Dancing: The Devil's Sport

A/N: Yes, being Satan, I have inserted myself into the story via the title. Yay for me. We've had a lot of death making this story very dramatic and now we'll have no bad guys, or fate being a bitch just the boys in their own way. Sadly, I'm going to break their hearts. Satan, remember? This is happy at first but turns quite angsty. Ah well. I might swear in this too, I forget though. Enjoy and don't forget to review x

Rattling on the door with her knuckles, Hunith smiled at Will, handing him a tankard of ale,

"They've begun," she told him, watching as he eyes lit up in excitement. He tore from the walls of his wooden tomb of a house, dashing outside into a world of celebration, laughing in glee. Like a kid in a candy factory.

The festivals had finally arrived after so many months of rain, icy winds and waiting. The harvest had been brought in and tables were covered with the overspill of the season's food. Music boomed through the air, adding a rhythm to the deafening chatter as everyone in the village gathered happily, laughing and joking on a bright summer's eve. People danced in various ways – loud and drunk, gentle and affectionate and some even on their own, out of time with the music but laughing none the less.

The hovering mood of happiness was intoxicating. Everyone smiled. The sun fell into the horizon idly, his stomach full and his cheeks wide, as he made way for his lady of the night. The sky darkened with his exit, elegant lanterns that twisted around the banners lighting the whole village.

Will stared at the food, eyes wide,

"Now this is my version of paradise!" he exclaimed, falling down on the bench next to Merlin, who chuckled and watched his friend dive in greedily.

……………………

Tapping her son's shoulder, Hunith indicated with her eyes to Will. The red head was sat on his own on the same bench, slumped over with his head in his hands, watching the people dancing. And looking miserable. He was watched by one person in particular, or so it seemed.

Mary-Sue was one of the prettiest in the village. With her long golden locks that were always tied up with bright bows and her piercing hazel eyes, she could easily win the gaze of any man. With her smile that melted the soul and laughter that truly was angel-song, she could easily win any man's heart too.

Dropping down next to Will, Merlin commented,

"You should ask her to dance". He spoke in a gentle, low tone so only Will would hear. He red head turned to look at him, clear confusion in his eyes. Why had Merlin told him to do that if…

"Oh, no!" he chuckled, "I'm not looking at her! I'm just watching them dance…" The warlock smiled, his eyebrows raised and his eye teasing. William threw his hands up in defeat, eyes wide with disbelief, "Honestly! I wasn't!" Merlin nodded, a smile still bright on his face. Patting his friend's shoulder, he slowed his words down,

"Whatever you say Will". Dropping his hands onto the table in defeat, Will sighed. And people wondered why he was an attention seeker. No body listened to the idiots. Yet, the idiots were always the cleverest.

"Anyway," mumbled Will in the same low tone Merlin used, "I don't know how…" Silence. After his words finally sunk in, Merlin's eyes bulged and fell onto the table in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. Literally, he threw his head back with the chuckles. The tips of his ears turning scarlet, Will punched Merlin while glancing around at all the people startled by Merlin's outburst and staring at the two boys. This, however, just caused the warlock to laugh more,

"No way!" Merlin shouted, and Will hushed him, hissing in his ear. Merlin continued in a whisper, "You can't dance?"

"Who the hell was meant to have taught me?" growled the red head back, eyes blazing in embarrassment and fury. Regret momentarily clouded over Merlin's eyes. He'd forgotten about their past, caught up in the moment. Unwilling to let what once was to dampen an evening that celebrated the present, Merlin patted Will on the back, beaming.

"I will teach you". The red head just stared at him, mouth slightly agape,

"You know how to dance?" he questioned, voice full of disbelief. Merlin sighed and stared at Will dangerously.

"There's something I haven't told you", Merlin said, eyes mischievous. He beckoned Will closer, checking no one else was listening. Whispering in his ear, Merlin told the boy, "I'm a brilliant dancer. Best in all Albion, in fact". Will scoffed, taking his turn to laugh,

"You? Clumsy, idiotic Merlin: a great dancer? You've got to be kidding me". Grinning devilishly, Merlin's sapphire's gleamed,

"Of course I am," he leaned closer, getting a grip of Will by the scruff of his neck, "And I will teach you". Without warning, Merlin hauled Will from his seat with unexpected strength and pulled him back into the wooden tomb of his house, snickering loudly. All those that looked on saw two boys, ripe with friendship and high in loyalty, having fun while their age still allowed it. Hunith saw her son and surrogate son, fresh with something more.

…………………………

"No, Will, left! Left foot!"

"I am!"

"Other left foot!"

"That's the right, idiot!"

"Just-ow! Will!"

"You're the one- Merlin! You clumsy-"

"Will! Ouch! My knee!"

"Hey, watch where your-argh!"

"Will!"

As far as dancing went, Merlin was actually quite graceful. It seemed he only tripped over his own feet in the day. William on the other hand, was hopeless. Merlin wasn't the best teacher he could as for, however. Whatever the reasons were, both friends ended up with bruises in the strangest of places. Will caught his foot around Merlin's leg, and both boys went tumbling down, limbs flaring and knotting together, new bruises being made.

With a groan, Will punched Merlin in the arm again; cursing and he raised himself up. He would ache in the morning without a doubt. Laughing, Merlin opened his eyes to see Will scowling at him. He said,

"You clutz!" while Merlin said at the same time,

"And they call me a clutz!" Both boys looked at each other for a moment before falling under the curse of laughter at the stupid situation. It was one of those cliché scenes in a tragic fairy tale where both the young fools were so very close to one another, literally inches away from completely touching. Time repeated itself like that day long ago in the woods before Will's life shattered before his eyes. Both Merlin and Will stared at each other, caught in the moment long after the laughter died away.

It was one of those ice-breaking moments. They could listen to their hearts, or they could go back to the ignorance that came with the fear of their feelings. It was wrong, that they knew. But how could something so wrong…feel so right. Silence lay over them, waiting for a response. It was down to them. Will glanced from Merlin's eyes to his lips again, and the warlock felt his cheeks grow hot.

Merlin chose for them. Merlin decided which way they fell off the knife edge. Merlin looked away.

There is no question about it: this is what caused the events of the future. That little action. That choice. That moment. This sent them stumbling down a path they could not return from. A path full of separation, pain and eventually, death. And, because he had no say in this choice, Will was right with his reaction.

Frowning, Will moved from above Merlin and scrambled to his feet, hand running through his hair. The warlock too rose to his feet, rubbing his elbow awkwardly. While the raven haired boy was feeling confused, startled and utterly guilty, nerves still prickling at his heart, Will was worse. The red head was enraged, his breath sharp and his temper rising. This had happened so many times; it was so frustrating! Why was this happening?

"What are we doing?" Will asked, his tone shocking Merlin. It was cold.

"Dancing," Merlin replied, chuckling through the tension. Growling, the red head turned his gaze on the warlock. It burned through his soul.

"No, I mean," he sighed, "What's are we doing? It's just…What's happened to us? There's this thing…" he struggled to put his thoughts into words, "Between us. And…we're just ignoring it? What's the point? There isn't anyone else…We've never cared what people think. Hunith knew way before us. So what's getting in the way?" He paused, as it waiting for a response, before starting again, "I-I don't know how to stop it! This…It's…It confuses me…."

"Will?" Merlin asked, voice cracked. The red head ignored him, running hands through his hair,

"No! Look…I'm sorry, Merlin. First it was my mother, then your father…This time nothing is in the way to distract us. We had our chance to finally…but you…I-I can't take this!"

Silence. Merlin looked at Will from under his eyelashes, taken aback. Somehow, deep down, Merlin knew nothing could happen between him and Will. The emotions, the bond and the loyalty were there. But…it just couldn't happen. That wasn't the way it was meant to be. He felt the pain too. Will wasn't alone. But, the red head didn't think that. Somewhere in the back of Will's mind, he heard that little voice whisper that Merlin was leading him on. Doing this on purpose. It was all some sick joke. A motive-less revenge for something.

Putting his hands up in defeat, Will made one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He shouldn't have. He would regret it soon. He would hurt more then he realised. But he did it anyway. Merlin looked at him like a charged prisoner more then a convicting judge.

"I want out".

Three words. Eight letters. Two broken hearts. Merlin gasped soundlessly, his eyes wide as he watched Will grimace. Shutting his eyes tightly for a minute, reminding himself why he allowed himself to hurt both Merlin and himself, Will turned and walked from his own home, out into the world of accusing eyes and pointing fingers. No longer would two be one. No longer would two lost souls be united in dark, together in fear of their own vulnerability. No longer would love have a place between them.

Will broke the bond.

A sob echoed up from deep in Merlin's chest, bouncing from his mouth and resounding in Will's mind. Falling to his knees, Merlin began to shake violently. How could so much change in so little time? How could it end after all that? How?

Hunith finally took her queue and came to her son's side, kneeling with him and rocking him in the place that belonged to Will. She knew the moment they walked in there what would happen. She'd sensed it. Her heart broke for her son and for Will. Feeling their pain, she sighed. Foolish boys, she thought, keeping their hearts on their sleeves.

At a time when they should have been at their strongest, they were no more. And so began the Great Quarrel.