For: Merlin Big Bang Challenge 2013
Working title: The Siren's Song
Part 2
The frightening blackness of midnight had already flung its wings over the city when the festivities came to their unofficial end. The euphoria had reached its peak shortly after the circus had left the hall, taking their most valuable possession with them. The wine had been drowned like cheap mead and behaviour had gone beyond appropriate. Even Arthur managed to loosen up, letting himself being dragged into a few hours of dance and delighted chatter mostly with Morgana. Yet he couldn't forget the Siren´s Song. Still in his ear he couldn´t erase the boy´s image from his inner eye.
The prince retired eventually to his chambers feeling drained of all energy. While George was taking the crown and cloak off – his movements a bit slow and imprecise due to the sips of wine he must have had during the feast – Arthur was given a second to think.
It could be, he thought, that the siren-boy had taken something from him this night. Though warmth and colour had flooded back to reality after the performance was interrupted, some thing was still missing.
Arthur wondered if anyone besides him felt like they had lost a piece of themselves. He could ask George. His manservant had been there after all.
"George, tell me, " The younger man was in the midst of readying the prince´s bed,
"Yes, my Lord."
"How did you experience the siren´s singing?" George turned around to face Arthur, straightening his back.
"It was extraordinary."
"Describe it."
For the first time in his life George seemed to be at a loss for words. Fidgeting, his eyes rolled upwards as if it was hard for him to remember.
"It... it was like not being there anymore. In the hall. At the feast. It was like... a dream and I couldn´t wake up. I didn´t want to."
"Why wouldn't you want to wake up?"
"Well, my Lord, it was warm and peaceful there. It was...promising."
Athur raised his eyebrows, signalising him to go on. George began tugging on a thread hanging loose from his cuff, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation.
"I'm sorry, my Lord, I really don't know how to describe it. Only that it- it promised me everything I could ever want and I got the feeling that I wanted to stay with it, forever."
The description was differed from his own experience in quite some points. Actually almost all of them. Yes, the warmth had been comforting, loving, the song hauntingly beautiful. But Arthur had still known where he was. And most of all he'd been terrified by this power. It didn't feel like it could have overcome him but still, to create the sensation of love was just dreadfully wrong in his eyes.
Dismissing the servant after accepting that he'd get nothing else from him, Arthur called his birthday finally off.
Grateful for the fact the prince turned to his bed with the only wish to slip under the warm blanket when Arthur noticed that something was missing from his nightstand.
"Where's my dagger?" Murmuring he made his way around the room searching every surface and drawer. George kept the place incredibly neat and tidy. There was a near-to-nothing possibility it had just got lost. Or had walked away on its own. It was then that he discovered the lower end of one of the bed curtain bundles had been dragged under the bed.
After waiting for a few seconds, holding his breath, he could make out no unusual sound. Nothing could be heard in the room-filling silence. Trying to act normally, the prince blew out the last candle and dropped on the mattress, rustling around, adjusting his limbs before becoming perfectly still.
Another minute passed until it appeared.
Shallow breathing.
Then a small rustle beneath him. Arthur, who had positioned himself at the lower end of the bed stared up at the sky, his eyes slowly getting used to the sallow darkness of a fullmoon night. Once he could make out all of his surroundings he rolled on to his side, dropping onto the floor, noiselessly.
As the perfect hunter he was, the prince didn't spare a heartbeat more to shove his hand under the bed and grab the first thing that he felt.
An ankle. Something resembling a choked sound of shock could be heard and the leg started moving, trying to escape.
"Oh now," growled Arthur using more strengh to pull in earnest now. "Stop this and come out!"
There were more strangled noises but the resistance ceased. Struggling to get hold on the ground he got on his feet and gave another pull. Finally a body was revealed in the ashen moonlight. A body covered in white silk.
His eyes grew wide, the surprise nearly making him lose his grip when the back of a head came into view. The intruder began struggling again making an effort to turn onto his back. Arthur let go of him, readying himself to pin the boy to the ground as soon as he was done.
He was already on his knees, leaning over the thin body to get a hold of the bony shoulders.
"Listen. If you calm down I won't- what!" The only warning the prince got was a flash of cold light hitting a polished surface. So, that's where it had gone. The boy tried with a sluggish attempt to stab him, his movements shaking through fear and excitement. Leaning sideways Arthur avoided the blade easily catching the thin wrist in a bruising grip whilst bringing his other palm to his ribcage to hold him down.
"Do you really think you can stab me with my own dagger?" There was no answer. Just big eyes bathed in upcoming tears, those full lips now colourless and pressed into a thin line.
"What is it? Have you lost your tongue?" Arthur shouted, irritation rising in his chest.
Under the hardening grip his intruder started to wince and finally let go of the weapon. The noise it made hitting the stone floor was far too loud and sharp startling them both. It took the last bit of Arthur´s patience away.
Getting close to the boy's face he yelled. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM? ANSWER ME!"
If it was possible those blue pools grew even wider, setting free a few tears which found their way down the boy's temples. His lips opened trying to say something, yet there was no sound. In his anger-fuelled confusion Arthur almost missed how the boys free arm was wildly motioning towards his neck, his fingers pointing to the collar.
"This? Does it-does it prevent you from speaking?"
A fierce nod came as a reply. The boy pressed his lips together his eyes begging him. Arthur sighed. "Great." He gave himself a second to collect his thoughts then grabbed those fragile wrists and hauled him upwards against the bedpost. Pulling off his belt, he fastened it around them to hold the chap in place.
"So," drawing the word out in a long breath Arthur picked up the dagger. The boy tried to free his hands, obviously failing. The prince, smirked; pushing a hand into the soft black hair making those eyes look at him.
"When I show you mercy and get that thing off, you won't be stupid and try your magic on me. Is that understood?"
To emphasize the seriousness of the situation he let the blade dance over one of those prominent cheekbones which were giving the boy's face a stunning expression, striking Arthur right to the core. Still he didn't let himself be fooled by appearances. When his guest managed to give a small nod, his movements being so limited, he tipped his head forward revealing the back of the collar. Studying the lock Arthur discovered that it seemed to be rather simple and shouldn't be hard to pick.
Getting a slimmer knife from one of the drawers the prince went to work. The blue eyes were following his every move giving him an air of suspicion. Arthur huffed annoyed at the terrified expression when the new weapon could be seen in his hands.
"Don't be an idiot. I'm not planning on stabbing you with it. Now keep your head down and don't move."
Holding him lightly at the top of his neck Arthur started to work on the lock. It took less than a minute before a clicking sound announced his success and the rather creepy jewellery came off.
Arthur threw it on the bed not taking his gaze from the boy who was coughing frantically.
"Since I kept my part of the promise you're going to fulfil yours. Answer my questions. No singing."
His guest eyed him from under curly bangs catching his breath while observing the situation. It was strangely amusing.
"What now? Still no tongue? I'm pretty sure..." His voice dropped several octaves as he took this delicate chin between thumb and index finger pushing the boy's lower lip down tentatively. "...I've seen one in here-hey! Don't look at me like that. I'm not going to ravish you just now."
The sirens features became even more bewildered and Arthur felt his anger slowly fade away.
"Please, let me go." At last, a broken voice left the pink mouth sending shivers down Arthur's spine.
"What?"
"I'm begging you. I just want to go home."
It was bizarre to hear such a powerful creature beg. Beg like a weak child would do. Arthur turned the knife between his fingers, absentmindedly.
"Home? You want to go back to Avalon?"
"Yes." He replied.
"But you're part of the circus. And got paid well this evening, I'm sure. Why leave them now?" Arthur objected, pausing just then to reconsider his words. "Unless they truly caught you?" The boy snorted, rolling his eyes in a sudden relaxed manner.
"They didn't. But I am their prisoner." Seeing the prince's questioning face he added in an embarrassed tone, "Someone else caught me and sold me to them."
Arthur couldn't help but release a bemused snort himself. Turning around he walked over to the window feeling blue eyes drill a hole into his back. Through the coloured glass he could overlook the yard. A part of the circus held camp there. Seemingly enjoying their own feast with litres of mead they appeared to be oblivious to the fact that their famous attraction was absent.
"How did you escape?", he asked gesturing in direction of the hideous cage.
"They're drunk and the courtyard is much more crowded than other town's market places after the show. There are more places to hide."
"Like my room."
"I didn't know it was your room. I didn't care."
Arthur waved his hand, dismissing the excuses. It didn't matter anyway. The creature which had horrified him hours ago was now in his hands, sulking. He might as well have some fun.
"So you were a powerful Siren from Avalon, slaughtering men mercilessly by singing your little song. Must've been a nice life." The prince made his way back to the boy, challenging him with an ice-cold glare.
As he drew closer, slowly leaning into the slender body, the siren was backing up against the post. His hands squirmed in the belt which still bound him as he turned his head to avoid Arthur's gaze. But the prince was having none of the shy-play. Once again he snatched a handful of the raven locks to force the creature's face up.
When their eyes locked this time the same powerful connection built up between them. Arthur could feel it, the magic running through the boy's veins.
His eyes, wet and defiant, grew darker. It was arousing to an unexpected extent. His right hand, still holding the knife, started to hover above the boy's lap, only covered by the delicate silk. Scraping the blade's tip over the fabric he moved upwards reaching the flat belly, letting it feel the cool metal.
A sharp intake of breath made thin muscles shift under pale skin. Smirking slightly, Arthur watched the blade's path while being able to detect every twitch and quiver roaming through his captive.
He guided it sluggishly over a partly naked chest to hold it yet again to the white throat he was learning to admire more and more as the seconds dragged on. He watched the boy's Adam's apple bob under nervous swallows.
"Shh, you don't have to cry. I won't hurt you. Such a poor creature, trapped and sold into slavery. Forced to ridicule yourself and your powers. And now you seem to have lost everything, begging me for help."
"What do you want?" The boy's look became more calculating as he caught on Arthur's tone which seemed to imply something.
The prince scraped the blade over flawless skin making his whole body prickle with expectation. Trapping his jaw in one hand Arthur made him focus.
"It's easy, really. You want me to help you escape. It's only natural that I ask for something in return."
Finally full understanding settled in the siren's eyes. He stopped struggling against Arthur's touch accepting the uselessness of his attempts.
"So, what can you offer me?", the prince asked smugly.
Heavy eyelids dropped over dark blue pools. When they lifted again their look was not on Arthur.
"Myself is all I have to give." The boy answered in a small voice.
"I thought so." The satisfied grin could be heard in the prince's tone, excitement spreading in his groin. And why shouldn't he? Who had ever had a siren to share their bed? And was it not deserved that it should be him to lay with such a creature, as probably the first human being in history? He was the Crown Prince of Camelot after all.
With quick fingers he opened his belt releasing the boy from his confinement. Not giving him a mere second of freedom he gripped one of his forearms dragging it behind his back to bend him down onto the sheets.
A huffed noise could be heard but no word of complaint left the pretty mouth.
Inspecting the fragile form underneath him Arthur felt his blood running south. Breathing deeply he took in the stunning view. The mop of black hair spread down the elegant neck leading over into a slender back and narrow hips. All of it being hugged by the smooth fabric, trembling invitingly.
Without further hesitation the prince drew the knife which he was still clutching in his right hand through the light blue scarf ripping it in half. He was already imagining how he would drag his lips over the skin beneath, his tongue tasting the sweat that glistened everywhere. Would it taste sweet like the waters of Avalon Lake? Or salty like his own?
There was no time to waste. Throwing the blade away he pushed the shredded leftovers to the side.
Arthur faltered. His shaking movements came to an abrupt stop. Instead of finding flawless white skin, the boy's back was decorated by bruises and scars in different shades of blue and red and green and yellow. Like a painting of summer fields patched together in different states of healing. Some more severe than others but all undeniably painful.
The prince brought his fingertips down to the torn surface feeling along the poorly healed edge of a whipping scar. The boy hissed in surprise digging his nails into the sheets. Arthur was quiet for a long time.
He made a decision.
"What's your name?", he asked suddenly.
Startled the figure on the bed tried to turn his head to get a glimpse of his captor's face but the prince was still holding on to him.
"Merlin.", came the hoarse answer. Arthur sighed, let go of his wrist and took a step back.
"You can go now, Merlin." The boy got up, looking at him disbelievingly.
"W-what?"
"I said: you can go. I don't need you here."
"You mean it?"
Starting to get annoyed by people's apparent inability to understand him at the first time Arthur pointed to the door.
"Yes, I mean it. And now run. And... don't get caught again."
Merlin's eyes brightened, showing relief and thankfulness. He began to stumble backwards still starring at Arthur who didn't move an inch. He only turned around to open the door when he reached it. Before vanishing completely he paused. Glancing over his shoulder he gave the prince an awkward smile. It was warm and not at all alluring. Then he was gone with a last sweep of his shimmering gown.