, it um- we were just... just exploring the castle," Arthur explained. Though it was true, he said it quite unconvincingly, finally letting the other prince's hand go.

"Well then, i hope you both have had fun, your secret is always safe with me."

The two men smiled their thanks to Guinevere as they rushed past her, down the hall. "Do you remember where your chambers are?" Arthur asked and Merlin nodded, but before he had the chance to go to the guest chambers, the blonde prince yanked him into his own.

"I heard someone coming," he whispered, shutting the door quietly.

"What if they come in?" Merlin questioned, listening through the door at the footsteps approaching, "what if your servant comes to wake you?"

Arthur simply locked his door and went over to his bed, smirking at Merlin as he sat down.