Day 7: Magic Reveal + Canon Era
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“You know, I really don’t think I should be doing this anymore.” Merlin says as he removes Arthur’s royal cape.
“What are you blabbering on about now?” Arthur asks, faking indifference.
Merlin gives him a look but carries on. “I’m not your servant anymore, remember?”
Arthur presses a finger to his chin as he thoughtfully looks off into the distance. “Oh, are you not?”
“No.” Merlin starts working on the buckles of Arthur’s armour, his fingers flying over the clasps without having to even think about it.
“What are you then?” Arthur asks, and Merlin smirks at the teasing tone lacing Arthur’s words. He removes the chest plate and places it on the table, muttering under his breath as he does so. “What was that?” Arthur asks, loudly. “I can’t hear you.”
“The court sorcerer.” Merlin repeats, but louder this time, and turns to find Arthur grinning at him. It’s a smile that he adores, and one that the prince had been wearing throughout the entirety of the ceremony held to appoint Merlin into the royal court.
Revealing to the kingdom’s people that Merlin was a sorcerer and that Uther was intending to change his views on magic as a whole was an extremely unique experience. It was one that Merlin thought he would never live to see. He had stood in front of all the people that had flocked to the kingdom when news had spread of a grand event being held in the castle courtyard. A lot of them already knew Merlin as the manservant to the prince, but it was obvious by their confused facial expressions that they were perplexed as to why he was dressed in such finery as he stood beside the prince at the top of the castle steps whilst waiting for Uther to make his speech. Merlin had quivered in his old leather boots – the only piece of his own clothing that Arthur allowed him to wear – as he faced the crowds of people. Arthur had leaned in to tease him, but cut off with a grunt as Merlin sneakily elbowed him in the ribs. Uther had thrown a warning glance over his shoulder at the two of them, and they stood up straighter, keeping stoney, apologetic expressions on their faces. That was, until, the king turned back around, and then they couldn’t help but let out titters of laughter before the king launched into his speech, changing the course of history forever.
Merlin had made a speech as well, addressing the people and introducing himself to them as their new royal court sorcerer. He swore allegiance to the kingdom and made an oath to only use his magic for the greater good of everyone. He also promised that he would help keep everyone safe from exterior threats, whether they be magic or not. When the kingdom’s people congratulated him and praised him afterwards, he became very overwhelmed. Of course, there were some who seemed a little wary of the king’s new changes, but it was nothing they couldn’t handle.
Once the celebrations after the ceremony were coming to a close, Arthur had told Merlin that he was ready to retire for the night.
So now the two of them were in Arthur’s chambers, and Merlin was helping Arthur out of his royal attire.
He waits whilst Arthur removes his gambeson and then takes it from him, placing it on the table alongside his armour and chainmail. He then goes to fetch his sleeping tunic, when Arthur wraps his hands around his wrist to stop him. Merlin freezes, his attention going straight to Arthur’s big warm hand wrapped around his slender wrist. When he slowly looks up, his eyes meet with Arthur’s, which are soft at the corners and glimmering in the low evening light.
“I wanted to say thank you.” Arthur says, and there it is again – that soft tone of voice that he’d never heard Arthur use with anyone but him. It sent shivers down his spine and he felt a little self conscious of the goosebumps that rose on his skin where Arthur was touching him.
“Thank me for what, my lord?” Merlin asks, and Arthur tilts his head with a knowing smile on his lips.
“You know what. For all the times you’ve saved my arse, never asking for credit.”
Merlin shrugs his shoulders. “I should be thanking you,” Arthur raises his eyebrows, and Merlin grins, “For not ordering me into the stocks for having magic. I can’t believe you knew all this time.”
Arthur chuckles, and Merlin feels him brush the pad of his thumb up his wrist a little. The two of them seem to be growing closer by the second – so close that Merlin can feel heat radiating off Arthur’s bare chest. He tries not to look at it, but his impulses betray him, and his eyes flicker down to the sprinkling of hair on the prince’s chest. He shuffles a little awkwardly on his feet as he drags his eyes away, looking off into the darkness that was starting to pool in the corners of the room. “I should turn your bed down for you, sire—” he starts to say and tries to take a step away from Arthur, but isn't able to get very far, as Arthur tightens his grip around his wrist, forcing Merlin to look him in the eye again.
“Thank you.” Arthur repeats, but this time, his voice is deeper, silkier, and suddenly there’s a different atmosphere in the air. Arthur’s eyes have fluttered half-way shut, and Merlin feels something stimulating stir in the pit of his stomach. He turns a little, so that the two of them are facing each other more head-on.
“You don’t have to thank me.” Merlin whispers, his voice soft like the crackling from the fireplace. “Ever.”
And then Arthur is tugging Merlin closer and closer until Merlin’s chest collides with his and the heat from his skin is sinking pleasurably through the material of Merlin’s tunic. Merlin can feel Arthur’s hot, short breaths as he moves his face closer.
And then the prince – the future king of Camelot – is tentatively pressing his mouth to Merlin’s. The kiss starts slow: soft, gentle and a little hesitant, but when Merlin tilts his head to the side, signalling to Arthur that he’s okay with this – more than okay with this – it becomes more passionate. Arthur lets go of Merlin’s wrist, and instead twists his hand in the material at Merlin’s waist to keep him in place. He raises his other hand to place on the back of Merlin’s head to deepen the kiss further. A small moan erupts from Merlin’s mouth and he can feel the blood rushing to his cheeks as he melts into Arthur.
When they finally break apart, they look at each other as though they’re both gazing at stars in the night sky. And then they both laugh a little, making a bit more space between the two of them.
“I’ve wanted to do that for such a long time.” Arthur admits, and Merlin is thrilled to see that his cheeks were flushed too.
“Oh, really?” Merlin teases, rocking back on the balls of his feet. “How long exactly?”
The faux-thinking expression from earlier falls back into place on Arthur’s face as he puts one hand on his hip, the other scratching his chin comically. “Oh, long before I knew about your magic.” Merlin’s mouth drops open in surprise, and Arthur laughs, leaning forward to hook the crook of his elbow around Merlin’s neck, leading him over to the bed. “C’mon, you can turn my bed down and I’ll tell you all about it.”
day seven prompt: magic reveal + canon era
for: @merthurweek2025
thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has read and supported this little mini fic written for the merthurweek2025 writing event. I had so much fun creating a storyline to fit in with all the prompts, and I really hope you all enjoyed reading it just as much!
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas, and at least in this version of Merlin, they have a happier time :')
