Carry on my Wayward Servant Chapter 6
Title: Carry on my Wayward Servant Chapter 6/?
Rating: R
Warning/Spoiler: Slashy and some spoiler up to 2X4
Summary: Arthur finds a new punishment for Merlin, and a series of accidents lead them to discover they could be more than master and servant.
Disclaimer: I sadly don't own
Carry on my Wayward Servant
Chapter 6: Darling
“Merlin, don't you have your duties for the Prince? It's already midday!” Gaius exclaimed, eyebrows shooting up in alarm to see the sorcerer laying in bed, covers pulled up over his head.
“I got fired.” Were the only three words spoken, and yet they held so much meaning that they came out in a dead whisper. It seemed so final, so wretched, as if his entire world had collapsed. It felt as if he had died. Who knew he had liked being in the spoiled brat's service so much?
“He fired you?” Merlin looked up, for it wasn't Gaius that asked the next question, but Lancelot behind him. His arm was still tied in a sling.
“He did.” He said morosely, burying his face further under the covers. “Now if it's all the same to the both of you I would like to lie here in self pity for a while.” He turned over, burying his face in the pillow and mumbled against it. “Perhaps he'll show me mercy and come here and finish me off, putting me out of my misery.” He knew he was being bratty and pathetic, but at this moment he honestly didn't care.
“Whatever did you do? Usually he forgives all of your mistakes.” Gaius asked, and Merlin could picture his questioning eyebrows in his mind. Yes, Arthur normally did forgive all of his mistakes, but apparently running half naked to fight a snake and bringing back a beautiful maiden was the straw that broke the camel's back in his mind.
“Nothing...” He mumbled back with sardonically, hearing the guffaw from the old man.
“Well I'm sure he didn't mean it! Perhaps you should go talk to him.” Merlin just shook his head back and forth, appalled at the very idea of going to Arthur and begging his job back. Gaius sighed. “I'm going down to the village to deliver a concoction, I expect you to have apologized by the time I get back.” Merlin heard feet moving towards the door and it slamming shut, but he couldn't bring himself to look up.
Merlin groaned, the prospect dismal in his mind. Why the hell should he apologize to that prat? What had he done that was really so terrible? Arthur was the one that had overreacted. Arthur was the one that always overreacted!
“What's the real reason he fired you?” Lancelot asked, curiosity laced with suspicion in his voice as he sat on the bed, the mattress creaking and bending as he reached down to pull the blanket off of Merlin's head.
“Fighting the snake.” Merlin answered, reluctantly looking up to the other man. “I heard its voice in my head and ran off to fight it. Arthur was angry that I put myself at risk because I'm so worthless and defenseless.” He said scornfully, surprised by how honest he could be with Lancelot. “The thing knew so much about me, and it used Lady Katherine as bait. It's a miracle I got her back alive.”
“How fortunate for her that you were there.” Lancelot reached out, slightly stroking the other's forehead. Merlin felt his stomach do a flip-flop at the action, but didn't pull away from the hand. “The Prince doesn't understand, because he doesn't know what you are. He's probably just worried that you ran off with nothing to defend yourself.” He paused, as if considering his next words very carefully. “He cares for you.”
Merlin scoffed. “Yeah? Well he doesn't exactly show it.”
“No.” Lancelot agreed. “I don't suspect that he would.” His hand pulled away and he smiled. “Well, since you seem to find yourself free today, what would you like to do?”
“You mean despite lay here and drown in a mote of my own self pity big enough to even keep the black knight at bay?” He gave a small snort to himself, knowing Lancelot must think he was crazy.
“More like,” Lancelot continued, as if he hadn't heard his insanity. “Get out of the castle for awhile.” The idea had its perks. To get out of the castle, away from the foreboding air, and away from Arthur.
“What exactly did you have in mind?” He asked skeptically, knowing they couldn't go too far. Patrols had been set up on the outskirts of the city that not only protecting the people inside from the big scary monster, but also trapped them like rats on a sinking ship.
“I have to leave soon. I can only make myself so scarce before Arthur's leniency runs up and he is forced to drive me out of Camelot or imprison me.” Merlin raised an eyebrow.
“Do you really think he would imprison you?” He stopped, thinking about the prat. “Now that you mention it...good point.” He sat up on the bed, leaning back on his elbows. “So you were thinking that we should sneak out of the castle walls and go to look for the snake?” He bit his bottom lip, not sure about a plan that involved two injured parties going after a mythological creature that wanted his help. He hadn't told anybody about that. He wasn't even sure he wanted to tell Lancelot now.
“You know that Arthur and his Knights can't beat that thing. This may be our only chance to get to it while the Prince is still injured.” Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Merlin stood up.
“Well yes, but we're still injured as well, and Arthur is riding out to fight that thing this morning.” Fear knotted in his gut, remembering the snake's words. It had threatened Arthur...it had threatened to kill him. “I have to go warn him!”
He scrambled to throw on a shirt, wincing as his wound strained as he pulled on his shoes. “Merlin whoa!” Lancelot tried to stop him as he scrambled for the door. “Who do you have to warn? What are you talking about?”
“The snake said it would kill Arthur because I turned it down!” His eyes were wide and frightened, imagining Arthur facing the thing. “I'm sorry Lance. I swear I'll be back as soon as I see him!” Lancelot opened his mouth, as if to say something to stop him, but he had already rushed out, running down the corridor to try to get to Arthur's chambers in time.
He slammed open the door without knocking, panting and frantic as he saw Arthur getting tied into his chain mail. “Stop! I have to talk to you!” He looked at the boy who was helping Arthur get dressed, feeling an immediate dislike towards him. “Get out!” He demanded, knowing he had no authority to do so.
“Merlin?” Arthur asked, his face contorting in disgust. “Just what do you not get about you are no longer on my service?” His words were cold and harsh, and for a second Merlin almost considered letting him go out unwarned.
“I have to talk to you! It's about the monster...please.” He begged, trying to push down his anger and hurt with the Prince and just think about fulfilling his destiny.
Arthur gave him a hard look, lips pursed together in a frown, blue eyes staring at him for the longest time before giving the smallest nod. “Leave us.” He demanded of the teenager, who looked like a scared mouse as he scurried out of the door.
“I know I'm still fired, and I know you hate me, but the snake told me...” He bit his tongue, cursing the fact that he had just told Arthur a snake had talked to him. “I mean, I think it's after you.”
“Oh? So now not only do you have feelings that make you run half naked into the woods, now a snake is talking to you?” He took a deep breath, opening his mouth and closing it at least five times like a fish before just walking over sinking onto the bed. He couldn't tell him the truth, but he had to think of a lie.
“It didn't talk to me obviously, because that would be crazy.” He laughed almost manically to himself. “I just meant it was like it had talked to me, because I know it wants to hurt you!” He turned pleading eyes up to Arthur who looked skeptical. “Please Arthur, don't go out there today. I don't want you to get hurt again.”
Arthur clicked his tongue in disgust, eyeing Merlin as if he were dirt on his shoe. “Forgive me if I don't take being lied to all that well. You know way more than you let on. You ran after the creature, Lancelot came to get you to fight it in the first place, and now you're hearing it talk? Merlin if I didn't know what a complete moron you were I'd say you were a...” No! No! No! No! No! He couldn't let him finish that statement. He wouldn't let him!
He didn't know what he was doing, only that he had to quiet Arthur at whatever the costs, because once those words were out they could never be taken back. He lunged forward, half clumsy, half desperate, and grabbed onto the Prince's body, fingers clanging with the chain mail as he pleaded with his eyes for half a second before pushing his face harshly forward, pressing with desperation against those lips. Willing to do anything at this point to keep the accusation off of them.
The kiss was almost painful, not only because his emotions were running rampant, but because Arthur wasn't kissing back no matter how hard he pressed their lips together, mashing them in a frenzied act as he wrapped his arms around the other's neck. After about a minute of no response, Merlin pulled away, eyes alight with rejection as he considered what this could possible mean. He searched Arthur's face, seeing the fury in his eyes that were now a smoldering blue as he stared down at Merlin accusingly.
“Do you not want me?” Merlin asked, determined to turn the conversation down such a painful road before it led to the road he knew they couldn't come back from. He reached out, stroking Arthur's cheek, fingers trailing up to clasp his hair as he got the same cold look back. “I'm sorry Arthur. I'm so sorry.” There was no change to his face. “I was only thinking of you.” He tried, not knowing what else to say as he finally mumbled. “I'm always thinking of you.”
Merlin was convinced Arthur wasn't going to say anything, but his statue of a prince finally moved, leaning down to place the faintest of kisses on the Sorcerer's neck, so light that if Merlin tried real hard he could convince himself it had never happened in the first place. If it hadn't been for Arthur's scent, the faint hint of vanilla that always clung to the Prince, or the fact that no matter how hard he tried he could never forget a single one of the Pendragon's kisses...no matter how much he might want to at times. “Such thoughts are perilous. You know as well as I do that this road leads us to a place where we cannot go. Regardless of how we feel about each other.”
“Than you do feel something!” Merlin crooned, in his haste to change the subject, he had lost sight of what they were originally talking about, only carrying about the rejection racing through his heart.
“It would never work!” Arthur boomed, pushing him forcefully back, and making Merlin clench his teeth as pain shot through his abdomen. “I must get married, produce an heir, be a King! What would you have me do? Keep you locked away? Put on a facade by making love to my Queen all the while wishing it was you who was crawling into my bed!?” Arthur was yelling by this point, and all Merlin could do was gape. “Shall I call you my darling? Would that give you the satisfaction you need while I fuck half the castle alongside you!?”
The snake was long forgotten, but Merlin was sure Arthur had done more damage than the creature ever could. “You're cruel.” He said softly, hand shaking as his body thrummed.
“I'm realistic.” He said back, voice expressionless as the cold jeering look came back to his face. “And I'm late. My knights should be riding out by now, it wouldn't do to have them fight without their leader.”
Arthur moved to push past him, but images of the snake ripping him into later digestible pieces once more filled his mind and he reached out, grabbing the Prince's hand, pulling and desperate. “No! Please no! You can't leave...I don't care if you use me, and I don't even care if you hate me, just please don't get yourself killed for me.” A wet warmth fell down his cheeks, and he blinked furiously, wondering why Arthur's face had gotten so blurry.
“You idiot.” Arthur rebuked, but his voice was softer, and he turned around, reaching out with a gloved hand to wipe at Merlin's eyes. Oh...he had been crying. At least that explained the tears. He pulled his thumb away, examining the tear. Then deciding on something, he leaned in, capturing his lips softly as he grabbed the back of his head, pulling him in closer.
The kiss was wet, and Merlin realized right then how much he was crying. He didn't know why though. Arthur had put himself in danger plenty of times, and he had always been there to help him, but this. He couldn't take it, or maybe it was Arthur's words that had cut him so deep. Maybe the tears were a physical representation of the blood that should be flowing from such a wound.
Finally pulling away, Arthur placed a few more kisses on the sobbing boys face, ending with one on his forehead before pulling him at arms length, but not letting go. “Merlin you're exhausted, and you're hurt. You need to go rest before you get yourself killed. I'll be fine.” He was shaking his head vehemently, just now realizing how he really could hardly keep his eyes open. Had his wound been so bad? Arthur's had taken long to even heal enough for him to move around, was his the same? They were moving, long before Merlin ever realized it, and soon the back of his knees had hit Arthur's bed.
Arthur shoved, and Merlin fell onto the down mattress, staring up as the other stalked forward, a strong thigh coming to be placed on either side of him. “You need to rest, and I need to leave, there will be no more deliberation.”
“Arthur you...” Merlin trailed off from his tirade at the raised hand.
“I can, and I will. How could you even ask me to act so cowardly? Do you think so little of me?” He reached out, grabbing Merlin's chin and tilting it up. “How can you ask me to be your lover, let alone your Prince, if you expect me to hide behind the castle walls at the first sign of danger?”
Merlin reached out, placing his hand over Arthur's. “I'll come with you then.” He nodded to himself, at least then he could protect his prince, but the coldness in Arthur's eyes came back.
“No.” Was the one word he spoke, and yet it held so much volume it caused a look of outrage to cross the magician's face.
“Why?” He demanded, voice defensive. “You can't expect me to stay behind while you go out and risk your life!”
“It's out of the question.” Arthur growled back suddenly, squeezing the face in his hand. “You are never to go near that thing again.” There was a dark tone in his voice and his lips were drawn together in a thin white line.
“Why not?” Merlin yelled back, brave in the face of Arthur's ire. “Why do you get to protect me from danger by running after it yourself? Why can't I help you defend your kingdom!?”
Arthur's eyebrows furrowed, as if debating his reaction in his mind, but then his mouth tilted into a grin, and for the first time in days the prince gave him that same mocking smile he had grown so found of. “You're quite adorable when you're protective, but the answer is still no.” He leaned in and swiftly kissed him before Merlin could rebuke. He pulled away, lingering close so that their noses brushed together almost intimately. “Loathe as I am to admit this, I am not at my best.” He whispered, warm breath ghosting over Merlin's face. “This injury is more hindering than I would like it to be, and I would be only further hindered if I knew you were there and I had to protect you.”
Was that supposed to make him feel better? Merlin struggled to swallow the lump in his throat at having Arthur admit that he was injured and wouldn't be fighting his best. Yet, he knew he had already lost. It was a matter of honor for Arthur, and even if he could somehow convince him to stay home, which you never could with the prince, than he would he would end up hating him for it. He couldn't think of the words, biting his bottom lip til he practically bled as he turned his face away, refusing to look at the stubborn brat.
“Don't be like that darling.” Arthur mocked, using the pet name in a cruel joking manner, just like he had said it when he first brought it up. He sighed, leaning in and burying his face in Merlin's hair. “If you insist so much on acting like a girl, I shall treat you like one. I will go out and defend you honor, slaying the awful dragon, and returning to my lady...” He gave an inhale, as if memorizing his scent, before whispering out seductively. “Just in time to ravish her and steal away her virtue.”
Merlin couldn't help it, he knew Arthur was making fun of him, but that didn't stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks. “I'm not a girl, Sire.” He hissed, making Arthur grin again.
“No.” He agreed, pulling back from his hair. “But this would all be so much easier if you were.” His grin widened. “No offense intended of course” He teased, and Merlin had a sneaky suspicion he was only half joking.”He stood up again, looking down almost regretful. “I have to go Merlin.” The words were so final, so absolute, and the magician felt his heart fill with dread.
He felt himself methodically nod, exhaustion catching up with him as his arms came to his stomach, reflexibly holding it as it began to throb. “Come back.” He said almost breathlessly, and then with some conviction looked up, meeting the blue ocean that was Arthur's eyes. “Come back and I'll let you.”
“Let me?” Arthur asked, raising one eyebrow as curiosity lit up his features.
Merlin nodded, blushing again as the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He closed his eyes, forcing them up. “What you said earlier...I would let you.” He was talking very fast, feeling his heart thump a million miles an hour against his chest. “Ravish me that is.” He forced his eyes open, meeting Arthur's shocked ones, saying the next words very deliberately. “And steal my virtue.”
He had never seen a look quite like the one that now fitted over Arthur's features. His face had gotten very tight, his eyes dark and far away, and his fists clenched at his sides. He looked almost...hungry. “Swear it.” Were the two hissed words that escaped the Prince's lips.
Merlin gave a tight nod, making a concession of his own. “If you come back...particularly with all your limbs.”
“You have my word.” Arthur said, and Merlin gave a sigh of relief, because the Prince didn't exactly give that out lightly. “Now get to work. This room isn't cleaning itself.”
Even with all of their fighting, Merlin couldn't help but smile. “Does this mean I'm no longer fired?”
“No Merlin, if you keep making such promises I think I shall keep you underneath me forever.” The prat winked, making Merlin hide his face, and by the time he had composed himself enough to respond, Arthur had already left, shutting the door behind him.
The moment the door slammed Merlin fell back on the bed, covering his face with his arm as he cursed to himself. Not only had he failed in epic proportions to stop the prince from going, but he had somehow unwillingly agreed to allow Arthur to sleep with him when he got back.
He could still run after him, but what would be the point? It wouldn't stop him from going, it would only anger him further. The only rational thing to do would be to follow after and hope Arthur didn't notice. It had always worked before, but he had been so close, so very very close to the accusation that lay unspoken between them earlier. He didn't want to do anything else to add suspicion, because once those fateful words were spoken there was no going back.
Still, their destinies were entwined, and no matter how much his rational side may protest, he would not let Arthur go through this alone. He was quite aware of the prince's track record in hunting these beasts, many wins due in large part to Merlin himself, but there was something different about this one. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it didn't quite seem like just a snake. The fact that it could talk in large part to that, also the fact that it held the druid secret of his name was yet another. He knew he should ask the dragon about it, or tell his suspicions to Gaius, but he didn't want to...not yet. As sad as it was to admit, he held a sick curiosity about the whole thing. He wanted to know what knowledge it held about him. He wanted to know why he was the way he was. He would just be damned if he risked Arthur's life to learn it.
He turned over, burying his face in the pillow and inhaling the sweet scent that was Arthur's hair. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?” He asked to no one in particular, feeling his earlier exhaustion strike at him tenfold. It would be so much easier to lay here, falling to sleep while nestled in Arthur's scent, and when he woke up he would find this whole thing to be a dream. Giving an exhale, he sat up, knowing such miracles wouldn't happen. He somehow managed to push up to his feet, stumbling half asleep to the door as he clutched his stomach.
Just because Arthur had said he couldn't go with him and his knights, didn't mean he couldn't go at all. Hadn't him and Lancelot been planning to go anyways? They would just have to hide their presence from Arthur, it shouldn't be too hard. For how observant the prince claimed to be, it seemed to be exceedingly easy to be evasive around him. He would find Lancelot, and together they would assure that Arthur did come back with his limbs, and as for their bargain...well best not to think of such things until later.
,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,
A.N- okay real short chapter, I was going to add more, but then it would have been ridiculously long, so I figured this was a good stopping place, plus I thought I'd leave you with all those good mental images of the fulfilled bargain. :) Please Review, and thanks to everyone who has read my story, I hope you liked it! Haha in the new episode I started laughing my head off when he boiled Arthur's bath water...I was like...yep...I did that first haha
Rating: R
Warning/Spoiler: Slashy and some spoiler up to 2X4
Summary: Arthur finds a new punishment for Merlin, and a series of accidents lead them to discover they could be more than master and servant.
Disclaimer: I sadly don't own
Carry on my Wayward Servant
Chapter 6: Darling
“Merlin, don't you have your duties for the Prince? It's already midday!” Gaius exclaimed, eyebrows shooting up in alarm to see the sorcerer laying in bed, covers pulled up over his head.
“I got fired.” Were the only three words spoken, and yet they held so much meaning that they came out in a dead whisper. It seemed so final, so wretched, as if his entire world had collapsed. It felt as if he had died. Who knew he had liked being in the spoiled brat's service so much?
“He fired you?” Merlin looked up, for it wasn't Gaius that asked the next question, but Lancelot behind him. His arm was still tied in a sling.
“He did.” He said morosely, burying his face further under the covers. “Now if it's all the same to the both of you I would like to lie here in self pity for a while.” He turned over, burying his face in the pillow and mumbled against it. “Perhaps he'll show me mercy and come here and finish me off, putting me out of my misery.” He knew he was being bratty and pathetic, but at this moment he honestly didn't care.
“Whatever did you do? Usually he forgives all of your mistakes.” Gaius asked, and Merlin could picture his questioning eyebrows in his mind. Yes, Arthur normally did forgive all of his mistakes, but apparently running half naked to fight a snake and bringing back a beautiful maiden was the straw that broke the camel's back in his mind.
“Nothing...” He mumbled back with sardonically, hearing the guffaw from the old man.
“Well I'm sure he didn't mean it! Perhaps you should go talk to him.” Merlin just shook his head back and forth, appalled at the very idea of going to Arthur and begging his job back. Gaius sighed. “I'm going down to the village to deliver a concoction, I expect you to have apologized by the time I get back.” Merlin heard feet moving towards the door and it slamming shut, but he couldn't bring himself to look up.
Merlin groaned, the prospect dismal in his mind. Why the hell should he apologize to that prat? What had he done that was really so terrible? Arthur was the one that had overreacted. Arthur was the one that always overreacted!
“What's the real reason he fired you?” Lancelot asked, curiosity laced with suspicion in his voice as he sat on the bed, the mattress creaking and bending as he reached down to pull the blanket off of Merlin's head.
“Fighting the snake.” Merlin answered, reluctantly looking up to the other man. “I heard its voice in my head and ran off to fight it. Arthur was angry that I put myself at risk because I'm so worthless and defenseless.” He said scornfully, surprised by how honest he could be with Lancelot. “The thing knew so much about me, and it used Lady Katherine as bait. It's a miracle I got her back alive.”
“How fortunate for her that you were there.” Lancelot reached out, slightly stroking the other's forehead. Merlin felt his stomach do a flip-flop at the action, but didn't pull away from the hand. “The Prince doesn't understand, because he doesn't know what you are. He's probably just worried that you ran off with nothing to defend yourself.” He paused, as if considering his next words very carefully. “He cares for you.”
Merlin scoffed. “Yeah? Well he doesn't exactly show it.”
“No.” Lancelot agreed. “I don't suspect that he would.” His hand pulled away and he smiled. “Well, since you seem to find yourself free today, what would you like to do?”
“You mean despite lay here and drown in a mote of my own self pity big enough to even keep the black knight at bay?” He gave a small snort to himself, knowing Lancelot must think he was crazy.
“More like,” Lancelot continued, as if he hadn't heard his insanity. “Get out of the castle for awhile.” The idea had its perks. To get out of the castle, away from the foreboding air, and away from Arthur.
“What exactly did you have in mind?” He asked skeptically, knowing they couldn't go too far. Patrols had been set up on the outskirts of the city that not only protecting the people inside from the big scary monster, but also trapped them like rats on a sinking ship.
“I have to leave soon. I can only make myself so scarce before Arthur's leniency runs up and he is forced to drive me out of Camelot or imprison me.” Merlin raised an eyebrow.
“Do you really think he would imprison you?” He stopped, thinking about the prat. “Now that you mention it...good point.” He sat up on the bed, leaning back on his elbows. “So you were thinking that we should sneak out of the castle walls and go to look for the snake?” He bit his bottom lip, not sure about a plan that involved two injured parties going after a mythological creature that wanted his help. He hadn't told anybody about that. He wasn't even sure he wanted to tell Lancelot now.
“You know that Arthur and his Knights can't beat that thing. This may be our only chance to get to it while the Prince is still injured.” Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Merlin stood up.
“Well yes, but we're still injured as well, and Arthur is riding out to fight that thing this morning.” Fear knotted in his gut, remembering the snake's words. It had threatened Arthur...it had threatened to kill him. “I have to go warn him!”
He scrambled to throw on a shirt, wincing as his wound strained as he pulled on his shoes. “Merlin whoa!” Lancelot tried to stop him as he scrambled for the door. “Who do you have to warn? What are you talking about?”
“The snake said it would kill Arthur because I turned it down!” His eyes were wide and frightened, imagining Arthur facing the thing. “I'm sorry Lance. I swear I'll be back as soon as I see him!” Lancelot opened his mouth, as if to say something to stop him, but he had already rushed out, running down the corridor to try to get to Arthur's chambers in time.
He slammed open the door without knocking, panting and frantic as he saw Arthur getting tied into his chain mail. “Stop! I have to talk to you!” He looked at the boy who was helping Arthur get dressed, feeling an immediate dislike towards him. “Get out!” He demanded, knowing he had no authority to do so.
“Merlin?” Arthur asked, his face contorting in disgust. “Just what do you not get about you are no longer on my service?” His words were cold and harsh, and for a second Merlin almost considered letting him go out unwarned.
“I have to talk to you! It's about the monster...please.” He begged, trying to push down his anger and hurt with the Prince and just think about fulfilling his destiny.
Arthur gave him a hard look, lips pursed together in a frown, blue eyes staring at him for the longest time before giving the smallest nod. “Leave us.” He demanded of the teenager, who looked like a scared mouse as he scurried out of the door.
“I know I'm still fired, and I know you hate me, but the snake told me...” He bit his tongue, cursing the fact that he had just told Arthur a snake had talked to him. “I mean, I think it's after you.”
“Oh? So now not only do you have feelings that make you run half naked into the woods, now a snake is talking to you?” He took a deep breath, opening his mouth and closing it at least five times like a fish before just walking over sinking onto the bed. He couldn't tell him the truth, but he had to think of a lie.
“It didn't talk to me obviously, because that would be crazy.” He laughed almost manically to himself. “I just meant it was like it had talked to me, because I know it wants to hurt you!” He turned pleading eyes up to Arthur who looked skeptical. “Please Arthur, don't go out there today. I don't want you to get hurt again.”
Arthur clicked his tongue in disgust, eyeing Merlin as if he were dirt on his shoe. “Forgive me if I don't take being lied to all that well. You know way more than you let on. You ran after the creature, Lancelot came to get you to fight it in the first place, and now you're hearing it talk? Merlin if I didn't know what a complete moron you were I'd say you were a...” No! No! No! No! No! He couldn't let him finish that statement. He wouldn't let him!
He didn't know what he was doing, only that he had to quiet Arthur at whatever the costs, because once those words were out they could never be taken back. He lunged forward, half clumsy, half desperate, and grabbed onto the Prince's body, fingers clanging with the chain mail as he pleaded with his eyes for half a second before pushing his face harshly forward, pressing with desperation against those lips. Willing to do anything at this point to keep the accusation off of them.
The kiss was almost painful, not only because his emotions were running rampant, but because Arthur wasn't kissing back no matter how hard he pressed their lips together, mashing them in a frenzied act as he wrapped his arms around the other's neck. After about a minute of no response, Merlin pulled away, eyes alight with rejection as he considered what this could possible mean. He searched Arthur's face, seeing the fury in his eyes that were now a smoldering blue as he stared down at Merlin accusingly.
“Do you not want me?” Merlin asked, determined to turn the conversation down such a painful road before it led to the road he knew they couldn't come back from. He reached out, stroking Arthur's cheek, fingers trailing up to clasp his hair as he got the same cold look back. “I'm sorry Arthur. I'm so sorry.” There was no change to his face. “I was only thinking of you.” He tried, not knowing what else to say as he finally mumbled. “I'm always thinking of you.”
Merlin was convinced Arthur wasn't going to say anything, but his statue of a prince finally moved, leaning down to place the faintest of kisses on the Sorcerer's neck, so light that if Merlin tried real hard he could convince himself it had never happened in the first place. If it hadn't been for Arthur's scent, the faint hint of vanilla that always clung to the Prince, or the fact that no matter how hard he tried he could never forget a single one of the Pendragon's kisses...no matter how much he might want to at times. “Such thoughts are perilous. You know as well as I do that this road leads us to a place where we cannot go. Regardless of how we feel about each other.”
“Than you do feel something!” Merlin crooned, in his haste to change the subject, he had lost sight of what they were originally talking about, only carrying about the rejection racing through his heart.
“It would never work!” Arthur boomed, pushing him forcefully back, and making Merlin clench his teeth as pain shot through his abdomen. “I must get married, produce an heir, be a King! What would you have me do? Keep you locked away? Put on a facade by making love to my Queen all the while wishing it was you who was crawling into my bed!?” Arthur was yelling by this point, and all Merlin could do was gape. “Shall I call you my darling? Would that give you the satisfaction you need while I fuck half the castle alongside you!?”
The snake was long forgotten, but Merlin was sure Arthur had done more damage than the creature ever could. “You're cruel.” He said softly, hand shaking as his body thrummed.
“I'm realistic.” He said back, voice expressionless as the cold jeering look came back to his face. “And I'm late. My knights should be riding out by now, it wouldn't do to have them fight without their leader.”
Arthur moved to push past him, but images of the snake ripping him into later digestible pieces once more filled his mind and he reached out, grabbing the Prince's hand, pulling and desperate. “No! Please no! You can't leave...I don't care if you use me, and I don't even care if you hate me, just please don't get yourself killed for me.” A wet warmth fell down his cheeks, and he blinked furiously, wondering why Arthur's face had gotten so blurry.
“You idiot.” Arthur rebuked, but his voice was softer, and he turned around, reaching out with a gloved hand to wipe at Merlin's eyes. Oh...he had been crying. At least that explained the tears. He pulled his thumb away, examining the tear. Then deciding on something, he leaned in, capturing his lips softly as he grabbed the back of his head, pulling him in closer.
The kiss was wet, and Merlin realized right then how much he was crying. He didn't know why though. Arthur had put himself in danger plenty of times, and he had always been there to help him, but this. He couldn't take it, or maybe it was Arthur's words that had cut him so deep. Maybe the tears were a physical representation of the blood that should be flowing from such a wound.
Finally pulling away, Arthur placed a few more kisses on the sobbing boys face, ending with one on his forehead before pulling him at arms length, but not letting go. “Merlin you're exhausted, and you're hurt. You need to go rest before you get yourself killed. I'll be fine.” He was shaking his head vehemently, just now realizing how he really could hardly keep his eyes open. Had his wound been so bad? Arthur's had taken long to even heal enough for him to move around, was his the same? They were moving, long before Merlin ever realized it, and soon the back of his knees had hit Arthur's bed.
Arthur shoved, and Merlin fell onto the down mattress, staring up as the other stalked forward, a strong thigh coming to be placed on either side of him. “You need to rest, and I need to leave, there will be no more deliberation.”
“Arthur you...” Merlin trailed off from his tirade at the raised hand.
“I can, and I will. How could you even ask me to act so cowardly? Do you think so little of me?” He reached out, grabbing Merlin's chin and tilting it up. “How can you ask me to be your lover, let alone your Prince, if you expect me to hide behind the castle walls at the first sign of danger?”
Merlin reached out, placing his hand over Arthur's. “I'll come with you then.” He nodded to himself, at least then he could protect his prince, but the coldness in Arthur's eyes came back.
“No.” Was the one word he spoke, and yet it held so much volume it caused a look of outrage to cross the magician's face.
“Why?” He demanded, voice defensive. “You can't expect me to stay behind while you go out and risk your life!”
“It's out of the question.” Arthur growled back suddenly, squeezing the face in his hand. “You are never to go near that thing again.” There was a dark tone in his voice and his lips were drawn together in a thin white line.
“Why not?” Merlin yelled back, brave in the face of Arthur's ire. “Why do you get to protect me from danger by running after it yourself? Why can't I help you defend your kingdom!?”
Arthur's eyebrows furrowed, as if debating his reaction in his mind, but then his mouth tilted into a grin, and for the first time in days the prince gave him that same mocking smile he had grown so found of. “You're quite adorable when you're protective, but the answer is still no.” He leaned in and swiftly kissed him before Merlin could rebuke. He pulled away, lingering close so that their noses brushed together almost intimately. “Loathe as I am to admit this, I am not at my best.” He whispered, warm breath ghosting over Merlin's face. “This injury is more hindering than I would like it to be, and I would be only further hindered if I knew you were there and I had to protect you.”
Was that supposed to make him feel better? Merlin struggled to swallow the lump in his throat at having Arthur admit that he was injured and wouldn't be fighting his best. Yet, he knew he had already lost. It was a matter of honor for Arthur, and even if he could somehow convince him to stay home, which you never could with the prince, than he would he would end up hating him for it. He couldn't think of the words, biting his bottom lip til he practically bled as he turned his face away, refusing to look at the stubborn brat.
“Don't be like that darling.” Arthur mocked, using the pet name in a cruel joking manner, just like he had said it when he first brought it up. He sighed, leaning in and burying his face in Merlin's hair. “If you insist so much on acting like a girl, I shall treat you like one. I will go out and defend you honor, slaying the awful dragon, and returning to my lady...” He gave an inhale, as if memorizing his scent, before whispering out seductively. “Just in time to ravish her and steal away her virtue.”
Merlin couldn't help it, he knew Arthur was making fun of him, but that didn't stop the blood from rushing to his cheeks. “I'm not a girl, Sire.” He hissed, making Arthur grin again.
“No.” He agreed, pulling back from his hair. “But this would all be so much easier if you were.” His grin widened. “No offense intended of course” He teased, and Merlin had a sneaky suspicion he was only half joking.”He stood up again, looking down almost regretful. “I have to go Merlin.” The words were so final, so absolute, and the magician felt his heart fill with dread.
He felt himself methodically nod, exhaustion catching up with him as his arms came to his stomach, reflexibly holding it as it began to throb. “Come back.” He said almost breathlessly, and then with some conviction looked up, meeting the blue ocean that was Arthur's eyes. “Come back and I'll let you.”
“Let me?” Arthur asked, raising one eyebrow as curiosity lit up his features.
Merlin nodded, blushing again as the words seemed to get stuck in his throat. He closed his eyes, forcing them up. “What you said earlier...I would let you.” He was talking very fast, feeling his heart thump a million miles an hour against his chest. “Ravish me that is.” He forced his eyes open, meeting Arthur's shocked ones, saying the next words very deliberately. “And steal my virtue.”
He had never seen a look quite like the one that now fitted over Arthur's features. His face had gotten very tight, his eyes dark and far away, and his fists clenched at his sides. He looked almost...hungry. “Swear it.” Were the two hissed words that escaped the Prince's lips.
Merlin gave a tight nod, making a concession of his own. “If you come back...particularly with all your limbs.”
“You have my word.” Arthur said, and Merlin gave a sigh of relief, because the Prince didn't exactly give that out lightly. “Now get to work. This room isn't cleaning itself.”
Even with all of their fighting, Merlin couldn't help but smile. “Does this mean I'm no longer fired?”
“No Merlin, if you keep making such promises I think I shall keep you underneath me forever.” The prat winked, making Merlin hide his face, and by the time he had composed himself enough to respond, Arthur had already left, shutting the door behind him.
The moment the door slammed Merlin fell back on the bed, covering his face with his arm as he cursed to himself. Not only had he failed in epic proportions to stop the prince from going, but he had somehow unwillingly agreed to allow Arthur to sleep with him when he got back.
He could still run after him, but what would be the point? It wouldn't stop him from going, it would only anger him further. The only rational thing to do would be to follow after and hope Arthur didn't notice. It had always worked before, but he had been so close, so very very close to the accusation that lay unspoken between them earlier. He didn't want to do anything else to add suspicion, because once those fateful words were spoken there was no going back.
Still, their destinies were entwined, and no matter how much his rational side may protest, he would not let Arthur go through this alone. He was quite aware of the prince's track record in hunting these beasts, many wins due in large part to Merlin himself, but there was something different about this one. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it didn't quite seem like just a snake. The fact that it could talk in large part to that, also the fact that it held the druid secret of his name was yet another. He knew he should ask the dragon about it, or tell his suspicions to Gaius, but he didn't want to...not yet. As sad as it was to admit, he held a sick curiosity about the whole thing. He wanted to know what knowledge it held about him. He wanted to know why he was the way he was. He would just be damned if he risked Arthur's life to learn it.
He turned over, burying his face in the pillow and inhaling the sweet scent that was Arthur's hair. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?” He asked to no one in particular, feeling his earlier exhaustion strike at him tenfold. It would be so much easier to lay here, falling to sleep while nestled in Arthur's scent, and when he woke up he would find this whole thing to be a dream. Giving an exhale, he sat up, knowing such miracles wouldn't happen. He somehow managed to push up to his feet, stumbling half asleep to the door as he clutched his stomach.
Just because Arthur had said he couldn't go with him and his knights, didn't mean he couldn't go at all. Hadn't him and Lancelot been planning to go anyways? They would just have to hide their presence from Arthur, it shouldn't be too hard. For how observant the prince claimed to be, it seemed to be exceedingly easy to be evasive around him. He would find Lancelot, and together they would assure that Arthur did come back with his limbs, and as for their bargain...well best not to think of such things until later.
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A.N- okay real short chapter, I was going to add more, but then it would have been ridiculously long, so I figured this was a good stopping place, plus I thought I'd leave you with all those good mental images of the fulfilled bargain. :) Please Review, and thanks to everyone who has read my story, I hope you liked it! Haha in the new episode I started laughing my head off when he boiled Arthur's bath water...I was like...yep...I did that first haha