Chapter Fourteen

The Sorcerer 

Merlin felt hazy waking up the next morning in his own tent. He realized why they were required to stay celibate while at the monastery, had he had such a thing as Arthur’s lips to distract him over the past decade, he never would have made it through his studies. All he could think about was when he could next get his lips on Arthur’s next. 

He stepped out of his tent to find Arthur in quiet conference with his knights. Merlin hung back and waited until they finished. Arthur turned towards him and nodded for him to join as they readied the horses. 

“What was that about?” Merlin asked. 

Arthur shook his head. “Nothing really. Just working out a plan for once we reach the battlefront.” 

Merlin waited for more of an explanation before realizing he wasn’t going to get one. “Anything I should know?” He asked, his eyes traveled quickly to Arthur’s lips before reaching his eyes again. 

Arthur shook his head again, vehemently not meeting Merlin’s eyes. “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Arthur glanced towards his knights who were now busying themselves with tearing down Merlin’s tent. 

“About last night…” Arthur whispered. 

Merlin’s stomach sunk, he had hoped that Arthur wouldn’t regret Merlin kissing him. Perhaps it had been too much to hope for. Merlin wouldn’t have kissed him in the first place, if circumstances were different. But he had felt so incredibly safe with Arthur in those moments it had sort of just felt right. Like they were meant to fit together. 

“Can we summon that whenever or does it always have to be such an… intimate affair?”

Merlin breathed a sigh of partial relief before shaking his head. “With practice we should be able to perform that with just a touch. But we’ll have to get to that point.” 

“So what you’re saying is I should have been more willing to listen to you when you first came back to Camelot?” Arthur had that familiar glint in his eyes. 

Merlin smirked and met Arthur’s eyes finally. “Yes, that is what I’m saying. You don’t always have to be right.” 

“But I am always right.” Arthur added quickly. 

“Except of course when you’re wrong.” Merlin climbed onto his horse. “Are you sure I don’t need to know what you were planning?”

Arthur groaned. “When will you stop pestering me? I am not required to tell you everything you know. Now, let’s leave. We’ll reach the camp tonight.” He leapt onto his own horse and immediately took off ahead. 

Merlin rolled his eyes and followed, what choice did he possibly have. 

The camp was still protected by Merlin’s magic weeks later, but the knights were tired. The ice demon was extinguished when Arthur left the battle front, but something would soon return with his presence. They had all still spent day and night fighting the Thebes for ground with no success. 

As Arthur rode into camp he first leapt off his horse and raced to the medical tent. “Merlin!” He called for Merlin to follow. Merlin did, opening the curtains to multiple wounded men. Some with wounds so too far gone for Merlin to be of use. Arthur was kneeled next to a young boys bed. Barely eighteen it appeared. 

He coughed blood, the only color to him. Merlin kneeled down next to his bed. 

“What can be done?” Arthur asked his healer. 

“He is bleeding on the inside. I fear I’ve done what I can.” the healer said somberly. 

Arthur turned to Merlin. “And what can you do?” 

Merlin took a deep breath before removing his cloak. “I can try.” He said slowly holding his hands above the boy.

Merlin did what he could to the men before those that could began their journey home to Camelot. 

“Fentry,” Arthur said. “Take Lancelot with you. He must be under your care.” 

“Arthur…” Fentry glanced around. “Your highness, with complete respect. I am your best Knight. You need me here.” 

Arthur shook his head. “I need Lancelot protected. Return as quickly as you can. I can only trust you with this task my friend.” Arthur grabbed Fentry’s shoulder before helping Lancelot up and to a horse. 

“Merlin, can you protect them, like you did the camp?” Arthur asked. 

Merlin did as he was asked and watched Fentry and the young knight leave only just after they arrived along with a handful of others who could no longer fight. 

“Who is the child?” Merlin asked. 

“He’s my heir.” Arthur said. 

Merlin’s head shot to Arthurs. 

“Calm down Merlin. I didn’t father a child. He’s the queen’s nephew. If I die, he will be the next King of Camelot. His survival is very important to the survival of our kingdom.” 

“He’s a child.” Merlin said. 

“He’s older than I was when I was named Crown Prince.” Arthur said. “Or have you forgotten that day?”

Merlin said nothing, but felt the smile creep onto his lips. 

“Now, I have a war meeting. Will you please help who you can and then join me?” Arthur said stepping away. 

Merlin did as he was asked and went back to the wounded. It wasn’t until far later in the evening that he finally met Arthur once again in his tent. He was surrounded by his high knights as they discussed the tactics that had failed them thus far. 

Arthur met Merlin’s eyes and motioned for him to come closer. “Speak to Merlin. He is very skilled with battle strategy.” 

The knights looked towards Merlin. “But… my lord he’s a mage.” 

“Yes, and they tell me he’s the greatest sorcerer of all time, so let’s give him a chance.” Arthur said. 

They all eyed Merlin once more before one cleared his throat. “Alright, so we keep trying to push them back, but their numbers are greater than ours. It feels as though we never make a sliver of progress before they get a second wind and we are forced to retreat.” 

Merlin glanced to Arthur who waited for him to begin. He cleared his throat. “W-well…I’ve never seen the Thebes in battle, but if their numbers are larger than yours, that is what they will expect. That they can simply outlast you with their numbers. Once one group gets tired there are more to take their place. That sort of logic will of course work if you’re putting all effort into the first half of the battle. Save the first half for surviving.” 

“How can we push forward if our soul goal is to survive the battle?” 

“If your first goal is to survive, store your energy for a final push when the enemy tires, your strength will only just be tapped into.” 

“And what of when they call forth powers we have no chance of beating?” One said. 

“You’ll leave that to me.” Arthur said quickly. “They will not pass our line. We will not give a foothold.”The knights rallied around their King’s words far more than they did Merlin’s. 

“What was all that rubbish about earlier?” Arthur asked as his comrades left his tent. 

“You put me on the spot, it was the best I could come up with. My eye for strategy does not work without me seeing the enemy fight. Only then can I understand their next movements.”

Arthur nodded.They stood in silence for a long time before he finally spoke again. “You kissed me last night.” 

Merlin said nothing. 

“Why?” Arthur continued. 

“I’m sorry.” Merlin said slowly. 

“I’m not requesting an apology. I’m asking you why?” Arthur said quickly.

Merlin shook his head. “I have no explanation other than I lost all formalities for a moment.” 

Arthur seemed to accept that as an explanation and stepped away removing his mantle and letting it drop to the ground. 

“I’ll leave you now.” Merlin said stepping towards the entrance.

“Do you intend to do it again?” Arthur asked. 

Merlin turned towards his old friend. Arthur’s back was facing him. “What?” 

“The kiss. Do you intend to do it again?” Arthur said again. 

Merlin tried collecting his thoughts. “I would never do something that you didn’t want of me.” He couldn’t gauge whether or not Arthur was angry with him without seeing his eyes. 

Finally Arthur turned around, his mouth a sharp line, his brow furrowed. “And if I want you to?” 

Merlin felt his stomach tighten. They stared at each other for a breath. “Do you?” Merlin whispered. 

Arthur said nothing, he did not move apart from a very slow raising of his eyebrows. Merlin stepped closer reaching a hand up towards Arthur’s sharp jaw, letting his thumb run over his perfect cheek bone. 

Arthur kept his form rigid as Merlin leaned in closer, pressing his forehead against Arthur’s, letting his breath linger against Arthur’s skin. Were it not for the way Arthur’s heart pounded in his chest, Merlin would have assumed Arthur did not desire this from him at all. 

Finally Merlin leaned close enough to meet Arthur’s lips. His lips parted immediately and Arthur leaned into the embrace. Merlin reached out and wrapped his arms around the back of Arthur’s neck, letting his fingers get lost in Arthur’s golden curls.

Arthur’s hands stayed at his sides for as long as he could take it seemed before he finally reached out and fisted the fabric of Merlin’s robes. Arthur reached his hands up to mirror Merlin, his long slender fingers running through Merlin’s black hair. Merlin could feel their breaths syncing once again, their energies flowing into one another. Was this why kissing Arthur felt so incredible? 

Arthur moaned into Merlin’s mouth pulling him closer, drawing his hips in.  Merlin couldn’t hang on to Arthur tight enough as his hands ran across his shoulders and over his arms. 

“Was it always going to end up this way?” Arthur whispered. 

“I don’t know,” Merlin admitted through ragged breaths. He had wondered that for over ten years. Were they always meant to end up like this? Did this weaken them or make them stronger? 

“You’re afraid,” Arthur whispered. 

“I am.” Merlin responded.

Arthur held Merlin’s face in his hands, letting his thumbs press against Merlin’s lips. 

“Trust me, Merlin. Trust me like you once did.” He whispered before pressing another kiss to Merlin’s lips. “I’ve missed you so much my friend.” 

Merlin could feel his throat tighten, a whimper escaping him as Arthur kissed him again. Arthur sensed Merlin’s emotion and felt it within himself as well, Merlin was sure. He could not longer hear the difference in their heart beats as their lips moved and their hands reacquainted themselves with one another. Arthur was so different now, and yet his skin cooled to the touch as Merlin’s finger tips traveled over him, burning hot.