Kissing Cousins

(A sequel to 'Lucan')

"What?"

Arthur and Amr shouted the question in perfect unison before Merlin had managed to get halfway through his explanation. Artie was currently standing on the warlock's left side with Elaine on the right, whilst Gwen, Fleur and Morgana all sat on chairs in front of them. His father and brother had long since left theirs, now on their feet, pacing and glaring at the three sorcerers.

"I know this is difficult to accept," Merlin continued, "but the magic has already married them really, it's just ..."

Arthur rounded on Artie then, eyes blazing. "What did you do?" he demanded of his second son.

"Me?" he squeaked. "Nothing."

"Leave him out of it, Arthur, this was my doing not his," Elaine shouted and then paled as the king turned on her. "Well ... sort of ... " Her voice trailed off as she noticed the rest of the family's attention turn to her and looked up at her father, seeking his support.

"It was her magic, that's true," said Merlin, "but, Arthur, we've been through this before. Can you not wait for a bit? Let me finish explaining in my own way before you ...?"

"Before I ... what?" Arthur turned his attention back to his friend.

"Do what you normally do and say something mean that you'll regret later," his friend finished as he folded his arms and glaring at the king.

"Right ... so explain."

"They're both magical, Arthur and that makes a difference. Artie, as you know was always attracted to Elaine ..." Arthur turned a glare on his son again. "Come on, you know he felt like that long before he knew she was related to him."

"They were brought up as brother and sister, that should make a difference and ... hang on, that's a point, you knew they were cousins, Merlin. Why did you not say something?"

"Because it wasn't actually a problem. Unless you've changed the marriage laws without consulting me." Even Merlin legendary calm was beginning to be tested. "Even if they were full cousins such a union is allowed under Camelot law and these two are not even than."

"It's still not right. Art should never have let it happened," Arthur insisted.

"Right, Arthur and tell me truthfully, did you never once feel any attraction towards Morgana? Your sister?" There was a stunned silence in the room as everyone looked aghast at Merlin for even asking such a question.

"Bad move, Merlin," Morgana muttered under her breath, although Artie was fairly certain he could hear amusment in her voice. Arthur's face paled and, to everyone's surprise, his anger seemed to fade as he considered the question.

"I-I didn't ... that is ..." He shook his head. "Father should have said something." Morgana scoffed and folded her arms, obviously agreeing.

"Yes, he should have," Merlin said. "Although sibling marriage is legal and even encouraged in some countries, it's definitely been banned here in Camelot for many centuries."

"What?" Gwen gasped. "Sibling marriage? That is just ..." She shuddered at the thought.

"Anyway, despite them being cousins, the magic has given its blessing and, therefore ..."

"Yes, exactly what do you mean by that?" Arthur pushed.

"It's part of an ancient Druid marriage ceremony. Well, the ceremony itself varies from tribe to tribe but the underlying qualification is the same. Given the right circumstances, two innocent, compatible, magical youngsters will form a bond and connection without any help from outside. Certain spells and rituals can make such a bond permenant."

"You can't break it?"

"Not unless they're willing."

"But, Elaine," Arthur said, turning to her. "It was my understanding that you did not feel the same way. I thought that you only ever viewed Artie as a brother?"

"No," she objected. "I never thought of him like that. Amr and Duran certainly, but Artie was always my best friend."

"But ..." Arthur turned to Merlin with a confused frown and the warlock shrugged. Artie had never fully understood it either and everyone else in the room looked equally confused by her comment.

"I know it doesn't make sense to the rest of us, but it is what she's aways said," the warlock continued. "I think it must have something to do with the magic again. Somehow Elaine's magic 'chose' Artie and so, she always saw him as a potential partner subconsciously, something she never felt towards Amr."

"Ugh," Elaine responded.

"Hey!" Amr objected.

"Well, it doesn't bother me," Fleur suddenly announced, "and it doesn't surprise me either."

"Oh? Why do you say that?" Amr asked his bethrothed.

"Even as children they mirrored each other, stayed close ... exchanged all these glances as if they were talking to each other silently. It's not unlike how horses behave as the mating season approaches."

"Hey, we were only children," Artie complained.

"You always seemed connected somehow," she continued with a shrug, "In my mind it was always 'Elaine and Artur'. The pair as one rather than two individuals. With hindsight though, I can see that it was mainly Artie who followed Elaine rather than the other way around."

"Yes, exactly," Arthur said, latching onto Fleur's comment. "Artie we know about but ..."

"Elaine's a late developer, just as I was," Merlin said with a shrug.

Morgana who nodded her agreement. "Yes, it was the same for me. I enjoyed the attention of the men when I was growing up here but never really felt drawn to anyone until I was well into my twenties.

"However, trust me, when such emotions eventually do hit a sorcerer they hit hard," Merlin continued, "and ... well, we're not exactly sure what happened but, when Artie went to give her the last treatment before he left, I believe Elaine developed a strong enough connection to subconsciously bind him to her."

"I didn't mean to," she explained, obviously still worried she'd forced the situation between them, "but I've been thinking about it since Merlin mentioned it and it was this ... connection I have with Artie. What Fleur was saying about us is correct, I think. There's also the fact that I can ..." She paled and looked nervously first towards Merlin and then to him. "Well ... I can read his emotions and I knew that he was saying goodbye. I knew that he'd decided that he needed to move on and had to try to forget me."

"Yes, I remember," Artie said, nodding, "That was exactly what I was thinking at the time."

"Wait? You read what he was thinking?" Arthur asked, shocked.

"We only just discovered that this evening, Father," Artie says. "She can read my mind and has been able to do so for some time. Came as a bit of a shock I can tell you."

"I'd say!" Amr looked horrified. "Just Artie?"

"Well," Elaine said with a wicked grin, "He's the easiest for me to read, but I'm sure if you really wanted me to I could ..." She moved forward, still smiling.

"No! No way! Stay out of my head, little witch."

"Amr. Manners!" Gwen scolded whilst Morgana laughed brightly at the exchange.

"I'm honestly amazed that she can read my mind and all the thoughts I have and still likes me at all," Artie said, trying to lighten the conversation. "But she's right, I was deliberately saying goodbye in my head that day. Determined to move on and find someone else."

Elaine actually growled at this last comment and, at exactly the same time, a recently righted vase fell over and landed on the floor with a crash.

Merlin glared at his daughter. "Control, Elflet. Use your shield ... please."

"What? That was her?" Amr asked. "That happened because she was jealous?"

"That's the whole point," Merlin replied with a sigh. "She had already developed feelings for Artie years ago. She might not have realised exactly what those feelings were but he was and is her best friend and, I suspect she felt ... possessive over him and decided that no-one else was to have him."

"I wasn't actually thinking of it like that," Elaine replied with a small frown. "At least, not consciously. I tried to connect our pendants just as Merlin had. Just so I could keep in touch and communicate with my friend but I think, deep down, I wanted to keep a part of him here in Camelot with me. I didn't really see it as possessive or related in any way to love at the time, I just ..."

"But, you do have those feelings for Art now?" Arthur asked.

"Yes ..." She frowned. "I think so, but ..."

"What?" Gwen asked. "You can't seriously contemplate marrying him if you're not certain."

"What's the difference?" Morgana asked cynically, "Most of the court had to marry with no love and very little affection, I was often threatened with some old lord or another whilst I was here. Even if she sees him as her very best friend, I'd say it was a good a start to a marriage as any."

"This is a new Camelot, Morgana, and these are my children ... our children ... Gwen and I have already spoken to Amr and Fleur to make certain their feelings for each other were genuine - despite the fact that theirs is also a good match politically. I didn't want them to feel obliged."

"I told you, Father. We don't," Amr insisted.

"Neither do I," Elaine insisted. "Look, I admit that this is a bit of a shock and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't prefer a little longer to come to terms with all of this, but Merlin has explained that the magic has other ideas and that it's best if we move into special accommodation now and that means we need to be officially married."

"What? Now what have you been keeping from me?"

"Nothing, Arthur. I only discovered this myself this evening," Merlin said. "Their bond is starting to make itself felt now. Elaine practically married them that day and then they split up - preventing any chance for that bond to be consummated."

"I should think not," the king growled.

"Yes, but then they met up and connected a little more during and after the Dromerd attack and still did nothing about this strong bond they were feeling before Artie went away. When he came back yesterday well ... let's just say this bond started to push them together more urgently." He winced and Arthur latched onto the reaction quickly

"Out with it, Merlin."

"We kissed, alright?" Elaine said. "I kissed Artie, in point of fact, not the other way around."

"Well ... strictly speaking ..." Artie argued.

"No, it's all me and I pushed him into it and you know how he feels about me so it's not his fault."

"Elaine. It's not your fault either," Artie said gently, stepping behind Merlin to move towards her. He may not have her powers but he could certainly feel her stress now and knew that she was more upset than she was letting on. As if to confirm this, she turned quickly towards him and threw her arms around him, nuzzling against his neck with a big sigh. Their pendants buzzed comfortingly and he closed his eyes, feeling more relief than passion at the sensation of having her in his arms. He looked up nervously, worried at how Arthur or Amr would be taking this but the gesture was innocent enough and it seemed the fact that Elaine had instantly turned to him for comfort was not lost on those who were concerned about her being pushed into a union with him.

"It doesn't suprise me either," Morgana said then. "At the camp I teased Elaine about fancying Artie and that was without even realising they knew each other. I was probably seeing or sensing what Fleur was talking about and I'd say she has a touch of magic too having seen her with the horses earlier today.

"Me?" Fleur asked.

"Yes, a very little," Merlin said casually, dismissing the significance of his comment with a flick of a wrist.

Gwen giggled and then shrugged as everyone stared at her. "Sorry, I was just wondering how many of Uther's great grandchildren might be sorcerers and enjoying the irony a little."

"Guinevere," Arthur scolded but even he seemed to be trying not to smile.

"Look," Artie said, pulling away from Elaine a little but keeping her close, one arm still around her shoulder. "We've got this bond now and Elaine has developed feelings for me which, as you saw from that display with the vase are getting stronger quite quickly. When we kissed earlier her magic ... got out of control - quite dramatically and, according to Merlin our bond is going to just keep drawing us together and the stronger her feelings become the more ... magical incidences are going to happen." He felt her wrap an arm around his waist and squeeze and there was that buzz again. He suddenly realised that letting go was going to be very, very difficult.

"That's why they have to have that room, Arthur," Merlin was saying. "Elaine and I will protect it magically and we'll remove all unnecessary small objects from there but, as it's in an outside turret, it shouldn't do too much damage if the shielding doesn't work properly."

"What? What are you babbling about now?"

"When she just thought about Artie going off to find someone else she knocked over a vase, when they kissed gently yesterday she released a wave of magic so powerful that I nearly fell over. As for what happened after that ..." He shook his head whilst Arthur again glared at Artie.

"Arthur, they weren't doing anything that we didn't get up to before our marriage," Gwen started to say. Merlin cleared his throat loudly and tried not to grin. "I-I mean they were doing rather less than we got up to before our marriage."

"Guinevere!" Arthur exclaimed.

"Oh, Arthur, you didn't?" Morgana asked with a laugh.

"What?" Amr asked.

Merlin laughed. "She's right, Arthur, you're not in a position to judge. Neither am I for that matter. Have you not worked out exactly what caused that earthquake at Fyrien?" It was his turn to throw a glance at Morgana who glared at him, although there was amusement in her eyes, all the same.

"You said that you ..." Arthur's eyes suddenly went wild. "You mean that happened when she .. when ..." His face went white. "... Oh."

"What? Amr and Fleur asked.

"Trust me, you really don't want to know," Elaine muttered.

"So, if she knocked all the furniture over for a kiss you really, really don't want to find out what happens if they conssumate their bond in a room that I haven't protected. Trust me, they need to get this out of their system and I think we all agree that, in this case, the Druid law is not enough. I certainly want her to be legally married to Artie before they ..." Even Merlin had to stop there, pulling a face as he tried not to think about exactly what Artie might be doing with his daughter tomorrow night.

"Look, all of you," Artie said. "Merlin's right and Elaine and I have accepted this but, you must know that even if we're married tomorrow by Druid or Camelot law, Elaine is still my friend and I care for her deeply and ... if she's not ready, that's fine. We'll both keep to that room just in case but, as far as I'm concerned, she can take as long as she needs. I've waited this long, it makes no difference if I have to wait a few more days, weeks ... months, even."

"Artie, that's not fair on you," Elaine said pulling away from his embrace to look up at him. "I know exactly how desperate you are to mmmph." Artie quickly put a hand over her mouth to stop her continuing and, thankfully, everyone else in the room saw the funny side of the situation and burst out laughing at the horrified expression on his face.

"What?" she asked as she pulled his hand away and glared. "It's what all of you are thinking about right now, anyway? I can read that much quite easily. "

"What can you read, exactly?" Morgana asked.

"Amr's been thinking about it a lot, more than, Artie, to be honest." Artie muffled a laugh at the shocked look that appeared on his brother's face. "Fleur's a bit worried about it, which I can understand. Arthur and Gwen are always thinking about it which I'm quite sure they shouldn't be at their age." Amr and Artie groaned loudly whilst their parents both looked at the floor. "Morgana been thinking of practically nothing else since she arrived, and even Merlin can't keep all his feelings to himself now she's close by."

Morgana just laughed whilst Merlin turned bright pink and Arthur turned his glare towards his friend, now obviously suspicous about the explanation that he and Gwen had given him about Fyrian.

"Morgana's spell backfired that day," the warlock started to explain. "I suppose that's the one last secret I've been keeping from you, Arthur. "Her spell was supposed to be about taking control but she also made Elaine's mistake. She and I had buried feelings that she hadn't fully acknowledged at the time and her spell created the same sort of connection that Elaine and Artie had."

"What are you saying, Merlin?"

"Morgana didn't force me, Arthur, not in the end and so she and I also have a Druid marriage bond."

"What?"

"Why would you think she forced anything?" Elaine asked confused.

"I was going to, Elaine," Morgana admitted, dropping her gaze. "That was part of the spell I was trying to cast." She looked up at Merlin then. "I know I didn't say it properly before, so I'll say it now. I'm sorry for what I intended to do that day."

"There's nothing to apologise for. That spell helped to create Elaine and, seriously, if I really hadn't wanted to, you can be quite certain that it wouldn't have happened."

"Merlin," Arthur complained but it was said in a defeated tone with no obvious anger behind it.

"My decision, not Merlin's," Gwen said then. "You had enough to cope with after that shock, I needed you to forgive Merlin quickly and that seemed the best way to do it." She caught Morgana's expression and winced. "Sorry."

"As Merlin said earlier, Arthur does like to rant first and think later," Morgana replied. Her brother turned a glare on her. "Less now than you used to, I think," she conceeded with a laugh, holding up her hands defensively.

"So?" Merlin asked Arthur.

"There is no other choice?"

"None. Either we formally marry them or you will have to force them to stay apart somehow and hope that Camelot doesn't end up in the same state as Fyrien."

"Thanks." There was a long pause. "Fine. Amr, Fleur? What are your thoughts. Would you be happy to share your ceremony with Artie and Elaine or would you prefer two separate events one after the other?"

Amr shrugged and looked to Fleur who smiled brightly.

"It would make me very happy to share my wedding with two of my very best friends," she replied and Artie felt tears prick his eyes. Silently hating himself for every rude comment he'd made about his future sister. She felt Elaine move beside him; her hand reaching over to grab the pendant beneath his shirt and her silent voice quickly entered his head, gently soothing him.

"Dont feel guilty, she knew how you felt but it didn't bother her. She knew that you didn't understand her but she could see your heart." Artie turned to her curiously. "She would never hate you, she doesn't know how to. She loves you just as everyone loves you." She raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Is it any wonder that I get so jealous."

He moved his hand towards her pendant, disguising the move by gently kissing her cheek.

"There's nothing to be jealous of," he replied. "The only people I truly love are in this room, but I gave my soul to you long before you bonded yours to mine. Never forget that."

~o~0~o~

A/N: I've had this roughly written for a while now and, although the next bit isn't ready yet, I know what I'm going to write and am confident I can share it soon - especially now I've got most of 'An Unexpected Vision' written. Tbh, I just want to get cracking with that long to-do list and try to make it a little bit shorter.

I admit that I am a bit torn about exactly how much more to write on this relationship and story. I had been planning just one more M rated chapter but now think I could easily pad that out and make it two more. This world and this pairing does seem quite popular but I'd love to know your thoughts.