Clouds and Silverlinings (Chapter 15)
Author: ext_4137531
Title: Clouds and Silverlinings (Chapter 15)
Rating: Gen (some previous chapters are NC-17/R)
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur Pendragon, Morgana
Summary: (Continuation of my Victorian AU WIP) Arthur gives Morgana a piece of his mind, and Merlin a piece of his heart.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,048 (I’m getting better!)
Prompt: #493 - Torch
Author's Notes: A very loose interpretation of the prompt this week, sorry. 😬
You can find the previous parts of this story on AO3 here.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14
Once they had arrived back in the house and parted ways with Merlin, Arthur grasped Morgana tightly by the elbow, hissing: “You, with me. Now.”
“Arthur,” Morgana protested quietly. “You’re hurting me!”
Arthur glared at her. His jaw set as he grit his teeth, before taking a deep breath and lessened his grip ever so slightly.
He marched her through the hallways and up the stairs towards his rooms. Not stopping until he had flung her inside and locked the door behind them.
“Arthur, I must say this really is-”
“No,” Arthur hissed, advancing on her, filled with rage. “You don’t get to speak. Not after what you’ve done.”
Morgana shrank away from him.
“What I’ve- Arthur, I’ve not-”
He pointed a finger at her face.
"I said. Don’t. Speak.”
He growled and then started pacing back and forth across the room, clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to control his emotions. He hadn’t felt as angry as this in weeks, almost months. But then again, Morgana always did know how to get under his skin.
“You,” he finally said, turning and facing her. She looked unusually pale and subdued. “You need to stop your meddling immediately.”
“But-”
He wagged his finger at her, cutting her off.
“No. You don’t get to stand here and deny what you’ve done. You’re an interfering little busybody and I won’t have you meddling anymore. First, you spied on me, then you teased me, you made fun of my… situation.”
“Arthur, I didn’t-”
“Then, if all that weren’t enough, you saw fit to scheme with Gwaine to bring Merlin here! Waiving him right under my nose. When you know full well- full well that- that…”
His voice grew thick with emotion and he hurriedly turned away from her to hide it.
It took him a few moments before he found himself composed enough to turn back again.
“Please, Morgana,” he said softly. “Please stop tormenting me.”
“Oh, Arthur,” she said, flinging her arms around him passionately. “The only one tormenting you is yourself. I admit, when I realised that you carried a torch for him, I did see to it that Merlin came here. But I didn’t do it to upset you. I did it to help you. I’m tired of seeing you deny what you want. I just wanted to see you happy for once. I wanted you to know love. That’s all.”
She paused for a moment, pulling away and looking him in the eye.
“He does make you happy doesn’t he?” she asked earnestly, as though it had suddenly occurred to her that maybe she was wrong. “He is the one your flame burns for?”
Arthur swallowed, blinking back the tears in his eyes that threatened to betray him. “I- Yes. I think he could. But we both know, there can be no happy ending for us.”
“Then that is all the more reason why you should have this happiness whilst you can. After all, ‘tis better to have loved and lost-”
“Than never to have loved at all,” Arthur finished. Before adding quietly, “Tennyson.”
“Yes,” said Morgana, seizing his hands in hers. “Exactly my point. Please, don’t deny yourself happiness. Not for Father, and certainly not for society. You can be safe here. Father only cares that we are quiet and to check on Merlin’s progress. And to hell with what anyone else thinks!”
Arthur shook his head. “I’ve treated him poorly, Morgana. He probably doesn’t even want me.”
Morgana slapped him on the back of his hand.
“You’re a fool, Arthur. Anyone with eyes can see that he adores you. I see how he watches you, how he looks to you, hoping that you'll notice him. I promise I won’t meddle again. But you must promise me something in return; just… think about it. Happiness is yours for the taking.”
With that, she tiptoed up, pressing a kiss to his cheek and then smiled at him as she unlocked the door and let herself out.
***
After Morgana had left. Arthur collapsed down onto a footstool. He sat there for a long time, his face in his hands as he grappled with his predicament. He knew in his heart, Morgana was right. He liked Merlin all too much. And he believed that he could find happiness with him. But there was so much at risk, not just for him, but for Merlin too. He couldn't bear thinking about what would happen if they were ever found out. He was not so concerned for himself. He had ways and means of escape. He had friends who he knew would help him. But Merlin had no titles, no status and no protection. If they got caught… Well, Arthur did not like to think of the consequences.
There was a light tap at the door and it creaked open. Arthur looked up, expecting Morgana again. He was startled to find Merlin standing there nervously.
He cleared his throat and closed the door behind him.
“I came to a-apologise for today. I-I didn’t know that Morgana had invited us both. If I had, I would have declined, of course. I’m sorry that it happened. I never meant to upset you. I hope that you know-”
“Merlin,” Arthur interrupted, getting up and walking over to him. “Shut up.”
He reached out and grasped one of Merlin’s hands pulling him in before kissing him, impulsively.
Their teeth clashed, and Merlin flailed, surprised as he was. When he stilled, Arthur wondered if he was wrong and Merlin didn’t want this. He started to pull away, ready to apologise for being so presumptuous, only to find Merlin pulling him back by the lapels of his jacket and finally kissing back. Arthur sighed as he closed his eyes and melted into the kiss.
He kept them closed for a moment when they finally parted, a smile on his lips. As they rested their foreheads against each others, Merlin linked their fingers together, smiling back.
“So,” Merlin said, his cheeks dimpling and eyelashes fanning against his exquisite skin, as he looked down at their hands interlinked. “That was… unexpected. Where does this leave us?”
Title: Clouds and Silverlinings (Chapter 15)
Rating: Gen (some previous chapters are NC-17/R)
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur Pendragon, Morgana
Summary: (Continuation of my Victorian AU WIP) Arthur gives Morgana a piece of his mind, and Merlin a piece of his heart.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,048 (I’m getting better!)
Prompt: #493 - Torch
Author's Notes: A very loose interpretation of the prompt this week, sorry. 😬
You can find the previous parts of this story on AO3 here.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14
Once they had arrived back in the house and parted ways with Merlin, Arthur grasped Morgana tightly by the elbow, hissing: “You, with me. Now.”
“Arthur,” Morgana protested quietly. “You’re hurting me!”
Arthur glared at her. His jaw set as he grit his teeth, before taking a deep breath and lessened his grip ever so slightly.
He marched her through the hallways and up the stairs towards his rooms. Not stopping until he had flung her inside and locked the door behind them.
“Arthur, I must say this really is-”
“No,” Arthur hissed, advancing on her, filled with rage. “You don’t get to speak. Not after what you’ve done.”
Morgana shrank away from him.
“What I’ve- Arthur, I’ve not-”
He pointed a finger at her face.
"I said. Don’t. Speak.”
He growled and then started pacing back and forth across the room, clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to control his emotions. He hadn’t felt as angry as this in weeks, almost months. But then again, Morgana always did know how to get under his skin.
“You,” he finally said, turning and facing her. She looked unusually pale and subdued. “You need to stop your meddling immediately.”
“But-”
He wagged his finger at her, cutting her off.
“No. You don’t get to stand here and deny what you’ve done. You’re an interfering little busybody and I won’t have you meddling anymore. First, you spied on me, then you teased me, you made fun of my… situation.”
“Arthur, I didn’t-”
“Then, if all that weren’t enough, you saw fit to scheme with Gwaine to bring Merlin here! Waiving him right under my nose. When you know full well- full well that- that…”
His voice grew thick with emotion and he hurriedly turned away from her to hide it.
It took him a few moments before he found himself composed enough to turn back again.
“Please, Morgana,” he said softly. “Please stop tormenting me.”
“Oh, Arthur,” she said, flinging her arms around him passionately. “The only one tormenting you is yourself. I admit, when I realised that you carried a torch for him, I did see to it that Merlin came here. But I didn’t do it to upset you. I did it to help you. I’m tired of seeing you deny what you want. I just wanted to see you happy for once. I wanted you to know love. That’s all.”
She paused for a moment, pulling away and looking him in the eye.
“He does make you happy doesn’t he?” she asked earnestly, as though it had suddenly occurred to her that maybe she was wrong. “He is the one your flame burns for?”
Arthur swallowed, blinking back the tears in his eyes that threatened to betray him. “I- Yes. I think he could. But we both know, there can be no happy ending for us.”
“Then that is all the more reason why you should have this happiness whilst you can. After all, ‘tis better to have loved and lost-”
“Than never to have loved at all,” Arthur finished. Before adding quietly, “Tennyson.”
“Yes,” said Morgana, seizing his hands in hers. “Exactly my point. Please, don’t deny yourself happiness. Not for Father, and certainly not for society. You can be safe here. Father only cares that we are quiet and to check on Merlin’s progress. And to hell with what anyone else thinks!”
Arthur shook his head. “I’ve treated him poorly, Morgana. He probably doesn’t even want me.”
Morgana slapped him on the back of his hand.
“You’re a fool, Arthur. Anyone with eyes can see that he adores you. I see how he watches you, how he looks to you, hoping that you'll notice him. I promise I won’t meddle again. But you must promise me something in return; just… think about it. Happiness is yours for the taking.”
With that, she tiptoed up, pressing a kiss to his cheek and then smiled at him as she unlocked the door and let herself out.
***
After Morgana had left. Arthur collapsed down onto a footstool. He sat there for a long time, his face in his hands as he grappled with his predicament. He knew in his heart, Morgana was right. He liked Merlin all too much. And he believed that he could find happiness with him. But there was so much at risk, not just for him, but for Merlin too. He couldn't bear thinking about what would happen if they were ever found out. He was not so concerned for himself. He had ways and means of escape. He had friends who he knew would help him. But Merlin had no titles, no status and no protection. If they got caught… Well, Arthur did not like to think of the consequences.
There was a light tap at the door and it creaked open. Arthur looked up, expecting Morgana again. He was startled to find Merlin standing there nervously.
He cleared his throat and closed the door behind him.
“I came to a-apologise for today. I-I didn’t know that Morgana had invited us both. If I had, I would have declined, of course. I’m sorry that it happened. I never meant to upset you. I hope that you know-”
“Merlin,” Arthur interrupted, getting up and walking over to him. “Shut up.”
He reached out and grasped one of Merlin’s hands pulling him in before kissing him, impulsively.
Their teeth clashed, and Merlin flailed, surprised as he was. When he stilled, Arthur wondered if he was wrong and Merlin didn’t want this. He started to pull away, ready to apologise for being so presumptuous, only to find Merlin pulling him back by the lapels of his jacket and finally kissing back. Arthur sighed as he closed his eyes and melted into the kiss.
He kept them closed for a moment when they finally parted, a smile on his lips. As they rested their foreheads against each others, Merlin linked their fingers together, smiling back.
“So,” Merlin said, his cheeks dimpling and eyelashes fanning against his exquisite skin, as he looked down at their hands interlinked. “That was… unexpected. Where does this leave us?”