Fic: A Slow Beginning (Merlin/Arthur)
Apr. 23rd, 2010 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magog_83Another one for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
giecast! Not a funny one this time, more... sweet? I don't know, something like that anyway. This was another one inspired by an episode. In this case Lady of the Lake and the rather innocent and adorable Merlin In Love we got to see there. Which got me thinking about what if Merlin and Arthur's relationship started that way, all shy rather than falling into bed straightaway (which is how I usually like reading it). So I wrote this one and sent it to vensre to read and then forgot all about it. Anyway, here it is!
Wordcount: 849
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A slow beginning to the Merlin/Arthur relationship.
The first time Arthur and Merlin kissed, or rather, the first time Arthur kissed Merlin, it was after a tournament, following a feast that went on a little too long and far too much to drink. It was quick, light, just a brush of lips, Arthur leaning in suddenly, fingers curled around the nape of Merlin’s neck and lips warm and tasting of wine. Then he pulled back, flushed and a little unsteady on his feet and managed a husky, “I think you’d better go to bed,” and Merlin, amazingly, went, looking rather dazed.
But after that Merlin wouldn’t stop smiling. And humming. God, Arthur was starting to hate the constant humming. Or at least he would have, if it weren’t for the little glances he caught coming in his direction when Merlin was busy about his chambers, and humming of course. Warm little glances that spoke of affection but were too shy to linger long.
The second time Arthur and Merlin kissed, it was Merlin who kissed Arthur. Arthur had just finished preparing for bed and was standing near the window, reeling off the usual list of chores for Merlin in the morning. He made a joke about something, he could never remember what afterwards, and Merlin laughed and ducked his head, a little uncertain, and then as if that dip was all he needed for courage, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against Arthur’s, one hand steady against his chest. It lasted a little longer that time. Arthur’s wasn’t drunk for one, and Merlin was a little more involved. So Arthur pulled back, just slightly, tilted his head and fitted their mouths together again, the sound of their clothing rustling and the soft noises made by their lips moving, the only sound beyond the low crackle of the fire. Then Merlin pulled back, his cheeks warm and eyes bright, and beamed, and Arthur couldn’t resist one last kiss before Merlin was ducking his head again and murmuring “goodnight Arthur,” as he turned quickly and made for the door – Arthur imagined he could already hear that infernal humming as he left.
Something seemed to change after that and the next morning when Merlin came in to find Arthur already dressed and waiting for his breakfast he gave a big, unabashed grin, and let his hand drift, just lightly, against the back of his neck as he passed his chair. Arthur found his eyes following Merlin as he moved about the room, and from the red tinge to his ears, he thought Merlin had noticed. Arthur had patrol that morning and Merlin busied himself with his warmest tunic and overcoat, helping Arthur pull them on and adjusting them just so, eyes downcast as he worked, cheeks stained, and Arthur allowed himself a quick ruffle of Merlin’s unruly hair as he left.
It was the same that night – Merlin waiting for him in his rooms, a hot supper and the usual complaints about the day, Merlin’s stories from the castle. But this time Merlin perched himself on the chair opposite and Arthur didn’t comment on it, returning his smile with a tired but content one of his own. Then before bed, another kiss – still clumsy but more determined this time, Merlin’s hands in his hair and body pressed a little closer. Then Merlin pulled back, and Arthur thought that perhaps he was as overwhelmed as Arthur himself felt at the all too brief contact, before he slipped out once again, leaving Arthur alone in the candlelight.
Arthur didn’t know what to do about those smiles, those shy kisses and hesitant touches. He wondered if they would drive him mad, in the end, but it was Merlin. Merlin who was smiling at him, who was talking to him like he always did, looking after Arthur like he always did too, and Arthur found himself thinking that perhaps the changes weren’t really changes at all, they were just an extension of what had always been there.
So Arthur didn’t ask and didn’t push and when, a few days later, he felt Merlin’s warm fingers brush against his as they stood by the window watching the activity in the courtyard, he moved his own closer, twined them with Merlin’s until they were palm to palm and he could feel the sleeve of Merlin’s jacket against his own. It felt right, standing like that, solid and unbreakable and safe, and Arthur didn’t really want to let go. But he did, when he felt the slight pull of Merlin’s arm and Merlin leaned into him, just for a moment, before he was gone, talking about chores and Gaius and who knew what, the red flush on his neck the only evidence of what had just happened.
Arthur had kissed many people, men and women, in his life, and he had pushed many of them down into soft sheets, matched them for experience and laid them bare. He’d never had blushes, open smiles and warm hands in his before. But then, he’d never had Merlin before either, and he thought that for that, he could wait.
The End
giecast! Not a funny one this time, more... sweet? I don't know, something like that anyway. This was another one inspired by an episode. In this case Lady of the Lake and the rather innocent and adorable Merlin In Love we got to see there. Which got me thinking about what if Merlin and Arthur's relationship started that way, all shy rather than falling into bed straightaway (which is how I usually like reading it). So I wrote this one and sent it to vensre to read and then forgot all about it. Anyway, here it is!Wordcount: 849
Warnings: None
Rating: G
Summary: A slow beginning to the Merlin/Arthur relationship.
The first time Arthur and Merlin kissed, or rather, the first time Arthur kissed Merlin, it was after a tournament, following a feast that went on a little too long and far too much to drink. It was quick, light, just a brush of lips, Arthur leaning in suddenly, fingers curled around the nape of Merlin’s neck and lips warm and tasting of wine. Then he pulled back, flushed and a little unsteady on his feet and managed a husky, “I think you’d better go to bed,” and Merlin, amazingly, went, looking rather dazed.
But after that Merlin wouldn’t stop smiling. And humming. God, Arthur was starting to hate the constant humming. Or at least he would have, if it weren’t for the little glances he caught coming in his direction when Merlin was busy about his chambers, and humming of course. Warm little glances that spoke of affection but were too shy to linger long.
The second time Arthur and Merlin kissed, it was Merlin who kissed Arthur. Arthur had just finished preparing for bed and was standing near the window, reeling off the usual list of chores for Merlin in the morning. He made a joke about something, he could never remember what afterwards, and Merlin laughed and ducked his head, a little uncertain, and then as if that dip was all he needed for courage, he leaned forward, pressing his lips against Arthur’s, one hand steady against his chest. It lasted a little longer that time. Arthur’s wasn’t drunk for one, and Merlin was a little more involved. So Arthur pulled back, just slightly, tilted his head and fitted their mouths together again, the sound of their clothing rustling and the soft noises made by their lips moving, the only sound beyond the low crackle of the fire. Then Merlin pulled back, his cheeks warm and eyes bright, and beamed, and Arthur couldn’t resist one last kiss before Merlin was ducking his head again and murmuring “goodnight Arthur,” as he turned quickly and made for the door – Arthur imagined he could already hear that infernal humming as he left.
Something seemed to change after that and the next morning when Merlin came in to find Arthur already dressed and waiting for his breakfast he gave a big, unabashed grin, and let his hand drift, just lightly, against the back of his neck as he passed his chair. Arthur found his eyes following Merlin as he moved about the room, and from the red tinge to his ears, he thought Merlin had noticed. Arthur had patrol that morning and Merlin busied himself with his warmest tunic and overcoat, helping Arthur pull them on and adjusting them just so, eyes downcast as he worked, cheeks stained, and Arthur allowed himself a quick ruffle of Merlin’s unruly hair as he left.
It was the same that night – Merlin waiting for him in his rooms, a hot supper and the usual complaints about the day, Merlin’s stories from the castle. But this time Merlin perched himself on the chair opposite and Arthur didn’t comment on it, returning his smile with a tired but content one of his own. Then before bed, another kiss – still clumsy but more determined this time, Merlin’s hands in his hair and body pressed a little closer. Then Merlin pulled back, and Arthur thought that perhaps he was as overwhelmed as Arthur himself felt at the all too brief contact, before he slipped out once again, leaving Arthur alone in the candlelight.
Arthur didn’t know what to do about those smiles, those shy kisses and hesitant touches. He wondered if they would drive him mad, in the end, but it was Merlin. Merlin who was smiling at him, who was talking to him like he always did, looking after Arthur like he always did too, and Arthur found himself thinking that perhaps the changes weren’t really changes at all, they were just an extension of what had always been there.
So Arthur didn’t ask and didn’t push and when, a few days later, he felt Merlin’s warm fingers brush against his as they stood by the window watching the activity in the courtyard, he moved his own closer, twined them with Merlin’s until they were palm to palm and he could feel the sleeve of Merlin’s jacket against his own. It felt right, standing like that, solid and unbreakable and safe, and Arthur didn’t really want to let go. But he did, when he felt the slight pull of Merlin’s arm and Merlin leaned into him, just for a moment, before he was gone, talking about chores and Gaius and who knew what, the red flush on his neck the only evidence of what had just happened.
Arthur had kissed many people, men and women, in his life, and he had pushed many of them down into soft sheets, matched them for experience and laid them bare. He’d never had blushes, open smiles and warm hands in his before. But then, he’d never had Merlin before either, and he thought that for that, he could wait.
The End
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no subject
Date: 2010-04-23 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:09 pm (UTC)Thanks for commenting!!
no subject
Date: 2010-04-23 08:53 pm (UTC)(i want a merlin too, *pouts*)
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Date: 2010-04-25 09:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-23 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:13 pm (UTC)Ramble is Rambling. Anyway, THANK YOU for reading! Glad you enjoyed it :)
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Date: 2010-04-23 09:23 pm (UTC)am totally in love with this little ficlet ♥
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Date: 2010-04-25 09:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-23 09:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:17 pm (UTC)Thanks so much for reading! And I'm glad you enjoyed it, it's been lurking round my hard drive for a while, I really enjoyed writing Merlin like this :)
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Date: 2010-04-23 11:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:18 pm (UTC)Thanks for commenting!
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Date: 2010-04-24 12:00 am (UTC)I find that most fic have them going from nothing to full blow sex. No courtship at all. I love Merlin's sweet happy shyness and the way you could feel Arthur being completely blown over by it. He doesn't get much tenderness in his life.
I really loved this and especially how you told us so much in so few words. Really lovely thank-you :)
no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:32 pm (UTC)He doesn't get much tenderness in his life.
So true!! :( I think Arthur really would be blown over by it, because I like to think it would be so different from the usual overtures of court ladies or knights or whoever.
Thanks so much for commenting!
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Date: 2010-04-24 05:15 am (UTC)*revives and tries to calm down*
Ok, I will now try to give coherent feedback. This is lovely: all sweet and slow and almost hushed. I love the slow progression of their kisses, woven into their daily interaction. It's so nice to see Merlin happy (and humming!) after the first one. Most of all, I love that Arthur's willing to go slow and wait because it's Merlin and he's different from all the others. And the part at the end when they held hands slayed me. Awwww....*snuggles fic* Thanks so much!
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Date: 2010-04-25 09:38 pm (UTC)I hope you are suitably revived now?? Anyway, YAY for slow Arthur. Not, you know, SLOW slow, more patient? As you say, Merlin is different, so I like to think that all Arthur's past experience really counts for very little this time round and he feels just as blown away and nervous as Merlin does. Also, I have a hand-holding thing... As I was saying in a comment before, I blame Doctor Who entirely. And adorable humming Merlin is love ;)
THANK YOU for commenting, and for inspiring me to clear out another corner of the hard drive :D :D
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Date: 2010-04-24 12:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-25 09:34 pm (UTC)Thanks for commenting!
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Date: 2010-07-16 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-07-16 10:09 pm (UTC)Thanks for commenting :D
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Date: 2011-10-04 09:25 am (UTC)I hope you're happy.
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Date: 2011-10-25 07:15 pm (UTC)I too loved the very sweet, tentative and shy Merlin in "Lady of the Lake" *melts again at the thought* Where's my bucket?!
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Date: 2013-08-14 07:23 am (UTC)