FIC: Waking Up

[stellarmeadow]

More Merlin fic...

Title: Waking Up
Author: stellarmeadow
Rating: G
Spoilers: through 1.11
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Summary: A conversation before the last scene--to say any more would be a spoiler, but it's in response to the bunny posted by hils--thanks for the bunny!
Disclaimer: They're not mine. I just like to play with them. I'll give them back, BBC. Really.
Word Count: 852
Notes: One of these days I'll get around to the smut that's in my head, but for now, here's a G-rated missing scene from 1.11.



He hadn't thought much at all about what to expect from death. The black nothingness when the poison had taken effect had not been a surprise. The enormous amount of pain in his head when he started to wake, however, was rather a shock, as was one other thing.

Merlin, hovering, his face blocking the sun, wearing the smirk that always made Arthur want to either smack him or kiss him. "Damn," Arthur said, wincing at the loudness of his own voice inside his head. "I suppose I should have known killing a unicorn would send me to Hell."

"I see no fiery pits," Merlin said, far to logically and smugly for Arthur's liking.

"Well, if you're waiting for me to say it's Heaven, I won't, because you're certainly not an angel."

Merlin laughed. "No, I'm alive enough--thanks to you."

"What about the curse?"

"Anhora said it would be lifted now that you'd passed the test."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "The test was proving I'm stupid enough to drink poison?"

Merlin laughed again, the grin staying on his face. "I'm not certain I'm supposed to tell you. You may be meant to figure it out for yourself."

"You may also be meant to die at the tip of my sword when I can move properly again."

"Oh, yes, because I'm supposed to believe that you're going to kill me when you just poisoned yourself to save me?"

"I may be beginning to regret that," Arthur muttered, trying to push himself up. "Ow." He laid back down, closing his eyes.

He felt Merlin's hands on his chest and shoulders, as if checking for injury. "Are you hurt?"

"No," Arthur murmured. "My head just feels as if I've had a few barrels of ale and not enough time to sleep them off."

"Ah." Merlin's hands moved up, one cradling the back of Arthur's neck, and one behind his shoulder. "Let's see if we can get you sitting up--it might help."

With Merlin's help, Arthur found himself sitting up against the table leg. Merlin sat next to him on the stool he'd been on since before Arthur woke up. Though how long that had been, Arthur had no clue. He tried to judge the change in the sun, but the light hurt his head too much. "How long has it been since I..."

"Heroically saved my life by attempting to poison yourself to death?"

He managed to look up at Merlin, noticing that the light hurt a little less now. "You're not going to let that go anytime soon, are you?"

Merlin shook his head. "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me."

Arthur managed a small laugh. "Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself," he parroted back.

"You did, though," Merlin said, his face growing serious. "I mean, you didn't, thankfully, but you were prepared to. Why?"

Looking down at Merlin's knee, Arthur shrugged. "I did it to save my people."

"You didn't know that would save your people."

"It..." Arthur sighed. "It was the only decision possible." His gaze drifted back up to Merlin's face. "I was not prepared to let you die in my place."

The smirk was back, and Arthur would have rolled his eyes, had he not feared it might bring back the full force of his headache. "All right, then, you tell me," Arthur challenged. "Anhora told you something, didn't he?"

"He did." Merlin pursed his lips for a moment. "He said that by sacrificing yourself to save me, you proved what is truly in your heart."

"And how exactly did I do that?" Arthur asked. Merlin raised an eyebrow, smirk still firmly in place, and said nothing. "Oh, shut up."

"What?" The wide-open innocent eyes really didn't work well with the smirk. "I didn't say a word."

Arthur glared, but Merlin kept looking at him, wide-eyed and smirking. "What else did he say?" Arthur demanded.

"Something about it proving you were pure of heart. I was afraid to contradict him, lest he decide to kill you after all."

"You are far too kind."

"I am," Merlin said, the mock sadness working somewhat better with that smirk. "Are you feeling up to standing?"

"It's worth a try," Arthur said, letting Merlin help him to his feet. He swayed only a little, but Merlin's hands were there, solid and sure, steadying him until the ground stopped moving beneath him. "I suppose we should head back and make sure this wasn't all for nothing." He gave Merlin a sidelong glance. "Unless you'd prefer to stay here and gloat some more?"

Merlin shook his head. "No need, sire." He kept his hand under Arthur's arm as they walked to the entrance of the maze, and Arthur was just unsteady enough to let him help. "It is a long trip back through the maze and then back to the castle," Merlin added. "Plenty of time to gloat yet."

Arthur sighed. Definitely smacking the smirk off him, not kissing. Of course...he could do both.

After all, as Merlin pointed out, it was a long trip back.
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END