Sorry late posting again, we had to have out twenty year old dog put to sleep and I am devastated,
...
Arthur went back to Essetir as soon as he could. His family were to follow just before the wedding. When Arthur arrived at the castle it was to find preparations well advanced. He gave Merlin the photo from space which the crown prince immediately had framed and put on his wall. The talked through the changes and what was happening worldwide before Merlin asked Arthur rather timidly for him:
"How will you cope being the consort? I mean it won't upset you?"
Arthur gave his fiancé a wry grin. "From what I can access of our previous selves it balances out. After all I was King then" he paused and seeing Merlin's expression added "Look we have already gone through this. You have the power here on the island and I will lead the rest of the campaign and act as liaison between you and the rest of the world. We will work together, it isn't a matter of power. I know you will be King eventually and I really am OK with that, I never expected to be King that was my father" giving as small laugh he added "Better you than Morgana!"
Merlin let out a sigh of relief "Good, I don't want conflict between us"
"There won't be you idiot, but remember just because you wear the crown doesn't mean in our private life I won't wear the trousers! I am happy to walk one pace behind you in public, that way I can catch you when you trip over your own feet, but I intend to be the top in the bedroom, well most of the time!" Arthur said this with a grin.
Merlin grinned back "You'll have to be some of the time, that is if we intend to have children!. But joking aside I want this to work"
"Don't worry it will, I won't feel emasculated just because you have the power here, anyway you will need someone to watch your back against your cousins and that priestess" Arthur pointed out.
"You wait until you meet Morgause!" Merlin rolled his eyes "She has kept away from the capital, leaving that to Nimueh, but with the wedding coming off she has arrived here, now she is scary" Merlin admitted "She normally stays in the mountains so I don't have to have too much to do with her. Her and dad hate each other. She will be at our evening meal, along with Nimueh so you can make up your own mind about her then"
"Sounds fun, but don't forget I have Morgana as a sister I am used to scary women" Arthur pointed out.
Arthur couldn't help but think his fiancé was right later on when he met Morgause, while Nimueh was scheming and full of her own self-importance Morgause was hard as nails and gave the impression nothing would stop her getting her own way. Once the meal was finished one of the first things Morgause said was to tell Merlin that the priestesses would be in charge of his wedding and that the Caileach would also be attending and playing a part "After all your match has been prophesized for generations, it must be undertaken properly and under the strike rules of our religion"
Merlin looked at Morgause "It will be. You know my parents well enough to know that!"
Morgause looked down her nose at Arthur "But does he?"
Merlin took an audible deep breath "ARTHUR does know his role and is more than capable of his part in the ceremony"
This time it was Nimueh who smirked "Good I am glad you think so…so he will have no problem in the public consummation?"
Merlin looked at his father, who was as shocked as Merlin.
Arthur's brain had just caught up with the conversation "PUBLIC CONSUMATION!" He squawked
Morgause grinned and looked from Arthur to Merlin and smugly said "Of course, the Goddess will accept nothing else. The Prince is Emrys, you must be seen to be both mounted by the other and exchange your seed"
"And who gets to watch!" Arthur said clearly in shock.
"The King, the High Priestess's and the High Council" Morgause said with a smirk. "And of course as a Dragonlord the Prince's deflowering must be witnessed by the dragons"
Balinor butted in "That hasn't been done for hundreds of years why now?"
"The Emrys has powerful magic and is a dragonlord, nothing else would be acceptable to the triple goddess." Morgause said then she looked at Arthur "Are you saying you won't comply?"
"I didn't say that, I was surprised that's all. I'm not used to performing in public." Arthur snapped back
"The 'public' will not be there" Morgause told him "Your 'audience' will amount to no more than eight people and a dragon. Once the act has been witnessed you will be left alone. But the full rules must be followed." Morgause seemed to have great pleasure in spelling out.
"Eight" Merlin croaked "Why eight?"
Morgause looked at Balinor "Spell it out to your son"
Balinor looked very uncomfortable "The eight are myself, Nimueh, Morgause and the Caileach as well as Valliant. Cenred, the Court Physician and the Royal scribe Geoffrey. In olden times it was considered necessary before any dowry was handed over and to make sure neither party claimed non-consummation. " he looked at Morgause "I hardly think this is necessary"
"This is one thing you do not control, this is for those chosen by the Triple Goddess to decide. Morgause and Nimueh stood up as they went to leave Nimueh handed Arthur a piece of old parchment "As an outsider I leave you this, it explains in detail your duties. Should you change your mind no one will think worse of you"
After they had gone Merlin glared at his father "Did you know about this?"
Balinor looked at his son "I had an inkling but I truly didn't believe they would do it. I am sorry son, they told the truth when they said this is the one thing I have no control over" he looked at Arthur "Read that carefully my boy and I am truly sorry"
The two men walked out together and returned to Arthur's rooms. They read the document together and Merlin went redder and redder as they read. Arthur was angry more than anything.
"They actually get to watch us like some porn show! I'd laugh if it wasn't so damned embarrassing" he looked at Merlin "I just hope I can raise to the occasion as it seems to you as the child barer who has to be impregnated"
Arthur noticed Merlin was looking sick "Merlin don't let it get to you"
"But I've never…I mean I wanted my first time…Oh shit!"
Arthur leant and hugged Merlin "Don't worry we'll sort this out"
After the blonde left Merlin he went back to speak to Balinor in private "Look is there no way out of this?"
"I wish there was son. You must think the practices here barbaric, this hasn't been done for centuries." Balinor said clearly shamed by the priestesses' actions.
Arthur nodded before continuing "Merlin is devastated" he paused "You know your son is a virgin"
Balinor nodded "Of course as a Prince, magical and being able to bare children he has always been careful, not to mention that our ways make for a more chaste way of life than you may be used to" looking at Arthur he added "I assume this has a point"
"Your son means a lot to me, you surely realize this, I think it is deplorable that his first time should be so tainted. I'm not thrilled I might add but Merlin is…" Arthur waved his hands up in the air
"My son is innocent, is what I believe you are saying." Balinor looked at Arthur "It is only because I know you love each other that I am going to say this, and please don't ask me to repeat it." The King hesitated "It might be…it might be best if he wasn't so innocent on your wedding day. For his sake. But take due care and if you hurt him…" Balinor turned away and walked out the door leaving a stunned Arthur behind.
Arthur decided to sleep on what he had been told before speaking to Merlin. When he did Merlin was gob smacked "He said what!"
"I promise word for word" Arthur said. "Thinking about it all night I think he's right. The priestesses clearly have an agenda so we have to play along, so we have our wedding night early so when the time comes hopefully it will be less nerve wracking and we can pretend they are not there."
Merlin shut his eyes "I suspect father, Gaius and Geoffrey will have their eyes shut! As for Aithusa she won't care, but Cenred, Valliant and the witches won't! The two men are perverts! As to Nimueh and Morgause…"
Arthur agreed "Look reading this I believe we can get round this." He went on to explain his idea.
Merlin nodded "I'll ask Aithusa she will now and won't say anything"
"And if we have our wedding night one day early at least it will be less difficult for you" Arthur grinned "I rather like that as a new tradition"
"You would you prat" Merlin snapped, then he looked apologetic "Sorry this isn't your fault and after all you have to perform, I just lay back and think of Essetir until they are gone."
Arthur grinned "Then they will be disappointed"
A planned the men had their first night together early. For which they were both grateful. Especially Merlin who was innocent of so much. The plans were well underway for the actual wedding night. Aithusa had been consulted and agreed that their plans were within the spirit of the Priestesses' demands. As she was to be present any objections would be dealt with by her.
The wedding ceremony was wonderful and Arthur's parents and sister attended. The two men made their vows in the old religion and were hand fasted in the traditional manner. The feast afterwards was held in the room that Merlin's Crown Prince ceremony had been held so all the islanders could be present. Throughout both Cenred and Valliant both sneered at the two young men, so much so that Arthur had difficulty in not hitting them. Later as the feast finished and the two newlyweds headed to the room they were to spend the night in the council members and the King followed. They entered the room which like the last one had an opening to the outside so Aithusa could look in. Arthur gave Merlin a wink. The bed was a king sized and the observer's stood at the sides of the bed so the correct view could be obtained. Arthur and Merlin went behind changing screens to disrobe.
As they did Balinor looked at Nimueh and Morgause "I ask you once more is this necessary?"
Nimueh looked at the King clearly enjoying her power over the King. "It is, Emrys is the first to hold such powers in centuries we must be sure nothing goes amiss and that they are truly joined"
The two men walked out hand in hand and got onto the bed where Arthur leant over Merlin and kissed him. They both had simple white tunics and sleeping trousers on.
"What is the meaning of this? Disrobe" Nimueh demanded.
Aithusa spoke from her vantage point, "The Princes checked with me, what they are wearing complies fully with the ceremony" it seemed she was almost smirking as she added "The both have openings in their garments that allow the coupling to occur. You will be able to observe enough." She paused "Look in your books and you will find that this is permitted under ancient laws. Nothing says they must be bare skinned only that you can observe that this occurs."
Geoffrey who had been previously spoken to by Merlin held out an ancient leather bound book "Indeed I have the passage here and have translated it for you 'Modesty may be kept during the coupling by garments so designed to allow the view of the shaft entering the other body. No more needs to be seen.' So you see they can continue"
"Why were we not consulted?" demanded both the Priestesses
"You told us you knew the law on the matter "Arthur said from the bed, "You gave me the parchment to read" it was his turn to smirk "We have no need to provide a free peep show"
Merlin also grinned through his blushes "Now can we proceed we have our wedding night ahead."
Arthur kissed Merlin before adding "To save Crown Prince Merlin more distress he has prepared himself"
He bent and whispered to Merlin "You ready love?"
"I am" Merlin grinned back, so thankful that a full nude show was not going to happen.
It was a disappointed Cenred and Valliant and two livid high priestesses that witnessed the event that afforded them a brief glimpse of Arthur's manhood as he entered Merlin, who was led on his front hips rested on a pillow. Other than seeing Arthur move his hips and Merlin's muffled cries as he put his face into a pillow there was nothing to see, as Arthur shouted Merlin's name as he climaxed the show was over and a grinned King escorted everyone out of the room. Aithusa looked at the men "I will sleep here, with my back turned, no one will see into your bed. And I for one have no interest in the sexual activities of humans"
So started their wedding night. The garments were soon dispensed with among giggles as they commenced their wedding night proper.