Magic, Marriage and Mayhem Part 6
Title: Magic, Marriage and Mayhem
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mpreg as a major plotpoint, unabashed fluff, and ...well, that's about it for this chapter!
Summary: Uther warns Arthur about his dalliance with his servant, and reminds him that Camelot will need an heir. Well, it looks like that's not a problem any more...
AN: Sorry for the delay in this part! It doesn't really go anywhere, and it's far, far shorter than normal, but I hope people will enjoy anyway! And thanks, as always, to everyone who's commented. ^_^ Also, YAY I HAVE A PLOT WORKED OUT FOR THIS!!! Thanks to
acetamide for looking this bit over and being so supportive, and el_gilliath for the quick kick when I needed it. *grin*
**
Part One -
Part Two -
Part Three -
Part Four -
Part Five
**
“If I might interrupt.” Gaius said, pointedly, leaving them with no illusions as to whether or not he was going to. “Now we can be relatively certain that Merlin is indeed expecting-”
“And here I thought we were about the only three in Albion who weren’t in any doubt.” Merlin muttered, but was ignored.
“Have you started to think about the baby itself? Names, and so on?”
Merlin and Arthur fell back on a standard reaction, and simply stared, completely thrown by the question.
**
“I haven’t-”
“Been busy-” the two of them shook their heads quickly. “I mean,” Merlin continued, flushing under Gaius’ stern gaze. “We’ve been worrying about other things.”
Gaius conceded the point with a brief nod. “You might want to give it some thought,” he said dryly. “The poor child will need a name. And guidelines. And rules – it won’t always be an infant. Have you given any thought at all to what sort of person you want it to grow up as?”
“A king?” Arthur muttered, and Merlin hid his smile.
Gaius was less proficient – or simply less bothered about – hiding his disapproval. “And have you thought that this baby may have inherited Merlin’s – talents?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
The two of them stared at each other – no, they absolutely had not. “Oh, hell,” Arthur muttered. “Look, I’m going to go and talk to my father,” he said, without looking directly at either of them. “Just… tell me what you come up with when I get back.” He gave Merlin a brief glance, and attempted a smile. “I, er. I hope you feel better,” he added awkwardly, and left.
Merlin was left gazing after him, his raised eyebrow perfectly matching Gaius’. “Hmm, wonder what kind of father he’s going to be,” he said dryly, and Gaius’ lips twitched suspiciously before he turned back to him.
“Now, Merlin. About this sickness…”
**
When Arthur reached the ante-room just off the main throne room, Uther’s face was set, and he realised, with a sinking feeling, that the physicians had got to his father first.
“Father,” he greeted him tensely, and Uther gave him a cool look by way of reply.
“What is this I’ve just heard from Gerontius and Hector?” he asked, his voice razor sharp. “They are among the best physicians in the land, and deserve your respect – and here they tell me you threw them from your boy’s rooms-”
“Merlin,” Arthur interrupted firmly. “His name is Merlin.”
Uther waved an irritable hand. “No matter-”
“It matters a great deal,” Arthur told him, just as sharp. “However incredible it may seem, and however little you may want to believe it, he’s going to be taking a very important part in a royal wedding in a few weeks time, and it would be a good idea of you got used to him sooner rather than later.”
Uther heard him out in grim silence, and his voice when he replied was very cold and very quiet. “I will not see my family made fools of by a deluded peasant-”
“The only member of this family who is going to look like a fool, Father, is you, if you don’t accept the truth!”
“Arthur, you cannot truly believe-”
“Did you believe my mother, when she told you she was having me?” Arthur asked, his own voice very low, all too aware of his own daring. “From what I’ve heard, it was equally – unlikely.”
Uther was white. “How dare you say such things about your mother!?” He hissed.
“Consider your own feelings now, and then tell me how you dare to be so insulting of Merlin in front of me!” Arthur challenged boldly.
“I loved your mother!” Uther returned furiously.
“Then you should know exactly how I feel!” Arthur cried.
There was a long moment of silence before Uther could apparently bring himself to reply. “If that is truly the case,” he said slowly, stiff-lipped. “And if the – if Merlin is telling the truth, you are… very greatly to be congratulated.”
Arthur inclined his head a little, his expression still rather angry.
Uther apparently realised that his son was less willing to be conciliatory than usual. “Lunch will be served in a couple of hours,” he coughed, sounding shockingly awkward for so self-assured a man. “I would be – happy to see you and, Merlin, there.”
Arthur had a great deal to learn about statesmanship, but he knew how far Uther could be pushed better than anyone else in the court from a childhood spent begging for just a little more of his father’s time. Rather than continuing his protest, he simply bowed and turned away.
**
He made his way straight back to Gaius’ chambers, hoping desperately that Merlin had finished vomiting – and that Morgana’s lessons had included proper etiquette for an informal lunch with the royal family.
Merlin had at least put aside his bowl for the moment, and was taking seriously to Gaius about something which seemed to involve a lot chamomile tea and lavender ‘to help you sleep’. Arthur rather thought he was doing his lover a favour by interrupting them, even if his news was likely to bring on a hernia for one of them.
“How was it?” Merlin asked, on noticing Arthur’s entrance.
“Could have been worse,” Arthur said laconically, far from willing to go into detail about his impromptu confession to his father, “But, er… my father has invited us to join him for lunch. Today.”
Merlin’s face was a study in terror. “And this could have been worse?” he asked, horrified. “Arthur, your father thinks I’m a half-wit-”
“Actually, his exact word was ‘deluded’,” Arthur told him, kindly.
Merlin’s answering look was less than friendly. “And I get all tongue-tied around him, he makes me nervous, I can’t think straight. I’m just going to make him think I’m even more of a fool!”
“Sounds more like you have a crush on him,” Arthur observed.
That at least stopped Merlin in his tracks. “It scares me that you could even think of coming up with something like that,” he told him flatly.
“On that happy note,” Gaius, it seemed, had an over-developed sense of irony. “I take my leave of both of you. Merlin, I’ll bring the tea and lavender later. Your Highness.” He bowed a little to Arthur, and left the two of them alone.
“You know, Merlin, lunch will be fine,” Arthur said, in what he hoped was an encouraging voice, but which he thought probably just made him sound a little insane. “My father’s really not that frightening.” He paused. “Well, he’s not really that frightening,” he amended after a moment.
Merlin gave him a hopeless look. “I’m going to say something stupid, and he’s going to have me exiled.”
“Don’t be stupid, I wouldn’t let him,” Arthur said absently, and Merlin stared. Arthur scrambled briefly to recover himself. “Because it would make… visiting… you, so, um, difficult,” he attempted to correct, but he could tell that hadn’t helped matters any. “Oh, just be there, would you?” he said irritably, and turned away.
Merlin grabbed his arm before he got too far away. “Thank you,” he said, eyes wide and honest. “I’d kiss you, but I don’t think I’d taste very nice right now.”
Arthur pulled a face. “Yes. Your breakfast looked revolting enough the first time round, I doubt time has improved it.”
“Hey! I like porridge!” Merlin said, but he was smiling. “When Gaius hasn’t made it, anyway.”
Arthur shuddered in sympathy. “If Gaius’ food tastes anything like his medicine, you have my deepest sympathy,” he said sincerely.
Merlin grinned, that huge, ridiculous grin of his which had been appearing less often lately, and Arthur didn’t even want to stop himself from grinning back. This whole thing was working out so much better than Arthur could ever have dreamt, and he wasn’t even going to try and pretend that he wasn’t happy. Being married to Merlin, unexpected though it was, was going to be so better than being married to any of the girls who’d been paraded around in front of him since he was old enough to know that girls were different from boys and weren’t, in fact, the carriers of some obscure plague - even at its worst moments, it would be ten times better than that.
Being married to Merlin would be – fun. At least he would probably still enjoy Merlin’s company in twenty years time. He was fairly certain he loved Merlin, and Gods damn it if that didn’t make it a hands down winner compared to the marriage he thought he was going to have.
**
Part Seven
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mpreg as a major plotpoint, unabashed fluff, and ...well, that's about it for this chapter!
Summary: Uther warns Arthur about his dalliance with his servant, and reminds him that Camelot will need an heir. Well, it looks like that's not a problem any more...
AN: Sorry for the delay in this part! It doesn't really go anywhere, and it's far, far shorter than normal, but I hope people will enjoy anyway! And thanks, as always, to everyone who's commented. ^_^ Also, YAY I HAVE A PLOT WORKED OUT FOR THIS!!! Thanks to
acetamide for looking this bit over and being so supportive, and el_gilliath for the quick kick when I needed it. *grin***
Part One -
Part Two -
Part Three -
Part Four -
Part Five
**
“If I might interrupt.” Gaius said, pointedly, leaving them with no illusions as to whether or not he was going to. “Now we can be relatively certain that Merlin is indeed expecting-”
“And here I thought we were about the only three in Albion who weren’t in any doubt.” Merlin muttered, but was ignored.
“Have you started to think about the baby itself? Names, and so on?”
Merlin and Arthur fell back on a standard reaction, and simply stared, completely thrown by the question.
**
“I haven’t-”
“Been busy-” the two of them shook their heads quickly. “I mean,” Merlin continued, flushing under Gaius’ stern gaze. “We’ve been worrying about other things.”
Gaius conceded the point with a brief nod. “You might want to give it some thought,” he said dryly. “The poor child will need a name. And guidelines. And rules – it won’t always be an infant. Have you given any thought at all to what sort of person you want it to grow up as?”
“A king?” Arthur muttered, and Merlin hid his smile.
Gaius was less proficient – or simply less bothered about – hiding his disapproval. “And have you thought that this baby may have inherited Merlin’s – talents?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
The two of them stared at each other – no, they absolutely had not. “Oh, hell,” Arthur muttered. “Look, I’m going to go and talk to my father,” he said, without looking directly at either of them. “Just… tell me what you come up with when I get back.” He gave Merlin a brief glance, and attempted a smile. “I, er. I hope you feel better,” he added awkwardly, and left.
Merlin was left gazing after him, his raised eyebrow perfectly matching Gaius’. “Hmm, wonder what kind of father he’s going to be,” he said dryly, and Gaius’ lips twitched suspiciously before he turned back to him.
“Now, Merlin. About this sickness…”
**
When Arthur reached the ante-room just off the main throne room, Uther’s face was set, and he realised, with a sinking feeling, that the physicians had got to his father first.
“Father,” he greeted him tensely, and Uther gave him a cool look by way of reply.
“What is this I’ve just heard from Gerontius and Hector?” he asked, his voice razor sharp. “They are among the best physicians in the land, and deserve your respect – and here they tell me you threw them from your boy’s rooms-”
“Merlin,” Arthur interrupted firmly. “His name is Merlin.”
Uther waved an irritable hand. “No matter-”
“It matters a great deal,” Arthur told him, just as sharp. “However incredible it may seem, and however little you may want to believe it, he’s going to be taking a very important part in a royal wedding in a few weeks time, and it would be a good idea of you got used to him sooner rather than later.”
Uther heard him out in grim silence, and his voice when he replied was very cold and very quiet. “I will not see my family made fools of by a deluded peasant-”
“The only member of this family who is going to look like a fool, Father, is you, if you don’t accept the truth!”
“Arthur, you cannot truly believe-”
“Did you believe my mother, when she told you she was having me?” Arthur asked, his own voice very low, all too aware of his own daring. “From what I’ve heard, it was equally – unlikely.”
Uther was white. “How dare you say such things about your mother!?” He hissed.
“Consider your own feelings now, and then tell me how you dare to be so insulting of Merlin in front of me!” Arthur challenged boldly.
“I loved your mother!” Uther returned furiously.
“Then you should know exactly how I feel!” Arthur cried.
There was a long moment of silence before Uther could apparently bring himself to reply. “If that is truly the case,” he said slowly, stiff-lipped. “And if the – if Merlin is telling the truth, you are… very greatly to be congratulated.”
Arthur inclined his head a little, his expression still rather angry.
Uther apparently realised that his son was less willing to be conciliatory than usual. “Lunch will be served in a couple of hours,” he coughed, sounding shockingly awkward for so self-assured a man. “I would be – happy to see you and, Merlin, there.”
Arthur had a great deal to learn about statesmanship, but he knew how far Uther could be pushed better than anyone else in the court from a childhood spent begging for just a little more of his father’s time. Rather than continuing his protest, he simply bowed and turned away.
**
He made his way straight back to Gaius’ chambers, hoping desperately that Merlin had finished vomiting – and that Morgana’s lessons had included proper etiquette for an informal lunch with the royal family.
Merlin had at least put aside his bowl for the moment, and was taking seriously to Gaius about something which seemed to involve a lot chamomile tea and lavender ‘to help you sleep’. Arthur rather thought he was doing his lover a favour by interrupting them, even if his news was likely to bring on a hernia for one of them.
“How was it?” Merlin asked, on noticing Arthur’s entrance.
“Could have been worse,” Arthur said laconically, far from willing to go into detail about his impromptu confession to his father, “But, er… my father has invited us to join him for lunch. Today.”
Merlin’s face was a study in terror. “And this could have been worse?” he asked, horrified. “Arthur, your father thinks I’m a half-wit-”
“Actually, his exact word was ‘deluded’,” Arthur told him, kindly.
Merlin’s answering look was less than friendly. “And I get all tongue-tied around him, he makes me nervous, I can’t think straight. I’m just going to make him think I’m even more of a fool!”
“Sounds more like you have a crush on him,” Arthur observed.
That at least stopped Merlin in his tracks. “It scares me that you could even think of coming up with something like that,” he told him flatly.
“On that happy note,” Gaius, it seemed, had an over-developed sense of irony. “I take my leave of both of you. Merlin, I’ll bring the tea and lavender later. Your Highness.” He bowed a little to Arthur, and left the two of them alone.
“You know, Merlin, lunch will be fine,” Arthur said, in what he hoped was an encouraging voice, but which he thought probably just made him sound a little insane. “My father’s really not that frightening.” He paused. “Well, he’s not really that frightening,” he amended after a moment.
Merlin gave him a hopeless look. “I’m going to say something stupid, and he’s going to have me exiled.”
“Don’t be stupid, I wouldn’t let him,” Arthur said absently, and Merlin stared. Arthur scrambled briefly to recover himself. “Because it would make… visiting… you, so, um, difficult,” he attempted to correct, but he could tell that hadn’t helped matters any. “Oh, just be there, would you?” he said irritably, and turned away.
Merlin grabbed his arm before he got too far away. “Thank you,” he said, eyes wide and honest. “I’d kiss you, but I don’t think I’d taste very nice right now.”
Arthur pulled a face. “Yes. Your breakfast looked revolting enough the first time round, I doubt time has improved it.”
“Hey! I like porridge!” Merlin said, but he was smiling. “When Gaius hasn’t made it, anyway.”
Arthur shuddered in sympathy. “If Gaius’ food tastes anything like his medicine, you have my deepest sympathy,” he said sincerely.
Merlin grinned, that huge, ridiculous grin of his which had been appearing less often lately, and Arthur didn’t even want to stop himself from grinning back. This whole thing was working out so much better than Arthur could ever have dreamt, and he wasn’t even going to try and pretend that he wasn’t happy. Being married to Merlin, unexpected though it was, was going to be so better than being married to any of the girls who’d been paraded around in front of him since he was old enough to know that girls were different from boys and weren’t, in fact, the carriers of some obscure plague - even at its worst moments, it would be ten times better than that.
Being married to Merlin would be – fun. At least he would probably still enjoy Merlin’s company in twenty years time. He was fairly certain he loved Merlin, and Gods damn it if that didn’t make it a hands down winner compared to the marriage he thought he was going to have.
**
Part Seven
