Merlin winced, holding his head as the dragon roared for him. He could barely concentrate on the path he was taking, his head feeling like it's about to burst, as if he'd just performed a huge amount of magic.
Sneaking through the palace proved simple enough. Merlin knew the patrols by now and if they ever change, he's the first to hear about it since Arthur is the one that receives those reports.
As he reached the dungeons, he leaned over the edge and whispered a sleeping spell. The guards dropped forward on the table where they'd just been playing with dice. He made sure there wasn't anyone else behind him and made his way into the dungeons.
oOoOoOo
Arthur hid in the shadows with the stillness of a trained hunter. He heard Merlin's distinct voice speak a spell and three thuds followed in the dungeon entrance. Merlin looked back at where they came and didn't see him.
Arthur followed him into the dungeons. He saw the three guards out cold and rushed to their side, feeling their necks for a pulse. He pulled back and looked at where Merlin disappeared. He rushed after him down a path he'd never ventured himself. The dungeon gradually turned from smooth stone to cavern wall. He could see the light Merlin left with his torch, sneaking after him just before he turned and left him in darkness.
"Merlin!" The dragon roared loudly and this time Arthur heard its voice all around him and not just in his mind.
"What is it? It's not exactly an ideal time for me to be coming down at nights anymore!" Merlin yelled at the beast.
Arthur slowly came up behind him, seeing a beast as large as the tallest towers of Camelot, with golden eyes and a sharp set of teeth. Merlin stood before it without fear.
"What have you done young warlock?"
A warlock? What was that? Arthur frowned, trying to figure out if he'd ever heard anything about them. He'd heard the term, but no one had ever taken the time to explain the difference to him.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I haven't done anything." Merlin said.
"You are no longer pure."
Merlin must have been shocked to hear that because he dropped to his knees, looking winded as he looked up at the dragon. Arthur couldn't see the expression on his face.
"How do you know that?" Merlin's voice high, and cracking at the end.
"I can sense your magic. It has changed. You have mated with Arthur." The dragon said and Arthur tensed.
"I-I didn't have a choice! Uther said we had to… that I had to satisfy Arthur or he'd find someone else to take my job! How can I protect Arthur if I can't be by his side?"
"I commend you for taking your destiny so seriously, Merlin, but this time you have gone too far!" The dragon roared.
"I'd do anything to protect Arthur!" Arthur felt his heart race and felt warm once more, though he frowned at why hearing Merlin say that would cause such a reaction.
"You think you are free to do as you wish, young Warlock? You are a creature of magic, you are bound by the laws of the old religion." The dragon said.
"I barely know anything of the old religion." Merlin said.
"Then allow me to explain, little one." The dragon crouched on its rock. "You have lain with Arthur Pendragon under the first winter's moon and have bound your self to him."
"I thought Arthur and I were already… two sides of the same coin." Merlin said.
"You are two halves of the same soul. When you came together you released a magic far more powerful than you can control right now."
"I still don't understand!" Merlin yelled, frustration evident in his voice.
"Your magic, being untrained, called to the triple goddess on her night and asked for your union to Arthur Pendragon. I believe you humans call it, marriage."
Merlin scoffed and released a loud panicked laugh. "Are you telling me I married myself to Arthur?"
"It is no laughing matter, young Warlock. Your magic is too young and unruly. As long as your connection to him is not secure, your magic will get stronger and stronger until you cannot control it. You will inevitably reveal yourself to Uther Pendragon and be forced to escape."
"I don't want to secure the connection! If I can break it I will! Arthur loves Gwen! When she kissed him she broke the love spell! She's his true love!" Merlin insisted, forcing himself to his feet.
So that was why Gwen kissed him. Well that's one small mystery solved. Not that it made a difference since she rejected him that very evening for very valid reasons, even if they did sting.
"She may be the one he loves now, but hearts can change when you're not with your other half." The dragon said and Merlin shook his head. "Yes, Merlin. You must secure the connection or be forced to flee Camelot."
"But… what does that even mean?" Merlin asked. "It can't be valid! We're both men!"
"The triple goddess seems to have accepted it, otherwise I would not have felt the surge of your power so strongly. It is unusual, when a creature like you is defiled it is as great a sin as killing a unicorn, it would bring great devastation to the kingdom. We can only assume that the triple goddess saw your union as pure since you belong together."
Defiled. Arthur looked down in shame. He did that to Merlin. Although the conflict still raged in his heart about the idiot lying to him.
"Don't say that word! It makes me feel even dirtier!" Merlin exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, young Warlock. This was not meant to happen. If I was free of these chains I would let fire rain down on Uther Pendragon for committing this egregious sin." The dragon said.
Merlin looked away. "Does Arthur need to find out about this union? Or can he be free to marry in the future?"
"He doesn't need to know." The dragon said and its eyes flickered up to meet Arthur's own. Arthur felt a chill down his body. Fear. Awe. "But it will cause you great pain, sealing the bond means that you give yourself entirely to him." The dragon looked back at Merlin.
"I was born to serve Arthur. It is my destiny." Merlin said simply. "If I don't tie him to me by hiding the truth then… it doesn't matter what happens to me."
Arthur felt his hands clench into fists. Why was Merlin so loyal to him? Surely he didn't plan to serve Arthur all his life? Didn't he wish to fall in love? Marry? Have children?
"Then heed my words, finalize the union."
"How?" Merlin asked.
"The answer will come to you in time."
"That doesn't tell me anything." Merlin said.
"It is for the goddess to state what is left to be given. Not me."
"Then… how do I speak to her?" Merlin asked.
"The real question is how do you get her to answer you? You can't. She will reveal her truths when it pleases her."
"Great! So I'm supposed to walk around Camelot with my magic out of control? Why don't I strap myself to the pyre right now and save everyone the trouble?"
"Or you could trust your mate to help you find the answer."
"Don't call him that! This has all been one giant, unfortunate mess!" Merlin said. "He's the prince! How could I have let this happen?"
"You didn't know, the greatest sin of all, of this situation, is that a creature such as you has been left to wander the earth alone, with no one to help you grow your powers properly."
"I have to go." Merlin said, and Arthur got ready to turn tail and run.
"I hope that next time I see you, young Warlock, you will bring your mate with you. He is kin now, after all."
"Hah! Absolutely not!" Merlin said and turned to leave. Arthur made his retreat.
He tried to wrap his head around what he'd just heard. Most of it didn't make sense, of course, but he could understand from context.
Merlin's lights must have been the first sign of losing control. As for the accidental marriage? He tried not to think about that. His father's heart would probably give out if he heard that let alone that Merlin was a sorcerer. Or Warlock, whatever that was.
He made his way back to his rooms, he had to pretend he'd been sleeping this whole time after all.
He froze as he heard the guards being loud somewhere behind him.
oOoOoOo
Merlin shook his head. How could he have done this? He should have… no! This wasn't his fault! How was he supposed to know any of this? If the goddess had something to teach him she should have come down herself and taught him!
Merlin sighed, stopping in the courtyard as he stared up at the crescent moon. "What do I do?" He whispered. Nothing but silence answered.
"Look what's skulking around in the night." A rough male voice said, and Merlin turned to see the guards approaching. One surprised him, grabbing his shoulders from behind.
"Don't touch me!" Merlin said, pulling out of the painful hold, which made his bruised shoulder ache even more.
The three guards laughed. "Look, he thinks he's the prince himself." One said.
Another grabbed a fistful of his hair and tugged his head back slightly. "You think you're important because the prince is satisfying himself with you?" They mocked. Merlin tried to contain the pain of the other tugging his hair and someone else holding his shoulder again.
"Let go of me, I have to return to the prince." Merlin said.
The guards laughed. "Look at these lovely gloves, how did you afford something so nice? Is the prince giving you gifts for servicing him well?" Merlin flinched, holding his hands together and close to his chest as they tried to reach for them.
"You're so pathetic. I bet he keeps you up all night."
"Shut up! You're speaking about the crown prince!" Merlin yelled. He received a smack across the face for his reply and was thrown on the floor.
A boot flew to his face and Merlin shut his eyes bracing himself for the impact.
"Stop!" The boot stopped before it made contact and Merlin sighed with relief.
"Arthur…" Merlin wondered what the prince was doing out of bed. With his cloak? Was he going somewhere? Or was he looking for him?
Arthur came and pulled him up with his good arm and removed his cloak, wrapping it around Merlin's shoulders. Merlin felt Arthur's warmth wrap all around him.
"Merlin is my manservant. As such, he is under my protection. If anyone so much as touches a hair on his head ever again they will either find their way to the stocks, or straight to the end of my blade." Arthur said coldly.
"Sire, we were just asking where he was going at this late hour." One guard said.
"I know exactly what you were asking. Stay away from him or I will gladly issue a challenge to the death to all those involved." Arthur said and turned his back to them, pulling Merlin along.
Merlin felt warm as Arthur defended him so strongly.
"Where were you? I woke up and you weren't there. I could have needed something." Arthur said.
"Did you?" Merlin asked.
"Not the point."
Merlin looked down trying to hide his amusement. "I just needed fresh air." He said.
"Hmm…" That was Arthur's only response. The walk to Arthur's room was quiet after that. Once there, Merlin removed the cloak, moving to hang it up when he noticed it was somewhat dirty, as if Arthur had been leaning against a dirty wall.
"I'll need to have this cleaned tomorrow." Merlin said, placing it in the basket. He turned to find Arthur staring at him intently and a thrill went down Merlin's navel. "Anything… else I can do for you, Arthur?" He asked.
Arthur looked away at that. "No… come, lets get some sleep." He said.
Merlin looked down and got into bed. This time, Arthur pulled Merlin's back close to his chest. Merlin shuddered as the warmth of the other's skin seemed into his cold body.
Despite not wanting anything that the dragon said to be real, he'd be lying if his body didn't want Arthur to embrace him once more. It was at that moment that Merlin realised how abnormal he was. He wanted to be closer to Arthur than anyone ever.
"Arthur…"
"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked, his breath tickling Merlin's neck.
"Goodnight." Merlin mumbled. He felt Arthur pull him closer against him and Merlin smiled.
"Goodnight, Merlin." Arthur whispered.