Merlin Oneshots

In Which Merlin has an Irish King Cousin...(1/3)

(Used google translator for a lot of this, hope it's not too far off!!)

Merlin stood behind Arthur in the throne room as they awaited the arrival of the visiting royals. This particular clan, as it were, hailed from Ireland. Merlin knew he had family there from his mother's side, though he'd met them only a handful of times. He knew the language as it was what he had been taught first when he was young. His mother insisted that he speak that way, especially when it came to talking of his magic around the other villagers. This was something that had not come up when Arthur had been preparing. Merlin hadn't even offered it up. When the King and clan entered the hall, Merlin couldn't help but smile. He had no idea that his cousin had become King. He wondered if the man approaching the throne even remembered him. When the King reached the throne, he was announced by the man on his right.

"King Aodhan, son of Brogan, of Clan Dal Riata," the man finished, while the King gave a nod to King Arthur.

"Welcome to Camelot. It is a great honor to receive your clan." Arthur said as he stood before the King. The King nodded to Arthur again as a sign of thanks. He caught a glimpse of Merlin, though, and smiled brightly. Causing Arthur to turn and see the same bright smile on Merlin's face.

"Merlin? Col ceathrar beag, an é sin tú?" [Merlin, is that you little cousin?]

"Col ceathrar beag? Níl tú ach samhradh amháin níos sine ná mise, Aodh." Merlin said laughing as he walked forward. He saw Arthur's jaw drop out of the corner of his eye. Merlin and Aodhan clasped arms and placed the other hand behind the others neck pulling them close. "Tá sé i bhfad rófhada." [Little cousin? You are only one summer older than me, Aodh. / It's been far too long]

"Caithfimid deoch a bheith againn níos déanaí chun labhairt faoi na seanlaethanta." Aodhan said. Merlin laughed. [We need to have a drink later to talk about the old days.]

"Cuirfidh tú i dtrioblóid mé. Tiocfaidh mé chun tú a fheiceáil níos déanaí agus beimid ag caint agus ag ól mar a bhíodh. Sula gcaillfidh mo Rí smacht, ba chóir dom é a mhíniú dó. Tá sé an-mhaith tú a fheiceáil." Merlin told him and backed away, still smiling. [You will get me in trouble. I will come to see you later and we will talk and drink as before. Before my King loses control, I should explain it to him. It's very good to see you.]

"Sire, I apologize for the interruption." Merlin said to Arthur, and moved back behind the throne, still smiling. Arthur struggled, visibly, to clear his throat and continue through his welcome speech before sending the guests with a servant to show them to their quarters prior to the feast that would be held that evening. Once King Aodhan was through the doors, most of the other courtiers exited as well, sensing the tension. The Knights of the Round Table, the Queen, and, of course, Gaius, stayed behind. Merlin knew this was coming and tried to mask his face as best he could, when the King rounded on him thrusting a finger in his face.

"Merlin. Explain." Arthur said through gritted teeth, jaw clenched, anger barely controlled.

"Erm, alright." Merlin cleared his throat. "Aodhan is...well, there isn't an easy way to say it, but, uh, Aodhan is my cousin, on my mother's side." Whatever Arthur had been expecting, that was not it. "My mother made me learn her native language before she taught me anything else. I only learned this current language a few summers before coming to Camelot. I'm honestly surprised it hasn't come through more when I talk."

"You mean to tell me, that you are part of a royal household?" Arthur asked incredulously.

"No! Gods, no. That isn't how Kings are chosen. It's, well it's complicated. Suffice it to say I happen to be related to a King, but I'm nowhere near royalty. Well, no nevermind. I'm not royalty, Arthur. I'm fine, or clan. Family. More or less. Well, more less than more, but that's not important." Merlin was backing away from the murderous look on Arthur's face. Gwen was beside her husband, looking sternly at him as well. The Knights were standing back and trying not to laugh at the interaction. Gwaine had failed several times to hide his mirth.

"Merlin. What were you talking about with the visiting royals?" Gwen asked carefully, with a hand resting on Arthur's arm.

"Oh, erm, yeah I guess I should translate. I just told him it was good to see him and he said we need to get a drink and catch up. And I told him he was getting me in trouble, but that we would have a drink and reminisce."

"I see." Arthur looked like he was going to burst and simply turned and left the throne room. Gwen followed shortly after, though gave a small smile to her friend. The Knights did several things at once. Lancelot, Percival, and Elyan all laughed, Leon rubbed his hand behind his head, while Gwaine came forward, biting his lip while looking him up and down. Merlin didn't know which reaction concerned him more. Gwaine looked like he wanted to eat him alive, while the others were a mix of amused and shocked.

"Holding out on us, eh Merlin?" Gwaine asked.

"Er, no?"

"Cousin to a King." Lancelot said, grinning madly at him.

"He wasn't a King the last time we spent a summer together. He was one of, I think, five possibilities."

"You do have an accent. I hadn't noticed it before, but it seems painfully clear now." Leon said.

"It's not that noticeable. I've gotten pretty good at hiding it." Merlin rubbed as his jaw. "It's not easy to hide it once I've jumped back in to speaking it again."

"Merlin, you probably better go see to the King. Arthur, that is." Elyan told him. "He's either upset or shocked. Probably both." Merlin chuckled.

"Yeah, fair enough. Alright, I'll see you lot later!" Merlin smiled at the men and then left the hall at a run. As Merlin neared the rooms of the King and Queen of Camelot, he was pulled quickly and forcefully into an alcove. Before he could respond, lips smashed into his. Merlin smiled in the kiss. "Just couldn't wait could you?" he asked breathlessly.

"Merlin, I had no idea you could be any more mysterious," a kiss, "beautiful," another kiss, "or downright sexy," another kiss, "than what you just were. Níor thuig mé cé mhéad níos mó a bhí againn go coitianta." [I hadn't realized how much more we had in common.] Merlin stared in shock at the man pinning him to the wall.

"Gwaine?"

"You heard me." Gwaine growled, gripping Merlin's hips tightly. Merlin gasped at the strength in the grip but pulled Gwaine close, hands in the soft long locks. They kissed and pulled on each other as if they were in a bedroom, not an alcove near the royal chambers.