Arthur's Chambers, Camelot Citadel, Tuesday Evening

[bitchprince]

Council meetings. Endless, endless council meetings.

It wasn't that Arthur could credibly say he resented them - this was the life he'd been raised for, and the life he'd chosen, even in the presence of a choice (because there was no choice) - but he could very credibly state that they were a pain in his royal arse and if he had to hear Lord bloody Deagan throw out another ludicrous speech about taxing the populace in order to make up for the recent repairs, he was going to go out and get a horse to kick him.

By the time he shut the door to his chambers behind him, it had gone from evening into the first onset of the hours better described as night. "God," he said, the first genuine release he'd had all day. "Well, that was fun."

[[ for the ears ]]

Comments

[bitchprince]

Arthur sighed, carding his fingers through Merlin's hair while it was there. Don't let anyone catch him doing that. "I don't believe my father would agree with that assessment," he said. "The man is fairly useless as an advisor, but he's loyal." And that was Uther's main concern, after all.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"In the future, I'd hope nobles were picked by merit rather than birth."

Merlin, stop trying to be political. It will only end badly.

[bitchprince]

Especially while they were in this position.

"I'd settle for a council chamber not populated by fools," Arthur spoke, after a slight pause. He setled his hands by Merlin's shoulders again, fingers brushing against his neck. "Right now, the kingdom can't afford to turn its back on the old nobility."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Right now, yes," Merlin replied, kissing his neck again.

[bitchprince]

"Right now," he echoed, again. He was doing a fair lot of touching - of Merlin's back now, especially - but, well. He could.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

It was all fine by Merlin!

"Things will be different in the future, though," Merlin muttered, lips against Arthur's skin.

[bitchprince]

That caused an involuntary shiver. He didn't really have an answer to that - the idea of kinghood still far away and frightening in its own sense, even if it was inevitable. "Yeah," he settled on, finally, and it was as much a sigh as anything.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Relax?" Merlin suggested, moving down just a little to kiss his collar bone now.

[bitchprince]

Arthur snorted softly. "I have a feeling you won't leave me much of a choice in the matter," he said, good naturedly, placing one arm behind his head to function as a pillow of sorts.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

That just meant Merlin was going to give him a little nip. "Are you complaining about it?"

[bitchprince]

"Not particularly."

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't highly strung at the moment, mental and physical muscles at the ready.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Then... relax," Merlin said, taking his time now. "Tell me what you want."

[bitchprince]

Always the interesting question. "Can I just not move at all? Feels like I've been standing upright all day," he joked, sliding his hand back up into Merlin's hair. "Your mouth," he murmured, more serious now.