Chapter two
Merlin was aware of the tightness in his lungs, the slight burn from the smoke that had managed to enter them , he was aware of his legs burning as they raced through the trees trying to get as far away as they could as quickly as possible. But all he could focus on was his husbands hand tight around his wrist and the singing his magic was doing at having his other half close again after much too long.
Finally they were able to pull to a stop, panting for breath as the three of them bent over trying to suck in deep breaths. Finally Merlin looked up and met Gwaine's eyes, the older man having not taken his off Merlin since they had stopped.
"Merlin," Gwaine sighed stepping forwards to clearly embrace Merlin, only to yelp when his deceptively strong husband punched him in the arm. "What was that for!"
"You swore that you were keeping out of trouble!" Merlin snapped glaring at his husband.
"I am!" Gwaine protested before back peddling quickly when Arthur furiously shook his head. "I mean I was! I didn't end up down there on purpose!" Gwaine protested.
"So how exactly did you end up down there then?" Merlin's glare stepped up a notch.
"Merlin I'm ok," Gwaine said softly stepping towards Merlin like he was an animal about to spook.
"I can see that!" Merlin's glare was singeing, his posture warning Gwaine off. Of course Gwaine had never listened to what was good for him. He gently touched his husband's face smiling at him.
"I'm sorry I worried you,"
"Don't patronise me!"
"I'm not, I'm apologising. I was staying out of trouble. But I wandered a little too close to somewhere I shouldn't have been and they took me by surprise. Merlin, sweetheart, I've been as safe as I could be," Gwaine smiled rubbing his thumb over Merlin's cheek watching as the glare softened bit by bit. "Can I get a kiss now? I've missed you,"
"Oh god," Arthur groaned at the words turning pointedly around. Merlin smiled slightly unable to help himself and then Gwaine was tugging him against his body and he couldn't help but give into the kisses pressed to his lips, his fingers slipping into Gwaine's soft hair to grip and hold his husband to him.
"I missed you," He sighed.
"Good," Gwaine grinned. "Love you," He murmured as he leant in for another kiss.
"Love you too," Merlin muttered between the kisses Gwaine wouldn't relent on, not that he was complaining.
"Hem, if we could start moving further away from the angry slave traders and onto what we should actually be doing instead of standing here while you two whisper sweet nothings to each other I would greatly appreciate it," Arthur grumbled, though he had clearly given them enough time to greet each other.
"What are you up to? You say about me getting into trouble, you are travelling with the crown Prince in Cenred's kingdom," Gwaine raised his eyebrows at Merlin though he didn't realise his waist.
"I didn't promise to stay out of trouble," Merlin smiled.
"Not that you would manage to stay out of trouble even if you tried," Gwaine snorted. "So what are you doing here?"
"We're on a quest for the Cup of Life," Merlin answered.
"Merlin! Do you even know the meaning of secret quest?!" Arthur cried exasperated.
"Its Gwaine!" Merlin shrugged.
"Yes I appreciate that he's your husband but that doesn't mean you can go giving away secrets left and right!" Arthur groaned.
"Seems to me like you need all the help you can get," Gwaine rolled his eyes. "And if you think that I'm letting you take my husband and stomp around Cendred's kingdom without me you have another thing coming!"
"Oh fine, come on," Arthur threw up his hands before starting to storm off. Merlin grinned at Gwaine linking their fingers together and leaning forwards to kiss his husband again before turning and tugging him after the Prince, grinning as he listened to Gwaine's grumbling complaints behind him.
"Its not working!" Merlin said frantically looking to Gwaine when his magic didn't seem to be healing Arthur.
"Maybe it just needs a little time? He's warm, there is nothing more we can do tonight, the poison, we just have to wait and see what will happen in the morning before we can do anything else," Gwaine pulled Merlin back against his chest where he was resting against a tree, wrapping his arms around his waist and holding him firmly against him.
"I'm sorry," Merlin sighed.
"For what?" Gwaine frowned.
"Every time we meet we can't just concentrate on just being together for any small amount of time,"
"Merlin I knew what we were getting into, what your life was like, Merlin you have nothing to apologise for. Every moment together, no matter what we're doing is important to me, and perfect," Gwaine smiled kissing Merlin's cheek.
"I don't know what things are going to be like from now on," Merlin bit his lip staring at Arthur worried.
"Why?"
"The Cup of Life, it can be used to create an immortal army," Merlin said concerned.
"But that needs magic," Gwaine frowned.
"Morgause isn't known for working with Cenred, and I think that Morgana is involved, someone told Cendred that we would be here looking for the Cup, I don't think that it was coincidence that his men caught us so soon after finding the cup," Merlin sighed, turning so that he could press his face into Gwaine's neck and breathe in the scent of the man he loved. Gwaine just tightened his grip on Merlin and turned to hold him close. He had missed him so much, missed holding him. And despite the implications of everything that was being set into place, he hoped that this meant this time he would be allowed longer with Merlin.
"Merlin," Gwaine grabbed his husband's wrist over their bonding bracelet. "You come back to me safe, you hear!"
"The same to you," Merlin gripped Gwaine's wrist back.
"You're giving me permission to get into trouble, I'm not going to make you regret it!" Gwaine smirked before leaning forwards and crushing a quick but deep kiss to Merlin's lips. Merlin watched as he and Elyan ran down the corridor before he turned and grabbed Arthur's arm. They started down the corridor to get to Gaius's rooms to either find the man or to get something for Arthur.
The look relief on Gwaine's face when Arthur and Merlin stumbled into caves. He was there capturing Merlin to him and practically stealing the air from his lungs with his kiss before yanked back and started searching over Merlin's body for any injuries.
"I'm fine," Merlin assured him.
"Not believing that until I see it for myself," Gwaine huffed trying to pull up Merlin's shirt despite the belt around his waist.
"Gwaine," Merlin tugged him closer to his body. "Our bracelets, you can feel I am not in pain or hurt. I'm fine," Merlin smiled cupping his face.
"What about him?" Gwaine sighed looking to where Arthur was slumped against the wall blinking unseeingly while Gaius started inspecting his wound.
"He found out Morgana is his sister when she took the crown from Uther and had herself crowned," Merlin explained quietly curling closer to Gwaine's body for comfort as he looked at his friend.
"Morgana is his sister!?" Elyan gasped shocked reminding Merlin with a blush that he was there.
"Yes,"
"Arthur," Elyan shook his head sadly looking at the Prince's face.
"We need to make sure that our tracks our covered, collect water and wood for the night, we need to make sure we're secure in here," Gwaine said pulling away from Merlin.
"I'll get the fire wood," Merlin smiled.
"I'll go down to the stream and fill our wet skins," Elyan nodded.
"And I will cover our tracks and see if there is something that I can find for our supper. Be careful," He kissed Merlin, a little more tender this time.
"I always am," Merlin tugged him back for one more kiss before he followed a chuckling Elyan out of the caves. At Merlin's questioning look he explained.
"What I have gotten to known of him in the last few hours, I did not imagine him being a worry wart," Elyan smirked as Merlin started laughing.
"I am not a worry wart!" Gwaine huffed stomping passed them.
"You are a little…honey," Merlin teased him.
"I am not a worry wart, I just appear have managed to marry a man who attracts trouble as a whore house attracts men," Gwaine smirked.
"Lovely analogy to use there, thanks," Merlin snorted.
"Wait, marry!" Elyan squeaked chasing after them.
"I swear I am going to chain you to my side!" Gwaine growled as he grabbed Merlin and started checking him for injuries, again. He was already on edge from Merlin leaving to go hitch a lift on a dragon go across the land to collect a sword from Freya, who Merlin had had to explain to Gwaine, but to have been separated from him when they were attacked was probably pushing the last of his nerves and patience. So Merlin stood and allowed himself to be checked over for wounds as he listened to Lance explaining who the man mountain was and how he had been the one to bring down the rocks.
"I wrote to him!" Merlin called when Arthur asked what they were doing here.
"Merlin," Lance came forward and ignoring the glare he was receiving from Gwaine tugged Merlin into a hug.
"Its good to see you again," Merlin hugged his friend back before pulling away to grin at him.
"And I'm Gwaine, Merlin's husband," Gwaine stepped practically between Lance and Merlin, glowering at the other man.
"Yes, its nice to finally meet you, Merlin has told me all about you," Lance grinned, taking Gwaine back by how unsurprised he was. Leon however tripped over his own feet squeaking out 'husband!'.
"Did you think I was the unmarryable type?" Merlin asked amused.
"No no! Its just, a shock to find out you are married," Leon spluttered.
"Gwaine its good to see you again, and congratulations," Gwen smiled walking forwards to hug him.
"Ah the lovely Gwen," Gwaine took Gwen's hand and kissed it with an over dramatic bow getting an eye roll from Merlin.
"Nice to meet you Percival I'm Merlin and this is my idiotic husband, Gwaine," Merlin smiled at the man mountain reaching out to shake his hand.
"Pleasure," Percival smiled widely at them both.
"We need to find somewhere safer," Gaius said, a little tiredly as he came over to them, Gwaine reached out to steady him getting a fond pat to his hand.
"I think I know of somewhere," Arthur said thoughtfully.
"Let me go with you," Gwaine said softly once he and Merlin were settled a little away from the others on their bed roll.
"Gwaine,"
"You would rather take him with you than me?" Gwaine scowled starting to unwrap his arms from Merlin.
"I would rather have you at my side Gwaine, but I cannot stay with Arthur and I need you with him to protect him, I trust you more than anyone else to do so. And if we are together we're could be putting each other at risk, we could be distracted by worrying about each other," Merlin tried to explain, rolling over to touch his fingers to Gwaine's tight face, no sign of his usual humour and the easy smile Merlin loved there.
"If we are to die, I want to be at your side Merlin," Gwaine whispered pressing their foreheads together. And Merlin could feel the fear echoing from Gwaine, not for himself but for Merlin.
"We have a chance to win this, if I can get to the cup and empty it of the blood, we can win. And I have the sword. I need for you to protect Arthur and stay alive long enough for me to do that. And to trust me," He wasn't above begging.
"I trust you with my life. I just don't rust you with yours," Gwaine huffed wrapping Merlin up in a mass of limbs, tangling their legs together even.
"I have everything to live for, sir knight. We win this and you will be allowed to stay in Camelot, and we can be together, properly," Merlin said, an excited smile almost swallowing his features.
"You're right that is definitely worth living for," Gwaine smiled, some of his unease lessening as he felt the pure hope coming from Merlin.
"I'm so proud of you you know," Merlin breathed running his fingers over Gwaine's brow. Gwaine knew, he had felt it earlier when Arthur had knighted him, the swell of pride and love from Merlin. But it wasn't sitting easy.
"Proud of a husband who put us through all this separation because his pride wouldn't allow for him to admit he was of noble blood, only to end up getting knighted anyway?" Gwaine shook his head.
"I am proud of my husband, who would not accept being knighted just because he was of noble blood, instead accepting it only when he was showing the pure loyalty and bravery that a man should be knighted for," Merlin said firmly.
"We could have been together sooner," Gwaine pointed out.
"And you would not have been the man that I love if you had come back to Camelot with me and allowed yourself to be pardoned purely on the fact you are of noble birth," Merlin shook his head. "We did this our way, and I am happy with that,"
"Promise me you will be careful tomorrow," Gwaine begged gripping Merlin's chin.
"I promise," Merlin smiled kissing him lightly.
"And I will be careful and look after your damned prince," Gwaine smiled.
"Can I talk to you?" Gwaine caught Lance's wrist while Merlin was busy with Arthur, doing their pre-fight 'insulting each other which really means I love you and will be broken hearted if you die', conversation.
"Of course," Lance bowed his head and allowed Gwaine to lead him away slightly.
"Look after him, I know what you are really going to do and if anything happens to him…" Gwaine warned Lance.
"Merlin is my friend, probably my closest despite what little time we have physically spent in each other's company. I will not let any harm come to him that I may prevent," Lance swore.
"Good. And make sure nothing happens to yourself. Merlin is strangely fond of you," Gwaine nodded clapping a now laughing Lance on the shoulder before he hurried off when he saw the narrowed blue eyes on him.
"The Princess had better give me some good rooms here, with a proper double bed," Gwaine grumbled as he shifted as minutely as possible. He and Merlin were terrified of moving too much in case they fell off or the rickety old bed gave out underneath their combined weight.
"So do I," Merlin said grumpily somewhere from around his chest.
"Merlin, I am not making love to you on an old single bed that could give it up any minute, with Gaius snoring in the next room and with your back one mass of bruises!" Gwaine huffed. "And I can't believe I am really turning down sex with my gorgeous husband who I could have lost," Gwaine groaned shaking his head. Though he did manage to get a chuckle from Merlin, so he guessed his embarrassment on how much he had been domesticated was worth it.
"Are you…"
"I'm sure Merlin, I am taking you in a proper bed, in our chambers, where we can have a night of privacy!" Gwaine said the words as though they physically pained him.
"Spoil sport," Merlin grumbled, but he snuggled comfortably back down, mindful not to move to much as the bed gave a worrying groan.
"You really think we would be able to enjoy it tonight? After all this you look as though you would start snoring halfway through," Gwaine snorted. "I'm proud of you,"
"Hmm?" Merlin frowned looking up.
"You did amazing, and I know no one can know, but I want to shout from the top of the castle how amazing, and brave and loyal and powerful my husband is. Out of everyone you deserve to be recognised the most for what you did. And instead only a handful know," Gwaine sighed.
"Its enough that you know, and Lance gets to stay so that is someone else here that I don't have to hide who I am from. And I get to keep you this time. That's reward enough," Merlin smiled happily.
"Now we get to see how we are at living together," Gwaine grinned. "I think you might kill me,"
"I don't have to kill you, I will just dye your hair bright pink in your sleep," Merlin snickered smugly.
"Hey…" Gwaine paled at the thought.
"Goodnight Sir Knight,"
"Goodnight my Sorcerer. I love you," Gwaine ran his fingers gently through Merlin's hair until he was able to fall asleep, the sound of his husbands heartbeat and breathing, his warmth and scent surrounding him telling him he was there, and this wasn't one of his many dreams that he had had before of this moment. In his dreams Gwaine's feet had never smelt that bad.