Carry on my Wayward Servant
Chapter 4: Tempest's Tryst
"You let it get away." Was the disapproving voice of the King as he sat on the throne, staring at Arthur like he was dirt on his shoe for his failure. "Now what if it attacks Camelot, would that not be on your conscience?"
Merlin kept his head lowered, scowling internally at the guilt trip being laid onto the prince. "Forgive me Father. If the snake attacks Camelot I shall give my life to defend it."
"You'll do no such thing." Uther scoffed. "You barely made it back alive last time, obviously in your condition the next time you return to Camelot it will be in a body sack." Merlin flinched, not wanting to think of such a thing.
"I'm sorry for disappointing you." He said quietly, giving a small bow and Merlin watched his face contort in pain. "As soon as I'm well again I shall take all the knights out to hunt the thing. I shall not fail you again."
Merlin wanted to scowl at the wretched King, but knew that if he were caught doing so he would just end up in the stocks again. How dare he call Arthur a failure for not killing that thing. The only reason he hadn't been able to is because he was saving his life. If it was anyone's fault it was his. He opened his mouth to say something, but as if he had read his mind Arthur looked over to him and slightly shook his head. The Sorcerer bit his tongue, looking to the floor to hide his fury.
"You're dismissed." Uther grumbled, and giving one last bow Arthur slowly made his way out, holding his side the entire time. Merlin gave him somewhat of a head start before following after him. As soon as they were out of the throne room Arthur collapsed against the wall, holding his side as his breathing came out as a ragged mess.
Merlin rushed to him, wrapping his arms around his back. "You shouldn't even be up walking. Let's get you to your chambers." Arthur glared, but didn't fight the help as they made their way down the hall. As soon as they were behind closed doors the prince pushed him away, walking over and sinking into his chair, burying his face into the white fur.
"Did you see the look on my Father's face?" He groaned. "He was disgusted with me." He looked so forlorn as he grabbed his side.
"Are you bleeding?" The Sorcerer asked, walking over and bending down in front of him. It didn't matter that they were still fighting, all that mattered was that Arthur was taken care of.
"I don't know." Arthur replied, shaking his head as he shoed him away. "Stop fussing...I just want to go to bed." The magician nodded, not looking up at Arthur as helped him to stand, letting him place his hand on his shoulder.
He untied the cloak, slipping it off his shoulders. The dirty shirt he had ripped up to make a bandage was stained a dark rustic red. His fingers went down to them, tracing the edges. "Do you want Gaius to come change your bandages? If you don't clean the wound you could get an infection."
"Can you just do it?" He asked tiredly. "I don't want to bother Gaius...I just want to sleep." Pushing merlin away from him, he stumbled over to the bed and collapsed on top of it. He lay on his back, legs hanging off the side as his hands went to his stomach, letting out a deep breath of pained air as he stared up at his ceiling.
Breathing through his nose to hide his frustration, Merlin went to the cabinet, fetching out the spare bandages he kept there, and then collected the water basin, making his way back over to Arthur's bed. He set the basin beside him, reaching out to undo the bandages. "Do you think you could sit up for me?"
He didn't say anything for a long time, just staring up at the ceiling, and then finally he reached out, grabbing on to Merlin's sleeve and using it to pull himself up. "I don't think I've ever hurt this much." Arthur's eyes were drifting shut, and Merlin frowned at how bad he winced when he touched the wound.
"It's because a magical creature bit you...it must be having some ill effect on your recovery. Either that or the fact that instead of resting you were riding on horseback all day and taking meetings with undeserving Kings." His hand was slapped away, angry blue eyes snapping open.
"You bite your tongue. That is my Father, and your King you are talking about." His eyes burned, even he was too exhausted to hold himself up.
"What are you going to do Sire, put me in the stocks?" Merlin asked, trying to be in good humor, but failing miserably. "You should know that being in your presence is punishment enough."
"If you hate my presence so much, feel free to leave." Arthur hissed, grabbing his wrist and squeezing it until he dropped the new bandage.
Merlin grabbed it back, reaching out to clean the wound. "You know that's not exactly what I meant." He rubbed at the wound, curling his lip at all the dry blood he wiped away. "The last thing you said to me was that we couldn't be anything...I'm just having a little trouble adjusting."
Arthur didn't say anything back for the longest time, allowing his wound to get treated and rebandaged. He swallowed, and Merlin watched his adam's apple bob heavily in his throat. "Would you prefer it if I said I wanted to bed you?" He reached out, cupping Merlin's face. "Do you want to be kept as my dirty little secret?"
He blinked, fighting off the affect of those words, and instead of saying anything he just leaned in, pressing his mouth to Arthur's. The blond immediately opened his mouth to him, grabbing the back of his head and pulling him closer. Merlin moaned into his mouth, pushing forward so that the prince fell backwards, carefully crawling on top of him as Arthur grabbed at the bottom of his tunic.
They broke the kiss only long enough for Merlin to slip his shirt over his head and then he settled back on top of him, moaning as Arthur's lips fell to his neck. "We always seem to be doing this..." He groaned out. "Not that I'm complaining mind you..." He moaned again as the prince sucked on his pulse. "Especially when you do that." He met those lips again, not struggling when Arthur pulled him down to him, but trying to put as little pressure on the Prince as possible.
"It's your own fault." Arthur pulled away, placing a few more chaste kisses on his lips. He lay his head back on the bed, turning his face to the side. "I'm so tired." Merlin's lips trailed along his neck and down his chest.
"You know you might have told me that before you took my shirt off." He sat up on his hips, sliding down his legs to take his boots off. He slipped them off, letting them clink on the floor. Arthur's head had fallen to the side by this point, his eyes closed and Merlin was sure he had already fallen asleep. He got up from the bed with a sigh, slipping his shirt back on his head. "Do you want to know why this situation is so hopeless Arthur Pendragon?" He asked, pausing in the door frame. "It's that I've hopelessly fallen for you." He whispered, knowing that Arthur was already asleep.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Stretching like a cat, Merlin rolled out of bed the next morning, eyes tired with sleep as his feet fell to the ground. He couldn't stop thinking about the day before...about Arthur mouth, his lips on his neck, his tongue down his throat. Why did the Prince have to be so confusing? Why did he have to be kissing him one minute, and then saying he wanted nothing to do with him the next?
He made it about three feet before he was back down, his foot catching on something warm and soft before doing a nose dive to the ground. He landed with an 'oomph', remembering only after he heard the groan of pain that he had asked Lancelot to stay with him. "Mmm sawry..." He mumbled, smashed into the other's armpit as he struggled to sit up. When he finally managed to unbury his face, Lancelot was staring at him with shock, which he didn't blame him for. He knew he might be a little surprised to be woken up to someone on top of him.
"Merlin, can you move? That kind of hurts." Lancelot groaned, and looking down he realized his elbow was pressed rather painfully into his ribs. He scuttled off, settling into a position between his legs as he smiled sheepishly at him, rubbing the back of his head.
"Sorry...guess I'm not used to someone sleeping in front of my bed."His smile widened. "Just like old times right?"
Lancelot gave a soft laugh. "Yes, well if I remember correctly you tripped over me more than once then too." He reached out, ruffling Merlin's curls. "Not a morning person, huh?"
"Not exactly." Merlin admitted, going to push himself up to a standing position, but pausing as Lancelot grabbed his forearm. "What is it?"
"Your neck." Merlin furrowed his eyebrows, not having the faintest idea what the man was talking about.
"My neck?" Merlin asked, placing his hand to it in question. "What about it?" Lancelot looked thoughtful for a moment, eyes almost darkening a degree before going back to normal.
"Nothing..." He replied, dropping the sorcerer's wrist. "Just my imagination...you should go attend to the Prince. We wouldn't want Arthur to miss his breakfast." Now it could have just been his imagination, but Lancelot seemed almost angry when he said it.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asked, not used to anything other than the would be knight's cool demeanor. "I'm sorry I fell on you...did I hurt your arm again?"
Lancelot's smile almost immediately came back. "Of course not." He gave a small laugh. "I suppose I'm not much of a morning person either."
"Well Gaius should have some breakfast downstairs." Merlin replied, standing up and dusting the dirt from his pants. "I have to go attend to Arthur before I can eat." He smiled at the other, grabbing his boots and heading out the door. He didn't know why, but he felt a little funny from their encounter.
After stopping by the kitchen, he made his way towards Arthur's chamber. He had been unconsciously rubbing his neck the whole time until he was sure it was tinged pink. Something about the way Lancelot had looked at him, he couldn't get it out of his head.
He was so out of it that he didn't even bother knocking, just quietly opening the door and stepping into the room. What he saw made his heart swell just a little. Arthur was sprawled on his back, hair tossled from sleep, one hand hanging over the bed while the other gripped his hurt side. His cheeks were red from sleep, and his eyes were twitching sporadically under the lids.
Merlin had to say he looked positively adorable. Merlin vaguely had the image of a puppy kicking after a rabbit in his dream. Setting the bread and brother down, he made his way over to the Prince, swiping his hand across his forehead to calm him as you would a dog. He knew that if Arthur ever found out he was treating him as such he might as well give up the idea of breathing.
Arthur stirred, eyes finally settling as his grip on his wound lessoned. As much as he would like to allow him to sleep, Merlin knew that if he at least didn't give Arthur the option of staying in bed under his own volition, he would never hear the end of it.
"Sire...?" He started, slightly shaking his shoulder. "Sire, it's time to wake up." He shook him one more time, and in a split second Arthur's eyes had snapped open, simultaneously grabbing the front of Merlin's shirt and flipping him over onto the bed, straddling his waist as he brought a knife down to his neck.
Merlin's heart was pounding as he stared up at the crazed blond, eyes wild as he took in his surroundings, finally focusing on him, and then immediately softening. "Jesus...I could have killed you." Was the one thing he said before leaning down, capturing the terrified mouth underneath his. His tongue immediately invaded his mouth as he sunk into him, molding their bodies together as Merlin hesitantly kissed back. He wasn't entirely sure how he had ended up in such a position of Arthur laying on top of him snogging him while a dagger was pressed painfully to his throat.
Arthur pulled away, leaving them both breathless and gasping as he removed the dagger, sitting up straighter atop his hips. "Honestly Merlin you look like a scared rabbit. I wasn't going to hurt you..." He said confidently, even though just earlier he had admitted he could have killed him.
It was easy for him to say that, he didn't just nearly have his throat cut. He thought earlier about how he had compared Arthur to a dog, it was only fitting that the prince had called him a rabbit. "So does that mean you were chasing me?" He asked, finishing his thought out loud.
The Prince raised an eyebrow, obviously confused by the words. He said nothing, leaning down and once more claiming his lips. Arthur's finger immediately found their way up the other's shirt, making Merlin moan into his mouth as he felt up his skin. Lips trailed down his chin, to land at the juncture between his neck and collarbone. Once there he paused, smiling against his skin. "Your neck is a mess Merlin...of coursethis would be the one day you didn't wear that bloody scarf."
Okay, now he was really curious. "What is wrong with my neck? Lancelot said something about it earlier...am I diseased or something?" Arthur stiffened, pulling away with a blank look on his face, as if he had suppressed every emotion so as not to show the wrong one.
"Lancelot?" The word was snipped, heated, and as he said it his grip on Merlin tightened exponentially. "How is it that Lancelot has seen your neck? Hasn't the traitor fled Camelot?"
This was the part where Merlin hesitated. "He ugh...hasn't?" He said slowly, wincing as his hip was grabbed in an almost death grip. "He's staying with me. I couldn't just throw him out in such a condition!" Merlin cried, grabbing the hand squeezing him and trying to get it to relent.
"He. Is. Staying. With. You?" Every word was said slowly, deliberately, and Merlin knew that he probably wasn't going to like what came next.
"Yes!" Merlin tried. "He's staying in my room, but he slept on the floor! And...And..." That was when something occurred to him. "Why do you even care?"
Arthur opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again, obviously wanting to go into a tirade of curses. He didn't though, he took a deep breath and his eyes got all dark and scary like that warned Merlin that something exceedingly painful was in store for him. "Sit up against the headboard." Was all he said, eyes scanning his body as he sat up on his hips, allowing for Merlin to scoot out from underneath him.
"Why do you sound like that?" Merlin asked, eyes wide with fright as Arthur smirked at him, and then his jaw dropped at what happened next. His breathing hitched as the Prince's hands came down to his own pants, untying them slowly, deliberately, and allowing from them to hand loosely around his waist.
"I want you to do something for me." Merlin stared wide eyed up at Arthur, but his gaze always managed to fall back down to his pants, and to the hard bulge sticking out of them. Though they didn't happen to miss his still bandaged stomach along the way.
"I'm not sure you're up to doing anything than letting me feed you." He swallowed thickly, feeling his own pants restrict as Arthur let a hand trail down his body, landing on the waistband of his pants and allowing his thumb to hook their, pulling them down to reveal the dark blond curls leading to their prize possession.
"Perhaps I'd rather feed you." Arthur said seductively, and Merlin was sure his nose was soon to start gushing blood.
"I...I..." His throat had run dry, his body heating up as Arthur slipped the pants down, reaching out at the same time and running his hand down Merlin's body.
"You should probably take your shirt off." He said, voice almost amused as he took in Merlin's enraptured state. Merlin didn't hesitate, slipping his shirt up and over his head with a goofy excited grin, leaning in to grab Arthur's face and pulling him in for another kiss as the Prince shoved him against the headboard.
Arthur grabbed the back of his head, pulling it harshly back as he situated himself atop Merlin's hips. Their bare chests rubbed against each other as Arthur shoved the sorcerer down, making it so that his face was in line with his belly button.
Merlin took full advantage, reaching out with his tongue and licking the flesh revealed just under the bandage, the taste sweet on his lips as he reached out, slipping the pants down so that his erection sprang out, hitting him in the chin and making him blush, suddenly not so sure of himself. "Arthur are you...are you sure?" He asked, insecurities ringing through. "Are you sure you want me?"
The Prince was breathing erratically by this point, but he stared down at him, reaching a hand out and tilting his face up to look up at him. "Merlin your face is in my cock right now...my very hard cock, what the hell do you think?" At the hurt look that passed over the Sorcerer's face he gave a sigh. "Are you really going to make me say it?" He pet his hair. "At this moment I've never wanted anything more."
Nodding, a dopey smile covered Merlin's face as he stared forward at the dark dripping hardness in front of him. Closing his eyes he pressed his face forward, smelling the huskiness that could only be Arthur, and he pulled back, looking up at Arthur with a terrified look on his face. "I don't know...what I mean to say is." He was blushing the darkest red you could think of by this time. "I've never done this before."
Arthur gave a small laugh, leaning down and kissing the top of his head. "Honestly Merlin, you really are worthless." He grabbed his chin, squeezing it until his lips parted. "Just open your mouth and try not to bite...I'll take care of the rest."
"You're such a prat." Merlin bit out, raising an eyebrow as he allowed his mouth to open, and then letting out an appreciative moan as Arthur positioned himself just outside his lips, and with a groan pushed in, enveloping himself in the warm wet heat. The Prince threw his head back, hips jerking as he forced his way down Merlin's throat, and it took everything in him not to gag.
He whined around the well endowed member, allowing for it to pull away, only to shove all the way back in. Arthur seemed to take this sound as encouragement for he thrust in faster, gripping the headboard in an almost death like grip as he held Merlin's scalp in place with his other hand, essentially fucking his face.
The blond look enraptured, and Merlin could honestly say he felt the same. His pants were uncomfortably tight as he continued to thrust, and he used his free hand to reach down, rubbing himself through the fabric while Arthur continued to thrust into his mouth.
He worked on the tie to his pants, barely getting them partially undone, just enough for him to shove his hand down the front of them, grabbing on to his now aching cock, stroking it in time with Arthur's thrusts, feeling close to oblivion. His stomach was clenched in knots as his hand was almost frantic. Dark blue eyes were half lidded as they stared down at his face, and he hollowed his cheekbones, swallowing as much of the Prince as possible as he thought about how right this all seemed. Even though the situation was entirely not right, he still felt that he never wanted to do this with anyone else again.
"You will neverdo this with anyone else." Arthur growled possessively, pretty much echoing his thoughts but in a much darker light. "I hate the way he looks at you...I hate it when anyone looks at you." He thrust harder, and Merlin really had to struggle not to choke.
Merlin loved the way he talked to him, any other time such possessive tones would make him angry, but now, well his toes started to curl, and he knew that he wouldn't last much longer. Arthur was squeezing his scalp in an almost painful grip, and he swore he heard him say "Mine." Before shooting his hot cum, allowing for Merlin to swallow it as he felt himself cum, wetting the front of his trousers, and blowing open every curtain in the room with his magic as Arthur pulled out, collapsing on top of him and burying his face in Merlin's chest. He had apparently not noticed the oddity.
They were both panting, Merlin feeling rather sticky, but extremely sated as Arthur buried his face into his neck, smiling again. "Your neck does look just awful." He kissed it. "I got a little overzealous when marking you yesterday, Lancelot must have been shocked."
"Are you jealous of him?" Merlin asked, finally making his suspicions known, expecting Arthur to laugh in his face because of them...he wasn't too far off.
Arthur did laugh. "Me? Jealous of him? You must be joking. I know full well you would never leave my side for his." Merlin glared, but it didn't have too much basis, because at the same time he wrapped his arms around his sweaty back. "All the same, I don't want him staying in your room any longer...you must know that much at least." Merlin would have been angry, really he would have been, but Arthur followed that by placing an almost loving kiss on his cheek, turning his face so that he could place the next one on his lips. He rubbed at his side, face contorting a little in his post orgasmic pleasure.
"Does it hurt?" Merlin asked, not bothering to respond to the last statement about Lancelot. They would talk about that when they weren't both naked and covered in bodily fluids.
"A bit...I strained it a little I suppose." He smiled again, leaning in and inhaling Merlin's hair. "Your fault again."
Merlin laughed, loving how doting Arthur was being. "I really am just the worst I suppose."
He nodded in agreement. "Just the worst." He trailed a finger down his face, tilting up his chin. "But you were pretty good just a moment ago, so I guess I don't have to punish you too bad." He leaned in, kissing him before flipping over onto his back on the bed.
"So I don't really want to jinx this, because I mean honestly this is probably the most tolerable you've ever been, but I feel I need to ask." He started to retie his pants, turning with seriousness to look at him. "Yesterday you said we could never be anything, and now...well." He rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "What I mean to say is I am your servant, and I don't have much pride, but I won't just allow myself to be a one time fling...I just..."
Arthur chuckled, turning to him. "Oh Merlin do shut up. You're not a one time thing." He raised an eyebrow in thought. "No, I'm not sure what will happen, but we will definitely be doing this sort of thing more often."
Merlin smiled insanely, opening his mouth to reply but stopped, because in that moment he heard something. "Emrys?" His eyes widened, words getting trapped in his throat as the familiar voice went on. "Emrys come to me. Come to me now unless you want a death on your hand." Anxiety rushed through him as he sprang out of the bed, ignoring Arthur's shocked look.
"Where are you?" He asked in his head, already halfway to the door.
"The forest. I wish to see you, but hurry or else you will be far too late." Merlin flung the door open, only pausing at Arthur's outraged tone.
"Merlin where in the bloody hell do you think you're going?" He asked, and Merlin didn't blame him, he would be confused too.
"I'm sorry Arthur...I have to go...I'll explain later." He paused, shooting him a nervous smile. "Enjoy your breakfast my Prince." And with that he was gone, in search of the mysterious voice, thinking that this time he was finally going to get to see that snake.
,,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.