Merlin sprinted down corridor after corridor – well sprinted to the best of his ability in his attire (it was more like a staggered, swaying jog) – but to no avail. The woman appeared to have simply disappeared. To be honest, Merlin wouldn't put it past a sorceress to just vanish into thin air. But then Merlin comforted himself by reasoning that she wouldn't have fulfilled her reason for being there if she did so.
No matter how much he tried, he could not tear his mind away from Arthur and the way that it had felt when he… kissed him.
He still couldn't quite believe that fact.
And Arthur had kissed him back.
Not that Arthur knew who he was. If he did, he probably wouldn't have.
But still…
It had been amazing.
'Focus, Merlin!' he mentally shouted at himself. He needed to save Camelot and at the moment he was doing a pretty rubbish job.
But Arthur's lips had been so soft, and his arms had been so strong, and his body had been pressed so tightly against Merlin's. And it felt so good.
With a jolt, he suddenly realised he had just run past two guards lying passed out on the floor. He was now back to relatively near the banquet hall. Merlin started and rushed up the stairs of the turret that the guards lay at the bottom of. His shoes made a stupidly loud noise on the stones, and so he slipped them off and held them in his hand as he ran.
At the top there was a small chamber which led to a balcony over-looking the banquet hall. The sorceress stood in this chamber holding something in her hand. Merlin slipped silently into the room, cursing the brushing of his dress on the wooden door, and did his best to melt into the shadows… which was a lot more difficult in three layers of silk petticoats than one might consider. He observed as the strange woman muttered more magic, and the thing in her hands glowed. She moved slightly, and Merlin saw it was a vial. Understanding slowly dawned on Merlin, and a plan formulated in his mind.
"Hello?" he whimpered in his falsetto, batting his blue eyes and stepping out of the shadows.
"Who's there?" the woman whipped around, and seeing it was 'just an innocent girl' she visibly relaxed. "Oh hello there dear, are you ok?"
"I got a bit lost, and then I saw you and thought you might help me. How do I get back to the banquet hall?" Merlin continued in his simpering tones.
"You head back down the stairway, deary, and turn left then right."
"Left then right… I think I've got it. Thank you so much!" Merlin gushed. And then paused. "What's that?" he asked, eyes widening further, indicating the vial that she held.
"Nothing for you to worry about, love." Merlin could hear the woman getting angry; he would have to speed this up.
"It's so beautiful!" he exclaimed and, flinging down his heels, he dashed forwards before she could stop him. He grabbed the vial and held it to the light, pretending to examine it.
"Hey! Give that back!" the old crone called.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Merlin smiled gently, gradually dropping the dazed façade.
"You're going to have to…" the woman threatened and held out her hand as she realised something was up.
"Or what?" he threatened, voice low and calm.
The woman rushed at Merlin, taking him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Merlin grinned; perfect. Her eyes flashed as though she was about to cast a spell and Merlin prepared himself to end her, when suddenly the door flew open.
"Stop right there!" came the pompous voice of Cabbage McPrat-Bucket, also known as Prince Arthur.
'Seriously?!' Merlin internally exclaimed. 'Could the idiot not keep his prattish head out of one little thing and just let me be?!'
The old woman glared from Merlin to the Prince. "Oh, of course. How sweet." She crooned. "The knight in shining armour comes to save his damsel in distress."
Merlin took the woman's distraction to knee her in the stomach. "I am not in distress. Arthur, get out of here. I'm ok."
"I can't just leave you!" Arthur protested, grabbing Merlin and pulling him behind him.
"Arthur, please. I can handle myself! You're just going to cause me problems!"… like you always do, Merlin mentally added. "She's a sorceress! She wants to kill your father."
"Actually," the sorceress butted in casually as she advanced towards them. "I want to kill him." And indicated Arthur.
"Even more of a reason for you to get out of here." Merlin whispered.
"I'm not leaving an innocent lady to fend off a sorceress!" Arthur glared, still shielding Merlin with his body.
"I'm not an innocent lady!" Merlin objected. If only Arthur knew how true that statement was.
"I'm still not leaving." Arthur said stubbornly.
"Oh good. Now that we've got all that sorted out…" the sorceress tapped her foot impatiently as she advanced.
Merlin stepped round Arthur to give him one last imploring stare, but Arthur shook his head.
"Fine." Merlin sighed. "Have it your way…" And he spun to face the sorceress, simultaneously stepping in front of Arthur. He held the vial up. "You want this?" he taunted. "What does it do?"
"As if I'd just tell you all my plans…" the woman laughed.
Merlin shook the vial experimentally.
"Don't!" the woman exploded.
"Oh?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"It's dangerous, containing very rare ingredients. Shake it and it will kill us all."
"And you wanted to use this to kill Arthur here by dropping it on him from over the balcony?" Merlin suggested.
The woman snarled, confirming Merlin's expectations. "It will work just as well on the King." And she raised her hand, eyes flashing.
Merlin could feel the vial being pulled from his grasp. But he couldn't do magic with Arthur right there.
"Leave her alone." Arthur drew his sword and rushed at the woman.
She chuckled and flipped her hand, casting him aside as readily as if he were a rag doll.
"Arthur!" Merlin screamed.
"I'm fine." Arthur blushed, already leaping to his feet. "It takes more than that to stop me."
Merlin could still feel the vial being pulled from him. So, he pretended that the pull of her magic was too strong. Arthur was desperately striking away with his sword, but each time she batted it away, still focusing on pulling the vial towards her. Merlin followed it until he was within reach of her.
"Got you." She whispered as she lunged for it, but, simultaneously, Merlin raised his leg and kicked her. He grabbed her outstretched arm, pulled it towards him, then twisted it up around her back, as he had learnt from watching Arthur so many times before.
"Not so much of a damsel in distress now." He snarled in her ear.
"That's what you think." The woman declared, and Merlin heard muttered words. He was suddenly blast backwards and found himself crumbling onto the floor.
Arthur growled viciously and took this moment to charge at her and began laying on the attack, assault after assault with his ringing blade. He was making progress, backing her against the wall, but she always managed to evade him. Merlin staggered to his feet, aware that she now held the vial. He watched in horror as she raised it, while still avoiding Arthur's attacks, as though she were about to plunge it down upon the Prince.
Merlin was powerless. He couldn't use magic without Arthur seeing, and he didn't have a weapon. He scrambled around on the floor trying to get up, when his hand closed around something pointed. Glancing down he saw his high heels. He had never been so happy to see the pointy shoes of hell in his life. Without hesitation, he grabbed one and hurled it – with only the smallest, forceful boost of magic – so that it struck her right upon her head.
She staggered, falling backwards into the wooden door that led onto the balcony. With a crash it fell open, her collapsing on top of it, and the merry mirthful sounds of the banquet danced into the room.
Arthur stared from the fallen figure, to Merlin clambering to his feet.
"Are you ok, my lady?" he asked, dashing to his side to assist him up.
"I'm just fine, thank you. And yourself, your majesty?" Merlin returned evenly, already getting sick of how, as a woman, he was treated as though he was about to break at any given moment.
"Fine." Arthur paused as though he was considering his next words. "But only thanks to you."
Merlin's mouth nearly dropped open. He could not be hearing this right. Had Arthur – Prince Arthur – just willingly accepted his own need for the help of others?! He must be dreaming… Actually that would explain a lot. Like the fact that Arthur had kissed him.
Oh god. He could not think of that right now. Not with Arthur so close.
"You know…" Arthur muttered in a light tone. "You are welcome so say something any time now."
"I'm sorry, sire." Merlin blushed when his thoughts were broken. "I was just thinking."
"About?" Arthur prompted, eyes widening.
Merlin paused for a second, and then stuttered "Everything."
"Nothing in particular?" Arthur's eyes widened and his hands gently reached out to take Merlin's.
"You." Merlin's voice spoke before his brain gave it permission. Damn. His sense was clouded by Arthur's proximity.
"And what exactly where you thinking about me?" Arthur's voice had taken on a flirtatious tone and his fingers were rubbing electrifying circles on Merlin's smooth palms.
"That you're a prat." Merlin muttered.
Arthur smiled his melting half smile. "Anything else?"
"That you're alright in a fight." Merlin's cheeks blushed as he remembered all the fights where he had seen Arthur's rippling muscles.
"You're not so bad yourself." Arthur whispered back.
"I learnt from the best." Merlin chuckled.
"What else were you thinking about me?" Arthur pressed as he leant closer.
Merlin looked up into Arthur's big, blue eyes and could not help himself falling. "That I would like to kiss you again."
He knew he shouldn't say it but he really couldn't help himself.
"Your wish is my command." Arthur murmured as he moved in further and pushed their lips together.
It started off sweet; the soft connection of blissful lip to lip. Arthur's hand slid up to cup Merlin's rosy cheek and Merlin couldn't help but sigh contentedly. Even this was enough to jolt both their hearts to a million miles per minute and whisk away all whisper of worry from their minds. There was nothing – nothing in the world except them, together, here. But slowly, Merlin rose himself up onto tiptoes, pushing their bodies closer together. He tugged at Arthur's collar and Arthur greedily responded. Without further hesitation, the kiss deepened. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin's thin waist, squeezing him closer still. Their tongues collided and danced their warriors' celebration, battling over and over, releasing cascades of pure pleasure throughout both their bodies. Arthur slammed Merlin against the wall – not too harshly – but enough to make Merlin groan from his very soul. In response, he bit at Arthur's lip, making him gasp.
Their kiss was explosive. It was fire and ice, beautiful need and relished desperation for the other's most divine love and being. It was absolute and all consuming. It was destiny's perfection.
Eventually, they needed air and pulled apart for a second. They gazed into the others eyes for eternity, entrapping their souls within this immortal moment. Both were breathing heavily, feeling as though they were as light as the wind, burning with an everlasting passion. This was it. This was all they ever wanted. Right here. No more. This. Them. Love.
Suddenly, there came a terrifying, bloody curdling scream from behind them. Both whipped around to find the sorceress awakened from her still state and riled into a fierce frenzy. Her eyes were crazed and her hair was wild and tangled. She had blood trickling down her face and dripping off her haggard chin. She fixed the couple with an unbreakable glare and turned, running out onto the balcony. With a yell, Arthur followed her, reaching for his sword and charging. Without a second thought, Merlin staggered after them.
...
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Sorry it took so long! And I'm sorry for the cliffhanger! I had dofe and this chapter turned out more difficult to write than I had anticipated. Hopefully the next update wont be too long but I am quite busy but I'm trying! I really hope you are enjoying it and stay tuned for more :)