Arthur pins Merlin to the dirt with ease and, despite the proximity of Arthur’s mouth to Merlin’s, despite the familiar energy between them and how easy it would be to claim and be claimed here and now, Arthur just grins and says, “I don’t know why you start with me. I always win.” And he gets up, offering Merlin his hand.

And then my heart made a delicate little cracking sound and crumbled into little pieces.

This was so amazing and beautifully crafted and quietly portentous and just so lovely with a bit of sadness and and. Like curling up in something slightly prickly. Oh my heart. ♥