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It was Merlin’s fault. It was always Merlin’s fault. Okay, maybe sometimes it was Arthur’s fault, but mostly it was Merlin who got him into situations like these. But this time, it was all Merlin.
Arthur was walking through the halls of Camelot Castle, on his way to a nice, relaxing bath after yet another grueling meeting, when his knights appeared out of thin air. Specifically, Gwaine appeared out of thin air and threw an arm around Arthur’s shoulders, and Elyan and Percival followed in a less sudden way.
“So…” Gwaine started, leaning close to Arthur, “we heard that you’ve gotten yourself a girl.”
Arthur somehow managed to go pale and blush bright red at the same time.
“What?” Arthur spluttered, choking on a cough and embarrassment. “Who- who told you that?!”
“We would never rat out our source,” Elyan said with fake indignation.
“It was Merlin,” Arthur said state-of-factly, already thinking of ways he could possibly get away with murder.
“Okay, so it was Merlin,” Gwaine admitted. “But only because we cornered him. It’s not like we can’t tell when something’s up with you.”
“We were only trying to look out for the safety of our prince,” Percival smiled.
“And a good thing, too,” Elyan said. “Arthur would be hopeless in a romantic situation if he didn't have us to assist him.”
“Excuse you, I am perfectly capable of dealing with my own relationships in a competent manner,” Arthur protested. “Besides, I’m not seeing anyone!”
“So then what’s with all the sneaking away?” Elyan countered.
“And the lovey-eyed daydreaming?” Percival asked.
“Not to mention that you’ve been significantly less of an ass recently,” Gwaine added.
“So who is it?” Percival asks, slapping Arthur on the back and making him stumble.
“We promise to keep it a secret,” Elyan promised.
“I am not telling you three anything,” Arthur huffed.
“C’mon, Princess, what’s the worst that could happen?” Gwaine teased, walking backwards so he could smirk at Arthur face to face, and so he could see the growing blush on the prince’s face. Arthur pushed past him and increased his walking speed so that he was practically jogging.
“I’m not seeing anyone! So go away!” Arthur yelled over his shoulder as the others chased after him. He skidded around the corner, almost to his room. Just as he opened his door, preparing to lock out the unrelenting knights, Arthur heard one last yell from Gwaine.
“Don’t worry, Princess! No matter how embarrassing, we’ll find out and help you in your undoubtedly hopeless romantic life!”
Arthur slammed the door behind him and let out a sigh with closed eyes. Of course. Of course something like this would happen. It was bound to, he supposed. But from Merlin? Well, the irony was there for sure.
“What was all that about?”
Arthur’s eyes snapped open, and he found Merlin smirking at him with a pitcher of water and a tub of warm water sitting behind him, ready for the bath Arthur had ordered Merlin to get ready for him.
“You. You happened,” Arthur accused, striding over to Merlin. “What in fuck’s name compelled you to ever tell them something like that?”
“I’m just covering for you is all,” Merlin smiled, leaning closer, his breath cool on Arthur’s face. “They were getting suspicious. And you said that you wanted to keep it a secret.”
“Yes, but did you have to tell them that?” Arthur groaned. Merlin laughed and gave him a peck on the cheek and then continued to pour water into the tub, eyes glowing golden as he used his magic to keep the water warm. Arthur tugged his shirt off.
“I don’t know, it seems to have been pretty effective,” Merlin chuckled. Arthur balled up his shirt and threw it at Merlin's head, smiling. Damn Merlin. Despite his best attempts, Arthur always ended up smiling when he was around Merlin. “Look,” Merlin said, no longer teasing, “now you have an excuse for whatever they suspect you for. You can keep up the pretense of courting a village girl for another month, maybe two if you really want to stretch it. But in the end, you can say that you always knew it was just an infatuation and nothing serious. Problem solved!” Merlin threw him a smile, and Arthur’s heart skipped a beat.
“And what about after that?” Arthur asked, a little tentatively. The two of them had never really talked about the future in this sense. Certainly not the future of them.
Merlin shrugged.
“Guess you’ll have to get better at lying.”
———
Over the course of a week, Arthur had come into the role of courting a village girl. He valiantly put up with the knights constant teasing. He studiously put his mind to schooling his features into whatever they normally look like and cutting down on the (definitely not dirty) daydreaming. He even managed to verbally forgive Merlin for his attempt at covering for Arthur, which Arthur didn't need, but it was appreciated. He accepted that this wasn't a totally invalid excuse. But apparently Merlin had kept more than just the one excuse from him.
Arthur was on an extensive hunting trip that lasted a week with all the knights (plus Merlin of course). It was intended to familiarize the new knights with the flora, fauna, and general layout of Camelot, as well as get them used to long rides and sleeping on the ground for some consecutive nights. They were about halfway through the trip when they were passing close to Ealdor.
“Thinking of dropping by?” Lancelot asked, riding up next to Merlin, who had been staring in the general direction of his home town.
“Hmm?” Merlin startled. “Oh, I don’t know. The prince can barely get out of his clothes without me, I’d hate to see what would happen if I left him for an entire day with no other servants around.”
The surrounding knights chuckled, and Arthur opened his mouth to protest when Gwaine cut in.
“I for one think that you should. The princess can handle himself,” Gwaine said, smirking back at Arthur. He tried to get a word in again, but was interrupted once more.
“Besides,” Elyan said, “I’m sure a certain someone there has been dying for you to visit again.”
“Ah, the mystery girl,” Percival joined in. Arthur froze in shock. “Are we ever going to meet her?”
“How long have you been seeing her again? A year?” Lancelot asked, tilting his head.
“Well, yes, but-“ Merlin started, but Arthur finally successfully cut in.
“What’s this I hear about Merlin having a girlfriend?” Arthur partially grit out, trying to keep his face normal.
“You haven't heard?” Gwaine gasped, eyes wide with surprise and the opportunity to tease his friend(s). “Merlin is seeing some mystery girl in Ealdor. Childhood sweethearts or something.”
“Yeah, we haven’t heard about her in a while,” Percival pondered. Turning to Arthur, he smirked and said, “For some months, he wouldn’t shut up about her.”
“Is that so?” Arthur said, smiling tight. He wasn't entirely sure why he was upset. Maybe because Merlin was blushing and spluttering, and that the girl could be real.
“Oooooh, is Arthur jealous?” Gwaine sing-songed.
“Arthur, Merlin doesn't belong just to you. He’s allowed to know other people too,” Lancelot fake scolds.
“Naw, he’s just jealous that Merlin has more of a life than he does,” Gwaine smirked. Arthur spluttered. Merlin bit back a laugh.
“C’mon Arthur, are you really going to deprive Merlin of seeing the love of his life?”
Merlin at least had the courtesy to look slightly sheepish.
“It’s alright, guys,” Merlin said. “I'm supposed to go back next week for a visit. Besides, none of us want to be stuck out here any longer than we have to. We all know how grumpy His Majesty can get when he goes too long without being waited on hand and foot.”
The knights went back to teasing Arthur, and then each other, but all Arthur could think about was what he was going to do to Merlin when they were finally alone. Arthur could forgive him for this little stunt that he pulled, but he wouldn't forget.
———
It was a bright, early morning when the group arrived back in Camelot, all of them bedraggled and tired, and ready to finally lie down in an actual bed and get some sleep. After they dismounted and handed off the horses to the stable hands, Merlin started to walk away to Gaius’s chambers to knock out for an hour or two before Arthur was yelling in his ear again and dragging him around the castle taking care of whatever pile of shit the prince needed taken care of.
Arthur had other ideas.
“Merlin!” he called. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Normally Merlin would roll his eyes and make some snippy remark, but he knew that Arthur had been agitated ever since he found out about Merlin’s “girlfriend”. Merlin didn't know what was waiting for him as he followed Arthur through the castle corridors and into the prince’s chambers, quiet for once. He thought that Arthur would understand since he was the one who insisted on keeping their relationship completely secret, but Merlin could read the tense shoulders and stiff posture in Arthur’s body. How Arthur looked going into a battle.
Arthur strode into his chambers and ripped off his clothes. Merlin turned and closed the door behind them, taking a deep breath with closed eyes before turning around.
“Arthur, I-” Merlin started before being shoved against the door, Arthur’s face so close to his he could count the prince’s eyelashes.
“Just to be clear, there is no girl,” Arthur whispered, voice low. It was a question stated like a fact, slightly threateningly, but a statement made out of fear. Merlin couldn't tell this, because Arthur was almost completely pressed against him and their mouths were almost brushing each other, so all Merlin could get out was a nod and a breathless “No, of course not. It- it was a…”
And then Arthur was kissing him and brushing his thumb against Merlin's cheek, tugging at his shirt and pushing him further against the door. Merlin pushed back while pulling Arthur closer, away from the door and against the table. Merlin slid his hand under Arthur’s shirt, running his fingers up Arthur’s spine. Arthur’s breath rattled into Merlin’s mouth, the makings of a moan, before turning Merlin and kissing him harder until Arthur was sitting on top of Merlin in the bed. Arthur stared down at Merlin, both of them breathless and, somehow, shirtless. Arthur leaned down and whispered kisses across Merlin, starting right under his jaw and down his neck, and across his chest. Merlin pulled him back up and kissed him on the mouth, running his hand through Arthur’s hair and fingering his belt and-
A knock on the door had Arthur up and pulling his shirt on while shoving Merlin and his shirt into a corner. Merlin, stunned and still turned on, sat in shock, not even bothering with his shirt. He didn't hear a word of Arthur’s conversation with whoever was at the door. He was still processing what had happened when the door clicked shut and Arthur crouched in front of him, sighing and running a hand through his hair.
“I have to go attend a council meeting. Apparently they've been waiting to have it until I returned. But, uh…” he trailed off, turning red and looking at Merlin from the corner of his eyes. Merlin grinned up at him stupidly.
“Yes?” Merlin asked, looking adorable with his smile, and making Arthur turn even more red.
“Just, next time tell me when you tell people that you're in a relationship,” Arthur mumbled, clearly having not actually thought out anything to say.
“Oh I plan to,” Merlin nodded, pulling on his shirt. He then leaned close to Arthur, a soft smile lighting up his eyes. “The next relationship I plan on announcing is ours.”
Then he gave Arthur a quick peck on the cheek before standing up and walking away. Giving a frozen Arthur a little wave, Merlin skipped out the door to do whatever chores he was supposed to be doing, leaving Arthur crouched alone on the floor to process his emotions of love for Merlin by himself. Arthur was only a little late for the meeting.