Notes:: A huge thanks to everyone who read and review Chapter I. Chapter II is not as long, but I hope all of you will enjoy it anyway. Not much else to say so...eh, Enjoy!
Cold Spring
Arthur/Merlin: While guarding the village of Ealdor, Prince Arthur finds himself smitten with the town medic, Merlin. Years later, these feelings inevitably resurface when Arthur finds out that the very same Merlin is in Camelot, on trial for being a warlock.
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Chapter II: A Promise and Farewell
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Arthur's heart swelled with unreasonable pride when Will had caught the two of them kissing for the first time. It hadn't been something particularly intimate, but the thing with Merlin, was that he was able to make even the little gestures intimate. A light kiss to his lips sent Arthur's heart a flutter, and it almost made himself feel like a maiden, which would have been horrible, if it hadn't been Merlin. It was almost like Merlin had enchanted him, down to the core of his very soul.
"I don't see why I can't come with you." Arthur said, "I'll be very good and quiet and I won't bother you at all."
Merlin gave him an indulgent smile, "This is different from the calls, Arthur. I'm going to be delivering a child. It is going to require all of my concentration and you." A quick nuzzle to his jaw, "Are a very tempting distraction whenever you are around me." Turning away, Merlin slung a satchel over his shoulder, "I've walked the trail hundreds of times, nothing's ever happened. You worry needlessly."
"It's sort of my job to worry about you." Arthur said, "At least ride my horse, you can do that, can't you?"
"I don't know how to ride your horse." Merlin shrugged, "You know that, it's a steed of noble origins and it's only fit for a prince. The horse won't let me ride it."
"Which is exactly why you should let me come with you." Arthur crossed his arms.
"The walk is only a couple of minutes." Merlin leaned against the door, "You're going to make me late. By the time I get there, she'll have finished having the baby."
Arthur framed Merlin's face with his hands, he liked the way Merlin's cheeks flared. "All right, all right, I get it."
"Don't look so hurt, Arthur." Merlin grinned at him, "If all goes well, I'll be back by sundown and we can have dinner." He tipped his head down slightly for Arthur's kiss and then turned, "I'll see you later." But his grin faltered a little when he realized that Will was standing there in his doorway. Unlike whatever Merlin was feeling, Arthur felt a sudden rush of glee because the other man had seen him, him with Merlin.
"Will..." Merlin cleared his throat nervously.
"I didn't want to intrude, Merlin, sire." Will nodded curtly to both, "Are you about ready to go?"
Merlin glanced at Arthur, and then back to Will again, "Yes, I am. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Arthur was indignant, "How come he gets to go and I don't?" In his mind, it didn't seem at all fair.
"Arthur, please don't be sore about this." Merlin's hand on his shoulder was pleading, "You just can't, all right? Besides, I need Will. He knows what he is doing." His eyes looked away from Arthur, as if he was afraid to look. "He will be with me, so you don't have to worry...I have to go, Arthur, or else I really will be late."
He watched him go, and Arthur hated the way Merlin was walking away just like that. He swore he even heard Will laugh, "Well, Merlin, it looks like you got the prince all twisted around your finger. I bet that feels nice, doesn't it?"
--
Merlin returned by sundown, as he promised, tired, but he looked content. Will was not with him, and the tension that Arthur had been feeling all day eased, at least, just a little. He watched the medic put down his things, and only when Merlin sat down in the hard backed chair did Arthur venture, "Did it go well?"
"We had some trouble at first...I'll spare you the details." Merlin sighed, "But in the end, it worked itself out. It was a boy." There was a long, long pause, "They wanted to name him Merlin, after me. I didn't let them. So they decided on Richard instead."
"You're too modest for your own good." said Arthur. "You work miracles for your people, at least be proud of that."
"I'm a medic." Merlin said, "There's nothing miraculous about that, it's what I do. It's..."
"Can't you just shut up and listen whenever someone pays you a compliment?" Arthur rolled his eyes, "One of these days, you're going to have to learn how to talk properly to a Prince. Especially if he goes out of his way to be kind to you."
"I'm sorry, Arthur. I'm just tired."
Arthur took pity on him. He thought back to what Will said that morning, a phrase that had irked him so much that he had tortured himself with it the entire day. Perhaps Will had said it out of jealousy. Because Merlin didn't seem like the type to use people, nor twist them around his finger. That was why he liked Merlin. Merlin was genuinely kind, and even though seeing death so much left him jaded, he'd never lost his faith in people.
"I don't blame you, delivering a child seems like hard work."
"...You certainly would know." Merlin glanced at him.
"Merlin, what am I ever going to do with you?"
The medic's lips twitched into an inviting smile, "I have no idea. Actually, I'm too tired to think, why don't you use your imagination instead of just asking me?"
"Is that permission?"
For that, he received a shrug, "To help me to bed, certainly. I don't think I can stand up." As an example, Merlin stood, swayed on his feet, and leaned heavily on Arthur's arm. Merlin was heavier than he looked, but Arthur managed to get him to the bed without any trouble. He wasn't crown prince for nothing. Without an invitation, after he made sure Merlin was comfortable, Arthur stretched out beside him.
"If you can barely stand, it's a wonder how you made your way back here."
"Will carried me halfway." Merlin answered quietly, "He's always done that, I was always the weak one." He shifted to look at Arthur, who had busied himself in picking apart the lacing that held Merlin's tunic together, "He's always had a good time teasing me about that, actually."
Arthur's cheeks flushed with unreasonable jealousy again. It was unreasonable, because he could not fathom why, Merlin was here, letting Arthur share his bed, and Will wasn't anywhere near. "I would have carried you, too."
"I don't doubt that." Merlin assured him, "You're quite unlike any prince that I've ever met. To be honest, I thought you were going to be a prat."
"Am I a prat?" Somehow, Arthur didn't want to hear the answer.
"I don't let prats share my bed." Was the reply that he garnered, along with a grin that melted Arthur all over, "You aren't bad."
Arthur opened his mouth, with all intentions of delivering a well-organized retort about how Merlin just never learned. You didn't talk to a Crown Prince that way. 'You aren't bad.' What did that even mean? But he hesitated when he saw Merlin wincing. "...What's wrong?"
"Nothing really...I held my head still for too long today." Merlin rubbed the back of his neck, "A crick is natural. It will probably be gone by morning. Are you planning on sleeping here tonight?"
"Here, let me." Arthur supposed it was very not princely, whatever he was doing, catering to a common peasant. But his fingers found the sore muscles at the back of Merlin's neck anyway. He didn't mind, really, even if Merlin never learned how to talk to a prince and thought he was something like a prat...sometimes. "And yes, I will be. It's good for you to sleep on an actual bed, instead of a blanket on the floor."
At length, Arthur coaxed a sigh of relief from Merlin's lips. "And of course a Crown Prince can't sleep on the floor."
"Right." Arthur affirmed, as he pressed his fingers in harder, "So sharing a bed is our only solution, I'll make it worth your while." Purposely, he paused the soothing ministrations of his fingers and watched Merlin's face, "Should I stop?"
"No...please, keep going. It feels lovely."
Arthur resumed his work, and his efforts were not wasted because after a minute, Merlin let out a soft moan, Arthur's name, and Arthur's mind started to wander again. to places like Merlin's tongue and Merlin's eyes. Emboldened by this, he moved down, to Merlin's shoulder blades, but when he noticed that Merlin was still and asleep, Arthur smiled and let him be.
--
Merlin was beautiful in the morning, when he was sleepy and caught unawares. Arthur liked that most about him, as he threaded his fingers possessively through Merlin's hair, while the medic just blinked at him.
"Good morning."
"Morning." Arthur followed up the greeting with a small kiss, and he was very, very pleased to see that he could make Merlin looked so dazed. If he said so himself, Arthur had Merlin twisted around his finger. So there, Will.
Merlin sat up and reached for his socks and boots, "I was warm last night...I tend to be a little cold-blooded, so thank you. I'm going to get water, and I'll be right back."
"All right."
Merlin returned with water without much fuss, and Arthur lay there curled on the bed watching him. Merlin's bed really wasn't comfortable, how the medic could even sleep a peaceful slumber lying on ripped pillows and rat infested sheets was beyond Arthur. Merlin deserved a better life, not one filled with death, constant exhaustion. He supposed Merlin had long gotten used to it, though. Arthur watched as Merlin set the bucket down by the hearth.
"Merlin, what are you doing?"
"Paying you back for last night." Merlin smiled, and patted a stool beside where he knelt, "Would you sit down?"
Grudgingly, Arthur climbed out of the bed and padded over to the stool, sat, as he was told. He felt a shiver trail down his spine when he realized that Merlin had pulled his shirt over his head. "Merlin--"
"I'm not going to be doing anything to you that you won't like." Merlin assured him, "Close your eyes."
Arthur did, and felt a slow trickle of warm water being poured on top of his head, some of that water ran down his cheeks, down his chest. He hummed in quiet pleasure as Merlin's hands gently massaged his scalp. Arthur never slept well, not in Merlin's bed, but this made up for it nicely. "Merlin, what exactly inspired this?"
"You did. You said I didn't know how to properly treat a Crown Prince." The amusement was clearly present in Merlin's voice, "I thought I'd prove you wrong."
"Ah...well," Arthur bit his lip, "I stand corrected."
"You're easily convinced."
"Only because...you're Merlin."
In answer, Merlin's mouth found his, languid and sloppy. "I'm honored, sire."
For a few moments after that, neither of them spoke. Merlin went back to rubbing some sort of herbal soap into Arthur's hair and left Arthur to his thoughts. Merlin seemed to be very adept at this sort of thing, caring for people. Arthur had to wonder if he cared for everyone the same way. The answer was probably yes, and Arthur didn't like the answer at all. "Merlin, may I...ask you something?"
"Ask, since you're a prince, I guess I have no choice but to oblige."
"If..." And for a moment, he almost faltered, "If...that first day, if Lancelot hadn't taken your mother, would you still have nursed me and cared for me?"
"I'm a medic. It's what I do, of course I would have." Merlin sounded a bit miffed. "I thought you knew me better than that, Arthur."
"I just..."
"You're just jealous." Merlin finished for him, as he started trickling water in Arthur's hair again. "I don't see why, you don't have anyone to be jealous of."
"Who said I was jealous?"
"You just did."
"I'm not..." Arthur sucked in a deep breath. "It's not jealousy." He began, already bound by the sinking feeling that he was digging himself into a hole, "It's just...I like you, a lot, it drives me insane if someone else likes you...too."
"For a prince," Merlin was laughing at him, of that Arthur was certain, "You're surprisingly eloquent. The case in point would be?"
Arthur sighed, "Will."
Merlin laughed, "There are people who are destined to be your friend, and there are people who are destined to become your lover. Will can only be one, no matter how hard he tries to be both. You've no reason to be jealous of him."
Somehow, without him knowing, Merlin had settled himself in Arthur's lap, much like the first time. "Nothing to be jealous of, Arthur, nothing at all."
"I don't know, maybe I need some more convincing."
"Is that an order?" One of Merlin's hands trailed dangerously close to Arthur's thigh.
Arthur swallowed thickly, the blue eyes burned into his own, hot with heat. "Yes. Merlin, yes it is."
--
Later, Arthur ambled with a limp out to the fields, where his knights were hard at work. If any of his knights had noticed anything, they had the propriety not to say anything. Merlin had left to make a late round of calls. Arthur would have gone along, but he wanted to time alone to bask in the knowledge that Merlin had given him more than enough proof. Proof of what Arthur was to this medic.
"Sire." Will walked over to him, "Could I help you?"
Arthur thought quickly, "...How are my knights?"
"They're very capable." Will assured him, "If anything, our progress has almost doubled with their help. Thank you."
"No problem."
There was silence. An uncomfortable, and then Will said, "About Merlin."
Arthur tensed. "What about Merlin?"
"If you truly do care about him, you should know that you're paining him." Will said. "You don't know anything about Merlin at all." The man stared at him hollowly, "How can you profess to love someone that you don't know? I've seen Merlin at his best and his worst, I've learned to accept all of him. What does a prat of a prince like you, know?"
"I know." Arthur said, he knew. He didn't need Will to gloat of what he knew, Arthur had his own knowledge, things that Merlin told him with the slight touches of his hand, the glances of his eyes. The way that the medic made his heart flutter, Arthur knew all of it.
"You don't know." Will repeated firmly, "And of course, Merlin would like you to think you do." The man turned away from him and stared into the fields, "He hasn't been himself, since you came. One day soon, you're going to have to give him back."
Arthur glared at him, "...What is it that you know that I don't?"
Will gave him a baleful glare in return, "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
--
Strangely, it took Arthur a full two days to work up the courage to ask. He finally decided it was now or never, as Merlin was gathering herbs at the edge of the forest.
"Merlin?"
"If..." Arthur hesitated, "If there was something you needed me to know, you'd tell me?"
"Of course, you ask the oddest questions, Arthur." Merlin said, not looking up from his work at all. "I don't keep secrets from my lovers."
"Do you have more than one?" Arthur pressed.
Merlin glanced up, mild annoyance written on his features, "You are exasperating." He declared as he straightened up, "No, I don't. But I could, if you so wish."
"No!" Arthur unclenched his fists, "So...there's nothing I need to know?"
"No, Arthur." Merlin shook his head. "There's nothing you need to know. Come." He offered his hand to Arthur, "Let's go back, it's almost sundown."
--
Two days after that, a well dressed courier rode into the village on a decorated white stallion. He was greeted with the sight of two dozen knights toiling in the wheat fields, and he had felt most queer when he had inquired about the whereabouts of Prince Arthur. The courier was pointed to the medic's house, and warned not to force the door if it appeared stuck. It wasn't, but when he entered, he was greeted with the sight of Prince Arthur splayed out in the most undignified position he'd ever seen, with another man standing over him.
"Erm...Prince Arthur?"
"Come back later, I"m busy." Arthur said, voice not completely steady.
"...Honestly, Arthur..." The other man sighed, "You're helpless." He stepped away from the bed and smiled to the courier. It was a decidedly disarming smile, one that the courier was not used to seeing on mere peasants, even if they were medics. "I'm sorry about that, could I help you?"
"I have a...um, I have a royal order from King Uther himself."
"Leave it here, I'll read it later."
The courier wisely fled.
--
Arthur put down the parchment, his stomach lurched dangerously.
Merlin sat quietly, just watching him. "...Arthur, what is it?"
"Mercia retreats." Arthur sighed, "My father drew up a treaty with Beyard, we've made peace and I'm expected back at Camelot when the feasting starts...I don't want to go. I'd be leaving you."
Merlin said nothing.
"Come with me. Come with me to Camelot." Arthur bit his lip, it was a futile request, Merlin would never leave this place. The villagers needed him here, but Arthur also needed Merlin. Arthur was Crown Prince of all of Albion, of course Merlin would follow him.. "You can be my manservant, we can be together, even after I marry." The words tumbled senselessly from his mouth, "There will be a good life waiting for you there, better than here."
"I cannot."
"If you truly love me, you would."
Merlin's eyes turned hard, "If you truly loved me," He repeated Arthur's words, "You would never have asked me to leave my people and do such a selfish thing."
"I'd hardly call following your lover selfish." Arthur argued, "It's not like you'll leave them forever, you can still come back and visit them, whenever you'd like. Merlin, please."
"No." Merlin stood, his footsteps were heavy like that of an old man. "I cannot. I love you, Arthur Pendragon, Crown Prince of Camelot. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. Although now, I wish I didn't."
"You wish you don't love me?" At this, Arthur glowered.
"Because you're selfish."
"You're going to take up other lovers after I leave."
"And you're going to marry a queen, a stately lady who can care for you as well as any medic." Merlin turned away from him, and fear clenched around Arthur's suddenly bitter heart, "You will take up mistresses, and countless lovers will share your bed after you return to Camelot."
"No! That's not true! I'm not..."
"It is the way of the prince. They can have whatever they want."
"But I'm not going to be one of those princes." Arthur stood, and stalked over to where Merlin was, "I promise you I won't! Just come back with me. I"ll prove it to you, I'll give you anything that you want."
"I don't want anything." Merlin said, "I've never wanted anything. I'm a medic, and I've never wanted gold or silver or fame. I want nothing of yours." His hands framed Arthur's face, "I only want you, Arthur Pendragon, and shame that I've already had my time with you. You do not belong to me."
"I want to belong to you."
"That's not something that you can decide." Merlin kissed the corner of his mouth, "You must go and be a good king, and I must continue saving lives as I've always done. Our meeting was an accident. Our destinies lie somewhere else, away from each other."
"I hate Destiny. I don't believe in it." Arthur knew he sounded like a petulant child, as he clung close to his medic.
"Whether or not you refuse to believe in it, it is still there to haunt you for the rest of your days." Merlin told him, and then soothed him with a slow kiss to his forehead. "Other accidents may happen you know. I'll wind up in Camelot sooner or later one day, and I'll come see you."
"Often?"
"Often."
Arthur let Merlin carry him to bed. His fingers stroked the medic's face, as if memorizing every line, every curve. "...Promise?"
"I promise."
--
The next day, Arthur made ready to ride, and the whole village was there to see them off. A good many of his knights also looked somber, but Arthur only had eyes for the dark-eyed Merlin. Anguish coursed through him, and he wished to the heavens that he wasn't a prince.
"Merlin, are you sure you won't come with me?"
Merlin just shook his head. He lifted Arthur's proffered hand and kissed it.
"Good-bye, Arthur. I'll see you soon."
Chapter II End:: 5/07/09
