Arthur Pendragon x reader Imagines (BBC Merlin)

Playing Pretend

You were to be crowned Queen and become married to your beloved Arthur in the coming hour. You looked in the mirror and didn't recognize who was staring back. A servant dressed in a gown of the finest quality materials and adorned with all manner of jewelry. She looked like a little girl playing dress up—but who was she kidding?

"You should be ready, my lady." Guinevere states and you turn to her and frown.

"Guinevere, you can call me (y/n); I'm still that servant girl you knew, I'm still your best friend."

"Yes, but you are to be queen, it isn't proper." Guinevere states.

You sigh, "how about this, when it is just you and me, you can call me (y/n)?" You propose and she smiles and nods. Walking down the hall you walked alongside Guinevere she left you outside the large doors.

She straightened your dress and smiled at you, "you look beautiful, (y/n)." Guinevere states, "good luck, you'll do great, I have no doubt." She says before walking away leaving you alone.

You pat the skirt of your dress down before going to fidget with your fingers. A few minutes pass before a hand takes yours and you recognize the ring on their finger. "You're nervous." The person states.

You look up and see that Arthur had a concerned look upon his face. You pull your hand from his, "you shouldn't be here, it's bad luck to see me before the ceremony." You say turning away from him.

He doesn't give up however, "to hell with bad luck, (y/n); I had to check on you." Arthur states, "now tell me what's bothering you?" He demands.

"I'm fine, it's just nerves—that's all." You try to say.

"Love, I may have taken a couple blows to the head in battle, but I'm not that dense." Arthur jokes.

You huff, "fine you really want to know? I feel like I'm playing pretend—who am I fooling, Arthur, I'm not a Queen?" You ask him, "I'm just a servant in a nice dress." You say shaking your head and looking down embarrassed.

Arthur watches you carefully before he speaks, "you are much more than a servant, you are to be a queen, my queen." He reminds you before lifting your chin up, "and a Queen looks down to know one—not even me." He states with a smile.

He sees the corners of your mouth quirk up into a smile and he smiles right back. "There's my girl." He said before kissing your forehead. "I have to go prepare, I'll see you out there, my Queen." Arthur bows jokingly to lighten the mood.

You smile, "thank you for being here, my king." You thank him and he smiles and kisses your nose.

"For you—always." He states before removing his hand from your own. Before he leaves completely he turns around and mouths something to you.
I—love—you. Before he turned back around and left you to your thoughts.

Once he's left you smile in the direction he went. Maybe you could do this after all, because if Arthur believed you worthy enough to be his queen, then maybe you wouldn't be as horrible at it then you thought. Perhaps you weren't playing pretend and you could be the queen, Camelot deserved.