Author: LadyFromPoland

Disclaimer: I don't own "Merlin". It is a TV show which belongs to BBC.

Warnings: SLASH

English is not my mother language.

I think that that chapter is quite important for the whole story. Enjoy!

„Tale as old as time..."

Chapter 13
Changes

Merlin was bedridden, however he was no longer in danger. When he told Arthur that he was bored, prince brought a several books to him. The boy couldn't really complain. Arthur was very caring. He didn't behave like a master any more, but like a true friend.

The funniest thing was that the prince didn't let the others do lots of things for the boy. Arthur wanted to be the only one who read books to Merlin, gave him hot cups of tea and even fed him.

The dark haired boy liked that new side of prince's personality. He loved spending all that time with Arthur. It seemed to be a beautiful dream. Merlin didn't think about his mother those days. He was way too happy to bother about anything. Arthur filled his whole time and everything that didn't concern him, seemed to be an illusion.

"I'd like to get up," Merlin said two days after the memorable morning.

Arthur looked at him, shaking his head. "It's still too early," he told his friend.

"But Arthur!" The boy made a puppy face. "Are you going to make me stay in bed till the end of my life?"

"Not so long," the prince assured him. "But you should rest a few days."

Merlin didn't look pleased.

"Oh, Merlin..." Arthur sighed. "You were really ill. You could actually die! We cannot let this happen again."

"I know, I know..." the boy said sadly. "But I'm sick of that bed!"

"Don't ask me, Merlin." Arthur wanted to say it firmly but he didn't succeed. "Gaius would kill me!"

"If he found out," Merlin reminded him. "And he will not. Besides are you afraid of the clock?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"I cannot," Arthur said quickly. Then he remained silent for a while.

Merlin watched him very carefully, waiting for the answer.

"Okay," the prince finally spat it out.

The boy grinned at him. "You're wonderful," Merlin spoke before he thought.

"However it all will happen with my rules," Arthur told him.

"What rules?"

"First of all, where do you want to go?" the prince asked his friend.

Merlin thought a while. "I miss the library," he admitted. "I'm glad that you brought me some books. I really appreciate it. But it's not the same."

"Very well. We will go there," Arthur agreed.

"Thank you!"

"However..." He looked directly at Merlin. "You will not walk on your feet."

The boy blinked. "Then how can I get there?"

This time Arthur grinned. "It's easy," he said. "I will carry you."

oOoOo

Merlin and Arthur decided to make that little trip in the evening. Gaius wasn't supposed to appear until the morning so they thought that it was the best time.

"Let's go," Arthur said, coming up to Merlin's bed.

"I really think that I can go without your help," the boy told the prince. He feared that carrying would be awkward.

"No, you cannot." The blonde shook his head.

"I'll show you..." Merlin was stubborn and quite fast as for an ill person. He slid off the bed before Arthur could do anything.

The boy stood a while. He really wanted to prove that he had enough strength. However after a few seconds, he started teetering. Luckily, Arthur stood right by his side and he helped Merlin to sit on the bed again.

"You see!" the prince said. "You need my help."

The youth rolled his eyes but eventually he agreed, nodding his head.

"Couldn't you obey me from the very beginning?" Arthur asked the boy.

Merlin didn't answer that question.

"Come on." The prince smiled at the boy. "I'm not going to bite you."

Merlin thought about his dream. Arthur had actually bitten into his neck in that dream. That small thought didn't really help him.

The fair haired man leant forward. "Grab me by my neck and hold it firmly," he told Merlin.

The boy looked at him uneasily but he did as he was said. Then Arthur grabbed his knees and raised him, straightening.

Merlin's body clung to Arthur's. The boy could almost hear the beating of prince's heart. It took his breath away.

The young men didn't move for a while, watching one another. They didn't think that that situation was awkward and it made them wonder.

"Is it comfortable?" Arthur asked finally.

"Quite," Merlin answered shortly. He didn't want to comment on prince's muscles. They were rather hard but still they made Merlin feel safe. "Let's got to the library."

"Let's go then," Arthur agreed and started walking slowly towards the door. Of course he couldn't move as fast as always but he was able to go faster. The point was that he didn't want to. Arthur liked the closeness of Merlin's body and he wasn't going to let it go too soon.

oOoOo

The library looked as always but Merlin was delighted anyway. He missed the very special atmosphere all around that books.

Arthur put the dark haired boy tenderly on their favourite carpet. Merlin felt odd when he lost the warmth of prince's body. It seemed to be as if without Arthur he was incomplete.

"Are you happy now?" Arthur asked, sitting by Merlin's side.

The boy bestowed the smile on him. "I am," he said.

The prince returned the light smile. He wasn't sure what he should do next. Arthur didn't want to insult Merlin by accident. He started feeling something strange in his stomach, something like fluttering, and he didn't understand that. It made him think about Merlin. Besides it wasn't really so much odd. Recently the prince had been thinking about Merlin all the time.

Arthur realised that the boy was staring at him. "What?" he asked.

"We're in the library," Merlin told him slowly.

"Yeah... I know." The prince didn't understand what his friend meant. It made him feel like the last idiot.

Merlin laughed lightly. It was a very pure laughter. "Could you bring me some book?" The youth explained.

"Oh..." Arthur spat it out. He cleared his throat. "Sure."

The fair haired man stood up and walked towards one of the bookcases. Merlin watched him all the time and prince felt that gaze. It really didn't help him.

"You seem to be a bit nervous," Merlin told Arthur when the older man sat on the carpet. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely fine," the blonde assured him. It was a lie but prince couldn't tell Merlin that he was the one who made him nervous.

Merlin nodded and looked at the title of the book. It was a collection of fairy tales.

"If you don't like it, I can bring the other book. I only thought that it can be relaxing..." Arthur said to him.

"It's a great idea," Merlin whispered.

"Really?" The prince flushed a bit. He liked compliments from his friend but they made him feel confused.

"Read for me," Merlin asked Arthur.

The blonde looked into his eyes. They were so beautiful. He just couldn't say no.

Arthur started reading the first story, later the second and the third... Merlin lost count.

"I think that it's enough for today," the prince said.

The boy nodded, sighing. "You're right. But... it reminded me about something."

"What is it?"

"My mother read me fairy tales when I was a child," Merlin said. "I'm sorry," he added after a few seconds.

"Why are you sorry?" Arthur asked him.

"I shouldn't have mentioned my mother. You don't..."

"That's fine, Merlin." The prince understood. "You can freely talk about your mother. It doesn't hurt me." Arthur smiled sadly. "I'm not sure but..." he started.

"Yes?"

"I have a feeling... a blurry memory. I cannot even be sure if it really happened..." Arthur reminded silent for a short moment. "But I think that my mother read me some storied too."

Merlin touched gently prince's hand. He wanted to give him some support. The boy knew that it was probably nothing but somewhere deep inside he also hoped that that little gesture mattered.

"I think that you should come back to your bed." Arthur broke that magic silence.

"Let's stay a while longer," Merlin asked him.

"If Gaius saw that..."

"But he doesn't." The youth smiled at the prince sweetly. "Just give me a few minutes. I'd like to look at that books carefully. I don't even know when I see the library again."

Arthur had no choice and gave up. "Only a while," he said.

"Thank you."

The prince thought that Merlin thanked in a very lovely way. He was glad that the boy had no idea that he had such an effect on him.

"You said that you want to look at the books carefully, right?" Arthur asked and Merlin nodded. "The carper doesn't seem to be the best place... I can carry you all around the library," he dared to say.

Merlin blinked. "You could?"

"Of course."

Then Arthur raised the boy and their bodies seemed to be even closer than before.

Merlin spent the first minute watching the books all around him but eventually he focused his gaze on the prince. Arthur didn't turn his gaze away from the boy. His pace became slower.

The young men felt as if there was no world all around them, as if the time stopped. They looked into each other's eyes. Merlin just couldn't help thinking that Arthur's eyes were truly amazing. It scared him but he thought that the prince was very special. That scars seemed to be nothing when he thought about Arthur's beautiful inside.

Their hearts beat faster and faster with every next second. It was so unreal but still it was really happening. There was a strong bond between that youths. They didn't know when it had created but it truly existed.

The light was dim because the wood in the fireplace started slowly burning down. But they were glad. The less light was all around them, the more they dared to cling to each other.

Arthur slid through the room as if he was dancing. Actually, it was some kind of silent dance.

The prince wanted it to last forever but he knew that he would do something stupid. Arthur wasn't going to ruin good relations with Merlin by some silly motion.

"You had your few minutes," he whispered.

"Yeah..." Merlin was too amazed to say something else.

"I'll carry you to your chamber," Arthur decided.

The boy was only able to nod lightly.

Since that day there was something different in their relations. That evening changed more than any of them could then suppose.

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