Fic: The Enchantment
Title: The Enchantment
Author: ne_rien
Genre: Romance/Humor
Rating: PG13
Characters/Pairings: Gwen/Arthur, Merlin, Gaius
Prompt: Written for Drabble Challenge 4 at ag_fics. The challenge’s theme was “Triangle”. Prompt was Merlin is enchanted; Arthur & Gwen must save him. I'm still squeeing over the fact that this won 2nd place!! XD. ♥ to all that voted!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Some things are just better left unsaid.
****
“Let me see if I got this right. You’re saying that Merlin is under some kind of spell?”
Gwen nodded impatiently. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for the last twenty minutes, Arthur.”
It’d be better, he decided, if he didn’t tell her he’d been distracted watching a loose tendril’s movement across her collarbone. “Sorry. This spell has what affect on him now?”
The handmaiden folded her hands in front of her demurely and reminded herself to remain calm; Arthur had received quite a lot of head trauma in his younger years which would certainly explain his slowness in the present. “Gaius says that the spell causes him to speak the thoughts of those near him.”
The Prince arched a brow. “And where is he now?” he asked, a mischievous look in his eyes.
“Arthur, are you taking this seriously?”
“Oh come on Guinevere,” he cajoled whilst flashing his most winning smile. “You can’t say you’re not just the slightest bit curious.”
She bit her lip thoughtfully. “Well of course I am, but Merlin needs our help-“
“And we will! Help him that is. Right after I have a chance to see this for myself.”
…..
To his credit, Gaius didn’t appear too surprised on seeing the Prince and Gwen on his doorstep. “Here to see Merlin?” he asked with minimal arching of his brows.
“Of course,” Arthur answered, striding into the room purposefully. “We’re here to…help.”
Gwen smiled apologetically at the court physician as she followed Arthur to Merlin’s door. “My lord, maybe this is a bad idea. We should really--”
The prince didn’t seem to hear her. He opened Merlin’s door and was inside before she got a chance to say anything else.
Merlin, who had been sat on the end of his bed, his head in his hands, jumped up in surprise on seeing them. “What the…what are you lot doing here?”
Arthur eyed him suspiciously, his arms crossed over his chest. “You don’t look enchanted to me.”
“And just how is an enchanted person supposed to look? Should he have a cloud of sparkly dust about his head or something?” Merlin replied in a voice a great deal higher than his own, a blank expression suddenly on his face.
Gwen gasped. “I-I, that is--”
“I never meant to say that aloud, however true it may be.”
Gwen closed her eyes, mortified. “I am sorry sire.”
Merlin’s voice lowered considerably for what he said next. “What’s to apologize about? I rather like it when you get short with me.”
“Dear God,” Arthur muttered, his expression stunned. “He really can read minds.”
“Whatever you do, don’t think about that dream you had last night of the two of us making love by firelight.”
“Arthur!” Gwen exclaimed, her cheeks flushed.
He cleared his throat, his own face now flushed as well. “Sorry.”
“At least it wasn’t as bad as that dream where we’re making love in the throne room and Arthur’s got on his boots and he picks me up and puts me on the table and--”
“Merlin!” Gwen squealed at the same time as Arthur said “Guinevere,” a rather satisfied smirk on his face.
“Can you not control it?” Gwen demanded.
Merlin blinked vacantly a moment and then shook his head abruptly as he seemed to regain his senses. “Not really. I can hold it off for a bit but then it comes right back again with a vengeance.”
“Why would anyone do this to you?” Morgana’s handmaiden wondered aloud.
Arthur rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “More importantly how do we fix this?”
The harried manservant suddenly got a bit dodgy. “Um, funny story. Short story actually; Gaius found a solution but I don’t think you’ll be too keen on it.”
“What is it?” the Prince demanded.
Merlin cleared his throat a bit nervously. “A kiss from a fair maiden.” He gave Gwen his most pitying look.
“Me?” she exclaimed.
Arthur frowned. “You’re right Merlin. I’m not keen on this idea at all.”
“So you like your manservant along with anyone in hearing distance being privy to your innermost thoughts then.”
Both Merlin and Arthur looked at Gwen appreciatively. “All right Gwen,” Merlin said, grinning.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you’ve said quite enough for one day Merlin. I’ll do it.”
“Besides, I’ve kissed him once before and it wasn’t that bad actually.”
Gwen practically ran across the room and quickly kissed Merlin while Arthur went pale and then red. “You kissed Merlin?” he repeated incredulously once she ended the kiss.
Merlin laughed weakly. “Once. It was just one time.”
“He was bedridden--” she tried to explain, purposefully putting some distance between herself and Merlin.
“You see, I almost died and Gwen was just so relieved I was alive that it just kind of happened. Oh, and Gaius was there too,” Merlin added in an attempt to be helpful.
A muscle ticked in Arthur’s jaw. “Can you read my mind right now, Merlin?” he asked; his voice almost-but not quite-devoid of the fury he was likely feeling at that time.
Merlin grimaced. “No, but I don’t need to. I know that look means extra chores.”
Gwen arched her brows as she stood before her Prince, her head held high. “Jealous my lord?”
His jaw dropped. “Of Merlin!? Of all the ridiculous--! As if I could ever…” he trailed off, his expression suddenly uncertain. “Should I be?”
She smiled at him enigmatically, as she cupped his face in her hands, neither of them noticing when Merlin quietly made his escape. “You have nothing to worry about Arthur. I quickly got over that childish crush,” she whispered, closing her eyes as he hugged her tightly to him.
For a moment it was just the two of them secure in their love for one another.
That is until Arthur opened his mouth: “Hold on a second. You had a crush on Merlin!?”
THE END!