Chapter 35

Gaius

'Excuse me?' I said in disbelief.

'Come on Gaius, you heard me!' Aria said impatiently, shooting furtive glances at the door as if someone would burst in any moment.

'Yes, I heard you. I was hoping I heard wrong.' I said calmly, giving her a hard look.

'Gaius…' She started.

'You should be ashamed, Aria.' I reprimanded. Honestly did she really want me to go against Merlin's wishes so she could have her way?

'I can't bring myself to be ashamed because I'm too busy worrying if he's going to die.' She hissed but I could see the pleading look in her eyes.

'Explain.' I allowed. If she had a good plan that would bring Merlin back to me unharmed… then why not?

'The sorcerer had a fluke. He found a way to bind together several enhancement spells. You know how powerful this will make him. Perhaps not as strong as Merlin, but it'll be cutting it too close. There is no way that Merlin will come back in one piece.' She said quickly.

'You want me to help you trick him into consuming stardust.' I said incredulously. I can't believe she actually has a point. 'Very well, I've seen Merlin too close to death too many times.'

'Thank you, Gaius.' She breathed, relief on her face.

'What is it you need my help with?' I asked.

'I'm going to give you a bottle of tears. You just need to come up with a story. Some kind of tonic that makes a person feel wonderful.' Aria whispered quickly as we heard footsteps.

I nodded as she flipped open my book of herbs, sitting down hurriedly. Just then the door opened and Arthur and Merlin walked in. Arthur in casual fresh clothes and Merlin still shivering in his soaking wet ones. Both froze when they spotted her.

'What's this good for?' Aria said in a light tone, pretending to pore over my book. I pretended with her.

'That's rosemary. It encourages bleeding.' I explained before looking up and greeting the two men standing in my doorway.

'Oh, hello Arthur. Hello Merlin.' Aria greeted turning around to face them. Her tone was polite but detached almost cold.

'Hello.' Both boys mumbled.

'Merlin, stop dripping all over my floor and go change before you catch a cold.' I said shooing him to his room. He seemed to come out of it then, turning away from her and marching to his room.

Arthur came and sat down opposite of Aria, opening his mouth to say something. I stifled a groan. I didn't want yet another screaming match in my quarters.

Arthur

'Aria?' I called softly.

'Yes Arthur?' She replied with a smile.

'Why are you here?' I questioned.

'The rain ruined my picnic outing and I felt like reading. Gaius has a lot of interesting books.' She said cheerily. It was weird.

'Are you still angry at Merlin?' I asked suspiciously. She couldn't have possibly gone from being angry in the morning to being fine now.

'Of course not!' She laughed. 'Why would I be?' She seemed almost far too happy.

'Okay then.' I said cutting our conversation off. That was so odd.

Merlin came out of his room, drying his hair with a towel. He looked awkward as he walked towards the table. There was no other seat but the one next to Aria. I bet she's just waiting to unleash her fury on him. She's pretending to be fine now. Wait till he sits next to her. Poor Merlin.

'Come on, Merlin.' She said, patting the bench. 'I won't bite.' She said with a smirk. That smirk had far too much an effect on Merlin. He swallowed. I admit it sounded… like desire but Merlin… Good God.

He sat down looking pleased but still quite awkward and shifty. He kept fidgeting. He was waiting for something to happen. She pushed the book she had been reading towards him.

'Maybe you can explain some. It seems very complicated.' She said, propping up one elbow on the table so she could lean her cheek into her hand.

'Complicated.' Merlin choked.

Was this really happening? Right in front of me? I looked behind me. Gaius' jaw had dropped. He was staring at Merlin. Merlin was staring rather nervously at Aria who seemed to be… enticing him. What the hell? I swear if Merlin tries anything… Aria grinned. I should really also blame Aria.

'You're right. Too complicated. Why don't we go for a walk, Merlin?' She said getting up.

Merlin stood with her and offered her his arm silently. He was still staring at her. I wanted to slap him. They walked outside and I felt even more suspicious. Aria goes from angry to happy to… I don't know what the hell was that! I faced a wide-eyed Gaius. I should probably warn him that his ward will be missing a few limbs if he does something.

'Arthur. I'm just as confused as you are. But know that Hunith has raised Merlin to be a proper gentleman.' Gaius said, trying to convince the both of us.

Aria

Admittedly I hadn't meant for that bite remark to come out the way it had. It just did and the effect it had on Merlin. Priceless. I didn't even know I could do that! This was better than the polite thing. Arthur didn't say anything as I continued. He was probably in shock. I was enjoying myself. I was enjoying myself immensely.

Merlin's weakness… a women's mischievous advances. I wanted to laugh. He was very cute when he was all shy. I could hear his heart thumping loudly. Was he actually excited? He swallowed as I flipped my hair back, holding on to him tightly. His Adam's apple moved, it was tempting. I stopped by the barrier between me and the rain. Merlin leaned over.

I turned to him then and he faced me, eyes an electric blue. So lovely. I placed a hand on his cheek and stretched up a little to press my lips to his. His scent flooded me and he tasted like lavender and honey. His arms snaked around my, pulling my body to his, pressing tightly. I slid my other hand up his chest, his tongue tracing my lower lip. He was delicious, I opened my mouth. I let my hand graze his jaw, making him shudder.

It was easy to forget that he'd hurt me. Easy to remember that I loved him. I don't know what came over me, maybe I was guilty about tricking him, maybe I was relieved my plan would work and he'd be safe. But I wanted him. I wanted him a lot. I wanted him like how a human woman would want him. I really did. And that was dangerous.

I pulled back slowly. He leaned in again, capturing my bottom between his teeth very gently. It excited me and I slowly pulled my lip back before I could lose my intelligent thought. Merlin opened his eyes, dark stormy, swirling blue. I wanted to kiss him again but there were other matters and I didn't have much resolve left because his body was still pressing against me. I loved it. But I knew he was supposed to be training for a duel.

I couldn't resist. I leaned up to press my lips against his throat. That prominent Adam's apple moved just slightly as I sucked on it. When I pulled away he was staring at me, licking his lips once. I was staring at the red mark I had left. Oops. I put my arms around his neck and readjusted his neckerchief. It still didn't sit quite right.

'Don't move too much or Arthur will see.' I warned, lacing my fingers through his.

'See what?' He asked huskily, reaching his hand to his neck.

'You can see it later. When you're alone.' I said, now that I had my senses back.

We walked back to Gaius' chambers in companionable silence. I was a bit embarrassed I left a mark on his skin. My handiwork. Oh God, I felt like one of those teasers. That mark is going to haunt me and possibly tempt me. Something must be screwing my head. Honestly I can't go around being so… wanton. I need to find Gwen and get help.

Merlin

After my training which because it was raining, was only in theory. Meaning I read plenty of books but didn't get to try the spells. I had to wait till tomorrow because Gaius didn't want me to blow up something. I was tired. And the spells were swimming with memories of my walk with Aria. Arthur had given me certain looks. I knew what those looks meant and there were no incidences after that. I walked up to my room, shutting the door.

What was wrong with me? I've never felt like that before. Not even when I was going through puberty. I was supposed to maintain her innocence. Protect my leannan's virtue. But she did start the whole thing. Something just came over me. And I was struggling with every word she said and the way she moved. And her lips were like heaven, the first time my tongue has ever been in someone else's mouth. Did I really bite her lip? Yes I did. It was soft between my teeth.

I brushed my fingers over my lips. Wow. I really did do that. I held her tight to me and she was blushing when I still held her afterwards. I remember I didn't want to let her go because her body fit mine perfectly. I hit my head, trying to knock out the bad thoughts. Mother would be ashamed. But really Aria provoked all this. I had to fight the urge to swallow when she kissed my throat and started sucking on it and she said…

My eyes widened and I bolted to my almost empty wardrobe. I flung the doors open and grabbed a mirror, tugging my neckerchief off as I did. I angled the mirror and saw it. There was a very small but very incriminating red mark there. Like a tattoo. Would it come off? When would it come off? Think, think! I can't ask Arthur. He'd kill me. I need to learn some control over myself.

Who knows women? Gwaine. But he'd encourage this even if he did know about that thing on my neck. God, it looked so innocent. But really it was a testament of what happened between us. Dangerous. Lancelot! He's getting married. He obviously knows women. I'll ask them both. I need help.