bitchprince | Citadel Overlooking Camelot, Sunday Afternoon

Occasionally, Arthur had an hour or so to spare in between his duties. Sometimes, especially these days, he liked to come up here when he did so, peering out from the parapets and onto the streets below. Today was such a day; he'd climbed up here on his own, shirking his heavy jacket somewhere along the line.

He propped his foot up on the battlement, leaning one shoulder against a merlon. He'd had a lot on his mind, these days: Morgana's newly-revealed magic, the king's inability to relent in the face of innocent magic users (so far, he told himself, repeatedly. He wasn't about to give up on his father yet), the everpresent danger of Merlin being compromised somehow.

Lost in thought, he wasn't really paying attention to his surroundings, so much.

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From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

Merlin was almost sure you could find something that could have been a 'poultice' in any house if you really looked. But he was going to be kind and simply nod.

"He won't listen."

From:

bitchprince

"I'm going to keep trying," Arthur said, setting his jaw. "Maybe get his sentence commuted to something else." He glanced sideways at Merlin.

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

Merlin only had a faint smile for him once he realized he was being watched. One that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know you will."

From:

bitchprince

And with that, Arthur was nudging him with his elbow. He might have been a functional emotional moron, but he knew that look by now.

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

"Shouldn't you be thrashing knights?" Merlin asked, nudging him back.

From:

bitchprince

"Don't be stupid. Training's not for another candlemark." He watched Merlin's profile for a moment or two. "Out with it."

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

"Nothing," Merlin replied, shoving at Arthur's arm. "Just remembering a conversation I had back in Fandom."

From:

bitchprince

"And what was that?" You couldn't throw Arthur a bone like that and expect him not to go after it, Merlin.

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

"Waiting for spring to come." IT WAS ALL METAPHYSICAL, ARTHUR. YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND.

From:

bitchprince

There was a very short pause. "...What, in winter?"

No, seriously, don't talk metaphysical at Arthur. You didn't like him for his understanding of poetry, Merlin.

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

This was distressingly true.

"Um. Yes."

From:

bitchprince

"...You know it's still a fair few weeks before fall even sets in," said Arthur, giving him a funny look.

Which also meant it was Arthur's birthday in about a fortnight, but he'd rather not think about that, thank you.

From:

bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com

Merlin gave him a pat on the shoulder. "It was a metaphor."

From:

bitchprince

Arthur groaned. "Just say what you're thinking," he said, "Leave the poetry to the poets." Who Arthur would leave to whatever they did that wasn't talking to him, thank you.