With that Arthur locked the door "No one but us will know what happens in here tonight, or any other night."
Merlin looked at Arthur it was clear he understood what Arthur was saying. "You don't want me?" he asked his voice quiet and with a tinge of hurt.
"Merlin you are sixteen I will not force myself on you, we have plenty of time it doesn't have to be tonight" Arthur explained "I am much older than you Merlin we can wait until you are ready"
"I am ready! And as you are so old we hadn't better wait had we?" Merlin said his cheekiness breaking through his nerves. Then more seriously "I know it will hurt, the priestess's told me, but they said it was my duty to give you a child. They told me that because I am a man you will make me tear but that my magic will heal me. I am not afraid" Merlin looked at Arthur his eyes wide. "Gwaine told me they were lying, that you would be gentle."
"In this case Gwaine is right Merlin, there is no need to tear you, there are ways to make you ready. It will be uncomfortable at first but it does get better. It is a pleasurable experience" Arthur moved into Merlin's personal space "Now let's go to bed and see what happens but at any time we can stop, no one but us will know"
Arthur bent his head and gently kissed Merlin before starting to remove the outer layers of Merlin's clothes. Stopping he asked "Where is that bloody knife?"
Merlin grinned and removed the leather belt from his waist and placed it by the bed. Before returning to Arthur. Arthur very gently removed Merlin's clothing then picked him up bridal style and placed the slender teenager on the bed before he went to remove his own clothes. As his hands went to his collar he found no material there, in fact in a flash of Merlin's eyes all Arthur's clothes had been removed.
"I had no clothes so I thought it only fair" Merlin grinned as he looked at the blonde. His eyes showed appreciation for what he was seeing but again widened as his gaze dropped below Arthur waist. "Gwaine lied that will never fit!"
"It will believe me" Arthur said as he joined Merlin in the bed. He leant over Merlin and looked down. Merlin immediately looked at Arthur's body "Like what you see?" Arthur smirked "Because I do"
Merlin's hand came up but before he touched Arthur it fell back down. Arthur smiled "Touch what you want Merlin" with that Arthur ran his own hands down Merlin's torso running his thumbs across the nipples of the other man causing him to jump. "We will only find out what works for us by trying things. For instance I need to taste you neck" Arthur leaned down and ran his tongue around Merlin's neck and to his ear lobe where he peppered small kisses. The he sucked a mark on Merlin's collar bone. At the same time he pushed his lower body closer to Merlin so they could feel each other.
Merlin pulled Arthur closer and whispered "My magic loves you, I have never felt it like this before" Before long Merlin was kissing and touching he discovered that Arthur liked his nipples sucked and that if he threw back his head Arthur wound attack his neck in a way he himself loved. It was sometime before Arthur started to touch Merlin's nether regions. But by then Merlin was already aroused and wanting more. As Arthur progressed he took his time and gave Merlin the sort of patience and gentleness that paid off. By the time they finally consummated their marriage Merlin was in a state of bliss. After they reached organism together they cuddled up and it was moments before Merlin was asleep. Arthur couldn't believe how lucky he was, he had not lied to Merlin when he had said his experiences were limited. Now he was glad, he had never felt the same way for anyone before. He felt protective and at the same time he wanted to give Merlin the best of everything. He had thought it was Merlin's age and naivety but it wasn't as they had made love he had felt Merlin's magic swirl around them. There was something very special about Merlin, something that made him feel as if he had met his soul mate.
Twice during the night the couple had made love again. In the morning when Arthur woke he carefully moved and using a small knife he kept near the bed he cut his finger and let the blood fall on the sheets. As he finished he saw Merlin watching him "You my dear wife were a virgin, we needed evidence. Now come here and let me have a hug"
Merlin took Arthur's hand and taking the finger kissed it, Arthur felt a tingle and when he looked the cut was gone. "Now that's a useful skill"
"I'm hopeless at healing magic, but little cuts are fine as long as they aren't mine" Merlin grinned sleepily. Then opening his eyes further he said "You wait till I tell Gwaine how right he was!"
Arthur looked horrified "You are not telling your brother about our wedding night!"
Merlin grinned "I won't if you show me again how it works, I need to be sure it doesn't hurt too much!"
"You should now I never give in to blackmail, I could however keep you in bed until your brother leaves"
"That would do it, but he is staying for weeks and I fear he would break in to make sure you hadn't killed me" Merlin grinned and pulled Arthur closer "just give in to the inevitable unless as an old man like you can't manage it"
An hour later and there was a knock on the door, it was George with their breakfasts. Arthur made sure Merlin was covered, it wouldn't do to let their secret out. Then asking Merlin to unlock the door magically he pulled Merlin into a hug and called George in.
The servant placed the tray on the table and started to pull the curtains and then started to pick up the pairs discarded clothes of the floor. All the time averting his eyes from the bed. "Sire King Balinor and his retinue leave after lunch and I was asked to inform you that you will both be expected for the midday meal."
"Fine George now please leave us for a candle mark then come back with the maidservant Freya and enough hot water for two baths."
"Indeed Sire" George bowed and hurried out of the room. Once the door shut Merlin giggled "He is so pompous. I don't think he liked the smell of sex"
"George is a very good servant, yes he is pompous but his hearts in the right place. Now I don't know about you but I'm starving" Arthur looked at Merlin to see him smirk "For food you hussy"
Arthur got out of bed and collected the tray. Then setting it on the bed they ate on companionable silence until Merlin picked up a sausage and said "I'm sure I haven't learnt all you can show me yet" he put the sausage suggestively between his lips.
Arthur shook his head "I had forgotten just how young you are, you fool" he pushed the sausage into Merlin's month and nearly made the young man choke. "You need to be able to do better than that" Arthur grinned. "Now eat up George will be back soon. Get up and go into the other room, Freya will bring in your bath there." He paused "Will she be able to attend you? I mean you are a man"
Merlin grinned "Freya has worked for my mother for several years I'm sure she has seen my father on many occasion. They do share rooms all the time. I understand you don't here but it's cold in Gangani" Merlin grinned. "Freya will help me if I need to, she can always look away, and she knows my secret."
"Good I wouldn't want her embarrassed. You will share my bed as well. Your rooms are next door, but I don't see you sleeping there" Arthur admitted.
Just before George arrived Merlin went into the other rooms and waited for his bath. Freya went on and left Arthur with George. As soon as Arthur was in the tub George stripped the sheets and went to the door where he handed the sheet to someone in the corridor.
"Who was that George?"
"My Lord Agravaine servant Sire the council asked for the bed sheet." George clearly knew why.
"Was it marked?" Arthur asked innocently
"Indeed Sire"
"Good that will keep the gossips happy, they surely didn't expect my wife to be unpure she did arrive on a Unicorn!" Arthur smirked "Or perhaps they think we slept apart."
"Sire I'm sure I don't know" George looked uncomfortable
"Well if there was such a suggestion I'm sure you can put them right George it must have smelt like a brothel in here this morning. I am a viral young man with a young and beautiful bride" he chuckled as George coloured up. "Oh George make sure you knock and wait in the mornings won't you?"
Arthur knew it was unkind to tease his manservant but the way the sheet was removed so quickly annoyed him, especially as it seemed to be on Agravaine's instruction. He just thanked his foresight at the cut finger and the fact that there was no sign of it should anyone think to check.
Once he had finished his bath George helped him dress, ignoring the bite marks Merlin had covered Arthur body with. But Arthur was sure some of what he had seen would be reported, especially if his father asked. In the other room Freya helped Merlin dress, still in the style of the Gangani but now more colourfully. As a homage to the Pendragons todays outfit was red and gold. Merlin had a red wimple on.
"I had hoped you would dispense with the wimple" Arthur said "I like to see your hair."
"I would have if some Pratt hadn't marked my neck so much!" Merlin told Arthur "I fear our parents wouldn't be amused"
"Yet my neck remains uncovered" Arthur said raising his eyebrow
"But George has found you a high collar Sire" Merlin said looking innocent. "I just followed my teacher"
"Then you are a quick learner" he held out his arm "I believe our parents are waiting"