Fic: Playful
Dec. 29th, 2010 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
disturbinglynicTitle: Playful
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1456
Warnings: none
Summary: Merlin and Arthur go on a hunting trip.
Disclaimer: If I owned them then I wouldn't have to play with them in stories.
A/N: Christmas present for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
earenwe ♥
Hunting. Arthur wanted to go hunting. Merlin hated when Arthur wanted to go hunting. Merlin really just hated hunting. Although, the fact that it would be just the two of them this time did make him feel a bit better.
He didn’t know why Arthur insisted on bringing him. Arthur had gone on about needing entertainment, but then had just kept prattling on, so Merlin had just ignored most of it.
Now here he was, getting the horses ready for him and Arthur, which included stuff for camping, because Arthur had also decided that it was a wonderful idea to torture him with an overnight trip.
It was all fantastic for Arthur. He loved hunting and he loved torturing Merlin. That must actually be why Arthur brought him along. So he could torture him.
“Merlin, are the horses ready yet?”
“Almost, sire,” Merlin gritted out.
“How long could it possibly take to get the horses ready? You have got to be the slowest manservant ever.”
“And you’re the world’s biggest prat for taking me on this trip, so what’s your point?”
He probably shouldn’t have said that and was ready for Arthur to order him to the stocks or something, but Arthur just laughed.
“Come on.” He clapped a hand down on Merlin’s shoulder. “Let’s get going.”
Arthur helped him finish getting the horses ready, and then they were off. They spent most of the morning travelling in silence. Merlin enjoyed this side of Arthur. It was nice when Arthur wasn’t yelling at him to fetch something, or telling him to do something, or complaining that he did something wrong. A silent Arthur he could handle.
“Merlin, are you ready to stop for lunch?”
“If you are.”
“No, I’m asking you what you want to do.”
Merlin looked at Arthur waiting for…he wasn’t sure what, but this wasn’t like Arthur.
“I want to stop now then. I’m hungry.”
“We’re in a good place to stop, so that works out nicely.”
They dismounted from their horses and Merlin was surprised when Arthur began helping him unpack for lunch. He wanted to ask Arthur why he was being so nice, but he didn’t want to ruin his good mood, so he kept his mouth shut.
They ate in silence, soaking up the sun. Merlin was kind of glad to be out in the open where he didn’t have very many duties, especially since Arthur seemed so keen on helping him.
He noticed that Arthur looked more relaxed as well. If he didn’t have to ride a horse and help hunt, then he might actually enjoy this. He lay down and enjoyed the sun on his face.
He must have dozed because the next thing he knew, there was cold water being dumped on his face. He sat up to find Arthur smirking at him.
“That’s what you get for falling asleep. We still have more land to cover you know.”
“So you had to dump water on me?”
“Well, I didn’t have to, but it was just too hard to resist.”
Merlin should probably be more upset by the way he had been woken up, but it was so rare to see Arthur like this, and it was infectious. He shook his head and smiled.
“Such a child.”
Arthur just snorted and clapped a hand down on his shoulder.
“Come on Merlin. Let’s get going.”
They got back on their horses and headed for the woods. Merlin was surprised when he realized that they had been in the woods for a few hours already and Arthur hadn’t tried to shoot anything.
“Arthur, I thought you were out here to hunt.”
Arthur shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing. He could swear that Arthur was blushing too.
“We’re almost near where I want to set up camp for the night.”
Merlin nodded, then realized that Arthur couldn’t see him nod, but didn’t bother vocalizing the acknowledgement anyway.
It turned out that the spot Arthur wanted to camp out at was near a lake. Well, maybe it was more of a large pond. They tied the horses near the water so they could drink from it and then Arthur was stripping down, smirking at Merlin.
“Come on, Merlin. Time to have some fun.”
Arthur was already waist deep in water by the time Merlin realized he was still standing there, fully clothed, like the idiot Arthur was always calling him. He waded into the water after Arthur, who turned around and immediately splashed him, a look of mischief in his eyes.
“So it’s a war you want then?”
He splashed Arthur back, and then they spent a good portion of the evening splashing each other, trying to dunk each other, and anything else they could think of. Merlin couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so much, or the last time Arthur had laughed so freely.
He went to pick up his clothes when he saw that Arthur was looking at him funny.
“Do I have a fish on my head or something?”
“No. I just…dry us off, Merlin.”
Merlin was confused. They didn’t bring any towels with them, so he wasn’t sure why Arthur was demanding he dry them off. He looked down at his clothes, shrugged, and headed over to Arthur.
“No Merlin. Dry us off. I’m sure you can.”
Well, that was a funny way of wording…oh. Oh. Arthur knew. He had a sudden moment of panic, but Arthur didn’t look like he wanted to kill Merlin. In fact, he looked almost curious.
Merlin muttered a few words and they were both dry. They stood there staring at each other, and Merlin became very aware of the fact that they were both still naked. He broke eye contact first and hurried into his clothes.
He avoided looking at Arthur, avoided the conversation that they were going to have, and went to start the fire so he could get their supper going. He was about to start the fire the hard way, but since Arthur knew, he figured why not? He brought the fire to life using magic.
Arthur spoke up behind him. “As much as I’m bothered by the fact that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me, I understand why you didn’t. I’ve had time to think about it. I just want you to know that we’re okay.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder, but he couldn’t turn around to face Arthur just yet, so he just nodded.
Arthur was okay with the fact that Merlin did magic. He was having a hard time wrapping his head around that. Arthur, at the very least, should have yelled at him. That was something he would have been able to deal with, but this…he wasn’t really sure what to do with this.
He had been worried about telling Arthur because his father had such a deep hatred of magic ingrained into Arthur that he hadn’t been sure if Arthur could see past that, no matter how strong their friendship was.
Arthur had proved him wrong though, and he felt terrible about it. He had to apologize, even if Arthur didn’t want to hear it.
“I am sorry.”
“I know.”
Arthur was turning him now so that they were facing each other. Arthur was smiling and Merlin couldn’t help but smile back. He felt happier than he had in a long time. He felt lighter without the weight of his secret. He felt all of the things that had been growing since he had first met Arthur rise to the surface at once.
He’d been hiding his feelings for so long. Between that and the magic, he had not had it easy being around Arthur. Now though, with one secret out in the open, he wondered if he should just let his other secret out as well.
He closed the distance between them and brushed his lips against Arthur’s. He pulled back and watched the play of emotions on Arthur’s face, wondering if after everything, he’d be hung for this rather than the magic. That was an unsettling thought.
He didn’t have long to worry before Arthur pulled Merlin to him and was kissing him. It was gentle and sweet, an exploration of each other’s mouths that left them both breathless. Arthur was smiling at him again, and Merlin was sure he was wearing some ridiculous grin too.
“Come on. I’ll help with supper.”
He knew things would go back to normal when they were around other people, but in the privacy of Arthur’s chamber he looked forward to experiencing more of this side of Arthur.
He was also pretty sure he wouldn’t be complaining about any further hunting trips that were just the two of them.
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1456
Warnings: none
Summary: Merlin and Arthur go on a hunting trip.
Disclaimer: If I owned them then I wouldn't have to play with them in stories.
A/N: Christmas present for
earenwe ♥Hunting. Arthur wanted to go hunting. Merlin hated when Arthur wanted to go hunting. Merlin really just hated hunting. Although, the fact that it would be just the two of them this time did make him feel a bit better.
He didn’t know why Arthur insisted on bringing him. Arthur had gone on about needing entertainment, but then had just kept prattling on, so Merlin had just ignored most of it.
Now here he was, getting the horses ready for him and Arthur, which included stuff for camping, because Arthur had also decided that it was a wonderful idea to torture him with an overnight trip.
It was all fantastic for Arthur. He loved hunting and he loved torturing Merlin. That must actually be why Arthur brought him along. So he could torture him.
“Merlin, are the horses ready yet?”
“Almost, sire,” Merlin gritted out.
“How long could it possibly take to get the horses ready? You have got to be the slowest manservant ever.”
“And you’re the world’s biggest prat for taking me on this trip, so what’s your point?”
He probably shouldn’t have said that and was ready for Arthur to order him to the stocks or something, but Arthur just laughed.
“Come on.” He clapped a hand down on Merlin’s shoulder. “Let’s get going.”
Arthur helped him finish getting the horses ready, and then they were off. They spent most of the morning travelling in silence. Merlin enjoyed this side of Arthur. It was nice when Arthur wasn’t yelling at him to fetch something, or telling him to do something, or complaining that he did something wrong. A silent Arthur he could handle.
“Merlin, are you ready to stop for lunch?”
“If you are.”
“No, I’m asking you what you want to do.”
Merlin looked at Arthur waiting for…he wasn’t sure what, but this wasn’t like Arthur.
“I want to stop now then. I’m hungry.”
“We’re in a good place to stop, so that works out nicely.”
They dismounted from their horses and Merlin was surprised when Arthur began helping him unpack for lunch. He wanted to ask Arthur why he was being so nice, but he didn’t want to ruin his good mood, so he kept his mouth shut.
They ate in silence, soaking up the sun. Merlin was kind of glad to be out in the open where he didn’t have very many duties, especially since Arthur seemed so keen on helping him.
He noticed that Arthur looked more relaxed as well. If he didn’t have to ride a horse and help hunt, then he might actually enjoy this. He lay down and enjoyed the sun on his face.
He must have dozed because the next thing he knew, there was cold water being dumped on his face. He sat up to find Arthur smirking at him.
“That’s what you get for falling asleep. We still have more land to cover you know.”
“So you had to dump water on me?”
“Well, I didn’t have to, but it was just too hard to resist.”
Merlin should probably be more upset by the way he had been woken up, but it was so rare to see Arthur like this, and it was infectious. He shook his head and smiled.
“Such a child.”
Arthur just snorted and clapped a hand down on his shoulder.
“Come on Merlin. Let’s get going.”
They got back on their horses and headed for the woods. Merlin was surprised when he realized that they had been in the woods for a few hours already and Arthur hadn’t tried to shoot anything.
“Arthur, I thought you were out here to hunt.”
Arthur shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing. He could swear that Arthur was blushing too.
“We’re almost near where I want to set up camp for the night.”
Merlin nodded, then realized that Arthur couldn’t see him nod, but didn’t bother vocalizing the acknowledgement anyway.
It turned out that the spot Arthur wanted to camp out at was near a lake. Well, maybe it was more of a large pond. They tied the horses near the water so they could drink from it and then Arthur was stripping down, smirking at Merlin.
“Come on, Merlin. Time to have some fun.”
Arthur was already waist deep in water by the time Merlin realized he was still standing there, fully clothed, like the idiot Arthur was always calling him. He waded into the water after Arthur, who turned around and immediately splashed him, a look of mischief in his eyes.
“So it’s a war you want then?”
He splashed Arthur back, and then they spent a good portion of the evening splashing each other, trying to dunk each other, and anything else they could think of. Merlin couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed so much, or the last time Arthur had laughed so freely.
He went to pick up his clothes when he saw that Arthur was looking at him funny.
“Do I have a fish on my head or something?”
“No. I just…dry us off, Merlin.”
Merlin was confused. They didn’t bring any towels with them, so he wasn’t sure why Arthur was demanding he dry them off. He looked down at his clothes, shrugged, and headed over to Arthur.
“No Merlin. Dry us off. I’m sure you can.”
Well, that was a funny way of wording…oh. Oh. Arthur knew. He had a sudden moment of panic, but Arthur didn’t look like he wanted to kill Merlin. In fact, he looked almost curious.
Merlin muttered a few words and they were both dry. They stood there staring at each other, and Merlin became very aware of the fact that they were both still naked. He broke eye contact first and hurried into his clothes.
He avoided looking at Arthur, avoided the conversation that they were going to have, and went to start the fire so he could get their supper going. He was about to start the fire the hard way, but since Arthur knew, he figured why not? He brought the fire to life using magic.
Arthur spoke up behind him. “As much as I’m bothered by the fact that you didn’t trust me enough to tell me, I understand why you didn’t. I’ve had time to think about it. I just want you to know that we’re okay.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder, but he couldn’t turn around to face Arthur just yet, so he just nodded.
Arthur was okay with the fact that Merlin did magic. He was having a hard time wrapping his head around that. Arthur, at the very least, should have yelled at him. That was something he would have been able to deal with, but this…he wasn’t really sure what to do with this.
He had been worried about telling Arthur because his father had such a deep hatred of magic ingrained into Arthur that he hadn’t been sure if Arthur could see past that, no matter how strong their friendship was.
Arthur had proved him wrong though, and he felt terrible about it. He had to apologize, even if Arthur didn’t want to hear it.
“I am sorry.”
“I know.”
Arthur was turning him now so that they were facing each other. Arthur was smiling and Merlin couldn’t help but smile back. He felt happier than he had in a long time. He felt lighter without the weight of his secret. He felt all of the things that had been growing since he had first met Arthur rise to the surface at once.
He’d been hiding his feelings for so long. Between that and the magic, he had not had it easy being around Arthur. Now though, with one secret out in the open, he wondered if he should just let his other secret out as well.
He closed the distance between them and brushed his lips against Arthur’s. He pulled back and watched the play of emotions on Arthur’s face, wondering if after everything, he’d be hung for this rather than the magic. That was an unsettling thought.
He didn’t have long to worry before Arthur pulled Merlin to him and was kissing him. It was gentle and sweet, an exploration of each other’s mouths that left them both breathless. Arthur was smiling at him again, and Merlin was sure he was wearing some ridiculous grin too.
“Come on. I’ll help with supper.”
He knew things would go back to normal when they were around other people, but in the privacy of Arthur’s chamber he looked forward to experiencing more of this side of Arthur.
He was also pretty sure he wouldn’t be complaining about any further hunting trips that were just the two of them.
