Merlin was tired. He had been fighting all sorts of threats at night to keep Arthur safe and when he did sleep he only dreams of Arthur.
Of what it would be like to be with him. To be loved. He has one of these night and the next morning he tries to act normal.
He brings food to Arthur's room, get him clothes and dressed. He doesn't think much as he moved doing from memory. He then began to clean the room and make the beds.
That's when Arthur chooses he is awake enough to speak but merlin isn't really in the moment still thinking of the dream from the night before.
"Merlin" Arthur's voice comes into his ears and without turning around he speaks.
"Yea my love" merlin realizes he said it and freezes. He was so caught up thinking about the dream he called Arthur the name he did in the dream.
"What?" Arthur says and merlin finally looks at him.
Arthur looks shocked and suprise is shown all over him. However there is something in his eyes. A interested look that makes merlin unable to look away.
"I said my lord" merlin says and hopes Arthur believes it.
"No that's not" Arthur says and merlin feels like he is finally fully awake now.
"Yes that is" merlin persists hoping he would let it go.
"No" Arthur says and gets up making merlin gulp as he walks closer.
"You said something else. What was it?" He asked using his hand to lift merlins chin.
"My love" merlin says his voice sounding like it belonged to someone else but he felt so much warmth from where Arthur was touching him.
"Oh? Do you think about calling me that often?" Arthur asked and merlin blushes bright red.
With a shy nod from merlin Arthur is kissing him. Merlin is suprised and honestly wonders if he is still dreaming because this can't be real
When Arthur pulls back they are breathless. "My merlin" Arthur says it as if it's a title
Sometimes merlin wonders if it is. He doesn't get treated like a Normal servent. He gets to see parts of Arthur none of the others do. Him bring silly, scared, insecure. He gets to help with speeches and goes everywhere with Arthur.
He loves it. His name means sometimes more then the fate attached to it. Merlin would tell him one day soon. For now he let himself look at the king infront of him.
"I know who you are Arthur. You are the once and future king. You will unit the kingdoms and bring albion back" merlin says and Arthur smiled.
"You know having magic and staying in the center of camilot isn't the smartest idea" Arthur said and merlin froze.
How did Arthur know? How long has he known? The man in question seemed to understand the look on his face
"I've known since you killed my uncle I was there. I came back for you" he said and merlin looks ill as he steps back.
"Arthur i.." merlin begans but Arthur just smiled and shook his head.
"I know you wouldn't harm me or anyone else. I just wanna know why you never told me yourself?" he asked and merlin gulped
"At first I didn't trust you wouldn't turn me in. Then it was not wanting to make you choose between your kingdom and everything you've know or me." Merlin said and Arthur looked shocked.
"You didn't tell me because you didn't want me to have to choose?" Arthur asked and when merlin nods Arthur shook his head.
"Ok well why not now? I am king why still hide it?" Arthur asked and merlin takes a deep breath.
"I didn't want to ruin the relationship we made. I didn't want you to hate me. Plus If you banish me I can't protect you" merlin said and Arthur smiled again
"Still hard to believe you saved me a lot of times" Arthur said and merlin chuckled.
"I can tell you about some of them" merlin offered and Arthur sits on his bed patting next to him for merlin who takes his shoes off before climbing onto the bed.
They spend the next many hours talking about everything they can think of. Starts with merlin saving him to merlin magic and Arthur wanting to see. Then to Arthur loving his gold eyes.
They had a lot to work through but they would make it.
