chapter 1 - last chance
“Who could have released the dragon?”, Arthur asked, looking straight at his desk, thinking.
Merlin stood at the door and was watching the prince closely. He nervously fumbled at his blue shirt, “I don't know”
“Of course, you don't know”, the blond said angrily without looking up, “How would you know”
“Er”, the black haired boy dropped his head, “yeah”
Arthur stood up and walked to the window. The court was still under repair and people were running around hectically trying to rebuild everything that had been destroyed by the dragon.
He sighed, which made Merlin looking up again and moving closer to his friend.
“What's wrong?” he asked carefully.
“What do you think?”
Merlin shrugged, “Well, except the whole dragon incident?”
“Nothing”, Arthur said and took a step backward, which lead into bumping into Merlin, “Out of my way”
“Really”, Merlin moved away, holding his hands innocently in the air, “it obviously is not nothing!”
“How would you know”, Arthur leaned against the wall.
“Second time already, you really have no confidence in me”
Arthur glanced at him, then fixed his gaze on the floor, “You have no idea how much confidence I have in you”
“Oh, really? I can't see it!” Merlin said angrily and crossed his arms, “What kind of confidence is it anyway?”
“Doesn't matter”, the prince murmured.
“Oh well, it does”, Merlin pouted, “to me at least”
Arthur smiled, “Yeah, an awful lot of confidence”
“That doesn't define anything”
“I know”, Arthur stepped towards the window again, looking outside, “well, I trust you with my life, if that's enough for you”
“Actually, that's not news to me”
Arthur chuckled, “I knew, you would say that”
“I mean, come on. You risked your life to save me and I can't even remember how often”, Merlin said thinking, “Mh, you must be really in need for a fine manservant as I am”
“If it were for the job, I would have sacked you the first day you started”
“Actually you did”
“Oh, right. But I took you back”
“After you realized you were in the wrong”, Merlin told him grinning.
“Merlin!”; Arthur exclaimed, “I'm never in the wrong”
“Yes, you are”, the boy laughed.
Arthur watched him, a smile on his face.
Merlin looked up at him, worried, “Something wrong?”
“Merlin, remember when I told you, no man is worth your tears?”
“Yes”, he lowered his gaze.
“That's a lie. The truth is, I want you to cry for me, as much as you think is appropriate for my dea...”
“Don't say that, Arthur!”, Merlin yelled at him, “You're not going to die! I will protect you with my life!”
“No you won't!”, Arthur shot back, “This is my fight and I don't want you to get hurt! Do you understand? You are not to go out there, following me! Is that clear?”
Merlin swallowed and looked him straight into the other boy's blue eyes.
“Promise me, you won't do anything reckless!”, Arthur pleaded in a whisper.
“I...”
“Promise!”
The boy sighed and nodded silently.
“Good”, Arthur said breathing out.
He turned his back at Merlin and was on his way to the door, when he heard Merlin saying, “You must promise not to do anything reckless either, don't die! Or I will never forgive you”
Arthur gulped. When Merlin was talking like that it became even more difficult for the young prince to not grab the last chance and push him down.
The last chance. Was it really going to end? This soon? His life, his happiness? He didn't want that. Or at least not in this way. He wanted at least one little taste of what life had in storage for him before he died. And this night could be his last night on this earth, in this kingdom, with this one person he loved so much.
“Merlin”, Arthur called, without looking at the other boy.
“Yes?”
Then he turned on the heel, took three big steps towards Merlin and pulled him into a deep kiss.
Merlin's eyes widened at the surprise attack and even the moment Arthur let go of him he did not fully realize what just had happened.
“Bye”, Arthur whispered nervously and left the room as well as a very confused Merlin.
