Luci

1. Arthur is in love with merlin.

2. In Arthur’s eyes merlin really is the oddest, most clumsy little weirdo, and the only reason he keeps this apparently lazy and completely incompetent servant around is because he’s in love with merlin.

3. Arthur never ever thinks twice about situations. “The immortal army that could not be killed suddenly explodes? Lucky me, I guess, let’s move on”, or “I struck this golden dragon as big as a castle and it knocked me out. Merlin said I dealt it a mortal blow and it flew off and is now dead. Sounds reasonable!” or, “this man who lives on a bridge called me Courage and said I needed Strength and Magic to complete my quest, and then later Gwaine and Merlin showed up and saved my life. Wasn’t that a fun time?”

4. Merlin is Arthur’s only true friend.

5. Arthur thinks he’s the smoothest, most valiant, heroic and romantic knight in all the lands, but he’s actually the most heartbroken, lonely, pathetic prince with daddy issues Camelot has ever seen.

POST CANON MERTHUR BEING HAPPY CHILLING AND LIVING THEIR BEST LIFE

The Knights of Camelot had faced many threats: invading armies, enchanted beasts, questionable tavern stew. But nothing—nothing—had tested their patience quite like Merlin and Arthur being catastrophically, painfully, unbelievably oblivious.

“They’re in love,” Leon said flatly, watching Arthur storm across the courtyard while Merlin trailed behind him, waving his arms and complaining.

“They are not,” Lancelot replied, lounging against a pillar. “They’re just—intensely committed to arguing.”

“They nearly died for each other three times this week,” Percival added.

“Four,” Elyan corrected. “You forgot the thing with the cursed goose.”

Lancelot frowned. “Right. The goose.”

Across the courtyard, Arthur spun around. “If you ever turn me into a donkey again—”

“You said you wanted to understand them better!”

“I meant metaphorically, Merlin!”

The knights watched as Merlin huffed, Arthur huffed back, and somehow they ended up standing too close, neither moving away.

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose. “We have to do something.” -----

Operation: Make Them Realize Their Feelings (Before We Lose Our Minds) began that afternoon.

Step one was subtlety.

It failed immediately.

Gwaine “accidentally” locked Merlin and Arthur in the armory together.

“We’ll be stuck here for hours!” Arthur snapped, rattling the door.

Merlin blinked. “Or… until someone lets us out?”

“Yes, Merlin, that’s how being locked in works.”

When the knights finally opened the door, hopeful, they found Merlin sitting on a crate and Arthur polishing a sword.

“Well?” Leon asked eagerly.

Merlin smiled. “We reorganized the weapons rack.”

Arthur nodded. “Much more efficient now.”

Gwaine walked away before he could scream.

-----

Step two involved emotional vulnerability.

It went worse.

Percival arranged for Arthur to be injured during training—nothing serious, just enough to make Merlin panic.

It worked. Merlin dropped everything, rushing to Arthur’s side, eyes wide with fear.

“Arthur! Are you alright? That looked awful—does it hurt—why are you always like this—”

“I’m fine, Merlin,” Arthur said gently.

“Well… good,” Merlin muttered, suddenly very interested in the ground.

“You worry too much,” Arthur added, quieter now.

“You don’t worry enough.”

They looked at each other.

A moment passed.

A long moment.

Leon leaned forward from behind a pillar.

“This is it,” he whispered. “This is the moment—”

Arthur clapped Merlin on the shoulder. “Come on. You can nag me later.”

And walked off.

Merlin followed, already complaining again.

Leon slid down the wall.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

-----

Step three was direct intervention.

Gwaine marched into the hall, grabbed both of them, and dragged them in front of the knights.

“Right,” he said. “We’re settling this. You two—feelings. Discuss.”

Arthur blinked. “What?”

Merlin blinked harder. “What?”

“You’re in love with each other,” Elyan said bluntly.

Silence.

Arthur laughed.

Merlin laughed.

The knights did not laugh.

“That’s ridiculous,” Arthur said.

“Completely,” Merlin agreed.

“You’re the most infuriating person I know,” Arthur added.

“You’re a spoiled, arrogant prat,” Merlin shot back.

Arthur crossed his arms. “Exactly.”

Merlin nodded. “Exactly.”

Gwaine stared at them.

Then at the others.

Then back at them.

“I hate it here,” he announced.

-----

Step four was… not planned

“Fine,” Arthur said, exasperated. “If it will shut you all up—I’ll prove it.”

“Prove what?” Merlin asked.

“That there’s nothing between us.”

Arthur grabbed Merlin by the collar.

Merlin made a startled noise.

And then, Arthur kissed him. It was supposed to be quick. It wasn’t. Because Merlin made this soft, surprised sound, and Arthur paused—just for a second—but it was enough to realize—

Oh.

Oh.

Merlin kissed him back.

The hall went silent.

The knights froze.

Somewhere, a goblet dropped.

Arthur pulled back slowly.

Merlin stared at him.

Arthur stared back.

“…Oh,” Merlin said.

“…Oh,” Arthur echoed.

Gwaine raised a hand. “Finally.”

Leon was already sitting down. “Thank every god that listens.”

Arthur blinked again, then frowned slightly. “Wait. Does this mean—”

“Yes,” everyone said at once.

Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. “Right. That… makes sense, actually.”

Arthur nodded. “It does.”

A beat.

Then Arthur, awkwardly, “So… are we—”

“Yes,” Merlin said.

“Good,” Arthur replied.

They stood there, still too close, now very aware of it.

Then Arthur reached for Merlin’s hand.

Merlin didn’t even hesitate.

Later, as the knights celebrated their hard-won victory, Gwaine leaned back with a satisfied grin.

“We did it.”

Leon exhaled deeply. “We can finally know peace.”

Across the hall, Arthur and Merlin were already arguing again.

“You kissed me first!”

“You leaned into it!”

“That’s because you—”

Gwaine paused.

“…We made a mistake,” he said.