I Wouldn't Change a Thing
Author: zanra
Title: I Wouldn't Change a Thing
Rating: G
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Merlin's thoughts during a certain scene in the finale.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 164
Prompt: 48: His
Author's Note: I'm new to this community (hi!) so yeah, I hope I'm doing this right.
Why are you still behaving like a servant?
Merlin looks at Arthur with a fresh pang of despair. Arthur doesn't understand, and Merlin knows he can't explain it all now, now that Arthur is so close to death. It would be selfish and cruel to give a long, complicated answer to a man who cannot even hold on to his own breath without difficulty.
So Merlin says something about Destiny -- which is true -- and about Arthur and Camelot and friendship -- also true. The answers are inadequate and a reduction of himself, but Merlin is used to the routine. At least he no longer has to deceive.
He can only hope that his actions communicate more of the truth. He is Arthur's servant, and Arthur is his king. His duty, his responsibility. His to love. Explanation or no, there is nothing reductive about such servitude at all. He lifts the soup spoon up to Arthur's lips.
I am simply behaving like myself.
Title: I Wouldn't Change a Thing
Rating: G
Pairing/s: Arthur/Merlin
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Merlin's thoughts during a certain scene in the finale.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 164
Prompt: 48: His
Author's Note: I'm new to this community (hi!) so yeah, I hope I'm doing this right.
Why are you still behaving like a servant?
Merlin looks at Arthur with a fresh pang of despair. Arthur doesn't understand, and Merlin knows he can't explain it all now, now that Arthur is so close to death. It would be selfish and cruel to give a long, complicated answer to a man who cannot even hold on to his own breath without difficulty.
So Merlin says something about Destiny -- which is true -- and about Arthur and Camelot and friendship -- also true. The answers are inadequate and a reduction of himself, but Merlin is used to the routine. At least he no longer has to deceive.
He can only hope that his actions communicate more of the truth. He is Arthur's servant, and Arthur is his king. His duty, his responsibility. His to love. Explanation or no, there is nothing reductive about such servitude at all. He lifts the soup spoon up to Arthur's lips.
I am simply behaving like myself.