Werewolf of London: Chapter 10
Tintagel Manor, Bromely Green February 7th, 1851
Before they left Tintagel, Merlin cornered Arthur in the lounge and clapped something on his wrist.
“What is this?” Arthur asked looking at his wrist. “A bracelet?”
“Kind of,” Merlin replied. “It is more like medicine.”
“On a bracelet.”
“Yes, on a bracelet!”
Arthur scratched his wrist. “What is in it? It itches like mad.”
“Aconitum and some other plants. Gaius thinks they might help in case you get ill again.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes at Merlin in suspicion. “I see. And what is this made out of?”
“Just some things I found around the manor. Gaius lent me a book on ancient medicinal practices and this bracelet was in there.”
“Hm. Interesting. Well, thank you.”
“It was nothing, but you are welcome.”
Arthur clapped Merlin on the back and they stared at each other for awhile. Morgana drifted in and called out for them. “Come along, boys,” she said loudly. “We do not want to miss the train to London, do we?”
“No, Morgana, we do not,” Arthur rolled his eyes.
They reached London by nine in the morning and split up at Merlin’s house. Merlin watched as Gaius escorted Hunith into the house, then he turned to Arthur and said, “Thank you for the ride home. I will call on you tomorrow.”
“You cannot live without me can you Merlin?” Arthur smirked.
“Obviously,” Merlin retorted. He grinned at Arthur. He then turned to Morgana and Gwen and kissed each of their hands. “Ladies,” he half bowed. Merlin ran to his home, bounded up the stairs and turned to wave as Arthur’s carriage pulled away.
Merlin walked inside, then turned right into the dining room and kitchen. Hunith was at the table as Gaius brought her some tea.
“Will Arthur be all right?” Hunith asked as she took a sip of tea.
“He should be. The wolfsbane should keep the wolf inside him at bay,” Gaius replied, sitting next to her.
“Is it not deadly though?” she prodded.
“Yes, but only to humans. To werewolves it is not deadly.”
“It just makes them itch” Merlin piped up. Hunith and Gaius turned to him and looked at him curiously. “It makes his wrist itch. Did you not notice him scratching at it?”
“No, I did not. Hmm,” Gaius mused. “Perhaps I ought to check on his skin later tonight. He might need an anti-itching cream.”
“That would be a good idea Gaius. Uther certainly will not notice anything is wrong with him,” Hunith scowled into her tea.
Merlin looked at the table and picked at it. The voices of Gaius and his mother faded out as he thought about Uther living with Arthur. I hope it all works out tonight.
A few days passed and things seemed to settle back to the way they were before the trip to Europe. Merlin worked at hospitals in the city and at a clinic in the poorer side of town almost all the time. Arthur hung around with his friends and occasionally went into the office to do some work. Morgana held many gatherings at the Pendragon home, while Gwen helped her organize everything. Hunith’s condition hadn’t worsened, but it hadn’t got any better either. Gaius was constantly moving between Arthur’s house and Merlin’s house, checking on both his patients.
One day, when Gaius was checking in on Hunith, he asked Merlin, “Are you going to the party tomorrow?”
“Party?” Merlin asked in confusion. “What party?”
“Ah,” Gaius said, turning away from Merlin. “Arthur is throwing a party for his return. Everyone will be there.”
“Well, I was not invited,” Merlin frowned. “Perhaps, Arthur does not want me there.”
“Now dear, do not think like that,” Hunith replied. “You know Arthur cares for you very much.”
“Yes, Mother.”
As Merlin showed Gaius out, there was a messenger waiting for them outside. “For Merlin Emrys,” he said, holding out a letter.
Merlin took the ladder, tipped the messenger and opened the letter.
Dear Merlin,
I would be honored if you attended my party tonight in honor of my return from the wild depths of Romania. Since you were the one to find me, you are the guest of honor.
P.S. I know this is last minute. I enjoy making you wait.
-Arthur A. Pendragon
“Damn it Arthur,” Merlin scowled down at the paper.
“Are you going to go?” Gaius asked while chuckling.
“Yes, but now I have to find a suitable outfit. Prat.”
Merlin walked into Arthur’s home and tugged on his jacket, uncomfortable in his outfit and the setting. Fortunately, Morgana found him and pulled him away from the door.
“You came! Thank goodness,” Morgana declared. “Arthur has been unbearable!” She sneered at nothing in particular.
“How so?” Merlin questioned, dodging people who tried to stop Morgana.
“Growling at everyone and being more rude than normal! Not even Lance and Gwaine can bring him out of his funk. It does not help that Sophia and Valiant are here.”
“Oh dear.”
“Exactly.” She stopped a few feet away from Arthur and pointed him out. “Look. He just stands there, against the wall. When has he ever been a wall flower?”
“Never,” Merlin grimaced.
“Please, go fix him.”
“I will do my best.” Merlin left Morgana’s side and made his way through the crowd of people and towards Arthur. However, before he made it over to his friend, he was waylaid by Valiant. He tried to move around Valiant, but saw Sophia trying to talk to Arthur, so he didn’t move.
“What do you want Valiant?” he asked tersely.
“Just to see you Merlin,” Valiant leered.
Merlin scoffed. “As if I believe that!” He tried to pull away from the other man, but to no avail.
Valiant took Merlin’s arm and dragged him towards a secluded corner. “You know that I...care about you.” He blocked Merlin in with his body.
Merlin turned his head away and tried to push Valiant away, but was unsuccessful. He didn’t want to use magic here, it would cause a ruckus, like the last time.
“Leave me alone. I do not like you,” Merlin glowered. “You are a rude, inconsiderate man!”
Valiant’s face changed from flirty into fierce in a matter of seconds. He moved closer to Merlin and whispered into his ear, “I will have you Merlin. Arthur cannot protect you forever.”
“I can try,” Arthur rumbled from behind them.
Minutes earlier
Arthur lifted his head and took a deep breath. He could smell Merlin nearby. Merlin smelled annoyed and agitated. Arthur grinned wickedly, he loved making Merlin irritated. That’s when he noticed Morgana dragging Merlin towards him and then leaving. Arthur readied himself for Merlin to approach him, but that didn’t happen.
Valiant stopped Merlin, which made Arthur growl low in his throat. As he was about to approach them, Sophia came up to him and began to jabber on about something.
“Arthur, dear!” she cried. “How have you been? How was Romania? Horrid, I am sure.” She smiled sharply at him, not giving him a chance to reply. “I have missed you terribly,” she pouted and latched onto his arm. “I was so worried about you. I cried myself to sleep every night.”
“Uh-huh,” he barely glanced at her, watching Valiant take Merlin away from him.
Sophia followed his gaze and curled her lip up. “Ugh, how could Valiant have any interest in that Merlin? Honestly, I do not even know why you like him. He is not rich or powerful and he certainly is not even gorgeous, not like you.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Arthur.
“What?” Arthur turned his eyes to Sophia.
“Oh you,” she tittered, swatting at his chest. “Everyone knows how handsome you are.”
“No, what about Valiant and Merlin?”
“Oh,” Sophia said in a disappointed tone of voice. “Valiant boasted how he would take Merlin tonight. You know how he is, always sleeping with someone. But I just do not understand why anyone likes that freak. He is just a money grubbing lackey anyway. Plus, his invalid mother! That must be why he hangs around you all the time to, pay for her medical care.”
Arthur saw red at that point. He pulled Sophia off him and said in a low voice, “Do not ever talk that way about Merlin again. If you do, I will not be held responsible for what happens to you. Understand me?”
Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Arthur, what-?”
“Merlin is mine. No one else will have him and I will not tolerate anyone insulting him or his mother. Hunith Emrys is a kind, caring woman, which is more than can be said about you. You are the money grubbing lackey. You are the hanger on, not Merlin,” Arthur snarled.
Sophia stared at Arthur with big eyes, unsure of what to do. “I-I do not understand!” she cried, false tears welling up in her eyes.
“You can go now Sophia,” Arthur dismissed her and turned from her.
Since his back was to her, Arthur did not see Sophia’s face twist into hatred and anger. She turned on her heel and fled from the party.
Arthur pushed passed the people surrounding him and followed Merlin’s scent to a secluded corner. There he saw Merlin pushing Valiant away and Valiant coming into Merlin’s face. Then he heard Valiant whisper, “I will have you Merlin. Arthur cannot protect you forever.”
“I can try,” Arthur rumbled.
Valiant spun around and Merlin took that opportunity to break away from him and dash to Arthur’s side.
“Arthur,” Valiant simpered. “How good to see you?”
“Get out of my house,” Arthur commanded. He pointed to the front door.
“Excuse me?”
Arthur closed the distance between him and Valiant quicker than Merlin could follow with his eyes. He hoisted Valiant up by the collar of his jacket, picking him up off the floor a few inches.
He raised his upper lip in a snarl and said, “Get out of my house.” He smelled the fear on the other man and he liked it. He set Valiant down with a thump. “Now.”
Valiant practically ran out the door, pushing surprised people aside.
“Good riddance,” Merlin stated. He turned to look at Arthur. He was panting slightly and his upper lip was still raised. His eyes had a gold tinge to them and they were becoming an almost unnaturally blue color. His pupils were dilated and his eyes darted around, checking for danger. He was clenching and unclenching his hands, as if he wanted to rip something apart.
Merlin glanced around before grabbing one of Arthur’s hands. “Stop it. Relax. Take a breath.”
Merlin’s voice must have gotten through to Arthur because he began taking deep breaths and his other hand relaxed. His eyes still had a wild look in them, however. Merlin grabbed Arthur’s hands more firmly and took him upstairs and into Arthur’s room.
Once inside, Merlin made Arthur sit on his bed and sat across from him. Then he instructed Arthur, “Take a breath. And another. One more.” Merlin saw Arthur’s eyes go back to normal. “Good. Now, what was that about, you prat?”
“Prat? Prat!” Arthur shouted. “I just saved you from Valiant and you call me a prat?” He flopped back onto his bed and sighed.
“It is what I do,” Merlin grinned cheekily.
Arthur let out a short laugh. “You are a strange person, Merlin.”
Merlin nodded in agreement. “What was that about, Arthur?”
“Sophia and Valiant set me off,” Arthur’s face flushed as he talked. “Sophia said nasty things about you.”
“I do not care about Sophia. She is just as stupid girl trying to get close to you. Once she realized she could not use me to get to you, she ignored me or taunted me.”
“She also insulted Hunith.”
Merlin scowled. “That unmitigated bitch. I will have a word with her next time she comes into the hospital.”
“Why does she come into the hospital?” Arthur asked.
“To visit her father. He is a doctor there.”
“I did not know that.”
“Of course you did.”
“I did not.”
“You mean you did not pay attention when Sophia or I told you?”
“Well,” Arthur said wryly. “I never pay attention to Sophia when she talks. It is usually rubbish anyway. As for you, well, you must have mentioned her name and I blocked it out.”
“Probably.” Merlin shifted in his seat and leaned forward. “What about what happened with Valiant? You were very aggressive with him. Most of the time you just ignore him.”
“Valiant,” Arthur sat up and growled suddenly. Merlin jumped in surprise. He didn’t expect that kind of reaction from Arthur. “He was all over you.”
“He is always all over me. Well, he tries to be all over me. Morgana or Lance usually save me.”
“What about me?” Arthur frowned. He didn’t like the thought of anyone else saving Merlin.
“Because when I am around you, Valiant does not come near me. He wants me, but he wants his social standing more.”
“Damn Valiant, damn him to hell,” Arthur growled once more. “He touched what is mine and he tried to kiss you.”
“I am yours?”
That broke Arthur out of his spell of jealousy. “Oh, well, I mean...” he trailed off, unsure of what to say.
“Arthur,” Merlin asked with a growing smile, “were you jealous of Valiant? Did you want to kiss me?” He went over and sat next to Arthur on the bed and put a hand on his knee. “You can kiss me if you want, I do not mind.”
Arthur blinked in surprise. “What?”
“I have wanted you kiss me for a long time.” It was Merlin’s turn to flush. “I did not know how to say anything. I do not know the rules of your society, so I did not know-”
Arthur cut Merlin off with a kiss. He pulled away and said, “Do shut up Merlin. You talk too much.”
Merlin grinned at him and pulled Arthur back for another kiss. After sometime, they pulled apart, both of them panting.
“I should go back down,” Arthur said. His actions didn’t match his words as he pushed Merlin back on the bed and began to kiss Merlin’s neck. He then started to unbutton Merlin’s shirt and stuck a hand inside it.
Merlin laughed and stroked Arthur’s hair. “You do not sound convincing.” He tugged Arthur up to his face and looked into his eyes. “I am not going anywhere, Arthur. We can continue this later, when we are alone.”
“I like that idea,” Arthur said softly. He kissed Merlin once more then stood up. He pulled Merlin onto his feet and helped him button his shirt. Merlin slapped his hands away.
“You are just causing more trouble!” Merlin snickered. Arthur just grinned brazenly at him.
“It is what I do,” Arthur repeated what Merlin had told him earlier.
Merlin shoved Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur used the action to pull Merlin closer and kiss him again.
“Now that I know I can kiss you, I cannot seem to stop,” Arthur whispered against Merlin’s lips.
“I do not mind,” Merlin whispered back.
They kissed one more time, before they were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Arthur? Merlin?” Gwen called out. “Are you two all right? You have been gone for ages.”
“We are fine,” Merlin called back. “Arthur just needed a moment. He had a minor relapse.”
The two men let go of each other, but still stood very close to one another.
“Ok, but do come down. Morgana looks like she is ready to kill someone.”
“Someone named Lancelot?” Arthur asked with a chuckle as he opened the door.
“How did you know?” Gwen inquired. She grinned up at them. “Are you sure you are alright Arthur?”
Arthur leaned down and kissed Gwen’s cheek. “I am sure. Merlin took great care of me.” He turned to Merlin with a sparkle in his eye. Merlin flushed and scuffed his foot on the floor. Gwen looked between them in confusion, but Arthur turned her around so she faced the stairs. “Come, let us go save Lancelot from the wrath of Morgana!”
Gwen giggled and led the way downstairs. Arthur reached a hand back behind him and Merlin grabbed it quickly. He squeezed Arthur’s hand tightly then dropped it. They smiled at each other and walked downstairs side by side.
Merlin didn’t know what was going to happen now, but he knew that his life would never be the same.
Chapter 11