[When Charlie's expression changes, Merlin's already reaching out for her out of complete impulse and when he notices, he doesn't stop himself even if he very briefly considers it. He really doesn't see why she would mind it, really - that's just a rather stupid thought because she's never denied his comfort before - and so he places his hand on her shoulder, rubbing it gently.
So her father had tried to protect her... and died. And Merlin's throat goes tight because his father died protecting him, and she got to see him die at such a young age, and... God.]
I'm sorry.
[It feels like such a ridiculous thing to say, really, but to him, at least... it's come to mean a great deal.]
[Charlie leans into his touch automatically, smiling slightly. There's no reason for her to push him away and she welcomes his attempts. And from what she knows of Balinor from that curse a while back, she knows he understands. She wouldn't bother shrugging his affections off, not at such a stressful moment for her.]
Basically, there I was, a scared little kid separated from the only friendly face she's known for years. Everything was unimaginably miserable. And then there was Necromancer and as long as I had a way to get to him, I was fine.
[She slides her arms around Merlin's waist, looking at him for a moment, just studying him and tilting her head slightly. She was content to hold him just like this, Necromancer standing nearby and watching everything.]
[Merlin gives Charlie a soft smile. He can understand that situation. While his childhood was considerably better in comparison, he only really found comfort in his mother and Will and as long as he had them, he had been sure he would be fine no matter what.
He moves his hand from Charlie's shoulder to her opposite arm and rubs that instead, studying the horse - it really is gorgeous - when she asks her question. Oh...
Welp... He's not sure he wants to say...
But maybe she deserves to know at least some. However that goes.
He looks back at her, with a very slight frown, and swallows.]
Memories. Of someone. It's just for six weeks, so it'll be over before we know it.
[And there's a flash of guilt on Charlie's face. The deities never took insignificant memories so she wondered who he gave up just for her horse. Six weeks sounded like an awful long time. And it made her feel significantly more important than she thought she was. What a conflicting set of emotions. She pushes those emotions down for no and smiled up at him just a little.]
When you get those memories back, I want you to promise me you'll tell me everything you can about them. Every detail, every fondest moment and every most embarrassing situation.
[And she's hugging him again, arms around his shoulders as she stands on her tiptoes. She'd felt the faintest prickling in the corners of her eyes and wasn't exactly sure which emotion was causing it. She just knew she wanted to hold Merlin for hours and not let him go.]
[At that flash, Merlin parts his lips to tell her not to feel guilty about it, but then she keeps talking and is hugging him and he forgets briefly about it as he returns it with a soft smile. Everything he can?
He exhales a puff of breath, sort of like a form of laughter.]
I think that might be a lot to tell. But, okay, I'll try.
[Gently, he places his hand at the back of her head and leans his cheek against it.]
Then you need to promise me not to feel even a little bad about this; it was my choice.
[She manages a small laugh, sighing and closing her eyes and just leaning against him ever so slightly. Don't feel guilty? That's going to be so difficult. With the way Merlin speaks of people, they're all important. Damn the deities and their rather disturbing requests.
But she didn't want to upset Merlin. He'd done something so amazing for her. It would be horribly ungrateful of her to feel bad about it. Like he said, it was his choice. She could push aside her mistrust of the deities for him.
She straightened and looked at him, her eyes on his and her hands resting on his shoulders and she nodded once.]
[It's not like it doesn't make sense for her to feel bad. Honestly, he probably would in her place, a little, so this is a "do as I say, not as I do" sort of situation.
He smiles, and leans down to give her a quick, light kiss.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[action]
So her father had tried to protect her... and died. And Merlin's throat goes tight because his father died protecting him, and she got to see him die at such a young age, and... God.]
I'm sorry.
[It feels like such a ridiculous thing to say, really, but to him, at least... it's come to mean a great deal.]
[action]
Basically, there I was, a scared little kid separated from the only friendly face she's known for years. Everything was unimaginably miserable. And then there was Necromancer and as long as I had a way to get to him, I was fine.
[She slides her arms around Merlin's waist, looking at him for a moment, just studying him and tilting her head slightly. She was content to hold him just like this, Necromancer standing nearby and watching everything.]
What did you trade? If that's okay to ask.
[action]
He moves his hand from Charlie's shoulder to her opposite arm and rubs that instead, studying the horse - it really is gorgeous - when she asks her question. Oh...
Welp... He's not sure he wants to say...
But maybe she deserves to know at least some. However that goes.
He looks back at her, with a very slight frown, and swallows.]
Memories. Of someone. It's just for six weeks, so it'll be over before we know it.
Re: [action]
[And there's a flash of guilt on Charlie's face. The deities never took insignificant memories so she wondered who he gave up just for her horse. Six weeks sounded like an awful long time. And it made her feel significantly more important than she thought she was. What a conflicting set of emotions. She pushes those emotions down for no and smiled up at him just a little.]
When you get those memories back, I want you to promise me you'll tell me everything you can about them. Every detail, every fondest moment and every most embarrassing situation.
[And she's hugging him again, arms around his shoulders as she stands on her tiptoes. She'd felt the faintest prickling in the corners of her eyes and wasn't exactly sure which emotion was causing it. She just knew she wanted to hold Merlin for hours and not let him go.]
[action]
He exhales a puff of breath, sort of like a form of laughter.]
I think that might be a lot to tell. But, okay, I'll try.
[Gently, he places his hand at the back of her head and leans his cheek against it.]
Then you need to promise me not to feel even a little bad about this; it was my choice.
[action]
But she didn't want to upset Merlin. He'd done something so amazing for her. It would be horribly ungrateful of her to feel bad about it. Like he said, it was his choice. She could push aside her mistrust of the deities for him.
She straightened and looked at him, her eyes on his and her hands resting on his shoulders and she nodded once.]
I promise.
[action]
He smiles, and leans down to give her a quick, light kiss.]
Then it's a deal.