Fic: Under the Apple Tree
Title: Under the Apple Tree
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: ~1,700
Warnings: more gratuitous fluff than should be legal
Summary: A warm, sunny day in autumn brings more than one surprise.
Notes: Fic this time, not art! This was supposed to be a teeny tiny ask fic trade over on tumblr but it turned into this. So...here we are.
Autumn’s weather had not been kind to the fruit harvest.
It had been unseasonably cold-the brisk winds rattling the stained glass windows of the castle, fur cloaks draped around shivering shoulders, even a light snow dusting the cobblestone pathways on a few early mornings. The usual colorful centerpieces were missing from the long wooden dining tables. Absent was the deep reddish-purple of the plums, the warm golden-orange of the peaches, the bright green of the clusters of grapes.
What Arthur missed most, though, were the apples.
The tough skin yielding under his mouth as he pierced through with sharp teeth, the slightly bitter bite of the juice as it passed over his tongue, the crunchy sweetness of the fruit’s flesh as he chewed, savoring the flavor.
The way the taste still lingered on his tongue and lips hours later.
Yes, that is what Arthur missed most this autumn.
But he also missed the midmorning hunts in the forest, the leaves bright with their decay, the woodland creatures restless with the knowledge of the coming cold. He missed the sun’s reflection in the streams, the way the light only seemed to be that particular shade of silvery-gold in the autumn, how it slanted off the water and painted everything in vibrant colors. He missed the cool breeze sifting through his hair, and the way it seemed to carry the knights’ carefree laughter through the entire forest, swirl the sound around them until they were wrapped in its echo.
So when Arthur woke one morning to the bright sun streaming through his window and warming the bare skin of his shoulders, he couldn’t help but smile into his pillow.
He’d already planned most of how he wanted to spend the beautiful day when Merlin came stumbling in through the door.
“You’re awake!” he practically shouted, seeing Arthur propped up against the headboard.
“And you’re late.” Arthur feigned a serious look.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry! It’s just, I…erm…ran into Gwaine! Yeah. And he, uh, he said-”
“Merlin, you do realize I know when you’re lying to me. There’s no way Gwaine would be awake this early in the morning.”
“Oh. Right. Erm…”
“Nevermind. I neither want nor need to know what on earth you get up to when I’m not around.”
Just as Merlin thought Arthur might be cross with him, Arthur beamed at him, a huge, genuine smile that Merlin couldn’t help but return. They stayed like that, grinning at each other across the sunlit room, for a few moments before Arthur shook his head.
“Merlin, you complete fool. It’s a gorgeous day, or had you even noticed?”
Merlin peered through the window, eyes alight in the sun, and nodded hopefully.
Arthur got out of bed to stand at the window beside him.
“Let’s go for a ride.”
***
Of course, Arthur could have gone alone had he wanted to. He was perfectly capable of defending himself should trouble arise, and it wasn’t like Merlin would be much of a deterrent to bandits or vicious creatures anyway. Besides, the Five Kingdoms had been fairly peaceful lately, any potential hostility discouraged by the frigid weather.
But Arthur hadn’t wanted to go alone.
Merlin’s incessant chatter had become a constant in Arthur’s life, one that he wasn’t sure he could do without anymore. The sing-song of Merlin’s voice echoing through the trees and the random things he talked about-what he’d eaten for breakfast or who’d purchased the last pig in the market the night before-relaxed Arthur, allowed him to let go of all the daunting thoughts of royalty and just…feel like a normal person for a few treasured moments.
He would never admit this to Merlin, of course. No, he would complain and bicker because that’s how their relationship had to be. Arthur quite enjoyed it that way.
Yet, on occasion-in the middle of the night while the wind howled and he couldn’t sleep, or as he sat listening to the drone of advisors on politics or warfare-he would wonder what it would be like if their relationship didn't have to be that way-snarky and distant and platonic. What it would be like if he wasn’t a prince with a heavy crown and an even heavier destiny.
They rode for a while at a casual pace through the trees, going no place in particular, just happy to be out in the warm autumn sun.
Sometimes, accidentally on purpose, Arthur would let his horse fall back, just to watch the way the light glinted off Merlin’s dark hair, turning it brown and purple and fiery red. The shadows of the overlapping leaves above made intricate patterns on the pale skin of Merlin’s neck, the curve of his cheek, his delicate wrist where it peeked out from the sleeve of his jacket. Arthur was enthralled by the shapes and colors and light.
“-think we should stop? …Arthur? Arthur!”
Merlin had turned around to look at him, and Arthur realized he’d been staring.
“You all right?”
Arthur blinked a few times. “Yes, of course. What were you blathering on about?”
Merlin raised his eyebrows slightly but didn’t pry. “I asked if you thought we should stop for a bit. Give the horses a rest.”
“Oh. Yes, right. I suppose that would be a good idea.”
Merlin led the way into a clearing surrounded by trees smaller than the others. Their branches shook and their leaves danced with the breeze. And, Arthur realized with widening eyes, hiding among the bright reds, vibrant oranges, and lingering greens were-
“Merlin! Merlin, look!” Arthur shouted, all pretense of princely decorum forgotten, and pointed up at the ripe apples swaying among the leaves.
Merlin didn’t look nearly as shocked as he should have, for someone who hadn’t seen an apple in months. He simply grinned back at Arthur, a knowing sort of twitch of the lips and glint in the eyes that made Arthur slightly uncomfortable and exceedingly euphoric.
Arthur gave him an incredulous look.
“You knew about this place, didn’t you? You took us here on purpose.”
“I might have heard of it from a passing tradesman.”
Arthur gaped at him a few moments before letting free a heartfelt laugh. He jumped from his horse and was halfway up the nearest tree before Merlin could dismount.
“Come down here, you dolt, before you fall and break your neck!”
Arthur knew he probably looked a little foolish and childish, shimmying up a tree and snatching at apples. He just barely managed to grab one before the branch broke underneath him and he went tumbling the short distance to the ground.
Arthur lay flat on his back, staring up at Merlin, who stood hovering over him.
“I swear, Merlin, if you make one fat joke, I’ll have you locked up in the stocks for a week. And as you may recall, there are no tomatoes left for the people to throw at your head. Only lettuce. And cabbage.”
Merlin looked as if that were exactly what he had been planning to do.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Sire.” He smirked, completely failing at innocence, and helped Arthur up from the dirt.
They stood side by side, staring a little reverently down at the apple Arthur gripped securely in his hand. He cleaned it with the end of his tunic, brought it to his lips, and bit down. The loud crunch was immediately followed by a softer moan.
“Mmm, oh God. That is…Merlin, you’ve got to taste this.” Merlin took the apple from Arthur’s outstretched hand.
He bit into the fruit slowly, making similar appreciative noises. Arthur watched Merlin’s jaw work as he chewed, the shape his lips made around the apple’s skin.
Merlin had hardly swallowed his first bite when Arthur kissed him. It was brief and chaste, both of them still chewing on the apple, and then Arthur drew back as quickly as he had come. He hadn’t spared the action a thought before he did it, unable to contain the joy of a warm breeze and juicy apples and Merlin. They looked at each other, both a little shocked.
Then they were both laughing, choking with it, clinging to each other to keep themselves standing. And then somehow they were kissing again-kissing and laughing and kissing some more, with the taste of apples between their lips.
***
They spent the rest of the afternoon beneath the tree-basking in the muted sunlight filtering through the leaves, Arthur’s skin turning bronze and Merlin’s a light shade of pink; munching on the sweetest apples Arthur had ever tasted whenever they got hungry, or bored, or just because they could; dozing against the tree’s thick trunk, surrounded by roots and grass and moths, and Arthur waking to find Merlin’s head pillowed on his shoulder, Arthur being too content to shake him off, and besides, he secretly enjoyed the tickle of Merlin’s soft breath against his neck; whiling away the hours cracking jokes and discussing nonsense and kissing (probably more lasciviously than propriety allowed for somewhere anyone could have found them), and simply being entirely irresponsible. Each moment they spent together under the apple tree was like another of Camelot’s heavy stones being lifted from the burden of Arthur’s shoulders.
They packed up their horses as the sky became streaked with pinks and oranges and golds, an additional two sacks of apples hanging from the saddles.
They rode back in companionable silence, reflecting on the best day they’d both had in a long time.
When they returned, the halls of the castle felt cold and formidable as they strode through them. Arthur couldn’t take it after the warmth of the day. He pushed Merlin into a hidden alcove, behind a large banner bearing Camelot’s crest.
Their lips met easily, naturally, like they’d been doing this for years, not hours. They explored each other’s mouths thoroughly, hands skimming over arms and necks and hips. As they started to get desperate and just a little bit out of control, Arthur pulled away.
“You still taste like apples,” he whispered, breath labored.
“Well, they are your favorite, are they not?”
Arthur smiled and brushed his thumb over Merlin’s bottom lip.
“Indeed.”
***