Fic: Exposed
Dec. 22nd, 2008 08:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libra_travellerTitle: Exposed
Author: libra_traveller
Fandom: Merlin
Summary: When Arthur decides to have a laugh at Merlin’s expense, he gets more than he bargained for.
Author’s Note: Spoilers for episodes 10 and 11.
Back in Arthur’s room, Merlin was minding his own business cleaning up the pigsty that was the Prince’s idea of giving his servant something to do, when Arthur walked through the door.
Arthur was composed as he closed the door, but as soon as Merlin looked up, he burst out laughing. “I can’t believe it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Merlin raised his eyebrows. Arthur laughed again. “I could have given you some advice.”
“What are you straining your princely little mind over?”
“Merlin, Merlin my friend. Why didn’t you tell me you’re a virgin?”
“You’re absurd.”
“Unicorns don’t lie.”
Merlin rolled his eyes when Arthur grinned. “I give in. What are you talking about?”
Arthur walked over to Merlin who was kneeling on the floor, and squatted down next to him, patting him on the shoulder. “It’s okay, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Merlin only shook his head. Arthur was clearly delusional.
Arthur snorted as Merlin went back to sorting Arthur’s laundry. “You have heard about the stories surrounding unicorns, haven’t you? How they only let maidens, in other words, virgins, near them.”
Merlin started laughing, holding his arms over his belly. Arthur got the distinct impression that he was the one being made fun of. How did this get turned around?
Arthur huffed. “Am I missing something? Cause I’ve never seen a guy laughing gleefully after being found out.”
“Arthur you poor sod. What story was this? Because the one that was written down, historically accurate as opposed to mindless gossip, is a little more complicated than that.”
Arthur sat down at the table, and gestured both for Merlin to take a seat and to continue his dubious explanation.
“Well as we all know unicorns are in love with little girls. They are also very jealous creatures. There’s one specific tale that talks about one of the first unicorns and a girl name Lynette who enjoyed many years together exploring the world, till one day the girl became a woman and fell in love with a man. The unicorn felt greatly scorned and left her. Afterwards that unicorn and all other unicorns refused to associate with any girl who loved a man more than them, and any man who would take the girls away.”
“Merlin, shut up. I know the story. I’m the Prince in case you’ve forgotten. I’ve been schooled on my world every day since the day I was taught to read as a toddler.”
“Then my Lord, I guess you understand what I’m getting at.”
Arthur stared blankly, trying to think it through without it being obvious. Finally he conceded. “Nope, your mind is too strange a place for me to follow.”
Merlin grinned triumphantly. “You only have to have sex with a girl for the unicorn to run away.”
Slowly Arthur’s eyes opened wide and he felt like a fool. “Oh... I see. That’s... way more information about my own servant than I ever wanted to know.” With that Arthur with his head held high marched to his desk and sat down to work on his reports.
Still laughter followed him. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stop. Did you honestly think I’d never...? I lived in a village for goodness sake. We grow up really fast.”
Arthur nodded. Not looking up from the papers he was pretending to read, he blurted out, “Who was he?”
At the silence, Arthur for a moment thought Merlin had been having him on to save himself from embarrassment. But when he looked up his stomach tightened at the look in Merlin’s eyes. “You met him.”
“I’m sorry,” Arthur said as it all clicked into place. “I didn’t realize how close you two were.”
Merlin went and picked up the clothes he’d left on the floor. “Will, he was the only one I ever loved. I...” Merlin couldn’t speak anymore.
Arthur sighed. He’d just wanted a laugh. Not to open up some fairly recent wound. Arthur began to realize as he watched Merlin move about his room, just how little he knew about his servant. His friend. Arthur decided that anymore questions he may have, such as if Merlin had always known about Will’s abilities, were better left unasked. “You can go now. Go rest. The laundry will be there in the morning.”
“Goodnight Arthur,” Merlin said gratefully.
As Arthur watched Merlin leave, he felt comforted that in this moment Merlin didn’t address him as sire. With that thought in mind Arthur retired to bed.
Author: libra_traveller
Fandom: Merlin
Summary: When Arthur decides to have a laugh at Merlin’s expense, he gets more than he bargained for.
Author’s Note: Spoilers for episodes 10 and 11.
Back in Arthur’s room, Merlin was minding his own business cleaning up the pigsty that was the Prince’s idea of giving his servant something to do, when Arthur walked through the door.
Arthur was composed as he closed the door, but as soon as Merlin looked up, he burst out laughing. “I can’t believe it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Merlin raised his eyebrows. Arthur laughed again. “I could have given you some advice.”
“What are you straining your princely little mind over?”
“Merlin, Merlin my friend. Why didn’t you tell me you’re a virgin?”
“You’re absurd.”
“Unicorns don’t lie.”
Merlin rolled his eyes when Arthur grinned. “I give in. What are you talking about?”
Arthur walked over to Merlin who was kneeling on the floor, and squatted down next to him, patting him on the shoulder. “It’s okay, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Merlin only shook his head. Arthur was clearly delusional.
Arthur snorted as Merlin went back to sorting Arthur’s laundry. “You have heard about the stories surrounding unicorns, haven’t you? How they only let maidens, in other words, virgins, near them.”
Merlin started laughing, holding his arms over his belly. Arthur got the distinct impression that he was the one being made fun of. How did this get turned around?
Arthur huffed. “Am I missing something? Cause I’ve never seen a guy laughing gleefully after being found out.”
“Arthur you poor sod. What story was this? Because the one that was written down, historically accurate as opposed to mindless gossip, is a little more complicated than that.”
Arthur sat down at the table, and gestured both for Merlin to take a seat and to continue his dubious explanation.
“Well as we all know unicorns are in love with little girls. They are also very jealous creatures. There’s one specific tale that talks about one of the first unicorns and a girl name Lynette who enjoyed many years together exploring the world, till one day the girl became a woman and fell in love with a man. The unicorn felt greatly scorned and left her. Afterwards that unicorn and all other unicorns refused to associate with any girl who loved a man more than them, and any man who would take the girls away.”
“Merlin, shut up. I know the story. I’m the Prince in case you’ve forgotten. I’ve been schooled on my world every day since the day I was taught to read as a toddler.”
“Then my Lord, I guess you understand what I’m getting at.”
Arthur stared blankly, trying to think it through without it being obvious. Finally he conceded. “Nope, your mind is too strange a place for me to follow.”
Merlin grinned triumphantly. “You only have to have sex with a girl for the unicorn to run away.”
Slowly Arthur’s eyes opened wide and he felt like a fool. “Oh... I see. That’s... way more information about my own servant than I ever wanted to know.” With that Arthur with his head held high marched to his desk and sat down to work on his reports.
Still laughter followed him. “I’m sorry, but I can’t stop. Did you honestly think I’d never...? I lived in a village for goodness sake. We grow up really fast.”
Arthur nodded. Not looking up from the papers he was pretending to read, he blurted out, “Who was he?”
At the silence, Arthur for a moment thought Merlin had been having him on to save himself from embarrassment. But when he looked up his stomach tightened at the look in Merlin’s eyes. “You met him.”
“I’m sorry,” Arthur said as it all clicked into place. “I didn’t realize how close you two were.”
Merlin went and picked up the clothes he’d left on the floor. “Will, he was the only one I ever loved. I...” Merlin couldn’t speak anymore.
Arthur sighed. He’d just wanted a laugh. Not to open up some fairly recent wound. Arthur began to realize as he watched Merlin move about his room, just how little he knew about his servant. His friend. Arthur decided that anymore questions he may have, such as if Merlin had always known about Will’s abilities, were better left unasked. “You can go now. Go rest. The laundry will be there in the morning.”
“Goodnight Arthur,” Merlin said gratefully.
As Arthur watched Merlin leave, he felt comforted that in this moment Merlin didn’t address him as sire. With that thought in mind Arthur retired to bed.