(Untitled)

[prince_prat]

Who: Arthur and Merlin
What: Amnesia. It's only funny when it's not someone you know
When: After Arthur and Uther do this
Where: Wherever Merlin's working
Rating: Low

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[secretsorcerer]

Merlin, whose thoughts were currently occupied by nothing more serious than hanging the packages of trick silver coins on their little hook, promptly jumped at the noise and dropped everything he was holding. He turned sharply to the doorway. "Arthur? What in God's name was that for?" Then he started crossing the floor toward him, actually getting a good look now, and the coins were forgotten. "What happened? What's wrong? Oh God, it's not the children, is it?"

[secretsorcerer]

"Why's that?" Merlin asked as he helped tug him up, even if he didn't need it.

[prince_prat]

"Do you really need to ask?" If the twins could walk, they could get out of their cradles. If they could get out of the cradle, they could certainly find wherever their father had holed himself up and that only spelled disaster.

[secretsorcerer]

Merlin supposed he didn't. There were any number of dangers if the twins were currently able to toddle about as they pleased, and it didn't really matter which of those Arthur was most worried about. "Guess not," he admitted, giving him another small smile as they left the shop. "So... how much have you told him?"

[prince_prat]

"Enough for him to walk off muttering about sorcery." On a good day, Arthur may have found it humerous how easily his father fell back on his favorite excuses. This was not by any stretch of the mind a good day. And Arthur wasn't in a good humor. "It may well be just that, but the babies certainly are not."

[secretsorcerer]

No, they weren't. They were beautiful little bundles of everything right with the world, however odd Merlin may have found their parental combination at first. "Does he know they are his?"

[prince_prat]

"He does," Arthur said, dragging his hand over the back of his neck. He gazed up at the ceiling in thought. "Though I don't doubt he doesn't fully believe me."

[secretsorcerer]

"...Does he know who their mother is?"

[prince_prat]

"Yes." It was odd having this conversation here of all places. "All he would have to do is look at Gwydion, Merlin."

[secretsorcerer]

That was true enough. While at first, Gwydion could have easily passed as Merlin's child or sibling just as easily as Morgana's, the boy was looking more and more like his mother with each day. He was suddenly strangely glad that their first Morgana was no longer here; if Uther's memory loss was causing this much pain for Arthur, he could only imagine what it might have been like for Morgana.

"Arthur?" he said suddenly, tightening his hand, "I'm really glad you weren't affected."

[prince_prat]

Arthur turned with a look so expressively open he wasn't sure he knew how to close it off before he kissed Merlin. "You have no idea, Merlin, how glad I am that I found you here."

[secretsorcerer]

The look made Merlin's heart stutter, but he avoided Arthur feeling embarrassed by simply kissing back, and then kissing again. Sometimes, this town didn't cut them a break. Sometimes, one of them got sick or died or turned into a child or into a teenager from the future who wore strange makeup and too much black. But this time, it had left them alone. And there would probably be a next time, and they might not be so lucky, so Merlin was fully in support of being grateful while he could. "We'd have found a way back," he commented, mostly thinking aloud.

[prince_prat]

Arthur's fingers curled into Merlin's hair and he leaned his forehead against his temple.

"You're going to have to be careful again."

Because Uther might not be king here, but he still could use a sword and truly Arthur did not want that fight to occur. He was well aware who would win and what might be lost from it.

[secretsorcerer]

Merlin snorted softly. "I am always careful," he told Arthur's neck.

[prince_prat]

"You are most certainly not," Arthur murmured. He wound gave Merlin's cheek a perfunctory kiss and slowly withdrew. "We need to leave. Now."

He could quite happily stay in that shop for the rest of the day and watch Merlin putter around rearranging shelves and pricing items but they were both needed back at the castle.

[secretsorcerer]

With a final nuzzle and a brush of thumb along the back of Arthur's hand, they finally exited the shop. It was finally nice outside, not like the oppressive heat they'd had for the last few weeks. That was something, at least.