Merlin and Arthur

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/44789947.

Rating: General Audiences

Archive Warning: Major Character Death
Category: M/M
Fandom: Merlin (TV)
Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Ending, I Love You,
Emotional Hurt/Comfort
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2023-02-04 Words: 432 Chapters: 1/1
 Merlin and Arthur
by spicy_waffle

Summary

He couldn’t stop thinking of Arthur’s pale face, his eyes rolling back in head, choking out his
last words. I love you Merlin. Everything you've done. I know now. For me, for Camelot. For
the kingdom you helped me build… Thank you.
Merlin had his head in his hands. His fingers were tense and tangled into his hair. It had been
such a long day, hell, it had been a long five years. Everything had been for Arthur, and it had
almost all ended today.

He couldn’t stop thinking of Arthur’s pale face, his eyes rolling back in head, choking out his
last words. I love you Merlin. Everything you've done. I know now. For me, for Camelot. For
the kingdom you helped me build… Thank you.

Merlin’s sob echoed in the dark, silent hall. His hands left his hair and now grasped onto the
edge of the stone windowsill he stood in front of. Looking out onto the empty courtyard, he
remembered his very first day here in Camelot. The young man’s beheading, and the
distraught mother. He remembered his gut wrenching fear, how easily it could have been him
losing his head for the crime of sorcery. How he hated Uther and Arthur and Camelot. Oh, so
much had changed.

Arthur, Please. Please Arthur… I love you. He had begged through tears.

Merlin wiped the tears away, gripping the stone hard and trying to ground himself. He was in
Camelot now. He was home, somehow. And so was Arthur. He didn’t know what happened,
after Arthur slipped away from him in that meadow. But somehow he found himself in
Gaius’s chambers, numbly placing Arthur onto a cot. And the warm color in Arthur’s face
had returned, and he breathed deeply in his slumber. Gaius had placed a hand on his shoulder
and said a few things Merlin doesn’t remember, but his heart told him Arthur would be
alright. But Merlin couldn’t bear to be there with Arthur any longer. People would want to
see their king, and ask Merlin what had happened, and Merlin could barely keep himself
together. So here he was hiding in some secluded hallway overlooking the courtyard, for God
knows how long.

A door closed somewhere behind Merlin, starling him. He quickly straightened himself and
turned, ready to face whoever it may in a somewhat dignified manner. Even through the
shadows, Merlin could see the clear blue of those eyes he knew so well. Merlin’s hand went
to his mouth as another sob escaped him. God, how beautiful he was, standing there with the
saddest smile Merlin had ever seen. Arthur went to him, and embraced him. Merlin held him
fervently, sobbing into his neck. He held him and felt his warmth. And he didn’t feel it
fading. He could feel Arthur’s heart beating strongly. Arthur was alive.
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