9. Nine for a kiss

"I don't like it." Merlin said from his place near the window.

"Merlin." Arthur sighed as he grabbed his sword belt. "We've been over this already."

"I know, but-"

"They are a bunch of traveling poets whom my father really adore and-"

"Your father really adored Lady Helen! We all know how well that ended!" Merlin threw his hands in frustration and turned around to look outside the window.

Arthur smiled and came up behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist and leaning his head on Merlin's shoulder.

"That," Arthur said and pressed a kiss to Merlin's neck. "Ended in the best way possible."

Merlin turned around in Arthur's arms and wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck. "Did it now?" He said with a smirk. "If I recall correctly you weren't really happy at that time."

Arthur smiled and pressed a soft kiss to Merlin's lips. "Well, I couldn't exactly thank my father right there and then for giving me you now could I?" Arthur said and pinned Merlin to the wall near the window, pressing himself flush against him.

Merlin blushed and ducked his head, peeking at Arthur from beneath his lashes. "Really? Did you want me from that moment?" He asked slyly.

Arthur's hand traveled down Merlin's side to settle on his hip, his fingers lifting the hem of Merlin's shirt for warm skin. "I wanted you from the moment I saw you, as cheesy as it sounds," Arthur breathed against Merlin's neck. Merlin shivered and his own hands traveled the length of Arthur's back.

"Really?"

"Oh yeah," Arthur smiled against Merlin's skin and started trailing soft kisses along his neck. "From the first moment you called me friend I wanted to pin you to the nearest wall and have my wicked way with you, but we had audience for that first meeting and then…" Arthur trailed off and bit down on the soft skin beneath his lips.

Merlin moaned and pulled Arthur closer, moving his neck to the side to give Arthur a better access.

"Arthur." Merlin groaned and his hips moved involuntary forward when Arthur sucked down hard on the skin of his neck. "Ar-Arthur, you'll, you'll leave a, a mark!" Merlin stammered as his hands fisted themselves in Arthur's hair, keeping him close.

Arthur chuckled darkly. "Good, now everyone will know who you belong to."

"Possessive prat." Merlin breathed.

Arthur's grip around Merlin's waist tightened and he thrusted forward. "You have no idea how much love, no idea at all."

Merlin's eyes snapped open and he pushed Arthur away. "What?" He asked dazedly.

Arthur looked confused for a moment, his eyes dark with desire, before they widened and he looked at Merlin with an oddly vulnerable expression on his face. "I thought it was obvious really." He said in a quiet voice.

Merlin's face softened and he cupped Arthur's face, leaning their foreheads together. "Tell me." He whispered.

Arthur cupped his face and pressed a chaste kiss to Merlin's lips. "I love you." He breathed and then kissed him again. "I love you so much Merlin, you have no idea how much, I'd do everything for you my love, everything."

Merlin took a deep breath before kissing Arthur again, deep and passionate. "Arthur," He breathed when they parted. "Gods Arthur, I love you so much, I can't believe you, I, oh gods…" He trailed off and leaned against Arthur again.

"Merlin," Arthur whispered. "My Merlin."

A knock on the door interrupted them and both men sighed.

"Sire," A voice was heard. "Sire, you are required in the hall sire, your father-"

"I'll be right there!" Arthur yelled and the sound of retreating feet could be heard.

"I think you scared him." Merlin said with a smile.

"I think you are right, we shouldn't go, let's stay here." He said and pulled Merlin closer.

"Oh no! Not going to happen you prat! Your father will blame it on me and then I'll be in the stocks!"

Arthur smiled slyly. "But you look so good in the stocks Merlin," His voice dropped down. "So good."

Merlin's eyes widened and he blushed furiously before struggling out of Arthur's embrace and moving to the door. "Out! Now!" He said.

Arthur burst with laughter and moved past him, out into the corridor, smacking Merlin's ass on his way out.

"Arthur!"

"I'm bored." Arthur said, not even bothering to lower his voice and earning a glare from Uther and a snigger from Morgana.

"Well," Merlin's voice was low as he poured more wine to Arthur's cup. "They do suck sire." He said and Arthur shivered.

"Merlin…" He quietly groaned. "You can't say suck! You know what it does to me!"

Merlin chuckled lowly and leaned closer. "well-" He started when the leading poet suddenly hit a drum.

"My lords and ladies! With your permission we would like to perform a new song that was written especially for this occasion," He paused and looked around him with a weird glint in his eyes that had Merlin tensing.

"The poets moved the tables around so that the twelve of them were standing in front of the high table."King Uther, this song was written in honor of your son," Uther's smile widened. "And in memory of my dead son!" He yelled and there were flashes of light and smoke and when they cleared the hall was full with the poets in druids cloths and no guards, Merlin groaned, this couldn't end well.

"What is the meaning of this?" Uther demanded as he rose from his throne. Merlin tugged on Arthur's sleeve. "Arthur, come on, get up!"

"I can't!" Arthur gritted out and his eyes widened.

"Fuck." Merlin swore and looked at the druids.

"You killed our children Uther! It is only fair we will kill yours!" And they all raised their arms as one and pointed them at Arthur and Morgana.

"I'm sorry Arthur." Merlin mumbled as he moved swiftly to stand before the table, his eyes hard.

The druids leader eyed him for a moment before shrugging. "So be it servant boy." He said as they all raised their hands towards the table, a booming sound was heard as twelve rays of red light were shot towards the high table, Merlin raised his own hand and a golden wall formed before him, the rays bounced off from it without doing any harm.

Silence spread through the hall, silence that was broken only by Arthur's pained. "Merlin…"

Merlin didn't turn or winced, he just stared hard at the druids. The leading druid stared back.

"How did you do it?" He finally asked. "We are the twelve elders of the druids, how did you do it?

Merlin quirked an eyebrow. "I'm Emrys." He simply said and the druids gasped.

"Merlin you idiot!" Arthur yelled. "Shut up!" But then the druids dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. Merlin stared at them before shaking his head. "Camelot and her people are under my protection, go and never return!" He said and his voice was cold and dark.

"Yes my lord." The druids said as one by one they vanished.

The hall was silent and it took Uther two seconds before he hollered: "Guards!" At the top of his lungs. The guards burst inside and stared, Uther pointed one shaky finger at Merlin. "Arrest him!"

Merlin didn't fight back or yelled as the guards lead him away and even Uther was surprised at that.

"He shall be executed at dawn tomorrow." He told the white faces of Arthur, Morgana and Gaius.

It doesn't matter that Arthur is cursing and swearing and that his hand reach for his sword on more than one occasion.

It doesn't matter that Morgana is crying and pleading and finally cursing Uther with all that she is as she is being dragged away.

It doesn't matter that Gaius is pale and shivering as he pleads for his ward's life, for banishment, everything besides this, besides death.

It doesn't matter.

Arthur's steps echoed in the cold, damp corridors leading to the dungeon.

"Sir Leon." Arthur said stiffly as he approached the knight.

"Sire." Leon said and moved from the door.

Arthur looked at him in surprise as he moved past him towards Merlin's cell.

"Sire…" Leon started and Arthur turned around to look at him, Leon pulled out the cell key and presented it to Arthur. "If by any chance Merlin will disappear I haven't seen a thing," He hesitated a moment before. "Arthur."

Arthur stared at him and then rushed to his side and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you Leon, thank you."

Leon nodded. "Everything for Merlin and you sire."

Arthur grabbed the key and rushed down to Merlin's cell.

The door cricked loudly as Arthur pulled it open to see Merlin on the floor, tucked into the cell's corner.

"Merlin…" Arthur whispered and Merlin's eyes snapped open and he stared at Arthur for a moment before leaping to his feet and running to Arthur who opened his arms and wrapped them around Merlin's form.

Merlin pressed hot kisses to Arthur's neck and face and his hands ran over Arthur's body.

"What are you doing?" Arthur asked, his voice muffled by Merlin's hair.

"Making sure you're okay, obviously, I wasn't sure I stopped that spell in time."

Arthur groaned and pushed Merlin gently away to look at him.

"You idiot, what were you thinking?" He demanded.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "That they were going to kill you? Arthur I couldn't, you can't ask me to stay away when I can save you!"

Arthur sighed and leaned his forehead against Merlin's. "And it's okay for you to ask me to watch you being executed?" He asked softly.

"Arthur, I'm not asking you that."

"Good, then you are coming with me!" Arthur said.

"What? Where?"

"Out. I'm getting you away from Camelot."

"I can't." Merlin said and pulled his arm out of Arthur's grip. Arthur's face hardened.

"You can't do this Merlin! You can't stay here and play martyr while I'm watching from the sideline, you can't!"

"Arthur, it's not-"

"What?" Arthur yelled. "It's not what? The end? Everything will be okay? I will be alright without you?" Arthur's voice broke. "Well guess what Merlin, I won't be! I won't be alright without you, I'm not going to watch you from the sideline as you are burning away on the pyre! I'm not!

Tears were flowing down Arthur's face and he was backing away from Merlin.

"You can't expect me to accept that and I won't, this is not the end Merlin!" And with that Arthur strode out and Merlin collapsed on the ground in tears.

The day of his execution was a bright one and Merlin thought that it was destiny's way of thanking him and saying goodbye to the foretold Emrys.

Uther was on the balcony droning on and on about the evils of magic, no one was listening, Merlin noted, the crowd was crying and the kids that loved plating him with rotten vegetables now stood silent and scared.

The guards weren't looking scared or nervous, just bored really and Merlin noted that neither Arthur nor Morgana were present.

Gaius and Gwen stood near the steps, both pale and grief stricken and Merlin's heart bled a bit more.

Merlin raised his eyes and his brow furrowed when he saw a small black cloud hovering in the sky before it moved towards the balcony, he narrowed his eyes and then widened them as he realized what he was seeing.

Nine Magpies were sitting on the balcony before Uther and refused to move, Merlin nearly laughed at Uther's face.

Nine for a kiss. Came to Merlin's mind and he screwed his eyes shut. Arthur didn't say goodbye last night, he didn't, Merlin chocked a bit as he realized he will never kiss Arthur again.

A single tear ran down his cheek and Merlin curled his hands into fists and bit his lip- he will not cry!

"Merlin of Camelot!" Uther's voice boomed.

"You were found guilty for using magic and for that you shall die! Guard!"

No one moved and Merlin stared in confusion, what was going on?

Suddenly two riders galloped into the yard and the guards moved away, clearing the way.

The two went up the platform and as one went behind Merlin to cut the ropes the other stood before him.

"Who-"

The rider lifted his helmet so that only Merlin could see his face.

"You prat." Merlin chocked and a tug on his arm told him that his hands were free and he wrapped them around Arthur's neck.

"I can't let you die love, I need you by my side when I ascend the throne and after," Arthur pressed a soft kiss to Merlin's lips. "I need you for all eternity and that is why you are going to go with Lance here like a good boy." He said and kissed the tip of Merlin's nose.

"Arthur…"

"Merlin please," Arthur begged and stared at him, this was taking too long. "I can't watch you die and if you love me you will go."

Merlin nodded and stumbled free from the ropes around his legs.

"Merlin." Arthur called again.

"What?

"Did you see the Magpies?" He smirked.

"Nine for a kiss." Merlin replied and crushed their mouths together.

"Go." Arthur panted and jumped off, the guards pretending to run after him while their comrades chased Lance and Merlin out of the yard, not putting too much of an effort into it.

Merlin smirked and touched his lips, the Magpies were flying ahead of them now, as if marking the way.

"Nine for a kiss." Merlin smiled and spurred his horse.

One more chapter to go and we are done!

Reviews are love as always, please do leave them here so I can help them grow!