Fic:It Starts With Forever and Ends with a Touch (Arthur/Merlin, PG-13)
“I’m going to be seated next to Lord Elrod at the feast tonight,” Arthur announced that morning, while Merlin polished his boots.
“Wow, Lord Elrod, what a great honour.”
“No Merlin, it isn’t,” Arthur snapped and picked up a bread roll. “He is dull, extremely dull and I don’t know why my father expects me to listen to him all evening.”
Merlin placed the boots down and stood up. “Do you have to talk to him?”
Arthur sharply turned towards him. “You really are an imbecile.” He smiled slightly, “As future king I’m expected to engage in conversation regardless of who I am talking to.” He cut his bread roll in half.
“Alright but all I keep hearing is how boring they are,” Merlin replied with a frown. Arthur shrugged and started to butter his bread roll.
“I’m expected not to be rude to them.”
“Hmm, maybe pretend to listen,” Merlin suggested with a grin. “Always works like a charm.”
Arthur wasn’t sure how to respond. Okay, it would solve his problem but what if he was caught? The chances Lord Elrod was think him rude were very high and he wasn’t going to take that chance. Besides it scared him how often Merlin popped in his thoughts. Happy, handsome, clumsy Merlin was all he could think about at night in the dark, kissing him gently on the lips. He shook his head and took a bite from the bread roll.
“No, I just have to listen to him and try not to yawn.”
“Suit yourself.”
Merlin loved to spend his spare time reading his magic book. New spells would jump out, tempting him to try them. Last week he had to explain to the cook where six chickens disappeared to after trying a food summoning spell. Sometimes Merlin wondered how he had got away with using magic without anyone noticing.
He turned the page and a spell instantly caught his eye. Picking up the book to sit it on his lap, an idea started to form in his mind. The spell was perfect, cheeky but perfect. He saw Arthur’s face, struggling for control while Merlin magically stroked his hands over Arthur’s body, and Merlin imagined Arthur trying to contain himself. Late at night Merlin’s thoughts turned to his handsome prince and the ways he wanted to please Arthur. Maybe this spell would grant his wish and brighten Arthur’s mood in the process.
“Merlin, are you in here?” Gaius asked as he opened the door.
Merlin snapped the book shut and looked up at Gaius. He tried not to grin like a madman but his face failed him.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing, just catching up some reading,” Merlin replied and placed the book to one side. “The laws of Camelot are a very interesting subject.”
“You’re looking up spells again aren’t you?”
“Yes but I promised not to use them unless in an emergency,” Merlin protested and stood up. “So did you have a chore for me?”
Gaius raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Merlin’s reason could wait for now. Somehow he could sense it was harmless and let it go.
“I need you to clean the leech tank,” Gaius finally replied. “Then you have to get ready for the banquet.”
“Yes, I don’t want to miss the banquet,” Merlin replied with a grin.
“I hope you stay out of trouble, Merlin,” Gaius said in a warning tone. “Don’t let Arthur catch you using magic.”
Merlin picked up the book, “I won’t Gaius. Arthur won’t know what hit him.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, now excuse me I have a leech tank to clean!”
“So who do you have to entertain?” Morgana asked later that evening as she and Arthur were standing at the doorway of the great hall.
Arthur scanned the room. Various lords and ladies were assembling themselves around the table, talking and laughing. His eyes came across an elderly chap dressed in red robes with a fur collar.
“Lord Elrod,” he replied with a sigh. “He’s over there talking to my father.”
“Oh but isn’t he dull?” Morgana asked with a laugh.
“Yes but I intend to listen to him, regardless of the subject,” Arthur replied propping up his shoulders against the wall. “Wish me luck.”
I’ll be seated next to Lady Cassandra,” Morgana told him cheerfully, “She’s a very interesting lady and a smart one at that.”
“Well enjoy yourself Morgana, while I die from boredom.”
While Arthur acquainted himself with Lord Elrod, Merlin was standing to the side watching the nobles take their seats. He recited the spell over in his mind, making sure he had the right pronunciation. This would allow him to magically touch Arthur from far away by tapping into Arthur’s thoughts.
After a while he whispered the magic words and let himself slip away into a dark corner of his mind.
“So I said to him if the horse is brown then I will....”
Arthur wished he was away on a quest, hunting a beast or saving a beautiful princess. He wasn’t sure why but it beat listening to Lord Elrod droning on about a new horse. He had created the illusion of hanging onto every word, making sure not to drift off or yawn.
So often his eyes gazed upon Merlin standing on the other side of the room. Oh Merlin, his loyal manservant. To escape with him would be nice, take him back to his chambers and what then... confess? Unlikely, since he wasn’t sure how Merlin felt.
“Am I boring you?” A voice asked, distracting Arthur from his reverie.
“No Lord Elrod, as you were saying.”
At that moment he felt something in his pants. A shiver ran down his spine. It felt like a hand, a human hand, exploring the neither regions. He looked down to see nothing there. Was his mind playing tricks?
The hand started to stroke gently causing Arthur to sit back in his chair. For the moment he had a strong feeling the hand meant him no harm. He tried to keep composure but he was tempted to close his eyes and enjoy this unexpected pleasure; so much for listening to Lord Elrod.
“What’s wrong with Arthur?”
Merlin opened his eyes and saw Gwen glance over in Arthur’s direction. He smiled as Arthur failed to gain composure, while Lord Elrod went on without noticing. The spell had worked! Now he had to keep thinking. He shut his eyes again to hide the gold rings that limned his irises.
“It’s like he is....”
“Poltergeist,” Merlin interrupted with a smile.
“What?” Gwen asked.
Arthur closed his eyes and relaxed. The hand continued to stroke and this time he felt lips softly kissing his neck. He thought it was a daydream, a distraction from his boredom. In his mind, the hand belonged to a man he wanted to escape with. He wanted to yell out Merlin’s name but a tap on the shoulder stopped him.
“I’m really boring you aren’t I?”
“No Lord Elrod,” Arthur lied and picked up a piece of chicken.
“Right well....”
“Sorry, I need to borrow Arthu-the Prince,” Merlin said behind him and Arthur couldn’t help but smile. “If you don’t mind?”
“Of course not. If he’s needed then I won’t protest.” Lord Elrod said with a smile.
“You don’t know much I want to thank you right now,” Arthur said as he followed Merlin into the outside corridor. “Lord Elrod can be an absolute bore.”
Merlin stopped and turned towards Arthur, “Please don’t get mad.”
“Why would I be...?” Arthur began to ask but was cut off by water splashing on his face.
“Did we get it?” Gwen asked and tried not to laugh when she saw Arthur soaking wet. Arthur looked angrily at both of them.
“Can someone please tell me why Gwen threw water upon me?” He demanded furiously and flung his arms about.
“You were being attacked by a poltergeist,” Merlin explained, trying not to smile, “water was the only way to get rid of it.”
“Did it have to be a bucket?”
“I’m afraid so, you can’t be too careful,” Merlin told Arthur mysteriously and turned to Gwen. “I believe we managed to get it.”
Gwen nodded and left the two men to ponder upon what had just happened. Arthur checked over his soaked tunic before looking back at Merlin. He wasn’t mad, not really. Something nagged at him like the whole situation felt a bit off, that maybe there wasn’t a poltergeist.
“Please fetch me a towel; I will be in my chambers.”
Merlin hurried off and Arthur made his way to his chambers, smiling at what was on his mind.
When Merlin arrived, Arthur was standing at topless at the foot of his bed, with water dripping from his hair. Merlin tried not to glance and held out the towel.
“Thanks, I’m glad to get away from the banquet,” Arthur said as he dried his hair, “Also thanks for saving me from the poltergeist.”
Like there was a poltergeist, Arthur thought to himself. The nagging feeling was still there, persuading him that there was more to Merlin’s story.
“Well it was Gwen who saved you,” Merlin pointed out with a smile, “I just saw that you were in trouble.”
“Hmm, well, I wouldn’t say I was in trouble,” Arthur confessed and threw the towel on to the bed. Merlin dropped his head and shifted his feet.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Merlin said and turned to go.
“Wait,” Arthur ordered and Merlin turned to look at him. “I’m not going back to the banquet.”
“Right, I’ll tell your father.”
“No, I want you to stay,” Arthur told him with a smile. “I believe there was no poltergeist; I just decided to distract myself from Lord Elrod.”
“Oh, you believe it was all in your head, the physical touching?” Merlin asked innocently.
Arthur stepped towards Merlin until they were close together. Looking into Merlin’s eyes, Arthur smiled warmly and wrapped his arms around Merlin’s waist.
“Yes and I thought to myself that the man I want to be with is touching me, stroking me in the place I want him to.” He pulled Merlin closer towards him. “He’s in this room right now.”
“Really. I wonder who that is?” Merlin replied.
“Let’s find out,” Arthur said and kissed Merlin gently on the lips.
“Shall we try the stables?”
“Merlin! You really are clueless aren’t you?” Arthur said teasingly.
Merlin smiled and kissed Arthur fully on the lips. When it came to testing spells, Merlin had foolishly given into the temptation of having a little fun, but this time it was worth it.