BIG WARNING TO ALL, THIS IS WHEN IT BECOME NC-17, THOUGH IT CONTINUES ONTO THE NEXT CHAPTER, BE WARNED THAT YAOI MAN-ON-MAN HOMOEROTICA IS ABOUT TO START SO LOOK AWAY OR WAIT UNTIL CHAPTER NINE TO CONTINUE THE STORY.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
~RIEYA
Another Merlin fic. I don't own it, BBC does though. This came to me after much reading of Merlin fanfiction. (I've become obsessed with Merlin fanfiction.) It will be slightly dark, not sure how dark, but there will be some violence and of course lots of smut, though that's later in the story. [sigh] I just love this pairing. Again I don't own these Merlin characters and be warned that this is a YAOI story, so don't read if you don't like that style.
Until Next Time
~Reiya
Chapter 7.
Merlin walked the halls in silence, feet a silent padding of soft leather on stone. Over two months had passed and he was for lack of a better term, content. He still grieved for his mother, but it had lessened over the time spent here. When added with all the stories about his mother's childhood spent in Camelot, which he'd found out after the 'big reveal' as he called, it helped the pain lessen and let him continue on with life.
Although he was friends with both Arthur and Morgana, he soon realized that he couldn't show that friendship as openly as he had wanted. It was something to do with the fact that it was improper for royalty to befriend peasants, really stupid if you asked him.
Though he could still be friends with Gwen openly all he wanted. He'd even befriended some of Arthur's knights, mainly Lancelot, who had no qualms about status. He had been given a job by Gaius as his delivery boy, running through the castle, city and even outer villages to deliver much needed potions.
He actually rather enjoyed that, since it let him stretch his legs. Ten years as a wolf was a hard habit to break and he just loved to run. He'd even once gotten in a contest with some of Arthur's knights, with Arthur's permission of course. A race to see who could beat him. None had, which left him in the good graces of many of them, even if he'd beaten them. Apparently, they enjoyed a good competitor and competition.
When ever he caught himself reminiscing about his life before the fire, he had to stop himself before it went to far. He was still kind of shocked at how much his life had changed. In the village, he'd been tolerated, the village's little secret. Here, he was just Merlin, the pale, skinny guy who ran really fast.
Tough Morgana, Gwen, and eventually Gaius knew about his magic, Arthur was still in the dark. Mainly because he was Uther's son and he didn't want Arthur to have to chose between his father and him. So it remained a secret, though it was hard. His magic wanted to be used, to be let free as it used to be when he was a child and as a wolf.
At least once a week, he would wonder off into the woods surrounding Camelot and let his magic go, pouring out of him like an over full wine skin. Usually nothing happened except the plants looked slightly greener than others, or a few animals would come to investigate. Once though, he'd met something he hadn't thought would be near here. It was a smallish horse, white as virgin snow with a crystalline horn thrusting from it's brow like a beacon. He hadn't touched it, but he watched in wonder as the unicorn looked him over with mournful eyes before it disappeared back into the forest.
Stepping out onto the sunlit courtyard, he let his eyes rove over the people that scattered it. A few visiting nobles gossiped with each other. Servants rushed to and fro on unknown errands. Peasants and higher class citizens rubbed elbows as they walked to and fro from the castle on business.
It still amazed him how many people could live so close together in one area. There were so many varieties of folk, trades, and personalities that he could never get enough…and yet he still felt slightly nervous around them, as if they could see through him and find him lacking. He knew it was a stupid fear, one Morgana and Gwen were trying to fix when he'd told him about it, but it still cropped up at the most incontinent moments.
Like standing before the king as he looked him over. He just seemed to look right through him as he asked Gaius about Merlin. When all was explained, the king just dismissed he was even there and talked to Gaius about some medical thing. He hadn't stayed to listen, beating a fast retreat to the other side of the castle.
Going down the steps, he wasn't paying attention to those around him. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder. He spun to find Arthur smirking down at him. "Merlin, no need to die of fright to impress me."
Merlin glared at him. He didn't know what he hated more, the way Arthur drew out his name like that, or that infuriating smirk and attitude that screamed out 'arrogant prat'. He settled for both, but waited to see what Arthur wanted without smacking him in public. That would land him in the stocks faster than he cared.
"What do you want, A- Sire?" He caught his slip and changed it.
Arthur's smirk just got bigger. "Actually to invite you along on a little hunting trip. I don't want to bring my knights with me, but father won't let me go alone. You won't have to hunt if you don't want to, but you'll have to watch our stuff and the horses."
Merlin considered this. A chance to get away from the castle for while. To take in the forest's sights, smells and sounds. Deciding it was worth dealing with Arthur, he nodded. "I'll have to inform Gaius, but I don't mind."
Arthur smirked again, but it morphed briefly into a genuine smile before disappearing. Arthur nodded sharply. "Gather your things and meet me at the stables than." He didn't even say good bye, just strode off into the castle again.
"Prat." He muttered under his breath as he followed him back inside.
Gwen watched from Morgana's window as the two figures rode out of the courtyard into the city. "Do you think Merlin knows?" She asked her mistress softly.
"Knows what?" She asked, checking her hair in the mirror.
Gwen turned around, looking at her mistress in the mirror. "About Arthur's feelings towards him. I mean, he hides it well, but something like that is hard to miss."
"Oh." She thought it over. "Actually, no. I don't think he has a clue. Though I'm not surprised." She answered, picking up a necklace to look it over.
Gwen walked over to her and helped put it on. "What do you mean?"
"Gwen, how could he know of anything like that. He's spent the last ten years alone in the woods. That's like saying a blind person knows how to read, when they've never seen letters." She paused as she thought something over. "Though, if the way he's been acting around Arthur is any indication, I'd say his subconscious knows something. You can just feel the tension between them can't you." They both laughed at this.
"Oh, it would be wonderful if they got together. Arthur's been so lonely since that fiasco with Sophia and than with Vivian. I don't think he's ever let go of how he was manipulated by them. He's probably sworn off women for life." Morgana ranted, anger boiling just below the surface as she remembered the distraught look Arthur had had when he'd shown up in her rooms after finding out about first Sophia than Vivian. It had taken months for him to get over them, and even than he still had a shield around his heart. "Let's just see what happens. Who knows, maybe some good will come from this." Gwen nodded and followed her mistress out of the room.
Merlin watched Arthur as he rode ahead. For being so carefree when he'd asked him to come, he certainly was tense now. Almost as if he was nervous about something, what he couldn't place. He didn't push for information. They were still too close to the castle to let the act go, but he decided to bid his time. Arthur would eventually talk to him.
Instead, he busied himself with watching the countryside amble by. By this time of year, they would soon be getting ready to harvest the fields. He wondered briefly if anyone had planted the fields his mother had worked. It hurt a little, but he hope someone had. That way he knew at least someone was able to live life. He had no wish to go back and claim it and he didn't want it to sit there and rot either.
He was so engrossed in his own thoughts, that he didn't see Arthur stop ahead. At least the horse was, for it followed the example and stopped beside Arthur's horse. He glanced up and looked around. They had entered the forest and were now far in. They stood in a clearing off of the well used trail they had followed.
"This is it. We'll camp here for tonight than head out hunting tomorrow." He announced loudly. Merlin just nodded, sliding down from the horse gingerly. He still wasn't used to riding the animal and always ended up saddle sore.
He glanced at the sky, surprised that it was nearly dark. They'd been riding for a few hours, but he hadn't realized it was that late when they left. He turned to Arthur. "I guess I'm stuck with putting the tent up." He said aloud.
Arthur just looked at him as if he'd said something stupid, before he smiled. "Why do you think I brought you?" he said pratishly. Merlin just glared and stuck his tongue out at him before grabbing their thing from the horses back.
They sat around the fire, just the two of them as the night drew in around them. It was peaceful, the silence comfortable since neither usually chatted a lot, not like Morgana or Gwen.
Arthur reached out and turned the spit, eyeing the cooking meat with a practiced eye before declaring that it was done. Merlin nodded and stood to grab their plates from the saddle bags. When he came back, Arthur was holding the spit before himself. Sitting down near him he held out the plates as Arthur slide the two pieces of cooked meat off of the spit.
They ate in silence, each in their own thoughts as they chew mechanically. As he chewed though, Merlin's eyes kept flicking up to glance at Arthur. The fire light played along his features, highlighting some while shadowing others. The light seemed to lighten his blond hair even more, making it more golden than blond. It suited him some how. The golden prince of Camelot. Their future king.
He wondered briefly if he would still be in Camelot by the time Arthur was crowned it's king. He hoped so. He wanted to see how Arthur looked with the mantle of kingship on him, to see the crowds cheering harder than ever for their new king.
Turning his eyes away, he finished off his meal, licking his finger of any last traces of food. He didn't see Arthur's eyes on him, staring at his mouth as the pink tongue stuck out. He didn't see the mesmerized look he had as they wet pale fingers in a quest for any last bit of food, a habit from living on his own for so long.
Finally, Arthur dragged his gaze away, staring moodily into the flames, a confused Merlin just now noticing the now frustrated Arthur. Thinking along different lines as to his grouchiness, he complemented him on the food. "It was nothing, Merlin. Really, it was nothing." He was still frustrated, but he tried to hide behind his mask as he said this.
Still unsure as to the reason of Arthur's mood, he lay down, stretching out towards the fire slightly, keeping feet well away from the flames. He kept his eyes closed as he listened to the forest around him. He could hear the horses off to the side, whickering as the munched drowsily on some grass. The birds were settling down, most of the big forest creatures had already either settled or risen to face the night. It was peaceful and made him think back to when he'd been a wolf, to nights spent hunting or just running just for the fun of it. He couldn't help smile slightly at the memory.
Arthur was next to him. He could hear his soft breathing, regular if a little fast. He could feel the heat radiating off of him, softer than the fire but still just a strong. He could smell him too. Leather and oil from cleaning weapons and armor. The stuff he used to wash his hair and body along with horse from the ride here and some sweat. It was the scent underneath that interested him the most. It was subtle, few would have noticed it. He smelled of the forest during spring when everything was just starting to grow, of metal, and his own musk. It was his own unique scent and Merlin liked it, though he would never admit to it.
He sighed and opened his eyes slowly. He glancing up to see Arthur watching him. "What?" he asked nervously. Was there something on his face? In his teeth? He watched in confusion as something flashed in his eyes. As if he'd come to some decision. His jaw clinching in determination.
Merlin watched in confusion as he leaned forward, bending at the waist until he hovered above him. He was close enough to see his cheeks flushed slightly. To see flecks of gray in those clear blue eyes, long golden lashes fluttering briefly to his cheek before his eyes opened again. A few golden freckles adorned his nose, a dimple stuck out subtly near his mouth. His lips were well formed, the bottom slightly fuller than the upper.
Merlin took this all in one glance, still unsure what was going on. He frown slightly, as something stirred inside. Some instinct to reach out a hand and touch that golden skin, to see if it was as smooth as it looked. What was this?
He didn't have time to contemplate anymore as Arthur caught his eye than lowered his head slowly, never losing eye contact. He felt smooth skin brush his cheekbone, slide down his cheek. Another brush to his jaw line…and than lips on lips. All without losing eye contact.
He felt that thing stirring again, stronger. This was strange, in a pleasant way. Finally, Arthur pulled back, eyes watching him. "Wha-what was that?" He finally asked aloud, voice surprisingly hoarse, as if there was gravel in his throat. He was starting to feel hyperaware for some reason, and the only time he'd felt like that was when danger was around.
"It was a kiss." Arthur said softly, voice in the same state as his.
"A kiss…it was, nice." He finally admitted. He'd remembered somewhat vaguely his mother explaining this to him. He'd asked why Gavin was touching lips with Jean behind a tree. His mother a explained it to him, but when he asked if he could do it to her too, she had said no, that only if you like or loved someone could you do it to them. He'd than run to his mother and pecked her on the lips. She smiled and hugged him, but said he could just kiss them on the cheek too, instead of the lips. So he kissed her on the cheek, too.
Arthur looked surprised at the admittance. A rare smile crossed his face, making him look younger, more approachable. "Would you like me to do it again?" He asked hesitantly. Merlin nodded. Arthur obliged, bringing their lips together with slightly more force. He felt his blood stirring again, his face and body heating up slightly.
When Arthur pulled back he had a frown on his face. "What is it?" He asked nervously.
"Why do I feel like this?" He asked, confused.
"Like what?" Arthur asked.
"Like my heart won't stop racing. I feel so warm and tingly, but I feel nervous too. Why is that?" He was genuinely confused. It was a nice feeling, don't get him wrong, but it was new and he liked to Know what was happening.
Arthur actually snorted at him. "Merlin, are you saying you've never felt like this before?" Merlin shook his head. "You have never lain with another person intimately, male or female?"
He scowled up at him and shook his head. "I haven't been in the company of another human for the last ten years. When would I have lain with someone? And what do you mean intimately?"
Arthur just smiled at this naivety. "Would you like me to show you what I mean?" Merlin thought about it for a second, than nodded. Arthur smiled again, reaching a hand up to stroke across he cheekbone again. "Alright, but you must say something if you become frightened or don't want to continue. Do you understand?" he asked him and Merlin nodded. He got up than, reaching down a hand to lift him up.
Merlin grabbed it and let himself be helped up. Once up, Arthur tugged on his hand, pulling him into his arms and kissing him again. He pulled back. "Are you still sure?" He asked again. Ignoring him, he went on an impulse and leaned forward, bring their lips together again. Arthur held him close, standing there as Merlin explored the feeling of it. Right before they pulled apart, Arthur's tongue shot out, swiping once over his lips before he pulled back. "Than come into the tent." He said, voice husky as Merlin followed obediently, pulse picking up in anticipation, a hand touching tingling lips.
xXx
And cliffhanger. Sorry, but you'll have to wait till the next chapter to get the smut you've been waiting for. Let the kisses tide you over until I'm done with the next chapter.
I actually had no idea how I was going to get to this point until I started typing tonight. I just kept coming out slowly, bit by bit until I finally saw the golden halo of an idea awaiting me on how to achieve my much wanted smut. So low and behold here it is. Enjoy.
Until next Time
~Reiya
