ayoungboy | We found love in a hopeless place

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

royalpratness

Arthur stops in the doorway, looking back at Merlin without saying anything.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin finds his pants and pulls them on, smiling to himself. It's clear he's happy to have found Arthur again.

From:

royalpratness

Merlin has only just pulled up his pants when Arthur hurries back to his side, wrapping his arms around him tightly.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin blinks in surprise before he hugs him back, tight against his chest.

From:

royalpratness

"Sorry." Arthur mutters, somewhat embarrassed. "I'm just... I worry that you'll disappear on me again for another five years."

From:

ayoungboy

"Never," Merlin runs his hand soothingly down Arthur's back. "I'm not leaving again. Not willingly."

From:

royalpratness

"I still wish you could come and stay with me now." Arthur admits, still clinging to Merlin.

From:

ayoungboy

"Me too." Merlin smiles softly. "Think of it like this - we're both going to work. I'll see you when we get home tonight."

From:

royalpratness

"Like it used to be." Arthur sighs, resting his chin on Merlin's shoulder.

From:

ayoungboy

"Just like it used to be." Merlin holds him against his chest. "Like it will be again."

From:

royalpratness

"I really hope so." Arthur squeezes Merlin's shoulders and lets go of him. "Okay. I'll see you later."

From:

ayoungboy

"I'll see you." Merlin blows him a kiss and teasingly waves goodbye.

From:

royalpratness

Arthur slips out of the room and makes his way back to the camp. He has a car parked outside and hence the trip takes only about half an hour.

It's a busy day, with the council meeting and everything else that needs to be sorted out and discussed. Arthur keeps finding himself distracted by thought of Merlin though and has a hard time paying attention to much of anything. He makes some half-baked excuse to leave their final meeting of the day early, to make sure that he'll be at the hotel in time.

From:

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."

From:

royalpratness

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

From:

ayoungboy

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

From:

royalpratness

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

From:

ayoungboy

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

From:

royalpratness

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

From:

ayoungboy

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

From:

royalpratness

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

From:

ayoungboy

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

From:

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.

From:

ayoungboy

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

From:

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.