I Know This Sounds Like A Horrible Thing To Say But...I Kinda Hate Gauis.

Empty my plate, fill my heart

It started small, with a sausage, a bit of egg, a few berries missing from Arthur's plate. He wouldn’t have noticed had Merlin not had traces of his thievery left on his lips.

Not that Arthur paid attention to Merlin's lips. Never. He wouldn’t.

Instead he requested the kitchen staff in person to increase his portions. It wasn’t by much but enough so Merlin could get his tribute and Arthur had enough energy for training with the knights.

Slowly the portions increased further, not that Arthur ate more, while the prince watched his manservant fill out his clothes, his face becoming softer although his cheek bones still stood out.

Now, if asked Arthur would deny it even under threat of death, but he was less scared for Merlin when he couldn't feel his vertebrae through at least two layers of clothing, or count his ribs whenever his tunic clung to his body.

With finally enough food Merlin built up muscle, the gangly boy turning into a handsome man. And Arthur knew he shouldn't look but there Merlin was, shouldering open his door while sneaking a raspberry into his mouth, the pink juice glistening on his lips. "Rise and shine, it's a beautiful day!"

Arthur rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Beautiful day and yet you have half your breakfast smeared over your face." His hand held Merlin's chin as the other gently wiped away the traces of fruit.

Arthur licked his thumb clean.

"The harvest was good this summer. I hope the fall has similar results." He humms in content.

Merlin stands and stares at him like a startled deer, his face slowly reddening in a blush and Arthur wonders how far it extends.

"My clothes for the day, Merlin. We have a lot to do," he reminds the servant as he begins his meal.

Merlin huffs and turns, barely missing the satisfied smile on Arthur's face.

ARTHUR PENDRAGON HAS RISEN FROM THE LAKE. MORGWEN AND MERTHUR IS LIVING HAPPILY TOGETHER. GWAINE IS ALIVE. PERCIVAL IS ALIVE, LANCELOT IS ALIVE. LEON IS ALIVE ELYAN IS ALIVE!!!!

*i screamed as the others dragged me back into my room*

they are just shy.

Arthur and Merlin decide to take the knights on a well-deserved vacation and Leon decides it's a good idea to create some rules to make sure everything goes well.

Leon: Okay, basic rules. First rule, no altering the number of lives on earth.

Gwaine: What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Leon: Glad you asked. It means I don't want anyone killing *looks at Merlin and Mordred*, anyone dying *looks at Arthur, Elyan, and Gwaine*, or anyone taking their own lives *looks at Arthur and Merlin*, and I especially don't want anyone creating lives after drinking too much at the tavern *looks specifically at Gwaine*

Gwaine: 😁

Leon: Second rule, respect. I don't want anyone insulting or hitting anyone, this goes for you, Merlin. I'm serious, buddy, leave Mordred alone!

Merlin: If I can't insult him with words or hits, do you prefer I use stones? 😒

Mordred: 🥺

Leon: Just pretend he's not there, please.

Merlin: I refuse...

Arthur: Merlin, seriously?

Merlin: Okay, I'll leave him alone, a little 🙄

Arthur: 😮‍💨

Leon: Better than nothing. Anyway, third rule, no offending minorities with words or actions.

Everyone looks at Arthur and Gwaine.

Gwaine: I understand the princess, but why look at me?!

Leon: Do you remember the incident last year?

Gwaine: Yes?

Leon: The incident with the breasts, Gwaine.

Gwaine: Oh! I remember, got it 😅

Mordred: What incident?

Elyan: Gwaine offended a witch by commenting that she didn't look like a woman, so she cursed him by giving him breasts to make him "less of a man."

Merlin *excited*: Unfortunately for her, Gwaine loved the breasts, so she undid the spell. 😃

Gwaine: I loved my breasts 🥹

Leon: 😮‍💨

I have a feeling that episode 5 will turn out to be either okay or straight out bad.

Short: Never Leave us Merlin!

Merlin: Ok, so I assigned Edward to be your servant for the week. And I had-

Arthur: Really Merlin, Camelot won't fall apart if you're gone for a few days.

Merlin: 🤨 *Sceptical but finishing cleaning up Arthur's bed*

Merlin: *Rolls eyes* Well, if that is all. Take care of yourself and I'll be back in the week.

Arthur: *Nods* Be sure to tell Hunith my regards.

Merlin: *Smiles*

Arthur: *Blushes*

Merlin: Lancelot, I'm heading to Ealdor. Finally got the Prat to let me have my days off. But I hate to ask this, can you please keep an eye on Arthur for me?

Lancelot: Of course my friend. You can count on me.

Merlin: No seriously Lance, this is Arthur we're talking about. With him you'll need to keep constant vigilance.

Lancelot: It'll be OK Merlin. I promise, nothing will happen to Arthur while you're away.

Merlin: *Deeply sceptical but seriously needs a vacation*

Merlin: OK.

Lancelot: 😊 Have faith. How much trouble can Arthur get into within a week?

[ONE WEEK LATER]

Merlin: *Back from Ealdor*

Camelot: MERLIN'S BACK! *Cue cries of relief*

Leon: Thank the gods! *Grabs Merlin before he could protest and informs him of the others*

[KING'S CHAMBERS]

Merlin: 😑 Arthur...

Arthur: *Looks away*

Merlin: 💢 Arthur James Pendragon, tell me why Gwaine and half of your council are in the dungeons, and why Lance is in the corner crying and- IS THAT AN ARROW IN YOUR ARM?!!! ‼️😠🗯️

Arthur: *Sweats* 💦

Lancelot: *Mumbling* It all happened so fast... The first day was fine it was normal.. Then.. Then.. 😭😭

Leon the only Sane One left: Then Arthur didn't like the servant serving him, firing them on the spot. Next came Gwaine commenting on Arthur looks without Merlin around. Then they started arguing and Gwaine went into the dungeons to prove some point about something.

Arthur: *Mutters* He said I wouldn't last a day. Told him he can't last sober.

Merlin: 🤨

Leon: *Sighs long suffering* Then a sorcerer, no more then a young boy came trying to kill Arthur and failed. He fell over Arthur's messy room and knocked himself unconscious.

Merlin: 😦

Leon: Next the council wanted to burn the boy but Arthur wouldn't have it and tossed half of them in the dungeons.

Merlin: 😑

Arthur: 😅

Leon: And today, when training, An assassin tried to kill Arthur and would have succeeded if not for the sorcerer boy who was again attempting to kill Arthur but moved him out of the way slightly instead.

Merlin: 😓 And where is Gaius?

Leon: There is a birth happening in the lower town.

Merlin: ... Get my Medical Bag and I'll take care of the wound. *Sighs* I was only gone for a week...

Lancelot: And Never again.

Arthur and Leon: *Nods*

Camelot: Never Leave us Merlin!

I fucking hate the ugly gecko

merleon as the round table parents

it started on a hunting trip, gwaine was teasing mordred and took his stuff and hid it. merlin told him very sternly to give it back and mordred said "thanks dad"

from then on they all started calling merlin dad

with leon it came slower and from lancelot. lance was struggling with his relationship with gwen and he confided in leon

leon helped him work through it and when lance left he clapped leon on the shoulder and said "thanks pops"

of course the others all found out about it and started calling him pops

neither of them fits into "mom" or "dad" categories but they each have a role

the kids go to leon when they need solid advice, when they feel like they cant handle something alone and they need a real answer to a problem

they go to merlin when theyre hurt (physically or mentally) and he helps heal them. they also go to him when they need someone to vent to and not get a real answer from, merlin is more than happy to bitch with someone and he'll hold your grudges for you

when on hunting trips, leon makes sure they have food and merlin prepares it and makes sure everyone gets their share

theyre equally protective of the kids and they'll work together to move heaven and earth for them

when they dont want to deal with the knights they try and pawn them off on each other. they ask merlin for advice and he says "oof that sounds like one for pops"

gwaine gets mad at arthur and goes to leon, who tries to give him advice, gwaine gets even more upset and leon calls for merlin because he cant handle the big shows of emotion

the kids all fight to be the favorite. arthur tells the others he has to be the favorite because he's king, leon grounds him for holding his station above the others heads

merlin's favorite changes based on how much trouble they've cause him

leon's changes based on how well they did in training

raising the knights eventually gets merleon together.

🚶🏼🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏾‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️

happy merlin finale anniversary to all who mourn celebrate!