Royal in Hiding

Chapter 9: The Promise of Tomorrow

Merlin looked at himself in his mirror. "Are you sure? This just doesn't seem like me." The Dragonlord stated as he shifted from his left foot to his right foot.

Merlin was dressed in white ceremonial clothing that bore his family crest and was dyed to match the royal colors. The Ceremonial uniform was great, looked amazing, and felt like heaven but when Merlin looked in the mirror, he saw a man who was playing dress up, not a king.

"My lord, this is the best uniform you have, we could only save the ceremonial uniform before we had to leave. It is either this or your servant clothes." Merlin's Manservant stated tiredly. Merlin stared at his reflection for a moment longer before he spoke up. "Bring me my day clothes."

Elijah gaped at Merlin in shock but went to carry out the King's request.

Not too long after that, Merlin found himself walking towards Joetta's quarters with a basket for a picnic that also held a vile of ink, a quell, and the marriage contract.

He slowed down considerably as he near the woman's door, attempting to sooth his nerves. He hesitated slightly, then knocked on Joetta's door, smiling brightly as she answered the door, her hair shining beautifully as it fell onto her light blue silken dress. "Merlin? What is it?" She asked with a bright smile. "Would you like to join me for a picnic?" He asked after stuttering slightly in awe at her beauty.

Joetta let a small giggle escape her lips as she grinned and nodded. "Of course, I would love to join you. Will we be riding?" She asked, leaning against the wooden door. "Yes, will that be a problem?" He asked with curiousity and slight worry. "Of course not, I love to ride." She stated with a smile as she walked out of her room, hooking her arm into his. "Well then, let's go." Merlin stated with a fond smile.

The pair rode for a good thirty minutes before Merlin slowed his horse to a walk as he pushed through a last set of brush and onto the beach of the Lake of Avalon.

"Merlin are we- oh my god." Joetta murmured as she took in the expanse of the crystal lake. "It's beautiful" She whispered in awe to Merlin, who grinned, replying as he stared at Joetta, "I agree completely." He softly stated, staying on the horse for another moment before dismounting the animal and tying it to a nearby tree, Joetta doing the same with her own horse.

Merlin walked till he was about five feet away from the waters edge before he set up the picnic, which was quite grandly packed by the kitchen staff. "Wow, this is... extravagant." Joetta stated in awe at the spread as she took a seat across from Merlin. "So, what are we here for exactly-" She questioned after popping a grape in her mouth. "Shh, I'll get to that later. First, let's eat." Merlin told her with a smirk of amusement at Joetta's impatient look.

The pair got through just about half of the packed food when Merlin reached into the basket to grab for the contract. "Elijah found this in some of your father's documents, I think you should read through it before we talk about it." Merlin informed Joetta as he handed the parchment over to the girl, who scanned through it, paused, blinked multiple times, then read through it again.

"So when you said you were betrothed, did you know it was me you were betrothed to?" She asked curiously.

Merlin nodded, cautious of the situation. "Yeah..." He trailed off.

"So you let me believe that you couldn't love me because you were getting married. When you knew you were getting married to me?" She asked him with slight annoyance.

Merlin paused and looked around as if he would see the true person Joetta was speaking to. When he saw no one else, Merlin nodded slowly. "Yeah..." He replied with the same one word. "Are you always this stupid when it comes to girls?" She questioned him incredulously. Merlin looked like he was about to object but rethought his response, which urged him to nod and respond with the same one word he had used the last three times he opened his mouth.

"Yeah."

Joetta groaned and shot him a glare. "I'm sorry Merlin, but you are going to have to do more than a coy smirk and a picnic to convince me to sign this paper. Ask me again next week dear, I might say yes." She told Merlin, who looked shell shocked as Joetta rode away.

On his horse, taking hers with her.

Arthur and the Knights decided to then stumble out of the brush, leaves scattered in their hair. Lady Arabella grinned at Merlin with amusement. "My lord, no desire to be rude, but she is so completely and utterly right." She stated with a grin.

"How am I supposed to "woo" her?" Merlin asked helplessly. Arthur and the knights, except for Arabella, grinned. "Flowers, jewelry, money, romantic horse rides with lavish picnics, the whole nine." Arthur stated, all of the male knights nodding in agreement behind him.

Lady Emelyne, Lady Arabella, and Lady Imayn groaned in unison, the trio surrounded the king with sympathetic looks. "Merlin, dear, listen to use. Just be yourself, take her on small, quirky dates that are enjoyable and a good source of bonding. Do not, under any circumstances, do as these bafoons suggest." The three stated at the same time. Gwaine stared at them with mock hurt. "Bafoons?" He asked playfully.

"Bafoons, good sir." Emelyne comfirmed with a coy smirk. "Merlin, I am already married-" Arthur started reasoning when Imayn cut him off. "And we are actual women. Shut it Once and Future King." She sassed with a cocked eyebrow. Surprisingly, Arthur stayed silent and nodded in defeat.

"Alright dear, now as much as you are a fun man and all, but we only brought enough horses for us so, have a fun walk home!" Arabella teased as the group ran off with laughs, leaving Merlin laughing alone on the banks as he stared out across the lake with a fond smile. He stayed like that for a few minutes before he started his trek back to Camelot's castle, already planning his next date.