Arthur woke up with a silent scream on his lips. His eyes darted around the room. Without a thought, he crossed to the door between him and Merlin. He knows he is allowed into his room, especially after a nightmare.
But it was as if someone was keeping him out of the room. Arthur took a deep breath. He needs Merlin at the moment, to be on his own was simply just not an option.
He pushed the door open.
"Merls?" He kept his voice low, he knows that Merlin most likely had heard him coming in. He was a light sleeper.
"Arthur, what's wrong?" Merlin was worried, it was a while since Arthur needed him in the night. Merlin whispered something and two candles flared to live. The sudden light made Arthur flinch slightly.
Merlin pushed himself from his bed. "Darling?"
"Can I stay with you please?" Arthur almost ran to Merlin but managed to keep himself from it.
"Of course Darling. What's wrong?" Merlin gently pressed the issue, it looked like Arthur had seen a ghost.
Arthur buried his head in Merlin's shoulder. "I don't kn-know i-if it was a nightmare." Arthur managed to hiccup out. Just the thought of it, made him shiver in fear. It can't be real, it just can't.
Merlin easily picked Arthur up. Just holding him close for a moment, before he moved them to bed. It was the start of winter and Arthur wasn't dressed all that warm.
When he wrapped a blanket around Arthur's shoulder, was he surprised that Arthur almost jumped out of his skin.
Arthur still hadn't started to talk, he was just clinging to Merlin as if his life depends on it.
"Darling, you are worrying me." Merlin tilted his neck slightly, giving Arthur a chance to take in his scent more.
"Mo-Morgana told m-me th-that Ut-Uther is on his way here, that he had fou-found out t-that I-I'm not in Gawant anymore." Arthur managed to tell what he had seen.
Merlin frowned slightly. It sounded like Morgana had managed to get a small connection with Arthur.
"He can't just force you back to Camelot darling." Merlin was firm. They had come a long way on saying no when Arthur wasn't comfortable with something.
"H-he w-will fi-find away," Arthur muttered into Merlin's shoulder.
"We will sharpen security around you darling. And I will talk to Morgana tonight, find out what is going on. I will try my bloody best to keep you safe. That I promise you." Merlin gently pried Arthur away from his shoulder. That he can look him in the eyes as he says it.
Arthur clings to Merlin. "Don't go please." His eyes were wide with fear, and Merlin could see that he was biting his lip hard.
"I am not going anywhere darling, I am going to stay here with you." Merlin pulled Arthur to lay down on his chest.
Arthur tried to relax again, he was safe here, he was safe. He tried to reassure himself, but he had seen the worst of Uther and nows he would do anything to make sure that he gets what he wants.
After an hour Merlin gently ran his hand through Arthur's hair. "Do you want me to put you to sleep?" Merlin generally dislikes to do it, but every once in a while was it something that was needed to be done.
"Please." Arthur sounded frustrated and scared.
"nihtslæ" Merlin's eyes flashed gold. Merlin felt Arthur's body going heavy on him, soon his breathing was deep and even.
With a sigh, Merlin closed his eyes. He forced himself to relax, it is a straining spell to keep up. But he needs to know if Morgana had sent the message or if it was only a nightmare.
The scene slowly started to change, Merlin hated a mind link for one reason and one reason alone, everything felt like a blur.
He forced himself to focus, he could feel a small charge of resistances, he gently pushed against it. He could feel it folding in on itself.
Morgana sat on a chair, looking like a queen. "Merlin." She sounded surprised to see the prince in front of her.
"Morgana, I am sorry for invading your sleep. But have you sent a message to Arthur?" Merlin kept his voice neutral.
"Yes, Uther was in Gawant two weeks ago, he just got back today. He was furious. He said he needs to Mercia as soon as possible. And then he left again." Morgana was sad.
She had seen the change herself when she had left Mercia after two months. He was happier.
"Merlin, you need to get married. Uther still had more say over Arthur, than you. If you are married you would be the legal caregiver of Arthur. There is no way to contest it under Camelot law." Morgana was slightly rushed.
She could already start to feel a strain with talking like this.
"Thank you, Morgana, I will do my best to make sure your brother is kept safe." Merlin eased away from the connection.
Merlin opened his eyes, he could feel wetness around his mouth. He knows it is blood. His hand drifted to Arthur's head.
He closed his eyes, Arthur isn't ready for something like a marriage. He knows Arthur would go through with it, just out of fear for Uther.
Without a lot of sleep the night, Merlin gently eased Arthur onto the bed, he knows he would need to wait until Arthur was awake, and they could talk about this.
Merlin walked to the door, the guard gave the prince a questing look when he stops in the door, just staring at him for a second.
"Sire?" The guard was formal.
"Inform my father that I wouldn't be able to make today's meetings, there is something that had come up. After that ask my mom to come here, please." Merlin kept his voice neutral.
With a bow, the guard left.
Merlin went back to the bed, just sitting next to Arthur, without conscious thought, he ran his hand through Arthur's hair.
His eyes showed how full of despair he was. He knows that there is always a chance of failure. That someone someway Uther would get his dirty paws on Arthur again.
Arthur woke up feeling a deeply uneasy feeling in his stomach. He sat up with a start. Merlin. Where is Merlin?
"Shh, darling. I am here." Merlin had almost jumped when Arthur sat upright.
"Merls?" Arthur was still half asleep.
"I am right here darling." Merlin smiled slightly when Arthur rubbed at his eyes. It was still early in the morning. So he wasn't surprised that Arthur was groggy.
Arthur tried to bury himself into Merlin's heat.
Merlin pulled Arthur onto his lap. "I talk to Morgana." Merlin fell silent again, he hoped that it would wake Arthur up a little bit more than he is at the moment.
Arthur froze up, he had hope that it was a simple nightmare, but the way Merlin said it, made it clear that it was more than just a nightmare.
He pulled away slightly, his hands clenched. "What did she say?"
"Is it true that he can claim you back since we are not married?" Merlin kept his voice even.
Arthur pulled back, he bit his lip in worry. "I'm not sure, Uther never taught me that laws and well weren't allowed to look it up."
"He would go on sometimes that an omega must be properly bonded, but he never gave a reason for it." Arthur pressed his face into Merlin's shoulder.
"Morgana suggested we get married as soon as possible." Merlin just tried and give Arthur comfort, he could feel him tensing up.
"But that would be up to you darling, I will try my best to make sure you are safe at all costs." Merlin was firm on it.
Getting married wasn't child's play and the last thing he wants to do is hurt Arthur even more.
"What about the wedding night?" Arthur's voice was scared.
Merlin forced himself to take a breath. "We have a ritual where we bite each other when we give our vows, nothing needs to happen that night. And I don't expect that from you darling. We will move at a pace you are comfortable."
Arthur was silent for a long time. He didn't move away from Merlin. He just sat there lost in his thoughts.
"If you will marry me, I would love to be your omega." Arthur could feel the words pressing into his throat. He knows Merlin wouldn't hurt him and at the same time, he had started to fall for Merlin.
"I will be honoured to be your alpha darling. But I want you to be sure. This lays in your hands if you feel uncertain, I want you to talk to me about it." Merlin was firm on this.
Arthur had shared some of what had happened his wedding night and Merlin didn't want him to be freaked out or hurt. He needs to know that he wouldn't be forced into anything.
"I'm sure. Scared yes, but I know you won't hurt me, Merlin." Arthur tried to hide the worry he was feeling, but he pretty sure that he was failing at it.
Merlin felt like shit. He wished that they could have moved at a more comfortable pace, but he knows that it is completely out of there hands.
