Snaptshots: Going Home Ch 2

AN: Slash ahead! Also, one thing that's been nagging at me… the show often spoke of Merlin's potential, and how he hadn't reached it yet. But they never said how. So, having been one with the universe, I would think, would count as a pretty big and sudden boost! So, tidying up that little loose end...

MERLIN101010101010MERLIN

Arthur scrubbed his hand over his face. "The whole city?"

Durstan nodded sadly. "People are terrified, but the damage was minimal. There are rumors of an attack, but both Dumnonian soldiers and Camelot Knights are doing their best to manage those. There isn't much they can do, however, around the knowledge that Emrys and Princess Mithian had... an argument... and Nemeth soldiers are under orders to remain silent on the affair."

Artemis shook his head. "No, that kind of power shouldn't be possible anymore. He purged the source of magic, balanced it, in his fight with Morgana. No one should be capable of such a thing anymore."

Gwen looked at him, nodding confirmation to the Prince's report. "The whole city, Artemis. I was in the market getting some last minute things before we left. Maybe because he was accessing other magics when he did it? It put him in a bubble of some kind?"

Artemis considered. "He may have used himself as an anchor for it, a stabilizer." He shook his head in frustration. "We'll likely never know. What he did was impossible… the how will be lost forever, since Arthur has blocked off access to that information. If he's unstable, however, and giving off that kind of power… it's best we leave sooner rather than later."

Arthur nodded in agreement. He'd been thinking much the same thing. "I'll get Ian to start packing our things. Merlin and I will leave first thing in the morning. The rest can catch up. With me gone, there shouldn't be any reason for more delays. Between the binding spell fiasco and now this, I can't think of anyone who would object, no matter what business remains unfinished."

"I'll accompany you, Sire. I'm all but ready to go," Durstan put out. "As are most of my men."

Arthur sighed. "Gwen, I'll leave you in charge of splitting up who's going back to Camelot, and who is coming with us to Dumnonia. Join us as quickly as you can, but Artemis is right. Until we know what's going on with him, the further away from people we can get the better. And Gwen, find out what exactly Mithian said to him, word for word, to set him off. Artemis-"

"Sire!" Ian called from the bedside, where he'd been changing the cooling cloth. "He's waking."

Arthur moved immediately, taking Ian's place on the side of the bed, looking at the manservant. "Start packing our things, Ian. We leave in the morning."

"As you wish, Sire."

"Arthur?" Merlin groaned, wincing as he lifted his head to sit up.

"Hey, no, don't move yet," Arthur instructed gently, putting a hand on Merlin's chest to keep him down.

"What happened?"

"What do you remember?"

Merlin closed his eyes, leaning back into the pillow, trying to think beyond the ache in his head. He remembered being irritated, remembered yelling at Ian, then talking to… his eyes flew open. "Mithian! Oh god! Did I hurt her?" he looked at his lover in a panic, reaching to grab his arm. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine, Merlin," Arthur soothed, swallowing down the anger that came with her name. "So, you don't remember what she said to you?"

Merlin frowned, his hand automatically going to the place on his arm she'd bruised. "I do. She has a right to her anger, Arthur." He had to believe that. He felt his magic swirl lazily inside him, and clamped it down quickly. He had to believe it! It was too dangerous not.

"Merlin," Arthur growled in frustration. "You just about destroyed the entire city because of how far she pushed you."

Merlin's eyes were wide. "I… the whole city?" He remembered Arthur shouting about how he'd bring down the whole castle, remembered being so out of control that he knew with every fiber of his being devastation would follow if he wasn't stopped. Where had all that power come from?

Arthur nodded seriously, his face lined with concern. "What is going on with your magic?"

"I… I don't know. I didn't call for it, Arthur… I'd never hurt her with magic, no matter what she said or did. It just came… and it was so strong… and her words were so close to Agravaine's. I swear, I didn't call for it! It was trying to defend me from the mess in my mind."

Arthur put a gentle hand on his arm, moving the other back and forth across the chest it was still resting on. "Calm down, Merlin. It's alright."

"Merlin," Artemis called from beside the bed. "Have you used it at all since the binding spell?"

Merlin shook his head. "Not much. Little things, here and there. Things have been quiet. There's been no need for it." He avoided the old druid's eyes. He tensed when Artemis moved closer to him, but relaxed when the physician pushed his head to the side, inspecting the minor wound at the back of it, wincing when he touched it.

Arthur saw the wince, hanging his head a little with guilt. "I'm sorry, Merlin, I had no choice."

"You did the right thing, Arthur. A moment more and I would have lost complete control." Merlin grabbed his lovers' hand reassuringly. "Thank you!"

"This will heal quickly enough," Artemis nodded. "Like most scalp wounds, it bled a lot but very little damage was done. Arthur was very precise with his strike."

"I'm fine," Merlin grinned, moving to sit up again- this time being stopped by two hands.

"I would, to be safe, recommend some rest," Artemis insisted, catching Arthur's eyes with his own before taking a potion bottle from his robes. "Drink this, it will help relieve the pain."

Arthur stayed with the warlock until he fell back asleep, then moved to join the others still standing on the other side of the room. "What is it?"

"He lied to me just now, when I asked about his magic," Artemis replied instantly.

Arthur nodded, sighing. "I know. He lied to me for years. I know every tell he's got. The lie came in the reasons for not using it, not the answer that he hasn't been."

"Sire," Durstan started hesitantly. "We think he's afraid of it. I've seen it before in exceptionally talented sorcerers, when their talents grew beyond their mastery of it. And Gwen tells me this is not the first time it's happened."

Arthur shot a look at Gwen, which she stubbornly met. "That was different. Before he was afraid it was evil, and even that was mixed with a whole lot else that was going on in his mind. I'm not sensing anything near that this time, now that I've calmed down enough to use the Bond. I feel fear, yes, and a genuine mess of emotions taking him back to those attacks, but not darkness, not like that."

"When he expelled the magic after the Binding spell, I believe it gave him a small taste of the new level of his power, and it frightened him," Artemis explained. "He's accustomed to his power growing a little at a time as he worked to protect you, and Camelot. The battle with Morgana, however, accelerated his potential greatly. His magic has always worked on an instinctive level, and never more so than during that fight and the moments that followed it. I don't think he truly understood what he was Calling for, knowing only that it would come to him. While still only a fraction of what he wielded that day, his abilities now are considerably more than they were prior. If Mithian pushed him into a position of having to fight both his memories and his power, it would have reduced his sense of control even more."

"So, what do we do?" Arthur asked impatiently.

"Let me work with him while we're on the road, Sire," Artemis requested. "He needs to learn to trust it again, to trust that Emrys will not harm anyone he loves. I fear that is very much at the root of this. He sees Emrys and himself as two separate beings, which may once have been true. Those moments when he transcended however, the two became one. He must learn to reconcile that."

"And you think you can teach him?" Arthur answered doubtfully.

"All I ask is that you don't interfere with my methods," Artemis nodded. "I can't promise they will be pleasant and you have a tendency to try and protect him, sometimes even from what he needs most."

Arthur took a deep breath, then offered a short nod of agreement. "I'll give it a chance, but Artemis- if he asks sincerely for it to stop, I will put an end to it. And I suggest you remember how dangerous he is when he feels cornered."

"He nearly leveled a city by accident, Arthur. I don't think it's possible for him to be any more dangerous than he already is."

MERLIN1010101011011010MERLIN

"Are you insane?" Merlin's furious yell carried from the woods behind them, and Arthur rolled his eyes.

"If that old druid isn't careful, Merlin's going to set him on fire just to spite him," he groaned.

Three nights so far of this 'training' since they'd left Nemeth. Three nights and two days of the Physician constantly pushing at Merlin, forcing him to use his magic. Three nights of watching his lover's temper get worse and worse.

He knew what Artemis was trying to do, understood it was necessary, but he was starting to think the druid was pushing Merlin too far. The warlock was a well of patience and understanding, but most vicious when backed into a corner. If the druid continued this way, something in the younger man would lash out. He'd tried to warn Artemis of that. Given how things were progressing, he didn't think Artemis had listened. He jumped when the sound of a tree exploding came from the area the two men were in.

"Relax, Mate," Gwaine reassured. "I'm sure Artemis knows the risks of pissing off our warlock."

"Maybe," Arthur nodded, glancing backwards. "But I doubt he understands the risks of pissing off Merlin!"

Leon and Gwaine burst out laughing, along with some of the other Camelot Knights. Prince Durstan sat looking very confused, so Arthur had to sit and try not to blush as the two recounted several of Merlin's revenge-against-Arthur stories to him.

It was about two hours later- with the Dumonian looking truly horrified- that Merlin came tearing through the brush, heading directly for the tent that was set up off to the side for added privacy. A moment later, Ian was violently shoved out of it.

Gwaine raised his eyebrows at his King. "Well, good luck with that mate," he grinned.

"Thanks," Arthur spit back as he rose, sighing.

MERLIN1010101010101010MERLIN

Arthur frowned when he ducked into his tent, watching the warlock pacing furiously back and forth. Unfortunately, not an uncommon sight these days. Merlin was constantly on edge, constantly trying to battle what was inside him even while Artemis pushed. What's more, the warlock was aware of it, and hated it in himself, and was angry at his constant failures. His lover was a coiled spring, needing only the barest touch of pressure to come apart. For all that, the tree had exploded. Arthur hated everything about this, but progress was, apparently being made.

"Difficult session?" he asked gently, sitting on the cot.

Merlin spun on him. "That man is trying to drive me crazy! Or kill himself! Or all of you! He has no idea what he's toying with and he won't listen!" Merlin huffed in fury. "If he throws one more useless proverb at me about the center being the calmest point, I'll show him just how messy his center is! At this rate, I won't even feel guilty about it."

"He's trying to help you." Arthur kept his voice soft, but he knew... something had to give sooner rather than later. He could see the signs. Had seen it in Knights before. He needed to think of a way to take the edge off, or things would go very badly for both his friend and lover.

"I don't need that kind of help!" Merlin snarled at him.

Arthur was up in a heartbeat, grabbing the younger man by the shoulders. "Then what kind of help do you need? If you can tell me, Love, I'll put an end to this instantly." He could feel the younger man trembling with rage. "But you do need help."

"I... I…"

"Anything you need, just say it," Arthur murmured, leaning over to swipe his lips lightly along the porcelain throat. "Anything"

Merlin growled then, grabbing his face to force it upwards, reaching to crush his mouth against furiously moving lips. He used his thumb on his lovers' chin to force Arthur's mouth open, thrusting his tongue inside and demanding a response Arthur was only too happy to give.

Arthur wrenched his mouth away, gasping, his head falling back in pleasure when Merlin immediately went for his throat, nipping along it, testing his boundaries with each nip being firmer than the last. When he received nothing but encouragement, he bit hard on Arthur's jaw, groaning when it was allowed.

Arthur moved his hands to their laces, but a flash of gold jerked his arms behind his back, an invisible rope securing his wrists together, and he couldn't stop the growl that came from him, his arousal launching to new heights as his own primal need was suppressed and restrained.

Merlin stumbled back a step then, looking horrified by what he'd done. Before he had a chance to undo it, Arthur surged forward, grabbing his lips with his own, rolling his hips against the warlock's to show his own arousal hadn't dimmed with it. "It's alright, Merlin," he murmured. "I trust you." He tested the strength of the bonds, shivering when he found there would be no escaping them. "Keep going," he begged. "I trust you," he repeated.

He used his tongue to grab at Merlin's again, tangling it with his own, groaning when the boy moved against him once more, somehow completely submitting in the molding of his graceful frame to his own bulk and simultaneously having complete control as he devoured his restrained King.

The combination hardened him even further, and he was relieved when Merlin's eyes flashed again, their clothing ripping away from both of them. Arthur gasped as they were suddenly skin against skin, and that gold he was so absolutely in love with seeing brightened his lover's eyes. He couldn't stop himself from bucking his girth against the hips pressed tightly to his, shuddering at the boys' own moan.

Merlin turned them, sitting Arthur down on the edge of the cot. Grabbing his length, he wiped it across Arthur's lips as he stood in front of him, calling out when the King didn't hesitate to open his mouth. Merlin thrust gently in, grabbing the back of Arthur's head to steady himself as his lover eagerly swallowed him, hollowing his cheeks to create suction, taking him even in further than he'd originally intended, grunting when he hit the back of his King's throat.

Arthur felt those hands in his hair, humming in appreciation when they forced him to speed up, to suck harder, felt his throat being bruised once he'd encouraged it. He desperately wanted to touch himself, could feel himself leaking, but a subtle shift of his shoulders told him for all the sable head was tossed back in pleasure, the warlock hadn't lost any of his concentration on the spell. His arms were still bound tightly, and that knowledge along with the incredible length being harshly thrust in and out of his mouth as Merlin took his own pleasure from him made him cry out around it as he spilled onto himself.

Merlin gave his own cry when he saw his lover's release. He removed himself, pushing the man back, leaning down to capture those swollen lips again even as they panted for air. He deliberately put weight on his King, forcing him to feel the arms still locked behind him in the hard muscles of his back, the pull on those broad shoulders. Felt Arthur raise his leg and press it against him, trying to get any sense of touch he could. Without hesitating, Merlin leaned over to the inner thigh, flicking his tongue against it, then made sure his teeth left a deep impression in the tender skin, enjoying Arthur's howl of mixed pain and pleasure.

Punishment dealt, he rose again, left bite marks all along Arthur's collarbone, marking with teeth and sucking everywhere his lips touched. He saw the hardened pink of Arthur's nipple, and couldn't stop himself from raking his teeth across it, thrilled with feeling his lover's body arch against him as he did so, his other hand moving toward the other, pinching it and giving a solid pull.

He shivered when he felt Arthur's renewed arousal bucking into him. Gods he loved this man! His strong King, so willing to give anything he asked. Unable to resist, he leaned over, giving the muscular side of his golden god an aggressive bite.

"Oh Gods yes!" Arthur cried out, the bite followed by soothing lips whispering against the sensitive skin. He wanted desperately to touch the younger man, struggling a little against the ties at his wrists. He tossed his head when his lover raked surprisingly sharp nails over his chest, creating deep red welts as they went, the sting of it bringing him close to the edge again. "Yes!" he hissed.

He felt Merlin grab his shaft, and he shook his head. "Take me, Merlin," he grunted. "Or release me." He needed more, and he was content to get it either way the warlock chose. He groaned when he felt those long fingers enter him easily, already relaxed from his earlier release. He was frustrated with the gentle care the warlock was taking with this and moved his hips, thrusting those fingers deeper into him.

He felt the sweat on his skin sting in the marks his lover had made, and he desperately wanted to feel that sting in the stretch. Merlin, bless him, was always slightly afraid of hurting him, but he wanted the aggression that the warlock had been doling out. "Now, Merlin," he pleaded.

Hesitating only a moment, Merlin lined himself up, then entered swiftly, surprised at how easily his lover took him. He panted as he tried to wait a moment, but Arthur took it from him by moving his hips upward, sinking him in even further.

"AH Yes!" Arthur growled out, desperately creating sensation by pushing his arousal against Merlin's abdomen, crying out in frustration when Merlin arched his uniquely flexible body in such a way as to bend away from the contact without losing any depth in his penetration. He couldn't stop the jerk of his body, only just holding back another climax, as the boy reached down and gently slapped his jewels harshly in retaliation. "AH!"

Merlin drew himself out until only the tip of him remained, then thrust back in, hard, crying out when Arthur begged him for more. He repeated it until he was driving himself in and out as hard and fast as his body could go, feeling his own release mounting. "Arthur," he panted, asking. He could feel his King holding back on his release, could feel how ready he was to go over the edge.

"More, Merlin," Arthur demanded, knowing what he wanted to feel, determined to hold off until he got it. Merlin pulled out then, his eyes flashing gold, releasing the ties around Arthur's wrists, keeping a steady grip on Arthur's rounds to prevent him from reaching out to touch, a firm tug a not so subtle reminder of the consequences when he'd tried. Once the King was turned over and on all fours, Merlin didn't hesitate in ramming himself back in, sinking fully to his base. "MERLIN!" Arthur cried out, finally getting the combination of impact and strength he'd been craving. "Yes!"

Encouraged, Merlin set a punishing pace, Arthur surging back to meet his thrusts hard enough that there would likely be bruises in the morning. The warlock stretched a hand out and raked his nails along the powerful back even as he continued his barrage, changing his angle to hit that sweet spot inside.

Arthur arched his back into those nails, his full body shuddering with the sensation of it. "Ah! Again!" The second time those nails drew blood, he was sure, and it drove him completely over the edge to a violent completion, calling out Merlin's name as he spilled, his entire body jerking with the strength of it.

Merlin fell over with him, spilling deeply inside as he cried out, leaning in so deep his forehead was against his King's marked back, riding out the waves of Arthur's still spasming body until his King was utterly spent. The shuddering release seemed to take all of his pent up rage with it. He withdrew and let his body collapse next to Arthur's, struggling to calm his breathing.

"By the gods, Merlin," Arthur breathed in satisfaction, rolling over so that he was flat on his back, groaning as the welts moved against the sheet, and he purposely rolled his shoulders to feel the pleasant soreness of them. He looked over, and delighted in the view. Reaching out an arm, he pulled his still shaking lover over to him, enjoying how the long body fit perfectly against his. He loved feeling the boy ride out the aftershocks against him.

He shivered as he felt those long fingers curiously explore the welts they had left on his chest, brushing lightly over deep bite marks, as if just discovering them for the first time. The thought that the boy had made them purely on instinct, without being consciously aware of the damage, made his belly burn all over again. "Careful," he warned. "Or you won't get any sleep tonight. I'm close enough to go again as it is."

"I don't know…" Merlin shook his head against him. He knew, of course, that his lover enjoyed it rough, but he himself had never gone that far. Never gone beyond a few light bites. He wasn't sure what had possessed him to not only so severely mark the man, but also bind him! He reached down and fingered the deep impression on his King's thigh. Never gone that far!

"Do you feel better?" Arthur asked genuinely, shuddering at the sting of the touch. "Because if that was all you needed, I might deliberately get Artemis to rile you up again."

"I feel guilty," Merlin answered honestly. "I don't like hurting you. I don't know why I did."

Arthur huffed, took Merlin's hand and placed it on his girth, which was already semi hardened once more. "Does that feel like pain? Merlin, that was… intoxicating." He groaned when those fingers wrapped around him, mixing with the recent visual of his lover using him for his own pleasures. "To see you taking like that…" he panted, automatically moving his hips in time with the hand pumping him.

Arthur closed his eyes, deliberately shifting himself so the welts on his back shifted the sheets underneath, feeling the burn of them, enjoying it. "Ah! Oh yes," he grunted, wanting that hand to move faster but understanding Merlin needed this to be gentle. It didn't matter. It wouldn't take much this time. All of the recent marks mixing with sweat provided an overall soreness that he was riding right along with Merlin's firm grip.

This time he could touch, and he ran his fingers lightly over the scarred back, and up the sensitive sides, gasping when he could feel the shivered response to his touch against him. Every inch of his abused skin was still on fire and the slightest brush was fueling it. He moved his head, taking a hold of Merlin's lips, using his fingers to gently trace his jaw, then run down the elegant throat.

Merlin's moan against his lips was his undoing and he arched, spilling again over the hand that milked every drop from him, even as Merlin swallowed his cry, forcing him to breathe through his nose as he rode out another climax. Held him there until he stopped shuddering, until his breathing was no longer panting.

Finally pulling back, Arthur ran his fingers over those fine cheek bones. "You were exquisite in your beauty, Merlin, in the taking," he whispered reverently.

Merlin blushed, reaching for a towel to clean his hand. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about you taking your tunic off in public for a few days," he chuckled. "I can get you a salve from Artemis. He's used to getting them for me when you get a little rough. Just be careful about undressing in front of Ian. Not that he'd gossip, of course, but he more than capable of giving entire lectures with a look."

He missed Arthur's arched eyebrow when he leaned over to toss the soiled rag now that they were both cleaned up.

The next morning, Merlin stretched as he woke, disappointed to find himself alone, but not surprised. Arthur often let him sleep in when they were on the road, especially since all he had to do was get himself dressed. Ian looked after anything else. He appreciated it. Especially today. It was the first morning he'd woken not dreading the day ahead since they'd left, and he honestly wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Most days he woke on edge, finding it more and more difficult to control his temper as Artemis pushed him too far the night before. This morning he felt infinitely more balanced. He hadn't lied- he did feel immensely guilty for hurting his lover. But during… during had been different. The more Arthur could take, the more he'd pushed. In the light of day, he felt his guilt increase. Arthur had taken every bit of his aggression and thoroughly enjoyed it, it seemed. It certainly wouldn't hurt the man to leave his shirt on in public for the few days it would take for the marks to heal. But there was a part of him that wondered… Arthur could never deny him anything, and in a way he had asked. Had he truly enjoyed it, or merely tolerated it because Merlin had needed it? His lover was more than talented enough to 'perform' regardless of circumstances, so that wasn't enough to go by.

"Good morning, My Lord," Ian greeted, knowing by now it was best to announce his presence as quickly as possible. Merlin had reacted badly in the past to being startled on waking. He picked up the ripped clothing, shaking his head but didn't say a word.

"Hmmm, good morning, Ian," Merlin replied. He sat up, lifting his nose to smell the air. "Is that breakfast?"

"Indeed it is, your Highness. And if you want some, you should probably hurry. The amount those Knights can eat and still stay fit astonishes me!"

Merlin chuckled as he dressed quickly. "Believe me, I know. I used to make double before I realized they will eat until the end of the pot, no matter how much is in it!"

He ducked out of the tent, looking down as he adjusted the front laces on his tunic, jumping and looking up in surprise when the camp suddenly erupted in applause and wolf whistles.

His mouth dropped in shock as there, in the middle of camp- completely shirtless- was Arthur, every welt, scratch, and bite mark proudly on display as he ate his breakfast, grinning and easily joking with the other Knights.

Merlin just about died on the spot when his King threw him a wink!