When albion needs it most

Chapter 6

Chapter Text

Thousand Years by Christina Perri

Arthur was awakened by the constant movement happening at this left. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the sleeping figure next to him. Merlin was fully in sweat, his hair sticking to his face. Tossing and turning furiously, he pronounced incomprehensible pleas for help. The warlock grunted loudly in distraught. The King sat up, putting his hands on his friend's shoulders, trying to shake him into consciousness. "Merlin," he whispered with a forceful shake. "Merlin." His attempt to help only made things worst. The sounds of pain coming out of his friend worried him greatly.

Rattle noises suddenly startled the knight. Looking around him, he saw the objects in the room tremble. Slowly the objects started to float. First the clothes and vases began to levitate, hanging still in midair. He seriously tried to wake his friend up when the furniture started to stand above ground. The knight pulled the sleeping brunet into a sitting position, shaking him violently.

Merlin woke up with a desperate intake of air. His eyes were filled with water and his face showed an expression of emotional torture. As he wizard woke up, the furniture fell to the ground, banging loudly when they hit the floor. Glasses and vases shattered across the ground in a loud crashing sound. The warlock was panting heavily.

"Hey Merlin, it's alright" Arthur comforted, bringing the brunet's attention towards him. "It's alright. Just a dream. You're awake now".

The confused look on the sorcerer's face seemed to dissipate and he began to understand where he was. He breathed in an almost normal rate now. "I woke you up," he stated. "Sorry".

"It's okay," the King patted his back as he let go of his friend's shoulders. "Care to talk about it?"

"I'm fine," the sorcerer denied.

"That surely isn't bloody fine. You look like hell and the room is wrecked." Merlin turned his head towards the blonde, facing him.

"It's nothing. It's fine. I'm fine," he said with a fake smile, doing his best to hide his distraught.

But Arthur knew better. He could see beyond the mask and what he saw pained him. Merlin was hurt and he didn't know how to fix it. He reached out and pulled the brunet closer. The knight wasn't one for displays of affection, but he knew his friend needed it. In Camelot Arthur had been reluctant to show his feelings, something he regretted once he had died. With his second chance, he was determined to show his friend just how much he truly cared. Hugging Merlin, he buried his face in the locks of brown hair.

The warlock returned the embrace, desperately grasping onto the fabric of the shirt. He had tried to be strong, but the sorcerer couldn't deny he was thankful for the comfort. All his resolved dissipated as his friend's strong arms wrapped themselves around him.

Arthur loosened his grip on the brunet. Placing his hand along his cheek, he slid his fingers underneath the man's jaw. He caressed Merlin's face, pulling it up to force the sorcerer to look at him. Slowly, the King placed his lips upon the others mouth. The kiss was not like the any previous, filled with uncontrollable want and lustful desire. No, this kiss was a kiss of feelings. Arthur never kissed anyone like he was kissing Merlin in that moment. It was hard to describe. Everything was fuzzy and warm. He felt complete. For the first time in a long time, he was not the center of his life. The movement of his lips against the other's face held all his care and attention. The world moved as though it revolved not around him, but around Merlin. The self-center King was, for the moment of a kiss, no longer selfish.

Arthur pulled back to breathe. He was panty, struggling to find air. He rested his forehead against Merlin's, getting lost into his deep blue eyes. By time to time he placed pecks of kisses on the brunet's face, covering his cheeks, chin, nose, and all his other features, with all the tenderness and caring he felt for the man.