Season 1 Episode 13.

Story 13: Until the Day I Die

Chapter 6: Of Course We Knew

Merlin and Arthur stared at Morgana's body for a moment before Merlin ran to Arthur. He captured Arthur in a kiss. "You did it," Merlin said in between kisses. "You did it!"

Arthur twisted one arm around Merlin's back, deepening the kiss. Their relief was fueling their passion. They knew that this would mean they didn't have to keep any more secrets. Merlin could finally tell Gaius, Arthur could tell his knights. They could tell everyone. Merlin didn't have to keep any more secrets. He could be himself.

Merlin had a moment of clarity as he thought about who he was. His magic no longer was the only thing that defined him. If he didn't have his magic, he would still have Arthur. He was a man in love with Arthur, but it was more than that. Magic or not, he would protect Arthur or die trying. With that realization, Merlin felt as if a dam had broken. His powers flooded back to him. One look at Arthur and he knew Arthur had felt it too.

When they broke apart, a smile spread across both of their faces. The end of Morgana marked the end of much more. It marked the end of the secrets and the lies. Their excitement bubbled and threatened to make them far too giddy.

Merlin was the first to remember. "Camlann," he said, his face darkening.

Arthur's face drained of its color. "Is there still a threat there?" He asked uncertainly. Morgana had declared war, but she was dead.

"Without Morgana, the Saxons will be disorganized and won't be able to cause as much damage, but there is still a war. They will still fight," Merlin told him.

"Then we mustn't wait any longer. I rode here on a horse. We can ride together," Arthur told him.

Merlin nodded and followed him. It was heart breaking how quickly their beautiful moment had been squashed by the dark tendrils of reality. They were so close. So close to their freedom, so close to being able to tell the world who they truly were. There was one last obstacle that stood in their way. Camlann.

They arrived at Camlann three hours later.

It was as Merlin said. The Saxons were disorganized, but they were all trained soldiers. There were many Saxon bodies spread through the battle field, but Arthur could see the red cloaks that indicated he had lost many men as well. He and Merlin charged to the battle field. From there everything passed in a blur.

He and Merlin moved as one unit. Merlin supplied the magic and Arthur supplied the blunt force. Between the two of them, they were unstoppable. Arthur didn't know how many men they had slayed until he finally noticed they were retreating. He and Merlin temporarily paused in their fight. There were no immediate threats. They looked around where other men were struggling with scores of men.

"We have to split up," Merlin told him. "We have to help your knights."

Arthur looked at Merlin. He was dirty. His face was smeared and he looked like he was on the brink of collapsing from exhaustion. But there was a determination the likes of which Arthur seldom saw in Merlin. Arthur quickly kissed him. "Be careful," he said before he ran off to where three of his men were fighting about twenty Saxons. He knew Merlin would be running in the other direction.

Hours and hours passed as they fought. Arthur felt his arm burn in protest every time he lifted his sword. He felt his legs scream with every step he took. But their work paid off. The Saxons they hadn't slain retreated. Arthur raised his sword arm in victory and his men joined in his cheers. Arthur spun around, trying to find Merlin. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest when he saw Merlin backed against the wall of the mountain surrounded by six men. The men were Saxons.

Arthur moved on auto-pilot. He had been careless. He should never have let Merlin out of his sight.

Ignoring his screaming legs, Arthur ran with a renewed vigor. He slipped in between two of the Saxons and stood casually between them and Merlin. For the first time, he noticed that Merlin was clutching his side. There was a frightening looking blood stain around the wound he tried to hide. "What happened?" Arthur asked furiously.

"Arthur, I'm fine. Calm down," Merlin told him. Arthur glared at him until he gave him an answer. Merlin groaned. "You know. You're too stubborn for your own good. I was stabbed obviously. It's not life threatening." Merlin dropped his voice, but Arthur heard him mutter, "yet."

Arthur stood in between the Saxons and Merlin with his sword at the ready. "I just need your help with this, then I'll get you back to Gaius so he can patch you up," Arthur told him. "One last thing I need of you."

Arthur didn't need to look to know that Merlin would have nodded his head. Arthur lunged at one of the Saxons, swiping across his chest then bringing his sword in a loop to block a blow from another. He heard Merlin whisper something under his breath and saw two Saxons collide into one another, banging their heads. They fell to the ground unconscious. Arthur frowned. Merlin must be weaker than he was letting on if that's all he could do.

Arthur stabbed his sword through one Saxons chest. He pulled it out and turned to the two remaining Saxons. To his surprise, they were dangling in midair and both looked rather frightened. Arthur looked at Merlin confused and was alarmed to see that he was slumped against the wall of the mountain. Arthur didn't hesitate to kill both of the defenseless Saxons.

He kneeled by Merlin's side. "Merlin," he called. Merlin's eyes flickered in recognition of Arthur's voice. "Merlin!"

Merlin's eyes finally flew open. "Heal yourself," Arthur ordered. "At least a little bit. Just so you can make it back to Camelot. I know you cannot do it all the way, but do a little. Do what you can."

Merlin nodded. He opened and closed his mouth several times in his silent spell. He didn't have the strength to speak out loud, but he knew this would be enough. A soft white light enveloped the wound, closing the surface of it. Merlin let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't healed himself, not by far, but he had taken the measures to prevent himself from bleeding to death.

Arthur froze when he saw Mordred lying dead at Merlin's feet. "I couldn't help it," Merlin whispered. "I tried not to, but it was the only way I could stop him."

Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin. "It's okay Merlin," he told him.

Merlin stared at Arthur and Arthur stared right back. In that moment, they didn't think about the hundreds of men that could see them, they didn't think about their injuries, they didn't consider that there might be repercussions. All they cared about was that they had survived. They would have the rest of their lives to regret it.

Merlin and Arthur leaned forward and kissed. It wasn't a long kiss, but it sent the silent message they couldn't find the words to say out loud. It showed them just how relieved they were to have this moment. They had done the impossible. They had kept their relationship hidden for ten years, keeping it hidden from Uther and Gaius and all of the knights and all of the people of Camelot. They had managed to survive even when all the odds were stacked against them. Their kiss told them how grateful they were for that.

When they broke apart, Merlin froze, looking behind them. Arthur turned and had the unpleasant sensation of being looked at as if he were in an exhibit. Arthur cleared his throat uncomfortably. He hadn't given much thought to how he would tell his knights.

"Finally," Gwaine called out. "We thought you were going to try and keep this secret forever."

Arthur's jaw dropped and he knew Merlin would be similarly shocked.

"You-you knew?" Merlin spluttered.

"Of course we knew," Percival called out.

"Did you think you were subtle?" Gwaine asked amused.

"We had decided not to address it sire," Leon explained. "We figured when you were ready to, you would tell us."

Merlin and Arthur glanced at each other, sharing in their confusion. "But how did you find out?" Arthur asked confused. They had always been so careful.

"Well aside from the fact that whenever one of you is in trouble the other one looks like they're having kittens, it was pretty obvious in the way you talk," Gwaine explained. "And the fact that you guys make lovey faces at each other when you think we aren't looking."

Arthur closed his eyes. He wasn't sure how he felt right now. Definitely embarrassed. Definitely relieved. He let out the breath he was holding. Snapping into king mode, he started barking orders. "Dig a ditch on the far side of the mountain. All of the Saxons are to be buried there," Arthur glanced at Mordred. "As is Mordred." It pained him to do that, but Mordred had committed treason. He didn't deserve the burial the knights would get. "Assemble the bodies of our fallen warriors. They will receive a proper burial back at Camelot. We will depart as soon as that is completed."

There was a bustle as all of the knights began sorting through bodies. It was fortunate that so many knights remained as it took them under an hour to complete the tasks Arthur had asked for. Arthur hadn't left Merlin's side. None of the knights begrudged him that. Merlin was hurt, more than he was willing to let Arthur know. He kept losing consciousness and Arthur kept slapping him to make him wake up.

The moment they were ready to depart, Arthur rode ahead with Merlin. He told his knights he wanted to scout ahead, but from their eye rolls, he knew they had guessed his true intentions.

Arthur forced himself not to travel too far ahead. He had to remind himself that Merlin would be okay. Once he was inside the gates, he had attempted to help his knights, but Leon had sent him away. "Get Merlin to Gaius," Leon told him. "You'll be no help if part of your mind is on Merlin."

Arthur nodded and did not hesitate to scoop Merlin up and carry him to Gaius. Merlin had passed out an hour earlier. Nothing Arthur did would wake him. If it weren't for Merlin's uneven breathing, Arthur would think he was dead. It was so similar to that day, nearly ten years ago, when Arthur had carried Merlin after they had returned from the Isle of the Blessed. Arthur hoped he'd be that fortunate again and that Merlin would live.

When Arthur entered Gaius's chambers, he and Gwen were patching up one of the knights that had been sent back to Camelot in the midst of the battle.

They turned and Gaius paled when he saw Merlin. "My bed," he told Arthur. "Quickly." He left Gwen to finish helping the knight.

Gaius pushed Merlin's shirt to the side to examine the wound. After a little poking and prodding, Gaius was able to figure out what was wrong inside of Merlin. He bustled to his work bench and prepared a blue liquid. Glancing at Arthur nervously, Gaius whispered something to the liquid. It glowed for a split second then returned to its ordinary color.

"What did you do?" Arthur asked curiously.

"The sword Merlin was stabbed with has caused internal damage. I am not as powerful as I once was, but I am powerful enough to do this. I have enchanted the potion so it will repair his injury," Gaius explained. He looked exhausted.

Arthur didn't question him further. He held Merlin's head up so Gaius could pour the liquid into Merlin's mouth. "Swallow Merlin," Arthur whispered. "Swallow."

To their relief, he did. It only took an hour, but eventually, Merlin woke up. Arthur let out a happy chuckle. Merlin didn't share in his euphoria. Not yet. He looked for Gaius. Gaius was like his father and he wanted him to hear about him and Arthur. He feared how Gaius might take it though. "Gaius," Merlin called.

Gaius walked over to Merlin's side. A smile spread across his face as he saw Merlin. "You've got to stop almost dying Merlin," Gaius warned.

"I'll get right on that," Merlin said amused. His amusement vanished. "There's something I need to tell you." Merlin was vaguely aware that Gwen was listening in, but he didn't care. Merlin glanced at Arthur nervously. "Arthur and I… well we… what I mean to say is that we are… um…"

"I know Merlin," Gaius told him.

"I don't think you do," Merlin said softly. "You see we are–"

"A couple. Yes we know," Gwen said impatiently. "The whole kingdom knows. You two are the only people that don't know that everyone knows."

Merlin clumsily got to his feet. "Where are you going?" Gaius asked him.

"To reflect on how I was able to keep my magic secret from everyone but not my relationship," Merlin said grumpily.

"You have magic?" Gwen asked surprised.

Merlin didn't answer her question as he walked out. Arthur quickly followed him. "Merlin," Arthur said gently. "It wasn't just your fault. It was mine as well. Don't take this personally."

"How did people realize?" Merlin asked. "We were so careful."

"I don't know," Arthur answered honestly. "And to be frank, I don't care. This makes our job easier. If everyone already knows we won't face as many objections. And most people won't be surprised."

"Surprised by what? Apparently, there's nothing to be surprised about," Merlin told him bitterly.

"Oh, but there is," Arthur said. A nervous smile spread across his face. He pulled Merlin into a corridor. "Merlin for years, we have had to keep our relationship secret. Even if everyone knew about it, it was still a secret to us. I have waited nigh on ten years to ask you this question."

"Ask me what?" Merlin asked confused.

"Will you marry me?" Arthur asked him.

Merlin stared. And stared. And stared. Finally he processed that this was really happening. Arthur had truly just asked him to marry him.

Merlin threw his arms around Arthur. If Arthur had been waiting ten years to ask that question, Merlin had been waiting ten years to answer it. "Yes," Merlin whispered. "Yes."

They were married just a few days later. As they were leaving the castle's chapel, Arthur turned to Merlin. "You're my husband," he said in a joyous voice.

"And you are mine," Merlin responded. There was a twinkle in his eyes. "And you will be until the day I die."

The End

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