Fic: Give and Take (Merlin, Merlin/Arthur, NC-17) 2/2
***
Camelot stretched out before Merlin, the sight both familiar and dear to him after months of living in the castle. It was almost as dear to him as the blonde youth at his side. "I have to go back with her," Merlin said softly, not looking at Arthur. "She needs my help."
"Of course," Arthur nodded, looking over at him. "She's your mother."
Merlin finally turned as well. "It's been an honor and my pleasure to know you."
"What? You're going to be back, why so formal?"
Merlin regarded him helplessly. "She's my mother, Arthur. I have to be sure she's safe."
Arthur's expression turned somber, and he turned fully toward Merlin. "You don't plan on coming back," he said, answering his own question.
"I want to, but I can't as long my mother is in danger," Merlin replied unhappily. "I can't leave her, Arthur."
"And you can save her. I wish..." Arthur began before sighing. "You will be careful."
"I wish too," Merlin said almost soundlessly. "I will do my best to come back," he said, knowing it was a hollow promise.
"I would hope so; you're rubbish as a servant, but you do make a tolerable blanket," Arthur said, reaching out to clasp Merlin's shoulder.
Chuckling, Merlin glanced around to be sure they were alone and then pulled Arthur into a quick, hard hug. "I am going to miss you, no matter how big a prat you are."
"I'll miss you too," Arthur said gruffly before stepping back and clearing his throat. "Remember what I taught you about swordplay, all right? It can still save your life."
Merlin smiled wryly. "Do you actually remember our practice sessions? I think magic is going to serve me better, Arthur."
Arthur raised a finger at that. "I think that they can work together."
"It works best when you do the sword work and I do the sorcery, but I will use what you taught me," Merlin promised. "My mother is anxious to get back, so we'll be leaving today," he said, wishing they could have one more night, but it wasn't to be.
"Try not to get lost, will you?"
"I only do that when I'm being chased by some strange, murderous beast, and that only happens when I'm with you."
"Ahh, but what happens after those chases is half the fun." Arthur stepped back to look the younger teen over. "Right then, you'd best get on with it; your mother is waiting."
Merlin nodded and turned to go, only to spin back suddenly and pull Arthur into a kiss. "I love you, you prat," he said before bolting away, leaving Arthur gape-mouthed behind him.
***
A sound woke Merlin from a restless sleep that night, and he grabbed the sword that Gwen had given him, then cautiously moved away from their fire. He briefly considered waking Morgana to warn her, but he decided the noise would warn any intruders. If necessary, he could yell to wake the three women. He moved as silently as possible, knowing from experience that it wasn't very quietly, and tried to listen for the sound that had woken him.
A sword tapped him on the back, then a voice spoke from behind him. "I'd ask for your money, but I know you don't have any."
"Arthur?" Merlin whirled around, the naked sword in his hand nearly taking Arthur's head off, only prevented by Arthur's fortunately good reflexes.
"Put that thing down!" Arthur demanded, staying back until Merlin lowered the blade.
"Sorry," Merlin said, starting to move toward Arthur to hug him but then stopping abruptly when he remembered their last conversation. He regarded Arthur warily, wondering if he was going to ignore it.
The moment the sword was pointed toward the ground, Arthur took a step forward, fisted his hand in Merlin's shirt and hauled him in for a demanding kiss. "Did you mean what you said?" he rasped.
Apparently he wasn't going to ignore it.
Merlin licked his lips and looked anywhere but at Arthur's face as he nodded silently.
"And did you tell me that because you were leaving, or did it just slip out?"
Merlin sighed, realizing Arthur wasn't going to give up until he understood fully. "Because I was leaving. I didn't know if I'd ever have another chance to tell you, and I wanted to say it, just once."
"Just once? That's all I'll get to hear it--or is it just once for every time I tell you that I love you too, you idiot."
Merlin's jaw dropped, and he stared at Arthur, unable to get a word out.
"At least I didn't say it then run off," Arthur snorted, making Merlin flush.
"I didn't really think you'd care, at least not in a good way."
"You always think so highly of me," Arthur sighed, taking a step back.
"Arthur, you've never given me any reason to think otherwise... not that I did either," Merlin admitted, wanting to be fair. "But you wouldn't even talk about me having you, so how could I possibly think you wanted anything more than a shag?"
"And what does that have to do with anything?" Arthur asked, exasperated.
Merlin threw his hands up in the air, nearly removing his own ear with the sword he'd forgotten he was still holding, and marched angrily away toward the campsite, not wanting to start this conversation again within earshot of the women. If they were still asleep, they wouldn't be once he and Arthur started yelling.
"Merlin," Arthur hissed after him before growling in frustration and stomping back to untie his horse and bring it up to the camp, where he picketed it with the other three mounts. He found Merlin sitting on a log in front of the campfire and dropped down next to him, casting a glance back at the sleeping women.
"You want to..." Arthur paused and glanced toward the women again.
"What?" Merlin wasn't going to make any assumptions.
"To fuck me," Arthur said flatly.
"Well, not right this second, no," Merlin said, trying not to sigh. "But yes, I would. I love it when you fuck me, but sometimes, I'd rather like to have the chance to fuck."
"I--" Arthur sighed and rested his elbows on his knees as he stared into the fire. "I'm not finding that idea particularly repellant," he said carefully.
Merlin stared at him. "Lovely, I'm better than repellent. I'm bowled over by your enthusiasm."
"You're never happy, are you?"
"Actually, since coming to Camelot, I've been happy most of the time."
"I've just admitted to you that I love you and that I'm not disagreeing with what you want, and you're complaining about it."
Merlin blinked. "Oh. Oh!" He laughed sheepishly. "Sorry?"
"Come here, you idiot," Arthur chuckled, slinging an arm around Merlin's shoulders and pulling him in for a kiss.
"You can explain this to my mother when she wakes up in the morning," Merlin chuckled, pressing even closer.
"Explain what, my being here? I want to help, and that is the truth."
"Explain why I'm sleeping on top of you." Merlin grinned at him.
"What?" Arthur's voice rose before he hushed himself. "With Morgana and Guinevere and your mother around?"
Merlin stared. "You don't actually think Gwen and Morgana don't already know, do you? Though I'll grant you my mother. I'd rather like my mother to know, but I can understand if you're not ready for that. I wouldn't want your father to know," he admitted wryly.
"No, if he found out..." Arthur balked and stared. "You think they know?"
"I know for a fact that they do. Gwen tried to give me advice."
"When?" the prince asked, his voice strangled.
"Several months ago, now would you two please be quiet and let us sleep," Morgana groaned from where she and Gwen were lying.
Merlin whimpered and buried his face against Arthur's chest.
"If your mother is awake too, I'm going to kill myself."
Fortunately for all concerned, Hunith chose that moment to let out a soft snore.
"I'm going to sleep now," Merlin stated, more than a hint of desperation in his voice, though he didn't move away from Arthur.
"Please do," Gwen giggled while Arthur only groaned.
"Do I have to move?" Merlin asked pitifully.
"It might be easier to sleep if we do."
"But then I have to look at them."
"We'll put blankets over our heads if you'll just be quiet and go to sleep!" Gwen exclaimed in exasperation.
"Close your eyes and you won't see them," Arthur suggested, now sounding as he was on the verge of laughter.
"But then I'll trip and fall on someone."
"I won't let you fall," Arthur promised, coaxing Merlin to sit up.
"Can I at least sleep next to you?" Merlin asked with a pout.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep next to your mother?" Arthur asked dryly.
Merlin glared, and Arthur snickered before picking up his gear, standing them both up and leading him over to the empty blankets so he could lay his out beside them. Once they were both settled, Merlin leaned close to kiss Arthur. "Thank you for coming."
Arthur shrugged and rolled to his back, staring up at the night sky. "It was the right thing to do."
"That doesn't really seem to matter to most people," Merlin said, keeping his voice low enough not to disturb the girls. "And I know that your father didn't want to get involved, so, yeah, thanks."
"He couldn't, not without risking war, and you're welcome, now sleep. Why is it you always want to yammer on at night?" Arthur muttered though he sounded pleased by what Merlin had said.
"I know, I do understand." Merlin reached over to take Arthur's hand, moving slowly enough to give him plenty of time to move away if he objected.
The prince stayed still for a moment before closing his fingers around Merlin's and turning his head to watch him until he fell asleep.
***
"Is there perhaps something you'd like to tell me, Merlin?" Hunith asked the next morning, looking from her son to the crown prince of Camelot, who had been tangled together when she awoke.
Merlin flushed scarlet and murmured something unintelligible, cursing himself for having gravitated toward the familiar warmth of Arthur's body in his sleep.
"Prince Arthur joined us during the night," Gwen offered helpfully when it seemed neither man was going to answer.
"And it was chilly," Morgana added in a voice full of laughter.
Merlin groaned, the sound echoed by Arthur as well.
"I wanted to offer my help with your problem," the prince said when he could finally speak again.
"That's very kind of you, my lord," Hunith said politely, her eyes full of amused speculation as she gazed at the two young men. "Your assistance will be invaluable and may save us all."
"Arthur's a brilliant fighter," Merlin put in enthusiastically.
Arthur cleared his throat and looked around the makeshift camp. "Yes, well, we should get going so I can lend that assistance."
"Such brilliance," Morgana said sweetly, making Hunith cough suddenly while Merlin snickered, but they did all get moving and manage to break camp within a short time. It was only a few hours' ride to Ealdor, fortunately, since they arrived just as the village once again came under attack.
The four young people threw themselves into the fray, Morgana and Gwen fighting back to back while Arthur took on the minor lord leading the troop and Merlin resorted to sorcery against another bandit, out of sight of the villagers. Arthur defeated the leader but allowed him to leave, still hoping to avoid a war that could lead all the way to the steps of Camelot. Arthur was watching him ride off when swords clanged behind him, and he spun to see Morgana drive off the guardsman who had been about to impale him.
"Remind you of when we used to practice and I would beat you?" she asked sweetly before walking off to watch the rest of the troop flee.
"That never happened!" Arthur hollered after her before pulling himself together and looking around, hoping no one else had witnessed the incident. He spotted Merlin with a village youth and started toward them to assure himself that Merlin was unharmed.
Merlin was delighted to see his old friend Will, and after a bit of banter, he hugged Will, a broad grin on his face.
"It's good to see you again, Merlin," Will said, his hands on Merlin's shoulders. "I have missed you. Want to go for a walk tonight?" he suggested, waggling his eyebrows.
"Merlin," Arthur commented as he reached them, having heard the villager's comment and drawing a niggling suspicion as to just who this was from it.
Merlin's eyes widened, and he hastily stepped back from Will, moving to Arthur's side. "Arthur," he replied, "this is my old friend Will. Will, Prince Arthur of Camelot."
Will's eyes narrowed, focusing on the way that Merlin stood close to the blonde, which only added to his irritation at the title. "Come to save all us peasants, have you?" he sneered.
"To work with you to save yourselves," Arthur responded, for once biting his tongue to keep from antagonizing the other youth and gaining a grateful look from Merlin in response.
"Arthur came to help us, Will," he said. "Unless you'd rather watch people have their heads chopped off by axes," he added bluntly, his gaze warning Will to back down.
"What he's going to do is get us all killed," Will grumbled, stalking away and leaving Arthur to look mildly at Merlin.
"Will, hrmm?"
Merlin regarded him warily. "It was really, really bad sex."
"In the barn. With hay sticking to your ass..."
"Thank you for that reminder." Merlin glared while Arthur's lips twitched as he struggled not to laugh.
"Perhaps I should write out some pointers for him to try--on someone else."
Merlin snorted. "I'm fairly certain he can figure it out on his own. Though if you'd like to demonstrate some to me..." he trailed off with a grin.
"When this is over," Arthur promised.
"Over," Merlin repeated slowly, finally realizing that with Arthur there, it would be over. The prince wouldn't allow anything else, and then Merlin would be able to return to Camelot... with Arthur. "Oh, I do love you."
"Idiot," Arthur said affectionately, slinging an arm around Merlin's shoulders as they walked back to where the villagers were gathered. "Oh and by the way, don't listen to a word Morgana says if she goes on about saving me."
Merlin's eyebrows rose. "It sounds like I need to have a chat with Morgana," he replied, laughter bubbling in his voice.
"If you do that, then I may have to have a talk with your William," Arthur responded easily.
Merlin smirked. "So I'll wait till we're back in Camelot."
"Not if I keep you busy," Arthur said before they reached the others and fell into a discussion of how to protect the village when the soldiers next returned.
***
"So being a servant includes warming his bed?" Will asked when Merlin sought him out while the villagers were practicing their swordplay.
"No, being in love with him includes sharing his bed."
"You're in love with him?" Will asked before starting to laugh. "Oh, Merlin, that's tragic."
"I think it's rather brilliant."
"He's a prince, and you're... you. He's from Camelot as well; does he know about the magic?"
"Yes," Merlin replied bluntly. "And it doesn't matter that he's a prince and I'm a sorcerer; we're just Merlin and Arthur, and it's perfect."
"Merlin," Arthur yelled at that moment, "where are my vambraces?"
"So I see," Will said dryly.
Merlin looked back at him for a long moment. "He's the most important thing in the world to me, Will," he said simply before turning to go assist Arthur, leaving the other youth to stare after him with narrowed eyes.
***
"I'm sorry about your friend," Arthur said as he settled on the ground next to Merlin, who was staring at the campfire. The battle was won, the village was safe, and Will had died--saving him, something the prince was still coming to grips with.
Morgana and Gwen looked at them, then each other and announced that they were exhausted and were going to sleep.
Still gazing into the flames, Merlin said, almost too softly to be heard, "I think it was my fault. I told him what you mean to me, and he saved you for me. And gods help me, but I'm glad. I miss him, but if I had had to choose his life or yours--" He broke off on a strangled sob.
"Merlin, no," Arthur said, gently gathering him into his arms and kissing the top of his head. "It wasn't your fault."
Merlin sighed, melting against Arthur, content to allow the prince's strength to support him for a time. "It sort of was," he said, "And I'm sorry for that, but," he looked up at Arthur, his heart in his eyes, "I'm not sorry he saved you. If you had died..." He shuddered, knowing he would have unleashed his powers on the remaining soldiers. None would have survived.
"But I didn't; we're both here," Arthur murmured, rubbing Merlin's back as he spoke.
Merlin nodded, simply leaning against Arthur. "You really need to stop nearly dying. I don't like it."
"I could honestly do without it as well," Arthur conceded. "And I could say the same for you; it doesn't happen nearly as often, but I'd prefer for it not to happen at all."
Merlin nodded vigorously. "I'd much rather get our excitement in other ways. More fun ways. Private ways," he added with a half-hearted glare toward where the girls lay.
"We're not listening to anything," Morgana called, "not that the two of you aren't darling."
"I really hate them," Arthur sighed.
"We are not darling!" Merlin growled, sounding revolted.
"Yes, you rather are," Gwen argued.
"No, we aren't!" Arthur growled.
Gwen and Morgana laughed, and Merlin groaned.
"Ignore them and maybe they'll go away," he suggested, finally straightening away from Arthur to push to his feet. He retrieved his bed roll and spread it out, suddenly completely exhausted both physically and emotionally.
"Sound advice," Arthur nodded as he joined him, dropping his bed roll on top of Merlin's and pulling back the top layer of blankets. "More comfortable with extra padding under us, don't you think?" he asked.
Merlin stared at the bedding for a long moment before a wide smile blossomed on his face. "That sounds good," he agreed, unable to stop grinning as he dropped down and stretched out, finding the makeshift pallet fairly comfortable.
"Or it would if you would move over some," Arthur chuckled, dropping down beside him and pulling off his boots before stretching out and pulling Merlin half on top of him.
"Mmm, comfortable," Merlin said happily, tucking his head under Arthur's chin and flinging a possessive arm and leg across him in what had become his favored sleeping position back in Camelot.
"Yes, you are rather a good blanket," Arthur mused, wrapping an arm securely around Merlin's waist to hold him close.
***
"It's good to be back home," Merlin said, stretching out on Arthur's bed with a sigh of contentment. He watched Arthur eat his dinner, enjoying the knowledge that they were completely alone for the first time in days.
"Yes, it's somewhat more comfortable than blankets on the ground," Arthur said between bites of pheasant.
Merlin grinned. "You seem hungry. I'm sure my mother would have been happy to give you bigger servings if you'd asked."
"I would throw something at you, but you're on my bed," Arthur growled though he didn't stop eating.
"Alone," Merlin grumbled.
"Still eating," Arthur pointed out.
"So come eat me."
"I don't think you want me biting you."
Merlin opened his mouth to answer but then paused, seeming to think about it. "Well, under the right circumstances, and if it wasn't too hard..."
Arthur's eyebrows rose, and he set his knife down. "Oh really?"
Merlin nodded, his eyes already growing dark as he looked at Arthur. "Not that I've tried it, but I like the sound of it," he said in a voice grown slightly hoarse.
Pushing aside his platter, Arthur stood, grasping the bottom of his shirt and pulling it over his head. "So, do you want me to bite you, or do you want to do what we discussed the other night?" he asked, his voice remarkably steady he thought.
Merlin had to swallow hard before he could manage to speak. "If I say one, can we still do the other another time?"
"I think we can manage that."
"Then I really, really want to shag you." Merlin half sat up, the tightness of his trousers making it obvious how very much he liked that idea.
Arthur took a deep breath as he bent to pull off his breeches, but he was smiling as he straightened and tossed them away. "Then that's what we'll be doing tonight."
Merlin stood up and came over to wrap his arms around Arthur. He searched the blue eyes intently before pulling Arthur into a kiss. "You can shag me afterward," he promised.
"Are you saying you're going to be crap so I won't be too relaxed to do that?" Arthur asked, smiling slightly in apparent challenge.
Merlin gave him a dirty look. "I meant much later, you prat," he said before kissing Arthur again, his hands making short work of Arthur's remaining garments.
"Ahh," Arthur chuckled as he tugged at Merlin's shirt, "that makes more sense."
"You really are a prat," Merlin snorted, getting rid of his other garments so they were both naked. "But a really attractive one."
"So then why aren't we in bed?" Arthur murmured, dragging a finger down Merlin's chest.
"Because you're too big for me to throw."
"Unlike you," was all the warning Merlin got before Arthur grabbed him and picked him up, heaving him toward the bed and then joining him the moment Merlin hit the mattress. Merlin immediately flipped them over and sat up straddling Arthur, a greedy expression in his eyes as they ran over the muscular blonde.
"But we got here, so it's good."
"And much more comfortable."
"Comfortable is good too," Merlin replied, rocking against him while leaning forward to retrieve the flagon of oil they kept under the pillows.
"Mmmhmm," Arthur murmured, running his hands up Merlin's sides, fingers playing over the ridges of his ribs.
Merlin purred happily and kissed him again while opening the small container. Once he had it in hand, after another nibbling kiss, he slid backward, settling between Arthur's legs. Oil-slick fingers slid between Arthur's cheeks, slicking him up and slowly circling the tight opening, teasing him but not yet attempting to breech him.
Arthur took a deep breath and let it out as he rubbed his thumbs over Merlin's chest. "I love you," he whispered, meeting Merlin's gaze.
"I know," Merlin replied, "and I love you too." One finger pressed against Arthur as they stared at each other and slowly slid inside him.
Some of the tightness around Arthur's eyes eased, and he breathed deeply again as he relaxed then shifted his hips so that Merlin's finger could slip deeper into him.
"You feel so good, so tight," Merlin whispered, slowly easing his finger back and forth.
"It feels... good." Arthur sounded almost surprised by the admission.
Merlin rolled his eyes. "You thought I was faking it?"
"Shut up and do it more," Arthur growled.
"Are you going to try to hit me if I say I told you so?" Merlin chuckled, adding a second finger and twisting them in search of the spot he knew would make Arthur want more.
Arthur's growl changed to a surprised and pleasured moan, and he spread his legs wider. "Merlin!"
"I'm right here," Merlin whispered, watching Arthur intently, the prince's pleasure increasing his own arousal. "It's going to be so good, and we're both going to love it," he promised.
"Then perhaps we should get on with it," Arthur suggested, grabbing the oil and spilling some over his palm and then stroking Merlin's cock.
Merlin desperately fought the urge to laugh or to point out that Arthur had certainly changed his opinion in a hurry. "I don't want to hurt you, so you're just going to have to wait a little longer." To distract Arthur from arguing, he twisted his fingers again, pushing them deep inside Arthur, the move pulling a drawn-out groan from the prince's throat as he spread his legs wider.
"You're so gorgeous," Merlin groaned, pulling his fingers free and positioning himself at Arthur's entrance, the head of his cock pressing forward against the resisting muscle.
Arthur hissed out a breath, the muscles in his arms clenching as Merlin slowly breeched him and gradually relaxing as he bottomed out deep within him. "All right," he gasped, "are you going to move?"
"As soon as I'm sure I won't come right away," Merlin groaned, his eyes closed as he fought to hold on to his control, the tight heat surrounding him more pleasure than he'd imagined.
"It is rather good, isn't it?" Arthur panted, experimenting with shifting under Merlin and grinning when the other teen's eyes grew wider.
"Oh bloody hell," Merlin groaned, starting to move inside Arthur, rocking back and forth with gradually increasing speed. Arthur moaned and hooked his legs up around Merlin's hips, reaching between them to close his hand around his own cock, stroking in time with Merlin's thrusts.
"So good," Merlin whispered, covering Arthur's hand with his own, both of them stroking Arthur as Merlin fucked him, their bodies moving together. "Love you," he gasped as his body tightened, drawing close to his climax.
"Yes," Arthur managed, his muscles clenching as Merlin drove into him a final time and he came apart, his seed spilling over both their hands as he spasmed around the length inside him.
Merlin came at almost the same moment, the sensation of Arthur clenching even tighter around him pulling a cry from him, and he clutched at Arthur's shoulders hard enough to bruise as the pleasure tore through him. He collapsed on top of the prince, panting as he tried to catch his breath.
"All right," Arthur said after a space of time where they were both simply gasping for breath, "that was not a case of fumbling poorly."
"That was bloody brilliant."
"We may have to try it again some time," Arthur nodded.
"Oh damn, I'm just going to hate that," Merlin said dryly before chuckling and raising his head to kiss Arthur. "I love shagging you whichever way we do it."
"Damn right!" Arthur exclaimed. "If you suddenly decided this was the only way we were going to do it, I'd have serious issues."
"So would I," Merlin admitted. "I like having you fuck me far too much to give it up."
"Which I will remind you of come morning," Arthur yawned, letting his legs fall from around Merlin's hips.
"Good. I can sit much too comfortably the last few days," Merlin mumbled, his face pressed into Arthur's throat as he started to doze off.
"Oh hell, how is this going to feel come morning?" Arthur groaned to himself, trying not to disturb Merlin as he tried to decide how his body felt.
"Sore but good," Merlin muttered. "Tried t' be careful, didn't hur' you."
"You didn't," Arthur assured him, stroking Merlin's back and lifting his head enough to kiss Merlin's hair.
"'at's good." Merlin pressed closer as he fell asleep, a smile curving his lips.
***
"We need to find this beast before it can kill again," Arthur said, looking around at his men. "Be wary and be careful, but stand together, and we will not fail."
Merlin moved closer to Arthur as they made their way into the forest. "It's going to be hard to use magic with all your men-at-arms around us," he hissed at Arthur.
"I told them to stay together," Arthur murmured. "When we find the beast, we'll lure it off and dispose of it."
"We make a good team," Merlin agreed. "Just make sure no one else is nearby."
"Of course I might possibly kill it without your help," Arthur said dryly.
"Possibly, but it's a magical beast, and I'd really rather you didn't get yourself killed, so let's do it together," Merlin replied with equal dryness.
"Yes, dear," Arthur snorted before turning back to his men. "Let's go."
"I'm right behind you," Merlin assured him. "And you can decide who shags whom tonight as a reward for saving Camelot yet again."
The first hours of their search had proved fruitless, but finally they spotted the beast, the guard and knights thundering after it while Arthur and Merlin circled around, coming upon a cave entrance.
Arthur glanced at Merlin and drew his sword as he nodded toward the darkness. "The tracks lead into here."
"Then that's where we need to go." Merlin took a deep breath. "I know it's pointless, but I still need to say it: Be careful."
"Don't get lost," Arthur grinned back at him before they headed into the cave. Darkness surrounded them after a few steps, and they lit a torch, Merlin holding it high as Arthur led the way deeper, pausing every so often to listen for other movements.
Merlin kept close to Arthur, but they were still taken by surprise when the Questing Beast attacked, knocking both young men to the ground and sending them rolling in opposite directions. Merlin scrambled to his feet, yelling Arthur's name in horror when he saw that the beast was closer to Arthur and moving to attack him. The prince fought it off for a time while Merlin tried to distract it, but it got past his guard while dodging Merlin's magical attacks and managed to bite Arthur. Merlin yelled in mingled rage and grief and hurled a blast that destroyed the creature before racing to Arthur's side, only to find that he had already fallen unconscious.
Desperate, Merlin got Arthur back to their horses and rode for Camelot, barely pausing to inform the guardsmen of what had happened before driving the horse onward, his only thought to get Arthur to Gaius.
At Merlin's cry, several palace guards hurried over, looking horrified when they saw the prince's unconscious body draped over his horse. At Merlin's direction, they carried Arthur to Gaius' chamber, the older man looking up in shock at their entrance.
"Merlin, what happened?" he exclaimed, lurching to his feet. "No wait, get him to my bed first, then tell me."
"It was the Questing Beast," Merlin said, terror in his voice as he sank to his knees next to the bed once the soldiers laid Arthur in it and then left to inform the king. "It bit him before I could stop it. You can help him though, right?"
"I'm sorry, Merlin," Gaius said gently, reaching out to lay a hand on the youth's shoulder. "The beast's bite is fatal; there is nothing I can do."
"No! There has to be something," Merlin said desperately. "Surely I--" He stopped abruptly as Uther burst into the chamber, shouldering them both aside to get to Arthur. Gaius had to repeat the dire prognosis to Uther, with much the same reaction as Merlin had had.
Uther picked his son up and carried him out, intent on bringing him to his chamber, but the king staggered and fell to his knees halfway across the courtyard, overcome with grief. The men-at-arms rushed to the assistance of their king and prince, carrying Arthur to his room, eventually followed by Uther with Gaius' help.
It was some time before Gaius managed to convince Uther to rest, and he and Merlin were left alone with the unconscious prince. "There has to be something, Gaius," Merlin said as if the intervening hours had never happened.
Gaius pressed his lips together before looking down at Arthur then over at Merlin. "There is nothing that I am aware of. I am sorry."
"No!" Merlin dropped to his knees beside Arthur, his forehead pressed to the prince's shoulder, and then he kissed Arthur gently before pushing to his feet. "There has to be something." He cast a wild look at Gaius before fleeing the chamber, making his way to the underground cavern where the dragon was held.
He explained what had happened, begging the dragon to tell him how to save Arthur.
"To save the prince, you must travel to the Isle of the Blessed," the dragon rumbled as he shifted on the rock in front of Merlin.
"There is a cure there?" Merlin demanded, hope springing to life within his heart.
"Water from the Isle can cure any poison," the dragon nodded.
"Then I will bring back this water to save him," Merlin said. "Is there anything else I need to know?"
"The old religion requires balance; to save the prince, a life must be given in exchange."
Merlin closed his eyes briefly. "Then I will gladly give my life for his."
He made his way back to his chamber, quickly gathering the bare essentials for a journey, but before he could leave, Gaius returned.
"I have to go, Gaius; I know the water from the Isle of the Blessed can cure Arthur, and I know the cost. I'm going."
"Merlin..." Gaius' voice lost its strength, and he looked sorrowfully at the young man, seeing the resolve in his eyes. "Do you even know where you're going?"
"The Isle of the Blessed. I have a general idea where it is," Merlin said, sounding much less certain.
"Come here, Merlin," Gaius said, leading the young man to the table and reaching for a book then opening it and unfolding a map from inside it, giving Merlin more detailed instructions than he had had before.
"Thank you, Gaius." Merlin at him. "For everything. I'll be back as quickly as I can. Please keep Arthur alive till I return."
"I'll do everything I can," Gaius promised, taking Merlin's hand and pressing something into it. "It was a gift from my mother; it's supposed to bring luck to whoever carries it."
Merlin closed his hand around the rabbit's foot. "Thank you. I think I can use all the luck I can get."
Merlin left Camelot immediately, pushing his horse to its limits until he reached the lake where the Isle of the Blessed lay concealed, a boat resting at the shore. Once he stepped into it, it propelled itself across the lake to the island shrouded in the mists, stopping when it reached an empty pier. Merlin made his way to the ruins, stopping in the courtyard when a voice spoke his name.
"Why have you come here?"
"Nimueh!" Merlin glared. "I came for water to cure the poison of the Questing Beast."
The sorceress laughed aloud at that and ran a hand over the ruined alter behind her. "Do you know the price of such a gift?"
"I know. I'm willing to trade my life for his," Merlin replied, remembering how eager she had been for his death months earlier. "Just give me the water."
Nimueh extended her arm, showing Merlin a goblet. "If he drinks water from this goblet, he will be saved." When Merlin leaned in to look closer, she clasped his wrist, pulling him next to her then crying out to the heavens, causing a thunderstorm to swirl in around them, the rain filling the goblet.
Merlin watched silently as the storm cleared as quickly as it started, and Nimueh poured the water into a flagon that she then handed to him. Without another word to the sorceress, Merlin tucked the water safely into his belt pouch and began his journey back to Camelot, pushing the horse beyond what it could have accomplished without his magic in order to shorten the time.
He ran directly to Arthur's chamber, fortunately arriving at a time when Uther had gone to deal with urgent matters and Gaius was alone in the chamber. "I got it, Gaius," he exclaimed, offering the flagon to the physician.
"He's still alive," Gaius answered, waving Merlin around to lift Arthur's head and support him. Once that was done, he carefully poured the water into the prince's mouth, stroking his throat to help him swallow.
"What are you giving him?" Uther demanded as he returned in time to see this. "Did you find something that would help him?"
"It's a tincture that cures some poisons, sire," Gaius explained quickly. "It may help."
Uther sank down onto the chair by his son's bed, saying that he planned to stay, and Merlin reluctantly stood back, desperately wanting to touch Arthur, to hold his hand for what was probably the last time but unable to in Uther's presence. They all waited in tense silence until Arthur began to stir.
"What happened?" the prince asked as he opened his eyes and looked around at the circle of concerned faces watching him.
"Arthur!" Uther leaped to his feet, catching his son's hand in his own, fierce joy blazing in his face, eclipsed by Merlin's.
"Father?" Arthur asked, his gaze skipping from Uther's face to Merlin's and finally back again.
"You were bitten by the Questing Beast," Gaius explained when it seemed the other two men were unable to. "Merlin brought you back here, and we were able to cure you."
"I am pleased you are well," Uther said, squeezing Arthur's hand before releasing him and getting to his feet. "I must see that your recovery is announced to the people. They need to know that their prince is well."
Uther made his way from Arthur's chamber, and Merlin immediately moved to Arthur's side, reaching for Arthur's hand before remembering Gaius' presence and letting his hand fall back to his side.
"I am glad to see that you are recovered, Your Highness," Gaius said before bowing and taking a step back. "Just remember that your wound is not fully healed; I'm sure Merlin can get you anything that you need." He bowed again and walked out of the room, leaving the two young men alone.
"What did you do, Merlin?" Arthur demanded the moment the door was shut though his hand closed around Merlin's, and he pulled him down to the bed beside him.
Merlin made a strangled sound and turned into Arthur, clinging to him desperately, hardly able to believe that he'd succeeded and that Arthur was healed. "I brought back the cure, that's all," he mumbled into Arthur's chest.
"And so you save my life again," Arthur chuckled, kissing the top of Merlin's head. "How shall I say thank you this time?"
Merlin closed his eyes, pressing closer. "Not getting yourself killed would be a good start."
"I'll do my best," Arthur promised, bringing up an arm and resting it around Merlin's waist. "Of course you could just stay here for the rest of the day and make sure that I stay safe..."
"Nothing but your father's return could make me move from this spot," Merlin assured him.
"Mmm, I'm glad." Arthur kissed the top of Merlin's head again and relaxed back against his pillows, holding Merlin securely to make certain that he didn't move. "Then we can stay here for at least a week."
Merlin flinched very slightly and tried to cover it with a laugh. "I think your father might want to see you before then."
"We can tell him I'm recovering and don't want to be disturbed--after all, it might be true," the prince chuckled, "just a different kind of recovery."
Merlin laughed, hoping the near hysteria in it wasn't apparent to Arthur. "I'd like that," he said with absolute truthfulness.
"Just let me," Arthur paused as he yawned, "get my strength back, and I'll see what trouble we can get up to."
"I'll look forward to it," Merlin whispered. "Now sleep. I just want to lie here with you and know you're well."
"Because of you," Arthur murmured. "Thank you, Merlin. Love you."
"I love you too, Arthur Pendragon, more than anything."
***
"Good morning." The words were followed by a kiss slanting over Merlin's mouth, followed by a hand sliding up under his shirt so that agile fingers could find his nipple.
Merlin's eyes widened as he realized he had survived the night, and then he pulled Arthur over him, eager to celebrate the fact that they were both alive and together.
"Definitely a good morning," Arthur laughed, nipping at Merlin's lower lip before beginning to work his way lower, shoving Merlin's shirt up and off him even as his mouth closed over the nipple that he hadn't been teasing.
"A brilliant, perfect morning," Merlin replied, wrapping his arms and legs around Arthur and giving himself up to the pleasure as Arthur slowly kissed, licked and bit his way over and down Merlin's body, leaving a rash of reddened flesh in his wake until he finally took Merlin's erect shaft into his mouth.
Merlin moaned, his back arching and his fingers combing through the blonde hair. "Love you," he gasped, "love you so much."
Arthur's unintelligible answer vibrated around Merlin's cock, making him shudder and thrust upward, whimpering softly. As Arthur sucked, he rolled Merlin's balls between his fingers, groaning himself as he tasted the musky tang of Merlin's need on his tongue.
"Yes, please," Merlin begged, squirming. "Suck me then fuck me. Want it all today."
Arthur lifted his head, his blue eyes dark with desire as he stared up the length of Merlin's flushed body. "Everything," he promised before diving back in, one finger tracing around the tight hole behind Merlin's sac.
Merlin stared down at Arthur, his eyes flaring gold for a moment simply from the overwhelming pleasure, and he squirmed, thrusting up into Arthur's mouth and then back, trying to force the teasing finger inside himself. Arthur sucked harder as the tip of his finger breeched Merlin's ass, moving slowly.
"All I could ever want," Merlin gasped, keeping his eyes open to watch Arthur, who pulled back, dragging his tongue over the head of Merlin's cock as he pressed his finger deeper.
Merlin cried out, his back arching again, and he came, gasping Arthur's name, the prince sealing his lips around the spasming flesh he had been tormenting and swallowing down each spurt of liquid. Merlin collapsed back against the bed, a sated smile curving his lips even as he demanded, "Now shag me."
"Feeling very pushy this morning, aren't you?" Arthur chuckled as he crawled up Merlin's body and kissed him, at the same time reaching for the container of oil at the side of his bed.
"Needing to know w-you're really alive," Merlin corrected, watching him hungrily.
"Thanks to you." Arthur levered himself back onto his knees as he spilled oil out into his palm, dragging two fingers through it before plunging them into Merlin's ass, his cock throbbing at the tight clench of muscle around them.
"Never going to let you die," Merlin nearly sobbed, thrusting upward to ride Arthur's fingers.
"Shh, I'm here," Arthur whispered, his movements becoming gentle as he twisted his fingers before pulling them back then kissing Merlin as he slotted his cock against the slicked hole and pressed inside.
"I love you," Merlin moaned against Arthur's lips, "more than my own life," he whispered almost soundlessly.
Arthur kissed him again as he began to move, gliding in and out of the tight passage, moving his hands upward to cup Merlin's face between his palms. Merlin stared up into the blue eyes, shuddering with pleasure. He couldn't come again this quickly, but that didn't prevent his enjoyment.
"Merlin," Arthur gasped into his mouth, his hips snapping faster as pleasure mounted within him, licking like lightning bolts along his body until it finally erupted as he came, spending himself as he stared down at Merlin.
"I wish we could stay like this forever," Merlin whispered. "Let the kingdom and magic take care of themselves; just let us be us."
"That would be nice," Arthur allowed, stroking his thumb over Merlin's cheekbone and smiling down at him, his eyes lazy and half-closed with satiation. "But then, if that happened, we wouldn't be us, would we?"
"I hate the rare moments when you actually make sense," Merlin replied with a grin.
"Rare moments?" Arthur pulled back, his eyes widening. "Are you saying that I'm an imbecile?"
Merlin smirked. "I would never dream of saying such a thing to my prince."
"And now you're lying to me!" Arthur rolled to the side, his hand skittering over Merlin's ribs, finding every ticklish spot and hitting them. Merlin howled with laughter, trying to twist free but unable to defeat Arthur's superior strength and weight advantage.
"Uncle," he finally cried, tears of laughter running down his cheeks.
"I am not an imbecile," Arthur huffed, glaring at him.
"Of course you aren't; you're a prat," Merlin replied.
"But you love me," Arthur smirked before a knock on the door had them both scrambling for their clothes.
"Enter," Arthur called once he and Merlin were both dressed. The door opened, and Gaius entered, his aged face looking even more care-worn.
"I am sorry to disturb you, sire, but I must speak to Merlin."
"Gaius? What's wrong?" Merlin asked anxiously, taking a step toward him.
"It's your mother; she's here in Camelot, but she's ill."
"Ill?" Merlin was dismayed. "Why is she here? Do you know what's wrong? Where is she?" He threw question after question at Gaius without allowing the physician a chance to reply.
"In our quarters. You should come with me, Merlin." Gaius looked over at Arthur at that, an apology on his lips, when the prince spoke.
"Go to her, Merlin. I'm sure Gaius will find a cure for what ails her."
Merlin nodded worriedly, following Gaius back to his room, growing more nervous as the physician continued to evade his questions. He rushed inside once they drew near, only to stop in horror as he saw his mother, every bit of her that he could see covered in blisters, Gwen sitting at her side and gently bathing her brow with a damp cloth.
"What is wrong with her?" Merlin whispered, frozen in place.
"I'm not sure," Gaius said, his voice low and solemn. "She's burning up with fever." His hand closed on Merlin's shoulder as he spoke, as if there was more that he left unsaid.
With dawning horror, Merlin turned to look at Gaius. "Can you help her?" he begged.
"I'll do everything I can."
"But you can't save her," Merlin said hopelessly, barely glancing up when Gwen paused to squeeze his shoulder as she left the chamber, giving him privacy with his mother.
"A life for a life," Gaius said sadly. "That is the way of the old magic, and it has chosen Hunith's life in exchange for Arthur's."
Merlin turned on his heel and ran from the room, not stopping until he reached the ledge in the cavern that served as the dragon's prison. "You lied to me," he yelled. "I bargained my life for Arthur's, not my mother's!"
All was silent in the cavern before the swoop of wings heralded the dragon's arrival. "You cannot dictate whom the magic takes, young warlock," it boomed.
"It cannot have my mother," Merlin raged. "You betrayed me! It was my life, my choice, and I will not allow my mother to die, nor will I ever trust you again. You will never leave here," he vowed furiously, "never see the light of day again."
"Merlin. Merlin!" the dragon howled, rising into the air and roaring out his fury with huge gouts of fire as Merlin turned and ran back up the tunnel that led to his lair.
Merlin returned to Gaius' chambers and sank down beside his mother's bed, carefully taking her hand in his and managing a wavering smile when Hunith opened her eyes to look him. "Don't worry, Mum," he whispered, "everything's going to be fine. Just rest now."
Once she dozed off again, he turned to Gaius. "This is Nimueh's doing. But I'm not going to let this happen, Gaius. I'm going back to the Isle of Blessed and fix this. I have to."
The sound of the outer door opening stopped Gaius from replying, and both he and Merlin looked up to see Arthur standing in the main room. "I came--" he began, before pausing and looking at the two of them. "Has her condition improved?"
Merlin swallowed hard and cast a glance at Gaius that had the physician murmuring something and leaving the room, shutting the door firmly behind him to ensure Merlin and Arthur's privacy.
"Arthur, I..." Merlin trailed off helplessly. "When you get a new servant, make sure he's not a yes-man. And try not to be too much of a prat."
"What are you going on about?" Arthur asked, crossing over to Merlin's side and resting his hand on his shoulder. "Gaius will find a cure for her."
Merlin shook his head slowly, knowing that this was the time for absolute honesty. "Magic saved your life, Arthur, but magic demands a balance, a life for a life." He stared at his feet. "I bargained my life for yours, but Nimueh lied, as ever, and it is my mother who is dying. I can't let that happen, Arthur." Merlin raised tormented eyes to meet Arthur's.
Arthur stared down at the dark-haired youth, his eyes slowly narrowing as he worked out just what Merlin meant. "You wanted to trade your life for mine."
"I did trade my life for yours."
"Why?" Arthur demanded.
"Because I love you, you stupid prat! And you will be king; you have to live."
"Not at the cost of your life," Arthur said fiercely. "And not at the cost of your mother's."
"Better mine than yours. Never yours."
"And never yours," Arthur responded, tilting Merlin's face up so that he could kiss him.
Merlin half sobbed, half laughed before responding to the kiss, gorging himself on the taste of his prince. "Never forget that I love you," he whispered when he finally drew back. And then his eyes flared gold, he whispered a spell, and Arthur's eyes closed. He floated Arthur to his bed and settled him, pressing a final kiss to the prince's lips before he left.
Merlin stopped in surprise when he found Gwen waiting outside the chamber, holding a parchment. "Gaius asked me to give this to you."
Frowning Merlin read the letter, and a moment later was running to the stables, ignoring Gwen's questions behind him. Once again he rode a horse near to floundering as he raced to the Isle of the Blessed, but Gaius had enough of a head start that he was already lying dead at Nimueh's feet when Merlin arrived.
"No!"
"Your mother lives, Merlin; are you not pleased by this fact?" the witch asked before looking down at the body at her feet. "A life for a life, you knew this."
"My life! Not my mother's, not Gaius', mine," Merlin snarled. An instant later, he raised his hand and blasted Nimueh, who held her hand up, catching the gout of power and holding it so that the flames gloved her palm.
"We are like kin, Merlin," she said. "We could rule the world together, end Uther's tyranny. This is why your life was not taken; the others are nothing compared to you."
"Arthur is everything," Merlin snapped, watching her hand warily. "And I am nothing like you."
"Then your fate is decided." Nimueh cried, pointing toward Merlin and letting loose the flare of power she had held contained.
"No!" The cry came from the passageway to the boat dock as the brilliant energy struck Merlin, and Arthur charged toward the witch, his sword drawn.
Nimueh laughed and sent Arthur flying back against a wall with a wave of her hand. The prince slumped to the ground, at the very least dazed, and Nimueh turned her back on both men to saunter back toward the altar, only to stop in her tracks at the voice behind her.
"You shouldn't have killed my friend or attacked Arthur." Merlin pushed to his feet and looked up at the sky, intoning a spell that had storm clouds gathering.
The witch looked upward, her triumphant expression morphing to shock at the black clouds. "No! You can't!" she cried, spinning to look at Merlin.
"I can. I have." Merlin watched impassively as lightning struck Nimueh, a prolonged, continuous bolt that caused her to jerk and then explode, utterly destroyed by Merlin's power.
As soon as she was gone, Merlin cast an anguished look at Gaius, but he ran to Arthur, hoping against hope that Nimueh hadn't killed him. He sank to his knees on the sodden ground, pulling Arthur's head into his lap as he cried his name.
"What--" Arthur began, groaning as he tried to sit up, then his gaze sharpened, and he batted away Merlin's hands to look around. "Where is she? What happened?" he demanded before spinning to study Merlin. "Are you all right?"
Merlin sobbed. "She killed Gaius." He collapsed against Arthur, one hand gesturing vaguely toward where Gaius lay slumped at the base of the altar.
Arthur's expression turned sorrowful, and he supported the younger man as he looked at the body by the altar, blinking away the rain that poured over them both. After a moment, he frowned and blinked again, not sure if he could believe his eyes. "Merlin. Merlin, look."
Merlin looked up at him in bewilderment then followed Arthur's gaze and froze. Gaius was moving. "Gaius!" A moment later he had scrambled to his feet and was running and sliding over the rain-slick grass to Gaius' side, nearly knocking himself unconscious on the altar when he fell to the ground next to his mentor.
"Merlin," the older man gasped before beaming and pulling him into a hug. "What happened?" he asked.
"You tried to sacrifice yourself!" Merlin replied, sounding annoyed before he hugged Gaius fiercely. "And I killed Nimueh, and when you feel better, you need to look at Arthur. He hit his head again."
"Well, of course I did," Gaius began before pausing. "Arthur? He's here? Did he see anything?"
Merlin looked sheepish and glanced over at Arthur, then had to smother a snicker at the rain dripping off the prince's nose.
"Yes, he saw something, but it's nothing he hasn't seen before," Arthur answered, crouching down beside the other two and smiling at Gaius.
Gaius' narrowed gaze shot to Merlin, who had the grace to flush. "Arthur knows everything about me."
"And before you ask, I've known for months," Arthur cut in as Gaius floundered for words.
"We need to talk about this, but, Merlin, could you please stop this blasted rain?"
Merlin started laughing helplessly, but the rain cleared, the sun shining down brightly on the three men. "Do you feel well enough to travel? We should get back to Camelot," Merlin said, an arm around Gaius and one hand clutching Arthur's.