Chapter Twelve 

Together 

Merlin was surprised to hear a knock at his door as he sat to supper alone in his chambers. He stood and walked to the door to find Arthur, standing waiting with Baldrick carrying his own tray of food. 

Arthur bounced on his heels for a moment before glancing past Merlin into the guest chambers. “May I dine with you?” 

Merlin nodded and stepped out of the way. Baldrick sat up Arthur’s meal across from Merlin’s at the small table and left quickly, shutting the door on his way out. 

Arthur glanced around the room. “Rather small, isn’t it?” 

Merlin shook his head. “It’s perfectly adequate. Much larger than what I was given at the monastery.” 

Arthur looked around once more. “Well, either way I’m having your moved to to the chambers next to mine tomorrow.” 

“That’s not necessary, you don’t need to trouble yourself.” Merlin said sitting down once again to his meal. Arthur did the same. 

“It’s no trouble. Besides, I want you close by. I had to walk across the entire upper level just to reach you.” Arthur pulled out his knife and fork and began cutting into his chop. 

Merlin raised an eyebrow. “How being a King has tamed you.” 

“And what is that supposed to mean?” Arthur said raising his own eye brow.

“We used to race through this entire castle and the grounds. And now you can’t be trouble to cross the upper level.” Merlin said.

Arthur chuckled and nodded. “Well, we were unruly children then with endless amounts of energy. Now I have to luxury of moving you closer exclusively to not have to walk. Besides, the chamber next to mine is twice the size of this one. Imagine all of the space you could have for your books?” 

“Very good point, your highness.” Merlin added. 

They both ate in silence, Arthur’s eyes were on Merlin, digging deep into him and making him shy away from the gaze. 

“How did you do that? Earlier today?” Arthur finally asked. 

Merlin leaned back and took a long swig of mead. “My staff Trinity, it is a vessel for my powers, just as Excalibur is of yours. They were forged by Ezorread, the Last Dragon. From his scales and fire. He poured his own magic into them. They are like fire and wind together, their reach is endless. Just as we are. I am able to move my magic and my energy, you can too, you just have to learn how. And while you wield Excalibur it to can be a vessel for my magic.” 

“How do you know all of this?” Arthur asked.

Merlin sighed and leaned forward. “Ezorread, The Last Dragon was the one who prophesied our destinies. I trained under him for two years, preparing for aiding you.”  

Arthur’s mouth had fallen open, he closed it quickly and shook his head. “And here I thought all you did for ten years was learn spells and read stuffy old books.” 

Merlin laughed, throwing is head back. “There was a lot of that as well.” 

Arthur chuckled and leaned back in his seat, watching Merlin once again. “It felt odd. Like nothing I’ve experienced before. Is this how you feel all the time?” 

Merlin shook his head. “I only feel my magic that strongly when I’m honed in on it.”

“Merlin.” Arthur breathed out. “When did you become so powerful? You used to be this scrawny little thing that just trailed after me.” 

“Mind who you call scrawny. You were even skinnier than me.” Merlin said. 

“That is absolutely untrue. How dare you spread such lies about your king.” Arthur said as they both laughed.

It was quiet once again. “Did you miss me?” Arthur finally asked. 

Merlin could feel that same pull in his abdomen. “I did. Every day I missed you so badly I felt as though my skin would burst with it.” 

Arthur took a slow breath in, Merlin could smell the odd spike in him. The change in his pheromone levels. The sweet clawing smell of lust permeating from Arthur’s pores. 

Merlin wetted his lips and looked away. 

“Look at me.” Arthur said quietly. 

Merlin did, the force of Arthur’s gaze was almost too much for him to bare, even with all of his control. 

“When you asked me to let you in, what did you mean?” Arthur said. 

Merlin cleared his throat of the thickness that had taken root there. “We can intertwine our energies as one.” 

“How do I do that?” Arthur asked, his eyes never leaving Merlin’s. 

Merlin felt heat trickle down him. “You have to find a way to be completely open to me.” 

“Can we try again?” Arthur asked. He stood and pulled his chair over next to Merlin’s. “Or can it only be done in battle?” 

Merlin forced the lust out of his own mind and forced the haziness out. “We can try again.” He reached both palms out, laying them flat. Arthur shifted in his seat to lean forward and rested his hands on Merlin’s. “Close your eyes.” Merlin said.

 He watched Arthur’s eyes close and marveled at how incredibly perfect the King of Camelot was before closing his own eyes. “Now, try to think about the core of your being. Imagine what it looks like, what it feels like.” 

Arthur took a slow breath in before sighing. “I can’t.” He sounded defeated. 

Merlin leaned forward and let his fingers run up against Arthur’s wrists. “Clear your mind. Imagine yourself as a bundle of light. All warm energy and the sting of determination.” Merlin whispered. “Feel it consume you. Learn what it feels like to have your power travel through your veins.” 

Arthur took a slow intake of breath before nodding. “I think I can feel it.” 

“Good,” Merlin opened his eyes for a moment and looked at Arthur. His spirit was strong, that much was obvious. “Now,” Merlin said closing his eyes once again. “Imagine allowing me passage to your energy. Open yourself up to me.” 

“How?” Arthur whispered. 

Merlin let out a breath and allowed his energy to flow through him, opening up his defenses to Arthur. “Can you feel mine?” 

Arthur squeezed at Merlin’s wrists in response. 

“Lower your defenses. You have to allow me to hold your energy in my palms as I’ve done.” 

Arthur was silent for a while before he sighed and slumped forward, releasing Merlin’s hands. “I don’t think I can.”

Merlin missed the heat of their fingers touching immediately. “It takes a long time. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

“But we need this, don’t we?” Arthur glanced up meeting Merlin’s eyes again. 

“Once we have learned to be one, everything will be easier. But we don’t need it for battle, at least not right away. You just need to be willing to actually listen to me.”

Arthur smirked and nudged Merlin. “I will try my best. Is that enough for you?”

“Not even close.” Merlin said. “But I’ll work on that part too.” 

Arthur smiled and leaned back once again pouring himself another glass of mead. “Tell me a story.” 

“What do you want to hear?” Merlin said. 

“Tell me of your time at the monastery. Did you only learn under Master Blaise and the dragon?” 

Merlin shook his head and reached for the goblet of mead in Arthur’s hand. “There were many masters who looked over us and taught us.” 

“You weren’t alone?” Arthur asked. 

“There were others. Other boys like me that are seen to have magic.” 

“You mean there were others around you all the time?” Arthur asked. 

“We had separate bedrooms, but yes. There were about five other boys along with me.” 

Arthur nodded. “And what happened to them?” 

Merlin shrugged. “Some went to neighboring kingdoms, some are still at the monastery.” 

“Neighboring kingdoms? But we’re at war.” Arthur said, a frown creasing his brow. 

“The monastery does not have allegiances in the war. Their only alliance is with the ancient creators of magic and what has been prophesied to pass.” 

“But now other kingdoms have sorcerers at their disposal. What if they were to attack?” 

Merlin shook his head. “Most sorcerers’ abilities lie with healing and prophesies. Learning the spells and enchantments is all technique and bookwork, never able to be put into practice. It is too difficult of magic.” 

“And yet you are able?” Arthur asked. 

Merlin smiled and nodded. 

“Because you are the greatest sorcerer of all time?” Arthur asked taking another long drink of mead, blinking his eyes lazily as he watched Merlin.

Merlin nodded again. 

“Because you are special? The prophesied Great Sorcerer that is destined to aide in my victory?” 

“Yes.” Merlin said slowly. 

Arthur stood and walked around the table, leaning against the mantelpiece. “The prophesied greatest sorcerer of all time, whose magic will pave the way for witches and warlocks across many millennia.” 

“You read the prophesy.” Merlin whispered. 

Arthur turned around once again to face Merlin and nodded. “And when we are in battle… you are my right hand. You are the blade of my sword.”

Merlin stood slowly and crossed to stand next to Arthur against the hearth. “Yes.” He said. 

“With you by my side, we will not lose.” Arthur said in response. 

“Yes.” Merlin whispered again, his heart racing.

Arthur’s eyes raked over him for a few moment before his lips parted once again. “Swear it to me.” He flipped a small knife out of its sheath and pressed the handle into Merlin’s hand. 

Merlin did not brake eye contact with Arthur as he sliced the blade down his palm until it reached the other end, a scarred wound that had fully healed now opened up once again. 

“I swear to you, my King… that together, we are fire and wind. Our fury will spread and nothing will stop us.” 

Merlin could sense the spike of desire build between them, but neither moved. In an earlier life they would have tackled each other to the floor by now. But instead they just met each other’s gaze. 

Arthur was the one who finally broke the trance and blinked before stepping away slowly. “See that your available tomorrow. I’ll want to continue our training.” Arthur folded up his sleeves and finished the goblet of mead.

“Of course.” Merlin said following each of Arthur’s movements. 

“Goodnight Merlin.”Arthur said. 

“Goodnight Arthur.” They met eyes once more, the dwindling smell of lust still clinging to the air between them. 

Arthur finally stepped away, opening the door and shutting it once again. Arthur would find his release elsewhere. That was best. Leftover obsessions would only lead to complications. Merlin knew that, but against his better judgment he wished for Arthur to immediately lose all senses and come back into his own bed.