Fic: Hunter's Blood (Arthur/Merlin) 2/4

[shadecat]

Ending the life of a monster may be easier said than done, since one would have to find the bloody thing to kill it. Even with the best trackers in Camelot, they couldn’t find a trace of the vampyre. With an hour left until dusk, Arthur called a halt to the search and ordered them to head back to the castle. Having not found the creature, it was sure to try to take another girl tonight since its last meal had been interrupted. They rode back to Camelot, double file, frustrated with their failure at ending this quickly. As Arthur dismounted, he ordered the groomsmen to keep the saddlebags packed and for the horses to be saddled and ready first thing in the morning. Making his way up the steps to the castle, he wondered what would anger his father more about his not killing the vampyre swiftly - the probability that more of his people would die, or that a magical creature roamed his lands. Arthur figured on the latter. Pulling off his gloves and stuffing them through his belt, he strode into the throne room to report.

As expected, his father was furious that the creature still existed. Not because of the harm it would do to the residents, but because it dared to taint Uther’s kingdom with magic. Its mere existence was a slap in the face to the king. Arthur would love to say that his father was a reasonable man and a good king, but when the subject of magic and the people who wielded it came up - reason failed to enter the equation.

Entering his room, Arthur took a brief second to register that he mightpossiblyprobablynot miss Merlin’s lopsided grin greeting him before turning and calling for a cold dinner to be brought. Divesting himself of his light armour, he ignored the servant who entered his chambers and hurriedly placed his dinner on the table. Arthur sat at his table alone, staring at nothing as he went over plans for tomorrow in his head while he ate - avidly trying to keep his mind occupied so that it wouldn’t go over all the things he was insisting weren’t possible.

The fact that he was concerned over the fate and well-being of a servant was ridiculous. Especially when that servant was absolutely rubbish at his job. Mostly. Well, he had become rather adept at polishing and keeping good repair of his armour and sword. He also took a hit better than most of the servants in the castle. Not that Arthur made a habit of walking around beating the servants. It’s just that so few of them had the temerity and stubbornness to get up after they’d been knocked down during practice. And he did prove to be a good travelling companion for dangerous and foolhardy missions. Arthur attributed this to Merlin being more foolhardy than most. He had a mental image of Merlin scowling and calling him a prat in retaliation. Arthur smirked. To be fair, Merlin was almost painfully loyal. Once he’d given you his friendship and trust, he’d walk through fire for someone he cared for. Arthur paused and thought over that statement. Merlin had gone to some incredible lengths for him... and it made him wonder in what way Merlin cared for him. Not that he cared at all if Merlin did. If he did... Arthur shook his head and pushed himself away from the table. These were not thoughts he needed to be concerning himself with right now. He had a monster to slay tomorrow and he needed to be rested and prepared for that. Shucking his breeches and tunic, he yanked on a pair of bedclothes leggings and pulled the top cover of his bedding down. Arthur crawled into bed, not realising until he lay down how exhausting today had been. As he let his body finally relax, his thoughts flew free from the restraint he’d put on them. He thought of how much he did miss having Merlin around, even if only to verbally spar with. None of the other servants dared, and Arthur found it somewhat endearing. It gave him a tiny reprieve from ‘noble airs’ (or ‘noble arses’, as Merlin would say).

Arthur let himself acknowledge the fear he’d felt when he’d seen Merlin laying sprawled underneath the vampyre - then when he’d fainted. He had felt completely helpless as he’d led the knights carrying Merlin up to Gaius’s quarters. He’d felt even more so during the ‘cleansing’. Arthur never wanted to be the cause of that kind of torment to anyone ever again. He never wanted to see Merlin flinch away from him as though expecting pain. Something inside of him cringed and trembled at the thought of Merlin looking at him with apprehension or mistrust - or fear. Arthur realised that Merlin had come to mean something to him. What exactly that something was, he wasn’t sure. But it was something... something more than ‘just a servant’.

Arthur recalled the way Merlin looked in his chambers last night, nostrils flared and eyes narrowed in a glare at Arthur’s teasing. The blush that fit just perfectly on over-defined cheekbones. The lips that were pink and alluring, even when thinned into a grim line as their owner tried not to say something that would cause him to wind up in the stocks. Merlin’s lopsided grin he distractedly gave whenever Arthur tried to get Merlin to talk to him while he was busy doing a horrible job at his chores. How Merlin always showed up in his room in the morning with breakfast and his hair in a complete mess - letting Arthur know that Merlin had slept in again and had been forced to throw his clothes on and run down to the kitchens.

Arthur thought over all the times Merlin had been quick to show up at his chambers after a brutal training session with Gaius’s wonderful heating oil, ready to rub out the worst of the kinks and muscle cramps. He wasn’t really all that horrible of a servant... not when you really thought about it. He certainly meant well. Arthur’s last thought before he slipped into slumber was that he didn’t know of any of the male servants in the castle that could have pulled off the dress as nicely as his had.

~

Merlin’s eyes moved under closed lids as he slept, images flickering and melding in his dreams. The smirk on Arthur’s face as he addressed Merlin as ‘Marie’. The grin on Leon’s face as he extricated Merlin from another pair of unwanted hands. The red-on-black eyes of the vampyre boring into him. The look of horror and stark fear on Arthur’s face as Merlin collapsed; the sword falling from Arthur’s hand as he reached for Merlin’s falling form. Merlin frowned in his sleep. Arthur would never just drop his sword. Arthur was the last person in the world to mistreat his weapons. He’d verbally scalded green knights for the same mistreatment of even practice blades. Merlin had asked him about that once. Arthur had been feeling generous enough to answer; a knight’s weapon was something that lives depended on - not only the knight’s, but the lives of the people they swore to protect. Arthur wanted it beaten into them from day one to respect and care for their weapons. A fat lot of good it would do to pull your sword in defence of the innocent if it shattered on first impact because of shoddy maintenance. Then Arthur had proceeded to lower his head and give Merlin a raised-brow look, shifting his eyes from Merlin’s face to his unpolished sword leaning against the wall. Merlin had made certain to be extra diligent in his care of Arthur’s weapons after that day.

Merlin’s mind changed scenes again; Arthur lying motionless on the ground, blood seeping from a wound on his shoulder. Merlin had remembered the fear that had pulsed through him at that sight - then the relief as he’d seen Arthur’s chest rising and falling. Another scene of Arthur standing in the middle of the training circle, sweat pouring down his neck and soaking into his under-tunic as he went through another round of blocking techniques with a newer knight. Arthur sitting on his bed in his chambers with his tunic off, head hung low as Merlin worked out the worst of the knots in his shoulders from that same session. Arthur standing in Gaius’s room earlier that day, arms crossed and a smug expression on his face as he ordered Merlin to stay behind - an expression that didn’t quite reach his eyes like it used to. Merlin felt a wisp of the same feeling he’d felt when Arthur had ordered him to stay; that Arthur didn’t need him. Or maybe, that Arthur didn’t want him. Dream-Arthur stood there with his arms folded, mouth open as he hissed at him. Wait, hissed? And why did it smell like the back of the butchers shop? Merlin snorted, the sound and action waking him from his now-confusing dream. Eyes beginning to crack open, he wondered why he could still smell that awful odour and where the bloody hell was that hissing coming from?

A shadow shifted in his room and suddenly Merlin was wide-awake, his brain recognising both the scent and sound from last night. His realisation hit him at the same time as the vampyre decided to attack, blurring in Merlin’s vision as it moved for him. Pushing himself up from his prone position, he flung his hand out, “Áflíegung!” The vampyre was invisibly thrown against the wooden wardrobe, hitting hard enough to crack the frame. Still hissing, the vampyre was on its feet before Merlin could process that it had been down. “Gebiern þóðer,” Merlin shouted, uncaring of who was able to hear him. A ball of fire appeared between him and the vampyre, causing the vampyre to shrink back against the broken wardrobe. Merlin stared at the creature, fear leaking out of his every pore. A large part of his brain was screaming at him to finish it off, throw the ball of fire at it and watch it die - but a small yet persistent part was cowering in fear, remembering the suffering he’d had to endure because of a single bite from this… thing. His neck throbbed with each heartbeat as a painful reminder. As if it could scent Merlin’s indecision, his fear, the vampyre began to edge forward. Merlin pressed closer to the wall, hand still outstretched and controlling the rapidly-dimming fireball. He felt an almost physical force drawing his head up to look at the vampyre’s eyes and he fought against it. Sweat broke out along his forehead as Merlin and the vampyre got into a battle of wills that seemed to go on forever - and it may have if not for the timely interruption of Gaius.

Gaius, who had heard Merlin’s cries and had gone to the boy as quickly as he could - proving that the entire altercation had taken mere moments; who opened the door to Merlin’s room and took in the sight of Merlin and the vampyre in a staring contest, the flickering ball of fire seemingly forgotten between them. “Merlin!” Gaius’s sharp exclamation broke the vampyre’s concentration, letting Merlin snap back into the here and now. The vampyre hissed at the physician, making as if to pounce on him. Merlin felt his fear of the creature fall away as the greater fear of harm coming to his mentor overthrew it. Strengthening his resolve, he put more energy into the flames, feeding it with his rage.

“Gaius, get away from the door,” Merlin calmly spoke as he moved the fireball towards the vampyre. The vampyre hissed again, ending it with a menacing growl that sent a shiver along Merlin’s spine. Gaius moved back into the main room, letting the door close behind him. Merlin got up, slowly, and keeping the ball between himself and the vampyre, began to make his way to the door. The vampyre growled again, its hands clenching into fists as it watched its prey walk away from him for a second time. Merlin got to the door and opened it, still turned towards the creature.

Gaius moved up behind him, handing him the silver cross he’d used to cleanse Merlin. He held a flask of the holy water himself. “Let the fire go, Merlin. We need to summon the guards to deal with this monster.”

Merlin kept his eyes level with the vampyre’s. “Of course, Gaius.” Merlin flicked his fingers and the ball of fire flew at the intruder. Merlin felt a jolt of shock as the creature dodged it, flying straight towards him instead. Merlin managed to get the cross up to his chest before he was sent barrelling backwards with the vampyre riding him… again. Before either Gaius or Merlin could react, the creature let out a wail of pain, moving off to the edge of the room in a blur of motion. Merlin noticed the wisps of smoke and bits of flesh sticking to the cross and he took a moment to mentally bless Gaius’s quick thinking.

Gaius bellowed for the guards, surprising Merlin with the volume of the shout. The vampyre bared his fangs and made to move towards Merlin again, but a jet of water squeezed from Gaius’s flask changed its mind. It edged away from the two men, eyes still focussed on Merlin. “Stay behind me, Merlin.” Gaius moved himself in front of his ward, daring the creature to pass him to get to its intended target.

Merlin swallowed a lump consisting of gratitude and fear - fear of the creature attacking Gaius, gratitude for Gaius caring enough about him to put himself in harm’s way. Merlin raised the cross over Gaius’s shoulder, hoping it would shield them both from a further attack. They both sighed in relief as they heard footsteps approaching from the hall, the guards coming to the physician’s call. The door burst open and two guards appeared, swords drawn. Merlin groaned internally, since he was well aware that the swords were useless in this situation. “It’s afraid of fire! Get a torch,” Merlin yelled at the guards. He swore in frustration as they ignored him and began to advance on the vampyre. The older of the guards reached it first and made a strike for its heart. The vampyre barely expended any energy avoiding the blow before reaching out and twisting the man’s head until a sickening crack echoed through the room. Body twitching, the guard dropped dead at the creature’s feet. The second guard moved more slowly, hesitant to come within grabbing distance. This time, the vampyre took the initiative, seeming to work out its frustrations on not being able to feed on Merlin by taking his time in killing the second guard. Merlin cried out in anger and frustration of his own at the vampyre, shaking the cross impotently at it. Gaius took two steps towards the creature and let another stream of water leave his flask as he yelled at the thing to get away from the guard. The guard was beyond caring, since one of his arms was over by the door and his lower intestines were spilling onto the stone floor. The vampyre tossed him angrily to the floor as he moved out of the way of the spray again, eyeing Gaius with a lethal stare.

More guards came up the stairs, horrified shouts filling the room as they took in the bodies of their comrades. Thankfully, one of them had a torch. “Burn it, quickly!” Gaius gestured wildly at the creature. The four guards entered the room, three with swords drawn and the one with the torch bravely at the front, waving it at the now hissing and retreating vampyre. The torch-bearing guard stabbed quickly at the intruder, flames barely missing its robes. This, apparently, was enough for the vampyre. Glaring balefully at Merlin, it spat at the guards before disappearing through the empty door in a blur. They hurried after it, sending up the alarm through the entire castle. Shouts echoed through the halls as guards and knights began a thorough search, circling out from the physician’s quarters. Gaius turned and gave Merlin a hug, squeezing before letting go and looking him over. “Are you alright?”

Merlin felt a slight sense of déjà-vu as Gaius uttered the same words Arthur had after his last encounter with the vampyre. “Yes. I think so. I mean, I woke up before it bit me...” Merlin trailed off as Gaius edged the bandage on his neck down to check for himself. They both looked over as footsteps sounded towards them, Sir Leon making his way into Gaius’s room.

“Merlin. Gaius,” he nodded at each. “The vampyre?”

“Tried to attack Merlin in his sleep. Fortunately he’d left a candle burning, which he threw at it to distract it before escaping into the main room.” Merlin blinked at Gaius’s quick lie that would reasonably explain the scorch marks in Merlin’s room from the unsuccessful fireball. “Unfortunately, the first pair of guards to come to assist us were without any useful weaponry.” Gaius made his way over to the dismembered guard, who had mercifully choked to death on his own blood seconds after the vampyre had released him.

Leon sighed heavily as he took in the two dead men before coming over to stand by Merlin. Resting a hand lightly on his shoulder, he asked, “You’re alright though, yes?”

Merlin gave a quick nod. “I woke up before it attacked again.”

Leon gave Merlin a quick visual once-over regardless. “What woke you?”

“The smell.” Merlin wrinkled his nose in remembrance. “I was having a dream and the smell didn’t fit with it.”

Leon nodded as though that made perfect sense. Then his brow creased as he turned to look at Gaius. “Why would it come into Camelot to attack him? I thought it went for women? It couldn’t possibly have mistaken him for one without,” Leon waved at Merlin’s head, “the wig and dress and all that.”

Gaius’s brows formed a thick line as he frowned and looked over at Merlin. “I don’t know. I hadn’t finished going through the books - there only seemed to be an interest in how to kill it, not its motives.” Gaius moved over to the worktable, the books still strewn open across it.

Merlin gave Leon one of his lopsided grins when Leon turned back to him. “Well, if worse comes to worse, we can always use me as bait again. It seems to find me quite tasty.”

Leon pursed his lips and shook his head at Merlin. “I somehow don’t think Prince Arthur will go for that, Merlin. I doubt he’ll be in any way happy with tonight’s events.” Leon was as yet unaware of both the truth and lie those words carried.

~

Arthur was woken out of a sound and happy sleep, if the state of his arousal was any indication, by a loud and persistent pounding on his chamber door. He groaned and rolled tired eyes. “What is it!” he yelled in its general direction.

“The vampyre was seen in the castle, sire. It attacked your servant,” a muffled voice informed him through the heavy wood.

Those words woke Arthur like a splash of cold water, having a similar effect on his libido. Flinging the covers back, he strode to the door and yanked it open, causing Sir Percival to jump back in surprise. “Merlin? It was in the castle? Where is it now?” Arthur motioned to Percival to enter his chambers to answer him while he made to throw on his discarded clothes.

“Your servant is unharmed, sire. The creature killed two guards before it was chased off. We’re doing a search of the castle to ensure that it’s vacated.” Percival tried not to blush as red as his hair when Arthur pulled his leggings off before trying to scramble into his breeches. Arthur got his foot caught in his haste and hopped on one leg, nude, before falling against his bedpost which he used as leverage to untangle his foot and trouser leg. He hastily tied them before bending to cram his feet into his boots.

“Where did it attack him?” Arthur asked through his tunic as he pulled it over his head. Running a hand through his hair, he grabbed his sword belt, buckling it in place as he made his way out of his chambers, Percival following him.

“His room, sire.” Percival quickened his pace to keep up with the stalking prince.

“Gaius?” Arthur rounded another corner, heading for the physician’s rooms.

“Unharmed as well, sire.”

“Good. Go talk to the night watch Captain. I want a report of how this thing managed to get into a supposedly guarded castle, Percival. I’ll be at Gaius’s quarters.” Arthur barely noticed as Percival left to complete his orders, mind focussed on getting to Gaius’s room and seeing for himself the state of things. Taking the stairs two at a time, he huffed as he reached the top and saw the open door, blood spattering the bottom of it. He felt the flutter of fear in his chest again, as the possibility that either Percival had no bloody idea what he was talking about or that the vampyre had somehow come back and finished what it had started flitted through his mind. Entering the doorway, he steeled himself for the worst. Arthur saw the amputated arm - which was the probable source of the blood on the door - curled up beside the body of an obviously dead guard. A few feet away, another guard - missing an arm - lay disembowelled in a pool of blood. Arthur felt his stomach turn at the sight and smell. Looking over the rest of the room, he almost let out a cry of relief when he saw Merlin standing beside Leon, both on the opposite side of the table from Gaius - who seemed to be going over the enormous tomes again. This feeling was soon followed with the desire to walk over and smack Merlin upside the head for scaring the living daylights out of him... again. “Well?” he asked of no one in particular.

Both Merlin and Leon jumped at Arthur’s voice, Leon hiding it slightly better than Merlin. “Sire,” Leon addressed Arthur as he walked over to him, “it appears the thing has a persistent craving for your manservant.”

“So it seems.” Arthur looked over at Merlin, who was trying - and failing - to read the books upside-down. Lowering his voice, he asked Leon, “Is he really alright?”

Leon remembered the screams coming from this room the previous night, and the pained look on Arthur’s face as he’d come down the stairs. Equally low, he answered, “He seems to be, sire. He wasn’t physically hurt, at any rate.” Both men looked over at Merlin, who had moved over to Gaius’s side of the table and had procured one of the books to go through himself.

Arthur and Leon turned at the sound of someone running up the stairs. A red-faced guard came through the door, jerking a quick bow at Arthur before trying to quickly catch his breath to relay his message. “Sire,” he panted, “a boy... from the lower town... taken by the thing as it fled.”

Arthur’s felt his eyebrows lift in surprise. “A boy? I thought it only took girls. What the bloody hell was a boy doing out at this time of night anyway? There’s a bloody curfew in effect.”

Breath regained, the guard answered. “Apparently the boy was sneaking out to make sure his dog was alright. The lad’s mother is beside herself. He’s only eight, he probably wasn’t fully aware of the dangers, sire.”

Arthur swore and turned back to Gaius. “A child, Gaius? Why change its taste now? And why go after Merlin? And how did it find him in the middle of a castle full of people?” He eyed the guard, “Assemble a search party and see if any tracks can be found. If so, I want them out to find the boy, quickly.” Arthur felt extremely frustrated that he was suddenly faced with more questions than answers. The vampyre had changed its original behaviour and that would not help them catch and kill the bloody thing.

Gaius shook his head as he answered Arthur, eyes still glued to the pages in front of him. “I don’t know, sire. This creature has so many tales told about it, it’s hard to sift through it and find the - oh.” Gaius blinked and his finger went back over the line he’d just read. He lifted his head and looked at Merlin. “Oh.” Gaius’s mouth stayed open in surprise as he continued to look at Merlin.

“Oh? Oh what?” Merlin tilted his head to try to read what had rendered Gaius speechless, but the book was shifted away from him. Merlin frowned and looked up at his mentor. “What? ‘Oh’ what, Gaius?”

“Yes, Gaius. ‘Oh’ what?” Arthur moved over to the table. He felt somewhat amused at the sight of Gaius seemingly at a loss for words.

Gaius ineffectively worked his mouth a few more times before coherency came back to him. “I believe I’ve found the explanation for the ‘why’ of its choice of victims. It would explain the boy tonight... and Merlin,” Gaius removed his spectacles and seemed almost embarrassed as he addressed the prince, studiously avoiding Merlin’s curious gaze. “It appears as though vampyres have a taste for virgins... sire.”

Arthur let out a surprised laugh. “Well, I don’t know why it’s bothering with Merlin then.” Arthur grinned over at Merlin - who was sitting with his hands covering his blazing face. “Merlin? You’re not... You’re a...” Arthur trailed off in disbelief.

Merlin groaned, “Kill me now,” before dropping his hands and letting his head bang against the table top.

Gaius gave Merlin’s shoulder a quick, reassuring pat. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Merlin.”

Leon quickly added, “No. Nothing wrong at all. It’s quite honourable, actually.”

Arthur gaped as he stared at the top of Merlin’s head, which was still banging softly against the table. “Oh, stop that before you actually give yourself a mental injury, you idiot.” A multitude of thoughts were careening through Arthur’s head, barely giving him time to process them all. He settled on the least confusing. “So, all the women that were taken were taken because they were virgins?”

Gaius cleared his throat, giving Merlin one last conciliatory pat. “Yes, sire, so it would appear. An eight-year old boy would most likely be one as well. And Merlin...” Gaius put his spectacles back on and went over to the book he’d been reading. “It says that vampyres prefer the blood of a virgin - and that if they’ve tasted someone and that person manages to escape and survive, they’re capable of tracking them through a link via the blood they’ve ingested. A thrall, however, has no preference; they also cannot create more thralls from their victims.”

Merlin rolled his head over to look up at Gaius, “So basically what you’re saying is that I didn’t have to wear a dress in the first place?” Merlin groaned again and gave the table one more knock with his head. He lifted it, face still a flaming red as he glared at Arthur.

Arthur covered his mouth with his hand. Merlin glared harder. Arthur turned away trying to stop the laugh that was bubbling up in his throat from escaping, but at the look on Leon’s face - who was looking everywhere but at Merlin, Arthur lost it. He could blame it later on the stress of the previous few days, his lack of sleep, the relief that Merlin was safe, the look of severe discomfort on Gaius’s face or Leon - stoic, brave, Leon - blushing as hard as Merlin and looking like he wanted to disappear. Any of those would have been accepted. But really? It was probably the absurdity in Arthur’s mind of any male Merlin’s age still being a virgin. Add to that the death-stare he was currently receiving from the person in question, who was still a fiery shade of red and Arthur couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “You looked so lovely in it,” Arthur giggled out. “The blue really brought out your eyes, Marie.”

“I hate you so much right now...” Merlin bit out through clenched teeth before getting up and stomping off to his room. “Prat!” he yelled out as he slammed the door, which only served to set Arthur off again.

Somewhere in the back of his head, Arthur knew this wasn’t exactly the time to or place to be laughing, but his relief and utter exhaustion were making it difficult for him to be anything but giddy. Finally slowing down, he wiped at the tears that had leaked from his eyes, looking over at a disapproving Gaius and a perplexed Leon. He waved the questions away, preferring to ignore that anything out of the ordinary had happened. “Well, at least now we know.”

Leon coughed. “Would... would the creature still be able to track him if he weren’t a virgin?”

Gaius bent his head back to the pages. After a moment he answered, “It would still be able to track him, but once in his presence, it would scent that he wasn’t a virgin anymore and would lose the desire to feed from him. At least,” he amended, “that’s what it says about the females. I haven’t found any cases of a vampyre attacking a male virgin.”

“Probably because Merlin is the only male older than fourteen who is one.” Arthur grinned. He dimmed it at the look of disapproval from the elderly physician. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. As Leon said, it’s quite honourable.” Arthur tried not to smirk. Judging by the snort Gaius gave him before returning to his book, he’d failed. “Then I suppose we’d better fix this...” was all Arthur got out before Merlin came storming back into the room, proving that he’d been listening at the door, if not actively participating in the conversation.

“There’s nothing to fix, you giant royal arse. I’m not broken. It’s not an illness that needs curing. It’s a decision, my decision, that I’ve made. You have no right to even discuss this, let alone fix it.” Merlin spat at the three men who were staring at him in surprise.

Leon recovered first, attempting to smooth things over. “Merlin, no one’s thinking of forcing you to do anything. We respect your decision and your choices, but surely you can see that we’re only suggesting it because of the situation. As it stands, you’re the person threatened most in the entire kingdom. The vampyre can track you anywhere, so hiding is out of the question. And confronting it hasn’t exactly gone the way any of us have expected. Until we can come up with a solid plan to kill the creature, it’s the best way of keeping you safe.”

Arthur looked over at Leon as he pleaded with Merlin. Leon seemed to honestly care if Merlin was safe or not. Arthur couldn’t explain why, but he felt irrationally angry about that. “Leon’s right, Merlin. At least think about it.”

Merlin gave Arthur a strange look before turning to appeal to Gaius. “But...” Gaius gave Merlin a look of mixed sympathy and apology. Merlin turned back to Arthur and Leon, staring at the ground between them. He seemed to be thinking of how to put his next words. “I don’t have anyone I’m... There’s no one...” The blush was back, reaching the tips of his ears.

Gaius answered softly, “There are... certain women in the town who...” the rest got stuck in his throat. This had to be the most awkward conversation any of the four men had been involved in. Ever.

“Who’s to say it has to be a woman?” Leon asked. He seemed surprised that he’d spoken at all. Arthur stared over at him, a light clicking on in his head as he took in Leon’s past and current attitude towards Merlin. He also took in his own reaction to this knowledge, the shock momentarily numbing him.

“Whoever it is, it’s up to Merlin.” Arthur stated. He felt another flutter in his chest at the look of gratitude Merlin threw him. “No one’s going to force you. But it really is the best way to keep you safe.”

Merlin sighed before noticing the expectant looks Gaius, Leon and Arthur were giving him. “Right now?” he squeaked. “But it’s the middle of the night!”

“And the vampyre could decide at anytime that it would prefer to finish the meal it started.” Arthur quirked a brow at his manservant. “Unless...”

Merlin frowned. “Unless what?”

Arthur shrugged and gave Merlin his best ‘couldn’t care less’ look. “Unless you’re afraid. You know, maybe there’s something wrong with...” Arthur let his eyes flick down to Merlin’s groin, then back up to his face.

Merlin’s jaw dropped. “There is nothing wrong with that!” Merlin screeched. He covered himself defensively. “Stop looking at it!”

Arthur held his hands up. “Alright. There’s nothing wrong with it.” He paused for effect. “That you know of.”

Merlin spluttered indignantly. Pointing at Arthur, he glowered, “You... you... I hate you!”

Arthur rolled his eyes. “You’re becoming repetitive, Merlin. It’s boring.”

Merlin curled his hands into fists. “You sodding prick.”

Leon snorted and covered his mouth. “Merlin!” Gaius scolded.

Arthur gave a dismissive wave to Gaius, “It’s alright. Clearly Merlin’s distraught over the evening’s events. I’d say his mind’s not quite right, but that would also be implying it ever was.”

Merlin stepped forward, only a foot separating him and Arthur. Leon edged closer; concerned that Merlin would react in a way Arthur might not easily dismiss. “What are you implying, sire?” Merlin asked in a dangerously low voice.

Arthur felt something clench low in his stomach, unsure if the cause was Merlin’s proximity or the hint of danger he currently presented. “I’m not asking you to give up your soul, Merlin. I just want to ensure that you stay alive long enough to do with it what you will.” Arthur answered as honestly as he could.

Arthur saw the same strange look cross Merlin’s face as before; like he was somehow surprised and... something else Arthur couldn’t quite identify. Merlin took a breath and looked as though he were trying to choose his next words carefully. “It would take too long to get a... to arrange a woman...” the blush fought its way back across his cheeks. “I’m tired, Arthur. I’m sure you and Leon and Gaius are as well. I want nothing more than to sleep right now.” Merlin’s shoulders drooped a bit, reminding Arthur of how exhausted he was himself.

Arthur lifted a hand and placed it on Merlin’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “I know. The sooner you decide, Merlin, the sooner we can all go to bed.” Something about the way that sentence was phrased caused the things low in his stomach to clench again.

Leon moved closer. “Either way, Merlin, you and Gaius aren’t sleeping in these quarters tonight until this mess has been taken care of.” Leon gestured to the two bodies on the floor. “So why not gather your things and mull it over while you do. We’ll be waiting out here.” The implications behind the phrasing and the words weren’t lost on anyone in the room. Leon had basically put his and Arthur’s names in the hat for Merlin to draw from.

Merlin’s eyes widened as he looked over at Leon, then back at Arthur - seeming to finally understand the message both men were silently giving. Sighing, he turned and made his way back to his room to gather what he’d need for the night and tomorrow. “You too, Gaius,” Arthur said in his direction.

“Of course, sire.” Gaius made to roll up his bedding, but turned and looked back over at Arthur and Leon. He took a deep breath before opening his mouth, “Go easy on him, sire. He’s not seen as much of the world as some.” Rolling up his bedding, he gave the two men one last piercing look before leaving to bed in one of the empty storage rooms; after he’d requested a makeshift cot from one of the guards in the hall.

Leon and Arthur gave each other a measuring glance, neither completely sure of the other’s intentions. Leon lowered his eyes first, deferring to his prince in all matters, but not completely willing to leave without hearing Merlin’s decision for himself. So both men settled in to wait and hear Merlin’s deliberation on who he would give himself to. Of course, it never occurred to either of them that they might not be considered. Their eyes locked on Merlin as he emerged from his room, his satchel stuffed with clothing for tomorrow, a pillow and thin blanket rolled and tucked under his arm. Raising his eyes to meet theirs, he took a deep breath in preparation. His eyes shifted over to Leon once before settling on Arthur’s. “Arthur?”

Arthur let out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. Leon gave Arthur’s shoulder a squeeze, smiling over at Merlin to let them both know there were no hard feelings. Arthur let the gratitude show on his face. Leon left the room and just like that, the air in the room felt heavier. Arthur could feel the weight of Merlin’s eyes on his face; he felt the trust that went with that stare. He would do his best to make Merlin know it wasn’t misplaced. “Come on,” he motioned.

Merlin looked suddenly timid as he approached Arthur. “Where are we going,” was barely choked out.

“My room, of course.” Arthur gently slid his hand down Merlin’s back, moving him along ahead of him.

“And then what?” Merlin twisted his head back to ask.

“And then,” Arthur answered, “we do whatever you’re comfortable with. I meant what I said, Merlin. I don’t intend to force you to do anything. All you need to say is ‘no’.”

Merlin blinked at Arthur. “Anytime?”

Arthur let a small smile curve his lips. “Anytime.”

Merlin visibly relaxed and began walking purposefully towards Arthur’s chambers. Arthur managed to keep the chuckle to himself. As they reached his chambers, Merlin entered first, holding the door open for Arthur. “After you, sire.” Merlin swept a low bow, the familiar cheeky grin present on his face.

Arthur entered and Merlin was about to close the door when a servant arrived. “Sire, your father would like a report of tonight’s events.”

Arthur mentally cursed, then smiled and turned to the servant. “Inform my father that I’m currently busy ensuring that the vampyre doesn’t return tonight.”

The servant blinked. “From your chambers, sire?”

Arthur lifted a brow at the inquiry. “Yes, from my chambers. And I’m not to be disturbed until after mid-morning, at the earliest.” With that, Arthur closed the door and turned to Merlin. “Now, where were we?”

~

Part 3