Title: Turning Pages

Summary: A ficlet miscellany inspired by random music/desserts/quotes/movies or thoughts.

Inspiration: a random thought.

A/N: Hey everyone! Yes, the title is a nod to the awesome HTTYD series. :) AND storm101 thank you for your prompt, it's a great one! It'll be coming up soon, hopefully. :)

Oh yes. Golden Age AU.

(Sandyy thanks to you I realized that it is actually blackmail and not bribe what I was referring to, haha. Thank you for that!)

How To Blackmail Your Sorcerer.

It happened quite by accident, really. Arthur hadn't meant it as in more than a tease.

That day had been an uneventful one. The King had woken up to his son running around with a wooden sword, knighting imaginary men. At mid-morning he'd met up with the Round Table and discussed the patrolling of the southern borders and right after supper Merlin -though Arthur had explicitly told him not to- had gone and almost blown up the northern tower.

"It really isn't that bad Arthur." Merlin was saying at the very moment, stroking the stubble on his chin. "It adds more character to the castle, if you ask me."

"No one asked you." Arthur said grumpily, sending his friend a look through the mirror while he trimmed his beard.

Even though Merlin did see him he simply smiled ruefully and went on. "And I'm already thinking of making one great window out of the...um-hole that was left. It can serve as a guarded look-out post!"

All the High King wanted was to sleep and, truly, it would be marvelous of Merlin to let him actually finish supper for oncewithout being scared witless by one thing or another.

And so, letting out a sigh and putting away his small, jeweled shear, Arthur said it.

"By the gods Merlin I swear that next time you decide to experiment at night with a highly dangerous root I will write to your mother."

Merlin's teasing reply never came and Arthur briefly wondered if his best friend had finally gotten the hang of those 'apparating' spells (horrible timing, as usual. Arthur didn't want to imagine what it would be like to apparate outside with the snow storm that was brewing.) But when he turned around Merlin was still there, looking as if he'd seen a ghost and gaping like a fish out of water.

"What is it?" and if concern seeped into his voice Arthur had long since minded. "Is not- its not one of those crystals again right? Did that root actually do something to you?" His right hand had already found Excalibur's hilt and his left one its usual place on Merlin's shoulder. He squeezed it gently and looked into his friend's blue eyes searchingly. "Merlin?"

"You don't mean it do you?" Merlin said with wide eyes. He let out a small but nevertheless undoubtedly nervous laugh and for a moment Arthur saw his old clumsy manservant instead of his all-powerful sorcerer.

All jest forgotten, Merlin placed a hand on the back of his neck and shifted his feet.

"You're not- you wouldn't write to my mother, would you?"

And oh, did the light in Arthur's eyes grow younger and brighter when he realized that he had unwittingly stumbled upon.

("Because," Guinevere told Merlin with a patient smile. "Arthur can hardly put a knife to his own throat whenever he tries to convince you do do something.")

Can you all imagine it, though? Gaius simply being done whenever his two boys point fingers at each other and him just walking away. The knights being awkward when their King and Merlin start arguing for one thing or another and Gwaine thoroughly enjoying the show. Guinevere being Merlin's own 'secret weapon' "So help me Arthur if you don't stop training and rest that arm right now I will tell Gwen that I chose the necklace you gave her last week." And poor Arthur just being in plain disadvantage- until he finds Merlin's own weak spot.

Have an awesome week, y'all.

Love,

Ocean.

P.S- (I'm not trying to rub salt on the wound here but man... aren't we ever going to talk about the fact that Merlin lit up the fire for Freya's and Lancelot's funeral boats but not Arthur's?)