Summary: Arthur feels bad that Merlin is always kept busy and restricted to his duties in Camelot and decides they both deserve a day off.
_______________________________________
The air was crisp with the first signs of spring and Arthur pulled the bedding tighter around his shoulders. Beside him, Merlin rolled over and draped a hand over his eyes.
“Is it time to get up?” He mumbled begrudgingly. Arthur frowned at Merlins pained expression. It was past the time they should have started getting ready but Arthur didn’t much feel like being king today.
“Not yet.” He said reaching out to pull Merlin against him. “It’s still pretty early.” Satisfied with Arthur’s answer, Merlin nodded and rolled gratefully into his embrace. Arthur closed his eyes again but found it impossible to get back to sleep. Letting out an irritated huff he settled for simply enjoying Merlins warm presence in his arms. He was surprised Leon hadn’t come to find him yet as he was probably late for his council meeting.
Merlin’s peaceful snoring got Arthur’s mind wandering. Imagining if they weren’t part of the royal household. What if they could escape even just for a day? And Arthur came up with a plan.
Merlin stirred an hour later and groggily leant back against Arthur’s chest with a small sigh. “Sleep well?” Arthur asked softly.
“I always do in your bed,” Merlin replied as a small smile flickered on his lips.
“Mmm, it’s almost like it’s fit for a king.” Arthur joked causing Merlin to roll his eyes.
“Fit for a prat more like,” Merlin mumbled fondly as he buried his face in the pillows. Arthur caressed his shoulder gently with his thumb and admired Merlins sleepy expression.
“Hey, Merlin?” Arthur finally murmured into Merlin’s neck.
“Hmm.” Merlin hummed as he snuggled back against Arthur’s chest.
“I wish I could give you a better life. Somewhere we could be freer.”
“Arthur no. I love you and I will stay by your side forever. Camelot is where we belong.”
“I know but we have so many duties that keep us apart. What I would do for a holiday-“
“I know what you mean but that’s why I cherish these moments so much.” Merlin turned to face Arthur in his arms. There was a sudden knock at the door and Arthur called sleepily for whoever it was.
“Are you okay Sire? You’re going to miss the council meeting.” Leon asked as he stepped into the room.
“We’re having a day off. I trust you will cope a day without me.” Arthur said as he pushed himself into a sitting position (against Merlins protests) and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Ready two horses for me and Merlin and expect return sometime tomorrow.” Leon looked slightly confused for a second but nodded respectfully and hurried away quickly.
“Pack a change of clothes Merlin,” Arthur said as he jumped up. Merlin furrowed his brow in a mix of confusion and suspicion. Arthur opened the wardrobe and pulled out several items including some for Merlin now that their wardrobes had begun to fuse. He threw it all into a satchel and dumped it onto the bed beside Merlin.
“Arthur what?” Merlin was still rubbing the tiredness from his eyes.
“Sometime soon would be great Merlin.”
Merlin scrambled out of bed and threw his usual servant’s clothes on. Arthur sent him a dry look and chucked him a different tunic. Merlin frowned. “This is yours.”
“Exactly Merlin. I won’t have my consort dressed like a servant. You really need to get used to that.” Merlin didn’t argue as he gingerly slipped on the deep blue tunic. Arthur didn’t wear it much anymore which did sadden Merlin slightly. He’d always loved when Arthur wore blue despite how amazing he looked in red. Arthur gathered his belt and sword before kissing Merlin on the cheek and agreeing to meet him outside in a few minutes.
Merlin smiled after him, still in a state of bewilderment. He scooped up the satchel and a piece of crusty bread from the table then pulled on his boots and hurried after Arthur. When he arrived at the horses Arthur was helping a few servants as they attached waterskins to the saddles. Merlin stopped at the top of the steps to admire how much the King had changed. It didn’t seem like long ago that he’d been an arrogant pompous dim-witted Prince who enjoyed tormenting anyone lesser than him.
Now, here Arthur was offering his hand to help Merlin onto his horse and even though Merlin didn’t need it he couldn’t help but revel in this new Arthur with every given opportunity. Arthur mounted his own horse and turned around to give him a beaming smile as they trotted out of the citadel. Merlin followed as they entered the surrounding forest of the kingdom and Arthur didn’t stop until all they could hear were the birds and wildlife hidden away within the trees.
“Can I ask where we’re going now?” Merlin guided his horse so they were walking side by side.
“That would ruin the surprise, Merlin,” Arthur said but it wasn’t in his usual sarcastic tone. There was an unusual softness in his voice that Merlin was still getting used to. “Do you not trust your king?”
“I can’t see why you’d have any doubt, My Lord.” Merlin rolled his eyes fondly. They walked on for most of the day only stopping to grab something quick to eat. By early evening they arrived at a fork in the forest path and Arthur extended a hand to gesture the direction they would be taking. Merlin felt anticipation build in his stomach. This was the path to Ealdor but surely Arthur wouldn’t be taking him home. Arthur had never returned to Ealdor since he’d joined Merlin in defending the small village all those years ago.
“Arthur?” Merlin whispered as though he could hardly believe it because... he couldn’t. Arthur didn’t look at Merlin but there was an obvious look of pride on his face. They rode into the village and Merlin could have cried when he spotted his mother hanging washing out in front of the small house. She looked up as she heard the horses approach and looked just as surprised as Merlin when she spotted him. Arthur and Merlin jumped down from their horses and Arthur took hold of Merlins so that he could run up and hug his mother.
Hunith pulled out of the hug to hold Merlins face in her hands. She pressed a kiss to his forehead with obvious tears in her eyes. Arthur walked up behind Merlin after tying up the horses and gladly took a hug from Hunith. He seemed surprised but gratefully returned it.
“It’s so good to see you both,” Hunith said as she embraced Merlin again. “It’s been too long my darling you must tell me everything that has happened since you were last here. Come, dinner is almost ready.” Hunith continued into the house and Merlin was about to follow when Arthur caught his arm.
“I can go back if you want. I don’t mean to intrude if you don’t want me to.” He said quietly with an expression of such sincerity that Merlin would have melted right there and then.
“You idiot.” He replied just as fondly. “You think I’d let you ride off on your own let alone deny you the pleasure of sleeping on the floor? You’re a bigger prat than I thought.”
It was clear Arthur was trying to suppress a grin so Merlin saved him the effort and quickly pulled him under the low doorway. Hunith was setting the food down on the table and Merlin and Arthur sat side by side on the small bench. Merlin breathed in the delicious scent of his mother’s soup. It was comforting to be back especially when he remembered how this was all Arthur’s doing.
“I must apologise Hunith for intruding like this. It was a spur of the moment decision I had this morning.” Arthur said politely as he blew on his bowl of soup.
“Nonsense. It’s never an intrusion when you’re allowing me a moment to see my son.” Hunith surprised Arthur again when she reached a hand across the table to cover his for a second. “Anyway, how’s Camelot? Have any more knights taken Merlins fancy? How’s Lancelot?” Hunith asked with a knowing smirk.
Merlin groaned and covered his face with his hands as Arthur turned bright red and avoided all eye contact. When Merlin met his mother’s eyes there was a mischievous glint within them that told him everything he needed to. Word of Arthur’s courting clearly hadn’t gotten far.
“Lancelot is fine. He and Gwen are together now.” Merlin explained quietly. There was tension in the air and Merlin tried to distract himself by slurping on his hot soup.
Beside him, Arthur sighed and put down his spoon. “This seems as good a time as any.” He said causing both Merlin and Hunith to turn their attention to him. “Hunith, the truth is I have been courting your son for a while now and well, I respect him far more than I would like to admit and so I wish to ask you for his hand in marriage.”
Merlin gasped and he could already feel tears building in his eyes and not even for the first time that day. Hunith looked shocked but her face was soon taken over by a huge grin as she jumped around the table to embrace both Arthur and Merlin.
“Of course.” She whispered over and over again as she placed gentle kisses on their cheeks. When she finally stopped and allowed them space to breathe Merlin was full-on crying. He looked to Arthur who seemed to be holding in his own tears and then leapt onto him, wrapping his arms around Arthur’s shoulders in the tightest hug.
After dinner, Merlin helped Hunith clean up the table and even Arthur offered his assistance in washing the plates and cutlery. Merlin found himself sat at the table with a mug of tea watching as Arthur scrubbed at the dishes without complaint. It was rather endearing and Merlin hoped that after their marriage they would be able to come out here more often although he knew Arthur didn’t get given time off from being King.
Hunith left with a pail to get water and Arthur sat down opposite Merlin. He picked up the satchel he’d packed earlier that morning and took out a small pouch. Merlin watched curiously as he pulled out a silver ring. His eyes widened as Arthur took hold of his hand and slipped it onto his finger. The cool metal felt solid and secure on Merlin’s skin and suddenly his eyes were prickling with tears again. Arthur wiped them away as they fell.
“You know how terrible I am with words Merlin.” He whispered. “But I want you to know that I love you very much. I hope you will never doubt that.”
Merlin nodded as best he could with Arthur holding his cheek. “Of course I know that. I will never doubt it ever.”
Arthur smiled and stood up to help Hunith as she struggled with the bucket of water. Merlin could only watch with fondness.
~ ♛ ~
“Did you really fancy Lancelot?” Arthur asked later that night as they lay on a pile of thin blankets in Hunith’s kitchen.
“Once.” Merlin hummed. “Before I even thought I would have a chance with you. Lancelot would never have happened anyway.”
“You sound sad about that.” Arthur’s voice tensed.
“I’m not. It was never meant to be and you know it.”
Arthur squeezed Merlin’s shoulders from where he rested against Arthur’s chest.
Merlin woke with the sun on his face. It beamed through the kitchen window across the room. He’d forgotten what it was like to sleep on only a pile of blankets and the feeling of his acing body was a brutal reminder. Merlin had practically slept half on the floor and half on Arthur who had apparently pushed him away during the night. He’d allowed Arthur most of the blankets because he was used to his fancy royal bed and would certainly be moody today if he hadn’t had enough sleep but in all fairness, Merlin was beginning to enjoy the privileges of royal life too.
He rolled over in hope of stealing a few of that extra bedding when his arm landed on nothing and his eyes snapped open. There was no sign of Arthur. His empty spot was warm but that could easily be from the sun. Merlin leapt up and hastily shoved on his boots through blurry vision.
“It’s alright. He’s just gone to get us some water to make tea.” Merlin blinked furiously until he could just make out his mother stood across the room from him. He collapsed back against the mound of blankets and groaned.
“I wish he’d tell me these things so that I didn’t have a panic every time I can’t find him.” He mumbled. Hunith laughed just as the door creaked open and Arthur came tumbling inside.
“You’re awake?” Arthur questioned in obvious surprise.
“No Arthur I’m fast asleep,” Merlin said in a dry tone.
“No need for the sarcasm Merlin I was merely surprised since you seemed so dead to the world when I tried to wake you up earlier.”
“Perhaps you shouldn’t have pushed me off the bed,” Merlin muttered in irritation despite taking Arthur’s extended hand to pull him to his feet. Arthur kept hold of Merlin’s hand once they were stood, their noses practically touching. Arthur reached out to brush some of Merlin’s hair from his forehead.
“You look rather pretty in this light.” He said. Merlin’s breath hitched at the softness of it all. “Something’s missing though.”
Merlin frowned just as Arthur brought out a bunch of freshly picked daffodils from behind his back. He plucked one from the bunch and delicately placed it behind Merlin’s ear. “Strangely, yellow suits you.” Merlin failed to suppress a grin as Arthur handed the flowers over.
Merlin examined them before inhaling their gorgeous scent. “They’re almost as beautiful as you Sire.” He smirked. Arthur managed to contain his blush as Hunith ordered them to stop flirting and help her make breakfast but Merlin didn’t miss the sneaky glances Arthur sent him as he continued to keep the flower behind his ear.
By Augurey_Ray on ao3