After the sweat had dried from Merlin's body and he began to shiver, he sighed and rolled from the bed, going to put his clothing back on. As soon as he stood, he realized just how much he ached. He stretched tentatively and winced. Arthur watched from his spot on the bed, his eyes tired.

From behind him, he heard the bed squeak as Arthur made to get off it. He too began to dress, trying not to look at Merlin as he did. From the corner of his eyes, Merlin could see Arthur peaking over at him, but he resolved not to look at the other man himself. After Merlin finished trying up his shoes, he turned to Arthur, who was yanking his shirt over his head.

"Would you like help with your armour, Sire?" Merlin said. He stood a couple feet away from the King, giving him room.

The King looked over at him and smiled slightly. "You know you don't have to call me that, Merlin. You're making me feel old." he joked half heartedly, pulling on his second boot.

Merlin nodded and went to help Arthur put on his armour. Neither one of them spoke. Merlin kept his eyes on his work and Arthur looked straight ahead. Merlin tried to stay out of Arthur's line of vision as best he could, but was forced to stand directly in front of the man to do up a strap he had left for last on the chest piece. Merlin kept his eyes down and stood as far away as he could.

Arthur sighed and turned his head, looking towards the door. "You are angry with me." he said, his voice flat.

Merlin's eyes jerked up, fumbling and dropping the strap he had been working on, looking surprised at Arthur. "No, of course not."

Arthur glanced at him, his face expressionless and then looked away again. "You need not lie, Merlin. I don't blame you. Just know you have done your kingdom a great service, and I won't be angered if you decided you don't want to work for me any longer upon arriving home." he said, his voice formal and his mouth pressed into a thin line.

Merlin gapped at him. "Arthur," he said, his voice hard and serious, "don't you dare think I am angry with you about this. About other things, sure. You could say thank you every once and a while, and you are a pain to get out of bed in the morning. But in this, you were also a victim. I don't blame you."

Arthur looked at him, his eyes blank. "You wouldn't be this quite if that were true."

Merlin smiled, a genuine smile, and shook his head. "I thought you were unhappy with me and... and with what you..." he didn't finish, instead ducking his head, trying to hide his blush, and continuing with the buckle he had dropped.

Arthur laughed, surprising Merlin, almost causing him to drop the buckle again. He finished tightening it and took a step away from the king, looking at him wearily. "I told you before, you aren't the first man I've taken to bed. In fact, I thought you knew already." he said, a sad smile on his face.

Merlin blushed. "I had my suspicions. Sometimes I'd come to your room and I'd hear..." he looked away, too embarrassed to continue.

Arthur laughed shortly. "Yes, it's hard to hide things from a servant who refuses to knock." he said, looking pointedly at Merlin.

Merlin gave a half smile. "So you aren't angry with me?"

Arthur shook his head. "Nor you with me?"

"No." Merlin said.

"Good" he said, reaching over to rest a hand on Merlin's shoulder.

Merlin winced under the touch, feeling an ache travel down his body. Arthur immediately retracted his hand. "I'm sorry." he said, wincing slightly himself. "How are you feeling?" he said gently, regret again filling his eyes.

Merlin shrugged lightly, trying not to move in a way that would hurt him again. "I'll recover. We both still have our lives." he said. Merlin brought hand up to touch his hip lightly, almost subconsciously.

Arthur watched him wearily. "May I look?" he said.

Merlin nodded shyly, not used to having the King look after him as he was. Arthur knelt before him and lifted Merlin's shirt up gently. Merlin tried to push away the attraction he felt to having Arthur in such an intimate spot.

Arthur sucked in a deep breath and Merlin looked down. On both of his hips, bruises were starting appear on his skin. Long, finger shaped bruises. Arthur put his hands over the marks, confirming Merlin's suspicions that they were marks left by Arthur's early grip on his hips.

Merlin held in a shiver at the thought of the pleasure it had brought at the time. Arthur shot to his feet and backed away, self hatred flooding his eyes. He looked up at Merlin. "I am sorry." he said.

Merlin shook his head and stepped forwards. "Arthur, it was more than I could have hoped would come from this scenario. I asked you to do it." Merlin said.

Anger flashed across Arthur's face. "This shouldn't have happened in the first place. You knew what was to happen here, and you didn't tell me."

Merlin paled. "I didn't know he would include you, I swear. You have to believe me." Merlin said, his voice pleading.

Arthur began pacing, saying nothing. Merlin could see him fighting to push aside his anger. He took in a couple deep breathes and turned back to him. "You still should have told me, Merlin." he said, his voice removed and flat.

Merlin nodded. "But I knew you wouldn't let me give myself unless there was no other option, and I wouldn't wish this upon anyone."

"But you would wish it upon yourself? Of course I would say no." Arthur said, his voice filling with despair.

Merlin took another step towards him. "I won't stand aside and watch as someone else was submitted to that fate."

Arthur paused and just looked at him. "You are a kinder man than I give you credit for." he said, his voice tired.

Merlin smiled, a crooked goofy grin. "Does that mean you forgive me?" he said.

Arthur didn't smile, instead took a step closer to him. "Yes Merlin, of course. But if you ever do that again, I will lock you in the stocks for a week." he said, smiling slightly at the end. He held out his arm and Merlin grasped it, shaking firmly. "Understood, Sire." he said.

Arthur laughed. "You never listen." Merlin just shrugged. Arthur continued, "The kingdom owes you a great debt Merlin, as do I. Name your price, and it shall be yours."

Merlin looked uncomfortable at the offer. He wasn't used to such things from Arthur. "Can I finally have some time off?" Merlin said jokingly.

Arthur laughed. "You wish to torture me by subjecting me to George for a week?" he said.

"A week?" Merlin said, surprised.

Arthur waved it off. "You can visit your mother, or drown yourself in the tavern. The time is yours to do with as you please." Arthur said.

Merlin blinked. "I... thank you Sire." he said.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't say that Merlin. You can't thank me for thanking you."

Merlin grinned. "If I thank you for thanking me, you'd have to thank me for thanking you for thanking me. Then I'd have to thank you again, wouldn't I?"

Arthur grabbed Merlin by the front of the shirt and yanked hard, sending Merlin stumbling into him. Arthur tangled a hand in Merlin's hair and pulled him down for a kiss. Merlin gasped against Arthur's mouth, giving him the chance to slip his tongue inside. Arthur's other hand snaked around Merlin's back, pulling him further against him. Merlin smiled against Arthur's lips, exploring freely.

As soon as he found himself sinking into the kiss, it was broken. Merlin huffed in annoyance, looking dejectedly at Arthur. "Shut up, Merlin." Arthur said jokingly.

Merlin laughed and straightened himself. He had no clue what to make of the kiss. The feeling lingered on his lips. He wanted to whine and continue but he knew better. Instead he stepped back and forced a smile. He sighed heavily and retrieved his dagger, which had been laying half hidden under the bed. "Shall we finish this and leave, then?" he said. Even now, he could feel Blythe's presence on the edge of his mind, calling for him.

Arthur nodded and motioned for him to lead the way. Merlin nodded and left the room with Arthur in tow. When they reached the hallway, all the torches lit at once again, lighting their way. Arthur looked to Merlin. "He does that on purpose, doesn't he?"

Merlin could feel Blythe laughing in his mind. "He has a rather grand and... ostentatious way of living." he said, hoping the sorcerer had heard him.

Arthur smiled mockingly. "That's a big word."

Merlin smiled. "I've been studying."

They made their way to the throne room in silence, side by side. Inside, Blythe sat upon his throne, eyes filled with amusement, lips turned up in a quarter smile. "I trust everything went well upon my departure?" he mused.

Arthur bristled with anger, but only nodded curtly.

"Good." Blythe said. "It was a pleasure to have met you both, and I do hope we meet again."

Arthur's eyes narrowed, but forced a neutral tone. "I do hope it shall be on more pleasant terms."

Blythe laughed, "Were these terms not pleasant enough for you, young King?"

Arthur clenched his fist, but before he could speak Merlin stepped forwards. "Does that conclude our business?" he said, his voice steady.

A presence filled his mind, the voice smooth, mixed with its usual strange lit. You and I both know that it is not, young sorcerer. Blythe purred.

Merlin looked at him through steady eyes, not demanding, but pleading. Please send Arthur away for this.

Blythe looked satisfied. He spoke aloud. "Yes, our business is finished. But if you will allow it, I shall leave you with a parting gift." he said, voice friendly enough.

Merlin sensed a danger underneath the words. He looked over at Arthur, who was in turn, looking at him in confusion. He had never heard of such a thing begin offered from the man. Each visit made by men and women throughout the years had been the same, and the tales never made mention of such a thing.

This gift holds no bindings towards me or to me, and you would do well to accept it. Blythe pushed.

Merlin looked to him warily. But Arthur was the one who spoke. "On what grounds do you offer this gift?"

Blythe looked at him appraisingly. "I did not bring you here only for my pleasure and the excitement of meeting someone with a destiny as interesting as your own, young King, I now offer you help."

"What kind of help?" he asked.

Blythe shrugged. "Say yes and find out. But be warned, should you say no, you risk losing something that can be a great asset to you later when it is needed most, in the time when your kingdom will need you most." He said. His words were empty of threats, and slightly sad.

Arthur pondered this, clearly upset with the man's words. Merlin tried to pry into the other sorcerer's mind but found it blocked off to him. Frustrated, Merlin had no idea how to respond to the offer.

Arthur looked at Merlin again, his eyes searching. He seemed to find what he was looking for in his expression, because he nodded. Merlin was surprised when Arthur turned back to Blythe. "I accept this kind offer you have chanced me with." he said, bowing his head slightly.

Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but stopped himself. Blythe had promised this would not bind his King to the older man. He could see no traps or dangers in accepting.

Blythe's eyes sparkled. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed and rose from his throne, coming to stand in front of Merlin and Arthur. The cheerful expression he had worn a second ago instantly became serious and composed. "I need you to join your hands, Merlin, your right with Arthur's left, yes, like that." he said.

They complied cautiously and warily. Arthur watched the old sorcerer with mistrusting eyes. Blythe paid him no mind. A heavy weight sank into the pit of Merlin's stomach, not knowing what was to come.

With both hands, Blythe took their clasped hands between his own, and began chanting, his voice low, in the language of the old religion. The moment he began, Merlin found he couldn't move his hand away from where it was being held. Arthur must have felt it too, because he looked up at Merlin with a panicked expression.

Merlin tried his best to relax him with his eyes, using the rest of his concentration trying to work out what Blythe was chanting. The man's voice never rose about a whisper, and it was neither angry nor threatening. The room crackled with electricity, making an audible sound throughout the room and a pressure formed in Merlin's mind. Arthur must have felt it as well because he shook his head and brought a hand up tentatively to touch it.

Blythe's voice rose suddenly, yelling out a last word and releasing their hands. Merlin dropped to his knees, Arthur following beside him, never letting him go. Merlin fought with the pressure in his mind, which was sending him feelings of pain and confusion. In an attempt to block it, he pushed against the intrusion in his mind.

A cry sounded all around him, coming from Arthur. Merlin's eyes snapped open, but he only found Arthur kneeling in front of him, his eyes squeezed shut and mouth closed tight. With a sudden realization, Merlin realized the cry had come from inside his mind.

Arthur? Merlin tried, saying it inside his mind as if he would to another sorcerer.

Arthur's eyes snapped open, Merlin felt foreign relief flood his mind, then confusion mixing in with his own, feeding off his own. Arthur looked at him, confusion clearly written across his face.

Arthur? Merlin said again. Arthur's eyes grew and his mouth dropped. Blythe watched their interaction from a couple feet away, saying nothing. It was definitely not his presence Merlin felt in his mind, he could tell the difference between that ancient mind and this one.

As Merlin would with another sorcerer, he pushed into the other mind, instead of against it. He was immediately swept up in a blur of thoughts and emotions, all of them Arthur's.

Arthur's eyes grew wide, and he yanked his hand from Merlin's, as if it had burned his. He jumped to his feet and spun around to Blythe, leaving Merlin kneeling on the floor. Merlin gasped as he was thrust from his King's mind, disgust being the last thing he felt from Arthur's mind. It was impossible. Only sorcerers could communicate in such a way, and Arthur was no sorcerer.

"What did you do to us?" Arthur asked, all formality and kindness gone from his voice.

Blythe was unfazed by the King's harsh tone. "I have allowed you to connect with your servant without the need for words."

Arthur gapped and Merlin felt no less surprised. He had never heard of such a thing before.

"From anywhere? I don't feel any connection now." Arthur said, his voice no kinder then it had been a second ago.

"No, you need to be touching. Direct skin to skin contact." Blythe said, his usual smile slipping onto his face.

Merlin looked down as his hand and rose to his feet unsurely.

Arthur pushed on. "How is this meant to help me or my kingdom?" he said.

"That is for you to discover." Blythe said. He turned his back to the two men and started back towards his throne. Arthur drew his dagger and gripped it tight, taking a step towards Blythe. Instinctively, Merlin reached out and gripped Arthur's arm to stop him, then jerked his hand back, afraid of reaching into his mind again.

Arthur too was startled by the contact, but nothing came from it. Merlin had touched his armour, not bare skin. They looked at each other cautiously. Slowly, Merlin extended his arm to Arthur. Just as slowly, Arthur reached out and took his servant's hand. He instantly pulled back as a flood of alien thoughts and feelings assaulted him.

"Take it back, we do not need it." Arthur demanded.

Merlin tried to fight back the tiny bit of regret he felt at the man's words, but knew that it was logical. This was something they didn't need, and it was also dangerous to have in his position. A simple distracted thought could reveal his secret to his King.

Blythe laughed. "This is something I cannot undo." he said.

Arthur growled. "You will reverse it." he said, his hand tightening around his dagger. Merlin reached over and pulled the blade from his hands. Arthur released it easily, and a horrifying thought crept into Merlin's mind. He dropped the dagger instantly but still the attack came.

Merlin was knocked to his knees and he felt an invisible grip take hold of his throat. He yelped and struggled, but there was nothing to struggle against. Arthur whipped around and cursed, unsure of what to do.

A soothing voice entered Merlin's mind. Sleep, it whispered quietly. The lack of air made him feel dizzy and tired, and Merlin sank fully to the ground. A feeling of detachment filled Merlin and he found it easier and easier to obey the voice. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a part of him screamed to fight, but he found himself unable to do so. As he closed his eyes, he saw Blythe lift a hand, sending Arthur flying off his feet and rolling over towards Merlin.

Merlin's eyes clicked shut and he found himself unable to move or reopen his eyes. The choking pressure eased off completely and he felt at peace. Suddenly, fingers rested on his throat, sending the feelings of terror and worry rush through him. Merlin? a voice cut through his mind. Arthur, Merlin thought. He distantly remembered thinking that Arthur must have been feeling for a pulse.

The fingers were removed and he heard voices. "What have you done?" Arthur shouted.

Blythe's reply was as calm as ever. "He was holding two weapons. Even you knew you are only allowed one inside my home." he said.

"He was just trying to remove it from me, surely you know this." Arthur said, anger seeping into his voice.

"The rules stand. Surely you, a King, understand that."

"What shall happen to him?"

There was a pause. "I did not go through all this only to end up killing the boy in the end. Go. When he wakes, I shall send him to meet you."

"But he shall live?" Arthur said, his voice was filled with urgency.

Another pause. Merlin wanted desperately to look, to speak, but he couldn't. Finally, Blythe spoke. "I promise you, he will return to you with his life."

"Thank you."

Someone took hold of his hand, and he felt his mind melt into Arthur's once again. I shall wait for you by the horses, he said, his voice uncertain.

I'm sorry, Merlin thought as Arthur's hand slid from his.

As his hand became out of reach, one last accidental though slipped through from Arthur. What has he done to us?

Merlin pondered the question, feeling an absence filling the room. I don't know, Merlin thought to himself as he was left alone in the room with Blythe. After a couple minutes of silence, footsteps approached him. A heavy hand rested on his shoulder as he was jolted back into a full consciousness. Blythe looked down at him as Merlin sat up, looking up into eyes that held the full weight of his many years on this planet.

Come, Blythe said, we have much to discuss.

AN. My computer is going in for repairs later today, and will not be returned to me from 6-10 business days. So there will be a small hiatus as I wait and type up the next chapter. This one is a little long, it's funny, they are getting longer and long. Thank you for your continued support, your kind words of encouragement really mean a lot to me, and I am sorry to be leaving you at such an intense moment in the story. All will be explained next chapter! And maybe I'll sneak some sexy stuff in there too! ;D