Merthur/Merlin one shot

Werewolf AU

Sometimes, Merlin wondered how it was that he always ended up in trouble. It was as if the fates decided to be cruel to him. Either way, this time he knew that he could not escape. After all, being bitten by a werewolf will end him.

Arthur never was fond of magical creatures and this time it would not be different. Worse was that he needed to leave for the safety of not just himself but also the people he cared about. Merlin knew that he would not be able to control himself when he would turn into a monster.

A shudder went through his body as he looked one last time back at Camelot and then trudged away with his head down out of despair. From this point on, he would avoid any human contact.

.

.

.

Merlin let out a sigh as glancing around the cave that he chose to live in. This place was his sleeping place and usually, he hid there. There was no way that he would often go out, other than when he needed to eat, and on a full moon, he closed the cave off with just enough to make sure that Merlin would still be able to have enough air.

His body always felt pained after coming back from the nights as a werewolf and he hated this. It was not how he expected to live and he really hated his luck and life. Sometimes he wished that he would just have stayed with his mother, but also knew that he needed to learn magic, which by now ironically was a thing that he had fully in control of.

At the full moon, he did not really need to use magic and Merlin was not really in control at these times. His mind was that of an animal, and he was just hoping that he would never see any of his friends when he was in that state.

A shiver went through him out of fear and cold sweat broke out. Just the thought of harming those that he cared for made it take much. Merlin pushed his thoughts and what came with this away and decided to rest.

He felt exhausted and he knew that he would need to reserve the energy when he would end up back as a massive wolf a week from now on. A sigh went out as curling himself in the corner and closed his eyes feeling his exhaustion fully hit him.

With Arthur

It was astonishingly easy for life to continue on without Merlin. The king was not even sure what made Merlin leave, but when he thought back on it, he had the feeling that it had to do with the werewolf that had terrorized the people of his kingdom.

Even after the man was dead, he knew that there had been something wrong after all Merlin had left. Maybe it was also because of something else, that he could yet not figure out, even when Lancelot held these knowing eyes whenever they talked about the reason why Merlin left. It was clear that the knight knew something that had not been told. Worse was that his idiotic friend of his or also crush had not even written a letter to tell him where he went.

A reason why he was worried and hoped that it was not kidnapping, and something told him that Merlin left on his own. That thought made him confused and also hurt.

Wasn't Camelot his home?

So why?

Why would he leave?

Not the first time that he wondered this and every time he felt frustrated that he could not figure out the reason. Either way, Arthur was sure that the reason had to be because of something idiotic. A tsk escaped and he shook his head and decided maybe heading out for a hunt could bring him some distraction.

—-

It had been a few hours and the night came quicker than he liked. The others and him decided to rest and then go back to Camelot. It was nice, but something always missed. His servant had been the person that held the group together. Their glue and since his disappearance he realized this.

"So princess." Gwaine's voice brought him back and he gave him a look that told the other to shut up.

"You know, could have told Merlin about your love." Gwaine quipped and glared at the male.

"No." He gritted out and the other tilted his head and made be so done with the other right now.

"Oh come on. Everyone knows that you are in love with him, isn't it so guys?" All the knights -sans Leon who looked confused- agreed with Gwaine, to his chagrin with their stupid grins on their faces.

"Of course, why else would he look like a kicked puppy and distracted, Gwaine." Lancelot said with a smirk.

"You can't just talk to me that way, I am the king." He looked outrageous, but everyone knew that he was not serious and started to cackle.

He snorted and shook his head at their antics feeling content just with them. Now all that was needed was Merlin and then things would be back to how they were.

Arthur did not know how long they were asleep but a growl woke him up, not just him, but anyone else that had not been on guard duty. His eyes widened as a massive wolf was standing close by to him. The eyes held intelligence yet there was also something else that made him feel confused. This animal held the eyes of Merlin and even the fur was the color of his friend/crush.

"What the fuck." He couldn't help but say out loud and the wolf continued to stare down at him, and he knew that he could not make a sudden move.

So he laid there, waiting for what the wolf would do. The knights for sure knew better than to do anything that could piss a wolf that big of. Arthur was pretty sure that this animal had to know as slowly it went closer and let out a warning growl as soon one of the knights moved, making it clear that when they would move or attack, he would be dead.

To his astonishment, the wolf curled next to him almost protectively and he should feel terror, but could not. It was weirdly soothing and something told him that this wolf was not going to harm him. So he gave the group a reassuring look and decided to fall asleep, still feeling too exhausted to care.

Back with Merlin

His eyes snapped up as feeling a blanket wrapped around him. It was strange and Merlin wondered where the hell he was. It was not good at all, to wake up towards people that could kill him. Eyes looked around and he froze and Arthur for sure looked startled to see him.

But this was not the only revelation he got, as he was starting to feel the heat rise on his entire face as he was butt naked. He couldn't stop but duck his head as waiting for what Arthur would do. Surely he would be killed now.

"You know, Meerlin." The tone was said with sarcasm and deadpan and he was feeling even more anxious.

"I would have not killed you, and knowing how you ended up as a werewolf, guessing that you were bit and decided to leave because of fear." It was said with a wry yet understanding tone and all he could do was look shocked yet sheepish at this.

"Of course you did." Gwaine mused out loud and he blinked as looking around to see that all of his friends were there, and from what he could tell unharmed.

"What- How-" He could not even ask a question out of pure confusion.

"You didn't harm us. Watched first Arthur and then curled next to him, in a protective manner."

"Even your wolf form cares for the princess, so better get together before I will lock you two in a room until you two talk it out." Gwaine grinned as saying this and Merlin could just blink before letting out a snort.

"Of course, my wolf would do that, why the hell did I think that my wolf would attack the prat." He muttered to himself but Arthur heard and gave him a look before starting to snort too.

"Seems like I won't need to tell you that I don't care about you being a werewolf and neither would I care about you having magic. Knowing how you think, you idiotic dumbass thought I would execute you. Which I will not. Thought about changing the law but wasn't sure, but now at least I have even more of a reason." Arthur shrugged at the end in a nonchalant way, yet there was a clear unsaid thing that told him that they would talk about this after he wasn't feeling sore and still too exhausted to be able to deal with all this.

"Anyway, let's just pack our things and then move back to Camelot. We can talk this out later." Lancelot mentioned.

He did tell them that he needed to go back to get his things, which was just agreed upon this because of him annoying the others. It was strange that not really anything changed, even now that they knew about his secrets, and he could just hope that this would turn out alright.