Merlin slipped into his dry breeches and watched Arthur do the same out of the corner of his eye. He was so beautiful. His golden skin was glistening with water and his hair was clinging to his forehead. He watched him lean over to retrieve his towel from the bed to message the moisture from his hair, which kept dripping water into his eyes. He looked away and started to do the same with his own hair. Arthur looked at him and smiled. "Very subtle, Merlin," he teased. He watched his ears turn pink smugly. "Do I need to put a shirt on?"
"Do whatever you want," Merlin muttered. He reached for his own shirt but Arthur grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"Leave it off," he ordered. "You don't have to cover up." He leaned over and kissed Merlin's shoulder blade tenderly. "It'll be dried meat and fruit for dinner tonight," he said before moving to the saddlebags and kneeling down to get the dried venison and a couple apples from inside.
"Arthur? Do you have a…a bed mate?" Merlin asked nervously. He sat down on one of the beds and stared at the floor. Arthur sat down beside him and shook his head. He handed Merlin an apple and set the leather wrapped venison beside them. "Well, are you interested in one?"
Arthur frowned. "Where's this going, Merlin?" Seeing how tense Merlin was, he smiled and tried to joke by asking, "Are you offering to be my lover?"
Merlin looked away from him entirely, instead of trying to peek out of the corner of his eyes at him like he had been. Arthur's breath caught in his throat and his smile fell. Merlin glanced at him quickly then shifted away from him on the bed. "It was a stupid idea. Forget I said anything."
Arthur grabbed his wrist to stop his shifting and slid closer until their thighs touched. "You do realize what that would entail, Merlin? Everything that would entail?"
"I would still be your manservant but I would accommodate your sexual needs whenever you chose," Merlin replied calmly. He knew exactly how being someone's catamite worked. Gaius had explained when he first heard the word and failed to understand it. "It would have to be a secret and it would either end or continue discreetly when you got married."
"You want to enter an affair with me?" Arthur asked, just to be sure he had everything clear. "You would not receive special treatment, Merlin. I couldn't give you any, just because people already think we're having an affair. If this is your way of trying to get more pay or something without just asking for it, I can arrange that without you having to sleep with me."
"I don't need money or anything else," Merlin told him seriously, shaking his head. "I just want to be your catamite. What's so hard to understand about that?"
"Catamite," Arthur repeated with a snort. "I prefer the term lover." Merlin just shrugged. Arthur looked at him for a long moment then sighed and stroked his cheek with one of his roughened knuckles. "Let me think about it, all right? I'd hate to jeopardize our friendship but if it's something you really want, it's definitely worth some thought."
Arthur was silent for a long time and Merlin slowly began to grow uncomfortable. He felt scrutinized and judged but, when he glanced at him he realized Arthur didn't hold any sort of judgment in his eyes, just deep thoughtfulness, probably debating the pros and cons of sleeping with him. Merlin once again wished he was more attractive.
"You're staring," Merlin informed him, jolting Arthur out of his thoughts. Arthur smiled bashfully and looked away. Merlin climbed up onto the bed fully and moved onto his knees behind Arthur. Out of the corner of his eye, the prince saw the jar of muscle oil floating to Merlin. "Don't argue," Merlin pleaded softly.
Arthur nodded. He hadn't intended to. He had gone too long without feeling Merlin's long, elegant fingers digging into his muscles, slowly pulling the weight of the world off his shoulders along with his tension. He wondered if Merlin would let him return the favour or if the desire to be his catamite, the want to have sex with him, was something Merlin used as stress relief. They shared the weight of the world, after all, and he had never seen Merlin doing anything that looked as relaxing as his massages. But if Merlin used sex to relieve stress, wouldn't he have heard of his conquests about the castle? He was very in tune to the rumour mill, since he had to make sure he heard of any magic rumours or anyone suspecting Merlin immediately. He would have heard. He jumped when Merlin touched his shoulders with the cold oil on his fingers and his thoughts vanished.
"Cold?" Merlin inquired quietly. Arthur nodded. "Sorry." The second time he touched him the oil was warm and Arthur sighed happily at the contact. "Do you want to lie down?"
Arthur's eyelids drooped closed as Merlin's breath danced across his ear. "You're trying to seduce me," he accused gently, not at all angry at Merlin's tactics. He was impressed with his boldness, actually.
"Yes," Merlin admitted quietly. Arthur placed his hands over Merlin's on his shoulders and leaned back against him. "I could please you, Arthur. You know I would try my hardest to please you." He slid his oil-covered hands down Arthur's shoulders to his chest. Arthur put his hands over them, keeping them just below his pictorials with a thoughtful expression.
"Give me a valid reason why, Merlin. Something other than you just want to. You have a reason for wanting this. Tell me it," Arthur ordered softly.
"I can't," Merlin muttered. "You'd hate me." He started to draw circles in Arthur's skin with his nails and Arthur frowned.
"No more secrets, Merlin. Please," Arthur said quietly. "You have my solemn promise not to hate you or get mad at you over anything you may say. Unless you say money because then I get to smack you upside the head for lying." Merlin chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss Arthur's forehead. Arthur sat up and turned around to stroke Merlin's cheek softly. "I do want you, Merlin. I just can't have a meaningless sexual encounter with someone who means so much."
"It wouldn't be meaningless," Merlin muttered. He took the hand from his cheek and held it tightly. "Arthur, I have deep feelings for you. I'm, uh, in love with you. I want to know what it's like to have you inside me, at least once." Merlin squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't have to see Arthur's expression and Arthur was silent and still for a long moment.
"Merlin?" Arthur said softly. Merlin reluctantly opened his eyes and looked up at him. "Take off your clothes." Merlin released Arthur's hand and reached down to untie his breeches. Arthur stood up beside the bed and did the same. He watched Arthur toss his breeches away and bit his bottom lip to prevent drooling over the half-hard length he finally got to see without shame. "Merlin, your pants. C'mon. We can't do this if you're wearing them."
Merlin nodded and quickly removed yanked off his pants. He tossed them onto the floor and looked at Arthur eagerly. Arthur grinned down at him. He leaned down and kissed him softly on the forehead. Merlin shut his eyes contently and Arthur ran his fingers through his hair. "Thank you, Arthur," Merlin whispered softly. He reached up and let his hands trail down Arthur's chest.
"It's my pleasure." Arthur lowered his mouth to Merlin's ear and whispered, "I love you too." Merlin opened his eyes and grinned. He wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck and pulled him down so he could catch his lips in a deep, slow kiss.
"Merlin," Arthur muttered when he pulled back. Merlin smiled and dotted kisses across Arthur's jaw and down his neck. He stopped to suck and nibble on Arthur's pronounced collarbone. He traced it with his tongue and Arthur ran his hands down his back softly.
Merlin flinched and grunted in pain as a sudden pain went through his right arm and his chest suddenly had pressure on it. He opened his eyes and moaned. He looked around and realized he wasn't in bed with Arthur looming over him with lust and love in his eyes. He was in the bath and Arthur was holding his right arm far too tightly for comfort. "C'mon, Merlin. Stay above the water already."
"Arthur," Merlin muttered groggily. He pushed himself up and turned his head to look at Arthur. "Sorry. I fell asleep."
"I know," Arthur said, laughing. "I did too. You nearly drowned in the tub though, Merlin. Let's go ahead and get out." Merlin nodded and pushed himself up with a sigh. The tub was still magicked to be warm and he didn't want to get out but he knew if he didn't, he would end up sleeping in it. Or dying. That would be a shameful way to go. A powerful wizard destined to protect the great Arthur Pendragon drowning in a bath tub. He shook his head and scoffed at himself. Arthur looked at him curiously as he stood up as well. "What?"
"Just thinking how embarrassing it would be to drown in the bath after everything we've been through." Arthur chuckled and nodded. Merlin summoned two towels to him and Arthur and climbed out of the tub. "Fire's dying," Merlin muttered, shivering. He glared at the fireplace and the flickering flame grew until warmth spread across the room. Arthur smiled gratefully at him and he grinned before picking up a pair of pants and stepping into them. "I'm going to put up some protective wards."
Arthur nodded and pulled on dry pants of his own. Merlin whispered spells over the windows while Arthur wiped the moisture off his torso and hair. As soon as Merlin finished with the windows, he started to go spell the door but was stopped by a knock. Arthur picked up his sheathed sword and Merlin walked to the door cautiously. He opened it, only peeking his head out, and found the little serving girl outside, holding a tray of food.
"Hello," she said with a smile. He opened the door further and she came in. She set the tray on Arthur's bed, eyeing his sword uncomfortably, then started to leave. "If you'd be so kind as to leave the tray outside the door when you're finished, sirs, that would be wonderful. Have a good night."
"You too," Arthur said as Merlin moved to lock the door behind her. "Let's hope it's as good as it smells." Arthur sat on the bed and took the lid off one of the bowls. "Stew. Hmm." He lifted a spoon to take a bite but Merlin put a hand over his hand and glared at him. "What?"
"Let me test it first, idiot," Merlin grumbled. He muttered another spell but, to Arthur, it appeared as though nothing happened.
"Merlin, what was the purpose of that?" Arthur asked irritably.
"I was testing for poison," Merlin explained. "I do it to all your food. I can do it long distance so it works at feasts too." He seemed rather proud of himself, Arthur noticed with amusement. "After the poisoned chalice incident, I'm not taking any chances."
"Of course," Arthur said understandingly. He smiled and brought the spoon to his mouth. Through a mouthful of stew, he said, "Clever of you." Merlin snorted his laughter and shook his head at his prince. Arthur just smiled and patted the seat beside him expectantly. Merlin sat down and handed Arthur his bowl before picking up his own. They split the loaf of bread in half and ate enthusiastically, glad for something warm in their bellies. When they were full and getting sleepy, Merlin finished his spells and put the tray outside. Then he started to climb into his own bed, only to have Arthur grab his hand on his way past Arthur's bed and pull him into his bed with him.
Merlin used magic to put out the candles but left the fire going and snuggled into Arthur's embrace contently. Arthur placed a gentle kiss on his shoulder before closing his eyes and drifting off. Merlin followed him only seconds later.
Their peaceful rest was ruined when someone began to pound on the door urgently. Merlin jumped off the bed but Arthur beat him to the door, sword unsheathed and at the ready. Once again, it was that little serving girl. However, she wasn't alone any more. A man with a jagged scar down his right cheek in a tan robe was standing behind her, holding a dagger to her neck. "Let us in," the man barked, his voice gruff and gravely. The ridiculous thought flittered into Merlin's mind that the man needed one of Gaius' potions for a sore throat. Arthur moved back and the man pushed the serving girl through the doorway into the room. Two more robed men followed as well as an elderly woman in a similar robe. The two men not preoccupied with holding a knife to that poor girl's neck shut the door behind the woman and stood in front of it like guards.
"What do you want?" Arthur asked, his tone dark and angry. Merlin narrowed his eyes at their...guests, for lack of better word. "You're Druids, yes?"
"Yes," the elderly woman answered. "Please, lower your sword, Prince Arthur. Élan, release the girl." At her order, the serving girl was immediately released and guided into the single chair before the fire. "Forgive the violence. We have children in our lands and were unwilling to allow you to enter. They frighten easily. We would have been gentler in approaching you but Emrys' wards prevented us from simply walking into the inn and knocking."
Arthur lowered his sword then nodded to Merlin and Merlin rushed to check on the serving girl. "Are you hurt?" he asked, using his forefinger to tilt her head so he could look for a wound left by the knife. She shook her head. He took hold of her elbow and guided her to stand. "Okay. I'm sorry for all this. Let's get you out of her. Go to your mother and father."
He led her to the door and the men guarding it eyed him. He narrowed his eyes and growled, "Move," firmly. They looked at the women for orders but Merlin didn't give them a chance to hear her order them around. He grabbed the front of their robes, summoned his magic to give him strength, and yanked them away from the door. "Next time I say move, do it," he barked after opening the door and pushing the serving girl out into the corridor. "Again, sorry for all this."
He heard Arthur snort in amusement behind him and quickly shut the door to get back to his prince's side. The two Druid men glared at him as he moved to stand protectively beside Arthur. Arthur gripped his sword firmly and addressed the Druid woman. "What do you know of the blue creatures that are killing Camelot soldiers?"
"Only that they are not to be trifled with. They are quick and deadly." Merlin glanced at the man with the scar as he shifted closer to the woman and narrowed his eyes again. He didn't like him. He gave him a bad feeling. "From what we've gathered, they are some sort of decedent to the goblins. However, they have no magic. Only speed and agility."
"And their marksmanship," Arthur added. She nodded. "Do they have a name?" He held out his hand for hers and she placed her delicate fingers over his sword calloused ones without hesitation. He guided her to sit in the chair before the fire and she inclined her head gratefully.
"Not that I'm aware of. I do, however, have a scroll that may be of use to you. Élan," she commanded softly. The man with the scar pulled a large scroll from his robes and handed it to Arthur reluctantly. Arthur passed it to Merlin and he sat down on the bed to read it. "Forgive my fellows. They don't agree with my methods. They are without trust for any person baring the Pendragon name or crest."
"I understand perfectly. Neither of us has a reason to trust each other," Arthur said calmly. She smiled softly and nodded. Merlin glanced up at his future king and smiled slightly. Arthur caught his eye and winked. Merlin ducked his head to continue reading the scroll as a blush bloomed on his cheeks. He had never been so glad for Gaius' lessons on the Druids' language.
It was mostly lore. How the creatures spawned from goblins and such. How they were originally gifted with magic and deemed unfit to have it when they used it for nothing more than cold blooded murder and how they had vowed to get their magic back one day. It wasn't a tale that brought about any sympathy for the unnamed creatures. They were just selfish, stone hearted murders, from what Merlin could tell. The description included weaknesses but none that were particularly helpful. It also included their strengths and those they had already seen. None of it explained how they had carried off the bodies their friends. Also, from what he could tell, they were pretty stupid. They couldn't have learned English or written that scroll on their own. Someone had to have taught them. Someone would still have to be helping them.
He rolled up the scroll and walked back to Arthur. "There's no way they're working on their own. They couldn't have carried off our friends so quickly and they definitely had to learn to write and speak English from someone."
Arthur nodded solemnly and the old Druid woman did as well. "That was the conclusion I came to as well. It may also interest you to know that your friends are alive."
Merlin and Arthur looked at each other then back at her. "How can you be sure?" Arthur questioned suspiciously.
"Because I prepared to send a blessing out to insure a peaceful afterlife and was unable. The ritual couldn't be performed on living souls. You haven't received any sort of ransom message?" she asked. Harmless as she seemed, Merlin didn't like the way her expression never changed, even as she spoke. He wondered if he was paranoid, thinking a serene expression was something suspicious. But maybe being paranoid was a good thing. Trusting these people just because they were Druids wouldn't end well for him or Arthur.
"No. Not yet. I should get a message to Camelot. Maybe they have," Arthur said, his brow furrowed thoughtfully. He moved to pull on a shirt and retrieve parchment and writing materials from one of the saddle bags. Merlin began to pull everything down from the clothes line, drying them the minute he touched them. He folded everything up and began to tuck them into their respective bags while Arthur wrote down a quick message to Camelot. Then they both turned back to the Druids. "You'll have to forgive us. We have to be prepared to leave quickly. The people here won't be happy with us for bringing Druids into their town."
"We understand perfectly. Please, finish your packing. We can finish out conversation while you do," she replied calmly. Merlin pulled on his new jacket and boots and tossed Arthur his. While the prince pulled on his coat and shoes, he rushed to finish the packing. The elderly woman spoke with Arthur, mostly, and he caught her glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes occasionally. She actually looked at him with fear in her eyes. But also respect, which made him fight down a blush that threatened to taint his cheeks. Very few people actually respected him and just knowing that even a few people did always made him feel humble and shy.
"Merlin, settle down and get your boots on," Arthur said, walking over to put a hand over Merlin's to stop his frantic packing. "There's nothing else to pack, you hyper child." He smirked teasingly and Merlin narrowed his eyes at him. He wanted to stick his tongue at him but he knew that would do nothing more than make Arthur tease him even more.
"I dislike you," Merlin told him monotonously. Arthur chuckled and shoved him with one finger towards his boots. Merlin muttered unhappily as he pulled them on and Arthur continued to smirk.
"You don't worry he'll harm you?" the old woman asked Arthur.
The mischievousness faded from Arthur's smile and he shook his head. "No. I never have and never will. Merlin's harmless. He's just unhappy because he's tired." Merlin muttered some more and Arthur grinned over at him. Merlin finished tying his boots and yanked on his jacket. "And anyway, he's more a protector, than an instigator."
"I can instigate!" Merlin protested.
"Sure you can," Arthur replied placating. Merlin grumbled and picked up the scroll. He wanted to throw it at Arthur's head but knew that wouldn't end well. Instead he just moved to stand next to Arthur and thought about turning his bed to stone when they returned to Camelot. He knew he wouldn't actually do it but it was a fun thought. Maybe he would just spell his sword to be a little heavier during training. No. Arthur could get hurt like that. He could muddy up the training field. That was always good for a laugh. No, he couldn't do that either. Last time, one of the knights almost clubbed himself in the head with his mace. Gaius was not happy with him. He didn't want the extra chores Gaius would assign as punishment. Oh well. He would figure something out when they got back.
"We should go now," one of the men hissed in Druid to the woman. Arthur looked at Merlin for a translation but he just shook his head.
"Yes," the woman replied calmly. She extended a hand to Arthur and he helped her to her feet carefully. She sighed. "The townspeople are displeased. Their men are gathering to urge us from town."
"Of course they are," Merlin said with a sigh. Arthur smiled at him and Merlin collected the saddlebags. One of the Druid men hurried to help him while Arthur lent the woman his arm. "Thank you," Merlin said to the man. He nodded. "Do you speak English?"
"Very well," the man replied with a smile. "I'm Caleb." He extended his free hand and Merlin shook it firmly. Élan led the way to the stables and Caleb set the bags where Merlin indicated. "You are the princes' servant?"
"Well, yes, but we're so much more than that too. I like to think that were friends but he'll deny it till his dying day. Not because he doesn't agree or anything," Merlin said quickly when Caleb looked at him with an arched brow. "But, because he's a prince, he's not allowed to claim any friends. To his enemies, it's a weakness. But Arthur doesn't need to claim anyone as a friend anyway. He's such a good guy that he'll protect a complete stranger, if they're too weak to defend themselves. And really, hurting his friends just makes him mad and he's a force to be reckoned with when he's mad."
"Good to know," Caleb said with a smile. "He seems a little more playful than we expected."
"Yeah," Merlin said with a smile. "He's not like other royals." He glanced at the entrance of the stables where Arthur was speaking to a daring local brandishing a rather large dagger. "He actually has a heart. And a brain. But don't tell him I said that."
Caleb chuckled. "I won't."
Merlin stroked his horse (Her name was Temperance but that wasn't his choice. She used to be Morgana's before a suitor gave her a faster stallion and didn't ask for him back when she turned him down. Temperance and Morgana didn't get along anyway.) gently and she looked at him. He could tell she was unhappy. He would be too if he was her. He reached into his jacket pocket for the pouch of sugar cubes inside and fed her two. "I know. I'd rather be asleep too. But we have to get moving."
Arthur's horse, Belvedere, nudged Merlin in the back and he turned to give him two sugar cubes as well. "Yes, Bell. You're a good horse too," he assured the male horse with a smile.
"They're beautiful," Caleb said, running gently fingers through Temperance's mane. "What are their names?"
"The mare is Temperance and the stallion is Belvedere," Merlin told the Druid with a friendly smile. "Temperance is mine and Bell's Arthur's."
"They're both gorgeous," Caleb praised. Merlin could have sworn he saw Belvedere's chest puff out proudly.
"Thank you," Merlin replied politely. "Are you on horseback?" He walked over to get Belvedere's saddle blanket and Caleb walked to get Temperance's for him. They draped them carefully over the respective animal then moved to collect the saddles.
"Yeah. Mine's a mare too. Lena. She's not the fastest in our group but she's the best during battles. She's really good with arrows. Doesn't start jumping or panicking like other horses might." Caleb saddled Temperance with ease and well-practiced movements. He reminded Merlin of Peter, the stable boy that always helped Merlin care for Arthur's horses. He glanced at Merlin shyly out of the corner of his eyes and hesitantly said, "I didn't know prince's brought their catamites with them on quests."
Merlin started before he could speak up in his defence, his prince was speaking up from the door into the barn. "They don't." Merlin looked over at him as he walked straight to Merlin and Belvedere, bringing up a gloved hand to stroke Bell's neck. "Merlin isn't my catamite. He's my manservant." Arthur reached into Belvedere's largest saddle bag and extracted his dagger then held it out for Merlin. "You're wearing this," he said in a familiar tone that meant Merlin was not to argue. "I want you to put on my spare chainmail as well."
"Okay." Merlin shrugged out of his jacket then removed the spare mail from another one of Belvedere's bags and pulled it on over his tunic. Arthur secured the protective wristbands for him then strapped the dagger's sheath on around his waist. "You're tense," Merlin whispered, well aware of Caleb standing not five feet away petting Temperance.
"We've been offered assistance. We now have an escort of five Druids, not counting your friend there, who are going with us back to where we lost the others. Then one of them will guide you through a tracking ritual," Arthur told him, jaw clenched tightly. "And I don't trust a single one of them."
"I'll stay close," Merlin assured him understandingly. Arthur settled a hand on the back of his neck and Merlin smiled. "It's things like that that make people think we're together," he teased lightly.
"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur replied with a smile. "They don't think we're together. They think you're my consort."
Merlin rolled his eyes. "What's the difference?"
"Consort means sex. Together means feelings," Arthur explained with a little shrug. "See, if I were to use this hand on your neck to shove you to your knees and order you to suck my...manhood, you'd simply be a concubine." Being Arthur's concubine sounds surprisingly appealing, Merlin thought, even though he knew realistically that he could never be satisfied with that.
Arthur stepped closer and lowered his voice in case the Druid was listening in. "But if I were to, say, slide my arms around your waist, and whisper in your ear that I wanted you to stay close because the very idea of loosing you is unbearable, and then we would be together."
Yeah, that sounded a lot better than being a concubine. Arthur must have seen something in his gaze that showed how the idea appealed to him because he lowered his voice even more and asked, "Does that sound like something you would enjoy, Merlin?"
"Yes," Merlin replied nervously.
"Good," Arthur replied, smiling. Merlin grinned back. Then Arthur stepped even closer and slid his arms around Merlin's waist. Merlin's heart began to pound like a war drum in his chest. He slid his arms around Arthur in return and leaned into Arthur. He despised chainmail. It got in the way. He wanted to be closer. The mail prevented that. Arthur didn't seem bothered, however, as he turned his head so his lips brushed Merlin's ear. Merlin glanced around Arthur's ear at Caleb, who looked extremely uncomfortable being present for their intimate moment. Merlin felt a flash of pleasure at that. He really should have left them. Then Arthur spoke and Merlin decided he couldn't give a damn about Caleb if he tried. Arthur whispered, "Stay close, Merlin, so I can protect you. Stay close, because the thought of loosing you is unbearable."
Merlin closed his eyes and smiled. "I can protect myself, Arthur, but I'll stay close anyway." He felt Arthur's smile touching his ear. "Can we talk, Arthur? When we get back to Camelot?"
"Like I could ever shut you up." Arthur released him in time to see Merlin roll his eyes and grinned. "All right. We'll have a nice long talk once we're back home. But now, we need to get going."
*Merlin*Merlin*Merlin*Merlin*
Merlin rode at Arthur's side as promised, though the light mood from back in the stables was gone now that they were surrounded by strange men and headed back to where they had lost their friends. Merlin wasn't eager to go back there, but if it meant rescuing their friends back, it would be worth it. He was glad that no one tried to interfere with him riding right where he belonged, by Arthur's side. He knew Arthur preferred it when he was at least in his peripheral vision, that it made him worry less if he could see him. And Arthur always felt better having Arthur near.
The only problem was having the Druids behind them. Merlin knew they were a naturally peaceful people, but he still didn't trust them enough to be completely calm with their presence without being able to watch them. Especially when only a few seemed to be all right with Arthur's presence, the majority judging his prince for his father's cruelty. He could hear them speaking quietly in their language, the language of magic, which they seemed to have forgotten he spoke and understood. They spoke of their disdain for having to trail after King Uther's son, wizard companion or not. They spoke of how knights of Camelot didn't deserve their help. They were quickly ordered to be quiet by Salas, the oldest and only truly battle ready of the men.
"The prince's sorcerer is listening," Salas hissed reproachfully as his underlings fell silent. "He already doubts your skills as warriors and is suspicious of your character. Don't give him cause to doubt any more. Allies must have trust."
Merlin knew that last bit was directed at him. Without turning, he reminded the older man in English that, "Trust must always be earned, even by allies," and Arthur gave him a curious look. "It's nothing," Merlin assured him gently.
Arthur accepted this with a nod and a smile. "Do try not to eavesdrop, Merlin. It's rude." Merlin rolled his eyes.
'Prat,' he whispered directly in Arthur's mind.
And to his credit, Arthur only startled a little. Then he prodded at the connection tentatively for a few minutes, eventually whispering back, 'Merlin, I find this extremely invasive.'
'It's efficient though,' Merlin replied proudly.
'Oh, yes, quite. Now I can listen to your incessant prattle in my head too,' Arthur shot at him teasingly.
'Yep,' Merlin replied cheerfully. 'Wanna hear a story?'
'Not really,' Arthur told him seriously.
Merlin smirked mischievously and began to tell Arthur all about the time he and Will were saddled with three screaming babies for a day while their mother and father worked in the fields back in Ealdor. It was a long and horrific story that was made even better by the fact that Arthur would be bored to tears by it.
Finally, after what Merlin had to admit was an impressive amount of time, Arthur couldn't take it anymore and demanded Merlin stop talking. Merlin kept right on going. Arthur rubbed his brow irritably and Merlin smirked.
'How do I gag you if you're in my head?' Arthur complained. Merlin sent his best faux evil chuckle through the connection. He felt Arthur poking at the connection, testing it the best he could without magic. For a second, Merlin thought Arthur would push him out but instead his mind began to flood with the images of a fantasy of him bond to Arthur's bed by his own scarves with yet another scarf gagging him and Arthur's lips trailing all over his naked body. He fell silent as his heart began to pound erratically. He looked over at Arthur, who was smirking triumphantly. Another fantasy slipped through the connection, this one riding Arthur on the table of the war room with Arthur's crown on his head.
"Arthur!" he gasped aloud in horror. Inappropriate didn't begin to describe Arthur showing him that! He was on a horse surrounded by strange men! He did not need to be hard, damn it! "That connection is for communication. It is not a toy!"
"I think it can be both a communication tool and a toy," Arthur replied playfully.
"You're an arse," Merlin insulted him seriously. "A complete and total arse." The Druids laughed behind them. Arthur groaned.
"Do keep talking, Merlin. I think the stocks have missed you and isn't it tomato season?" Arthur reminded him teasingly. Their Druid companions snickered again.
"You're awful. I was in the stocks last week," Merlin complained. "You can't put me in them again so soon. It'll reflect badly on you as my master." He grinned proudly, certain that was the answer that would keep Arthur's threat idle.
"Not entirely. Everyone knows you have no training and, even if you did, you'd ignore it." He looked at Merlin with a soft smile and a twinkling in his eyes Merlin could have sworn was affection. "They could just assume you blundered something again and, being the fair but firm master I am, I locked you in the stocks rather than having you flogged or fired."
Merlin wrinkled his nose at the idea of Arthur having anyone flogged. He still couldn't accept the idea of someone flogging their servants but he'd spoken to far too many foreign lords' and ladies' servants to dismiss it as something that didn't really happen. Too many times before, a visiting lord or lady had demand he be flogged for some clumsiness and Arthur had refused firmly. There was even on lord who accused Arthur of being weak for not flogging him and Arthur had drawn his sword against him when he made the mistake of offering to do it for him and grabbing Merlin's wrist violently. No one told Arthur he needed a flogging again. The worst punishment Arthur ever dealt out was a 24-hour stay in the stocks or a dock in pay. He would never beat a servant.
"Yes, Arthur. You're a fair master indeed," he agreed distractedly.
"Stop thinking about flogging," Arthur said gently, reaching over to pat Merlin's knee. 'I'd never flog you. I'd never hurt you in any way. Not on purpose. I might accidentally bite if we ever get around to kissing.'
'I might not mind a little roughness,' Merlin thought back as his cheeks flooded with colour.
'You know, Merlin, there's one good thing about the stocks.' Before Merlin could ask what, an image of him chained in the stocks with his trouser clad ass on perfect display for Arthur flooded his mind.
'Arthur!' Merlin complained indignantly. 'No wonder I'm in the stocks so much.'
'I'd never invent a reason to put you in the stocks. You earn it every time and so often that I don't need to. I just happen to reap some added benefits from the punishments,' Arthur told him defensively.
'You could just ask me to bend over,' Merlin told him, still having a hard time believing Arthur never invented a reason to put him the stocks. 'You know I'd do it. In private, of course. You could even touch, if you wanted. I'd hardly mind.'
Arthur looked over at him and smiled. 'I'll do that, then. That'll be much better too. No one else will get to ogle you. Gwaine smacked you on your bottom the last time, didn't he?'
At the mention of Gwaine, the light mood slipped away. Merlin bit his bottom lip and looked down sadly. Arthur reached over to take hold of Merlin's hand comfortingly. 'We'll get them back. Don't start thinking we won't.'
'Do you think they're together, he and Elyan?' Merlin asked, because he knew Elyan would feel less frightened if he could at least see Gwaine and Gwaine would be less reckless if Elyan was near enough to be hurt.
'Maybe. That's the funny thing about most captures. They never think to separate their prisoners,' Arthur told him with a smile. 'And, you know, Merlin, we could be rushing to rescue them and they could have already escaped. They could be making their way to us right now.'
'True. They could be,' Merlin agreed, his spirits lifting. They weren't off to rescue helpless damsels, after all. These were Camelot's finest knights. They could handle themselves.
'Now, Merlin, tell me more about that scenario of yours that puts your arse in my hands,' Arthur purred through the mental connection. Merlin cheeks flushed once again and he took his hand back from Arthur forcibly.
'Pervert.'
A/N: *sigh* I don't think it's quite long enough to make up for the gap in updates but I swear not to leave such a gap in-between again and I'm incredibly sorry, if that makes anyone feel better. You can yell at me in the reviews, if you'd like. I deserve it. *sob*