New Merthur Fic - Second Best
Title - Second Best
Author - Valorose (aka Syre)
Pairing - Merlin/Arthur
Rating - PG
Summary - Mild Slash Merlin/Arthur Gwen/Arthur One shot
Word count - 680
Disclaimer - Characters owned by BBC
Author's note -
WARNING - Contains male/male pairing.
Thanks to Shadow for the beta
Second Best
She hadn't always hated him, it hadn't always been this way. Once they were friends. Best friends. Now it felt like a dagger in her heart every time she saw him. She had always known on some level. Everyone had, there's was a bond even death had been unable to break. She tolerated him at best, tried not to be unkind, but how could she stand by knowing this man meant more to her husband than she did. She knew he loved them both, but she would never have the passionate part of him, she would never be devoured by those hungry eyes, not the way his lover was. She saw the desire in their eyes, a hunger that would never be sated. They were careful, they tried not to cause her more pain, but every time she heard their hushed voices or their urgent groans from the room next door it cut her like a knife. How could she compete with the man who had brought him back from the brink of death. She was overjoyed when he returned. But the man that had stood before her was not the man she had married, whatever had happened at the lake changed him. It was imperceptible to most, but in that instant she knew that he had finally admitted his true feelings. It wasn't magic that had saved him, but love and it broke her heart that that love had not been hers.
~x~
They weren't intimate any more, not since their son had been born and that suited him fine. He was a dutiful husband and though he cared deeply for her, their love had turned into something more akin to an amiable companionship with the odd public display of affection to keep the court rumours at bay. He adored his children, vowed to shower them with the love he never received as a child. He could happily spend hours in their company listening to the unintelligible babbling of two small toddlers. His heart sung with pride at their every accomplishment and constricted at the thought of any harm befalling them. He had never set out to hurt her, but he could not keep up the pretence of love where there was none. He had only one love and he had vowed to spend an eternity at his side, it had taken years for her to accept what had happened and still now he knew she would never understand. Time had not wearied the beautiful face of his beloved, the searching intelligent eyes and that silly grin he seemed to permanently wear. The lips that kissed him tenderly, hands that touched him gently, the feel of soft skin against his body. It had not been easy on any of them, but he could not deny his love for this man. His best friend, his soul mate, they were two halves of a whole, they had been made for each other and who were they to deny destiny?
~x~
The years had been kinder to her than they had been to him. He looked upon her resplendent on the throne, no one any the wiser to the King's dual life. It was here he felt her power over him. Here she was recognised. The mother of the heir to the kingdom. Although he was loved truly by the King, he could never give him what she had. She held the cards and they all knew it. One word from her and everything would come tumbling down. He remembered her as she was, she was still beautiful, but gone was the sparkle in her eyes and the youthful exuberance she once exuded. Gone was his friend, his confidante and he knew that he was the reason. He still carried the pain of their betrayal deep in his heart after all these years. Softly sighing, he turned to the sleeping form in his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. He stirred and pulled them closer together, eyes opening with an unspoken longing. Here they could be free.
~x~
Author - Valorose (aka Syre)
Pairing - Merlin/Arthur
Rating - PG
Summary - Mild Slash Merlin/Arthur Gwen/Arthur One shot
Word count - 680
Disclaimer - Characters owned by BBC
Author's note -
WARNING - Contains male/male pairing.
Thanks to Shadow for the beta
Second Best
She hadn't always hated him, it hadn't always been this way. Once they were friends. Best friends. Now it felt like a dagger in her heart every time she saw him. She had always known on some level. Everyone had, there's was a bond even death had been unable to break. She tolerated him at best, tried not to be unkind, but how could she stand by knowing this man meant more to her husband than she did. She knew he loved them both, but she would never have the passionate part of him, she would never be devoured by those hungry eyes, not the way his lover was. She saw the desire in their eyes, a hunger that would never be sated. They were careful, they tried not to cause her more pain, but every time she heard their hushed voices or their urgent groans from the room next door it cut her like a knife. How could she compete with the man who had brought him back from the brink of death. She was overjoyed when he returned. But the man that had stood before her was not the man she had married, whatever had happened at the lake changed him. It was imperceptible to most, but in that instant she knew that he had finally admitted his true feelings. It wasn't magic that had saved him, but love and it broke her heart that that love had not been hers.
~x~
They weren't intimate any more, not since their son had been born and that suited him fine. He was a dutiful husband and though he cared deeply for her, their love had turned into something more akin to an amiable companionship with the odd public display of affection to keep the court rumours at bay. He adored his children, vowed to shower them with the love he never received as a child. He could happily spend hours in their company listening to the unintelligible babbling of two small toddlers. His heart sung with pride at their every accomplishment and constricted at the thought of any harm befalling them. He had never set out to hurt her, but he could not keep up the pretence of love where there was none. He had only one love and he had vowed to spend an eternity at his side, it had taken years for her to accept what had happened and still now he knew she would never understand. Time had not wearied the beautiful face of his beloved, the searching intelligent eyes and that silly grin he seemed to permanently wear. The lips that kissed him tenderly, hands that touched him gently, the feel of soft skin against his body. It had not been easy on any of them, but he could not deny his love for this man. His best friend, his soul mate, they were two halves of a whole, they had been made for each other and who were they to deny destiny?
~x~
The years had been kinder to her than they had been to him. He looked upon her resplendent on the throne, no one any the wiser to the King's dual life. It was here he felt her power over him. Here she was recognised. The mother of the heir to the kingdom. Although he was loved truly by the King, he could never give him what she had. She held the cards and they all knew it. One word from her and everything would come tumbling down. He remembered her as she was, she was still beautiful, but gone was the sparkle in her eyes and the youthful exuberance she once exuded. Gone was his friend, his confidante and he knew that he was the reason. He still carried the pain of their betrayal deep in his heart after all these years. Softly sighing, he turned to the sleeping form in his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. He stirred and pulled them closer together, eyes opening with an unspoken longing. Here they could be free.
~x~