a merthur fanfic written for the Merlin Memory Month 2019
prompt: things to hide / things to reveal (path 3)
summary - The long-awaited future is finally here - Camelot is flourishing, the people are happy, the time of the once and future king and Emrys has come. Still, there’s one thing left to do before everything is perfect. Aka, Merlin plans to propose to Arthur :)
also posted on FFN and AO3.
Merlin breathed in and breathed out, closing his eyes. The summer breeze played with his hair and made him smile. The harvest was good, best in the last five years in fact, the day was sunny and all patrols returned home with good news.
He was standing in the tallest tower of Camelot, alone, gazing at the kingdom that he and Arthur had built together on mutual trust and loyalty of their knights and people. He could hear children laughing in the streets, even from all the way up here.
Merlin was no servant anymore. He still spent most of his days with Arthur of course and nothing much changed between them, except that Merlin no longer had to wash all his dirty socks and muck out the stables. Ever since magic was legalized in Camelot again, he’d been appointed as the court sorcerer, but that wasn’t all he was – he was also a teacher, helping sorcerers of all ages come to terms with their powers and help them control it in a safe environment. He was still a skilled physician and he helped Gaius from time to time (although they’d also already found a new apprentice for Gaius because Merlin couldn’t possibly handle so much work alone).
Gwen was a lady, and Lancelot was lucky to have her as his wife. They were both very happy together and they lived in the castle. Even Morgana came back once she saw what Camelot had become and that she’d been wrong about Arthur. She was now the official High Priestess of Camelot, along with Merlin taking care of new sorcerers and sorceresses, helping them and teaching them. The library was also filled with new, previously forbidden books, and both of them liked to read them and study them together, in order to become better in teaching magic. It was good to see Morgana smile again, especially when Aithusa was there with them, healthy and happy and growing fast.
Arthur was the king, and he was doing a good job. He always made sure to hear all the opinions in the room before making decisions, listening to all the advice from his friends and the council. Merlin was proud of him. He truly deserved the title of the once and future king.
Camelot had finally become what he’d always knew it could become. The golden age was here.
Now, there was only one thing, one little thing, worrying him. He pursed his lips and reached into his pocket, finding an old silver-gold ring. He put his both hands on the stone wall in front of him and left the ring there, inspecting it for the umpteenth time.
It was meant for Arthur. Obviously. But there was something keeping Merlin from giving it to him and asking him for marriage.
First, he was nervous as hell. He had absolutely no experience whatsoever, which was why he’d gone to Lancelot for help, but it didn’t help much. Another thing, the more important thing was … He wasn’t sure if asking Arthur was the best thing.