On the Edge
Author: archaeologist_d
Title: On the Edge
Rating: NC-17
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur, Uther
Summary: Uther is less than pleased when he figures out that Merlin is alpha to Arthur’s omega. He would have to do something about it.
Warnings: discussion of torture, gelding. A/B/O pairing
Word Count: 980
Camelot drabble Prompt 533: Surveillance
Author’s notes: not my normal stuff. Rating for sexual discussion
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Uther rarely made mistakes. His understanding of the foibles of the nobility was excellent, his use of force impeccable, and if he made a rare error in judgement, it was usually easy enough to correct - just kill those who knew of it or threaten their families and it was if it had never happened.
However, this time, it wasn’t so easy to undo.
He blamed the heat of the moment. He’s assigned that fool of Gaius’s as Arthur’s manservant, knowing that the boy wouldn’t last more than a day or so before Arthur sacked him.
Arthur might be weak. Uther’s disappointment in his son’s omega tendencies grated against his alpha expectations. After all, the kings of Camelot were always alphas and Arthur a sore spot in that lineage.
His son made up for his soft inclinations by bullying and imperious shouts, by his use of swordplay to intimidate, his ordering of those lesser beings into tears or terror. He hid that offensive omega weakness well. And he often took out his frustrations on those under him as evidenced by a long line of frightened manservants.
Uther had never expected Merlin to last.
But he had. And what was worse was that as time passed, it became astonishingly clear that Merlin was alpha.
Not from scent. Uther would not lower himself to sniff in that boy’s direction but everything the idiot did, standing up for himself, often with insults and scowls, talking back to his prince, spoke of alpha tendencies. What was worse was that Arthur let him.
Arthur let him. And maybe more than just insults, if Arthur’s satisfied smiles were any indication.
It could not be borne.
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“The fool makes a fool of us all,” Uther spat out. “You allow him too much freedom. You shame Camelot with your omega weakness. I thought I had beaten it out of you, boy.”
Arthur stood there, his face pale but resolute. Uther might have let it go but it was too important. If any of this got out, Camelot would be the laughingstock of the Five Kingdoms and a target for the other alpha kings.
“I am first in tourneys, first in every melee, first in jousting.” Arthur lifted his chin, meeting Uther’s eyes with defiance. A good sign. Perhaps his omega tendencies could be overcome after all. “I am unequalled in mace work and sword-fighting. What more can I do to prove to you and the kingdom that I am worthy?”
That, at least, was true. Arthur had no equal in warfare. But then Uther had trained him to kill since birth. If only he were an alpha and not a weak omega.
Still, Arthur had done everything Uther had required of him, had hidden his inclinations well. Until Merlin.
“Is this peasant of yours alpha?” Uther pressed.
There was the slightest hesitation, as if he was thinking of lying to Uther but he must have realised that it was futile. After all, Uther had had both of them watched for some time, and Arthur, weak though he was, was no fool. Finally Arthur said, “He is a servant. He is nothing to me.”
Slamming his fist against the table, Uther growled, “He mocks you with his insolence. You will curb his tongue, or I will cut it out.” When Arthur started to protest, Uther turned thoughtful. “Or I could have his bollocks removed while you watch. That might be the best solution after all. He would no longer be alpha, but you could use him as he is meant to be used. Your alpha to his omega. And we wouldn’t have to worry about rumours of your… weakness.”
A harsh reminder to Arthur to overcome his omega foolishness and be the king Camelot needed.
“Father, you can’t be serious. Merlin has done nothing to warrant this. If you want to punish me for being an omega, do so but this is not justice.” Arthur looked horrified.
Uther could see that Arthur would defend that alpha peasant if pressed and he had to admit that Arthur was more of a swordsman than anyone else in Camelot. There might be bloodshed and it seemed a waste to lose a few guards over this when Uther could be prudent.
Shrugging, Uther leaned back, took a long drink of wine, then said, “So be it. Ten lashes and salt in the wound after.” He nodded toward the door. “I will arrange it. Return to your quarters and await my summons. Until then, say nothing to anyone or there will be consequences.”
Arthur swallowed hard, his eyes at once fearful and determined, then nodded. “Very well. And Merlin?”
“I would say he is not your concern, but I see that he is,” Uther said, his mouth crabbed with disgust. “You are too soft, Arthur, but Merlin will not be punished for your weakness.”
With that, Arthur seemed to relax, nodded, then turned around and left the room.
Uther waited a few moments, then called for the guards. “Post guards at Prince Arthur’s door. Then bring his manservant to me. And keep it quiet.”
As he waited, Uther remembered his younger days, riding, flying across the fields on horses bred for speed. He’d loved the freedom but knew that horses needed more than just running free, that they needed shoeing and care and sometimes, the too wild stallions gelded. It wasn’t hard. Uther had even helped once. So he wouldn’t need to send for Gaius in this.
It would be a matter of the boy held down, a sharp knife slicing across his bollocks, and a hot brand afterwards to stem the bleeding.
If Merlin died, well, Arthur would be upset for a time, but that wouldn’t matter. Sometimes, the needs of the kingdom came before a prince’s unhappiness. Merlin was just a servant. Disposable.
And after all, Uther was only thinking of Camelot.
Title: On the Edge
Rating: NC-17
Pairing/s: Merlin/Arthur
Character/s: Merlin, Arthur, Uther
Summary: Uther is less than pleased when he figures out that Merlin is alpha to Arthur’s omega. He would have to do something about it.
Warnings: discussion of torture, gelding. A/B/O pairing
Word Count: 980
Camelot drabble Prompt 533: Surveillance
Author’s notes: not my normal stuff. Rating for sexual discussion
Disclaimer: I do not own the BBC version of Merlin; They and Shine do. I am very respectfully borrowing them with no intent to profit. No money has changed hands. No copyright infringement is intended.
-------------------
Uther rarely made mistakes. His understanding of the foibles of the nobility was excellent, his use of force impeccable, and if he made a rare error in judgement, it was usually easy enough to correct - just kill those who knew of it or threaten their families and it was if it had never happened.
However, this time, it wasn’t so easy to undo.
He blamed the heat of the moment. He’s assigned that fool of Gaius’s as Arthur’s manservant, knowing that the boy wouldn’t last more than a day or so before Arthur sacked him.
Arthur might be weak. Uther’s disappointment in his son’s omega tendencies grated against his alpha expectations. After all, the kings of Camelot were always alphas and Arthur a sore spot in that lineage.
His son made up for his soft inclinations by bullying and imperious shouts, by his use of swordplay to intimidate, his ordering of those lesser beings into tears or terror. He hid that offensive omega weakness well. And he often took out his frustrations on those under him as evidenced by a long line of frightened manservants.
Uther had never expected Merlin to last.
But he had. And what was worse was that as time passed, it became astonishingly clear that Merlin was alpha.
Not from scent. Uther would not lower himself to sniff in that boy’s direction but everything the idiot did, standing up for himself, often with insults and scowls, talking back to his prince, spoke of alpha tendencies. What was worse was that Arthur let him.
Arthur let him. And maybe more than just insults, if Arthur’s satisfied smiles were any indication.
It could not be borne.
------------------------
“The fool makes a fool of us all,” Uther spat out. “You allow him too much freedom. You shame Camelot with your omega weakness. I thought I had beaten it out of you, boy.”
Arthur stood there, his face pale but resolute. Uther might have let it go but it was too important. If any of this got out, Camelot would be the laughingstock of the Five Kingdoms and a target for the other alpha kings.
“I am first in tourneys, first in every melee, first in jousting.” Arthur lifted his chin, meeting Uther’s eyes with defiance. A good sign. Perhaps his omega tendencies could be overcome after all. “I am unequalled in mace work and sword-fighting. What more can I do to prove to you and the kingdom that I am worthy?”
That, at least, was true. Arthur had no equal in warfare. But then Uther had trained him to kill since birth. If only he were an alpha and not a weak omega.
Still, Arthur had done everything Uther had required of him, had hidden his inclinations well. Until Merlin.
“Is this peasant of yours alpha?” Uther pressed.
There was the slightest hesitation, as if he was thinking of lying to Uther but he must have realised that it was futile. After all, Uther had had both of them watched for some time, and Arthur, weak though he was, was no fool. Finally Arthur said, “He is a servant. He is nothing to me.”
Slamming his fist against the table, Uther growled, “He mocks you with his insolence. You will curb his tongue, or I will cut it out.” When Arthur started to protest, Uther turned thoughtful. “Or I could have his bollocks removed while you watch. That might be the best solution after all. He would no longer be alpha, but you could use him as he is meant to be used. Your alpha to his omega. And we wouldn’t have to worry about rumours of your… weakness.”
A harsh reminder to Arthur to overcome his omega foolishness and be the king Camelot needed.
“Father, you can’t be serious. Merlin has done nothing to warrant this. If you want to punish me for being an omega, do so but this is not justice.” Arthur looked horrified.
Uther could see that Arthur would defend that alpha peasant if pressed and he had to admit that Arthur was more of a swordsman than anyone else in Camelot. There might be bloodshed and it seemed a waste to lose a few guards over this when Uther could be prudent.
Shrugging, Uther leaned back, took a long drink of wine, then said, “So be it. Ten lashes and salt in the wound after.” He nodded toward the door. “I will arrange it. Return to your quarters and await my summons. Until then, say nothing to anyone or there will be consequences.”
Arthur swallowed hard, his eyes at once fearful and determined, then nodded. “Very well. And Merlin?”
“I would say he is not your concern, but I see that he is,” Uther said, his mouth crabbed with disgust. “You are too soft, Arthur, but Merlin will not be punished for your weakness.”
With that, Arthur seemed to relax, nodded, then turned around and left the room.
Uther waited a few moments, then called for the guards. “Post guards at Prince Arthur’s door. Then bring his manservant to me. And keep it quiet.”
As he waited, Uther remembered his younger days, riding, flying across the fields on horses bred for speed. He’d loved the freedom but knew that horses needed more than just running free, that they needed shoeing and care and sometimes, the too wild stallions gelded. It wasn’t hard. Uther had even helped once. So he wouldn’t need to send for Gaius in this.
It would be a matter of the boy held down, a sharp knife slicing across his bollocks, and a hot brand afterwards to stem the bleeding.
If Merlin died, well, Arthur would be upset for a time, but that wouldn’t matter. Sometimes, the needs of the kingdom came before a prince’s unhappiness. Merlin was just a servant. Disposable.
And after all, Uther was only thinking of Camelot.