Obedience

by BenjiWrites

Summary:

Merlin has disobeyed Arthur one too many times, so Arthur decides to show Merlin his place.

Notes:

I DO NOT give permission to feed my work into AI technology of any kind. This is a work in progress and if you don't like that it's not done, don't read it. AO3 gives you the ability to filter by completion status for a reason. Down with AI.

For everyone else, enjoy!

Chapter 1

The sound of metal on metal sang across the training yard as Arthur brought his sword down on his opponent again and again. The man tried to parry the blows but Arthur was too quick, able to slide into the next stance and slip through the man’s defenses while he was still reeling from the previous blow. Finally, the man fell to the ground, sword tumbling from his hand and a groan echoing inside his helmet.

The small crowd that had gathered to watch the fight burst into applause. Arthur sheathed his sword and swept off his helmet then raised a hand to them, a confident smile on his lips before turning back to the man and offering him a hand.

“Incredible job, my lord,” the man said, taking Arthur’s hand and pulling himself up.

“Yes, well, when you’ve been training as long as I have…,” Arthur said, well aware of the fact that the man was at least ten years his senior and thus had been training as long as Arthur had been alive. Arthur held out his helmet while throwing another smile to his adoring crowd, then frowned when no one took it. “Merlin? Merlin!” he called, looking around. “Where the hell is he?” When Merlin still didn’t appear, Arthur pointed to a random servant standing off to the side. “You! Take my things and help me out of my armor.”

Twenty minutes later, clad in just his tunic and pants, Arthur marched up to his room, hoping to find Merlin there. The room was, unfortunately, empty besides a tub filled with water sitting directly in the middle. At least Merlin had managed to draw his bath as instructed, but as Arthur stepped forward and dipped his fingers into the water, he let out a frustrated groan at how cold the water was. It wasn’t even room temperature, instead having the icy feeling of being drawn directly from a mountain spring.

Half of Arthur wanted to storm out of his room, track down Merlin, and give him the reaming he deserved, while the other half could hear nothing but the aching groan of his body as the effects of afternoon training started to settle into his muscles. Merlin could be anywhere and it was the middle of the summer, Arthur feeling the effects of too much exertion and not enough water, so he stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the tub. A shiver ran over his skin as he submerged himself but it didn’t necessarily feel bad.

Sitting back, Arthur let out a breath and closed his eyes. No one ever understood how difficult it was to be him. Everyone always thought that being a Prince was easy, but no one knew how impossible it was to meet everyone’s expectations of perfection all the time.

Opening his eyes, Arthur picked up the bar of soap sitting on the small side table next to the tub and began scrubbing at the dirt and sweat that coated his skin. He was always disgustingly filthy after training, but it was also his favorite thing. Everything about training excited him, from the weapons to the strategy to the physical prowess that came with fighting. He never felt more right, more manly, more like himself than when he was dominating another man in battle.

His hands had sunk below the water but he was less washing himself than he was absentmindedly running his hands over his waist and hips, eyes half lidded as he thought back to the training, the areas he had done well and where he could improve. There was a time, earlier, where one of the other knights had almost gotten the best of him, the man forcing his body on top of Arthur’s and holding him down.

Arthur’s cock twitched and swelled slightly, Arthur biting his lip. He was always like this after training, his body overflowing with masculine energy.

Grasping himself, Arthur stroked himself until he was fully hard, knowing that bringing himself to climax was the only way to expel the feelings building up inside him. He was starting to moan softly as his pleasure grew when suddenly the door to his room opened and Merlin strode in, arms laden with clothes. With a surprised shriek, Arthur shot up in the tub, causing a large amount of water to slosh over the side and onto the floor.

“Merlin! What the hell!” Arthur yelled, covering himself with his hands despite the fact that he was still fully submerged. “Don’t you know how to knock?”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry,” he said, dumping the clothes on the table. “So, I have a couple of options for what you could wear tonight–”

“Merlin! Do you mind?”

Merlin glanced around, a look of confusion on his face. “With what?”

“I’m in the middle of taking a bath!”

“Oh. Right.” Arthur expected Merlin to leave, but instead he strode right up to the tub. “Lean forward and I’ll get your back. Where’s the soap? Did you drop it in the water? No wonder you royals need people to help you bathe if you can’t even hold onto a simple bar of soap.” Merlin started to reach into the water but Arthur grabbed his wrist, keeping himself covered with his other hand.

“Leave,” Arthur growled, grip tight.

“But–”

“I said go!” Arthur pushed him away. “Just give me five–no, ten minutes to myself. That’s all I want.”

Merlin rolled his eyes but said, “Fine,” and left, closing Arthur’s bedroom door harder behind him than necessary.

With a frustrated groan, Arthur flopped back in the bath, more water sloshing on the floor. There was no way he was going to be able to finish now that Merlin had interrupted, meaning he was just going to have to let his feelings fester inside of him until he could do something about it when he was alone in bed tonight. Pushing himself up, he got out of the tub, making sure to drip as much water as possible as he could while fetching a towel to dry off. The only thing making him feel better now was the thought of Merlin on his hands and knees, cleaning up the lake of water spreading across the floor.

He was dry and in his underthings by the time Merlin returned. He pulled on his pants and shirt silently, letting Merlin button buttons and tie laces as needed, gazing across the room and out the window as he did so.

“Is there something wrong, Sire?” Merlin asked suddenly.

“No,” Arthur said shortly.

“Are you sure? I know you’re usually in a bad mood but you seem especially grumpy today.”

“Perhaps I would be in a better mood if I actually had a competent manservant,” Arthur snapped.

“What’d I do now?” Merlin whined as he went to fetch Arthur’s boots.

“More like what haven’t you done?” Arthur lifted a foot, letting Merlin slide a boot on. “You weren’t waiting for me when I was done with my training, you didn’t help me with my armor, and you didn’t properly draw my bath. I swear, Merlin, where did we ever find someone as incompetent as you?” He picked up his other foot and let Merlin put that boot on as well.

“I was helping Gaius!” Merlin protested. “I’m not just your manservant, you know.”

“Well, you’re supposed to be,” Arthur snapped. “I am the Prince. Whatever you’re doing for him can wait until after you’re done serving me.”

“If I did that, then Gaius would never have assistance because you need help with everything! I mean, you can’t even get out of a bathtub without getting half the water all over the floor. The list of things you have me do is never ending.”

“Your list would be a hell of a lot shorter if you just did things properly the first time,” Arthur said. “I mean, look at my boots! Did you even polish them? You were supposed to do that yesterday!”

“Oh. Were these the ones I was supposed to polish? Because I polished the other ones,” Merlin said. Shrugging, he started pulling at Arthur’s feet. “We’ll just take these ones off and put those ones on, then.”

Arthur smacked Merlin on the top of the head. “No, I wanted these ones polished so you’re going to polish these ones.” Propping a foot up on a stool, Arthur gritted his teeth and growled, “Get the polish.”

Merlin glared hatefully at Arthur and for a moment Arthur thought Merlin was going to throw a punch. He had to keep a smile from playing on his lips, partially wanting Merlin to do it. After a moment, though, Merlin broke their gaze and went to get the jar of polish and a rag.

Folding his arms, Arthur watched as Merlin knelt in front of him and started to work. Merlin always thought he was so smart but when it came down to it, he needed to learn that things worked better for him when he closed his mouth and stayed on his knees. He looked better on his knees, anyway.

Arthur felt his dick stir and he cleared his throat, tearing his eyes away from the sight of Merlin before him. He could still feel Merlin’s hands, though, as they made their way up his boot, his mind wondering what it would feel like if Merlin kept going.

God, what was wrong with him?

“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to be a little nicer to me,” Merlin said, tearing Arthur from his thoughts.

“Nicer to you?” Arthur scoffed. “Why the hell would I do that?”

“Because I do things right!” Merlin said. “Sometimes. And it would be nice if you recognized when it happened instead of only pointing out where I mess up.”

“Fine. I suppose I can acknowledge the biannual event in which you actually accomplish a task correctly the first time.”

“You don’t make this easy, you know!” Merlin snapped, flicking the polishing rag at Arthur. “Everyday, I have to–” But he didn’t get to finish his thought because Arthur struck out, wrapping a hand around Merlin’s throat.

“Did you just hit me with your dirty little rag?” he snarled through clenched teeth. “You forget your place, Merlin, and I’m going to remind you of it. I am the Prince and you my servant. That means you do what I say, when I say it, no complaints. I am above you and you are below me. Do you understand?”

Merlin nodded, the movement small with how Arthur was holding him, blue eyes wide and shining.

Arthur narrowed his eyes. “I’m not letting you get away that easy. You have a notoriously thick skull and struggle to understand basic concepts, so to make sure you fully comprehend that you are beneath me, from now on, anytime you’re in my presence, I want you on your knees.”

Roughly pushing away the hand wrapped around his throat, Merlin said, “No way!” his voice slightly raspy. “That’s so degrading.”

“That’s the point,” said Arthur. “You clearly don’t know your place, so I have to teach it to you.”

“I said I was sorry.”

“No you didn’t, and either way I’ve heard it enough now. You will stay on your knees anytime you are in my presence and if you behave well enough then maybe I’ll let you stand again.” Arthur removed his foot from the stool and propped the other up. “Now, be a good boy and do as you're told.”

Arthur could see the anger and hate in Merlin’s eyes and the way he clenched his jaw. He loved the way Merlin’s emotions were clearly warring across his face, his loyalty to the crown battling with his desire to fight Arthur. He was especially obsessed with seeing the moment his domination won out, the way Merlin dropped his eyes and murmured, “Yes, Your Highness.”

It was a good thing he had leaned forward, resting an elbow on his bent knee as he stared down at Merlin, because he wasn’t ready for the way that moment caused his cock to harden, straining tightly against the fabric of his pants. He suddenly became acutely aware of the fact that he had an incredibly strong desire to pull down his pants, force Merlin’s mouth open, and shove his dick in as deep as it would go, and that the desire was so strong that it was difficult to restrain himself. Arthur let out a choked gasp, causing Merlin to glance up at him.

“Are you okay, Sire?” Merlin asked when he saw the pale, strained look on Arthur’s face.

“Yes, quite fine,” Arthur said tightly, doing his best to keep his composure, his mind racing so quickly it was difficult to do so. “I think my boots are plenty polished. You’re dismissed.”

Merlin looked like he wanted to argue but instead he gathered his things and left, again slamming the door harder than necessary.

~ ~ ~

Arthur was ten minutes late to dinner with his father and Morgana, having had to spend a decent amount of time jacking off once Merlin left, alternating between vividly imagining Merlin sucking his dick and being horrified at the fact that he was thinking of such a thing. He had never thought of a man in that way before. It was unnatural. He’d only previously had normal desires, such as after an intense training session, as any man did.

Hopefully, this was just a strange, one-off occurrence that had happened as a result of not being able to work out the energy during his bath. But now that he had taken care of his needs, everything should be fine and back to normal.

Arthur settled in his chair to one side of his father, Morgana opposite him. She gave him a smile and he pressed himself to smile back. A moment later, a door opened and several servants walked in laden with trays of food, Merlin being one of them. Merlin approached the table with Arthur’s dinner plate but Arthur held up a hand and loudly said, “Stop!” Everyone in the dining hall froze.

“What did we just talk about not even a quarter of an hour ago?” Arthur asked, not looking at Merlin.

“I–uh–”

“Knees, Merlin.”

“Please don’t make me do this,” Merlin whispered, desperation lacing his voice.

Arthur turned, looked Merlin directly in the eye, and said, “On. Your. Knees.”

Merlin stared at him, a slightly horrified look on his face. Arthur smirked at him, knowing that this punishment had been a good decision. Clearly, Merlin didn’t think that Arthur was capable of following through with something like this but Arthur was going to show him he was wrong. Merlin was going to learn his lesson.

Merlin looked away from Arthur, casting his gaze around the room and at the dozen or so people who were watching, waiting, before finally dropping his eyes and sinking to his knees. Arthur could feel his cock swelling once again as a pink glow came to Merlin’s cheeks and Arthur found he couldn’t help but say, “Good boy.” He sat back with a delighted smile as Merlin placed his plate in front of him.

“Arthur, what are you doing?” Morgana asked.

“Eating dinner,” Arthur said, picking a carrot up with his fingers and tossing it in his mouth.

“No, I mean what are you doing to Merlin?”

“Teaching him his place. He seems to forget too easily.”

“Isn’t this a bit…much?”

“I disagree,” Uther said. “Arthur is much too kind to him. Blurs the line of master and servant too easily. I think it’s good for both of them to reestablish boundaries.”

“See, Merlin? I told you this would be good for you.”

“Yes, you’ve made your point,” Merlin said.

“No, I think I’m just starting to.”

~ ~ ~

“Is there anything else you’ll need tonight, Sire?”

Arthur was sitting in his chair at his desk, Merlin kneeling in front of him with a sour look on his face.

“No, I think that’s all.” Merlin started to rise but Arthur stopped him with a drawn out, “Although…”

Settling back in place, Merlin said impatiently, “Yes?”

“As strange as it is, I think you might have been right earlier in saying I should acknowledge when you do things properly more,” Arthur said. “So I will. You do a much better job serving me on your knees.”

Merlin frowned but nodded and said nothing.

Sitting back, Arthur said, “What? Have I really broken you that easily?”

Merlin flicked his eyes up to meet Arthur’s gaze and Arthur loved the fire in them.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Merlin snarled. “For me to just nod and say nothing? Give you complete submission?”

Arthur pursed his lips. No. That wasn’t fun. Half the enjoyment of battle was the struggle. There was no honor in defeating an opponent who just gave up, no thrill in dominating someone who simply rolled over. That was part of the reason why he liked Merlin so much. Merlin treated him in a way no one else did, and that was what made him so thrilling.

“I don’t need your complete submission,” Arthur admitted. “But I do need you to do your job. If you don’t then I’ll have no choice but to replace you.”

A panicked look flickered over Merlin’s face. “You can’t do that!”

“Why not? It’s not like you particularly like this job. You complain about it often enough. I figured you’d like going back to just being Gaius’ assistant.”

“No, I like being your servant,” Merlin said. “Even if that means having to serve you on my knees. I’ll complain less, if I need to. Just, don’t get rid of me. Please.”

Arthur blinked. This was new. “Where is this coming from, Merlin?”

Shaking his head, Merlin said, “I just know that you’re going to be a great ruler one day and I want to be by your side when you are.”

“You think I’m going to be a great ruler despite calling me a prat everyday?”

“Even prats can make great rulers.”

“And what makes you think I’m going to be such a good ruler?”

Merlin shrugged. “I just do.”

Arthur stared at him. How could Merlin harbor so much disdain for Arthur, yet simultaneously believe in him so much?

“Can I go now?” Merlin asked.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Arthur sat for a long time after Merlin left, letting the candles burn so low that they guttered out, but still he sat, thinking about the boy who despised and believed in him at the same time.

Chapter 2

“Good morning, Sire.” Merlin walked into Arthur’s room, knelt next to where he was sitting at his table, and put Arthur’s breakfast in front of him.

Arthur looked down at him with slight surprise. He started to say that Merlin’s punishment was over, that he didn’t need to kneel anymore, then stopped. It would probably be good for Merlin to have to comply with his punishment for a full day. It would ensure that the lesson truly sank in.

Besides, Merlin looked so good on his knees.

“Thank you, Merlin,” Arthur said, picking up a piece of bread from the plate and biting into it. “I was thinking of riding out into the forest today. There’s been reports of a creature killing farm animals a few miles from here and I wanted to see if it’s making its way towards Camelot. I’ll need you to prepare my horse and weapons in case we run into any trouble.”

“Are any of the other knights coming with us?”

“No, this is more of a scouting mission than anything so it’ll be quicker if it’s just the two of us. It’s possible that this is just a lone wolf roaming the countryside making trouble, and that’s what I want to determine first.”

“Okay, if we’re going to be out all day, then I need to talk to Gaius–”

“Gaius!” Arthur sputtered. “What did I tell you about Gaius?”

“I know, but there’s an illness going around the outskirts of Camelot that Gaius wanted me to deliver medicine for. If we’re going to be gone all day, I have to let him know someone else needs to deliver it. I would think the Crown Prince would want his people to be healthy.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes at Merlin. He didn’t like the tone Merlin was taking. “How dare you insinuate I don’t care about my people!”

Giving him an innocent look, Merlin said, “I did no such thing.”

“Yes you did!”

“No, I didn’t. I said that I know you want your people to be healthy. That’s the opposite of saying you don’t care.”

“Not when you do it in that stupid, sarcastic tone you always have,” Arthur said. Maybe having Merlin kneel wasn’t enough and he was going to have to add an extra element to remind Merlin to mind his smart mouth. He, again, got a flash of an image of him shoving his cock in Merlin’s mouth to shut him up but quickly pushed it away. Why was this becoming the first thing he thought of any time Merlin said something that annoyed him?

“I have no such tone,” Merlin said. “Everything I say, I say with complete sincerity.”

“You are such a liar! I don’t think I’ve had a single conversation with you where you haven’t been sarcastic since the day I met you.”

“Well, as a Prince, it’s not really in your wheelhouse to think, is it?” Merlin smiled cheekily, clearly thinking he had made a smart joke.

Arthur slapped him. Merlin stayed frozen in place, head cocked to the side for a long moment before slowly turning back toward Arthur, eyes wide.

“You have gone too far,” Arthur said, standing. Roughly, he pulled the scarf from around Merlin’s neck.

“What are you doing?” Merlin asked.

“Washing your mouth out.” He started to tie Merlin’s scarf around his eyes but Merlin resisted him. “Stay still unless you want me to bind your hands as well.” Merlin pouted but stopped moving.

When he finished tying the knot, Arthur smiled down at Merlin. This was going to be fun. He wasn’t going to do too much, only a little, but enough to teach Merlin to mind his tongue, and maybe satisfy himself in the slightest along the way. Silently, he reached into his pants and pulled out his half-stiffened cock, stroking himself until he had fully hardened.

“Open your mouth,” Arthur commanded. He saw Merlin hesitate, saw him think about doing as he was told verses arguing the fact, and jumped on the disobedience, grabbing Merlin by the jaw. “I said, open your mouth,” he repeated, digging his fingers into Merlin’s cheeks and forcing his mouth open. Merlin gave a moan of complaint, one that forced Arthur to bite his lip in order to resist moaning in reply.

In a single movement, Arthur shoved his cock deep into Merlin’s mouth. Unprepared, Merlin choked, his hands flying up but Arthur was already shoving him away, causing him to fall back against the hard stone floor. While Merlin writhed on the floor, coughing, Arthur shoved his dick back in his pants and sat down.

Pulling the blindfold off, Merlin yelled, “What the hell was that?”

“I told you, cleaning your mouth out. Now, go get the horses ready unless you want it washed out again.”

Jumping up off the floor, Merlin stomped out of the room, Arthur smiling widely at his back. He’d stuck his dick in Merlin’s mouth. Only for a moment, but still. He could feel in his pants where the damp, spit soaked skin pressed against the fabric and the way precum was leaking out the tip. Eagerly, he pulled his cock back out, thinking of how incredible that moment had been and hoping that Merlin would be rude again in the future so Arthur could punish him a second time.

It was the memory of the sound of Merlin moaning that brought Arthur over the edge, his cum spilling thickly onto the floor. He wanted to leave it, to make Merlin clean it up, but knew he wouldn’t be back in his room until later that night so, begrudgingly, wiped the stone floor himself.

~ ~ ~

The day passed relatively quickly, Arthur and Merlin riding from farm to farm and asking about the creature. They observed the corpses of several animals, bodies ripped to shreds, blood and gore scattered across the fields.

“Strange…,” Arthur said to himself as he observed the fifth mutilated body of the day.

“What is it, Sire?” Merlin asked, the first words he’d said since they’d left Camelot.

“Animals usually kill either for food or to protect themselves or their brood. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. It looks like this creature is killing just to kill.”

“What do you think it might be?”

“I’m not sure,” Arthur replied. “But I think we should go back to Camelot, talk to my father and Gaius, see if they have any knowledge of such a creature.” He looked around, then with an angry huff, glared at his dimwitted servant. “Merlin,” he said through clenched teeth. “Where are the horses?”

“They’re right–” Merlin looked around, noticing the field was empty besides him, Arthur, and the mangled body. “Oh.”

“Oh? Merlin, how the hell are we supposed to get back to Camelot before nightfall without the horses? How did you even let them wander away?”

“I’ve had a lot on my mind lately!” Merlin cried. “If you hadn’t–” Merlin stopped as Arthur raised his eyebrows.

“No, no, please, keep going. Tell me about how it is, somehow, my fault that you lost the horses.”

Merlin looked away from him, his jaw working. “It’s not. It’s my fault. I should have paid more attention.”

“That’s right, you should have. You have a serious lack of attention to detail. Your head would probably run away from you if it wasn’t attached. Perhaps I should put you on a lead so you don’t wander off yourself, seeing as you’re so empty headed.”

“Why don’t you make me bark while you’re at it?” Merlin muttered under his breath.

“What did you just say?”

Merlin paled. “Nothing.”

“We both know you’re not capable of saying nothing.” Arthur cast a glance over his shoulder in the direction of the farmhouse on the other side of the pasture. Only the gambles of the roof and smoke from the chimney was visible from where they were but Arthur still took Merlin by the collar of the shirt and dragged him toward the treeline, Merlin stumbling along behind him.

Once they were well among the trees, Arthur threw Merlin to the ground.

“Arthur–,” Merlin protested.

“Don’t ‘Arthur’ me,” he replied. “You got yourself into this mess, you only have yourself to blame. Now, take your shirt off.”

“What?”

“Take your shirt off, unless you want me to rip it from your body.” Part of Arthur wanted Merlin to keep arguing so he would have an excuse to wrestle the shirt off Merlin but he took it off and threw it to the ground, glaring at Arthur.

Arthur cast his gaze around the forest floor until he found what he was looking for. Bending, he picked up a long, thin stick, circling around where Merlin was kneeling.

“What are you doing with that?” Merlin asked, nervousness causing his voice to waver. Instead of answering, Arthur struck him across the shoulder with the stick, Merlin hissing with pain.

“Say thank you,” Arthur commanded.

“Why should I?”

Arthur hit him again. “Because I shouldn’t have to waste my time teaching my servant how to do his job.” He paused, then struck Merlin a third time, delighting in the red stripes appearing across Merlin’s back.

Merlin cried out, clenched his jaw, then groaned, “Thank you.”

“What? I didn’t hear you.” The stick fell across Merlin’s shoulders again.

“Thank you,” Merlin said much louder this time, falling to his hands.

Arthur stood over him, watching the way Merlin’s muscles rippled as he panted with the pain. He wanted nothing more than to keep going, but Merlin had done as he'd asked. Stepping forward, Arthur took a fistful of Merlin’s hair and pulled his head back until his mouth was resting next to Merlin’s ear.

“Let’s go or we’ll be walking all night.” He released Merlin roughly and threw the stick down, then started off in the direction of Camelot.

“Yes, My Lord.” Slowly, Merlin stood, picked up his shirt, and followed.

Chapter 3

“I can’t believe we have to spend the night in the forest,” Arthur said, staring at the twinkling lights of Camelot in the distance.

“For the eighth time, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t change the fact that we’re out here with no food, no blankets, and no supplies.” As though to illustrate his point, Arthur’s stomach growled loudly.

“If you’re so hungry, you could try to catch us something, or scavenge for food.”

“What am I supposed to hunt with? My sword and crossbow were with the horses. And I don’t know anything about what I can and can’t eat out here. Do you want me to get sick?”

“No, I want you to stop complaining.” Merlin dumped the armful sticks he’d gathered into a pile.

“What are you planning on doing with those? Because it’s much too wet out here to start a fire, even if we had the flint to spark one.”

Grasping a stick in his hands, Merlin snapped it in half and growled, “Do you want me to try to make things better or not? Because if all you’re going to do is bitch–”

“Bitch?!” Arthur sputtered. “I am a Prince. I don’t bitch. It’s my job to note issues and direct others on how to implement solutions.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing? Because it sounds an awful lot like bitching to me,” Merlin said. “If you’re so good at coming up with solutions, why can’t you think of one that will lead to you complaining less?”

“You know what, Merlin? You’re right. I should do something to take the edge off, make this miserable experience a little more enjoyable.” Stepping forward, Arthur leaned in toward Merlin. “Something like punishing you.”

“That’s not fun,” Merlin protested.

“Not for you,” Arthur replied. “But I’ve been having fun with it lately.” He smiled down at Merlin. “In fact, if I didn’t know you better, I’d think you’d want to be punished with how often you mess up.”

“I don’t mean to mess up so much, you know. I try, I really do,” Merlin said quietly.

“Well, clearly, you’re not trying hard enough. I’m not asking you to fetch me the moon, Merlin, I’m asking you to watch the horses. Any simpleton can manage to keep track of a horse.”

Fury swept his features as Merlin yelled, “If these things are so easy then what do you even need me for? Fetch your breakfast, mend your clothes, act as your target practice. If these things really are as simple as you say they are, then why does the great Prince Arthur need a simpleton like me?”

“I told you already. It’s because you’re fun.” Merlin frowned but Arthur stepped closer. “I’ve been waited on every day since the moment I was born. Anytime someone else makes a mistake, they apologize, they grovel, they beg for forgiveness. Not you, though. You make excuses. Try to convince me that the wrong way is right. Argue with me about having to do it again. It just makes it so much more enjoyable when I put you in the stocks or make you scrub the floor or whatever else I come up with to please me that day.”

“So you like when I do things wrong because you like punishing me?” Merlin said slowly. He shook his head. “There’s something wrong with you.”

With a smile, Arthur stepped forward. Merlin tried to take a hurried step back but Arthur reached out and grabbed a handful of his shirt, pulling him close. “Do you see what I mean when I say that it seems like you want to be punished? I just told you how I delight in reprimanding you, and you insult me for it. What do you expect me to do with that? You’re literally asking me to do it.”

“You could let me go back to making the fire.” Merlin gave a hopeful smile.

“But then you wouldn’t learn anything and we can’t have that. Remember, you haven’t even earned the right to stand in my presence yet, but here you are. Another indiscretion I’m going to have to address.” In a single, practiced motion, Arthur shoved Merlin, causing him to fall roughly to the ground.

“Ow! That hurt, you asshole!” Merlin tried to sit up but Arthur put a boot to his shoulder and shoved him back down.

Clucking his tongue, Arthur said, “There’s that mouth again. So dirty. Does your mother know this is how you speak to your Prince?”

“Does your father know you like sticking your dick in other boys' mouths?”

Arthur couldn’t say anything, instead opening and closing his mouth like a fish pulled from water. Finally, he sputtered out, “If you ever mention that to anyone, you won’t have to worry about me punishing you anymore because you will never be allowed to set foot in Camelot ever again.”

“So he doesn’t know.”

Sinking to one knee, Arthur wrapped a warning hand around Merlin’s throat. “I said shut up about that.”

Merlin said nothing but the knowing look in his eyes and the smile that played across his lips enraged Arthur either way.

“You are the most annoying man I’ve ever met. Sometimes I wish I could turn you into a bug and crush you beneath my heel.” With a huff, he pushed himself off Merlin and stomped away a few yards, stopping to cross his arms and glare at the lights that were Camelot. Why had he let himself indulge in that fantasy? It hadn’t even been a day and already it looked like that decision was going to bite him in the ass.

The smell of smoke and the sound of popping and crackling finally pulled him from his thoughts. Turning, he blinked in surprise at the fire Merlin was kneeling next to, slowly feeding it sticks.

“How–?”

“Not completely useless, am I, Sire?” Merlin asked.

“I–No, I suppose not.” Arthur stepped closer to the flames. It was still a small fire, barely able to cast any warmth, but still it chased the damp from the air around them. “Thank you, Merlin.”

He didn’t say anything in reply, instead silently watching as Arthur sat across the fire. They were quiet for a long time, the only noise being the steady roar of the flames as the fire gradually grew. Eventually, Merlin cut the quiet by saying, “I’m not going to tell anyone, you know.”

Arthur said nothing, just stared into the flames.

“I’m bad at a lot of things, but I’m not bad at secrets. Believe it or not, there’s quite a few I’ve been keeping.”

“Like what?”

Merlin laughed. “I’m not that easy. My point is, I may be terrible at mending and cleaning and keeping track of your schedule, but you can trust me. If there’s one thing you can believe in, I hope it’s that you can trust me.”

“Thank you, Merlin,” Arthur said, though he didn’t look at him. He didn’t feel like talking anymore, so Arthur laid down and closed his eyes, waiting for sleep.

~ ~ ~

He woke later, though how much later he couldn’t quite say. The moon had risen high, which was good because the fire was burning low, not much more than embers now, allowing the cold and damp to settle into his clothes.

Sitting up, Arthur went to the pile of sticks Merlin had gathered earlier and started piling them on top of the spots of the fire still glowing orange. While he’d expected the fire to come back, the dampness of the wood seemed to be having the opposite effect, causing the last remaining bits of the fire to sputter and die. Arthur cursed softly and blew on the embers. They glowed brightly under his breath but didn’t catch, fading quickly anytime he stopped to take a breath. After several, long minutes Arthur had managed nothing but smoke and the feeling of being extremely light headed. Sitting back, he marveled at Merlin’s ability to start the fire earlier. He’d thought that if Merlin had managed it he would have been able to, but clearly it was more complicated than he thought. Perhaps he didn’t give his manservant enough credit.

Looking across the fire, Arthur noticed Merlin’s sleeping form, curled on its side and trembling slightly, and it was no wonder. Merlin usually wore the same thin, ragged clothing day in and day out, meaning they were all but useless against the cold. Arthur was also chilly but his thick leather pants and tightly woven shirt was a much better match against the damp.

With a sigh, Arthur rose and moved around to the other side of the fire, settling down near Merlin. Originally, he’d planned on just laying next to Merlin in hopes that their approximation would allow for shared body heat, but now that he was closer he saw how intensely Merlin was shivering, muscle spasms wracking his entire body. Arthur hesitated for a moment, then pressed himself into Merlin’s back, wrapping his arms around Merlin.

“Ar-Arthur?” Merlin’s teeth audibly clacked together.

He’d been hoping Merlin was asleep, but with how ice cold his skin was and how hard he was shaking, there wasn’t any surprise he wasn’t. “You’re cold,” was all Arthur said. Merlin nodded and they laid quietly until, slowly, Merlin’s body started to relax and the tremors disappeared.

“Thank you,” Merlin said. Arthur started to pull away now that Merlin was better but Merlin grabbed his arm. “I’ll get cold again.”

Arthur settled back in place, resting his cheek on Merlin’s shoulder blade, feeling the rise and fall of his back with each breath. It was, strangely, relaxing and his eyes slowly drifted shut.

~ ~ ~

When Arthur woke the next morning, he found himself flat on his back with Merlin sprawled across his chest, snoring softly. Arthur stayed still for a long moment, reveling in the warmth of Merlin’s body, but then he noticed how his dick was hard and straining against his pants. Shoving Merlin off of him, Arthur got up and said loudly, “Can’t be laying around all day, Merlin.”

Disoriented, Merlin laid on the ground, blinking in the morning sun before slowly sitting up. “Camelot’s not going anywhere.”

“No, but we were supposed to get back yesterday. We’re looking into all those animal deaths, remember? I need to ask my father and Gaius about the bodies we saw.” Arthur purposefully kept his back toward Merlin so he wouldn’t see how Arthur’s dick was clearly outlined in his pants. Behind him, he heard Merlin stand and stretch.

“Can we at least look for breakfast first? I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.”

“Absolutely, Merlin. Who cares about the slaughter of a dozen animals and the potential danger of Camelot’s citizens when your stomach is empty?”

“I’m not trying to say that’s not important, but after all the walking we did yesterday and how far we still need to go, I’m going to need energy. Don’t pretend like you’re not hungry, too.”

“Of course I’m hungry! But neither of us deserve to eat until we’ve made it back.” Arthur’s dick was starting to soften so he turned and marched past Merlin, starting his way back to Camelot.

“Just because you’re a masochist doesn’t mean I am,” Merlin said to his back.

“I’m not a masochist,” Arthur growled.

“What do you prefer then?” Merlin asked as he started to follow. “Deviant? Sadist? Pervert?”

Arthur whirled around, grabbed Merlin, and shoved him against a tree. “Are you trying to piss me off?”

“Of course not, My Lord.”

“Then what are you trying to do?”

“Nothing, My Lord.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes, frowning at the smile that played on Merlin’s lips. Lips that looked so soft, so kissable…

“I’ll be more mindful about what I say in the future. I don’t want to get my mouth washed out again.” Merlin said this with such mock innocence it sent Arthur reeling. It was one thing for Arthur to independently want to shove his cock in Merlin’s mouth, it was a complete other for Merlin to ask for it.

Pressing himself closer to Merlin, Arthur growled, “You truly are a complete idiot, aren’t you? Even with everything laid out in front of you, you can’t act right. I’m at a loss for what to do with you.”

“I know something you can do with me,” Merlin said with a smirk.

“Are–are you flirting?” Arthur sputtered. Merlin shrugged. “Well, stop it or I’ll make you regret it.”

Releasing Merlin, he started back toward Camelot. Still, he heard Merlin say half to himself, “Promise?”

Turning back to him, Arthur pointed at him and yelled, “I know what you’re doing!”

“What am I doing?” Merlin asked, blue eyes wide.

“You’re acting like you like the things I’ve been doing so I’ll be less likely to do them the next time you mess up. Well, that’s not going to work on me. You’re getting whatever punishment I see fit no matter what.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Arthur felt like strangling Merlin, but seeing as he couldn’t do that he decided on the next best thing. “Take your clothes off,” he commanded.

Suppressing a smirk, Merlin did as he was asked, but his smile dropped from his lips when Arthur snatched his clothes from his hands and immediately tore at them, creating large rips in the cloth.

“What are you doing?” Merlin yelled.

“You only seem to truly learn your lesson when I humiliate you,” Arthur said matter of factly as he continued to tear the clothes to shreds, dropping the torn pieces to the ground. “Therefore, you can walk back to Camelot naked. Don’t worry, I’ll let you keep your silly little scarf, though, for all the good it’ll do you.”

Merlin said nothing, simply staring at the remains of his clothes on the ground, mouth slightly open.

Arthur reveled in the horrified look on Merlin’s face for a moment before saying, “Alright, let’s go. We’re wasting daylight and you said you were hungry, didn’t you? Start walking.” He started toward Camelot, slapping Merlin on the ass to hurry him along. Hesitantly, Merlin followed.

Chapter 4

The knights were the first ones to see them walking through the gates of the castle, Arthur striding along with a content look on his face while Merlin hurried after him, using his single square of cloth to do his best to cover himself, his face red from the looks and laughs of the townspeople they had already encountered.

“Forget something, Merlin?” Gwaine called from where he was warming up for training. Laughter from the other knights echoed behind him.

“Arthur, please, give the poor boy a raise. He can’t even afford a pair of pants!” another knight yelled.

“I don’t know, I sort of like it,” said a third. “Is it a new castle uniform? I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the maids dressed like that.” More laughter exploded from the group.

“Are you going to stand there letting them leer at you all day or are you going to go put some clothes on?” Arthur admonished, looking Merlin up and down, committing the sight to memory.

“I–uh–Yes, Sire.” Merlin scampered off amid the jeers and shouts from the knights, who had started to gather at the sight.

“So, what happened?” Gwaine asked as Arthur approached the fence that ringed the training yard.

“What do you mean?”

“You two leave yesterday for something that was only supposed to take the afternoon, only to come back the next day with no horses and no clothes?”

“I’m wearing clothes.”

“And what happened to Merlin's?”

Arthur shrugged, folding his arms and leaning against the fence. “You know how Merlin is. He’s always losing things.”

“So he just…lost his clothes somehow? They just went away?”

Nodding, Arthur said, “Pretty much.”

Gwaine laughed and said, “You’re so obvious when you lie. You made Merlin do that, didn’t you?” Arthur started to protest but Gwaine cut him off. “Don’t even try to deny it. I’ve watched you punish Merlin plenty of times in the past. I recognize your mark.”

“I don’t have a mark.”

“Yes you do. You love punishing Merlin, especially in ways that will humiliate him. Remember when you made him perform both parts of that romance play in front of the entire court? With the dress and everything?”

Arthur started to smile at the memory of Merlin reciting poetry to himself then passionately kissing his own hand before quickly wiping his face blank. “So what? He’s my manservant. That’s what he’s supposed to do.”

“I don’t know,” Gwaine said, shaking his head. “I see the way you look at him. It’s more than just him being a manservant for you.”

Was he really that obvious in the pleasure he took from causing Merlin to suffer? Face reddening, he pushed himself away from the fence, snapping, “Don’t you have training to do?”

“Of course, My Liege.” With a small bow, Gwaine stepped back from the fence and joined the rest of the knights, who had resumed their training.

Scowling, Arthur made his way to the throne room. His father did not look pleased to see him.

“Arthur,” Uther said shortly when he saw his son standing before him. “You’ve finally returned. What kept you?”

“My apologizes, Your Highness. I would have returned sooner, but unfortunately our horses were…misplaced.”

“Misplaced?”

“Yes.”

“And how does one misplace a horse?”

To anyone who didn’t know Uther Pendragon, they might have taken his tone to be cool and casual, but Arthur, who knew his father very, very well, recognized the seething rage that simmered just below the surface.

“Father, I saw at least five bodies that were completely ripped apart for seemingly no reason–”

“Which is why it was important for you to come back to Camelot, to warn us of impending danger and make it so we can prevent tragedy from happening. That is your duty, as the Crown Prince, a duty you have failed.”

Arthur’s heart dropped. He had failed his duty? “What happened?” he asked. “Did the creature kill someone?”

“Thankfully, no, but it did attack late last night. We were able to fight it off, but barely.” Uther rose from his throne. “You should have been here. Your people needed you.”

“You’re right. I should have. I’m sorry.”

“‘Sorry’ will not undo the injury that has been caused. This might have been something I could write off as a mistake of youth, but no longer. You’re getting older and I need to hold you to higher standards. I need to properly prepare you to take the throne when I pass.”

Arthur let out a little laugh and said, “Father, there’s plenty of time–”

“No, there’s not,” Uther snapped. “That was one of my father’s biggest mistakes when raising me, he coddled me too much, didn’t give me enough guidance, assumed he would always be there for me. When he passed, I was woefully unprepared. I made stupid mistakes, many of them, in my first years. I will not let that happen to you. You will become the King I see fit to rule Camelot, or else I may have to consider what is truly best for the future of the kingdom.”

Heart pounding in his chest, Arthur bowed deeply as he said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Now, let’s make plans about this creature. If it ends up attacking again tonight, I want to be ready for it.”

~ ~ ~

Arthur was on Merlin the moment he stepped into Arthur’s rooms, shoving him back against the wall, knocking the food he was carrying from his hands and causing it to spill across the floor. The metal plate he was carrying hit the stone with a loud clang, rolling halfway across the room before hitting a table leg and falling over with a clatter.

“This is all your fault,” Arthur growled, kicking the door closed and pushing himself up close to Merlin.

“Wh-what is?”

“The creature attacked last night. It injured over a dozen people, and I wasn’t there. Now my father thinks I’m barely fit to rule, all because of your incompetence. If you weren’t so stupid as to have let the horses get away, I could have protected them.”

Merlin’s shoulders slumped. “I know. Several people are still in Gaius’ chambers, waiting to be treated. I was just bringing you something to eat before I went back to helping them.”

“You don’t deserve to help them,” Arthur said, giving Merlin a shake. “This is your fault.”

“Don’t you think I know that? But I can’t just stand here when they’re hurt. I have to do something.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You can’t even watch horses, you think you’re good enough to treat these people, my people? Absolutely not. You’re not allowed to lay a finger on a single one of them.”

“But, I can–”

“No, you can’t. Don’t you understand? You’re incompetent, useless.”

Merlin looked as though he wanted to argue before a look of defeat fell over him. “You’re right,” he whispered, getting a far off look in his eye. “Everything I have ever been tasked to do, I have failed miserably at. It is my destiny to serve the once and future king, to assist him to greatness, but there’s always so much happening in my head it’s nearly impossible to keep everything straight.” He shook his head, muttering to himself but Arthur couldn’t make out the words.

Arthur frowned at him. What was Merlin babbling on about? Destiny? Once and future kings? Had he somehow convinced himself he’d been divinely selected to be Arthur’s servant or something–it wouldn’t be the first time Arthur had met religious fanatics who treated his every movement like it had been decided by God. Whatever it was, clearly Merlin wasn’t right in the head, which made sense based on his…everything.

“I think there’s only one thing left to do,” Arthur said, releasing Merlin and stepping back. Merlin looked up at him but didn’t raise his head. “Merlin, you’re banished from Camelot.”

“What? No, you can’t do that, no.”

“Yes, I can.”

“But…but why?”

“You know why.”

“Fire me, sure, but banishment? Arthur, you’re going to banish me?”

“I have to,” Arthur said, turning and crossing the room so he didn’t have to look at Merlin anymore. “You’ve proven yourself to be a horrible manservant and I don’t want you treating patients anymore.”

“So that means I have to leave Camelot forever? Why?”

Because I wouldn’t be able to live knowing you were so close yet I couldn’t touch you. “Because you’re notorious for getting into trouble and doing the exact opposite of what I tell you to. Therefore, the only thing I can do is send you far enough away that I won't have to worry about you anymore.”

“No, I…no.” Arthur could hear the tears in Merlin’s voice and he hunched his shoulders, keeping his back turned. “Ask me to do anything, Arthur, and I will do it. I will live for you, I will kill for you, I will die for you. Any task, any quest, any punishment you see fit to give me, I will take it gratefully. But, please. Not this. Not this one thing. I will do, I will take, I will give anything. Anything but this.”

Arthur turned sharply on his heel, an insult on his lips, but it died when he saw how Merlin was kneeling before him, cheeks streaked with tears and fear in his deep blue eyes and in that moment Arthur saw that what Merlin believed was true. Arthur had had a lot of people look at him like he was their king and their savior and their everything, but not in the way Merlin did. For a brief moment, Arthur could see the thread that tied between them, the way they were intertwined in a way that could never break. Dozens of people had pledged their lives to him in the past and dozens more were sure to come in the future, but Arthur could see now that Merlin did not pledge his life to his Prince in the same way the knights did, with the loyalty and obedience that was expected from nobility, but in the way a wife did in how Merlin saw every flaw in the man who stood before him yet was desperate to stay by him despite them.

Slowly, Arthur reached out and took Merlin by the hand, pulling him up to stand, never breaking their gaze. He looked at Merlin for a long moment before leaning forward and kissing him. Merlin’s mouth was stiff under his and he trembled at Arthur’s touch and for a split second fear cut through Arthur, fear that he had yet again made the wrong decision and he wanted to pull back, but something screamed at him not to. Something told him that, after the devotion Merlin had showed, he need to do something to prove he was also serious in this act so instead he pushed himself forward, pulling Merlin in close and wrapping his arms around Merlin’s waist. Merlin’s mouth opened in surprise, allowing Arthur to deepen the kiss, trying to put everything into this that he didn’t know how to put into words. He felt Merlin’s hands on his shoulders and for a moment he thought Merlin was going to push him away but then Merlin’s hands were in his hair, threading through the strands and curling in pleasure.

Humming softly, Arthur continued to kiss Merlin, gently working his tongue into Merlin’s mouth, until Merlin forced it back out, pressing his own tongue into Arthur’s mouth, causing Arthur’s heart to beat faster and his dick to start to swell. He loved it when Merlin defied him. He started to press Merlin back but Merlin tripped over his own feet and would have fallen if he hadn’t been so entangled with the Prince. With a growl of frustration, Arthur hooked an arm around each of Merlin’s legs and picked him up, wrapping Merlin’s legs around his hips as he started to kiss Merlin’s throat while making his way toward the bed.

“U-uh, Arthur,” Merlin squeaked.

“Shut up,” Arthur muttered back before throwing Merlin down on the bed. “You’re too stupid to be my manservant, not trustworthy enough to allow around the subjects, and too pathetic to send out into the world. I guess that means I’m going to have to come up with a new job for you, one you’ll actually be competent enough to handle. Luckily for you, I have just the position.”

“Hairdresser?” Merlin asked with a nervous laugh.

Arthur smiled down at him and said, “No, I think you’ll do much better as a Royal Consort.”

Merlin frowned. “What’s that?”

“Really? Are you seriously so thick that you don’t know what that is?” Arthur scowled, fighting the blood that rushed to his face as he explained through gritted teeth, “It means that it’ll be your job to have sex with me.”

“O-oh.” It suddenly seemed as though Merlin was incapable of meeting Arthur’s gaze. “Well, that, uh–”

Anger flashed inside Arthur. “What’s wrong, Merlin?” he chided. Surging forward, he pressed a hand against Merlin’s chest and shoved him back down on the bed from where he had been starting to sit up, Arthur pressing his body against the full of Merlin’s length. “Weren’t you just on your knees begging for me to come up with any excuse to keep you?”

“I–uh–yes–” Merlin panted, his breath dancing across Arthur’s cheek.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Merlin tried to say something several times before finally being able to choke out, “When do I start?”

“Right now,” Arthur replied, kissing him again. “Take off your clothes.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, of course, all of them.”

Merlin rose from the bed and stripped until he was standing in the middle of the room naked. He clearly felt awkward despite it only being the two of them and having been fully naked in front of all of Camelot only a few hours beforehand, shifting how he was standing several times before coming to rest with his hands clasped in front of him, covering himself as he had earlier. Arthur slowly circled him, watching him squirm and noticing the faint marks on his back that was the lesson Arthur had taught him the day before.

“You liked when the knights were looking at you earlier, didn’t you?” Arthur finally asked.

“No, of course not.”

“Really? Is that why you stood around and let them gawk at you before you finally went and put clothes on?”

“I wasn’t–”

“Things are going to change around here,” Arthur said, coming around behind Merlin and putting a hand to the back of Merlin’s neck, encouraging him to his knees. “If you thought I owned and controlled you before, that was nothing compared to what I have planned for you. Since you cause so much trouble, I’m going to have to keep you on a very tight leash. You’re not in a position where you can afford anymore mistakes, do you understand?” Merlin nodded. “Good. From now on, all I want you to do is listen to what I say and do exactly as I tell you. I know you struggle with simple instructions, but I’ll try to keep them easy enough that even a simpleton like you can manage it.” Merlin nodded again. “Close your eyes.”

Arthur watched as Merlin’s breath quickened at that command, most likely imagining several things Arthur could do to him, but did as he was asked.

“Open your mouth.” Merlin’s lips quivered but he opened his mouth anyway, visibly squirming, causing Arthur to smile widely at his discomfort. Quietly, Arthur sank into a chair, eyes locked on Merlin. “Now, make yourself cum.”

“Wha–?” Merlin furrowed his brow and started to open his eyes but Arthur snapped, “Keep your eyes shut.”

“I don’t understand,” Merlin said.

“What don’t you understand? I feel I was fairly clear in my instruction.”

“But…isn’t this all about making you…?”

“Why, Merlin, I didn’t realize you were such a slut,” Arthur teased. “There will be plenty of time for that later, and this is about making me happy not making me finish.”

“And watching me finish will make you happy?”

“Watching you will make you embarrassed and uncomfortable and that, in turn, will make me very, very happy.”

Merlin scowled. “You’re an asshole.”

Arthur rose off his chair, leaned in close to Merlin’s ear, and whispered, “And yet you were the one who asked to be here.” Sinking back into his chair, Arthur snapped, “Now, get to it.”

The scowl sank into full on contempt but Arthur noticed the way the hands that covered Merlin’s privates were starting to move, to gently rub back and forth. Merlin had been kneeling on the hard stone floor but now he sat back against his heels, a slight frown settling on his lips as he began to stroke himself. Slowly, Merlin’s cock started to stiffen and grow, Arthur biting his lip as he took in the sight, but as Merlin’s brows pinched together, Arthur could see a problem running through the tightness in Merlin’s muscles. Silently, Arthur rose then came to a crouch behind Merlin, thinking he had gone unnoticed until he leaned too close and Merlin stiffened at the feel of Arthur’s breath on his skin.

“You’re too tense,” Arthur said quietly. “You’ll never get a moment of pleasure like this.”

“I don’t–”

“Be quiet and just do as I say,” Arthur snapped before reaching out and placing a hand on Merlin’s shoulder, who somehow tensed even more than he already was. “Take a deep breath and relax.” Though Arthur could tell this was difficult for Merlin, he still obeyed and Arthur could feel Merlin’s muscles loosen under his touch. Gently, he let his hand drift down Merlin’s arm toward the hand that was still wrapped around Merlin’s cock. Merlin started to tense again but Arthur commanded, “Relax. Now, go slow.” His chest pressed to Merlin’s back, Arthur slowly guided Merlin’s hand up and down. Merlin’s cock responded almost immediately, becoming fully erect and causing Merlin to gasp. Arthur couldn’t help but smirk. Together, they moved their hands up and down, pushing Merlin closer and closer, Arthur watching the expressions Merlin was making, his face only inches away. When he finally felt Merlin had been good enough, Arthur swiped his thumb over the head of Merlin’s cock at the top of their stroke, slick with precum. Merlin could only manage to choke out what Arthur assumed was his name before Merlin was cumming, white squirting thickly out onto the stone floor. When he was done, he collapsed back into Arthur, chest heaving.

Arthur smiled into Merlin’s slightly sweat-soaked hair and said, “Yes, I think this job fits you much better.”

Chapter 5

Arthur returned to his chambers that evening just to find them woefully empty. He gritted his teeth, glaring at the bed where he had left Merlin, different punishments rising to the front of his mind, when the door to his room opened and Merlin strode in.

“Where have you been?” Arthur snapped.

“Kitchens,” Merlin replied, showing the plate of food he was holding.

“Did I tell you you could go to the kitchens?”

“Well…no, but–”

“There is no ‘but’,” Arthur snapped. He pulled the plate from Merlin’s hands, tossing it down on the table and letting food scatter across its surface before pulling Merlin in close. “I genuinely do not understand how this is so difficult for you to comprehend. I tell you to do something, you do it. Every other person in the castle seems to understand, and yet you struggle to even stay in one place.”

“I got bored,” Merlin whined. “And hungry. You left hours ago. What else was I supposed to do?”

“You were supposed to wait here like I commanded.” Arthur frowned at Merlin, thinking, then said, “Go down to the armory, get me a length of chain and a pair of locks.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see. Now go.”

Merlin pulled a face but left. Arthur flopped down in his chair, picking food off the table and throwing it back on the plate, eating some of it in the process. The plate was completely clean by the time Merlin got back, Arthur not realizing how hungry he was until he had started eating.

“Where’s my food?” Merlin asked, dropping the chain onto the table, links clinking loudly.

“You have much bigger things to worry about than food,” Arthur said, standing. He picked up one of the locks and the length of chain, draping it around Merlin’s neck.

“What are you–?” Merlin started to ask as Arthur snapped the lock shut, twisting the key and pulling it from the lock. Then, he wrapped the chain around his hand, twisting it to pull Merlin closer.

“Now I don’t have to worry about you wandering off,” Arthur said with a smirk, letting his lips brush against Merlin’s. Merlin shivered at the sensation then pressed his lips to Arthur’s, kissing him deeply and sliding his tongue into Arthur’s mouth.

Arthur broke the kiss and took several steps back, tugging on the chain to encourage Merlin to follow. He did, stumbling along like a lovesick puppy, climbing onto the bed after Arthur, who kissed him again, pushing him down into the pillows. He kissed his way down Merlin’s jaw to his throat, causing Merlin to moan his name.

“Shut up,” Arthur growled, pulling Merlin’s scarf from around his throat and stuffing it in his mouth. “Be quiet and don’t move. You can manage that much, can’t you?” Merlin nodded and groaned in response.

Arthur went back to kissing Merlin’s throat, running his hands down Merlin’s chest until he reached the end of Merlin’s shirt, slipping his hands under the fabric and pressing his palms to Merlin’s cool skin. Merlin moaned again, gripping Arthur’s shoulders and gently flexing his hips. Arthur smiled against his skin as he felt Merlin starting to harden beneath him. He pushed Merlin’s shirt up and started to kiss the skin of his chest, Merlin sighing into his scarf.

“Can you seriously not be quiet for five minutes?” Arthur asked.

Merlin gave an angry grunt and started to pull his scarf from his mouth to reply but Arthur grabbed his hands, pulling them above his head.

“Oh, no, I don’t want to hear your stupid little comments. I want you to do as you're told. If you make another sound, you will be punished.” Arthur glared at Merlin until he nodded then went back to kissing Merlin’s chest, releasing his hands. Arthur watched Merlin closely as he did so, waiting for him to make a sound, but Merlin seemed determined this time, holding Arthur’s gaze and taking slow, deep breaths to control himself.

Arthur was pleased Merlin was finally making an effort to do as he was told for once, wondering how much effort it would take to teach him to be more consistent in this. He remembered Merlin on his knees in the forest as Arthur struck him, as Arthur shoved his cock in Merlin’s mouth, as Merlin made himself cum. He wanted Merlin to be more obedient, yes, but certainly not too much.

Which was why he was now doing his best to make Merlin disobey the instructions he had just been given. Slipping his hands down Merlin’s body, Arthur ran his fingers over Merlin’s hardening cock while he swirled his tongue over Merlin’s nipple, sucking and gently biting at times. He heard Merlin breathing harder but he didn’t break.

Yet.

Slipping his hand under the waist of Merlin’s pants, Arthur took Merlin in his hand and pulled his dick out, starting to stroke it. Merlin’s back arched and Arthur noticed Merlin digging his fingers into the bedspread as his head tipped back, still fighting to stay quiet.

What a good boy, Arthur thought. I love torturing him.

Arthur moved his hand faster, pulling back from kissing Merlin so he could watch the war battling across Merlin’s face; pleasure from Arthur’s touch verses the pain of fighting against his body’s natural responses. Arthur paused in stroking Merlin to swipe his thumb over the tip of Merlin’s head, swirling the precum that was building there, causing Merlin to finally break, his moan loud even through the cloth stuffed in his mouth.

Smiling, Arthur started to scold Merlin, but before he could say a word, bells started clanging loudly throughout the castle. Swearing, Arthur lept from the bed and ran to the window, looking outside for a brief moment before going to where his sword was propped next to his desk, strapping it around his waist.

“What’s happening?” Merlin asked.

“The creature’s back.” Merlin started to rise from the bed but Arthur shoved him back down. “Stay here.”

“I want to help!”

“No. You do nothing but make trouble.” Grabbing the chain, Arthur threaded the free end around one of the posters of his bed and locked it, securing Merlin to the bed, then tossed the keys on the desk. “There. Now I don’t have to worry about you disobeying me.” There was a loud roar outside and Arthur started to leave but paused, bending over to press a kiss to Merlin’s lips. “Be good. I’ll be back.” Turning, Arthur raced out of his chambers and down the hall, ignoring Merlin calling after him.

He ran through the castle and down the stairs until he was out in the courtyard, the creature’s screech echoing off the stones. Arthur skidded to a stop, staring up at it; it looked like a dragon, with its scales and wings and massive lizard-like body, except for the fact that it had three heads. They roared and snapped at the knights surrounding its legs, stabbing and slashing at the creatures body and legs. Arthur raced toward the fight as a head came down, slamming into Gwaine’s shield, knocking him to the ground and causing his sword to fly from his hand and skitter across the cobblestones. It was all he could do to hold onto the shield with both hands, desperately fighting against the head snapping at him.

With a roar, Arthur sprung forward, drawing his sword and swinging it down, cleanly slicing off the creature’s head. It screamed and stumbled back, the two other heads roaring over the loss of their brother. Arthur grabbed Gwaine under the arms and swiftly retreated, pulling Gwaine out from under the stomping feet of the creature.

“Thank you, My Lord,” Gwaine said.

“Don’t thank me yet, that thing is still alive.” As soon as he said that, screams from the other knights erupted. Arthur turned in time to see the severed neck of the creature start to writhe, then split. “By the Gods,” Arthur whispered as three more heads burst from the place the first had been.

The creature drew itself up, grumbling in a way that almost sounded like a laugh, five heads writhing around each other. The heads drew back and opened their mouths, a glow growing in their throats.

“Take cover!” Arthur screamed. Arthur grabbed Gwaine’s shield and pulled it over them, shoving Gwaine down and looking out just enough to watch the carnage the creature was wrecking. Explosion after explosion erupted, fire bursting from all five mouths and scorching the castle walls and windows. One fireball crashed through an upper story window, causing the entire room to burst into flames.

Arthur stared at the window, horrified, knowing exactly whose room it was. He was frozen for a moment before bursting into motion, throwing the shield off of him and running back inside.

“Merlin!” he screamed as he raced up the stairs toward his room, throwing the door open and stumbling back as smoke and heat poured out. “Merlin!” he yelled again, fighting against the smoke billowing around him. Burying his nose and mouth into the crook of his elbow, Arthur threw himself into the flames, fighting his way toward the bed, the sheets and pillows crackling with fire. Arthur stared at it, mind working at its emptiness, when he caught sight of the chain, trailing around the bed and out of sight. Quickly, he rushed around to the other side of the bed to find Merlin lying on the floor, unmoving.

“Merlin!” Kneeling on the floor next to him, Arthur shook Merlin’s shoulder frantically, doing his best not to cough as smoke seeped into his nose and the heat scorched his throat, panic rising as Merlin’s eyes stayed closed. Finally, though, they fluttered.

“Arthur…” he groaned, his voice barely audible over the crackle of the flames.

“Merlin! Get up, we need to go.” Arthur tugged at Merlin’s arm but he barely shifted.

“The chain…,” he groaned.

Swearing, Arthur looked toward his desk where he had tossed the keys, only to find it covered in flames. Turning back toward the bed, he grabbed at the chain, pulling at it over and over again, kicking at the poster to try to break it, but the bed had been made too well, the posters too thick. He had to drop the chain after a minute, the heat of the metal searing his skin.

“I-I can’t break it,” Arthur said, his mind working. He needed to think of something, needed to save Merlin. He had already let people get hurt, and even more were in trouble right now, so he needed to save someone, to ensure that he was supposed to be Prince. How could he help his people if he couldn’t even save the person he loved?

Merlin lifted his hand to his throat, fingering the links wrapped there, lips moving silently. Kneeling down next to him, Arthur asked, “What did you say?”

“Help…me…” The lock shattered like glass, causing the chain to slip from around Merlin’s throat and fall to the ground. Arthur stared at it, then sprung to motion, slipping one of Merlin’s arms over his shoulders and pulling him to stand, Arthur stumbled toward the door and out into the hall. They both coughed and gasped at the fresh air, making their way down the hall and away from the flames.

“The creature…what is it…” Merlin asked, his voice starting to come back stronger now that the air was clear.

“I’m not sure,” Arthur said as they started to make their way down the stairs. “It looks like a dragon, but it has three heads. Well, it did…”

“A dragon…” Merlin dug his heels into the floor, forcing Arthur to stop. “Take me outside.”

“Absolutely not. You need to see Gaius.”

“Do you want the creature gone?”

Arthur stared at Merlin, his mouth opening and closing.

“Exactly. Take me outside.”

Arthur glanced in the direction of Gaius’ chambers, wanting to make sure Merlin was okay but knowing Merlin would force his way outside if that was where he truly wanted to be. With a grunt of frustration, Arthur turned and helped Merlin toward the courtyard.

The courtyard was covered in blood and bodies when they arrived, the creature’s nine heads now screaming to the stars. Arthur tried to keep the two of them hidden behind a cluster of barrels but Merlin fought his way from Arthur’s grasp, limping out into the open area of the courtyard. Arthur threw himself forward and tried to grab Merlin’s hand to pull him back, but his fingers merely grazed Merlin’s sleeve.

“Dragon!” Merlin yelled, catching the attention of all nine heads. They snapped toward him then, slowly, the entire creature turned toward him and stomped forward.

“No!” Arthur cried as the heads opened their jaws, anticipating them baking Merlin alive, but Merlin continued to speak, words in another tongue spilling from his lips. The creature screeched and Merlin screamed back at it, almost as though they were having an argument, then the creature slowly spread its wings and launched into the sky. Within moments, it was gone.

Merlin watched it go, Arthur staring at him in wonderment. What had just happened? Why had the creature left so quickly? Did Merlin have some sort of ability to control it? He looked strong and powerful in the way he stood in the blood-soaked courtyard, but then Merlin's knees weakened and he fell to the cobblestones while Arthur screamed his name.

Chapter 6

Arthur stared out the window, not really seeing anything beyond the glass, jaw working as thoughts raced through his mind so quick it was tough for him to latch onto a single one. He had no idea how long he’d been standing there when a groan caught his attention. Turning, he saw Merlin shifting in his bed, blinking his eyes open.

“Arthur?” he mumbled. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” Arthur asked, stepping up to Merlin’s bed.

“I…remember the bells,” Merlin said slowly. “Then you left to fight the creature…and there was an explosion…” He pushed himself up. “Where’s the creature? Did you kill it?”

“No,” Arthur said. “It got away.”

Merlin frowned. “Oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll get it next time.” He looked up at Arthur then said, “What are you doing here?”

“I saw–,” Arthur started, then stopped, forcing a sarcastic smile onto his face. “You may have forgotten, but my chambers were burned to ashes, so I don’t have a private area to spend my time anymore. Seeing as you’re my manservant, it just makes sense for me to spend my time in yours. Speaking of which, I’m tired, so I would like to lay down.”

Merlin closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them to say tiredly, “Okay.” He pushed back the covers and started to get up but Arthur said, “No. Gaius said you need to rest in order to get back to your duties. I need you in good condition to restore my chambers tomorrow, so move over.”

Kicking off his boots, Arthur laid down on the bed, roughly shoving Merlin to the side, almost causing him to fall out of the narrow bed. Arthur didn’t realize that beds came in such a tiny size, his feet already at the end, or that they were so hard, little more than a slab of wood, and it took lots of shifting between the two before they were able to lay comfortably, both on their sides, Arthur’s chest pressed into Merlin’s back. As Arthur draped an arm over Merlin’s waist, he remembered them being in the forest not that long ago in this very position before his mind flashed to Merlin standing in the courtyard, face lit by the flickering glow of the flames before his eyes rolled back.

“Merlin–,” Arthur started, but stopped when he realized Merlin had already fallen back asleep, his breath slow. Arthur watched him for a long time before rising and slipping his boots back on.

Gaius was standing at the fire in the main room when Arthur came down the stairs, Gaius looking up at him with slight surprise. “Arthur, I didn’t realize you were still here.”

“Yes, I just wanted to make sure Merlin was alright,” he said, his face reddening slightly at having been caught.

“I said he would be the first three times you came to check on him,” Gaius said, trying and failing to keep a knowing smile off his lips. “The other knights should be fine as well. It’s unfortunate we lost lives, but those who were injured were not mortally so.” Gesturing at the pot hanging over the fire, he asked, “Would you like something to drink?”

“That sounds nice,” Arthur said, sitting down at the table. Gaius joined him a moment later, placing a steaming mug in front of Arthur. “Thank you.” He wrapped his hands around the hot mug but didn’t drink, instead staring down at it as he chewed his lip.

“Is there something wrong, Sire?”

“No,” he said, then sighed. “Yes. Maybe. I’m not sure…” Arthur rubbed his head, trying to diffuse the headache building there.

“Anything I can help with?”

Arthur was silent for a long moment, then said slowly, “Gaius, you’ve been my father’s most trusted confidant. If I were to tell you something, could you keep it between us?”

“Of course, Sire.”

“Even if it means keeping something from my father?” Arthur watched Gaius closely, needing to know where his loyalties lied.

Gaius didn’t blink, instead fixing his gaze solidly on Arthur as he said, “You can always have faith in me.”

Arthur nodded, looking back down at his mug as he said, “I…saw Merlin doing…magic.” He had to spit the last word out, not knowing what it and Merlin were doing in the same sentence. He glanced up at Gaius, who had a surprised look on his face, and said, “I know, it’s a ridiculous notion for someone who struggles to even bring me my breakfast, but it’s true.”

“Are you certain, Sire?” Gaius asked. “In the heat of battle, it can be difficult to be certain of anything. The body is in such a heightened state when fighting for survival–”

“I know what I saw!” Arthur snapped, anger rising. “He made metal shatter with a single touch and commanded the creature to leave in some…strange tongue. Merlin…he’s…a sorcerer.” Arthur’s voice broke and he fought against the tears he could feel rising.

“Arthur, I…what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know!” Arthur yelled, then immediately quieted himself, not wanting to wake Merlin. “My whole life, I have been told magic is nothing but evil incarnate, but Merlin…”

“Is the farthest thing from it?”

Arthur snorted and said, “He’s annoying and stupid and loud, but I can’t imagine he would actually learn magic and conspire against the Crown.” Arthur frowned. “Unless, that’s been his plan all along…” His mind started working again, thinking over every interaction they’d ever had since Merlin first came to Camelot.

“Arthur.” His eyes rose to meet Gaius’. “I can assure you, Merlin has had nothing but the best intentions for you since he came here.”

“That may be true, but it doesn’t change the matter of things. If my father were to ever discover Merlin is a sorcerer…”

“Then the answer is simple,” said Gaius. “You have to take this secret with you to the grave.”

With a nod, Arthur finally took a sip from his cup, the drink starting to go cold.

~ ~ ~

“The creature is called a Hydra,” Gaius said to Arthur the next day, opening the book in front of them to a specific page showing an illustration that looked very much like the creature Arthur had fought.

“Okay. So how do we kill it?”

“Well, that’s the thing. Apparently no one has.”

“What do you mean no one has killed it before?”

“You’ve seen what happens when you cut its head off. It’s a bit impervious to mortal shields and blades.”

“I assume you have an idea, though?” Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Right you are, Sire.” Gaius pulled out another book, turning to a page covered with a beautiful purple eight petaled flower. “The drycast, a flower that can be used to create an enchantment so powerful, it will put the creature under your control.”

“Enchantment? As in, magic?”

“Yes, Sire.”

“We can’t do that. Magic is illegal. Besides, how do we know this will even work?”

“It has been used once before, many, many years ago when a fearsome dragon was threatening the kingdom.”

“And who was stupid enough to try using enchantments on a dragon?”

“I believe it was Uther Pendragon.”

“My father? Used magic? On a dragon? I don’t believe it.”

“It was a different time, My Lord. It wasn’t too long ago that magic was used freely in the kingdom. Your mother’s death changed all that.” Arthur stared at the purple of the drycast as Gaius continued to speak. “When your father was unable to beat the dragon, he used this flower to persuade it to sit in a cavern while your father walled it up, trapping the dragon inside. This Hydra may be unkillable, but that doesn’t make it undefeatable. If you get this flower, you could control the Hydra, put it somewhere safe.”

“You’re sure this’ll work? That this is the only way?”

“I believe so, My Lord.”

Arthur took a breath, then said, “Fine. What do I need to do to find it?”

Gaius smiled. “It can be found growing on a small island in the middle of Gwomir Lake.”

“Gwomir Lake? In Lord Byron’s territory?”

“Precisely.”

“Great. Hopefully, he has forgotten about the slight my father made against him.”

“I doubt it. Lord Byron has a long and deep memory, and he does not forget easily. Now, the flower. According to my research, you cannot harvest it under any circumstances. Only in the rain of the silver moon can it be plucked, by the hands of someone truly devoted.”

“What does that mean?”

“I assume it means you. You are devoted to the people of Camelot, are you not?”

“I am.”

“Then you should be enough. You should take Merlin with you, though.” Gaius snapped the book closed, clearing the work area.

“I should? Why?”

Gaius paused. “Because you always do.”

Arthur smirked, then turned and headed up the stairs, loudly throwing Merlin’s door open and rudely waking him from his dreams. “Get up, Merlin, we have work to do.”

“Yes, I need to…clean your chambers,” he said, sitting up and wiping sleep from his eyes.

“No time for that now, we have a quest to complete. Although, I’ll make sure they leave it all for you to clean up when you get back.” He threw Merlin a teasing smirk, who yawned in response. As he watched Merlin slowly climb from bed and pull his boots on, Arthur wondered if what he saw was true, or whether it was, somehow, all a big misunderstanding. “Come on, Merlin. If you move any slower, we can just wait for the Hydra to die of old age.”

Two hours later, they were riding out of Camelot, Merlin still yawning.

“Wake up, Merlin,” Arthur chided. “We have important work to do.”

“Well, most of the next three days is just going to be riding, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but it’s important riding.”

“Sure. Important, boring riding.”

“I’m sure we can think of a way to make things more interesting.”

“You’re not going to make me take my clothes off again, are you?” Merlin groaned.

Arthur smiled at the memory but said, “No. Tell me about growing up in your village.”

“What?”

“Tell me about your village.”

“Why?”

“Well, since I’m fucking you, I thought maybe it would be nice if I knew more about you. Right now, I know you work for me, you live with Gaius, and you used to live with your mother,” Arthur said with a shrug. He was curious what Merlin’s life had been like before Camelot, why he might have been driven to magic.

“Wait, I’ve worked for you for almost three years and that’s seriously all you know about me?” Merlin asked.

Arthur thought for a moment, then said, “Yes. I’m not even really sure why you came to stay with Gaius. He’s not your father, is he?”

With a snort, Merlin said, “No, he’s not my father, he’s just an old friend of my mother’s. I never met my father.” Then, he went on to talk about the village, and his best friend William, who Arthur remembered meeting not long before he died. He suddenly remembered that William had confessed to being a sorcerer shortly before his death–was that who Merlin learned it from?

For the next few hours, Merlin talked, telling story after story, laughing the entire time. It seemed he cared about everyone in his village, so what was it that made him come to Camelot? Still, it couldn’t have been anything bad, could it? It seemed like he had grown up in a good home. Why would he want to learn something as terrible as magic?

Merlin was still talking when they dismounted their horses for lunch. Arthur let him talk for a while before leaning forward and pressing a simple kiss to his lips mid sentence.

“What was that for?” Merlin asked when he pulled away.

“Because for once it’s been nice to hear you talk. I usually don’t like hearing your mouth.” Merlin rolled his eyes and started to turn away but Arthur caught his chin and pulled him back. “Don’t turn away from me, especially when I’m giving you a compliment.”

“You saying that you usually find me talking annoying is a compliment?”

“I didn’t say I found you talking annoying, I said that what you’re currently talking about is less annoying than usual.”

“Again, how is that a compliment?”

Arthur tightened his fingers on Merlin’s jaw and growled, “Do you want me to be nicer to you or not? Because I can find other things for that mouth to do besides speak.”

Merlin’s face reddened and his tongue flicked out to lick his lips. “I appreciate the compliment, My Lord,” he said shakily.

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Arthur went back to kissing Merlin, backing him up until he was pressed against a tree, letting his hands roam over Merlin’s body. As he made his way to Merlin’s throat, his hands starting to slip under Merlin’s clothes, Merlin stuttered out, “D-don’t we have important riding to do?”

“We’re taking a break, but I have something you can ride, if you’re so keen about it.”

That caused Merlin to stutter again before he gave up and just laughed nervously.

“Is that a yes, then?” Arthur murmured into his skin.

“A yes t-to what?”

“To riding me.”

“I–um–uh–i-it’s not a no,” Merlin squeaked.

Arthur pulled back and narrowed his eyes at Merlin. “I don’t like that,” he snapped, winding his fingers around Merlin’s throat again. “I don’t want ‘not a no’, I want ‘yes’. I want more than yes. I want you on your knees begging for me.” He tightened his fingers, feeling Merlin’s pulse quicken under the skin. “When I fuck you, I want it to be because you don’t think you can go another moment without me inside of you. I want it to be the only thing you desire in this world. Do you understand?” Merlin nodded, his breath coming harder, dancing across Arthur’s cheeks. “Good. Now, do you want to ride me or not?”

“Yes,” Merlin panted. “More than anything.”

Arthur smiled, and as his eyes traveled down the length of Merlin’s body, he could see it was true, from the way Merlin bit his lip to how his fingers were gripping the bark of the tree to the way his dick was clearly outline in his pants, pressing tight against the fabric and getting slightly wet at the tip. Bringing his gaze back up to meet Merlin’s, Arthur said, “Good boy. Now, down on your knees.”

Merlin slipped from Arthur’s grasp, sinking to his knees and opening his mouth in a way that sent Arthur from slightly hard to fully erect. He pulled his cock out but couldn’t help reaching out and running his thumb over Merlin’s soft lips before finally placing his dick in Merlin’s mouth. Merlin’s eyes slid closed as he wrapped his lips around Arthur, slowly moving back and forth, going deeper with each thrust. Arthur groaned, the sound wavering through the trees, and he moaned again, louder this time, knowing they were in a rarely traveled part of the forest and no one else was around for miles. Merlin’s mouth was so soft and wet, better than anything he could have dreamed of, and as the pleasure grew, Arthur knew he should stop so he could fuck Merlin properly, but it felt so good, he couldn’t help himself. So instead, Arthur grabbed the back of Merlin’s head and twisted his hair around his fingers, pulling Merlin’s head back as he stepped forward, a foot on each side of Merlin, pressing his dick even deeper into Merlin’s mouth until his hips were flush to Merlin’s face. He heard Merlin choke and felt his hands come up to Arthur’s hips, digging into the flesh and trying to push him away, but Arthur resisted him, thrusting faster and faster until, finally, he was cumming in Merlin’s mouth, harder than he ever had before. Once he was done, he released Merlin, who fell to the forest floor, choking and gasping.

“What–the hell–,” he coughed, nearly retching onto the ground.

Arthur tucked his dick back in his pants and crouched next to Merlin’s crumpled body, reaching out and turning Merlin’s face toward him. “You have the most fuckable mouth,” Arthur whispered as he wiped a mixture of cum and spit from the corner of Merlin’s mouth. Merlin stared at him with wide, horrified eyes. Arthur could feel his cock starting to stir already from the look he was getting and the memory of how good it felt to dominate Merlin like that, but instead Arthur stood and turned toward the horses. “Come, Merlin. We have a quest to complete, don’t we?”

Chapter 7

“Merlin?”

Silence.

“Merlin.”

Nothing.

“Merlin!”

Still, Merlin sat, staring into the fire, ignoring Arthur Pendragon.

“Don’t tell me you’re still mad about yesterday.”

“Of course I’m mad about yesterday!” he burst out.

“Why? What’s there to be mad about?”

Glaring at Arthur, Merlin said, “Maybe you choking me half to death? That isn’t what you said you were going to do!”

A smile flickered across Arthur’s lips and he rose to come around the fire toward Merlin. “Ah. I see. So that’s what this is about.”

“What what’s about?”

“You’re upset that you didn’t get to ride me.” Arthur sat down next to Merlin, pressing himself into Merlin’s side and grinning at him.

Merlin’s face blazed red as he said, “No, I’m mad that you nearly killed me. With your dick.”

“Come now, Merlin. It is your job as consort, isn’t it?”

Merlin glared at him, then turned away, folding his arms. Arthur sighed.

“Alright, fine. I suppose what I did was a bit…uncalled for. I’ll only do it again in the future if you do something wrong.” Arthur noticed Merlin’s mouth tighten. “I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t mean to do that to you, I just got caught up in the moment.”

“Caught up in the moment? You expect me to believe that?” Merlin snapped.

“Yes,” Arthur said. “Look, Merlin, I…anytime I look at you, all I can think about is touching you. Anytime I’m touching you, all I can think about is kissing you. And when I’m kissing you…” His face got hot and he purposefully stared into the fire instead of at Merlin. “What I’m trying to say is you make me feel things that I don’t feel for…anyone. And I don’t really know what those feelings are, but sometimes they just get so intense that I can’t help getting lost–”

There was a hand on his shoulder, pushing him down into the grass and leaves. Arthur stared up into Merlin’s blue eyes.

“Just…warn me next time,” Merlin said before dipping his head to kiss Arthur, who was slow to respond, his head swirling. Merlin…was kissing him? Merlin was kissing him. Merlin was kissing him instead of him kissing Merlin. What did that mean? Did he also have weird, unknown feelings he couldn’t name, or was he just trying to be a good consort and smooth things over? That had to be it, there couldn’t be any way Merlin actually liked him, not with the way Arthur treated him. Not after all the punishments he’d doled out and the names he’d called Merlin and the way he’d almost gotten Merlin killed, not just yesterday, but on many of the quests they had gone on.

But as Merlin continued to kiss Arthur, as he threw a leg over Arthur’s waist to properly straddle him, Arthur’s confidence in that thought wavered.

Was there maybe a little more between them than just master and servant?

That thought made him nervous and uncomfortable, so he pushed it away, instead focusing on what was directly in front of him instead. Merlin.

Grasping Merlin by the hips, Arthur rolled over, throwing Merlin to the ground and pushing himself up so he was on hands and knees over Merlin, Merlin’s legs still wrapped around his hips. He stared at Merlin for a long moment, watching how the fire caused shadows to dance across his features, ever changing yet exactly the same. He was suddenly aware of how big of a chasm there was between them, how intimately Merlin knew him yet how little he knew about Merlin, even after everything Merlin told him the day before. Even before their affair had started, Merlin knew everything about him, had even seen him naked countless times, yet Arthur still didn’t even know what Merlin’s favorite food was. Or what kinds of stories he liked. Or why he wore his silly little scarf everyday. Arthur knew…nothing. How could he be a good ruler to his people when he knew so little about someone he cared for so much?

“What?” Merlin asked when the silence dragged on and Arthur had been staring at him for too long.

“Nothing, just thinking,” Arthur said, finally looking away.

“Thinking? Really?” Merlin laughed.

“I think about things much more complicated than whatever you have going on in the puny little skull,” Arthur said, reaching out and flicking Merlin on the forehead. “That’s why I’m the Crown Prince and you’re just a servant. Not even that, last time I checked.”

“And what is it you’re thinking about with that massive brain of yours?”

The smile that had been on Arthur’s lips faded. “I was wondering why you came to Camelot,” he said. “It sounded like you were really happy in that small village of yours, with your mother and your friends. Why would you leave all that?”

Merlin thought for a moment before saying, “I left because I outgrew it. I loved growing up there, but I also always knew that I was meant for more than that. So I left to find my destiny.” Gently, Merlin stroked Arthur’s face, and when their eyes met, Arthur heard Merlin’s voice in his mind. I left to find you.

Arthur couldn’t tell if he really heard Merlin or had just imagined it, but he still surged forward, pressing his lips to Merlin's, trying to show the feelings he didn’t know how to express. Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur, pulling him closer, kissing him deeper, until it almost felt as though they were one. They explored each other’s mouths as though this were the first time, and for some reason, it almost felt like it was, something shifting between them. Arthur moved with the shift, slowly rocking back and forth, pressing himself into Merlin even though they were both fully clothed. He could feel his dick rubbing against Merlin’s even though the layers of cloth between them, and he wanted to strip so they could be pressed skin to skin, but that would also require him to detach himself from Merlin, something he was extremely reluctant to do, even for a moment.

After what felt like hours, Merlin broke their kiss, throwing his head back and moaning, “Just fuck me already. I can’t take this anymore.”

“No, I think I like things the way they are,” Arthur said into Merlin’s neck as he continued to grind his hips.

“You asshole,” Merlin groaned. “Dick. Codswallop. Turnip head.”

“Are you trying to piss me off so I’ll fuck you out of anger?” Arthur asked, pulling back.

“No,” Merlin said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I’m just expressing how I feel. And right now, I feel like you’re being a dung heap.”

Arthur glared down at Merlin, then said, “Fine. You want to be punished, you’ll get punished.”

An excited look came over Merlin’s face until Arthur pushed himself up, walked around to the other side of the fire, laid down with his back to Merlin, and called, “Good night!”

“What? No. Wait!”

Arthur heard the sound of Merlin scrambling around the fire toward him. “I said, good night Merlin!”

“That’s not fair,” Merlin whined. “You can’t keep saying you’re going to fuck me and then not do it. You’re a Prince, aren’t you? You should follow through on your word.”

Arthur rolled over to face Merlin. “Are you trying to tell me what to do?”

“No,” Merlin replied. “But you said you wanted me on my knees, begging, didn’t you? Well, here I am, asking for it. Please, Arthur?”

“Please what? What do you want?”

“I want you.”

“Want me how?” he asked, a teasing smile on his face.

“Really, Arthur?”

“Yes.”

Merlin sighed, dropping his head, then looked back up to say, “I want you in every way I can. I want you to kiss me and touch me everywhere. I want your cock in my mouth again. I want you inside me even though I’ve never done anything like that before.” Merlin took a breath, then asked, “Is that good? Is that enough?”

“I suppose it is,” Arthur said, though there was a smile on his face. He reached into his pants to pull out his cock, still half hard from humping Merlin, and grabbed Merlin by the front of the shirt, pulling him forward to kiss as Arthur began stroking himself. Merlin kissed him back, crawling on top of Arthur and taking his cock from him when Arthur moved his hand there. Merlin’s hand felt much better than his and he clutched Merlin’s hips as he thrust, Merlin straddling him.

“Make it wet,” Arthur said, grabbing Merlin by the hair and pulling his head down toward his cock. Merlin obeyed, dipping his head down and taking Arthur into his mouth. Arthur groaned and shifted, doing his best not to act as he had the last time Merlin had done this. But he felt so good…

Arthur’s fingers tightened in Merlin’s hair, but instead of pulling his head down further onto his cock, Arthur pulled Merlin back. “Pants off,” he commanded, unable to form full sentences with how good he was feeling. Merlin fully stripped, even though Arthur didn’t tell him to do so, so Arthur also pulled off his shirt and pants, not wanting to be outdone. Arthur laid back as Merlin climbed on top, kissing him again. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin, pulling them closer so their bare chests pressed together. Reaching between their legs, Merlin adjusted Arthur’s dick until its head was pressed against his asshole, but made no move to push things further, instead just kissing Arthur’s neck and chest. Arthur waited, thinking that Merlin needed to prepare for what was about to happen, then realized Merlin was waiting for him. Slowly, he pushed into Merlin, not wanting to hurt him, only pressing farther on when he was certain Merlin could take it. It seemed as though he didn’t need to be worried because instead of wincing and tensing up like he might have expected, Merlin moaned and sank his hips farther down, making Arthur wonder if he had lied about having never done this before.

It wasn’t long before Arthur was fully inside Merlin, Merlin moving back and forth while Arthur let his hands rest on Merlin’s hips, not trying to move him any faster or slower. He wanted to see what Merlin would do when left up to his own devices, and shouldn’t have been surprised at the results. He was bad at this as much as he was bad at anything else, struggling to keep a steady pace, starting and stopping at seemingly random times. Arthur waited to see if Merlin just needed a few minutes to figure things out, but as it went on, it was clear Merlin wasn’t going to master this anytime soon. So, like before, Arthur grabbed him and rolled him over so Arthur was on top.

Things went much smoother after that, Arthur gliding in and out of Merlin at a steady pace. Merlin hooked his ankles together around Arthur’s waist, letting him go deeper, and moaned.

“Good boy,” Arthur whispered in his ear and Merlin moaned again. “Do you like this new job I gave you?”

“Yes,” Merlin panted.

“Do you like it when I fuck you? When my dick is deep inside of you?

“Yes!” Merlin cried.

“Louder,” Arthur commanded, thrusting a little harder.

“Yes!”

“Louder!” He was fucking Merlin as hard as he could.

“Yes! Fuck yes! Oh, Arthur, yes!”

“I said, louder! Come on, Merlin, there’s no one around to hear you!”

That was when he felt the cool touch of the tip of a blade against the back of his neck and heard the deep voice say, “You sure about that?”

Chapter 8

“McDuggard,” Arthur growled, glaring at the man and his handful of followers. He was still naked but now had his back pressed against the rough bark of a tree, his hands tied to a branch high above him, making him have to stand up on his toes. “What are you doing here?”

“I believe that’s what I should be asking you,” McDuggard replied. “Last I checked, Lord Byron was not fond of the Pendragons and their ways, which is why they’re not permitted on his land.”

“We’re just passing through, we mean no harm.”

McDuggard barked out a laugh. “No harm from a Pendragon? All you do is cause harm. Did your father not murder my sister?”

“She was a witch–”

“She was a girl!” McDuggard screamed, the sound cutting through the night air. “She was a twelve year old girl and your father burned her at the stake.” He drew his sword. “And now I’m going to make him regret that.” But instead of stepping up to Arthur, he turned toward Merlin, who was kneeling by the fire, also still unclothed, his hands tied behind his back. “Who do we have here?” McDuggard asked, placing the tip of his sword beneath Merlin’s chin and using it to tip his head back. “A knight of Camelot?”

“I think he’s just a manservant,” one of McDuggard’s men said. “Based on their supplies. Only one set of armor.”

McDuggard smirked at Arthur. “Is your father aware you prefer the company of lads? Or is this what you do? Take your manservant out into the forest because you’re too much of a coward to face yourself?” He laughed. “I shouldn’t be surprised. Pendragons are nothing but two-faced yellow-bellied weaklings.” Sheathing his sword, McDuggard took Merlin’s face in one hand, pressing his fingers into his cheeks to force Merlin’s mouth open. “Maybe we should play with your toy before we kill you both. See how rough he can take it before he breaks.”

“Get your fucking hands off of him!” Arthur yelled, kicking out at McDuggard even though he wasn’t even close to landing a blow. McDuggard and his men laughed.

Ripping his face from McDuggard’s grasp, Merlin growled, “Go ahead, stick your cock in my mouth. It’ll just make it easier for me to bite it off.”

“Oh, feisty one, aren’t ya?” McDuggard put his hands on his knees, bending down so his face was close to Merlin’s. “I like it when they fight. Makes it feel so much better when they realize you’re still going to fuck them no matter how much kicking and screaming they do.”

Merlin spat in McDuggard’s face, who cried out and backhanded him, hard. Blood burst from Merlin’s mouth, outlined in the light of the fire, as he collapsed to the ground.

“Merlin!” Arthur screamed as McDuggard’s men pulled Merlin back up by the shoulders.

McDuggard wiped his face then growled, “I’m going to make you regret that.” Casting his eyes around the forest floor, McDuggard stooped and grabbed a pair of stones from the ground. Grabbing Merlin’s chin and forcing his mouth open again, McDuggard shoved the stones in his mouth, wedging them between the backs of Merlin’s teeth. “Try biting my cock off now,” he growled, letting go of Merlin to pull his dick from his pants. Merlin tried to struggle, his mouth wide and desperate sounds bursting from it, but McDuggards men held him fast.

“No!” Arthur yelled. “Don’t touch him! Don’t fucking touch him!”

Laughing, McDuggard grabbed Merlin’s hair, pulled his head back, and shoved his dick fully inside Merlin’s mouth. Merlin slammed his eyes shut, but Arthur could still see the glisten of tears in the firelight pulsing down his cheeks. Arthur screamed again, an loud, inhuman sound as another man came up behind Merlin.

Use your magic! he wanted to yell. Kill them! Get out of here! Save yourself! but if Merlin was really a sorcerer, Arthur wouldn’t have to tell him that, would he? If he really had magic, then this wouldn’t be happening, would it?

Arthur shook his head, trying to clear it. This was the worst thing to do in a fight, to freeze up and let thoughts dominate everything. That was why he spent so much time training, so he wouldn’t have to think, so what was right would come easily. He needed to do that now, let his mind drain away and his body take over.

Wrapping his hands around the branch he was tied to, Arthur lifted himself up and flipped upside down, bracing his bare feet against the limb above the one he was tied to. He took a deep breath, then pushed, using the combined strength of his arms and legs to pull down on the branch. It resisted for a long moment, doing little more than shiver, then suddenly it snapped, breaking away from the trunk and sending him hurtling toward the ground. He landed hard, his left ribs slamming into an exposed root, half knocking the wind out of him. Pain burst through his back and he wondered how many ribs he fractured before pushing the thought from his mind and forcing himself up. He wavered on his feet for a moment before stepping forward, raising the branch he had been tied to high in the air.

“I said, don’t fucking touch him!” Arthur swung the branch at McDuggard, who turned in time to take the blow full in the face. Ripping the limb back, a sickening wet pop enunciated McDuggard’s screams; when Arthur struck McDuggard, one of the branch offshoots had sunk deep into his eye, and now it hung limply on his cheek, dangling by a single nerve. Still shrieking, McDuggard stumbled back, tripping and falling into the fire, rolling over and over in the coals until his body lay still.

Arthur swung wildly at the other men, who scrambled back to get out of the way. The three drew their swords, but Arthur was in such a frenzied state they couldn’t come within striking distance. Standing over Merlin’s trembling body, rage coursed through Arthur. He had killed countless times in the past, but always with a cool indifference that reflected his role as Prince, something he had to do instead of something he wanted to do. Now, for the first time ever, true bloodlust pulsed through every muscle, inflaming every cell. He wished he had his sword in hand, or even something as simple as a knife, desiring the feeling of sliding the sharp blade between the ribs of these men, piercing their hearts and sending them far from this world. But still, that would be too good for them. They deserved to be tortured, to be put through the same pain they had caused, but worse. He didn’t just want these men to die; he wanted them to suffer on the way.

Holding the branch over the half-smothered fire, he let the leaves catch, making his weapon even more monstrous. The men stared at him, their aggression melting into uncertainty and fear as they realized that the only way for this fight to end would be with their deaths. Reluctantly, they stepped back, then turned and disappeared into the trees, their footsteps fading into the night.

Arthur stood for a long moment, watching where they had disappeared, making sure they weren’t going to return for a surprise attack before finally throwing his branch into the fire and dropping down beside Merlin. He stuck his fingers in Merlin’s mouth, trying to pull the stones out, but they were wedged between his teeth so tightly Arthur had to pull at them with great force before they finally popped out of place. Merlin cried out with relief then spit the stones onto the ground, collapsing into Arthur’s chest even though his arms were still bound behind his back. Merlin sobbed, his face already soaked with tears and spit, and Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin, pulling him as close as he could as Merlin continued to cry.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered into Merlin’s hair. “This is all my fault. I never should have brought you.”

Merlin shook his head, crying too hard to reply any more than that.

“Yes. Every time you get hurt, it’s my doing.” Arthur still held Merlin, but his hands moved to untie him. “I–I should have sent you away when I had the chance, somewhere you couldn’t get hurt.”

Merlin said something, but it was so softly Arthur couldn’t hear.

“What?” he asked, finally freeing Merlin’s arms.

Merlin looked up at him, face dirty and tear streaked, and said, “Living without you would hurt me more than anything else. I would go through this every day if that meant standing by your side.”

Arthur stared at him. “You…can’t mean that.”

“I do,” Merlin said, his voice cracking. “I came to Camelot to serve the Prince. I will endure whatever that entails.”

“No!” Arthur said angrily, pushing Merlin away. “No, I don’t want that. I don’t want you to serve me if that means I have to watch these things happen to the man I love.” Arthur froze, realizing what just came out of his mouth.

“What did you just say?” Merlin whispered, his eyes fixed on Arthur.

“I–I mean–” Arthur turned away, his mind racing. “You’re a citizen of Camelot. You’re my subject. I care about my people. What kind of Prince would I be if I let my people suffer in my name?” Pushing himself up, he anxiously brushed dirt and leaves from his bare body. “We should move, find somewhere safer to stay for the night. Those men could be getting recruits. I don’t want them ambushing us later.”

There was a long stretch of silence before Merlin finally murmured, “Of course, My Lord.”

Chapter 9

They rode in relative silence for the next day. It was full dark by the time they made it to Gwomir Lake, the moon rising high in the night sky, its brightness chasing away the stars. In its silvery brightness, Arthur could see the small island in the middle of the lake that was the supposed home of the flowers that would save his kingdom.

“Alright, Merlin,” said Arthur, dismounting his horse and tying the reins to a nearby branch. “You stay here, mind the horses. Don’t let them wander away again.”

“I’ll do my best,” Merlin murmured, his eyes downcast.

Arthur hesitated. He wanted to ask Merlin how he was doing after the assault McDuggard forced on him, but the memory of the words that slipped from his lips gave him pause. Why had he said that? It wasn’t true, he didn’t love Merlin. If anything, Merlin annoyed him and made his life more difficult than it needed to be. But, also, in that moment, it had felt true…he must have just been overwhelmed, riding on the high of the fight, not knowing what he was really saying until the words had left his lips. So, instead of asking Merlin if he was alright, Arthur stripped off his shirt and boots and waded into the lake.

It didn’t take him long to swim the distance from the shore to the island, his strong muscles allowing him to cut easily through the water. He took a moment to shake the water from his hair and catch his breath before fully walking up onto the small isle, but paused at what he saw. There was a small copse of trees, a scattering of bushes, and a wide field scattered with flowers, but these flowers weren’t like the ones Gaius had shown him in his book. Instead of being open and purple, these flowers were closed tight, their color the same gray color of a corpse. This…couldn’t be right. These couldn’t be the flowers. But, perhaps it was just the moonlight that was souring the flower's color. Perhaps, in the daylight, they would look the way they were supposed to.

Kneeling, Arthur reached out and plucked the stem of a flower, frowning when it crumbled in his hand, the petals falling to the ground.

“No…” he whispered, pulling more and more flowers, all of them disintegrating in his fingers. “No, no, no!” His words peaked to screams as he continued to rip, to tear at the flowers, until finally collapsing into sobs. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t good enough. He was going to fail, his kingdom would fall, his father was going to cast him out.

“Arthur?” He heard Merlin’s voice behind him, causing him to whip around.

“What are you doing here?” he snarled. “You’re supposed to be watching the horses!”

“I heard you screaming. I got worried.” Merlin came up, dripping, beside him. “What happened?”

“The flowers…they…they won’t…” He couldn’t say it, so he just gestured at the carnage before him.

Merlin knelt down next to him, studying the wreckage. “What did Gaius say about harvesting them?”

“That a devoted man needs to gather them. He said I’d be good enough, but I…I must not…” Tears started to rise again and Arthur bit his lip to try to keep them back.

Merlin reached out and plucked a flower, it falling to pieces in his grasp as all the others had. He frowned. “Is that all or was there more to it?”

Arthur shook his head. “Maybe…something about…rain? And moonlight, or something? I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? This is your quest, you’re supposed to know, aren’t you?”

“You may have forgotten, but I don’t meddle with magic,” Arthur spat.

“Even if it could help your kingdom? Save your people?”

“Magic doesn’t help, all it does is harm,” Arthur said. “I don’t want to be doing this. If there was any other option to defeat this monster, then I would be doing that instead, believe me. I’m disgusted that this is something I even pursued.” With a frustrated sigh, Arthur dropped his head into his hands. “I should have known this was going to be nothing but a waste of time. Magic is nothing but cheap tricks to give people false hope. And now I have to return to my father empty-handed, and tell my people I have failed them, with who knows how many more deaths on my hands while I was gone on this ridiculous quest.”

“Arthur.”

“Not now, Merlin.”

“Arthur.”

“I said, not now!” he yelled, tearing his head from his hands, freezing when he saw what Merlin was calling him for. Rain fell from the cloudless sky, and as the drops splashed onto the flowers, color burst, spreading throughout the petals. Arthur watched in awe as the field of flowers started to bloom, a soft glow starting to emanate from the blossoms.

“...but…what…how?” Arthur turned and stared at Merlin, who just gave him a soft smile in reply. Had…Merlin done this? Had he used magic to make these flowers bloom?

A thousand thoughts crashed through Arthur’s mind. Magic was bad. Magic did nothing but destroy. But here he was, trying to use magic to save his kingdom. And here Merlin was, using magic to help him. Could his father have been wrong? Was it possible to use magic in a way that could save others? But then that would mean he had stood by, he had done nothing, while his father took the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of people. It would mean that he had helped conspire and round up and execute people who had deserved to live. He thought of all the men, the women, the children, who had knelt before him and his father, begging for their lives, claiming that they hadn’t been doing harm, they had only been doing what they felt they needed to in order to protect their families.

People like McDuggard’s sister.

Suddenly, he felt sick. Bile rose in the back of his throat, choking him.

“Arthur? Are you okay?”

He felt Merlin’s hand on his shoulder, and he jumped up, trying to get away from Merlin and his magic. “Don’t touch me!” he yelled, stumbling back, tripping and falling hard onto his back in the newly bloomed flowers, causing pollen to burst up around him, filling his mouth and nose. He tried to breathe, to cough, but that just caused him to suck in even more of the glowing spots of light.

Suddenly, his head felt light, his mind clear. What had he been worrying about? He couldn’t remember.

“Are you alright?”

Arthur looked up and saw the most handsome boy he had ever seen standing in front of him, with glossy black hair and shining blue eyes. He stared at the boy, mouth slightly open. Had there ever been a more beautiful creature to walk this earth?

“Give me your hand.”

Of course. Anything he wanted. Reaching up, Arthur took the boy’s hand and let him pull him to his feet before standing there, staring at every gorgeous aspect of this boy. The curve of his lips, the sharp cut of his jaw, the way the stars seemed to sparkle in his eyes.

“Um…” The boy stepped back at the intensity of his gaze. “We should probably collect those flowers now, shouldn’t we?”

Arthur immediately dropped to his knees, ripping flowers from the ground as fast as he could, before jumping back up and shoving the bouquet toward the boy.

He looked at the flowers in Arthur’s hands before saying, “That pollen did something to you, didn’t it?”

Arthur shrugged, still holding the flowers out.

“What’s going on in your head right now?” the boy asked.

“You’re beautiful,” Arthur said, not even having to think about the words before he said them. It was true.

Red immediately washed the boy’s face. He sputtered for a moment before saying, “Those flowers must have some powerful magic.”

“It’s not magic, it’s true,” Arthur said. The boy still hadn’t taken the flowers, so Arthur dropped them to the ground and took the boy's hands instead. “You’re the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, and I would do anything for you.”

“Arthur, stop–”

He had been about to lean forward and kiss the boy, but instead he paused, feeling as though something was holding him back, forcing him to stay where he was no matter how much he wanted to close the distance between their lips.

“You always do this, you’re always saying things, and–and you don’t mean them.”

“Yes I do, I mean everything I’m saying,” Arthur said quickly. “Please, let me prove it, I’ll do anything you ask of me.”

A small smile crept across the boy's lips. “Anything?”

“Of course! Anything! Just name it!” He was almost desperate in his words, wanting to show to this boy that he meant everything to Arthur.

The boy thought for a moment, then shook his head, laughing. “No, I can’t. You’d kill me once the spell wore off.”

“No, I could never hurt you.” Arthur sank to his knees, letting go of the boy’s hands and grasping his hips instead. “Any desire you have, I want to fulfill it.”

Staring down at Arthur, the boy chewed his lip. Finally, he said, “Fine. You better remember you asked for this, though.” Reaching out, he ran a hand through Arthur’s half-dried hair.

“What are you going to do?” Arthur asked excitedly.

“I’m going to get you back for everything you’ve been doing to me.”

Arthur didn’t know what that meant, but it thrilled him anyway, especially when the boy started to undo the ties of his pants. He pulled out his dick, soft but gorgeous, and said, “I want you to make me hard.”

Arthur sprung on it immediately, licking the boy’s cock and sucking it into his mouth, loving the slightly salty, sweaty taste of it. He also loved the way it began to grow and stiffen against his tongue, reaching deeper and deeper into his throat every time he bobbed his head. As it got bigger, he started to choke slightly, but he didn’t want to give up a single inch, so he pushed himself through it anyway. The boy tugged at Arthur's hair, tipping his head back, helping him go even deeper. Eventually, though, the boy pulled back, taking his dick with him.

“No,” Arthur said, desperately clutching at the boy’s hips, trying to draw his cock back.

“Don’t worry, we’re not done yet,” the boy said, his fingers still threaded through Arthur’s hair. Then, he slapped Arthur on the side of the face with his cock. “Do you like that?”

“Yes, please, more.”

“Oh, you are surely going to murder me when you come back to your senses,” the boy murmured, smacking Arthur on the other cheek. “But it has always been a fantasy of mine to slap The Great Prince Arthur in the face with my cock while he begged for it.” He hit Arthur again.

“What else have you fantasized about doing to me?”

“Plenty, believe me.”

“I want you to do it all,” Arthur said, causing the boy to laugh.

“I don’t think we have time for all of that, but I’ll do enough to you.” The boy slapped him one last time before commanding, “Take your pants off.”

Arthur scrambled to comply, pulling his pants off, his own erection springing free, hard and throbbing with his desire. He started to stroke himself but the boy said, “No. You’re not allowed to give yourself pleasure.” Arthur’s hands sprung away as if his cock burned to touch.

“I want you face down, ass up.”

Arthur obeyed, bowing before the boy.

“You look good on your hands and knees,” he said, circling around Arthur. Arthur felt the boy’s hands on his ass, touching, caressing, then slapping like he had Arthur’s face. Arthur groaned into his folded arms, burying his face into them.

“Again. Please.”

The boy spanked him again, but harder, causing Arthur to moan even louder.

Suddenly, he felt something pressing at the entrance to his asshole. Then, the boy was inside him, stretching him, pressing deeper and deeper inside of him. Arthur grimaced and groaned, pain increasing as the boy went further and further, but, for some reason, he liked it. The pain eased as the boy drew himself out, then came back as he pressed in again. Tears pricked at the corners of Arthur’s eyes but he didn’t want to stop, so he pressed himself against the boy until he was fully inside Arthur.

The boy moved slowly at first, but started moving quicker and quicker as they both grew more comfortable, the boy grasping at Arthur’s hips as he quickened his pace, panting moans in time with each thrust. Then, with one final groan, the boy pushed as deep as he could inside of Arthur, filling him until he was overflowing with cum. Pulling himself out, the boy fell back, panting and exhausted.

“No, please, don’t stop,” Arthur begged. “I need you to keep fucking me.”

“Well, if you want me to keep going, you’re going to have to make me hard again.”

Arthur turned and took the boy into his hand, gently moving his hand back and forth, but the boy stayed soft, so he cupped the boy’s balls, massaging and cradling them, and although the boy groaned, his cock didn’t respond. Arthur dipped his head, taking the boy into his mouth, his dick finally starting to harden, but only slightly, nowhere’s near enough for what Arthur desired, so Arthur decided to try something different, taking the boy’s dick out of his mouth and moving lower, first licking the boy’s balls generously before going even lower, tonguing the boy’s asshole, causing his to squeal in surprise. He tensed up for a moment before relaxing against Arthur’s mouth, allowing him to slip a single finger inside after a few minutes. The boy moaned loudly, his cock finally responding in the way Merlin wanted, growing and hardening fully. Arthur added a second finger, causing the boy the arch his back, Arthur enjoying the expression on the boy’s face, but eventually he couldn’t take it any longer, pulling out his fingers to the moaning protests of the boy. Arthur straddled the boy, positioning his cock against the opening of his asshole before sinking down. It didn’t hurt anywhere near as much as it did the first time, his asshole still thoroughly slicked with the boy’s cum. He moved up and down in an almost fevered manner, placing a hand on each side of the boy’s head.

“Oh, fuck…Arthur…” the boys panted, gripping onto Arthur’s hips tightly, not to control his movements but in response to how good he felt.

Arthur couldn’t help but cum in response to the boy moaning his name, the feeling of the boy’s fingers digging into his skin with ecstasy, cum squirting thickly all over the boy’s chest. The boy groaned again, and with a final thrust, Arthur could feel the boy cumming inside him again. They both laid, panting, for a long moment, before Arthur finally rolled off the boy, sitting on the grass beside him. When both of their breathing and heartbeats had returned to normal, the boy also sat up.

“We should probably gather those flowers and start swimming back to shore,” he said. “Being in the water will at least help wash off…erm, everything.”

Arthur had already snatched up the flowers he had dropped, nodding along to what the boy said. Then, grabbing their clothes, he followed the boy into the water.