Chapter Text
Merlin took a deep breath. Then he straightened, stretched and turned around. Maybe a little too fast, because he was starting to feel just the slightest bit dizzy. He closed his eyes for a second, took another breath, then opened them, to look at his prince. Pretend that nothing had happened at all, because he had no time for any of this.
Arthur sat on his bed, looking at him, still wearing the clothes he had slept in. Well, they were working on that, were they not? Merlin had been going through his wardrobe, before this strange feeling had befallen him.
“Are you alright?”, the prince asked, looking his servant up and down.
Merlin nodded. “Everything’s fine. Just... Dunno, maybe I’m getting a cold?”, he wondered aloud, shrugged.
He had felt not too good since he had woken up in the morning, but had paid it no mind, since he – they both – had a busy day ahead of them. Today was a very big day, in truth, a day the whole kingdom had waited for, for years! Today was prince Arthur’s coming-of-age ceremony. Finally he was old enough to formally get introduced to a possible mate, which would ensure the future of the kingdom. Probably Uther had plans already? Well, none he had told Arthur’s useless manservant, so Merlin had no idea, what plans lay in front of them, what the future would hold for them. But probably Arthur’s maturity would be use to gain power an wealth for Camelot, that well he knew the king. he would sell his son for power.
“You look like shit!”, Arthur commented, gentlemanly as ever, when talking to his servant. They never were formal with each other, a tradition hard to break.
“Well, at least I need to be sick for this!”, Merlin snapped back instantly. He would not back down, just because he felt a little feverish. Just a little warm and dizzy and... Vaguely familiar.
“Maybe you’re not sick at all? Your foul mouth works just fine!”
“Can’t believe a princely prat like you is already coming of age! Hope you’re just as charming to the poor girl who gets to marry you!”, the servant huffed and shook his head. Turned back towards the wardrobe and the way too many pieces of clothing, they had to go through to find fitting ones for the day, and also for the upcoming ceremony. Did his best, to ignore the weaknesses, the feeling that almost made him shiver.
“Who says, it will be a girl? Even you should know that as long as they can give birth, my father doesn’t care. He’d marry me off to a mermaid, as long as they would provide him with power and a heir. Also: I’m way more mature than you are, Merlin!”, Arthur answered, still sitting on his mattress. He was enjoying their bickering. Always was. Even if he would never admit it out loud. Which was the only reason why Merlin was even able to spend time with him to at least try to fulfil his actual duties, otherwise he would barely ever leave the stocks.
“Listen to yourself, prat! You’re talking like a teen, not an adult at all!”, Merlin snorted. “Try that on!”, he then added, throwing some pieces of fabrics behind him. They landed on Arthur’s head. Which he noticed with amusement.
The prince made a disapproving sound, but actually placed the clothes on the bed and got up, to let himself get undressed and redressed by his servant.
“I am in my twentieth summer, so not a teen at all. But maybe you are just jealous?”, he implied, while Merlin did his job, standing behind him.
“Jealous? Of what? Oh yes, I get it. I can’t believe I am not such an arrogant, pampered alpha prince who can’t even dress himself in the mornings”, he retorted, pulling the shirt over his future king’s head.
“What do you know about this? It’s not easy at all! You’re just a beta, you know nothing about the hardships I have to endure. And the rewards.…”, he heard him smirk.
“Must be very rewarding to be mounted by a prat like you.... Guess they are already lining up for the duty? Nah, no, too bright. Take it off again, I’ll get the other one.” Merlin rolled his eyes, grabbing for another shirt he had prepared, that was lying on the bed.
“Oh, they were, believe me. Since my first rut, I could not complain about willing participants. You sure, this one’s not too worn? I mean, I love the shirt, but...”
“That’s for your training session with the knights. You’ll hardly just instruct them, will you? For the ceremony, you should wear that one over there. Fits perfectly with your eyes”, Merlin explained, pointing at another way more formal shirt draped over a chair, ignoring the other comment. He did not want to imagine prince Arthur in his rut, demanding for all the chambermaids available, spoilt as he was. So far he had always – meaning twice – been able to avoid Arthur’s ruts by either a spontaneous visit to his mother in Ealdor, as soon as he had noticed the telltale signs, or a very long trip to collect very specific herbs Gaius had needed for Morgana’s medicine. A comfortable coincidence.
“Ah, great, that’s a good one. So? You’re ditching the topic, Merlin?”, Arthur noticed with a smirk.
“Oh, shut it!”, the servant mumbled, rolling his eyes.
“You are jealous!”
“Not at all!”, Merlin snapped back. Then halted, took another deep breath. Closed his eyes for a second. Shit, he still felt dizzy. Why was it so warm in here? It was way too warm for this early spring. And he had the feeling that the proximity to Arthur did not make things better. Made him feel even hotter. That was not good.
“Are you alright?”, the prince asked, turning around, looking at him with raised eyebrows. Maybe actually worried. He placed his hands on his servant’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes. “You don’t look good...”
“I’ll... I’m fine. I’ll take a nap when you’re out, then we can rehearse your speech and dress you for the actual occasion in the evening. No! Don’t look at me like that! I’m really fine!”, the sorcerer shook his head, trying to take a step back, but did not come far, since the bed was blocking his way. He lost his balance for a moment and tried to steady himself. His legs felt more wobbly than they had any right to be.
“Good. You can sleep on mine. Your blankets are down with the washers, remember?”, the blonde reminded him, rolling his eyes, because, well, he was a prat.
Usually Merlin slept in his own bed at Gaius’ place, but every now and then he spent the night on a pile of actually not that uncomfortable blankets on the floor of Arthur’s chambers. Especially when they had been out till past midnight – hunting or patroling or on any other occasion – and he would not want to wake the physician in the middle of the night. Arthur had insisted and since then kept this habit up, since this would decrease the chances of Merlin being late in the morning. A habit, the sorcerer had actually overcome long ago, but the joke was still on him.
“Are they?”, Merlin mumbled. Tried to remember, why exactly.
“You spilled the soup all over them, remember?”, the prince sighed.
“Ah, yes. I remember....” He did. Vaguely. Yesterday he had also not felt his best, had been slightly more clumsy than usual. But he had not been this hot. This...
“Great. Can you lace my boots or do I need to do it myself?”, Arthur asked. A simple question, no malice in it. He really seemed worried.
“Nah, just sit down. I’m not that bad. We’ll get through the day”, he mumbled, stepped aside, so his prince could sit down onto the bed.
Still a little dizzy, he grabbed the royal boots and knelt down in front of him. Looked up, just for a moment and regretted it instantly. Looking up at Arthur was... Appealing. Arthur was appealing. This whole position was. And he scolded himself and his nature for this inappropriate thoughts. Hurried to concentrate on the task. On his boots. He had taken them on and off thousands of times now, should be used to it, operating out of pure muscle memory, until he was done. As flawless, as always.
“Are you really... You know?”, the prince asked as he stood up. Looked down at him. Mustered him.
“I’m fine. Go kick some knights’ butts, before I kick yours!”, the sorcerer grumbled, shooting him a glare.
“Fine, fine. I’ll be back in a few hours. If you’re not feeling well, I can always call for another servant. You should rest!”
“Fuck off, already!”
“You can’t speak to your future king like that, you know?”, Arthur huffed, already standing by the door. Barely concealing a smile.
“Obviously I can. Now get out. They’ll mock you if you can’t even be on time on your big day!”
“Stop nagging, you’re neither my mother, nor my wife!”, Arthur tried to hide a laugh, but finally gave in and left the room. They did not have a drill today, but for the big ceremony they had the security protocol to discuss. Since after all, this occasion was a great opportunity for enemies of the kingdom to try to get close to the crown prince.
Merlin sighed, as the door finally fell shut. He took a deep breath and regretted it instantly. This room was Arthur’s. It smelled like Arthur. And Arthur’s smell was strong. Dominant. The smell of an alpha. Undoubtedly. He would not have any problem at all, attracting whoever he might be interested in. Or whoever Uther would decide to become his mate.
Even most of the servants, all betas, could not deny the prince’s special appeal. They called it his aura. And the other alphas in the palace showed him respect, bowed their heads, even flinched back when he was angry. They naturally reacted to his scent. He had this kind of effect on people. Even unconsciously.
Even though most of the time Arthur was suppressing his scent, because, well, he was Arthur. He knew that there were a few omegas – not many, but they were there – living in the palace, that would react strongly. Would probably get on their knees instantly, or even worse, into heat, as soon as he forced himself on them, made them react, but he had basic manners – wherever he might have picked them up.
No matter how much he argued with his sister Morgana, the first omega he had ever encountered, he would never use his scent, his pheromones, to show her her place. Not only because it had never properly worked on her, as she had told Merlin one evening while they were practising spells in secret.
Well, the reason for this mysterious circumstance became obvious, after they had found out that they were related not only by debt, but by blood as well. He would – and could – not try to force his own sister into submission, no matter how angry he could get at her, and well, said sister would be able to break off the effects of his scent easily, because even nature knew that family relations of that kind were not that promising when it came to producing offsprings. So it was rather out of politeness that he suppressed his scent around her.
But there had also been Gwen, the blacksmith’s daughter, who happened to be an omega as well, surprising everyone when she first presented. Which had by the way been the reason why she had become Morgana’s personal maidservant. Since she was no threat to her virtue at all. Arthur had had a brief interest in her once, and Merlin was quite certain, that Arthur had subconsciously used his pheromones on her on minimum one occasion, but he would never actually try to hurt her. He respected her and her choices – namely Lancelot, her true mate who she had not been able to bond with – and boundaries – not giving herself to anyone except for said Lancelot – and would not force her to submit to him or any other alpha in the kingdom. So another reason to behave.
And then there were two or three other omegas Merlin knew of in Camelot. Omegas who would react strongly to Arthur’s scent. To his alpha pheromones. Because no matter how much he tried to suppress them, without the help of strong herbs and magic, one could not completely suppress the very own nature. And Arthur was an alpha. A dominant alpha. Very rare and gifted with especially strong pheromones, until bounded to their one true mate or whoever was decided to be their mate, so it was impossible for him to completely hide his scent.
The mating was by the way the reason, why Uther did not regularly flood the palace with his pheromones unconsciously, because surely the old man would not give a damn about poor omegas highly affected by him. No, Uther had had a strong bond, even though long ago. That made it bearable for everyone around him, unless he would decide to look for a new mate.
“Fuck that alpha shit!”, Merlin grumbled, as he finally snapped out of his thoughts, got up from the ground he had still been kneeling on and steadied himself on the bedpost. Took a deep breath and reached into his pocket. Fished for a small glass, half empty now. He took out two of the pills and swallowed them at once. He had already taken his dose in the morning, but he had a bad feeling, a very bad feeling. If he did not know better, he would almost suspect, his symptoms were those of an upcoming heat. But that was impossible! Absolutely impossible!
He recasted the spell that kept him in check. That hid his nature form those around him, made sure nothing would escape his control. And felt even more dizzy. And warm. Feverish. He should go and seek Gaius. Should ask for help. Ask anyone. Maybe Gwen was close by? He could call out to her, hope that no one was hearing? No, he could not. Obviously. No one was around here, since even the servants stayed away from Arthur’s chambers, when he was on edge and the ceremony definitely was a reason to let Merlin deal with the praty prince all by himself. He normally would. Easily. But... He...
He felt weak. And so very, very hot. Maybe he should really close his eyes? Just for a moment. Regain some strength, so he could make it all the way to Gaius’ quarters. Yes. Just for a moment. He would be done and gone before Arthur was back. He would understand. Had asked himself, if Merlin wanted to rest. But he had felt fine, just half an hour ago. Who would have guessed, that this would become this bad in such a short time?
Just... Just a short rest.
When Arthur returned to his chambers, he was sweaty. The shirt clung to his chest and he definitely needed a bath before the ceremony, because after going through all their security concepts twice, they had sparred more than just a little. His knights in armour, he in his regular clothing, like any possible attacker would be. And still he had manhandled Gwaine easily. Percival only had had the advantage of size and Leon had his experience, but he had still been a match for all of them.
So, well, he felt dirty and sweaty and... Exhausted. He wondered, if maybe he had time for a little nap, before the evening events. Still in thoughts as he opened the door and stepped inside. Closed it behind him and froze.
He took a deep breath and stared at the bed. At Merlin, lying there on his stomach, legs dangling over the mattress. And... Locked the door. Because... Well, he could not have anyone else see, feel, smell what was going on. What he had grasped within miliseconds inside his room. Most of the servants were betas, of course – oblivious to the smell of alphas and omegas – but about one third of the guard and most of his knights were alphas, able to figure THIS out in an instant.
„Merlin!“, he shouted in a loud, clear voice. Struggling to keep his composure, because, well… He was an alpha after all. And he had instincts! And even though the smell was faint, just a hint of something going on, his instincts picked it up instantly. Supplied him with a perfect answer to what the more logically operating part of his brain was still trying to grasp. What could not be.
“Ugh?”, was the weak reply from the bed. A confused head rose from the blanket – had not made it to the actual pillows – and Merlin blinked once. Twice. His hair was a mess, sweaty and clinging to his forehead. He looked damp, like he was way too hot. Feverish. And Arthur knew. He knew the instant he saw him, smelled him. And stepped closer.
“Get up. Now!”, he ordered his manservant and the dark-haired looked at him, flinched out of shock and tried his best, to follow, but a wave of dizziness seemed to make him halt, close his eyes for a second. Breathed. And breathed in Arthur’s scent. The prince could tell the moment his own pheromones reached his servant, because instantly a shiver went through his body and he pretty much just fell back into the sheets.
“Okay, fuck that. Stay. Just stay there!”, the blonde decided instead. Shook his head. A little – maybe a lot – overwhelmed by the sudden revelation and what that caused. By, well, by that.
“Arthur, I… Shit…”, Merlin mumbled, out of breath. He looked like Arthur felt. Like he had just participated in a hunt. As game. And in this particular situation, the comparison probably was not that far off.
“You are… You’re an omega, Merlin…”, the prince mumbled. Deflated. Resigned himself to this situation, to… To Merlin, his most trusted manservant, being a fucking omega! In fucking heat! Right here in his room! Because… Because there was no other explanation for this. For THIS! His alpha brain was going rampage, screaming at him to get there, to get onto his bed, to touch that omega, to take, to mate, breed! But the rational more Arthur-like part of his brain was fighting the urge. After all: this was Merlin. His Merlin. His servant, his friend, his… fuck, this was bad!
“I… Sorry. I can explain, I… This shouldn’t have happened! Wasn’t supposed to…”, the dark-haired mumbled, now looking at him, full of fear and shame and just a hint of something else. And Arthur felt a third urge inside of him, fighting with the other two, the urge to get closer, to cuddle him, embrace him, stroke his hair and tell him, that everything was going to be alright, that he was safe, that he would protect him, that no one would hurt his Merlin. Except for the very logical fact, that he was the one being a danger to Merlin, the one causing that look, that fear.
“So, you were hiding the fact, that you’re an omega? All this time?”, he tried to keep his composure, to keep this rational. Work with logic and suppress the urges. The smell – even though just faint, like coming from miles away – was enough to make his alpha react in a very, very natural way. This was, after all, the smell of an omega in heat, right here on his bed. Right there, all slick and hot and willing. No, no, stop! That was Merlin! His Merlin! His servant. He could not, he would not! No, this was wrong! Oh fuck, this was hard. If his smell were any stronger, he would probably not be able to hold himself back. To just adjust the contents of his pants to a more comfortable position, instead of just jumping him.
“I’m sorry. So sorry, I… This wasn’t supposed to happen, ahhnn!”, his manservant explained, interrupted by his own moan, as another shudder went through his body.
“You’re an omega in heat. Right here. In my chambers. You can be lucky, your scent is just faint, otherwise every alpha in the palace would probably try to break down that door…”, Arthur explained. Hold back. Be reasonable. Common sense. No instincts. No mating Merlin without thinking!
“I’m suppressing it. Just… Give me a moment. Few minutes. I’ll be off. I’ll leave,. The palace, Camelot, whatever, just… Just a moment, I…”, Merlin tried to explain himself. Tried again to get up from the bed and collapsed onto it again with a moan, as the shirt he seemed to have used as a blanket slid off him, over his bare skin, tingling it and… Oh fuck, Merlin was so sensitive! Arthur could see the hair on his neck rise. Stupid alpha brain, reacting to every sign of arousal thousand times stronger than what was healthy. And Merlin was fucking aroused! He was in heat! Every inch of his body must be itching with want, need! How was Arthur supposed to survive this?
“Stay. You can’t go out like that. They would…” And then his jealousy kicked in. Any other alpha could – and probably would – try to take Merlin. Mount him. Maybe even mark him. And Arthur, proud prince he was, could not – under no circumstances – accept that! He could not send him out there! Anywhere! Merlin had to stay here. Right here. With him. In his chambers, in his room, in his lair. His, his, his!
“Yeah, I… Fuck, this is bad…”, Merlin agreed to his suggestion, trembling from his heat. From desire. Oh fuck, he looked so done, so dishevelled, so beautiful. And Arthur’s alpha brain got even more jealous. Wanted himself to be the reason for this. For Merlin’s state. Fuck, he wanted him. He needed this omega! Now!
“I… Err, fuck. You, you said, you’re suppressing it. How? Maybe we can do more? Suppress the heat?”, he insisted, not knowing what to do, so trying to stay composed. Tactical. Like he would in battle. Well, at least he was trying not to jump him, because Merlin’s smell, Merlin’s looks, every thing about him was driving him crazy right now.
“Too late now. I’ve been taking my suppressant, but somehow I still got, ahhhh, fuck, Arthur, your… Fucking alpha pheromones!”, the dark-haired complained, as he moaned, eyes full of lust, dark with desire. He must be barely holding himself together.
“Your suppressants failed? Fuck. Can we do anything?”
“Already doing what I can about the scent, but… Fuck, I’m only that strong, ‘n you’re… You’re a fucking alpha, making nothing better at aaaaaaahhhl!”, Merlin tried to tell him, while subconsciously clenching his ass cheeks together. Stupid alpha brain, he scolded himself for noticing immediately. For his brain sending that information straight into his hard prick. This was not the right moment to get absolutely overwhelmed by his urges!
“I… I can’t help it, Merlin! You’re an omega in heat! How am I supposed to react?”, Arthur almost shouted accusingly. He was well aware what his pheromones must be doing to Merlin right now but he had absolutely no chance to stop it, to control it. He was busy enough controlling his body to stay where it was, keeping his throbbing dick inside his pants, thank you very much!
“Clotpole! Idiot! Ass! Oh fuuuuuck!”, his servant tried to insult him, glare at him, then moved and then ended up, helplessly grinding down on his bedsheets, because they were just there, right under his groin and he was probably all hard and leaking slick and, oh fuck, this was not helping. Rational! Arthur had to stay rational!
“If you don’t shut your filthy mouth, I’ll make you!”, he threatened and realized at the very same moment how bad of an idea that had been, because Merlin looked at him, gaze sliding down. Towards his flies, staring at his painfully hard dick and the he fucking licked his lips! That was not fair! That was so not fair!
“Shit…”, the servant realized, eyes shooting up, to his master’s face again. He looked guilty. And incredibly hot and flustered. And he pressed his groin down into the blanket even more, rubbed himself off on that feeling, the friction. Arthur knew. He could read it on his face, and fuck, this had no right to be so hot!
“How… How do you take care of this. I mean… Usually?”, he wanted to know. Reason. Rational thoughts! No staring at Merlin humping his bed, fantasizing about how he would press him into the mattress, give him a proper reason to relief himself onto his sheets! He was fucked. He was so utterly fucked…
“...Been a while. I’m taking the suppressants. Have, even before coming to Camelo-ohhh-t. Last heat had been… Fuck, It’s been years and, ahhnnn….”, Merlin tried to explain, biting his lip, as if the thought of his last heat was making him even hotter, while now more shamelessly rutting against the blanket.
“How did you spend it?”, Arthur wanted to know. Why the fuck did he want to know? His alpha brain was raging with jealousy. And he knew too well that it had no right for this. That he should probably just leave. If only to protect his servant’s virtue.
“Mostly alone, sometimes Will was… Oh fuck, Arthur!”, the dark-haired interrupted himself, of course reacting to the wave of pheromones the prince was emitting as a response to that statement. To the image of Merlin’s friend Will, the sorcerer, spending his heat with him. Doing him! Oh fuck, Arthur could not stand that thought!
Before he could think, he stepped closer, pretty much ran towards the bed, grabbed Merlin’s shoulder and spun him around, so he was lying on his back, Arthur towering over him, holding him down with both hands. And then… Then everything exploded. Arthur had no other words for it. All of a sudden all his senses were drowned in a tsunami of pheromones, of smell and he had absolutely no idea, why he did not just come right then and there, because he felt so absolutely overwhelmed by… By everything. By Merlin. By his scent, his pheromones, that all of a sudden were not just a faint smell, waking hunger for more but an explosion of impressions bursting all around him, blinding him, leaving him moan helplessly against the sensation.
“Fuck…”, he heard his servant swear under him. Then moan, wantingly. Trying to press his hardness against him, rubbing himself off on him, against his leg and fuck, he wanted! Arthur wanted! He had to! He just had to take him! Possess him, mate him! He could not think! Whatever this was, he wanted it all the time. This smell, this feeling! So hot and warm and full of lust, but at the same time it felt like… Like home. Like something long lost enwrapping him, comforting him and oh fuck, his alpha brain wanted! He wanted!
And so Arthur bend down and sealed this filthy mouth with his own. Kissed him. Hungrily. And found that Merlin tasted just as good as he smelled and oh fuck, he wanted more! He wanted all of him! Of this warm and slippery and oh so greedy tongue that was fighting his, like there was no tomorrow, like this was the last fight they would ever fight in this world. Merlin was hot and desperate and so very, very good. He needed him. Wanted to drown in him, take him, sink into him, become one with him! He wanted to bury himself in this omega! In his servant! His Merlin! Had never wanted anything as much as this! Not even in his most desperate ruts!
Feel. Just feel. He could not think anyway. Had done way more than he was capable of in his current state! Had managed a more or less coherent conversation, even though he had been feeling so hot, so slick and so fucking empty! Even though Arthur’s damned alpha pheromones were floating all around him, making thinking even more difficult, than it already was in his state!
And tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow or after that – whenever he could think straight again – he would start to actually care that he had just exposed his second best kept secret to his prince. To an alpha. An alpha who was about to mount him here and now – at least he hoped for it. Who was… Oh, fuck, that felt so good! This was just what he needed! What he wanted! Those pheromones, this smell! And the touch! The touch was even better! Almost as good as the kiss. The tongue! Fuck, Arthur had no right to be this good, this perfect!
But his heat-infused brain had no way to actually process this. Not now. Not when the weight of a perfect alpha was pressing down on him, holding him in place and, oh fuck, it felt so good, to rub against him, to get at least some friction. Some relief!
“More!”, he panted into the kiss, desperately, because he could not stand it. He felt like he was dying, drowning, if Arthur would not fuck him right here, right now! He needed it. Needed him. His hands, his tongue, his dick and his fucking knot! He wanted to feel his knot inside! Needed it, so desperately, he was sure, he would die if he did not get it. And on the mere thought of it, he felt the slick dripping out of his already soaked hole, making him shiver all over again. This was his worst heat ever, he was sure of it! The worst he had experienced in his whole life so far! But… But it was good, wonderful. Arthur was wonderful. He needed him, wanted him!
“You… Fuck, Merlin, you have no right to be… To be this…”, the prince groaned into his mouth, before kissing him again, sucking his tongue into his mouth and then with just the right amount of pressure, biting it. Holding it between his teeth, so Merlin could not escape.
And instead of escaping, the sorcerer tried to lean even closer, into the kiss, into the body, the source of the strong smell, of Arthur's fucking alpha pheromones that made his head swim. That made him want even more! He was losing it. Merlin was finally losing it. And with ‘it’ – probably his sanity – went his control.
“Need you. Want you. Please! Fuck me, Arthur!”, he begged, when his tongue was free again, because his future king resumed to biting and sucking down his jaw, towards his neck and fuck! This was good! Those teeth so close to... Oh, no, he should not think about it. About the scent glands on his lower neck, about what Arthur’s teeth could do, about… Oh fuck, his pants were soaked now, he knew. He just knew, because just the thought of Arthur biting down there, marking him, claiming him made him so slick and wanting , that he could probably fit his dick inside, including the knot in one single go, even though… Well, being honest, Merlin had never encountered an alpha in that way. He was technically still not only unmarked, but untouched. Which was about to change now, he guessed. And since rational Merlin was on a holiday short trip to wherever, heat-infused Merlin was absolutely in and up for it!
“Fuck me! Need you! Want your knot, alpha!”, he panted, begged, tried to grab some of the fabric of Arthurs shirt, but could not move well, because his alpha was still on top of him, held him down without much effort, still holding his upper arms pressed into the mattress.
“Merlin… Fuck! That’s a bad idea. Very bad idea…”, his prince replied, while biting down his neck, making him shudder all over. Not the right place, not the right intensity, but close enough, to make him moan and press against him.
“Please, Arthur. Need you. Want you, please, please! I’ll be good! Whatever you want, okay, just, just, Oh fucking hell, Arthur!”, he exclaimed when the blonde bit down again, this time even harder and it triggered all his omega instincts. He bared his neck, presented into him, submitted to his alpha in the best possible way. And oh fuck, he wanted more!
“You’ll be good? Obedient even?”, the prince asked in a low voice, now pressing against Merlin’s lower body, sending him to a place very close to heaven for half a second, before he could get a hold of himself again.
“What- whatever, just please! Arthur, I can’t. Please!”
“Get us out of these clothes and I will fulfil your wish, omega. I will fuck you, after you, oh fuck, Merlin!”, Arthur growled in a deep, way too hot voice and before he could even finish whatever he was trying to say, Merlin obeyed, made him exclaim in disbelief. Did, what he wanted, because he would do whatever, just to be filled by this alpha. So his magic reacted, only half noticed by his consciousness, and in the blink of an eye they both were naked, their clothes had just disappeared. Because… Well, because Merlin wanted. And Arthur had wanted them to be naked. So they were naked now and Merlin could press his painfully hard erection directly against this hot firm skin. He needed. He wanted!
“Oh, Arthur, please, please, please!”, he begged desperately, barely noticing what he had just done.
Not even when Arthur’s head shot up and his prince stared at him. Shocked. Bewildered.
But then Merlin’s eyes, still faintly golden from the use of magic, locked with his and he let out another desperate moan. “Arthur!”
“Merlin, you’re… Oh, fuck, you’re the death of me!”, the prince gasped. And then he was no longer staring at him, but kissing him again, chasing his tongue, while changing their position in a more advantageous position. Somehow manoeuvred them a little further onto the bed and himself between Merlin’s now wide spread legs, so their erections were rubbing against each other directly. And… Fuck, it had been barely more than a minute, but the bed was already soaked under his ass! Merlin wanted! He needed it so badly!
“Please!”, he begged even more, spreading his legs wider, tilting his hips, so he would make access easier. So Arthur could take him. Slide into him, if he just changed their position a little. Oh, he wished he would!
One of Arthur’s hand moved between them, barely touched his cock to slide lower and then its owner huffed into their kiss. “You’re leaking…”
“Shaddup! I know…”, Merlin grumbled, but tried to lean into the hand. The fingers that were stroking the very sensitive area behind his scrotum, down towards his wet and slippery hole. Just a little more. Almost there! He needed something inside him. Now! He was trembling with need.
“You’re so wet for an alpha’s cock. So ready for me…”, Arthur breathed into his ear, while one of his fingers teased his entrance, circled it, spread the liquid around it even more.
“Yes, yes, please. Your cock. Your knot. Just… Fuck me Arthur!”, the omega demanded, tried to angle his hips so that the digit would finally slide inside. He could not bear it. He needed to be filled! He just needed it! Relief!
“I knew, you had a filthy mouth, but I didn’t expect this… I’d like to put that mouth of yours to good use, omega. Would you want that? Serve your alpha? Your price, with that mouth of yours?”, Arthur whispered into his ear and bit down his earlobe, while at the same time finally inserting his finger, meeting no resistance at all.
“Ahhn, oh fuck, yes! Yes, Arthur, I would. Everything. Anything, just… More! Please!”, Merlin begged and was heard, because a second and a third finger were inside him in the blink of an eye, finally spreading him open for what was to come. “Ahh, yes, yes! Oh, more!”, was his response. He was ready. He felt ready. So very ready for his first alpha. His first knotting.
“So slick and ready for me. You want it. So badly, right, Merlin?”, Arthur growled into his ear. Fuck, that deep, raspy voice did things to him he had never in his life expected. And he made his prince feel it, too. Obviously, because all of a sudden his fingers were not only coated, but soaked in slick. He was so hot, so willing, so needy. He could not stand it any longer.
“Please, Arthur, please!”, he begged, desperately, moving against his fingers. He wanted his cock. He had to have it. Now!
“Fuck, Merlin, you’re driving me crazy! You’re… You’re mad!”, the prince accused him, before removing his fingers, leaving him whimper, all empty, hole clasping.
“More, please! Your cock! Want it!”, he was babbling. Talking almost nonsense, but he could not care less. He wanted this big, slick alpha cock up his ass and there was nothing stopping him now!
“Okay, okay. Be good, yes? Hold still! ... Fuck, wanna be inside”, Arthur replied and pulled back, relieving the wonderful pressure against his manservant’s hard, twitching cock, making him whimper. And finally positioning himself. Kneeling between Merlin’s spread thighs, cock in hand, rubbing the tip against the slippery mess of his entrance. He felt his hole twitching, aching to be filled. Never ever would Merlin be this shameless, but never ever would he be in full heat in front of – or under – a dominant alpha, willing to fuck him, so nothing he could not care about later. A problem for future-Merlin to solve. Maybe together with rational Merlin? But not today and especially not now!
“I’m good. Very good. Just, pleeeease!”, Merlin mumbled, looking up to his prince, his alpha and his hard, slick, red cock. Fuck, that was big. Way bigger than expected. He had seen it often enough when bathing him, or even half hard in the morning when he dressed his prince, but never this hard and ready. It was… Impressive. Intimidating even, if Merlin were slightly less desperate to finally be filled. “Please?”, he asked again, in a small voice, very nicely, obediently. And then he finally got, what he had been begging for. What he had wanted for what felt like hours!
Arthur pushed forward. Pressed his glans against his rim and then just... Slid inside. Just… Slid in. stretched him wide, so unbelievably wide. If not for his heat and despair, Merlin would have been sure, this would rip him apart, tear him open but instead there was just this delicious stretch, the feeling of fullness, of pressure, of a hot, massive dick sliding into him, spreading him open. But he was so slippery, well lubed and absolutely desperate for this cock, that he could do nothing but enjoy, completely ignoring the faint almost-pain. He gave himself to the feeling. To Arthur. To the alpha!
It took a while until the prince was fully inside him. With a deep breath he finally stilled and looked at his face. At Merlin. ”You’re...Tight. So fucking tight, Merlin, I...Fuck!”, the blonde cursed, biting his lip.
“Fuck me. Please. Can take it, okay?”, the sorcerer begged, moving his hips, trying to get more friction, to feel him move inside. He was big. So very big. And his knot was not even fully swollen. This was to come later.
“How can someone be that fucking tight and talk so dirty?”, Arthur wondered and pulled out a bit, before slowly sliding back inside, moaning, but he was concentrating. What was he concentrating on? He should let go, the dark-haired found.
“How should… I know? Ask your... Other… Ah, yes, like that!”, Merlin panted between slow, well-considered thrusts. Arthur was definitely holding back. And he did not like that.
“From… Experience?”, his alpha suggested, apparently not reacting to the other implication, while finally increasing his pacing. Even just slightly, but it made Merlin throw his head back in pleasure and moan obscenely.
“What. Experience? Fuck, Arthur, harder!”, the sorcerer gasped in between the most dirty moans. Now they were getting to the good part. Well, they had to. His instincts were telling him. His body was demanding it! Opening up for it. He was so ready! So fucking ready for it all!
“Wait. What?”, his prince then asked and stilled. Stared at him. “What?”, he repeated, obviously needing a lot of self control, for whatever this was. Why did he stop? This was getting good.
“Later. Just fuck me already! Please! Can’t think straight anyway!”, Merlin begged. And his magic agreed, since it acted on its own, pulled Arthur closer again – like it was grabbing his butt and pulled him in – and then pushed him inside Merlin. Deeper than before and his cock hit something inside the sorcerer that made him scream out his pleasure, beg for more, tears in his eyes. This was bliss. Pure and utter bliss! The bliss of being mated. Being fucked during heat. This was what he was made for. And his magic did not oppose. Did not protect him from the intrusion, it welcomed Arthur instead, pushed him deeper, faster, harder, while Merlin was powerless. He could not do anything to prevent it, not when it was the one single thing he wished for the most at the moment!
“Bastard! How dare you?! Oh fuck, fuck!”, Arthur moaned, following the pushes, thrusting inside him again and again and again and then he started to just give in. To let it all happen. Let himself be guided, wrapped by welcoming waves of pulsing magic. But since he was an alpha prat, he could not just accept it all and was taking back control by kissing and biting at Merlin’s jaw and neck and collarbone, reducing the sorcerer to a moaning mess. And then, when the dark-haired felt the hardness in him twitching, swelling, he felt a hand at his own cock and knew it was Arthur’s .
It did not take much. Maybe two or three pulls and then Merlin was coming. Squirting his cum between their bodies, while all his body was shaking from the sheer force that crashed onto him, into him like a wave, like an ocean breaking down on him. And he was very sure, he had passed out for a moment. Because the next thing he knew was that he felt filled. And happy. This pure bliss, coming from something warm deep inside him. And a part of him knew that it was his body welcoming the alpha’s spent inside him. The dick, still stuck inside him, the swollen knot that prevented the semen from leaking out. And he felt sated. For the moment. So very sated and happy he had not felt in ages, probably never in his life. This was pure bliss.
And he was riding this calming wave of happiness, until Arthur – collapsed on top of him – harrumphed and with a bit of effort turned them to their sides, into a more comfortable position, Merlin assumed. But he still was in no state to make assumptions that exceeded his own physical conditions.
“You... Are an omega...”, the prince mumbled after a while. They were still knotted, so there was no escape right now. Merlin would have preferred some sleep and then maybe, after the rest of the cum had leaked out of his body repeated the process, but maybe this was not very likely. Given the circumstances. Their circumstances. Slowly his brain functions exceeding mere instincts started kicking in again. He was rebooting and... Fuck. He had just been fucked by Arthur Pendragon! By the one and only person in whole Camelot that was never supposed to find out about his nature. Or about his magic or... He was screwed. He was so screwed. Well, yes. He literally had been just minutes ago. But he was also done for. Fucked. Pretty much dead man. Fuck! He panicked.
“Yes?”, he mumbled into Arthur’s neck. Carefully and maybe his voice was a little more high pitched than usual? But what else could he do? He could not just play dead – which was actually pretty tempting.
“And... A sorcerer?”, Arthur continued.
“Maybe?”
“And... Fuck, Merlin!”
”I know. Just... Wait until I can move again, okay? You can’t reach your sword anyway...”
“What?!”
“Please. At least do it yourself, I don’t want to burn on the stake. Please?”, he mumbled, still unable and unwilling to move. He did not want to face the situation. And Arthur. And also... His smell, the scent of the alpha was endearing. And somehow calming. He liked lying here. So close to his scent glands. He could just rub his nose against them, if he tried. If he dared. This had no right to feel that good, not in that situation! Not when he should flee, leave, before he was executed.
“Stop talking nonsense. Why should I kill you? Or get you killed?”, Arthur mumbled.
“Sorcerer? And isn’t disguising one’s true nature also considered a crime here in Camelot?”, he reminded his prince, because, well, should he not be familiar with the laws of his own country?
“Probably. But only if someone accused you...”
“You saw...”
“And I’m angry. Believe me, I’m furious. And we will need to talk about this thoroughly, as soon as we’re done with all this mess, but not now. Not when... Fuck, you’re still in full heat, Merlin. Your pheromones are still drowning me...”, the blonde explained with a sigh. And took a deep breath. Inhaled the air around Merlin. His scent. “The whole castle must smell it...”
“No.”
“No?”
“No. No one will smell it. As long as they don’t get too close. Not touch. ‘m using my magic to hide the scent. Always do...”, the sorcerer mumbled into his neck. He felt... Calm. Safe here. In Arthur’s arms. Head buried in his neck, still knotted. Fuck, they were still literally tied together!
“That explains it. I mean, even when you’re using herbs against the heat, the pheromones don’t just vanish... Morgana does, as far as I know. And I can still tell, she’s an omega...”, his prince replied.
“Mine are stronger. I use them to suppress all of it. Plus the magic. So... Well, there was no way for anyone to figure it out, actually...”
“Unless by you going into heat and exposing your nature in front of everyone...”
“Well, yes...”, he admitted.
“But you’re here, in private. And no one needs to know...”, Arthur voiced his thoughts out loud.
“That.... Works for now, but...”
“But?”
“This will last for at least two more days, maybe longer. You don’t want me here that long...”, Merlin dismissed the idea. This would not work. Arthur was an alpha. He could not be around and alpha for that long without going crazy! “Maybe smuggle me into Gaius’ quarters in the middle of the night? Could stay there and wait it out. Keep it in check with the magic and... Maybe some herbs?”, he thought aloud. How could he survive this, control this?
“No. You’re staying here. You’ll be all alone there. Or is Gaius supposed to help you with...”
“No!”, he exclaimed, shuddering at the mere suggestion. That was... Gross! He shot his prince a glare.
“So, you’re staying here.”
“He can sedate me. Give me something, so I’ll just sleep through it. No need for me to be here and...”
“And?”
“Your fucking pheromones, Arthur. Can hardly ignore them in my state. It will kill me. Also the blankets are still dirty. No way for me to stay here!”, be tried to dismiss this stupid idea. Again. There was no way he could survive this here!
“You... Merlin, you’ll stay with me. Not just in this room. I’ll... I’ll support you with this heat... Thing...”, Arthur simply explained. Clearing his throat.
“You’ll? You’d?... You have no idea what you’re saying. That’s the pheromones. You’re still under the influence. You can hardly think straight!”, the dark-haired mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief. The future king of Camelot could not be suggesting THIS! Not to a mere servant. A sorcerer. He definitely was not thinking straight!
“Ask me again after the ceremony. The effect should wear off by then, right?”
“You... Oh, fuck! The ceremony! What time is it?!”, he suddenly realised, head jolting up. He looked around in fear. Out of the window. And sighed in relief.
“Sun’s still up. It will start at sunset. So I have about an hour, I guess. Hm... I still need to bathe, I suppose...”, the prince explained with a sigh, following his gaze.
And then Merlin felt a slight change in their arrangement. In the feeling filling him up. The knot had deflated enough and due to the movement, Arthur’s now soft cock was slipping out of him, leaving a wetness between his legs. Soon his sperm would drip out of him. And he would mourn the loss. He just knew. Because his instincts were already starting to react to the fresh feeling of emptiness. Stupid omega brain!
“Ah, that comes handy now”, the blonde commented on their state and then cursed. “Fuck... How am I supposed to clean? I mean... I’m in no state to step out and get a servant... Didn’t think this through, hm?”
“Idiot...”, the sorcerer just huffed, enjoying the sudden opportunity for a distraction. Because he could not still be hot and willing, could he? He could. He remembered the feeling all too well. His first heats. And the ones he had, before he had decided to not have them any more. To just not expose anyone to this danger. The loss of control. And well, yes... He had been very, very wanton. Very. But instead of thinking about that, he just waved his hand and called for his magic, muttering a few words that would lead the bathtub to be filled with hot water. Water exact the right temperature. The temperature Arthur preferred. And it would stay as warm, until he allowed it to get cold.
He was a lazy servant. And he knew too well that with this action he had just admitted to it. But he could not let Arthur step out of the room in THIS state! No, actually like this he would rather just drag him closer and maybe just resume the thing they had done with their mouths? And was there not still a promise hanging in the air? Another use of tongue? His cock twitched, expressing mild interest in his thoughts.
But no. Bad idea. Arthur had to attend his ceremony. He could not just call in sick! That was impossible! He was the whole reason for the ceremony! He needed to get it over and done with! Had to get himself presentable and all.
Luckily the price had not caught on his inner turmoil, including the flush spreading across his servant’s cheeks at the thought doing it again. Instead he had lowered himself into the tub and sighed in relief. “You’re a cheater, Merlin! When was the last time you actually filled the tub yourself?”, he instead called him out, when properly seated.
“A while... I think...”, the dark-haired mumbled, pretending to ignore the naked alpha just metres away from him.
“Well, comes handy, I guess. I think, I’ll allow it for now. Can you move?”, the prince asked, looking over to him, before sliding his wet hand through his fringe, combing his hair back. And fuck. It had no right to look that good!
“Rather not?”, the sorcerer mumbled, dwelling in his gaze, the blue eyes set on him. On his naked, sticky body. Fuck, under any other circumstances he would be embarrassed, he would die! But his fucking birdbrain – omega brain to be precise – just found it appealing. Wanted to present himself. To his alpha. Wanted spread himself out on the sheets and show Arthur, what he could have. Again and again and again. Fuck, he was getting hot again. So he just rolled onto his stomach to hide his hardening cock and even had the decency to pull at least a part of the blanket over his now exposed butt.
“Fine, just stay there, then. You said, the shirt’s on the chair? Breeches?”, the prince asked, as casually as possible, given the circumstances.
“All prepared. Can you do it on your own?”, Merlin wanted to know, suppressing a shiver. He hated that. Knew exactly why he had suppressed all that for so long. This was a curse! A damn curse! He knew why there were only so few omegas in this world. Only ten percent of the population were omegas, maybe a fifth of them male, because being a male omega absolutely sucked! Merlin had first hand experience!
The 75 percent betas living in the kingdom had it way easier. No heats, no ruts, no pheromones distracting them, no strangers who wanted to approach and take and force and…. It had not been easy, when he was being honest. Especially for a young, inexperienced omega. But well, he was, who he was. And he would not change it, he guessed, even though he hated it so many times. It was a part of him, like his magic. And, well, he had to be careful with this gift.
“Of course! You alright?”, Arthur interrupted his thoughts as he emerged from the basin and started drying himself. And yes, that was very interrupting. Merlin could not help, but stare at his slender, muscular body, train of thoughts totally forgotten, derailed. He was taking in the drops of water running down his skin, catching in the hair of his chest and groin. He swallowed. Hard. And bit his lower lip. A wave of alpha pheromones hit him. The prince had noticed his stare. Returned it.
“I can still smell you. You sure, your spell works?”, he asked the very distracted sorcerer.
“I, err… Yes. Yes. I mean… Wait, gonna renew it, just a second…”, he stammered, forcing himself to concentrate. To bear it. To ignore his heat, the power of the pheromones rushing through his vanes, like hot iron. And cast the spell again, making sure, no one would smell him. And added a little extra just for the alpha that was still, even after the bath, drenched in his own pheromones. And Arthur took a breath of relief, which he had no right to find disappointing, because they had things to do. There was a whole ceremony going on! Half of Camelot and the surrounding kingdoms visited the palace this week! He could not just lie here and pine for the crown price. Fantasize about him knotting him again. About his thick, throbbing cock filling him up. No, no, dangerous grounds! Especially when he was still in full heat. He could feel a gulp of slick, probably infused with his alpha’s sperm, dripping down between his thighs and was just glad, that Arthur could not see. And probably not smell, either.
Luckily. Because he had to be busy, getting ready for his big day. For his coming-of-age and the formal introduction to the other rulers. They had gone through the formalities at least twice a day in the past week, so Merlin knew exactly, what was about to happen, what he was preparing for. But right now he could not bring his heat-infused brain to care. He wanted. He needed. And he just had to have him. But he could not. He understood. Rationally this was all right, made perfect sense, but to his omega instincts this was wrong. Arthur dressing up, Arthur being relived that he did not smell him any more, did not smell like Merlin any more was just wrong. It felt like a rejection. And a rejection to an omega in heat was the worst.
He felt the tears well up in his eyes at the loss, but knew that it was silly. So he pulled the blanke,t he was still half lying on, onto his head and bit his tongue. He would wait it out. It would pass. It always passed.
“Hey, Merlin?”, he then heard Arthurs soft voice. He heard him stepping closer, because of course all his senses were heightened and he was way too sensitive. So he felt the hand on his head even through the fabric and wanted nothing more than to lean in to it. Into the touch. He craved the touch. But when Arthur touched, his spell would probably break. He would flood his alpha brain with a wave of his omega pheromones that would definitely make instincts kick in. And no matter how much he wanted to be mated again, he understood that Arthur needed to go.
“’m fine. Go already. I’ll wait. Just... Just...”, he mumbled, still covered by the blankets.
“Just?”, the prince asked, voice still gentle.
“...Tell Gaius, I’m save. ‘kay?”
“Okay? Does... I mean, does Gaius know?”
“He knows everything. Both, I mean, I... Fuck, just go! Your pheromones are killing me here!”, Merlin exclaimed, faking anger, while in fact he just wanted to be stripped of the blanked and fucked into the mattress. Hard. Again. So very hard.
“I’ll be back. I’ll hurry. Just stay in here. Don’t leave. I’ll , I’ll lock the door. Trust me, Merlin?”
“Always.”
And with that last exchange, Arthur left the room. Left him alone. In silence. Alone with his instincts. With his omega brain. And the smell of an alpha all around him. And maybe this was really at least a little better, than being all alone. And maybe their coupling had actually gotten the edge off, at least enough for him to not totally lose it? Fuck, this would be a long night!