The first time Arthur said it, Run away with me, he was drunk and hanging off of Merlin after another banquet where he’d been trotted out in front of a visiting princess like a stallion available for stud.
Arthur was so drunk he only imagined Merlin’s soft sigh and his even softer reply, I’d go anywhere with you.
Arthur was stone-cold sober and sweating, exhausted after a hard morning’s training, when he saw Gwaine flash a grin at Merlin, who was standing beside the water barrel and ladling water into the tin cups of thirsty knights.
“Run away with me,” Gwaine said.
“Apologies, Sir Gwaine, but I have duties to attend to.” Merlin sounded serious, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Gwaine leaned on the fence beside Merlin and shook out his soft, shaggy hair. “Come on. Two kids, you and me, lost souls in revelry, running wild and running free.”
“You mean you drinking and gambling and me dragging your sorry arse to bed,” Merlin said.
Gwaine chuckled ruefully. “Aye, you know me too well.”
“I’d better stay, but thanks for the offer,” Merlin said.
The second time Arthur said, Run away with me, the kingdom was under attack. He’d ordered everyone to fall back toward the city itself, for peasants to gather inside its walls and soldiers and knights to defend them.
Merlin had stood fast, watching then tidal wave of armor and flame and forces pouring down the hill and into Camelot’s fertile fields.
“Merlin, we have to go! That’s an order!” Arthur shouted.
But Merlin raised one hand, and his eyes glinted golden, and he spoke words Arthur couldn’t understand, and it was like the tidal wave hit a wall.
The third time Arthur said, Run away with me, he was clutching the bars of Merlin’s cell, begging him to let his eyes turn golden again.
But Merlin reached through the bars and said, “No. You must stay here, and become the Once and Future King.” He curved one hand along Arthur’s jaw and gazed at him with blue, blue eyes. “I promise I’ll be by your side. But you cannot trouble yourself for me.”
“Run away with me,” Arthur said again.
What he meant was, Don’t leave me.
But then Merlin pushed him away, and guards were yelling, and Arthur tugged up the hood of his cloak and fled.
He stood, stone-faced, beside his father as Merlin was led to the pyre. The knights were equally stone-faced as Aredian read the charges. Merlin was guilty of no treason. He’d used his magic to save the kingdom.
Arthur couldn’t look away as the fires were lit, but he wished that he could close his eyes and weep, the way Morgana had he face buried against Gwen’s shoulder as she sobbed silently.
But then there was an explosion of gold and blue, and the pyre blazed high, blindingly bright.
As the flames receded, Arthur felt a cool breeze, and a voice whispered in his ear.
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Fill: BBC Merlin, Merlin/Arthur
Date: 2024-12-06 01:45 am (UTC)Arthur was so drunk he only imagined Merlin’s soft sigh and his even softer reply, I’d go anywhere with you.
Arthur was stone-cold sober and sweating, exhausted after a hard morning’s training, when he saw Gwaine flash a grin at Merlin, who was standing beside the water barrel and ladling water into the tin cups of thirsty knights.
“Run away with me,” Gwaine said.
“Apologies, Sir Gwaine, but I have duties to attend to.” Merlin sounded serious, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Gwaine leaned on the fence beside Merlin and shook out his soft, shaggy hair. “Come on. Two kids, you and me, lost souls in revelry, running wild and running free.”
“You mean you drinking and gambling and me dragging your sorry arse to bed,” Merlin said.
Gwaine chuckled ruefully. “Aye, you know me too well.”
“I’d better stay, but thanks for the offer,” Merlin said.
The second time Arthur said, Run away with me, the kingdom was under attack. He’d ordered everyone to fall back toward the city itself, for peasants to gather inside its walls and soldiers and knights to defend them.
Merlin had stood fast, watching then tidal wave of armor and flame and forces pouring down the hill and into Camelot’s fertile fields.
“Merlin, we have to go! That’s an order!” Arthur shouted.
But Merlin raised one hand, and his eyes glinted golden, and he spoke words Arthur couldn’t understand, and it was like the tidal wave hit a wall.
The third time Arthur said, Run away with me, he was clutching the bars of Merlin’s cell, begging him to let his eyes turn golden again.
But Merlin reached through the bars and said, “No. You must stay here, and become the Once and Future King.” He curved one hand along Arthur’s jaw and gazed at him with blue, blue eyes. “I promise I’ll be by your side. But you cannot trouble yourself for me.”
“Run away with me,” Arthur said again.
What he meant was, Don’t leave me.
But then Merlin pushed him away, and guards were yelling, and Arthur tugged up the hood of his cloak and fled.
He stood, stone-faced, beside his father as Merlin was led to the pyre. The knights were equally stone-faced as Aredian read the charges. Merlin was guilty of no treason. He’d used his magic to save the kingdom.
Arthur couldn’t look away as the fires were lit, but he wished that he could close his eyes and weep, the way Morgana had he face buried against Gwen’s shoulder as she sobbed silently.
But then there was an explosion of gold and blue, and the pyre blazed high, blindingly bright.
As the flames receded, Arthur felt a cool breeze, and a voice whispered in his ear.
Run away with me.