Fic: We're Marching On [Part Six]
The feast is magnificent. Arthur takes his seat in the throne with Merlin by his side. The chair that Merlin’s in is almost exactly the same as Arthur’s and he could swear that he saw Ygraine’s name carved into one of the arm rests. She must have got bored at one stage. His heart clenches at the thought that no one has sat in this seat since before Arthur was born. He runs his fingers over Ygraine’s name and when he sees the sad smile on Arthur’s face, he knows that Arthur asked for this chair specifically.
After the feast, a troupe of musicians pick up their instruments and it isn’t long before many of the guests take to the floor to dance. Merlin smiles as Lancelot offers his hand to Gwen and he sweeps her around the dance floor, Gwen’s face alight with joy. He leans over and whispers to Arthur. “Don’t you dare ask me to dance with you.”
“Ha, as if I would. I’d end up with broken toes.”
“Hey! I’m not that clumsy.”
The look Arthur shoots him is completely disbelieving.
“Oh whatever Arthur.”
Arthur eventually has to leave his seat and speak with the many guests at the feast. Merlin takes the opportunity to visit Leon and Gwaine further down the table, both of whom appeared to be in the midst of an intense drinking competition. Merlin leaned across the table to speak with Elyan.
“Who’s winning?”
Elyan grinned at him. “It’s a close one, but I do believe that our dear Leon is about to win.”
Leon lets out a triumphant cry as Gwaine falls backwards off the bench as he passes out. Giggling, Leon leans against Merlin. “Hey, Merlin. Congratulations.”
“Thank you kindly Sir Leon.” Merlin said mockingly.
Leon pointed a finger at him and frowned. “Don’t you make fun of me Princess; I know what you’re up to. Keep your doors locked.”
“What?” Merlin laughed.
“You heard me!”
Elyan turned to Merlin. “I don’t think you’ll get anything more coherent than that tonight.”
“No, definitely not.” Leon giggled at Merlin and rested his head on Merlin’s shoulder, his eyes drooping. Merlin signalled the nearest servant over to him and asked that they ensure that Leon got back to his chambers safely.
The servant (she was new and Merlin hadn’t learnt her name) dropped into a curtsey. “Yes sire, right away.”
Merlin started at the title and tried to correct her, but she’d already taken Leon away.
“You’re royalty now Merlin, best get used to your title!” Elyan cried.
“I’m not royalty yet.”
Elyan just shrugged. “As good as.”
Strong arms wrapped around Merlin’s waist and he leant back against Arthur’s chest. He tipped his head back to get a good look at Arthur. “Did you have fun with your advisors?” he asked.
“I had a ball.”
“A servant just called me sire and Leon called me princess.”
Merlin felt Arthur’s chuckle reverberate in his own chest. “Well, you won’t be a princess. Or at least, I hope not.”
Merlin turned in Arthur’s arms in shock. “You mean I’ll actually get a real title?”
“Mmhmm. Prince Merlin, King’s Consort.”
“Oh, alright then.”
Arthur leaned in until their noses were touching. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” Merlin twisted away from Arthur and downed what was left of Gwaine’s ale. “Alright, now I’m okay.”
“Good, because I want a dance.”
And with that, Merlin was swept up amongst those still dancing as Arthur twirled him around the floor. Arthur was actually a pretty good dancer. Well, he must be after attending so many feasts and banquets throughout his life. They laugh together and keep dancing throughout the night to the joy of the crowd around them.
Finally, the feast comes to an end as the first glimmer of the sun appears on the horizon. It was definitely a feast to remember.
Once everyone had left, Arthur dropped into his throne, pulling Merlin down to sit on his lap.
“Did you see Percival chatting up that new servant? The one who called you sire?” Arthur asked.
“Think they’ll make a nice couple?”
“Who knows.”
Merlin leaned forward and pressed his lips against Arthur’s. Arthur hummed and pulled back. “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me earlier?”
“Oh yeah! I have a wonderful story about destiny and a pompous little prince who managed to catch his brilliant servant.”
Arthur grinned at him. “I think it can wait until later. We need to christen my throne properly.”
Merlin thought that was a wonderful idea.
Part Seven
After the feast, a troupe of musicians pick up their instruments and it isn’t long before many of the guests take to the floor to dance. Merlin smiles as Lancelot offers his hand to Gwen and he sweeps her around the dance floor, Gwen’s face alight with joy. He leans over and whispers to Arthur. “Don’t you dare ask me to dance with you.”
“Ha, as if I would. I’d end up with broken toes.”
“Hey! I’m not that clumsy.”
The look Arthur shoots him is completely disbelieving.
“Oh whatever Arthur.”
Arthur eventually has to leave his seat and speak with the many guests at the feast. Merlin takes the opportunity to visit Leon and Gwaine further down the table, both of whom appeared to be in the midst of an intense drinking competition. Merlin leaned across the table to speak with Elyan.
“Who’s winning?”
Elyan grinned at him. “It’s a close one, but I do believe that our dear Leon is about to win.”
Leon lets out a triumphant cry as Gwaine falls backwards off the bench as he passes out. Giggling, Leon leans against Merlin. “Hey, Merlin. Congratulations.”
“Thank you kindly Sir Leon.” Merlin said mockingly.
Leon pointed a finger at him and frowned. “Don’t you make fun of me Princess; I know what you’re up to. Keep your doors locked.”
“What?” Merlin laughed.
“You heard me!”
Elyan turned to Merlin. “I don’t think you’ll get anything more coherent than that tonight.”
“No, definitely not.” Leon giggled at Merlin and rested his head on Merlin’s shoulder, his eyes drooping. Merlin signalled the nearest servant over to him and asked that they ensure that Leon got back to his chambers safely.
The servant (she was new and Merlin hadn’t learnt her name) dropped into a curtsey. “Yes sire, right away.”
Merlin started at the title and tried to correct her, but she’d already taken Leon away.
“You’re royalty now Merlin, best get used to your title!” Elyan cried.
“I’m not royalty yet.”
Elyan just shrugged. “As good as.”
Strong arms wrapped around Merlin’s waist and he leant back against Arthur’s chest. He tipped his head back to get a good look at Arthur. “Did you have fun with your advisors?” he asked.
“I had a ball.”
“A servant just called me sire and Leon called me princess.”
Merlin felt Arthur’s chuckle reverberate in his own chest. “Well, you won’t be a princess. Or at least, I hope not.”
Merlin turned in Arthur’s arms in shock. “You mean I’ll actually get a real title?”
“Mmhmm. Prince Merlin, King’s Consort.”
“Oh, alright then.”
Arthur leaned in until their noses were touching. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” Merlin twisted away from Arthur and downed what was left of Gwaine’s ale. “Alright, now I’m okay.”
“Good, because I want a dance.”
And with that, Merlin was swept up amongst those still dancing as Arthur twirled him around the floor. Arthur was actually a pretty good dancer. Well, he must be after attending so many feasts and banquets throughout his life. They laugh together and keep dancing throughout the night to the joy of the crowd around them.
Finally, the feast comes to an end as the first glimmer of the sun appears on the horizon. It was definitely a feast to remember.
Once everyone had left, Arthur dropped into his throne, pulling Merlin down to sit on his lap.
“Did you see Percival chatting up that new servant? The one who called you sire?” Arthur asked.
“Think they’ll make a nice couple?”
“Who knows.”
Merlin leaned forward and pressed his lips against Arthur’s. Arthur hummed and pulled back. “Didn’t you say you had something to tell me earlier?”
“Oh yeah! I have a wonderful story about destiny and a pompous little prince who managed to catch his brilliant servant.”
Arthur grinned at him. “I think it can wait until later. We need to christen my throne properly.”
Merlin thought that was a wonderful idea.
Part Seven