excuse me? i was dying

Even if I DID have... I'm not saying I am, 'cause I don't...

The sunrise this morning was no less radiant than something not very radiant because it was fucking cloudy. The people of Camelot felt the unexpected haze of what should have been a warm spring day, but sometimes the weather was just like that. It'd fuck you over, ruin perfect picnic days and cast a gloom of unease on the easily anxious.

Merlin did not consider himself easily anxious, because surely if he was, he would've died from the stress of being a hidden sorcerer in Camelot. Given that was not the case, he felt as if he had the proof to claim himself otherwise. Some days he even liked the rain, despite the wet socks and muddy floors that he would have to clean after his Royal Assness tracked dirty footprints in because he was too delicate to bend over and take off his bloody shoes-! Definitely not because he (see above: Royal Assness) appreciated the few excuses he had for Merlin to kneel in front of him.

This day was unlike rainy days before it, for Merlin had been thinking for weeks now that Arthur was keeping something from him, and this morning the king was being polite.

"Thank you, Merlin. Please let Sir Leon know that I have an announcement to make to the council at noon and I expect the knights to be there."

Merlin froze halfway through taking a strawberry from the breakfast tray. He didn't recognize the tone of voice Arthur was using, and it disarmed him. He didn't think to yell at him about why he hadn't told Merlin that he had an announcement to make on short notice- or what the announcement was. He hated this 'keeping secrets' business, and if it weren't for his magic double life he led, and few hundred secrets he kept from Arthur, one of which being he was in love with the king (no big deal), he would've voiced his upset. He did attempt at times to not be a hypocrite.

"That will be all this morning, thank you."

Arthur wasn't even looking at him.

........

"Sire?" King Arthur was sitting on his throne. He was not smiling.

His crown dwarfed his head, and Merlin thought he looked rather ridiculous with it on. It was a family heirloom and obviously could not be replaced, but perhaps one day if magic was made legal (because surely this prophecy the druids and the dragon bugged him about was worth two cents) he could fix it up just a bit.

"My lords, fellow knights, gentlemen," Gaius, the knights of the round table, and members of the court were gathered in the throne room. Merlin was there too, obviously, for the king never went anywhere without him (why would he?). After his irrational politeness this morning, Merlin had had a nagging worry that Arthur was going to do something self-sacrificing and stupid (as he did, often).

Arthur had been very busy these past couple months as king. He had been working to change laws, one by one, until he could seamlessly repeal the ban on magic (or so he dreamt). Surprisingly, it was difficult to change the notions of hatred and discrimination that had been in place for years. Who would've thought?

During this trying time, he had been trying hard not to think of the threat that was the empty throne beside him. For as one could have guessed, the young king was besotted with his manservant, and he could not think of marrying a male (he'd have no blood heir) servant (definitely has to be a noble) so he didn't think of it at all.

"As you are all aware, Camelot's claim to the lands of Gedref has long been in dispute. Today I can announce that, after many months of confidential negotiations, the kingdoms of Nemeth and Camelot have reached an agreement."

Merlin frowned, many months? So, this was something that his father had initiated. Why had he kept it a secret for so long?

"There's nothing to fear. It is a fair and honourable agreement that benefits two great kingdoms. Furthermore, our friendship will be cemented by a union that cannot be broken," Though the room could not tell, the king had started clenching his perineal wall (that's French for his ass hole, sweetie) to keep his voice from shaking. He refused to look at his manservant.