Chapter Text
Later. Much-much later they're lying on their sides, curled around one another in the dark when Arthur says, “Merlin.”
“Mmmm.” The murmur that emerges is sleepy and sated, and Arthur loves the sound of it.
‘’Are you ever going to tell me about?’’
‘’Tell about what?’’
Arthur takes a deep, steady breath, hands closing tighter around Merlin. ‘’About your magic.’’
Merlin’s body jerks, then goes rigid, and he flinches away. But Arthur expected this, and his arms fasten over Merlin's back, throwing his left tights around Merlin's waist, he crushes him into his body. Dropping kisses on the top of Merlin's head, he just holds him close until he feels some of the tension melt away.
After long minutes, Merlin sighs defeated, ‘’How long?’’ he murmurs into Arthur’s neck.
‘’For a while. I mean I understand you couldn’t tell me while my Father lived, but you have had plenty of time since.’’
Merlin’s silent for a long time, and Arthur swallows silently and gathers him even closer.
‘’I always wanted to tell you Arthur, but somehow there never has been a right time for that.’’ Merlin’s voice is sad and broken on Arthur's chest when he speaks at last.
‘’You could have told me anytime since my father died.’’ Arthur retorts, not quite able to keep the resentment out of his voice.
Merlin tenses again and Arthur could feel as Merlin's pulse jumps up, a clear indicator of his temper rising.
Defensive. Ready.
Merlin snaps back his head and for the first time since this conservation began incredulous, angry eyes burn into Arthur's. ‘’Explain me your concept of proper time. Before or after your coronation, or your marriage or during breakfast. Good morning Arthur. How would you like your breakfast. Luke warm or magic warmed?’’
Arthur just nods. His mouth twitches. Then he chuckles. ‘’That’s fair.’’ The tightness in his chest loosens and he tugs on Merlin's head and kisses him slow and deep and thorough. Because as he came to realize that’s the most efficient ( and enjoyable and… ) way to silence him.
Merlin smiles against his mouth, “Hmm, I should still throw you off me, maybe with magic, for not telling me that you knew.”
Arthur makes a face at him, hands stroking over Merlin’s back. ‘’I should have you thrown into the dungeon for lying to your King.’’
‘’Maybe, after all, I turn you into a frog.’’
‘’And right after you're going to kiss me, to turn me back.’’
Arching an eyebrow, ‘’I’m not sure about that," Merlin says with false consideration. ‘’Though, you are lucky I like your ass.’’ His hands drifting down to slide them over Arthur's naked flesh, and Arthur's breath catches and his muscles clench under Merlin's fingers.
"It is a pretty good ass," He states simply, enjoying the way Merlin rolls his eyes. ’’But you would... because you like my face, you find me handsome... and my mouth--’’ He opens his mouth against Merlin’s neck, letting his tongue taste and suck a mark there, delighting in the hitch of Merlin’s breathing. ’’--and my hands.’’ He reaches around to palm Merlin’s rapidly growing erection and is rewarded with an open-mouthed gasp.
‘’What makes you think so? I’ve never said that.’’ Merlin retorts with a catching breath.
But the now rock hardness inside Arthur’s hand and Merlin's sharp pants doesn’t bode well for his words, and Arthur is going to prove what a big, fat lie it is for the next hour or so.
………………….
Arthur lied awake for a while staring into the night, wondering.
‘’Merlin,’’ he began ‘’tell me something about what have you done, using your magic.’’
Merlin stuttered out a painful growl, sounding like, "Now?!’’
‘’Yes.’’
So he told some. Oh, there was plenty he was skimming over, Arthur thought. Miles of road Merlin didn’t take him with. But for now, Arthur was satisfied with mere detours. There is time aplenty to join Merlin on that route.
A big, proud smile spread on Arthur's face even as he shook his head in awe, and his chests filled with a warm glow of a pride. He smiled at the thought what they might together achieve.
………………..
Arthur awoke with a moan and flung his arm over his eyes to shield them from the blast of sunlight. He felt the strengths beaming through the spring leaves, and the chill of the early breeze. His eyes still shielded, he stretched, and his body felt as though he’d ridden a wild horse over a rocky mountain.
And then, he remembered, he’d pretty much done just that.
He closed his eyes and his lips curved as the night reeled through his mind. Now in the daylight, Arthur found it hard to believe what he had done to Merlin, what Merlin allowed him to do– and what Merlin had done to him, and he had allowed for him to do in return. Yet, Oddly enough, this kind of openness came completely natural with Merlin.
Arthur remembered with a slight blush, how he had ached and trembled and hungered.
He had Merlin two times that night, and Merlin had him once, because he wanted to be filled by him, and he'd never felt more complete in his life than when Merlin entered him. It wasn't only that they had to make up for lost time: He’d proved to be insatiable where Merlin was concerned.
Arthur had lovers before Gwen -- some had passed through, some had stirred his blood.
He loved Gwen and adored and desired her body… But never had he felt such outrageous, insatiable hunger what churned through him for Merlin.
It was a wonderful shock to realize he had a bottomless well of passion if it came to him. Like his libido had been nothing more than a dry timber set to the torch with the slightest touch of Merlin, flaming out everything but pulsing, grappling need. Arthur never knew such intimacy and mindless hunger. Never knew what he was capable of with the right… partner. He had never imagined himself be so dazed, so weak-kneed as Merlin made him from just by looking at his face. He never was so exposed, never allowed himself to be so completely naked, body and soul before anyone.
Yet he’d never felt safer.
‘’Good morning.’’ Merlin’s sleepy rumble drew him back from his thoughts.
Arthur made a long, contented sound and last opened his eyes.
Merlin was stretching beside him lazily, looking like a cat, waiting to be stroked. So Arthur sat up and pleasured himself with a long study and a slow stroke of his hands over Merlin's long, lean body in the sunlight.
His blood was already heating.
He looked up, eyes sweeping over Merlin's face, and was shaken all over again.
He couldn't help the unfurl of warmth in his chest, the bubble of heat that worked up his throat. He felt his mouth curving up in a small, fond smile as he reached out and ruffled his fingers through Merlin's messy hair. He was fascinated by the way Merlin's dark hair was a tousled mess from sleep and from his hands, by the sleepy smile in Merlin's eyes, by the curve of those luscious lips.
He wondered if there was any other person in the world, lucky enough to wake to such a sight.
Merlin was staring at him too, his eyes slowly tracking Arthur's features, face softening into a tender smile, ‘’You look good in the morning,’’ he murmured sleepily, reaching out for Arthur. ''Naked and rumpled without your prattiness.’’
With a little laugh Arthur looked down into those blue eyes, heavy and touched with humor. ‘’You love my prattiness.’’ Leaning back, he turned onto his side and linked his arms around Merlin's body, burying his face into the crook of Merlin’s neck. His lips tasted the skin there, then they lingered... so soft and warm.
‘’How are you feeling?’’ He murmured to Merlin's neck, his fingers slowly carding through Merlin's messy hair.
‘’Like I spent the night having wild sex in the woods." Merlin chuckled. ’’Repeatedly. How about you?’’
‘’The same here.’’
''I don’t suppose we could stay here forever,’’ Merlin said with a sight, his arms straying around Arthur.
‘’No. But we can come back. ’’Arthur gathered Merlin closer and held him tight, then made a noise in his throat somewhere between a grunt and an audible sigh. ‘’We should go before they’ll be looking for us and somebody’ll find us like that.’’
‘’All right.’’ Merlin hummed, clutching Arthur even closer.
Arthur caught Merlin’s face in his hands, drew back his head and crushed his mouth desperately over Merlin's.
‘’Merlin,’’
‘’Hmm?’’
‘’Just once more,’’ Arthur purred as he rolled over him.
…………………....................................
It didn't seem to matter that he told himself it was ridiculous. That it was stupid and sentimental.
He couldn't help it.
He reached out his hand for Merlin's on their way back to Camelot. He saw a flash of surprise in Merlin's eyes and the tiny confused frown forming between his eyes. When he brought their joined hands to his lips and nipped lightly at Merlin's fingers, he enjoyed Merlin's double take.
Walking hand in hand with Merlin through the woods, Arthur felt aware of every beam of sunlight, every scent, every sound.
Love, Arthur mused, honed the senses.
How did he become a starry-eyed, fumbling fool in the span of a single day? Here he was, behaving like a complete and total idiot, defying every picture anybody ever had of strong-handed Kings, fearsome warriors and cool-headed kinghts— by clutching the hand of his manservant, like his life depended on it ( which just really might) while they walked, and for some reason he couldn't care less.
He never felt happier.
And fine, maybe there was a tiny - enormous - part of Arthur that wanted to whack the love of his life over the head for good measure because he kept flicking glances at him, regarding him with an odd, careful look, asking without words. 'Have you lost your mind?' (Though Arthur was certain he had. Ten years ago in the lower market when he looked into these ridiculously blue eyes for the first time.)
The only reason he didn't succumb to that urge was because, well… obviously, you shouldn't smack the person on his head whom you are...
''You are being courted.'' He blurted out with all the determination and sincerity of a five years old child.
''Am I?'' Merlin asked, eyebrows delicately rising, lips suspiciously twitching.
''We are developing a relationship here.''
''Do we?'' and there was definitely a laugh in Merlin's voice.
At that, Arthur flexed his muscles, his gaze fierce, he looked at Merlin with an expression practically challenging him to find fault with his explanation of things or not to take him seriously.
''We do.'' He stopped short on their track. ''And it means, among other things of course, if I ever see somebody's else hands on you again in a more than strictly friendly way, it'll get messy when I break them in half.''
''Oh, of all your big headed--''
''And cut them into--''
''Stop it.'' Merlin blew out a heated breath. ''I don't think that's the way you court someone, you idiot,'' he said with a long suffering sigh.
Then a tiny smile touched the corner of his mouth even as he shook his head. ''I wonder if there was another person ever, who was courted by a lover, with a snarl on his face and eyes that threatened to murder.''
Arthur gave a huff, shifted his weight and scratched his head. ''It's not?"
''No. Definitely not the right way Arthur.'' Merlin sighed with exasperation. Though the way his eyes crinkled up with a badly suppressed smile and his face gone soft and tender, his visual words clearly said. 'But I wouldn't have it any other way, you prat.'
''Come here, you big oaf'' Merlin husked, and bending his head he kissed Arthur lightly. Then picking up their still clutched hands, he kissed the back of Arthur's fingers, and Arthur felt dozens of wounds heal and he no longer felt foolish.
But nobody could say he was one to back up of a challenge, so he leaned toward Merlin and said, close to his ear.
''What about if I tell you...'' His voice went from hesitant to low and sexy in an instant as he breathed Merlin's smell in, and his lip touched the outer shell of Merlin's lovely, big ear. "I want you every time I see you. I want you when I don't see you. I want you even after I've had you. And I wanted and will always want only you. I lose my mind when I touch you. You obsess me, make me weak and strong at the same time, the way no one and nothing ever had.''
And Arthur was rewarded with a quick quiver of Merlin's hand in his and a little catch in Merlin's breathing.
''How about that for a courting,'' Arthur asked, raising one eyebrow in challenge as he pulled back his head. ''You see. It's working. You just went all dreamy eyed.'' He goaded, flashing a victorious, sly grin at Merlin.
A rare, breath-taking smile made its own debut on Merlin's face.
The humor faded from Arthur's eyes.
He felt like some brilliant bolt of lightning blasted through him from that smile. His heart had skipped a beat and he swallowed hard.
Merlin was beautiful.
And yes, he made Arthur feel like a fumbling fool. But he was Merlin's foul and he'd bring the very stars down to keep it in that way.
Love -as Merlin said once- makes you do strange things.
Arthur'd never understood how vitally entwined the soul and body were, until now. And now, with Merlin in his arms, Arthur understands it would never be possible to separate again. Not with Merlin. And he wants and has always wanted only him.
And if Merlin was walking with a little limp on the way back, nobody should be the wiser about... and for the first time ever Arthur wasn't jealous.