Merlin, Arthur/Merlin - fight, what could have, schmoop - PGnightswhisperApril 22 2010, 15:54:24 UTC
:) just something small.
Age has treated him well, not that he’s old. Merlin thinks offhandedly one afternoon as he enters the room as the other is engrossed in reports. He faintly recalls many a bought of grumbling Arthur had gone through as prince when it came to paperwork even though he knew of their necessity. He wondered, then, how he could have become so calmly fixated in them now. Patience, he supposes, and time.
His attitude hadn’t been the only thing about the prince-turned-king that had changed. With the weight of politics, the departure of the Queen with the knight, and the warring outskirts of the kingdom Arthur had become accustomed to whatever escapes he could achieve. It wasn’t a sorrowful alteration, even if the events that caused it were. It was simply a change.
There was enough whimsy in the court wizard to think of what the court would have been like if he had remained the righteous and spoiled twat he had been on their first meeting. He imagined great galas every evening, a pile of lovers waiting in the shadows, and merriment. But in contrast to these cheery images there would also be plots to overthrow a useless ruler, future wars over rightful heirs, and dwindling resources. The Arthur of this time may be hard pressed, but he was respected for his ferocity, forgiveness, and fortitude.
“Damn it all!” Arthur cursed as his quill tip broke. He placed his head in one hand.
Merlin crossed the space between them. He laid a comforting hand on the monarch’s shoulder only to have it shoved away. Merlin frowned.
“Arthur.”
“DON’T say it, Merlin.”
“It will be fine.” He said in spite.
“NO, it won’t.” Arthur exploded, standing up so quickly the chair knocked backwards. Merlin tried to reason with him only to find his back up against one of the pillars of the war room. “HOW is this mess going to be alright? You are not a seer, Merlin! So tell me how do you know?”
“…Because I’m here.” The wizard offered, raising a cool hand to the hot-tempered man’s cheek. The touch seemed to reach a separate part of the king’s heart. His expression softened considerably.
In afterthought he placed a chaste kiss to the wizard’s forehead, letting it linger as he calmed down. Merlin raised his hands to the king’s shoulders, his own gaze diverted. How long had he wished for the return of those days of secret support they found in one another. But Arthur held so much fear of scandal after Guinevere. Merlin was unsure how to show him the risk would be worth it.
Raising his chin he looked the monarch in the eye. He tightened his grip, and proceeded to kiss the king properly. A flutter of joy slid through him when he felt the blonde give into his efforts hungrily, placing his bulk into the other man and the pillar. When they finally parted their breath was nearly stolen away.
“It will be okay.” He repeated, his hand migrating to the other’s neck. “I’m here.”
Re: Merlin, Arthur/Merlin - fight, what could have, schmoop - PGienabluApril 22 2010, 23:40:13 UTC
When I saw the subject line, I wondered how the combination would work, and the answer is fantastically.
You hit everything perfectly, but the But in contrast to these cheery images there would also be plots to overthrow a useless ruler, future wars over rightful heirs, and dwindling resources. really jumped out at me. And I don't know how to describe it, but the entire story was kind of understated, and I thought it worked beautifully. Thank you for writing this~
Age has treated him well, not that he’s old. Merlin thinks offhandedly one afternoon as he enters the room as the other is engrossed in reports. He faintly recalls many a bought of grumbling Arthur had gone through as prince when it came to paperwork even though he knew of their necessity. He wondered, then, how he could have become so calmly fixated in them now. Patience, he supposes, and time.
His attitude hadn’t been the only thing about the prince-turned-king that had changed. With the weight of politics, the departure of the Queen with the knight, and the warring outskirts of the kingdom Arthur had become accustomed to whatever escapes he could achieve. It wasn’t a sorrowful alteration, even if the events that caused it were. It was simply a change.
There was enough whimsy in the court wizard to think of what the court would have been like if he had remained the righteous and spoiled twat he had been on their first meeting. He imagined great galas every evening, a pile of lovers waiting in the shadows, and merriment. But in contrast to these cheery images there would also be plots to overthrow a useless ruler, future wars over rightful heirs, and dwindling resources. The Arthur of this time may be hard pressed, but he was respected for his ferocity, forgiveness, and fortitude.
“Damn it all!” Arthur cursed as his quill tip broke. He placed his head in one hand.
Merlin crossed the space between them. He laid a comforting hand on the monarch’s shoulder only to have it shoved away. Merlin frowned.
“Arthur.”
“DON’T say it, Merlin.”
“It will be fine.” He said in spite.
“NO, it won’t.” Arthur exploded, standing up so quickly the chair knocked backwards. Merlin tried to reason with him only to find his back up against one of the pillars of the war room. “HOW is this mess going to be alright? You are not a seer, Merlin! So tell me how do you know?”
“…Because I’m here.” The wizard offered, raising a cool hand to the hot-tempered man’s cheek. The touch seemed to reach a separate part of the king’s heart. His expression softened considerably.
In afterthought he placed a chaste kiss to the wizard’s forehead, letting it linger as he calmed down. Merlin raised his hands to the king’s shoulders, his own gaze diverted. How long had he wished for the return of those days of secret support they found in one another. But Arthur held so much fear of scandal after Guinevere. Merlin was unsure how to show him the risk would be worth it.
Raising his chin he looked the monarch in the eye. He tightened his grip, and proceeded to kiss the king properly. A flutter of joy slid through him when he felt the blonde give into his efforts hungrily, placing his bulk into the other man and the pillar. When they finally parted their breath was nearly stolen away.
“It will be okay.” He repeated, his hand migrating to the other’s neck. “I’m here.”
“I know.”
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You hit everything perfectly, but the But in contrast to these cheery images there would also be plots to overthrow a useless ruler, future wars over rightful heirs, and dwindling resources. really jumped out at me. And I don't know how to describe it, but the entire story was kind of understated, and I thought it worked beautifully. Thank you for writing this~
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