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friendlyneighborhoodcapricorn · 2 years

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Gwaine x reader

Wedding Bells

A/N: I didn’t intend to fall back into this fandom but you can blame Mary (@sehnsuchts-trunken) for this lol. No synopsis bc do you really need one with a title like that 😂

I don’t know how weddings go, let alone how they were conducted roughly 1500 years ago, so artistic liberties for the win.

(Also, I had to search so long for a picture of him in the snow where he didn’t look like he was about to either be killed or kill someone himself lmao)

Warnings: it’s long but it’s all pure fluff! Oh, and I play fast and loose with canon lol

Usually, the soon-to-be wed were the ones most nervous for their upcoming wedding.

Not in your case, though. You and Gwaine were both incredibly amused to see your friend and king, Arthur, trying to hold it together while arranging the wedding.

He wasn’t doing the greatest job, but Gwen was picking up the slack and you and Gwaine had both agreed not to tell Arthur, not wanting him to doubt himself when he looked so happy to be able to do this for you both.

“He’s gonna lose his head if he keeps running around like that,” you mentioned to Merlin.

Both of you were looking out the window, watching as Arthur was… well, you weren’t actually sure what he was doing, but you were very much certain that he wasn’t succeeding.

At your comment, Merlin grinned. “That would be too nice.”

You elbowed him in the ribs, though you were smiling as well -as if anything would be able to wipe the smile from your face today. “You are absolutely horrible.”

“Yeah, but you love me anyway.”

You laughed because it was true. Today, you’d be surrounded by the people you loved, and those who loved you.

A knock on the door pulled you out of daydreaming about the hours ahead, and when you turned, you saw Gwen poking her head around the corner. She was smiling as well. “It’s almost time.”

For the first time, there was a flutter of nerves in your stomach. “I’ll be right there.”

She nodded and disappeared again, leaving you alone with Merlin. He was still glancing out the window, amusement evident in his eyes, but he asked: “Nervous?”

That boy. He was far more perceptive than he let on. “A little. I don’t know why. Gwaine and I, we’ve practically been married for years. But…”

“You’re not getting cold feet, are you?” Merlin teased.

“No! It’s just, I’m not used to-“ you gestured around with your hands, not entirely sure what you were trying to convey.

Merlin raised his eyebrows. “You’re going to have to be a bit clearer.”

You sighed, thinking over your words and picking them with care so it would make sense. “Our relationship has always been something that was just for the two of us. We never had many onlookers while we were travelling, it was always just us. And now…”

“Now you’re about to get married in front of about a dozen people,” Merlin guessed, “and it’s making you nervous. But why? You’ve been at Camelot for a while now. Surely you’ve gotten used to having less privacy?”

“Yes, it’s not that. But proclaiming your undying love for someone isn’t something you just do in front of everyone.”

“(Y/N).” Merlin turned to face you, putting his hands on your shoulders. “Everyone who’s here today, knows how much you and Gwaine love each other. You said it yourself, you’ve practically been married for years. And we’ve noticed that. We already know, the only difference is that we’ll hear you both say it out loud today.”

You studied him for a moment, the boy who had become a brother to you since you’d first met him.

“Gaius is rubbing off on you,” you said lightly, and you knew he heard the unspoken gratitude in the tone of your voice.

Merlin shivered and let go of you. “I hope not. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Merlin stared at you for a moment and then burst into laughter.

“What?” you demanded when he didn’t stop. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s a wedding, (Y/N),” he pointed out. “Not a public execution.”

Even as you rolled your eyes, he wrapped his arm around your shoulders and gently pulled you along.

It was freezing cold outside, and for a second you wondered why you hadn’t agreed with Gwaine on postponing the wedding to a warmer month.

Then you saw the man you’d be marrying, and you remembered why. The weather didn’t matter one bit, this was too ur wedding. You were finally, after years, able to get married to the man you had loved for so long and would continue to love for the rest of your life.

You didn’t mind the cold, were even delighted by the sudden onset of light snow starting to flutter down.

Merlin grinned as he let go of your arm, and you knew in your heart that the snow wasn’t a coincidence.

You hoped your smile conveyed all the gratitude you couldn’t speak out loud at the moment. Merlin returned it before slipping into place besides Gaius.

The only others there were Gwen, the knights, and Arthur. That was everyone you needed to be here, everyone you wanted. There would be some pretentious unofficial ceremony later on, what with Gwaine’s status as a Knight of The Round Table, but both of you had insisted on a small gathering for the actual wedding.

All the nerves you’d had before, disappeared at once. This was your family: as Merlin had said, they already knew.

You hardly paid them any mind, however, as you made your way to the middle of the courtyard -to Gwaine. His eyes were fixed on you, shining more than usual, and you almost laughed.

Leon leaned forward and whispered something to him, Lancelot immediately smacking his arm lightly. Gwaine rolled his eyes and muttered something that looked like a “thank you” to Lancelot.

“Were you crying?” you asked when you came within earshot of Gwaine.

“What, no oh my, Gwaine, you look absolutely stunning?”

“I’m not exactly hearing you say anything like it either,” you pointed out.

“You don’t need me to say it, you already know it.”

“As if you don’t.”

“They aren’t even married yet, and they’re already bickering like an old married couple,” Elyan joked.

“I heard that,” you said without taking your eyes off Gwaine. “I’d be very careful when you get in bed tonight because might just decide to put a snake in there.”

“You know she means it,” Gwaine added as the other attendants laughed.

Arthur scraped his throat. “Can we begin?”

“Afraid you’re going to forget what you’re supposed to say, my Lord?” you teased, and the glare Arthur gave you was more playful than anything.

“No, but it is literally freezing right now, and I’d like to make it back inside before losing any appendages to the cold.”

More laughter rose up, and you already knew nothing could ruin this day. You were happy, Gwaine was happy, everyone was happy. That was all that mattered.

“Go ahead, Arthur,” Gwaine said, nodding at him.

“Thank you.” He scraped his throat again, and you exchanged an amused glance with your soon-to-be husband. It was Arthur’s tell, that one little thing that gave away his nervousness. “We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of two of our most beloved friends.”

Behind Gwaine, you saw Lancelot wiping at his eyes. He didn’t even pretend he wasn’t when he caught your eye, just smiled sheepishly.

“They already act like and old, married couple,” Arthur continued with a smug smile, “but this is the day where they take the first step to becoming one.”

That was a cue, because Gwen stepped forward, a braided rope of weeping willow vines in her hands. Arthur’s eyes were immediately drawn to her, and you could t blame him. She looked stunning in a dark blue gown and with her hair loose around her shoulders.

Handfasting. That was what the willow branches were for. It was traditionally an engagement ritual, but since you and Gwaine had never really been engaged, you had both decided to incorporate it into the wedding.

You took Gwaine’s hand, and Gwen deftly looped the branches around both your wrist before tying the ends together.

Willow was a symbol of love, but it meant more to you and Gwaine than just that. Because you hadn’t been able to get married whilst travelling, Gwaine had presented you with two wooden rings, woven from willow branches. You had to replace them every so often, but it was something you could do to show your love for one another, so you gladly had.

“Let this rope be a symbol of the unbreakable love that I know the two of you have,” Arthur said, and you were starting to tear up now.

He was doing this for you both, simply because he could and he wanted to. And he’d made sure to make it personal. Maybe he wasn’t as disastrous at this as everyone had thought him to be.

Or maybe Gwen had written this.

“I believe both of you have some things you’d like to say?” Arthur asked you and Gwaine, and you both nodded.

“Ladies first,” Gwaine joked.

“It’s nothing special,” you warned him, hoping he wouldn’t be disappointed.

“As far as I’m concerned, you didn’t even have to come up with something,” he said softly.

“I’ve thought about this many times,” you started, and you looked at Gwaine. At the snow in his hair and his slightly too-bright eyes, “and I was never able to pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with you. I wanted to, but I was never able to. Until- well, until last night.”

Your friends laughed and even though your cheeks grew warm, you smiled as well. It was the warm laughter of those who knew you best, were used to your antics.

“And last night I realised I started falling in love with you when, two days after we met, you smiled at me and said you weren’t alone anymore. I knew right then and there that you were never going to leave.”

“And you were right,” Gwaine said, halfway between a joke and a promise.

“And I was right,” you repeated. “And I’ve never been happier to be right in my life.”

Gwaine looked at you, at Arthur, and then back at you. “Can I kiss you already?”

Your friends laughed again, or were still laughing, and Arthur let out an exasperated: “Gwaine!”

“Alright, alright,” Gwaine soothed, raising the hand that wasn’t tied to yours in surrender. “My turn. You were finished, right?”

This time it was you exasperatedly saying his name, but you didn’t mean it one bit when you saw how bright his smile was.

“(Y/N), I honestly don’t know why you decided to put up with me, but I’ve always been told that one shouldn’t question miracles, so I won’t.”

It was a simple statement, and yet it was overwhelmingly loving. If you hadn’t been able to tell from your own stinging eyes, you could by the way it seemed to move all the attendees to tears. Even Arthur was crying, and you would’ve laughed if you hadn’t been reduced to tears as well.

“Damn it, Gwaine,” you muttered, wiping your eyes with the back of your hand. “I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to cry today.”

“It’s our wedding, darling,” he said, crying as well. “If anyone gets to cry, it’s us.” Then he looked up at all your friends. “By the way, I’m forever going to be using this against you guys.”

You laughed, cheeks hurting from how much you’d been doing that throughout the ceremony. It was a good kind of ache, a much needed one after the dark times that had followed Uther’s death.

“Alright,” Arthur said, and everyone fell silent again. “Guinevere?”

Gwen’s cheeks turned darker, like they always did when Arthur said her full name, but she stepped forward with the rings. She had made them herself, had insisted on doing so. They were silver, with subtle etchings along the band.

They couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Thank you, Gwen,” you said, but you knew there were no words to really convey your gratitude, and Gwaine echoed it quietly.

Gwen winked and went to stand back with Merlin and Gaius.

“Gwaine, (Y/N),” Arthur began. “By exchanging these rings, you are giving each other your life. If this is not what you want, this is your last chance to turn back.”

He paused, and you and Gwaine answered to the silence by exchanging the rings.

“Very well,” Arthur said, finally smiling with the relief that he had somehow managed to conduct a wedding without any major disasters happening. “With the power invested in me as king, I now pronounce you married. Congratulations.”

You barely heard the end of his sentence as you pulled Gwaine in to kiss him. There was only the deafening roar of your friends cheering and applauding and laughing to celebrate your happiness.

Gwaine pulled back slightly, just enough so he could look into your eyes. “We’re married.”

“We are.”

He laughed, and it had already been a day full of it, but his was the most joyous you had ever heard. “We’re actually married!”

“Only took us five years,” you grinned, and then you kissed him again.

“I think Merlin is actually drunk,” Leon said from his spot beside Gwaine.

You glanced over at the boy in question, who seemed very interested in the workings of a fork.

“Not yet, but he’s close,” Gwaine, expert on the workings of alcohol, commented. “How much do you want to bet he’s going to end up snogging Arthur?”

“None, I hope,” the king himself said, having heard the comment. “Gwaine, I know you’re oblivious, but surely you have noticed that Merlin only has eyes for Lancelot.”

Lancelot, sitting next to you, turned bright red. “I have no idea what you’re all talking about.”

You bumped your shoulder against his. “Of course you don’t. I’d be careful, though. Merlin is determined enough when he’s sober.”

Lancelot merely groaned and dropped his forehead on the table, much to everyone’s amusement, and you patted his shoulder sympathetically.

For once, you didn’t mind it being a long night. It was good, everyone was happier than you had seen them in a long time.

You watched as Percival, Leon, and Arthur made a bet to see who could down their ale the fastest. Arthur won, and then made a beeline for the nearest window to throw up. Gwen moved to stand beside him, and you wondered how long it would take before they got married. There was nothing stopping them anymore.

At some point, you caught Merlin heading over to Lancelot and you gave him a quick heads-up, at which point Lancelot fled the scene. He spent the rest of the night trying to avoid a very drunk Merlin, and it might have just been one of the funniest things you’d ever get to see.

Gaius called it an early night. “If Merlin passes out, I’d appreciate it if one of you would be so kind to put him somewhere he isn’t at risk of dying.”

“Well, he’s not picky,” Gwaine whispered to you, and you snorted.

“Of course he isn’t, it’s the best he can hope for.”

Eventually, you felt yourself growing tired as well. Arthur was still puking in a bucket Gwen had found for him, muttering about how he would never drink again. Elyan was yawning, but still making conversation with his sister. Percival and Leon had passed out with their heads on the table, and you’d seen Lancelot carry Merlin who-knows-where earlier. You thought it was telling that he hadn’t returned after.

“What do you say we call it night?” Gwaine asked softly.

“Best idea you’ve had all year,” you mumbled, sentence cut in half by a yawn.

Gwaine chuckled and got up, pulling your chair back for you and holding out a hand to help you up.

You blamed the exhaustion for losing your balance as you tripped forward, but Gwaine easily caught you and held you against him.

“Someone had a bit too much to drink,” he teased, his voice hardly more than a low rumble in his chest.

You could hear his heartbeat when you shook your head. “I’m just tired.”

“Sure, love,” he said, and before you could protest, he had hooked his arm around your knees and lifted you into his arms.

“What the- Gwaine!”

“If you’re so tired you can barely stand, you shouldn’t have to walk back to our chambers.”

“I can walk,” you protested, but you had to admit this was nice.

“Yes, but why should you?”

You decided you’d protested enough and buried your face in the crook of his neck, his soft hair tickling your cheek.

The peace didn’t last very long, however, as Gwaine slammed into the wall.

“And you thought I was drunk,” you muttered, not opening your eyes but smiling when he shivered at the feeling of your breath against his neck.

“I’m not drunk,” he indignantly said. “Merely a little… a little…”

You hummed and he shivered again, and it took all you had not to giggle.

“(Y/N), I love you, but if you keep doing that I’m going to drop you.”

He bumped into a doorframe.

“Seems like you might drop me either way,” you whispered, wrapping your arm around his neck to make sure he didn’t actually drop you.

“(Y/N)-“

“Doorframe,” you warned dryly, and this time Gwaine managed to avoid it.

“We’re almost there.”

“Good, otherwise we might’ve ended up breaking something.”

Gwaine huffed and you tilted your head to kiss his jaw, which was the wrong thing to do because he pivoted into another wall.

“We’re here,” he said, kicking open the door to your chambers and stumbling inside.

He all but dropped you on your bed and collapsed beside you. For a few minutes, you both just lied there, staring up at the ceiling. Then you fel Gwaine turn towards you.

“Did you have a good day?”

You turned to face him as well. “Yeah. You?”

“Best day of my life,” he whispered, so close that his breath brushed against your cheek.

“Me too.” You reached over to take his hand, intertwining your fingers. “Best day of my life.”

#oneshot #merlin #merlin bbc #merlin oneshot #merlin bbc oneshot #reader insert #gwaine x reader #gwaine #wedding #fluff

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thesleepy1 · 3 years

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All In Endearment, Dear

A/N: My friend really liked that last fic and they wanted another one. I am so glad they liked it. One of the only positive things that happened in a while, hahaha. To anyone who comes across this, commenting, anything, even if it's just a smile makes my day. I finally get to feel that little surge of happiness when my fics are being read. It's a nice feeling, not going to lie. And to top off all of that, @queenofchaos7 requested that I continue this fic. So here we are.

Pairings: Merlin x Arthur

Summary: In an attempt to be more direct with Arthur, he takes Merlin out hunting with his knights. Something so intimate and a clear show of his loyalty, that Merlin could not mistake it as anything else. And in the middle of the forest, Arthur would not be able to chicken out like a coward, lest Merlin gets lost in the forest.

Word count: 3,824

Part 1

Part 3

Warnings: language, suggestive language, crude jokes, violence, blood,

Merlin was ignoring him. The man just had to be. Sure, Merlin came when called, was present in the council meetings, and everytime Arthur “accidently” injured himself Merlin would be there to nurse his wounds. It was just that Merlin rarely ever made eye contact with him anymore unless absolutely necessary. Merlin rarely ever lingered when called anymore, quickly leaving Arthur’s side to do who knows what.

Everyone already knew that Merlin was a wizard. Arthur was in full support of Merlin’s power and his ability to be useful among the court. For once in the brunette’s life that is.

There was no reason why Merlin should be avoiding him like this. Had he done something to make the man upset? Was it the rain comment from the week prior? Whatever it was, it was making him lose sleep. Arthur had long admitted that he was infatuated with Merlin, in love even. Though that was a big word. But obsessed to the point of losing sleep? That was where he drew the line.

“Merlin!” Arthur yelled in that way of his. So distinctive that Merlin subconsciously curled up deeper into his nest of blankets. “Merlin!” Arthur yelled again, banging on Merlin’s door in Gaius’ quarters. “I know you aren’t at the tavern. I checked already. Wake up and come out here or I’m going in!”

Begrudgingly, Merlin rolled out of his straw stuffed bed and unlatched the door for Arthur. The king immediately stepped in before Merlin could close him out. “Do you realize how late it is?” Merlin asked in a sleep filled voice, not expecting Arthur to reply.

“Early actually, Merlin. The sun will be up in an hour or so,” Arthur replied, trying to hide the effects that Merlin’s sleep filled voice had on him. The king was so glad that the room was too dark to properly see.

“That doesn’t explain why you’re in my room, you twat,” Merlin groaned, trying to make Arthur out without magic. If he didn’t know any better, it looked like Arthur was in his hunting outfit.

“Would it be absurd to say I just wanted to see you?” Arthur asked in mock jest, watching Merlin’s face in the dark of the room. Even without light, he was shining.

“You see me everyday, remember? I work for you,” Merlin countered, turning on his heel to beeline for his bed.

“But you’ve been ignoring me.”

Merlin ignored him in favor for getting back into his bed.

“Merlin,” Arthur tired again. “I’m here for a reason, you know.” When Merlin didn’t reply Arthur rolled his eyes. “I’m taking you hunting.”

That got the wizard right out of his bed. “What?” he exclaimed in confusion, his hair stuck up on one side. Arthur was tempted to fix it back into place.

“What do you mean, what? We’re going hunting in the forest.” Arthur approached the bedside slowly, as if coming up to a sleeping lion in its den.

“Is that an order?” Merlin mumbled against the bed, pressing his sagging pillow against his head to hide away from Arthur. His shirt was riding up his chest from the movement and Arthur had to quickly look away.

“I-it is,” Arthur stuttered, suddenly very interested in Merlin’s walls. The wizard had a little parchment picture of a bird nailed to his wall. The sketch was quite accurate, though Arthur could not remember for the life of him what kind of bird it was. “We’re going hunting with the knights.”

“Couldn’t this wait until morning?”

“It is morning, Merlin,” Arthur inched toward the door, suddenly very aware that Merlin had gotten up from his bed and was currently undressing behind him. “J-just hurry or else we’re leaving you behind.”

“Well, we can’t have that,” Merlin snarked, shrugging into a new tunic. “You might stab yourself with your own sword if I’m not around.”

Arthur turned around, offended that Merlin would say such a thing, “Well I would have you know-” Merlin had yet to put on a new pair of trousers. Arthur ran from the door without saying another word, scarred for life at what he had seen. Merlin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion until he heard a distant shout. “I still expect you to be there, Merlin!” Groaning at the unfairness of life, Merlin stepped into his trousers and made his way to the courtyard.

Arthur and the knights were there waiting for him, everyone disregarding, Arthur looked just as exhausted as he was. One of them was barely holding onto his mount. “Dear god, Arthur, what are you doing?” Merlin asked with a yawn, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Take the lot of you hunting for a great beast or something the kitchen staff could roast for us!”

Merlin was ready to leap off a cliff. “At this ungodly hour?” he asked, not really expecting an answer.

“Of course, Merlin. Do you really expect us to hunt at night?” Arthur answered with a smirk on his lips. The knights of the round table all looked as if they were ready to kill their king as well. Gwaine was half asleep on his stallion. Lancelot was sleeping with his eyes open, the lucky bastard.

“I expect you to hunt without me,” Merlin shook his head, turning his back on Arthur to saddle his own horse. The mare was purposely stronger than the others, a more reliant breed that had the best sense of home. If anything were to happen while they were hunting, Arthur wanted Merlin safe.

“Come on, Merlin. It won’t be that bad,” Arthur sounded, ordering his knights to flank him as they rode off into the forest. “Really, it could be worse.”

“It really couldn’t.” Merlin rode to his left, Percival to his right. For knights of his court, none of them except Leon seemed to be properly awake. Even Elyan who used to get up before the break of dawn to help his father was trying to not doze off. Arthur was frankly disappointed in them.

“It could be fun, Merlin,” Leon gave him a reassuring grin, reminding Arthur of a golden retriever. “If anything happens out here, we’ll be here to protect you.”

“It's more likely that Merlin would get himself into a spout of trouble. He’s a magnet for that sort of thing,” Arthur butted in, suddenly aware of how close Leon was to Merlin despite their protective formation. His knight looked bright and cheerful even when the sun barely broke the horizon. “Don’t worry, Merlin. We’ll be sure to save you from yourself,” Arthur added, playfully punched Merlin on the shoulder.

“Ouch, that hurt,” Merlin groaned, rubbing against the spot Arthur had hit.

“You’ll live,” Arthur hid the guilt that ran through his system well. “If you can’t take a punch then you won’t survive out here, you clotpole.”

“First you take my sleep then you take my insults, what next, my breakfast? Oh, wait,” Merlin snarked, holding the reins to his mare tightly. Arthur had made Merlin carry all of their supplies, his horse being the strongest and all. But the wizard didn’t know that. He just saw Arthur as dead from the head up inconsiderate.

“You haven’t had breakfast, Merlin?” Elyan asked in a concerned tone. When Merlin shook his head, Elyan quickly glared at the back of Arthur’s head. “We should catch something for you then. The rest of us had bread and cheese before departing,” Elyan informed, grabbing the box strapped to his back to notch an arrow and be on the lookout.

“He’ll be fine. Missing one meal won’t kill him,” Arthur brushed off Elyan’s concern. His knight was a much more skilled archer than he was. If he was to impress Merlin then he would need all the chances he could get. Perhaps taking his most skilled knights into the forest to hunt for sport was not the most brilliant idea.

But if it were only him and Merlin, then the wizard might have suspected something amiss. Arthur rarely went outside of the city outskirts unless it were for a diplomatic meeting. And he never hunted before day break. It was unsafe to do so alone. However, Arthur wanted all the time he needed to confess to Merlin. So, really, bringing the knights was the only smart choice.

Arthur was beginning to regret his intelligent decision.

The sun finally rose to signal that morning had truly arrived. And with it brought disappointment. They had spent the entirety of the morning running around like cocks with their heads chopped off. Not a single one of them could catch even the smallest of blue jays. No one had any luck.

Arthur even begged Merlin to cast a spell to make something fall at their feet but the wizard had refused because he found it too cruel. The king agreed but at the same time, they would be killing the creature for supper either way. Did it really matter, how?

According to Merlin, yes.

And that was how they ended up here at the river. Noon had just passed its peak and the soft morning sun was blistering with heat. Everyone was sweating in their armor and gear. Practically begging Arthur to stop for a dip. Pleading that they’ll try to catch some fish while they were at it.

Only Merlin sat fine as can be in his faded blue tunic and red handkerchief. The fabric so worn and loved, Arthur could only imagine how soft they were. Though, those two items seemed to be the only things in Merlin’s wardrobe. That and the inverted of the two, faded red tunics and blue handkerchiefs. The wizard’s sense of style was lacking to say the least.

“Do I have something on my face?”

“Besides arrogance? Not that I know of,” Arthur answered defensively, turning his back on Merlin for the second time that day. All the knights had piled their armour and clothes on the ground, running head first into the river. The wizard clearly didn’t want to be left out.

Arthur may join them in the water but there was no possible way he could compete with them. They were soldiers, training from morning till evening and then some more. Their bodies were muscular, hair greased and unruly, their scars gleamed in the sun. Arthur couldn’t help but stare at them, watching as droplets fell from their rippling chest. His face grew bright red, heat making him dizzy as he resisted the urge to look lower.

Merlin was having no such complications.

The wizard had just taken off his drawstring trousers. His boots laid next to the knight’s pile of clothes. The horses were tied to a nearby tree and happily grazing. Arthur noticed these simple things so as to not stare at Merlin’s figure. As much as he would like to make fun of Merlin, there was nothing to make a mockery of. For a simple servant, Merlin was quite fit.

“Come on, Arthur! The water is great,” Gwaine yelled from the river, splashing on shore where Arthur was still standing with his gear on. His back was to the group, but his knights knew damn well why he was not looking their way. They had found out about his little crush on Merlin after he had one too many tankards. And since then, they had not ceased in their teasing.

“There could be leeches in there for all you know,” Arthur replied, watching a family of birds high up on the tree branches.

“Leeches are harmless,” Merlin said in a cheerful tone. He could hear the man swimming and splashing behind him. “If you’re worried about the leeches’ well-being, Arthur, they’ll be fine. Missing one meal won’t kill them,” Merlin laughed in a way that made butterflies flutter in Arthur’s stomach.

“Ha, ha, very funny, Merlin.”

“The river feels wonderful,” Leon added as well, looking like a glowing greek god come alive. Sure, all of his knights were good looking, but he saw the way the soldier looked at Merlin. Just because Leon knew about his crush, doesn’t mean the man wasn’t willing to steal Merlin. The knight was so clearly flaunting his muscles, tousling his bright blonde hair with his veiny hand. “Why don’t you join us?”

“Please, Arthur?” Merlin pleaded, the sound going straight to Arthur’s heart and perhaps somewhere lower. “It will probably fix your sour mood.”

“I don’t think anything can fix that,” Percival said with a grin that took up the entirety of his face.

“I think only one thing could.” Arthur could feel Gwaine’s wink against the back of his head. He resisted the urge to gag in the back of his throat. If he loses to Gwaine, he’ll never forgive himself. Leon was worthy at the very least, Gwaine drank too much. To lose to a pig was an under disgrace.

“Fine!” Arthur yelled to his hunting party. He tugged off his gear, his tunic, and then eventually his trousers. It was all a very frantic dance to rid himself of layers, he felt like an utter git. “Are you happy now?” he turned to ask his party, preparing himself to jump into the river.

“No pants, my lord?” Elyan asked in what could pass as a concerned tone, but Arthur could hear the snicker in his voice.

“Well- Aren’t you all naked as well?” Arthur stuttered, flushed as red as the day he was born.

“Even I have my pants on,” Gwaine grinned widely, floating on his back to prove his point. The man was wearing white cotton pants with pink sewn hearts. It was quite comedic if not for the fact that Arthur was standing butt naked in front of the man of his affections.

Arthur quickly grabbed his pants and stepped into them before struggling to jump into the river. He failed to properly jump due to searing eyes on him and belly flopped into the water instead. “Gah!” Arthur cursed under his breath, surfacing with a grimace. “The water’s so cold.”

“There’s no need to feel ashamed, my lord. Performance issues are normal for someone your age.”

“Stress and lack of usage I hear are big factors in the issue,” Merlin added, grinning at Arthur playfully.

“Shut it, Merlin.”

“I think you might be scaring all the fish away, Arthur. You would think that little shrimp of yours would attract more of them.”

Having enough of their rude jests, Arthur pushed his hand through the water and splashed the nearest men. That only awarded him with six grown men thrown into a water battle. It wasn’t fair that Percival was large enough to create a tidal wave of a splash or that Merlin could use his magic to protect himself and attack the others. So when he had ran for his own horse to wade through the water, it was all within the rules.

“Cheater!”

“Traitor!”

Arthur only laughed out loud, “The horses want to be a part of the fun as well!” He had quickly grabbed ahold of his clothes and putting them on with one hand was proving to be more difficult than it seemed. “Catch me if you can-” A strong gust of wind appeared out of the blue and knocked Arthur right back into the water, his horse swimming to the other side.

“What were you saying about fun, Arthur?” Merlin looked down at him, those blue grey eyes staring right at his heart. “Are you willing to play fair, now?” Merlin said in a whisper of a voice.

Arthur parted his mouth to speak, but Merlin took his breath away. This was the moment to tell him. To confess how much he needed Merlin in his life, wanted the man without hesitation. He would never give away his kingdom, but for Merlin…. For Merlin he would consider it. A kingdom was not one without its kings.

He could not place the exact moment he fell in love with Merlin, but he had always loved the fool. “I l-”

His horse on the other side of the river nighed in warning, the steed whining in fear. Bucking up on high legs, Arthur had to hold onto Merlin’s arm to steady himself. There on the shore was a beast he had never seen before. A bear as large as a house stood on four reptilian feet, the fur of the thing made from pure glistening metal. The creature had three sets of violet eyes and radiated heat like a furnace.

Before any of them could react the bear opened its maw to reveal dozens of rows upon rows of teeth. They were sharpened to a point, serrated edges that tore through the horse with a rigid form of fiery. In the blink of an eye, the horse was gone.

“Get back on your horses!” Arthur ordered his men, back stroking onto shore for his sword. “Prepare yourself!” A breeze brushed against his back, goosebumps littering his pale skin. His men were behind him, but Merlin, the bastard that he was, was in front of him. “Merlin, get your ass back here!” he yelled, gripping his sword in hand, chest and clothes soaked through.

“He’s starving!” Merlin shouted back as if that explained everything. The brunette’s lips were tinted blue, his pale skin a purple bruise from their earlier rough water fight. He looked so small then.

“Get back here before I drag you by your ear. You are not to engage!” Arthur threatened, quickly looking out of the corner of his eye to make sure the rest of his knights were alright. They all stood prepared to give their lives for the block headed wizard. Swords at the ready, amour and gear laid askew on the floor, chest bare. Their lives for the thief that stole Arthur’s heart.

“Don’t attack!” Merlin yelled back, wading towards the bear with vigor. His chest heaved with each breath labored by fear. “The poor thing is starving,” Merlin repeated, holding his hands out in a reassuring gesture.

“Merlin,” Arthur warned in a hushed voice, afraid that if he spoke any louder the creature would feel threatened. “Get back here, it's not safe you, utter git,” he hissed between his teeth, eyes darting between the two beasts

“I’ll live,” Merlin called back, eyes glowing light amber and gold.

“That’s what I’m worried about,” Lancelot muttered under his breath.

Merlin’s lips twitched upwards at the comment, “Make sure Arthur behaves if I’m gone.”

The mere implication of such a thing had the king of Camelot rushing forward. Arthur would die before having to live a day without Merlin. He was seeing red as he waded through the water, pulling the wizard behind him. “Never!” Arthur yelled louder than intended, the creature whipping its head at them.

“You bloody-” Merlin’s curse was shortened by the blood curdling roar that erupted like a volcano from the beast. It reeled back onto its two high legs, claws as long as Arthur’s arms slashing forward. The underbelly of the thing was made from thick places interwoven, almost as if it knew that was where Arthur was planning to strike.

“Bold of you to assume death could get you out of this relationship,” Arthur quipped before diving underwater.

“Relationship? If you think you could confess to me and then go off to get yourself killed, then I’ll kill you myself.”

“Hey, lovebirds! Have your lover’s quarrel after you’re not in immediate danger,” Gwaine shouted, joining Arthur underwater.

“All of you are going on a fool’s errand,” Merlin said exasperated, climbing onto shore. Leon and Elyan pulled him up with their free hands, pushing him behind them the moment he was on his feet. He rolled his eyes at this, absolutely done with his hunting party. Turning on his heel, he found his horse with all of their supplies. “The bear hasn’t eaten in days, have you seen the state of this forest?” Merlin pulled out a small sack of fruits and bread he had nabbed from the kitchen before running to meet Arthur.

The remaining knights looked onto him in concern, none of them completely used to the words and voice Merlin used when practicing magic. It was a low hiss of words, his eyes illuminated by liquid sunlight. If he weren't on their side, they would be slightly fearful of the wizard. Especially when he made the small sack fly through the air like a canon smelling of freshly baked yeast.

The bear whined low in its throat, the sound like gravel being thrown by the handful at glass windows. It caught the flying sack in between its rows of teeth, tearing through the thing thread by thread like it had the horse. Arthur was within attacking distance when the beast unhinged its maw and let put the most rancid burp.

Arthur and Gwaine fainted where they once stood. The creature lumbered away like it hadn’t just killed a member of their cavalry and scared them lifeless. Merlin swam across the river without hindrance, slapping both Arthur and Gwaine across the face the moment he touched shore. “You two better have a pulse or I’m feeding you to the bear,” Merlin threatened, feeling at their necks and wrists.

“Please, mercy,” Gwaine groaned, “The thing smells like my grandfather’s cooking.”

Merlin chuckled despite himself, the sound causing Arthur to stir. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” the king murmured more to himself than to the rest of the party.

“Really? I would have never guessed. I assumed you had planned this all out, being killed by a beastly bear included. Was that not a part of your little list of Hells for Merlin?”

“This was supposed to be a date,” Arthur said instead, struggling to sit up properly. The smell of the beast lingered and Arthur could have thrown up. “I was supposed to impress you and confess.”

“Well call me impressed,” Merlin brushed Arthur’s hair out of his hair. It was soft to the touch, even riding in a forest for the whole day couldn’t ruin it. “But I’m planning the next date.”

“Next date?”

“Oh no, no, no, a concussion isn’t getting you out of this relationship,” Merlin shook his head with a grin and a gleam in his eyes.

“I don’t have a con- Ow!” Merlin smacked him over the head. “That hurt!”

“Really? It felt like I was just hitting rocks.”

“You can’t say that to me, Merlin. I’m your boyfriend.”

Merlin couldn’t hide the blush on his face and to be honest, he didn’t want to. “I say that because you’re my boyfriend. It's said with endearment, dear.” Arthur grinned at the pet name, Merlin returning the smile as he pulled the king close. Pressing their lips together should have been done ages ago, it was breathtaking. Merlin tasted of faint crisp apples, Arthur of something utterly his own.

Arthur tasted of something delicious, Merlin decided. And he was starving.

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