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Entry tags:
Merlin - Deterrent
Title: Deterrent
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~1,200 words
Rating: Light R
Warnings: None.
Synopsis: Arthur thought Merlin would have to spend time in the stocks for his latest deception. He had underestimated his father once more.
Disclaimer: I do not own this interpretation of the myths and am making no profit from this.
Beta: Anon
Author's Notes: Written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
merlinxarthur's fanfic challenge #2. I chose the following image:
~~~~~~~~~~
Arthur grit his teeth and hung his head. It was humiliating, that’s what it was. He knew he should do his best to stand proud and regal and look every bit the prince he was but, quite frankly, that was incredibly difficult to do when forced into a mockery of a bow with your arse in the air for all to see.
His father had chosen his punishment well: the remainder of the afternoon in the stocks. He was to be treated like a commoner for daring to have a commoner cover for him.
Okay, to be fair, it was not a real commoner, it was Merlin, and he had done it countless times before so Arthur really had not seen the harm in asking once more. His father, however, had seen through it all and decided enough was enough and thus he stood shackled and stocked in the same hunting gear he had returned in.
Merlin had assured him, whispered in his ear as he had bent low to reach him and snap the manacles in place and wasn’t that just the icing on the whole thing, that the few hares he had caught were to be prepared as his supper upon his release. Arthur knew they had been awarded to Merlin by the king for being forced to cover for him yet again, so he insisted that, no, they were to be gifted to Gaius and Merlin himself instead.
This choice had nothing to do with the fact he knew his father would find out anyway and likely think up yet another thing for him to do in penance.
And just where was Merlin now? Arthur had not seen him since being locked into the blasted contraption. He swore he heard the soft murmuring of Merlin’s unmistakable voice more than once, but it was to his left and behind him and just out of his view. He longed to stretch and crack his back, but was allowed minimal movement, which he supposed was the point of the whole thing, so he had to sit and wait and figure things out for himself.
Not that things were truly that bad. Unlike the countless times Merlin had been subjected to the things, people seemed afraid to throw rotten vegetables or even a single insult in his direction. A child, a tiny thing just barely toddling about, had tossed something soft, squishy, and unidentifiable in his direction, but he had missed terribly and Arthur was not certain if he had simply been offering it to him in the first place, so he had smiled in return and advised the horrified mother that there was no need to discipline her whelp.
The guard assigned to him was completely apologetic and kept offering him both water and rations. Arthur refused the rations, but gladly accepted the water as it was a fairly warm day, and withstood the indignity of the liquid sloshing down his chin to puddle in the dirt beside his boots.
Finally, after far too long in his opinion, the sun began to set and the sky lit in shades of red and gold and the heavy manacles were removed, the board lifted, and he was free to move once more. He could not understand how he could be so exhausted from simply standing in one place for a few hours. Thoughts of a cool bath and a large skin of wine in his head, he turned back towards the castle to see Merlin leaning up against the wall, an unrecognizable look upon his face.
Merlin fell in step beside him, but did not say a word until they were safely inside the prince’s quarters. Arthur took in the waiting bath, the steaming plate of food that was decidedly not rabbit, and the large tankard of something he hoped was alcoholic with a pleased sigh, feeling a great deal of the tension in his shoulders bleed away at just the prospect of such comforts.
“So I see you kept yourself busy today,” he commented idly as he stepped further into the room. He picked up a grape and popped it into his mouth, savouring the sweet liquid within. “I was afraid you would slack off given the freedom of an afternoon to yourself,” he grinned. He turned to face Merlin and the grin faltered at the intensity he found in those blue eyes.
Merlin slid up beside him, then slipped behind him, fingertips seeking out the sore spots of his shoulders and back as he pressed close, chest warm against Arthur’s sun-heated back. The hands glided down to Arthur’s waist and pulled him closer still until there was no space remaining save for the roughhewn fabric of the clothing they wore.
Merlin’s voice when he spoke was no more than a whisper, a breath tickling Arthur’s ear as he leaned close like he had done when he set the manacles in place. “I watched you,” he admitted. “All afternoon, I stayed and watched you. Stayed in the shadows and out of sight when I could, but I didn’t leave.”
“Then why couldn’t I see you?” Arthur asked. He leaned more of his weight against his lover, arched his back so his shoulders pressed against him though their thighs no longer touched, and knew he could take more if needed.
He could feel the turn of Merlin’s lips and could hear the smile to his tone as he replied, “I watched you from behind.” There was a nip to his ear and the hands on his waist slid around to cup his backside. “Quite a spectacular view, really. Your arse out there for all to see, trousers pulling against it just so.”
“Merlin...” Arthur tried, but was cut off by another nip.
“Not that anyone else dared,” Merlin assured him, and Arthur was not certain if they were kept away by Arthur’s own rank, or Merlin’s undeniable possessiveness. “I had the whole view all to myself. Spent the entire afternoon thinking up everything I wanted to do to that lovely arse of yours.”
Arthur swallowed as he felt something other than hands rub up against his backside. “Really?” he asked, trying for nonchalant but knowing he failed by a long shot.
“Really,” Merlin confirmed. He circled around to Arthur’s front, a gleam of mischief in his eyes as his fingers tangled in the ties to Arthur’s trousers. “If you’re not too tired from your horrific ordeal, that is,” he added coyly, accenting his words with a sharp tug.
Thoughts of baths and meals went right out the window as Arthur wrapped his arms around the man in front of him and pulled him close once more. “Not tired at all,” he smiled, and leaned in for a kiss.
Merlin’s answering chuckle gave him promise of a very entertaining evening. Somehow, the afternoon did not seem to matter if this was his reward. He would pay the price come morning, but he doubted it would be in the ways his father had planned. As ties were undone and clothing tossed about the floor, he also doubted his punishment would be quite the deterrent originally intended.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcomed.
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Length: ~1,200 words
Rating: Light R
Warnings: None.
Synopsis: Arthur thought Merlin would have to spend time in the stocks for his latest deception. He had underestimated his father once more.
Disclaimer: I do not own this interpretation of the myths and am making no profit from this.
Beta: Anon
Author's Notes: Written for
merlinxarthur's fanfic challenge #2. I chose the following image: ~~~~~~~~~~
Arthur grit his teeth and hung his head. It was humiliating, that’s what it was. He knew he should do his best to stand proud and regal and look every bit the prince he was but, quite frankly, that was incredibly difficult to do when forced into a mockery of a bow with your arse in the air for all to see.
His father had chosen his punishment well: the remainder of the afternoon in the stocks. He was to be treated like a commoner for daring to have a commoner cover for him.
Okay, to be fair, it was not a real commoner, it was Merlin, and he had done it countless times before so Arthur really had not seen the harm in asking once more. His father, however, had seen through it all and decided enough was enough and thus he stood shackled and stocked in the same hunting gear he had returned in.
Merlin had assured him, whispered in his ear as he had bent low to reach him and snap the manacles in place and wasn’t that just the icing on the whole thing, that the few hares he had caught were to be prepared as his supper upon his release. Arthur knew they had been awarded to Merlin by the king for being forced to cover for him yet again, so he insisted that, no, they were to be gifted to Gaius and Merlin himself instead.
This choice had nothing to do with the fact he knew his father would find out anyway and likely think up yet another thing for him to do in penance.
And just where was Merlin now? Arthur had not seen him since being locked into the blasted contraption. He swore he heard the soft murmuring of Merlin’s unmistakable voice more than once, but it was to his left and behind him and just out of his view. He longed to stretch and crack his back, but was allowed minimal movement, which he supposed was the point of the whole thing, so he had to sit and wait and figure things out for himself.
Not that things were truly that bad. Unlike the countless times Merlin had been subjected to the things, people seemed afraid to throw rotten vegetables or even a single insult in his direction. A child, a tiny thing just barely toddling about, had tossed something soft, squishy, and unidentifiable in his direction, but he had missed terribly and Arthur was not certain if he had simply been offering it to him in the first place, so he had smiled in return and advised the horrified mother that there was no need to discipline her whelp.
The guard assigned to him was completely apologetic and kept offering him both water and rations. Arthur refused the rations, but gladly accepted the water as it was a fairly warm day, and withstood the indignity of the liquid sloshing down his chin to puddle in the dirt beside his boots.
Finally, after far too long in his opinion, the sun began to set and the sky lit in shades of red and gold and the heavy manacles were removed, the board lifted, and he was free to move once more. He could not understand how he could be so exhausted from simply standing in one place for a few hours. Thoughts of a cool bath and a large skin of wine in his head, he turned back towards the castle to see Merlin leaning up against the wall, an unrecognizable look upon his face.
Merlin fell in step beside him, but did not say a word until they were safely inside the prince’s quarters. Arthur took in the waiting bath, the steaming plate of food that was decidedly not rabbit, and the large tankard of something he hoped was alcoholic with a pleased sigh, feeling a great deal of the tension in his shoulders bleed away at just the prospect of such comforts.
“So I see you kept yourself busy today,” he commented idly as he stepped further into the room. He picked up a grape and popped it into his mouth, savouring the sweet liquid within. “I was afraid you would slack off given the freedom of an afternoon to yourself,” he grinned. He turned to face Merlin and the grin faltered at the intensity he found in those blue eyes.
Merlin slid up beside him, then slipped behind him, fingertips seeking out the sore spots of his shoulders and back as he pressed close, chest warm against Arthur’s sun-heated back. The hands glided down to Arthur’s waist and pulled him closer still until there was no space remaining save for the roughhewn fabric of the clothing they wore.
Merlin’s voice when he spoke was no more than a whisper, a breath tickling Arthur’s ear as he leaned close like he had done when he set the manacles in place. “I watched you,” he admitted. “All afternoon, I stayed and watched you. Stayed in the shadows and out of sight when I could, but I didn’t leave.”
“Then why couldn’t I see you?” Arthur asked. He leaned more of his weight against his lover, arched his back so his shoulders pressed against him though their thighs no longer touched, and knew he could take more if needed.
He could feel the turn of Merlin’s lips and could hear the smile to his tone as he replied, “I watched you from behind.” There was a nip to his ear and the hands on his waist slid around to cup his backside. “Quite a spectacular view, really. Your arse out there for all to see, trousers pulling against it just so.”
“Merlin...” Arthur tried, but was cut off by another nip.
“Not that anyone else dared,” Merlin assured him, and Arthur was not certain if they were kept away by Arthur’s own rank, or Merlin’s undeniable possessiveness. “I had the whole view all to myself. Spent the entire afternoon thinking up everything I wanted to do to that lovely arse of yours.”
Arthur swallowed as he felt something other than hands rub up against his backside. “Really?” he asked, trying for nonchalant but knowing he failed by a long shot.
“Really,” Merlin confirmed. He circled around to Arthur’s front, a gleam of mischief in his eyes as his fingers tangled in the ties to Arthur’s trousers. “If you’re not too tired from your horrific ordeal, that is,” he added coyly, accenting his words with a sharp tug.
Thoughts of baths and meals went right out the window as Arthur wrapped his arms around the man in front of him and pulled him close once more. “Not tired at all,” he smiled, and leaned in for a kiss.
Merlin’s answering chuckle gave him promise of a very entertaining evening. Somehow, the afternoon did not seem to matter if this was his reward. He would pay the price come morning, but he doubted it would be in the ways his father had planned. As ties were undone and clothing tossed about the floor, he also doubted his punishment would be quite the deterrent originally intended.
~~~~~~~~~~
Feedback is always welcomed.
no subject
*is a juvenile*
I don't think anyone's ever put Arthur in the stocks before! Awesomesauce! Uther's certainly not stupid, and I totally approve of this punishment. *g*
... he also doubted his punishment would be quite the deterrent originally intended.
Indeed, Arthur. Also, possessive and stalking-from-the-shadows Merlin is tres nummy. <3
One thing though,
Arthur knew they had been awarded to Merlin by the king for being forced to cover for him yet again, so he insisted that, no, they were to be gifted to Gaius and Merlin himself instead.
There's something confusing about that sentence... *scratches head* If Uther gave the hares to Merlin, why would Arthur still insist the same thing? ^.^
Lovely writing as usual, my dear. \o/
no subject
That sentence got changed a few times, and still ended up convoluted. Basically, Merlin was given the hares to do with what he wanted to. He decided to have them made for Arthur's dinner since Arthur had done the work of catching them. Arthur insisted no, to keep them, either for himself or to share with Gaius. If that makes any sense?
Clear Cat is absent at this time. *head desk*
Thank you for reading, and thank you for making me try to think about that same fiddly sentence some more. *ponders*
no subject
I love it!