We Lie Awake

 

“Shame about that unicorn,” Merlin sighed remorsefully.

 

“Yeah…shame,” Arthur muttered.

 

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been a right prat all day, even when we were hunting,” she frowned at him, wishing he’d regret killing the unicorn more.

 

He strode quickly over to her, pinning her against his wardrobe. The carvings dug into her back and she wondered what was his problem.

 

“I wonder…what punishment is fitting for your deceit and lies?” Arthur playfully smirked at her, before his expression darkened. “Do you miss my touch? Do you feel as intoxicated in my presence as I do in yours? Do you remember the feel of my lips?” he growled against her throat, nipping at the skin there sharply.

 

Merlin pushed at him, trying to get away. But her attempts were weak in the first place, so it did nothing more than make him choose to push closer.

 

“Stop it,” she hissed, lips curling into a sneer.

 

“Why?” he glared back.

 

“Because we can’t –”

 

Arthur interrupted her, “You know that is shit and absolutely unacceptable to me. Your reasons are just excuses. You say I need a Queen, then why can’t you be her?”

 

“Arthur, we are not of the same social class. It will be unaccept –”

 

“Shut up.”

 

“What?” she was stunned.

 

“I said ‘shut up’,” and Arthur kissed her roughly, wiping all thoughts from her head.

 

When Arthur had thoroughly explored her mouth, he pulled back slowly and stared intensely at her.

 

“I don’t care about that. If they care so much about your station, then I refuse to be King.”

 

Her hand moved by itself, smacking him hard across his right cheek. An angry red welt started swelling there immediately. Arthur’s head stayed turned, his blond bands shadowing his eyes. She stared incredulously at her handprint.

 

“I’m…I’m so sorry,” she whispered in shock.

 

But instead of getting angry, he just softly grabbed onto her wrists, holding them up as he leaned forward and laid his head against her heart.

 

“You insist on it so much? That I be King?” he murmured.

 

“You have to. It is your destiny,” she said softly, unmoving and everything not setting in.

 

There was a pause in their talk, in which Arthur said nothing and just stayed in his position for a couple minutes.

 

‘Tiny steps, Arthur. Weave your own web.’

 

He looked up slowly, eyes promising something she didn’t want to acknowledge.

 

“Then I will be King. On one condition.”

 

Merlin hesitantly nodded. “What condition?”

 

“For as long as I am Prince, you will allow yourself to be with me.”

 

She stared. He had just cornered her skillfully into this.

 

“Well, Merlin. Will you have me King or will I have to refuse my birthright?”

 

“Fine,” she gritted out.

 

A slow smile spread across his face and she reluctantly let him lead her to his bed.

 

“Wait,” she panicked. “What on earth are you doing?”

 

“Relax,” he said, slight annoyance leaking into his tone. “We’re not going to have sex,” he said bluntly. “I just want to cuddle.”

 

‘C-cuddle?’ her mind was all over the place.

 

He gently laid her onto the bed, slipping in beside her. She moved onto her side to face the wall, unable to face him with her bright red face. Not bothered by it, Arthur put his arms around her and pulled her close, sighing into her neck. Curving his body to hers, Arthur fell asleep in contentment.

 

When they awoke, they didn’t move from their spot and stayed in the same position, listening to the sudden rain outside.

 

“Were you serious about the unicorn?”

 

“You gave the horn to your father as a gift. Gaius warned that killing a unicorn will grant the killer grave misfortune. Both of you ignored the warning,” Merlin told him tiredly.

 

She started to get up and he tightened his hold.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

She sighed, “Arthur, I have to go.”

 

He reluctantly unwound his arms from her and watched as she got up and adjusted her crumpled clothing. She looked to him and saw his frowning and upset face. Grudgingly, she gave him a soft smile and touched his jaws with her fingers, lightly lifting it up. She planted soft kisses around his face and nuzzled his jaw before pulling back and looking him straight in the eye.

 

“Look at me, Arthur. I promise. I’ll come back. I just have something to do and then I’ll be back in here, letting you have your way once again.”

 

He gave her a lopsided smile and leaned up to kiss her once before she flitted away and then walked out of his room.

 

His smile turned into a frown and he stared at his door with a shadowed expression. There were a lot of things he wanted to say, but he remembered his promise to his father. So he kept quiet and played along. He wondered if it was to his father she had gone to.

 

“You must quit questioning. Look the other way, Arthur. If you start having suspicions, stamp them down and pretend they never existed.”

 

“Merlin cannot know that you are aware of the…relationship between her and I. Is that understood?”

 

Just because he wouldn’t say anything aloud, didn’t mean he would not keep questions in his head.

 

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“You are sure about this?” Uther grimaced.

 

“Yes. Gaius wasn’t lying about the legends. If they are true then Camelot may be in grave danger.”

 

“Perhaps…perhaps you are mistaken…”

 

Merlin rolled her eyes, “Are you going to choose now of all times to question me?”

 

“It just seems like everything wrong has to do with magic,” Uther muttered.

 

“Maybe my presence around here isn’t such a good idea,” she frowned, thinking about it. “I mean, look at it this way. Ever since I came here, none of you would be able to survive without me there to save you. But before I came here, none of you even needed saving.”

 

“Coincidence. All coincidence,” Uther insisted. “Everything would have happened anyway, but with you here at least we can survive through it. Think about it this way, if you had never come here, all of that would have happened anyway and we would never have been able to stay alive. It’s thanks to you that we were able to endure through all of it. Your arrival coincident with the events, giving us a fighting chance.”

 

Touched, she just gave a nod, acknowledging what he’d said.

 

“And you’re right. After everything, I shouldn’t question your judgment. Convince Arthur of the unicorn legend, and I will remain the ignorant King.”

 

“Ignorant you are not, my friend,” Merlin laughed softly, realizing a little too late of the term she’d addressed the King with.

 

“Tell that to everyone,” Uther grumbled, saying nothing against the address.

 

She shrugged, “You choose to appear that way.”

 

“It is a façade easily used,” he said tiredly.

 

Sighing, she sat on the right armrest of this throne and leaned back, letting him lean on her.

 

“I’d forgotten on Arthur’s birthday when he was announced as Crown Prince…it was also the anniversary of your wife’s death. I’d…been busy with the wraith and then I’d forgotten completely after. I’m sorry.”

 

“It is alright. With Tristan’s wraith and the events after, I had actually forgotten for once. It was a relief.”

 

“What do you usually do on that day?”

 

“Pretend to be normal for Arthur’s sake during the day, and then get drunk and wallow in my misery at night.”

 

“Do you want –”

 

“No,” he interrupted sharply. He rubbed a hand down his face. “It is better for me to face reality than to allow myself to lie to myself. It is enough that I allowed it once.”

 

“I’m sorry. I thought you would need the gesture.”

 

Uther winced, “I do. But it is better not to get too used to it.”

 

Merlin nodded, “I apologize for suggesting it then. I’m assuming you remember that night?”

 

The King averted his eyes. “I remember all of it. And I apologize for my behavior that night. My actions were inexcusable, and I regret propositioning you like that the most.”

 

“Forgiven and forgotten. I’ll have to go back to Arthur now, but I just needed to warn you again about the unicorn. If I have anything I need to tell you, I’ll come back.”

 

“Yes, yes. Return to Arthur. Please him, won’t you? He seems to always be agitated nowadays,” Uther said, and she wasn’t sure if she was imagining the guarded tone hidden.

 

She huffed, “Your son is more like you than you think.”

 

“Perhaps that is true. But I imagine he is a branch of me rather than a replica. You’re more like me than you think.”

 

“But I’m not a replica.”

 

“Not yet you aren’t.”

 

She looked at him uncertainly, but he just smiled mysteriously.

 

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The morning bore bad news. Uther and Arthur rode out, but Merlin already knew something had happened by the troubled look he sent her before they left. And then she heard the news around the castle. Camelot’s entire grain crop had died overnight.  She’d confronted Gaius who had no idea what could have caused such a thing, but was reluctant to point to sorcery so quickly.

 

It seemed sorcery was the answer to everything. It was getting to be very tiresome.

 

Grimacing, Merlin sat in her room for the rest of the day, brooding and wishing Arthur and Uther would come back already. The rest of that day passed by slowly, and wanting something comforting, she snuck into Uther’s room. She refused to go to Arthur’s, knowing he’d hold it over her and make another attempt to make her give in to him.

 

At least, in Uther’s room, he’d shut up. Maybe…Bloody Pendragons…

 

She snuggled onto the plush bed, and wondered if she could convince Uther to get her one. It was so nice and soft, unlike the hard bed she used every day. Half-asleep, she didn’t even notice Uther come into his room, staring in surprise at her curled up form.

 

“Now what do we have here?” he smirked, laughing softly.

 

Tossing his cape onto a chair, he sat on his bed, ignoring her as he untied his boots and shoved them off. Unworried, he changed into more comfortable clothes and then settled in right next to her on the bed. He snickered quietly.

 

“Comfy?”

 

She mumbled something unintelligibly.

 

“Mmhm,” he answered back.

 

“Can I have your bed?” Merlin mumbled more clearly.

 

Uther rolled his eyes, knowing she was too deep in sleep and oddly sleep-talking. “Sure.”

 

“M’gonna kick you out then. It’s my bed now.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“…Don’t mean that. Sorry. Sleep.”

 

“It’s fine, Merlin. And you go on and sleep, child. I’ll wake you in the morning…” Uther said amusedly, fondness leaking into his tone.

 

“Uhkay.”

 

“Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story?” he asked in all seriousness, not a hint of mocking.

 

“That would be nice,” she mumbled.

 

He settled himself more comfortably and then combed his hand through her hair, petting her head as he began talking.

 

“Once upon a time, there was a foolish King. But before he was a King, he was a bright and naïve Prince who fell in love with a beautiful Princess. The Princess, too, fell in love with the Prince and they got married. Soon, he became the King and she was his Queen. They lived happily ever after, and had everything. Except one most important thing, that both of them wanted above all. A child. They tried again and again, but they could not have either a daughter or a son. And so, the King went to his friend and together they met a beautiful Sorceress, who hid her wicked smiles and cunning knowledge, and helped them without telling the entire truth.

 

“The beautiful Sorceress granted them a child. But in exchange, the Queen lost her life and the newly-born son lost his mother and the King the love of his life. And so the King lost his naivety and the bright ideas and welcomes, filled with vengeance and grief. In his mourning, the King became foolish and after casting out the wicked Sorceress, took out his heartache on the rest of the wicked Sorceress’ kind, not just banishing but executing those who practiced her craft. Blinded by his pain, he didn’t realize the pain he’d cast on all else until it was too late.

 

“In the end, he was left to his misery, lonely and unhappy and most of all –clinging to what family he could claim. And quietly his anguish goes on, only tamed when he met another Sorceress…one who was so very like his wife…and yet so similar to the darkness festering in his own heart…”

 

He looked down blankly at Merlin, finding her completely asleep. He continued threading his hand through her hair and ignored the tears that started falling from his eyes.

 

“So...so very…lonely…I miss you, Ingraine,” he whispered sorrowfully. “I’m so alone.”

 

At those words, he felt slim arms wrap around his middle and he looked down again, seeing Merlin had latched onto him in her sleep.

 

He smiled tearfully, “Maybe not so alone.”

 

Taking both arms, he hunched over and held her tight, crying still.

 

“You are the daughter that Ingraine and I could have had,” he whispered.

 

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Arthur frowned as he leaned outside his father’s room, having nudged the doors open a little. When he’d found out Merlin wasn’t in her room and had not gone near his rooms, he’d reluctantly trekked to his father’s rooms and was dismayed to know she was in there. He heard the two of them talking and noticed the familiar camaraderie, even in her sleep. He’d left disgruntled, after Merlin had said ‘Uhkay’, unwilling to stand by any longer.

 

His father had implied there was some sort of relationship between Merlin and he, but now was proof staring Arthur in the face. Just how close were they? And how long had it been going on? Even more, did Merlin reciprocate his father’s feelings?

 

Unbidden, an image of his father kissing Merlin in his rooms crept into his mind and Arthur growled, knocking over the table in his room. He took a couple breaths to calm himself down, but his blood was boiling in jealousy.

 

Over the past few days, his mind had been going on overdrive. He thought back to all the times Merlin had been acting weird or had to disappear. He had no doubt that his father was involved somehow.

 

He would keep his mouth shut, but he wouldn’t keep his mind idle. And all of those things he’d thought of before, little and big things he’d noticed but pushed aside or dismissed…Well, he really couldn’t afford to do that now, especially when the secrets were pushed into his face and he couldn’t ignore them anymore.

 

Damn it, he’d noticed Merlin unusually around his father so many times. And how his father called on Merlin so much.

 

But he’d never thought anything of it! Purposefully choosing to make himself ignorant? He saw the evidence, why didn’t he ever make himself put things together? He could’ve figured it out a long time ago, but he just…chose not to.

 

He’d seen things, but he’d never even made any real excuses for them. Just decided he was overanalyzing things or being paranoid.

 

Arthur wanted, no needed Merlin to comfort him right now.

 

When morning came, he still hadn’t done anything but stay in his room. But he wasn’t not doing anything. He was reorganizing his thoughts and memories. He’d get to the bottom of everything, with or without that promise he made to his father.

 

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Merlin yawned and tried to stretch, finding her movements restricted. She saw Uther’s arms still around her and was leaning on her heavily. Trying to wiggle out of his hold, she blinked when he just tightened his hold. Pouting, she managed to get an arm out and knock lightly on his head.

 

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy-head!” she sing-songed, having slept well and being in a good mood.

 

Her smile faltered when she noticed the dried tear tracks on his face, but tried to regain her cheer, thinking he could use it. Getting a mischievous grin, her hand reached out and picked a spot, fingers stretching before wiggling.

 

She began tickling the King.

 

At first, nothing happened. Then, as he began waking up more, small laughs escaped from his mouth. Small laughs gave way to chuckling, and then he began sniggering. Soon enough, he was laughing out loud, unwilling to open his eyes but trying to escape from her. His arms unwound from her, but she followed. When he fell on his back, she continued her attack, straddling him and claiming victory.

 

“Get off me, brat, or I’ll put you to the stocks!” he barked out through his laughter.

 

“Uh huh,” she said, not taking him seriously.

 

He growled and actually tackled her off of him and she landed backwards with an ‘oomph!’ He was poised above her, ready to start tickling and she closed her eyes and shrieked as her arms shot up and she crossed them in front of her in a fruitless effort to protect herself.

 

When nothing happened, she warily opened her eyes to see Uther grinning at her.

 

“I’ll wait to take my revenge. That way, you’ll always be unsure and just waiting for me to pay you back.”

 

“Royal ass. Just like your son,” she scowled at him.

 

Uther just shook his head, going back to leaning against the headboard. He patted the spot next to him, and she shuffled closer, plopping herself at the spot she had occupied earlier.

 

“Thank you…for trying to cheer me up.”

 

“You mean I didn’t succeed?” she pouted.

 

“No…No, you did,” he smiled and ruffled her hair. “I have dinner with Morgana every day. Would you do me the honor of having breakfast every morn?”

 

She stared at him.

 

“Well…if you’d rather not…”

 

Merlin shook her head vehemently. “No, it’s fine. I have to start working for Arthur when dawn breaks, so I’ll sneak out sometime after and have breakfast with you.”

 

“I’ll wake before then. We can have breakfast before you work.”

 

She stared at him again, but he only looked back calmly at her.

 

“Okay…I, uh, have to go see to Arthur,” she gave him a hesitant smile.

 

“Why don’t we have a quick breakfast before then?” and he held up an apple he’d gotten from the fruit bowl on the dresser beside him.

 

She laughed and he joined her.

 

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“Do you prefer my father?”

 

The question came from out of nowhere. Merlin’s head snapped towards Arthur, who was watching her with an unreadable look that worried her.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Do you prefer him over me?” Arthur growled, standing up abruptly and stalking towards her.

 

She took a nervous step back.

 

She was backed into that blasted wardrobe again, with his arms going up and boxing her in as they surrounded her on either side of her head. He leaned in close, his breath fanning over her face.

 

“You spend an awful lot of time with –” he cut himself off, snapping his jaw shut and she saw it clench angrily. His eyes were boring intensely into her, and she shivered.

 

“Look the other way, Arthur.”

 

‘Fine, Father,’ he growled in his head, and slammed his lips against hers.

 

Hearing her moan into his mouth, he confidently prodded his tongue against her mouth, which opened uncertainly, and he surely touched his tongue against hers. As he kissed her, he slid his hands down the wood of the wardrobe, stopping when he felt his wrists hit against her waist. Clasping his hands on her waist, he grasped it and pulled her up, letting her wrap her legs around his waist, and carrying her to his bed.

 

Gently setting her on it, he climbed on top of her, never moving away once. He trailed his hands firmly down her sides, reaching the hem of her shirt and sliding his hands underneath it. He felt her shiver at his touch and smirked against her mouth.

 

Licking a trail down her neck, her neckerchief having fallen off sometime before, he nipped lightly at her collarbone. He sucked at the area, rewarded with Merlin grasping tightly to his shoulders and whimpering.

 

“Stop. Please stop.”

 

He forced himself to, and he leaned back on his knees, staring incredulously at her.

 

“Why on earth would you want to stop?”

 

She was breathing heavily and looked thoroughly kissed.

 

“We can’t…we can’t go that far, Arthur,” she frowned at him, the effect ruined by the redness of her face and the glazed eyes.

 

“And why not?”

 

She wavered, blushing. “We shouldn’t. And…and…well, I’m not…ready…and…” everything else was mumbled and he raised an eyebrow at her.

 

“Surely you’re not a virgin. You’re beautiful and plenty of men would have approached you before. What of your friend Will?”

 

Merlin glared at him heatedly, “I told you. He was just a friend. We were never like that.”

 

“And my father?”

 

She faltered, staring at him in confusion. “What?”

 

“Never mind,” he muttered, placing his hands on either side of her and leaning closer, setting his head on her chest and just listening to her breathe unevenly, the pounding of her heart sounding against his ear.

 

The question, ‘Did my father take you to his bed?’ burned on his lips.

 

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The curse died on her lips as she stared at the sand filling the bucket.

 

There was no water.

 

“Can I borrow this bucket, Gwen?” Merlin asked stoically.

 

Gwen answered ‘yes’ uncertainly. Angrily filling the bucket with sand, she took it and carried it back to the castle.

 

Sitting with a blank face in Arthur’s rooms, Merlin unhappily twirled a finger lazily on the surface of the sand. When Arthur entered, it was to this sight he was greeted with.

 

He rolled his eyes, “What are you unhappy about now? Still mourning the unicorn? You haven’t stopped bugging me about it since it happened. Or maybe you’re upset that I kissed you? Or maybe, you’re upset we didn’t get to finish what we’d started?” He looked at her suggestively, leaning back languidly against his door.

 

Merlin smiled unnervingly. “Some water, Sire?”

 

She held up a cup and he looked at her in confusion. Walking over and grabbing the cup, he held it to his lips and tried to take a sip, only to spit out sand.

 

“What the –?! Merlin, what is this? Is this some kind of joke?”

 

“There’s no water. All. That. Is. Left. IS SAND!” she roared, glaring at him, and giving him the oddest sense that he was facing his father instead of the woman he wanted.

 

“I don’t understand,” Arthur backpedaled, shaking his head and letting his hair fly in every direction as he tried to escape her accusing gaze.

 

“The crops are all ruined. Sand has replaced our water. Arthur, can you not see it? Is it not all linked to the unicorn’s death?” she pleaded, softening only slightly.

 

But he hardened and this time he was the one glaring, but he came out desperate in the end. “No. It can’t be. All of this is not my fault. Please don’t tell me you think it is.”

 

“Not intentionally, Arthur. You would never wish ill upon your people, but you hadn’t known the consequences of slaying such a magical creature. There must be a link, Arthur. When we, and I will not abandon you, when we look for that link, then can we solve this and save Camelot.”

 

“But…”

 

“LOOK AT ME!” she screamed at him and he quickly did as she’d ordered, surprised by the strength behind her words and the vehemence. She scrutinized him closely, before suddenly turning gentle. Crossing over to him, she hugged him around his middle, leaning into his body with warmth. She looked up at him with soft eyes and he stared mesmerized.

 

Brushing her lips against his, she spoke tenderly. “Arthur, I would never lie to you, you know that right? You must trust me on this. When have I ever led you astray?”

 

“Never,” he murmured, closing his eyes and leaning in to smell her scent. He took a deep breath.

 

“Will you at least listen and be careful? Will you take me seriously?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“That’s all I ask,” she whispered against him and kissed him again.

 

“Will you love me forever?” he asked solemnly, leaning more into her.

 

“I will never leave you.”

 

She could not love him, for that wasn’t her destiny, but she told the truth. She would stay by his side for all of eternity.

 

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“You manipulated my son.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Uther chuckled lightly, filling his goblet with wine. “So now you’ve convinced him to listen to you as I have come to. Well, without the kisses and soft touches.”

 

Merlin blushed. “I…I was only…”

 

“Relax. You act as if I would disapprove of your affections with my son.”

 

“You should,” she muttered.

 

She continued trying to change the sand back into water, with no success. She muttered a curse, jumping slightly in her seat when Uther’s hands landed heavily on her shoulders.

 

“Perhaps you are just frustrated or too stressed out?” he suggested as he started massaging her shoulders.

 

She snorted, glaring at the bucket of sand. “I’m carrying this thing all over the place, trying to make it water. It is as I’ve told Gaius. This is a magic far beyond my own.”

 

“For now at least. I have no doubt that soon you’ll be stronger than anyone. Even Nimueh and this sorcery,” he told her proudly, and as much as it was a little weird for her to hear such bold praise coming from him, she couldn’t help feeling happy.

 

“I should go to Arthur now,” Merlin said contentedly, rolling her neck.

 

“I think…you should focus more on him than of the unicorn ordeal. He has been acting agitated and upset these past few days. Will you do something about him?” Uther frowned, looking concentrated on something.

 

“I’ll try. He is…actually being rather odd these days. I can’t put my finger on it,” Merlin echoed his frown.

 

A dark look passed Uther’s face, before it blanked out, which he hadn’t done in awhile. “He hasn’t…said anything suspicious, has he?”

 

“No, not really. I don’t think so. Should I look out for anything?”

 

“No, I’m sure it’s nothing. I’ve told Arthur to announce a curfew and that anyone caught looting supplies will be executed. Don’t get caught, will you? I know you will ignore me and continue to try to fix things, so you’ll be out tonight, but just don’t get caught.”

 

She shrugged, “Who else is going to save Camelot? Don’t tell me to leave it to you or Arthur. We’ll be doomed.”

 

Uther shrugged as well. “I’m not the one with the magical powers. I would probably poof things all right if I did.”

 

“You can’t poof things fixed. Magic doesn’t work like that.”

 

“If it was me, yeah it would.”

 

“You arrogant man.”

 

“Of course.”

 

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She was careful that night, but not that careful. She got careless actually. And that’s how Arthur caught her.

 

“Now what do we have here,” he cornered her, smirking. “Merlin, you’re out of curfew. Whatever should I do?”

 

“Come on, Arthur. Just let me go to Gaius’ and I’ll go straight to sleep. I hadn’t meant to stay out so late.”

 

“What are you willing to do for me, if I were to…keep my mouth shut?”

 

She winced, “You wouldn’t want me killed though, right?”

 

His smirk turned dark. “I’m sure you would be spared. You’re very precious after all.”

 

“What –what do you want?” she mentally berated herself for letting her voice tremble.

 

“Sleep with me for now on. My bed is yours.”

 

Merlin gaped at him, eyes widening and speechless.

 

He sighed, “Fine. On the sixth and seventh days of the week, sleep in my bed. But you must wear what I pick out for you.”

 

Grudgingly, she agreed to it and she dreaded the smug look on Arthur’s face. His smug look turned pinched as he saw someone.

 

“Merlin, after me. There’s someone out of curfew. Go that way, and I’ll go this way. We’ll meet in the middle,” he ordered her, already on the move.

 

She sighed and followed his orders.

 

The mysterious figure in white, and a sinking feeling in her gut told her that it was the same one she’d glimpsed before at the unicorn’s death, kept evading them several times. When Arthur and Merlin finally stopped for a second, Arthur cursing heavily, the mysterious figure in white revealed himself as an old man.

 

“I am Anhora, Keeper of the Unicorns,” he intoned solemnly.

 

“You’re the sorcerer who’s plaguing Camelot, aren’t you?” Arthur accused, glaring angrily at the man.

 

Anhora shook his head. “No. You have unleashed a horrible curse upon Camelot when you’d slayed the unicorn. It was done by you and so only you can undo the curse. You will be tested and if you fail any of the tests, Camelot will be damned for all eternity.”

 

Arthur snarled and tried to tackle Anhora, but the man disappeared, leaving Arthur to land heavily onto the ground and for Merlin to stare stoically at his fallen form. She leaned back casually against the wall, and observed him coolly.

 

“Well, that was smart,” she remarked candidly.

 

“Shut up,” Arthur growled, throwing her a wounded look.

 

She rolled her eyes, “Don’t be such a baby, Arthur. We found our link. Now we just need to be ready and prepare for the tests.”

 

“He could’ve been lying,” he muttered.

 

Merlin sighed, pushing herself off of the wall and moving closer to him, kneeling by his side. She placed a hand on his back in comfort and leaned closer, setting her forehead against his temple.

 

“Arthur, you said you’d trust me, right? That you would listen to me? Listen to me now.”

 

She moved to be in front of him, tilting his downtrodden face up from facing the ground to face her. Looking at him with imploring eyes and a tender gaze, she kissed him.

 

“Will you trust my word that I believe him? Will you try to at least be careful in the coming days and be prepared to see everything as a test you must pass?”

 

“Fine. Because of you,” Arthur murmured, leaning into her and wrapping his arms around her.

 

“Don’t be upset, Arthur. You had no idea about the unicorn,” she said softly.

 

“You called out to me in warning and I ignored you. I should have listened to you. I should always listen to you.”

 

“You’ll listen to me now, won’t you? And I will never lead you astray.”

 

“I trust your word above all,” Arthur told her and she was starting to realize the weight of power she was gaining in her hands.

 

She was becoming very worried and panicked.

 

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“So you definitely got my son used to taking your word and advice first? Good practice for the future, I’d say,” Uther commented.

 

Merlin had just finished reporting about the events of the night, talking about Arthur’s deal with her to Anhora’s appearance.

 

“It’s not practice,” she muttered. “And shouldn’t you be more upset about Arthur making me sleep in his bed?”

 

“Why should I be?”

 

Merlin refused to gape. “Because it’s inappropriate! We are not married and I am not his mistress! I’m just his servant!”

 

Uther shrugged, “I’m not upset at all, Merlin. In fact, I encourage it. Sleep in his bed. It is not like you are sleeping with him, not that I would protest that either.”

 

“How can you say that?! I am manipulating your son! I’m using his feelings to make him more susceptible to my suggestions! Have I not betrayed your trust…and Arthur’s?” she ended in a whisper, hot tears pouring down her face and to the floor as she looked down in shame.

 

He was near her in no time, pulling her close into an embrace. She cried into his clothing and he stayed silent, only stroking her hair softly.

 

“You are only looking out for us and for Camelot. As is your right as future High Sorceress…and Arthur’s future Queen.”

 

She pulled away from him, angrily wiping her tears away. “Don’t say such ridiculous things. You know that will never happen. Regardless of what I or he wants.”

 

She missed the self-satisfied smile that crossed his face for a moment before he looked solemn once more.

 

He didn’t say, ‘But if I want it, then it will come true.’

 

“Go to my bed and sleep, Merlin. You have long days ahead of you.”

 

She hesitated, looking at him anxiously.

 

“Are you that bothered by sleeping in another man’s bed?” he asked exasperatedly. “It is not like you have not slept here before.”

 

“It was barely five minutes the first time, before I ran away with the Druid child, and the second time I didn’t know you were here,” she frowned at him.

 

“Excuses, excuses. Why are you so bothered? You weren’t really all that bothered the other times.”

 

Merlin’s words came out jumbled and she was definitely flustered. “It’s just –you know, unicorn –legends – and then –unicorn legends –legends of unicorns –legends saying this –and unicorns with people –”

 

A grin started forming on Uther’s face, “You’re a virgin.”

 

“Be quiet!” she hissed, face turning red.

 

“You saw the unicorn, the unicorn reminded you of the legends, and the legends made you dreadfully aware of the fact you were a virgin. And now every little touch, action, or word has you anxious and wary.”

 

“I can’t help it!” she glared. “I never really thought about it before, but then the unicorn came in and now I’m just antsy about things!”

 

Uther chortled, ignoring her outrage huffing.

 

“Just come to bed, Merlin,” he shook his head, calming down.

 

She growled and glared at him, stomping to the bed and childishly throwing herself on it. She sighed in happiness straight after.

 

“Mm, I love this bed. Can I have one like it?”

 

“Maybe. Why don’t you just have Arthur’s? He’s offering it to you.”

 

She elbowed him sharply. “Shut up!”

 

Uther turned onto his side to face the other way from her, still snickering to himself.

 

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Even through her irritation, she slept wonderfully. So she ate a rather bare breakfast with Uther in a good mood, again despite the lack of substantial food, talking about different scenarios that Arthur could be tested and how they should prepare for it. Uther would still occasionally snicker at her other dilemma, even to the point of something like this being said:

 

“They don’t discuss these things in Ealdor! It’s just not talked about!”

 

“This is Camelot, my dear. We’re a bit more…callous and crude than a modest village.”

 

The rest of the day went by normally, and it was at night that she and Arthur were prepared to scout out anything suspicious. She and Uther had discussed the grain store and the possibility of it being a target. Discussing her suspicions with Arthur, she and him decided to stake out the grain store that night.

 

But they found a farmer trying to steal food for his family instead.

 

Happily, she saw Arthur let the farmer go and even gave the bag of grain to the farmer to have.

 

“Your kindness will bring its own reward,” the farmer said as a parting shot.

 

Excitedly, Merlin gave Arthur a proud grin and hugged him tightly.

 

“Now that…was very kingly,” she smiled joyfully.

 

He smiled back dazed.

 

If doing things like that made Merlin happy with him and made her do things like that to him, then maybe he should keep doing similar things…

 

The next day, water was returned and both she and Arthur agreed that last night had been a test and that Arthur had passed. Agreeing also to go to the forest to search out Anhora and hopefully the next test, the two of them set out and ended up splitting up.

 

Arthur was faced against that same farmer, who seemed to actually be a thief.

 

But he frowned and thought again to Merlin and her words to him. He had to be careful. This could be a test…

 

The thief began taunting him about his father, but he merely shrugged it off.

 

“Neither your taunting or lies will bother me,” Arthur said determinedly.

 

“And if I were to take your woman as well?” the thief gave a crooked teeth smile.

 

Arthur snarled and whipped out his sword, a red haze clouding his vision. He swung his sword over and over at the thief, who was surprisingly nimble and kept dodging his attacks.

 

“She is a rather pretty thing, isn’t she? I wouldn’t mind taking her to my tent to show her how a real man can give her a good time.”

 

With a roar, Arthur thrust his sword into the man’s chest, and suddenly he disappeared. Surprised, Arthur stumbled back and dropped his sword, wincing when he saw Anhora appear in the thief’s place.

 

“You have proven that you will kill a man over words, easily angered over what is nothing more than words. For that, Camelot will suffer a worse fate.”

 

Anhora disappeared and Arthur fell back, sitting morosely on the ground. The sound of light footsteps hurrying towards him caused him to avert his eyes and hide the shame on his face. When Merlin came into view, he refused to look at her.

 

“You failed.”

 

Borrowing his face into his hands, his crying did all the answering.

 

He was surprised when Merlin came near him and actually gathered him into her arms, holding him tight and holding his head to her bosom.

 

“You did your best.”

 

“My best wasn’t enough,” Arthur said bitterly.

 

“It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t enough now but you must keep hope and keep trying. We’ll fix this, Arthur.”

 

He looked up at her with resolute eyes, “I promise I won’t disappoint you next time.”

 

“I know you won’t. Now come on.”

 

They were in Camelot soon enough, and seeing Arthur head towards the throne room, she decided she could report to Uther later. But Arthur was on a mission.

 

“Father,” he stared stoically at him.

 

Uther just smiled seemingly pleasantly at his son, saying nothing.

 

“Are you taking Merlin to your bed?”

 

Uther’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline and his jaw dropped.

 

“What?!”

 

“You heard me,” Arthur glared.

 

The elder Pendragon’s face blanked, but his mind was going a hundred miles a minute. Then he smirked.

 

“Yes, Arthur. I am.”

 

Arthur gave an enraged scream, grabbing a chair near him and throwing it at Uther. Well, at least he knew throwing chairs was a Pendragon trait as well. Now he’s just waiting for Merlin to pick it up and make it one of her own habits…

 

“I’m going to come back in fifteen minutes, Father. And I’m going to tell you exactly what I think.”

 

Arthur turned sharply on his heel and angrily burst through the door. As expected, Merlin slipped in the room straight after.

 

“He’s angry. I assume he told you about tonight?”

 

Uther frowned, “No. We had a…discussion about something else. What happened?”

 

Merlin recounted everything that happened and Uther shook his head.

 

“Do what you can. For all our sakes,” Uther sighed.

 

“I-I’m sorry. Magic isn’t all that bad,” she winced.

 

He nodded, “I know. You’re proof of that.”

 

Happy, she smiled brightly.

 

Uther hesitated, but went on. “Merlin…I will be acting strangely with you for now on. Don’t question it or me. Just…play along.”

 

Merlin looked confused, but she nodded. Hearing Arthur’s footsteps, Merlin was about to slip away but Uther grabbed a hold of her. In a surprise move, Uther pulled her forward harshly and pushed his mouth against hers as Arthur entered the room.

 

She stiffened up, but didn’t move away. The forewarning was nice, but something a bit more specific would’ve been better. And Arthur…

 

The door slammed shut and Uther moved away, with Merlin staring at him stoically.

 

“Be prepared for the backlash tomorrow,” was all she said and she left without another word.

 

Uther breathed a sigh of relief.

 

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All of the food rations had rotted. His son refusing to give the order to stop distributing food to the people, Uther reluctantly gave it himself. He was reassured by the comforting look and words Merlin gave him in passing.

 

“I don’t like it. But I see why you feel the need to.”

 

She understood and that was all he needed. He didn’t need to explain himself to anyone, because the one person who would always understand and who he expected to –would.

 

But she disappeared straight after. Wondering where she was, he morosely paced around his chambers, in no mood to meet or talk with anyone that wasn’t Merlin. Her comfort was very much needed.

 

“You’ll wear a hole into your floor.”

 

He whirled around and smiled at her in relief.

“Merlin, I was worried. Where were you?”

 

“I went back to the forest to find Anhora and plead for Arthur to have another chance. Arthur will have to go to the Labyrinth of Gedref. He fails this test and there will be no hope. Camelot will be destroyed by the curse.”

 

Uther swallowed nervously, nodding.

 

“Go then. Get Arthur and hopefully we’ll have Camelot back to normal by night.”

 

He looked on in worry as she nodded and walked off to find Arthur.

 

She saw him in his room, laying just as morosely as she’d found Uther. She crawled into bed and lay next to him, holding onto him.

 

“I want to help them. I really do. This is all my fault and I have no idea what to do to make it all better.”

 

Merlin sighed against his neck, “You have another chance. Anhora says you must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref, where you will face another test. Be careful in this one…it will be your last chance…and Camelot’s.”

 

“I know,” but the steel and confidence was back in Arthur’s tone and she smiled against his skin.

 

And the last push…

 

“I’m here for you, Arthur. I promise. You can have me for as long as you are Prince.”

 

The last incentive was in place.

 

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She followed after Arthur, despite his demands for her not to, and ended up getting lost in the Labyrinth while looking for him. Which led to her getting caught by Anhora and his trap. Did it mean much that she thought the trap was meant for Arthur…?

 

So her hands tied and her fastened to a chair, she awaited Arthur’s arrival.

 

He came, blinking in surprise at her presence, before he became indignant.

 

“I thought I told you not to come here, Merlin.”

 

She shrugged as much as she could with her hands and body tied. When the roots tying her up retracted, she experimentally flicked her wrists and moved her arms.

 

“There are two goblets…” Anhora explained the rules, Merlin’s part of it, and what must be done.

 

“What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?” Arthur glowered at him.

“What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted,” was all that Anhora offered to tell them.

“Let's think about this. What if I drink from my goblet first?” Merlin tried to insist without sounding too much like she was.

“If it's poisoned, you'll die,” Arthur answered shortly.

“If it's not, you'll have to drink from yours and you die. There must be a way round it,” Merlin huffed.

“It's perfectly simple. One of us has to die. We have to find a way to determine which goblet has the poison. Then I'll drink it,” Arthur frowned, staring her down.

“I will be the one to drink it,” she said firmly.

“This is my doing. I'm drinking it,” Arthur was just as stubborn.

“It's more important that you live. You're the future King. I'm just a servant.”

“This is no time to be a hero, Merlin. It really doesn't suit you,” Arthur’s tone darkened considerably, showing her a side of him that she’d only glimpsed before.

“What if I drink from mine first and if that's not poisoned, I will then drink yours,” Merlin tried to placate him, hiding her surprise.

“He said each of us is only allowed to drink from a single goblet,” Arthur’s tone turned dry. He paused and looked at her for a moment. “I had no idea you were so keen to die for me,” he finished softly.

“Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself,” Merlin snapped at him, but her eyes looked more desperate and pleading.

 

Merlin sighed, but she got an idea. “I've got it! We pour all the liquid into one goblet and then we can be sure it's poisoned. Then all the liquid can be drunk, and from a single goblet.”
 

Arthur smirked, “You never cease to surprise me. You are a lot smarter than you look.”
 

She smirked back, “Is that actually a compliment?”

“I'm glad you're here, Merlin,” he smiled gently, changing gears suddenly on her before catching her off guard when he leaned forward, kissing her slowly. He pulled away, leaving her dazed and unable to realize he’d taken her goblet and poured its contents into his.

 

“T-That’s not fair,” her eyes widened. “You kissed me and distracted me.”

 

He gave her a sad, quirk of his lips. “I know. I love you.”

 

And without giving her time or warning, he’d drunk all of the contents of his goblet, falling over and to the ground.

 

She stumbled over to him, crying and her mind all over the place.

 

“Y-you killed him. How could you? I was supposed to protect him,” she sobbed.

 

“He is not dead. He has merely consumed a sleeping draught. He will come round shortly,” Anhora informed her reassuringly.

“What?” she blinked a couple times, a look of confusion on her face, though she still looked tearful.

“A unicorn is pure of heart. If you kill one, you must make amends by proving that you also are pure of heart. Arthur was willing to sacrifice his life to save yours. He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted.”

 

“Oh,” she said numbly.

 

“I must apologize. When Arthur was tested a second time, he failed his test. But it was…unfair to use you against him.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“The thief was using taunts about you against Arthur. Normally, any other man, killing over such simple taunts would be unforgivable. But I understand that Arthur is a different case. He loves you with all his heart, and with him, you are the most important thing in his life. For him, those taunts were unforgivable and so he acted. A man can be in love and go to those lengths, and his actions will still be unforgivable. Your Prince isn’t just in love, dear Sorceress…he is that and more, to the point of his devotion equals that of your future self’s.”

 

Merlin stared at him in wariness and alarm.

 

“Perhaps you should give into him. Truly give into him.”

 

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Everything was back to normal, thank goodness. Uther shot her a grateful look as he and Arthur walked away together, talking about the events and no doubt the King was congratulating Arthur on killing the sorcerer or something like that.

 

Arthur returned back to her with the unicorn’s horn and they headed back into the forest, burying the horn. Then they saw the unicorn grazing near them, slowly trodding closer and they could hear Anhora’s voice in the air talking to them.

 

“When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again…”

 

The unicorn came close to them and they stared at it in awe. It avoided Arthur, but was drawn to Merlin who panicked. She stumbled back, falling to the ground. The unicorn treaded nearer, moving to lie down and lay its head on her lap, slowly falling asleep.

 

Merlin blushed heavily as a realizing look dawned on Arthur’s face, and then a calculating and slightly lecherous look planted itself firmly on his face.

 

“You know, legends say only a virgin maiden may tame a unicorn. This thankfully solves my question of if you really were one. I guess my short-term goal for now consists of robbing you of your virginity,” he said as he leaned against a tree and watched her gleefully.

 

Merlin gaped stupidly at him, staring incredulously.

 

Arthur, meanwhile, was wondering why his father had lied to him and said he was sleeping with Merlin. More than that, he was remembering the talk he had with his father when he’d asked for the unicorn horn back.

 

“Hard to believe this thing can cause so much trouble. So the sorcerer used this to channel his curse?”

 

“Yes,” Arthur answered without batting an eyelash, accepting the unicorn horn calmly.

 

“I see. You know… Arthur…you seem uneasy. And I hear from Merlin you’ve been acting strangely.”

 

“I haven’t gone back on my promise,” Arthur growled, irritated with more of the proof of Merlin spending time with his father and the reminder of his promise.

 

“I know that. I’m merely…warning you.”

 

“No need,” Arthur repressed a sneer.

 

Uther smirked, switching warnings on him. “I’m just telling you, Arthur. If you don’t hurry up and take Merlin for your own…I might just keep her all to myself.”

 

He turned his back on his father and left without another word, missing the widening smirk on Uther’s face.