Chapter Text
The first thing Arthur registered after the burning of the green flames around his arm disappeared was the weight of Merlin’s arms wrapped around his abdomen. They tightened momentarily, in relief or fear Arthur didn’t know, then released him with a sharp cry as thunder cracked loudly. Too loudly.
The second thing Arthur registered was that, while he was standing perfectly well, the support beneath him wasn’t the ground. Good gods, I’m in the sky.
Thunder cracked again, this time from directly beneath them, near a cloud below their feet. It was dark, too dark to see beyond the shadow of a man in front of him, and Arthur squinted against the rain that whipped around him, trying to get a better look at his companion so as to properly scold him. “What did you do?!” Arthur screamed against the wind.
“What did I do?” Merlin shouted back, fear fueling the fury in his voice. “What did you do? Think of home?! Well that was a bloody genius plan! You thought of your home and I thought of mine and now we’re halfway between the two!” Wind whipped at his hair, the black mop sticking to his forehead. Lightening flashed behind him, illuminating his figure so Arthur could better see where to aim his words.
“You stupid idiot! What did you think of your home for?”
“You just said ‘home’! If you wanted me to think of your home, you should have said!”
Arthur scoffed, catching the star as another burst of thunder knocked him off his balance. “Some crazy lady was trying to cut your heart out and you wanted more specific instructions? Perhaps next time you’d like it in writing? Or a diagram maybe!”
Merlin opened his mouth to retort, pushing against Arthurs arms, but all he could manage was a yell of surprise when a heavy weight took them both off their feet. Merlin yelped as his body was crushed against the blonde’s. He pushed out his arms to detect where the weight came from, only to have his hands meet a net of rope. He heard his companion’s matching cry of confusion as they were both hauled down.
They landed with a hard crash on something made of wood. Arthur scrambled to sit up against the net, looking around at their apparent captors.
They were on the deck of a ship of some sort, with sails facing all directions to catch the harsh winds of the storm. Surrounding them were a group of men, all holding weapons and wrapped in thick coats to protect from the weather. They laughed, prodding at the confused travelers. Arthur shifted protectively in front of Merlin, who seemed to have finally gone silent from the shock.
The men stepped back all at once, and a shorter man stepped through. His hood was pulled up against the wind, but Arthur could detect a single raised eyebrow that seemed the center of his expression. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he made a mental note to finish his chores as soon as possible when he returned back home. “Look, Captain Shakespeare!” One of the men yelled gruffly, “Caught us a couple of Lightening Marshals!”
Captain Shakespeare leaned in closer, giving both young men a quick once-over. “They don’t look like Lightening Marshals to me.”
The man frowned, running a hand through his hair— which had somehow remained perfect despite being uncovered against the wind. “Why else would anyone be up here in the middle of a storm?”
“’Why else would anyone be up here in the middle of a storm?’” The Captain rolled his eyes, smacking the man on the head. “I don’t know, Gwaine, maybe for the same gods forsaken reason we are!” He turned back to the men under the net. “Now, who are you?”
Merlin let out a whimper, shivering where he lie on the hard deck. Arthur reached a hand back, gripping the star’s wrist tightly in reassurance. He opened his mouth to respond to the man, but decided against it at the last minute. They hadn’t come up with a cover story, and the truth seemed too true to tell a bunch of strangers.
A dark skinned man stepped forward. “Maybe a night in our lovely brig will help loosen their lips, Captain?”
The Captain nodded, “Get them in the brig!” With the final order, he turned and stalked off, leaving the crew to deal with the captors. Gwaine got right to work yelling orders. “You heard the Captain, to the brig! And the rest of you dirty dogs, back to work! This lightening ain’t gonna catch itself!”
***
When Merlin finally managed to speak, Arthur was surprised at his relief. It hadn’t quite sunk in, yet, that the star was back with him. The knowledge that they were together, that the other man was near enough to protect, sparked something in Arthurs chest that he chose to ignore. They’d been tied together, back-to-back, for nearly an hour now. The “brig” was more of a storage compartment, with boxes of food and barrels of water and gunpowder all strewn around them just out of reach. Arthur wanted to grumble at the disorganization. His father would have a field day if someone left his kitchen in this state.
“They’re going to kill us, aren’t they?” The words were soft, nearly broken, and the blonde was hit suddenly with the realization of just how lost his companion was. He was young, perhaps a year or two younger than Arthur himself, and he’d only been on the ground for a day. In that short time, he’d already witnessed half the cruelties of the world, with none of the wonder or kindness to balance it out. Arthur felt a surge of protectiveness hit him.
Still, he couldn’t think of a lie. “I don’t know,” he responded honestly. He wished he could see the raven haired boy behind him, to offer him more than just empty words as comfort.
Merlin let out a bitter chuckle. “You know, it’s funny. I used to watch, from up there. I used to watch people having adventures. I actually envied them.”
Arthur frowned. “You ever heard the expression ‘be careful what you wish for’?”
Merlin’s back shook with a sob, “What, so ending up with my heart cut out, that would serve me right?” His voice cracked more on the last word, and he seemed to be struggling to breath, choking on his tears.
The blond shook his head frantically, wrapping his tied hand around the other man’s as best he could from their positions. “Hey, no, I didn’t mean it like that.” There was a long pause as he rubbed a thumb across his companions knuckles. “I admire you dreaming,” he admitted, “A shop boy like me could never have imagined an adventure this big in order to have wished for it. I just thought I’d find some lump of celestial rock and bring it home and that would be it.”
Merlin chuckled, turning his hand awkwardly to squeeze Arthur’s in return. “And you got me.”
Arthur let out a snort, and the two of them fell into a sort of pitiful, sopping lump of broken giggles. He felt a weight on his chest lift ever so slightly, glad that the pathetic laughter had at least replaced the tears.
Merlin took a few breaths, turning his head in an attempt to look at the blonde behind him. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in all my years of watching Earth, it’s that people aren’t always what they seem. There are shop boys, and then there are boys who just happen to work in shops for the time being. You are no shop boy.”
Arthur smiled fondly at the ground, letting Merlin’s words settle.
Merlin continued, entwining their fingers together. “You saved my life. Thank you.”
***
Cenred stared down at the lone bathtub sitting in the empty field. Dark blue blood sloshed over the side when the wind blew, and the prince bared his teeth in a cold grin when he recognized the corpse in the water.
“Well, well, well,” he mused, “the last brother dead.” He looked up in though. “Which means I’m king. . .”
Cenred spun on his heel, his dark cloak lagging behind him. “I’m King!” he proclaimed to his men, most of whom immediately dropped to their knees in recognition.
The translucent form of Mordred threw an arm around his eldest brother, throat still bared open in an eternal mark of his final moments. “Not yet, brother,” he teased, the other ghosts laughing behind him.
Cenred stopped in his tracks, cursing. Though he could clearly not see nor hear his deceased siblings, the message seemed to reach him. “Damn it all! I still need that stone.”
The man closest to him rose. “Does your brother not have it, sire?”
Cenred glared at the man. “Well, why don’t you find out?”
The man ducked his head and scurried over to the bathtub, oblivious to the princes laughing and pointing at the water-logged corpse as the youngest protested in embarrassment.
Cenred rolled his eyes at his cowering men. He jumped when a pair of hands wrapped around his ankle, and reached down to yank up a man who had crawled out of the underbrush. “Who are you? Where’s my stone?”
“I-I’m Jonas. I don’t—I. . .oh. Oh, yeah. The man, you see, that man, your brother, I heard him speak of a stone! The boy had it! The boy had it. . .” Jonas mumbled, half to himself.
“What boy?” Cenred demanded, shaking the frail man harshly.
“I don’t know! Just a boy. He got away because, well, this was a trap set up for him but your brother, see, he just walked right into it, and—”
“A trap? A trap set by who?”
Jonas shivered with fear, curling in on himself. “A woman you should pray you’ll never meet. She’s gone. She took your brothers carriage.”
Cenred growled at the knowledge. He released his hold on the man’s collar, having deemed him little threat. “This woman wanted my stone?”
“No. She wanted the boy’s heart. She said the boy was a star and she was going to cut out his heart and. . .and. . .” Jonas sobbed, unable to complete the thought. There was no need.
Cenred’s grin returned and he gestured to his men, who quickly hoisted Jonas up onto a horse. “Eat it.” A plan began to form itself in the cruel prince’s mind. The heart of a star meant only one thing. Everlasting life. King. Forever.
***
“Ask again,” Nimueh demanded, running a hand through her hair in irritation. She let out an enraged cry when a clump of hair fell freely out of her scalp, leaving smooth skin in it’s wake. She glared at her sisters through the ring on her finger, as if they were somehow at fault for her plight.
“We have asked again,” Morgana protested, “and the answer is still the same. She is airborne.”
Nimueh huffed. “Well, she can’t remain so forever. Inform me as soon as she touches the ground. Immediately, can you fools understand that?”
Morgause scoffed. “Watch your tone, sister. It is you who have lost her, not we!”
“And broken the knife!” Morgana muttered.
“Perhaps you should return now, and one of use should set out in your place,” Morgause nodded toward the youngest sister at her side, and they both glared pointedly at where Nimueh stood reflected in the mirror.
Nimueh cackled, “Don’t be absurd! And let Morgana get attached to this one as well?” Morgana’s eyed dropped to the ground, her fists curling at her side. She said nothing to contradict her sister’s words. “No. I’ll bring her home and we can deal with her there. Be sure everything is ready for our arrival.”
***
Somehow, despite their unfortunate lodgings and the binds restricting their movements, Arthur found himself laughing lightly at Merlin’s seemingly endless ramblings. They’d been talking softly all night, unwilling to sleep without knowing or trusting their captors, but it seemed after a few initial awkward silences they just kept finding more to talk about.
Merlin hummed. “Tell me about Sophia, then,” he requested, curious at this woman who’d sparked their adventure.
Arthur’s smile drooped. “Well, she. . .I. . .I suppose there’s really nothing more to tell you.”
Merlin pursued his lips, glancing up at the ceiling. “The little I know about love is that it’s unconditional. It’s not something you can buy.”
Arthur felt his shoulders tense once more, and he released his hand from where it still gripped the star’s. “Hang on, this isn’t about me buying her love! This was a way for me to prove how I felt!” Neither of them took notice of the past-tense.
Merlin took a breath, speaking in satirical understanding. “Oh! Right. And what is she doing to prove how she feels about you?”
“Well. . .” he sighed, not sure how to explain the situation. “Look, Merlin, you’ll understand when you meet her. Provided we don’t get murdered by pirates first.”
Merlin hummed again, tilting his head to the side as he pondered his options. “Hmm. Murdered by pirates. Heart torn out and eaten. Meet Sophia. I can’t quite decide which sounds more fun.”
The blonde snorted, unable to prevent a fond shake of his head.
***
“We’ve located the sky vessel!” shrieked Morgause as she turned away from the table filled with various animal bits to face her sister’s reflection, “It’s headed north, for the port town in Mercia.”
Morgana didn’t bother to turn, still leaning over the table. The brunette witch delicately picked through what probably used to be a frog, frowning before she, too, spoke. “You are no longer the only one to seek the star, sister. There’s someone following your tracks.”
At the news, Morgause spun, returning to her sister’s side and leaning over the mess. Nimueh raised her eyebrows, interest piqued. “Who? Another witch? A warlock?”
“A prince,” Morgause snapped, impatient with the eldest sister’s flippancy, “and he’s catching you up. Get a move on.”
Nimueh scowled and leaned back in her carriage, magically urging the horses to ride faster.
***
Back in the brig of The Dragon, Arthur and Merlin sat in silence as Captain Shakespeare paced around them. They could hear the scuffling of the crew listening in through the door, shushing each other to no avail.
“So,” the captain boomed loudly, knowing as well as his captors that his crew could hear their every word, “this is the part where you tell me who you are and why you’re up here.” He walked slowly around Arthur, giving Merlin a once over. Arthur grit his teeth. The captain leaned in to observe the star more closely, not lowering his voice. “Or I’ll snap your pretty little fingers one by one like dry twigs.”
“My name is Arthur Pendragon,” the blonde spoke slowly, controlling his tone as best he could. “This is my husband, Merlin.”
The captain chuckled. “Your husband? Far too young and radiant to belong to just one man.” He turned towards the door, continuing his show for his men. “It’s share and share alike aboard my vessel, sonny boy!” The crew cheered loudly outside the door, having given up on false claims of subtlety,
Arthur growled lowly. “If you dare even touch him—”
“You may think you’re showing a little spirit in front of your boyfriend, but if you talk back to me again I’ll feed your tongue to the dogs you impertinent little pup!” More cheering was heard. Merlin cast a worried look at the door, still unable to see Arthur from where he was tied.
The blonde took a breath, keeping his eyes trained steadily on the captain’s. “Sir?”
“Better,” the captain admitted, “but still interrupting. Let’s see. A hanging’s always good for morale. . .maybe we’ll watch you dance a gallows jig!”
The cheering continued, and Arthur fought the urge to roll his eyes. Merlin gripped Arthur's hands like a lifeline, squeezing so tightly he swore his fingers would turn white.
“Or perhaps I’ll just tip you over the side and have done with it!”
The cheering turned to what sounded like booing, if the captors had ever heard it before.
“It’s a very long way down,” the captain mused. In this lighting, Arthur could see the man more clearly. He was older than he’d seemed at first, average height and slightly round around the middle. His grey hair hung past his shoulders and was tied back at the nape of his neck. The only physically intimidating thing about the man seemed to be that damned eyebrow. The eyebrow was enough. “Plenty of time to reminisce about your pitifully short lives.”
“Please,” Merlin’s voice was strained as he turned to look over his shoulder as best he could. He cast a frightened glance at Arthur. “Sir, we’re just trying to make our way home.”
“Yes,” Arthur agreed, “back to a place called Wall where I come from.”
The captain stopped his pacing, that eyebrow raising impossibly higher. “What did you say?” Arthur tried to repeat his statement, but the captain didn’t give him a chance, grabbing him by the collar. “That’s one lie too many, my son.” He whipped out a dagger, slicing through the binds around their wrists.
Outside, the crew’s eyes all went comically wide as they gave each other understanding looks. All at once, they began to scramble back towards the upper deck, spurred on by the captains shouting of “THOUGHT YOU COULD JUST WANDER ONTO MY PATCH, DID YOU? AND LIVE TO TELL THE TALE?” The men tripped over each other, pushing and shoving in desperation as they threw themselves up the stairs and towards the railing of the deck. They made it just in time to hear the second captor scream, “ARTHUR!” before they saw a body being shoved out the port of the brig, followed quickly by the back of the captains head as he leaned out to inspect his work.
The body fell out of sight, too far down for any man to survive, and the captain laughed in satisfaction before disappearing back into the underbelly of the ship. Shortly afterwards, he tugged the young, dark-haired man up the stairs towards his quarters. “No, no, you murderer, you’ve ruined everything!” the boy was yelling in anguish, tears streaming down his face.
“I’m taking the boy to my cabin,” the captain spoke with finality. “We’re not to be disturbed under any circumstances.” He shoved the boy into his cabin, slamming the door behind him. Gwaine leaned back against it, turning back to the crew.
The young pirate waved his hand at the rest of his mates. “Captain’s busy, so should you be.”
The crew crumbled, but returned to their posts.
Captain Shakespeare shoved the still sobbing boy into his rooms. “Get in there, boy!” He turned to lock the door behind him before pausing. After a moment, his shoulders relaxed and he stood taller, turning to give his captives a bright smile. “So, that went well I thought.”
Merlin drew his hands away from his face, tears of laughter breaking through as he doubled over, reaching out a hand for support. Strong arms wrapped around him, keeping him from collapsing in his fit, and he turned to press his nose into Arthur’s chest.
The blonde was smiling, despite being half-naked in only his undergarments, as he held the giggling star in his arms. He looked up to stare incredulously at the Captain.
The Captain clapped his hands together, gesturing for them to take a seat at the table in the center of the room. He reached out to take Merlin’s hand, guiding him gently into a seat. Arthur followed suit, and soon the three were seated at the table, still jittery from their earlier ploy. “Now,” the eldest man said, “tell me news of my beloved England! I want to hear absolutely everything.”
Merlin spared a glance at Arthur before turning back to the captain. “Hang on, I can’t believe your crew fell for that!” Arthur felt his earlier fear melt into awe as he witnessed, perhaps for the first time, a genuine smile from the star, unlaced with fear. “And where in the gods’ name did you get that mannequin from, Captain Shakespeare?”
The captain waved his hand. “Oh, it works every time. An ounce of bargaining, a pinch of trickery, a soupcon of intimidation et voila! A perfect recipe for a towering reputation without ever having to spill one drop of blood. Ever tried getting bloodstains out of a silk shirt? Absolute nightmare!” He reached out to a pitcher on the table, pouring himself a glass of water. “Oh, and please, call me Gaius.”
The young men exchanged elated glances, hearts racing still, as they clung to Gaius’s words. “Right,” Arthur nodded, “Um. . .I still don’t understand how they won’t recognize me?”
Gaius waved him off. “Arthur, dear boy, when I’m through with you, your own mother won’t recognize you. Now, we have no time to waste. We have only two hours before we make port. First and foremost!” He rose from his seat, walking over to a door at the far end of the room and swinging it open to reveal an entire other room, filled wall to wall with clothing of all shapes, sizes, and colors. “It will be so good to see you out of those dreary clothes.”
Arthur stood, following Gaius into the room as Merlin trailed close behind them. Gaius ruffled through a few drawers, pulling out a stack of clothing to shove towards Arthur. “Here. I wore it as a younger man.” He turned towards Merlin, looking him slowly up and down. “Now you, Darling. . . well, I have plenty to choose from, take your pick.”
Merlin shook his head, putting his palms up in refusal. “Oh, no, really. I’m fine.”
Gaius quirked that eyebrow, and Merlin felt immediately scolded. “Honey, you’re wearing a bathrobe.”
The star looked down at himself, blushing at the realization that he hadn’t changed since his bath at the Inn from hell. He took a few bashful steps towards the racks on the wall, running his hands over the fabric in awe.
While the star browsed, Arthur was drawn to the mirror by Gaius, who got immediately to work on his hair. “Now, England. I want to hear everything.”
Arthur frowned at his reflection. “You’re not from England.”
Gaius chuckled. “Sadly, no. But as a child I lapped up the stories. People always told me they were nothing but folklore, but in my heart I knew them to be true. As a boy I’d sneak away from my father at the market while he made his deals just to peak over the wall. I dreamt of perhaps crossing one day, seeing England for myself.”
“Really?” Arthur inquired, shrugging on the trousers Gaius had provided for him. “So you were here looking over there?”
Gaius nodded, gesturing for Arthur to sit so he could better reach his scalp. “Mind you, I did my best to fit in. Tried to make my father, Captain Ghostmaker, proud. Forged a decent reputation as a ruthless marauder and cold blooded killer,” he made a face, and Merlin couldn’t help but giggle from where he was standing. “But my father died. I always promised him I’d take over the family business and keep the ol’ girl flying. You have no idea how it lightens my heart to be able to confide in you young people. The pressures of having to continue the Captain Shakespeare persona for the sake of the crew? Oh, but I did go on my own once. Studied medicine and became a physician, even serving in the castle for the royal family! But then the princess disappeared, her husband taking off after the death of their child, and I knew there was nothing there for me anymore. I came back to my ship, collected a new crew of runaways, rapscallions, and thieves, and pledged to keep my father’s legacy alive.”
Arthur frowned, reaching out to touch his hair as Gaius snipped and brushed. It was softer to the touch than it had been in years. “I don’t understand that,” he mused, “Surely it would make you happier just to be yourself? Why fight to be accepted by people you don’t actually want to be like?”
Merlin hummed, a thoughtful look on his face. He came over to stand next to Arthur in the mirror. He was newly dressed in a pair of comfortable dark brown trousers that hugged his legs, tucked neatly into black boots. He wore a simple deep blue tunic with a red scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, completed with a leather belt hanging loosely around his middle to give him some shape. The ensemble was simple, but the fabrics were rich in color and soft to the touch. He felt better than he had in ages. The star gave a pointed look at the blonde. “Yeah, why would anyone want to do that to themselves?”
Arthur looked away, slumping back in his chair. “Exactly,” he mumbled to himself.
***
“Port ahoy!” Leon called from his perch, waving down to catch the attention of his crewmates. Elyan waved back in understanding, repeating the message loudly to verify everyone could hear it. “Ready the lightening barrels!”
Gaius exited his quarters, calling out orders to the crew without a second glance at the boy trailing hesitantly behind him. Some of the men paused, giving the boy approving looks. “You clean up nicely!” Gwaine called with a wink, causing the young man to blush brightly, a stark contrast to his pale skin and dark hair.
Leon dropped to the deck, nodding towards the boy in greeting before giving Gwaine a playful cuff to the back of the head. “Back to work,” he ordered, “leave the boy be.” It wasn’t the first time their captain had taken a liking to a captive. Hell, Gwaine himself had made his introductions from the brig. While some of the rougher men on deck gave the boy weary looks, most simply smiled kindly before moving on to their duties. The boy seemed to relax a bit at this, though he still chased the captain around like a lost pup.
They got to work pulling the ship into port. The winds from the storm the previous night had died down into a gentle breeze, and the crew had no problems twisting the sails to glide them safely to the edge of the cliff. A rope bridge was unfurled smoothly, and the captain gestured for a select few of his men to follow him to land, the young man along with them.
“Merlin,” Gaius spoke kindly, “these are my most trusted men. Leon, Gwaine, Percival, Lancelot, and Elyan. They’ll keep an eye out for you if the rest of the crew gets a little. . . coarse. Men, this is Merlin. He’ll be staying with us for a while.”
The men gave their greetings, easily accepting the young boy into their protection. They couldn’t help it. He was just so. . . protectable.
After introductions were made, Percival and Leon hoisted a large, sealed metal container between themselves and set off, Elyan at their head to guide the way. Gaius walked behind them, standing tall even as the group began to expertly blend into the crowd as they reached the market. Merlin’s eyes widened at the sight. People roaming around everywhere, all in a rush and with nowhere to go. The colors were unlike anything he’d seen before, save from within Gaius’s closet, and he could smell fruitcakes and animal stink alike in the air.
Gwaine and Lancelot marched on either side of him, keeping him in line with the others so he didn’t get lost in the overwhelmingness of it all. Gwaine chatted away about this and that, while Lancelot had placed a comforting hand on Merlin’s shoulder, occasionally rolling his eyes or making a comment about plot holes in Gwaine’s tales. Merlin found himself quite enjoying their company, though he wished Arthur could be there to witness it all with him.
Soon enough, they came to a halt in front of a small shop. Merlin ducked inside with the Captain, Leon, and Gwaine, while the others all seemed to dissipate into the crowd— no doubt keeping careful watch from afar.
Merlin watched in fascination as Gaius chatted with the man behind the counter. He didn’t understand much of what was being said, but it seemed to him to be a business deal of some sort. After a few tense moments, the shopkeep came around the counter to stand in front of the container. He slid open a panel, taking a glance inside. Merlin was startled by a flash of light before the man closed the panel once more.
“Yes, well, doesn’t seem very fresh to be honest,” the shopkeeper shrugged, glancing up at Gaius.
Gaius nodded in understanding, reaching to take yet another small container from Leon, who stood guard close behind him. “Shall I give you a taste, then?”
The shopkeeper shook his head fervently, barely letting out a “No, no, that wont be necessary” before Gaius had opened the container and a shock of electricity, bright and fast and sharp, came crackling out and burned a hole right through the wall behind the man’s head. “Brilliant,” the man muttered grimly, “like that’s cheap.”
“I think it’s still crackling,” the captain mused. “Still very much alive. Name your best price.”
The shopkeeper looked over the container. “For ten thousand bolts? I’d say, um, one hundred and fifty guineas.”
Gaius waved to Gwaine. “Gentlemen, pack up the merchandise.”
The small, weasel-like man’s eyes went wide and he jumped up quickly, placing a hand over the container to prevent the pirates from taking it away. “Wait, wait, not hold on. Just a moment. One sixty, yeah?”
Gaius pretended to ponder. “Seeing as I’m feeling particularly generous today, I’ll settle for two hundred.”
“Two hundred? Okay, you’re having a laugh,” the shopkeeper giggled, nodding down at the lightening filled container. “Have you had your head in that? One eighty.”
“Two hundred.”
“That’s not negotiation. I’m changing my number, see? One eight five!”
“Did I hear two hundred?"
“From you, you did, sure. Okay, one nine five, final offer!”
“One nine five it is,” Gaius conceded, reaching out to shake the weasel-man’s hand. “So with sales tax that’s, let’s see, ah! Two hundred.”
The shopkeeper rolled his eyes. “Brilliant. Put it in the back.”
Gwaine and Leon lifted the container (with some trouble, without Percival’s enormous muscles there to assist) and the shopkeeper gestured for the captain to speak to him privately. Gaius bade Merlin browse the shop in his absence before following the shopkeeper into the corner.
“Right. Have you heard any of these rumors going around about a fallen star?” The shopkeeper inquired, jumping right to the point. “Everyone’s talking about it. You get your hands on one of them, we can shut up shop. Retire.”
Gaius frowned, raising his eyebrow. “Fallen star?”
“Yeah.”
The captain had just begun to reply when a glint in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned to see Merlin tentatively handling a dagger he’d found on a shelf. The young man pondered it a moment, turning it over in his hands, before seeming to decide against it and placing it back on the shelf. He turned to see Gaius staring at him and gave a bright smile in return. Gaius nodded in acknowledgement, noting the unusual shine in the man’s smile. He turned back to the shopkeeper and shook his head.
The man seemed to deflate. “Nothing? Not on your travels?”
“No,” Gaius spoke with finality.
“Everyone’s talking about it down at the market!”
“Which market? The market near the wall? You’re wasting your time listening to gossip from the kind of pond scum trading down there.”
***
They returned to the ship in high spirits, Gwaine babbling on about a night he’d supposedly had with some tree nymphs while casting suggestive looks in Percival’s direction (which the taller man blatantly ignored). When they had finally made it back on deck, Merlin jumped at the sound of a sword being drawn. He looked up, his heart twisting at the sight of a handsome young man sitting casually on a water barrel on the deck, legs crossed as he leaned back on his hands.
The young man smirked. “Captain Shakespeare,” he greeted, sparing a glance in Merlin’s direction and winking.
The man who’d drawn his sword shifted forward, halted only by the captain himself bursting into booming laughter. “Weapons down!” he ordered. “I’d like you all to meet my nephew, the fearsome buccaneer Arthur Pendragon!”
Arthur stood as Gaius came to stand by him, throwing an arm over the captain’s shoulders. Merlin bit back a smile at the sight. Arthur had cleaned up well, far better than Merlin had originally noticed. His blonde hair was combed back, the gentle breeze blowing a few stray strands into his bright blue eyes. He was clothed in a deep red tunic which hung down to his thighs, and around his waist was an expensive looking leather belt. His trousers and boots were much the same as Merlin’s, only of richer color and showing off the clear muscles in his calves. He also wore a long, brown leather coat that reached nearly to his ankles, making him seem somehow taller and more confident than he already stood. The star looked over the blonde slowly and with much appreciation.
Arthur didn’t seem to notice his looks, too occupied with not making a fool of himself in front of a band of pirates. “He’ll be joining us on his journey home!” Gaius announced, patting Arthur fondly on the back. “And I have the perfect gift to keep you amused on the way.”
He gestured towards Merlin, and Gwaine was quick to shove the raven-haired man forward. Arthur grinned, and they both stood awkwardly next to each other for a moment.
The crew stared expectantly.
After a long moment, the blonde let out a small “Oh!” before grabbing Merlin by the arm and pulling him towards his chest. He held up a fist and made a (hopefully manly-sounding) “Arrgh!”, which the crew returned with earnest.
And if Leon stood in the back of the group, head buried in his hands in clear exasperation? Well, hey, it was no one’s business but his own.
“Alright, you dogs, lets get young Arthur on his way home!”
***
For the first time since leaving Wall— and perhaps, since long before then— Arthur felt happy. Elated, even. The few days he spent on The Dragon were exhilerating.
His days were spent above deck, learning everything he possibly could. Gaius told him stories of the great kings that had once ruled Camelot, and the devolution of the bloodline since then. How the expansion of the empire in times of peace and prosperity had fallen into times of war and bloodlust, especially among the noble families themselves. Arthur felt something pang in his chest at the thought, but was given little time to dwell. Leon welcomed him easily into the crew, teaching him the basics of how to sail and steer and man the ship alongside the other men. After his first drunken dinner with his newfound companions in which he recounted (a rather summed up version of) his humiliating duel with Valiant, Lancelot seemed suddenly determined to teach Arthur the “art of the blade”.
It was a grueling process, as he had only a few days aboard the ship to learn what many men had lifetimes to practice. Leon and Percival joined in the teaching, showing the young blonde how to properly hold a blade. The entire first day was spent working on foot placement, before he was even given a chance to swing the sword.
Arthur wasn’t the only one enjoying his time with the pirates. He had little time to speak to Merlin during the day, what with the crew’s determination to teach him all they could, but at night, after the rest of the crew had settled in for their watches or in their cots, the two young men would lie awake beside each other and discuss all they could about their days. Arthur learned, in the quiet of the night, that Merlin’s days had been spent mostly trailing Gaius. In the privacy of the captains quarters, he’d been studying the man’s books on medicine and herbs and treatments, along with techniques of diplomacy and compromise; something he claimed he’d need to know well what with Arthur’s “proclivity for making an absolute arse of himself”. The blonde had given him a swat on the head for that comment.
Merlin still couldn’t sleep well during the night, so he’d nap in the daylight whenever he could. The crew made no mention of it, luckily, and Gaius took it upon himself to awaken before daybreak and teach Merlin all he could in the dark of the night. Merlin wasn’t sure why he’d need to study art or music, but he’d gladly sit beside the man at the piano stool and let his long fingers grace the keys for hours, until the random notes seemed to flow into what could almost be considered music.
One night, during a particularly terrible storm, Arthur and Merlin suited up in hoods and goggles and gloves with the rest of the crew, and set out to man the lightening rods. It was terrifying, being that close to something that could easily have killed them, but the fear made their success in capturing the bolts even more elating. When Merlin and Gwaine had successfully closed the contraption that contained the captured electricity, the young star let out a squeal of glee and threw himself into Arthur’s arms. Arthur had laughed then, holding the other man close to his chest and swinging them around the deck.
The next day Arthur managed to disarm Lancelot for the first time, shocking the man onto his back. Arthur told himself his new confidence had nothing to do with the fact that Merlin was perched on barrel behind him, cheering him on.
Yes, the days spent aboard the ship with his crew— yes, his crew— were possibly the best of his life. But of all the experiences he had on The Dragon, the best was most definitely their last night before making port.
There was no storm that night, and so the crew all gathered around the deck to drink wine and make merry, telling tales of their past adventures and reminiscing on the lives they had before and after joining Captain Shakespeare. Gaius revealed that he had once been very close to the late kings only daughter, being named her brother in all but blood and standing beside her at her wedding to her husband. They all laughed till their sides hurt when he shared the story of the first time she’d tried to teach him to waltz. It was then that Merlin had revealed he’d never danced before, and Gwaine had jumped to his feet, declaring this fact unjust and unlawful.
The brunette pulled Merlin close to his chest, showing him where to place his hands and adjusting his feet, before nodding to Elyan, who began to play a soft tune on the captain’s piano. The two stumbled around the deck a bit before Gwaine twirled him away and into the arms of Percival. Merlin continued his dance— if one could call it that— for a few songs, being passed back and forth between crewmen and stepping on nearly every toe on the ship, before he was finally passed into the arms of the Captain, who held him fondly as a parent might their bumbling child. Arthur watched with a soft smile, his mind focused intently on Merlin’s wide grin.
His smile slipped, just a bit, when Merlin began to glow.
It was faint, just a bit of white light highlighting the edges of his adorably abnormally large ears where his black hair curled, and his eyes began to spark with just a touch of gold. Arthur looked around with worry, but it didn’t seem that any of the others noticed the change. Still, he moved a bit closer to where the star and the captain danced, straining his ears to better hear their conversation.
“Merlin,” Gaius spoke casually, “I know what you are.”
The change was immediate, the glow dimming back as Merlin tensed. Arthur stood a bit straighter, hand resting on the sword at his hip.
There was no need for the gesture, however, as Gaius’s voice then took on a comforting, almost parental tone. “Have no fear, boy, no one on the vessel will harm you.” Merlin’s posture relaxed, as did Arthur’s. The blonde wondered if the still-dancing pair knew he could hear their conversation.
“But there are plenty who would,” the captain was still speaking, “Your emotions give you away, Merlin. You must learn to control them. You’ve been glowing more brightly every day, and I think you know why. . .”
Merlin chuckled a bit. “Of course I know why I’m glowing, I’m a star! And what do stars do best?”
“Well,” Gaius muttered as the boy stepped once more on his toes, “it’s certainly not the waltz.”
Their conversation was cut short as Arthur stood and placed a hand on Gaius’ back. “May I cut in?” he joked, taking Merlin’s hand in his as Gaius stepped away. He pulled the star closer to him and rested a hand comfortably around his waist. Merlin’s arm came up to rest on Arthur’s shoulder, and they began to move.
Well, they would have, if Merlin hadn’t immediately crushed Arthur’s foot with his own. Arthur let out a short laugh as the star apologized profusely. The blonde adjusted their positions, standing straighter. “Now try,” he encouraged.
This time, when they took a step back, the movements flowed naturally between them. Gwaine whistled loudly, earning a few more giggles from the raven haired boy, and Arthur found himself lost once more in the golden blue of Merlin’s eyes. An impossible color, and yet somehow perfectly fitting. Merlin returned the gaze unabashed, his hand tightening subtly around Arthur’s. Neither of the young men took notice when the crew began to trickle out, turning in for the night, the glow of Merlin’s smile seeming too bright for their tired eyes.
***
The coin hung in place in the air, spinning in rapid motion and making a soft ringing sound in front of the shopkeeper’s nose. He stared at it, hand itching at his side from the urge to grab it from its place.
“Due west, you say?” spoke the woman pacing behind him, “And you’re certain he had a girl with him?”
“Yes!” the weasel man exclaimed, licking his lips.
“You’re sure you’re not lying?”
The man didn’t look away from the coin once, not even when a spark of green flame seemed to glow in the woman’s eyes. “I’d cross my heart if I had one. Ha!”
Nimueh rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. The coin fell into the shopkeepers hands. “You’d better be telling the truth, you two-faced dog.”
The man kissed the coin proudly before shoving it in the pocket of his waistcoat. “I can get you one of them! Very good guard dogs. They can watch the back door and the front door at the same time! Ha!” He giggled at the thought. “I can get you anything you want.”
Nimueh paused her pacing, turning towards him. “What are the chances of getting a Babylon candle?”
The man grimaced, reaching up to pick at his ear. “That one’s slim, actually. Although, I did know a girl once— if you know what I mean, I’m a ladies man— who, uh, who had a sister? I think. I think it was a women. Ha! Oh, she was terrible. Face like a bag of frogs. Ugly frogs. Anyway—”
Nimueh let out an exasperated groan, pointing her finger towards the weasel man’s mouth. “Enough,” she ordered, a stream of bright green light travelling from her pointer finger down his throat. He coughed, opening his mouth to demand what the hell, lady? but all that came out was a series of clucks, quite similar to those a chicken might make.
He frowned, sitting down at the table and opening his mouth to try again. The shopkeeper was still clucking as Nimueh wrapped her shawl tightly around her head and disappeared out the door.
***
“HOLD ON TIGHT! GWAINE’S ON THE HELM!” A shout of panic was heard from the crow’s nest, and everyone grabbed on to anything they could as the ship took a sharp right, swinging quickly and dangerously above the ocean as the cackling pirate pulled them into port at the seaside. The ship dipped suddenly, crashing into a wave and spraying the entire crew with salt water.
Arthur coughed and sputtered from where he and Merlin clung to the ropes, laughing and choking all together. Merlin was clutching a rope with one hand and his stomach with the other, trying his best not to fall over from his laughing fit. The blonde was knocked to the ground when the ship tilted right and the two hundred and seventy five pounds of muscle came crashing into him. The men glared playfully at the insane helmsman when he finally pulled them into port.
After the crew had pulled themselves together, taking a few calming breaths and swigs of ale from their respective waterskins, they all lined up on the deck to say their goodbyes.
Gaius handed Arthur a travel-sized container of the “sky’s best” from their recent storm, which he slung across his chest proudly. At his hip rested a golden sword— a gift from Leon, to mark the completion of his swordplay crash course. He’d dubbed it Excalibur, ignoring the way Merlin had rolled his eyes and muttered something along the lines of “overdramatic prat” when he’d christened it such.
Gaius pat Arthur on the shoulder, gesturing to the landscape ahead. “So there’s the road you’ll need for Wall.” He called down to Merlin, who’d already shared his tearful goodbyes and was waiting patiently on shore. “Good luck to you on your journey home, Merlin, wherever that may be!” He winked at the star, who gave a thankful nod in return, before turning back to the blond. “And good luck to you, Arthur, with your Sophia.”
“How can we ever thank you for your kindness?” Arthur looked over the crew, feeling like he was losing something important by saying goodbye.
Gaius waved him off. “I’m sure our paths will cross again someday. Until then, don’t mention it.” He paused, giving Arthur that damn eyebrow. “Really, do not mention it. Reputations are fickle things. Lifetime to build, seconds to destroy.”
Arthur nodded in understanding, climbing out onto the rope bridge. He took two steps forward before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he was surprised to see Elyan with a hard look on his face. The shorter man leaned in to whisper in his ear. Arthur felt his stomach twist at the words, looking past Elyan to see the rest of his men giving him the same knowing look. “Just think about it,” Elyan told him. He nodded slowly before thanking them once more and finishing his descent to land.
“Give my regards to England,” Gaius called down. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you both!”
Arthur and Merlin turned to him, giving weary glances to the grumbling crew. Leon cleared his throat and Gaius’s eyes widened a fraction. He raised a fist, and, in a booming voice they hadn’t heard since their initial capture, finished with, “Mind you don’t wear that wench out, Captain Arthur!”
The crew cheered, shoving each other around playfully before they moved along to their posts, gearing the ship up for its next journey. Arthur laughed, turning and bumping a sputtering Merlin affectionately with his shoulder.
“Did he just call me a wench?” Merlin looked like he wasn’t sure whether to be amused or scandalized.
Arthur laughed heartily and started making his way down the road, knowing Merlin would keep close behind him. “Don’t be such a girl about it, Merlin!”
They heard a loud crashing sound and whipped around in sharp synchronization, turning to watch the ship pull out and into the air. It was a beautiful sight, albeit sad. Neither had ever felt more at home than they did aboard The Dragon.
Merlin was the first to pull his eyes away, raising an eyebrow at Arthur in perfect imitation of Gaius. “What did Elyan say to you?”
“What did he say when?” Arthur feigned innocence as they both continued on down the road.
“Just then, when he whispered something into your ear. What did he say?”
“Oh, em. . . he was just saying we should use the lightening to get you a Babylon candle,” Arthur avoided the star’s gaze, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. “Barter for it, you know.”
Merlin frowned, but said nothing. It wasn’t his business. Still, he couldn’t help feeling something crawl in the pit of his stomach at the thought.
***
“For the last time! Where. Is. The. Boy?” Cenred growled lowly. Two guards held the shopkeeper between them, forcing him to look up at the prince in desperation.
He opened his mouth to reply, once more finding his words transformed into clucks.
“The boy with the stone! Where did he go?” Cenred reached out to grasp the man around his neck. “Are you mocking me?”
The shopkeeper shook his head vigorously, trying again. The clucks were louder this time, frantic, though the sickly smile still never left his face. Even now, in this helpless situation, he was attempting at a laugh.
“Because if you are, believe me, you have seconds to live!” The prince was out of patience, sweat dripping from his brow from his journey. When the man continued clucking, showing no sign of answering his words, Cenred drew his sword without a second thought, slashing the shopkeeper through the belly.
The guards dropped the weasel man to the floor, leaving him as he bled out. Cenred mumbled “freak” under his breath and handed his sword to Jonas to be cleaned. Thoroughly.
***
Nimueh’s ever present frown deepened as she glanced at her reflection, glowering at the pale, wrinkled skin and thin hair. She pointed a finger to her neck, a stream of green tightening the skin beneath her chin. She was satisfied momentarily before feeling a sudden shift of weight on her chest. She looked down and huffed as her breasts sagged.
She heard familiar, taunting laughter and looked down at her ring, rolling her eyes at the image of her sisters pointing at her in amusement.
“If you’ve quite finished squandering your magic on your rather counterproductive beauty routine,” Morgause scolded, “you might like to know that the star has returned.”
“He’s back on land.” Morgana confirmed.
“I know, damn it!” Nimueh snapped. “I couldn’t reach the port on time.”
“No matter,” Morgause shrugged, “We have found him. He is on the road to the village of Wall. If you take the shortcut across the marshes you should arrive on time to intercept him!”
Morgause and Nimueh squealed in excitement, drawing up a new plan. Neither paid any mind to Morgana sinking in on herself in the background, eyes downcast and exhausted.
***
Arthur and Merlin had been walking in comfortable silence for nearly half a day. Neither felt particularly inclined to speak, having too much on their minds to piece together useless small talk. Every step drew them closer to Wall. Closer to destiny.
Arthur was ripped from his thoughts at the sight of a cart coming down the road. He jumped in panic, shoving Merlin into the bushes along the side of the path and jumping in after him, effectively hiding their presence from the traveler heading their way.
Arthur lie on top of Merlin, noses nearly touching, and tilted his head to listen for signs of the traveler. Merlin seemed unimpressed. “Are you trying to break my leg again?”
The blonde shushed him gently. “No, I’m sorry,” he whispered softly into the star’s ear. “I’m sorry. I just can’t risk people seeing you. I don’t trust anyone.”
Merlin laughed as quietly as he could, staring up in fond vexation at the man lying on top of him. “But at this rate, if we keep stopping—”
“Shh, Merlin.” Arthur put a finger to Merlin’s lips, leaning in a bit closer. Merlin felt his heart speed up at the proximity. “We’re making good time. Just leave it a minute.” Arthur was still whispering, and something about the entire situation seemed too intimate. Merlin hoped, for the first time in his life, that his glow wasn’t noticeable in the light.
Arthur could hear the wagon passing them, and he pulled his hand away, allowed Merlin back his speech. Merlin stayed silent a moment longer, gazing at Arthur with a sad smile. “Aren’t you tempted?” he asked suddenly.
Arthur looked back down, as if only just noticing his position. He looked down at the young man beneath him, raking his gaze slowly over pale pink lips and wide, crystal eyes. Those eyes, he thought, were far more beautiful than any jewel or amulet the star could ever wear. “Tempted?” he leaned in closer, “by what?”
Merlin frowned as if the answer were obvious. “Immortality.”
Arthur’s chest tightened, the thought of his star being sliced open for the cost of such a wish making his blood run cold.
The dark haired boy was still talking. “I mean, say it wasn’t my heart. Not me. Just some star you didn’t know.”
Arthur’s thoughts drifted to his dream that night at the Inn. Of the dark girl with the curls, the one the witches had killed in the past. He compared her light to the light beneath him, and thought that no one should ever be able to harm such beautiful creatures. “Do you seriously think I could kill anyone?” he joked, trying to lighten the mood. He relaxed a bit at Merlin’s answering laugh. Shushing him again, he focused his attention on the glow surrounding the star. “I mean, even if I could. Everlasting life? I imagine it would be kind of. . .” he looked down at Merlin’s eyes, “. . .lonely.”
The glow began to dim as Merlin took in the words. If Arthur noticed, he didn’t mention it, continuing on. “Well, maybe if you had someone to share it with. Someone you loved. Maybe then it might be different.”
Merlin was silent. He looked away from the blonde as if the sight of him was physically painful. They lie there a few more moments before Arthur declared the roads safe and stood, helping the star back to his feet. Merlin made a comment about the dirt on his jacket, to which Arthur replied by calling him some name or another. They fell easily back into their banter.
***
Anyways the author could not give two shits about writing the scene where the prince fights the pirates. Basically the pirates win and all the guards are dead. Cenred jumps off the ship and steals Jonas’s horse, riding off after Merlin and Arthur alone. Watch the movie if you want more detail. Moving on.
***
“I, uh, I noticed you sort of. . .glitter sometimes,” Arthur said later that afternoon, “Is that normal?”
Merlin gave him a look. “Let’s see if you can work it out for yourself. What do stars do?”
Arthur hummed, thinking for a moment. The star momentarily worried he’d hurt himself, making a move like that. “Attract trouble?” The blonde guessed, earning a swat at his arm. “Right, do I get another guess? Is it. . . they know exactly how to annoy a man called Arthur Pendragon?”
Merlin didn’t respond, stopping in front of a rock on the side of the road. Etched into it were the words “THE WALL: 60 MILES” followed by an arrow pointing them forwards. “How long do you think that will take?”
The blonde shrugged. He squinted against the sunlight and raised a hand to cover his eyes as he gazed down then path. “Maybe two days?”
“But we don’t have two days!” He gave Arthur a worried look and gestured at nothing in particular. “Sophia’s birthday is tomorrow!” Arthur didn’t look away from Merlin, but his smile dropped. He had completely forgotten about Sophia. How could he forget about Sophia?
The breeze blew softly over curls blacker than the night sky, causing long, nimble fingers to reach up in irritation and brush them out of deep blue pools. Oh, that’s how. The realization hit Arthur suddenly. He wanted to stumble back. To run through a field and scream into the air and break down in crisis of just how he’d managed to let his life get so far off track.
Instead, he gave a noncommittal hum and a, “Yes, it is. Well remembered,” before trudging mechanically on.