Spellbound

[ayoungboy]

This week has been fucking exhausting. He'd been consuling all week and dealing with a threat over in Norway. Somebody trying to brew mind control potions, again. Why couldn't everybody just get along and stop fussing? He's finally back home, in England, heading up the wizarding council while they go over worldwide news, and he gets an invite - no, it isn't that. It's more of a demand, from King Pendragon.

He's a bit tired, really, and didn't feel like dealing with it. "Not now, thank you. Politely decline, for me?" He told the runner. "Send him some magical candy."

He just wanted to go home and finish his book, thank you. He didn't ask for these powers, but if he took a holiday the world would flip out. People held him in high regard for some reason - he wasn't that wise, or old. He was just a young man trying to do right. Yet somehow the King was demanding his presence.

Comments

[ayoungboy]

Merlin glances up at that, shooting Arthur a curious look. "Comes with the power and responsibility."

[royalpratness]

"I have power and responsibility too. Doesn't mean I get beat up regularly." Arthur sighs, looking up when the waiter appears to take their orders.

[ayoungboy]

"You've got knights to protect you and an army at your command."

[royalpratness]

"And you're the most powerful wizard to have ever walked the earth. I think you win." Arthur runs a finger over the rim of his wine glass.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin laughs, shaking his head at the offer of wine and asking for a glass of water. He wasn't paying for this, after all. "Don't piss me off, then, aye."

[royalpratness]

"No, he'll have some wine as well!" Arthur quickly tells the waiter, turning back to Merlin. "I told you this is my apology to you. You can eat and drink whatever you want."

[ayoungboy]

"Arthur..." Merlin hesitates, shaking his head. "You don't need to. As long as you mean what you say."

[royalpratness]

"I want to. Come on, it's not a big deal. It's just dinner." In a fancy restaurant in Rome. Arthur gently nudges Merlin's leg beneath the table.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin snorts and smiles a little at the nudge. "Alright." He doesn't mention how long this would have taken him to scrape together the cash for. Arthur has an overflow of wealth; he's not sure the man would understand.

[royalpratness]

Arthur looks out of the window for a while, watching people pass by. "I love Italy. It's so much warmer than in England."

[ayoungboy]

"Do you get to visit often?"

[royalpratness]

"No, sadly not. Maybe once a year for a state visit. I never get to spend any time traveling or just going to the beach."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin smiles wryly. "Yet another thing we have in common."

[royalpratness]

"A side effect of power and responsibility." Arthur sighs, rubbing a hand over his forehead.

[ayoungboy]

"The people need leadership." Merlin nodded to Arthur. "And they need protection."

[royalpratness]

"Which apparently equals to us not getting proper holidays."

[ayoungboy]

"Exactly," Merlin chuckles and shrugs again.

[royalpratness]

"Let's take a week off at some point and go on holidays together." Arthur suggests, grinning.

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah?" Merlin snorts and raises an eyebrow. "Think we have to date at least a month before a joint holiday. Where to?"

[royalpratness]

"More like half a year." Arthur shrugs. "I don't mind. Somewhere warm and sunny would be nice."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin laughs and nods. "Florida?"

[royalpratness]

"Florida sounds good. We have to be careful about all the alligators." Arthur chuckles, his gaze drifting back out of the window.

[ayoungboy]

"Florida, Spain. Anywhere." Merlin smiles, toying with his napkin.

[royalpratness]

"Australia? Or are you afraid of spiders?" Arthur teases.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin laughs, eyes crinkling happily. "I could try surfing, aye."