A/N: Hello beautiful people from the internet! I am so so so sorry for taking so long to write this one. It's my first time writing Merthur and I've had a terrible writer's block, I apologise. But I will try to post the next chapter quick! Thank you for the favourites, follows and Silk's Shadow's kind review. Please. guys, keep telling me what you think about my fic, it seriously means a lot.
This chapter is for my friend Elen, that's why the original name was 'Deep Merthur Shit', but she knows I love her even though I changed the name. Thank you for everything little dragon!
Words without A/N: 1 993
5. Dollop head and Murlin
''What is done in love is done well.'' Vincent Van Gogh
''... erlin! Merlin! Psst, Merlin!'' The young warlock woke up to Arthur's voice calling him.
''Arthur? What happened?'' Merlin asked, feeling a terrible pain in his head and eyes. He realised that he was on his knees, a tall man holding him in place, Arthur was next to him in the same position. He looked around, they were in a big room, guards everywhere. He also noticed that it was nigh time because of the torches and the big fire in the middle of the room.
''Merlin, are you alright?'' The kings asked, looking concerned. The warlock noticed Arthur's black eye, he must have tried to fight.
''I... I don't know... where are..?''
''Hey! Both of you stop it!'' The man who has Arthur snapped. ''No one gave you permission to talk.''
Merlin and Arthur gave each other concerned looks and remained quiet. Merlin tried to remember what had happened: he was sure they had been on a fight and that Arthur had rescued him, then he tried to... what had he been trying to do? Anyways, someone had hit him in the head and at that moment they were... well, whatever that place was. It was quiet for almost a minute, and then they heard footsteps and an angry voice.
''... better be good!'' An angry manly voice was heard, coming closer. ''You know I don't like it when you wake me up. This has to be good, if not...''
''My lord, this is good, I... I promise... be... better than anything we´ve ever captured.'' A shaky voice said, it belonged to a man as well.
''If you are lying to me, Benny Boy, I'm going to...'' The man talking walked into the room; he closed his mouth and opened his eyes with surprise. After staring at Arthur for a while, he laughed. ''Well, well, well, look at that, Benny.''
The man grabbed his fat belly and laughed out loud again. Merlin felt somehow scared, what was this man going to do with them? He touched Arthur's chin with a fat and dirty finger, but the king moved his head, making the man slap him.
''Don't act like that, little knight!'' The man snapped. ''If you don't want me to beat the living...''
''My... my lord, he is much more than a knight.'' The man who had been called Benny said. His master looked more carefully.
''Well, he is from Camelot, I can see that because of the uniform. Let me see... that hair colour, I have seen it before, but in a woman. And those eyes, they remind me of a man, a very cruel and powerful man... Blimey! But this is King Arthur! Ha! Your majesty, Gradel, at your service.'' The man said, bowing and laughing. Arthur didn't move or react. ''Gentlemen, take a look at this! King Arthur is now my slave!''
''Let us go, now.'' Arthur said seriously.
''You think we will just let you go?'' Gradel said with a smile that showed all his damaged and nasty teeth. ''No, no, my dear king, you are now mine and I will have a great reward for you.''
''I'm sure, my lord, I'm sure that King...'' Benny started.
''No king is going to have him, idiot!'' Gradel shouted and hit his servant. ''But Lady Morgana will... Ha! Look at his face! Look at the king's scared face! Yes, Arthur Pendragon, Morgana has offered so much for you. Unfortunately, she is on a trip far away and coming back could take her fifteen days at least. But fear not, my lord, you can stay here until she is back.''
''And you think she will give you what you wish?'' Arthur asked.
''Why? Do you have something better to offer?''
''Well, nothing is going to make me change my mind about sending you to prison, but...''
''Morgana offers me lands! She has promised to make noble men our slaves and beautiful women our wives. And what do you want to give me? A clean dungeon?''
''Listen, I cannot let you be free, you have captured my people and sold them as slaves''
''It's called business, King Arthur.'' Gradel said, completely serious now. ''There is not deal. Guards, take the king and the boy to a cell. Tomorrow, I will send a letter to Lady Morgana and give you a little raise. Benny, don't wake me up again.''
Gradel left, the two men holding Merlin and Arthur made them stand up. Merlin did what Arthur had told him to do if he ever got captured: he observed the place and memorised it. He paid close attention to the route to the dungeons. When they got there, Gradel's men threw them into a cell, closed the door and walked away. Arthur looked at them with disgust.
''Are you okay?'' Merlin asked.
''Yes, yes, Merlin, the question is are you okay? It was a terrible hit.'' Arthur said and touched Merlin's head, causing the warlock to moan in pain. ''I'm sorry, it isn't better?''
''Better?'' Merlin asked, touching the painful area. ''Arthur, I have to be honest with you, I don't know what is going on.''
''As always? Well, Merlin, remember the fight? Let me give you a short version: they captured you, I tried to help, but the same thing happened to me. Then you tried to help us escape, but...''
''They hit me in the head.''
''Indeed.''
''And I passed out?''
''For a bloody day and a half!''
''A day?'' Merlin asked, surprised.
''And a half.'' Arthur laughed. ''Seriously, Merlin, how do you do that?''
''Arthur, I am so sorry. It's my fault that we are here and now...'' Merlin started, but Arthur interrupted him with a kiss. Then he whispered. ''You didn't have to do that.''
''But I did, Merlin, and I don't regret doing so.'' Arthur whispered back, with his eyes still closed.
''I'm sorry.'' Merlin said. He felt so guilty, they wouldn't be there if it hadn't been for him.
''I chose to do that, alright?'' Arthur said, leaning against a wall and hugging Merlin.
''But, Arthur...''
''But nothing.'' The king said, kissing the other man again. ''Just shut up, Merlin.''
The warlock smiled, even though they were basically slaves and had no plan to escape, it was nice having time for themselves. He also giggled a bit when Arthur said his name, he had always found it funny.
''Are you laughing at me?'' Arthur asked, giving his servant a soft punch on the shoulder.
''No.'' Merlin answered, laughing once again. ''Just say my name.''
''Merlin, this is ridiculous, why are you...?'' Arthur started but was interrupted by Merlin roaring with laughter. ''What is so funny? Seriously, Merlin, how hard was the hit?''
''It's just the way you say...''
''Merlin, don't make me regret getting captured for you.''
''Sorry.'' Merlin said and made Arthur put his head on his lap, he seemed tired. The warlock smiled, why did Arthur pronounce his name like that? Everyone else called him Merlin, naturally. But it was as if Arthur replaced the E with a U, making it sound like Murlin. And he loved that, he loved being Arthur's Murlin.
''Don't be so scared.'' Arthur said.
''I'm not scared... But how are we getting out of here?''
''I'm not sure, Merlin, if we can't make a plan to escape, we will just have to wait.''
''What about the knights?''
''I'm sure they did the right thing, Merlin, I think one of them got wounded, I don't know who. Going back to Camelot was the best thing to do. What if they had been captured as well? No one in Camelot knew where we were going. They will announce it to everyone and come back for us.''
''Are you sure, Arthur?'' Merlin asked.
''Yes, Merlin, don't worry.'' Arthur held Merlin's hand. ''If not, we will find a way to escape, I promise.''
''Merlin felt safer with that, but what if everything failed? If they couldn't escape and Morgana reached them... well, he could do something with magic. However, he was afraid of that, really afraid. If he had to use magic, how would Arthur react? That question bothered him more than anything. He didn't want the king to discover his magic by accident, Merlin wanted to tell him.
Does he even love me? Merlin thought. And that doubt was real. On many occasions, Arthur had acted completely loving to Merlin, he was in that situation because of him, actually. But he had never said those three words: I love you. Arthur had told a lot of people he loved them, he had even shouted that to Percival once when he saved his life. Merlin had also tried thinking about it in a different way, they had an uncommon type of relationship. But he had also said that to Gwen before their romance died. Was Arthur embarrassed of them?
Then, as if the king had been reading his mind, he whispered. ''I love you.''
''You what?'' Merlin said, sounding so impressed that he ruined the moment.
''Ah, come on, really?'' Arthur complained, standing up. ''This is the first time I try to be your romantic man and...''
''Wait... my romantic man?'' Merlin laughed.
''Oh, I'm so sorry, I got it wrong. I'm actually Gaius' romantic man... of course your romantic man, you stupid...''
''But I love you too.'' Merlin said, smiling.
''Was it hard to say?'' Arthur smiled, sitting down again.
Merlin took Arthur's hand when he sat next to him and smiled lovingly. He was unbelievable happy. Arthur was his 'romantic man', his king, his love. They stared into each other's eyes for a while.
''Why were you so surprised, Merlin?'' Arthur asked. ''I mean, it wouldn't be the first time someone didn't love me back, but...''
''No! No, Arthur, no. I do love you.'' Merlin said, squeezing his hand. ''It's just that I wasn't sure about you feeling like that.''
''Why do you say that, Merlin?''
''Well... these past few months nothing has been serious. There are just quick kisses when no one's looking and me going to your room late at night, little things like that. But we have never actually talked about...''
''Merlin, if you've ever wanted to talk you could have...''
''But you are the king, I didn't want to interrupt your duties.''
''Oh, shut up, Merlin.'' Arthur said and Merlin smiled, he had said 'Murlin' again. ''Well, maybe I was just waiting.''
''Waiting? For what?''
''I have been thinking a lot lately and...''
''Wait, you can think?''
''Merlin, this is serious.'' Arthur said and took a deep breath. ''Look, my uncle's opinion is very important for me and you know that I have done a lot of things most royals wouldn't approve. Agravaine has never liked having Gwaine, Percival and Elyan as knights, he wasn't a fan of my relationship with Guinevere either. I try not to care too much and to be free, even though it's actually important for me. But, Merlin, I want my uncle to know about us.''
Merlin smiled. ''You do?''
''Of course, Merlin. And you're right, we haven't talked about us, but believe me when I say that I want to take this more seriously.'' Arthur said, Merlin grabbed his face carefully and kissed him. Then, the king whispered. ''And then, who knows what could happen? With Agravaine's approbation or not, I will be with you no matter what.''
''Whatever happens, I'm just happy I'm with you.'' Merlin said, resting his head on Arthur's shoulder.
''Me too, Merlin.''
''Murlin.'' He laughed.
''Are you making fun of me?''
''No.''
''Then why are you laughing?''
''Because you're a dollop head.''
''Just shut up.'' Arthur said with humour, kissing his servant's forehead. ''I will get you out of here, Merlin, I promise.''
Eventually, both men fell asleep. They were prisoners, cold, hungry and, somehow, better than ever. Murlin and Dollop head.
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