Chapter 5: Closer
Merlin was positively sure that he was panicking. It has been seventeen days since he left that place in search of the precious item. He closed the book he had in hand with a thud seeing as it was highly impossible to have the knowledge he so desperately wished to acquire. His fingers trembled with fear, his hands were as cold as ice. He brought the hand up to his mouth and tried to hold back his tears. He was terrified. He had three days left. Time has almost passed and still his search was in vain.
He would not cry, he would not cry, he repeated that to himself. He was too old for crying and far too experienced with situations like this to know he would get through this, like always. He needs to calm down, he needs to focus. He stood up from where he sat on the floor and walked to glance at the bed where Arthur slept peacefully. With a hint of fear still in his breath as he exhaled, he closed his eyes to focus.
"Áberan þíndrýcræft!" He whispered in the old language, his eyes turning gold behind his eyelids and as he opened them they were their natural blue. He looked at the bookshelves and saw three books glowing in response. He smiled at his achievement but stopped when he heard Arthur waking up.
"Merlin." He mumbled, wriggling in the sheets.
He quickly went to pick the three books from their places pile them up at an empty corner of the lowest bookshelf.
"Áþwínan sweoloþ!" He whispered quietly a hand flying over the hidden books and quickly turned around before he would raise any suspicion. Just then Arthur came out of the room wearing only his trousers, his hair all tousled and was stretching his arms.
He took a look around the room. "Merlin, what on earth?" there were books everywhere on the floor and by everywhere it means everywhere. The floor was covered by them, the couch was overtaken with open, closed and piled books and the shelves were almost empty.
"Sorry." Merlin apologized and Arthur looked at him trying to get an explanation. "I am…" he was thinking for the best answer, "… re-organizing! Yes! I am putting them in the right order!"
"This isn't organized and it certainly isn't in order."
"Let me tidy up then!" he said in defense and started picking up the books one by one while Arthur headed for the couch taking some books and throwing them on the floor. He sat crossing one leg over the other and watched as Merlin "tidied up". The sight was just too enjoyable. He was wearing only a thin white shirt of Arthur's that was big and loose around him and it barely hid his thighs. It was short enough that every time Merlin reached up to put the books to a shelf his pert, little, white bum would show. The younger man turned around when he heard the click of the vampire's fangs.
"What are you doing?" Merlin asked with a frown of his eyebrows.
"Watching you." He said with a smirk that made his fangs glisten, his eyesight lowering making him look like a predator. "I love your legs."
"Right…" He said and continued with his task, only to hear a low growl coming from the back Arthur's throat. Merlin laughed softly at the animalistic sound. He turned around, surely to make some sarcastic comment, but when he turned he found Arthur glued to his body, his face a breath away, literary and still snarling at Merlin.
"Arthur…" he said carefully. "If you are hungry you need only ask, just gently."
"Damn you Merlin." He said in a low voice and not really meaning it. "You and your wicked ways of seduction." He brought him closer one hand sliding down to Merlin's butt, giving it a small squeeze.
"Wh-What ways of seduction? I'm not doing anything."
"Don't play innocent on me Merlin. Surely you must know how much I love your thighs." He caressed him lightly over his thighs.
"Y- You do?" he asked before a kiss closed the gap between them.
Then throwing them both down on the carpeted floor, he pushed aside any books so that Merlin would lie as comfortable as he could on his back. Not wasting time, Merlin wrapped his legs around Arthur and started undoing his trousers. He kicked his trousers off and then took Merlin's shirt off him, leaving them completely naked, skin on skin. Arthur left a trail of hungry kisses from Merlin's mouth, to his chest, to his stomach and stopped at the crease of his groin to give a long lick. Their cocks both half hard, both twitched from the sensation. The next thing Merlin knew his dick was engulfed by a warm and slick mouth and he could swear he felt one of Arthur's fangs grazing it slightly.
"Easy now. We don't want to chop anything off." He said teasingly.
Arthur growled in response and his eyes opened in shock. He wriggled underneath him trying to get away and Arthur crawled back up to pin his wrists down.
"I'm only joking." He said with a laugh.
"You arrogant, big-headed-" Arthur realized that the only way to stop Merlin talking and arguing was kissing and now it seemed appropriate.
Merlin needed little preparation as it seemed and Arthur was soon thrusting in Merlin, pounding into him, deep and hard. The man underneath him could do little but hold on to his shoulder blades and moan against the hollow of his neck. Merlin couldn't hold back a sharp cry when he came, Arthur soon planting his own seed deep inside him.
Merlin turned his head, allowing Arthur space to take blood.
The vampire shook his head. "No, not there."
He went lower down to lick his cum from his stomach, then gave a light kiss on his spent cock and finally bite him on the inside of his thigh.
"AH- Arthur!" Merlin screamed and panted heavily as Arthur's hands caressed his other thigh meanwhile. There was gripping and some mild scratching. Merlin's fingers were lost in the golden of Arthur's head. When Arthur was finished he licked the blood that leaked and placed small kisses all over the area.
They lay quietly on the floor after that, on their sides, looking in each other's blue eyes. Their hands intertwined, placed before them. Merlin trying to catch his breath, reminding him that he was human.
"Would you like to be a vampire?" the question came unexpectedly.
Merlin looked away thinking a bit, then back to Arthur's eyes. "Have you ever turned anyone before?"
"No." he admitted. "Immortal life is a burden if you have to go through it alone and blood thirst is something I wouldn't wish to anyone." He told him truthfully.
"Yet you are asking me."
"I'm asking you because I want to share my life with you." He caressed his cheekbone with his thumb. "Because now that I found you, I can't bear the thought of losing you."
"How can you say that? You've only known me for two weeks."
"It's enough to know you respond back to this thing we have."
"I want to ask you something and I want you to answer truthfully."
"Anything."
"Do you want to turn me into a vampire because you yourself are afraid to die or because you want to share eternity with me?"
Arthur propped himself on his elbow a hand on Merlin's neck and Merlin placing his on top. "In all honesty Merlin, I want this for us, so that we can live together for as long as we can." Merlin soothed Arthur's hand with his thumb. He sighed not knowing what to reply.
"What are you thinking?" he asked. "Are you afraid that you will become a monster? Look, if you don't want to feed on other people you can drink from donated blood, I have done that for a long time it's not that difficult to-" His concerned voice was cut off by a finger on his mouth.
"It's not that Arthur."
"Then what is?" he mumbled under his finger.
"There is no need to make me a vampire."
"What are you talking about?"
Merlin bit his lip. "Ask me this question again after some time." There it was again, the secrets, the mystery, the hidden information Arthur so desperately wanted to know. Arthur didn't like it, not one bit. "Please?" Merlin asked.
He rested a hand on Merlin's thigh, caressing him softly in understanding. "Have you been eating?" he asked with a tone of annoyance in his voice.
"Huh?"
"You are skin and bones."
"I may have forgotten to eat today."
"Merlin!" Arthur snapped.
"What? I've just been busy with… books!" Arthur stood up kicking the books under his feet away.
"Damn the books! I'll call a servant for some food, how about wine? Do you drink wine?" Merlin just propped himself on both of his elbows looking at the naked Arthur before him, smiling, or more like grinning. "What?"
"You are breaking rule number three."
"Merlin." He pointed a finger at him "What have we said about you trying to be funny?"
"I shouldn't." He replied.
"Good, now this is how this night will go," he announced while he went to the bedroom to dress "You will eat and sort this mess out while I attend to the council I have placed." Merlin stood up and stretched. "And for god's sake put some clothes on! I can't have you running around the castle with your bare bum on display."
"Why? Afraid you won't be able to contain yourself?" he said while approaching him, he wrapped himself around Arthur.
"Merlin this is serious, I can't be late." He said while buttoning the sleeves of his shirt. It had to be serious. A naked Merlin wrapped around Arthur not responding had to be serious.
"Serious? How serious?" he asked, his arms still wrapped around Arthur.
"Might be war."
"Really? With whom?" he asked concerned.
"Those scoundrel, filthy dogs!" he yelled in the room and slid in his trousers
"Aaaah…" he remarked, sitting back on the bed. "Werewolves, the archenemies of vampires." He teased.
"It's not us that start the war, it's them! Where's that damn vest?"
"That's what both sides say."
"You met werewolves?" he eyed him warily while arranging his clothing.
"Oh, yes I did." He smiled at the memory. "Gwaine, that funny fellow."
"Gwaine? Since when do mutts have names?" Merlin gave him a disapproving look. "Well you can forget all about Gwaine, you are on the vampires' side now."
"Oi! I'm not on anyone's side!" Arthur gave him a dangerous look. "Ok, I'm on your side." Making his voice all innocent.
He gave Merlin a deep but quick kiss. "We will have a talk about this Gwaine later, but before I go I need to tell you." He wore his jacket and he was good to go. "Tomorrow, it's full moon. Don't go out, neither day nor night, promise?"
"Yes sir!" he said and flopped himself back on the bed sheets.
"And wear some clothes!" he yelled again.
It was a bit after Arthur left, that a knock on his door had Merlin jumping up in search for clothes, hastily. He fell down attempting to do so. Thankfully, he answered the door fully clothed.
"YES!"
Lancelot walked, looking around at the mess. "Care to join in eavesdropping?"
Merlin just smiled wickedly.
…..…
When Arthur entered the room everyone stood up and bowed to him. All vampires of the Pendragon Castle and the outskirt covens gathered in one room, waiting for their leader's orders. Lancelot and Merlin, meanwhile, hid behind a curtain just before the stairs. They got as close as possible but humans were not allowed to the affairs of vampires and the blood that run into their veins could only alert them of their presence, so they decided the spot was good enough.
"My brothers and sisters!" Arthur started. "There have been reports, recently, of werewolves attacking the city and outline villages. War has been declared, by a pack of werewolves, just outside the City. We must prepare for the war that is upon us. Tomorrow the full moon is on their advantage, they will be strong, but not as strong as us. My father, Uther Pendragon is coming in a short time to come, I will not have him see this Castle in ruins and taken by those dogs. Prepare your weapons and prepare yourselves, tomorrow we fight."
The vampires nodded in approval.
"Dismissed!" he said and saw everyone off to their way.
With their backs glued on the wall and praying that no one would catch a smell of them, Merlin and Lancelot hold their breath where they stood.
Arthur, Gwen, Percival and Leon remained.
"What do you have for me Percival?" he heard Arthur ask.
"The traitor tells me that the pack has no wolf for a leader."
"What then?"
"His name is Mordred." Merlin caught his breath. "He didn't tell me much, but from what that wolf was saying it looks like they fear him. They don't do this out of vendetta but because they are actually afraid of him. They said he can bring pain like silver with just a few words from his mouth. But I don't really know what he meant."
"Arthur do you think…?" Gwen asked worriedly.
"Magic." That one word came from Arthur's mouth.
"Magic?" Leon asked in wonder. "I thought there was no such thing."
"We thought it went extinct, we never actually got to see it but at the time we heard about it, all sorcerers were wiped off the face of earth." Gwen explained.
"So what do we do? If he has such powers…" Percival started.
"We will still fight." Arthur ordered.
"Arthur if he indeed has powers like that we don't stand a chance."
"Then what would you have us do? Sit around doing nothing?" he yelled. "We will fight. We don't have a choice in this."
Taps on the floor indicated their leave and Lancelot and Merlin sighed synchronized in relief. They took the curtain out of their way only to be startled by a waiting, cross-armed Gwen. A slight smile on her face like a mother who caught her children in the act of mischief. They both gave their widest smile and Lancelot then approached her with his arms open ready to hug her.
"My love!" he declared. "What brings you here?" he asked teasingly, Gwen just gave him a look that the man took as a notice to leave and said "I will wait for you in our rooms." He let her know and walked away.
She watched him leave and then turned her eyes on Merlin.
"We meant no harm." Merlin assured her.
"I'm sure you didn't, but this isn't why I want to talk to you right now."
"What then, my Lady?"
"I know you care a lot about Arthur, I can see it. It will be dangerous for you tomorrow, only a few people know about your connection with him but putting yourself in a vulnerable situation will not have effect only on you. If you die, he dies, you know that."
"What are you asking of me?"
"Just… Be careful. Arthur is precious not just to me, but to all of us."
"Of course." He gave her a small bow and went on took take his leave.
"Merlin!" she shouted and Merlin spun around. "If, however, you could somehow protect yourself, it would be most useful tomorrow." She smiled at him as if she knew something more.
Her long purple dress weaved in the air as she walked away.
…
"I was eavesdropping!" Merlin announced before Arthur would even ask him where he was. And Arthur looked up from a sword he was sharpening with gloves on.
"I know…" he told him. "I smelled you."
"Sometimes I do wonder if you have the nose of a werewolf!" Arthur gave him a cold stare.
"Shut up Merlin."
But Merlin didn't "You can fight with a sword?"
"I am the best there is." He announced.
"Yes, of course. Mighty warrior and all that." He teased and took a better look at the sword. "There's silver at the edge of it." He noticed. "Useful… Isn't it funny how both species are allergic to silver, I wonder if there is any connection."
"Merlin…"
"Shut up?"
"You guessed it."
Merlin really did shut up that time. He carried on with reorganizing while Arthur found himself in the armory helping everyone getting settled with armor and weapons. For his part Arthur had a servant fix and polish his old armor, how many memories it brought back. There was so much history behind all that piece of iron that it was almost ridiculous how much attached he was with it. Gwen decided she would fight as well and Arthur didn't argue, although Lancelot did, a bit. Leon and Percival wouldn't want to "miss the fun" and besides the warrior inside them had the need to fight.
It turned out that the three books Merlin found weren't of any help to him. He had the rest of the books back to their shelves, "organized and in order". He found himself sitting in the corner where he took those three books out of their hiding, only to throw them away with all his might to the opposite wall, barely missing the just coming in Arthur and a servant following him with a bag full of other bloody weapons. The servant soon took his leave.
"No need to be upset Merlin, I've won many battles before."
Merlin sighed not being able to hide his distress. He threw his head between his knees and held his head in his hand. He was about to burst any minute now.
"Merlin?" Arthur called him confused.
Merlin stood up not facing Arthur. "Let's sleep, it's a long night tomorrow." He declared.
He slipped into bed quietly and Arthur, still puzzled by his odd behavior, mimicked his action. He curled behind him, taking Merlin in a careful embrace. His hand put lightly around his waist and his chest pressed on his back.
"Arthur?" he asked lightly.
"Hmm…" he hummed.
"Are there any other books in the Castle?"
Arthur breathed a small laugh. "We do have a library."
Well, fuck me, Merlin thought.
A/N- Áberan þíndrýcræft!= Reveal your magic!, Áþwínan sweoloþ!= Hide glow!
I used the old English translator for these spells, you can google it. I am not an expert on this, I'm not even a beginner on Old English so if there are any mistakes pardon me!