Author's note: I'm so awesome that I nearly broke my finger playing basketball, and spent a day typing one goddamn page. I'll try not be such a klutz any more for the sake of this story. Lady Magnolia is back and causing trouble, so beware. Just though I'd give you some warning.
Anyway I'll stop prattling, because there is really not much to say about this chapter. It speaks for itself.
INSPIRATIONAL SONGS:
"First Time" - Lifehouse
"Fucking Perfect" - Pink
"All Fall Down" - One Republic
"Nothing Else Matters" - Metalica
"Underneath Your Clothes" - Shakira
"Some really cool song I don't know the title of" - Chillout Moods CD
Lifehouse's songs
I do not own BBC Merlin, because I am not awesome enough. I'm just a fan whose guilty pleasures include watching the show, writing, watching Colin Morgan and Bradley James sing "You Are The Voice" and chocolate. But that last one is a female genetic predisposition, I think.
Enjoy.
This chapter, apart from my injured hand, was sponsored by the flu. At least some good came out of being sick.
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"I have legs, you know," Elaine mumbles.
Merlin does know. His hands are curled under her knees to keep her hoisted on his back, after all.
He chuckles, ignoring the pleasant tingling sensation her breath leaves on the nape of his neck. "And they were doing all they could to acquaint you with the ground."
She huffs lightly. "No, they weren't."
"So you tripped for your own amusement, then?" Merlin's lips twitch teasingly.
"I think Arthur was right about you and comedy," Elaine grumbles, then drops a loving kiss to his collar bone.
Merlin can feel himself shiver all the way to his toes.
"You were dead on your feet," he reasons, his voice a little breathless. "I wasn't going to let you walk all the way back to Camelot."
"No, you weren't," she agrees, but there is a smile on her lips. She leans down and rests her head on his shoulder. Regardless to their little banter, she enjoys being pressed against his warm back and the light sway of his strut.
The sound of his even breathing is slowly lulling Elaine to much needed sleep, but she fights against her heavy lids. "What do you think... about what the dragon said?"
Merlin slows his pace, his smile turning into a light frown. "I don't like it. No matter what Uther or anyone else has done, people shouldn't be used like this."
"The second vessel?" Elaine guesses.
He nods. "I don't know where in my destiny the dragon has read the word mercenary."
"Don't say that!" she says, perhaps sharper than she intended to. "Nobody can make you do anything you do not want to do, Merlin. There are always choices."
"I might not have that privilege," he mutters under his breath. "What if it's the only way to save Camelot and Arthur?"
He hesitates for a second or two, before adding in a softer tone. "And you?"
Elaine's heart skips a beat.
"Merlin," she whispers, squeezing his shoulders soothingly. "We don't even know what the spell does. Perhaps there is more than one way to save Camelot, a way that does not involve any casualties."
"You really think so?" he asks. Although there is little hope of her comforting words coming true, he naively wants to believe them.
"I do," she says and brushes her lips across the dimple in his cheek. "But let's focus on finding the second vessel first, we'll cross other bridges when we come to them."
"Where do we start with that?"
"Hm," she drawls, resting her chin onto his shoulder, so their heads are side by side. "When Uther was enchanted, he had a pretty scary reaction, so I guess we could look for people who've come down with strange illnesses."
"That's brilliant!" Merlin beams, surprising Elaine with suddenly claiming her lips in a quick kiss.
"I aim to please," she chuckles softly, her lips tingling.
She can see his lips twist into a playful smirk from the corner of her eye.
"Well, in that case~" he trails off rather suggestively, then turns his head to the side. His breath tickles Elaine's cheeks and he's kissing her again. It's slow and nearly chaste, yet they savour every second of it. She can feel the spark of something deeper hidden right under the surface; a seemingly innocent smoulder, but Elaine is well aware of it's true potential.
Much too soon for her liking, he pulls away. Although he could never tire of kissing her, his neck does not particularly appreciate the strain of its tilted position. Despite the cramping feeling in his cervical vertebrae, seeing Elaine's fluttering eyelids and puffy lips tugs Merlin's lips into a satisfied smirk.
Once she finally breaks out of her haze, she arches an eyebrow in feigned irritation. "You really needn't look so smug, Merlin."
"Smug? I'm not smug. Where'd you get that idea?" he grins, completely unabashed.
She chuckles. "I can see it in your eyes."
Although she meant to tease, her words unintentionally trigger a memory of what the dragon had hinted at, and Merlin's forehead wrinkles.
"What have I said now?"
"Hm?"
"Really, Merlin, I can almost see the gears in your head turning," Elaine says, grazing her teeth over her lower lip.
"Are you worried?" he asks, catching her off guard. "About what the dragon said to you?"
She really hasn't given it much thought, having been too tired to want to contemplate it, but also because the dragon's words have been so cryptic and vague.
"I don't know what to think," she sighs softly. "Kilgaharrah didn't really give me much to go by."
"He said something of water and fire," Merlin offers, although knowing the reference could mean a thousand different things.
"I don't know about water, but he could have been talking about my temper, when he mentioned fire," Elaine comments, wavering between being amused and self-conscious.
"You have a temper?"
"Not that you yet know of," she informs him with a little smile, then sighs. "Too bad guessing won't bring us any closer to deciphering the dragon's words."
"What I don't understand is why Kilgaharrah hinted at something important, then suddenly decided it was not his secret to share," Merlin thinks aloud.
Elaine shrugs her shoulders as much as she can while still having her arms wrapped around his neck. "Was he as cryptic when he told you about your destiny?"
He shakes his head. "No, he told me more than I wanted to know, actually."
"I guess if I'm not meant to know it yet, it's best I don't," she sighs, then leans her head against him again. She does not want to admit it, but she is a little scared. Scared of what may be lying ahead, of not being in control of what's going on around her, but mostly she is afraid of not being with him.
Merlin stops in his tracks. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," she mumbles, but her shaking voice betrays her.
"What's wrong?" Merlin presses, wishing he could really look into her eyes, but their current position makes it difficult.
"It's nothing," Elaine assures him quickly. "I think too much sometimes."
"Elaine," he says so softly it sends a tingle down her spine. "You can tell me."
"I just," she mumbles, rubbing at the tears that threaten to cloud her vision, "got a little... scared."
"It's okay to be scared," Merlin tells her in a little whisper. "But you don't have to be. I'll never let anything happen to you."
She hears his words, but the way he says them implies a much deeper meaning. It is something he does not yet have the courage to say aloud, but hopes she will understand, regardless.
She does.
"Merlin, I..." she breathes, her heart pounding in her chest, and a small blush dusting her cheeks.
I love you.
"... thank you."
Elaine cannot bring herself to say the words. She wants to, more than anything, but they get stuck in her throat. Her eyes are still damp, no longer from fear or hurt. She gently nuzzles the side of his neck, then leaves another quick kiss there. She knows it is not the same as saying what she feels, but for now it is enough.
"You're welcome." She knows from the sound of his voice that Merlin is smiling.
Perfectly content, she gives his shoulders a little affectionate squeeze, and closes her eyes.
She drifts off to sleep not long after.
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She is woken up after what feels like mere seconds, by a series of... knocks? She doesn't care what the repetitive hollow noise is, but she wants it to stop. She rubs at her eyes, hoping the massage will ease the sting, and help her return to a conscious state.
"What's that noise?" she asks, voice groggy and hoarse.
She can feel Merlin shrug his shoulders. "It's coming from upstairs."
She blushes. "Sorry I fell asleep."
He smiles, starting to ascend the stairs leading to Gaius' chambers. "It's alright, I~"
He's interrupted by another set of knocks.
"It's in the middle of the night," Elaine grumbles. "Is there really such dire need for all this noise?"
"Is this the temper you were talking about?"
Merlin's little snicker makes her eyebrow twitch. "Don't you start, Merlin."
"I'm not," he says, but she does not need to see his face, to know there is a goofy smile spread all over it.
Giving up, she rolls her eyes, just as Merlin reaches the top of the stairs.
"I demand you open the door this instant!"
"Oh, no!" Elaine whisper screams into Merlin's ear, but it is too late to make a hasty retreat – they have already been spotted.
Lady Magnolia towers right before Gaius' door, looking impeccably groomed regardless it being the middle of the night. Her face, on the other hand, is set into a frightening grimace.
Merlin gulps.
Elaine wishes she knew how to do a teleportation spell.
"My Lady?" the warlock manages. "Is there s-something you need?"
"Tell me, boy, how does one with no grey-matter even become a prince's servant? Do you honestly believe I'm standing here in the draughty corridor for my own amus-" Magnolia's face snaps towards him, and as she lays eyes on them, she momentarily falls silent.
Instinctively, Elaine cringes and prepares herself for the verbal avalanche.
"This... This is outrageous!" the Lady exclaims so loudly, her voice echoes off the walls long after she has finished speaking. "Indecency, blasphemy!"
Elaine slowly slides her legs out of Merlin's hold to climb off his back, all the while keeping her eyes on the ground. Merlin can feel her shaking at his side, and at first he thinks it to be from fear, then he catches the dangerous glint in her eyes.
"Oh no, you don't understand," he tries to placate, but Lady Magnolia is beyond reason.
"Don't understand?" She asks so sweetly, Merlin feels an ice cold chill run down his spine. "Trust me, I understand perfectly well. You have sullied your, and not to mention the prince's, reputation with your exploiting perverse relationship."
Elaine can feel herself flush. Lady Magnolia's degrading words have hit a nerve and she can hardly contain herself. She is shaking with rage and her magic is reacting to her emotions. It swarms under her skin like a million hot needles, making her feel like she will explode, if she does not find an outlet for it.
Her lips move to mutter an enchantment, when the sound of footsteps and Merlin's fingers, slipping soothingly between hers, distract her.
Magnolia, on the other hand, does not let whoever is approaching stop her in her rant. "I should have you ~"
"Is there a problem?" For once, Gaius' constant interruptions could not have come at a better time.
Magnolia stops talking mid-threat, to pierce him with a glare. "Physician!"
"My Lady," Gaius bows his head. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Being present in time of need would be a good start, but it really is impossible to find good help these days," she answers acidly, eyes squinted into tiny creases. "With the time it took you to get here, I could have already been done in by what is ailing me!"
"If only," Elaine mumbles loudly enough for only Merlin to hear.
Unfortunately, his chuckle is not so discrete.
"Is something funny?"
"No, no o-of course not," Merlin stammers under Lady Magnolia's gaze.
"I apologise for his behaviour, My Lady," Gaius smoothly intervenes. "He is known for his occasional mental afflictions."
"Mental affliction?" Elaine repeats questionably into Merlin's ear.
He blushes to the tips of his ears. "Long story."
"I do not care if he can fly with those ears of his his, physician, I shall not be mocked again!" Magnolia cries so loudly they all flinch.
"Certainly," Gaius bows a second time. "I am sorry for all the trouble you have been through on our behalf."
She huffs. "I will believe that when hell freezes over."
"I am afraid I cannot help you there, My Lady," the court physician replies. "But I can heal what ails you, if you tell me what it is."
"I've trouble sleeping, why else would I be standing here in the middle of the night, at risk of catching a cold?" Magnolia hisses like it is the most obvious thing.
"I see," Gaius drawls. "In that case, why don't you return to your chambers and rest. I will prepare a sleeping draught and you can send your maid to pick it up."
He would have best remained silent.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do, physician. Uther may think you of great value, but I have no such weakness," Lady Magnolia sneers. "And if you think I am going to entrust Felicity with any kind of medicine, then you might be the one with a mental affliction."
She pauses for a few seconds, either for impact or to come up with more insults.
"To think that I would let such an incompetent, in-"
Her lips twitch awkwardly, and she is forced to clear her throat.
"-incorigible, clumsy..."
She rubs her collarbone awkwardly.
"Are you alright?" Gaius asks, stepping closer.
She seems to snap out of it. "Of course I am alright. Do I look-"
This time, she clutches at her chest.
"Is her corset too tight?" Elaine asks sarcastically, but there is a notch of worry in her voice that she tries to hide. Involuntarily, she takes a step forward, Merlin in tow.
"My Lady-"
Before Gaius can finish his sentence, Lady Magnolia gasps for air, like a fish cast out of water. She starts shaking, trying to draw a breath into her lungs, but all she can manage are hoarse wheezes.
"I... I..."
In an abrupt coughing fit, eyes panicky glancing from side to side, Magnolia sags to the ground, her head hitting the cold stone floor with an ungraceful thud.
"That's no corset."
"Instead of your witty remarks, Merlin, help me get her inside," Gaius commands, unlocking the door and striding directly to his medical equipment.
It takes Merlin and Elaine's combined strength to drag Magnolia's motionless body inside and onto Gaius' table.
"What do you think is wrong with her?" Merlin pants and straightens up, watching Gaius shake a vile of lavender coloured liquid in his hand.
"I don't know, Merlin," the physician answers. "I haven't had the chance to examine her yet."
"Do you think she's faking it to get us in trouble?" Elaine asks, tapping her fingers across the tabletop, next to where Lady Magnolia's lying. Without really registering what she's doing, she presses her index and middle finger against the unconscious woman's neck. Feeling nothing, she shifts her hand, hoping the change of position will help her find the pulse.
Elaine waits for a few moment, her heart thumping unevenly in her chest, then her hand falls off Magnolia's neck.
"Oh Gods," she breathes, her mouth so dry she can hardly hear herself talk.
Lady Magnolia's heart is not beating.
Elaine stumbles backwards, feeling dizzy and nauseated. She hits a chair, knocking it over, but she hardly even registers the noise.
Gaius and Merlin do.
"Elaine?" the warlock asks, concern wrinkling his forehead.
"Her..." she tries, holding on to the edge of the nearest table for support, until Merlin's arms wrap around her to steady her.
"What's wrong?" Merlin studies her face, gently rubbing her shaking shoulders.
"Her heart..." Elaine struggles. "Oh, Gods, her heart's not beating."
"Are you sure?" Gaius is at Magnolia's side with speed men his age are thought to have lost decades back.
Elaine breaks away from Merlin's arms to join the physician. "I... I felt nothing, I'm sure of it."
Gaius leans down, to listen to Magnolia's breathing, his hand venturing towards her neck, feeling for a pulse.
Magnolia's eyes suddenly flash open, hand wrapping around his wrist. "Unhand me at once, you brute!"
Elaine's already pale complexion turns sickly green.
Her head is spinning and she feels like the floor is slowly splitting underneath the soles of her feet. Lady Magnolia cannot be awake, because she doesn't have a heartbeat. She was dead, she wasn't even breathing. She couldn't just wake up, that was impossible. Neither was the Lady's state caused by magic, both she and Merlin would have sensed it.
"If you scream one more time, Elise, I will have you hanged, do you understand me?"
Elaine cannot remember having screamed, she does not even remember moving, yet she is on the other side of the room, having somehow freed herself from Merlin's arms. Her vision is blurry and she finds it hard to breathe. Merlin is at her side again before she can even comprehend he's moved, and he is saying something, shouting probably, by the desperate look on his face. Elaine is beyond taking anything that's happening in. All she knows is Lady Magnolia should not be talking, neither should she be getting up and storming out of Gaius' chambers.
No, she should be dead.
With a little whimper, Elaine collapses to the floor.
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"Here," Merlin says softly, handing Elaine a cup full of a calming concoction Gaius has made for her.
"Thank you," she mumbles gratefully, taking a careful slip of the steaming liquid, while Merlin sits down next to her, and opens his arms in invitation.
"How are you feeling?" he asks after she snuggles into his embrace, and he drapes his blanket around her shoulders. "You're still shaking."
She smiles soothingly at the concern in his voice. "This helps."
He pulls her closer, then rubs her shoulders. "I'm glad you're alright."
"Thanks to you and Gaius," she leans up so he can give her a light kiss. She closes her eyes, enjoying his warmth, because the horrible cold she felt during her panic attack is still lingering on her skin.
"You believe me, don't you? That her heart did stop?" she asks after a few seconds of silence.
"It can't have been magic," Merlin ponders, unsure as to what to say. "But it wasn't normal either, although Gaius thinks she just swooned."
The cup in Elaine's hands stills half way to her lips. "What if it was?"
"What do you mean?"
She turns around to stare into his eyes. "What if it was magic? Lady Magnolia might not be casting spells and cracking windows, but I swear, her heart did stop. Then, a second later, she was screaming bloody murder."
Merlin's eyes light up with realization. "You think she's the second vessel?"
She takes a long sip of her drink. "If she is, how do we prove it?"
"We'll have to keep an eye on her."
"How do we do that?" Elaine asks. "She'll have our guts if we as much as walk by her chambers."
"Hmm," he drawls with a smirk, kissing her temple. "I'll have to be very sneaky, then."
She arches an eyebrow. "You?"
"There is no way I am letting you run errands today." Merlin says in a serious tone.
"That's sweet," Elaine's lips tug into a smile. "But you do know I have better chances at surviving if shot, stabbed or otherwise injured."
He grins. "Magnolia won't bother with arrows. She'll probably just have our heads chopped off."
Elaine snorts, despite his attempt at a joke is likely not far from the truth. "Well, we have even chances there."
"Please," he looks deep into her eyes, "get some rest. I know you're exhausted."
"No more than y-umh~" she tries to protest, but he stops her with a kiss.
"Alright," Elaine gives in after he pulls back. "But promise me you'll be careful."
His smile turns into a playful, toothy grin. "When am I not?"
"That was a rhetorical question, right?" she asks, already missing the warmth of his hands, as he pulls away and heads for the door.
"I will be back soon," he promises, still smiling, but she can see a shadow of worry flicker in his eyes.
"There will be hell to pay if you aren't," she informs him with the best smile she can manage.
Merlin chuckles. "It's good to know at least someone would avenge my death."
Although he means it to be a joke, Elaine still feels an ice cold chill race down her spine. Before she knows what she is doing, she strides across the room and pulls him into one last kiss. Her lips linger on his perhaps a few seconds longer than she intended to, then she pulls back.
"Come on, go."
She knows he is not in any real danger yet, but she cannot help feeling uneasy after he leaves. Heaving a sigh, she heads back to his bed, wrapping his blanket tighter around her. The shivers have returned and although she's promised, Elaine knows she will not rest until Merlin's returned.
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When Merlin drags his tired self back home, he is very close to believing the people of Camelot are simply mean. Either that, or their only pleasure in life comes from pelting people, including but not limited to... well – mostly – him, with fruit. And turnips, which is downright unfair.
With a loud groan of pain, he tries to stretch his stiff, aching shoulders, making a face at the smell of rotten produce clinging to his shirt and hair. He pushes the door open and looks around the room, hoping to find it empty. He really could do without Gaius' good natured mocking, and the last thing he wants, is Elaine seeing him looking like a pile of compost.
"Gaius's gone to make his last rounds for the night, then he'll see to it that Uther gets his sleeping potion-" Elaine, curled up next to the fire with a thick spell book in her lap, stops mid sentence as soon as she lays eyes on him. "What happened?"
Merlin's blush overpowers the shade of tomato on his face.
I got... caught in a very," he clears his throat, awkwardly searching for the right word, "precarious position."
"A position that landed you in the stocks?" she asks, standing up and tilting her head to the side in confusion.
If possible, Merlin's face grows redder. "It's nothing."
He quickly walks to the nearest bowl he can find, and fills it with water.
She tries to keep her lips from twitching, because he is obviously feeling very uncomfortable. "It can't be that bad."
"Yes," he says, lifting his head from the bowl where he is washing his face and hair. "Yes it can."
Elaine walks over, sitting down across from him. "Merlin?"
He continues scrubbing everything he can reach. "I got caught spying on Lady Magnolia."
"That much is obvious," she nods and reaches out to remove a piece of celery stuck in his hair.
"Thank you," he mumbles, then takes a deep breath unable to look at her. "Well... Magnolia's door was ajar and I was... peeking through the crack."
She has to chuckle. The mental image is stronger than her self-control. "That sounds like a Peeping Tom situation."
Merlin nearly knocks his head against the bowl.
Elaine gasps, unsure as to laugh or be appalled. "Was is a Peeping Tom situation?"
"It wasn't!" he straightens his back like a lance, taking several paces back. "I mean, it seemed that way, but I didn't see anything, I swear. Thank Goodness for that, too. I mean... imagine! Actually it's best you don't, I-"
"Merlin?" Elaine's eyebrows are nearly lost in her hairline. "A coherent explanation would be nice."
He stops mid pace and turns around to face a wall. "I tripped."
"You... tripped?"
"I saw her about to get ready for bed, and was foing to make a hasty retreat, but I got stuck... and tripped directly into the room."
Elaine's expression shifts from one of shock to one of sympathy. "Ouch, Merlin. I'm sorry."
He sighs and turns back around. There's water trickling down his face from his wet hair, but there are no traces of fruit or vegetables left. "It wasn't so bad."
He takes one look at Elaine's disbelieving face and changes his mind. "Okay, it was horrible. The stocks were actually a relief to Lady Magnolia's shouting."
She laughs. "I'm glad you're alright. Come on, get yourself a clean tunic and I'll take care of the this."
She takes hold of the bowl, while Merlin sluggishly makes way towards his room. Elaine quickly disposes of the water and washes off the bowl, then puts it in its rightful place inside a cupboard.
She dries her hands on a nearby cloth and follows him.
"Merlin?" she calls, knocking on the door. "Can I come in?"
The only thing she gets in response is a little groan, which she assumes is as good an invitation as she will get. She pokes her head through the door, only to find Merlin lying on his bed in an appallingly brilliant imitation of a sack of potatoes.
"You don't look so good," she observes softly, her forehead wrinkling.
Without waiting for a response, she sits down next to him on the bed.
Merlin shifts to make more room for her. He seems as though he wants to say something, but he is interrupted by a hiss of pain. He is forced to sit up, because the lying position does his paining shoulders no good.
"Everything... hurts," he confesses, trying to roll the pain out of his throbbing muscles.
Elaine moves closer, cautiously rubbing the spot between his shoulder blades, eliciting a wince. "With all the stiffness in your shoulders I'm surprised you can still lift your arms."
"The stocks are not the most comfortable of places," he confesses, trying not to make it seem like he's whining.
"I can imagine," she sympathizes. "I can take a look at it, if you'll let me. I'm not as good as Gaius, but I'm pretty sure I can work some sore spots out."
Although she really did mean it in a strictly medical sort of way, she wishes to throttle herself as soon as the words leave her mouth. Has she really just told him to take off his shirt, so she can give him a massage? She's already fainted and had a panic attack, how many times is she still going to try and embarrass herself?
At least once more, apparently.
To her surprise, Merlin – after having gained a few light shades of red – hesitantly curls his fingers around the collar of his blue tunic. He pulls it up and over his head, and despite having claimed her proposal is of pure medical origin, Elaine's heartbeat picks up its pace. She forces herself not to peek.
It is a stupid thing to do, since she will have to look sooner or later, but it still doesn't make it any less new or strange... yet in a very exciting way. She swallows and clears her throat to compose herself, then kicks off her shoes and climbs onto the bed behind his back.
Very gently, she trails her fingertips along the nape of his back, and Merlin shivers. He can feel his heartbeat in his throat, his ears feeling like there's an ocean rippling inside them, and he finds he's holding his breath. Elaine's fingers feel foreign, but that only makes the sensation greater. He can feel himself blush further, glad she cannot see his face from her current position behind his back. She's hardly even touched him, for God's sake.
"This might leave a bruise," she breathes.
Elaine is almost starting to think Merlin's room has somehow shifted its position to the middle of a fireplace. S fiery sensation spreads through her, and it is as though her every nerve ending is standing at attention. She cannot help examining the contours of Merlin's back with appreciation. No matter what his loose-fitting clothes might indicate, he is not nearly as lanky as people believe. On the contrary, he is lean in a very attractive way, and as she watches his muscles ripple every time he rolls his shoulders in hopes of relaxing them, her mouth goes dry.
She runs her tongue across her lips in hopes of wetting them, then tentatively rubs the pads of her thumbs along the base of his neck in a circular motion.
Merlin's breath catches and Elaine immediately pulls back. "I'm sorry, did I~?"
"No," he cuts her off and his voice sounds much deeper than it normally is. "No it's fine."
"A-actually," she goes on. "This might be easier if you were lying down."
Yes, it might be easier for her to not want to constantly peek over his shoulder to examine the front of him as well.
Elaine squishes the thought before it can truly rear its ugly head.
"S-sure," he replies, still feeling goosebumps on his underarms from her touch. He shifts around a bit, until he is lying down, and she is seated at his side. His face is half squished into the pillow, but Elaine still catches a glimpse of his eyes. They have grown much darker than she is used to and his chest rises and falls in slightly uneven patterns.
He catches her gaze and manages a little grateful smile. It's all the encouragement she needs, because one little tug of his lips is enough to tell her he's still Merlin, the sweet, kind, amazing boy she's grown to love more than she can ever remember having cared for anyone.
With a small, almost victorious smile, Elaine finds out she is no longer feeling nervous or like she is doing something wrong or bad.
She slides her hands along the curve of his spine down to his mid back and up again, marvelling at the smooth, firm skin under her fingertips. At first she explores the new found territory with barely-there touches, but grows more confident after Merlin shows no signs of protest.
Protest is the last thing on Merlin's mind. The only thing he is capable of comprehending is the wonderful feeling of Elaine's hands gently kneading out all the stiffness, aching and stress of the day. Her actions, however, leave behind a different kind of ache that has nothing to do with pain, but is more a yearning. It is something Merlin is not very familiar with, but he would be lying if he were to deny it, or pretend he did not like it.
Elaine seems to have a natural talent of hitting all the right spots and a little groan escapes his lips.
"You are much better at this than Gaius."
She chuckles, her fingers skimming over his upper-arms teasingly. "You and Gaius do this often?"
"I didn't mean~" Merlin protests quickly, instinctively rolling around, as if that is supposed to convince her in the truth of his words.
His unexpected motion throws her off balance and she collapses into his chest, just as he settles onto his back.
She blushes at her poor balance. "This seems to happen to me a lot."
Merlin's eyes are still a little wide, the result of their sudden change of position, but he quickly turns a little smug. He shifts his arms to hold her better, budging to the side to make more room for her on his bed. "I don't mind it that much."
"You don't hm?" she asks, leaning up to kiss the side of his jaw.
She doesn't either. No, there is absolutely nothing about being pressed to his chest – his very naked chest, no less – that she would want to complain about.
A few seconds pass by in silence, but neither of them move. Merlin finds himself absolutely comfortable exactly the way he is. His back is no longer hurting and Elaine fits perfectly into his arms. Her hair is tickling his shoulder and collarbone, and she is close enough for him to count every single of her eyelashes, if he wanted to. His own thoughts seem cheesy to him, but he doesn't care, because he is still somewhat baffled by what he's done right to have her lying by his side.
Lost in the pleasant haze of thoughts, emotions and the purely physical feeling of her pressed against his him, his eyes lids start to flutter of their own accord. He tries to fight it, but the two nights without sleep are suddenly pressing onto him with their entire weight.
He can see her smile, and the last thing he feels before he falls asleep, are her lips pressed softly against neck.
Elaine pulls back, only to observe his relaxed face, which is ridiculously handsome even in sleep. At first she wants to carefully entangle herself from his embrace, and go to her own berth on the floor, but she finds she does not want to. She knows sharing a bed, even in the most innocent sense of the word, is frowned upon if ever found out, but at the moment, she just does not care about her reputation.
What is important is that Merlin wants her to stay, so she gives in, and rests her head to his chest. She can feel it rising and falling under her and the rhythmic sound of his heartbeat works better than any lullaby she can remember hearing.
Her eyes glow gold of their own accord, so the covers pull over them, then she slowly drifts off.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
A/N: 15 pages ladies and gentlemen. With a broken finger. I'm proud of myself.
Anyway, enough of the self flattery, I have 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS to make.
1.) Of course people don't read the A/N or just choose to ignore it, so I am trying a different approach. I will start writing chapter 12 when I get... let's say 10 REVIEWS. Because more than a thousand hits this month alone and only one new reviewer. It's sort of annoying.
2.) This idea for a little short story (only about 5-7 chapters) fell into my head almost fully formed a few days back, and I am 99% sure I am writing it. Question is, whether you think it is wise I upload it here. It's an AU Merlin/Elaine fluff/romance story, full of fun/humour and just a dash of drama, so your teeth don't suffer from all the sweetness . Anyone interested in reading it say "AYE!"
Next up, darkness-provails' request. I can't wait to start on it, because it is purely awesome. There will be some good Arthur and Merlin banter, too. At least it looks like it for now. Don't forget what I said about 10 REVIEWS. Please guys, I love feedback. And 10 reviews really is not so much to ask, is it?
Hope you enjoyed it.
~Fate-x
