Imagines and Preferences: Book 1

It's an Expression | Merlin

You can thank SquishyMishy02 for the last part of this one, too.

I don't know what happened to this.

Summary: You find out Merlin has magic.

QOTP: Would you rather be Merlin or Arthur?

Word Count: 846

You weren't aware Merlin had arrived in Camelot until that day in the feast when he saved Arthur's life. Of course, you had no idea how he did, but you were happy nonetheless.

Sure, Arthur's a jerk, but him dying would suck.

He became Arthur's servant (you're Morgana's, along with Gwen) and you introduced yourself the next day when you were both doing laundry.

"I'm Y/N," you say.

He smiles; he has wide smile that reaches his eyes, making him almost squint. "I'm Merlin," he replies. "Pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you, too."

"Are you Morgana's servant?"

"One of them, yes."

"Probably better than being Arthur's," he grumbles.

You hesitate. "It can't be... that bad?"

"Are you kidding me?" he replies, almost laughing.

"It could be worse," you say.

He agrees. "Yeah, I guess."

"Well, I'll be off, then," you say after putting Morgana's laundry in a basket.

He smiles again. "See you around."

And you certainly hoped you did.

You and Merlin have been talking ever since.

After a few months, he finally worked up the courage to ask you out. Largely due to Arthur.

"Hey," Arthur says, snapping his fingers in front of Merlin's face. "Pay attention long enough to put on my armor, will you? What are you looking at, anyway?"

He looks in the direction Merlin had been looking in and sees you standing with Morgana. He looks down at Merlin, who is hastily putting Arthur's armor on him.

"Really?" Arthur says. "Got a little crush on Morgana, do you?"

"No, sire."

"You were looking at her."

"No, I wasn't. I was looking at Y/N."

"Who?"

Merlin discreetly rolls his eyes. "Her servant."

"Oh," Arthur replies. "Fitting, I guess.

"Have you actually talked?" he continues.

Merlin nods, a small smile on his face. "Of course. All the time."

"I... How in the world did you manage to get somebody to like you?" Arthur asks.

Merlin blushes. "Well, um, we're kind of just friends right now."

Arthur laughs. "Wow! Wow, okay. Look, I'm gonna do you a little service here-"

"No, no. No, thank you. I've got this."

"... Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. In fact, I am so sure, I'm going to- I'm going to do this. Right now."

He walks straight over to you as Arthur laughs in the background, entirely sure he'll botch it.

"Hello, Y/N. Pardon me, Lady Morgana," he introduces. Morgana raises her eyebrows, recognizing him as the servant you told her about (you and Morgana are more like friends).

"I was wondering," Merlin says to you, "if you would like to accompany me for... for a walk in the forest?"

You immediately smile, then look over at Morgana, who is also smiling. "Y-Yes. I'd love to."

"I'll ask Arthur to relieve you of your duties tomorrow afternoon," Morgana says.

Merlin grins. "Thank you, Lady Morgana."

////

The next day, you go for your walk in the forest.

"It's very nice out today," you say.

Merlin agrees, "Yes, it is. Quite... beautiful."

You continue to walk and make small talk. You're walking near the river when you trip and fall in.

Except you don't.

Time slows down and suddenly, Merlin - who was two feet away - catches you and keeps you from falling. Then, he acts like nothing happened.

Nah.

"What was that?" you ask, hands on your hips.

Merlin's brows furrow. "I don't know."

You look at him incredulously. "What do you mean you 'don't know'? You just did it!"

"I don't know; it just happens."

"What?!"

He doesn't answer.

"Merlin," you say.

He looks over at you and pretends like the past five minutes hadn't happened. "What?"

"Seriously, what did you do just now?" you ask.

"I-"

"You just stopped time or something!"

"Well, that's kind of it."

"You just said you didn't know!"

"I do, I just-"

"Merlin."

He's silent again. You sigh. "Merlin."

"Yes? What?" he replies, again pretending to be clueless.

You squint at him. "Merlin."

"Fine!" he shouts. "I have... magic."

You stare at him for a solid five minutes.

"What."

"I knew it!" he shouts. "I knew you wouldn't accept me! I knew you'd hate me! Look, even if you hate me, please - please - don't tell the King. I-"

You cut him off by slapping him. "Ow!" he shouts.

You shake your head, regretting that slap but realizing that it's too late to go back now. "You're an idiot!

"Of course I accept you. That's pretty freaking cool, okay. And, so what? As long as you don't kill people or whatever, it's fine. Also, stOP SHOUTING! People all over the forest can hear you, you twit! Stop!"

Merlin sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Thank the King."

"Why are you thanking him? He'd kill you if he knew who you really were."

"It's an expression."

"So is annoyance."