"Shield, jump, shield, attack... Great job, Merlin!"

Merlin was panting and sweating, but smiled proudly as he helped Gwaine up from the floor, where he had ended up after an attack from Merlin with his staff.

"You are becoming a formidable Hunter, I assure you…"

"All thanks to my amazing teacher, Gwaine…"

"It's Sir Gwaine for you, my friend…" Joked the brown-haired man, as he stood up.

Merlin laughed.

.

It had been two/almost three months since Merlin had asked his friend to train him to become a hunter and since they had become allies, trying to end the new Prince of Darkness's reign. First, they had to find out what weapon would be better suited to Merlin, since it would decide between life and death for him. The brunet tried the dagger, his father's favourite weapon, in case he had inherited this preference, but it didn't seem so. Then, he tested other weapons, including a sword, Gwaine's favourite, but none had been it for him, until he had laid his eyes on a staff, hanging on Gwaine's office wall, and immediately felt he had to try it.

Gwaine had smiled at the time, as he had handed the wooden staff to the brunet, "This, Merlin, comes from an ancient Chinese combat school. It's quite long, given it reaches the warrior's head. It's light but fatal nevertheless. I agree that it'd be perfect for you, because a weapon represents its owner and this represents you..."

Merlin had frowned, "What do you mean?"

Gwaine had stroked the polished wood, "Like you, it looks simple and harmless on the outside, but it's actually a completely different world inside..." He had touched the weapon at several points and several sharp blades of different sizes had come out. Merlin had been amazed. "... See? If you want, when you are near an enemy with the staff, you can touch a precise point and run him through. Some of these blades are poisonous too"

"It's incredible ..." Merlin had whispered, as he took the staff for the first time, feeling immediately in his guts that it was HIS.

From that day on, Gwaine had been teaching Merlin how to use it and the brunet had proved to have a natural talent in the art of fighting with a staff, which unlike many other weapons, doesn't require the use of force, but of speed of movement, a quick mind and good reflexes.

Two months later, in which Gwaine had brought Merlin with him to hunt weaker vampires in addition to the training, ending in the boy revealing himself a true marvel, he had decided it was time for the brunet to stop using the test wooden staff. It was time for him to have his own real weapon. So Gwaine had made him a present that he had asked his friend Elyan, the blacksmith of the Hunters, to make: a long silver staff, topped by the head of a dragon with the wings of a hawk, representing Merlin's Hunter name, the Dragonhawk. Dragon in honour of his father; Hawk for himself: magnificent, fast, intelligent, fierce, that seems to look at your very soul, without ever revealing his own. Besides, the staff could be folded, easy to hang to the belt or to hide.

.

Still sore and grunting, Gwaine sat down next to a still panting Merlin on the sofa, "God, mate, how can you be so damn good at this? I ach all over…"

Grinning, Merlin answered, "Just because you went a little too easy on me…"

"No, man, I didn't. Today I have fought meaning it…and the knowledge that an inexperienced kid like you has managed to defeat my sword with a staff makes me feel quite depressed, but I'm proud of you!"

Merlin blushed shyly, "Thanks, Gwaine…"

"Not mention it…" Murmured the brown haired man, as he stretched a hand to caress Merlin's cheek, ready to lean in for a kiss.

But as soon as his knuckles touched that white skin, a kind of electric shock struck Gwaine that immediately withdrew his hand, away from Merlin, who on the other hand shuddered, wincing. It wasn't the first time that happened. In the last two and a half months, whenever someone touched him, especially Gwaine, he shivered and stiffened, feeling a deep discomfort and desire to move away from that person. His stomach clenched and he felt sick, like when you look at something disgusting that revolts your bowels.

Recovered from the shock of Merlin's reaction, Gwaine laughed, embarrassed, "I thought it was just a coincidence, but it seems to be happening quite often lately when I'm close... I make you uncomfortable, Merlin?"

The brunet shook his head, "No, no, Gwaine. It's not you…It's me…recently I haven't been feeling very well... that's all." Yeah, Merlin had often found himself throwing up in the morning or feeling very tired, more than usual, not to mention those shivers when someone touched him... it was probably due to his new lifestyle: university, helping Gaius at the pharmacy, training with Gwaine and his unwanted meetings with Arthur. Everything was just upsetting his stomach a bit...

Gwaine leaned forward to ask him something, but stepped immediately back when he saw him cringing and turning a bit too pale. He coughed, worried, "Has it something to do with Arthur? Has he hurt you?"

"No... Actually lately, he hasn't 'invited' me to his house so often and when he does, he is very kind to me, as if he is in no hurry. He seems very busy and euphoric these days..."

Merlin omitted to tell him that Arthur was the only person with whom his stomach didn't get upset...the only one.

Gwaine nodded, serious, "He is probably ready to act..."

"To take me you mean..." Merlin swallowed.

"I think so... we must be careful. For now, we have only found out that his castle is somewhere in the forest between Ealdor and Camelot ... but it is not enough. For safety, always wear the necklace in the shape of a hawk that I have given you. Inside, there's GPS sensor, and let's call or text each other every day every two hours. Merlin, if I don't hear from you, I'll assume that something has happened and will go looking for you, okay?"

"Okay... don't worry, Gwaine, you taught me well"

00000

The next day, Merlin was having the time of his life at the shopping center with Gwen, Lancelot and Freya. It had been a lot since he had spent time with them and it was doing him good! Moreover, he urgently needed to buy larger trousers.

How embarrassing! How did I manage to gain weight after all that throwing up?

They were eating something at a café after hours of going from shop to shop, when Merlin sensed an evil presence near, which he recognized as that of a vampire with his newfound Hunter powers. However, it wasn't Arthur…because of his great powers the Prince of Darkness was able to hide himself too well from the Hunters to be discovered so easily in a so public place.

With the excuse to have to use the washroom, he got up from the table and looked for the dark creature. He found him in an alley behind the shopping center, as he was following a young assistant who was smoking - probably during her lunch break.

Before the vampire could attack the girl, Merlin called out, "Hey, mate... you need a cigarette?"

The vampire whirled around, hissing, and lunged at Merlin, who smirked, perfectly calm. The brunet took his staff from behind his jacket, where he had hid it after bending it, and held it out. With agile and fast moves, he hit the monster in the head, whose skin burned in contact with the silver. When he retreated due to the pain, Merlin touched a point of the weapon and the blade of a dagger appeared at one end, with which he stabbed the vampire's heart.

Breathing deeply, Merlin waited until the corpse disappeared, back to dust, before returning to his friends. That was the first vampire he killed without Gwaine and he left a sense of satisfaction in him... maybe, at last, he had found his destiny.

..….

Merlin was walking home, still grinning because of the great day that was about to end.

The sun was setting.

He was whistling happily and did not perceive the danger approaching, until it was too late.

A large white hand covered his mouth and before he could react, a cold and seductive voice whispered in his ear, "Sleep, my love"

Merlin's eyelids drooped slowly, despite his attempts to desist. The last thing he felt before losing consciousness was the feeling of someone picking him up and flying away.

00000

"Sweetheart, darling, wake up"

"Mmmph…five minutes more, Uncle Gaius..." Merlin murmured incoherently, sleepy.

A dark chuckling, "Come on, Sleeping Beauty, open your beautiful eyes"

That creepy voice definitely wasn't Gaius's. Merlin's eyes widened, coming face to face with a blond head he unfortunately knew all too well, hovering over him.

"Arthur…" He couldn't even recognize his own voice.

The blond smiled down at him, "Hi, Merlin…Welcome home!"

"Home?" The brunet frowned, confused. He looked around and noticed for the first time he was in a big bedroom. It had stonewalls, red decorations all around; French doors took a whole wall and leaded to a balcony. Merlin himself was lying on a large four-poster bed with red hanging curtains and in front of it, there was a lit fireplace, which was bathing the room in a soft orange light. It was quite cozy to be honest.

Merlin slowly sat up. He was starting to be afraid. "Where am I? What-What have you done?"

Arthur smiled even more. He was very happy. "You are finally in my castle. Your new Home, where we'll spend eternity together: you, me and our children…" He tried to caress the brunet's cheek, but the latter slapped his hand away.

"Don't you dare touch me! Let me go! I don't want to be with you!"

Arthur's eyes turned red, given his irritation at Merlin's protests, and forcefully grabbed his chin between his thumb and forefinger, leaning toward his face with a dark look.

"You WILL! And I suggest you do it soon, because I have no intention to let you go. You. Are. Mine!" He smirked when he saw Merlin's wide eyes, which he mistook for a sign of fear due to his red eyes, since he did not know that Merlin was no longer under his power and therefore knew that Arthur was a vampire. "Yes, honey. I'm a vampire and you are my bride ... now do you see that it is futile hoping to escape me?"

Merlin hissed and crawled backward on the bed to get away from Arthur, who was approaching him with predatory eyes, his intention clear. However, by doing so, the brunet felt the pressure of his staff still hidden against his back by his jacket, which Arthur had evidently not removed. He felt a thrill of excitement ... he wasn't hopeless ... he was armed ... and pissed off.

Arthur was lowering his face to kiss Merlin, ready to fuck him there on their marital bed for the first time, when he froze. Merlin was grinning. He wasn't scared. Not at all. He seemed very confident.

He frowned, "Why are you smiling like that?"

Merlin smiled even more, "Because I'm about to do something I have been longing to do since the first time you took me forcibly..."

Before the blond could ask what the hell he was babbling about, he grunted because of a sudden sharp pain and surprise. Merlin had just kicked him in the balls with his knee. Strong, merciless.

Arthur doubled over in pain and Merlin didn't lose time: he threw him off the bed and raced for the thick wooden door. He opened it and began to run.

He ran through long corridors in search of a way out. They were made of pure stone with windows on one side. As he passed, the torches along the walls caught fire. He was panting. He dared a look behind his shoulder and his heart stopped when he saw a dark shadow lurking nearer and nearer to catch him. He gained more speed, not really knowing where he was going. All the while, a dark creepy voice rang around him…

"Where are you going, my little lamb? You know you can't escape…"

.

After turning many corners, Merlin saw a huge door and unknowingly decided to open it and to enter into whatever was on the other side...

It was a Great Hall with tall narrow windows, high vaulted ceilings and two majestic and terrifying black thrones at the end of it. He could sense it was a place of power and darkness…a little part of him felt at home there and his stomach clenched at that.

As he was centupling what to do, the door behind him opened and the dark shadow quickly flew above his head. It fluttered above the left throne until it turned into a person: Arthur, the impeccable image of the Prince of Darkness. He was wearing black and a black smoke surrounded his feet, as he sat down on the throne. He rested his chin on his knuckles and smirked.

"Hi, love... Are you done roaming around instead of focusing on me? I'm beginning to think you don't like me..." He pouted sarcastically.

Merlin gritted his teeth, "Fuck you!"

He began to move to attempt to run away again, but Arthur noticed it and reached him at the speed of light. Merlin didn't even have time to blink.

He jolted backwards and hissed, "Stay away from me…or…"

Arthur raised an eyebrow, mocking him, "Or? What? What are you going to do to me?"

It was Merlin's turn to smirk, "You have no idea, do you?" His hand reached for the silver staff behind him and with fast moves, he hit Arthur's arm, burning his skin. He then tried to ignore the discomfort and pain that gesture caused deep in his belly.

The vampire stepped back quickly, screeching, surprised and outraged, as he clutched his wounded arm.

Panting, he stared at Merlin with wide eyes, which soon turned to a knowing look. He started to laugh deep in his throat.

"Well, Well… Who would have thought? You a Vampire Hunter? I'm impressed, little lamb…When did this happen?"

The brunet clutched the staff tighter, ready for an eventual attack, and swallowed. "I was born with this destiny and I'm going to fulfil it, Arthur…I won't stop until all you vampires are gone!"

For just a moment, Arthur looked very impressed indeed, but did not seem worried about this new development ... he was confident in his superior powers, and in his love for Merlin. A love that would help him prevail...

He straightened himself and slowly walked toward Merlin. Then he stopped and bowed to him, spreading his arms, "Well then…what are you waiting for?"

Merlin didn't need further incentives. He opened his senses and concentrated. Faster the humanly possible, he started to attack with his body as well as with his weapon. He took pleasure at seeing Arthur's surprised face whenever Merlin ended up being quicker or more clever than him. He strongly punched and kicked him according to the rules of the martial arts and attacked-parried with his staff with surprising skills. He managed to hit the vampire many times… However, he couldn't help but notice - to his dismay – that every time he was close to kill Arthur, or at least to severely wound him, somehow Merlin's arms seemed to move on their own, or to slow down, deflecting the fatal blow and allowing Arthur to save himself.

The Hunter couldn't understand what was happening…why was his own body hindering him and protecting Arthur?

Shaking his head to clear it, Merlin took a deep breath and got back in position to attack. There was the poisoned and sharp blade of a dagger on one end of the staff and Merlin had all the intention to drive it in Arthur's not-beating heart as soon as possible. But when he was finally about to do just that and the blade was about to pierce the skin and then the organ, his hand froze against his will and a sharp pain struck his arm, forced him to drop the staff.

For a while, time stopped. Both men were frozen and staring at the weapon on the floor, confused. Merlin was sweating and his heart was beating too fast…he lifted his head and looked at Arthur, furious.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME? Why can't I hurt you?!"

Arthur frowned, astonished, "I have done nothing…however, it seems your body won't allow you to harm me. Why is that, indeed?"

He looked closely at Merlin, as if he were a puzzle to solve. Then, his eyes opened wide, as if he had understood. The vampire's eyes glowed red and focused on the middle part of the brunet's body. He must have found what he was looking for, because a huge incredulous smile opened on his lips. He threw his head back and started laughing madly.

Merlin stepped back, a bit scared and more and more confused, "What? Why are laughing?"

Arthur returned his attention to Merlin's face from where he was still focusing on his belly and beamed, showing his white teeth and fangs.

"Because I've just learned wonderful news. I even dare say that I am in Heaven right now! Oh, love, Thank you... you don't know how happy you've just made me... " Arthur's eyes softened at that.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

The blond stepped forward, evil grimace upon his face. "You are carrying my child!"

Merlin looked about blankly, frozen. All around him was muffled.

Then he blinked a few time, eyes slightly wet. His voice was shaking. "W-What?" He instinctively put a hand on his belly.

Arthur smirked at that. Merlin's mind may fight this situation, but his body knew better…

"You're pregnant, my beloved Merlin…with my child. I can sense him growing in you. He is still so small, my little one" He cooed at his womb. "…and this also explains why you can't fatally hurt me: my baby has already recognized who his other parent is and will not allow anyone to hurt his daddy. Not even you. And I bet that if I were to attack you with the intent to kill, he would also protect you... especially you, since you're his mommy and carer..."

Arthur kept talking, but Merlin wasn't paying attention to him anymore. Pregnant? He was pregnant?! As preposterous as it sounded, deep in his heart, he knew that Arthur was right…All the symptoms were there, along with the constant feeling of not being alone anymore. When he was cold, heat spread from his belly. When he was hot, his body tended to cool down by itself. In the darkest hours he felt protected. Yes, his baby was inside of him and already loved Merlin and Arthur and wanted them to be together: no one but Daddy could touch his Mommy and nobody could harm his parents...

"…Aw, my little sweetheart is already so powerful. He'll become a great vampire one day! Now, stop being so difficult, Merlin…Come here, My Love…I want to kiss you so badly"

When he saw Arthur approaching with open arms, ready to take him, Merlin violently slapped his hands away, stepping back, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

"Merlin! Stop it! Can't you see it's useless? You are mine, now more than ever…This is your home now…let me take you to our bedroom, where you and the baby will be safe forever…"

All that Merlin really wanted to do was crying in a corner, "NO! GWAINE!"

Suddenly one of the windows was broken and The Green Knight himself made his grand entrance from it. He took off pieces of glass from his arms and hair and grinned, "Sorry I'm late... how rude of me!"

Merlin smiled at his friend, truly happy to see him, while Arthur growled at him, his eyes shining red, "Who the hell are you?"

Gwaine slyly smiled, "Me? Oh…just the guy that is going to kick your dead ass if you don't stay away from my friend!"

Arthur hissed and lunged forward with murderous intentions clear in his eyes. Gwaine managed to push him away and put himself between Merlin and Arthur protectively.

"Gwaine?" Merlin whispered, still shell-shocked from the news of his condition.

"Don't worry, dove…I'll get ye out of here in no time…you have been so good and brave... but now leave it to me"

The brunet nodded, relieved, even if the child wasn't seeing it that way. He was very angry at being kept away from his daddy.

Arthur felt the same and snarled, "You're not taking him away from me! HE'S MINE!"

They fought more, until Gwaine managed to stab Arthur's side with his silver sword.

The vampire screamed and fell. His body writhed about spasmodically upon the floor, but gradually, the movements ceased.

Right in that moment, a sharp pain spread in Merlin's womb. However, it wasn't an abortion…the child was simply deadly furious because of what had just been done to his daddy and wanted out to keep him safe or to avenge him. For a second, Merlin felt evilness clenching his heart and his eyes turned red, but he managed to control himself…

That moment was interrupted by Gwaine, who grabbed his arm and started to drag him away through a side door, after recovering the staff. They ran and ran, as the castle creatures were starting to emerge from the filthy holes in the depths of the castle in which they dwelt, awakened by their Prince's anger and pain, who (Merlin knew in his heart) was not dead, but only momentarily wounded.

And as they fled through the forest after escaping thanks to an hidden passage that Merlin didn't even want to know how Gwaine had been able to find, he couldn't help but keep hearing in his mind Arthur's mad laughing and knew the blond would not let him go for long…nor him…nor the child…