onceandfutureprat

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.012

[Arthur's been back for a few hours actually, but he's been spending that time trying to reconcile everything that happened at home with what he knows from the Barge. And it's a confusing mess in case you were wondering.]

How long was I gone from here?

If we haven't met, I'm Arthur Pendragon, king of Camelot and a Warden here.

Merlin, if you're still here, I'd like a word with you.

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"Did you do something to me to make me seem like an idiot?"

He was silent for a few seconds, not quite making eye contact, then coughed.

"Maybe?"

Arthur punched him again for that. If there was anything he had sorted out so far, it was that whenever he thought Merlin was being exceptionally weird or evasive, his magic was involved.

"Don't do it again."

He rubbed at the sore spot and frowned. "The citadel was overrun. Camelot would have been left defenceless if you'd been killed."

He didn't like that he'd done it, of course. And if he'd had any other option - but he hadn't, and that felt worth pointing out.

"Merlin." It was a warning, not a conversation.

If I had the same choice again I would have made the same decision.

He was going to say it, but he didn't, because his mind spun further - hopefully, if he had to make that same choice, it would be some time in the future when Arthur knew about his magic. And if Arthur knew his choice was either to go or be coerced by a force he couldn't resist -

That was disturbing. Disequieting, to think that his power over Arthur was harder to measure when Arthur wasn't conscious of it. Or maybe next time Arthur would simply trust his judgement.

"Sire," he said, distractedly, then blinked the thoughts away. "I'm glad you've returned."

Arthur raised an eyebrow at him, wondering where Merlin's mind had drifted off to but then coming to the decision that he really... didn't want to know.

"Lonely, were you?"

"Absolutely. Think I might feel a hug coming on, actually."

"I think you must be delusional and looking for another bruise," Arthur replied smartly.

Merlin shrugged off the threat, but a more serious, curious cast came to his face.

"What was the last thing that happened at home?"

"Guinevere's coronation." And that was a happier topic than talking about beating up Merlin, though that did amuse Arthur. It wasn't pleasant to be separated from her right after he got her back, but he'd given his word to graduate an Inmate and there was the small comfort that no time seemed to pass while he was here. She probably wouldn't even notice.

He beamed at that - both the reminder of the Camelot he'd be returning to, and the knowledge that Arthur had (for lack of a better term) caught up to him. That he would have the Arthur here who had grown, who had learnt from his time as King. Then it faded.

"I'm sorry you had to leave her so soon."

He didn't mention the possibility he could have stayed in Camelot, of course. Arthur wasn't leaving the Barge until he'd fulfilled his oath, and he understood that.

Arthur gave a rolling shrug. "It's enough to know she'll be there when I'm done here." Then they could start their reign together without this debt hanging over his head.

"And she won't miss you. You didn't notice that I'd gone, after all."

"I figure you're in the tavern every time I can't find you."

Merlin raised his eyebrows. If nothing else he'd been hoping Arthur might acknowledge what his time spent 'in the tavern' actually was.

"Did you never find that excuse suspicious when you never saw me drunk?"

"Merlin," Arthur started. Alright, maybe that was a good point, but before he found out that Merlin had magic and was hiding major things from him, he just thought that Merlin was like the castle idiot, and a clear danger to himself and others. And he just dismissed his odd behavior out of fondness and because Merlin couldn't help being a total moron. It was just how he was born.

"I figured you were either drunk or seriously brain damaged."

"But you kept me around anyway? Now we definitely have to hug."

"Have you been hit in the head recently, Merlin? Is that where this obsession with hugs is coming from?"

"If I'd been hit in the head you wouldn't be able to tell the difference, would you?"

Arthur couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at that retort and he reached out to clap Merlin on the shoulder briefly. "We obviously need to get you a helm."

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.012

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