The banquet was nice. The food was nice. The conversation was uneventful but nice. Merlin had absolutely no idea who this sorceress was, but she didn't seem to be causing any harm, yet.
However, the connection between Merlin and Arthur was… intense. Merlin knew he shouldn't. He knew it was the last thing he should be doing. But he couldn't help stealing glances at Arthur the whole way through the feast. Mainly, because most of the time, Arthur was watching him right back. It was addictive. This connection. This dance. This feeling. He knew it was wrong. He knew tomorrow it would all have to go back to normal. But just for tonight, he couldn't help himself.
Arthur watched the mysterious girl, transfixed. She didn't seem to quite fit in with the other women. She talked with them and laughed with them but she didn't quite appear focused on them. Her eyes kept roaming; lost in some beautiful fantasy or the other. She really was stunning, he decided. It wasn't the ordinary beauty either; of perfection and poise and grace. It was a raw beauty, a real beauty. The sort of beauty that you can only get by not trying to be beautiful. It was a beauty in the way she smiled, as opposed to the beauty of the lips themselves. It was a beauty in the way that her eyes glittered and sparked, as opposed to the beauty in the physical orbs. It was a beauty in the way she moved when she spoke, or laughed with a tremor, it was a true beauty in the way that she owned the room, and meant nothing could tear Arthur's eyes away for more than a few minutes.
'This is ridiculous' Merlin decided half way through the evening. Not a single woman appeared out of place, and Arthur was watching him like a hawk. Not that Merlin didn't like Arthur watching him. I mean, not that he did like it either. Well, he sort of did. But he didn't. I mean, he couldn't. Could he? Anyway, it meant that he couldn't do anything without Arthur seeing. So really, it was quite annoying. But it was kind of nice, you know? Gah! This was stupid, it probably didn't mean anything anyway.
Merlin sighed.
This whole procedure had been an absolute waste of time. And would cause serious questions from Arthur tomorrow if he found out, as to how he looked like a woman and why the hell was he there anyway? He probably had found out. That could be the only reason he kept looking at Merlin like that. And if he hadn't, the longer Merlin stayed, the more likely it was that he, or someone else, would recognise him. He had been desperately avoiding Gwen all evening and was praying that she would not recollect the old dress that she had given to Gaius a week ago.
Trying to be as subtle as possible, Merlin slipped away from the table, walking as though he was simply heading to the chamber to get some air. Many ladies stood there gossiping so it was easy for him to slip past them all and head for the exit.
But it was at that moment that someone caught his eye. It was a woman - possibly about middle-aged, with a twisted walk and a jutted chin - darting around a corner, away from the feast. Her hair whipped behind her, straggly and evasive. Merlin's instincts jumped and so, cautiously, he followed her. But, although she appeared old, she was fast, and she moved with a stealth and a precision that was hard to achieve, and even more hard to shadow. She manoeuvred through crowds with ease, and Merlin, with his heels and his suffocating dress, found it more difficult. She reached a chamber further away from the feast that branched off a corridor that was emptying. People were returning for dessert. No one was here to notice this shifty figure as she slipped inside. Carefully, Merlin crept closer to the door of the chamber and peered in.
This was definitely the sorceress. She was bent over something that Merlin couldn't see and was whispering words that, although faint, Merlin recognised as chants of the old religion. She sounded rushed and angry. This was not going to end well. He watched her intensely, trying to get a glimpse of what she was preparing.
"What are you doing?"
It took all of Merlin's self-control not to let out a yelp when these words were whispered with hot breath right into Merlin's ear. He spun around to find Arthur smirking at him standing right behind him. Too close. Merlin was having a hard time breathing as it was, but now he was choking on the absence of air. He coughed and spluttered. Too loudly, he realised too late.
He heard footsteps coming from the chamber as the sorceress came to the door. Instinctively, he pushed Arthur up against the wall just to the side of the door behind a statue. Arthur's face appeared like he was about to protest, so Merlin clamped a dainty hand over his big mouth to shut him up. They were both breathing heavily, but Arthur finally seemed to understand the danger of it and fixed Merlin with a worried, questioning scrutiny. Yet again, Merlin tried to hide his face, although he was almost certain that he was too late.
Their faces were dauntingly close, Merlin realised. He could see the flecks of green in Arthur's deep blue eyes. Their breaths almost seemed to intertwine in the limited space between them. This was too much for Merlin. Why was he feeling this way?
'Oh don't kid yourself…' a voice somewhere in the back of Merlin's brain muttered. 'You've always felt this way.'
In response, Merlin mentally stuck his tongue out, before realising that there were more pressing matters at hand.
He could still hear the woman at the door, with her wheezing breaths and nervous tapping foot. She stood there for a minute or so more before retiring back into the chamber.
"What's going on?" Arthur demanded in a harsh whisper, by now thoroughly confused.
"Nothing, your majesty." Merlin protested quietly. "Why aren't you at the feast?"
"Why aren't you?" Arthur returned stubbornly.
Merlin opened then closed his mouth. How was he going to explain his way out of this one? What was more, he still had to try and hide his identity and stop the sorceress! Seriously Gaius, thanks a lot.
"Well?" Arthur persisted.
"Um… Well… You see, your majesty…" Merlin began, but suddenly, he heard the woman's footsteps again. His voice faded out and he forgot his train of thoughts as his mind focused onto this new dilemma. She was obviously done with what she was doing and might come out at any given moment.
"Yes…" Arthur encouraged, almost teasingly, enjoying watching this strange girl suffer.
The footsteps continued to get louder. If Merlin didn't shut Arthur up soon then the sorceress was bound to find them, and frankly, Merlin wasn't too keen on that.
Arthur watched as the girl appeared to be having some kind of internal struggle. He gazed softly into her stunning eyes, strangely familiar and unnerving, yet so comfortably beautiful. At the minute, they told tales of distraught despair lurking behind them, so, carefully, Arthur reached out a hand and placed it gently on the girl's thin waist.
With a start, Merlin practically jumped as he felt a hand wrap around his waist. He had never realised before just how big Arthur's hands were, or how perfectly they fit upon his body. It was… really rather nice. And there was still that electricity sparking between them when they touched.
Arthur tried his best to ignore the amazing sensations this simple touch caused throughout him, and instead murmured "Are you ok?"
Merlin's eyes widened further with fear at the question. He needed Arthur to shut up and be quiet. He needed Arthur to not see the sorceress that was about to come out of that chamber at any minute. He needed Arthur to move away from him and give him some space to think and stop clouding his thoughts with feelings for him.
But sadly, he also needed to hurry the hell up and do something or else they would both be in deep trouble.
"Hello?" Arthur persisted. "Are you alright? You're not looking too great. Do you need to sit down, perhaps?"
"No, no. I'm fine." Merlin returned in a strained whisper.
"You still haven't told me who you are."
"Neither have you."
"I didn't think I needed to."
"That's just typical of you, you arrogant prat."
Merlin's eyes widened and he bit his tongue. He'd really put his foot in it now. And that sorceress was still coming nearer.
Arthur's mouth dropped open. No one ever spoke to him like that. Well, except Merlin but he forced himself not to think of Merlin. It was… strangely attractive… not that he'd ever admit that to anyone. Least of all Merlin. Because he definitely wasn't attracted to Merlin. Nope.
Anyway, why was he thinking about Merlin when there was this beautiful young woman right here that he definitely was attracted to, and could be attracted to because she wasn't his servant or a man and she definitely wasn't Merlin. So really he should be thinking about her. Which he was. And the way that she had just offended him really quite bluntly. Which was very attractive.
"You really are something aren't you?" Arthur whispered, unintentionally leaning closer.
"I'm sorry, your majesty…" Merlin began but Arthur cautiously lifted one finger to shush him.
"Don't apologise." Arthur muttered, feeling like he was caught in a daze with the sheer fascination of this human being. "Although I'm glad that you do know who I am."
"Of course, sire." Merlin returned, feeling his head cloud with the proximity.
"Sire? No more insults?" Arthur prompted, knowing that he was teasing and that it was improper, but also that he didn't want to stop.
"I can call you prat if you'd like, my Lord." Merlin winked, really not sure what he was doing anymore.
"I actually think I would." Arthur smirked.
"Alright then, you prat." Merlin laughed under his breath.
However, through the haze surrounding their conversation, he remembered that he was meant to be trying to save Camelot. Couldn't it wait, he sighed. Just for once, couldn't he have a normal life? He listened intently, and heard the footsteps of the sorceress right behind them. If either of them uttered a word, they would be found out.
Arthur opened his mouth, trying to think of some witty return. He didn't want this beautiful stranger to think he actually was an idiotic prat.
Merlin noticed Arthur beginning to speak, and made a split second decision. He grabbed the front of Arthur's shirt and pulled his mouth against his own.
Both their eyes slid shut. Time seemed to stand still. There were definitely fireworks. And lightning bolts. It was like the ringing truths of destiny's bells were pealing from all around in muted, joyful fanfares.
Basically, it was absolutely amazing.
Arthur wrapped his arms more firmly around her waist, pulling her thin form against his strong body. Merlin slid his fingers up into the golden locks that he had for so long yearned to touch. There were so many sensations blasting through both of their bodies right now. Their mouths slipped open and their tongues battled for dominance.
Arthur liked the way she put up a good fight.
Slowly, regretfully, they pulled apart. They stayed a minute, wrapped in each other's embrace, wrapped in the feelings. Arthur dozily brushed a strand of hair back from Merlin's eyes and Merlin sighed. He took a step back… and bumped into the statue they were meant to be hiding behind… In order to stay away from the sorceress and so save Camelot. But he was also meant to be stopping said sorceress. He whipped his head around. She was nowhere to be seen or heard.
Oh, what had he done?!
Turning back to Arthur, the memories of what had just passed between them returned. He blushed bright red, and began mumbling some excuse. He staggered backwards, falling over the hem of his stupid dress, and tripping again in his stupid heels. Somehow, he managed to turn himself around and start hurrying down the corridor before Arthur fully understood what was going on.
Arthur watched as the girl wobbled about in an adorably clumsy way, before he registered that she was actually leaving him.
"Wait!" he called desperately after her.
"I've got to go! I'm sorry!" Merlin shouted back.
"Did I do something wrong?" Arthur asked anxiously.
Merlin paused a second in his escape and turned back around to make eye contact with Arthur. "No, you definitely didn't do anything wrong."
Arthur smiled slightly at this consolation. But… "Then why are you leaving?"
"There's just something I have to do." Merlin wheeled back around and continued running.
"You haven't even told me your name!" Arthur protested.
Merlin shrugged enigmatically. "See you later, prat." He threw over his shoulder, before he dashed around a corner, leaving a very confused, very intrigued, Prince Arthur gaping after him.
Hope you are enjoying! This was only meant to be a one shot but I still have at least one chapter I want to write so stay tuned! Thanks for reading :)