Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or the song Love Like Winter by AFI
Look, I updated, I'm pretty sure no one has any faith in my update schduele anymore. Anyway, this is longer than usual by around 300-500 words, I'm pretty happy. Thank you, by the way, for the two reviews I got for the last chapter, I was hoping for some chapter 8 naming advice... it still doesn't have a name :c
Anyway, on with the fic, updated a couple hours early, yay.
Re-edited, grammer+spelling, should make more sense now.
Chapter 9
Merlin gasped, taking in the figure before him properly for the first time in months. Without the dream world and magic clouding his vision, without the icy scenery and the handsome man stealing his attention Merlin looked.
The pale blond, loosely curled hair, the pink lips, the intense eyes and the steady, self-assured stance, "Morgause".
The witch in front of him merely turned dismissively back towards a large cauldron heated with lilac flames. She had paused long enough to meet Merlin's eyes, causing his mark to flare. The sorcerer was rather offended; I could just leave if I wanted to. But Merlin knew he didn't want to and why, he knew he'd be content no matter her treatment toward him as long as he was in her presence. Her hold was too strong, he almost scowled, but he was too far gone even for that.
-oOo-
"Come in," Gaius finally raised his head, blinking his eyes into awareness and focusing on his visitor. "Ah, Morgana."
"Gwen has told me about Merlin, I wasn't going to do anything because I know Arthur's gone b-but...-"
"You had a dream." Gaius finished for her. The seer nodded and gathered herself before continuing with her story.
-oOo-
It was getting dark so Arthur forced himself to set up camp, finding Merlin now would likely make things worse in his current state of fatigue. As he lowered himself to the ground after caring for the horse he winced. His wound was getting worse, even more dire was his ability to feel it, Arthur cursed again, noting he had done so a lot recently, he remembered clearly the medicine vial at his bedside and the physician's instructions.
A pale face with defined cheekbones replaced the memory, Arthur lay down and hoped Merlin was in this forest.
-oOo-
"It was, well not blurry exactly, just like I was missing detail. Well not physical detail-. Let me try again, I could tell what's happening and when it will happen but I can't be certain that it really will. I think it depends on whether Arthur gets there in time or not."
"Morgana, what do you see happen?"
"Well, I see Arthur face a lot, he's in pain though I can't see a wound, and Merlin. There's this man, with dark hair, he looks familiar, I'm sure he's been in Camelot, he... he does b-bad things to Merlin. He really hurts him, it's horrible!"
The physician looks down at the lady who is now crying in his arms and has no doubt what kind of bad things they were facing.
-oOo-
Merlin felt strong arms wrap around him, his body is chilled from sitting in the cave away from the fire. He turns to the man with dull eyes and a small flicker of recognition and relaxes into the hold. For a while there is silence but for the bubbling of whatever is in the cauldron, then, 'Who are you?'
Unseen, her back to the sorcerer in the mysterious man's embrace, Morgause smiles.
-oOo-
Morgana hurriedly saddles a horse as Gaius gives her last minute reminders and advice. She makes sure the saddlebags are secure before carefully stowing away Arthur's symptom suppressant and the poultice.
"And Morgana, the spell over Merlin will be broken if he can name her both outside of and within the dream world, remember, it may be his only chance."
"I will bring them back. Tell Gwen she's got the day off." And she was gone.
Gaius decided to watch the knights' drill and had another feeling that something was missing, this time it wasn't the crown prince. He thought to enquire; if a knight was in ill health then helping them could take his mind off things.
Like drafting Hunith a letter if her son doesn't return.
-oOo-
Merlin didn't really feel the passage of time in the cave, he spent all of it cold and either dreaming or in a dreamlike state; dimly he concluded that in addition to the old magick the seductress had been drugging his food. He almost shrugged, he had to eat it anyway, if he refused it he would starve and them he would be without his love.
Merlin descended into snow again and lay passively in the comforting whiteness. In the dream state his mind was sharp once more, but what was the use in a better ability to focus when all he could focus on was the movement of the person on top of him. Before his eyes closed in pleasure he looked at the man's face in a calculating fashion, what is your name? The warlock threw back his head and gasped, a mouth descended on his and Merlin wondered why his mistress never appeared in the snowscape anymore, he wondered what he had done wrong.
-oOo-
When Arthur awoke he threw food down his throat and remounted his horse, he rode until he came to a cave, he was about to pass it but something made him stop. He thought to have an early lunch before hunting once more for a Merlin's route. When he dismounted he spotted a horse, though bearing no reins or visible brand Arthur recognised her immediately, Atalanta, a Camelot horse.
Instantly Arthur was on high alert, forget lunch, Merlin's here, he must be. The prince adopted a defensive stance and drew his sword, the action caused his abdominal muscles to twist and he collapsed. The sword disappeared into the orange leaves and Atalanta whinnied.
If the blond had been conscious he might have cursed again.
-oOo-
Merlin thought of his imprisonment. He thought he ought to be worried about it, or apprehensive. He remembered the page Gaius had made him read, the mysterious man hadn't gone all the way with him yet and the blond one hadn't tried to eat him, in fact, he hadn't seen her eat at all.
The young man wasn't sure if he had been in that spot for hours or days, time and events blurred together, he thought perhaps hours, since he couldn't remember sleeping, it could have been a year for all he knew, though, and he was getting bored.
"Morgause," The warlock called out, wasn't there more feeling associated with that name usually?
The woman turned from the cauldron, the mysterious man had left some time ago. Merlin didn't know what 'some' was, never mind that it was a length of time, she looked at her prisoner questioningly.
"Morgause, dream with me."
"Why?" I was the first time she had spoken, Merlin's heart rate increased and he fell in love all over again, his hand rested on his mark. It hadn't flared; it had only constantly burned almost since he had entered the cave. After he had looked into her eyes.
"I want you to- I want to-," He tried again "touch me."
He looked down but desperately hoped for an answer, even a refusal, he wanted to hear those honeyed tones again, he wasn't disappointed.
"Okay."
She knelt in front of him and placed her hands on his temples, the last things he saw were her eyes.
-oOo-
Arthur came to inside a cave, it was narrow, he was in the dark but could see a glow coming from round what the prince presumed was a corner. A figure emerged from said corner holding a torch, he had dark hair and a handsome face, Arthur recognised him immediately "Erec!"
"That would be sir Erec, your highness; you were present at my knighting after all."
"I'll see you stripped of it, if not your life first."
"You know I think this is the most we've ever talked, I would so like to keep this conversation going, how about we switch to a topic of equal interest? I sugge-"
"Where is Merlin?"
"Ah, good choice," Erec carried on as though oblivious to the rude interruption "He is very interesting..."
"Tell me, Arthur. Have you ever touched Merlin? Undressed him with your hands rather than merely your eyes? Ran your fingers up his sides and mapped out every sensitive spot? I can tell you, it's all sensitive," He smiled lewdly "Though of course there are parts more sensitive than others, oh, and the noises he comes out with."
The knight shivered, Arthur looked away at the obvious joy the man experienced in his reminiscing, it was evident, the prince noted in disgust, not just in his facial expression.
The man seemed to read his mind; Erec looked down at his own lap and said "It would be a shame to waste it, no?" He snickered and forced Arthur to look at him, wrenching the face round by his chin "Yes, it would. I will take your advice then, sleep, I'll attend to Merlin."
Arthur's eyes widened then closed again as sleep suddenly overcame him, he watched the torchlight recede as Erec made his way to the man Arthur loved.
-oOo-
Morgause had made her first mistake in entering Merlin's dream. She would not feel its repercussions yet for the consequences would not happen for a little while, what she did was start a pattern, a dangerous one, for her anyway.
Erec walked in to an entirely unique sight. He had seen Morgause in a dream with Merlin of course but never with the man present. She had never let herself go like this either; he decided not to join but merely to watch as an outsider.
-oOo-
Morgause slid her open mouth over Merlin's skin, tracing double lines with her lips from his ear down to his collarbone, then, with a gasp from the sorcerer she licked him. She kissed and nipped her way down to his chest, banishing his clothes with a gesture of her hand. He was intoxicating.
Erec was flushed as he watched for subtle changes in the figures in front of him. Merlin was panting slowly and his arousal was evident. He was settled in Morgause's arms, his cheek was cushioned on her chest. Morgause's breathing came more quickly than Merlin's, her eyes were opened unseeingly 'or just seeing somewhere else' Erec's mind supplied and her pupils dilated. They made her look even more intense as the black pupils complimented the heavily eyeliner. Her hands slowly rubbed small circles on Merlin's arm.
Merlin writhed under her skilful touch, how he had missed her, the dark man was handsome but she was light and beautiful, where he was passionate she was fierce, where he was gentle, she was simply instinctual.
The knight continued to watch but decided on a different perspective, sliding down to the floor he arranged himself behind Morgause. His legs with on either side of hers and he brought his longer arms around to rest on Merlin as hers did. He rest his head on her shoulder, perfect, from here he could observe everything. Not least the clenching and unclenching of Merlin's hands in barely held restraint. Erec couldn't wait until he stopped holding back, he was sure it would be... explosive.
-oOo-
Morgana couldn't hope to make it in time to save Merlin if Arthur failed so she did what she could. She urged on her horse with her actions and focused her mind on encouraging her brother. Soon enough she would stop to rest, she hoped her dreams would be clearer.
-oOo-
Round the corner of the cave Arthur lay motionless, reluctant to aggravate his injury without good cause and hopefully a plan. Unexpectedly he got a mental boost and was left feeling considerably more optimistic, his determination strong and hope fortified. 'Soon, Merlin,' he thought 'soon'.
Hi, please leave a review! I don't have a name for this chapter either but I shall struggle bravely on until I do! Please please please help me with the previous chapter. And just tell me what you think of this chap, and the story so far in general, ask me qestions too, I do like to answer them :) It makes for easier review replies, too.
Oh, before I go there is a poll on my profile asking which Merlin pairing you favour in this story, you know, which pairing is cutest? Or which suitor do you think should win? Tullus, maybe?
Who likes that Morgana is finally here? *waves arm wildly in air* I DO! Tut tut, what a naughty knight, seducing poor Merlin, but is he the seductress? Or is Morgause? Sorry, I'm talking alot here, its from review deprivation!