Snapshots Going Home Ch 7

AN: And yup... more slash! Lol.

MERLIN1010101010MERLIN

Arthur blinked as he woke, surprised at all he had fallen asleep again. He felt the warmth on his skin, and looked automatically to the source. His eyes widened when they took in his lover standing at the window, framed by sunlight.

Merlin was delicately beautiful, he considered. The sunlight made the porcelain skin of his bare lean muscled chest practically glow, and reflected off the dark raven locks that were determined to spike. He'd changed his trousers, was now wearing the black ones unlaced so they hung low on thin hips, showing off the dip of his back, the firm buttocks, and the long legs. He stood with his head slightly cocked to the side, showing off a swan like neck.

That was his, Arthur thought to himself even as he pushed the covers off. That absolutely stunning creature was all his! He couldn't resist wrapping his arms around the slim waist, and felt himself stir with the way the lithe frame automatically leaned into every hard pane of his own body. All his! His lips tasted a slight salt of sweat on the elegant throat, but it only made him want more.

"Hmmm, good morning," Merlin panted, tilting his head to expose even more of this throat for Arthur to access, which his King didn't hesitate to take advantage of.

"Is it still?" Arthur asked absently, entirely concentrating on his lips exploring every inch they could access.

Merlin chuckled. "It… well, it's close enough," he answered, shivering when Arthur's lips found their way to his bare shoulder. "Arthur, the door is open."

"Don't care," Arthur groaned, keeping his lips close enough that they brushed skin as he spoke. In fact, the idea seemed to excite him even more, and he trailed his fingertips along the lean muscled chest. "Are you feeling alright?"

Merlin nodded. "Fine." Arthur nipped his shoulder in rebuke. "Better," he corrected.

"Good," Arthur whispered, letting his hand move into the unlaced pants that were doing nothing to hide his lover's appreciation of his efforts. He wrapped his hand around that prize, quickly firming his hold on the waist his other arm was around as Merlin's knees buckled slightly with the contact.

"Arthur," Merlin objected breathlessly, "Window!"

"Glass is blurry," Arthur countered, grasping more firmly as he indulged in long, slow strokes. Merlin's head fell back on his shoulder as he gasped, instinctively trying to move his hips in time with the motions.

Arthur growled as he felt Merlin's backside grind into his own hips in response to his movements. He had deliberately not left room for the younger man to move much, so he could feel every twitch. He sucked the point in the crook of Merlin's throat and shoulder, delighting in the feeling of having his husband writhe against him.

"Ah! Arthur!" Merlin called out in a low voice, tossing his head in an effort to stay quiet as pleasure rolled through him.

Arthur took a quick glance at the door. It was wide open, and there were obviously guards on the outside of it. His own body blocked any view of his lover, however, and the idea of being caught out caused his arousal to flare. "Can you stay standing?" he whispered. Merlin nodded, his eyes squeezed shut and biting hard on his bottom lip to keep quiet as Arthur's hand moved steadily on his length.

Arthur removed his steadying arm slowly, testing, as he increased his pace. Confident the younger man had been telling the truth, he quickly undid the laces of his night pants, grunting as he freed his own arousal from their restraint.

"Yes, please, Arthur," Merlin whispered when he felt his lover's hardness behind him. The loose trousers were easy to push down in the back, making them slide a little further on the hips. "I'm ready," Merlin gasped.

Arthur lined himself up, and pushed slowly in, gasping when he felt just how ready his lover had been! He met almost no resistance despite not having prepared the man. "Gods, Merlin," he groaned, biting the bare shoulder to hide his cry as he fully seated himself inside the incredible and willing body.

"AH!" Merlin cried out, and Arthur quickly put his newly freed hand in between his lovers lips, thrusting sharply when Merlin bit down on it to stifle his next cry. It took him only a moment to find a timing that worked between his short thrusts and his pumping hand. Merlin's writhing body did most of the work for him and he angled his hips to let the warlock grind himself into him.

He let his lips take in that luscious throat again, moving up to the warlocks ear. He lightly nipped the lobe, then increased his pace and with his lips next to his lover's ear, growled in a low voice, "Mine!"

Merlin let out a muffled cry with it, Arthur's hand in his mouth preventing much more than grunts and groans coming through. Arthur moved faster, feeling how close his lover was. Merlin used his tongue to maneuver his hand in such a way that he could suck on the finger, causing the King to stifle his own groan by sucking hard on the pulse of his lover.

Arthur had only the sudden heat in the shaft in his hand as a warning as he roughly withdrew his finger, clamping his whole hand over Merlin's mouth as the younger man spilled essence all over his hand, arching against him, crying out loudly. He shuddered as the warmth surrounding his own girth rippled with the strength of the release, and he pressed himself as deep as he could go, biting into the abused shoulder to stifle his own cry through his climax, still milking the length in his hand, drawing it out for both of them.

As soon as they were both spent, he released Merlin's mouth, immediately replacing the steadying arm as his lover collapsed against him, his body jerking in the aftershocks, quiet little gasps escaping him as Arthur eased himself out.

He quickly wiped his hand, then turned Merlin's face, grabbing his lips, demanding entrance with his tongue. "Mine," he whispered again, this time in complete awe that it was true.

"Yours," Merlin agreed fervently.

Arthur pulled away at the sound of a throat being cleared behind them. He reached down and quickly tucked himself back, doing up his laces, watching with regret as Merlin hastily did the same, pulling up his trousers while he still had the protection of Arthur's body to block him from view.

"I do recall mentioning last night, Arthur, that there were to be none of your shenanigans!" Artemis grumped at them.

Arthur froze for a moment as Merlin let out a tinkling laughter, the King's eyes going wide with wonder at the sound. At the freeness of it. It was like the clearing all over again, light and airy and like windchimes to the ear. Happy, he realized, his heart clenching. Merlin was truly, sincerely, happy.

"Arthur!" Artemis harrumphed again, though it wasn't as harsh this time. How could it be? To hear the heavily burdened warlock let loose with that laughter was, Arthur thought, the most precious wedding gift he could have ever received. It was a special magic all in itself, soothing all it touched.

Noting they were both covered again, and that a still chuckling Merlin was steady on his own feet, Arthur turned around. "Artemis. I'm not sure I recall what you mean," he answered, unable to keep the grin off his face.

"I'm sure you don't." He nodded. "Well, let's see the boy."

Merlin was still smiling as he returned to sit on the bed, patiently sitting through Artemis's exam. The old druid frowned at Arthur on seeing the bite marks that were most definitely not made by snakes on the bare shoulder, but mentioned nothing. Satisfied, Artemis stood back. "The poison seems well out of your system. The bites will heal with time, and might be tender for a few days, but should close up fairly quickly. I would recommend a days' rest, maybe a few days of nothing overly strenuous," the old druid glared hard at Arthur's at that. The King scowled at him in return, defiantly lifting his chin.

"I'm fine, Artemis," Merlin reassured. "I knew I could do it."

"I'd still like to know how they got in here to begin with," Artemis frowned. "You were not wrong to be confident, Emrys. Between the guards and your spells…"

"Wait," Arthur interrupted, glaring at the warlock, pausing in putting on his sword belt. "What spells?" Something jingled in his memory from earlier, something he had over looked in his conversation with the druid, but he couldn't quite place it.

Merlin didn't even have the grace to look embarrassed. "I thought it an appropriate precaution to spell the windows, as well."

Arthur scrubbed his hands over his face. "Just so I'm clear, you were already maintaining a spell when you decided to take on a room full of adders, push me out the door rather forcefully, and push the poison out of your own body?"

"Minor spells, all, Arthur. It takes a lot more than what I did last night to strain me now," Merlin pointed out, waving absently, frowning as he considered something. He stood, going into the sitting room and started looking around.

The King shot a look at the druid, who nodded silently, confirming his silent inquiry. Arthur recalled what the physician had said in the early hours of the morning. Merlin knew his limits now, was aware of how much more powerful he had become. No wonder the warlock had lost control temporarily! If his power had gotten that much of a boost, it was hard to blame the younger man for being frightened of it!

"Here!" Merlin called, hunching down in front of the far wall. He pointed as they joined him. "That's how they got in. The air vent." He turned to his King. "Let's go look at the room on the other side. Artemis, stay here, and answer us when you hear our call, that way we know we're in the right one."

Cocking an eyebrow, the druid could do nothing but nod as Merlin stood and walked away, grabbing a tunic and slipping quickly into his boots, sighing regretfully as he noticed the puncture marks in the leather. Well, he considered, he had challenged the little devils to do exactly that. He hoped they really had chipped a fang!

Outside the room, they found Gwaine and Percival along with three other Dumnonian soldiers.

"Merlin," Gwaine greeted, shooting a wink to the King that let them both know they hadn't been as quiet as they'd hoped. "Good to hear you're feeling better."

Merlin grinned. "Strange to see you on your feet so early, Gwaine. Artemis gave you his morning after tonic, did he?"

Percival laughed even as Gwaine looked affronted. "I'll have you know, my friend, that I am a master of the morning after!" He started following the two down the corridor. "Where are we off to this fine morning?"

"Just to stretch our legs, actually," Arthur quickly answered, ignoring the frown his lover was shooting at him. The King looked at the soldiers. "I think we'll be more than safe with just Gwaine and Percival, thank you," he dismissed.

The soldiers exchanged uncomfortable looks. "Beg your pardon, King Arthur, but his Highness is to be under guard at all times. The Queen's orders. She is less than pleased with the events of this morning."

Merlin snorted, waving a hand at the two Camelot Knights. "I've got the fastest sword and strongest man in Albion with me. I should think that would be appropriate. Not to mention the King's own sword, and my magic. Unless you've got a specific reason for thinking I'm not safe in the castle?" Merlin hinted with a raised eyebrow.

The three men shook their heads adamantly, though only one was brave enough to try one last time. "But the Queen, your Highness…"

"Will hear that you're insulting her honored guests by assuming they would shirk their duties in keeping me safe," Merlin finished. Then he nodded, turning on his heels as if the matter was settled. "I'll call for additional guards if I leave the castle."

Arthur hid his grin, and even Gwaine managed to keep the smirk off his face as they turned to follow the warlock. Percival had a heart as big as his shoulders and so shot the guards a glance of pity. They thumped him on the shoulder when they caught up, snickering. Arthur shook his head.

"I never realized until this moment just how often I've witnessed you do that," he snorted.

Merlin shrugged. "It's a gift." He turned to the two Knights, quickly explaining where they were heading and why.

"So why doesn't Princess trust the new family?" Gwaine asked, having caught Arthur's reluctance to inform the Dumnonian guardsmen.

"Because of how he became family," Arthur growled.

MERLIN1010101010101010MERLIN

Arthur frowned, holding his hand up in the stop motion, drawing his sword. They stilled, and the sound hit them all. A hissing sound coming from behind the door they were standing in front of.

"Merlin," Arthur whispered. "Can you freeze them if we can get the door open fast enough?"

Merlin nodded, allowing the gold to come to his eyes, positioning himself a few steps back from where the door would open. Arthur kept his hand on the handle, watching for his lovers' nod, the other two Knights well back from both of them, swords ready.

Merlin nodded, and Arthur pulled quickly.

"Frēose!"

Merlin paused only a moment before heading into the room, ignoring a very different kind of hiss coming from Arthur. The warlock frowned, as he took in the room, about a dozen frozen adders could be seen. He cocked his head, listening carefully, one arm flung out behind him to stop the others from entering, lowering it only once he couldn't detect any further hissing.

Arthur went to the vent on the opposite wall, while Merlin moved toward the far side of the room.

"Artemis?" Arthur called. "I think we found the right room."

"Indeed so, Sire. I will return to my duties then, if you need nothing else?"

"Thank you, Artemis."

"Arthur! Over here!" Merlin called, kneeling next to a swollen body. There were puncture marks all over him, and his throat was badly bloated. Merlin pointed to it. "That's likely what killed him." He leaned over, inspecting the body further, feeling it's temperature, checking how rigid the muscles were. "He's been dead for about four hours. I would guess from the marks on his throat, he slowly suffocated under the swelling. Likely dropped the bag," Merlin reached over the body, grabbing the sack.

Merlin barely had time to register the hiss before the streak of black and white was heading for him. He fell over as suddenly steel flashed and two snake bits fell onto his lap, Gwaine pulling his sword back with a grin.

"As he said, fastest sword in Albion," the Knight cheeked at Percival, who was shaking his head.

Arthur found he could suddenly breathe again. Which was, of course, ridiculous. The warlock had survived multiple bites. One more wouldn't have done him any real harm. All the same, he nodded his gratitude to the rogue.

"Merlin, are you going to get up, or just sit there trying to figure out how to kiss the snake?" Arthur growled, noticing his husband hadn't moved, and was instead inspecting the snakehead very carefully.

"I don't think it's Beonin," Merlin sighed. Standing up with the head still in his hand.

"Why's that?"

"This snake has been enchanted." He dropped it, going over to the other frozen ones, cursing as he examined them. "I can't tell with the others. My own spell was too strong."

"What's the enchantment?" came from Gwaine at the same time as Percival asked, "Why can't it be Beonin?"

Merlin shook his head. "I can't tell its purpose… it was sloppy magic. An amateur. I can guess. The snakes in the room came right for me, and the one in the bed ignored Arthur completely."

"We already knew you were the target, mate," Gwaine pointed out.

"No, Gwaine, snakes will seek heat. For the one on the bed, Arthur would have been the more tempting prey. Since my trousers were still damp from Arthur's cold bath, it would have cooled my skin even more. Adders are generally not aggressive creatures. Usually it takes disturbing them to provoke them. The one on my leg was…" he hesitated, casting a doubtful glance at Arthur.

The King sighed, and waved his hand. "I've already figured out it bit you at least once. That's likely what woke you up."

Merlin shrugged. "It might have done, I'm not sure. I was more concerned with making sure it hadn't bitten you. But look," he pointed at the icy snakes, deciding to rephrase his point. "They've all gathered around a cold, dead body. Why?" He looked around, nodding toward an open window, then looking back at the grate. "There are none trying to get out. So what would he and I have in common? He must have some magic, which means the enchantment set them toward something I give off in abundance in order to ignore a nice warm source of comfort. They're not naturally nocturnal, and would have been more interested in sleep than attack. The fact that they killed him when they got loose, then stayed with him... the enchantment was to make them aggressive against magic. That explains why they got so much more aggressive when I started using it in the room. Huh."

Arthur shook his head at him. "It's scary the way your mind works, do you know that?" All those years of watching the man hunt down magical creatures. He'd never considered there was a process similar to his own investigations into criminal activity.

Merlin gave him a sad smile. "Gaius and I learned a lot, protecting you in secret. Gaius was a good teacher," he answered softly, turning away again.

Arthur wanted to hug him, but shook it off. "So why not Beonin?"

"Well, since he hates me for magic, I can't imagine he'd employ those who wield it."

Gwaine shook his head at the same time Arthur did. "He might not have known this man was a sorcerer," Arthur pointed out. Gwaine was pulling the man's pockets, and found a small pouch of gold.

"Well, we know they need proof. So. This is a bounty then. None of the puppets I've found so far have had heavy purses."

Merlin shot him a dark look. "You're hunting them?"

"Only when I'm bored," Gwaine winked. Merlin rolled his eyes, throwing an even darker look at Arthur. The King shrugged, ignoring him. "They've all been citizens, too, so he's hiring local."

"I still don't think it makes sense for a man who hates magic to assassinate me in a Kingdom full of potential magic users," Merlin argued. "These druid lines go back centuries. I can practically taste the magic here. I remember the awful things Beonin took great pleasure in telling me happened to magic users in Camelot dungeons. And when I went down to the cells to see him the night before the trial, he spit and actually launched himself at me like a madman. Tried to come right through the bars. That kind of hatred doesn't allow for exceptions!"

Arthur's eyebrows roses. Merlin hadn't ever mentioned that! "You… went to see Beonin?" he stated slowly.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Of course I did. Leave over, Arthur, it's in the past."

"Except it's not, mate," Gwaine growled. "The little birdies I've caught don't know much but they're more than happy to sing every tune they know. It's him, Merlin. So the question is, what did you say to him that night that would make him hate you more than he hates magic? Because now we're talking a whole different motive!"

Merlin shook his head. "I don't remember. It was a long time ago."

"Think harder!" Arthur snapped.

It was, Gwaine thought, the absolute wrong way to get the answer. He watched as Merlin's lips drew into a thin line, clamping his mouth closed, and he looked away from the King, ignoring the ice blue fury that stared at him. Getting the warlock's hackles up was never the smart thing to do.

"I think we should tell Durstan about the body," Percival decided to say, then.

All three men blinked at him, as if remembering suddenly that he was there. For such a big man, he was often forgotten in his silence. His sudden statement cut through the tension like a knife.

"It's not our Kingdom, and they have their own laws. I think we should tell him," the man continued.

Arthur nodded, but shot a look at his lover, letting him know this was in no way over.

MERLIN1010101010101010110MERLIN

"Arthur, I keep telling you, I don't remember!" Merlin snarled for the fourth time as they entered their chambers.

Arthur reached out and violently grabbed his lover's arm, spinning him around to face him because he was tired of talking to the back of the man's head. "I think you do!" he yelled. "There is a man determined to kill you, and you're stubbornly holding onto information that could help."

"It won't!"

"How do you know if you don't remember?"

"Arthur, let me go. Do you really think I'd hold back if it could help us find him? Don't forget, I'm worried about everyone else he's going to hit in the crossfire!"

"You know something and for whatever reason you're protecting that traitor!"

"I'm not!" Merlin yelled back. "It was nothing! I only went because I felt guilty! It took seconds with the man to realize he was completely insane! Now let me go!" He tried to jerk his arm away.

"Now you listen to me..."

"That is the second time my son has asked you to let him go, King Arthur," came a cool voice from the sitting room. "I don't suggest you make him repeat it a third."

Both men spun, their faces flushing red when they saw the Queen and Durstan standing together. Both had frowns on their faces. Arthur let go of Merlin's arm, embarrassed.

"I don't know how things are done in Camelot, King Arthur, but I'm absolutely certain that manhandling the Prince was never tolerated, even if said Prince was a spouse. I knew your Father very well," the Queen continued, hard eyes meeting Arthur's.

"A lover's quarrel only, your Majesty," the King hastened to explain. "And I'm not my father."

"Funny, it was him I saw just now. You may look like your Mother, Arthur, but I suspect there is still much of Uther in you."

Merlin winced, watching as the words hit his lover like a slap to the face. Arthur paled. He immediately- and deliberately- reached out, putting a reassuring hand on Arthur's arm, shaking his head. "Arthur is fiercely over-protective, and I'm incredibly stubborn. It can make for a volatile mix," Merlin answered quickly, locking his eyes with his husband, nodding his apology. He offered a smile. "It's all a part of our charm. Arthur is not Uther."

The inside joke did little to soften the blow of the Queen's words, but Arthur nodded his acceptance, reaching up to squeeze the hand on his arm, appreciating the defense.

The Queen cocked her head toward Durstan. "So my son tells me. The evidence so far does not bode well to him having been truthful. However, I can easily see that the King is not the only one who is over-protective. In the future, King Arthur, please remember that however it came to be, Merlin is my son and a Prince of the Kingdom in which you are a guest."

Arthur bowed to her, red to his hairline. "Of course, your Majesty." He bowed from the shoulders to Merlin- his anger slightly softened by the irritated glare he got in return- as he would have done for any dignitary he'd insulted. "My sincere apologies, your Highness. I hope you'll forgive me for my rudeness."

Merlin inclined his head, turning toward the Queen and his brother. How odd, he considered, to think that even his own mind now. It came easier now. "We were actually going to come looking for you, Durstan," he said.

Durstan nodded toward the vent. "We heard, Merlin. We've sent guards to dispose of the body."

Merlin stepped forward, looking genuinely concerned. "Did you tell them to be careful? I think I got all the snakes, but… there was one left in the bag that eluded my spell, there could be others," he fretted. "I should go back, someone might need help…"

"Your concern is touching, Merlin," the Queen interrupted gently, sensing genuine concern from the younger man. "We have made them aware of the potential dangers. They will be careful. Adders are not uncommon to the area."

Merlin hesitated only a moment more, looking at the door, obviously torn between obedience and the desire to make sure no one else was harmed. Then he nodded. He was sure he'd gotten them. They'd been standing in the room for a while afterwards. "Yes, Mother," he answered, blushing as he said it.

He tried not to see the beaming smile of approval from Durstan, but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Hunith was his mother, and he loved her fiercely. He had felt an instant respect for the Queen, and the more time he spent with her, the more comfortable he became. But… he had a mother.

"I sense that makes you very uncomfortable. I see thoughts of the Honored Mother of Emrys in your eyes," the Queen responded. She nodded to herself. "As it should be. I have often heard you and Arthur speaking in the Ancient Tongue- though how a child of Camelot came to know it defies possibility. If you wish, you may call me, Màthair, where appropriate."

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Màthair. Yes, that's much better."

"Good. Now, I came to see how you were feeling today after the terrible events of last night. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you had dismissed three of my guardsmen, and found you- who is supposed to be resting- gone." She waved at the vent. "Investigating your own assassination attempt, no less."

Merlin blushed, shifting his weight, feeling very much like he was under Gaius's perceptive eye again. He glanced at Arthur, but the King threw up his hands in a clear signal he wasn't going to help. "Um, yes."

"A confession with no defense, interesting strategy," the Queen sighed. "King Arthur, your Hand of Justice has discovered that it is our citizens making these attempts?" she asked.

Arthur nodded reluctantly. "Yes, your Majesty. It appears there is likely a bounty in place. No matter how many we catch, they will continue to come as long as the bounty remains open. We believe we know the source, we simply can't find him. Knowing why he would risk what he is would greatly further our investigation." He shot a pointed look at Merlin.

Durstan frowned, shaking his head. "We could have helped, Sire, had we known. Assassination is not the same as a murder. There is a guild of those who undertake such bounties. Any one in the Kingdom could have told you as much." There was a very strong hint of insult at the lack of trust.

Arthur, again, humbled himself with a bow from the shoulders toward Durstan. "Once again, I owe apologies. We considered it a Camelot affair, and didn't understand it would be perceived as an insult. My men are under orders to keep things quiet. Forgive me, your Highness."

Durstan offered the same forgiving inclination of his head as Merlin had. "I accept. I understand how precious my brother is to you, Arthur, as he is to me, and to my betrothed. We would not see this investigation hampered and our resources are available to you."

Merlin was anxiously chewing his bottom lip. "Màthair, I'm afraid I may have to risk insulting you further, but I don't understand." He waited for the Queen's nod to continue. "If there is a guild for assassins, why did Bursus simply not hire them to kill me?"

Arthur nodded approvingly- he'd been wondering the same, but he'd caused enough insult and the Queen's lash at him from earlier still stung.

"We are a trade port, Merlin," Durstan explained. "There are many who think they can hide, and escape with a ship. As such, the guild is needed to hunt down those who would use us to escape justice from their lands. That they accept other bounties is an understood, but never spoken of, fact. Had Bursus succeeded in his deed, he would have done so with honor, and it would have been… not approved… but understood as an act of conviction. To hire a member of the guild would have been less costly, but it also would never have been considered an act of conviction. He would have faced severe punishment for it."

Merlin sighed, wincing. "So his failure is what cost him, not what he did."

Durstan nodded sadly. "To act with conviction, one must be willing to risk everything. Every Kingdom has its own sense of justice. Every place we've ever traded to has been the same. We think Camelot Justice can be… harsh, at times, and yet entirely too loose at others. Ultimately, a common theme is that taking a life is a serious thing. Whether it's considered right or wrong often depends on the context. Battles, executions, punishments, even justice- are all generally considered valid reasons. Here, we make sure the validity of context is taken into account before the action occurs."

"I understand, thank you," Merlin responded, rubbing his hands over his forehead, rolling his shoulders, suddenly feeling tired, the beginning of a headache forming. "So Arthur's right. These attempts will continue as long we're in the City, because technically, the guild is sanctioned."

Durstan nodded. "It's true. He's also correct in his assertion that finding the origin is more important than going after the individual attempts. That information, we can't help discern, only interpret how it may be relevant."

Merlin nodded, squeezing his eyes shut when a spike went through his head.

"Merlin?" Arthur inquired sharply, narrowing his eyes, moving swiftly toward him, even as he let the golden crowns burn. He had felt… something… brush the Bond. "What is that?"

Merlin shook his head, regretting the movement. "It's just a headache."

"It's more than that, Merlin, I can feel it. There's something strange in the Bond. I've never felt anything like it before."

"I don't know-" Merlin cried out as another spike went through his head, sharper this time, falling to his knees, a hand fisting on his chest. It felt like something was trying to rip out his insides! He felt Arthur put an arm around him to steady him as his other hand grabbed at his head.

"What's wrong?" the Queen demanded, looking around for an unseen danger.

Arthur immediately let his eyes go black, looking through the Bond, sorting out all it had become, diving to the core of his lover, sensing that's where the disruption was. "It's… I don't know… something is... clawing... at him…"

"Can he fight it off?" Durstan asked urgently. "Arthur, if something manages to possess him…"

"I know!" Arthur grit his teeth. "He can't. I can." The Bond had always been his weapon to wield, never the warlock's, and he had honed it to a deadly edge.

"Arthur," Merlin gasped, his eyes flashing to molten gold unbidden. "My magic..."

"Get the Queen out!" Arthur ordered, using the Bond to instinctively throw up shields around the younger man's mind, despite knowing it was too late. He could feel it too. Something was moving along the Bond, a sense of wrongness to it. It was reaching for the threads that Arthur had long associated with the boys' natural magic, trying to pick at them, separate them.

Arthur winced as pain spiked through the Bond, feeling the echoes all the stronger for having immediately gone so deep. He welcomed it. Pain had a cause, and he could track that! There! The pain corresponded with a recoil of the natural magic from the filth riding along it, and suddenly he understood the danger.

"Merlin, something is trying to access your magic!" he breathed, trying to remain calm. "I can see it. It's trying to separate your magic from you."

"It's not possible," Merlin gasped. "It'll kill me."

"What could even try?" Arthur demanded. "Give me something to look for!"

"A spell! It has to be a spell!" He sobbed through another attack.

"Arthur," Durstan's voice came from far away. "Hurry! You're losing him!"

"I can't find it!" Arthur growled in frustration. He tried to center in on the wrongness, but it slipped from him, and even as he watched it wrap itself around the core he was trying to protect, he knew it wasn't the source. That was somewhere else. He could see the fight going on, could see his lover's magic surge up only to be reclaimed by the warlock. He was barely managing to pull it back each time. Arthur searched, trying to find the force behind each push of the wave.

"Arthur!" Merlin screamed in pain, curling in on himself, trying to hold on, to contain what something was trying to rip from him, understanding how dangerous even the surface threads of his magic could be in the wrong hands.

"Hold on, Love. I'll find it," Arthur encouraged even as he cursed internally, having seen the pull and recoil of the thread, could see it was happening more often, more quickly. The filth was spreading even as other coils were tugged and pulled, only to prove unyielding. He got the impression it was supposed to be cut, and then redirected, but Merlin's magic didn't work like that. It was too much a part of who he was, ingrained into every fiber of his being. Whoever had launched this attack had done so foolishly! Anything they managed to get would overwhelm them in seconds. But seconds with even a fraction of the warlock's power would be deadly enough for a great many innocents.

Pain washed through both of them with each increasingly impatient attempt, but Arthur pushed it away. This was not the first time he'd gone tracking in the Bond! He knew it better than he knew himself. So why couldn't he find it? He searched frantically, frustrated that it was managing to hide from him.

He felt the weariness from the Bond, the dizziness and the reaction to the torture. He could hear screaming, but he was too deep in the Bond, weaving through threads. Merlin wasn't going to be conscious much longer, and then there would be nothing to pull back those surges of power.

There! The threads he knew so intimately had shimmered with… something, strange, unfamiliar, and cold compared to the loving warmth that was normally prevalent in the warlock. "I've found it," he breathed. "Merlin, it's so deep in your own magic…" Anything he tried would impact the younger man as well. Every other time he'd been needed to defend, he'd had Merlin's magic to help. This time, he couldn't access it without accessing the invading spell as well- the same reason the younger man wasn't offering any kind of counter spell. Neither knew what the spell was meant to do, or what it needed to work, and neither would risk it so long as the dark spell was present.

The Bond shuddered, and Arthur knew he was running out of time. Focusing on once again being partially aware, he used the black vision, watching motes of magic in the air- Merlin had been right, he thought, it was everywhere here- and found the ones that were just a little off. Where everything was beautiful, these were… less, somehow. He followed them. The window. The Bond whispered at him, reminding him, and he cocked his head to listen. Yes. That could work.

Taking a deep breath, he concentrated again on the shimmering invading magic, weaving the threads of the Bond as he had before, isolating it, caging it like he had the Crystal's loathsome magic. He watched for a moment more as the shimmer bounced off the edges of the trap he'd created. Without Merlin's magic to bind it, it wasn't strong enough to hold for long, but it would give the warlock the time he needed. "Love, reach for it now. Outside the window."

Trusting, Merlin's eyes flew open as he grabbed for his own magic, hurling it into a counter spell with a shout. Arthur watched it surge around his cage, watched as threads wrapped the filth and the invading spell, and fled the Bond as they reached for him, too, understanding any outside source would likely be destroyed in this.

Durstan startled as Arthur's eyes returned instantly to their normal gold crowned steel blue. He'd seen the two interact as Soul Bound before, understood on a basic level that it was Arthur who wielded it, not the warlock, but it never ceased to surprise him to watch it unfold. Recently, it seemed the two had learned to work in tandem.

"Durstan, the window," Arthur ordered, his eyes immediately going to the sweat soaked young man that had, at some point, collapsed against him, forcing his chin up so the King could see his face. "Merlin! Open your eyes. I need to see."

The warlock tried to obey, and his eyes fluttered. Arthur breathed a sigh of relief to see them no longer gold, even as they closed and the sable head fell back limply. Knowing it was safe now, he dove back in, going immediately to the cage he had built. It had been destroyed, as he'd felt it, and the threads of warmth were back, flowing naturally, if in a somewhat agitated state. He reached for it, wrapping it around himself, feeling none of the filth that had been slick on it before, then released it back gently. They'd done it. This time he released the Bond slowly, taking a moment to check the previous shields protecting Merlin's transcended time were securely in place.

"Arthur," Durstan called, an odd tone to his voice. "You should see this."

Easing the warlock onto the floor, he stood on shaking muscles. It was always a little hard, coming back to himself after being so distinctly unified with the other man. It wasn't often he had to flee like that- never before when he'd been so deep- and he made a mental note to avoid doing it again in the future. His stomach rolled a little.

He made his way and looked out, feeling absolutely no sympathy for the blackened corpse still standing below their window, incinerated where it stood so fast it hadn't even a chance to fall yet, one hand stretched toward them. He thought it was a man, that much he could barely tell. A fool no matter what. If the intention had been to gain control of Merlin's power, that might have worked with a mere sorcerer. It was, however, a basis in the Dumnonian religion in understanding Emrys was no mere doer of tricks. A fool to think he could harness such forces at all, never mind survive it. At least Merlin's counter spell had been quick, and relatively merciful, considering.

"The least of what he deserves," Arthur nodded. "He had no idea what he was toying with." He turned away, reaching down and lifting the younger man, putting him onto the longseat, stretching the warlock's legs straight. He didn't have the strength to take him to the bed, and the longseat was closer to the fireplace, warmer. "Why are you still here? Do you have any idea how dangerous it would have been if even a little had gotten loose?"

The Prince walked over with a blanket, tucking it firmly around the shivering warlock. "Once my mother was safe, I returned. I considered that this may be simply a distraction, and you're defenseless when you're so deep in the Bond, Arthur. I wanted a sword at your side."

Arthur breathed a sigh of relief, sitting on the floor next to the longseat. "Thank you, Durstan. And you're right. What I can see in that state, it's not a thing of steel and bodies. I didn't even know you'd returned until you shouted at me to hurry. A moment longer and I'd have been too deep to hear even that."

He'd seen the magic that danced around him, though. Sometimes he wondered if what he saw in his Blackened Vision was, on some level, similar to what Merlin saw through his own normal eyes. There was so much about the Bond he could never fully explain to his lover, a fact Merlin understood and accepted. The warlock trusted Arthur had control of it, and that was good enough for him.

"Will he be alright?"

"Time will tell," Arthur answered sadly. "And only that." He thought he would. He didn't feel the Link creeping up on him like it had last time they'd died. And now that the attack was over, he felt no panic, no sense that something precious to him was being threatened. While he couldn't begin to accurately guess what the warlock's recovery might look like, he didn't believe his husband was in danger of dying. A small comfort, after all, but he'd happily take it.

"Do you know what happened?" Durstan asked hesitantly. He knew a lot of what Arthur did was by instinct. They had discussed it often, though the King frequently found it difficult to explain what he did or how. There were enough ancient stories that described the potential for all a Soul Bond could be, but few who had actually achieved it.

"He was trying to take control of an ocean, Durstan, while reaching for a seashell."

"I don't understand."

Arthur thought of a way to describe it. "That sorcerer was trying to reach for his magic as a separate thing, not understanding it's sewn into everything that is Merlin. To him, it felt like something was trying to rip out a part of himself as the spell clawed for something that doesn't exist. He's right. The attempts would have killed him, eventually. The question is, did the sorcerer know that, or was he genuinely trying to possess Merlin's magic?" He scrubbed his hands over his face. Was it really just this morning he'd made love to a playful and happy husband? He felt like days should have passed since then, not hours.

"Arthur, you're exhausted. I'll stay with him. You should rest, keep up your strength in case he needs it later," Durstan suggested.

"That's two back to back attacks, Durstan. We can't stay here, not now that we know they can attack his magic directly."

"There aren't many who could perform such spells, Arthur. Our people have old lines, but few of us would ever be considered 'powerful'. The bloodlines have grown thin. Merlin's announcement over our sister shocked us all."

Arthur leaned his head back on the edge of the longseat, taking some comfort in being so close to his lover, and closed his eyes. "If there was one, Durstan, there are others. We have no way to protect him from that kind of attack. If I hadn't been here, hadn't sensed something was wrong… he thought he had a headache, Durstan. If he had laid down to rest, instead of being here, it would have been disastrous. He doesn't have the tools to fight off that kind of an attack."

"We'll keep him as safe as we can, my friend. I swear it."

"I know you will." There was something nagging at him. A pattern was falling into place, but he was so tired. His mind wouldn't connect the pieces. Very familiar. He should know this!

"You really should get some rest, Arthur."

"Hmmm."

Durstan sighed, moving to get a bowl of cool water and a clean cloth as Arthur's breathing evened out, right there on the floor.