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Merlin let out a relieved sigh as he dropped down onto the ground of the clearing, grinning as Arthur did the same beside him.
“Glad to be away from the castle, I take it?” Arthur asked him as Merlin laid back on the grass, uncaring of whether it would stain his clothes or not.
Merlin hummed softly and nodded. “You’ve not the slightest idea.”
“Oh, really?” Arthur huffed, looking over to him. “I’ve not the slightest?”
A moment of silence passed as Merlin pretended to consider his words. Then, finally, with a cheeky grin, he met Arthur’s gaze.
“Not the slightest.”
Arthur reached over and shoved Merlin in the shoulder, before rolling his eyes and looking to the sky. Merlin’s heart leapt at the touch—savouring even the smallest moments of contact between them, knowing he could never risk having more.
It was a sick little game he liked to play.
How much could Arthur touch him before it started to make his chest physically ache with longing?
It was never much, really.
Arthur had this way of making him weak in the knees with simply a look, and a touch… Oh, he never wanted those hands to leave him. From playful fighting, to gentle pats on the shoulder when Merlin’s down, to hands brushing skin as Merlin dressed and undressed him when he was his manservant still.
It burned, gods it burned. Every touch was like the flames of a pyre licking at his skin in the most delightful way—a sickening comparison, yet somehow perfect.
Merlin sighed and closed his eyes as the sun beat down on them. He really loved moments like this, he eagerly awaited them even.
Moments when he was just the two of them, alone, relaxing without the burden of their responsibilities. Moments when they don’t have to be king and warlock, but can simply be. Moments when life is calm, when life is merciful and grants them a break to breathe.
“It smells like rain,” Merlin murmured, pushing away his lovestruck thoughts. “I think it’s going to storm soon. We’re lucky we got here when we did, but we won’t be able to stay long.”
“Since when can you predict the weather?” Arthur snorted, and Merlin knew he had that stupid disbelieving eyebrow raised.
“I have literally been doing it since I came to Camelot, you’d think you’d believe me more now that you know about my magic,” Merlin huffed back. Arthur hummed speculatively, and Merlin wanted to slap him.
“There won’t be a storm,” the king decided.
Merlin wondered where Arthur got the ability to control the weather. “Really, Arthur, you ought to listen to me one of these times. You’re going to get yourself into a storm and you’ll get all wet and sickly and really, that’s not fun.”
“Yes, right, okay, I will remember that,” he said very unconvincingly. Merlin just rolled his eyes. Gods, his heart chose the wrong man.
“A storm is coming, though. I can smell it; can you not smell it? The air is so—"
"Shh, shh. Do you hear that?"
Merlin paused, frowning as he listened to the…Silence. "No...?"
"Exactly."
Merlin shoved Arthur in the shoulder, rolling his eyes as they laid next to each other on the damp grass, staring at the cloudy sky. "Don't be a prick."
Arthur let out a small laugh at his muttered words, and Merlin swore his heart would explode.
"I love you."
The laughter stopped. "What?"
Fuck.
He hadn’t meant to say it. He really hadn’t. Yet he said it, and now he could feel Arthur’s eyes on him, and the heat rising to his face, and his heart speeding up in his chest, and…
Really, it was quite cruel of the world to not just let him disappear and fade into the earth at that very moment.
Maybe if he didn’t say anything, Arthur would think he had imagined it. Maybe Arthur would spare him the embarrassment of having to explain himself. Of course, the moment Merlin thought it, the gods must have deemed it too merciful a fate, for Arthur opened his infuriating mouth not a moment later.
“Merlin, did you just say you… love me?” Arthur asked slowly.
Merlin cleared his throat, but didn’t answer. He glanced at Arthur out the corner of his eyes, watching as the king sat up, hands pressing into the grass.
“Merlin.”
The sorcerer took a deep breath. Then, finally, he looked at Arthur, pushing himself into a sitting position as well.
“Yes,” he admitted. “Yes, I did…”
Arthur didn’t respond right away. Merlin felt his stomach churn with anxiety. This was the part where Arthur told him he didn’t feel the same. Where Arthur laughed in his face, or worse—tried to let him down gently.
Merlin didn’t know what he would do if Arthur tried to do that.
Gods, he didn’t have the heart for it.
“Well, did you mean it?” Merlin was startled by the question. It wasn’t exactly what he was expecting, after all. He couldn’t do much more than just nod, confused as to why Arthur was dragging out the rejection.
“Right,” Arthur muttered, and then suddenly he was in front of Merlin. Merlin blinked a few times, surprised by his quick movement. He stayed silent a moment, just staring at Merlin.
“Ah, Arthur?” Merlin finally asked, unsure.
“Silver would compliment you much better than gold, don’t you agree?”
Merlin’s brows furrowed in confusion. Silver—gold, what? “What are you talking about?”
Arthur shrugged, a stupid grin painting his face. “For your crown, of course.”
A moment passed in silence as Merlin processed Arthur’s words. Then, his eyes slowly widened. “I—did you just—you absolute—”
“I didn’t propose,” Arthur interrupted, “I am just thinking ahead.”
He paused for a moment, before leaning closer and reaching. Merlin watched, a startled sound pulling from the back of his throat, as Arthur grabbed his hands in his own. “I love you, as well, Merlin. In fact… I’d rather like to court you, if that is something you’d want.”
“I,” Merlin paused, heart racing as he stared down at their hands. He took a moment to collect himself before looking up to meet Arthur’s gaze and nodding. “That is something I would want.”
Arthur’s eyes lit up, and he squeezed their hands gently before letting them go. “Wonderful, then. I am… glad we had this talk.”
“You mean you’re glad I accidentally confessed my love for you out of the blue?” Merlin raised an eyebrow. Arthur looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, he nodded.
“Yes, actually.” He shifted and moved around until he was sitting next to Merlin again, though this time close enough for their shoulders to touch. Merlin hesitated before slowly leaning his head on Arthur’s shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“I’m very glad you confessed your love for me out of the blue.”