For Ship.
A translation of At the end of the world by Ship.
THE STORY IS NOT MINE!
This is a translation of the Italian story 'At the end of the world' by Ship.
Cover image by Jessica
Sorry for the delay... I'm super busy in this period... but I will always update... I promise!
CHAPTER 12 OF 14
.
.
Merlin relaxed after the journey, tired and eager to get some sleep.
They had never stopped since leaving the village and after a couple of hours of rest, Gaius and Percival had left in a hurry in order to continue their journey. Before leaving, on Arthur's orders, the knight had patrolled the area to make sure that Merlin wouldn't be in dander once alone.
His Alpha would not be late. Nevertheless, he would reached in about two or three hours. Therefore, Arthur would be worried all the time.
The area had proved to be safe and Merlin had been left alone, confident that everything would be all right until his Mate's arrival.
The old manor, where they had been two days before and where he and Arthur had consolidated their relationship before the Bond, was now silent and absolutely comfortable. Although the danger of staying there alone and without protection was still present, the fact that he had no company wasn't worrying Merlin that much.
The only person he was missing was Arthur. However, having some much time to reflect, away from everything, even from his Alpha, was not so bad for Merlin.
After all, he had so much to think about and now he was getting an opportunity to do it.
In those two days he had been able to reflect on his life, to remember his own childhood, although the memories of that period were few and blurry, and the relationship with his father, which he had always felt different from the one with his mother, even though he loved the both of them very much.
In fact, Merlin had always felt a kind of continuous bond with his father, even after the separation and despite losing both his parents. Often, when he was a child, he remembered that his father and he were even able to talk telepathically, to understand each other only with glances and nods, in a relationship as empathetic as unique. His father had always joked about that fact, lightening the mood, but also underlining their chemistry, to make him fully aware of it without scaring him.
Now, Merlin knew that that so special relationship took root in something deeper: his father and he were both Dragonlords and even if he was not able yet to fully understand what that meant - since he had never met any dragons, nor had he deepened his knowledge about these creature- Merlin could sense that that condition meant possessing a unique consciousness with his father. It was a feeling that had raised in an uncertain point in his body, halfway between the heart and the breath. In that point, it was as if different selves were living in him: the soul of the Dragonlord that was a natural extension of that of his father; the essence of the Dragon, a superior entity, strong and foreign - though he was still struggling to recognize it, he was slowly beginning to distinguish it - and then, finally, his own soul, new, strong, reliable and powerful, deeply linked to the other two, but that included Arthur too, now that they were Mates, now that the Alpha was an integral part of what he was.
Merlin thought that if everything went well - if the story of the Bond would worked out for the best, and he had to believe it, to hope it would happened - he would take his time exploring this new part of himself, enthusiastically throwing himself right in what he was ... just thinking about it was making him indescribably happy.
He drifted off to sleep, happy and confident, hoping that when he would wake up, Arthur would be already with him.
00000
Merlin didn't get much sleep actually.
An hour later, he woke up, shocked, shivering uncontrollably, sweating, sunk in an absolutely new emotional and physical condition... unmistakable.
He stood up, trembling, to make sure of what was going on, realizing at that point that there were no doubts anymore.
It had been a long time since the last time he felt these sensations (he may have felt them only once in the past). Nevertheless, he couldn't be wrong, nor as an Omega, nor as a doctor. His smell had changed and his body temperature had suddenly risen, while his hormones were spreading in the air around him, lost in the strong chemistry of a natural call.
Shocked, Merlin put his hand to his burning forehead, then between his legs, reaching the core of the heat that was wrapping him up. When a bubble of hot liquid dripped down between his buttocks, his heart began to flicker uncontrollably, confirming all his sensations: he was in Heat.
It had been many years since last time.
It was two days that he didn't take suppressors and the Bond with Arthur must have awakened it.
Merlin shook his head, sinking in anxiety.
How could he have forgotten about it? How could he have not predicted that it could happen? Unforgivable.
The night before he had forgotten to take his suppressors, even though he knew he had to take them once again, but the Bond had pervaded every other thought and now he knew he was in trouble.
Not only the Heat would last at least three days and would shift his and Arthur's focus only on their physical instincts, obscuring the rest, but also the Alpha was still far away. He could not share that new situation with him right away and not having him by his side while at the same time sinking in that animalistic state was something very destabilizing.
Suddenly, pure fear seized him: Arthur would not join him for a couple of hours and the fear that his Heat would attract other Alphas in the area was absolutely real, since the Omega was helpless and defenceless at the moment.
He knew that Percival had said that everything was fine and that the perimeter around the manor was safe... but then again, you could never be absolutely sure of these things, as the fight they had previously had here had demonstrated. Panic was starting to crush his heart.
He took a blanket and wrapped it around himself, despite feeling feverish, just to feel himself just a little bit more protected. He prayed that Arthur would join him soon, since he was starting to feel, as well as fear, also excitement, the desire to mate with his Alpha, growing inside him. He was feeling the need to surrender to his deepest instincts.
He remained there, on the floor, forehead beaded with sweat, his lips parted and his voice was unleashing indistinguishable sounds in one whispered request...
"Arthur... hurry up..."
00000
A few minutes later, Merlin emerges from the deafening and blinding fog of the Heat, since he heard some noises coming from the outside, and tried to sharpen his senses to listen better, petrified by fear. However, he relaxed when he recognized Arthur's essence in the air, his intoxicating musky smell, his intense and wonderful scent of rain, which in that difficult moment was very refreshing, cool and humid. It instantly freshened his burning skin.
"Arthur..."
He heard himself saying that name, somewhere, out of nowhere. Eventually he heard the Alpha's footsteps hesitate outside the room. Then the blond started walking again, no, accelerating, in order to enter into his room. The door swung open and Merlin almost cried when his mate entered.
"You… got here sooner than I thought..."
He needed him.
He'd had needed him up to that point, since his Heat had started, but now that his atoms were perceiving his Alpha in the room, Merlin's blood started to boil, reaching out to meet the chemistry of the other, making him more feverish...
Arthur stood there on the spot, petrified, his eyes were slowly darkening in response to the Omega's call, and his breathing became irregular...
"I left early. I have managed to avoid some tasks. I couldn't wait any longer ... I was too worried. Merlin... you..."
Merlin stared at him, trembling. His eyes were now beaded by tears of longing and terror, repressed for too long. His voice was almost inaudible...
"Arthur..."
Arthur approached him, feeling his own body immediately reacting to his mate's Heat. His muscles stretched, his skin lifted and his hair stood up on the back of his neck. Instinctively, his voice lowered, becoming hoarse, shady and intense.
"How long have you been like this? Are you OK?"
Merlin felt Arthur's deep concern: he was frustrated, furious at the thought that Merlin may have been unwell and he hadn't been there with him.
There was no answer to give him but that that came out naturally, now that he was glad to see him, to have him there by his side in that moment.
As an Omega in Heat, relieved to have his Alpha at his disposal.
"I need you"
Arthur nodded.
Merlin's Heat was something new even for him. He had never taken an Omega in Heat before, as other Alphas were used to do in order to sire offspring. And now that that natural force was slowly capturing and throwing him in the depths of that force, as if the wind was slamming him from side to side, against the walls of his senses, now acuter and sharper.
The Heat...
Feeling and looking at Merlin, Arthur lost himself, breathing in the beauty of what it meant.
The smell of his Omega was sweet, more exciting than ever...
The boiling temperature of his body, which could be perceived even from a distance, was sending the blond out of his mind... not to mention the fever that was moving from Merlin's skin to his own...
His every breath was a prayer that Merlin desperately struggled not to release. His chemistry was begging the Alpha to take him immediately and without hesitation.
Arthur caressed him with his eyes to convey security, to tell him that everything would be fine.
"I'm here..."
Arthur moved the blanket off of Merlin's body, leaving him naked and exposed, beaded with sweat, trembling before his eyes.
He undressed, while Merlin approached him and touched him to sick a bit of cold, now in the delirium of his fever that only mating with his Alpha would bring down.
At that contact, Arthur lost all reason, every thought, shivering due to the gentle touch of Merlin's hands, that were everywhere on his skin and that were forcing him to fall straight into the purest instinct, making him eager to only take his mate, to satisfy his desire, to dominate him and to brand him, leaving his seed inside him, his own genetic fingerprint mixed with his.
"Arthur..."
That voice rang out on his breath and the Alpha, finally yielding, grabbed the brunet and pressed him against himself. He took possession of his mouth, invading it slowly with his tongue, pretentious and hungry, enjoying the contact with Merlin's soft and pliant one against his. His body stopped listening to him and pushed the Omega down, forcing him to lie down and to cover his mate with his muscular being. Merlin released a high and satisfied groan with his eyes closed...
Thinking was now impossible... everything was reduced to flesh and breath now... an impossible force to fight.
The Omega bit his skin, demanding more, whispering uncontrolled moans in his ears, trying to touch more of him and moving his slender body to meet him. In response, the Alpha took the brunet's hand and put it on his huge erection, making him understand how tense his was, already excited for him, hard, ready to take and satisfy him.
When Merlin had him in hand and squeezed him, stroking him throughout his impressive length, slipping on his hot skin, already on fire, he began to sob, unable to contain himself, suffering due to the great urge to have him.
"Ah... Arthur... I want you..."
The Alpha died due to those caresses and fell apart when Merlin spread his legs in a clear gesture. Therefore, he lowered his touch, slipping in search of his entrance with his fingers and found it already lubricated and open, inviting. A new bubble of hot liquid broke and dripped on his hand, wetting it, and Arthur actually realized how much Merlin's temperature was high, what it could mean to be inside him while he was in the grip of that fever, what it could mean to penetrate that strong warmth...
At that thought, he growled with desire, excited, while Merlin kept begging him. Arthur sank into him in response, pushing in him with his fingers and moving them according to his need, expressed by the moans.
"Nnnn... Arthur..."
The Alpha left him and put his fingers in his own mouth, licking Merlin's essence, enjoying the taste of his Omega's fertility ... that last act of belonging definitively won him.
That primitive and natural instinct to dominate completely invaded his consciousness, breaking his last resistance, shouting loud and clear to take Merlin, to possess him, to satisfy him and to fill him with his seed, to imprint it in him, in his cell, to mix it with his DNA finger-printing, claiming that of the other man in order to dominate him.
He got up to look at Merlin, surrendered and helpless beneath him, shaking due to his same need. Then, he kissed him in a firm order, low and hoarse... incontestable...
"Turn around"
The Alpha helped him and turned him on his stomach beneath him. Then, he spread his legs, positioning himself between them, while Merlin laid down and closed his eyes, ready to receive him.
"Your Heat is my domain. You are mine, Merlin... MINE! Open up to me! MINE!"
Arthur spread Merlin's buttocks, positioning himself between them, and penetrated him with a single thrust, all the way in, growling with pleasure, while beneath him Merlin cried in delight, bliss and deep belonging.
"Ahhh… Arth.. ur..."
Arthur finally died inside Merlin's body due to it boiling like melted fire and bent over him, to reach deeper, where he had never been before, more inside, and where he was now completely open: Merlin's uterus, which was preparing itself to be impregnated and that the Alpha was exploring for the first time. He was stuck to the brunet's back, forcing him to lower his head forward, so he could bite his neck to hold him still while mounting him. The blond sank into the ecstasy that contact was giving him, possessing Merlin without respire, deep in his animal instinct. He sank with his teeth into his white skin, slowly, while entering him with firm and short thrusts. He was completely immersed in Merlin's body, which for Arthur was like an endless fire that was burning him like molten lava. It was taking away his breath and rationality, along with Merlin who kept sobbing through his swollen and wet lips.
Arthur felt his veins bursting, blood running nonstop, pressure raising and going to form the Knot, which pleasure was slowly making swell, finding in the Omega's body its perfect place. He roared in pleasure.
His next words came out on their own, without rationality, filled with pure and uncontrolled tremor.
"You are mine, Merlin. Your belly is on fire, beautiful, ready to rock my seed. I want to fill it, to impregnate it with my children. I want to give you my seed non-stop, so that your soft and swollen belly would show to everyone that you belong to me, that all my love grows in yours and that for us nothing is more important than what we mean to each other..."
Merlin twitched due to the intense pleasure, given by the sense of belonging that those words had triggered. He tightened strong around Arthur, squeezing his Knot and also increasing the Alpha's pleasure, definitely breaking his conscience and heart, putting them back together in himself, in his flesh, sealing their union in a new way.
"Arthur..."
Arthur straightened up, pushing in so hard to feel his muscles hurting. He closed his eyes and drank that prayer, like spring water, feeling his Knot filling more and more. When he leaned down to bite Merlin's neck again ... strong… he said...
"Open up to me, Merlin... stay open..."
Merlin screamed as he came, trembling and pushing Arthur in ecstasy, in the madness of pleasure, while also the Alpha exploded in him. Arthur bit him stronger while filling his belly with his hot essence, filling Merlin's womb with a new life, immediately changing the Omega's internal chemistry. The Alpha collapsed on him, exhausted, falling almost instantly into unconsciousness due to the violent orgasm, as the last image of Merlin before his eyes imprinted itself in his retina and irises...
"You have a wonderful birthmark, Merlin... on your skin..."
Arthur kissed him, driven by an irrepressible need...
"It looks like a dragon... It has its shape. A wonderful drawing on your skin ... beautiful"
Shock invaded Merlin at those words, but Arthur's sleepy voice lowered always more, while the Alpha fell into the catharsis, as his nature commanded after each coupling, and laid down behind the brunet, with his Knot firmly tied inside of him, collapsing in the continuous orgasm that pleasure had gifted to their races, as a wonderful privilege.
Their first shared Heat had been unique, touching, shocking due to its intensity. And yet those words had unsettled him far more than what they had just enjoyed together.
Deeply shocked and emotionally disturbed, Merlin sank against him, too lost in the pleasure to listen to the thousand questions formed in his head due to those last words. The brunet decided to deepen this fact once awaken later. His birthmark had never had the shape of a dragon ... but rather that of a galaxy ... had it changed in that moment? Was it the prophecy?
Had his changed chemistry, perhaps due to a new life, also changed his cell and changed the shape of his birthmark?
Was the prophecy coming true in that moment?
He immediately touched his belly, sure to have conceived right then, feeling that belief growing inside him, remembering the words of the legend...
When the Alpha and the Omega will draw the constellation, tied together through the Bond, and the light of the first star will shine in the distance...
A child.
It couldn't be otherwise.
The first star, even if distant in his mind, was already visible in his heart, now bright and shining.
A life was growing in his womb, he was sure of it, and now he also knew that everything would be all right.
He was sure that everything would be fine ... that new revelation could not imply otherwise.
Another step further had been made and when he would wake up, Arthur would help him reading the map on his skin, which probably would reveal the location of their new home in the universe.
Revealed by the conception of their first child.
A tear broke free from his lashes, while he too slowly slipped into sleep, conscious that he should rest as much as he could in order to take the next three-day of Heat. He listened to Arthur sleepily breathing behind him, his Knot still filling his womb whenever he released a gasp, as he instinctively hugged him even more.
He turned to kiss him lightly, satisfied, drunk with happiness. He put his mate's hands on his belly, so that he could cradle that new life with his warmth too.
Arthur's son.
Or daughter, of course.
00000
Arthur's breath on his neck, his kisses behind his ear, the caress of his fingers on his back woke him up and Merlin turned to kiss him.
The Alpha returned it with enthusiasm, his eyes still wet with pleasure that made Merlin feel that sense of belonging once more, as enchanting as painful due to its intensity.
Merlin was so happy, so much he felt unworthy of that luck, and his voice came out slow and choked at realizing it.
"Hi..."
Arthur reached out and licked his lips and the Omega turned, lazily smiling at him.
"How are you feeling?" Arthur's voice in response was caressing his soul, moving him.
"Like an Omega in Heat. Strong and energetic... and at the same time as if I had been run over by the cavalry"
Arthur nodded, kissing him again, laughing.
"Well... what we've done early ... well ... it hasn't been a piece of cake. Maybe I should restrain myself..."
Merlin laughed in turn.
"No... I love your passion..."
Arthur kissed him again.
"How does it work? I mean... how often will he need to repeat that? I'm a little rusty... I'm afraid I'm not quite sure"
Merlin ran his fingers through the blond's hair, moving it tenderly.
"The Heat will last three days... my body will regularly long for you..."
Arthur leaned to bite his lips, strong.
"And your Alpha will be more than ready to satisfy you"
Merlin laughed.
"I never had any doubts about that..."
Arthur laughed in turn, squeezing him.
"Sorry... I am talking as if it's just your own pleasure we are dealing with. Know that for me, taking you while you're in Heat drives me crazy... it intoxicates me like the most unspeakable sin. Taking you right now during this fever ... is an ... God ... indescribable feeling. Like being run over by fire, while walking on it at the same time. It's... exciting like hell"
Merlin moved, sitting and leaning on his chest, staring at the blond.
"Having you inside me is exciting like hell"
Arthur hugged him so hard to almost choke him.
"It's wonderful... all this. It really prevents you to realize that there may be also a life out there. Except that ... it makes things even more difficult. We have to continue the journey, we both know it"
Merlin nodded. Then, he put his finger to his lips.
"Can we not talk about it, at least for now?"
Arthur nodded, reading Merlin's difficulty, his vulnerability, given his Heat, and sought a solution at least acceptable for the both of them.
"Let's do it like this. Let's serenely try to enjoy at least this first day. Then, tomorrow we'll leave. I don't think that reaching the split mountain a day late will be a big deal. I wish we could fully enjoy at least these first moments of this new experience. Then, maybe we could stop along the way and find a way to be together..."
Merlin stared at him, worried but trying to share the security that Arthur was trying to instill in him.
"Arthur... we both know that travelling will be difficult. If some Alpha should smell my Heat..."
Arthur hardened his eyes.
"We have no choice. But in case of an attack ... you know I won't have mercy. You have nothing to fear, no one would survive my sword. Don't worry"
"I don't even want to think about you fighting again..."
Arthur nodded.
"Hopefully I won't have to"
Merlin kissed him, uncertain whether to tell him that that night they had shared more than just his Heat, that he was feeling deep inside himself that he had conceived. But then, he thought that Arthur shouldn't know about it yet, not until they would understand their destiny, not until they were safe, not until the day Arthur would ensure his role as leader, which Merlin wanted more than anything, even in that moment, now that he was no longer afraid of not being able to enjoy it.
He smiled, knowing he was only postponing the announcement. Then, he sat down.
"I'm hungry. Shall we eat something? We should take advantage of these breaks. Prepare yourself, because in these three days I'll be very hungry, all the time."
Arthur straightened up with difficulty, still numb due to the pleasure consumed not long ago.
"As you wish. I want you to have all your strength...you will have to handle me, after all"
Merlin laughed.
"Mmmm... exactly what I was thinking when I proposed to eat"
Arthur slowly bit his shoulder and lowered the tone of his voice, stroking the length of his spine with his fingers, leaving a wet trail with his tongue on Merlin's shoulder blade.
Passion was on fire once again, uncontrollable.
"Merlin... I think I am impatient. As a doctor, are you sure that only Omegas can go into Heat? Right now I'm on fire"
Merlin laughed aloud.
"Be patient ... and eat too. The Heat is exhausting for the both of us…. You have …duties"
Merlin chuckled at the thought that the Alpha had already done his duty, given the fact his womb was already pregnant.
He started to get up, when Arthur grabbed his wrist and began to caress his back, on the birthmark.
"I had almost forgotten ... earlier ... I have noticed this sign on your skin. You have a birthmark in the shape of a dragon"
Merlin smiled.
"I believe it is the constellation of the prophecy"
Arthur nodded.
"Yes... I thought the same, when I saw it. But then the catharsis made me fall asleep, blacking out my mind..."
Merlin nodded, smiling.
"Yes... I remember very well that on the other hand, your Knot had remained hard and swollen for a long time."
Arthur leaned to kiss him on the lips. Then, Merlin continued.
"Let me get a mirror ... I want to see the birthmark. I have always had it, but ... I think it's changed with the Bond"
Arthur stared into his eyes.
"Is it possible? Can skin change?"
In the past, Merlin would have said no, and yet it had happened.
"Well ... it has happened. Therefore, it can, I suppose. At least in a pureblood"
Arthur tensed.
"Are you a Pureblood then? l don't know anything about you, now that I have found out that you have hidden yourself all your life..."
Merlin started to answer, but a new and sudden wave of tremors and warmth invaded his veins, sliding down from the skin to the bones, turning him on again. His pupils dilated and the fever began to rise, so he sat down next to his mate. He leaned toward him, offering his neck to make him smell his Omega glands, telling him immediately and without words that they couldn't continue that discussion, not in that moment, and that they wouldn't even been able to eat.
Not until after they had mated once again.
The call was stronger than anything else and the desire, the need to have his Alpha inside him, to be sexually satisfied, overthrew everything else.
Merlin slowly blew next to his ear, while Arthur tensed again, feeling his mate's Heat raising, turning him on in turn.
"Can we talk about it later, Arthur? I think..."
Arthur didn't let him finish. He pulled him toward him, hungry, but not for food. The blond's breathing was already labored and hot.
"I was just wondering why it was taking so long..."
Merlin smiled, languid, opening up to him. He sat on Arthur's lap. When a new bubble of heat fell on Arthur's belly, the Alpha didn't hesitate and penetrated him without further ado, intoxicated by that fever that was moving again on his skin, traveling from Merlin's flesh to his. He sank in his Omega, lost...
Merlin's lips parted, moaning due to the passion and the need to beg.
Then, their dance started once again and the words died in the air, giving way to the ecstasy and the pleasure.