Pink Silk Ribbons and Heartbroken Cries: Merlin fic; Gwaine/Merlin
Title: Pink Silk Flowers and Heartbroken Cries
Author: erikssiren
Fandom(s): Merlin (BBC)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Gwaine, pre-slash
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for "Lancelot Du Lac"
Summary: Gwaine had wanted to give Merlin a token of his affection, but this wasn't what he had in mind.
Author's Notes: Apparently my first episode coda wasn't going to be my last. I wrote the first half, literally stopped the episode to write it and was going to leave there but had to add a little comfort at the end. Because Merlin seriously needs a hug.
Gwen takes a gulp of wine, sweet and cool and refreshing under the hot sun and the adoring gaze of an entire arena. Her hands hadn’t stopped shaking since Arthur place the ring on her finger and if they trembled slightly more when she realized she had chatted as equals last night to the woman serving her now, she ignored it.
A flurry of excitement caught her eye and she turned to see Gwaine approaching her, his armor glinting in the sun and an tremulous smile on his face.
“Aren’t you next to ride, sir knight?” She asked lightly of the knight she had gotten to know the most due to his friendship with her brother as well as his relationship with Merlin. The pair had been dancing about their feelings since Merlin brought Gwaine to Camelot and Gwen wished there was a way she could help them realize them. Apparently, the knight had the same wish.
“I am my lady, but I had a favor to ask my friend before she became the lofty queen,” the wide grin on his face took away the sting that could have accompanied the remark. “After I give you the ring, will you give it to Merlin for me? I’d offer to him myself but I don’t know if a gesture so grand would be welcomed yet.”
Gwen’s smile grew so wide her cheeks hurt. “Of course Gwaine. Shall I give him a kiss as well?” She added teasingly and the taller man threw his head back and laughed causing a few spectators to turn their way.
“The sentiment is appreciated my lady but,” he leaned in and lowered his voice, “there’ll be no one kissing Merlin but me from now on.”
He doesn’t see Merlin, however, until after everything has gone to hell and Elyan is inconsolable with grief and shame. The castle, which should have been bustling with the wedding feast, sat eerily quiet as Gwaine walked his edge of the perimeter. It’s there after rounding a corner he finds Merlin, curled upon himself in a doorway to an abandoned homestead. The memory of wanting to greet Merlin with a laughing kiss after winning at least part of the tournament freezes like the air around him.
Merlin jerks heavily when Gwaine calls his name and he stares at the knight with blue eyes red with pain, tear tracks marring his face. His face crumples as Gwaine approaches, a strange whimpering sound breaking free as he attempts to keep wrecked sobs from escaping.
“Lancelot-boat-lake-Gwen-Ealdor,” he stutters between heaving gasps and Gwaine can’t even pretend to make sense of it but instead he acts on instinct, dropping the torch beside them and wrapping his arm and cape around Merlin’s shoulder, a silent invitation for Merlin to let his cries loose. The younger man manages to muffle them slightly in Gwaine’s chest and he does little more than offer murmured words and a hand stroking through short brown hair.
It isn’t a ring with pink silk ribbons or a sweet first kiss but, Gwaine can’t help but think, it means so much more.
Author: erikssiren
Fandom(s): Merlin (BBC)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Gwaine, pre-slash
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: Spoilers for "Lancelot Du Lac"
Summary: Gwaine had wanted to give Merlin a token of his affection, but this wasn't what he had in mind.
Author's Notes: Apparently my first episode coda wasn't going to be my last. I wrote the first half, literally stopped the episode to write it and was going to leave there but had to add a little comfort at the end. Because Merlin seriously needs a hug.
Gwen takes a gulp of wine, sweet and cool and refreshing under the hot sun and the adoring gaze of an entire arena. Her hands hadn’t stopped shaking since Arthur place the ring on her finger and if they trembled slightly more when she realized she had chatted as equals last night to the woman serving her now, she ignored it.
A flurry of excitement caught her eye and she turned to see Gwaine approaching her, his armor glinting in the sun and an tremulous smile on his face.
“Aren’t you next to ride, sir knight?” She asked lightly of the knight she had gotten to know the most due to his friendship with her brother as well as his relationship with Merlin. The pair had been dancing about their feelings since Merlin brought Gwaine to Camelot and Gwen wished there was a way she could help them realize them. Apparently, the knight had the same wish.
“I am my lady, but I had a favor to ask my friend before she became the lofty queen,” the wide grin on his face took away the sting that could have accompanied the remark. “After I give you the ring, will you give it to Merlin for me? I’d offer to him myself but I don’t know if a gesture so grand would be welcomed yet.”
Gwen’s smile grew so wide her cheeks hurt. “Of course Gwaine. Shall I give him a kiss as well?” She added teasingly and the taller man threw his head back and laughed causing a few spectators to turn their way.
“The sentiment is appreciated my lady but,” he leaned in and lowered his voice, “there’ll be no one kissing Merlin but me from now on.”
He doesn’t see Merlin, however, until after everything has gone to hell and Elyan is inconsolable with grief and shame. The castle, which should have been bustling with the wedding feast, sat eerily quiet as Gwaine walked his edge of the perimeter. It’s there after rounding a corner he finds Merlin, curled upon himself in a doorway to an abandoned homestead. The memory of wanting to greet Merlin with a laughing kiss after winning at least part of the tournament freezes like the air around him.
Merlin jerks heavily when Gwaine calls his name and he stares at the knight with blue eyes red with pain, tear tracks marring his face. His face crumples as Gwaine approaches, a strange whimpering sound breaking free as he attempts to keep wrecked sobs from escaping.
“Lancelot-boat-lake-Gwen-Ealdor,” he stutters between heaving gasps and Gwaine can’t even pretend to make sense of it but instead he acts on instinct, dropping the torch beside them and wrapping his arm and cape around Merlin’s shoulder, a silent invitation for Merlin to let his cries loose. The younger man manages to muffle them slightly in Gwaine’s chest and he does little more than offer murmured words and a hand stroking through short brown hair.
It isn’t a ring with pink silk ribbons or a sweet first kiss but, Gwaine can’t help but think, it means so much more.