Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Regent 3

A.N.:// (as always, find my art on instagram. changelink23)

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When Merlin returned from his little conversation with the damned, he made a beeline towards Arthur's room.
He must have been gone for longer than he expected, because Gwen was already in the middle of what seemed like a heated argument with the boy.

Arthur was pouting. He had his arms crossed and every time Gwen stepped closer to him, he was trying to run away and hide behind a giant bathtub that had appeared out of nowhere.

Most likely the cupboard that only servants knew how to find.

Arthur was still smeared with coal, but now there were spiderwebs on his clothes as well.
As if he had hidden in corners and under the bed as well.

Merlin decided to pretend like it wasn't his job to make sure there weren't any spider webs in the room, you know, since he was a servant and all, and cleared his throat.

Both Gwen and Arthur startled. They hadn't noticed him enter.

And then, Arthur's grim expression faded to reveal a huge smile. One that grew beyond the small ones that adult Arthur loved to hide, and the child ran to him, as if for protection.
Instinctively, Merlin crouched down on his level and picked the boy up. Arthur squealed as he was lifted into the air, but it was a happy little sound.
"Good evening to you, too.", Merlin laughed nervously, before raising a questioning eyebrow at Gwen.

Gwen huffed in frustration.
"I'm sorry. He's refusing to take his bath."

The wooden bathtub was already filled with water. Merlin took a step forward and checked the temperature with his pinky finger. It wasn't too cold. And not too hot either, though people often seem to forget that it was nearly impossible to draw a king a steaming hot bath.

You'd have to boil the whole bathtub for hours in one go, not fill it with a pitcher that cooled down by the time it was brought from one place to another.
Of course that didn't count when you were a sorcerer.

"Arthur, what's wrong?"

Arthur shook his head and buried it in Merlin's shoulder. The smile was gone. The excitement brief and intense and immediately followed by another wave of discomfort.

"Arthur. Why are you making trouble for Gwen? We have to get you clean. Then we can make your back hurt less, Yeah?"

Arthur shook his head again.
Merlin sighed at his antics.

Gwen followed that motion with a sigh of her own.
"He's been like this since I started drawing the bath. He's not complying to anything I say.
I think it has to do with Agravaine, for some reason. He mentioned him."

Merlin paused.
The name made Arthur flinch in his hold.

Fuck.
Merlin had mentioned Agravaine to Arthur before he left, hadn't he? Of course that would have riled the boy up.
Merlin should have known this would happen! How had he been so dense?

Then Merlin sat Arthur down, so he could grab his hands and really look at him.
"Arthur, do you want to bath by yourself? Gwen and I can go, if you'd rather do it alone."
Again, the boy shook his head.

Merlin grimaced. He wasn't sure whether it was a good method, just arguing and debating with a child on something they should follow without question.
But he couldn't possibly discipline Arthur for something that scared him so much. Especially since his reasons weren't random, nor to blame on a childish episode of rebellion.