Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to anything.

Spoilers: Up to Series 2, after that it is AU

Rating: M

A/N: Oh the last chapter, I surprised myself by writing a really long chapter (I should be used to this by now, my muse just loves to write slash) I wanted this time to hold the first time between the boys so I wrote a bit more than I was planning. I had Merlin in the last chapter to show that Arthur's and Merlin's relationship was about being equals and that later on in the relationship Arthur would be willing to give up some control in the bedroom to Merlin. Their first couple of times I definitely only see Arthur topping though, so I wanted to make their first time with him on top. Hope you guys like, it is very different from the last scene. Also there is a kind of a cliff hanger ending (though my preview kind of gives it away) but it is just for the epilogue which I will be posting tomorrow. I must give praise to Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment album it inspired almost the whole bit of this chapter. Who knew that was so inspirational to my muse? Yay! So, enjoy!

Chapter 7: Thank You for the Music

Merlin awoke with a warm weight on his chest and a pounding headache. The headache wasn't anything new. Being Arthur's manservant as well as Camelot's secret magical bodyguard often meant sleepless nights or at the very least nights with very little sleep to be had. The headache was the unfortunate side effect of when Merlin's body simply got a decent night's rest after going without it for too long. It was his body's way of revenge he supposed for being a bastard and staying up when he knew he needed sleep.

Merlin thought over the last two days. He had traveled for hours at a fast pace, when suddenly an owl had appeared out of nowhere knocking Merlin from his steed. If he hadn't used magic to both stop his fall and his horse, Merlin didn't want to think about what could have happened. It would have at the very least left him stranded in the middle of the woods, most likely though he would have a broken neck.

Shaking himself off, Merlin saw the Owl sitting on his steed as it returned to him. The damn thing seemed far too cocky to be a natural owl (Weren't they prone to the night anyway? What was it doing flying out in the middle of the day?)

Upon reaching Merlin the steed stopped and thrust its head toward Merlin in a placating manner as if to apologize that his rider had been thrust off his back.

Petting the animal's head Merlin glared at the bird atop its back and really took in the creature. It was obviously magical, he could feel as much from the bird and it certainly didn't seem evil now that it wasn't appearing out of nothing and hitting Merlin in the face.

"Well then? I am in kind of a bit of hurry here." The bird tilted its head around in that strange way that owls do (Merlin usually found that fascinating but in that moment it just irked him. He had a Prince he needed to save and not a lot of time to waste on cocky birds.)

It continued to peer at him in that strange tilted position for a moment before letting out a type of coo and with a jump and a puff of smoke turned into a letter.

The parchment turned out to be from Gaius (Merlin was learning that spell at the next possible junction; he still rather liked owls even if that one had knocked Merlin off his horse.) Gaius explained all that had happened between Arthur and him as well as his theories that the witch somehow knew about Merlin's destiny to help Arthur create Albion and his belief that Merlin was the one who could break Arthur's spell.

Merlin had learned all of this from the witch himself, but it was good to know that Gaius believed the spell wouldn't truly be harmful to Arthur, as more a way for him to truly see those around him.

It seemed that the witch had set into motion a plan to open Arthur's eyes to everyone around him. With dread Merlin realized what that meant if Arthur asked him to sing as well. He would know everything about Merlin: all the lies, all the sneaking around that he had done since entering Camelot.

Would Arthur truly be able to accept him? Be able to see past the fact that he was magic and believe that he was Arthur's friend? Merely there to help him become the ruler that he knew he could be?

Merlin didn't know but he did know that he had to get back to Camelot. More than ever he resolved to master that teleportation spell when this was resolved. He was usually by Arthur's side but those times he wasn't he always wished that he could get to his aid quicker, one of these times he might be too late and that would be the end of Albion and the great king that Arthur would have been.

Merlin had road continuously for two days using his magic to alleviate as many of the needs that would have usually caused him to pause his journey. He was going to have to thoroughly wash this horse and pamper him once this spell was taken care of and whatever fallout happened. Being spurred on by magic was truly nothing that anyone(or horses) liked going through.

Merlin was brought out of his reminiscing of the long trek to this point by Arthur snuggling deeper into Merlin's side. He must have been exhausted from the ordeal of this spell. True Merlin had gone just as long as Arthur without sleep but he was at least used to that kind of abuse.

Arthur had so much on his plate, but he always made time for sleep in his schedule. He needed to be alert to make the decisions and act in the way that was expected of him.

Merlin continued to stare at Arthur and revel in the fact that he and Arthur were finally on the same page with who they were. Though he had been there for many of the journeys that Arthur had been forced and gone on, Merlin did always feel as if there were parts of Arthur he would never know. Who was he before the world forced the consciousness of ruling over so many people onto him? How had he grown up with Uther as his only parental figure? These were things that Merlin now knew about his future king, things that Arthur now knew about him.

He realized how alike and different they were now that he had seen so much of Arthur through the spell. Both knew what it was like to wonder about their lost parent. (He supposed he knew about Balinor now); what it was like to be different from all the other children: Arthur because he was royal and Merlin because of his magic; both saw the other as their equal, though Arthur had taken some time to come to this point and often regressed when he was angry with Merlin.

Merlin and Arthur were greatly different though as well in their growing up. Merlin had a loving parent who accepted him entirely, Arthur's father, though probably just as loving in his own way, had to raise Arthur with a firm hand and with the knowledge that Arthur had to be the right kind of ruler for his kingdom. That kind of pressure didn't always allow the proper kind of exchange between child and parent that was needed.

Merlin realized he had been lost in thought once more when he felt Arthur's breathing pattern change. Looking down he realized Arthur was staring at him with sleepy eyes. "So it wasn't some weird, elaborate dream then."

Merlin released a breath, for a moment he thought Arthur wouldn't have remembered exactly why they were in the bed together. "No, well yes, technically some of it was a dream provided by the spell, but the part about you and I going to sleep together, that wasn't a dream. And well the, uhh (God, he was blushing wasn't he?) the kiss, that wasn't a dream."

Arthur did something Merlin never thought he would do in the same bed as him. The Prat actually had the gall to laugh at his bumbling! Didn't he realize how embarrassing this was for him! It was hard enough wrapping his head around the fact that Arthur knew about his magic but now he also had to deal with feelings he never thought he would be able to feel or act on in his life time.

Merlin huffed as the Prince continued to laugh at him and, having enough of that, Merlin tried to get out of the bed away from the annoying git.

As soon as he made to get away though, Arthur tightened his hold around Merlin's middle and buried his face in his manservant's chest letting out a final huff of mirth into Merlin's chest. (Somewhere in the back of his mind he realized that Arthur was one of those guys that once you were alone with them really liked to snuggle)

Arthur looked once more up at Merlin, much more awake now. "I'm sorry Merlin but you really are too cute when you get embarrassed and try to continue talking anyway. I always thought that, but now that we saw all that is going to happen between each other I just can't believe you are so embarrassed over a kiss. Not that it wasn't great, but I would expect you would be more embarrassed about watching our future selves rather than about a kiss and falling asleep with each other the first time."

Merlin pouted at Arthur. "It's true watching something like that was embarrassing, especially since it was such a private moment between them, but it felt almost as if that wasn't us. And, well, I've only ever kissed one other person, you know that Arthur. And that was a woman, you're the first man I have ever kissed or even thought about doing anything with. Hell, you're the first man I have ever been attracted to. I've known for a long time that we had connected destinies, but not once did I ever consider this in our future. It's hard for me to wrap my head around."

Arthur had listened closely to Merlin while he voiced his thoughts, his eyes softening as he realized just how scared Merlin was about what the future held for them. Arthur shifted them so that he was leaning over Merlin as the younger man laid under him. Staring into his eyes and truly marveling at how he hadn't given in before this and accepted the feelings he had for his serv-Merlin, Arthur tried to assure Merlin."That kind of thing doesn't have to happen until you are ready Merlin. I think you know that I have had some experience with both men and women in my life. It was actually encouraged for me to get out my sexual frustrations in my teens with men because they couldn't become pregnant like women could. I want what I saw with you Merlin more than any of those others; I have never experienced anything like that, only dreamed of it. I never let any of the men I was with get that far even though I wanted to lose control like that, I have never been allowed to. We can take this at any rate we want to because at the very core of it, this is just the way it has always been: you and me hazarding out how to move forward to our future destiny together."

Merlin looked softly at Arthur, happy that Arthur had such an understanding of him now and of what they had gone through together. Shyly Merlin decided to see about doing something he had wanted since he had seen their future counterparts together. "Can we,… Arthur can you kiss me like we were that night? I don't think I can go much farther than that for right now, but I want to kiss like that. See what it is like."

Arthur smiled at Merlin, (God, he was going to dedicate all his time to making the man blush from now on, he was too much when he got like that) "It would be my pleasure."

Arthur slowly descended till he was kissing the man, which led to the greatest moment of Arthur's life yet. The feeling of the man beneath him wrapping his arms around his neck, of battling for dominance with their tongues in the way they always did with their words, Arthur knew that no other person could match Merlin in his life.

The man challenged him, understood him, was everything that Arthur needed by his side. When he was under the trappings of that spell, Arthur had wondered how anyone could handle the pressure of being everything that Arthur needed, but Merlin had already been doing all that. The only difference was that now Arthur wanted to strive at being that kind of person for Merlin, someone who could support him and bring about his own happiness.

Albion (The thought of it made him shiver) was going to be a place built through both Merlin and his combined leadership and hardships. He had wondered at how he could get peace with the magical community and the answer was Merlin. Arthur didn't yet have a clear plan about how he would go about it, but he knew that he wanted Merlin and him to rule that future kingdom together. With Merlin at his side helping him making the right decisions for all of his people.

The man beneath him began to squirm and Arthur realized this was probably the farthest the young man had ever gotten. Breaking the kiss and gasping for breath as Merlin lay panting under him, (He looked glorious with his swollen, red lips and flushed cheeks) Arthur tried to get his thoughts back on track. "I liked what I saw of our future together Merlin. I know how much you are willing to do and have done for me and I trust you. I also understand how new this all is for you and am willing to take it as slow as you need to. We can take it one day at a time. Last night, we slept in the same bed after defeating another spell that was placed on me, today is just another day towards our future, we can do whatever we feel is right for us at the time, no more, no less. I never want you to feel pressured in having to please me or think that I want you to do something in our relationship that you aren't ready for."

Merlin hugged Arthur to him, sure the more burly man was heavy but Merlin just wanted him close to him at that moment. "I never thought I was going to have this connection with someone. I was willing to give my entire life over to making sure Albion happened. That you were protected and set as King of Camelot, bringing peace to the realm: that was all I wished for. I want what I saw in the future too. Now that I know what we could have, I don't think I could ever be alone again without going mad with sadness over what I lost."

Arthur smiled as he snuggled with Merlin, relishing being on the same page as his sorcerer (That felt so good to say in his head, how had he ever thought magic was evil?) Eventually the two had to separate though. Arthur had promised an explanation for his father now that he had slept and Merlin had to report what had happened to Gaius, the man was probably sick with worry when he realized Merlin wasn't in his room this morning.

"I don't think you should tell your father about me just yet, Arthur, there is only so much that he can handle at this point I think."

Sighing, Arthur continued to lace up his boots. "I agree. I think, sadly enough, my father is going to be someone who can never know just how amazing and important you are to our kingdom, Merlin. You're going to help me shape Camelot some day and my father can never know because he will want to have you killed."

Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur where he sat at his table as the Prince continued with his thoughts: "I want more than anything to just go in there and tell him about how I had discovered my other half, the person who can truly understand me but all he will hear is that I have chosen a man through a magical spell and that I must still be under its workings. That he just has to get rid of you and the sorceress who placed the spell on me in the first place. I can't lose you Merlin; I won't let him get in the way of our futures even if it means never allowing him the realization of the person I have chosen to rule my kingdom with me some day."

Merlin jerked in surprise: "You want me to rule the kingdom with you?"

Arthur turned to give him a curious look: "I thought that was made clear when you saw those royal robes you were wearing in that glimpse of our future?"

Merlin looked at his shoes: "I thought I would continue on as your advisor, maybe protecting you where others couldn't because I was more powerful than them."

Arthur stood and raised Merlin's chin much like he did when they were in the dragon's den in the vision caused by the spell. "Merlin we're two sides of the same coin. I want to spend all my days with you. I trust you. I know now there is no better person to lead by my side than you. Together we are going to rule the future Albion and make a land of peace for everyone. My first night under the spell's control I realized that to make peace with all my citizens, magic-users included, I would need help. I would need someone by my side that could help me accomplish that. You're that person Merlin. Together we can create a future where children can practice magic without fear and be accepted as just as normal as someone who cannot perform spells."

Merlin pulled Arthur into another amazing kiss (he was never going to get used to how good it felt to kiss Merlin) "You're amazing you know that?", Merlin asked, "You keep knowing exactly what to say to make me feel better and believe that anything we do is possible now, as long as we do it together."

Arthur smiled at Merlin, "That's because it is Merlin. As long as I have my sorcerer by my side I know that anything is possible."

~1 Year Later~

It hadn't been an exactly easy year. His father's death was the hardest to get through. Even when Arthur recognized that his father was only getting worse with Morgana's betrayal rather than better and began ruling the country in his stead. He had spent many nights wrapped up with Merlin crying for the loss of the man he had once known, the father he was just beginning to know (after the spell that had brought Merlin and Arthur together, Uther made leaps and bounds in showing his son how proud he was of him even if he wouldn't share with him who had broken his spell) He knew his father trusted in him to rule his kingdom, had told him as much the night before he had died.

Then there was dealing with Morgana and Agravaine, he didn't want to believe that both his sister (That was still an odd thing to Arthur but it also explained a lot) and uncle could possibly hate him so much for things that he had no control over. Morgana was beginning to see some light now that he had made it official that he more than approved of magic: he was enforcing the better treatment of both the Druids and any magical creatures still alive that didn't prove out to hurt Camelot, but both still held so much resentment toward those they had lost.

Gwen and Lancelot was a bright point. The two had gotten together after Arthur had revealed what he had seen during Gwen's song. The conversation had been hard, but after Arthur admitted that he had found the right person Gwen's answering "It's Merlin isn't it?" had brought about a bonding as friends that suited Gwen and Arthur much better than their romance ever had.

Lancelot had equally been as supporting once Arthur had esteemed him as one of his knights, telling Arthur that he was lucky to have someone as Merlin by his side, people like him didn't come along often.

Gwen and Lancelot's romance was the subject of much gossip in the kingdom. Camelot's citizens taking the view that the two were destined to fail (Arthur wanted to laugh at such people, knowing that the two were to one day wed)

The best part of Arthur's days was always with Merlin though, no matter what. The two had taken their relationship slowly, hazarding through discussing what Arthur would do once he came to rule Camelot, to steps in their relationships and learning more about each other physically (Merlin was extremely sensitive behind his knees whereas Arthur liked having fingers carded through his hair until he fell asleep at night)

They had still yet to take the biggest step together though: sex. It was something Merlin needed to learn more about, as well as something that Arthur wanted to happen after he was more settled in his position as King.

It was a tough year but at this moment Merlin and Arthur felt ready to take their relationship to that next step. Merlin and he had discussed it thoroughly and though both Arthur and Merlin liked the scene they had seen where Merlin took control, Merlin wanted Arthur to be top for their first time.

He still wasn't as confident with the physical aspect of their relationship, though he was more than good (The things that man could do with his tongue were far more magical than any spell he could perform) Arthur was still the one in their relationship who initiated much of the more physical acts of their romance.

Merlin lit the fires and the candles around the room with a low muttering of "Fire" in that weird language of spells and a flash of golden eyes. Arthur hugged Merlin from behind and the two just savored the moment of what was the first time they were going to make love.

Turning around in his lover's arms, Merlin kissed his king slowly, savoring the moment in his mind. When the two broke apart, they rested their foreheads together Merlin whispering a soft: "I love you." , into the small space between their lips.

Inhaling his future lover's scent, Arthur returned his "I love you" with a passionate kiss and lead him back toward the bed, that Merlin had made that morning (He hated that he couldn't declare Merlin as his Court Sorcerer yet, but Merlin insisted that the time wasn't right. They still needed a bit more pull with the council and that then he could quit pretending to be just his manservant and show the world just how amazing he was)

Slowly lowering both of their bodies to the bed Arthur ground down in Merlin, loving the moan the man released between their entwined mouths. He continued his tongue's ministrations with Merlin a moment (there kisses were enough to leave Arthur aching and craving Merlin and only seemed to get more amazing as time went by) before nudging the man toward the pillows of the bed (Once he had become king he had decided to move into the grander room in the East Wing and had gotten a bigger bed to match it. He didn't know how Merlin did it but he convinced him to get both blue and red pillows for the bed, and the room still caused him a hardness in his pants when he walked in and remembered the scene they had witnessed during the spell)

Remembering that moment of the two older versions of themselves, Arthur raised himself to his elbows. "Merlin, little help with the clothes?"

Merlin looked confused at his lover before realization at what he was asking registered and he let out a laugh and hit Arthur lightly on the arm. "You lazy prat!"

Arthur smiled lovingly down at Merlin: "Ah yes, but I am your lazy prat."

Merlin rolled his eyes, but muttered a spell and with a flash of gold the two men's clothes were strode across the floor. Looking at his scattered clothes Arthur turned to merlin with a raised brow. "What? You didn't say where you wanted them! And I think you have more important things to be thinking about now than clothes don't you, Arthur?"

Staring hungrily down at the naked torso of his boyfriend, Arthur licked his lips. "I certainly do."

Kissing Merlin again, Arthur took the time to devise a plan of attack before deciding to show Merlin how much he appreciated his body.

"I love your cheekbones." As he said this Arthur kissed both cheeks.

"I love the spot right behind your ears that makes your breath hitch." A kiss was placed on this same spot illiciting the expected reaction from his warlock.

"I love your collarbones" the king laved his tongue over both bones leaving a nip on the shoulder when he finished with the right one.

"I love how your skin glows like the moon. How beautiful you are when you are flushed and panting with the passion that I caused in you."

The Prince continued down Merlin's body, stating his love for Merlin and showing him until he reached his straining manhood. Looking up into the eyes of his panting lover Arthur declared: "I love everything about you Merlin. No one else will ever come close to matching how much I love you."

With those words the King of Camelot lowered his mouth onto his lover, causing the man under him to release a cry of "Arthur! "

Arthur focused on the vein that ran down the length of Merlin's member, trying to lave his tongue around the organ (the man was about the same size as he as far as the length of him but his was a bit slimmer than Arthur's own manhood)

He focused on the sounds Merlin gave as he altered between suction with his mouth and moving his mouth up and down on Merlin, taking more and more of the man in his mouth until he reached the man's coarse hair at his pelvis.

Merlin writhed under him, trying to buck into Arthur's mouth but the man kept him pinned under him. Finally Merlin carded his hands through Arthur's hair (God, Arthur loved that) and his upper body rose off the bed as Arthur swallowed around him, releasing his fluid into his lover's waiting mouth.

Arthur swallowed the bitter liquid (weirdly he enjoyed Merlin's taste, wondering not for the first time if that meant they really were made for each other if he enjoyed even the taste of the man's semen) and raised himself till he was sitting on his haunches staring at the blissed-out Merlin below him.

Savoring the fact that he had caused this pleasure for Merlin that he could give him this, Arthur allowed himself a rub to his own arousal before reaching for the oil on the bed side table they had prepared for this night.

While Merlin was still trying to regain his footing, Arthur lubed his finger and began the process of stretching his lover. At the third finger Merlin began to pant with pleasure again. Both Merlin and Arthur had begun practicing both going down on one another and fingering the other to get better used to the intrusion before the night they went all the way together a couple months into their relationship. So Arthur knew just where he needed to stroke just as Merlin knew how to relax his body, making it easier for Arthur to open him up.

Arthur continued in this way till he got up to four fingers. By this time Merlin was begging Arthur to get on with it. "Arthur, now! Please, now, I'm ready. Make love to me."

Arthur shuddered at Merlin's needy whine and had to calm himself before he attempted to slick himself with the oil. Once he was ready he leaned over Merlin, making eye contact with his lover. "Merlin…"

Nodding, Merlin wrapped his legs over his King's hips and allowed for Arthur to slowly thrust his way into his virgin body. Arthur paused and waited at every hiss of pain and every clench to the channel he was making his way in to until he was all the way inside of Merlin, his hips flushed with Merlin's.

The moment was too much to bear for Arthur, teas slid down his cheek as he reveled in how connected he and Merlin were in that moment, how beautiful it was. Merlin looked up at his lover when he felt wetness hit his face, when he saw that Arthur was crying he lifted his hands to cup Arthur's face pulling the man into a loving kiss. "It's ok Arthur. I'm right here, I'm right here with you. I love you."

Merlin continued to pepper his Arthur with kisses on his face and neck, any where he could reach, until Arthur let out a stuttery breath. Looking into his sorcerer's eyes Arthur let out an amazed breath: "I love you too Merlin, so much. I have never felt this connected to someone before."

With this statement the King began to make shallow thrusts, allowing Merlin to get used to the feeling of Arthur moving in him before moving to harder and faster thrusts. Merlin threw his head back. "nngh Arthur, so perfect. Feel so connected to you. More, I want more, please, Arthur please."

Merlin's pleas didn't go unanswered for long. Arthur increased his thrusts, lifting Merlin's legs from around his waist to over his shoulders, allowing him deeper as well as hitting that place that caused the greatest sensation for Merlin.

Arthur couldn't last much longer, he had been teetering on the edge for some time now, and focused on Merlin's member with his hand, trying to match the rhythm of his hand with that of his hips. "Come with me Merlin."

The Sorcerer fell over the edge and just like that the sensation around his manhood became too much for Arthur as Merlin's walls contracted with his orgasm.

The two both collapsed as well as the furniture around their room (they realized early on that when Merlin lets go during an orgasm his magic goes a little crazy. Arthur found it insanely funny every time because it was always something different. The time he made an owl appear in the corridor when he brought him off in the adjacent alcove was by far the funniest. The commotion it caused in the library was the stuff of legends. He swore he could still hear it screeching in the upper tower some times.)

Arthur snuggled into Merlin's chest after the man had caught his breath and the man under him carded his fingers through Arthur's hair the way he knew he liked it. He knew sleep would be on him soon but Arthur wanted to revel in this moment as long as possible. Sitting up and grabbing Merlin's hands from his hair, Arthur placed a kiss to both palms before looking into Merlin's eyes. "I love you. I can never say that enough."

Merlin smiled at Arthur, they had gone through so much that year, were going to go through so much more in their lives, but this moment was theirs and it was perfect. Placing his arms around Arthur as the man settled by his side Merlin let his man know just what he thought: "This moment was perfect, Arthur. I couldn't have asked for any one better or more capable. Thank you. You made tonight better than I ever dreamed."

As the two settled into a peaceful slumber after sharing their first of many nights together, a woman with a child in a basket smiled into her pool of water. "Soon, boys, soon the next step of your destiny will come knocking."