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The rain was pouring like the clouds were trying to flood the earth. Yet, of course, this couldn’t keep Arthur inside when he wanted to hunt. Merlin was feeling rather petulant about the whole thing. He’d woken up, no King at his side, George telling him Arthur wanted him to prepare materials for a hunt! [He was Court Sorcerer now, yet he was still lumped with his old duties. Ridiculous!]
And worst of all, it’d been exactly a year since he and Arthur began courting! He knew! He even kept track with his magic so he could be extra sure!
Arthur, of course, seemed to have not even realised the importance of the date. No, not while he trekked on ahead down the muddy trail in the pouring rain. Honestly, Merlin didn’t know whether to be unsurprised, hurt, or mad.
So, naturally, he was all three.
It wasn’t like Merlin didn’t constantly remind him of the upcoming day, either! Arthur had no reason to forget, and yet…
Merlin gripped the strap of the supply bag he’d been forced to carry until his knuckles turned white. His eyes burned, but he refused to cry over something so silly, even if the rain would make it unnoticeable.
Not like Arthur would notice anyway. He didn’t notice he forgot their anniversary, so why would he notice how hurt Merlin was?
He knew how important this day was to him…
“Merlin! Hurry up—you’ve got long legs; I know you can walk faster than that,” Arthur called back to him abruptly. Merlin blinked and looked up from where his gaze had fallen to the muddy trail and to Arthur. Wide-eyed and incredulous by his demanding, impatient tone.
He hadn’t even realised he’d fallen behind. Any other time, the tone and words wouldn’t bother him, and he’d snap back some witty retort. Now, though, they dug deep, and he gritted his teeth. Not only did Arthur forget their anniversary, but he had the nerve to treat Merlin like he was still just a servant?
His jaw clenched tight, and he stopped walking for a moment to compose himself. Luckily, Arthur didn’t seem to notice. Not that Merlin expected him to…
What happened to being so in love he could hardly breathe?
It felt like they’d regressed ten years…
“You’re a damn fool if you think you’ll catch anything in this weather,” Merlin bit out when he caught up to Arthur, his voice only a tad harsher than he’d intended. Not that he cared anymore. He was upset and, dammit, if Arthur didn’t notice… Something had to give.
Arthur had to notice.
Merlin’s heart skipped when Arthur stumbled and looked at Merlin with startled eyes. Finally. Something had gotten through his head.
“Just shut up and walk, Merlin.”
Or not…
Merlin gripped the strap even tighter, trying to ignore the hollow ache in his chest. He did what he was told, though, for once in his life. Shut up and walked. Eyes cast down and heart heavy with the pain and fear of losing the man he loved as the heavy rain drenched them both, he walked.
“We’re not far,” Arthur said after a while, yelling to be heard over the rain. Merlin barely even looked up. It didn’t matter.
Merlin didn’t care where Arthur hunted. He didn’t care about anything at that moment. Anything but Arthur caring.
What had happened?
What went wrong between them between then and the night before? What signs had Merlin missed? He had thought they would—Merlin took a sharp breath and cut off the thought, shoving it deep down. He couldn’t think about things that would never be…
Merlin blinked rapidly, unable to tell anymore if the water on his face was from the sky or his own eyes. He’d been so stupid… But Arthur—Arthur had said he loved him. Loved him more than he could comprehend.
And now…
“We’re here.” Arthur’s voice snapped him out of his pitiful thoughts, and Merlin looked up.
There was nothing spectacular about the location. It was just a clearing. A clearing in the middle of the forest just like any other. Grass visibly soaked by the rainfall, flowers wilting from the over-watering of the skies.
No game in sight.
Merlin just shook his head infinitesimally and sighed, looking back down as he followed Arthur into the clearing.
“Erect a barrier from the rain,” Arthur ordered.
He had to bite back a scathing reply about the treatment he’d been receiving all day. It was bad enough that Arthur had forgotten a day that was so important to Merlin but to treat him like he was just some servant rather than his lover.
To act like they’d never been anything more…
Merlin took another deep breath and stretched an arm up, palm skyward. He didn’t speak a spell, merely thought of what he wanted, and his magic provided it. His eyes burned furious gold as a shimmering barrier formed around them—encasing the entire clearing and protecting it from the rain.
“Dry the grass, too.”
“Dry the—” Merlin cut himself off, clenching his jaw again before doing as he was told. Just get it over with. Just get through it. Just deal with it now, and then he could get back to his chambers and scream until his throat was raw.
“Good,” Arthur hummed, bending down to feel the grass. As if he didn’t believe in Merlin’s abilities. “Right, well, take the blanket out of that bag and lay it out.”
Merlin frowned, confusion dulling the hurt for a moment as Arthur walked away and over to a bush. Blanket…?
He pulled off the sack and set it on the grass lightly. Merlin gave his shoulders a quick roll before leaning down and opening the bag. His eyes widened in startled surprise when his gaze fell upon a dulling blanket. Carefully, he pulled it out and laid it on the grass.
Alright, so they weren’t out to hunt, Merlin was starting to assume. Yet, in a way, that made it worse. He forgot about their anniversary and instead decided to spend the day skipping out on his duties and using Merlin as a servant again!
“Sit down, Merlin!” Arthur called over from where he dug around in a bush. Merlin’s frown deepened, but he found himself doing what he was told before he could really process it. He crossed his legs and put his hands in his lap, fidgeting them.
He didn’t understand what was happening.
Arthur finally turned around and began to walk over, a basket in his hands that most definitely was not in them before.
“Arthur…?” Merlin asked, hesitant. He didn’t—he didn’t understand.
“I had the morning patrol stash this here on their way—miracle no animals got to it. Guess we have the rain to thank for that,” Arthur chuckled as he sat down in front of Merlin. He set the basket down in front of them. “It’s all still here.”
“But you said...”
“That we were going hunting?” Merlin only nodded, and something must have shown on his face because Arthur’s expression softened. “I only said that, so I didn’t ruin the surprise—Merlin, you didn’t think… You didn’t think I forgot, did you?”
And the last straw broke. Tears welled in Merlin’s eyes—simultaneously out of hurt and relief somehow—and slipped down his face. A wry grin pulled at his lips, and he looked skyward, laughing at his own stupidity.
“Of course, I did!” he snapped, voice cracking. “I—I wake up alone and get told by George of all people you want me to prepare hunting gear, and then! And then, you spend the entire day treating me like we’ve reverted back to the day I was assigned work as your manservant… What was I supposed to think, you prat!”
Arthur at least had the grace to look slightly chastised.
“You could have just told me you had a surprise planned.” Merlin reached up and wiped frantically at his face, cursing himself for crying. He’d let his insecurities get the better of him… But Arthur—Arthur hadn’t forgotten. He’d planned something.
“Merlin…” Arthur whispered. Merlin just sniffed and looked down to his lap, embarrassed by his own assumptions. There was the slight rustling of fabric, and he recognised it as Arthur moving. It was only moments before there was a hand pressed to his knee and a body radiating heat millimetres from his side. “Merlin, look at me.”
Merlin took a deep breath to compose himself and looked to Arthur, grateful the tears stopped flowing quick as they started. The look on Arthur’s face was so sincere though, he feared they may return again just from the wave of overwhelming love Arthur was practically radiating.
“I didn’t forget, and I was foolish to let you believe I did,” he murmured, reaching up to cup Merlin’s cheek gently. “I worried I would ruin the surprise if I said anything, but your security in our relationship is more important to me than a surprise. Even if it is a really good one.”
Eyes wide, Merlin stared at him for a moment. Then, he let out a small, hiccuping laugh. “Who are you, and what have you done with my King? Arthur Pendragon could never be so articulate about feelings.”
“Articulate, now there’s a big word. Where’d you learn that one?” Arthur retorted, cocking an eyebrow. His voice was still soft despite his teasing, though. “Don’t strain that brain of yours trying to sound fancy, now.”
Merlin huffed but couldn’t deny the tentative smile pulling at his lips at the familiarity. “So, you do still love me?”
“What? Of course, I do!” Arthur gasped, leaning forward. “Of course, I do… That’s why I brought you out here—why I planned all this… I—Merlin, I don’t just love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And anything after.”
Merlin sucked in a sharp breath. His heart felt like it had stopped, and his eyes widened the size of the moon. It was like whiplash; how quickly things had changed. How fast he’d gone from thinking Arthur was getting bored of him to realising how much he loved him…
“Arthur…are you proposing to me?” he breathed, head spinning.
How could he have ever doubted him?
Merlin’s breath came shaky as Arthur nodded slowly, a nervous smile on his lips. Like he feared Merlin would say no. It was so preposterous that it was laughable!
And laugh was just what Merlin did. He laughed and laughed and laughed, gleeful and giddy and pure. Slumped forward, forehead on Arthur’s shoulder—prompting Arthur’s hand on his cheek to slide back to the nape of his neck—as his shoulders shook with the force of his laughter.
Of course, Arthur didn’t forget! Of course, he had something like this planned! Arthur was one of the most romantic people Merlin knew underneath all that emotional repression. He hid it well and disguised it with shoves and teasing and rough kisses, but in the end… When they found their way back to their chambers in the evening—no hold had ever been safer than Arthur’s.
His arms, so strong yet wrapped so gently around Merlin. His words, so passionate yet spoken so softly that Merlin had to strain his ears to hear him. And the look in his eyes when Merlin caught him staring was nothing but adoring…
How could he ever have doubted him?
“Merlin?” Arthur asked, sounding almost cautious. It was only then he realised how hysterical he must have looked.
Merlin took bit his lip, grin wide on his face, as he forced himself to regain composure. He took deep breaths through his nose and clutched the front of Arthur’s tunic tightly. When he was sure he wouldn’t break again at the sight of Arthur’s, surely baffled, face, he slowly pulled back to look at him.
To his skilfully concealed surprise, Arthur looked more concerned than baffled. He supposed that was fair.
“Yes.”
Arthur’s brows knitted together, and he shook his head just barely. “Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” Merlin clarified, still grinning like a loon.
“Really?” Arthur gasped. He faltered slightly, letting his hand at Merlin’s neck move up and tangle in his damp hair. “Even though I was a fool and made you think I forgot such an important day?”
“It won’t be the last time,” Merlin scoffed. It probably wasn’t the first, either, but Merlin wouldn’t say that. “I love you, though, and I want to marry you, too. So, yes. I accept your poorly executed proposal.”
Arthur let out a strangled noise. “Now, hold on! I had a whole thing planned, and it was going to be great and perfect, and you were going to swoon, like a Lady.”
“Oh? And how exactly does a Lady swoon, Arthur?”
“I’m—not going to fall for that.”
“I think I deserve it,” Merlin hummed, scrunching up his nose. “But fine. I’ll get it out of you, though. Put you in a dress and make it a whole thing.”
“You’re done being mad at me then?” Arthur asked, looking rather unamused by Merlin’s musings. Merlin shut his mouth, letting them sit in silence for a moment. Let the anticipation build. Then, finally, when Arthur looked about ready to break, he sighed loudly.
“I wasn’t mad at you,” he said softly, “I was hurt, and I was—frightened. You want to marry me, though. So, now I know I have no reason to be. I’m still upset with you for not telling me, though, and for treating me so coldly today. But I’m sure you can make up for it rather easily.”
“How?”
Merlin leaned his head back into Arthur’s hand and hummed. His heart beat steadily in his chest, calm now he knew the truth. The rain poured hard around the clearing, heavy drops bouncing off the barrier with muted sound. Everything felt right again… He took a breath and looked back to Arthur, smirking.
“You can start by setting out the food from that basket.”