A Manservant's Loyalty (Merlin BBC OneShots)

Attraction ••

Love # 1.2

Magic has a sort of residue that lingers after it is performed, depending on a persons power and skill some see can see it and others can't. The residue only appears after the spell has been cast and has performed its task.

Merlin can see magical residue as if it were a black sheep in a heard of white. It's extremely obvious, the golden shimmering mist that surrounds where the magic was concentrated to.

When a golden mist surrounded Arthur one morning as he walked to the training field with Clause close behind. Merlin felt his heart drop from where he stood to far away to notice that Arthur was limping.

Disappointment tore through his heart as the realisation that the man he loves and is suppose to protect, has been enchanted and Merlin didn't notice. He never questioned Arthur's behaviour because he was too busy wallowing in self pity.

Merlin felt sick seeing that his lover was limping. He didn't listen to what Arthur was yelling at him for, he just studied Arthur, eyes traveling over every inch of bare skin. He wanted to vomit seeing a purple bruise peak under Arthur's sleeve where it rose up slightly.
Merlin wished at that  for once he was to naive and that couldn't put two and two together this time.

Morgana pulled Merlin away angrily disgusted at how her brother is treating Merlin. She also knew instantly that something was wrong, Merlin looked as pale as a ghost and his eyes were shining with realisation and tears.

"Arthur's enchanted" Merlin blurted out, the tears breaking their hold. Morgana gaped eye's widening it all making sense, she knew deep down that Arthur would never intentionally hurt Merlin, her brother would have him self killed before he would let any harm come
to Merlin.  The two made quick work in raiding every enchantment book that Guias had.

"Enchantments of the heart can only be broken with the kiss of true love that holds their heart" Merlin stated defeatedly, how will they find Arthur's true love? Who knows who that could be.  "Thats great news!" Morgana gushed excitedly hugging a confused Merlin tightly. 

Sensing the confusion, "Merls, don't you see? It's you." She said laughing. "You love him don't you?" She asked seeing the disbelief in his eyes.

"Of course I do! But It doesn't mater if I love him Gana, it's who he loves. I'm nothing but his man servant to him, he can barely call me his friend with out cringing." Merlin argued painfully.

"You don't see the way he looks at you Merlin or how he behaves around you. Everyone with working eyes can see how Arthur looks at you as if you're his world or how his eyes light up when he sees you; everyone with working ears can hear the admiration and affection in his voice when he talks about you, which is almost all the time. Arthur defies Uthur and would take his own life if it were to mean you'd be safe.

That is love because you do the exact same. Arthur is an oblivious idiot, he might not know it yet but he does love you and has loved you for a very long time." Morgana stated softly, Merlin was speechless, gaping at her in shock.

Leaving no time to argue, Morgana dragged Merlin to her chambers before asking a passing servant to fetch Arthur swiftly.  Merlin was in too much of a daze thinking of the possibility that morgana's words may be true to notice that Arthur had arrived, until he heard the door slam shut.

Merlin's heart almost leaped out of his chest seeing him, Arthur's eyes narrowed enchanted anger clouding them as he began his onslaught of verbal abuse.  Merlin couldn't hear it over the loud whooshing sound of his blood pumping in his ears.

Receiving a small push Merlin walked forward, standing chest to chest with the angered Prince. Before Arthur could push him away, Merlin wrapped a hand behind his lover's neck pulling his face down towards his.  Pressing his lips to Arthur's slightly chaffed lips, eyes clapping shut hoping this works.