Hiding

Chapter 26

Arthur spent that night mourning over his father's body. He finally allowed himself to cry, just a little bit, and unstopper the bottle of emotions he'd become in the last few days. When he exited the chamber in the morning, he found Merlin waiting outside the doors.

"Merlin?" Merlin looked up at Arthur, seeing that he looks much better than he has in a long time, the stress of hiding finally lifted from his shoulders. "It's a new day. Have you been here all night?"

Merlin stood up. "I didn't want you to feel that you were alone."

"Thank you, Merlin." Arthur turned and closed the doors to the chamber, a finality in the gesture he wasn't expecting. "You must be hungry?"

"Starving." Merlin gave a small smile.

"Come on, then. Let's get us some breakfast."

They bumped shoulders as they walked, even though Merlin had to put the glamour up. He reassured himself with the thought that later today he would be able to be out in the open, completely. Arthur noticed the goofy smile he had on his face, even through the glamour.

"What's that about?"

"What?"

"Your smile."

"Why can't I smile just because?"

"You can. I just know that there's a reason behind that smile."

"I was just thinking...by the end of today, if all goes well, we can both come out of hiding. We can be free, actually free, for the first time in our lives."

Arthur smiled softly at him. "Yeah. Not much longer now."

"Now, let's get that breakfast and then get you ready for your coronation. Morgana will have my head if you're late."

Arthur chuckled and then had an idea. "Race you?"

"You're on."

The two smiled and laughed as they had not since they were children as they ran down the corridors, thankfully not running into anyone important enough to comment on the fact that the to-be king was running around his castle with a faceless man.

X

A few hours later, Arthur knelt before Geoffrey of Monmouth, ready to take his vows and be crowned king.

"Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of Camelot according to their respective laws and customs?"

"I solemnly swear so to do."

"Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?"

"I will."

"Then by the sacred laws vested in me, I crown you Arthur, King of Camelot!"

Geoffrey placed the crown on Arthur's head, and Arthur stood and turned to face his subjects as their king. He looked over at the crowd. Gaius Morgana, Gwen, and Leon all stood in the front looking incredibly proud of him, clapping. Merlin stood next to them. Merlin dropped the glamour for long enough for Arthur to see that Merlin had tears in his eyes, and couldn't look any happier if he tried.

"Long live the king!"

"Long live the king!"

"Long live the king!"

The chant continued for several minutes, until Arthur made his way to the balcony, where the people of Camelot started the chant up from where they stood in the courtyard. He raised his hand, signalling for silence.