Baby-soft Skin

 

“Your skin is soft,” Arthur noticed.

 

Merlin rolled her eyes, offering a cheeky grin. “And?”

 

“That’s so girly, Merlin,” Arthur smirked teasingly.

 

She roughly tightened his belt, making him gasp in pain.

 

“It’s just…shouldn’t a servant have rough hands anyway? A manservant at that. Your hair, your skin, even your shape is feminine. Don’t you get mistaken for a girl sometimes, Merlin?”

 

She tensed up slightly, but forced herself to relax so she could answer. “Yes and it’s bothersome.”

 

“Then why keep your hair long and do you keep your skin soft somehow?”

 

She pretended to focus on his cape, “It’s just a preference. I feel like keeping my hair long and my skin is naturally soft.”

 

“Oh.”

 

That ended their conversation on an awkward note.

 

“Don’t forget to clean my room, polish my other pairs of shoes, take out my laundry, and then muck out the stables,” he ordered smartly, grinning as he walked away.

 

She rolled her eyes, but oddly couldn’t stop herself from smiling fondly at his back. She quickly wiped it off when she realized what she was doing. Quickly doing magic to clean his room and polish his shoes, she took his laundry and started on her way to Uther’s chambers.

 

Merlin hadn’t commented on how strange it was to find Arthur’s skin was soft as well.

 

“Come in,” and she walked in, her face smoothly blanking over.

 

“How has your week been?” he asked, not looking up from his breakfast.

 

“Fine,” she answered shortly, leaning against his table and next to his chair.

 

“You have two days left, yes?”

 

She nodded.

 

“I see,” and kept quiet.

 

“You have soft skin.” Like father like son, she rolled her eyes.

 

“Yes, I’ve realized,” she answered wryly. “Your son’s mentioned it.”
 

“No, I didn’t mean your skin,” he said confusingly. “I meant, that gentleness you keep around Arthur and for that idiot façade is even present with me. You need to toughen yourself up.”

 

It was her turn to be quiet. She’d realized, she was more like herself around Uther than around anyone else, and it bothered her greatly. But she also knew, she preferred how she was around Arthur –bright, happy, and even if that meant she had to be incompetent. She’d rather stay in the light with Arthur, and hopefully as her destiny said, that time would come. But for now, she would shadow him in the darkness with Uther.

 

It was very strange how attached she was becoming to the Prince.

 

“You would die for Arthur, yes?”

 

Merlin’s eyes widened, “Of course.”

 

He smiled but then it turned frosty, “But would you kill for him?”

 

She froze, “W-what?”

 

“You heard me, Merlin.”
 

She didn’t answer and stayed quiet, thinking intensely.

 

“That’s what I mean. You must kill off your heart and learn to kill for Arthur. Do you understand me now?”

 

She nodded reluctantly.

 

“Go then. I see you have Arthur’s laundry to do, and I’m sure he has more chores in mind to inflict onto you.”

 

“Why don’t you talk with Morgana instead? I hear you used to, before I came,” Merlin wondered bitterly, gathering Arthur’s laundry.

 

“Because she’s too close to Arthur.”

 

“And I’m not?” she asked, her tone slightly mocking.

 

“Morgana has beliefs, you believe in duty. You’re suiting for secrets, and you have the threat of execution over your head. She’s very hotheaded and would go with her feelings, regardless if I ordered her to not. You keep a level head.”

 

‘You’re cold like me,’ went unsaid. Because Merlin was very much like Uther, and that helped tie them together.

 

“Go.”

 

And she didn’t look back.

 

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“What is this?” Merlin murmured, glancing at the body.

 

“Some type of illness. I do not recognize it, but I do see signs of sorcery as the cause,” Gaius flinched and glanced at her in worry.

 

She blanched. This was not good.

 

Indeed, when they brought the news to Uther, he looked furious and sent a quick glance to her. Uther ordered his son to search off the houses in town, and to leave his manservant to Gaius. Arthur reluctantly looked at Merlin and left her behind.

 

“Gaius, get started on that cure. Boy, stay here for further instructions.”

 

Then it was just she and Uther left, and she was caught by surprise by the sudden speed Uther had reached her and was suddenly cutting off her airflow.

 

“How dare you do this?” he hissed, hand tightening around her throat.

 

“I-I didn’t,” she gasped out. “I swore on my magic, remember?”

 

“And how do I know that your oaths are even valid?” he glared.

 

Merlin’s face smoothed over and her eyes hardened. “You don’t,” she scowled faintly, her voice cold.

 

She could see Uther’s jaw clench and unclench several times, before with relief he let go of her throat.

 

“You are still to find a cure,” he spat out. And then he suddenly became weary, “My people are dying. I cannot allow for this to happen.”

 

“I will go to Gaius now,” she said softly, but still watching him warily.

 

He nodded and waved her away.

 

By Gaius’ side, they studied the first body they’d found.

 

“I don’t understand how someone can use magic so evilly,” Merlin murmured.

 

“Magic corrupts, my dear. Magic is only as good as its user, and if the sorcerer’s intentions aren’t honorable…” he didn’t finish as there was rapid knocking on their door.

 

“Gaius, this is Prince Arthur!”

 

Gaius opened the door and the Prince swept in, his guards following behind him.

 

“It’s only protocol, Gaius. I hope you don’t mind but we’ll have to search your chambers. We’ll try not to mess anything too much,” Arthur apologized, starting the search off.

 

“What’s in here?”Arthur asked, reaching Merlin’s room.

 

“My room, you prat. Where else do you think I’ll sleep?” Merlin smirked.

 

He shot her a look, but rolled his eyes in the process. He searched her room before coming back out.

 

“You have a cupboard. Use it, idiot,” Arthur snarked and then left with the rest of the guards.

 

“Where did you put the magic book I gave you?” Gaius asked nervously.

 

“On my bed,” Merlin said nonchalantly.

 

“In plain sight?!”

 

Merlin smirked again, “Hidden illusion.”

 

“Merlin, you will be the death of me.”

 

She snickered to herself. “So, about using magic as a cure…”

 

“Absolutely not,” Gaius glared.

 

“And why not?” she glared back.

 

“Uther cannot find out!”

 

She bit back her reply, but bitterly thought it instead. ‘But he already knows.’

 

“We must find the source,” Gaius comforted, and Merlin quietly accepted it.

 

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She just messed everything up.

 

First, they found that the illness was spread through water. Then, Gwen’s father had the illness and she went to them, hysterically asking for them to cure him. But they didn’t have a cure. And that’s where things went all wrong. Merlin decided to heal Tom herself. With magic.

 

Gaius had gone to Uther to tell him of their findings, she had been celebrating with Gwen, and all the while Arthur realized Tom had suddenly recovered from the fatal disease.

 

Why the hell hadn’t she removed the poultice after?!

 

Gwen was arrested and accused of sorcery.

 

Gaius shook his head and warned her again that being a sorceress held responsibilities. She visited Gwen and felt that guilt double. And she promised she wouldn’t let the servant girl die.

 

So that’s why she was here now, in front of Uther and claiming she was the witch who’d cured Gwen’s father. And then Arthur had to ruin it, the bloody prat.

 

“He has a mental illness,” Arthur proclaimed, chuckling.

 

“He does?” Uther asked, eyebrow raising and watching her with unfathomable eyes.

 

“He’s in love,” the Prince was still chuckling. “Merlin is a wonder, but the wonder is that he’s such an idiot. There’s no way he’s a sorcerer.”

 

Merlin left with Gaius, grumbling and glaring at nothing.

 

“You know, it is very likely that Prince Arthur saved your life,” Gaius commented.

 

“I will not protect you if you are discovered. You will be executed, as all the others have been.”

 

“Yes, Arthur likely did,” Merlin murmured.

 

“Come, Merlin. Let us take a sample of the water from the vault,” Gaius subtly changed the subject.

 

Merlin nodded and they headed to the vault, using torches to light their way through. Merlin quickly dipped a vial in and then took it out, making sure it was filled with water. They were about to leave when they heard a monstrous roar and they glimpsed a monster before they ran.

 

“What on earth was that?” Merlin said through her heavy breathing.

 

Gaius was gasping from being breathless, far more out of shape than she. “Let me see.”

 

He finished putting some type of flower in the vial of water before looking to his books and starting to search through them.

 

“Ah, here! An…Afanc. Only the most powerful of sorcerers can make one.”

 

“How do we defeat it?” Merlin asked unnerved.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Her lip curled and she glared at the tome. Looks like another visit to the dragon was in order.

 

“The great sorceress returns, as I knew she would.”

Merlin tossed some conjured water at the thing. “I need to know how to defeat an Afanc,” she asked blandly, face smoothed over except for the twitching at the corner of her eye.

“Yes, I suppose you do,” it chuckled, ignoring the harmless attack, though it did wince.

“Will you help me?” she reluctantly asked.

“Trust the elements that are at your command.” Oh no, he was not pulling that cryptic crap on her again…

“Elements? What is it I have to do?” Merlin glared, clearly irritated.

“You cannot do this alone. You are but one side of a coin. Arthur is the other.”

 

“What?! That’s it?! Be more specific! Tell me more! And don’t tell me I have to work with that moron again!” she screeched, but the Great Dragon was already disappearing from her sight.

 

“Bloody animal.”

 

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“Clay, water and earth versus air and fire,” Merlin murmured, once Gaius had provided immeasurable help finding out what she could do.

 

“Gwen will be executed in the evening,” Morgana burst into their chambers, looking upset.

 

The two of them looked alarmed, first at the abrupt entrance (good thing nothing to expose magic was in view) and then at her announcement.

 

“Stay here! I’ll be back!” Merlin yelled as she ran.

 

“Does…he do that often?” Morgana asked dazedly.

 

Gaius sighed.

 

Meanwhile, Merlin had reached Uther in the throne room.

 

“You can’t do this. You know Gwen is innocent. It was me who cured her father,” Merlin pleaded.

 

Uther stared stoically at her. “I know.”

 

“What? Then why did you arrest her?!” Why did this seem familiar?

 

“Because you’re invaluable!” he roared, eyes turning into daggers that stabbed into her.

 

That was the second time he’d admitted to that, though this time it had made more importance.

 

“She is just a servant girl.”

 

“So am I,” she said defiantly.

 

“You were about to be exposed, but you are of more use than she. I’d rather her death than yours,” he stated decisively.

 

“An Afanc is responsible. I can find it and defeat it, and prove Gwen’s innocence.”

 

Uther was silent for a moment. “Very well. But you cannot defeat it by yourself.”

 

“And why not? It can be defeated with fire and air. I can use my magic,” she argued.

 

“And how will that be explained to the people? Sorcery will still be at play, and the people will be worried. You must take Arthur with you. The people are used to him saving them in some way or other, and if he seemingly defeats this monster then they will not question it. No one would think of sorcery and your friend Gwen will be freed.”
 

Merlin gritted her teeth, but nodded. He was right. As always.

 

She’d gone to Arthur then and persuaded him of the Afanc.

 

“You believed me with the snakes, believe me now, Arthur,” she said gravely.

 

He only hesitated a moment before following after her. She was surprised and oddly disappointed with how easy it was to defeat the Afanc. But at least Gwen was cleared and set free.

 

Her father thanked her and Morgana, leaving with a blushing and grateful Gwen at his side.

 

“Merlin, I wanted you to know your secret's safe with me.”

 

“My secret?” Oh no…

“Come on. Don't pretend. I know what you did.”

“You do?”

“I saw it with my own eyes.” Wait a second, how did she do that? She was freaking sleeping in Merlin’s room when she got back with Arthur after defeating the Afanc.

“You did?” Makes no sense really, she was stuck with Gaius and nowhere near her…

“I understand why you don't want anyone to know.”

“Well, obviously...”

“I won't tell anyone. You don't mind me talking to you about it?”

“No. It's... you have no idea how hard it is to keep this hidden.” This…could actually be a good thing.

“Well, you can continue to deny it but... I think Gwen's a very lucky woman.” Merlin resisted the urge to facefault. Wait, what?

 

But she stared after Morgana and thought. Either she thought Gwen was a lucky woman because she thought Merlin was in love with her, because Merlin was a powerful sorcerer and in love with her, or Morgana was being crafty and twisting her words so that she was being vague on what secret she really knew.

 

Perhaps Morgana really did know about Merlin’s magic and was just pretending she thought her secret was about being in love with Gwen.

 

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In celebration of the illness being “cured” and the source of it found, a feast was held in Arthur’s honor. Merlin slipped out and thought she was home free when surprisingly Arthur caught her. But he was actually drunk.

 

“Oh dear, the royal ass can’t handle his liquor.”

 

He pouted, “I can too!”

 

She was about to snap out another retort when she stiffened up, Arthur having stumbled forward and grasping her shoulders tightly.

 

“Let go of me,” she said coldly, reverting back to a more natural defense.

 

“Hey, what happened to my cheery idiot?” If it was possible, he pouted even harder.

 

She sighed and smiled weakly, “Come on, you prat. Let’s get you to your room.”

 

But he refused, holding fast onto her and nuzzling her clothed shoulder with his cheek. “You’re so soft…”
 

“So you keep saying,” she chuckled, starting to see some amusement in this.

 

“And pretty.”

 

She froze up, feeling as if that was becoming habit.

 

“I shouldn’t think like that. I’m the Crown Prince and you’re a boy. A pretty boy, but a boy nonetheless.”

 

“Let’s get you to bed,” she said tiredly.

 

“Only if you get in with me,” he smiled drunkenly, but it was somehow adorable.

 

“I’m your manservant, Sire. Just shut up and come with me,” but it was too late and he’d fallen asleep on her.

 

She used magic to help drag him to his room.

 

After dealing with Arthur, the feast was over and Uther would want a report on what really happen. She went to his chambers and was surprised to find the King himself drunk.

 

“This…is starting to be a bad reoccurrence,” she winced.

 

“Merlin! There you are! Saw you sneaking out and Arthur followed you after. You haven’t been enchanting him behind my back have you?” the man slurred all the way through, making it hard to understand.

 

She raised her eyebrows in disbelief, “I swore an oath.”

 

“Who trust those things?” Uther actually giggled. “And besides, enchantments doesn’t always cause harm. You could’ve –you could’ve enc-enchanted him to like you because you like him. That’s not harmful, j-just mean. Meanie.”

 

“Uther. Shut up and get to bed. I’ll report to you in the morning.”

 

The silly demeanor of Uther’s disappeared and he seemed almost himself. Almost.

 

He was immediately in front of her, hugging her close and muttering incomprehensibly into her neck.

 

“I don’t understand a word you’re saying, so sober up, old man, and let me help you to your bed,” she said harshly. 

 

“So soft…Use an illusion,” he muttered. “J-just pretend to be Ingraine for one night.”

 

He kissed her neck and she flinched, grabbing the front of his robe and roughly tossing him to the floor.

 

She stared at him stoically, but instead of the harsh remark he’d expected she just rolled her eyes.

 

“You hate magic. You are not asking me to make myself look like your dead wife, so do as I say and help me get you to your bed.”

 

Instead of getting angry, he just stared at her from his position on the floor. “You’re so mean.”
 

Drunk Pendragons were just a pain in the ass.

 

“Do you want to get on your bed or not?” she asked impatiently.

 

“I think I want to stay here for awhile. I’ll drag myself to my bed later,” he muttered, flopping back onto his back and staring morosely at the ceiling.

 

She sighed and wondered if she was doing that too many times. It’s because of these bloody royals, she swore. Walking to the door, she paused and turned back, watching the depressing figure of the King lie back on the hard floor.

 

Pursing her lips, she waved her hand and created a realistic and solid illusion of Ingraine Pendragon, and left the room. Just because she wouldn’t do it, didn’t mean the King didn’t deserve some sort of illusion for one night.