[March 2nd] [Merlin (BBC)] Seven Year Itch
Title: Seven Year Itch
Day/Theme: March 2, 2009 - a lover as faithful as guilt
Series: Merlin (BBC)
Character/Pairing: Lancelot/Gwen, Lancelot/Elaine, Arthur/Merlin, Morgana
Rating: PG-13ish (for language & infidelity)
When Lancelot steps out on Gwen, it comes as a shock to everyone - even Morgana. And Merlin’s heart aches because it’s Gwen, and she’s trying to put a brave face on it, sitting beside Arthur on her throne and smiling at Elaine like it’s some sort of honour to greet her ex-lover’s glowingly pregnant wife when she first comes to court.
“I hope she dies,” Morgana says over tea. It’s a pow-wow between the three of them: Merlin, Morgana, and Arthur, all in the stupid cave Morgana has set up as her “magic lair.” The neat silver tea service and clean table linens show that the cave is within five minutes of Camelot and is really for Morgana to indulge in her love of the theatrical, as she still sleeps and takes all her meals at the castle.
“I hope his dick falls off,” says Merlin.
“Ummf,” says Arthur, but that’s because his mouth is full of biscuit.
Later, because the pow-wow didn’t really accomplish anything, other than come up with increasingly appalling ways for Lancelot and Elaine to die, Merlin makes the mistake of asking Arthur, “How could we not see this coming?”
Arthur is in the process of removing his jacket, his crown already off for the day and haphazardly laying on the window ledge; he ducks his head, but not before Merlin can see the sudden shifty turn in his eyes.
“You knew,” he says, advancing towards Arthur. “You knew, and you did nothing. That’s despicable. That’s lower than low. That’s - “
“I knew he was unhappy,” Arthur interrupts. “But I swear I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
“Unhappy.” Merlin crosses his arms across his chest, noting that Arthur has the good sense to wince. “How on earth could Lancelot possibly be unhappy? What with the job he’s always longed for and the woman of his dreams?”
“I know it sounds stupid,” Arthur says. “That’s why I didn’t mention it. It’s something that used to happen to the older knights and now that, well - “ and yes, Arthur and Lancelot are the older knights now, and Merlin’s become one of those old trusted advisors, “-Elaine probably makes him feel young again.”
And Merlin has a terrible, terrible thought, something that makes the rage he feels at Lancelot seem wan and pale in comparison. “Arthur,” he says, voice crisp and calm and nothing at all like the turmoil in his gut that is quickly rising to wretch his heart in two, “you wouldn’t be having any similar feelings of unhappiness, would you?”
He tells himself it’s anger he’s feeling. Anger at himself for thinking that there was any sort of permanence or fidelity when Arthur’s the fucking king and a prat and - forget telling himself things. He’s heartsick and thinking of the younger knights and the way they look at Arthur and the long nights of an empty bed when Arthur and the knights are out on patrol. And then he really is angry, angry at Arthur for fucking up everything good in his life, and if this is the end of them like it’s the end of Gwen and Lancelot, he's not going to let it go quietly, like Gwen is. It’s going to be an end with a bang so loud and sharp that Arthur won't know what hit him.
But Arthur’s gazing at over at him with those wide, surprised eyes of his, as if he’s never even thought of it, and then that stupid, drawling voice asking Merlin if he’s joking.
And when Merlin doesn’t answer, Arthur’s across the room in two quick steps. “You’re an idiot,” he says, shaking Merlin twice for emphasis. “And obviously suffering from a severe mental affliction if you think I'd ever be so stupid as to step out on you.”
Day/Theme: March 2, 2009 - a lover as faithful as guilt
Series: Merlin (BBC)
Character/Pairing: Lancelot/Gwen, Lancelot/Elaine, Arthur/Merlin, Morgana
Rating: PG-13ish (for language & infidelity)
When Lancelot steps out on Gwen, it comes as a shock to everyone - even Morgana. And Merlin’s heart aches because it’s Gwen, and she’s trying to put a brave face on it, sitting beside Arthur on her throne and smiling at Elaine like it’s some sort of honour to greet her ex-lover’s glowingly pregnant wife when she first comes to court.
“I hope she dies,” Morgana says over tea. It’s a pow-wow between the three of them: Merlin, Morgana, and Arthur, all in the stupid cave Morgana has set up as her “magic lair.” The neat silver tea service and clean table linens show that the cave is within five minutes of Camelot and is really for Morgana to indulge in her love of the theatrical, as she still sleeps and takes all her meals at the castle.
“I hope his dick falls off,” says Merlin.
“Ummf,” says Arthur, but that’s because his mouth is full of biscuit.
Later, because the pow-wow didn’t really accomplish anything, other than come up with increasingly appalling ways for Lancelot and Elaine to die, Merlin makes the mistake of asking Arthur, “How could we not see this coming?”
Arthur is in the process of removing his jacket, his crown already off for the day and haphazardly laying on the window ledge; he ducks his head, but not before Merlin can see the sudden shifty turn in his eyes.
“You knew,” he says, advancing towards Arthur. “You knew, and you did nothing. That’s despicable. That’s lower than low. That’s - “
“I knew he was unhappy,” Arthur interrupts. “But I swear I didn’t know he was going to do that.”
“Unhappy.” Merlin crosses his arms across his chest, noting that Arthur has the good sense to wince. “How on earth could Lancelot possibly be unhappy? What with the job he’s always longed for and the woman of his dreams?”
“I know it sounds stupid,” Arthur says. “That’s why I didn’t mention it. It’s something that used to happen to the older knights and now that, well - “ and yes, Arthur and Lancelot are the older knights now, and Merlin’s become one of those old trusted advisors, “-Elaine probably makes him feel young again.”
And Merlin has a terrible, terrible thought, something that makes the rage he feels at Lancelot seem wan and pale in comparison. “Arthur,” he says, voice crisp and calm and nothing at all like the turmoil in his gut that is quickly rising to wretch his heart in two, “you wouldn’t be having any similar feelings of unhappiness, would you?”
He tells himself it’s anger he’s feeling. Anger at himself for thinking that there was any sort of permanence or fidelity when Arthur’s the fucking king and a prat and - forget telling himself things. He’s heartsick and thinking of the younger knights and the way they look at Arthur and the long nights of an empty bed when Arthur and the knights are out on patrol. And then he really is angry, angry at Arthur for fucking up everything good in his life, and if this is the end of them like it’s the end of Gwen and Lancelot, he's not going to let it go quietly, like Gwen is. It’s going to be an end with a bang so loud and sharp that Arthur won't know what hit him.
But Arthur’s gazing at over at him with those wide, surprised eyes of his, as if he’s never even thought of it, and then that stupid, drawling voice asking Merlin if he’s joking.
And when Merlin doesn’t answer, Arthur’s across the room in two quick steps. “You’re an idiot,” he says, shaking Merlin twice for emphasis. “And obviously suffering from a severe mental affliction if you think I'd ever be so stupid as to step out on you.”