Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story, only the AU is mine. Arthur, Merlin, Gwen, and everyone else belong to the BBC.
Author's note: Wow this chapter was long, but jeez I had so much fun writing it. I didn't know what to do with the end so it just digressed into fluff. On another note, thanks to those of you who have reviewed, followed, and favorited already! I love hearing what you guys think about my work, so please let me know! Thanks much and enjoy!
Thanks to blaerofvalenwood for teaching me how to use page breaks, geheheheh~
Chapter 6 - A Pirate's Life For Me
The day after the incident with the jellyfish, the ships were ready for sailing.
The builders had worked tirelessly to repair the Albion, and somewhat less tirelessly on the Kilgharrah. The pirate ship had a spattering of holes in the hull from cannon fire, but none so gaping as the one in the side of the Albion. It did, however, need a new mizzenmast, as the old one had been taken down in the battle and then had been cut loose from the ship later.
Percival went to fetch Arthur, who was still in the medical tent keeping watch over Merlin as he recovered. Arthur, who had been watching Merlin sleep, followed Percival out of the tent to speak with him. Percival told him about the state of the repairs.
"The ships are just about ready to sail, Captain. We will have to stop in Puerto Magia to get the materials for a new mizzenmast for the Kilgharrah when we restock for the trip to England. After that we can take the pirates back to London."
Arthur grimaced. He was no longer sure he wanted to turn the pirates in. In the back of his mind he had already decided to assist Merlin in his quest.
"Percival, you have been a good friend to me for a long time. You know I would not make any decisions without careful consideration. And you know that I do not typically act on emotional impulses," Arthur began. Percival nodded, wondering where this conversation was going. "I found out the motivations behind the Black Dragon's actions. He is searching for a cure for an ailment that took his parents and many friends when he was younger. He is on a noble quest, Percival, and I cannot forsake him for it."
"You intend to go with him," Percival finished, understanding the direction the captain's speech was headed. Arthur nodded. "You do realize what this decision will mean for you. You will be declared a pirate and a traitor to the crown."
"Yes, Percival. I have thought long and hard about this situation and this is the only decision that I could live with making."
"You understand that I will have to report this to the Royal Navy and Admiral Uther."
Arthur winced at the mention of his father. He nodded, unable to meet Percival's eye.
"Though with the time it will take to resupply at Puerto Magia, along with the time it will take to sail all the way back to England, I cannot imagine the message will reach them very quickly. It could take as many as ten or twelve weeks I imagine." Percival grinned as Arthur whipped his head up to look at him.
"Percival...thank you." The two men shook hands. Arthur reentered the medical tent to tell Merlin about his intentions. He found Merlin lying awake in his cot. The pirate smiled when he saw Arthur approach. Arthur pursed his lips as he sat on the stool beside Merlin.
"You were gone when I woke up-"
"Merlin, you look much too pleased to see me."
"Should I not be?" Merlin looked a bit taken aback. Due to the happenings of the past couple days, Merlin was under the impression that he and Arthur had become friends. The way Arthur was acting now, the pirate began to suspect he had returned with bad news.
"You are like a pining young woman," Arthur said, grinning. Merlin smacked him lightly in the arm, blushing a little.
"I am not," Merlin shot back.
"You really are, you are like the women back home who send me love letters," Arthur said, grinning wider.
This caused Merlin's smile to waiver. Of course a charming, handsome young man like Arthur had many women pursuing his affections. Arthur seemed to notice his reaction.
"Stop looking so disappointed, I have never responded favorably to any of them," Arthur said, chuckling.
Merlin blushed furiously. "I was not disappointed, I was feeling for those poor women who have the misfortune of pining after you," he called out.
Arthur chuckled again. "Good, it looks like you are feeling better. I have some news for you."
Merlin paled. "Good news, I hope?"
"Well, depends on good for whom," Arthur replied seriously. His mouth twitched when he tried not to laugh at Merlin's worried face. "I have decided to accompany you on your quest."
The pirate captain's tension melted into a bright smile. He leaned out of the cot and threw his arms around Arthur's neck. Arthur cried out in surprise. The doctor, who was sitting in the corner supposedly sleeping, smirked at the scene.
"Get off of me, you stupid pirate!" Arthur said, trying to push the boy away. Merlin drew himself back, laying back in the cot.
"Thank you, Arthur. Thank you. You do not understand how much this means to me," Merlin murmured, his voice heavy with emotion.
"Do not even think about crying, Merlin," Arthur said, his face burning red.
"I promise I am not going to cry." Merlin grinned. His eyes sparkled with happiness.
"Good. There is only one problem, and that is that the Kilgharrah's mizzenmast has been completely destroyed. We can try to sail her with only two masts, but-"
"I can sail her." Merlin interrupted. He wiggled his fingers. "I have magic, remember?"
Arthur opened his mouth as if to protest, but thought better of it. He imitated Merlin's finger wiggle. "Magic. Right. I expect you will be ready to sail by tomorrow?"
Merlin sat up in the cot, his feet hanging off the edge. This exposed the healing scars left by the jellyfish, angry red lines wrapping around his foot and leg, like cracks in an eggshell. Arthur winced, frowning at the scars.
"I am ready to sail now!" Merlin assured him.
Arthur stood and faced him. He scoffed. "Maybe so, but none of the men are. And I think you still need to rest that leg, Dread Pirate." Merlin wrinkled his nose.
"I am fine, Arthur. Really, I am."
Arthur tucked a piece of hair that had fallen over Merlin's eye behind his ear. Both men blushed and looked away from each other.
"I do not want you hurting yourself because you pushed yourself before you were ready."
Merlin nodded complacently and laid back on the cot. As Arthur turned to leave, Merlin reached out for his hand. Arthur looked back at him and squeezed his hand lightly. Merlin squeezed back. Then, Arthur left the tent.
Arthur gathered his trusted officers and told them to assemble the men. Arthur and Percival had worked out beforehand what to tell the men so that they would not get suspicious. Arthur stood on a raised hill of sand, somewhat above the sailors. When they had grouped, navy man and pirate alike, Arthur began his speech.
"You may have heard that the ships have been repaired and are ready for sailing. I assure you this is true. On the morrow we are to sail to Puerto Magia, where both ships will refill their stores. Then, the Albion will return to England. The Kilgharrah will remain at Puerto Magia for a few extra days to have a new mizzenmast erected. I will remain behind on the Kilgharrah, ensuring that it will remain on its path. The offer of pardon still stands for the crew of the Kilgharrah, so I expect you will be cooperative. Start packing up camp. We leave early tomorrow. Dismissed."
As soon as the men left to begin packing up camp, Lancelot approached Arthur as he began walking to his own tent. "Captain, Guinevere will be going on the Kilgharrah, will she not?"
"Yes, of course, Mister Lancelot."
"Arthur, you must let me accompany you on the Kilgharrah."
"Lancelot, you really do not know what you are asking. I cannot allow it."
"You do not understand. I am quite in love with her and I will have all the time I can get until she is taken to London to be hanged."
Arthur pondered this a moment. He decided to tell Lancelot about the plan.
"I will not be taking Merlin and Guinevere to London." Lancelot looked shocked. "I have talked it out with both Merlin and Percival. Merlin has a noble goal that I have decided to help him achieve. We will spend the extra days at Puerto Magia while getting the mizzenmast replaced searching for rumors to aid us in our quest. After that, Percival will buy us time on his journey back to London before he reports the news to the Royal Navy and Admiral Uther. At that point, Merlin and I will be well away, seeking out whatever rumors we accumulate at Puerto Magia."
Lancelot stared, incredulous. "You are going to have yourself labeled a pirate and a traitor because you fancy a lad?"
"I do not fancy him, Lance!" A blush stained Arthur's cheeks. Lancelot grinned.
"Worry not, Arthur, I understand. I will come with you if it means that I can be with Guinevere. I will join you in exile and I will help however I can," Lancelot said, before turning away to gather his own things for the trip.
When Arthur realized his implication, Arthur called after him, "I do not fancy him!"
A few men turned to stare in amused confusion.
Later that day, the men loaded their things on the dinghies. They decided that in order to get an early start the next morning, it would be most productive to sleep back on the ships. This was also conducive to getting the crews' sea legs back. Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, and Guinevere took the dinghy to the Kilgharrah last, when the sun was setting. A few men stayed behind on the island, one dinghy from each ship, in order to catch fish and gather fruits for the coming day's journey. They would need something to keep all the men's hunger at bay for the couple day's trip back to Puerto Magia.
"Gwen sleeps in the mates' quarters by herself typically," Merlin said, broaching the obvious approaching problem.
"I can join her there," Lancelot inserted quickly, looking lovingly at Guinevere who returned the look. As they kissed, Arthur's eye twitched.
"Lancelot, please control yourself while there are other people around," the ex-navy captain ordered.
Lancelot and Gwen separated, blushing. "Apologies, Captain," the man said.
Arthur nodded, blushing slightly.
"There is a large bed in my quarters, if you do not mind sharing, Arthur..." Merlin mumbled. Arthur blushed, setting Gwen and Lancelot grinning.
"That sounds perfect, of course Arthur does not mind sharing," Lancelot said before Arthur could say anything. Arthur merely gaped at him, his blush turning an even deeper shade of red. Merlin laughed nervously.
Gwen faked a yawn. "Well then, I am quite tired. I suppose it is time for me to head to my quarters. Lancelot?" And with that, the two lovers left for the night.
Which left Arthur and Merlin alone together on the main deck of the Kilgharrah staring at a beautiful fiery sunset.
"I think I will...um...wait for the men to return with the food. Yes, that would be best."
Merlin stood, fidgeting. "I suppose I will...wait here as well?" He looked to Arthur as though seeking confirmation.
"All right, then we will wait together," Arthur said, leaning against the railing as though keeping a lookout for the men. The dark painted wood was unfamiliar under his feet, as well as the rocking. The roll of the ship over the ocean felt different when he was aboard the Albion. On the Kilgharrah, it felt foreign and strange. He was sure that after a few months at sea, he would be used to it.
"Arthur..." Merlin started. Arthur turned to look at the boy leaning on the railing beside him. He admired the way his messy black hair reflected a bit of the crimson from the sky around them. "Arthur, why did you decide to join me?"
"I could not have lived with myself if I had turned you in to the Navy to be hanged."
"You could have just turned me loose..."
Arthur thought about this. It hadn't really occurred to him that he could have just let Merlin and the Kilgharrah go free. He felt he no longer had any choice in the matter. Either he turned the pirates in, or he went with them. He told as much to Merlin. "I felt I could not just let you go and wonder for the rest of my life if you succeeded and what became of you."
"So it was not because of...any feelings you had...for me?" Merlin whispered. Arthur picked out a few words, but not enough to understand what Merlin was saying.
"Merlin, you are going to have to speak up."
Merlin debated repeating himself. He decided to change the topic instead.
"Why did you become a captain in the Royal Navy?" Merlin asked instead.
"Oh. Well I grew up in a house run by a Navy Captain. He is an admiral now. Admiral Uther Pendragon." Merlin recognized the name from Arthur's earlier supposedly private conversation with Percival. "I was primed to be a captain in the Royal Navy. My father's rank and fortune ensured it."
"Your father, Admiral Uther Pendragon. That is the man Percival is going to tell about you turning traitor," Merlin interjected.
"Yes, but...how did you know that?"
"Your conversation with Percival. I..." Merlin wiggled his fingers, the signal that to the two of them now meant the use of magic.
"So I suppose I cannot have any private conversations in the future," Arthur snapped sarcastically.
Merlin twirled a lock of hair around his finger, suddenly uncomfortable. "Sorry, I felt that one was important. I do not usually listen in on other people's conversations..."
Arthur noticed the boy's discomfort. He leaned over slightly, just enough so that his shoulder was resting against Merlin's. The touch comforted Merlin, as slight as it was. Merlin put his head on his arms where they lay folded on the railing. He sighed somewhat sadly.
"What is the matter, Merlin?"
Merlin wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Something ate away inside him, but he wasn't sure what it was. He thought about what Guinevere had said. He didn't fancy Arthur, did he?
Then why did he feel the need to be near him?
"I...I must be tired I suppose," Merlin muttered.
"Are you going to head to your quarters?"
"No, not yet. I did say I would wait with you until the men returned."
"It was not a binding contract, Merlin, you are free to go and rest. Especially with that leg of yours," Arthur said, hoping Merlin would take that excuse to go and rest.
Merlin remained where he was, the hair on the back of his neck bristling a bit. "My leg is fine, Arthur."
"It looks horrible, to be quite honest. The scars have not faded." The red welts refused to calm.
"Then I will have these scars for the rest of my life, that is fine," Merlin sneered.
Arthur was puzzled. The boy seemed angry and defensive. Yet he remained where he was, his arm touching Arthur's own. Arthur looked down at the pirate.
Merlin's brows were furrowed. He looked more thoughtful than he did angry, but his words had been laced with venom. He was angry with himself for snapping at Arthur. The way the blond man had told him to go sounded like he wanted Merlin gone, and it had upset him.
Arthur misinterpreted the silence and the anger. "I suppose you could just," Arthur wiggled his fingers, "them away if the scars really bother you so much."
"I suppose I could," Merlin sighed. "I think I will keep them though."
"Why is that, Merlin?" A shiver went down Merlin's spine when Arthur said his name.
Merlin turned his head to look up at the other man. "They remind me of how you worried about me and took care of me."
Arthur blushed. It was his turn to question himself. He thought back to what Lancelot said earlier that day. Would he blush so much and so often if he had no romantic feelings for Merlin whatsoever? Would his heart race as it did now? Did he fancy the scrawny pirate?
"Well if your leg really is not bothering you, I suppose it is all right if you want to stay out here," with me, Arthur added silently.
Merlin did the same in his own head. "I will then."
After a minute of silence, Arthur had a thought."When I was sleeping on your cot, you..." Arthur started. He finished by carefully reaching a hand out and gently resting it on Merlin's head. Merlin started at the contact. Arthur began slowly smoothing down Merlin's hair, again and again. The pirate leaned into the touch and sighed happily, closing his eyes. "Why did you do that?"
Arthur didn't stop and Merlin didn't ask him to. "I am...not quite sure. You looked so peaceful, so different in your sleep than you did awake. Like a sleeping angel. So I just reached out and..." Arthur stroked his hair again as though to complete the other man's sentence. "Did it bother you? Because I think it is very nice."
Arthur blushed just a bit. "No, it was...comforting. After fretting about you all night, it was good to know that you were there and you were all right."
Merlin nodded, his face warm.
"You know what else you did. It is something you have done a few times now, when I think about it." Arthur stopped stroking Merlin's hair and brought his hand down near Merlin's face, where he simply let it hover with his palm facing up. It took the boy a moment to understand, removing one of his arms that he was resting his head on and grasping the hand in front of him. They let their fingers interlace as they dropped their hands to their sides. The two looked straight ahead, each one's face aflame.
Arthur thought about how he had felt with women in the past. He had held their hands, and even kissed a few, but none had ever made him feel like this. His heart beat fast. A fluttering feeling was taking place in his stomach. Where his and Merlin's skin connected, it felt like a static electricity lingered and constantly jolted him, not unpleasantly. He thought especially about the ones he had kissed. Why did he kiss them in the first place, if none of them had meant as much to him as this pirate boy did, who he had known for only a week?
And what would happen if he were to kiss the pirate boy?
Merlin was a mirror of Arthur's internal sensations, even if he did not know it. The difference was that Merlin had never done anything like this with anyone. He had never even thought he was worthy to be touched with affection by someone else. He thought himself unattractive, where Arthur thought him quite stunning. Merlin leaned his head against Arthur's arm. He felt his eyelids droop.
As sleepy as he was, Merlin didn't want the moment to end.
"There," Arthur whispered suddenly, breaking the silence again. Merlin opened his eyes and stood up. They did not let go of each other's hands.
"I see it." The dinghy was approaching. Merlin felt somewhat deflated.
As Arthur threw a rope ladder over the side for the pirate men to climb up, he said to Merlin, "I suppose we can go and get some sleep now."
Merlin's heart began racing even faster. He had forgotten that they were meant to sleep in the same bed. He was suddenly anxious to get to his quarters.
"I suppose so," is all Merlin said.
The two went, hand in hand, to the Captain's quarters.
There, they changed into their sleeping clothes. A sack of Arthur's possessions had been brought over from the Albion. Arthur thought it must have been Percival, who seemed to always remember the small important details that Arthur forgot. He will make a fine captain, Arthur thought. The two men changed facing away from each other, furiously blushing at the thought of being naked in the same room. When they were dressed, Arthur began blowing out the various candles around the room.
"Arthur, what are you doing?"
"I am-" but he was interrupted by Merlin's wiggling fingers and arrogant grin.
"Right," Arthur sighed. He would have to get used to the conveniences that accompanied Merlin's magic.
Merlin climbed into bed first. Arthur followed him, staying as far to his side of the bed as he could. With the telltale flash of his eyes, Merlin extinguished the candles all at once. The room was now illuminated by the light of the full moon streaming in through the large windows.
Arthur risked inching closer to Merlin so that he wouldn't fall off the enormous bed. He figured there would be plenty of space between them anyway. Beneath the blanket, Merlin's hand found his own. Arthur looked over at him, but not with anger, or even surprise. Merlin caught his gaze and the two lay in silence for a while. Arthur rolled onto his side to face Merlin, bringing himself quite close to the boy.
"Merlin," Arthur whispered.
"Yes?"Merlin turned to face him in response.
Arthur figured it was now or never. He brought his unoccupied hand to Merlin's cheek. Merlin froze. Arthur leaned forward, closing the space between the two. Then, he pressed his lips against Merlin's forehead. When he pulled away from the boy, taking his hand away after a brief stroke with his thumb, he could see that Merlin looked dumbstruck. Arthur gave the boy's hand a squeeze. Merlin seemed to come back to his senses. He returned the pressure.
"Goodnight, Merlin."
Merlin came close enough to Arthur to rest his head against Arthur's shoulder. Arthur leaned his head against Merlin's. They kept their hands interlocked.
Goodnight, Arthur." Merlin breathed.