Because You're You//Merthur

Prologue- How Things Were

Hey, there! If you don't already know me from my other fics, I'm Lizzie. Enjoy my story 💕

Camelot had been flourishing under Arthur's rule.

He wasn't like his father. He liked to think he was more just, as well as more open to new ideas. He listened to his knights and what they had to say. And he went to Merlin for council or to rant more than he'd ever admit.

His half-sister, Morgana, was always very supportive of him. And Guinevere was always there to talk to.

The knights were a bunch of dollop-heads, as Merlin would say, but they were a loveable bunch as well.

And Merlin, of course, was Arthur's best friend (though Arthur would never say it out loud). Arthur felt like, unlike his father, he really had friends. And it did him a lot of good.

The people of Camelot evidently loved Arthur, even more so than Uther. He'd created a new tax system, he had a powerful and well trained army, he gave to those in need.

Really, the only thing that wasn't great about Camelot, at least in Merlin's eyes, was that magic was still outlawed.

But even so, Arthur had signed a peace treaty with the Druids and swore never to cause them harm unless they overstepped their promise to keep magic away from the cities (they could enter the cities as they pleased, a nice change for them).

All in all, things were good.

However, it was brought to Arthur's attention by his uncle, Agravaine, that he needed an heir, meaning he needed a wife.

So after much deliberation and bickering, Arthur agreed to have over a handful of princesses from other kingdoms for six months and have a courtship with each one. And by the end, he'd choose his bride.

He wasn't exactly keen on the idea, but he figured it had to be done, so they sent out the invitation through messengers and waited for the responses, some coming a few days later, others taking over a week to get to and fro the other kingdoms. Three out of the five replies were yes. It wasn't exactly a surprise, Camelot was powerful and a good ally to keep strong bonds with, not to mention that it was rumored Arthur was a handsome fellow anyway. Any girl would want a chance with him.

One Thursday afternoon, Arthur sat in the near-empty throne room, the only other people there being a few guards and knights.

He sighed deeply. "Can one of you fetch Merlin, please?"

One of the guards nodded and rushed out. Arthur waited boredly, rolling a quill between his fingertips.

Six whole months of trying to impress girls...

"Uh, you wanted to see me?" a familiar voice questioned.

Arthur looked up, relief flooding his system (though he didn't show it). "Merlin. Where the hell have you been all day?"

Merlin smiled as he unceremoniously approached the throne with more leisure than anyone had ever seen. "I've been picking up your mess of a castle, you dollop-headed. What else?"

Gwaine's snicker could be heard from the back of the room.

Upon hearing Merlin's insult, one of the newer knights, Sir Alexander, gasped slightly. Had this ratty servant boy just insulted the king of Camelot?

Needless to say, he was surprised when Arthur chuckled, and wondered why all the others either remained expressionless or had sly grins on their faces.

Arthur stood up from his throne. "Still a foolish imbecile then, I see," he teased Merlin.

"Oh, you love me," Merlin shot back snarkily, his smile radiant. No one could get him going like Arthur. The two could banter all day if they wanted to.

"Uh, leave us," Arthur said to the guards and knights, waving his hand at them but otherwise keeping his eyes trained on Merlin.

The other men obeyed, but even upon his exit, Alexander was confused. He'd have to ask Gwaine about this, he knew that Gwaine knew the king well.

The door to the throne room shut, and Arthur sighed heavily. "I've messed up," he said suddenly.

Merlin tilted his head in the manner that he often did, a habit Arthur actually thought was quite adorable (he'd never tell him that, though.)

"How so?"

"I..." the king chewed the inside of his lip, "I can't woo three different women! I've already got enough on my hands, and now I'm inviting women to come stay in Camelot so I can 'court' them or whatever."

Merlin wanted to laugh, but he saw how distressed Arthur was about the whole thing, so he decided against it. Instead, he put a hand on Arthur's shoulder, feeling him shudder at the touch. "Arthur, you are going to be fine. All the women love you, so I wouldn't worry too much."

Arthur nodded distantly.

"Besides," Merlin said, "I'm right by your side."

Arthur scoffed and smiled a bit. "Right, yeah, that's a big comfort, I have a moron to help me out."

Merlin glared in resentment, but smiled nonetheless. "Oh, shut up!"

Arthur ruffled his friend's hair affectionately and pushed him away. "I want everything to be perfectly clean by the time the princesses get here."

Merlin groaned childishly. "It never ends."

"You're my manservant, what did you expect?"

"At least some vacation days," Merlin said hopefully.

Arthur smiled. "Yeah, you wish. Go on, I'll see you at dinner."

Merlin nodded and left the throne room, mockingly bowing as deeply and gracefully as he could on his way out.

"You're a prat!" Arthur called.

"Not as big of one as you," Merlin's voice echoed back from the hall as he turned the corner.

Arthur sauntered back to his throne and flopped down in it, picking his quill back up.

This was going to be a long six months.

Alright! Feel free to comment your thoughts. Thanks for reading!

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April 26th, 2020