loving you with my whole heart Part 1
MASTERPOST
PART 1
Arthur Pendragon, heir to the province Camelot and unwilling Sentinel, sighed as he sat in the United Kingdom and Irish branch of the Sentinel and Guide Center located in London. He had spent far too much time in the Center looking for his Guide. He’d gone through five Center appointed Guides, those unconnected to a Sentinel, but none of them had worked out in the long run.
His mother, Ygraine, was a Guide and had helped Arthur control his senses as best she could, but she had to take care of Arthur’s father, Uther, her own Sentinel. Uther never liked sharing his wife, not even with his own son, so Arthur decided he should look for his own Guide.
He had once tried working with Gwen, a childhood friend, but it was all wrong. Every time he used his senses, he zoned out and nothing Gwen would do, could bring him out of it. Plus, working with her left a slightly foul taste in his mouth. He wondered if it had to do with the fact that they were incompatible or the fact that he didn’t want to hurt his best friend, Lance who was also a Sentinel. Lance hoped Gwen would be his Guide and was devastated when she and Arthur paired up. Arthur was never more glad then when he and Gwen decided that they didn’t work well together, although they were great friends. He was also completely unsurprised when Lance and Gwen became an official Sentinel/Guide pairing.
Arthur had even been paired up with his sister Morgana for a while, but that was even worse than working with Gwen. He and Morgana had never truly gotten along, at least on her side. They didn’t always get along, siblings never did, but Arthur adored his sister with all his heart. He felt Morgana had resented him for some reason, even though he had always accepted her and respected her. But when she pushed his buttons, he pushed back and then they both ended up grounded. He didn’t really like to think or talk about his time with Morgana, as it hadn’t ended well.
Which is why he was at the Center again, looking for another Guide. Arthur shifted in his chair uncomfortably. Even though they were expensive chairs, they were still like a chair in a doctor’s office, supremely uncomfortable and known to make your backache. His wonky senses made the chairs even worse, he could feel every stitch and bump in the fabric, and was driving him a little mad. He glanced around the room and saw mostly young Sentinels and Guides sitting awkwardly. He was like them once, scared and unsure, waiting to be paired up with a life partner.
“Arthur Pendragon?” a secretary called out.
Arthur stood and went over to her. She smiled at him and he winced, barely even saying hello to her. His parents would have been horrified by his lack of manners, but his senses were in a jumble and even the bright white of her teeth gave him a headache.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Fine,” Arthur lied.
“Sir, I’ve been doing this a long time. You winced when I smiled, so tell me the truth,” she insisted. She led him down a long hallway and made a left turn. She stopped in front of room number seven and opened the door. “In here.”
Arthur let out a sigh of relief as he stepped into the pitch black, soundproof room. “Okay, I’m not doing so well.”
“Just as I thought. Sit at the table and someone will be with you shortly.” With that the secretary left, shutting the door behind her and blocking out the rest of the building.
****
Merlin Emrys slinked through the back door of the Sentinel and Guide Center. He was late to work, but had no proper excuse except that he slept through his alarm. His Uncle Gaius, who was in charge of the Center, would probably yell at him, but Merlin hoped to avoid him.
Merlin first came to the Center when he was six along with his whole Year Two class. They were to be tested to see if they were Sentinels or Guides. Out of all the children, three were Sentinels and only Merlin was a Guide. He went home with a certificate, books, and some papers to give his mother. It was too much for him to take in. He thought he would be taken away from his mother and be forced to pair up with a Sentinel. As soon as he handed over the information, he burst out crying.
Some days he still felt like crying. He didn’t know anyone else in the whole Sentinel/Guide system that also used magic. It was too stressful some days, keeping the magic a secret and staying away from any Sentinel. If he bonded, then he’d have to tell them, and who knows what they would do with that information. Merlin had no interest in having a Sentinel. He would gladly help them find their own Guide instead, hence why he worked at the Center.
So, Merlin tried to avoid everyone until he got to his small office. He had almost made it when he heard a voice call from behind him, “Merlin!”
“Shit,” Merlin cursed under his breath. He turned around and smiled. “Uncle Gaius! How are you?”
“You are late,” Gaius said as he walked closer. “Any reason?”
“Er, traffic?”
Gaius raised an eyebrow and stared at Merlin.
Merlin was always weak against that look and he caved instantly. “Fine. I overslept. Happy?”
“Thrilled. Put your stuff down and go to room seven. Arthur is back and apparently close to a zone out.”
Merlin nodded. He had seen Arthur Pendragon a few times and read his file. He was twenty-eight, worked at the family company, his eyesight had tested off the charts, but his hearing and sense of smell could be stronger. He was also without a Guide and had been for several years. Guides without Sentinels were not that big of a deal, but Sentinels without Guides could be dangerous. They could go into a permanent zone out, which could lead to death, or even go crazy from having their senses be on overload all the time and have to be put into a coma. He didn’t always like what the Pendragons did or said, but he didn’t want the young nobleman to be unable to function for the rest of his life.
Merlin threw his things into his office then jogged down the halls until he found room seven. He took a breath, knocked on the door, and walked into the room and shut the door. Rooms one through ten always unsettled Merlin. They were soundproof, with no lighting of any kind, and kept at a mild temperature so as not to agitate the Sentinels anymore than needed. He stood by the door, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. Before he could move towards the table, he was grabbed by his shirt and slammed up against the wall.
Merlin blinked, as he looked into the face an almost feral Arthur Pendragon. This isn’t good, he thought.
“Arthur?” he asked softly. He put his hands lightly on Arthur’s arms. He hoped words and touch would get through to the Sentinel.
Arthur only growled in response.
“Okay.” Merlin took let out a slow and even breath. He was slightly afraid of the out of control Sentinel, didn’t want his heart rate to spike and tip Arthur off. There was no telling what he would do if he knew Merlin was afraid of him. “I’m here to help you. And you do need help. Look at you, you caveman.” Merlin winced as soon as the insult had left his mouth. It had been unintentional, but Merlin’s mouth worked faster than his brain sometimes. He did hope, however, that Arthur was the type of Sentinel who responded to insults.
When the first Guide, Blair Sandburg, had come to visit he had given a lecture about how some Sentinels needed soft voices and kind words, while others need noise and harsh words to snap them out of a zone out or feral devolution. Only words though, Merlin thought. Never harsh touches or smells. Don’t ever look angry, even if you are. Even when in the middle of a zone out, Sentinels know what their Guide is feeling.
Arthur tilted his head, but didn’t let go of Merlin. However, he didn’t try to hurt Merlin; so, he continued ranting at the other man. “You’re a prat! You don’t just slam people up against walls. It’s rude!”
Arthur shook his head, as if to clear it, and finally let go of Merlin. “Who are you?” he rasped.
“Merlin Emrys.”
“Are you a Guide?”
“Yes,” Merlin replied suspiciously.
“Good. You can be mine.” Arthur proclaimed. He leaned in and kissed Merlin. Then he abruptly left the room.
Merlin stood there for a while, in shock. He touched his lips, then scowled and followed Arthur. “You! You can’t just-”
“I can,” Arthur called back. “You’re the only Guide I’ve felt a connection with, so you are mine.”
“It doesn’t work like that!” Merlin yelled as Arthur turned a corner. He sighed and leaned against a wall. This is exactly what he didn’t want. He didn’t want to connect with a Sentinel, it would make his life too hard, but it didn’t look like he had any choice. Merlin looked up and jumped a little as he saw Arthur standing right in front of him.
“Don’t you feel it?” Arthur asked quietly. He looked forlorn at the thought that Merlin didn’t feel the connection.
Merlin looked away. “Of course I do, you prat. It’s just so sudden. I never thought this would happen.”
“Neither did I,” Arthur grinned. Merlin found that he liked the happy look on Arthur’s face. It was so different than what he had usually seen. Before Arthur always looked unhappy and Merlin realized that he didn’t want Arthur to be unhappy anymore. Arthur grabbed Merlin’s hand and pulled him along. “We need to find Gaius, so this can be official.”
And I need to talk to him about my magic. Like, if I should ever tell you, Merlin thought. He sighed deeply, noticing that Arthur stumbled a little. He squeezed his Sentinel’s hand in reassurance.
****
Gaius stared at the two young men seated in his office. He never thought Merlin would be Arthur’s Guide. Merlin had mentioned that he felt something different when he looked at Arthur, but would never act on his feelings for fear of exposing his magic. And Arthur had never met Merlin until today, so he would have never known.
“All right boys, what shall we do about this?” Gaius asked.
Merlin looked to the ground, while Arthur frowned. He knew something was wrong with his Guide, but didn’t know what exactly. He wanted to fix it, whatever it was.
“Merlin will come live with me and we’ll have an official Sentinel/Guide bonding,” Arthur replied blithely. He was used to having his way and wasn’t expecting much resistance from Merlin.
“Don’t I get a say in this?” Merlin asked harshly. He objected to being bossed around. He would have to make sure that Arthur remembered he was Arthur’s other half, not a servant.
“What objections could you possibly have? I live in a nice flat, two bedrooms, if you need an office. It has a fantastic kitchen; I cook so you don’t need to worry about food. You won’t have to pay rent, since I own it. You won’t have to pay for anything ever again. I’ll take care of you.” Arthur would do anything for his Guide. He knew he just met the other man, but he felt there was a deep connection between them. Perhaps even deeper than the Sentinel/Guide bond.
Merlin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep the anger from his voice. “I want to pay for things. I’m not an invalid. I want my job. I want my own friends. I don’t want to be controlled.”
“Fine. Anything. We can work it out. Just…move in with me. Please,” Arthur begged. He needed his Guide by his side for all times.
“Gaius?” Merlin asked in a strangled tone of voice. Arthur frowned, wondering why Gaius needed to have any say in their arrangement.
“It’s up to you Merlin,” his uncle replied. “All of it is. I shall leave you two alone to discuss it.” He stood and left his office. Arthur cocked his head in confusion.
“What was that about? Why does Gaius get a say in anything you do?” Arthur questioned angrily. “Is he hurting you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Merlin scoffed. “Uncle Gaius is my mentor, I always ask his opinion on serious subjects and this is vaguely serious, don’t you think?”
Arthur shifted in his seat and grumbled, “Yes.”
Merlin nodded and left his chair. He began to pace the length of the office. “You know in America they have those mutant Sentinels?”
“Yes. Very rare from what I hear, and not just in America. Plus, those other superhero Sentinels.”
“Well, I’m rare as well.”
“You’re a mutant?” Arthur stared at Merlin, giving his Guide a slow once over. Merlin flushed from the look and stopped moving. Arthur then smirked. “I guess I could see that.”
“Thanks,” Merlin deadpanned. He flopped back down into the chair and faced Arthur. “But no. I’m not a mutant. Or a superhero. I’m a wizard- or warlock, whatever you prefer.”
“What?”
“I use magic. I wield it.”
“Prove it,” Arthur demanded. His father had always told him magic was evil. “No good has ever come from magic,” Arthur repeated dully. It was what he had always heard his father say.
Merlin growled in irritation. “Magic is like anything else. It isn’t innately good or bad, it depends on the person.” He brought his left hand up in between them and held it open so Arthur could see. He concentrated and suddenly had a small flame floating above his hand.
“Oh,” Arthur breathed, leaning forward in excitement. “That’s…”
“Freakish. Unnatural. Evil.”
“Awesome. Fantastic. Beautiful.”
“Oh.” Merlin shifted in his chair. He closed his hand and the flame disappeared. He focused on his Sentinel and found that Arthur was awfully close to him. “You’re going to kiss me again.”
“I am,” Arthur replied. And then he did so. They kissed for some time before they heard a cough from the doorway. They sprang apart, looking towards Gaius, who was standing in the doorway.
“I see you figured it out,” he said with a smirk.
“Yes. We did.” Arthur stood and pulled Merlin up as well. They had a lot to talk about, not just the magic, but what they were going to do with their Sentinel/Guide bond. “We’re going to move him into my place, then come back here tomorrow to discuss our options.”
“All right. I’ll get the paperwork started. You both have your handbooks?”
“Yeah, Gaius,” Merlin said. “We can’t move me in today! I have too much stuff! I-oh god.” Merlin leaned against a wall and put his hand on his chest.
“What?” Arthur panicked. Merlin’s heart rate had spiked up and it was freaking Arthur out. “What is it?”
“I haven’t told my mum! She’s never met you! I haven’t met your parents! I can’t move in today!”
“Oh, I thought it was something serious.” Arthur relaxed slightly.
“This is serious, you prat! My mum will kill me if I move in before she meets you.” Merlin scowled, grabbed Arthur’s hand and dragged him down the halls. “Come on, let’s go meet my mum.”
“Okay,” Arthur grinned widely. He was glad his Guide was so accepting.
Gaius stood in the doorway of his office and shook his head as he watched the two young men leave the Center. He hoped that everything worked out for them.
****
Merlin and Arthur sat outside Merlin’s house in Arthur’s car. They had been sitting outside for twenty minutes and Arthur was starting to lose his patience. Instead of yelling, he took a deep breath and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, before asking, “Are we going to go in?”
“What? Uh, yes. Yes. Let’s go.” Merlin reached for the handle, but Arthur pulled him close. He knew his Guide was nervous as well and wanted to take his mind off of things, if only for a little while.
The Sentinel stuck his nose in between Merlin’s neck and shoulder and took a deep breath. Merlin smelled like burnt ozone, chocolate, and old books. Arthur decided it was his new favorite smell.
“Uh, what are you doing?” Merlin held very still as his Sentinel sniffed his skin.
“Memorizing your scent, for when I get nervous.” He gave Merlin’s skin a little lick, and pulled away.
“Why would you be nervous?” Merlin’s hand hovered over where Arthur had sniffed and licked him, but it fell down by his lap.
“I’m meeting your mum, Mer-lin. Of course I’m nervous.”
“Arthur Pendragon doesn’t get nervous,” Merlin huffed.
“Sure he does. The real him, not the public face of him.”
Merlin snorted before replying, “You have multiple personality disorder, don’t you?”
“Ha, ha. Enough talk, let’s go.”
Arthur exited the car and waited as Merlin did the same. Then they made their way to the front door. Merlin opened it up and called out, “Mum?”
“In the garden, dear,” she called back faintly.
“Oh good. She’ll have shears to stab you with,” Merlin grinned manically.
“Not really making me less nervous here, Merlin,” Arthur hissed.
“Wasn’t trying too,” Merlin hissed back as the went out into the garden. “Wait here.”
Arthur nodded and waited by the sliding glass door. He glanced around the small garden and saw many flowers he couldn’t name. Merlin’s mum probably will get along great with my mum, Arthur thought. He then focused his attention on Merlin and his mother. The woman looked to be the same age as his mother, but obviously had done much more hard work than Ygraine Pendragon. He wanted to turn his hearing up to listen to the conversation, but figured that eavesdropping on his almost mother-in-law might not be the best way to meet her.
He swallowed hard as Merlin and his mum walked towards him. He wiped his hands on his trousers and held it out to her. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
She pushed his hand away and swept Arthur up into a tight hug. “Call me Hunith, please.”
“Okay. Hunith.” Arthur shot Merlin a wild look over Hunith’s shoulder. His family wasn’t this expressive and Arthur wasn’t sure what to do. His Guide just smirked at him. Arthur glared, but patted Hunith’s back lightly.
Hunith pulled away and stared right into Arthur’s eyes. “If you ever hurt my son, nothing will save you. Not your abilities. Not the Center. Nothing. Understand me?”
Arthur nodded seriously. “I would never hurt him.”
“Good,” Hunith smiled at him. “Come inside and tell me more about yourself. Then later, I can embarrass Merlin with baby photos.”
“Mother!” Merlin groaned.
“Merlin!” Hunith replied in a similar tone. “Humor me; I never thought I’d get the chance to do this.” She leaned towards Arthur and mock-whispered, “He never brought anyone home before.”
“Oh, really?” Arthur asked, arching an eyebrow. He felt absurdly pleased to be the first person Merlin ever dated to meet his mother. He also felt a surge of jealousy at those other people, but pushed it away knowing he’d be the only one for Merlin from now on.
Merlin groaned again and covered his face with his hands. “I never should have introduced you two.”
Hunith laughed and took Arthur’s arm and brought him inside. Merlin watched them go with a smile on his face. “I’m glad you two get along,” he said softly, knowing his Sentinel could hear him. He didn’t think he could stand his mother and his Sentinel not being friends. Then he followed them inside. He had to hide the most damaging photos before his mum showed them to Arthur.
****
A few miles away, Morgana Pendragon paced in her flat overlooking the River Thames. Her hair was a ragged mess, knotted in places, like she hadn’t brushed it in days; half of her hair was up in a sloppy ponytail, while the rest was hanging around her face. She bit at her fingernails and muttered to herself. Watching her from a couch was Morgause, her half-sister.
“Morgana, my dear,” Morgause said calmly. “Please stop pacing; you will only work yourself up more.”
“I can’t. The visions never stop.”
“You just need a Sentinel to settle you.”
Morgana paused in her pacing then quickly made her way to her sister. She leaned over the back of the couch and got up close towards Morgause’s face, so that they were inches apart. “I had one,” she hissed. “But I-you-we lost him. I won’t ever have another one!”
Morgause was unfazed by her outburst and moved away from her sister. Morgana regularly had many such bursts of anger since losing Arthur as her Sentinel. She smiled fondly at Morgana and patted her cheek. “Don’t be so sure.”
Morgana cocked her head in confusion, but before she could ask what her sister meant, there was a knock at the door. Morgause’s smile widened and she left the couch to answer the door. Morgana watched warily as Morgause spoke to some people, but made no move to leave the room, so moved to sit on the couch. She wanted to know what her sister had planned.
“Dear, close your eyes,” Morgause said with a grin. She was hiding something behind her.
Morgana did as she was told and shut her eyes. She waited with anticipation and nearly jumped as a hand touched her face. Her eyes flew open and Morgana stared into the face of Mordred. He was looking at her in affection and amusement. Morgana let out a small shriek of delight and wrapped the boy up in her arms.
“Where did you find him?” she asked her sister, eyes dancing with glee.
Morgause kissed Morgana’s head and then Mordred’s. “I have my sources,” she smirked.
****
“Shouldn’t we go see your parents first?” Merlin asked as he followed Arthur up to his flat.
Arthur waved a hand at him. “They aren’t in the country right now. They come back next week.” He opened the door and let Merlin go in first. “Home, sweet home. When can you move in?”
“Next week,” Merlin replied with a smile as he walked into the flat. It seemed the only light came from the overhead lighting fixtures, which either had one light bulb in them or they were low wattage as Merlin had to squint a little to see the flat better. He looked around with a frown. There was one beige couch, in the middle of the room, with an empty kitchen off to the left. The blinds covering the windows were tightly shut, letting almost no light in. There was no radio or TV or even a table, not even a coffee table. Arthur had no pictures on the wall or any kind of decorations. If Merlin had to guess he would assume that the bedroom was in the same state of Spartan-like decorating. “It’s quite…bare. And there’s a lot of white.”
Arthur shifted uncomfortable as he shut the door. “Colors and clutter give me a headache. Wait, what do you mean next week?”
Merlin just smirked and moved closer to Arthur. “I, you big prat, am not that easy. You may have managed to blind-side me at the Center, but not anymore. I’ll have to meet your parents before any moving in happens.” He leaned in and kissed Arthur’s cheek and then quickly jumped away as the Sentinel reached for him.
Arthur growled and began to stalk his Guide around the apartment. Merlin laughed as he danced away from Arthur’s grasp time and time again. Finally, Arthur leapt over the couch and tackled Merlin to the floor.
Merlin expected to be kissed, but was instead surprised when Arthur began to tickle him. “Oh no!” He tried to shimmy away, but Arthur held him down.
“Oh yes!” Arthur replied gleefully. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages. “That’s what you get for being a jerk.”
“Me!” Merlin laughed breathlessly. “Stop it! You’re the jerk!” He shoved at Arthur’s chest.
The Sentinel finally stopped and lay on top of Merlin. “We can both be jerks, if it makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t since I’m not a jerk.”
“You won’t move in with me until you meet my parents!” Arthur protested.
“That’s being sensible! I don’t want to move in and then your parents meet me and say, ‘Oh, he bewitched our boy!’ and try to separate us.”
“I’m not telling my parents about your magic, so pick another word.”
Merlin stared up at Arthur in confusion. “I didn’t think you would. Now that I think about, you didn’t seem surprised by magic at all.”
Arthur sighed and rolled off of Merlin to lie next to him. “It’s a long story. But, however they feel about you, they can’t separate us. Especially not once the paperwork goes through. And even if they tried, Blair and Jim would stop them.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Merlin replied. He was still curious about Arthur’s comment, but wasn’t willing to push the subject just yet. They had just met after all. He wanted to get his to know his new Sentinel more before asking big questions. He turned his head towards Arthur and asked, “So, what should do now?”
Arthur looked at him and smiled. “I’m sure we could think of something.”
Merlin laughed and leaned in to kiss his Sentinel. I wonder if Arthur’s parents are like Arthur. It would certainly make meeting them easier, he thought. Soon though, any thoughts Merlin had were swept away as Arthur pulled him closer.
****
Later in the day, Merlin walked around Arthur’s flat, wearing only his jeans. Arthur was in the kitchen, similarly dressed, making what he called, “A masterpiece, Merlin, truly.”
Merlin had laughed and let him do what he wanted. While Arthur cooked, Merlin got to explore the apartment. The rest of it was like the living room: white, barley decorated, and dim.
“We’re going to have to redecorate,” Merlin said as he walked into the living room. “Brighter light bulbs, we’ll have to open the blinds up, and add color and actual furniture.”
“Headache!” Arthur shouted from the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m getting one.”
Arthur came up behind him and kissed his shoulder. “No, all that gives me a headache.”
“Well,” Merlin said slowly, as if speaking to a small child. “It’s a good thing you have a Guide now. I train Sentinels on how to adjust. I suppose we could do that while we wait for your parents to come back.”
Arthur huffed and moved away from Merlin. “I don’t know why you just can’t move in. I met you mum.”
“But I haven’t met yours.” Merlin rubbed his brow and moved towards the blinds. He opened them up, sighing as some light filled the poorly lit living room. “That’s much better. We can buy curtains, so it’ll block the light somewhat, but still let me see my way around.”
Arthur turned his head away from the windows, muttering about the light. Merlin closed his eyes and tried to remain calm.
“My eyes aren’t as good as yours, Arthur. I need to be able to see.”
“I don’t see why I have to change everything for you!”
“But I have to change everything for you?” Merlin laughed harshly. “This is a relationship, not a dictatorship.”
“I know that,” Arthur snarled. He sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. “My senses haven’t been in control for a long time. But with you hear, they snap into focus. It’s just giving me a headache.”
Merlin sat next to him and put a hand on Arthur’s bare shoulder. “That’s what I’m here for, you prat,” he said quietly. “I’m here to make your headaches go away.”
Arthur leaned into Merlin and rested his head on Merlin’s shoulder. “It’ll take getting used to. I’m used to living alone and only worrying about me.”
“We both have to get used to the changes, another reason I don’t want to rush into moving in with you.” He kissed Arthur’s forehead and then pulled back. “How about I stay for the week? Just as, you know, living together, to see how it works. I’ll bring some clothes over and things like that.”
“Okay,” Arthur exhaled. “Okay. Tomorrow, we’ll go get your things?”
“Yes,” Merlin beamed at him.
Arthur snuggled into Merlin’s side for a few minutes more before going back to the kitchen. He had made progress with his Guide, he didn’t want to ruin by feeding him burnt lasagna.
****
The whole week that Uther and Ygraine were gone was pure torture for Arthur. Yes, Merlin had spent the week at his flat, as they had agreed, but the Guide would leave and then come back. It was driving Arthur mad. He wanted Merlin there all the time. Arthur had assumed they could spend the week together to get to know each other; he had even taken time off work under that assumption. Every time Arthur had brought it up, Merlin just smiled at him and changed the subject.
“Well, it’s about to stop,” Arthur growled to himself. He had a foolproof plan to corner Merlin and talk some sense into him. He turned all the lights off in the flat and kept the curtains closed. Merlin wouldn’t know what hit him. Arthur hid in a corner and waited until the front door opened.
“Arthur?” Merlin called out tentatively into the dark. He was nervous because he knew Arthur was going to be home, and when Arthur was home he had some lights on. Merlin didn’t hear anything, so he carefully stepped into the apartment.
The door shut behind him and Merlin spun around. “Arthur? If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, I will light you on fire if you don’t stop.”
Arthur smirked and made his move. He jumped from his corner near the door and leapt on Merlin. They went down in a tangle of limbs. Arthur rolled them until he was on top of Merlin. He sat on the other man’s legs and held his wrists above Merlin’s head, effectively pining the wizard. Arthur knew Merlin could get out of it, if he really wanted to.
“Damn it, Arthur!” Merlin cried out. “What are you doing you large prat?”
“Making you move in with me,” Arthur replied. “I’m just going to sit here until you agree.”
“Here is on me?”
“Yes.” Arthur wiggled a little bit until he was more comfortable. There was the added side effect of making Merlin twitch with arousal.
Merlin closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “Arthur…”
“No. Look Merlin. I know we just met, but I- we are meant for each other. I can’t stand being apart from you, not even for a minute. So can you just move in please?”
Merlin stared up at his Sentinel before smiling. “Of course. Most of my stuff is here anyway.”
“What?” Arthur blinked. They had only grabbed enough of Merlin’s things for a week, he had been sure of it.
“I’ve been moving in little by little. Why do you think I went home to mum every night and then came here? I grabbed books, clothes, and movies, anything I could think of to place here. Your flat is sorely lacking in everything. Even though you asked-demanded-it’s still you’re territory.”
“I-you-what?” Arthur relaxed his grip on Merlin slightly.
Merlin laughed, shoved the shocked Arthur off of him and sat up, “You forget, I study Sentinels and Guides. I know everything about what makes you tick.”
Arthur just laid back and stared at his ceiling. “You mean to tell me,” he finally said after Merlin left his side and opened the curtains, “that you’ve moved in. Like I asked.”
“I’ve semi-moved in. Like I wanted. The only thing I haven’t done is decorated. I think we should do that together.”
“But you said no,” Arthur countered. “And of course I want to decorate our flat with you.”
Merlin smiled widely. “That was just to mess with you. ‘Sentinels can’t always get what they want’,” he quoted as he moved into the kitchen. “ ‘They’ll try to push their Guides around, but the Guides must stand their ground’.”
“I hate you so much.”
“If you keep saying things like that I won’t move my furniture in after we meet your parents.”
Arthur stood up and walked towards Merlin, wrapping him up in a hug. “They come home tomorrow. You can meet them then.”
“That’s fine. I can move in the day after that.”
“Or that same day.”
“What? Do you have an army ready to move my stuff over here?”
“Well, not an army exactly.”
****
“These are my friends,” Arthur tells Merlin later that day. They left the flat sometime around 4:30 in the afternoon to meet up with Arthur’s friends at a nearby pub.
“Gwen!” Merlin cried in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew Arthur.” He gave her a big hug and pointedly ignored the growls coming from Arthur and a man hovering behind Gwen. He had seen the man around the Center, but never learned his name. The man placed an arm around Gwen’s waist, pulling her back towards him, and glared at Merlin.
Gwen laughed and swatted at the man. “This is Lancelot, my Sentinel.”
“Ah! I’d heard that you picked one up, but I didn’t know who it was.”
Arthur threw a possessive arm around Merlin’s shoulders and said, “Well, now you met Lance and Gwen, meet the rest of them.” He pointed at the remaining three men and said their names, “Elyan, Gwen’s brother, Percival, we call him Percy, and Gwaine.”
“Seems our parents had something in common, along with Gwen’s, Elyan’s, eh, Gwaine?” Merlin joked.
“A horrible sense of humor?” Gwaine joked back. He pushed Arthur’s arm off of Merlin’s shoulders and put his own arm up there.
Arthur growled again and tugged Merlin towards him, effectively staking his claim. Gwaine just laughed at his friend and moved over towards Percy.
“Oh shut up,” Merlin scoffed. “You wanted me to meet your friends. Now that we get along you can’t be all grouchy and growly about it.”
Lance laughed and slapped Merlin’s back. “Oh, we like you.”
Arthur made a face at his friends. Percy took pity on him and said, “Come along Arthur. Help me get us some drinks.”
“I won’t move,” Merlin stated when Arthur didn’t move right away.
“Fine,” Arthur huffed. He kissed the back of Merlin’s neck before following Percy towards the bar.
As soon as Arthur was out of direct hearing range, Elyan leaned forward and asked, “How’d you meet him?”
“Well, he slammed me into a wall and kissed me,” Merlin replied with a large grin.
“Sounds like our Arthur,” Gwaine laughed.
****
Arthur watched as Merlin dancing with Gwen and Gwaine. He felt a surge of jealousy, but tapered it back with a shot of whiskey.
“Don’t be jealous, old man,” Percy said. He had an arm around Elyan, who was leaning against him drunkenly. With his free hand, he took a sip of water. “It’s not a good look for you.”
“I’m not jealous,” Arthur groused.
“Are too,” Lance said as he slid into the seat next to Arthur, bringing more beer with him. “I’m jealous as well. I don’t like the idea of other people touching Gwen, but it’s just Gwaine and Merlin.”
“Gwaine is a flirt,” Arthur frowned into his drink.
“He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Elyan mumbled into Percy’s shoulder. “He just likes people. ‘Sides he’s got us, eh Percy?”
Percy smiled fondly and ran a hand over Elyan’s head. “He does indeed.”
Arthur mimed gagging into his drink, while Lance laughed. Merlin came over just then and raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend. Gwen sat on Lance’s lap and took a swig of his beer.
“All right, Arthur?” he asked.
“Yeah. Percy was just being gross.”
“Nonsense!” Gwaine objected. He kissed Percy’s temple. “Percy is never gross.”
Merlin’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything. Arthur tugged on his Guides’ arm and pulled him onto his lap. Once Merlin was settled, Arthur leaned into his neck and took a deep breath.
“Stop being sappy,” Gwaine joked from across the table. “When is the ceremony? Can I be the best man?”
“Shut up,” Arthur growled, but he did move slightly away from Merlin. He would have more time for that when they got home anyway.
****
“You have lovely friends,” Merlin muttered as he swayed in place. Arthur put an arm around his Guide’s waist to steady him. The couple was in the elevator on the way to their flat, which made Merlin look a little green, but Arthur wasn’t sure the Guide could have climbed the stairs.
“You had too much to drink,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Still. Good friends. They threatened me when you and Gwen went to get more drinks.”
“Oh. Gwen threatened me, if that makes you feel better.”
“It does.” Merlin grinned dopily.
“At least they agreed to help you move in here.”
“I live here already!”
“Move your furniture then. For someone so resistant to moving in with me, you sure are insistent about where you live.”
Merlin squinted up at Arthur, as Arthur opened the door to their flat. “I’m fairly certain that doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s because you’re drunk.”
“Or because you’re a…a…prat.”
“You need a better insult, my love.”
“Shut it, dollop head.”
“Doll-Merlin, really.”
Merlin cackled and stumbled from Arthur’s arms and onto the couch. “I’m just gonna stay here. Wake me later.” He then proceeded to fall sound asleep.
Arthur shook his head and smiled fondly. He grabbed his Guide’s arm and put Merlin over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Then he walked down the hall and into the bedroom, where he placed Merlin gently on the bed. Arthur stripped Merlin’s clothes off, took off his own and then climbed into bed next to the wizard.
He tried to go to sleep, but all Arthur could think about was that his parents were meeting Merlin tomorrow. He just hoped it went well.
****
Merlin looked around curiously as he entered Arthur’s family home some distance from London. It was stately and well kept, almost like a museum. Arthur had told him about it on the drive out.
“It was built in 1567 by my very great grandfather. It was updated a few times, once to include more practical plumbing and once to put in electricity and a phone line. Right now mother is restoring some of the areas back to their original styles while still keeping it modern.”
“Do you have the internet or whatever?” Merlin asked watching the countryside pass by.
“Yes, Merlin. It isn’t the middle of nowhere. Father likes to keep up with modern technology. They compromise, like all Sentinels and Guides do.”
Merlin’s head whipped towards Arthur. “You’re parents are a Sentinel and Guide?”
“I thought you knew,” Arthur replied cautiously as he pulled into the drive. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“No. No. I’m just…surprised.”
“Ah.” Arthur said nothing else as he climbed out of the car and waited for Merlin to follow. He wasn’t sure how to take Merlin’s surprise. He felt unnerved, not only because his Guide was nervous and jittery, but also because he didn’t have the best relationship with his parents. They made him feel guilty for being born sometimes.
Which led to where Merlin and Arthur were now; standing inside the hallway of Pendragon Manor. Arthur tugged on his sleeve to get him to move.
“My parents are out, but they’ll be back soon. Let me give you the grand tour,” he said while leading Merlin down the long hallway.
“Sure.”
The only stopped a few times on the downstairs tour. Arthur barely showed Merlin the family room or the living room, even though they were right at the front of the house. They stopped in the kitchen so Arthur could say hello to the staff, then they swung by the dining hall.
“That’s a lot of paintings,” Merlin said as he walked in.
“Every head of the family since 1356.”
“Wow.”
“Mother keeps meticulous records of our family. It goes as far back as 850.”
“Huh. I don’t even think my family goes back to the 1500s never mind the 800s,” Merlin laughed.
Arthur rolled his shoulders and coughed. “Yes, well,” he said uncomfortably. He wanted to impress Merlin, but he felt that all of this was having the opposite effect.
“You don’t have to impress me you know. I already love you. I don’t love your money or your title.”
“I wasn’t doing anything of the sort,” Arthur protested. His Guide knew him too well, even after a week.
“Sure,” Merlin placated with a small smile as he looked at each painting. “This is you?” he asked as he approached one at the end.
“Yes. I had it taken last year.”
“You aren’t the head of the Pendragon family yet.”
“It’s for eventually. It is how it’s always been done.”
Merlin nodded in false understanding as he walked towards his Sentinel. “What else will you show me?”
Arthur beamed and tugged Merlin down a side passage and stopped in front of a small door. He knew Merlin would like this part of the house. “This.” He threw open the door open and walked into a large room. “The library. I basically lived here until I was seven.”
Merlin blinked as he took in the large room. It was filled with books from floor to ceiling. It had a walkway above where he was standing and a spiral staircase leading to the second floor. “Wow,” he breathed out. “I would love to stay here all day.”
“I know the feeling.” Arthur walked towards a large fireplace that dominated the room. Merlin followed slowly, taking in all the books and occasionally reaching out to run his fingers over their spines. He looked up and saw a family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
“Who’s the girl?” Merlin asked.
Arthur jolted and looked around before whispering, “My sister Morgana.”
Merlin frowned in confusion, but asked in the same sotto voice, “Why are we whispering? I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“For the love of god, don’t mention her,” Arthur insisted. Even after knowing his Guide loved and cared for him, he couldn’t share Morgana with him. It was still too painful.
Before Merlin could ask more questions, the main library door swung open. A maid stepped in a curtsied. “Your parents have returned, Master Arthur,” she said.
“Thank you, Yvette. Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
The maid smiled and nodded before leaving the two men alone again. Arthur turned towards Merlin and pulled on his Guide’s shirt.
“Some rules,” the Sentinel said quickly. “Don’t mention Morgana, don’t mention magic, don’t make any sudden movements towards Mother, and don’t look Father in the eye. He is of the older school of Sentinels and this is his territory.”
“That’s a lot of don’ts,” Merlin quipped uneasily. He tried to remember all of that, but he could only focus on Arthur standing in front of him and touching his chest.
“Merlin, this is serious,” Arthur replied, but his mouth did quirk upwards.
“I know, sorry. I’m nervous and I want to impress your parents.”
“Don’t worry about that. Nothing impresses them.”
“Oh, no pressure then.”
They both laughed before hugging. Arthur squeezed tightly and took a whiff of his Guides scent. It helped calm him immensely. He pulled away, but grabbed Merlin’s hand securely. “Now, come, my Guide- into the breach,” he stated.
****
Merlin took a deep breath as Arthur led him into the family room. The room was a lot like the rest of the house, refined and slightly old fashioned. He was afraid to sit down in case he broke a chair. Luckily, Arthur steered him towards the couch, but they didn’t sit down.
Uther stood by another fireplace, drinking a glass of brandy, while Ygraine sat in one of the chairs, drinking tea. They both stared at the couple in front of them.
“Mother, Father, this is Merlin, my Guide,” Arthur said, while keeping an iron grip on Merlin’s hand.
Merlin stood stock still as Ygraine and Uther’s gazes roamed over him. While they studied him, he studied them. Uther was older, in his fifties maybe, he had a rugged and worn look to him. Stress, Merlin guessed. There was a tightness around the older Sentinel’s eyes and even more in his shoulders. Ygraine looked younger, perhaps in her forties. She practically glowed, she had an otherworldly quality to her that Merlin was afraid to place. She seemed more relaxed than her Sentinel, put Merlin could see a line of tension running through her. Arthur, however, must have seen something in his parents’ faces that Merlin did not, as he relaxed his grip on Merlin’s hand and shoved him down on the couch.
Merlin grunted as he fell backwards. “Thanks, Arthur,” he grumbled.
Arthur smirked and sat next to his Guide. “My pleasure.” He still held onto Merlin’s hand like a lifeline.
Ygraine cleared her throat and asked, “Merlin, what does your family do?”
“Oh, um, my mother works as a nurse at the local hospital and I work at the Sentinel and Guide Center. That’s where I met Arthur,” Merlin said. “And you know my Uncle Gaius.”
“We do,” Ygraine smiled. “He brought Arthur into this world.”
“Mother,” Arthur whined. He was uncomfortable talking about his childhood, especially in his childhood home.
Uther turned away from the fireplace and towards Merlin. “What about your father?”
“He’s, uh, gone. He left before I was born,” replied Merlin nervously. He didn’t like being under the elder Sentinel’s gaze. Arthur, sensing his discomfort, growled lowly at his father.
Uther broke his gaze with Merlin to stare at his son. “Arthur…” he warned.
“Uther,” Ygraine spoke up. “You know better than to antagonize someone’s Guide.”
“Yes, dear,” Uther smiled warmly at her.
Merlin shifted stiffly. This was not how he imagined the meeting going. Arthur stood suddenly and tugged Merlin up. He dropped Merlin’s hand as if he had been burnt.
“We have to be going now. Merlin is moving in today. We shall see you later,” the young Sentinel said. He kissed his mother’s cheek, shook his father’s hand and left the room.
Merlin waved awkwardly before following behind his Sentinel. “Arthur!” he cried out. “Wait for me!”
Arthur stopped before he entered the car and waited for Merlin to catch up. “We need to leave.”
“I can see that,” Merlin panted. “We’ll talk about this at home.”
Arthur only grunted, but Merlin took that as an agreement.
****
They had driven home in silence. It wasn’t tense, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable. Merlin hadn’t even tried to turn on the radio, because he knew Arthur needed the quiet. However, once they were inside the flat Merlin lay down on the couch and began talking, while Arthur paced in between the couch and the coffee table. He had a lot of pent up rage and if pacing helped, Merlin wasn’t going to stop him. He just wished Arthur could express emotions like most people, but if the meeting with his parents was any indication of Arthur’s childhood, Merlin wasn’t surprised by Arthur’s emotional quirks.
“One time Blair came into town to talk to us Guides about…something. I can’t remember what it was now,” he said, watching his Sentinel pace back and forth in front of him. “Anyway, someone asked how come most the Sentinel and Guide pairings were of the same sex. Blair thought about it awhile before answering.”
“What did he say?” Arthur snarled tersely.
“That Sentinels and Guides were too…selfish. They were too possessive of each other to be able to share, even with their own children. He said maybe it was nature’s way to keeping them focused on their jobs.”
“Protecting the tribe.”
“Yes.”
Arthur sighed and stopped pacing. He sat down on the floor, his hand near Merlin’s waist, and laid his head against Merlin. “You think that’s what is wrong between my parents and I?”
Merlin shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve heard of other Sentinels or Guides with kids, but I don’t know how they act. It’s not like it’s documented or anything. Hell, Blair doesn’t even know how people become Sentinels or Guides, much less anything about offspring.”
“Someone ought to research it,” Arthur muttered.
Merlin reached a hand out and stroked Arthur’s hair. “Just think, soon this day will be over, tomorrow I will move in and make your life hell,” Merlin said seriously.
Arthur brought his head up and stared at Merlin. “You’re lying.”
“Maybe.”
“No, I can smell it. You are lying. I don’t like liars, Merlin.” Before Merlin could move, Arthur pounced on him and began to tickle the wizard.
Merlin laughed, “No, stop, oh my god, I can’t breathe!” He gave Arthur a little shock with his magic. The Sentinel tumbled to the floor and looked up at his boyfriend in wonder. “Ha! You forgot about that didn’t you, you prat.”
Merlin jumped off the couch and took off towards the bedroom. He knew a way to get today’s mess off Arthur’s mind. Arthur chased after him with a laugh.
Mission accomplished, Merlin thought as Arthur grabbed him from behind playfully. As Arthur kissed him, any other thoughts Merlin had deserted him.
PART 2
PART 1
Arthur Pendragon, heir to the province Camelot and unwilling Sentinel, sighed as he sat in the United Kingdom and Irish branch of the Sentinel and Guide Center located in London. He had spent far too much time in the Center looking for his Guide. He’d gone through five Center appointed Guides, those unconnected to a Sentinel, but none of them had worked out in the long run.
His mother, Ygraine, was a Guide and had helped Arthur control his senses as best she could, but she had to take care of Arthur’s father, Uther, her own Sentinel. Uther never liked sharing his wife, not even with his own son, so Arthur decided he should look for his own Guide.
He had once tried working with Gwen, a childhood friend, but it was all wrong. Every time he used his senses, he zoned out and nothing Gwen would do, could bring him out of it. Plus, working with her left a slightly foul taste in his mouth. He wondered if it had to do with the fact that they were incompatible or the fact that he didn’t want to hurt his best friend, Lance who was also a Sentinel. Lance hoped Gwen would be his Guide and was devastated when she and Arthur paired up. Arthur was never more glad then when he and Gwen decided that they didn’t work well together, although they were great friends. He was also completely unsurprised when Lance and Gwen became an official Sentinel/Guide pairing.
Arthur had even been paired up with his sister Morgana for a while, but that was even worse than working with Gwen. He and Morgana had never truly gotten along, at least on her side. They didn’t always get along, siblings never did, but Arthur adored his sister with all his heart. He felt Morgana had resented him for some reason, even though he had always accepted her and respected her. But when she pushed his buttons, he pushed back and then they both ended up grounded. He didn’t really like to think or talk about his time with Morgana, as it hadn’t ended well.
Which is why he was at the Center again, looking for another Guide. Arthur shifted in his chair uncomfortably. Even though they were expensive chairs, they were still like a chair in a doctor’s office, supremely uncomfortable and known to make your backache. His wonky senses made the chairs even worse, he could feel every stitch and bump in the fabric, and was driving him a little mad. He glanced around the room and saw mostly young Sentinels and Guides sitting awkwardly. He was like them once, scared and unsure, waiting to be paired up with a life partner.
“Arthur Pendragon?” a secretary called out.
Arthur stood and went over to her. She smiled at him and he winced, barely even saying hello to her. His parents would have been horrified by his lack of manners, but his senses were in a jumble and even the bright white of her teeth gave him a headache.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Fine,” Arthur lied.
“Sir, I’ve been doing this a long time. You winced when I smiled, so tell me the truth,” she insisted. She led him down a long hallway and made a left turn. She stopped in front of room number seven and opened the door. “In here.”
Arthur let out a sigh of relief as he stepped into the pitch black, soundproof room. “Okay, I’m not doing so well.”
“Just as I thought. Sit at the table and someone will be with you shortly.” With that the secretary left, shutting the door behind her and blocking out the rest of the building.
****
Merlin Emrys slinked through the back door of the Sentinel and Guide Center. He was late to work, but had no proper excuse except that he slept through his alarm. His Uncle Gaius, who was in charge of the Center, would probably yell at him, but Merlin hoped to avoid him.
Merlin first came to the Center when he was six along with his whole Year Two class. They were to be tested to see if they were Sentinels or Guides. Out of all the children, three were Sentinels and only Merlin was a Guide. He went home with a certificate, books, and some papers to give his mother. It was too much for him to take in. He thought he would be taken away from his mother and be forced to pair up with a Sentinel. As soon as he handed over the information, he burst out crying.
Some days he still felt like crying. He didn’t know anyone else in the whole Sentinel/Guide system that also used magic. It was too stressful some days, keeping the magic a secret and staying away from any Sentinel. If he bonded, then he’d have to tell them, and who knows what they would do with that information. Merlin had no interest in having a Sentinel. He would gladly help them find their own Guide instead, hence why he worked at the Center.
So, Merlin tried to avoid everyone until he got to his small office. He had almost made it when he heard a voice call from behind him, “Merlin!”
“Shit,” Merlin cursed under his breath. He turned around and smiled. “Uncle Gaius! How are you?”
“You are late,” Gaius said as he walked closer. “Any reason?”
“Er, traffic?”
Gaius raised an eyebrow and stared at Merlin.
Merlin was always weak against that look and he caved instantly. “Fine. I overslept. Happy?”
“Thrilled. Put your stuff down and go to room seven. Arthur is back and apparently close to a zone out.”
Merlin nodded. He had seen Arthur Pendragon a few times and read his file. He was twenty-eight, worked at the family company, his eyesight had tested off the charts, but his hearing and sense of smell could be stronger. He was also without a Guide and had been for several years. Guides without Sentinels were not that big of a deal, but Sentinels without Guides could be dangerous. They could go into a permanent zone out, which could lead to death, or even go crazy from having their senses be on overload all the time and have to be put into a coma. He didn’t always like what the Pendragons did or said, but he didn’t want the young nobleman to be unable to function for the rest of his life.
Merlin threw his things into his office then jogged down the halls until he found room seven. He took a breath, knocked on the door, and walked into the room and shut the door. Rooms one through ten always unsettled Merlin. They were soundproof, with no lighting of any kind, and kept at a mild temperature so as not to agitate the Sentinels anymore than needed. He stood by the door, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. Before he could move towards the table, he was grabbed by his shirt and slammed up against the wall.
Merlin blinked, as he looked into the face an almost feral Arthur Pendragon. This isn’t good, he thought.
“Arthur?” he asked softly. He put his hands lightly on Arthur’s arms. He hoped words and touch would get through to the Sentinel.
Arthur only growled in response.
“Okay.” Merlin took let out a slow and even breath. He was slightly afraid of the out of control Sentinel, didn’t want his heart rate to spike and tip Arthur off. There was no telling what he would do if he knew Merlin was afraid of him. “I’m here to help you. And you do need help. Look at you, you caveman.” Merlin winced as soon as the insult had left his mouth. It had been unintentional, but Merlin’s mouth worked faster than his brain sometimes. He did hope, however, that Arthur was the type of Sentinel who responded to insults.
When the first Guide, Blair Sandburg, had come to visit he had given a lecture about how some Sentinels needed soft voices and kind words, while others need noise and harsh words to snap them out of a zone out or feral devolution. Only words though, Merlin thought. Never harsh touches or smells. Don’t ever look angry, even if you are. Even when in the middle of a zone out, Sentinels know what their Guide is feeling.
Arthur tilted his head, but didn’t let go of Merlin. However, he didn’t try to hurt Merlin; so, he continued ranting at the other man. “You’re a prat! You don’t just slam people up against walls. It’s rude!”
Arthur shook his head, as if to clear it, and finally let go of Merlin. “Who are you?” he rasped.
“Merlin Emrys.”
“Are you a Guide?”
“Yes,” Merlin replied suspiciously.
“Good. You can be mine.” Arthur proclaimed. He leaned in and kissed Merlin. Then he abruptly left the room.
Merlin stood there for a while, in shock. He touched his lips, then scowled and followed Arthur. “You! You can’t just-”
“I can,” Arthur called back. “You’re the only Guide I’ve felt a connection with, so you are mine.”
“It doesn’t work like that!” Merlin yelled as Arthur turned a corner. He sighed and leaned against a wall. This is exactly what he didn’t want. He didn’t want to connect with a Sentinel, it would make his life too hard, but it didn’t look like he had any choice. Merlin looked up and jumped a little as he saw Arthur standing right in front of him.
“Don’t you feel it?” Arthur asked quietly. He looked forlorn at the thought that Merlin didn’t feel the connection.
Merlin looked away. “Of course I do, you prat. It’s just so sudden. I never thought this would happen.”
“Neither did I,” Arthur grinned. Merlin found that he liked the happy look on Arthur’s face. It was so different than what he had usually seen. Before Arthur always looked unhappy and Merlin realized that he didn’t want Arthur to be unhappy anymore. Arthur grabbed Merlin’s hand and pulled him along. “We need to find Gaius, so this can be official.”
And I need to talk to him about my magic. Like, if I should ever tell you, Merlin thought. He sighed deeply, noticing that Arthur stumbled a little. He squeezed his Sentinel’s hand in reassurance.
****
Gaius stared at the two young men seated in his office. He never thought Merlin would be Arthur’s Guide. Merlin had mentioned that he felt something different when he looked at Arthur, but would never act on his feelings for fear of exposing his magic. And Arthur had never met Merlin until today, so he would have never known.
“All right boys, what shall we do about this?” Gaius asked.
Merlin looked to the ground, while Arthur frowned. He knew something was wrong with his Guide, but didn’t know what exactly. He wanted to fix it, whatever it was.
“Merlin will come live with me and we’ll have an official Sentinel/Guide bonding,” Arthur replied blithely. He was used to having his way and wasn’t expecting much resistance from Merlin.
“Don’t I get a say in this?” Merlin asked harshly. He objected to being bossed around. He would have to make sure that Arthur remembered he was Arthur’s other half, not a servant.
“What objections could you possibly have? I live in a nice flat, two bedrooms, if you need an office. It has a fantastic kitchen; I cook so you don’t need to worry about food. You won’t have to pay rent, since I own it. You won’t have to pay for anything ever again. I’ll take care of you.” Arthur would do anything for his Guide. He knew he just met the other man, but he felt there was a deep connection between them. Perhaps even deeper than the Sentinel/Guide bond.
Merlin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep the anger from his voice. “I want to pay for things. I’m not an invalid. I want my job. I want my own friends. I don’t want to be controlled.”
“Fine. Anything. We can work it out. Just…move in with me. Please,” Arthur begged. He needed his Guide by his side for all times.
“Gaius?” Merlin asked in a strangled tone of voice. Arthur frowned, wondering why Gaius needed to have any say in their arrangement.
“It’s up to you Merlin,” his uncle replied. “All of it is. I shall leave you two alone to discuss it.” He stood and left his office. Arthur cocked his head in confusion.
“What was that about? Why does Gaius get a say in anything you do?” Arthur questioned angrily. “Is he hurting you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Merlin scoffed. “Uncle Gaius is my mentor, I always ask his opinion on serious subjects and this is vaguely serious, don’t you think?”
Arthur shifted in his seat and grumbled, “Yes.”
Merlin nodded and left his chair. He began to pace the length of the office. “You know in America they have those mutant Sentinels?”
“Yes. Very rare from what I hear, and not just in America. Plus, those other superhero Sentinels.”
“Well, I’m rare as well.”
“You’re a mutant?” Arthur stared at Merlin, giving his Guide a slow once over. Merlin flushed from the look and stopped moving. Arthur then smirked. “I guess I could see that.”
“Thanks,” Merlin deadpanned. He flopped back down into the chair and faced Arthur. “But no. I’m not a mutant. Or a superhero. I’m a wizard- or warlock, whatever you prefer.”
“What?”
“I use magic. I wield it.”
“Prove it,” Arthur demanded. His father had always told him magic was evil. “No good has ever come from magic,” Arthur repeated dully. It was what he had always heard his father say.
Merlin growled in irritation. “Magic is like anything else. It isn’t innately good or bad, it depends on the person.” He brought his left hand up in between them and held it open so Arthur could see. He concentrated and suddenly had a small flame floating above his hand.
“Oh,” Arthur breathed, leaning forward in excitement. “That’s…”
“Freakish. Unnatural. Evil.”
“Awesome. Fantastic. Beautiful.”
“Oh.” Merlin shifted in his chair. He closed his hand and the flame disappeared. He focused on his Sentinel and found that Arthur was awfully close to him. “You’re going to kiss me again.”
“I am,” Arthur replied. And then he did so. They kissed for some time before they heard a cough from the doorway. They sprang apart, looking towards Gaius, who was standing in the doorway.
“I see you figured it out,” he said with a smirk.
“Yes. We did.” Arthur stood and pulled Merlin up as well. They had a lot to talk about, not just the magic, but what they were going to do with their Sentinel/Guide bond. “We’re going to move him into my place, then come back here tomorrow to discuss our options.”
“All right. I’ll get the paperwork started. You both have your handbooks?”
“Yeah, Gaius,” Merlin said. “We can’t move me in today! I have too much stuff! I-oh god.” Merlin leaned against a wall and put his hand on his chest.
“What?” Arthur panicked. Merlin’s heart rate had spiked up and it was freaking Arthur out. “What is it?”
“I haven’t told my mum! She’s never met you! I haven’t met your parents! I can’t move in today!”
“Oh, I thought it was something serious.” Arthur relaxed slightly.
“This is serious, you prat! My mum will kill me if I move in before she meets you.” Merlin scowled, grabbed Arthur’s hand and dragged him down the halls. “Come on, let’s go meet my mum.”
“Okay,” Arthur grinned widely. He was glad his Guide was so accepting.
Gaius stood in the doorway of his office and shook his head as he watched the two young men leave the Center. He hoped that everything worked out for them.
****
Merlin and Arthur sat outside Merlin’s house in Arthur’s car. They had been sitting outside for twenty minutes and Arthur was starting to lose his patience. Instead of yelling, he took a deep breath and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, before asking, “Are we going to go in?”
“What? Uh, yes. Yes. Let’s go.” Merlin reached for the handle, but Arthur pulled him close. He knew his Guide was nervous as well and wanted to take his mind off of things, if only for a little while.
The Sentinel stuck his nose in between Merlin’s neck and shoulder and took a deep breath. Merlin smelled like burnt ozone, chocolate, and old books. Arthur decided it was his new favorite smell.
“Uh, what are you doing?” Merlin held very still as his Sentinel sniffed his skin.
“Memorizing your scent, for when I get nervous.” He gave Merlin’s skin a little lick, and pulled away.
“Why would you be nervous?” Merlin’s hand hovered over where Arthur had sniffed and licked him, but it fell down by his lap.
“I’m meeting your mum, Mer-lin. Of course I’m nervous.”
“Arthur Pendragon doesn’t get nervous,” Merlin huffed.
“Sure he does. The real him, not the public face of him.”
Merlin snorted before replying, “You have multiple personality disorder, don’t you?”
“Ha, ha. Enough talk, let’s go.”
Arthur exited the car and waited as Merlin did the same. Then they made their way to the front door. Merlin opened it up and called out, “Mum?”
“In the garden, dear,” she called back faintly.
“Oh good. She’ll have shears to stab you with,” Merlin grinned manically.
“Not really making me less nervous here, Merlin,” Arthur hissed.
“Wasn’t trying too,” Merlin hissed back as the went out into the garden. “Wait here.”
Arthur nodded and waited by the sliding glass door. He glanced around the small garden and saw many flowers he couldn’t name. Merlin’s mum probably will get along great with my mum, Arthur thought. He then focused his attention on Merlin and his mother. The woman looked to be the same age as his mother, but obviously had done much more hard work than Ygraine Pendragon. He wanted to turn his hearing up to listen to the conversation, but figured that eavesdropping on his almost mother-in-law might not be the best way to meet her.
He swallowed hard as Merlin and his mum walked towards him. He wiped his hands on his trousers and held it out to her. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
She pushed his hand away and swept Arthur up into a tight hug. “Call me Hunith, please.”
“Okay. Hunith.” Arthur shot Merlin a wild look over Hunith’s shoulder. His family wasn’t this expressive and Arthur wasn’t sure what to do. His Guide just smirked at him. Arthur glared, but patted Hunith’s back lightly.
Hunith pulled away and stared right into Arthur’s eyes. “If you ever hurt my son, nothing will save you. Not your abilities. Not the Center. Nothing. Understand me?”
Arthur nodded seriously. “I would never hurt him.”
“Good,” Hunith smiled at him. “Come inside and tell me more about yourself. Then later, I can embarrass Merlin with baby photos.”
“Mother!” Merlin groaned.
“Merlin!” Hunith replied in a similar tone. “Humor me; I never thought I’d get the chance to do this.” She leaned towards Arthur and mock-whispered, “He never brought anyone home before.”
“Oh, really?” Arthur asked, arching an eyebrow. He felt absurdly pleased to be the first person Merlin ever dated to meet his mother. He also felt a surge of jealousy at those other people, but pushed it away knowing he’d be the only one for Merlin from now on.
Merlin groaned again and covered his face with his hands. “I never should have introduced you two.”
Hunith laughed and took Arthur’s arm and brought him inside. Merlin watched them go with a smile on his face. “I’m glad you two get along,” he said softly, knowing his Sentinel could hear him. He didn’t think he could stand his mother and his Sentinel not being friends. Then he followed them inside. He had to hide the most damaging photos before his mum showed them to Arthur.
****
A few miles away, Morgana Pendragon paced in her flat overlooking the River Thames. Her hair was a ragged mess, knotted in places, like she hadn’t brushed it in days; half of her hair was up in a sloppy ponytail, while the rest was hanging around her face. She bit at her fingernails and muttered to herself. Watching her from a couch was Morgause, her half-sister.
“Morgana, my dear,” Morgause said calmly. “Please stop pacing; you will only work yourself up more.”
“I can’t. The visions never stop.”
“You just need a Sentinel to settle you.”
Morgana paused in her pacing then quickly made her way to her sister. She leaned over the back of the couch and got up close towards Morgause’s face, so that they were inches apart. “I had one,” she hissed. “But I-you-we lost him. I won’t ever have another one!”
Morgause was unfazed by her outburst and moved away from her sister. Morgana regularly had many such bursts of anger since losing Arthur as her Sentinel. She smiled fondly at Morgana and patted her cheek. “Don’t be so sure.”
Morgana cocked her head in confusion, but before she could ask what her sister meant, there was a knock at the door. Morgause’s smile widened and she left the couch to answer the door. Morgana watched warily as Morgause spoke to some people, but made no move to leave the room, so moved to sit on the couch. She wanted to know what her sister had planned.
“Dear, close your eyes,” Morgause said with a grin. She was hiding something behind her.
Morgana did as she was told and shut her eyes. She waited with anticipation and nearly jumped as a hand touched her face. Her eyes flew open and Morgana stared into the face of Mordred. He was looking at her in affection and amusement. Morgana let out a small shriek of delight and wrapped the boy up in her arms.
“Where did you find him?” she asked her sister, eyes dancing with glee.
Morgause kissed Morgana’s head and then Mordred’s. “I have my sources,” she smirked.
****
“Shouldn’t we go see your parents first?” Merlin asked as he followed Arthur up to his flat.
Arthur waved a hand at him. “They aren’t in the country right now. They come back next week.” He opened the door and let Merlin go in first. “Home, sweet home. When can you move in?”
“Next week,” Merlin replied with a smile as he walked into the flat. It seemed the only light came from the overhead lighting fixtures, which either had one light bulb in them or they were low wattage as Merlin had to squint a little to see the flat better. He looked around with a frown. There was one beige couch, in the middle of the room, with an empty kitchen off to the left. The blinds covering the windows were tightly shut, letting almost no light in. There was no radio or TV or even a table, not even a coffee table. Arthur had no pictures on the wall or any kind of decorations. If Merlin had to guess he would assume that the bedroom was in the same state of Spartan-like decorating. “It’s quite…bare. And there’s a lot of white.”
Arthur shifted uncomfortable as he shut the door. “Colors and clutter give me a headache. Wait, what do you mean next week?”
Merlin just smirked and moved closer to Arthur. “I, you big prat, am not that easy. You may have managed to blind-side me at the Center, but not anymore. I’ll have to meet your parents before any moving in happens.” He leaned in and kissed Arthur’s cheek and then quickly jumped away as the Sentinel reached for him.
Arthur growled and began to stalk his Guide around the apartment. Merlin laughed as he danced away from Arthur’s grasp time and time again. Finally, Arthur leapt over the couch and tackled Merlin to the floor.
Merlin expected to be kissed, but was instead surprised when Arthur began to tickle him. “Oh no!” He tried to shimmy away, but Arthur held him down.
“Oh yes!” Arthur replied gleefully. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages. “That’s what you get for being a jerk.”
“Me!” Merlin laughed breathlessly. “Stop it! You’re the jerk!” He shoved at Arthur’s chest.
The Sentinel finally stopped and lay on top of Merlin. “We can both be jerks, if it makes you feel better.”
“It doesn’t since I’m not a jerk.”
“You won’t move in with me until you meet my parents!” Arthur protested.
“That’s being sensible! I don’t want to move in and then your parents meet me and say, ‘Oh, he bewitched our boy!’ and try to separate us.”
“I’m not telling my parents about your magic, so pick another word.”
Merlin stared up at Arthur in confusion. “I didn’t think you would. Now that I think about, you didn’t seem surprised by magic at all.”
Arthur sighed and rolled off of Merlin to lie next to him. “It’s a long story. But, however they feel about you, they can’t separate us. Especially not once the paperwork goes through. And even if they tried, Blair and Jim would stop them.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Merlin replied. He was still curious about Arthur’s comment, but wasn’t willing to push the subject just yet. They had just met after all. He wanted to get his to know his new Sentinel more before asking big questions. He turned his head towards Arthur and asked, “So, what should do now?”
Arthur looked at him and smiled. “I’m sure we could think of something.”
Merlin laughed and leaned in to kiss his Sentinel. I wonder if Arthur’s parents are like Arthur. It would certainly make meeting them easier, he thought. Soon though, any thoughts Merlin had were swept away as Arthur pulled him closer.
****
Later in the day, Merlin walked around Arthur’s flat, wearing only his jeans. Arthur was in the kitchen, similarly dressed, making what he called, “A masterpiece, Merlin, truly.”
Merlin had laughed and let him do what he wanted. While Arthur cooked, Merlin got to explore the apartment. The rest of it was like the living room: white, barley decorated, and dim.
“We’re going to have to redecorate,” Merlin said as he walked into the living room. “Brighter light bulbs, we’ll have to open the blinds up, and add color and actual furniture.”
“Headache!” Arthur shouted from the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m getting one.”
Arthur came up behind him and kissed his shoulder. “No, all that gives me a headache.”
“Well,” Merlin said slowly, as if speaking to a small child. “It’s a good thing you have a Guide now. I train Sentinels on how to adjust. I suppose we could do that while we wait for your parents to come back.”
Arthur huffed and moved away from Merlin. “I don’t know why you just can’t move in. I met you mum.”
“But I haven’t met yours.” Merlin rubbed his brow and moved towards the blinds. He opened them up, sighing as some light filled the poorly lit living room. “That’s much better. We can buy curtains, so it’ll block the light somewhat, but still let me see my way around.”
Arthur turned his head away from the windows, muttering about the light. Merlin closed his eyes and tried to remain calm.
“My eyes aren’t as good as yours, Arthur. I need to be able to see.”
“I don’t see why I have to change everything for you!”
“But I have to change everything for you?” Merlin laughed harshly. “This is a relationship, not a dictatorship.”
“I know that,” Arthur snarled. He sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. “My senses haven’t been in control for a long time. But with you hear, they snap into focus. It’s just giving me a headache.”
Merlin sat next to him and put a hand on Arthur’s bare shoulder. “That’s what I’m here for, you prat,” he said quietly. “I’m here to make your headaches go away.”
Arthur leaned into Merlin and rested his head on Merlin’s shoulder. “It’ll take getting used to. I’m used to living alone and only worrying about me.”
“We both have to get used to the changes, another reason I don’t want to rush into moving in with you.” He kissed Arthur’s forehead and then pulled back. “How about I stay for the week? Just as, you know, living together, to see how it works. I’ll bring some clothes over and things like that.”
“Okay,” Arthur exhaled. “Okay. Tomorrow, we’ll go get your things?”
“Yes,” Merlin beamed at him.
Arthur snuggled into Merlin’s side for a few minutes more before going back to the kitchen. He had made progress with his Guide, he didn’t want to ruin by feeding him burnt lasagna.
****
The whole week that Uther and Ygraine were gone was pure torture for Arthur. Yes, Merlin had spent the week at his flat, as they had agreed, but the Guide would leave and then come back. It was driving Arthur mad. He wanted Merlin there all the time. Arthur had assumed they could spend the week together to get to know each other; he had even taken time off work under that assumption. Every time Arthur had brought it up, Merlin just smiled at him and changed the subject.
“Well, it’s about to stop,” Arthur growled to himself. He had a foolproof plan to corner Merlin and talk some sense into him. He turned all the lights off in the flat and kept the curtains closed. Merlin wouldn’t know what hit him. Arthur hid in a corner and waited until the front door opened.
“Arthur?” Merlin called out tentatively into the dark. He was nervous because he knew Arthur was going to be home, and when Arthur was home he had some lights on. Merlin didn’t hear anything, so he carefully stepped into the apartment.
The door shut behind him and Merlin spun around. “Arthur? If you are going to do what I think you are going to do, I will light you on fire if you don’t stop.”
Arthur smirked and made his move. He jumped from his corner near the door and leapt on Merlin. They went down in a tangle of limbs. Arthur rolled them until he was on top of Merlin. He sat on the other man’s legs and held his wrists above Merlin’s head, effectively pining the wizard. Arthur knew Merlin could get out of it, if he really wanted to.
“Damn it, Arthur!” Merlin cried out. “What are you doing you large prat?”
“Making you move in with me,” Arthur replied. “I’m just going to sit here until you agree.”
“Here is on me?”
“Yes.” Arthur wiggled a little bit until he was more comfortable. There was the added side effect of making Merlin twitch with arousal.
Merlin closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “Arthur…”
“No. Look Merlin. I know we just met, but I- we are meant for each other. I can’t stand being apart from you, not even for a minute. So can you just move in please?”
Merlin stared up at his Sentinel before smiling. “Of course. Most of my stuff is here anyway.”
“What?” Arthur blinked. They had only grabbed enough of Merlin’s things for a week, he had been sure of it.
“I’ve been moving in little by little. Why do you think I went home to mum every night and then came here? I grabbed books, clothes, and movies, anything I could think of to place here. Your flat is sorely lacking in everything. Even though you asked-demanded-it’s still you’re territory.”
“I-you-what?” Arthur relaxed his grip on Merlin slightly.
Merlin laughed, shoved the shocked Arthur off of him and sat up, “You forget, I study Sentinels and Guides. I know everything about what makes you tick.”
Arthur just laid back and stared at his ceiling. “You mean to tell me,” he finally said after Merlin left his side and opened the curtains, “that you’ve moved in. Like I asked.”
“I’ve semi-moved in. Like I wanted. The only thing I haven’t done is decorated. I think we should do that together.”
“But you said no,” Arthur countered. “And of course I want to decorate our flat with you.”
Merlin smiled widely. “That was just to mess with you. ‘Sentinels can’t always get what they want’,” he quoted as he moved into the kitchen. “ ‘They’ll try to push their Guides around, but the Guides must stand their ground’.”
“I hate you so much.”
“If you keep saying things like that I won’t move my furniture in after we meet your parents.”
Arthur stood up and walked towards Merlin, wrapping him up in a hug. “They come home tomorrow. You can meet them then.”
“That’s fine. I can move in the day after that.”
“Or that same day.”
“What? Do you have an army ready to move my stuff over here?”
“Well, not an army exactly.”
****
“These are my friends,” Arthur tells Merlin later that day. They left the flat sometime around 4:30 in the afternoon to meet up with Arthur’s friends at a nearby pub.
“Gwen!” Merlin cried in surprise. “I didn’t know you knew Arthur.” He gave her a big hug and pointedly ignored the growls coming from Arthur and a man hovering behind Gwen. He had seen the man around the Center, but never learned his name. The man placed an arm around Gwen’s waist, pulling her back towards him, and glared at Merlin.
Gwen laughed and swatted at the man. “This is Lancelot, my Sentinel.”
“Ah! I’d heard that you picked one up, but I didn’t know who it was.”
Arthur threw a possessive arm around Merlin’s shoulders and said, “Well, now you met Lance and Gwen, meet the rest of them.” He pointed at the remaining three men and said their names, “Elyan, Gwen’s brother, Percival, we call him Percy, and Gwaine.”
“Seems our parents had something in common, along with Gwen’s, Elyan’s, eh, Gwaine?” Merlin joked.
“A horrible sense of humor?” Gwaine joked back. He pushed Arthur’s arm off of Merlin’s shoulders and put his own arm up there.
Arthur growled again and tugged Merlin towards him, effectively staking his claim. Gwaine just laughed at his friend and moved over towards Percy.
“Oh shut up,” Merlin scoffed. “You wanted me to meet your friends. Now that we get along you can’t be all grouchy and growly about it.”
Lance laughed and slapped Merlin’s back. “Oh, we like you.”
Arthur made a face at his friends. Percy took pity on him and said, “Come along Arthur. Help me get us some drinks.”
“I won’t move,” Merlin stated when Arthur didn’t move right away.
“Fine,” Arthur huffed. He kissed the back of Merlin’s neck before following Percy towards the bar.
As soon as Arthur was out of direct hearing range, Elyan leaned forward and asked, “How’d you meet him?”
“Well, he slammed me into a wall and kissed me,” Merlin replied with a large grin.
“Sounds like our Arthur,” Gwaine laughed.
****
Arthur watched as Merlin dancing with Gwen and Gwaine. He felt a surge of jealousy, but tapered it back with a shot of whiskey.
“Don’t be jealous, old man,” Percy said. He had an arm around Elyan, who was leaning against him drunkenly. With his free hand, he took a sip of water. “It’s not a good look for you.”
“I’m not jealous,” Arthur groused.
“Are too,” Lance said as he slid into the seat next to Arthur, bringing more beer with him. “I’m jealous as well. I don’t like the idea of other people touching Gwen, but it’s just Gwaine and Merlin.”
“Gwaine is a flirt,” Arthur frowned into his drink.
“He doesn’t mean anything by it,” Elyan mumbled into Percy’s shoulder. “He just likes people. ‘Sides he’s got us, eh Percy?”
Percy smiled fondly and ran a hand over Elyan’s head. “He does indeed.”
Arthur mimed gagging into his drink, while Lance laughed. Merlin came over just then and raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend. Gwen sat on Lance’s lap and took a swig of his beer.
“All right, Arthur?” he asked.
“Yeah. Percy was just being gross.”
“Nonsense!” Gwaine objected. He kissed Percy’s temple. “Percy is never gross.”
Merlin’s eyes widened, but he didn’t say anything. Arthur tugged on his Guides’ arm and pulled him onto his lap. Once Merlin was settled, Arthur leaned into his neck and took a deep breath.
“Stop being sappy,” Gwaine joked from across the table. “When is the ceremony? Can I be the best man?”
“Shut up,” Arthur growled, but he did move slightly away from Merlin. He would have more time for that when they got home anyway.
****
“You have lovely friends,” Merlin muttered as he swayed in place. Arthur put an arm around his Guide’s waist to steady him. The couple was in the elevator on the way to their flat, which made Merlin look a little green, but Arthur wasn’t sure the Guide could have climbed the stairs.
“You had too much to drink,” he replied with a chuckle.
“Still. Good friends. They threatened me when you and Gwen went to get more drinks.”
“Oh. Gwen threatened me, if that makes you feel better.”
“It does.” Merlin grinned dopily.
“At least they agreed to help you move in here.”
“I live here already!”
“Move your furniture then. For someone so resistant to moving in with me, you sure are insistent about where you live.”
Merlin squinted up at Arthur, as Arthur opened the door to their flat. “I’m fairly certain that doesn’t make sense.”
“It’s because you’re drunk.”
“Or because you’re a…a…prat.”
“You need a better insult, my love.”
“Shut it, dollop head.”
“Doll-Merlin, really.”
Merlin cackled and stumbled from Arthur’s arms and onto the couch. “I’m just gonna stay here. Wake me later.” He then proceeded to fall sound asleep.
Arthur shook his head and smiled fondly. He grabbed his Guide’s arm and put Merlin over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Then he walked down the hall and into the bedroom, where he placed Merlin gently on the bed. Arthur stripped Merlin’s clothes off, took off his own and then climbed into bed next to the wizard.
He tried to go to sleep, but all Arthur could think about was that his parents were meeting Merlin tomorrow. He just hoped it went well.
****
Merlin looked around curiously as he entered Arthur’s family home some distance from London. It was stately and well kept, almost like a museum. Arthur had told him about it on the drive out.
“It was built in 1567 by my very great grandfather. It was updated a few times, once to include more practical plumbing and once to put in electricity and a phone line. Right now mother is restoring some of the areas back to their original styles while still keeping it modern.”
“Do you have the internet or whatever?” Merlin asked watching the countryside pass by.
“Yes, Merlin. It isn’t the middle of nowhere. Father likes to keep up with modern technology. They compromise, like all Sentinels and Guides do.”
Merlin’s head whipped towards Arthur. “You’re parents are a Sentinel and Guide?”
“I thought you knew,” Arthur replied cautiously as he pulled into the drive. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“No. No. I’m just…surprised.”
“Ah.” Arthur said nothing else as he climbed out of the car and waited for Merlin to follow. He wasn’t sure how to take Merlin’s surprise. He felt unnerved, not only because his Guide was nervous and jittery, but also because he didn’t have the best relationship with his parents. They made him feel guilty for being born sometimes.
Which led to where Merlin and Arthur were now; standing inside the hallway of Pendragon Manor. Arthur tugged on his sleeve to get him to move.
“My parents are out, but they’ll be back soon. Let me give you the grand tour,” he said while leading Merlin down the long hallway.
“Sure.”
The only stopped a few times on the downstairs tour. Arthur barely showed Merlin the family room or the living room, even though they were right at the front of the house. They stopped in the kitchen so Arthur could say hello to the staff, then they swung by the dining hall.
“That’s a lot of paintings,” Merlin said as he walked in.
“Every head of the family since 1356.”
“Wow.”
“Mother keeps meticulous records of our family. It goes as far back as 850.”
“Huh. I don’t even think my family goes back to the 1500s never mind the 800s,” Merlin laughed.
Arthur rolled his shoulders and coughed. “Yes, well,” he said uncomfortably. He wanted to impress Merlin, but he felt that all of this was having the opposite effect.
“You don’t have to impress me you know. I already love you. I don’t love your money or your title.”
“I wasn’t doing anything of the sort,” Arthur protested. His Guide knew him too well, even after a week.
“Sure,” Merlin placated with a small smile as he looked at each painting. “This is you?” he asked as he approached one at the end.
“Yes. I had it taken last year.”
“You aren’t the head of the Pendragon family yet.”
“It’s for eventually. It is how it’s always been done.”
Merlin nodded in false understanding as he walked towards his Sentinel. “What else will you show me?”
Arthur beamed and tugged Merlin down a side passage and stopped in front of a small door. He knew Merlin would like this part of the house. “This.” He threw open the door open and walked into a large room. “The library. I basically lived here until I was seven.”
Merlin blinked as he took in the large room. It was filled with books from floor to ceiling. It had a walkway above where he was standing and a spiral staircase leading to the second floor. “Wow,” he breathed out. “I would love to stay here all day.”
“I know the feeling.” Arthur walked towards a large fireplace that dominated the room. Merlin followed slowly, taking in all the books and occasionally reaching out to run his fingers over their spines. He looked up and saw a family portrait hanging above the fireplace.
“Who’s the girl?” Merlin asked.
Arthur jolted and looked around before whispering, “My sister Morgana.”
Merlin frowned in confusion, but asked in the same sotto voice, “Why are we whispering? I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“For the love of god, don’t mention her,” Arthur insisted. Even after knowing his Guide loved and cared for him, he couldn’t share Morgana with him. It was still too painful.
Before Merlin could ask more questions, the main library door swung open. A maid stepped in a curtsied. “Your parents have returned, Master Arthur,” she said.
“Thank you, Yvette. Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
The maid smiled and nodded before leaving the two men alone again. Arthur turned towards Merlin and pulled on his Guide’s shirt.
“Some rules,” the Sentinel said quickly. “Don’t mention Morgana, don’t mention magic, don’t make any sudden movements towards Mother, and don’t look Father in the eye. He is of the older school of Sentinels and this is his territory.”
“That’s a lot of don’ts,” Merlin quipped uneasily. He tried to remember all of that, but he could only focus on Arthur standing in front of him and touching his chest.
“Merlin, this is serious,” Arthur replied, but his mouth did quirk upwards.
“I know, sorry. I’m nervous and I want to impress your parents.”
“Don’t worry about that. Nothing impresses them.”
“Oh, no pressure then.”
They both laughed before hugging. Arthur squeezed tightly and took a whiff of his Guides scent. It helped calm him immensely. He pulled away, but grabbed Merlin’s hand securely. “Now, come, my Guide- into the breach,” he stated.
****
Merlin took a deep breath as Arthur led him into the family room. The room was a lot like the rest of the house, refined and slightly old fashioned. He was afraid to sit down in case he broke a chair. Luckily, Arthur steered him towards the couch, but they didn’t sit down.
Uther stood by another fireplace, drinking a glass of brandy, while Ygraine sat in one of the chairs, drinking tea. They both stared at the couple in front of them.
“Mother, Father, this is Merlin, my Guide,” Arthur said, while keeping an iron grip on Merlin’s hand.
Merlin stood stock still as Ygraine and Uther’s gazes roamed over him. While they studied him, he studied them. Uther was older, in his fifties maybe, he had a rugged and worn look to him. Stress, Merlin guessed. There was a tightness around the older Sentinel’s eyes and even more in his shoulders. Ygraine looked younger, perhaps in her forties. She practically glowed, she had an otherworldly quality to her that Merlin was afraid to place. She seemed more relaxed than her Sentinel, put Merlin could see a line of tension running through her. Arthur, however, must have seen something in his parents’ faces that Merlin did not, as he relaxed his grip on Merlin’s hand and shoved him down on the couch.
Merlin grunted as he fell backwards. “Thanks, Arthur,” he grumbled.
Arthur smirked and sat next to his Guide. “My pleasure.” He still held onto Merlin’s hand like a lifeline.
Ygraine cleared her throat and asked, “Merlin, what does your family do?”
“Oh, um, my mother works as a nurse at the local hospital and I work at the Sentinel and Guide Center. That’s where I met Arthur,” Merlin said. “And you know my Uncle Gaius.”
“We do,” Ygraine smiled. “He brought Arthur into this world.”
“Mother,” Arthur whined. He was uncomfortable talking about his childhood, especially in his childhood home.
Uther turned away from the fireplace and towards Merlin. “What about your father?”
“He’s, uh, gone. He left before I was born,” replied Merlin nervously. He didn’t like being under the elder Sentinel’s gaze. Arthur, sensing his discomfort, growled lowly at his father.
Uther broke his gaze with Merlin to stare at his son. “Arthur…” he warned.
“Uther,” Ygraine spoke up. “You know better than to antagonize someone’s Guide.”
“Yes, dear,” Uther smiled warmly at her.
Merlin shifted stiffly. This was not how he imagined the meeting going. Arthur stood suddenly and tugged Merlin up. He dropped Merlin’s hand as if he had been burnt.
“We have to be going now. Merlin is moving in today. We shall see you later,” the young Sentinel said. He kissed his mother’s cheek, shook his father’s hand and left the room.
Merlin waved awkwardly before following behind his Sentinel. “Arthur!” he cried out. “Wait for me!”
Arthur stopped before he entered the car and waited for Merlin to catch up. “We need to leave.”
“I can see that,” Merlin panted. “We’ll talk about this at home.”
Arthur only grunted, but Merlin took that as an agreement.
****
They had driven home in silence. It wasn’t tense, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable. Merlin hadn’t even tried to turn on the radio, because he knew Arthur needed the quiet. However, once they were inside the flat Merlin lay down on the couch and began talking, while Arthur paced in between the couch and the coffee table. He had a lot of pent up rage and if pacing helped, Merlin wasn’t going to stop him. He just wished Arthur could express emotions like most people, but if the meeting with his parents was any indication of Arthur’s childhood, Merlin wasn’t surprised by Arthur’s emotional quirks.
“One time Blair came into town to talk to us Guides about…something. I can’t remember what it was now,” he said, watching his Sentinel pace back and forth in front of him. “Anyway, someone asked how come most the Sentinel and Guide pairings were of the same sex. Blair thought about it awhile before answering.”
“What did he say?” Arthur snarled tersely.
“That Sentinels and Guides were too…selfish. They were too possessive of each other to be able to share, even with their own children. He said maybe it was nature’s way to keeping them focused on their jobs.”
“Protecting the tribe.”
“Yes.”
Arthur sighed and stopped pacing. He sat down on the floor, his hand near Merlin’s waist, and laid his head against Merlin. “You think that’s what is wrong between my parents and I?”
Merlin shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve heard of other Sentinels or Guides with kids, but I don’t know how they act. It’s not like it’s documented or anything. Hell, Blair doesn’t even know how people become Sentinels or Guides, much less anything about offspring.”
“Someone ought to research it,” Arthur muttered.
Merlin reached a hand out and stroked Arthur’s hair. “Just think, soon this day will be over, tomorrow I will move in and make your life hell,” Merlin said seriously.
Arthur brought his head up and stared at Merlin. “You’re lying.”
“Maybe.”
“No, I can smell it. You are lying. I don’t like liars, Merlin.” Before Merlin could move, Arthur pounced on him and began to tickle the wizard.
Merlin laughed, “No, stop, oh my god, I can’t breathe!” He gave Arthur a little shock with his magic. The Sentinel tumbled to the floor and looked up at his boyfriend in wonder. “Ha! You forgot about that didn’t you, you prat.”
Merlin jumped off the couch and took off towards the bedroom. He knew a way to get today’s mess off Arthur’s mind. Arthur chased after him with a laugh.
Mission accomplished, Merlin thought as Arthur grabbed him from behind playfully. As Arthur kissed him, any other thoughts Merlin had deserted him.
PART 2