Three Years and Six Months
Title: Three Years and Six Months (2/2)
Author: pasty_pants
Rating: R/NC-17
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Warning: Excessive use of flashbacks, AU and split into two parts due to length.
Words: 12,000 (all together)
Summary: It only took three years and six months to get to that point, but it was definitely worth the wait.
A/N I was congratulating a co-worker who got engaged, and all the sudden the thought occurred to me “What if Merlin and Arthur got engaged?” Thanks to my wonderful beta, penarddun, who put up with my bad sentence structure, my Americanisms, my complete misunderstanding of how gay marriage works outside of the state and improper use of commas. I <3 you (despite the haggis incident and not letting me have my Russell Tovey until I finished the fic >.>) and this fic would have been crap without you. And Britt for emergency formatting repair.
Note: Sorry but I have no idea how to connect the two parts together, or how to tag or how to do LJ cut apparently. O.o
The quiet chatter around them seemed far away to the pair who sat in the middle of the room.
“Why’d we come here? You hate it here.” Arthur asked as he set down his fork, pushing the extremely chocolatey dessert toward his boyfriend. Merlin pushed aside the plate that once contained a cheesecake and pulled the chocolate towards himself.
“Yeah, but you love it here.” Merlin said before quickly digging into Arthur’s dessert.
“I hate how you can eat your weight in food and never gain a pound.” Arthur said, smile on his face showing how much he actually loved it.
“Before you I had to actually to work out, now you give me a work out.” Merlin shoved aside the now empty dish, wiping his mouth with a napkin. That was a posh movement that he learned from watching Arthur. “I had an ulterior motive, bringing you to your favorite restaurant.”
“If you’re going to break up with me, I won’t let it happen.” Arthur said possessively. He leaned forward to whisper, his hand gripping Merlin’s and the silver band pressed reassuringly against his palm.
“Quite the opposite actually.” Merlin moved out of his chair, kneeling in front of Arthur. Arthur responded in a very manly way (letting out a small gasp as his eyes went wide).
“Merlin? What?” He asked, as their neighbours went silent.
“You’ve already proposed and I’ve said yes, but I just wanted to return the gesture. So, Arthur Pendragon, I’ve loved you for almost as long as I’ve known you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Waking up next to you, keeping you up, I want to grow old with you and see if you’ll be as pretty at fifty as you are now.”
Merlin pulled a small worn box out of his pocket, opening to reveal the silver braided ring inside. “It took forever for my cousin to send me this, or I would’ve done this months ago.” Merlin took in a deep breath as he looked up at the shell shocked Arthur, “Arthur Pendragon, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” Arthur said, gripping the collar of Merlin’s suit to pull him into a kiss. “Of course I will.”
“Good,” Merlin pulled slightly back to pull the ring out of the box and slip it on Arthur’s finger. Quietly so that only Arthur could hear over the clapping that surrounded them. “Now everyone can stop calling me the girl.”
“Like you didn’t enjoy it.”
XXXXXXXXX
It was their second anniversary and Arthur found himself running into a hospital. Time seemed to go by too fast as he asked the hassled nurse where “Merlin Emrys” was. The sound of his own breathing seemed amplified over the noise of the hospital. The halls seemed endless as he ran as fast as he could in the directions he was given. He finally found the room that was given to Merlin.
He flung open the door to find an old man in a bed, with a curtain on the other side of his bed. His legs suddenly wouldn’t work as he forced himself to walk around the curtain.
There laid his Merlin, skin pale enough to match the sheets of the hospital with his leg wrapped up in a cast. Black hair sticking out of a bandage wrapped around his forehead, a slightly pink spot over his eye, his arm covered in stitches from what Arthur can only assume came from glass. Merlin’s face was streaked with tears.
“Thank Jesus.” Arthur managed to push out before crossing the room to lean over the side of Merlin’s bed, and placing a light kiss on an undamaged cheek.
“Arthur,” Merlin managed to croak, his less bloody arm tugging on Arthur’s tie. “They won’t tell me what happened to Will! I woke up and Will was gone and they won’t tell me where he is or how he is or if-“ Merlin broke off with a sob. Arthur leaned forward to kiss his cheek again.
“Okay darling, I’ll go find out. Just relax okay?” Merlin nodded stiffly, choking back another sob. With one last lingering (and thankful) look, Arthur left the room, rushing to the nurses’ desk to fulfill his quest.
“Hello, could you tell me where William Ealdor is?” Arthur asked in the most businesslike voice he could come up with at the moment.
“Are you a relative of his or Mr.Emrys’?” A voice asked behind him, Arthur spun around to face an old and wizened doctor.
“No, I’m Mr. Emrys’ partner.” Arthur said, bolstering himself to harangue this man into telling him what happened to Will.
“Well, I can’t really disclose to you what is wrong with Mr.Ealdor-“
“If you can’t tell me, then please tell Merlin. They’re like brothers.” The doctor looked at the folder he held in his hands.
“Yes, I can see that.” The man turned and Arthur followed him into Merlin’s room. Arthur stayed near the door as the man disappeared behind the curtain. The doctor quietly spoke to Merlin as Arthur stared at the beeping machine next to the sleeping old man.
The doctor reappeared from behind the curtain, nodding to Arthur as he passed. Arthur moved as fast as he could back to Merlin’s bedside.
Merlin’s unbandaged arm was raised as his hand covered his mouth, tears flowing freely. He seemed like he was in more shock then Arthur had been when he had gotten the call earlier that day.
“Merlin?” Merlin’s eyes snapped from the imagined spot on the wall to face Arthur.
“Arthur,” Merlin’s voice was full of sadness, forcing Arthur to grab Merlin’s hand. “He’s unconscious, they don’t know if he’ll wake up, he-“ Merlin’s sobs cut off his statement again. Arthur leaned forward to press his lips against Merlin’s temple again.
“It’s okay love, it’s going to be okay, he’ll wake up.”
“It’s not okay! They don’t know if he’s going to wake up! How could this have happened?” Merlin dissolved into sobs, and Arthur had nothing he could say to help him. He crawled into the small space, careful not to hurt his boyfriend as he wrapped his arms around him.
XXXXXXX
“Pendragon or Emrys?” Merlin muttered into Arthur’s naked hipbone, relishing the feel of the no-longer clean sheets against his naked body, and the hand resting in his hair.
“Hn?” Arthur managed to push out, waking up from an hour long nap. Merlin propped himself on one arm, and pulled himself up slightly to press a kiss to Arthur’s abs.
“Will we be the Pendragons or the Emrys?” Merlin asked into Arthur’s skin. He turned his head to rest it against Arthur’s stomach as he stared at the glint of light off the ring Arthur now had on his hand.
“You have just sucked my brain out my cock and you want to discuss which name we should we go by?” Arthur mumbled sleepily, raising his hand to rub his face.
“We should be the Emrys.” Was Merlin’s response, his hand crept back up Arthur’s thigh; proud of his devilish little plan.
“We should be the Pendragons. I mean, how cool is a name with ‘dragon’ in it? Besides it’s the name of a multinational em-oh.”
“Yes but Emrys is everywhere in the book world, on the edge of everyone’s tongue-“ Merlin punctuated the sentence with a short lick to the muscles he adored so much. His hand loosely encouraging Arthur’s cock to salute. “-and it’s so cool.”
“Jesus Merlin you can’t actually think I can have this discussion with your hand-“ Arthur let out a little gasp, no longer sleepy “-and your mouth on my penis!”
Merlin released the head of Arthur’s cock with a little pop, “I can’t think of a better time.”
“Hyphenate, we’ll do that thing.” Arthur quickly said. “Just don’t stop now.”
Merlin moved up Arthur’s body. “You got yours, now I get mine.” Already prepared, Merlin slid Arthur’s length into him with a groan to match Arthur’s.
“You’re the devil Merlin Pendragon-Emrys.” Arthur gritted out.
“Emrys-Pendragon.” Merlin distractedly stated as he rose up and lowered himself again.
“Oh bloody hell.”
XXXXXX
“Arthur? Arthur? Are you even listening to me?” Morgana’s voice registered somewhere in the back of his brain.
“No.” He snapped out, his hand gripping the cup of whatever Morgana gotten him. His eyes narrowed at the scene across the bar. “It’s been barely three fucking days, and he’s already out whoring himself to-“
“Arthur, you guys broke up. He can do whatever he wants to do.”
Arthur had the urge to either hit Morgana for being reasonable or choking Mr.Ginger for hitting on his boyfriend.
“Aren’t you the one that ended it?” Arthur decided not to respond to that. Instead he watched as Merlin adjusted himself so that he could sit easier on the stool, his leg still occasionally bothering him. Did Mr.Ginger know that Merlin had just got a cast off his leg? Arthur didn’t think so.
Merlin’s mouth opened in a flirty smile as his hand reached up to play with the scarf that he had bought in a London market a year before. A scarf that Arthur once used to tie him to a bed. Arthur noticed out of the corner of his eye Gwen sitting nearby flirting with Lancelot. Normally the sight would inspire hope that the pair would stop messing around and finally get together, but at the moment his thoughts were consumed with bloody and violent deaths for Mr.Ginger.
As he was using Mr.Ginger as a target for flaming arrow practice, the man in question raised his hand to brush a lock of Merlin’s still shaggy hair out of his face. Was it only four days before that Arthur had teased Merlin about it?
The green monster in his chest roared disapprovingly at the gesture. And before he knew it he had pushed away from the table, Morgana shouting after him as he briskly strode across the bar. Arthur grabbed Merlin by the collar of his shirt and pulled him towards the bathroom. The reassuring heat of Merlin under his clenched fist and the sound of Merlin stumbling after him made him feel slightly better. He walked slower so that Merlin’s leg wouldn’t hurt more.
“What the fuck are you up to?” Merlin said angrily as Arthur shoved him into a stall.
“What am I up to? What are you on about? Practically snogging Mr.Ginger at the bar.” Arthur glared at Merlin as his arms wrapped around the smaller man’s waist.
“What do you care?” Merlin’s hands were in a position to push Arthur away, but his hands involuntary caressed the slightly older man. “You’re the one who broke up with me. I’m not your property.”
“It was a fucking fight, when I told you to get out I didn’t mean out of my life.” Arthur growled out, knowing full well it was what he meant at the time.
“Bullshit.” Merlin gritted out his hands curling around the lapels of Arthur’s suit.
“I was angry.” Was all Arthur said before leaning forward and capturing Merlin’s lips in a furious kiss. It was wet and their teeth clacked together, but Merlin’s fisted hands only pulled him closer. One of Merlin’s hands loosened and wrapped around Arthur’s back to grab Arthur’s arse.
“If you want me back all you have to do is say please.” Merlin said against Arthur’s lips, as his other hand lowered to stroke against the bulge in Arthur’s pants.
“I never lost you to begin with.” Arthur tilted his head to attack Merlin’s neck.
“Say please!” Merlin gritted out, the words too loud in the bathroom.
“Please.” Arthur said finally, Merlin’s head tilted back with a loud thunk to hit the stall wall.
“Was that so hard?” Merlin attacked Arthur’s fly with both hands, before attacking his own.
“Oh shut up.” Arthur fished the lube out of his pocket that habit forced him to bring. Arthur turned Merlin around, who managed not to fall even with his pants around his knees. Arthur squirted lube onto his hands and quickly spread it across his fingers, before unceremoniously shoving two of them into Merlin.
Merlin yelped at the coldness, but moaned a bit as Arthur scissored his fingers. Arthur stared at the winded boy, as Merlin pressed his forehead against the wall, bracing his hands over his head.
“You missed me didn’t you?” Arthur murmured in Merlin’s neck as he pushed a third finger into Merlin. Merlin moaned in response. “You were just as sad as I was, weren’t you?”
“Yes” the word became more of a moan as Arthur pulled his fingers out. He replaced them with his quickly lubed cock. He held it against Merlin’s entrance as he lifted his head to brush his lips against Merlin’s ear.
“You’re mine Merlin. Not that ginger’s, not any of those guys who left you in the past, you’re mine. Have you got that?” Merlin whimpered trying to push back against Arthur’s dick.
“Merlin, I asked you a question.” Arthur said cruelly keeping Merlin on the edge.
“Yours only yours!” Merlin said, in response the grinning Arthur pushed himself into Merlin. Pulling in and out as his hand bruised one of Merlin’s hip and the other moved to wrap around Merlin’s cock. Tugging on it in rhythm with his thrusts.
“Merlin, fuck Merlin.” Arthur began to chant as he approached climax.
“You- are.” Merlin slowly groaned out before chanting Arthur’s name and spilling on the wall of the stall.
Arthur followed quickly, moving his arm to brace the wall. He tried not to put too much pressure on Merlin’s back. He winced, hoping that he hadn’t hurt Merlin’s leg more in his need for reassurance.
“Don’t ever just go like that again.”
“You’re never getting rid of me Pendragon.” Merlin turned his head to kiss the closest part of Arthur’s face. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The pair leaned against the wall before realizing that they just had make-up sex in the bathroom of a shady gay bar.
They quickly cleaned up and pulled on their pants. They walked past the appreciative smiles and applause of the men loitering in the room to go out into the bar.
When they saw Gwen, Morgana sitting on either side of Lancelot, and the three of them smirking like idiots. Merlin turned to Arthur, speaking directly into the blonde’s ear so his lips could be close to him, and so Arthur could hear over the mob.
“Our friends are evil.”
XXXXXXXX
“I can’t believe that I’m going to be married this time tomorrow.” Merlin said into his drink. Gwen patted his back reassuringly.
“You’ll have to sleep with the same guy for eternity.” Gwen said, and Merlin could hear the smile in her voice.
“Well that should be no issue, he’s pretty good at that.” Merlin said with a wide grin.
“He’s going to obsessively bitch at you to pick up your clothes.” Gwen said in a slightly singsong voice.
“Well, I have been better at being clean since we got together.” Merlin’s head perked up.
“He’s going to randomly drag you off to glorious places for work.”
“Urk. Movie stars.” Merlin looked up at the nearly naked man dancing on the table above them.
“I can’t believe your biggest issue with marrying Arthur is that you’ll have to deal with movie stars.” The man above them dropped down, flexing his entirely too many muscles. Gwen tucked the money into his excuse for underwear.
“They’re so annoying!”
Gwen laughed at the severely annoyed look on Merlin’s face. Her laughter prompted the drunk man to burst out laughing himself. They spent a few minutes laughing and joking, staring up at the scarily muscled man before a look of shock crossed Merlin’s face. Gwen stared at him frowning.
“Whats wrong?”
“We’ve got to go to the hospital.”
XXXXXXXXX
“I don’t want to go to the playground.” Merlin muttered into Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur wrapped his arms tighter around the sleeping writer.
Arthur looked down at the mess of black hair, and felt the warmth of the thin arm across his stomach, and his boyfriend’s leg draped across his own.
Arthur smiled up to the ceiling, the black smudge that once was ice-cream with fudge. Merlin had been over excited for one reason or another and “lost control” of the bowl causing it splatter all over the ceiling.
Arthur raised hand to play with the black strands, happy to have Merlin back in his arms.
He closed his eyes ready to drift off into sleep. He continued to think about how clumsy Merlin was, how he got ideas for his book at the worst times. He thought about how he was totally and completely in love with the skinny man.
“Oh shit. I want to marry him.” Arthur’s statement slipped from his lips before he could stop it, as Merlin began to drool on his chest.
XXXXXXXXX
“Hello?” Arthur sleepily answered the phone that rang annoyingly by his head. “Whoever this is, it’d better be important. I’m getting married in a few hours.” Arthur smiled with the personal reminder.
“Arthur, I’m at the hospital.” Merlin’s voice broke across the phone.
“What?” Arthur sat up knocking Morgana off the couch and onto Lancelot who had fallen off at some point. Both of them made groans of pain and protest. “Are you okay?”
“I’m totally fine, everyone is brilliant!” Merlin said, incredibly happy voice, bothering Arthur in its adorableness.
“Why are you at the hospital then?” Arthur said, allowing Morgana to shove him towards his own side of the couch. She stretched out with one last glare towards his phone before falling asleep.
“Because, I was all worried about getting married without Will being there because he’s my best mate and all, then I realized that Will would want me to get married even if he wasn’t there, actually he’d probe-pro-fuck!-“ Arthur could hear Gwen’s voice in the background shout ‘probably’ as Merlin stumbled over his words “-yes, thanks Gwen. He’d want me to get married with or with out him there because you make me happy. Stupid kinds of happy. I wanted to tell him but the lady at the desk said that I had too much and I should go home and rest and I told her I couldn’t go home because my fiancé was there and we can’t see each other and- oh shit! Train’s here! Bye love!” With that Merlin’s phone shut off and Arthur severely hoped that he didn’t drop it into the gap again.
“You’re going to spend the rest of your life with that man.” Lancelot’s mumbled voice rose from where he laid facedown on the floor.
“I can’t wait.” Arthur stared at his phone, smiling for another moment, before placing it on the table. He turned to lie down on the couch, with his feet close to his step-sister’s face, and her feet jamming into his back. “Just a few more hours now.”
XXXXXXXX
“Don’t get him one with a diamond.” Morgana leaned over the same case that Arthur was crouched down in front of. Staring intently at the small delicate rings, none of them shouted “Merlin would love me!” at him.
“He’d probably shove it down my throat and tell me to go get something different.” Arthur said distractedly, he did an awkward little shuffle towards the next case to stare intently at the rings inside of it. They were more neutral, silver and gold rings with varying levels of diamonds on them. “I know, he likes it simple.”
Morgana stepped away from the glass. Staring over at the necklaces on the other side of the room, “this is the tenth shop that we’ve come to, if you don’t find a ring quick, I’m just going to start shopping for what I want.”
Arthur stood up with a groan, casting his gaze about the high-end jewellery shop. The over-eager salesman was standing where Morgana had banished him; his hands clenched together and face hopeful. Morgana was a widely known jewellery addict and Arthur was sure the man was dying to let her buy every single necklace in the store.
Arthur fought back a sneer, his eyes traveling over the case at the other end of the store. He sauntered over to the case, more gaudy and overpriced jewellery. Arthur winced, all he wanted was overpriced simple jewellery. He was about to turn to Morgana and declare this store a failure when he saw it.
It was small, silver, and twisted. Two thin strands of metal that ran parallel to each other, except the place where it locked in the middle.
“That one, there. Take it out. Please.” The man rushed to do as Arthur said, pulling the ring out with a flourish. Arthur took it from him and stared at it intently. Morgana walking over to peer over his shoulder.
“Half is the engagement ring, the other half is for the wedding ring.”
“How much?” Morgana leaned against the glass, ready to begin her favorite part of shopping, the bargain. The man named a price and Morgana opened her mouth to shoot him down when Arthur interrupted.
“No, I’ll buy it. I want an inscription on it too.”
“Bumlord.” Morgana muttered angrily, striding back to the necklace display.
“I’m about to be an engaged one too!” He cast over his shoulder to her, turning to smile at the shocked store keeper.
XXXXXXXXX
“I can’t believe you still don’t know how to tie it yourself.” Hunith muttered as she fixed Merlin’s lopsided bow tie.
“Arthur can, it’s why I’m marrying him. He can tie it for me whenever I ask.” Merlin said with a wink. “I’m marrying Arthur.” He repeated. Suddenly the little color in his face drained away, and as soon as his mother stepped away, he sat down heavily.
“Sweetie? What’s wrong?” Hunith asked, pulling one of the nearby chairs closer to him. She stared at his face, looking for the first sign of green.
“I’m getting married! I’ll have to spend the rest of my life with Arthur! What if I mess it up? What if I’m not cut out for it? What if I’m like-“ Merlin paused, leaning forward the horror of the idea forcing him to whisper the last words “-my Father?”
Hunith tried (really hard) to give her son a serious look but before she could stop it, she burst out laughing.
“Merlin you are nothing like your Father. Nothing at all. You love Arthur more then your Father loved himself, and that’s saying something.” She leaned forward to press a kiss to her shell-shocked son’s forehead. “You’re going to make mistakes, and so will Arthur, but the pair of you will just have to figure it out!” She patted him on the shoulder, before stepping away to the armoire that held the dress Morgana had gotten her. “Now I’m going to go change, relax and enjoy your last moments as a bachelor.”
As she stepped into the small room attached, Gwen entered to slide into the same chair that Hunith had vacated. She shifted in the long lavender dress to look at Merlin.
“Morgana says that Arthur tried to convince Mr.Hurt to start the ceremony an hour early.” She slipped off the sneakers and put them next to the bag of clothes that Merlin had arrived in, pulling out shoes that Morgana had talked Merlin into buying for Gwen. “Mr.Hurt told him that his destiny will come.”
“That man is incredibly vague.” Merlin stared at the embellished base of the armoire, wondering if it was going to be something he remembered for the rest of his life; staring at carvings while his friend talked the morning of his wedding.
“I can’t believe that you’re about to get married.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Well, when you first met, we all thought you were going to kill each other.” Morgana said from the entranceway.
“Aren’t you supposed to be preventing Arthur from coming in here and ravishing his bride?” Gwen smirked evilly (which did not suit her) as she turned to Merlin “He’s been in quite the state since you called last night.”
“I am not the bride!” Merlin gritted out between his teeth, as Morgana moved to sit in the chair on the other side of Merlin. Somehow the action made the purple dress (similar to Gwen’s) sparkle in the light.
“Lancelot locked him in a cupboard, he’s been dressed for over an hour now, trying to talk that poor Mr. Hurt into doing what he wanted. Merlin, put on your shoes.”
Merlin leaned forward to slip on his shoes. “What’s all this about thinking we were going to kill each other?”
Gwen and Morgana shared a look over Merlin’s head.
“Well, you were always bitching about the blonde customer who practically stalked you, and how you were going to pour arsenic into his drink.” Gwen said, inspecting the flawless nails that had to be fixed earlier that morning due to an unfortunate underground incident.
“And Arthur was always going on and on about the insufferable barista who would not do what he told him to do. Not to mention damaged his precious shirt!” Morgana said, look of false horror artfully posed on her face.
“Even that should have tipped you off that they were destined to be together.” Hunith opened the door to the small changing room, her dress was simple and blue, bringing out the happiness that shined in her eyes. “My little baby is getting married!”
Gwen rushed forward to offer Hunith her handkerchief, tucked away for emergencies during the service.
“I could not think of a better man for my son to marry then Arthur Pendragon.” She said choking back tears as she crossed the room to yank Merlin into a hug. Morgana stood regally, smiling at the mother and the son hugging.
“Believe me, we can’t think of a better man for Arthur then Merlin. They’re a match made in heaven.”
Lancelot ducked his head into the room. “It’s time.” Was all he said before quickly leaving.
Merlin sucked in a deep breath. “Alright, time to get married!”
XXXXXXXX
Merlin groaned as he dropped his head to the desk, willing the prince in his head to do anything so he could finish this chapter. The words on the screen were mocking him. You don’t know what comes next! You can’t finish me!
“I won’t be able to do anything just sitting here staring at the computer.” Merlin said out loud, trying not to think about how crazy people talk to themselves. He stood up, stretching out his arms. He gave the piled papers and previous books in their editing stage one last glare before wandering out of the office.
He walked over to the couch, landing onto it with a loud thud. He had left the TV on when he had dashed into the office, thinking that he had an idea before realizing that it was completely stupid.
He stared as the latest episode of Neighbours flashed across the screen. Watching but not really following what was going on. His eyes shifted from the colorful screen to the picture on top of the mantle. Merlin’s arms were wrapped around Arthur’s waist, his profile showed a smile as he gazed up at Arthur, shirt partially unbuttoned and tie held in one hand as both his arms were raised in victory. Arthur had just won an award of some sort and although the award was forgotten, the night was still talked about. After a series of parties thrown in his honour, Arthur had ended up in Merlin’s crap flat, tangled up in Merlin’s sheets and panting for breath. Merlin could remember sleepily crawling back up to rest his head on Arthur’s chest.
In that moment Merlin had been blissfully happy, he doubted he’d ever become any more happy then that. Arthur of course proved him wrong by telling Merlin ‘I love you’ for the first time.
The phrase had often been exchanged between the pair, but the ecstatic feeling that filled Merlin’s chest whenever he heard it, or said it, never dimmed. It was for this reason that last week, after a quick exchange before Arthur dashed off to work, leaving Merlin wide awake in bed. The warm feeling taking over his chest as he stared up at the ceiling Merlin sudden realized that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Arthur and instantly called his Mother to ask for the location of the ring he wanted to use.
Since then he had suffered from terrible writer’s block, his entire brain focused on how to propose to the proud Pendragon.
He’d have to do it in a place that Arthur liked, but everywhere Arthur liked Merlin had done something completely stupid (including, but not limited to, knocking over a waiter and spilling a very expensive bottle of wine on Uther) or absolutely hated.
Hot air balloon he thought with a smile, mentally running through the scenario. They’d be high above the ground, enjoying the view when Merlin would whip out the ring, presenting it with a flourish to the suddenly shrieking-like-a-girl Arthur… and he would promptly drop it over the edge. No then. Merlin thought, his smile shifting to a frown.
Castle tour? The last time Merlin and Arthur went on a castle tour, Arthur had suddenly started calling him manservant and told him to ‘walk on his knees.’ (Which of course Merlin totally did not do…twice.)
Romantic picnic in the park? Merlin could imagine being down on one knee (Arthur still hyperventilating like a girl) and just as he says the magic words, a Frisbee smack him in the head.
Romantic cruise for two? This would be the ideal way, he could make both sides of Arthur happy. The proud “I am totally wearing the pants in this relationship” side that he showed to the whole world, and the tender side that only Merlin saw behind closed doors. He could propose on the deck, surrounded by water and sky, no one nearby so they could have deck-sex (should they be so inclined) and far enough from the edge so Merlin won’t loose the heirloom. Too bad Merlin had a nasty tendency to get incredibly seasick.
Merlin groaned again, throwing his head back against the couch as he heard the door open.
“What’s wrong? Carmella causing trouble? Book not going well?” Arthur’s voice filled his ears as the footsteps approached the couch. Merlin could feel his head lower slightly as Arthur’s arms pushed down the cushions. The soft lips he loved so much pressed against his own and he could feel the smile on them. He couldn’t help but smile himself as he opened his eyes to see Arthur’s grinning face.
“The book is being mean.” I should just do it right now. The errant thought crossed Merlin’s mind. “You’re late.”
“I went jewellery shopping with Morgana after work. She terrorized some poor shop keep.” Merlin was suspicious of the smirk that suddenly went wicked on Arthur’s face. The blonde man stood up and walked towards their bedroom, throwing his suit jacket on the couch next to Merlin. He turned just before entering the hallway, stopping as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“You know, the best way to rejuvenate your creative ideas is by taking your mind off things.” Merlin would describe the smile on Arthur’s face as downright evil and caused a stir in his gut that hopefully will end in a naked mess. “If you want I could distract you in the bedroom.”
Arthur winked before taking off his shirt and dropping it on the floor, fiddling with his belt buckle as he turned and walked into the bedroom. Merlin jumped up and followed, yanking the t-shirt over his head as he went. He was sure that the events that were about to happen would never help him with the book, but be very enjoyable nonetheless.
XXXXXXXXX
It was a blur of words, Arthur vaguely remembered saying something like “I do” and Merlin responding in kind, they both said their vows (and Arthur did not cry at Merlin’s heartfelt announcement of love) It was a good thing that the most important day of his life was being caught on video. It was all a blur up until the point where Mr.Hurt announced to the small group of friends and family that the pair could now kiss as husband and husband.
That moment on, everything was in stunning clarity. The tears on Gwen’s face behind Merlin, Hunith sitting right in front with tears streaming down her face, and Gaius holding a handkerchief up for her to grab. He didn’t need to turn to know that Uther was standing opposite Hunith, quiet tall and proud. Morgana was behind him, making crying elegant and Lancelot stood behind her with that stupid grin on his face that he got whenever something momentous happened.
Then there was Merlin, standing in front of him with a grin so wide that it threatened to tear his face in half. His blue eyes wide, happy and almost brimming with tears. The short black hair unnaturally neat and his usually pink lips flushed red from Merlin’s habit of biting his lips when nervous. Before the words were even fully out of Mr.Hurt’s mouth, Arthur leaned forward, his hand wrapping around the nape of Merlin’s neck, fingers brushing against the soft hair he found there. Merlin eagerly leaned forward and their lips pressed against each other.
Arthur felt like he could recall every colour and sound that whirled past him, as he and Merlin left the small London hall hand in hand. Every little piece of rice that hit him and every little giggle that Merlin let out as they slid into the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. They stayed wrapped around each other in the car, and barely broke apart to do the pictures before the reception. They kept leaning towards each other when no one was in ear shot, whispering the word ‘husband’ and their names combined in ways that only pop mags designed.
Merlin’s giggles were apparently infectious because Arthur found himself smiling and laughing as they entered the hall. Lancelot’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker as they entered.
“Now the guests of honour, Mr. and Mr. Emrys-Pendragon!” The applause was deafening as the pair took forever to get to their seats. Merlin smirking and Arthur could just imagine him boasting that he won the name argument with the ‘It’s alphabetical!’ statement.
The pair went through the motions of a reception, groping each other whenever a table shielded the eyes of their friends and family. Laughing and kissing (regretfully innocently) as they spun around the dance floor to “You Do Something To Me” by Paul Weller. They ate the elaborate cake, laughed at appropriate times in the speeches, and danced with their new parent-in-laws. Merlin and Uther moved awkwardly across the floor, Uther leading the young man who never wanted to be in that situation.
As happy as Arthur was to have this day, and to spend it with his family and friends (and a few co-workers he couldn’t get rid of), he just wanted to get five minutes to hold his husband. When his Father began to flirt with Merlin’s favorite teacher from school, Arthur leaned over and whispered in his husband’s ear the need that he had. Merlin (being a dutiful husband) quickly followed Arthur as they slipped past the guests and into the coat room.
“Finally I never thought that we’d get away from-“ Arthur stopped mid statement as he got to the old ratty couch hidden in the back of the coat room. He had noticed it when they toured the large and beautiful reception hall. There was already a pair of people wrapped up in each other on it. Merlin peered over Arthur’s shoulder to see what the big deal was.
“Gwen, Lancelot. Go find someplace else.” Merlin said (whined). The pair blushed, stumbling their apologies as the fixed themselves and hurriedly walked past them into the hall.
Arthur spun around and plopped onto the couch, happy that there wasn’t a cloud of dust that rose at the action. He laid back and opened his arms, allowing Merlin to straddle him, Merlin’s arms wrapping around Arthur. With a sigh the pair just sat there, on the awful couch in the closet room, with their arms wrapped around each other. Just taking in the moment.
“Jesus, Merlin Emrys-Pendragon.” Merlin finally said into Arthur’s hair. “I love you Arthur Emrys- Pendragon, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Arthur’s hand moved to rub Merlin’s back. “I love you Merlin Pendragon-Emrys and I can’t wait.”
XXXXXX
“Merlin, Merlin… you sleep like the dead.” Arthur finally muttered, lightly slapping the naked bottom of his boyfriend. Merlin grumbled into his (Arthur’s really) pillow, shifting to pull the blanket up around him.
“You asked for it.” Arthur said quietly, before grabbing the ice cube off the tray and sticking it into the collar of the shirt that Merlin wore. A spare football shirt that had “Pendragon” written across the back in large bold letters. Arthur loved it when Merlin stole that shirt, he secretly viewed it as a sort of branding and Merlin knew it.
Merlin jumped at the coldness, turning to glare at his boyfriend and deny the loud yelp he made. Before he could angrily shout, Arthur leaned forward and pulled the still sleepy man into a deep kiss. He paused a second, his forehead resting against Merlin’s as they gasped for air, somehow lying down on the bed again. Realizing that he might suddenly become very late, Arthur moved off the bed.
“I’ve brought you breakfast.” Arthur gestured towards the tray laden with food that he ran to the restaurant around the corner to get.
Merlin smiled for a moment before realizing that Arthur was dressed head to toe in his usual work outfit. “You’re not leaving are you? It’s our anniversary!”
“I have to go help set up the party. Don’t worry love, I’ll ravish you later. Enjoy your breakfast.” Arthur attempted to make a smooth getaway but the pout that Merlin wore stopped him. He sat on the edge of the bed, out of Merlin’s long reach.
“Why do I have to go to the bloody party? I’m not in the movie business.” Merlin whined, frowning at Arthur’s pants as if staring at them would cause it to vanish.
“Because I need mental back up. Besides, if you go and you behave then I’ll have a surprise for you.” Arthur said with the best coy look he could conjure up when Merlin was sitting in his shirt and possibly his boxers, with bed-head and a pout on his face. The entire look was just tempting Arthur to call his father and pretend to be sick, and spend the next few years in bed with Merlin.
“Chair sex?” Merlin perked up instantly, hopeful for the much awaited chair sex that Arthur held over his head.
“Something much much better. Now I need to go, before someone gets upset and throws objects at other people.” Arthur leaned forward again, daring himself to just kiss Merlin and run.
“Damn drama queens you work with.” Merlin muttered angrily, reaching for Arthur as he left his arm span. “This better be a damn good surprise!”
“Don’t worry. You’ll love it.”
Author: pasty_pants
Rating: R/NC-17
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Warning: Excessive use of flashbacks, AU and split into two parts due to length.
Words: 12,000 (all together)
Summary: It only took three years and six months to get to that point, but it was definitely worth the wait.
A/N I was congratulating a co-worker who got engaged, and all the sudden the thought occurred to me “What if Merlin and Arthur got engaged?” Thanks to my wonderful beta, penarddun, who put up with my bad sentence structure, my Americanisms, my complete misunderstanding of how gay marriage works outside of the state and improper use of commas. I <3 you (despite the haggis incident and not letting me have my Russell Tovey until I finished the fic >.>) and this fic would have been crap without you. And Britt for emergency formatting repair.
Note: Sorry but I have no idea how to connect the two parts together, or how to tag or how to do LJ cut apparently. O.o
The quiet chatter around them seemed far away to the pair who sat in the middle of the room.
“Why’d we come here? You hate it here.” Arthur asked as he set down his fork, pushing the extremely chocolatey dessert toward his boyfriend. Merlin pushed aside the plate that once contained a cheesecake and pulled the chocolate towards himself.
“Yeah, but you love it here.” Merlin said before quickly digging into Arthur’s dessert.
“I hate how you can eat your weight in food and never gain a pound.” Arthur said, smile on his face showing how much he actually loved it.
“Before you I had to actually to work out, now you give me a work out.” Merlin shoved aside the now empty dish, wiping his mouth with a napkin. That was a posh movement that he learned from watching Arthur. “I had an ulterior motive, bringing you to your favorite restaurant.”
“If you’re going to break up with me, I won’t let it happen.” Arthur said possessively. He leaned forward to whisper, his hand gripping Merlin’s and the silver band pressed reassuringly against his palm.
“Quite the opposite actually.” Merlin moved out of his chair, kneeling in front of Arthur. Arthur responded in a very manly way (letting out a small gasp as his eyes went wide).
“Merlin? What?” He asked, as their neighbours went silent.
“You’ve already proposed and I’ve said yes, but I just wanted to return the gesture. So, Arthur Pendragon, I’ve loved you for almost as long as I’ve known you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Waking up next to you, keeping you up, I want to grow old with you and see if you’ll be as pretty at fifty as you are now.”
Merlin pulled a small worn box out of his pocket, opening to reveal the silver braided ring inside. “It took forever for my cousin to send me this, or I would’ve done this months ago.” Merlin took in a deep breath as he looked up at the shell shocked Arthur, “Arthur Pendragon, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” Arthur said, gripping the collar of Merlin’s suit to pull him into a kiss. “Of course I will.”
“Good,” Merlin pulled slightly back to pull the ring out of the box and slip it on Arthur’s finger. Quietly so that only Arthur could hear over the clapping that surrounded them. “Now everyone can stop calling me the girl.”
“Like you didn’t enjoy it.”
XXXXXXXXX
It was their second anniversary and Arthur found himself running into a hospital. Time seemed to go by too fast as he asked the hassled nurse where “Merlin Emrys” was. The sound of his own breathing seemed amplified over the noise of the hospital. The halls seemed endless as he ran as fast as he could in the directions he was given. He finally found the room that was given to Merlin.
He flung open the door to find an old man in a bed, with a curtain on the other side of his bed. His legs suddenly wouldn’t work as he forced himself to walk around the curtain.
There laid his Merlin, skin pale enough to match the sheets of the hospital with his leg wrapped up in a cast. Black hair sticking out of a bandage wrapped around his forehead, a slightly pink spot over his eye, his arm covered in stitches from what Arthur can only assume came from glass. Merlin’s face was streaked with tears.
“Thank Jesus.” Arthur managed to push out before crossing the room to lean over the side of Merlin’s bed, and placing a light kiss on an undamaged cheek.
“Arthur,” Merlin managed to croak, his less bloody arm tugging on Arthur’s tie. “They won’t tell me what happened to Will! I woke up and Will was gone and they won’t tell me where he is or how he is or if-“ Merlin broke off with a sob. Arthur leaned forward to kiss his cheek again.
“Okay darling, I’ll go find out. Just relax okay?” Merlin nodded stiffly, choking back another sob. With one last lingering (and thankful) look, Arthur left the room, rushing to the nurses’ desk to fulfill his quest.
“Hello, could you tell me where William Ealdor is?” Arthur asked in the most businesslike voice he could come up with at the moment.
“Are you a relative of his or Mr.Emrys’?” A voice asked behind him, Arthur spun around to face an old and wizened doctor.
“No, I’m Mr. Emrys’ partner.” Arthur said, bolstering himself to harangue this man into telling him what happened to Will.
“Well, I can’t really disclose to you what is wrong with Mr.Ealdor-“
“If you can’t tell me, then please tell Merlin. They’re like brothers.” The doctor looked at the folder he held in his hands.
“Yes, I can see that.” The man turned and Arthur followed him into Merlin’s room. Arthur stayed near the door as the man disappeared behind the curtain. The doctor quietly spoke to Merlin as Arthur stared at the beeping machine next to the sleeping old man.
The doctor reappeared from behind the curtain, nodding to Arthur as he passed. Arthur moved as fast as he could back to Merlin’s bedside.
Merlin’s unbandaged arm was raised as his hand covered his mouth, tears flowing freely. He seemed like he was in more shock then Arthur had been when he had gotten the call earlier that day.
“Merlin?” Merlin’s eyes snapped from the imagined spot on the wall to face Arthur.
“Arthur,” Merlin’s voice was full of sadness, forcing Arthur to grab Merlin’s hand. “He’s unconscious, they don’t know if he’ll wake up, he-“ Merlin’s sobs cut off his statement again. Arthur leaned forward to press his lips against Merlin’s temple again.
“It’s okay love, it’s going to be okay, he’ll wake up.”
“It’s not okay! They don’t know if he’s going to wake up! How could this have happened?” Merlin dissolved into sobs, and Arthur had nothing he could say to help him. He crawled into the small space, careful not to hurt his boyfriend as he wrapped his arms around him.
XXXXXXX
“Pendragon or Emrys?” Merlin muttered into Arthur’s naked hipbone, relishing the feel of the no-longer clean sheets against his naked body, and the hand resting in his hair.
“Hn?” Arthur managed to push out, waking up from an hour long nap. Merlin propped himself on one arm, and pulled himself up slightly to press a kiss to Arthur’s abs.
“Will we be the Pendragons or the Emrys?” Merlin asked into Arthur’s skin. He turned his head to rest it against Arthur’s stomach as he stared at the glint of light off the ring Arthur now had on his hand.
“You have just sucked my brain out my cock and you want to discuss which name we should we go by?” Arthur mumbled sleepily, raising his hand to rub his face.
“We should be the Emrys.” Was Merlin’s response, his hand crept back up Arthur’s thigh; proud of his devilish little plan.
“We should be the Pendragons. I mean, how cool is a name with ‘dragon’ in it? Besides it’s the name of a multinational em-oh.”
“Yes but Emrys is everywhere in the book world, on the edge of everyone’s tongue-“ Merlin punctuated the sentence with a short lick to the muscles he adored so much. His hand loosely encouraging Arthur’s cock to salute. “-and it’s so cool.”
“Jesus Merlin you can’t actually think I can have this discussion with your hand-“ Arthur let out a little gasp, no longer sleepy “-and your mouth on my penis!”
Merlin released the head of Arthur’s cock with a little pop, “I can’t think of a better time.”
“Hyphenate, we’ll do that thing.” Arthur quickly said. “Just don’t stop now.”
Merlin moved up Arthur’s body. “You got yours, now I get mine.” Already prepared, Merlin slid Arthur’s length into him with a groan to match Arthur’s.
“You’re the devil Merlin Pendragon-Emrys.” Arthur gritted out.
“Emrys-Pendragon.” Merlin distractedly stated as he rose up and lowered himself again.
“Oh bloody hell.”
XXXXXX
“Arthur? Arthur? Are you even listening to me?” Morgana’s voice registered somewhere in the back of his brain.
“No.” He snapped out, his hand gripping the cup of whatever Morgana gotten him. His eyes narrowed at the scene across the bar. “It’s been barely three fucking days, and he’s already out whoring himself to-“
“Arthur, you guys broke up. He can do whatever he wants to do.”
Arthur had the urge to either hit Morgana for being reasonable or choking Mr.Ginger for hitting on his boyfriend.
“Aren’t you the one that ended it?” Arthur decided not to respond to that. Instead he watched as Merlin adjusted himself so that he could sit easier on the stool, his leg still occasionally bothering him. Did Mr.Ginger know that Merlin had just got a cast off his leg? Arthur didn’t think so.
Merlin’s mouth opened in a flirty smile as his hand reached up to play with the scarf that he had bought in a London market a year before. A scarf that Arthur once used to tie him to a bed. Arthur noticed out of the corner of his eye Gwen sitting nearby flirting with Lancelot. Normally the sight would inspire hope that the pair would stop messing around and finally get together, but at the moment his thoughts were consumed with bloody and violent deaths for Mr.Ginger.
As he was using Mr.Ginger as a target for flaming arrow practice, the man in question raised his hand to brush a lock of Merlin’s still shaggy hair out of his face. Was it only four days before that Arthur had teased Merlin about it?
The green monster in his chest roared disapprovingly at the gesture. And before he knew it he had pushed away from the table, Morgana shouting after him as he briskly strode across the bar. Arthur grabbed Merlin by the collar of his shirt and pulled him towards the bathroom. The reassuring heat of Merlin under his clenched fist and the sound of Merlin stumbling after him made him feel slightly better. He walked slower so that Merlin’s leg wouldn’t hurt more.
“What the fuck are you up to?” Merlin said angrily as Arthur shoved him into a stall.
“What am I up to? What are you on about? Practically snogging Mr.Ginger at the bar.” Arthur glared at Merlin as his arms wrapped around the smaller man’s waist.
“What do you care?” Merlin’s hands were in a position to push Arthur away, but his hands involuntary caressed the slightly older man. “You’re the one who broke up with me. I’m not your property.”
“It was a fucking fight, when I told you to get out I didn’t mean out of my life.” Arthur growled out, knowing full well it was what he meant at the time.
“Bullshit.” Merlin gritted out his hands curling around the lapels of Arthur’s suit.
“I was angry.” Was all Arthur said before leaning forward and capturing Merlin’s lips in a furious kiss. It was wet and their teeth clacked together, but Merlin’s fisted hands only pulled him closer. One of Merlin’s hands loosened and wrapped around Arthur’s back to grab Arthur’s arse.
“If you want me back all you have to do is say please.” Merlin said against Arthur’s lips, as his other hand lowered to stroke against the bulge in Arthur’s pants.
“I never lost you to begin with.” Arthur tilted his head to attack Merlin’s neck.
“Say please!” Merlin gritted out, the words too loud in the bathroom.
“Please.” Arthur said finally, Merlin’s head tilted back with a loud thunk to hit the stall wall.
“Was that so hard?” Merlin attacked Arthur’s fly with both hands, before attacking his own.
“Oh shut up.” Arthur fished the lube out of his pocket that habit forced him to bring. Arthur turned Merlin around, who managed not to fall even with his pants around his knees. Arthur squirted lube onto his hands and quickly spread it across his fingers, before unceremoniously shoving two of them into Merlin.
Merlin yelped at the coldness, but moaned a bit as Arthur scissored his fingers. Arthur stared at the winded boy, as Merlin pressed his forehead against the wall, bracing his hands over his head.
“You missed me didn’t you?” Arthur murmured in Merlin’s neck as he pushed a third finger into Merlin. Merlin moaned in response. “You were just as sad as I was, weren’t you?”
“Yes” the word became more of a moan as Arthur pulled his fingers out. He replaced them with his quickly lubed cock. He held it against Merlin’s entrance as he lifted his head to brush his lips against Merlin’s ear.
“You’re mine Merlin. Not that ginger’s, not any of those guys who left you in the past, you’re mine. Have you got that?” Merlin whimpered trying to push back against Arthur’s dick.
“Merlin, I asked you a question.” Arthur said cruelly keeping Merlin on the edge.
“Yours only yours!” Merlin said, in response the grinning Arthur pushed himself into Merlin. Pulling in and out as his hand bruised one of Merlin’s hip and the other moved to wrap around Merlin’s cock. Tugging on it in rhythm with his thrusts.
“Merlin, fuck Merlin.” Arthur began to chant as he approached climax.
“You- are.” Merlin slowly groaned out before chanting Arthur’s name and spilling on the wall of the stall.
Arthur followed quickly, moving his arm to brace the wall. He tried not to put too much pressure on Merlin’s back. He winced, hoping that he hadn’t hurt Merlin’s leg more in his need for reassurance.
“Don’t ever just go like that again.”
“You’re never getting rid of me Pendragon.” Merlin turned his head to kiss the closest part of Arthur’s face. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The pair leaned against the wall before realizing that they just had make-up sex in the bathroom of a shady gay bar.
They quickly cleaned up and pulled on their pants. They walked past the appreciative smiles and applause of the men loitering in the room to go out into the bar.
When they saw Gwen, Morgana sitting on either side of Lancelot, and the three of them smirking like idiots. Merlin turned to Arthur, speaking directly into the blonde’s ear so his lips could be close to him, and so Arthur could hear over the mob.
“Our friends are evil.”
XXXXXXXX
“I can’t believe that I’m going to be married this time tomorrow.” Merlin said into his drink. Gwen patted his back reassuringly.
“You’ll have to sleep with the same guy for eternity.” Gwen said, and Merlin could hear the smile in her voice.
“Well that should be no issue, he’s pretty good at that.” Merlin said with a wide grin.
“He’s going to obsessively bitch at you to pick up your clothes.” Gwen said in a slightly singsong voice.
“Well, I have been better at being clean since we got together.” Merlin’s head perked up.
“He’s going to randomly drag you off to glorious places for work.”
“Urk. Movie stars.” Merlin looked up at the nearly naked man dancing on the table above them.
“I can’t believe your biggest issue with marrying Arthur is that you’ll have to deal with movie stars.” The man above them dropped down, flexing his entirely too many muscles. Gwen tucked the money into his excuse for underwear.
“They’re so annoying!”
Gwen laughed at the severely annoyed look on Merlin’s face. Her laughter prompted the drunk man to burst out laughing himself. They spent a few minutes laughing and joking, staring up at the scarily muscled man before a look of shock crossed Merlin’s face. Gwen stared at him frowning.
“Whats wrong?”
“We’ve got to go to the hospital.”
XXXXXXXXX
“I don’t want to go to the playground.” Merlin muttered into Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur wrapped his arms tighter around the sleeping writer.
Arthur looked down at the mess of black hair, and felt the warmth of the thin arm across his stomach, and his boyfriend’s leg draped across his own.
Arthur smiled up to the ceiling, the black smudge that once was ice-cream with fudge. Merlin had been over excited for one reason or another and “lost control” of the bowl causing it splatter all over the ceiling.
Arthur raised hand to play with the black strands, happy to have Merlin back in his arms.
He closed his eyes ready to drift off into sleep. He continued to think about how clumsy Merlin was, how he got ideas for his book at the worst times. He thought about how he was totally and completely in love with the skinny man.
“Oh shit. I want to marry him.” Arthur’s statement slipped from his lips before he could stop it, as Merlin began to drool on his chest.
XXXXXXXXX
“Hello?” Arthur sleepily answered the phone that rang annoyingly by his head. “Whoever this is, it’d better be important. I’m getting married in a few hours.” Arthur smiled with the personal reminder.
“Arthur, I’m at the hospital.” Merlin’s voice broke across the phone.
“What?” Arthur sat up knocking Morgana off the couch and onto Lancelot who had fallen off at some point. Both of them made groans of pain and protest. “Are you okay?”
“I’m totally fine, everyone is brilliant!” Merlin said, incredibly happy voice, bothering Arthur in its adorableness.
“Why are you at the hospital then?” Arthur said, allowing Morgana to shove him towards his own side of the couch. She stretched out with one last glare towards his phone before falling asleep.
“Because, I was all worried about getting married without Will being there because he’s my best mate and all, then I realized that Will would want me to get married even if he wasn’t there, actually he’d probe-pro-fuck!-“ Arthur could hear Gwen’s voice in the background shout ‘probably’ as Merlin stumbled over his words “-yes, thanks Gwen. He’d want me to get married with or with out him there because you make me happy. Stupid kinds of happy. I wanted to tell him but the lady at the desk said that I had too much and I should go home and rest and I told her I couldn’t go home because my fiancé was there and we can’t see each other and- oh shit! Train’s here! Bye love!” With that Merlin’s phone shut off and Arthur severely hoped that he didn’t drop it into the gap again.
“You’re going to spend the rest of your life with that man.” Lancelot’s mumbled voice rose from where he laid facedown on the floor.
“I can’t wait.” Arthur stared at his phone, smiling for another moment, before placing it on the table. He turned to lie down on the couch, with his feet close to his step-sister’s face, and her feet jamming into his back. “Just a few more hours now.”
XXXXXXXX
“Don’t get him one with a diamond.” Morgana leaned over the same case that Arthur was crouched down in front of. Staring intently at the small delicate rings, none of them shouted “Merlin would love me!” at him.
“He’d probably shove it down my throat and tell me to go get something different.” Arthur said distractedly, he did an awkward little shuffle towards the next case to stare intently at the rings inside of it. They were more neutral, silver and gold rings with varying levels of diamonds on them. “I know, he likes it simple.”
Morgana stepped away from the glass. Staring over at the necklaces on the other side of the room, “this is the tenth shop that we’ve come to, if you don’t find a ring quick, I’m just going to start shopping for what I want.”
Arthur stood up with a groan, casting his gaze about the high-end jewellery shop. The over-eager salesman was standing where Morgana had banished him; his hands clenched together and face hopeful. Morgana was a widely known jewellery addict and Arthur was sure the man was dying to let her buy every single necklace in the store.
Arthur fought back a sneer, his eyes traveling over the case at the other end of the store. He sauntered over to the case, more gaudy and overpriced jewellery. Arthur winced, all he wanted was overpriced simple jewellery. He was about to turn to Morgana and declare this store a failure when he saw it.
It was small, silver, and twisted. Two thin strands of metal that ran parallel to each other, except the place where it locked in the middle.
“That one, there. Take it out. Please.” The man rushed to do as Arthur said, pulling the ring out with a flourish. Arthur took it from him and stared at it intently. Morgana walking over to peer over his shoulder.
“Half is the engagement ring, the other half is for the wedding ring.”
“How much?” Morgana leaned against the glass, ready to begin her favorite part of shopping, the bargain. The man named a price and Morgana opened her mouth to shoot him down when Arthur interrupted.
“No, I’ll buy it. I want an inscription on it too.”
“Bumlord.” Morgana muttered angrily, striding back to the necklace display.
“I’m about to be an engaged one too!” He cast over his shoulder to her, turning to smile at the shocked store keeper.
XXXXXXXXX
“I can’t believe you still don’t know how to tie it yourself.” Hunith muttered as she fixed Merlin’s lopsided bow tie.
“Arthur can, it’s why I’m marrying him. He can tie it for me whenever I ask.” Merlin said with a wink. “I’m marrying Arthur.” He repeated. Suddenly the little color in his face drained away, and as soon as his mother stepped away, he sat down heavily.
“Sweetie? What’s wrong?” Hunith asked, pulling one of the nearby chairs closer to him. She stared at his face, looking for the first sign of green.
“I’m getting married! I’ll have to spend the rest of my life with Arthur! What if I mess it up? What if I’m not cut out for it? What if I’m like-“ Merlin paused, leaning forward the horror of the idea forcing him to whisper the last words “-my Father?”
Hunith tried (really hard) to give her son a serious look but before she could stop it, she burst out laughing.
“Merlin you are nothing like your Father. Nothing at all. You love Arthur more then your Father loved himself, and that’s saying something.” She leaned forward to press a kiss to her shell-shocked son’s forehead. “You’re going to make mistakes, and so will Arthur, but the pair of you will just have to figure it out!” She patted him on the shoulder, before stepping away to the armoire that held the dress Morgana had gotten her. “Now I’m going to go change, relax and enjoy your last moments as a bachelor.”
As she stepped into the small room attached, Gwen entered to slide into the same chair that Hunith had vacated. She shifted in the long lavender dress to look at Merlin.
“Morgana says that Arthur tried to convince Mr.Hurt to start the ceremony an hour early.” She slipped off the sneakers and put them next to the bag of clothes that Merlin had arrived in, pulling out shoes that Morgana had talked Merlin into buying for Gwen. “Mr.Hurt told him that his destiny will come.”
“That man is incredibly vague.” Merlin stared at the embellished base of the armoire, wondering if it was going to be something he remembered for the rest of his life; staring at carvings while his friend talked the morning of his wedding.
“I can’t believe that you’re about to get married.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
“Well, when you first met, we all thought you were going to kill each other.” Morgana said from the entranceway.
“Aren’t you supposed to be preventing Arthur from coming in here and ravishing his bride?” Gwen smirked evilly (which did not suit her) as she turned to Merlin “He’s been in quite the state since you called last night.”
“I am not the bride!” Merlin gritted out between his teeth, as Morgana moved to sit in the chair on the other side of Merlin. Somehow the action made the purple dress (similar to Gwen’s) sparkle in the light.
“Lancelot locked him in a cupboard, he’s been dressed for over an hour now, trying to talk that poor Mr. Hurt into doing what he wanted. Merlin, put on your shoes.”
Merlin leaned forward to slip on his shoes. “What’s all this about thinking we were going to kill each other?”
Gwen and Morgana shared a look over Merlin’s head.
“Well, you were always bitching about the blonde customer who practically stalked you, and how you were going to pour arsenic into his drink.” Gwen said, inspecting the flawless nails that had to be fixed earlier that morning due to an unfortunate underground incident.
“And Arthur was always going on and on about the insufferable barista who would not do what he told him to do. Not to mention damaged his precious shirt!” Morgana said, look of false horror artfully posed on her face.
“Even that should have tipped you off that they were destined to be together.” Hunith opened the door to the small changing room, her dress was simple and blue, bringing out the happiness that shined in her eyes. “My little baby is getting married!”
Gwen rushed forward to offer Hunith her handkerchief, tucked away for emergencies during the service.
“I could not think of a better man for my son to marry then Arthur Pendragon.” She said choking back tears as she crossed the room to yank Merlin into a hug. Morgana stood regally, smiling at the mother and the son hugging.
“Believe me, we can’t think of a better man for Arthur then Merlin. They’re a match made in heaven.”
Lancelot ducked his head into the room. “It’s time.” Was all he said before quickly leaving.
Merlin sucked in a deep breath. “Alright, time to get married!”
XXXXXXXX
Merlin groaned as he dropped his head to the desk, willing the prince in his head to do anything so he could finish this chapter. The words on the screen were mocking him. You don’t know what comes next! You can’t finish me!
“I won’t be able to do anything just sitting here staring at the computer.” Merlin said out loud, trying not to think about how crazy people talk to themselves. He stood up, stretching out his arms. He gave the piled papers and previous books in their editing stage one last glare before wandering out of the office.
He walked over to the couch, landing onto it with a loud thud. He had left the TV on when he had dashed into the office, thinking that he had an idea before realizing that it was completely stupid.
He stared as the latest episode of Neighbours flashed across the screen. Watching but not really following what was going on. His eyes shifted from the colorful screen to the picture on top of the mantle. Merlin’s arms were wrapped around Arthur’s waist, his profile showed a smile as he gazed up at Arthur, shirt partially unbuttoned and tie held in one hand as both his arms were raised in victory. Arthur had just won an award of some sort and although the award was forgotten, the night was still talked about. After a series of parties thrown in his honour, Arthur had ended up in Merlin’s crap flat, tangled up in Merlin’s sheets and panting for breath. Merlin could remember sleepily crawling back up to rest his head on Arthur’s chest.
In that moment Merlin had been blissfully happy, he doubted he’d ever become any more happy then that. Arthur of course proved him wrong by telling Merlin ‘I love you’ for the first time.
The phrase had often been exchanged between the pair, but the ecstatic feeling that filled Merlin’s chest whenever he heard it, or said it, never dimmed. It was for this reason that last week, after a quick exchange before Arthur dashed off to work, leaving Merlin wide awake in bed. The warm feeling taking over his chest as he stared up at the ceiling Merlin sudden realized that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Arthur and instantly called his Mother to ask for the location of the ring he wanted to use.
Since then he had suffered from terrible writer’s block, his entire brain focused on how to propose to the proud Pendragon.
He’d have to do it in a place that Arthur liked, but everywhere Arthur liked Merlin had done something completely stupid (including, but not limited to, knocking over a waiter and spilling a very expensive bottle of wine on Uther) or absolutely hated.
Hot air balloon he thought with a smile, mentally running through the scenario. They’d be high above the ground, enjoying the view when Merlin would whip out the ring, presenting it with a flourish to the suddenly shrieking-like-a-girl Arthur… and he would promptly drop it over the edge. No then. Merlin thought, his smile shifting to a frown.
Castle tour? The last time Merlin and Arthur went on a castle tour, Arthur had suddenly started calling him manservant and told him to ‘walk on his knees.’ (Which of course Merlin totally did not do…twice.)
Romantic picnic in the park? Merlin could imagine being down on one knee (Arthur still hyperventilating like a girl) and just as he says the magic words, a Frisbee smack him in the head.
Romantic cruise for two? This would be the ideal way, he could make both sides of Arthur happy. The proud “I am totally wearing the pants in this relationship” side that he showed to the whole world, and the tender side that only Merlin saw behind closed doors. He could propose on the deck, surrounded by water and sky, no one nearby so they could have deck-sex (should they be so inclined) and far enough from the edge so Merlin won’t loose the heirloom. Too bad Merlin had a nasty tendency to get incredibly seasick.
Merlin groaned again, throwing his head back against the couch as he heard the door open.
“What’s wrong? Carmella causing trouble? Book not going well?” Arthur’s voice filled his ears as the footsteps approached the couch. Merlin could feel his head lower slightly as Arthur’s arms pushed down the cushions. The soft lips he loved so much pressed against his own and he could feel the smile on them. He couldn’t help but smile himself as he opened his eyes to see Arthur’s grinning face.
“The book is being mean.” I should just do it right now. The errant thought crossed Merlin’s mind. “You’re late.”
“I went jewellery shopping with Morgana after work. She terrorized some poor shop keep.” Merlin was suspicious of the smirk that suddenly went wicked on Arthur’s face. The blonde man stood up and walked towards their bedroom, throwing his suit jacket on the couch next to Merlin. He turned just before entering the hallway, stopping as he unbuttoned his shirt.
“You know, the best way to rejuvenate your creative ideas is by taking your mind off things.” Merlin would describe the smile on Arthur’s face as downright evil and caused a stir in his gut that hopefully will end in a naked mess. “If you want I could distract you in the bedroom.”
Arthur winked before taking off his shirt and dropping it on the floor, fiddling with his belt buckle as he turned and walked into the bedroom. Merlin jumped up and followed, yanking the t-shirt over his head as he went. He was sure that the events that were about to happen would never help him with the book, but be very enjoyable nonetheless.
XXXXXXXXX
It was a blur of words, Arthur vaguely remembered saying something like “I do” and Merlin responding in kind, they both said their vows (and Arthur did not cry at Merlin’s heartfelt announcement of love) It was a good thing that the most important day of his life was being caught on video. It was all a blur up until the point where Mr.Hurt announced to the small group of friends and family that the pair could now kiss as husband and husband.
That moment on, everything was in stunning clarity. The tears on Gwen’s face behind Merlin, Hunith sitting right in front with tears streaming down her face, and Gaius holding a handkerchief up for her to grab. He didn’t need to turn to know that Uther was standing opposite Hunith, quiet tall and proud. Morgana was behind him, making crying elegant and Lancelot stood behind her with that stupid grin on his face that he got whenever something momentous happened.
Then there was Merlin, standing in front of him with a grin so wide that it threatened to tear his face in half. His blue eyes wide, happy and almost brimming with tears. The short black hair unnaturally neat and his usually pink lips flushed red from Merlin’s habit of biting his lips when nervous. Before the words were even fully out of Mr.Hurt’s mouth, Arthur leaned forward, his hand wrapping around the nape of Merlin’s neck, fingers brushing against the soft hair he found there. Merlin eagerly leaned forward and their lips pressed against each other.
Arthur felt like he could recall every colour and sound that whirled past him, as he and Merlin left the small London hall hand in hand. Every little piece of rice that hit him and every little giggle that Merlin let out as they slid into the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. They stayed wrapped around each other in the car, and barely broke apart to do the pictures before the reception. They kept leaning towards each other when no one was in ear shot, whispering the word ‘husband’ and their names combined in ways that only pop mags designed.
Merlin’s giggles were apparently infectious because Arthur found himself smiling and laughing as they entered the hall. Lancelot’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker as they entered.
“Now the guests of honour, Mr. and Mr. Emrys-Pendragon!” The applause was deafening as the pair took forever to get to their seats. Merlin smirking and Arthur could just imagine him boasting that he won the name argument with the ‘It’s alphabetical!’ statement.
The pair went through the motions of a reception, groping each other whenever a table shielded the eyes of their friends and family. Laughing and kissing (regretfully innocently) as they spun around the dance floor to “You Do Something To Me” by Paul Weller. They ate the elaborate cake, laughed at appropriate times in the speeches, and danced with their new parent-in-laws. Merlin and Uther moved awkwardly across the floor, Uther leading the young man who never wanted to be in that situation.
As happy as Arthur was to have this day, and to spend it with his family and friends (and a few co-workers he couldn’t get rid of), he just wanted to get five minutes to hold his husband. When his Father began to flirt with Merlin’s favorite teacher from school, Arthur leaned over and whispered in his husband’s ear the need that he had. Merlin (being a dutiful husband) quickly followed Arthur as they slipped past the guests and into the coat room.
“Finally I never thought that we’d get away from-“ Arthur stopped mid statement as he got to the old ratty couch hidden in the back of the coat room. He had noticed it when they toured the large and beautiful reception hall. There was already a pair of people wrapped up in each other on it. Merlin peered over Arthur’s shoulder to see what the big deal was.
“Gwen, Lancelot. Go find someplace else.” Merlin said (whined). The pair blushed, stumbling their apologies as the fixed themselves and hurriedly walked past them into the hall.
Arthur spun around and plopped onto the couch, happy that there wasn’t a cloud of dust that rose at the action. He laid back and opened his arms, allowing Merlin to straddle him, Merlin’s arms wrapping around Arthur. With a sigh the pair just sat there, on the awful couch in the closet room, with their arms wrapped around each other. Just taking in the moment.
“Jesus, Merlin Emrys-Pendragon.” Merlin finally said into Arthur’s hair. “I love you Arthur Emrys- Pendragon, and we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”
Arthur’s hand moved to rub Merlin’s back. “I love you Merlin Pendragon-Emrys and I can’t wait.”
XXXXXX
“Merlin, Merlin… you sleep like the dead.” Arthur finally muttered, lightly slapping the naked bottom of his boyfriend. Merlin grumbled into his (Arthur’s really) pillow, shifting to pull the blanket up around him.
“You asked for it.” Arthur said quietly, before grabbing the ice cube off the tray and sticking it into the collar of the shirt that Merlin wore. A spare football shirt that had “Pendragon” written across the back in large bold letters. Arthur loved it when Merlin stole that shirt, he secretly viewed it as a sort of branding and Merlin knew it.
Merlin jumped at the coldness, turning to glare at his boyfriend and deny the loud yelp he made. Before he could angrily shout, Arthur leaned forward and pulled the still sleepy man into a deep kiss. He paused a second, his forehead resting against Merlin’s as they gasped for air, somehow lying down on the bed again. Realizing that he might suddenly become very late, Arthur moved off the bed.
“I’ve brought you breakfast.” Arthur gestured towards the tray laden with food that he ran to the restaurant around the corner to get.
Merlin smiled for a moment before realizing that Arthur was dressed head to toe in his usual work outfit. “You’re not leaving are you? It’s our anniversary!”
“I have to go help set up the party. Don’t worry love, I’ll ravish you later. Enjoy your breakfast.” Arthur attempted to make a smooth getaway but the pout that Merlin wore stopped him. He sat on the edge of the bed, out of Merlin’s long reach.
“Why do I have to go to the bloody party? I’m not in the movie business.” Merlin whined, frowning at Arthur’s pants as if staring at them would cause it to vanish.
“Because I need mental back up. Besides, if you go and you behave then I’ll have a surprise for you.” Arthur said with the best coy look he could conjure up when Merlin was sitting in his shirt and possibly his boxers, with bed-head and a pout on his face. The entire look was just tempting Arthur to call his father and pretend to be sick, and spend the next few years in bed with Merlin.
“Chair sex?” Merlin perked up instantly, hopeful for the much awaited chair sex that Arthur held over his head.
“Something much much better. Now I need to go, before someone gets upset and throws objects at other people.” Arthur leaned forward again, daring himself to just kiss Merlin and run.
“Damn drama queens you work with.” Merlin muttered angrily, reaching for Arthur as he left his arm span. “This better be a damn good surprise!”
“Don’t worry. You’ll love it.”