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]

"I can change the background." Merlin offers. "To anything. Our apartment? The park?"

[royalpratness]

"The appartment." Arthur says without having to think about. He missed the place a lot.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin smiles, and in a flash, their surroundings reform themselves. It looks...exactly how he remembered it. "That's better."

[likespie]

"Much." Arthur agrees, sitting down on their sofa. "I think I've caught a cold."

[ayoungboy]

"A cold?" Merlin sits down next to him.

[royalpratness]

"Yeah it was raining when I walked back to the camp."

[ayoungboy]

"Oh dear," Merlin frowns. "Would you like me to heal it up?"

[royalpratness]

"Can you do that?" Arthur asks, surprised. "In here?"

[ayoungboy]

"I can try." It'll take more power, but.

[royalpratness]

"No, I don't want you to exhaust yourself further." Arthur takes Merlin's hand in his.

[ayoungboy]

"And I don't want you to be sick, sweetheart." Merlin smiles gently.

[royalpratness]

"It's fine. A cold won't kill me." Arthur assures him.

[ayoungboy]

"I still want to heal you," Merlin insists.

[royalpratness]

Arthur rolls his eyes, knowing how stubborn Merlin can be. "Okay, fine."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin curls into Arthur's side, laying a hand over his chest. "Good."

[royalpratness]

Arthur closes his eyes, waiting for Merlin to heal him.

[ayoungboy]

It's a soft wave of energy, washing over the man and trying to cleanse him.

[royalpratness]

The feeling of Merlin's magic washing over him is still familar and Arthur can't help but smile. "Thanks."

[ayoungboy]

"You're welcome," Merlin rests his head on Arthur's shoulder. "Tell me about your day?"

[royalpratness]

Arthur wraps an around Merlin's waist. "Long and unplesant sums it up. Yours?"

[ayoungboy]

"Long. Not altogether unpleasant. Thought about you a lot."

[royalpratness]

Arthur smiles. "I thought about you too."

[ayoungboy]

"I'm just so glad you're alive..."

[royalpratness]

Arthur cups Merlin's face and kisses him.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin kisses him back warmly, curling more fully into Arthur on the couch.