Archive of Our Own ^beta

Merlin raised an eyebrow.

Annabeth has been dragged away by Thalia and Nico, ready to do their magic on her, leaving Merlin and Percy on their own.

Frank’s admonition roared in Merlin’s mind, repeating itself again and again.

“Are you scared of what I could do to you?” Merlin asked, looking shy at Percy. “Break your heart, I mean.”

“You won’t break my heart, Merlin.” Percy laughed, shaking his head.

“I could, though.” Merlin muttered. “Frank told me… Arthur, I loved him for a thousand years and more. He’s scared that I’ll leave you for him.”

“And I won’t blame you for that, Merls.” Percy promised, reassuring him. “You suffered enough.”

“Do you expect that I’ll return to Arthur the moment I meet him, then?” Merlin asked, sounding insulted and hurt. “You really think I’d left you like this? Without caring about you?”

A laugh distracted Merlin from Percy.

Drew was there, applying some make up, looking amused at the couple.

“You both have starred eyes when you look at one another.” Drew told them, still smiling. “I cannot think of a better couple. And my mother is Aphrodite. I can tell this kind of thing.”

Percy nodded. “She is very good at that.” Then, he added, “Drew had a rule to see who was a real child of Aphrodite and who ruined the whole cabin.”

“How did she do?” Merlin asked.

“Well, I said that they had to break someone’s heart,” Drew explained, “and if they did, they weren’t real children of Aphrodite. If they didn’t, they really got what it means being a child of Aphrodite.”

“Smart.” Merlin commented. “And… you think Percy and I are going to last?”

“Of course!” Drew smiled. “And, well, I think you both deserved happiness!”

Merlin thought about the princess who never found her one true love, and spent her life enchanted. When Arthur died, though, Vivian woke up from the spell.

Merlin learned that she got married and ruled over her kingdom with fairness and strength, a real queen.

“Thank you, Drew,” he muttered, “it means a lot.”