Chapter Text
It was nearing Mabon and Arthur still hadn’t rehired Merlin as his manservant. It felt like he never would. Until, one night, Gwen came to visit Merlin.
Merlin, Lancelot, and Gaius were cleaning up after a hard night of potion preparation when she entered. Gaius was putting away the newly filled bottles, Merlin was sweeping the floor, and Lancelot was wiping the table clean. Everyone turned to gaze at her. She looked lovelier every day. Merlin wasn’t sure what it was. Perhaps that was what happened when a lady was in love.
“My lady,” Lancelot greeted, bowing.
“No need to be so formal, Lancelot,” she laughed. “I’m not your queen.”
“Not yet.” Lancelot’s smile was very telling.
Gwen shifted her gaze to Merlin. “Merlin, I came to talk to you.”
“I shall give you some privacy.” Placing his cleaning cloth back in its bowl of water, Lancelot gave Merlin’s shoulder a light squeeze. “I’ll see you later, Merlin.”
“Okay. Goodbye, Lancelot.” Merlin’s smile lingered long after Lancelot did. “I think Lancelot still has feelings for you,” he said to Gwen.
Gaius made his way to the corner of the workshop to give them some semblance of privacy.
“Lancelot? Have feelings for me?” Gwen said. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s quite plain for me to see.”
“That’s not what I see.”
The little twist of teasing in her voice made Merlin’s throat go dry. “What did you want to talk to me about?” he asked, sitting down on the bench, facing away from the table.
Gwen sat next to him. “Arthur wants to rehire you as his servant.”
Merlin gasped, his face lighting up. “Really? Gaius, did you hear that?”
“Yes, that’s very good news, Merlin,” Gaius said, not taking his eyes off the bottle he was pretending to read the label of.
Gwen laughed. “He didn’t believe me when I told him you would be excited.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Do you know how boring it is just being Gaius’ assistant?”
Gwen laughed again. “At least you got to spend a lot of time with Lancelot.”
Merlin’s smile faded. “What do you mean by that?”
“It’s alright, Merlin. Arthur told me.” Gwen took Merlin’s hand. “I think it’s wonderful.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’m glad he’s happy. I’m glad you’re happy. You are happy, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Yes, I am. I love him so much.” He bit his lips together, not having planned on saying that.
Gwen just smiled and ruffled Merlin’s hair. “That’s exactly how I feel about Arthur. It’s best this way.”
Merlin smiled back at her and felt a warmth that had been absent for the past few weeks return to his whole body.
“Merlin,” Gwen started after a moment, “I also came here to ask you... what was your row with Arthur about?”
The warmth went chill again.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. Arthur just told me that I should ask you about it. He didn’t think it was his place to tell me.”
“Oh, but he thought it was his place to tell you about Lancelot and me?”
“Yes.” She smiled.
Merlin exhaled in what was almost a laugh. “Of course he did.”
“So...?”
Merlin looked up to see Gaius trying not to look interested in their conversation. He wasn’t actually reading the bottles. He had no reason to; he had just labelled them.
Merlin took a deep breath. “I think... some things should stay private.”
Gwen nodded. “That’s true. You have a right to your privacy. If you ever do want to tell me, I will listen.” She kissed his temple and stood. “Goodnight, Merlin.”
“Goodnight, Gwen.”
She exchanged goodnights with Gaius, then left.
“You didn’t tell her,” Gaius said, mildly surprised.
“No.... It didn’t feel like the right time.”
“When will the time be right?”
“I don’t know. But I hope I get to decide this time.”
Gaius nodded. “Let’s finish cleaning up.”
“How was your first day as Arthur’s servant again?” Lancelot asked Merlin as Merlin barged into Lancelot’s chambers. Lancelot was sitting in bed, naked as far as Merlin could see, reading a book.
Merlin paused to ogle Lancelot’s chest, then launched into his tirade. “Terrible! I forgot what a prat he is! Next time I say I miss him, don’t believe me. Hit me in the head to knock some sense back into me.” He pulled off his boots as he headed for the bed. “He had me do everything. Polish his armour, prepare his meals, muck out the horses, wash all his laundry, which, as far as I could see, hadn’t been washed since the last time I washed it!” Standing beside the bed, he removed his neckerchief. “And on top of all that, he had George there to teach me new, even more tedious ways to do all of them! I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I am so tired.” He flopped onto the bed beside Lancelot.
Lancelot closed his book and petted Merlin’s hair. “You poor thing. I suppose that means you’re too tired to...”
“Never.” Before Lancelot could finish his sentence, Merlin got on his knees on top of Lancelot, took his head in his hands, and kissed him with all the heat a frustrated manservant could muster.
As much as he complained, Merlin was so grateful this was his life now. Arthur accepting his magic was the final thread in the tapestry that Merlin had not even realised his life to be until Lancelot had decided to stay in it.
It had almost been a year of Lancelot in his life. Samhain would be here soon.