Chapter Text
The dragon whom King Uther betrayed years ago and locked under Camelot turns out to have a name, Kilgharrah. At the moment, it is seeking revenge immediately after being released by Merlin. Camelot’s citizens are getting killed and crying for rescue helplessly.
The scenario in front of Merlin makes him reflect upon his decision. He shouldn’t have done that. He knew there was something off about the dragon from the last conversation with it. Nevertheless, because of a stupid vow, he did it anyway, he gave Kilgharrah the freedom he pledged, and now the realm of Camelot is coming to an end. All Merlin’s doing.
The kingdom needs help. There was a meeting to discuss the solution, Gaius mentioned the existence of the Dragon Lord, and it stood within the bounds of Cenred Kingdom. Arthur decided to go to Cenred, and King Uther did not like that. With the determination of the prince, even the king gave in. More importantly, there was no other way, or they would all perish together.
…
Arthur is in his room, can’t stop thinking about the trip ahead. This trip will be dangerous. Nothing is more familiar to Arthur than danger, except that this time he’s afraid it will be a little different. There is peril in peril, the Cenred itself is a hazard to Arthur as his title as the prince of Camelot. Not to mention, it is a grievous shame to seek help from one whom you once tried to kill.
“Oh father, do you not see? It all comes back to you…” Arthur sighs. On behalf of his father, he suffers significant shame.
The plan is to find the Dragon Lord and ask for a hand in Cenred. Arthur can’t go there with an army, that will be a form of defiance, and the drums of war shall be sounded.
For company, he only needs one person. Arthur feels like he owns the world whenever he’s with that person. However, for this situation, it may just be his selfishness. For worse scenario, the person he cares for will be put in danger. Arthur chooses to speak with the man before passing the final judgment. It’s not fair to resolve this matter alone.
Fine, it is just an excuse. When does it matter to ask for the opinion of that man? He is the prince, the master. The man is a servant, theoretically, he must do anything Arthur requires…
Wonderful. Now he is spouting complete nonsense, even only in his own mind. He knows full well that it is not all to his feelings toward the man, there’s something more that he longs to understand but fails. At least until now, he has not figured it out yet.
Not like this is the first time Arthur has played the argument in his head. Nonetheless, he pushes the thought aside and heads for Merlin’s chambers. The prince merely wants to see his manservant’s foolish face and hear his annoying voice.
Right before Arthur decides to enter the chambers, he hears the sound of people arguing, not loud, but if he puts his ears to the door with no sense of distance, he can hear something faintly.
“The Dragon Lord is your father, Merlin. I swore to your mother to keep this a secret from you. However, because of the situation, I think you should be aware of this matter.” Gaius says.
“I can’t believe no one told me. I have the right to know.” Merlin’s voice trembles as he responds to the information.
Gaius is about to open his mouth to answer, but then Merlin interrupts him. “I. Have. The. Right. To. Know.”
Merlin is upset and in shock. Arthur is feeling the same thing. What do Gaius mean when he said the Dragon Lord is Merlin’s father? After asking the question himself, the prince feels silly. Well, it must mean that the Dragon Lord is Merlin’s father. The revelation leaves Arthur rooted to the spot for a long moment. At last, he turns away. For now, it would be wisest if he returned to his room. And for tomorrow, it is a certainty that Merlin will come with Arthur.
…
The thing Arthur overheard last night kept him awake all night, making him look horrible in the morning because of lack of sleep. Everyone sees that and assumes the prince must be worried sick about the safety of his kingdom. Even if someone asks for specific details, there is a low possibility that Arthur will admit that he couldn’t sleep cause he’s been thinking about Merlin the entire night.
It’s time to start the journey. With the scene of Camelot collapsing in front of Arthur’s eyes, he has more problems to worry about.
Arthur jumps right on the back of his horse, Merlin is also ready beside him. Gaius is standing right next to Merlin as he wants to say some last words, though because of Arthur he seems to hesitate.
Arthur tries to inhale the sigh and leaves first to give the two some privacy. Please, he may not look like it, but he is a sharp person. Perhaps.
“Merlin, no matter what happens, you must not let Arthur know who you are. King Uther would use the Dragon Lord’s son to cast suspicion.” This is Gaius’s last word for Merlin that day.
…
The sky starts to rain as they enter Cenred. Luckily, they are already near an inn. They go inside for an overnight stay and also seek directions to find the Dragon Lord. Unfortunately, the people in the inn aren’t much help as they keep denying to know the Dragon Lord.
It’s been a long day. Merlin figures it would be better to get some rest. At first, Arthur is reluctant to agree, but he changes his mind after realizing this may be a good opportunity to talk things over.
In the small room, barely large enough to hold two narrow beds, they lie in silence, each lost in a storm of thoughts. Merlin’s face looks ill at ease. If Arthur’s honest, how did the man even manage to keep the secret if this is how he’s going to act all the time?
“What is it?” Arthur decides to start the conversation.
“Nothing.” An immediate answer from Merlin.
“It’s something. Tell me.” What Arthur receives after being persistent is silence from Merlin, so this is how he wants to play it. Very well, then. Let it begin.
“Alright, I know I’m a prince…” I’m a prince of a king who despises magic and dragons above all else and would not hesitate to execute anyone the moment he learns they are involved in it… Oh, it does sound awful. It’s clearer why Merlin feels the need to keep this a secret. Still, Merlin could have told Arthur anything. Anything.
He continues the sentence “…so we can’t be friends. If not because of these-”
“What?” Merlin interrupts harshly, with his back turned against Arthur.
Arthur seems unfazed by this action of his manservant, he keeps talking, “ Well then… I think we probably get on.”
“So?”
“So that means you can tell me.” Be patient. Be patient. Be patient. Don’t forget Merlin has been through a lot. Don’t make this any harder than it already is. Arthur tries to quiet his mind as he replies to Merlin’s brief, humble response.
“So if that’s true. You aren’t a prince, I’d tell you to mind your damn business.”
Merlin! Arthur screams to himself.
If it’s like usual, Arthur would carelessly laugh it off. But now, he knows there’s something deeper that quietly destroys the peace of Merlin’s mind.
Even though Arthur really wants to talk about the dragon things, he’s fully aware that he shouldn’t be the one to mention it, because for Merlin, it’s supposed to be a secret. So let it be, until he’s willing to mention that himself.
“You’re missing Gaius?"
“Something like that.”
“What is it then?” A pillow is sent to Merlin’s face as the question is asked, both work by Arthur.
Apparently, having a pillow thrown at his face is enough to get Merlin's attention. He rolls over to face Arthur at last.
"I'll tell you."
Arthur feels his heart skip a beat at those words.
Yes, Merlin. Tell me everything you’ve been burying deep within your heart and your mind. Share a part of yourself with me. Then, I shall share a part of myself with you.
“I’m worried about everyone back in Camelot. I hope they’re alright.”
Arthur is left speechless. He takes back what he said about Merlin being incapable of keeping secrets. The man is actually quite good at it, that it irritates his prince. Arthur wonders what else is kept from him by his servant being annoyingly stubborn like this.
Had it not been for the look on Merlin's face, Arthur would have let the matter rest and waited for another chance to bring it up. Merlin's eyes are heavy with sorrow, shimmering as though veiled by the thinnest sheen of tears. How is Arthur meant to turn away from such a face? Merlin himself is temptation enough, far more than Arthur has ever possessed the strength to withstand.
“Yeah, you’re so worried about those people that you start to cry? I didn’t realize you were such a crybaby, Merlin.”
Arthur reaches up to wipe away Merlin’s tears that didn’t have the chance to fall down his cheeks, his gesture is so gentle that Merlin unconsciously lowers his guard. Still, it’s not for long that Merlin remembers what position they are in. This is pretty weird for a prince and his servant to be having intimacy between them that neither dares acknowledge.
“Sire, with all respect, I believe your hand requires a wash.”
Arthur can not help but chuckle. This time, he chooses to act a little more aggressively. He uses both hands to wipe the tears. Even after the last traces of them are gone, he keeps doing that, just to catch the chance to touch Merlin’s face. Now, Arthur is no longer wiping any tears away, he is practically kneading Merlin’s face like a lump of dough. The most handsome lump of dough Arthur has ever seen, though he would rather swallow his own tongue than admit that to Merlin.
With the sudden attack from his prince, Merlin tries to protest, except that it is a half-hearted attempt to pull away.
“Stop doing that, this clotpole- hey!”
Without realization, Arthur is lying right on top of Merlin. The sensual tension in the current situation is weirdly hard to overlook. Merlin doesn’t know whether it’s just him or if Arthur is actually looking at him with a peculiar desire.
“Arthur…?”
“Yes, Merlin…” Arthur answers as he decreases the distance between him and his manservant.
Such a gentle voice from his arrogant clotpole is nothing near what Merlin dares to imagine receiving. Merlin has every right and evidence to believe his prince has been possessed by a dark magic force.
“I think not just your hand needs a proper wash, your mouth’s breath smells too. Moreover, can you get off me? Your fatness suffocates me, my lord.”
A servant being impertinent to his master is an unpleasant experience for the royalty. Nonetheless, not only does Arthur seem not to mind the disrespect, but there is also a strange enjoyment in it.
Arthur ignores the request from his servant and straight up goes on doing whatever he wishes to do. Even though he puts an end to his relentless kneading Merlin’s face, it’s simply a change to another kind of teasing. He ruffles Merlin’s hair until it resembles a bird’s nest. When Arthur’s hands finally stay still, just when his poor servant thinks the childish play is over, he finds his whole body in an instant gathered neatly into his prince’s arms.
“Sire, I don’t know what kind of joke you want to play-”
“Oh, Merlin, apparently I’m not the only one who needs a decent wash. Perhaps we should share a bath.”
Share a what? Who- we? Me and Arthur? Merlin keeps screaming to himself, there is no doubt that his prince has definitely been placed under a filthy kind of magic.
“Did you have your head damaged at some battle, sire? You should get treated. Please inform Gaius of the matter as soon as we arrive back at Camelot.”
Arthur does not pay any attention to what Merlin just said. This time he truly stops all the silly teasing, focuses on holding Merlin in his arms, firm enough to keep him staying close yet gentle enough not to hurt him. Merlin wants to escape the whole situation, he does not understand whatever happening right now. Even if he does get it, he thinks it would be best to pretend he does not.
With the sudden affection from Arthur, Merlin has no idea how to respond. At first, he tends to push the clotpole away, but somehow he can’t manage to make the thought into action. Perhaps a little warmth from another person is not that bad, except that it comes from the prince of the kingdom, and Merlin is his manservant.
“Merlin…”
“…”
“Merlin…”
“…”
“Mer-”
“Oh! For God’s sake, just say the word.”
Arthur lets out a small chuckle as he unconsciously pulls Merlin even closer into his embrace.
“Sometimes I can be a fool and a bit reckless.”
“Just sometimes?” Merlin says sarcastically while slightly smirking.
Arthur ignores that and just continues what he needs to say.
“So Merlin, I suppose that you can find it difficult to talk to me about some specific topic. I get it, take your time.”
“…” Merlin remains quiet, but he can feel something in him change because of Arthur’s gentle words.
“I just want you to know that no matter how extraordinary your truth may seem, you can tell me. I promise you can share it with me, Merlin."
Arthur has said all the things he needs to say, now he simply wants to receive some response. Anything is fine, don’t drown me in despair with your silence, Merlin. As the silence goes on, Arthur hugs Merlin a little tighter as a form of reminding Merlin to give him an answer. Merlin is fully aware of the meaning behind this behavior. There’s already no distance between them, they can’t get any closer than that.
“Arthur, can I really tell you?”
Arthur hugs Merlin even tighter as he replies.
“Yes, anything, Merlin.”
“Then lose some weight. Your fatness is really suffocating me right now, it’s not even a joke.”
"..."