Front to Front
Disclaimer: I own nothing - no really… nothing. Maybe the plot. Maybe not.
Summary: Bandit attacks are on the rise so when Merlin decides he needs to gather supplies for an ageing Gaius, Arthur sends him out with Gwaine for protection. Things don't go exactly to plan. [Slash, nothing explicit]
The day started out rather well, peaceful in fact! And then... well it had been a rather disturbing encounter really. And a revealing one, but more on that later.
Gwaine had been accompanying Merlin on one of his frequent hunts for herbs and other ingredients at the request of Gaius. Gwaine's presence was more for the King's peace of mind than any real level of protection he could possible offer Merlin. Gwaine had even volunteered for the duty, not wanting the court warlock to go traipsing around the woods so deep that Camelot wasn't even visible anymore, all alone. Arthur had been almost reluctant to let Merlin go; they were having some trouble with sorcery being used in the outlying villages and the people were frightened and Merlin was always so patient and knowledgeable in those areas that Arthur really didn't want to deal with it alone.
But Gaius was old, and didn't trust anyone but Merlin to get the herbs and ingredients he required. So Merlin agreed (before he'd even asked Arthur, not that Arthur mattered of course, he was only the King), and Arthur was powerless to refuse.
He couldn't even offer to accompany Merlin himself because he had the magic users to straighten out, with Gaius' guidance (a services trade, the old man suggested) and so he put it to his men, all of whom agreed to accompany Merlin but Arthur had chosen Gwaine because Merlin just happened to mention a few nights previous that he hadn't seen much of Gwaine lately. So the decision made, roles swapped, lists made, last minute check lists checked, Merlin and Gwaine left Camelot on horseback.
Or they tried to. They made it to the lowertown before Merlin was called to sort out an emergency magic outburst from one of the druid visitors. The whole debacle cost them an hour's worth of daylight, and most of that was spent assuring the druids that no, Gwaine wasn't there to take them into custody, Gwaine was there to look manly and handsome in the face of possible foes outside of Camelot. That had calmed the children down enough to giggle, and the matter was dealt with.
When they were finally on the road outside the city walls, away from magical maladies, questions, pleas for help, they relaxed.
"Not keeping secrets is a good look on you, Merlin," Gwaine teased with a grin and Merlin laughed.
"I never thought life could be this carefree," Merlin confessed, explaining when Gwaine questioned. "Before Arthur lifted the ban on magic, before... everything. Before he found out I had magic and that I wasn't evil, I wasn't out to kill him or claim Camelot for myself... before all that. Life wasn't bad, but I walked around with this weight on my shoulders all day every day, even in my sleep I had to be careful. And Uther... Uther made me fear what could happen if my magic was found out. In the beginning he did anyway."
"You stopped fearing being burned alive?" Gwaine asked, disbelief in his tone and Merlin chuckled.
"I stopped being afraid of that when I learned how to repel fire. No... I stopped fearing for my life when I first began to realise that Arthur wasn't quite the prat I believed him to be. Oh don't get me wrong," he laughed. "He still is a prat. A great one, with a massive head. I told him so this morning! But something changed after that first month. And when we grew closer to friends - though he never admitted as such at the time - I began to fear, not for my life, but for his reaction and the position I would put him in should my secret come out."
"He never would've let you die, Merlin. You know that."
"I know I wouldn't have died. I don't think there's much he could have done if I had been sentenced and all avenues were gone. You didn't know Uther back then.. he was a tyrant to anything that was magical. Though hypocritical! He begged Gaius to use any means in order to save Arthur. Indicating Magic..."
"Really? Didn't know that.. Does Arthur know?"
"I don't know, maybe. I don't really think it matters. Arthur doesn't like to think about his father and magic in the same light... they bring out the worst in each other you see." Gwaine nodded and stopped when Merlin pulled up, jumping down from the horse to sheer a herb Gwaine vaguely recognised as something edible as well as medicinal. Rosemary, he thought. A few minutes later they were back to walking, though Merlin chose to lighten the load of his horse and walked beside it, holding the reins.
"Well, you look happier in any case," Gwaine reached down to ruffle Merlin's hair and received a bright grin in return.
"I am, you have no idea how much."
"Oh I think I do," the knight winked, earning him a quizzical look. "Sweetheart, I've had my fair share of bed warmers... I can tell when something's stirring between two people. You and Arthur have had that going on for years! Even before I arrived, Leon tells me of how ridiculously close the two of you are."
"Um... Gwaine? There's really nothing... between Arthur and I. I mean... in that sense." He wasn't blushing, but he felt his neck heat up and the tips of his ears warm over. "I mean, I've thought about it. Who hasn't? He's Arthur. But we've never... I've never acted upon my desires. And if he has them too, he hasn't acted either. Besides, I might have known Arthur longer but I talk to you pretty much the same way I talk to him. You don't think I want to lay with you, do you?" he sent a teasing look up at Gwaine but before the older man had a chance to reply, they were surrounded by what appeared to be bandits.
Gwaine got down from his horse, drawing his sword, and shot a look at Merlin who, still between the horses, allowed the in his eyes to shimmer gold as he whispered an enchantment to both animals. He slapped their behinds and watched them gallop to safety, unhindered by the bandits. He and Gwaine stood back to back, both had a blade in one hand and were surveying the situation with critical eyes.
"How many?" Gwaine said quietly.
"Too many," Merlin muttered and the bandits charged.
They took out about 4 a piece before they were overwhelmed and knocked out.
When Merlin woke up, he frowned, head resting against... was that mail? He blinked open his eyes and saw an expanse of silver chainmail less than a breath in front of his face. His now severely marked face, he suspected.
"Oh good, you're awake," he heard Gwaine's voice not far from his ear and frowned some more, trying to get his bearings. "They're gone for now... said something about more patrols... didn't see the worth in us. Took our gold though, and my sword. Bastards that they are. Don't really think they're coming back."
"Shut up," Merlin muttered, groaning as it took an enormous effort to straighten up and finally lift his head.
"You can't tell me to shut up, I'm a knight!" Gwaine said without inflection and Merlin just stared at him.
"I'm the court sorcerer, best friend and closest advisor to the king. And I can kick your backside in a fight of our respective strengths. I win."
"Now you're just showing off," Gwaine muttered though it lacked bite and Merlin didn't bother responding. Instead, he gathered his wits about him and surveyed their current situation.
"Why are we tied together?" he asked Gwaine, who just stared down at him. "Our legs... what? Why..." He started struggling, trying to free his hands.
"No use, sweetheart," Gwaine said. "I spent the last hour trying. And our legs are tied together at the ankle and the knee... We are well and truly, stuck together."
And they were. It wasn't even straightforward front to front binding either; it was strange, and a little uncomfortable. Merlin's right leg was beneath Gwaine's left, and Merlin's left was above Gwaine's right.
"I think they thought it was funny," Gwaine supplied helpfully.
"They obviously haven't met you before then, have they?" Merlin joked. "Were I to your usual tastes, I'm sure you'd be enjoying this position a lot more." He shifted and moved so he was sat astride Gwaine's thigh so he could see over the man's shoulder, the bindings on his wrists.
"What are you doing there?" Gwaine asked, coughing while Merlin inspected the chain with a scowl.
"Checking the chain," he sighed, shifting back so his behind was firmly on the ground, frowning up at Gwaine when the man choked, but shaking his head. "I can't use my abilities to get us out of them," he sighed. "I've been in something like this before, everytime I try to use magic on them, they lose a link in the chain and it gets tighter."
"Fantastic," Gwaine groaned, tilting his head back and staring up at the dark sky.
"Hey, it's not my fault the bandits are remarkably magic savvy these days."
"You know, it might be... I mean. You precipitated the law change, which meant the bandits had to think of ways to subdue magic folk. So really, we're in this mess because Arthur wants to bend you over the nearest hard surface but too emotionally stunted to ask for it, so he gives you a kingdom where magic can be used freely instead." As he spoke, Merlin just stared at him before rolling his eyes and reaching up to fist a hand in Gwaine's ridiculously long hair, forcing his head back, bearing the man's throat which Merlin then decided to lean forward and bite.
Gwaine, for his part, cried out in shock, staring down at Merlin when he was released and Merlin had a self-satisfied look on his face. "What...' Gwaine started. "Was that?" he finished, breathing becoming slightly more laboured and Merlin grinned at him.
"I'm not in a position to hit you for saying such things, so I did the next best, easiest thing. I bit you. A fitting punishment I think."
"Not really a punishment, lad." That was all the warning Merlin had, however, before Gwaine decided enough was enough and he leaned down and pressed their lips together. Hard.
"Oh Gods," Merlin breathed against Gwaine's lips, trying to move his body closer and growling when he couldn't quite manage it and pushing back when he grew tired of trying so hard. He threw his head back, panting and his hips jerked, breath hitched, when he felt a mouth on his neck.
"No need to get frustrated, sweetheart," Gwaine chuckled in his ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and nipping gently, making Merlin shudder against him. "Up on my leg like you were before, go on..." Merlin shifted until he was almost straddling the thigh and immediately he could see why Gwaine wanted it. He jerked his hips against Gwaine's and they both groaned, going back to kissing as they tried to find a comfortable rhythm. When they managed it, both were so full of lust that they almost lost themselves in it.
The world for them narrowed down to mouths against throats, teeth biting, the sting of beard rubbing against bare skin, kisses, hip thrusts, rubbing against each other with an increasing sense of need.. the need to feel more, the need for release until they both neared that end and bit down on whatever was in front of their mouths at that point, both crying out in ecstasy as they hit their release, before slumping, breathless.
Merlin darted his tongue out to lick at the fast bruising bite mark on Gwaine's neck. He heard and felt the man chuckling and grinned, pressing a kiss to the same mark before moving back, allowing Gwaine access to his mouth.
"And here I was thinking you held little interest in me in such a way," Merlin mused when their bodies had cooled and they were resting against one another in a strange state of sated comfort.
"Merlin, I adore you, I truly, truly do. But what you don't know about how the world views you could, and probably one day will, fill entire libraries." He watched the blush rise up on those high, perfect cheekbones and kissed them. "What I mean to say is... Arthur really doesn't know how lucky he is," the whispered words sent a small thrill through Merlin's stomach. "Arthur! Lovely to see you! And Leon too!"
Merlin turned his head, straining to see that yes, Arthur and Leon were indeed approaching. "Don't worry," Merlin said with an easy grin. "Apparently, but for our gold and Gwaine's sword, the bandits really had no need for us other than to... well... have a laugh at our expense I suppose." He turned to Gwaine, eyebrow raised.
"Laughs were had," Gwaine smirked and then they were suddenly busy with cutting implements, flinches and a nick or two that, once out of the chains completely, Merlin healed with a spell, then said a quick, murmured spell that cleaned up both he and Gwaine while Arthur and Leon admired the chain, their backs to the previously bound pair.
"Oh Gods," Merlin groaned as he tried to rub the strain out of his thigh muscles with only partial success.
"Come on," Arthur said. "Once we're back in Camelot you can use hot water to soothe the ache." He wrapped an arm around Merlin's back, offering him help walking towards the horses. Following close with Leon at his side, Gwaine caught the glance back at him by Merlin, and grinned, winking, chuckling at the flush that returned.
He really hoped Arthur knew what he had. Before Gwaine grew tired and just took it for himself instead.
Word Count: 2,326
I wrote this months ago and just finished it. There'll be three chapters all together, nothing explicit, but very much slash. Please let me know what you think :)
