Eternal Roses (Merthur One-shot)

Iuvenes amore

A/N: Hey Guys!!! I'm trying something new here... I fell head-over-tennis shoes for Merthur (MerlinxArthur from BBC's Merlin) so I'm trying out the concept! This idea came from Joey Graceffa's new music video Don't Wait (Video will hopefully be posted above or to the side.) This one-shot will be if Merlin never became Arthur's manservant. So, enjoy!!! ~Gamer

~Arthur's POV~
Jab. Jab. Roll. Slice. Jab. Thump. Ow.
My crown slid over my hair and into my face as I landed on the ground. The training dummy had hay was laying around it's pedestal from where I hacked at it with my wooden sword. I had gotten dizzy as my method of attack was basically spinning around like a crazy person.
My mother started to laugh as she helped me off the ground. "Aww my little prince. You are so dirty." She cooed.
"I'm not little!" I pouted. "I'm six!"
"Yes you are, Arthur." My mother smiled as she brushed my clothes off and repositioned my crown onto my blonde hair. I looked into her crystal blue eyes and I started to grin. "Come, Arthur, let's go see Daddy."
"Okay!" I said. "I love you, Mommy."
My mother smiled warmly. "I love you too, my little prince."

TIME SKIP

Panic. My heavy breathing seemed to echo through the trees in the woods. I had been learning to hunt with Father when we were separated. I felt small tears run down my cheeks, I was alone and lost. My running came to a sudden halt when I heard the bushes rustle. I held my breath and counted in my head.
One.
Two.
"Three!"
I flinched as five armed bandits surrounded me, weapons in hand. Each of the bandits were larger than the last as I looked at them. They all wore masks that were all equally ugly. Some had long, pointed noses, others were a sickly shade of green.
The largest, I'm guessing the leader, started to laugh at me. "Look who we have here boys! A royal wannabe! " He said gesturing to my gold crown. "Lets see if he can fight with that sword of his!"
"Boss," Another thug said. "he isn't a wannabe, that's Uther's son. We could hold him ransom!"
'Boss' chuckled. "Nah, let's just kill em'!"
The bandits started to crowd around me. The laughter grew, as if the forest wanted me dead as well. I then saw a boy step in front of me.. He was braver than I was no doubt, even though he looked the same age as me. The Boss laughed again. "Aww, wannabe's boyfriend is here to save him!"
The boy held up his hand. "Egredere de terra hac sanguinum porcos." The bandits went flying off in all different directions. He just saved my life.
The boy then turned around to face me. He had raven black hair and sparkling blue eyes. His smile was extremely contagious. "T-thanks for saving me."
"No problem!"
"What's your name?" I asked.
He smirked. "Just call me Merlin."
I laughed a little. "Alright, Merlin."
Merlin bowed. "Prince Arthur."
I hit his shoulder playfully. "Merlin, get up."
"Yes, sire."
"Don't use titles with me, please."
Merlin shrugged. "Okay. Now I have to go-"
"But, why?"
"Do you see who-what I am?" He asked. "I'm a warlock! A sorcerer! Your father would have me killed." He rubbed his neck to emphasise the point.
"Oh, yeah. I guess I have to go as well."
He gave me a smile. "Until then my prince," He held out his hand and chanted again. "Quod extructum est ante me mihi crescit pulchritudo Rosa." My eyes grew as Merlin's sparkling blue eyes turned an even more beautiful gold. He twisted his hand infront of my face and a delicate red rose grew from his grip.
I took the rose and stroked the delicate petals. "Merlin," I said "this is beaut-" I looked up and Merlin was gone.

**14 Years Later**
I glanced at my bedside table. On it sat a small vase with a red rose inside. This special rose never wilted, never faded, never lost its grace and beauty. I smiled as I picked it up and twirled it between my fingers. The rose was special in more ways than one. The flower was made with magic, a craft that would never be allowed in Camelot so long as my father was king. To me, the most important aspect of the delicate blossom was who gave it to me. I was given the magic flower when I was only the age of six.
I live every day in hope I could see him again. Merlin. His name rang through my head like my favorite melody. His name rolled off my tongue like it was my first word. I had to see him again. But, the excuse that I had been using for the past 14 years rang through my head. You. Are. The. Prince. Of. Camelot. I have so much to do every second of each day, it's as if my entire life is planned out for me! I just can't take it anymore. I held onto the flower as I left my chambers and gathered everything I would need.
As I strapped my sword to my belt, one of my favorite knights, Gwaine stepped into the horse stables. "So Princess," I mentally groaned at the nickname I was given. "where are you heading?"
"Out." I stated simply.
He leaned onto the doorframe. "And, where is this out?"
I sighed. "The forest. Now get out or I'll use my sword and-"
"Okay! Okay okay. I'm going." He backed out of the stables slowly with a grin plastered onto his face.
I mounted my horse and rode towards the forest. The woods outside were eerily quiet as I arrived at the entrance to the forest. I dismounted and tied my horse to a nearby tree. I took a deep breath and entered the one place that haunted my nightmares and my dreams. I will find you.
As I walked through the forest, all of the memories came rushing back. I stopped walking and clutched my head. I groaned. I remembered how small and scared I was. I was defenseless, lonely. I felt as no one could help me, but someone did, and I am going to find him.
The silence of the woods ended as the fallen dead leaves and branches snapped and crunched under my boots. I kept walking for a while, until I heard something or someone. I stopped and unsheathed my sword from my belt, ready to fight anything that comes in my way. I followed the noise, which I was sure someone was struggling.
I came to a deeper part of the forest when I heard chanting. "Eripe me his, ligatus fuero vincla. Eripe me his, ligatus fuero vincla."
I came upon a black barred cage. I gasped. I saw a man inside. He had black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. I sheathed my sword and ran to the cage. "Merlin?"
He looked up at me and smiled. "Arthur." He breathed. "Hi.."
I smiled. I wanted to hold him so badly. I shook my head and banged on the cage. "How did you get in here, you idiot?"
"I have no clue, prat. One second I was asleep and the next I'm well, here."
"Do you know why someone would take you?" I asked.
Merlin looked around me. "No," He said. "but he might."
I turned around and I felt like I was looking at a mirror, an evil mirror. I was looking at a version of myself that had black streaked through 'my' blonde hair. I was wearing black armor and chainmail. An evil smirk was present on his face. "Arthur Pendragon." He said. "Time to die." His smirk dropped as he drew his sword.
Merlin gasped. "Arthur!" He yelled. "That is a iis mali! It takes all of your fears and nightmares and turns them into a clone of yourself!"
"So- that is me?"
"iis mali means evil clone. So, yes, that is you."
"Lovely." I said, letting out a breath I didn't knew I had.
The evil clone of me started to laugh. "You have so many weaknesses that I can exploit. I have to be careful about which one I choose." He started to circle me. "Oh. Found one."
My breath quickened as my secret feelings ran through me. I felt trapped, frozen.
My iis mali chuckled. "So much internal suffering, Arthur Pendragon. Your father's expectations, your entire kingdom's fate resting on your feeble shoulders."
He stopped in front of my face. "Your sexual preference." I could feel Merlin's eyes staring at my back. "How would the people of your kingdom react when their soon-to-be inept king married a man?"
Dark me then held out his arm and clenched his fist. "AHH!" I turned around sharply to see Merlin crumpled on the floor of his cage.
"Merlin! No!"
"And the best of all!" Dark Arthur said. "You are foolishly in love with the one thing that would get you killed. You are in love with a sorcerer!"
He started to laugh as I got up from next to Merlin's cage. "So what?" I was surprised at my serious tone. "Love is love and I don't give a damn about what my people think! When I am king, I will let magic back into Camelot and Merlin shall rule by my side! I love him, so GET OFF MY BACK!" I yelled as the iis mali disappeared. I exhaled deeply.
"Arthur?" I heard Merlin say. I turned and my heart stopped. Merlin was out of his cage and was standing clean of any dirt. He was wearing armor with short chainmail, and a red cloak that bore the crest of my family. His raven black hair was styled perfectly and his crystal blue eyes gleamed. Atop his perfect hair was a golden crown, similar to mine. He was holding my red rose in his left hand.
"Merlin?" I asked, astonished.
"You said you wanted me to rule by your side." He smirked.
I stepped towards him and took the rose. Merlin traced his hand on my face. His smile blew me away. "I love you too, Arthur."
I smiled as Merlin brought my face closer to his. Our lips touched. They fit together in perfect harmony. Merlin's hands twisted in my blonde hair as my hands were on his waist. I was in love. I had finally found my other half.

A/N: Hey guys! That is the end of my oneshot!!! :D :D I hope you liked it! Again, this was inspired by Joey Graceffa's new video! Please watch it, it is so good!!! :D Tell me if I should do more Merthur or just stick to what I have (Ianthony etc.) Anyways! I love ya and stay epic! ~Gamer

TRANSLATIONS:
**Egredere de terra hac sanguinum porcos ~ Leave this land you murderous swine
**Quod extructum est ante me mihi crescit pulchritudo Rosa ~ Grow a rose for this beauty that stands before me
**Eripe me his, ligatus fuero vincla. ~ Free me from these shackles that bind me.
**iis mali ~ evil clone