Warm welcome [fic]
Title: Warm welcome
Author: shadowbyrd
Rating: G
Prompt: Written for the multi-fandom hug-snuggle fest
Word Count: 844
Pairing(s): Morgana/Merlin/Arthur/Gwen
Warning(s): Fluff! Happy, huggily-snuggily fluff.
Summary: After five years of wandering, Merlin comes home.
Merlin’s return was a rather quiet affair, especially compared to the manner in which he had made his exit. Morgana awaited him that night with Arthur and Gwen down in the lower courtyard. It had taken some arguing, and the odd exaggeration of Morgana’s powers, but they were left to themselves, no guardsmen, no knights.
Arthur glanced skywards “He’s late.” he said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“What did you expect?” asked Gwen, a little laughter in her voice “This is Merlin we’re talking about.”
Morgana smiled and rolled her eyes “Exactly.”
“Well pardon me.” Came a voice from behind them. “When any of you can make it to here from the far side of Mercia in half an hour I shall be very much chastened.”
And there he was; the gawky, dark-haired beanpole he’d been when he left five years ago. And somehow, at the same time very different.
Arthur practically lunged at him, yanking him into a tight hug, for a moment ignoring Merlin’s protestations about air. Merlin managed to wrench himself free a few moments later and, resting a steadying hand on Arthur’s shoulder, took a step back, looking him up and down.
“So this is it, is it?” he asked, tapping the crown resting on Arthur’s forehead. “nearly took my eye out!”
Arthur just smiled. “It’s good to see you again.” he said.
Merlin nodded, smile widening. “You too.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as the two of them just stared at each other, grinning. Then, almost at a loss at what else to do or say they hugged again, fingers and noses digging into to each others’ shoulders.
“Do you think we should give them a moment?” Gwen whispered to Morgana, eyebrows raised. Morgana smirked back.
“I heard that!” said Merlin in mock anger, drawing somewhat reluctantly away from Arthur. Standing in front of them he dropping into a quick bow. “My Ladies.”
Beside Morgana, Gwen pulled a face. She was still uncomfortable receiving bows and “my lady”s from the servants. Especially those which, like Merlin’s, were genuinely meant.
However, he stood quickly and pulled them both into a highly improper, bone-crushing hug. “Oh God,” he said “I’ve missed you all so much.”
He twirled around, lifting both Gwen and Morgana off their feet, with a little help from his magic (certainly, his arms and chest felt more tones, but Morgana refused to believe that he’d changed that much). The girls squealed in amazement and delight.
“Show off.” Arthur snorted as Merlin set them both down again.
“Jealous.” Merlin shot back with a grin. He stepped back form them to look them both up and down as he had Arthur. “You all look so different.” he said wonderingly.
“You can talk.” said Arthur, giving him a punch on the arm.
Morgana laughed politely. “I doubt I’ve changed that much, Merlin.” she said, perhaps a little too pleasantly. Part of her despaired at the uncomfortable look passed between Arthur and Gwen. Part of her relished them.
Merlin was oblivious. “You’d be surprised.” he said. Turning to Gwen, he pulled her into another hug.
“You look good.” he told her “Royalty really becomes you. Unlike some.” he added, glancing at Arthur.
“Just you remember, I can have executed within the hour.” said Arthur, scratching behind one ear, fingers bumping against his crown.
“Arthur, be sensible.” Gwen chided as she and Merlin pulled apart. “The executioner has no wife and two small children, he couldn’t possibly kill anyone, not at this time of night. You’d have to get one of the knights to do it.”
“Telling me how to run my kingdom again.” Arthur muttered, rolling his eyes. “anyway, I didn’t mean it, I just threatening Merlin.”
“That’s because you’re an idiot.” said Gwen, folding her arms with a slightly smug air.
“As a matter of fact, I didn’t hear that, Guinevere.” said Arthur, pointedly looking away.
“Probably that head wound playing up again.” Gwen said, winking at Morgana. Raising her voice she added “I told you you didn’t need to lead that flank into battle yourself - ”
“Yes, well,” said Arthur loudly “I’ll notify the guards of your return - they’ve been getting very antsy - and then we can all retire up to my chambers, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to tell us, Merlin.” Glancing at Gwen he added “If you could ask them to send some food and wine up, Guinevere?”
He stormed away inside and Gwen followed a moment later, smiling serenely.
“God.” said Merlin after a moment. “They really are married, aren’t they?”
Morgana laughed. “Oh, they are, aren’t?” She sobered after a beat, but managed to hold the smile in place. “I tell myself I don’t envy them, but…”
When she looked Merlin was smiling at her, a small quiet smile. He spread his hands and Morgana’s smile became a little more genuine and she wrapped her arms around him in turn.
He sighed into her hair. “It’s good to be home.”
Morgana smiled, leaning her head against his. “It is.”
Author: shadowbyrd
Rating: G
Prompt: Written for the multi-fandom hug-snuggle fest
Word Count: 844
Pairing(s): Morgana/Merlin/Arthur/Gwen
Warning(s): Fluff! Happy, huggily-snuggily fluff.
Summary: After five years of wandering, Merlin comes home.
Merlin’s return was a rather quiet affair, especially compared to the manner in which he had made his exit. Morgana awaited him that night with Arthur and Gwen down in the lower courtyard. It had taken some arguing, and the odd exaggeration of Morgana’s powers, but they were left to themselves, no guardsmen, no knights.
Arthur glanced skywards “He’s late.” he said, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
“What did you expect?” asked Gwen, a little laughter in her voice “This is Merlin we’re talking about.”
Morgana smiled and rolled her eyes “Exactly.”
“Well pardon me.” Came a voice from behind them. “When any of you can make it to here from the far side of Mercia in half an hour I shall be very much chastened.”
And there he was; the gawky, dark-haired beanpole he’d been when he left five years ago. And somehow, at the same time very different.
Arthur practically lunged at him, yanking him into a tight hug, for a moment ignoring Merlin’s protestations about air. Merlin managed to wrench himself free a few moments later and, resting a steadying hand on Arthur’s shoulder, took a step back, looking him up and down.
“So this is it, is it?” he asked, tapping the crown resting on Arthur’s forehead. “nearly took my eye out!”
Arthur just smiled. “It’s good to see you again.” he said.
Merlin nodded, smile widening. “You too.”
There was a moment of awkward silence as the two of them just stared at each other, grinning. Then, almost at a loss at what else to do or say they hugged again, fingers and noses digging into to each others’ shoulders.
“Do you think we should give them a moment?” Gwen whispered to Morgana, eyebrows raised. Morgana smirked back.
“I heard that!” said Merlin in mock anger, drawing somewhat reluctantly away from Arthur. Standing in front of them he dropping into a quick bow. “My Ladies.”
Beside Morgana, Gwen pulled a face. She was still uncomfortable receiving bows and “my lady”s from the servants. Especially those which, like Merlin’s, were genuinely meant.
However, he stood quickly and pulled them both into a highly improper, bone-crushing hug. “Oh God,” he said “I’ve missed you all so much.”
He twirled around, lifting both Gwen and Morgana off their feet, with a little help from his magic (certainly, his arms and chest felt more tones, but Morgana refused to believe that he’d changed that much). The girls squealed in amazement and delight.
“Show off.” Arthur snorted as Merlin set them both down again.
“Jealous.” Merlin shot back with a grin. He stepped back form them to look them both up and down as he had Arthur. “You all look so different.” he said wonderingly.
“You can talk.” said Arthur, giving him a punch on the arm.
Morgana laughed politely. “I doubt I’ve changed that much, Merlin.” she said, perhaps a little too pleasantly. Part of her despaired at the uncomfortable look passed between Arthur and Gwen. Part of her relished them.
Merlin was oblivious. “You’d be surprised.” he said. Turning to Gwen, he pulled her into another hug.
“You look good.” he told her “Royalty really becomes you. Unlike some.” he added, glancing at Arthur.
“Just you remember, I can have executed within the hour.” said Arthur, scratching behind one ear, fingers bumping against his crown.
“Arthur, be sensible.” Gwen chided as she and Merlin pulled apart. “The executioner has no wife and two small children, he couldn’t possibly kill anyone, not at this time of night. You’d have to get one of the knights to do it.”
“Telling me how to run my kingdom again.” Arthur muttered, rolling his eyes. “anyway, I didn’t mean it, I just threatening Merlin.”
“That’s because you’re an idiot.” said Gwen, folding her arms with a slightly smug air.
“As a matter of fact, I didn’t hear that, Guinevere.” said Arthur, pointedly looking away.
“Probably that head wound playing up again.” Gwen said, winking at Morgana. Raising her voice she added “I told you you didn’t need to lead that flank into battle yourself - ”
“Yes, well,” said Arthur loudly “I’ll notify the guards of your return - they’ve been getting very antsy - and then we can all retire up to my chambers, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to tell us, Merlin.” Glancing at Gwen he added “If you could ask them to send some food and wine up, Guinevere?”
He stormed away inside and Gwen followed a moment later, smiling serenely.
“God.” said Merlin after a moment. “They really are married, aren’t they?”
Morgana laughed. “Oh, they are, aren’t?” She sobered after a beat, but managed to hold the smile in place. “I tell myself I don’t envy them, but…”
When she looked Merlin was smiling at her, a small quiet smile. He spread his hands and Morgana’s smile became a little more genuine and she wrapped her arms around him in turn.
He sighed into her hair. “It’s good to be home.”
Morgana smiled, leaning her head against his. “It is.”