(Untitled)

[prince_prat]

Who: Arthur and Merlin
What: Amnesia. It's only funny when it's not someone you know
When: After Arthur and Uther do this
Where: Wherever Merlin's working
Rating: Low

Comments

[secretsorcerer]

Merlin, whose thoughts were currently occupied by nothing more serious than hanging the packages of trick silver coins on their little hook, promptly jumped at the noise and dropped everything he was holding. He turned sharply to the doorway. "Arthur? What in God's name was that for?" Then he started crossing the floor toward him, actually getting a good look now, and the coins were forgotten. "What happened? What's wrong? Oh God, it's not the children, is it?"

[prince_prat]

Past the blood beating past Arthur's ears and the weight of his chest falling and rising, though Arthur was now bent over swallowing in air and wishing he'd been in less haste, he caught the end of what Merlin said and his head snapped up in response.

"You remember them."

[secretsorcerer]

"What?" Merlin felt his whole body growing heavy, his mind spinning and oh God remember to breathe, Merlin, you don't even know what's happened yet. "Of course I-- why wouldn't I remember-- Arthur, please, you're really scaring me."

[prince_prat]

Arthur gripped Merlin by the upper arms to keep them both upright. His hands shook as adrenaline drained uneasily from his body.

"My father didn't. He doesn't remember anything." And what had sent his sprinting here had been the uncertainty that Merlin might not recall anything either.

[secretsorcerer]

Staring at Arthur while he struggled with the words, Merlin reached up to cover one of Arthur's hands where it gripped his arm. "Doesn't remember," he repeated, blow furrowing. "How could he not-- what did he say? Here-" he summoned a chair from the back room and guided Arthur into it. "Tell me exactly what happened," he said, at least starting to feel as though he didn't have to worry about the twins' safety.

[prince_prat]

"It's exactly as I said." Arthur took the chair and dragged his hands back through his hair. "He didn't recognize them at all. I need you to come home with me."

It was selfish to request it, but he needed Merlin nearby, if only to remind himself he wasn't going mad. He had already left the children with his father in this state and that felt plenty mad enough.

[secretsorcerer]

Merlin nodded, already glancing around him to find his manager. "Okay, of course, I will," he said once he'd turned back to Arthur. "Arthur... this is just the town, doing what it does, as always. You know that, right? Everything will be fine soon."

It was a small comfort, barely enough for even Merlin. For Uther to forget all that had happened... to not even remember the children he had fathered. It was a crushing blow, and Merlin imagined it was far worse for Arthur.

[prince_prat]

"Morgana was not just part of this town." It wasn't a fair point. His father hadn't left, unless someone saw fit to remove him and replace him within the castle, but the point still stood. Each time this occurred it only got harder.

[secretsorcerer]

Whether it was a fair point or not, it was true, and Merlin instantly felt horrible for it. The Morgana who was here, Arthur still cared for greatly, of course. But she was not the one who had left.

He stood far enough to reach Arthur's eye level, and leaned in to give him a hug.

[prince_prat]

His head dropped to Merlin's shoulder and a pitiful grunt slid past his lips as he wound an arm around Merlin's back, gripping his shirt. He hadn't thought he would need physical reassurance as much as he did, but now that he had Merlin, he wasn't letting go.

[secretsorcerer]

Merlin gave him as much time as he figured Arthur needed, saying nothing. He ran his hand through Arthur's hair. "Okay," he said after time had crawled by. "Let's get home and figure this out." He slowly loosened his hold and got to his feet, offering a hand to help Arthur from the chair.

[prince_prat]

"My father's probably lit the place on fire." It wasn't necessarily a joke, but he forced a smile for it. Arthur wasn't sure what his father had meant to do. Whatever it was, would not be anything good.

[secretsorcerer]

"Don't be ridiculous," Merlin gave him a small smile back, even if he knew Arthur's was fake. He squeezed his hand. "He settled in the first time, he'll settle in this time. Though to tell the truth, I'd be surprised if things hadn't gone back to normal by then."

[prince_prat]

Arthur wished he had Merlin's optimism. "The first time he was injured and wasn't given much choice."

[secretsorcerer]

"Not so injured that he couldn't have set the place on fire, had he wanted."

[prince_prat]

"Morgana wouldn't have allowed it. Neither would his doctor." Arthur glanced away from Merlin for a brief second before he stood. "We're lucky they can't walk yet."