Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

A servant's worth - 5. Destiny and Chicken

(It's me, I'm the chicken.)

Arthur was heaving as the council men and knights disappeared into the hallway. His hair was hanging in his blushing face, his hands grabbing the round table to steady himself as Arthur awaited his doom. Merlin was crossing his arms, anxiously waiting for the door to fall shut.

"Well?"

Arthur's heart sank. "I can explain."

"I'm listening."

How on EARTH was Arthur supposed to explain that? At the end of a losing battle of staring at each other, Arthur finally let out a quick answer. "You were a cat!"

There was another pause, heavy of possible anwers hanging between them. "Huh?" In all fairness, Merlin's reaction was absolutely reasonable. Yet, his inability to comprehend Arthur's mind meant that Arthur had to elaborate. Which was, to Arthur, like a condemnation.

Arthur watched as Merlin's tight grip on his arms loosened and he stared openly at Arthur. He was waiting, like a loyal friend, for Arthur to clear things up before it led to misinterpretations. "You were a cat." Arthur repeated his excuse. Although he knew that Merlin being a cat had only been a small factor in his decision.

"Yes... I heard you the first time. How does that correlate to you putting me on your money?" Merlin tapped his feet on the ground, clearly growing impatient with Arthur.

A part of Arthur relaxed involuntarily. So, Merlin hadn't yet figured out that this whole thing was a complete parallelism to the crush stories Morgana had told him the day before. Arthur was a mess and made stupid decisions based on his feelings and it was clearly obvious to the entire kingdom.... Except, not to Merlin. He let out a deep shuddering breath. "I didn't think you'd turn back. And..." Arthur didn't know how else to phrase it. "I didn't want people to forget about you."

Merlin finally uncrossed his arms, looking rather gobsmacked. "You put me on the coin... so people wouldn't forget about me?" His eye twitched. "You gave UP on me?!"

Arthur blanched. "What? NO! Of course not! It was just..." He stepped back as Merlin made one forwards. "Ask GWEN! I had JUST learned you were a cat and then the coin maker came in and I couldn't think straight -," Arthur cursed himself as his back hit the nearest wall. What a way to tell on himself. "I was already picturing the worst... outcome." Arthur's voice thinned at the end.

Merlin had stopped moving and was now staring at Arthur, several feet apart from him. He seemed to be contemplating something, then finally sighed and rubbed at his own head. "I mean... I've heard people call us two sides of the same coin before, I just never thought they meant it literally."

Arthur blinked, eyes widening. "Who said that?"

"Hmm?" Merlin looked up and Arthur's breath hitched when their eyes met. "Oh, no one important, just my mom."

Arthur opened his mouth, then closed it. "JUST your MOM?" Arthur felt like his heart had molten into a puddle of goo. Merlin's mom approved? Merlin's mom approved! Holy shit!

Merlin frowned. "My mother is a farming woman from another kingdom. How is that relevant?"

Arthur realized his mistake a second too late. He really needed to learn how to shut his mouth. He was this close to shouting at his manservant how happy it made him that his mother approved of them. Being two sides of the same coin and all. Like soul mates. Holy shit, Arthur hadn't thought of it like that when he had initiated the whole coin print thing. "Just... she's your mom?" Arthur's brain wouldn't think. Merlin was so close, only a couple inches separated them from touching. His eyes were scanning Arthur's entire body. Arthur felt like an art piece for the whole world to see and criticize, and he wasn't sure if a single person approved yet. Only that Merlin was the only visitor who's opinion mattered.