“Arthur… You think Percival don’t like you but you never let him tell you so. You never let him talk at all.”
“I don’t need to hear the words to know he doesn’t like me.”
“You’re stupid.”
“Merlin!”
“I’m trying to help you, here!”
“You’re not being very helpful.”
“You’re a prat!”
Merlin turned back to the hearth.
“Alright, Merlin, I’m listening!”
Merlin faced Arthur again, a satisfied smile on his lips.
“I’m going to tell you something but you must promise me not to tell Percival that I’ve told you.”
“Merlin, you don’t make any sense! And I’m a prince, I don’t have to make promises to my manservant.”
A simple eyebrow raise from Merlin was enough for Arthur to know he had once again made a mistake.
“Alright… I promise!”
“I’ve talked
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“You’re such a girl, Merlin!” Arthur teased.
The realisation dawned on him. As much as he was certain of his feelings towards Percival, he had never told the knight he loved him.
How could he ask Percival to trust him enough if he hadn’t made sure the knight knew about his feelings? It suddenly made sense.
“Arthur?” Merlin asked, startling him. “Are you ok?”
“I was just thinking.”
“Don’t try too hard, you’ll hurt yourself!” Merlin joked.
Arthur was too focused on his recent discovery to pay attention to Merlin’s teasing.
“I need to go,” Arthur said, and disappeared, leaving a dumbfounded manservant behind him.
***
Of course, just because Arthur realised what he had to do, that didn’t make it easy. In the end, it took Arthur a week to find the perfect moment to tell Percival he loved him.
That night, they found themselves on Arthur bed with their lips still swollen from kisses.
It felt so good that Arthur didn't want it to end and let Percival go.
“Percy, stay.” He asked as the knight started to move away.
“I can’t” Percival answered, shying away.
“Just to sleep.” Arthur insisted. “Weren’t we feeling