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Chapter Text

Camelot was as different from Ealdor as the sun is different from the moon. The bustling city was full of excitement. Smells and colours Merlin had never seen were offered to his senses. Despite his lingering fear at being at the heart of the most magic-hating kingdom in Albion, Merlin couldn’t refrain his excitement. When he told his mum that he would leave, she had cried. She had begged him to stay, pleaded him to go anywhere other than Camelot, if he really had to leave. Will, his best friend, had tried to dissuade him too. But Merlin had held fast. He didn’t really understand it, but he felt a tug towards the white city that was so deadly for people like him. It felt bigger than him, stronger than his will. It felt like fate, like destiny.

With no idea where to go now that he was in the capital, Merlin wandered the busy streets, weaving through the bustling market. He marvelled at the riches sold on each stall, gawked at the sumptuous fabrics on display for the wealthier citizens, salivated at the appealing smell of fruit tarts. He felt like a child again, watching a wide, foreign world with starry eyes full of wonder. But before he could enjoy the novelties this city had to offer Merlin needed to find employment and a place to sleep.

As he wandered deeper into the town, going away from the castle and its infamous white turrets, Merlin tried to think of the skills he possessed. Growing up in Ealdor, he hadn’t learned much that would be useful in a city. His mother had taught him to read, write and count as well as some basic medical knowledge. And of course, he was able to cultivate all kind of crops and take care of animals. All day, he went around asking if anyone could use any of those skills. When the sun began to set, Merlin sat down with his back against the wall of a tall house. He sighed dejectedly. His feet hurt and his stomach growled. He wasn’t any closer to finding work and without money he could buy neither a meal nor a roof.

Just as he had resigned himself to sleep outside on an empty stomach – it wouldn’t be the first time; it was nothing dramatic – he heard sound coming from the other side of the house. Lively conversation and laughter echoed before a door creaked closed and the sounds were muffled by its heavy wood. What Merlin failed to notice at first, were the footsteps coming closer. When the sound of heeled shoes hitting cobblestones reached his consciousness, Merlin tilted his head up. Approaching him was a middle-aged woman with red-painted lips and dark eyeshadow enhancing her striking green eyes. Her pale cheeks were underlined by bright pink paint. The dress she was wearing was a lot less modest than those he had seen on the women at the market, and Merlin blushed at how much of the woman’s cleavage it revealed.

“One of my girls mentioned she saw a new face at the market today. A pretty boy looking for employment. I have a proposition for you, if you want to accompany me inside,” the woman said.

Her voice was warm and her smile almost motherly. It made Merlin ache for the comfort of his home. He looked at her uncertainly. Merlin may have had a sheltered upbringing in his small farming village, but he could imagine what kind of work she had to offer him, and he wasn’t sure he wanted it. Still, he stood up, shaking slightly from hunger and exhaustion. There was something in this woman’s eyes that compelled Merlin to trust her.

As he followed the woman inside, he shuddered as the heated air of the crowded room hit him. It smelled heavily of alcohol and a faint stench of sweat. However, the establishment wasn’t at all like Merlin had imagined. Somehow, he had pictured something similar to the tavern with its rowdy patrons and sticky floors. Instead, the main room he stepped into was elegantly decorated and astonishingly quiet. The walls were covered with red draperies embroidered with gold thread. At the far end of the room was a bar where a few clients sipped at tankards of ale and glasses of wine. Men and women in various state of undress were talking and kissing, but nothing more. Merlin felt his cheeks heat up but couldn’t look away, mesmerised by the sight. The woman led him in the opposite direction towards a door beside a spiral staircase.

The woman’s office, for that’s what it seemed the room was, was spotless. A small, tidy desk sat at the centre of the room with three armchairs. She pointed one to Merlin and took a seat at the one of the other side of the desk. Merlin couldn’t keep his gaze still. His eyes wandered, wanting to take in every detail of this new place.

“My name is Carmen, I’m the owner of this establishment,” the woman said matter-of-factly. “I think you guessed what our line of work is, didn’t you?”

Merlin nodded. He felt a bit dim as he stared at her with wide eyes, his lips parted slightly. His fingers plucked at his ample shirt, rubbing the rough fabric between his fingertips.

“I’m not sure – I mean, I’ve never…” Merlin stammered. He slouched in his seat and pressed his arms to his torso as if to take as little space as he could in his plush armchair. He averted his gaze as he felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“That’s all right,” Carmen reassured him. “What is your name, boy?”

“I’m Merlin.”

“Well, Merlin, I take pride in taking good care of the people who work for me. There’s no obligation in doing anything you’re uncomfortable with.” She stood up and rounded the desk, leaning back against it. She looked at Merlin appraisingly. “Have you ever touched yourself?”

Merlin nodded. When Carmen raised an eyebrow at him, he reluctantly elaborated. “I’ve masturbated and I’ve um… fingered myself. Once or twice.” His heart was hammering in his ears as he finished his sentence. In Ealdor, doing that was a shameful act, but Merlin had wanted to explore his body and found that he liked how it felt. He hadn’t told anyone, though. Not even his best friend, Will.

“Good.” Carmen seemed satisfied with his answer. “Pretty thing like you; I’m sure some clients would pay just to watch you pleasure yourself.” Her voice held no disapproval and something warm like acceptance settled in Merlin’s guts. But the shame still overpowered any positive feeling in his chest.

It wasn’t that Merlin was particularly pure or innocent. He had imagined things before. He had felt desire, had let his hands sate his burning want. But the recriminations of the village elders still rang loudly in his ears, condemning Merlin’s attraction for men. Merlin was curious, though, and Carmen offered him a possibility to explore his sexuality and earn money for it. He tried to picture it; men and women looking at him as he pumped his cock and stretched himself on his lean fingers. He imagined them touching themselves, aroused by the sight of Merlin’s flushed, naked body. He liked that thought. Carmen remained silent, giving him time to think, and Merlin took it to picture more scenes. He imagined what it would be like to suck another man’s penis, to have them pull his hair, to let them fuck his mouth. Merlin wanted that too. He didn’t think he was ready for any kind of penetrative sex though, and he said as much to Carmen.

“That’s perfectly fine, Merlin. In this place, your boundaries matter and we will ensure that they are respected.”

And thus, Merlin’s mind was made up. It certainly wasn’t the occupation he thought he’d find when he left Ealdor, and he supposed his mum wouldn’t approve of his choice, but it was his life and his body. Merlin felt safe and welcome in Carmen’s House of Pleasure. He grinned at the name of the brothel. He already felt at home there.

On his first day at the brothel, Merlin was assigned a mentor to teach him every relevant skill he ought to know. Gustave, one of the older male prostitutes knocked on his door early in the morning. He wore a see-through white shirt that hugged his toned chest and contrasted beautifully against his dark skin and tight black breeches that left very little to the imagination. His black hair was streaked with grey and laughter lines framed his eyes and his mouth. He smiled kindly at Merlin as he introduced himself. Instantly, Merlin felt safe in Gustave’s company.

“The first skill you need to learn is makeup,” Gustave said once they were both seated before the large mirror hung over the dresser in Merlin’s room. “Lip paint is the most important thing. It’s what marks you as a whore.”

Merlin blushed at the thought of having his profession displayed visibly on his face. “So, everyone will know that I…” he trailed off, not sure how to finish his sentence.

Gustave smiled, an amused glint in his eyes. “You’re not obligated to wear it when you’re not working, but it never hurts to advertise a bit,” he explained with a wink.

The various products Gustave had brought with him were foreign to Merlin. Some of the women he had seen at the market had their eyelids painted with pastel-coloured powder or underlined with black, but in Ealdor, no one wore makeup. They were too poor to care about such things. It wasn’t like anyone could afford it, anyway. Merlin was fascinated by the whole new world that was unveiled to him. It felt obscenely luxurious, and he loved it.

Gustave grabbed a shallow jar and uncorked it. Inside was a thick carmine balm. “This is lip paint. You can also apply some on your cheeks to make them look redder.”

Gustave picked up a small brush and rubbed it on the balm before bringing it to his mouth. With steady movements, he ran the brush along his lips, applying the balm evenly. Merlin watched with rapt attention, admiring the smooth, silky texture and alluring colour the paint added to Gustave’s lips. When he was done, Gustave handed the balm and the brush to Merlin. However, Merlin was too busy staring at Gustave’s mouth to notice. It took the other man nudging him with his foot for Merlin to react, blushing profusely as he apologized.

“It can be easier to apply it with your finger at first, but with the brush you don’t need to wash your hands afterwards,” Gustave said.

Merlin understood he gave him the choice in how he wanted to apply his makeup. Even though he was tempted to try the brush, if only to feel it’s soft texture on his lips, Merlin thought it wiser to start with his fingers. He was clumsy enough as it was already, and he really didn’t want to make a fool of himself. His finger shook slightly as he gathered some tinted balm. He went over the line of his upper lip at the seam of his mouth. But when he looked at Gustave after he finished painting his mouth, the older man had an indulgent grin on his own painted lips. With the pad of his thumb, Gustave wiped the excess of makeup, delicately tracing his finger along Merlin’s full lower lip.

As he looked at his reflection, Merlin’s breath hitched. It was just a bit of red paint on his lips, but somehow he found himself already changed. The fantom touch of Gustave’s thumb tingled his lower lip, sending a pleasant warmth down his spine. He wanted more of the man’s broad, soft hands on his face. And it seemed he was lucky, for Gustave wasn’t done with his makeup lesson.

“You have gorgeous eyes; I think some eyeshadow would go a long way bringing them out,” the man said, almost thoughtfully as he tilted his head slightly to look at Merlin’s face. “I know exactly what you need.”

“Will you do it for me?” Merlin couldn’t resist asking breathlessly. He wondered if he was sounding as greedy and needy as he felt.

The smile Gustave sent him was entirely too knowing and amused for Merlin’s taste, but he said nothing on the matter. “I’ll do one eye and you’ll try to replicate the makeup on the other, all right? Now close your eyes.”

The brush was soft on his eyelid, its gentle caress was soothing against Merlin’s heated skin. He wondered if it was weird to want to feel it all over his body. Merlin felt his eye twitch and Gustave swiped a finger over his eeyebrow. Merlin tried to relax but as the seconds ticked by, he found himself growing increasingly impatient to see the result. It felt like forever before Gustave said,

“That’s it, you can open your eyes.”

The sight that greeted Merlin in the mirror was one he could have never imagined.

In Ealdor, no one owned a mirror. No one really could afford such a luxury. As such, Merlin had seen himself occasionally in the placid surface of the pond in the forest where he and Will used to play, or in polished brass plates. When his gaze fell on his reflection in the mirror the previous day, Merlin hadn’t understood what Carmen saw in him. Before his eyes stood a gangly boy, barely out of adolescence. His tall, lanky body was too thin. His long limbs looked awkward and uncoordinated.  And his face wasn’t much better. It was too angular, with prominent cheekbones over hollow cheeks and a mop of black hair that failed to cover his big ears. In truth, Merlin didn’t see much beauty in himself.

But Gustave had worked magic on him and upon opening his eyes, Merlin found himself transformed. The warm, dark browns and glowing golds of the eyeshadow Gustave had applied on his left eyelid made his cerulean eyes look intense and deep, his gaze sultry and smouldering. Merlin wasn’t just pretty, he was irresistible. He smiled, loving the way his lips looked painted in deep carmine.

It took six tries and and a lot of frustration for Merlin to achieve a satisfactory result on his right eyelid. The make-up was nowhere near as delicate as the one Gustave had done on Merlin’s other eye, but it was fine. Gustave said he did well and would improve with time. The praise warmed Merlin’s chest and reddened his cheeks. Gustave had been almost fatherly with him up until that moment, but as Merlin met the older man’s gaze in the mirror, he saw desire in his warm brown eyes. Merlin didn’t know what it was like to be wanted like this; in Ealdor, he had been an awkward peasant bastard. Now under Gustave’s stare he discovered what it felt like to be an object of desire, and he found that he liked it.

“Carmen said you’ve only ever touched yourself,” Gustave prompted, the question clear in his statement. 

“That’s true. But I'm eager to learn!”

The chuckle that rumbled in Gustave’s chest sounded like thunder during a summer storm. Merlin wanted to close his eyes and listen to its echoes in the distance, waiting for the rain and the wind that would come. And come they did. Merlin’s eyes opened when Gustave’s lips captured his mouth in a searing kiss. He floundered a bit before his hands finally settled on Gustave’s hips and he started kissing back with more enthusiasm than skill. That didn’t seem to bother the other man as his tongue sought entrance in Merlin’s mouth. The feeling of Gustave’s tongue caressing his own was possibly the most erotic sensation Merlin had ever felt. He pushed himself more firmly against Gustave’s muscular chest, letting his hands roam over his clothed back.

It felt so different from the few times he had allowed himself to let his hands caress the plains of his own body. In Ealdor, there had been no time for drawing out the pleasure. Almost every time Merlin had touched himself, he had tried to reach his release as quickly as possible. There had been only two occasions, by the stream that ran in the forest that bordered the village, illuminated only by moonlight. Then, submerged in water, Merlin had let his palms discover all the places on his pale body that sent shivers of lust down his back.

In this room with Gustave, Merlin learned how to savour carnal pleasure. Gustave was in no rush. He slowly peeled the clothes off Merlin’s back, whispering words of praise and encouragement between light kisses on each place he uncovered. He was content to remain pliant and obedient in Gustave’s arm, allowing himself to be claimed. He pushed his chest against the mouth that sucked and licked and bit on his nipples, throwing his head back on a moan at the heady new sensations. He was hard in his tight breeches. Gustave lifted him, guiding Merlin’s legs around his waist and took them to the large, soft bed that throned in the middle of the room.

Under Gustave’s hefty weight, pinned to the mattress by the larger man, Merlin surrendered himself to the new world of pleasure. Gustave kissed his way down Merlin’s sternum to his stomach. His fingers tickled Merlin’s ribs, making him squirm and choke on a sound half-way between a giggle and a whine. The tongue dipping into his navel made him arch his back.

“Be good and keep your hands above your head,” Gustave instructed, and Merlin hurried to comply.

Merlin didn’t remember how or when Gustave removed his breeches and smalls, leaving Merlin exposed to his partner’s hungry gaze and the heated air of the room. All he knew was that the damp warmth of Gustave’s mouth around his twitching, leaking cock was enough to make him cry and claw at the bedsheets. Merlin felt feverish, mad with his mounting need for release. Touching himself had never felt so good. Gustave easily swallowed him to the root, his throat clenching and unclenching around the head of Merlin’s cock. Merlin’s hips bucked slightly, even in Gustave’s firm grasp, pushing himself farther down the man’s throat. Gustave only moaned and swallowed. He started bobbing his head, hollowing his cheeks to add more of the delicious suction that made Merlin’s head spin.

With one hand keeping Merlin in place and the other roaming Merlin’s soft skin, Gustave kept torturing Merlin with his mouth. His tongue swirled around Merlin’s shaft, teasing the slit on his head, travelling down the underside of his cock. And Gustave kept going up and down, swallowing Merlin completely before pulling up until only the head remained between his glossy lips. Just when Merlin felt his orgasm approaching, Gustave pulled him out of his mouth. Merlin whined in frustration, bucking his hips in a silent plea.

“Get on your front.”

Again, Merlin promptly obeys. A pillow was shoved under his hips, keeping his arse up. And suddenly, Merlin tensed. For the first time, apprehension pierced through the haze of pleasure and lust that fogged his brain.

“Wait!” he said, lifting himself on his elbow and looking back at Gustave. “I don’t want…”

“I know,” Gustave said patiently when Merlin trailed off. His broad hand rubbed circles on Merlin’s arse cheek and upper thigh, the touch strangely soothing. “There are ways to find pleasure from here that don’t involve penetration,” he said, letting his thumb caress Merlin’s puckered entrance. “I can show you if you want. And remember, you just need to say the word and I’ll stop at once.”

Reassured, Merlin allowed himself to relax. “Show me,” he sighed, letting his thighs fall open in invitation.

Never could Merlin have guessed how amazing it could feel to have his hole licked. Gustave ate his arse greedily, lapping at his twitching pucker, dipping his tongue just past the first ring of muscle without truly trying to penetrate him. His teeth nipped at his entrance, grazing against the sensitive skin. Merlin was growing mad with the need to come. He rutted against the pillow, the friction nowhere near enough on his aching cock. Gustave let him seek the stimulation he needed, focusing entirely on savouring Merlin’s arse as if it was a feast. Spit started leaking down to Merlin’s balls, coating them. The air was cool against his damp skin, making Merlin shiver. And then, Gustave started kneading Merlin’s balls as he kissed and licked his hole, and he was done for. It took only a minute for Merlin to tense, trembling under the strength of his orgasm as he spilled on the pillow he was rutting against. He was glad to face away from Gustave as he clenched his eyes shut. Right below his skin, his magic stirred, begging to be let out. It had never manifested when Merlin had touched himself, but apparently, it reacted to the intensity of his pleasure the same way it reacted to other strong emotions. Somewhere in the room, a couple of candles were lit up. Merlin hoped Gustave would be too distracted to notice.

As he lay, shuddering and panting in the aftermath, Merlin closed his eyes. His hole quivered, sending little jolts of pleasure to Merlin’s tailbone. Gustave kissed his way up Merlin’s spine until he reached the back of his neck. He lied by Merlin’s side, wrapping an arm around his waist and just holding him. Merlin had never felt more content in his life. When Gustave shifted, his still clothed, hard cock touched Merlin’s hip, reawakening Merlin’s desire.

Although his lust was sated, Merlin carved the feeling of having Gustave in his mouth. He wanted to find out what it felt like to hold another man’s pleasure in his hands, to be in control, to be able to grant or deny them their release. With a little groan, Merlin pushed himself up and turned towards the other man. Gustave was looking at him with a satisfied smile. His gaze was gentle and patient, looking at Merlin as if he was something precious and beautiful.

With slightly shaky fingers, Merlin undid the laces on Gustave’s shirt before lifting the garment off his strong frame. He loved the way his fingers brushed against Gustave’s warm skin. Loved the way the man’s muscles rippled under his touch. Merlin licked a trail down Gustave’s neck, nibbling on his collarbone before he kissed his way down to the man’s pert nipples. He took one in his mouth, catching it between his teeth and letting his tongue tease it. From the whine the action got him from his mentor, Merlin deducted it felt good. His fingers found the other nipple, playing with it, rolling and pinching it. Gustave’s hips bucked up when Merlin sucked on his nipple while pinching the other a bit harder. Smirking, Merlin decided to take the other nipple in his mouth. He abused the wet nipple with his fingers, pinching it hard before rolling it under the pad of his thumb while he nibbled on the other one. By the time Merlin decided he was done with Gustave’s chest, the man was panting and grasping the bedsheets. Merlin was extremely satisfied. He left a trail of light kissed down Gustave’s abdomen, but when he reached his waistband, apprehension caught up with him.

Merlin looked up at Gustave with a frown. “I’ve never… I’m not sure what to do. Will you guide me?” he asked, suddenly shy again.

With deft hands, Gustave opened his breeches and pushed them and his smalls down his thighs, kicking them off his legs and to the floor. His cock was long and thick, leaking precum on his stomach. Seeing it, Merlin salivated. He wanted to take it as deep in his mouth as he could.

“Start by just sucking on the tip. Run your tongue around the head. There’s no right way to do this, just do what feels right. You’re here to learn, there’s no need to feel scared, all right?” Gustave’s encouraging words were accompanied by a gentle caress on Merlin’s cheek.

Following his mentor’s advice, Merlin started by licking the head of his cock. He moaned at the first taste of bitter-salty precum. Gustave relaxed, baring himself to Merlin’s ministrations. Merlin licked down Gustave’s shaft, twirling his tongue around it as he went up and down. He cast quick glances up at the older man, trying to gauge his satisfaction. It was hard to tell, but at least, he was biting on his bottom lip and his right hand was clutching at the white bedsheets. Taking a breath, Merlin wrapped his lips around Gustave’s big cock and swallowed as much of it as he could. However, it soon triggered his gag reflex and Merlin had no other choice but to pull out and cough. The retching sounds he made were disgusting even to his own ears and he pressed his palm to his mouth to muffle them. Gustave was there in an instant, rubbing circles on Merlin’s back. Tears were spilling down his face. Merlin was sure he looked like a mess.

“Breathe deeply through your nose, it will help if you want to take me deeper down your throat. And it’s fine if you can’t, you don’t need to. You can satisfy a man without swallowing him whole,” Gustave reassured.

But Merlin was determined to take all of Gustave down his throat. He wanted to find out how it felt to have his throat stretched around his shaft and his nose buried in his coarse pubic hair. He tried again once he had regained his breath and was sure he wasn’t going to throw up. Little by little, he managed to take Gustave deeper. He breathed through his nose, like Gustave had advised him, and it did help. He found bobbing his head up and down and taking progressively more of the older man’s penis also helped. It took him a long time, but Merlin ended up as he wanted with his nose rubbing on Gustave’s pubic hair as his large cock twitched in his throat. And then, Merlin pulled out only to take him to the root again. Gustave gasped, grabbing a handful of Merlin’s hair. Suddenly, Merlin wanted nothing more than to have Gustave fucking his mouth.

Relaxing his jaw and throat as much as he could, Merlin hummed around Gustave’s cock, swirling his tongue around it. When Gustave’s hips bucked up, Merlin moaned and closed his eyes. It seemed Gustave got the message because he tentatively started thrusting in and out of Merlin’s mouth. The sensation of his throat expending to let Gustave’s cock enter it was one of the most erotic thing Merlin had ever felt. Gaining confidence from Merlin’s pleased reactions, Gustave’s thrusts increased in both speed and strength and before long he was fucking Merlin’s lax throat in earnest. Merlin’s muffled moans seemed to spur him on, so Merlin kept making drawn-out, low sounds that sent vibration up Gustave’s shaft and brought him ever closer to his orgasm. He spilled down Merlin’s throat with a grunt, keeping Merlin in place for a second before releasing him.

“You’re good at this. I’ll tell Carmen you’re ready to start working from tomorrow,” Gustave said between heaving breaths.

Merlin smiled. He rested his head on Gustave’s stomach, kissing the sweaty skin there. Gustave’s heartbeat was loud in his ear. Merlin let it lull him into a light doze.

After his first real day of work at the brothel and some discussions with a few fellow sex workers, Merlin concluded that mornings and early afternoons were quiet periods during which he could explore the city. During his first day, Merlin had had four clients, and even after he had given Carmen the share he owed her for his keep, he had more money in his pocket than he had seen in his whole life.

The city was bustling as it had been the day Merlin first set foot in it. The smells and colours were just as foreign and intoxicating to him. He wanted to touch and taste everything. A big grin played on his painted lips as he passed various stalls. Before heading out, Merlin had hesitated on putting makeup on. And then, he had remembered Gustave’s words and thought there really wasn’t anything wrong with advertising himself at the market. He felt an odd sort of power as men and women’s heavy gazes fell on him, appraising him. Merlin had thought he’d be embarrassed to have everyone knowing how he earned his money. Instead, he loved it. He cast a seductive grin to a handsome merchant and was satisfied to see the man blush in response. The red on his lips was perfectly applied, but Merlin knew he could still work on his eye makeup. Still, he was rather pleased with the reactions he got as he sauntered around the busy streets of Camelot.

The white walls of the castle seemed to be calling Merlin. His magic pulled him closer to the citadel. At first, he tried to resist the tug; after all, Camelot’s castle was possibly the most dangerous place in the world for someone like him. Merlin would do well to stay as far away from it as possible. But his magic was insistent. It thrummed under his skin, like the distant rumble of thunder during a warm summer day. Merlin gave up, letting his magic guide him to where it wanted him to be. As he reached the western door, though, Merlin saw a small crowd surrounding a group of men. Curious, Merlin approached. Someone in the crowd, a bald, old man, mumbled something about immature princes.

And then, Merlin saw the scene the people were gathered around: a blond knight was throwing knives at a young man who ran while holding a shield. Merlin frowned. The man, Merlin supposed he was a servant from his clothes, was obviously distressed. The young knight throwing knives at him seemed to enjoy this torment far too much. Merlin felt his blood boil in his veins and his magic sizzle at his fingertips. He had been this boy, not so long ago, picked on by everyone in his small village. When he dropped his shield, it rolled and stopped right by Merlin’s feet.

“Hey. Come on, that’s enough,” Merlin said, keeping his voice light despite the fury that burned in his chest.

“What?” the knight asked, and suddenly, the crowd surrounding them fell silent.

It seemed as if everyone present was holding their breaths. Merlin supposed anyone else would back down, pretend nothing happened and just turn away to avoid trouble. Merlin had never been good at ignoring injustice, though, and he was even worse at avoiding trouble.

“You’ve had your fun, my friend,” he stated with more confidence than he felt.

Really, angering a knight of Camelot was the last thing someone like him should do, but Merlin had been born with magic in a world that hated it; he was used to living dangerously.

“Do I know you?” The knight came closer, exuding the easy self-assurance of someone born into nobility.

The way the knight’s gaze roving over his face and down his body made Merlin feel hot. Merlin’s profession was painted in bold colours on his pale face, and Merlin felt deliciously exposed. The blonde had an eyebrow raised, silently judging Merlin. In response, Merlin jutted his chin, keeping his head up defiantly.

It was unfair, Merlin thought, that someone so pretty should be so prattish. The knight’s golden hair gleamed in the sun and his fair skin was tanned by hours spent outside, training and doing whatever else knights did. His broad shoulders and chest were accentuated by the armour protecting them. He could almost see the muscles shifting under the patted jacket the knight wore as he walked closer to Merlin. Yes, it really was unfair.

“I’m Merlin.” Merlin extended a hand once the knight was close enough to take it. His mother had taught him some manners, after all.

But the knight ignored it and just said, “So I don’t know you. Yet you called me ‘friend’.”

“That was my mistake,” Merlin replied with his most charming, coy grin. And when the knight agreed, Merlin continued, saying, “I could never have a friend who could be such an arse.”

With a smirk, Merlin turned away. Somehow, he hoped the knight wouldn’t let this drop. His magic was singing, tingling in his palms, and Merlin felt more alive than he ever had. He didn’t like the arrogant knight, but there was something about him that pulled Merlin in and wouldn’t let him leave. The chuckle that was punched out of the knight’s lungs by Merlin’s cheeky remark gave him hope for the future of their interactions.

“Or I one who could be so stupid.”

Merlin grinned, keeping his back to the knight. He didn’t understand why he was glad to have this confrontation with a supercilious knight, but Merlin’s magic rejoiced, so he supposed it had to be the right thing to do.

And then, the knight almost made Merlin choke on his own saliva as he said, “Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?” in a teasing, pompous voice that made Merlin’s insides flutter with want.

After taking a second to recover from his shock, Merlin turned around to face the knight, fixing him with his most daring stare and a devilish smirk in place on his crimson lips. “Are you asking because you want a demonstration, or a lesson?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

Truth be told, Merlin surprised himself. Not so long ago, he had been crushed by the weight of his shame about his attraction towards men, and now he was teasing a knight! But he remembered Carmen’s words, her assurances that whatever he wanted to do was fine. He remembered Gustave’s touch and how it felt to freely give and take pleasure with another. More than anything, the makeup on his face, marking him as a prostitute, made him feel incredibly more confident. Men paid for his services; they wanted him, he wasn’t the only one. And as he found out, he wasn’t beyond weaponizing the newfound power his position gave him.

The two men standing behind the blond knight – his friends, Merlin supposed – spluttered at Merlin’s audacity. But Merlin was solely focused on the way the knight’s cheeks turned redder than his jacket at the implications behind Merlin’s words. And then, his face twisted in an almost comical grimace, and he grabbed Merlin’s arm, pinning it to his back and holding Merlin in place against his chest. Merlin really hoped the flush on his cheeks and the slight bulge in his breeches weren’t too noticeable.

“I’ll throw you in jail for that,” the knight whispered in Merlin’s ear, and Merlin had to stifle a groan.

But Merlin had a big mouth, and it never failed to get him into more trouble than absolutely necessary. Which was why Merlin found himself asking, “Do you think you’re the King?”

To which, the knight replied, in a voice that contained way too much pride, “No. I’m his son, Arthur.”

And this was when Merlin knew he was in real, serious trouble.

Chapter Text

A night in the dungeons wasn’t the worst thing Merlin had ever experienced. Cold winter nights spent shivering on the floor of the hut he had shared with his mum were much worse. Sure, the hay reeked of excrement and putrefied food and made his skin itch. The walls did nothing to keep the cool night air out, and rats and bugs kept him awake until dawn. But as he remembered Arthur’s outraged expression, Merlin thought it had been well worth it. He only hoped Carmen wouldn’t be too angry with him for going unexpectedly missing.

Worse than the rats and the bugs and the itchy, stinking hay, though, had been the voice that kept calling his name throughout the night. At first, Merlin thought someone was really calling him and he frantically looked around, only to conclude he was alone in that part of the dungeons. Then, Merlin had started fearing for his sanity. It had been even worse when that taunting, gravelly voice chuckled and told him he was perfectly sane of mind. That had been very reassuring indeed. When the first rays of the sun streamed through the tiny window above his cell, Merlin had ordered the voice to shut up and let him catch a few minutes of sleep.

“Merlin,” the voice called just as Merlin opened his eyes again five minutes later.

The dungeons really weren’t a place for sleeping. Merlin decided to wait until he could go back to his room at the brothel. He would take a nice, hot bath and then sleep for a few hours among the clean, soft sheets.

“Merlin.”

“What do you want?” Thinking at a voice in his head was weird, but Merlin was tired and frankly exasperated. He just wanted this bloody voice to leave him in peace.

“I need you to pay me a visit, young warlock,” the voice said, expecting Merlin to comply with its demand.

“I think not. Say what you want from me or leave me alone.”

“I don’t think you understand the importance of what I need to reveal to you.”

The voice was beginning to sound exasperated too. Good. At least Merlin wasn’t the only one having a terrible time. He couldn’t care less about what a disembodied voice that echoed in his skull wanted to talk to him about.

“Then just tell me what it is or leave me in peace! It’s not that hard, is it?”

Merlin started to stomp around his cell. The night had been long and uncomfortable, and he was seriously starting to get bored and restless. Merlin had never done well with sitting around doing nothing. His body was itching to move, and his mind was eager for more discoveries to make. Instead, he was stuck in a dungy dungeon cell with an annoying voice rumbling in his head.  

“How young and stubborn you are. I wonder if you’re the right person to carry such a huge destiny,” the voice whispered, sighing in defeat and frustration. “But I hope the gods were right to entrust it to you, Merlin.”

“Stop beating around the bush.”

The voice mumbled something that Merlin didn’t catch. He thought he heard the word ‘father’ but wasn’t sure and he didn’t want to give the voice the opportunity to ramble more than necessary.

“It is your destiny to protect and guide Arthur Pendragon to become the Once and Future King. He will unite Albion and bring back Magic to the land, but this can only happen with your assistance, young warlock.”

Merlin scoffed, thinking about Arthur’s ridiculous grimace, his stupid, taunting voice, and his bratty attitude. “You’ve got the wrong guy! Arthur is a prat, and I won’t help him accomplish anything. It’s not like he’d want my help anyway. He hates me.”

The voice laughed as if it knew something obvious that Merlin was too blind to see. “The half cannot hate that which makes it whole,” it said gleefully. “No man can choose his destiny, and neither can he escape it, young warlock.”

And then, blissful silence rang in Merlin’s head, but a headache was promising to make his day miserable. Merlin groaned and let himself fall back on the putrid hay, waiting for the guards to let him out.

As expected, Carmen was furious when Merlin finally went back to the brothel. It was mid-morning and the place was mostly empty. Merlin’s coworkers were either sleeping or out running errands. Only Carmen had stayed, taking care of paperwork in her little office. Her perfectly traced eyebrows were raised in a silent question and the set of her mouth promised a good tongue-lashing should Merlin not provide a satisfactory reason for his absence.

“I was erm…” Merlin looked down, gnawing at his bottom lip before he mumbled, “I spent the night in the dungeons.”

“In the dungeons?” Carmen repeated incredulously. Then she laughed. It was a harsh thing that contrasted with her usually warm demeanour towards her young protégé. “What did you do to get thrown in a dungeon cell?”

Now, Merlin really didn’t want to tell her what had happened the previous afternoon, but he knew he wouldn’t get away with a half-arsed excuse and white lies. He would have to face the consequences of his actions. Hopefully, Carmen wouldn’t throw him out. Merlin didn’t know what he would do if she did. For the first time, he became aware of how vulnerable he was. He had exposed himself as a prostitute; no one would ever see him as anything else. Finding work elsewhere in the city would be impossible. And where would Merlin go if he couldn’t remain in the white city of Camelot? He couldn’t go back to Ealdor. He was even more likely to be killed there than in the heart of Uther’s kingdom. Merlin hadn’t been aware he was hyperventilating and sobbing until Carmen’s arms wrapped around his shoulders and her hands started rubbing circles on his back.

“Did someone hurt you? You know you can tell me anything. I’ll protect you, little bird,” she whispered in his ear, sounding oddly like his mother.

Merlin shook his head, burying his face in Carmen’s neck and clinging to her fiercely. “I’ve done something stupid, please don’t hate me. Don’t send me away, I have nowhere to go, please.”

“Oh, my little darling. I won’t send you away, I promise. Tell me what happened.”

Between hiccups and sobs and sniffles, Merlin told Carmen how he had confronted the prince and ended up being thrown in a dungeon cell.

To his surprise, Carmen threw her head back and laughed. “It was time someone stood up to Prince Arthur. He has a good heart, but he acts like a brute.”

“You won’t punish me, then?” Merlin asked hopefully. 

Carmen patted his cheek, smiling kindly.  “You spent a night in jail, I think that’s enough punishment.”

A relieved smile spread on Merlin’s cheeks, and he grinned at Carmen through tearful eyes. He thanked the woman profusely, feeling overwhelmed by gratitude. Merlin had truly been terrified of being sent away. He was still new and untrained, easily replaceable if he proved to be too much trouble. But Carmen had held him with a care resembling his mother’s. Her gentle words and husky voice had soothed Merlin’s anxiety as effectively as only his mother had been able to. Merlin wanted to stay at the brothel. He wanted to keep seeing Carmen every day and be able to talk to her about things he would never address with his real mother. He wanted to learn everything he could from her and Gustave and the other employees of the establishment. Merlin was desperate to fit in, and for the first time in his life, he felt like it was possible.

“You’re forgiven for this once, but I don’t want you to do anything so foolish again, understood?” Carmen warned him with a stern set of her brow.

Merlin could only nod and smile innocently at her, earning a fond roll of Carmen’s eyes and a gentle slap to the back of his head.

Of course, Merlin couldn’t remain out of trouble for long. However, in his defence, he didn’t look for trouble this time. Merlin was minding his own business, taking in the still unfamiliar sights and smells of Camelot’s market. He had just purchased a small pouch of roasted, honey-glazed almonds and was looking for a nice spot to savour them when he heard a haughty voice behind him.

“Hey, Merlin! How’s the knee-walking coming along?” Prince Arthur pronounced Merlin’s name derisively, making Merlin grit his teeth as he resolved to keep walking and ignore the prat.

“Aw, don’t run away!” he called mockingly.

Merlin stopped but kept his back to the prince and his gang. He pictured Carmen’s disappointed face in his mind, but he couldn’t help replying.

“From you?” he asked defiantly, struggling to keep his body from trembling from the mix of anger, fear and arousal that coursed through him.

“Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb,” Arthur spat with that constant mocking lilt of his voice that was really starting to get on Merlin’s nerves.

That was rude, on more levels than one. Arthur might have a pretty face, but he was quickly becoming less and less attractive to Merlin with every word that came out of his mouth. Why his body still insisted on reacting to that prat, Merlin didn’t know. Merlin sighed. Better put an end to this interaction before he got into more trouble.

“Look, I’ve told you you’re an arse,” Merlin began before turning to face the prince. “I just didn’t realise you were a royal one.” Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say to avoid getting into trouble, but Merlin had long accepted that he had no capacity for self-preservation.

The two knights Arthur seemed to constantly hang out with took a step forward, and Merlin’s stupid mouth decided that getting out of trouble wasn’t on today’s agenda. “Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy’s men to protect you?” he said mockingly, a smirk spreading on his red-painted lips.

Honestly, Merlin didn’t know he was able to be so sassy. He had always had a big mouth, but this was a whole new level for him. Despite the anxiety that rose in his chest, Merlin took the time to appreciate Arthur’s affronted expression. If he was going to have to endure the consequences of his actions later, he would make the most of it and enjoy the moment.

But Arthur surprised him when he gestured for the two men to stand down and fixed Merlin with what looked like reluctant admiration. “I could take you apart with one blow,” Arthur told him, and Merlin didn’t know why the prince said that.

Obviously, Merlin couldn’t stand up to Arthur in any kind of fight; he wasn’t a knight; he wasn’t trained in combat. And Arthur wouldn’t actually fight a civilian, would he? Merlin knew he could be annoying, and from what he had seen, Arthur was a hot-headed prick. But still, the man was a knight as well as a prince. Where would the honour be in fighting against Merlin, even as a way to punish him or teach him a lesson?

And so, Merlin decided to meet Arthur’s eyes and do the only thing he could. He spoke defiantly, clearly enunciating each word. “I could take you apart with less than that.”

“Are you sure?” Arthur asked, an eyebrow raised in a doubtful expression.

Right after, one of the men who followed Arthur around looked at Merlin as if he was worth less than the dirt on the soles of his shoes. “Come on then, fight,” the man said.

Merlin had to hide a shudder at the disdain painted on this man’s face. He knew many despised and disrespected people of Merlin’s profession, but it was his first time being met face to face with such intense disregard. Arthur may have many faults, but to his credit, he treated Merlin the same way he treated everyone below his station.

Merlin diverted his gaze, focusing once again on Arthur. The prat had a mocking, self-assured smirk on his stupidly handsome face and Merlin wanted to both punch him and kiss him at the same time. He did none of that though. Even he wasn’t so foolish.

“Who said anything about fighting?” Merlin asked with false innocence, a coy grin on his face. He had a lot of practice with that particular smile. After all, he was an expert on getting in trouble, but that also meant he was very experienced in how to get out of bad situations.

“If you want a lesson on knee-walking, you know where to find me,” Merlin continued. With a wink to the prince, Merlin turned around, making sure to let his hips sway enticingly with each step he took.

Carmen was looking at Merlin with a proud smile as she watched him interact with one of the brothel’s patrons that evening. His warm brown eyes were framed by deep wrinkles and the thick black hair on his hair was streaked with grey. Sir Edward had once been a knight before he had to retire because of a wound to his shoulder that had never healed properly. He was nursing a goblet of mead, fixing Merlin with a gaze full of want. Once again, Merlin felt that newfound power warming his chest. The man’s eyes crinkled as he smiled at a witty joke Merlin uttered. Around them, the hushed sounds of conversations and the occasional laughter created a pleasant atmosphere. Merlin felt safe here. He knew that Carmen and the two men she had hired to provide security for her employees would intervene to protect him in an instant, should he give them the signal that he was in distress.

When Sir Edward’s strong hand landed on Merlin’s thigh, right above his knee and started hiking up towards his groin, Merlin felt warm for a different reason. He was still unused to being desired like this, to be looked at with want instead of contempt.

“You’re very nice to talk to, but I’m sure your mouth can be put to better uses,” Sir Edward said, leaning in towards Merlin.

“It certainly can,” Merlin replied with a seductive smile.

Leading the way to his room upstairs, Merlin made a conscious effort to adopt the lascivious walk he had worked so hard on. He really had to offer a pretty gift to Elaine as thanks for helping him perfect it, one of these days. When he had first started working at the brothel, he was a disaster, stumbling over his own feet and walking as awkwardly as a lamb taking its first steps. He was still clumsy, but at least he could walk sexily without making a fool of himself now.

As soon as they entered Merlin’s room, Sir Edward’s lips latched onto Merlin’s neck, kissing and biting the pale flesh. Merlin tilted his head to the side to give Edward better access. His large hands started groping Merlin’s arse through his tight breeches, slotting one of his legs between Merlin’s thighs. Edward’s hands encouraged Merlin to start grinding against the man’s thigh, moaning wantonly as he did. Merlin found that he loved expressing his pleasure loudly. Not only was it generally appreciated by his client, but he also found that liberating after having to hide for so long.

“You moan so sweetly; I wonder how you’d sound with a cock in your mouth,” Edward whispered, his breath warm against the shell of Merlin’s ear.

“Would you like to find that out?” Merlin replied in a sultry voice.

“Yes, but first I want to see how far down this pretty blush goes.” Edward’s fingers travelled from Merlin’s flushed neck down his clothed chest, stopping at the hem of Merlin’s breeches.

Getting the message, Merlin started undressing, making a show of letting his body undulate suggestively as he pulled his tunic over his head. The pale skin of his chest had taken on a slightly red tint, lighter than the blush on his cheeks but still noticeable. Under Edward’s hungry gaze, Merlin slowly pushed his breeches down, revealing his swollen cock and his shaved legs. Merlin vaguely thought he should have felt vulnerable, naked, alone in a room with another man. Instead, he felt fully in control, Sir Edward’s lustful eyes on him giving him a sense of self-confidence.

Warm hands roamed the naked plains of Merlin’s chest, and calloused fingers caressed the blank canvas of his skin, trailing up to his shoulders and down his arms. Merlin was pushed to his knees. The floorboards were cold and hard under him, keeping him grounded even as anticipation made his heart race and his thoughts fly in a chaotic whirlwind. Merlin nosed at Sir Edward’s clothed crotch, mouthing at his half-hard cock through his breeches. Edward groaned and deftly undid the laces that kept the garment closed.

The warm flesh of Sir Edward’s cock tasted salty in Merlin’s mouth. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the weight of it on his tongue. The man thrust his hips forward, pushing himself further in Merlin’s mouth. Merlin had to swallow and breathe deeply through his nose to fight his gag reflex. He took more of his client’s cock, until his nose was buried in coarse pubic hairs and just stayed there, running his tongue along the shaft.

Sir Edward started thrusting shallowly as if to push himself even further down Merlin’s throat. He was obviously taking pleasure from Merlin’s mouth, yet his cock didn’t reach full hardness. Even as the man panted above Merlin, half-choked praise spilling from his lips, he remained half-soft. Salty precum dribbled on Merlin’s tongue with each twitch and throb of his client’s cock, but he didn’t harden further. 

Merlin pulled the cock out of his mouth, frowning in concern. “Am I doing something wrong? Do you need me to do something else?”

“No, you’re perfect. Don’t stop, please don’t stop,” Sir Edward replied, voice thick with arousal, an edge of desperation in his tone. 

Immediately, Merlin took his client’s cock back in his mouth, bobbing his head and hollowing his cheeks. He sucked him eagerly, spurred on by the whines and moans that fell from the man’s parted lips. After a particularly loud moan, Sir Edward gripped Merlin’s hair, keeping him firmly in place as he fucked Merlin’s willing mouth until he spilt down Merlin’s throat in three weak spurts.

Still panting from his orgasm, Sir Edward tugged at Merlin’s hair until Merlin stood up. He pulled Merlin by the hand towards the bed, pushing him on the soft mattress. Merlin’s cock was flushed and hard, standing proudly against his lower belly. Even now that he had reached his climax, Sir Edward’s eyes contained the same hunger as he beheld Merlin, naked body sprawled on the neatly made bed. It made Merlin’s cock twitch as he imagined his client’s heated touch on his feverish skin.

It was rare for Merlin to be so aroused by a client, just as it was rare for a client to be so eager to touch Merlin. It happened, sometimes, that a client enjoyed giving pleasure as much, if not even more than receiving it. Most of the time, though, Merlin, they wanted to reach their climax and left as soon as they had recovered. Sometimes, they fucked Merlin’s thighs and rubbed his cock, but once they came, they lost interest in Merlin’s pleasure. Merlin was fine with that. He found a great amount of satisfaction in knowing he had brought his clients over the edge. It was different from the sexual gratification of reaching his own climax, but no less enjoyable. And Merlin himself wasn’t always attracted to his clients. He didn’t always want to find pleasure from their hands and mouths.

But sometimes, although rarely, he had clients like Sir Edward who made his magic swirl right under his tingling, blushing skin, who made his cock twitch and throb with need, who made him want to beg for their touch, rendered almost delirious by his desperate desire. Merlin’s thoughts circled back to Prince Arthur. Thinking about how the spoiled blonde managed to bring him almost to such heights without so much as the lightest touch on Merlin’s skin. He quickly discarded the thought and the implications it had regarding the strange voice that invaded his mind that morning to spew nonsense about destinies. Now was not the time to ponder on such matters.

Merlin was pliant under Sir Edward’s hands as the man manoeuvred him until he was satisfied with Merlin’s position. Merlin was on his knees, his chest and face supported on the soft, plush mattress while his arse was on full display for whatever the man intended to do. Merlin had already stated his limits, as he always did when a client first approached him. So far, this man had been nothing but respectful and gentlemanly, so Merlin had no reason to fear he would break Merlin’s boundary. And so, Merlin allowed himself to relax, fully sinking into the moment and giving up all thoughts. Sir Edward’s tongue flicked at Merlin’s puckered opening, a touch so light it almost tickled. It was followed by a firmer lick that made Merlin moan into the bedsheets. And then, Merlin became lost in the sensations of his client eagerly eating him out, his tongue thrusting in and out of Merlin’s quivering hole, his teeth nipping lightly as the sensitive flesh of his rim. Merlin was moaning and whining, sobbing from the intensity of his pleasure. Tears and spit formed a dark stain on the bedding under his face. Sir Edward’s strong, calloused hands kept Merlin’s hips still and his arse cheeks parted. He was completely at this man’s mercy, and he loved it.

He was so lost in pleasure that Merlin was almost taken by surprise by his orgasm crashing on him. He was grateful that his client had his face buried between his cheeks because Merlin had been so lost in all the pleasurable sensations, he was feeling that he hadn’t managed to keep his magic in check like he had trained himself to since he started working at the brothel. The fire in the hearth flared, as did the flames of every candle in the room. Had Sir Edward noticed this, there would have been no denying that it was indeed sorcery. Merlin quickly called his magic back, feeling it shrink back into his sternum. The threat of discovery had sobered him, robbing him of the pleasurable afterglow that came after a good orgasm. Merlin was disappointed, but at least, he still had his head on his shoulders.

Proving himself to be a true gentleman, Sir Edward helped Merlin clean himself up and even poured him a glass of water. Merlin hadn’t noticed how parched his throat was until the lukewarm liquid filled his mouth. He placed a small pouch of coins on Merlin’s nightstand, and just by looking at it, Merlin could say there was more money in it than he was owed for his services.

“I think I haven’t felt so good since before I turned thirty. Thank you, Merlin,” Sir Edward said with a small, almost shy smile. “I will definitely come back,” he added with a wink. Before he left, he pressed a surprisingly chaste kiss on Merlin’s cheek.

Merlin grinned as he plopped back on the bed, smiling giddily at the ceiling. He had just got his first regular and so far, he was very fond of the man. Alas, the moment was ruined when the gravelly voice invaded his mind again, sounding more urgent than it had that morning.

“Merlin!” it called, causing Merlin to sit up, heart beating wildly in his chest.

The fuzzy warmth that clung to him after his orgasm and Sir Edward’s affectionate goodbye was instantly dispelled, replaced by cold dread. Merlin had a bad feeling, and if he had learned one thing in his life, it was that his feelings were usually very accurate. Foreboding filled him, leaving no space for anything else.

Perhaps it was time to comply with the voice’s demand and pay its owner a visit.

Chapter Text

Merlin had donned his most inconspicuous clothes and removed any trace of makeup from his face. He ducked behind barrels and hid against walls, remaining undetected from the patrolling guards. He really had no valid reason to roam the streets of the citadel this late in the night and didn’t fancy a second visit to the dungeons. Merlin’s heart was hammering in his chest, making him almost dizzy. He entered the castle through a half-hidden side door that wasn’t guarded. The voice called his name again, guiding him through the winding hallways that plunged deep in the bowels of the palace. The white polished stones of the walls and floors gave way to rough, ragged rocks. Merlin felt light-headed as he distracted a pair of guards with his magic. If he got caught, he was dead.

Below the dungeons, hidden under a heavy metal door, was an old staircase made of uneven steps. Merlin whispered a spell and an orb of pale, blueish light appeared over his head, lighting his way down underground. Even though he was wearing his brown leather jacket, Merlin shivered as the air got colder, the deeper he went under the castle. The gravelly voice kept calling his name, getting louder and louder as he descended the steep steps. At the bottom of the steps, Merlin found a wide cave. Stalactites and stalagmites pierced the space with their sharp columns.

“Where are you? What do you want from me?” Merlin called, sounding more confident than he truly was. At least, he could pretend that the tremors that shook him were caused by the frigid air rather than by fear.

A loud sound, like huge wings flapping, tore the silence of the cave. Merlin took a step backwards, almost stumbling as his feet met uneven ground. He braced one hand on the slightly damp stone to keep himself upright. At last, an enormous, winged creature landed on a perch in the middle of the cave. A strangled cry lodged itself in Merlin’s throat. Fascination and terror warred for dominance in Merlin’s mind.

“Finally, you deign come to see me, young warlock,” the creature said. It spoke in the same gravelly voice that had rang in Merlin’s head.

“What- who are you?” Merlin asked. He took a tentative step towards the creature. He was fairly sure it was a dragon.

“I am the Great Dragon. The last of my kind. Once upon a time, I was named Kilgharrah.”

Somehow, the name seemed appropriate for such an ancient being. In the dim light of the cave, Kilgharrah’s scales shone a dark golden colour, darker than the bright yellow of his eyes. His long, sharp teeth made Merlin shiver as he imagined the kind of damage they could inflict. But Kilgharrah’s mouth seemed constantly stretched in a sarcastic grin that caused annoyance to spark in him despite his lingering fear of the beast.

“What do you want?” he asked. And it might not have been wise to be so blunt with a dragon whose claws could tear through his flesh and bones like a knife through soft butter, but he wanted to know why Kilgharrah thought it was justified to invade his mind as he had.

A puff of smoke was expelled from the dragon’s nostrils as he huffed. “The young prince is in grave danger. It is your destiny to protect him.”

“And what grave danger shall I protect him from?” Merlin asked, crossing his arms.

“Visions of the future are hard to decipher, young warlock. But I can tell you this: the danger will come in disguise, in a time of merriment.” Kilgharrah spoke as if he was sharing some deep wisdom with Merlin instead of vague predictions.

“That’s not really helping, you know. Now if you can’t give me any useful information, please stop calling me. It’s very weird to have a dragon talking in my head.”

With that, Merlin made his way back to the surface, feeling even more frustrated than before. The echo of the dragon’s laughter followed him to the surface. By the time he reached the top of the stairs, he was out of breath. He grumbled a spell to distract the guards. It was nerve-wracking to practice magic on the king’s men when such an action could have him executed on the spot if he were caught. For all that he loved his life in Camelot, he sometimes regretted the relative security he had enjoyed in Ealdor. But he reminded himself that he would have been caught there eventually. And his life would have been forfeit then, just as it would be here. At least, he could live his own life in Camelot, free from the prejudice that came with being a bastard in a tiny village. He was sure his mother was better off now that he was gone, and he was able to send her some money each month. This was better for everyone.

Using his magic to detect the guards patrolling the city probably wasn’t the wisest thing Merlin had done, but it served him well. He arrived back at the brothel undetected. Unlocking the door with another spell was the easiest thing in the world. Although he had never received any training in the magical arts, Merlin could command his powers as naturally as he could control the air that entered his lungs. He didn’t even need to think about it; the words came to his tongue as if he had always known them. Sometimes, Merlin didn’t even need a spell to conjure his magic; it simply obeyed his will.

Everyone was asleep. It was so late that dawn was only a couple of hours away. No one visited the brothel this late, especially on a weekday. There were times, on holidays, where the brothel didn’t close. Or so Merlin had been told. He had yet to witness it. Despite his weariness, Merlin knew sleep wouldn’t come. Kilgharrah’s elusive words kept replaying in his head. Merlin saw prince Arthur stabbed with a dagger, a pool of blood forming around his dying body. He saw the prince clutching at his throat while he gasped for breath as poison slowly killed him. Broken bones and severed limbs. Each scenario more gruesome than the last. Merlin didn’t know what to do. How could he, a magical bastard peasant turned whore, do to protect a prince? He didn’t want this destiny the dragon had talked about. But he couldn’t let Arthur die either, not when he had been warned of impending danger. He had no idea of where the danger would come from or what form the threat would adopt. If only Kilgharrah had given him useful information, he might have come up with a plan, but as it was, he was left guessing, worrying over shadows.

For two days, Merlin was jumpy. He barely slept and ate far too little. Carmen and Gustave were concerned, Merlin knew it. But how could he tell them that a dragon had warned him of Arthur’s impending death? He knew he was lucky to be surrounded by people who cared about him, and Merlin was grateful, he really was. Gustave even brought him those roasted almonds he loved so much just to cheer him up and all Merlin managed was a faded smile. Dreadful images plagued Merlin’s mind night and day to the point where he couldn’t enjoy anything.

On the morning of the third day, Gustave knocked on his door and entered without waiting to be invited in. Merlin was still wrapped up in his blanket, shivering even though it wasn’t cold. He had spent the night stuck in a waking nightmare.

“Are you ill?” Gustave asked before sitting on the edge of the bed and pressing his palm to Merlin’s forehead. “You’re ice cold. Do you want me to call the physician?”

“I’m fine,” Merlin mumbled, attempting a reassuring smile. “Just tired. I’ve been having nightmares.”

It was the closest he had come to talk about what weighed on him. Gustave was easy to talk to. He was patient and never judged, never pushed for more information. His open-mindedness and comforting aura helped people open up to him. For someone like Merlin, he was devastatingly dangerous. Yet, Merlin found himself unable and unwilling to push him away. One day, he would slip up and reveal his deadly secret, it was as inevitable as the sun rising from the east each morning. In the meantime, Merlin would selfishly enjoy Gustave’s gentle care. He sighed contentedly as the older man massaged his scalp.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Gustave asked quietly.

“Not really, no,” Merlin said. And Gustave didn’t insist.

They remained in companionable silence for a while. Merlin’s limbs felt heavy and his mind finally slowed down under Gustave’s gentle touch. He felt closer to sleep than he had since he visited Kilgharrah. Even his magic stopped swirling right under his skin and settled comfortably between his ribs.

“There’s someone who wants to see you, but if you want to rest a bit, I can tell him to come back later,” Gustave offered.

The wording of Gustave’s sentence had piqued Merlin’s interest, though. He hadn’t said that a client requested him, but that someone wished to see him. It sounded as if it were a personal visit rather than a professional one. Merlin wondered who it could be. While most of the town’s citizens were friendly with Merlin, he couldn’t say he had made many friends outside of the brothel. People generally preferred to maintain some distance, lest their reputation suffered. They didn’t want to be associated with whores.

“Who is it?” Merlin asked. He frowned, trying to think of anyone who could seek him out for personal reasons.

Gustave smiled brightly, “Sir Edward. It seemed you made a good impression the other day!”

Was this a professional visit after all, then? Merlin wasn’t sure he was up to working right now. His whole body felt sore, and his thoughts were sluggish. He didn’t want to disappoint his client with a lacklustre performance. But Sir Edward had come here just to see him, so Merlin didn’t want to turn him away either.

“Tell him to come up, I’ll see what he wants and whether I can fulfil his wishes,” Merlin said, his smile genuine although it was a bit dimmer than his usual grins.

Gustave ruffled his hair affectionately. It made Merlin feel like a little boy rather than the young man he was. Somehow, this little chat reinvigorated Merlin. While he still felt exhausted, he was more ready to face the day than he had been before Gustave entered his room. He wondered what Sir Edward wanted, though. It was rather unusual to come to a brothel so early. Merlin had received clients during the day, but never before midday. He quickly got out of bed, washed himself at the basin and donned clean clothes. He was just finishing making his bed when a knock sounded at his door.

Sir Edward looked a little awkward when he entered the room, not unlike the boy Merlin had serviced a few days prior. He had to swallow a chuckle at the mental image. The blush on Edward’s cheeks soon brought another kind of memories to Merlin’s mind and he felt his own cheeks heating up. He could almost feel the fantom touch of Edward’s calloused palms on his bare skin.

“Gustave said you weren’t feeling very well, I hope it’s nothing bad,” Sir Edward said in lieu of greeting.

Merlin was touched by the concern but he was quick to reassure the older man. “I haven’t been sleeping very well these last few nights, that’s all. May I ask what brings you here so early?”

If Edward was surprised or offended by Merlin’s forwardness, he didn’t show it. He took a seat at Merlin’s small table, patting the other chair in silent invitation.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about Lady Helen coming to sing at the court,” Edward said once Merlin had taken his seat.

Indeed, the town had been buzzing with excited chatter since the news broke that a world-renowned singer would come to Camelot. Merlin hadn’t paid it too much attention. What happened in the royal court had very little influence on his daily life. It wasn’t like he’d be invited to hear the singer, after all. He didn’t understand why the news made his fellow citizens so happy. They wouldn’t get to hear her sing either. Except perhaps a few servants who’d be attending the event.

“I’ve been lucky to be invited to attend, and I’ve been told I could invite someone,” Edward continued, looking at Merlin with piercing brown eyes.

“That’s… nice, I guess,” Merlin said. Perhaps it was a testament to how tired he was, but he really didn’t understand why Edward was telling him that.

“Yes, I suppose it is. It would be even better if you’d accept to accompany me.”

It took Merlin an embarrassingly long time to process the meaning of Edward’s words. He stared at the man, blinking rapidly. Perhaps he was sleeping, and this was some weird dream concocted by his brain. This was the only logical explanation. Why would a man like Sir Edward, a respected former knight, a man who had been entrusted with training Camelot’s squires, want to bring Merlin to such an event.

“Me? Why?” Merlin croaked at last.

“Well, most of my friends are knights, so they’ll be attending as well. The others are just not interested. And I enjoy your company,” Edward admitted, a dark blush creeping on his cheeks.

Merlin wanted to say yes, but that would be incredibly selfish of him. He was a whore. Being associated with him could irrevocably damage Sir Edward’s reputation. Moreover, Merlin was a sorcerer. Going to Camelot’s court was like walking straight into the wolf’s den.

“I would love to,” Merlin started, and his heart throbbed at the hopeful joy on the older man’s face. “But I can’t. You can’t bring someone like me with you.”

“Just don’t wear makeup and you’ll be fine. There’s no law preventing me from taking you to an event at court.”

But there are laws against harbouring a sorcerer, Merlin thought bitterly. He tried to smile despite the pounding of his heart making him lightheaded. He had to refuse the offer. He simply couldn’t accept. It would be too selfish to take advantage of Sir Edward’s kindness like that. If the man didn’t have the common sense to protect his own reputation, Merlin had to take that responsibility. But then, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Kilgharrah’s drawled, Perhaps that could be your chance to save the prince. And all of Merlin’s resolve crumbled.

“I’d love to accompany you, then, Sir Edward,” Merlin said.

And he felt like he had just started digging his own grave.

Chapter Text

Elaine deserved Merlin’s undying gratitude. Merlin had no idea how he would ever get to repay her for her kindness. Since he arrived at the brothel, the young woman had taken him under her wing, teaching him how to walk seductively, how to chat with clients, how to know which men to pick and which he should avoid at all costs. Merlin saw her as an older sister. And now, she had struck again.

Merlin blearily opened his eyes at the insistent knock on his door, calling to the person to enter. He didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t Elaine walking in like a whirlwind, grinning mischievously.

“What are you going to wear to the recital?” she asked, not waiting for an answer before she started riffling through Merlin’s clothes.

“What?” Merlin asked, blinking as the fog of sleep slowly cleared in his head. “Uhm, I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought of that,” he admitted.

A pile of Merlin’s clothes was forming on the floor as Elaine threw them out of his closet. Finally, she settled on a purple shirt and black breeches. While they weren’t anything special, they were the best garments Merlin owned.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head, I’ve got this,” Elaine said with a sly grin.

Before Merlin could reply, she was out of the room. Merlin shook his head with a fond smile on his lips. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve her, but he thanked the Triple Goddess to have placed such a gentle soul in his life.

Merlin soon found out that the news of his going to attend the recital had quickly spread through the brothel’s staff. Vanessa, who was at the bar putting clean glasses back in the right shelves, congratulated him. Gustave crushed him in a tight hug that left him breathless, and Juliet smiled brightly at him and ruffled his already messy hair. Even Carmen got out of her office, disheveled after an early morning doing paperwork gave him a motherly pat on the back, advising him to be careful. She still leaned in towards him and whispered, “See if you can bring us any new well-off client, sweetheart,” with an impish wink.

Not for the first time, Merlin felt truly at home in the establishment, in a way he never had in Ealdor. Sure, he missed his mother dearly. Not a day went by without him thinking of her gentle smiles that crinkled her eyes. He longed for her hugs, for the smell of bread baking in the oven, even for the scratchy woolen blankets they huddled under during cold winter nights.

Despite all of this, Merlin wouldn’t go back to his home village for all the gold in Camelot.

He felt like he had found a purpose and a new freedom in life. He wasn’t a child, drifting through the years as he used to be. Now, he was a young man who had to find his own path. He loved his job. He loved his colleagues at the brothel who felt like a found family. He loved the city of Camelot, even if it was the most dangerous place in the world for him.

And according to that insistent dragon, he had a destiny to accomplish.

This thought dampened his jovial mood. He thought back to his nightmares about the Prince dying while he was helpless to prevent it. Merlin still didn’t understand why this affected him so much. People died. It was a part of life he was accustomed to. He had seen babies starve to death during particularly harsh winters. He had seen young children die of diseases. He had seen pregnant women die while giving birth. Being a peasant, death was never very far from his doorstep. It was always a sad event, but it was something he had learned to live with.

It wasn’t even as if he was close to the Prince. They had only exchanged a few words, and the King’s son had behaved like a right dollophead. It was ridiculous to feel so invested in keeping the royal prat alive. Yet, here he was, obsessing over vague warnings uttered by a dragon trapped under the dungeons in the castle’s underground.

Vanessa tore him out of his musings by pushing a cup of warm herbal tea in his hands. The smell of thyme and rosemary tickled his nostrils. He hadn’t even realized how thirsty he was before he took a first tentative sip to test the warmth of the liquid before downing it in a few long gulps. He sighed gratefully, taking his cup to the sink to wash it.

Tomorrow evening, he was going to the castle to listen to Lady Helen’s recital. Tomorrow, he might find out more about what sort of threat loomed over Prince Arthur’s life. Or he might just have a perfectly nice evening in Sir Edward’s company. The latter would be preferable, but Merlin knew that trouble had a tendency to follow him as a shadow, so he didn’t get his hopes up. That was something to worry about later, though. Today, he would wander around the market before getting ready for work. Ideas about which frivolous outfit he could wear were already hurtling in his head. Perhaps he would don the tight satin tunic he had brought from one of the stall last week. He was sure his clients would love tearing it off his slender frame.

Why Merlin agreed to go inside the castle of the King who wanted to wipe magic off the face of the Earth, he would never know. It didn’t seem like a good idea when he had accepted the invitation, and it felt like an even worse idea now that he walked the steps up to the massive doors of the main entrance. He had nothing to do here. This wasn’t his world. This was the opposite of his world. This was as stupid as a rabbit entering a wolf’s den! What was he thinking?

Taking a deep breath so as not to alert Sir Edward, Merlin attempted to keep his face void of anxiety. Being a bit nervous was fine. It was probably expected. After all, it wasn’t every day that a country bumpkin entered the castle by the main entrance. It was even more understandable given Merlin’s profession. Whores weren’t really welcome in these kinds of places. But if Merlin was seen quivering in his boots, it would only attract more attention on him, and that was the last thing he needed.

“I have to say, you look absolutely lovely tonight,” Sir Edward said, resting a calming hand on Merlin’s back.

Merlin was grateful, he really was. Sir Edward was a kind and perceptive man, and his – somewhat clumsy – attempt to distract Merlin from his spiraling thoughts was very much appreciated. Although Merlin knew that the compliment was sincere. He had seen the astonished look on his companion’s face as he exited the brothel in the clothes Elaine had embroidered for the occasion.

“Thank you, Sir Edward. I’m certain my friend Elaine will be very pleased to know that her hard work has been noticed and appreciated,” Merlin replied politely.

Among the many things he had learned during his first weeks at the brothel, the many different ways to speak depending on the circumstances were one of the most arduous and fascinating ones. Merlin only knew how to talk like a peasant. No one cared about fancy words in Ealdor. You didn’t need to address the fields politely for crops to grow. But here in the city, such things were important. And it was even more crucial given Merlin’s job. Some of his clients enjoyed being talked to more casually, but others, especially stuck-up nobles, demanded to be addressed properly in a polite language. Merlin still felt like he played a role each time he uttered fancy words.

Now, he knew Sir Edward couldn’t care less about flowery language and polite conversations. But they were within the castle’s walls. Surely, that meant that Merlin had to speak in a relatively refined manner. If anything, the lighthearted chuckle, and discreet squeezing of his hand this earned him from the older man reassured him. He shouldn’t feel so safe in a place such as this, yet with Sir Edward keeping his mind off morbid considerations, Merlin was confident that he would have a lovely evening. No one knew what he was, and there was no reason why he should be discovered. He could just enjoy himself with a client-turned-friend.

The chatter in the banquet hall faded as a figure clad in a flowy dress stepped in. There was something about the woman’s presence that demanded silence. Merlin felt like the air had been stolen from his lungs. Beside him, Sir Edward sucked in a breath. Lady Helen was imposing. There was something dangerous, almost predatory to her beauty. A deadly grace that kept her audience enthralled. Everyone’s eyes were glued to her as she stood, calm and unshakable. Merlin was fascinated.

And then, she started singing. Her enchanting voice filled the room like toxic gas. Not a thing moved in the hall, as if time stood still and the air had turned solid. Merlin’s body became heavy, his limbs felt like they were made of lead. He thought sluggishly that this couldn’t be normal, but his attention was captured by the suave tone of Lady Helen’s voice and the strange words that fell from her red-painted lips. When his eyelids began to droop, Merlin shook his head, trying to stay awake. A second later, his head lolled forward. He hadn’t even noticed closing his eyes. Had he felt tired a minute ago? He didn’t think so, but he wasn’t sure of anything anymore. He turned to look at his companion to see if he was affected in the same way and found the older man leaning against the wall, his chin resting on his chest as if he was sleeping standing. Casting his gaze around, Merlin saw that all the guests had fallen prey to a sudden tiredness.  

That’s when Merlin noticed something that made his blood run cold and sent his heart racing. Cobweb was covering every surface of the once pristine banquet hall. The bright lights had dimmed to a dull glow. Dust flew around the singer as she made her way across the room. Instinctively, Merlin covered his ears to muffle the hypnotizing song. Without the melodious incantation blurring his mind, he could finally think. Lady Helen – or whoever was impersonating her – was obviously a witch with evil intentions. Merlin followed her gaze and found himself looking at a slumbering Prince.

From the corner of his eye, the glimmer of a blade caught his attention, and he looked back at Lady Helen. A venomous smirk was carved on her carmine lips as she took aim, preparing to throw her dagger right in the Prince’s heart. Merlin tried to control his panicked mind, scanning his surroundings for anything that could help him prevent this murder. When Lady Helen stepped right under the heavy chandelier, Merlin didn’t even think before he muttered a spell to make it fall on the witch. It crashed with a deafening clatter of glass and metal colliding with granite.

Caught under the copper arms of the chandelier lay a withered peasant woman. Merlin remembered her as the mother of the young man who was executed earlier that week. Seeing the pain and hatred on her face, he felt guilty for depriving her of vengeance. He understood her pain. He could all too easily replace her face with his mother’s. In a way, he was betraying his people. He was protecting his oppressors. But Merlin could feel deep in his guts that nothing good could come from an assassination. If the King lost his only son to a magic user, he would only intensify his murderous war against magic.

People began to wake as the enchantment was no longer sustained by the woman. But she hadn’t yet said her last word. Gathering her remaining strengths, she threw the dagger at the Prince. Merlin hadn’t expected that. He would be too slow to save Prince Arthur. No matter how fast he ran, he couldn’t reach him in time. He was out of time. That thought reverberated in Merlin’s skull, drowning out everything else. He needed more time. He needed time to slow down.

Merlin hadn’t done it consciously. He wouldn’t be able to reproduce it if asked to. Up until now, he wasn’t even aware that such a feat was possible. Yet, it was undeniable. Time had slowed down, trickling so slowly that it almost seemed to have stopped all together. Fighting the instinctive repulsion that ordered him to let time flow as it should, Merlin took advantage of his newfound ability. He ran towards the high table and pushed Arthur out of the knife’s way just as the spell faded. He crashed to the ground with the Prince just as the knife embedded itself in the backrest of Arthur’s chair.

Arthur sat down, shaking his head both to get rid of the last shreds of sleepiness that clouded his mind and to reorder his thoughts after his sudden awakening. Merlin hadn’t yet caught his breath. He was shaking from the stress and the adrenaline. He looked up as he felt a towering presence looming over him only to meet the King’s suspicious gaze. Arthur was standing at his father’s side, looking a bit perplexed by the chain of event.

“You have saved my son’s life. As much as I hate having to owe anything to the likes of you, a debt must be repaid.”

Merlin didn’t know it was possible to sound so contemptuous while expressing gratitude. He supposed it was one of those attitudes that royals learned. Merlin also felt extremely exposed. Even though Uther had never met him personally, he knew exactly who Merlin was, as if it was written on his forehead that he was a prostitute. The disgust on the King’s face left no room for doubt regarding how he felt about those who practiced such an activity. At least, Uther couldn’t sentence him to death for being a whore.

The King beckoned a guard posted nearby to him. “Give this boy ten silvers and escort him out of the palace.”

The guard nodded, motioning for Merlin to follow him. Slightly disoriented by everything that had occurred, Merlin tried to find Sir Edward as he followed the guard. He figured it was best not to go directly against an order from the King while he was in the banquet hall. He found him standing by the door, staring at Merlin with a dumbfounded expression.

Just as he reached Edward, Merlin faintly heard Arthur say, “Father, he saved my life!” He was sure something else followed, but it was lost to him as Edward addressed him.

“Are you alright? What happened?” Edward asked, giving Merlin’s shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Not knowing how much he could say without incriminating himself, Merlin decided to stall. “I’ll explain everything when we’re in private.”

He was grateful to Sir Edward for not pressing the matter for now. Sir Edward was far from dumb, and Merlin hadn’t exactly been subtle. It was a miracle that the King hadn’t arrested him on suspicions of sorcery. From the way Edward looked at him, Merlin could tell he suspected something, and Merlin would have to answer some tough questions.

Merlin moaned, arching his back as Edward bit on his sensitive nipple before soothing it with a stroke of his tongue. Edward pinched and tweaked Merlin’s other nipple, making him groan in a heady mix of pain and pleasure. Merlin’s hands were tied above his head, leaving him completely at Edward’s mercy. With his other hand, Edward scraped and stroked and pinched Merlin’s skin, attentively searching for all the places where he was especially sensitive.

When they had entered Merlin’s room, the young sorcerer had expected a thorough interrogation. On the way to the brothel, he had tried to come up with plausible lies to explain the implausible events that had occurred during the evening without revealing too much of the truth. Instead, as soon as the door had been shut, Edward had pushed him against the wall and ravished his mouth in a deep, passionate kiss that made his toes curl.

Edward’s roaming hand closed around Merlin’s cock, stroking it slowly. Too slowly to bring Merlin over the edge, but firmly enough to provide torturous stimulation. Leaving his nipple, Edward’s mouth kissed its way upwards. He nibbled on Merlin’s collar bone before leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses up his neck. He sped up his strokes on Merlin’s cock, rubbing the head with his thumb. His other hand fondled Merlin’s balls. Merlin chased his orgasm, thrusting his hips into Edward’s hand. After a while, the older man’s fingers pressed on a spot behind Merlin’s balls, causing Merlin to throw his head back in pleasure.

“Oh fuck, I don’t know what you did, but do it again please!” Merlin moaned, tears of pleasure dropping from his eyes, joining the drool that already stained his pillow.

Edward didn’t need to be asked twice. He mercilessly assaulted that spot between Merlin’s balls and his anus, causing Merlin to shake and squirm from the intense pleasure until he finally came. Even after he came down from the edge, Merlin still shook from the intensity of his orgasm. Edward carefully untied him, kissing each of Merlin’s hands and wrists. He cleaned Merlin’s cum-stained chest and abdomen with a wet towel before engulfing him in a reassuring embrace. Merlin lay with his back to Edward’s chest, closing his eyes with a sigh of contentment.

He could tell that Edward’s mind was plagued with insistent thoughts that wouldn’t let him rest.

“Whatever is on your mind, just say it,” Merlin said. He dreaded the conversation ahead, but stalling would only delay the inevitable.

“Will you answer me truthfully?” Edward asked, his large hand rubbing circles on Merlin’s side.

Merlin hummed, thinking for a second. “I’m not thinking clearly right now. I might just tell you the truth.”

Edward was silent for a while, as if he too dreaded asking the question that burned his lips.

“You used magic, didn’t you? You used magic to save the Prince.”

Merlin clenched his eyes shut, muscles tensing involuntarily. This was what he had dreaded all along. The moment of truth. He could lie, of course. But Edward wasn’t stupid. He knew, already, and only needed to hear Merlin confirm what he had already discovered. Merlin could lie. He could deny everything. But he respected Edward. And strangely enough, he trusted the man. After all, he was still here, holding Merlin in his arms the same way he had the last time they shared a bed.

“I did. I’m a sorcerer, I was born with it.” Merlin whispered, the words leaving him in a trembling exhale.

Edward gasped, turning Merlin’s face towards him. “You’re a warlock,” he breathed, looking at Merlin with eyes full of awe.

“You don’t hate me? You’re not… afraid of me?” Merlin whispered, as if talking any louder would shatter the illusion that had settled over them.

Met with Merlin’s incredulous reaction, Edward chuckled, affectionately ruffling Merlin’s hair. “I’m quite a bit older than you; I’ve lived in the world before the purge. I hope you’ll see the world after this whole insane war on magic ends,” he said with a sad smile. “Magic can be beautiful. It can do a lot of good if allowed to.”

Merlin believed that too. Or he wanted to believe it, at least. He didn’t think he was evil. Honestly, he didn’t think the witch who tried to kill Arthur was evil either. She was a grieving mother who turned to violence as her last resort. But Merlin had killed her. Did that make him evil? He killed one of his kin to protect the Prince of the kingdom that oppressed his kind.

He didn’t notice he had started trembling until Edward tore him out of his spiralling thoughts. The older man tried to get him to talk, but Merlin was too tired. He tried to find hope in the words Edward said earlier. But seeing magic free once again seemed like an impossible dream to him. The King was a tyrant, and his heir was an entitled prat. Merlin didn’t think the Prince was as ruthless and heartless as his father, though. Perhaps he would show some leniency in his application of the law. It was still far from being free, however.

After holding Merlin silently until he stopped shaking, Sir Edward took his leave. Merlin wished he had stayed. For the first time, he resented the transactional nature of his relationship with other men. Sir Edward was slightly different in that they had formed a kind of friendship, but he still paid Merlin for their encounter before he left. The bed felt too wide and too cold suddenly. Merlin wished strong, muscular arms would hold him as he fell asleep for once.

It wasn’t Edward’s arms he pictured in his mind though.

Before he could fall asleep, a gravelly laughter echoed in his head. Merlin groaned as the damned dragon mocked him for his ridiculous infatuation. He wasn’t sleepy anymore. Now he was just tired and annoyed.

Chapter Text

The news of what happened at the recital had spread like wildfire, and the more it was told, the more the story changed. Carmen looked at him with a stern expression as he came back from town covered in rotten vegetables. But when she led him to the washing room, her hands were gentle, and her tone was full of compassion. 

“What happened, sweetheart?” she asked as she picked a viscous piece of courgette off his hair. 

Merlin shrugged. “They were just kids. It’s nothing.” 

It wasn’t that he didn’t mind the treatment, but he had gone through much worse in Ealdor. Ultimately, a group of children throwing rotten food at him while calling him names was always better than being dragged to the pyre. He couldn’t say that to Carmen, though. 

“Just because they’re kids doesn’t make it alright! Kids become adults someday. Their parents should teach them better.”  

Of course, not all parents would have a problem with those kids’ actions. Some would probably condone them. But Carmen didn’t need to spell that out.  

Merlin had to bite his lip when Carmen started muttering as she washed his hair. She reminded him of his mum a lot. Maybe Hunith was a bit more tender. She certainly would be more careful not to pull his hair or to warn him to close his eyes before she rinsed the soap. But they shared the same caring nature. By the time she was done, Merlin was smiling and felt like a burden had been lifted off his shoulders.  

“I’d better get ready for tonight; I feel like it’ll be a busy evening!” Merlin said, taking the towel Carmen handed him to dry his hair.  

While the notoriety Merlin had gained from saving Arthur had its disadvantages, it also brought him new clients. It had only been two days, but Merlin had already earned more than he usually did in a whole week. This sole event had brought more attention on him than all his walking around wearing bold makeup ever could. Paired with the reward he had received from the King, that meant he would be able to send a hefty sum back home at the end of the month.  

Carmen’s brow creased in a worried frown. “Come down to eat after your bath. I won’t have you skip meals like you did last week, young man,” she said in a stern voice that did nothing to conceal her concern.  

After a hot bath, Merlin felt much less tense than before. Now that the putrid scent of rotten food didn’t cling to his skin anymore, his smile came easier. His stomach grumbled to remind him that it had been neglected for the past ten days or so. It had been a whole week since Merlin had last shared a meal with his colleagues in the staff’s kitchen. The room was warm and noisy. The sound of laughter mixed with the clanging of cooking utensils and the chatter of the little crowd. Sex workers ate together with the cleaning and security staff. They all lived together as one huge, weird family. 

With his plate of steaming stew in hand, Merlin let his gaze wander across the table, looking for an empty spot. Gustave waved at him while Elaine pointed at a seat between them. Merlin chuckled shaking his head. It only caused Gustave’s grin to widen.  

As soon as Merlin sat down, Gustave threw his arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a side hug. Merlin shrieked in surprise, which made Elaine laugh, almost choking on her drink. In front of her, Juliet, one of the laundresses, giggled at the scene.  

“So, is our lovesick little bird feeling better now?” Elaine inquired, leaning towards him.  

Merlin’s cheeks reddened. He stabbed a piece of carrot more violently than he intended, mumbling, “I’m not lovesick.” 

“What’s that I hear? Is it a big fat lie?” she asked, locking eyes with Gustave. 

If these two had decided to team up on him, Merlin had absolutely no chance of getting out of this unscathed. They were ruthless when it came to pushing Merlin around. It reminded him of how Jimmy and Tim used to bother their little brother back in Ealdor. Merlin had always wished he had older siblings, but now he regretted ever even thinking that. Having older siblings was hell, if they were anything like Elaine and Gustave. He should have known, seeing how Will always bullied him as if he were Merlin’s older brother.  

Still, he wouldn’t trade his new family for anything. They were more precious than any of those colourful stones the royals loved so much.  

Since he was supposed to be the younger sibling, he decided to play his part and stuck his tongue out at Elaine. She huffed and slapped the back of his head, muttering something about how disgusting it was. Meanwhile Gustave snorted while trying to look displeased by Merlin’s behaviour.  

“I hear you’re in high demand lately,” Gustave remarked, ruffling Merlin’s hair affectionately.  

“Maybe a certain someone will pay you a visit,” Elaine added with a smirk and a wink. 

Merlin felt his cheeks redden. If he stayed here, he would end up as a puddle of embarrassment. “As you said, I’m in high demand. I’d better get ready before Carmen comes here to drag me upstairs!”  

His two friends’ laughter followed him almost all the way up to his room. How this rumour about him being infatuated with the Prince started, Merlin had no idea. But he certainly hoped that it didn’t leave the walls of the brothel, or it could get him in a world of trouble.  

Usually, Merlin liked to take a quick bath between each of his clients. Not long enough to relax, but enough to feel truly clean before he received the next man. Tonight, he didn’t have time for that. He only wiped himself with a rag dipped in warm scented water, put his clothes back on, and rearranged his hair. This was now his sixth and last client for the evening. The young man, Daegal, had had his first time with Merlin a few months ago, when Merlin had still been new to this job. He had started to come regularly about three weeks ago. Finding men outside of a brothel had proven to be too hard for him. Merlin had always thought it was easier for men like him in big cities. And in a way, it was. There were no brothels in villages like Ealdor. But even in a big city, there were eyes and ears at every corner of every street. And people talked. Always. A reputation was too easily ruined to take the risk. At least, nobody could tell if you went to the brothel for the women or the men. And sex workers kept their mouths shut.  

Daegal kissed his way down Merlin’s neck, until he reached his collar bone. He licked at the hollow between Merlin’s clavicles before nibbling his way up the other side of Merlin’s throat. He stopped with his nose behind Merlin’s ear, moaning. They were both still fully clothed, standing in the middle of the room.  

“How do you always smell so good?” Daegal asked. He involuntarily thrusted his hips against Merlin’s rubbing their clothed cocks together. “I wish I could smell good like you,” he panted, wet lips brushing against Merlin’s skin. 

Merlin grinned. “If you’re a really good boy for me, I’ll give you something to make you smell exactly like me.” 

Daegal looked at Merlin’s face, pupils dilated, and lips parted in a hopeful half-smile. He was Merlin’s age, but when he was in this state, he looked even younger. Merlin kissed his cheek, giving Daegal a few seconds to regain his senses.  

“Anything you want,” Daegal breathed. 

Merlin didn’t need to think long. He had something in mind that he thought would satisfy both him and Daegal. Something the young man had told him he’d wanted to try the last time he visited the brothel.  

“How do you feel about being tied up?” Merlin asked, his lips brushing the shell of Daegal’s ear.  

Daegal shuddered, swallowing a moan. “If it’s you, I’m fine with it,” he said in a breathy voice.  

Merlin grinned warmly. “Then get undressed and go lie on the bed. On your back.” 

As much as he would have liked to watch Daegal undress, revealing more and more of his pale skin as he shed his clothes, he needed to fetch the soft rope he had acquired a few weeks prior. He had tested it on himself to make sure it didn’t cause any damage. The last thing he wanted was to injure one of his clients.  

Daegal looked a bit self-conscious, naked on Merlin’s big bed. He seemed to relax when Merlin joined him. Merlin ran the pad of his fingers on the soft skin of Daegal’s side, enjoying the way the muscles there rippled under the ticklish touch. Merlin went up Daegal’s chest to his shoulders, keeping his touch light. He stroked Daegal’s arms, slowly down to his wrists.  

“Arms up, above your head.” 

Daegal obeyed immediately. His eagerness was very endearing in Merlin’s opinion. 

“You’re such a good boy for me,” Merlin praised, earning a whimper from Daegal, whose cheeks were already crimson red.  

It seemed the young man was still embarrassed about his submissive streak. Merlin was determined to make that vanish. He wanted to help Daegal grow more confident in his sexuality, like Gustave had helped him when he first started working here.  

The rope was soft between Merlin’s fingers as he tied it around Daegal’s wrists. He made sure it was tight enough that Daegal couldn’t break free, but loose enough that it wouldn’t cut his blood flow. He had heard enough horror stories from his colleagues to understand that he needed to be cautious if he wanted to ensure that everyone involved had a fun time. Once he was done and Daegal confirmed that he was comfortable, Merlin kissed both his wrists.  

He then kissed his way down Daegal’s right arm, tracing his straining biceps with his tongue. Daegal was already pent up and they hadn’t even started yet. Once he reached his client’s shoulder, he bifurcated to his neck, licking a trail up to his ear.  

“Now, we’re going to play a little game, alright? The rules are simple: you’re not allowed to come until I give you permission. Think you can do that?” Merlin asked in a low, sultry voice. 

He revelled in the way Daegal swallowed thickly before nodding.  

“Use your words,” Merlin said, sternly. 

“Yes, I promise I won’t come before you allow it,” Daegal replied, voice thick with mounting pleasure and anticipation.  

“Good boy,” Merlin said again. He knew how much the praise affected Daegal and was rewarded by a chocked moan from the young man. 

Merlin lay on his side, pressed against Daegal so that he could feel every twitch, every shudder he elicited from the young man. He kept himself propped on his elbow so he could watch the pretty boy’s perfect body. With his free hand, Merlin started caressing Daegal’s nipples. He felt them harden under his touch. He knew that after some stimulation Daegal became very sensitive there. It wouldn’t be very long before Daegal started whimpering and quivering under Merlin’s hand.  

When Daegal arched his back, pushing his chest into Merlin’s hand, Merlin gently pushed him back down with his palm against Daegal’s sternum. From there, he trailed his fingers down slowly towards the boy’s navel. His fingers teasingly circled around it a couple of times before dipping slightly lower towards Daegal’s pelvis. A needy whimper spilled from his client’s mouth. Merlin loved how sensitive Daegal was. His hand slithered down to Daegal’s inner thighs, before he raked his nails up the soft skin there. He took a moment to admire the red tracks created on the boy’s white skin. He wanted to leave more marks on Daegal, but they hadn’t discussed that before. With how far gone he already was, Daegal would probably agree to anything, and Merlin didn’t want him to regret anything later. He would bring it up the next time Daegal showed up. This time, he would stick to what he knew Daegal was comfortable with.  

Merlin repeated the operation on Daegal’s other’s thigh. The slight sting from Merlin’s nails had Daegal throwing his head back with a moan. Merlin’s imagination was running wild with ideas about things he wanted to try with Daegal. He stored them somewhere in the back of his mind, focusing on the present. When he reached the apex of Daegal’s thigh, Merlin started fondling the boy’s balls. He revelled in the sounds his ministrations elicited from his clients. Daegal’s legs started quivering from the strain of holding his pleasure back. His cock was steadily leaking precum. Merlin was looking forward to tasting him, but that would have to wait a bit. 

Instead, Merlin started trailing a single finger up Daegal’s shaft, causing more precum to spurt. He kept his eyes on Daegal’s face as he circled the head of his cock with his fingertip, ready to withdraw at any moment when Daegal would come close to the edge.  

Suddenly, Daegal’s breath caught in his chest and his eyes opened wide as he urgently said, “Wait, wait, wait! I’m close!”  

Immediately, Merlin retracted his hand. “Very well, I’m proud of you, Daegal,” Merlin praised, kissing his client’s sweaty cheek.  

Merlin stroked Daegal’s side with his palm to help him come down from his high. He whispered praises and soothing words until Daegal’s breathing had evened out.  

“Are you ready to go on?” Merlin asked when he was sure Daegal’s mind was clear enough again to answer him. 

Daegal nodded before saying, “Yes, Merlin. I’m ready.” 

“Such a good boy for me,” Merlin praised, delighting in the way Daegal’s cock twitched at the words. 

This time, he wasted no time before taking Daegal’s weeping cock in his hand. He kept his hold rather loose around it, not wanting to give him too much stimulation at once. Merlin started a slow, steady rhythm. Every few strokes, he swiped his thumb against the head of Daegal’s cock, making the boy whimper and whine with pleasure.  

With his fists clenching the sheets, Daegal started to beg. “Merlin, please, I need more. Faster, please.” 

In response, Merlin squeezed the base of Daegal’s cock. “You’ll take what I give you, nothing more and nothing less, like the good boy I know you are,” he instructed sternly.  

The young man sobbed and tried bucking his hips into Merlin’s hand. Merlin’s cock twitched at seeing the pathetic display. It was a good thing Daegal was his last client. Merlin wanted to focus entirely on the young man’s pleasure and so far, he’d been successful in ignoring his own. But he was looking forward to a long wank once Daegal left. Perhaps he’d even finger himself. It had been a long time since he’d had the time and energy for that.  

Daegal writhed and moaned as Merlin brought him slowly and steadily closer to climax again. Merlin never once sped up or tightened his hold on the young man’s cock. Daegal lasted longer than Merlin would have thought before his whole body tensed and he screwed his eyes shut. 

“Too much, I’m close!” he said in a tight voice, focused on keeping his orgasm at bay. 

“You did so well. You’re perfect, gorgeous,” Merlin praised, genuinely proud of Daegal.  

He loved the way the young man’s cheeks turned rosy at the compliments. He kept talking as he helped Daegal down from the high of his second ruined orgasm. Light tremors coursed through his client’s limbs for a few minutes, and it took a bit longer than before for his breathing to even out.  

Merlin left a trail of kisses down Daegal's chest, delighting in the way the young man squirmed under him. His sensitive stomach tensed under Merlin's lips. Merlin didn't resist the temptation to follow the hairs leading down to Daegal's pelvis with his tongue. Daegal's breath hitched at the new sensation. Merlin hummed when Daegal's hand tentatively grabbed his hair. The hand tightened when Merlin kissed the tip of Daegal's cock. Finally, he was going to taste him.

Slowly, Merlin swallowed Daegal's shaft. The girth of it made Merlin's jaw stretch delightfully. It was the perfect size to fit in his mouth with just the right amount of strain. When the tip of Daegal's cock hit the back of Merlin's throat, Merlin moaned, sending vibrations through the member in his mouth. Daegal arched his back, fisting Merlin's hair tighter. He was already so oversensitive from his previous ruined orgasms. Merlin didn't waste any time before he started sucking Daegal's cock in earnest. He hollowed his cheeks as he bobbed his head, pulling heady moans out of Daegal's mouth.

Daegal's moans combined with the obscene sound of wet suction had Merlin's untouched cock leaking. He grabbed Daegal's hips in a bruising grip and focused on his client's pleasure. Merlin hadn't thought that edging Daegal would mean edging himself as well, but he was enjoying it too much to regret anything.

"I'm getting close again, Merlin," Daegal warned.

His breathy voice had Merlin close his eyes. He loved hearing Daegal talk in the thralls of pleasure. When the young man started bucking his hips, pushing his cock deeper into Merlin's mouth, he allowed it for a while, enjoying Daegal's desperation. But after a few thrusts, Merlin pinned Deagal's hips to the mattress, watching him squirm and writhe. Merlin stopped sucking Daegal's cock, opting instead to lavish his shaft with teasing licks that had him on the verge of tears.

It was obvious that Daegal was ready to burst, but he kept a tight leash on his orgasm, waiting obediently for Merlin's permission. And who was Merlin to deny him when he was such a good boy.

"Look at you, so obedient. You're the perfect plaything, aren't you?" Merlin asked before returning to teasing Daegal with the tip of his tongue.

"I am, I promise. I'm doing my best Merlin," Daegal said, struggling to form words between moans and whimpers.

"Yes, you're doing so well. I'm proud of you, Daegal," Merlin praised. He supposed it was a bit cruel to draw this out, but he loved seeing Daegal so far gone.

"I need- it's too much Merlin, please," Daegal begged.

And Merlin knew he was bringing Daegal to his limit. But he was curious to see how long Daegal would be able to hold off his climax.

"You can do it. You don't want to disappoint me, do you?"

A sob escaped from Daegal's parted lips as he shook his head. He was trembling, shaking, muscles tense and whole body taut.

"Please," Daegal whispered, tears spilling from under his closed eyelids.

Merlin finally took pity on him. "Come for me, then, darling."

He wrapped his lips around the head of Daegal's cock and with a single stroke from his tongue, Daegal let go. Hot spurts of cum hit the back of Merlin's throat. He eagerly swallowed each load of sticky, salty cum, milking Daegal dry. He only withdrew when Daegal's cock started softening in his mouth and the young man began whimpering in painful overstimulation.

Merlin then untied Daegal's wrists, massaging them gently.

"You did so good. How are you feeling?" Merlin asked.

Daegal looked at him with bleary eyes. He needed a few seconds to process the question before a tired smile tugged at his lips. "Floaty. Very good," Daegal replied.

Merlin helped him sit up against the headboard and handed him a glass of lukewarm water. When it became clear that Daegal's hands weren't steady enough yet to drink on his own, Merlin wrapped his hand around Daegal's. He made sure his client drank the whole glass in small sips. By the time he was done, Daegal already looked more present. And when Merlin was done cleaning him with a wet rag, he had recovered his spirits. Though he was still unsteady on his legs as he stood up to get dressed. Daegal stayed for a moment longer, letting Merlin comb his hair as they talked. When he was sure Daegal was well enough to get back home safely, Merlin sent him off with a quick kiss on the cheek.

Now that he was done with work, Merlin very much intended on taking care of his aching, neglected cock. It had been a long time since he'd been so desperate for release and he intended on taking advantage of that to have a long, thorough wanking session that left him completely boneless and relaxed.

Having been granted a rare evening off by Carmen, Merlin decided to visit one of the city's taverns. He'd never had the chance to go since he arrived in Camelot, and he was curious for a new experience.

Immediately as he stepped into the White Horse, Merlin questioned his decision. The sticky floor made him cringe and the tables looked like they hadn't been cleaned since the tavern first opened. The room was dimly lit, and the dirty windows barely let any light filter in from the outside. Merlin was about to turn around when one of the tavern's few patrons grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Came to have a good time with the lower class?" the man asked.

His greasy brown hair stuck to his grimy face. Merlin had grown around peasants, he was one himself, but he'd rarely seen a man this repulsive. The alcohol on the man's breath made him recoil, but the man had a strong grip on him. Merlin had no choice but to let the man lead him towards the bar.

The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn't comment as the man stood behind Merlin and gestured for a drink. Merlin tried to squirm away from the stranger, but the man just wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him in place. Merlin stiffened as the man started rubbing his hardening cock against his arse.

"I just wanted to have a drink," Merlin said. He tried to get away again, but to no avail.

Merlin looked around the room, desperately trying to catch someone's gaze to ask for help. The bartender seemed intent on looking disinterested, but his hungry eyes said otherwise.

"There's no need to play coy," the man said against Merlin's ear as his hand started trailing lower.

Merlin felt his magic stir underneath his skin. He knew he couldn’t use it, not in such a public place. But that also rendered him practically helpless. He wasn't physically strong. At least not strong enough to fight off the burly man assaulting him.

"Get off me," Merlin said through the lump in his throat.

He managed to stomp on the man's foot, but instead of letting him go, the man grabbed Merlin's throat with his free hand.

"I didn't think someone who spreads their legs for a living would be such a prude. Just stay still and we can both have a good time," the man ordered, squeezing Merlin's neck.

"No! Let me go!" Merlin shouted as loud as he could with his throat constricted as it was.

A chair scraped the floor somewhere behind him, but Merlin couldn't turn his head enough to see who it was. He desperately hoped someone would come to his rescue, but for all he knew, it could just be another patron wanting to get a better view at what was happening.

"You heard him. Let him go," a calm, authoritative voice stated.

Immediately, the man's hands retracted as if he'd been burned. "Ah, Sir Leon. That's not what it looks like."

Sir Leon didn't answer. He just sent the man a glare cold enough to freeze a lake in the middle of Summer. Merlin stood still, shoulder hunched. His whole body shook, and tears started to spill down his cheeks. His breath remained shallow and quick, making him feel light-headed. He jumped when a hand landed on his upper back.

"Let's get you out of here," Sir Leon said quietly.

He led Merlin out of the tavern. His hand between Merlin's shoulder blades felt strangely grounding. Once outside, Merlin already felt like he could breathe better. Sir Leon guided him through the busy streets of the city and Merlin followed in a daze.

They ended up at another tavern, though this one was completely different from the White Horse. Even though it was still early and few patrons were there, the atmosphere was already lively. The place was warmly lit and welcoming. Merlin felt himself relax as Sir Leon guided him to a table. The knight pulled a chair out and helped Merlin sit down before heading towards the bar to get their drinks.

Knights usually made Merlin uneasy. Being a sorcerer, he had been taught to be wary of them. But something about Sir Leon spurred Merlin to trust him. Maybe it was the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled or the way his voice was both soft and firm, carrying a sense of quiet power. Either way, Merlin smiled dimly when the knight came back with a beer and a mug of tea.

"Chamomile, good for the nerves," Sir Leon explained as he put the mug before Merlin.

"Thank you," Merlin said, taking a small sip of the steaming beverage.

Now that he looked at him properly, Merlin had to admit that Sir Leon was a rather handsome man. The dark blond curls framing his face looked soft and his short beard made him look more mature. Merlin was sure he'd seen him around town before, though he must have worn his armour, unlike now.

Sir Leon, though, looked utterly uninterested in Merlin's physique. And while Merlin usually enjoyed being desired, the knight's lack of interest felt very reassuring now. Leon told Merlin about how he spent his day off trying to find a present for his young cousin's birthday. Surprisingly, Merlin found himself quickly engaged in the conversation. He knew it was all a ploy to take his mind off what had happened, but it worked remarkably well.

By the time his mug was empty, a smile had returned to Merlin's face and he even found himself laughing as Sir Leon narrated some of the knights' shenanigans on patrol. Sir Leon smiled warmly with a hint of pride.

And as the true gentleman he was, Sir Leon accompanied Merlin back home at the brothel as night had fallen on Camelot. Merlin doubted he would ever receive the knight as a client, but he certainly hoped he'd see him around. He really wanted to know if Leon's cousin appreciated the brooch the knight had gotten her, and he could do with more friends who weren't either his colleagues or his clients.

Chapter Text

Merlin slept fitfully that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt fantom hands touching him in unwanted ways. He felt the ghost of a breath on his neck. He heard the murmur of shameful words in the wind blowing outside. By sunrise, Merlin was drenched in sweat and more tired than when he went to bed. His limbs seemed to be made of lead instead of flesh and bones. There was a sour taste in his mouth that he couldn't wash away. He didn't want to leave his room. Even though his stomach was empty, Merlin wasn't hungry. He just wanted to bury himself under his blanket and pretend the world didn't exist.

Sadly, around mid-morning, his self-isolation was broken when Gustave stepped inside his room.

"Are you alright? It's not like you to stay cooped up inside," the older man said, concern clear in his voice.

Merlin tightened the blanket around his body. He didn’t mean to ignore Gustave, but he really didn’t want to talk. He just wanted to be left alone. Gustave didn't get the memo, or he just didn't care. He sat down on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He didn’t touch Merlin, didn't try to pry the blanket off him. He just sat in silence. His presence was more comforting than Merlin wanted to admit.

"Sir Leon said you were assaulted yesterday but he wouldn't give us any more details," Gustave said after a while.

"It was my fault," Merlin mumbled after a while.

He was surprised by his own words, as if he'd voiced a thought that hadn't fully formed so clearly in his mind.

"It's never your fault when you get assaulted, Merlin," Gustave replied in a gentle but stern tone.

Merlin folded himself into a tight ball of heavy limbs under the blanket. Rationally, he knew Gustave was right, but he couldn't get this feeling of guilt out of his mind.

"You sell sexual services to clients who pay and respect your rules. That doesn't give anyone the right to touch you without your consent," Gustave continued when Merlin remained silent.

A choked sob pushed its way past Merlin's lips. He'd never been ashamed of his job, and he certainly didn't want to let an arsehole change that. Merlin had been proud of being a sex worker. He enjoyed the feeling of being desired. He took pride in making his clients feel good. He loved the feeling of safety and control that came with working at Carmen's brothel.

Slowly, Merlin emerged from his cocoon. He looked at Gustave with red-rimmed eyes. The older man smiled encouragingly at him. Gustave always felt steady and safe, like an anchor that Merlin could use when he felt untethered. He tentatively scooted closer to Gustave. Merlin wasn't sure how much physical contact he wanted right now, but he wanted to feel the heat from Gustave's body. He stopped with his head touching Gustave's hip.

After a while, he rested his head on Gustave's thigh and guided the man's hand to his hair. He closed his eyes as thick fingers combed through his black strands.

By the time Gustave left, Merlin felt significantly less on edge. He took his time getting dressed and put some makeup on, just because he wanted to feel pretty. He didn't intend on going out or taking clients today. But his mother always said that taking care of yourself had a way to lift your mood, and Merlin found there was some truth to that. He briefly debated going down to the dining room for lunch, but his growling stomach ultimately made that decision for him.

The warm greeting he got from his friends and colleagues immediately assured him that he had made the right choice. The lively atmosphere of the dining room always felt comforting. Even now it put a smile on Merlin's face. The ambient noise of conversation and laughter drowned out Merlin's dark thoughts, and the hearty food reinvigorated him.

Merlin was engaged in a conversation with Elaine about the best flowers to use to perfume soap when Roxane leaned over the table.

"Merlin, my love," she said with a devilish smile on her angelic face.

"Do you prefer roses or lavender?" Merlin asked her.

"I prefer rosemary. Do you want to serve at the bar with me tonight?" she replied, her grin widening as she pushed her red curls out of her face.

Merlin blinked a few times. His brain was still full of flowers and how they smelled; he needed some time to process the question.

"That's a good idea, I think you should!" Elaine piped in excitedly.

Merlin wasn't so sure. He'd never been at the bar before. He could serve wine easily enough, but he had no idea how to prepare the fancy drinks some clients ordered. And he would very much prefer to spend the evening alone in his room. Though, that wasn't entirely true. Merlin had enjoyed spending time with his colleagues at lunch, and he could admit it did him a lot of good to leave his room.

"And you can keep our dear Roxane in check like that," Elaine added smugly.

"Hey! I don't need to be kept in check, I do my work perfectly!" Roxane replied with an affronted pout.

"Yes, like that time you spent so much time flirting with a patron that you served almost no one else," Elaine countered.

"That was one time!"

It was always so easy to get Roxane riled up. Merlin hid his smile behind his palm as the two women squabbled playfully.

"Come on, you'll attract all the men to the bar with how pretty you are," Roxane said, turning back to Merlin when she was tired of arguing with Elaine.

"Alright, alright, I'll do it. Though I don't think you need me to attract men to the bar," Merlin said, grinning at the broad smile he received from Roxane.

Before going down for his shift at the bar, Merlin donned a blue shirt with a deep V-neck and black trousers that were too tight to be socially acceptable. They hugged his thighs snugly, making his legs look even longer. Merlin smiled at himself in the mirror before turning his attention to his makeup. He lined his eyes with black kohl that enhanced his blue gaze and painted his lips a deep red. To complete his outfit, he wrapped a blue velvet ribbon around his neck. It had been a gift from one of his regulars, since Merlin certainly couldn't afford buying something of this quality. Merlin brushed his hair before running his hands through it to make it look just the slightest bit messy. Perfect. Merlin felt sexy and ready to face the world.

Roxane whistled as she noticed Merlin, grinning wolfishly. "Merlin darling, you look absolutely gorgeous!"

Merlin grinned back at her. "Not as gorgeous as you, Roxie," he replied, making a show of looking up and down at her.

The blue dress she wore revealed quite a lot of her ample cleavage. Merlin suspected it barely covered the areolas of her nipples. The contrast of the dark fabric on her pale skin made her look ethereal.

"We even match, that's perfect!" Roxane said, eyes alight with mirth. "I bet it's going to be a busy night at the bar."

Roxane couldn't have been more right. As the evening went on, more clients came in. On several occasions, hungry eyes settled on either Roxane or Merlin, sometimes even on both of them. They were quickly distracted by someone else more available catching their eye, though. But Merlin had to admit he had rarely seen so many clients eager to get a drink before.

Merlin handled the easier orders like wine and ale and managed the money while Roxane prepared more elaborate beverages. They did make a great team together and Merlin found himself enjoying the playful flirting with a few patrons.

In the early evening, the lobby was lit in warm candlelight and filled with lively chatter and hushed conversations, sometimes pierced by the chime of a laugh. The men Carmen hired to ensure her employees' security were discreet and unobtrusive, but Merlin spotted a few keeping a watchful eye for any sign of misconduct. Merlin relaxed as he slipped more firmly into his role of bartender for the evening. This reminded him exactly why he loved working here. He felt safe, surrounded by colleagues considered as friends and knowing there were people who would have his back in case of trouble.

When one of the security guards shifted slightly to lay a hand on the handle of a concealed knife, Merlin stiffened. He tried to follow the man's line of sight to find the source of the disturbance and landed on a hooded figure that had just stepped inside. It was a bit unusual, but not unprecedented. It happened a few times that clients wanted to avoid being recognised. But Merlin was glad to see that the guards were ready to react if something went wrong.

The hooded man seemed to look around for a few seconds, as if looking for someone, before his head turned to the bar. The blue coat the man wore looked expensive and finely crafted, something only a noble or a wealthy merchant could afford. From the distance, Merlin couldn't discern the man's features. His face was completely obscured by the shadow of his hood. He walked straight to the bar without sparing a glance at anyone else.

The man leaned over the counter, staring at Merlin with pale blue eyes. Merlin blinked a few times, taking in the somewhat familiar face. And then, a tiny gasp emerged from between Merlin's lips. Because the last person he ever expected to see at the brothel was Prince Arthur.

"What are you doing here?" Merlin hissed.

Arthur looked so far out of his element it was almost comical. The Prince could barely look Merlin in the eye and his cheeks were flushed in a very deep shade of red. "I was hoping I could talk with you in private."

Merlin's heart skipped a beat. The simple thought of being alone with that annoyingly handsome prat made him feel things he didn't want to dwell on. What could the prince possibly want with him anyway.

"You haven't really chosen your moment very well," Merlin replied trying to sound detached even while his heart hammered in his chest.

"I can handle the bar alone for a while if you want to take this gentleman upstairs," Roxane intervened.

From where she stood, she probably hadn't recognised Arthur. Merlin really loved Roxane. Under her exuberance, she was quite smart and resourceful. And her sentence, though sounding perfectly mundane was very clever. It was a discreet way of asking Merlin whether everything was alright. Depending on Merlin's answer, she would either grin wolfishly at him while he led Arthur to his room or alert the guards that Merlin was receiving unwanted attention.

"You're sure it doesn't bother you?" Merlin asked her.

"Of course not, just don't leave me alone for the entire evening," she assured him with a wink.

The walk to Merlin's room was one of the most awkward moments of Merlin's life. The tension between them was so thick that Merlin felt it in his bones. Merlin found it hard to breathe in the silence that weighed over them. Arthur was following him awkwardly, looking as uncomfortable as a teenage boy. It was endearing in a way, Merlin supposed. The prince had clearly shed some of his pratty armour to reveal some vulnerabilities underneath. But his discomfort was making Merlin uncomfortable too, and Merlin didn't like that at all. Arthur's blush deepened every time a muffled moan reached his ears on their way down the corridor. By the time they reached Merlin's door, the prince's face was redder than the knights' capes. Merlin bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

Inviting Arthur into his room shouldn't have made Merlin nervous. He couldn't count the number of men who had stepped past his door. But Arthur felt different somehow. And not because he was the highest-ranking man Merlin ever had in his room. He couldn't care less that Arthur was a prince. No, somehow, having Arthur in his room felt more personal. Intimate. It was ridiculous.

As the door clicked shut, Merlin watched Arthur survey his room. He blushed a bit at the mess he had left behind him when he went down to take his shift. Clothes were strewn over the floor and his makeup and few items of jewellery littered the dressing table. Even his bed was unmade, covers dangling to the floor and pillows ruffled and wrinkled.

Merlin cleared his throat. "If you wanted to learn how to walk on your knees, you haven't chosen the right day; I don't take clients tonight," Merlin said, trying to lighten the mood.

Arthur's prattish smirk returned to his face only to be replaced by an awkward grin just a few seconds later. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life at the recital. I meant to come sooner, but you know…" Arthur shuffled awkwardly before fishing for something in an inner pocket of his cloak. "Here, this is for you."

He handed Merlin a leather pouch that fit nicely into his palm. It was heavier than Merlin expected. That was a lot of coins.

"Why?" Merlin asked. "Your father already gave me a reward for saving you."

Arthur scoffed. "What my father gave you hardly counts as a proper reward. Even a servant would have received more."

Merlin undid the knot keeping the pouch shut and gasped at the golden gleam of the coins. "Arthur this is way too much! That's gold!"

"Yes," Arthur replied as if Merlin was a bit slow, "what did you expect it to be?"

"I don't know, silver or something," Merlin said, still stunned.

That many silver coins would already make a very hefty sum, but gold? Merlin was sure he could live off this for at least ten years without needing to lift a finger.

"Gold is the only acceptable reward for saving the life of a member of the royal family, Merlin," Arthur drawled. His awkwardness seemed to have faded a bit. Merlin preferred it that way.

"This is way too much, I can't accept it," Merlin said, handing the pouch to Arthur.

Arthur pushed Merlin's hand away. "I won't take it back. If you don't want it, just share it with your colleagues or send it to your family. It's yours to do as you want either way."

Merlin knew when a battle was lost. And even though the thought of how much money he'd just received made his head spin, he couldn't deny that a greedy part of him rather liked it.

"Did you come all this way to give me gold? Not that I'm not grateful, I am, really!"

The prince's gaze shifted, looking down. He seemed to hesitate for a few seconds and Merlin felt something tighten in his gut. From what he knew of Arthur, the prince was brash, sometimes overconfident and a little bit self-centred. Of course, Merlin realised he only had a superficial knowledge of who the prince was. But his hesitance didn't match with the view Merlin had of him and it put him on edge.

"Sir Leon told me what happened yesterday," Arthur revealed after a while.

Merlin stiffened, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't know why he was so defensive, only that he didn’t want to talk about the previous day's incident. He just wanted to put that behind him and forget it even happened.

"I just wanted to let you know that I have men investigating the matter. They're also looking into the owner of the tavern. From what we have gathered, it's not the first time he allowed such misconduct to take place at his establishment, and I won't let that slide," Arthur stated, looking very earnest.

To be honest, Merlin didn't expect that. There were probably far more important matters for the prince to take care of. But he had to admit that he was glad it was taken seriously. He shuddered to think of what would have happened had Sir Leon not been there. What might have happened to others who weren't lucky enough to have the knight rescuing them.

"Thank you. For taking this seriously and making sure it won't happen to someone else," Merlin said, relaxing as he looked into Arthur's clear blue eyes.

A bashful grin settled on the prince's face, as if he didn't quite know what to do with Merlin's gratefulness.

"Of course. The safety and well-being of Camelot's citizens is something I'll always take seriously," the prince replied.

From someone else, Merlin would have scoffed and dismissed the statement as empty words. But something in the way Arthur spoke convinced him the prince meant every word. He sounded so honest, so eager. He sounded as if taking care of his subjects was something he was proud of. And Merlin couldn't detect the slightest hint of deception in his demeanour.

Before, Merlin had believed Arthur to be nothing but a handsome prat. Now he was discovering another side of him that was annoyingly charming. It didn't help with Merlin's stupid infatuation at all.

"I- uhm. I brought you this, too," Arthur said, digging something from an inner pocket of his cloak.

He handed Merlin a cloth pouch that was much lighter than the previous one. When Merlin untied it, he found it contained candied almonds. Merlin looked quizzically at the prince.

"Morgana has something she calls 'comfort food', that lifts her mood when she's not feeling fine. And, uhm, I saw you looking at the stall that sells these the other day at the market, so I thought you would appreciate them," Arthur explained, a light blush tinting his cheeks.

This was astonishingly thoughtful. Merlin felt genuinely touched by the gesture. His perception of Arthur was quickly evolving, and Merlin didn't know how to feel about that. He really liked what he was starting to discover under Arthur's brutish, arrogant mask, and that was very troublesome. Nonetheless, he smiled brightly at the prince, reflecting the warmth that flooded his chest.

"That's very kind of you, I really appreciate it," Merlin said, feeling his cheeks heat up with a blush of his own.

Arthur nodded jerkily. It was rather endearing how awkward Arthur seemed, as if he was inexperienced in showing kindness and receiving thanks in return. It was a bit sad too. Merlin could see now that the prince had a good soul. But knowing who his father was, he probably wasn't allowed to show it as much as he'd want to, needing instead to appear tough and ruthless.

"I should probably leave and let you get back to work," Arthur said eventually.

"Yeah, probably," Merlin replied, not bothering to hide the disappointment in his voice.

Arthur turned to leave but stopped mid-step. He turned back towards Merlin, looked at him uncertainly for a heartbeat, before his face took on a resolute expression. Arthur leaned forward and deposited a soft kiss on Merlin's cheek.

As Arthur retreated, Merlin grabbed his wrist before he could think about it. He stared into Arthur's eyes, seeing his own want reflected in them. Then, his gaze went down to Arthur's smooth, full lips.

Merlin didn't know who moved to bridge the gap between then. All he knew was that when their lips met, something settled in his soul. It felt so right, as if every step, every turn, every decision he took was meant to lead him to this very moment. It felt so right to loop his arms around the prince's broad neck and to bury his free hand into his soft blond hair. It felt so right when Arthur's strong arms pulled him closer. Merlin felt the echo of Arthur's hammering heart into his own chest. He sighed into the kiss as he parted his lips to welcome Arthur's questing tongue. Arthur's warm hand cupped Merlin's jaw, his calloused thumb stroking Merlin's cheek gently.

Even as they parted, Merlin kept Arthur close. He laid his head on Arthur's shoulder, revelling in the comfort of the embrace. He felt safe and warm in Arthur's arms. Soft lips brushed against Merlin's forehead. He didn’t expect Arthur to be capable of such tenderness. Merlin knew he should let go, but he was greedy. He wasn't ready to watch Arthur leave yet.

"I need to get back to the castle before someone realises I'm not there. And you need to get back to work before your colleague gets upset," Arthur said at last, though he too seemed reluctant to depart.

"Will you come back some time?" Merlin asked, clinging to Arthur's shirt.

"If you want me to," Arthur replied with one last swipe of his thumb on Merlin's warm cheek.

Merlin smiled. "I do."

"Then I will," Arthur said, leaning down to lay a quick kiss on the corner of Merlin's mouth.

Merlin watched Arthur leave with a longing look in his eyes. If he thought his infatuation was bothersome before, it was now ten times worse. And yet, he couldn't find it in himself to regret anything as his heart fluttered at the thought of the kiss he'd shared with Arthur.

As always, however, the overgrown lizard imprisoned below the castle found a way to ruin a perfectly good moment. Its gravelly, mocking laugh echoed in Merlin's head, souring his mood instantly.

"Shut up, stupid reptile," Merlin mumbled as he slowly made his way back down to the bar.