This chapter was a wee bit rushed, but i wanted to try a cliff hanger
Merlin woke up an hour later to the smell of something burning. Bandits…again. Why the hell are there so many of them. We are attacked daily!
He hoped out not even bothering to grab a sword since Arthur knew about his magic now. He ran out side expecting the usual dead bodies, swords clashing and so-on. Instead he found Arthur and Lance running around a pot that was on fire like headless chickens.
'Merlin! A little help here please!' Arthur yelled as a look of relief ran over his face. Merlin had waited for a moment like this for so long. Arthur needing his help, but knowing it, and asking for it.
'I'll be happy to help.' Merlin said with a goofy grin on his face. He turned to the pot of flames, his eyes once again flashing that beautiful gold. The fire lifted into the air and vanished. Arthur was now officially impressed. He had been raised to hate magic and anyone who uses it, but he's never seen anyone actually use magic.
'Now care to explain why Gaius is gonna kill me for destroying that pot again?' Merlin said in an almost fatherly scolding voice as his eyed over the two noblemen.
Arthur and Lancelot both raised their hands. Their cheeks reddening in complete utter embarrassment.
'Arthur you go first, Lance you next.'
'I tried to cook, but…instead I started a fire,' Arthur was full on blushing now. He just completely last face in front of Merlin. How humiliating.
'Lancelot?' Merlin said still in a fatherly tone.
'How did the pot get destroyed the first time?' From anyone else Merlin would have thought that he was being a smart ass, but he knew Lance said the first the that came to him. At any time, it's part of his knightly charm.
'I tried to make a medicine for Gaius when he was sick with flu. I made a deadly acid by accident. He said something about it being 'the most dangerous mixture of herbs' he had ever seen in his life.' Merlin said causing the trio to laugh out loud.
'So how about you two dolop heads swing swords at each other while I fix this pot and make us something…edible.' He turned to Arthur when he said 'edible' with a mocking smirk.
'Sorry…it was my first time cooking. Not everyone is good at everything like you.' Arthur mumbled as he refused to look at Merlin.
Merlin was beyond shocked at this remark. He was expecting the usual 'Shut. Up.' he got whenever he was right with Arthur. It was nice to receive praise from a king…even if it was a prat of a king. Merlin blushed a bit, not used to compliments.
'Arthur, do you mean that?' Merlin said as he scratched the back of his head shyly. Arthur realized he might have just accidentally set up a moment. Work with what you've got. One of the oldest laws of survival.
'Yes I do. I call you a awful servant…because you are. But now I know it's because you were never meant to be a servant. You have too many skills for serving. Your cooking is always spot-on, your ability to keep a secret is shockingly strong. And apparently you're a pretty good sorcerer too.' Arthur said with a voice that was so gentle, Merlin had only when one of them were near death.
'Umm hate to ruin this best friend moment but I'm starving.' Lancelot said with a 'friendly' smile. Merlin simply nodded, and went over to the mutilated pot. Leaving the two rivals with an argument to whisper.
'Lance what happened to fair play?'
'Sire, all is fair in love and war. Have you heard this before?'
'Oh, Lance if that's how you want it that's how it is.' He said before he walked over to Merlin who was examining the damaged pot that he was responsible for. Merlin was used to the Arthur and the knights being touchy. There was little chance that he would catch on to the advances coming his way.
Arthur placed both of his hands on Merlin's shoulders, causing the warlock to jump a bit, not expecting the sudden contact. Lancelot was not as clueless as Merlin, he could tell Arthur was trying to feel up on Merlin. He'd die (again) before letting Arthur touch Merlin more than he already does.
'Merlin I would like to give you a massage as an apology. Saving Camelot must be stressful.' he said while applying pressure to his shoulders. 'It must be, you're as stiff as wood. This massage is blow your mind.' Arthur said before he began to gently massage his shoulder blades. The only person that had ever gave Merlin a massage was Gaius, and that was to but his bones back in place.
Merlin moaned at the feel of Arthur's fingers pressing his sore body.
'H-harder Arthur.' he moaned out as he dropped the pot he was holding, not caring about anything but the feel of Arthur's fingers. Merlin had unknowingly caused Arthur's trousers to tighten, and Lancelot's blood to boil. Arthur quickly obliged his demands his applied more pressure to Merlin, only causing more moans of pleasure to pour out of Merlin.
'Ah! There…it's really sore. Please be gentle.' Merlin mumbled in an unknowingly seductive voice. Lancelot couldn't take it any more. He walked over to the two, and went to work on his plan.
'Merlin, Arthur is right you should relax. Here sit down and I'll massage your legs…while Arthur takes care of your shoulders.' Lancelot said before he sat Merlin down on the grass, bringing Arthur down with him.
He started to rub up Merlin's legs teasing rough. He knew he wasn't being that gentle, but he could tell by the sounds Merlin was making, he didn't have to be. Lancelot was loving every bit of this, Merlin's moaning and Arthur's jealous face. He got bolder with his actions.
His hands went higher up until they were rested on Merlin's clothed thighs, his thumbs working into his inner thighs.
'S-stop.' Merlin said out of nowhere making both of the noblemen to tense.
'Is something wrong Merlin?' Lancelot asked innocently as he could while being on his knees in between Merlin's legs. Merlin looked between the knight between his legs and the King above him. He knows what he's thinking is a bit much but he had a gut feeling. And from experience his gut feelings were normally right.
'I-I may be wrong but I…I think you two are up to something. I know exactly what Lance is doing but Arthur is the question.' Merlin said, but it sounded like he was questioning his own words. Arthur on the other hand was trying to get his jaw off the ground.
Of all the times he could've chosen to be wise, and it had to be now. But it would make me even with Lance, I wont have to be too careful with my advances. Besides telling him in front of Lance is too perfect.
'Merlin, I know I did treat poorly, very poorly. It must've been hard to put up with. Knowing you could end someone who has greatly wronged you, but not doing. I have never been able to do that, not even when I was tested during the Unicorn fiasco. You did it daily. I never understood you, or my feelings toward you. And it annoyed me, witch is why I always worked you. I thought if I made you hate me then it would be impossible for me to love you. But you never turned on me, you were loyal to me and never showed a sign that you were going to turn on me. I tried harder to get your hate by being rude and disrespectful, the more I tried the stronger the feeling got. When I found out that Lancelot kissed you…it…hurt. More than you having magic. The thought of you with anyone other than me…I love you Merlin.'
Merlin and Lancelot stood there, each in shock. Arthur, the King of Camelot, had just poured out his heart. Merlin was both happy and sad about this. He remembered that there was a time when he spoke this way of Gwen, look what happened to them. She left him for Lancelot, he was almost sure Arthur was thinking just that.
'Arthur, I understand you, really I do. And I wish I could be with you, but I cannot. It is written. You marry Gwen, she betrays you, and then you slowly go mad with grief. And how I wish I could believe you, but I feel that this is you trying to forget Gwen. I love you Arthur, more than life it's self. But I never find love, it has been written. I am alive only to make sure you live. I can be with no one.'
Merlin let the tears fall as his words became more and more labored. It was literally paining him to turn down the love of his life. But he knew that he wasn't done, he still had one thing to take care of. He turned to the heart broken Lancelot, who had been dangerously quiet.
'Merlin, I was the only one who knew everything about you, and I liked that. That I was special to you, knowing I was the only one. I had always thought it was because it was nice to be special. But then it wasn't enough because I wanted more. And Gwen came to me when you were not around. When I was at my lowest, a fighter to entertain a slave seller. She kept saying the thing that you did. That I'm important…' he stopped because the words were painful to say.
There were tears running down the cheeks of Lancelot, Merlin and Arthur.
'That I mattered, she said there was still hope for such a worthless case. I went from farmer, to knight, to prisoner, to banished, to scum. Everyone around me told me to end everything, take my own life. Merlin I knew you wanted to see me again, well and happy. But I had honestly gave up.' he paused and sobbed like he had just went through all of it again.
'She said I could do good. She kept me going. I wanted it to be, I really did. But I knew you had to be at Arthur's side. I want nothing more than your happiness. Even if I'm…not the cause of it. Merlin one more that is all I will ask.' He walked to Merlin with pure desperation.
'Lance…I'
'Please Merlin, just one more, and I'll leave.
Merlin looked over to Arthur, silently asking if its ok to do this. Arthur nodded.
He turned to Lancelot and was immediately met by the soon to be former knight's lips. Lancelot didn't expect Merlin to kiss him back, but when he did…Lancelot lost his self control. He kissed Merlin hungrily, he licked Merlin's lips. Merlin had slowly began to allow him access to his hot cavern. Their tongues danced a little. Lancelot didn't want to let go, but his lungs screamed for air. Damn you lungs. He slowly pulled away from Merlin who unwillingly followed his lips, his body screaming for more. What was it about Lancelot's lips. Could Merlin love him and Arthur at once.