We found love in a hopeless place

[ayoungboy]

It's been 5 years since this whole nightmare began, and both sides had sustained incredible casualties. The whole of Europe was fairly decimated, but England was definitely the worst. Perhaps the worst of it all was the fact that Merlin didn't know if Arthur was dead or alive. Yes, he thought about him often. How stupid they'd both been. Merlin was willing to fight for what he believed in, but it hadn't been about him - it should have been about them, about working it out together. It should never have come to this.

He still wears the engagement ring on his finger. He's almost lost it once or twice, but it's still there - and he makes sure to take care of it and clean it, repair it. But that's not what this meeting it about; he's been selected to represent the magical community in the negotiations. All they wanted was their freedom back. Magic wasn't inherently evil; it was people that used it for nefarious purposes, people that mistreated it. They were willing to help put those people in jail. If only the non-magic users would understand.

They're meeting on what used to be Parliament, reduced to rubble, now. Merlin's fiddling with his hands, twisting the ring nervously. They've set up wards already; there are a few other magical delegates and guards there, but Merlin is to do the central talking. Still, there's only so much they can guard against, and if the non-magic users decide to attack…well, the magic users weren't going to be too keen on reopening negotiations after that.

Comments

[ayoungboy]

Merlin has a busy day as well. The dark magic faction has started to kick their campaign into gear, and there are rumors they need to dispel. Plus, gathering the supplies requested by the non-magic users, and keeping up their own encampment. Merlin's running around all day, purifying water, healing, and fortifying one of the enchantments surrounding their camp that has weakened.

He's not early, but at least he's not late like last night. Merlin arrives on foot this time, too tired to teleport himself the entire way there. "Hey."

[royalpratness]

"Hey." Arthur beams at him when he arrives. "You look just as tired as I feel."

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah?" Merlin chuckles, walking over to embrace the man. "You must feel awful, then."

[royalpratness]

"As a matter of fact, I do." Arthur grins, hugging Merlin tightly. "I missed you."

[ayoungboy]

"I missed you too," Merlin smiles, running his hands down Arthur's back. "Thought about you all day."

[royalpratness]

Arthur catches Merlin's lips in a kiss. "Let's go inside."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin smiles against his mouth and nods, wrapping his arm around Arthur's waist.

[royalpratness]

Arthur walks them inside and up the stairs again to their room of the previous night.

[ayoungboy]

"We should strip the sheets," Merlin murmurs, tucking in against Arthur's side.

[royalpratness]

"Yeah, we should. I'm sure there are spare ones in the closet." Pressing a kissing to Merlin's temple, Arthur starts changing the sheets.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin grabs the pillows and changes those, before looking around the room for anything else of use.

[royalpratness]

"I'll see if there's any clean bedding in any of the other rooms." Arthur says. A minute later, he returns with a new set of clean pillows and a blanket.

[ayoungboy]

"I found lotion," Merlin grins a little, raising his eyebrows. "Lots of bottles of lotion."

[royalpratness]

"How convenient." Arthur grins, taking off his shoes and crawling onto the bed.

[ayoungboy]

"They're complimentary," Merlin purrs, kicking off his own and climbing in with him.

[royalpratness]

Arthur rolls onto his side, sliding an arm around Merlin's waist. "Any ideas what you want to use them for?"

[ayoungboy]

"A few," Merlin purrs, sliding in closer.

[royalpratness]

"I thought so." Arthur smirks, leaning in for a kiss.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin laughs and kisses Arthur warmly, teasing his tongue against the seam of his lips.

[royalpratness]

Arthur happily parts his lips for Merlin, stroking his hand down over the back of his neck.

[ayoungboy]

"Mm..." Merlin hums approvingly, fingers wandering up into Arthur's hair.

[royalpratness]

Arthur nudges his knee in between Merlin's legs, kissing him deeply.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin rolls his body against Arthur's, tilting his head to allow the deepening of the kiss.

[royalpratness]

Arthur moans, sliding his other hand down to squeeze Merlin's ass.

[ayoungboy]

"Arthur..." Merlin sighs pleasantly, pressing back into his grip.