Chapter 8

Arthur couldn't believe his luck. He had Wizard in front of him. Talking to him. Granted, Wizard wanted to keep his name from Arthur and while Arthur was somewhat all right with it, he was dying to know Wizard's name. There was something familiar about him, but Arthur couldn't place where.

The night was actually nice as they walked through the garden. The air was warm with a slight chill, normal for spring weather, so they kept their jackets on. Arthur snuck glances to Wizard as they walked and had a feeling the other boy was doing the same. Music could be heard through the open windows and was a little sad that Merlin wasn't playing anymore. The young man was an amazing guitarist and singer.

Merlin tried to not let Arthur's gazes get on him. Only an idiot would not figure out the blonde was checking Merlin out and for some reason, Merlin was glad about that. Sure, Merlin was attracted to Arthur, what self-respecting gay man wouldn't, or any straight woman for that matter, but Merlin always thought that Arthur was straight and so never pursued the blonde. Plus in school, Arthur acted like one of those rich spoiled brats Merlin had to cater to since he was eighteen but not Merlin is seeing another side of Arthur that was surprising. The man was actually considerate, taking Merlin to the garden after seeing how uncomfortable he was in the crowd.

Arthur looked over at Merlin again apprehensively.

"What's your favorite meal?" he asked. Merlin laughed.

"What's this? Twenty Questions?"

Arthur shrugged. "I just want to get to know you better."

"Pizza," said Merlin. "What's yours?"

"Steak and mash potatoes with gravy. Favorite movie?"

"That changes time after time, but I happen to like Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves the best."

Arthur gaped at him. "Me too! My favorite TV series is Doctor Who."

Merlin laughed. "Who doesn't love that show?!"

Both laughed in amazement on finding something in common. After a couple of minutes, Arthur cleared his throat.

"So, uh, what's your major?" he asked. While they talked about almost everything, they kept their majors a secret so that they wouldn't go crazy trying to find each other in classes.

"Music," said Merlin. "I write music. I want to be a songwriter."

Arthur smiled at him.

"Really? I would love to hear one of your songs," he said.

Merlin's ears pricked when one of his songs started playing and softly laughed.

"Yeah, one day, maybe you will," he said. "So what about you? What's your major?"

"My dad wants it to be Hotel Business, but I want it to be Literature."

Merlin stared at him in surprise.

"Literature? Why that?"

"My mom. She was an avid reader and had one of the rooms converted into a library. It's covered from wall to wall with books. I wanted to learn more about her so I started reading her books and I fell in love with them just as she had." Arthur had a sad smile as he spoke of the mother he never met. "Now, I want to teach people to appreciate books as much as I have, and maybe write a few. I don't plan on being a best seller. Just write a few ideas down, you know?"

"You want to express yourself through words. I can understand that. I try to do the same with my music. Write down my feelings and hope people will feel the same thing I did as they listen to them."

Arthur looked at the other boy in wonder. Not even his friends understood his reasons in becoming a writer. Writing wasn't just about the plots or the genre or the characters, it was about the expression in the words. Feeling whatever the writer was feeling at the time they were writing it. Feeling the same thing the characters were feeling as you read and connect with them through the words. Watching movies was fine entertainment but it didn't connect a person to the characters like a book does.

But this boy in front of him understood. He understood everything Arthur felt and wanted the same, only in a different form.

"Yes, that's right," said Arthur.

"So, what's your favorite book?" asked Merlin.

"Neill Gaiman's Neverwhere." Merlin gave him a surprised look and Arthur laughed. "Not classical, I know, but I like how it stays in London yet making it seem like you're in another world entirely. The mini-series wasn't bad but I prefer the book. What's yours?"

"Le Morte de Arthur," said Merlin. "I'm more into the classics."

"That's a good one," said Arthur. He cleared his throat and spoke again. "S-so, do you have a girlfriend?"

Merlin laughed.

"No," said Merlin. "I, uh, I'm not interested in girl like that."

He looked at Arthur warily. Arthur looked at him in shock.

"You…You're…"

"Gay?" finished Merlin with a nervous smile. "Yeah, I am. Is that a problem?"

"No!" said Arthur. "If I was, it would be hypocritical."

This time, Merlin was in shock.

"You're…"

"Gay, too? Yes, I am."

Merlin had to force himself to breath. The Adonis every straight woman, and some gay men, were pining their hearts for someone who was gay.

"But what about Sophia?" he asked.

"Latched onto me as soon as she saw me. I dumped her this morning."

"Why?"

Arthur gave him a nervous look and scratched his head.

"So I could meet you," he said. "And I was tired of pretending to be something I'm not. Only my friends know that I'm gay, not even my dad is yet, and while I'm not ready to announce it to the world, I do want to be what I am, and I was hoping with you."

Merlin laughed.

"And what if I wasn't gay?" he asked.

"Then I'd say I had gained a friend," said Arthur with a shrug.

"And if I wasn't interested in dating you?"

"I'd ask to just stay friends."

Merlin laughed again.

"You're something else, Arthur Pendragon," he said. Arthur gave him a confused look.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Merlin stopped walking and turned to him.

"I mean, I had you pegged for a guy who wouldn't take no for an answer. That you'd force me to say yes just so you could screw with me. I've had more than enough people do that to me already."

"Who's screwed you over?' asked Arthur with a mix of concern and rage. This mysterious man had obviously been hurt and Arthur wanted to hurt them in return.

"I think the more accurate question would be, who hasn't screwed me over," said Merlin. "I didn't come from a life of riches like you had. Everything I have in this life, I earned through hard work. I'm not a prince or a knight or some other cliché thing like that. I'm a pauper. I'm one of the people that people like you make fun of."

"No one deserves that," said Arthur. "Especially not you."

Merlin scoffed.

"Unfortunately, you can't change society," said Merlin.

"Maybe not, but I can change something."

Merlin gave him a disbelieving look.

"Like what?"

A new song started up and the words floating outside. Arthur almost laughed at the irony of the lyrics. He held his hand out to Merlin.

"Dance with me," he said. Merlin looked at him stupefied.

"What?"

"Dance with me. If you're worried about someone looking, no one's out here."

"I'm not worried about people seeing me. I'm out and proud, but you aren't. I'm worried about someone seeing you."

Arthur took his hand and pulled him close against his chest. Merlin's heart hammered in his chest and he gasped. Soccer had done Arthur's body good. Arthur's chest and abs were firm and well-toned. Merlin had to control himself to not get aroused by how close he was to his crush.

"If someone did, I'll take care of it," said Arthur. "Please, just one dance."

The desperate look was what broke Merlin and he nodded.

"All right," he said. Arthur smiled and led Merlin through the dance.

When the rain is blowing in your face,

And the whole world is on your case,

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear,

And there is no one there to dry your tears,

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love.

Merlin allowed the song to sweep over him. He had to admit he felt comfortable dancing with Arthur, even if there was no one around.

Arthur sighed happily. Of everything he visualized doing with this man, dancing was at the top of his list. He never felt happier than he was right at this moment. He was with a man who understood him. One he could possibly love if he wasn't already.

"Did you know that the first song a couple dances to is their song," he said.

Merlin laughs.

"You believe that?" he asked.

"I do now."

Merlin giggled, freaking giggled, and held Arthur close. They stayed like that for a couple more song until Merlin's phone rang. He pulled away to answer it.

"I'm sorry," he said looking at his simple flip phone and seeing Freya's number flash on the screen. "I have to take this."

"Of course," said Arthur.

Merlin walked away a few feet to speak to Freya privately.

"Freya?" he said.

"Merlin? Your mum's collapsed."

"What?!" said Merlin, instantly panicking. "What happened?"

"She came down for a glass of water and she collapsed. I called an ambulance and they took her to the hospital."

"Oh God," said Merlin. "I'll be there as quick as I can."

"How? You don't have a car."

"I'll find a way. Stay with her."

"Of course I will."

Merlin hung up and turned to Arthur apologetically.

"I'm sorry. I-I've got to go."

He turned to leave but Arthur grabbed his arm.

"Wait, where are you going?" he asked.

"Reality," said Merlin sadly. "I'm sorry, Arthur. I like you, I really do, but I don't belong in your world and you don't belong in mine."

"But…"

"I'm sorry."

Jerking out of Arthur's grasp, Merlin ran inside. He took off the mask and rose, throwing both away as he ran through the crowd. Arthur ran after him but lost him, only finding the mask and the rose. Next to both was a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, he found lines of rhyming words, some scratched out and some circled. Folding the paper back up, he placed it in his pocket and picked up the mask and rose.

Merlin wove through the crowd, trying to get away from Arthur and calm himself before he starts a full scale panic attack. He still needed to solve the problem of a car. He couldn't take Will's. He and Gwen needed that for the equipment. He spotted Gwaine and Percival near the edge of the dance floor and grinned at his luck. Even if they came together, they still had their friends to bum rides from. He hurried to them.

"Gwaine, I need to borrow your Mercedes," said Merlin.

"Merlin, what are you doing here?" asked Gwaine in surprise. "Shouldn't you be up playing?"

"I got a call. It's my mum. I need a ride."

Gwaine opened his mouth in shock. He knew how much Merlin loved his mother and how sick Hunith had gotten four years ago when she became ill the first time. Merlin barely left her bedside and ended their relationship to care for her. Gwaine didn't blame him, and actually felt relieved. As much as he cared for Merlin, he didn't want to force Merlin to choose between him and Hunith.

"Of course, here." He fished out his keys and handed them to Merlin. "I can ride with Percival. We came in separate cars."

"Only because drama queen here takes so long getting ready," said Percival and grunted when Gwaine elbowed his rib.

"Shut up. You love the way I look."

"Thanks, Gwaine. Thanks, Percy," said Merlin and kissed both men on the cheek before running out of the ball room.

"God, I hope she's okay," said Gwaine.

"With Merlin taking care of her, she's going to be fine," said Percival as Arthur ran up. "Arthur, where's the fire?"

"Have you seen a man in a midnight blue suit, black hair and the bluest eyes you've ever seen?" asked Arthur. Gwaine and Percival looked at him in shock.

"Wow, Arthur, you've got it bad," said Gwaine. "Is it that mystery guy? Did he pull a Cinderella on you?"

"This isn't funny, Gwaine," said Arthur glaring at him. "He got a call on his phone and took off."

Gwaine and Percival looked at each other in shock.

"You don't think…" said Gwaine.

"Freaking small world," said Percival.

"What is it," asked Arthur. "Do you know who he is?"

"Arthur," said Gwaine urgently. "Let's just say that wherever he is, he's where he needs to be. He's not the kind of guy to run out on an event unless it was serious."

Arthur panted, partly from trying to catch up with the man who captured his attention and partly to keep from panicking.

"But I never got his name," said Arthur sadly.

Gwaine put a hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Trust me when I say, Arthur, you'll see him again," he said.

A part of Arthur wanted to believe his friend, but there was also a part of him that had doubts.

XXXXXX

Mordred smirked as he watched Merlin run off, leaving Arthur behind. He didn't get a lot out of the conversation because he had to stay far enough behind to not be seen, but he got enough to know that Arthur didn't know who Merlin was.

Mordred had been pursuing Merlin since he saw the man. There was something about the man that was alluring but all he wanted was to sleep with Merlin. He didn't want a relationship with him. Merlin evading him was annoying and irritated him to no end. When Mordred saw something he wanted, he took. He didn't care who or what was in his way.

Walking back into the ballroom, he watched as Merlin left and Arthur continued to look for him. In the corner he noticed Sophia watching Arthur with a searing look and smirked when an idea came to him. He walked over to her.

"What do you want?" she asked when she spotted him.

"You want Arthur's money, don't you?" he asked. She stared at him in shock.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to not stutter.

"Please," he said sarcastically. "I work in a hotel. I know when a person in playing another. I could see through you like glass. Plus, when you're trying to hide affairs, don't have them in your boyfriend's father's hotel."

Sophia glared at him enough to kill him, but he didn't let it faze him.

"Let me hazard a guess and say that Arthur hasn't slept with you once," said Mordred crossing his arms.

"No. I try everything but he refuses to." She leers at him. "I'm guessing you know why."

"Let's just say I have a plan that'll get us both what we want," he said.

"And what do you want," she asked.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out when your part's done."

"And what's my part?"

"Tell me everything you know about Arthur Pendragon."

TBC