lancelot du lac (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
northumbria) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
airbaths2014-05-17 07:31 pm
northumbria) wrote in airbaths2014-05-17 07:31 pm
Entry tags:
BRAVEST AND MOST NOBLE • merlot post
brave warlock
"Oh?" Merlin prompts, half turning his head even though he can't quite turning enough to see Lancelot. "And what do you know about me, then? Other than the fact that I have no useful skills to speak of."
Lancelot doesn't pause. The compliments, the sincerity, it all comes right out. It's not only to make Merlin feel better, it's to tell him something that Lancelot can't quite figure out what it is. He just knows it's important to say, so he will.
"I know that you're the kindest and smartest person I've ever met. I know you have a difficult time giving up. And I know you've got more power than... anyone."
Who needed a sword when you could have Merlin's magic? Sure, it wasn't much yet, but that glow was unmistakable. There is power there. A power that inspires hope in him, while others might cower in fear.
"I know that you're the kindest and smartest person I've ever met. I know you have a difficult time giving up. And I know you've got more power than... anyone."
Who needed a sword when you could have Merlin's magic? Sure, it wasn't much yet, but that glow was unmistakable. There is power there. A power that inspires hope in him, while others might cower in fear.
Ostara... Lancelot catalogs that in the back of his mind for future research. He's gotten in the habit of Googling some of the things his husband says. He's good at getting a basic explanation out, really, but Lancelot feels silly constantly asking him very obvious questions.
The rest of the story for Maypoles... Lancelot couldn't hold back the grin if he tried. The irony. And it makes a lot more sense than doing it "just because." He is this close to laughing at the ridiculousness of it. "No, we definitely don't."
Now faced with a wonderful sight of his better half, Lancelot grins in a different way entirely. Maybe even teasing him. "Promise? I don't want to ruin the spirit of the holiday with pulling you away from anyone."
The rest of the story for Maypoles... Lancelot couldn't hold back the grin if he tried. The irony. And it makes a lot more sense than doing it "just because." He is this close to laughing at the ridiculousness of it. "No, we definitely don't."
Now faced with a wonderful sight of his better half, Lancelot grins in a different way entirely. Maybe even teasing him. "Promise? I don't want to ruin the spirit of the holiday with pulling you away from anyone."
"Flatterer."
Merlin's tone is equal parts fond and chiding, pleased by the sweet words but slightly embarrassed all the same. At least Lancelot can keep his feet under him. How is it he's got so much good luck? Kind and handsome and coordinated and brave? Merlin finds this painfully unfair.
Merlin's tone is equal parts fond and chiding, pleased by the sweet words but slightly embarrassed all the same. At least Lancelot can keep his feet under him. How is it he's got so much good luck? Kind and handsome and coordinated and brave? Merlin finds this painfully unfair.
"Oh, you won't ruin anything. You've already got first dibs anyway." Merlin leans in, smile turning a little more playful. "And I've got first dibs on you, so watch yourself. If I see you weaving ribbons with a pretty girl there'll be trouble."
He winks, expression flicking up into an outright grin again before he takes a step back and starts tugging Lance along beside him again.
He winks, expression flicking up into an outright grin again before he takes a step back and starts tugging Lance along beside him again.
Lancelot just might be comfortable enough to play along. Although, some of the next question is entirely sincere.
"Do you think I'd want to weave ribbons with anyone else?"
Now that they're back together, he gives Merlin's hand a squeeze. "Guess it was about time you found out my terrible secret."
He's quite proud of himself. He's managed to forget about sex in the woods or the danger of Merlin being danced with by someone else. Who knows. He might even calm down enough to let it happen.
"Do you think I'd want to weave ribbons with anyone else?"
Now that they're back together, he gives Merlin's hand a squeeze. "Guess it was about time you found out my terrible secret."
He's quite proud of himself. He's managed to forget about sex in the woods or the danger of Merlin being danced with by someone else. Who knows. He might even calm down enough to let it happen.
"I don't think it counts as flattery if it's the truth."
At last, he moves himself off of Merlin. The day is only getting shorter. They have chores to finish up before planning and packing. Probably the last things they'll ever do in Ealdor. It makes moving from their hill that much harder. This might be the last time he ever sees those ridiculous ears.
What can he say that hasn't already been said? Eyes soften and don't trail too far from the best friend he's ever had.
"Merlin."
He should have planned past getting his attention...
At last, he moves himself off of Merlin. The day is only getting shorter. They have chores to finish up before planning and packing. Probably the last things they'll ever do in Ealdor. It makes moving from their hill that much harder. This might be the last time he ever sees those ridiculous ears.
What can he say that hasn't already been said? Eyes soften and don't trail too far from the best friend he's ever had.
"Merlin."
He should have planned past getting his attention...
"They're very nice ribbons." He squeezes Lancelot's hand in turn, lifts it to press a soft kiss to to it. "But maybe not. I've never seen you wear one, for all I know ribbons might not be your style."
That, and he knows Lancelot is loyal as they come. The kindest, most loyal man he's ever met.
That, and he knows Lancelot is loyal as they come. The kindest, most loyal man he's ever met.
"Mmmm?" He pushes up a little, blinks curiously at Lancelot -- then lets his expression dip into a frown. "Don't say goodbye. Please."
Merlin doesn't want it to be goodbye. Doesn't want to admit he might never see his friend again. Doesn't want to think about it right now, while they still have each other's company.
Merlin doesn't want it to be goodbye. Doesn't want to admit he might never see his friend again. Doesn't want to think about it right now, while they still have each other's company.
"I suppose that depends on the ribbon," he says with a grin of his own for his husband.
They remain lost in their own little world of ribbons and teasing and worry the entire trip. Merlin, as always, is patient and talkative with every question that Lancelot could have. He's also very good at keeping up conversation... with himself. Oddly, it's never a bother. It is just as calming as total quiet. So much so that by the time they arrive, Lancelot had forgotten all of the silly things he'd been worrying about. It's a different thing entirely when they're there. His eyes go wide with curiosity more than shock. And, of course, he keeps his hand tangled with Merlin's.
They remain lost in their own little world of ribbons and teasing and worry the entire trip. Merlin, as always, is patient and talkative with every question that Lancelot could have. He's also very good at keeping up conversation... with himself. Oddly, it's never a bother. It is just as calming as total quiet. So much so that by the time they arrive, Lancelot had forgotten all of the silly things he'd been worrying about. It's a different thing entirely when they're there. His eyes go wide with curiosity more than shock. And, of course, he keeps his hand tangled with Merlin's.
Lancelot doesn't want it to be goodbye either. Goodbyes are too final. Goodbyes mean that you might not see each other no matter how badly you want it to be. He bites his bottom lip, eyes still wide with worry and heartache and-- everything.
"I won't say anything, so you'll have to see me again."
That works, right?
"I won't say anything, so you'll have to see me again."
That works, right?
The fires are big as they always are, and the drum-beats heavy already. Merlin hangs on to Lancelot's hand as he negotiates the crowd, smiling to a few people he recognises but carrying on past them. He's here with Lancelot, and his husband has his full attention.
"Do you see those two fires, closer together?" He draws Lance closer gestures over and smiles as a girl runs between them and giggles raucously. "That's the thing to do if you want to ensure your fertility. Run between the fires. It's meant to cleanse you too, protect you from disease. That sort of thing. Sometimes people jump over the fires for the same reason, and for good luck, and as couples to pledge to each other and all that. Have to be good at jumping, though, and not scared of fire I suppose."
"Do you see those two fires, closer together?" He draws Lance closer gestures over and smiles as a girl runs between them and giggles raucously. "That's the thing to do if you want to ensure your fertility. Run between the fires. It's meant to cleanse you too, protect you from disease. That sort of thing. Sometimes people jump over the fires for the same reason, and for good luck, and as couples to pledge to each other and all that. Have to be good at jumping, though, and not scared of fire I suppose."
Merlin thinks about this, studying Lancelot's face, then nods. It makes sense, to him. No goodbyes.
"All right. Then you have to. Come see me, I mean. You can tell me everything you've been doing, everything I've missed, and I'll tell you all about Camelot."
"All right. Then you have to. Come see me, I mean. You can tell me everything you've been doing, everything I've missed, and I'll tell you all about Camelot."
Full attention on the fires now, he can't help but feel a minor bit of panic at the child running between them. His heroic instincts want to keep the little ones as far away from it as possible. But, they seem to know what they're doing.
"Does that mean if I run between them we'll get a baby on our doorstep?"
He's... only partially joking. Maybe. Sort of.
Talk of jumping over them? He really hopes the kids avoid that at least... He's not exactly scared of it. Only what might happen if you failed. "So much for fertility if you miss."
"Does that mean if I run between them we'll get a baby on our doorstep?"
He's... only partially joking. Maybe. Sort of.
Talk of jumping over them? He really hopes the kids avoid that at least... He's not exactly scared of it. Only what might happen if you failed. "So much for fertility if you miss."
He holds up a scolding finger. "Don't leave until I find you." If he managed to miss Merlin... Well, he supposes his new quest would be to find him, wouldn't it? He can't imagine spending the rest of his life without seeing that ridiculous face ever again.
And, because he knows it's coming anyway, Lancelot holds his arms open for one final hug.
And, because he knows it's coming anyway, Lancelot holds his arms open for one final hug.
He hurls himself forward immediately, sprawling half on top of Lancelot and clinging on to him.
"I won't go anywhere, I promise. I'll wait until you come find me. As long as I need to."
"I won't go anywhere, I promise. I'll wait until you come find me. As long as I need to."
"That's why you don't -- and, no, sorry. Doesn't work like that. No sex changes by fire." Merlin finally brings them to a stop nearer the fire, tugging Lancelot until their hips touch and hooking an arm around him. "Don't worry, the fires they jump over are the smaller ones. Bit easier. We're not quite in the ritualistic death era any more. Be a bit grim of we let people burn horribly every year. Also, not very good advertising."
Lancelot almost falls over from Merlin rushing to him. Partially an exaggeration. He doesn't really care either way. Every part of him is telling him not to let go. "I promise I'll come find you."
And yet, part they must. Lancelot stays that way for as long as he can, but eventually they must. Their journeys cannot begin. They can't do what they're meant to do clinging to each other. It's a sad truth. Doesn't make it any less true.
At last, Lancelot pulls away and stands. There are no goodbyes. Only soft smiles and lingering promises. "Stay safe, Merlin." It's an honest partial warning.
And yet, part they must. Lancelot stays that way for as long as he can, but eventually they must. Their journeys cannot begin. They can't do what they're meant to do clinging to each other. It's a sad truth. Doesn't make it any less true.
At last, Lancelot pulls away and stands. There are no goodbyes. Only soft smiles and lingering promises. "Stay safe, Merlin." It's an honest partial warning.
In turn, and just as easily, Lancelot wraps an arm around Merlin's shoulders. Normally he wouldn't have much of a problem with affection anyway.
"If you could jump over that, I'd wonder just how good your herbs are."
His eye pulls away from the fire to take in the rest of their surroundings. Here he can't help but notice that no one cares at all he's got an arm around his husband. Not even giggles or encouragement. Nothing. As if it's completely normal. He feels himself relax just a little bit more. "Why didn't you wait for our handfasting to be now?"
"If you could jump over that, I'd wonder just how good your herbs are."
His eye pulls away from the fire to take in the rest of their surroundings. Here he can't help but notice that no one cares at all he's got an arm around his husband. Not even giggles or encouragement. Nothing. As if it's completely normal. He feels himself relax just a little bit more. "Why didn't you wait for our handfasting to be now?"
Merlin drops his eyes at that, fingers curling into the fabric of Lancelot's shirt.
"I thought about it." Just like that his tone is more serious all of a sudden, humour dropped in favour of the question. Merlin frowns a little at the fire, then turns to regard Lancelot. "But... I didn't want to pressure you in public. I didn't want you to feel you had to say yes, and... I wanted you to know I was asking because I wanted to. Not for tradition, not because it's the done thing at this time of year, just... because I wanted to. Because it feels right. I wanted it to be about what we want, not anyone or anything else."
"I thought about it." Just like that his tone is more serious all of a sudden, humour dropped in favour of the question. Merlin frowns a little at the fire, then turns to regard Lancelot. "But... I didn't want to pressure you in public. I didn't want you to feel you had to say yes, and... I wanted you to know I was asking because I wanted to. Not for tradition, not because it's the done thing at this time of year, just... because I wanted to. Because it feels right. I wanted it to be about what we want, not anyone or anything else."
"I will."
He tries, honestly he does. Yet trouble always finds Merlin. He invites it, even when he knows he shouldn't. He can't help making jokes that people don't like, can't bear to stand by and watch a person get hurt. Merlin couldn't explain why he saved Arthur, he only knows that Arthur -- whatever his other crimes -- had done nothing to deserve death right then. He knew that Valiant couldn't be allowed to win by cheating. He knew Nimueh couldn't be allowed to succeed.
He knew that if he had to drink the wine so Arthur would not, well, then he must.
At the very least, though, his life does have some idle points. He misses the quiet of Ealdor at times, with how rushed he is now -- helping Gaius, being manservant to Arthur, saving Camelot -- but simple tasks like picking mushrooms are at least a moment's respite. They were. Until just then.
Merlin startles at the sound of wing-beats, nearly trips backwards and barely rescues his basket of mushrooms as the griffin lands. He's never seen one before, why would he have? Never seen anything like it and he's at once terrified and in awe of it. It's magnificent.
It's also about to rip him apart unless he does something. Like run.
He tries, honestly he does. Yet trouble always finds Merlin. He invites it, even when he knows he shouldn't. He can't help making jokes that people don't like, can't bear to stand by and watch a person get hurt. Merlin couldn't explain why he saved Arthur, he only knows that Arthur -- whatever his other crimes -- had done nothing to deserve death right then. He knew that Valiant couldn't be allowed to win by cheating. He knew Nimueh couldn't be allowed to succeed.
He knew that if he had to drink the wine so Arthur would not, well, then he must.
At the very least, though, his life does have some idle points. He misses the quiet of Ealdor at times, with how rushed he is now -- helping Gaius, being manservant to Arthur, saving Camelot -- but simple tasks like picking mushrooms are at least a moment's respite. They were. Until just then.
Merlin startles at the sound of wing-beats, nearly trips backwards and barely rescues his basket of mushrooms as the griffin lands. He's never seen one before, why would he have? Never seen anything like it and he's at once terrified and in awe of it. It's magnificent.
It's also about to rip him apart unless he does something. Like run.
The drop in tone is more of a surprise than anything else they've encountered so far. And that includes a few more people running between fires. Lancelot turns to look at his better half as he explains why. He'd given it a lot of thought...
Well, of course he should have. It had to do with the rest of their lives, a promise to be together. Funny enough how he thought it perfectly reasonable for Merlin to dwell on it so long, but Lancelot himself took not even a second to say yes. He's smiling before he even knows it and gives Merlin a squeeze.
"I would have said yes no matter how you asked."
Well, of course he should have. It had to do with the rest of their lives, a promise to be together. Funny enough how he thought it perfectly reasonable for Merlin to dwell on it so long, but Lancelot himself took not even a second to say yes. He's smiling before he even knows it and gives Merlin a squeeze.
"I would have said yes no matter how you asked."
His smile flicks back at that, and Merlin squeezes Lancelot in turn.
"I know," he admits, "but I wanted to do things right." Looking around he sighs for a second in contentment, enjoying the smell of the fire and open air mixed with Lancelot's closeness. "There might be a parade later. Sometimes they do them, parades based on --"
"You came!" Merlin blinks and turns towards the voice, eyes fixing on a shock of black hair and wide, excited eyes rushing toward them. Mordred grins at him brightly, as if Merlin's presence alone is some sort of miracle. "I was not sure you would, but now you're here."
"Oh, come on, you know I don't miss the chance for a good bonfire. Um, Lance? This is Mordred. Mordred, Lance."
The blink with which Mordred turns to focus on Lancelot implies he hadn't really been aware of his presence until it was pointed out.
"I know," he admits, "but I wanted to do things right." Looking around he sighs for a second in contentment, enjoying the smell of the fire and open air mixed with Lancelot's closeness. "There might be a parade later. Sometimes they do them, parades based on --"
"You came!" Merlin blinks and turns towards the voice, eyes fixing on a shock of black hair and wide, excited eyes rushing toward them. Mordred grins at him brightly, as if Merlin's presence alone is some sort of miracle. "I was not sure you would, but now you're here."
"Oh, come on, you know I don't miss the chance for a good bonfire. Um, Lance? This is Mordred. Mordred, Lance."
The blink with which Mordred turns to focus on Lancelot implies he hadn't really been aware of his presence until it was pointed out.
Lancelot isn't sure why he wasn't expecting anyone to talk to them. Of course Merlin would know people here. It's like any other social gathering. Eventually you're going to bump into someone you've met before.
He doesn't mind or notice how Mordred only focuses on Merlin. What does throw him off is how very obvious it is Mordred doesn't seem to notice them. Lancelot still gives a sincere grin. "Pleasure to meet you, Mordred."
He doesn't mind or notice how Mordred only focuses on Merlin. What does throw him off is how very obvious it is Mordred doesn't seem to notice them. Lancelot still gives a sincere grin. "Pleasure to meet you, Mordred."
Mordred looks between them curiously, tilts his head at Merlin as if silently asking something. As if in response Merlin links a hand through Lancelot's and raises them.
"Spring," he says simply, and the frown Mordred's expression had taken on smooths out in surprise for a moment.
He flicks a faint smile, but somehow it doesn't seem entirely natural.
"Congratulations," he offers, and Merlin beams at him as if he doesn't notice anything off about the reaction.
"Thanks. I thought it was time. Do you know if there's going to be a parade this year? Oh," and he turns to include Lance, "sometimes they do a parade. You know, all a bit symbolic and fancy. May Queen and Oak King, romance and passion and more things on fire."
"Spring," he says simply, and the frown Mordred's expression had taken on smooths out in surprise for a moment.
He flicks a faint smile, but somehow it doesn't seem entirely natural.
"Congratulations," he offers, and Merlin beams at him as if he doesn't notice anything off about the reaction.
"Thanks. I thought it was time. Do you know if there's going to be a parade this year? Oh," and he turns to include Lance, "sometimes they do a parade. You know, all a bit symbolic and fancy. May Queen and Oak King, romance and passion and more things on fire."
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