The love between a king and his serving boy (merthur)

Chapter 15

Merlin's POV

Efa was already making progress with her magic and she can't even speak yet! She can do very simple things, such as moving small objects and things like that. When she is older, I will give her my book of magic which was given to me from Gaius. Arthur was so proud of her. He loved her like she was his own daughter and was a perfect father to her. To me, he was perfect in every way and sometimes it is so hard not to show affection in public, but once we are on our own, it is worth the wait.

I was scrubbing Arthur's floors as he sat on the edge of the bed bouncing Efa up and down and making funny noises at her. I loved these moments, it just seemed so perfect with just me and him and the little baby, at times like these I forgot about everyone and I forgot about the pain of hiding my feelings to others, I just enjoyed the moments.

"What are you grinning at?" The king asked as he stood up and stood near me. His voice was happy and he still held Efa carefully in his arms. I said nothing, but I also stood and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Stop being a romantic prat and scrub that floor!" He said and I grinned, knowing he was just joking, but before I continued with my job, he grabbed my face with his unoccupied hand and kissed me on the lips. There was no tongue, it was just short and sweet. I loved him so much and his kisses seemed to fill me with energy and I just want to kiss and hug him forever. Sometimes at night, instead of sleeping in my room, I stay with Arthur and just cuddle and talk all night. Life is perfect and I don't want it to ever end.

Arthur's POV

Merlin is a great teacher to Efa, she can already use some magic and I couldn't be more proud of both of them. They are both so important to me and I don't know what I would do without them in my life. Also, I was determined to be a better father to Efa than Uther was to me. And I try to be sensitive and kind to Merlin, I hate it when I call him a name or say something hurtful and even if he doesn't get upset about it, I always have to make it up to him somehow.

Merlin finished scrubbing the floor and he took Efa from me to play with for a little while. Her eyes flashed golden and her hair pin floated away from her and towards merlin. It started to fall as she lost concentration and as I went to catch it, Merlin's eyes flashed golden and the hair pin flew back into her hair. Efa giggled and felt her hair pin with her fingers, she loved Merlin and his magic, but who wouldn't?

Later on, Merlin took Efa back to her room and then when he returned, he slid into bed with me.

"Finally time alone," I said, looking into Merlin's deep blue eyes and stroking his hand that was resting on the duvet. He shuffled over and snuggled into my chest and I stoked his thick ebony coloured hair.

"How much do you love me, Arthur?" He suddenly asked. This question startled me. I thought he knew the answer. Hadn't I shown it? I thought for a few minutes about my answer and then spoke.

"If I had to chose between you and Camelot, I would choose you. If you were imprisoned on an island that was completely isolated and there was no chance of survival saving you, I would swim all the way and save you anyway. I love you more than I love the stars in the sky, more than anyone who has ever lived. I would sacrifice anything for you and I cannot imagine a world without you. You are my world Merlin and you always have been and you always will be. I am in love with you Merlin." He smiled at me.

"I love you too, sire."