Thanks for everyone who put this story to their favourites/alert list! Special thanks to lordstarlight, Jossy99 and Gabriella Jane London for the reviews! =)
I don't own Merlin/English is not my first language…
Chapter 1
Locks were brushing his cheeks. He could actually feel long locks of hair – probably his – brushing his cheeks!
How come that evil sorcerers always found him with their crookedly evil plans?
Arthur was hanging his – her? – head low while musing about his – her! – conveniently unfortunate fate. He was just standing in his solemn mood and staring at the ground. (S)He didn't dare to look up at Merlin, (s)he didn't wish to study her servant's face while he was recovering from shock.
But long moments had passed and Merlin still hadn't said anything, so Arthur lifted her gaze to look at him. And yes, the bumpkin was still gaping like a fish.
„Yes-yes, Merlin. It's me." – Arthur said in an annoyed manner and threw her arms open to give meaning to her words.
„Bu-bu-but…" – Merlin was stammering, he tried to form words but he was busy tilting his head from side to side, trying to decide whether what he saw was real or just some dream. How Arthur whished it'd been only one of his bizarre dreams and he would wake up soon, but it was not so…
Merlin finally found his voice.
„But how?" – he still couldn't believe his eyes.
„The witch, Merlin" – Arthur sent him a deadly glare and grunt his name with her infamous intonation which always made Merlin stir in fear but, instead of manly, it came out rather squeaky this time. Arthur could hear this and it only made her sink deeper into desperation.
„I know it was the witch, Arthur" – he rolled his eyes – „but why did she do…this?"
„I don't know" – Arthur gave into her desperation and let her voice hit unimaginable heights. She walked up to Merlin in the extremely heavy chainmail, she felt that in her new body she could hardly walk in it. – „One minute I was chasing her, the next minute that leaf cyclone started and when it finally settled she was gone and I was…a woman."
When she'd finished her speech, Merlin gave a sympathetic sigh, but it didn't console Arthur the least.
„Then let's go back! We can get reinforcement and figure out how to deal with this." – he'd already turned around and was walking back to the horses, but Arthur didn't move a limb.
„What? No!" – Arthur's protest gained Merlin's attention.
„Why? The two of us will never catch her" – he stopped for a moment and then added – „especially when you're in this state."
„I will not show up in court like this!– she stated firmly – „I will be completely humiliated in front of my knights and my father."
Merlin thought for a moment and then turned to Arthur with the expression he always wore when he was about to suggest something lunatic but somehow totally reasonable.
„Then we go back undercover! We'll say that the Prince stayed in the Western Lands to catch the sorceress but" – he held up a finger, here comes the tricky part, Arthur thought – „he saved a defenceless Lady during his quest and sent her back with his trustworthy and reliable manservant to Camelot."
Arthur hated to admit it, but it was a good plan. They needed some rest, some food and Arthur had to figure out how the hell to exists in this body until they found the solution. Still, he was not going to give Merlin credit.
„Trustworthy and reliable? Please…" – he snorted as he passed Merlin on the way to the horses. But Merlin followed her with a grin plastered to his face because, whether Arthur was willing to admit it or not, he won.
It'd turned out quite soon that Arthur would not make it to Camelot in the full set of armour. Climbing onto the horse had been a challenge itself – even with Merlin's help – but trying to ride it was downright dangerous! So after almost falling to certain death twice, Arthur had given in to Merlin and agreed to stop at the next town to fetch some clothes that fit to her new body.
Naturally, since Merlin was the servant, it was his job to solve the clothing-problem, while Arthur was waiting outside the inn with the horses.
It'd been nearly dark when they'd reached the town and Merlin had suggested they stayed for the night but Arthur had refused it instantly. She wanted to be back in Camelot as soon as possible, no matter how exhausted they were. She wouldn't have been able to sleep anyway, it was better to get moving.
Arthur got more and more anxious as she was waiting outside for Merlin, he'd been in there for at least twenty minutes now! Honestly, how hard was it to get a shirt and pair of trousers of the proper size? That idiot…
While fuming, she shot nervous glances towards the group of local men standing on the other side of the inn. It was obvious that they already had a few tankards of mead in them and they were eyeing Arthur too visibly for her liking.
Arthur would have gladly barked at them that they'd better quit staring and just mind their own business, but she didn't dare to risk a fight, for they obviously outnumbered her and in her new body it was not likely she could beat them. Heck, Arthur didn't even know if she still had the fighting skills that she'd possessed when she'd been a man.
To Arthur's relief, Merlin finally showed up, he was holding some sort of clothing in his hands.
„What took you so long, Merlin?" – hell, she just couldn't get intimidating with this high-pitched voice!
„I'm sorry, sire, but I had a hard time deciding what would suit you best." – sarcasm was oozing from Merlin's words.
Arthur only rolled her eyes and ripped the clothes from his hands and she was shocked to find that it was only one piece.
„Merlin! This is a dress!"
„It is, sire." – Merlin was staring at her with confusion.
„I'm not wearing this! Get in there and get some normal clothes!"
Merlin closed his eyes and started with his speech as if he was talking to a three-year-old. Arthur may have been sulking like a small child but she still wanted to punch Merlin for treating her as such.
„Arthur, it was hard enough to get this dress, these people already think that I'm some sort of freak" – he held up a finger, he sensed that Arthur was about to insert that he was a freak – „besides, it would be slightly suspicious if the rescued lady showed up in Prince Arthur's undergarments."
Arthur hated it, but she couldn't argue with Merlin's reasoning. She just stood there with her arms crossed, gripping the dress angrily.
„Fine! And where do you suggest I get changed?" – she said, hoping she could find a hole in Merlin's splendid plan.
„In the stable?" – he pointed behind Arthur, who had no choice but to do as she was told, so she went to try to fit her new body into the dress.
Merlin glanced around to see if anyone was looking and he quickly spotted the not-so-sober men who had been probably watching their whole exchange, it was lucky that they were out of earshot. Merlin was still staring at them when he addressed Arthur, who was already in the stable.
„I'll stand guard."
A panicked expression crossed Arthur's face at this while she was tugging her shirt. She knew that Merlin had said this because of the suspicious group of men. She would have said something like 'you couldn't stop them even if they were twice as drunk and half as big' at any other time but now, she could only think about the scary scenario where those drunk bastards decided to pay a visit to the half-dressed Arthur.
The idea frightened the once brave and courageous prince of Camelot beyond words and so she quickened. As she finished – hoping she'd put the dress on correctly in the dark – she gave a long sigh.
When will this nightmare end?
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.
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There you go, the first normal chapter. What do you think, people?
Just a couple of things you need to know:
- There are 10 chapters all together (+ the prologue).
- Arthur will have sexual experience with a man eventually. And yes, with Merlin. BUT! This is not a romantic tale in the literal sense of the word. I don't believe in the great Merthur romance =/…but that didn't stop me from writing a twisted man-on-man lovin' story! =D
- Arthur will change back in the end!
- And lastly, but most importantly: REVIEWS ARE HIGHLY APPRICIATED! =)
Luv ya, bye!
