Merlin One-Shots

Merthur: Telling the Knights

Requested by History_Nerd21
I started on this as soon as I read the request. Thank you for helping get my creativity back.

Arthur and Merlin hadn't necessarily been hiding their relationship from everybody. But they weren't on top of each other all the time either.

They still slept separately since Arthur was bad at sharing a bed. The first time they tried, Merlin woke up with Arthur's feet on his back only to be kicked out of the bed a minute later. Even if they were out of the castle, they were sleeping separately. They would be next to each other but would only get closer for warmth.

There were no grand reunions where one would come home and dramatically kiss the other in greeting. They went everywhere together, it would be rather stupid if they did anything of that matter. They didn't go on romantic outings for the entire kingdom to see. They wouldn't be caught sneaking out of a room with bruised lips and messed up hair. There was no reason to think they were together romantically.

Unless you saw the way Arthur would watch Merlin. His eyes softening and the corners of his mouth lifting in a small smile. Or the way Merlin would practically skip to Arthur's room to wake him with a pile of freshly picked flowers on his breakfast tray. Sometimes it was how their fingers brushed together just standing next to each other.

If someone were to ask, neither would deny their relationship. To them it was clear as day that they were in love. Until they took a trip to the tavern with the nights to celebrate another quest that went perfectly. Merlin had offered to get everyone drinks while the others found a table and everyone agreed. Arthur saw no problem with it either. Until the bar maid smiled too much at Merlin. Or maybe it was the way she fluttered her eyelashes at him. Or even the way she leaned forward over the counter to reach for his hand, her breasts being pushed out more than necessary.

Arthur wasn't jealous by the girl's actions. He knew that Merlin wouldn't think twice about her and would always come back to Arthur's side. No, he was mad at how the knights reacted as Merlin joined them again. They started whistling and hollering at Merlin, making the pale boy flush a bright pink and look at his feet. There were also a couple of comments being thrown around that "you should go for it" or even "she looked ready to climb you like a tree."

Arthur could feel himself getting angrier with each comment. How could they not know about him and Merlin? How could they tell Merlin to court some bar maid when he was already courting a king? Merlin noticed how mad Arthur was with the knights and couldn't ignore him any longer. He sat down next to the pouting king and rest a hand on Arthur's balled fist.
"No matter what they say, I would never even think of courting anyone else." Merlin smiled at Arthur, causing all of the other man's worries and anger to fade instantly.
All comments from the knight stopped and they stared at the pair with wide eyes. Leon was the first to sit down, taking a long drink from one of the cups. Percival sat down next, dragging Gwaine down with him and shoving food into Gwaine's mouth before he could say something.
Elyan was the only one still standing in shock. "I'm sorry. But is no one going to ask the obvious question here?"
Leon shook his head, taking another sip of his drink. Percival acted as though no one even said anything at all. It was Gwaine that addressed the topic. "Oh, do you mean that two of our best friends have been lying to us?"
"Actually. We never lied to anyone. You just never asked." Merlin said, before anyone else could start accusing them of anything.
Leon nodded, setting his cup down and finally speaking. "I knew the whole time. Actually asked Arthur about it months ago."
Both Arthur and Merlin nodded, acting as though nothing was any different and Elyan finally sat down as well.
"All you had to do was ask. We didn't even think we had to tell you, Arthur thought you already knew. After all, you are Camelot's finest knights." Merlin laughed at the men sitting with him.
They all smiled and laughed themselves taking large gulps of their own drinks and returning to their normal conversation.