Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Father, you don't have to look so sombre.” Whined Arthur.

So Uther had spent a week tracking a wagon full of smoked red herring halfway to Mercia thinking it was Halig stealing off with his omega only to completely miss that Merlin was back in Camelot going through a heat alone with only Arthur to keep him company. Poor little thing.

Still, on the plus side, passing through all those Kingdoms had given him a chance to organise a get together of alpha rulers and show off what a great king he was to Merlin. “Never before have the rulers of the five kingdoms come together in this way. Never before have we all worked towards the same aim, towards peace.“

Arthur sighed. This was because they were already at peace and keeping to their borders for the most part. The last thing he needed was Uther kicking up trouble and destroying the tentative peace. Half the Kingdoms had been appalled at Uther’s little anti-magic tantrum and might even have had something to say about it if it hadn’t meant an influx of omega refugees into their own territory (magic did produce some of the very finest blankets after all).

In Arthur’s opinion, so many alpha Kings in one place was never going to end well – and as leader of the knights more likely than not it was going to be up to him to fix the problem.

In reality those other rulers might really only be coming to check out this rare, unbound, male omega that had Uther running around the countryside – but that was only hearsay. “If these talks are successful, Camelot will enter a new era of prosperity.” Uther declared melodramatically. “but if those bastards even look at my omega… there will almost certainly be war.”

Alined was one such King who was moderately unimpressed with Uther obtaining such a male omega. For years he had been able to lord his rare male omega over the other Kings for ages and now Uther had gone and procured a younger one. Lèse-majesté!

Not that Trickler wasn’t a desirable omega (once you got over the smell of pee)… but let us establish some facts. Not all omegas are created equally. Trickler, sexy as he was, was a little… less clever than other omegas. Possibly this was due to Trickler’s omega mother having a fascination with Newtonian physics and dropping him on his head one too many times as a baby, (and several of those falls had clearly been face plants…) but we digress…

Alined dropped his cloak on the ground as he dismounted in the Square. Trickler ran over and picked it up like a servant. Alined liked to stash treats in the lining so it looked like Trickler cared for him and Trickler liked treats so was happy to play along.

“Alined, you are most welcome on this momentous occasion.” Declared Uther sweeping out of the castle and grasping Alined’s arms in greeting.

Alined noted Uther passing an eye over Trickler and dismissing him  almost  immediately (only almost… despite being a little… less attractive than Merlin, Whistler was still  omega and being bonded to another alpha made him forbidden fruit, which had its own appeal to Uther) Tch.

“Momentous? Let us hope so.” Alined snarled.

Alined watched Olaf's party arrive in the Square from his guest quarters. Olaf was another one of those kings that lorded it over the other Kings by having an omega daughter in his court. Alined had failed to get Trickster with child so this was just another blight on his alpha pride. Whether this was because Alined was impotent or Trickler was perhaps not as stupid as he pretended to be (evidence for this has been suggested by historical references showing that despite being one of the plainest omegas in history and having an indisputable incontinence problem, Trickler had accumulated the largest fortune in the five Kingdoms at the time of his death).

“Uther may think that we are gathered here for peace, but that is far from my mind.” Alined snarled.

Trickler was used to Alined ranting, so helped himself to some cookies. Trickler liked what Trickler liked, and unfortunately for Alined, Trickler liked collecting gold and boffing with other alpha kings… which getting pregnant was likely to get in the way of.

“Vivien?” Asked Trickler, having wandered over to the window to see what had inspired the current rant. Vivien was pretty enough but didn’t particularly threaten him as an omega. Trickler knew exactly what he was… even if the expression BOILF (bonded omega I’d like to fuck) wasn’t in common use yet.

“Olaf is the most overprotective buffoon I've ever met. It would surely end the peace talks if any alpha were to lay a finger on her.”

Trickler really didn’t see that happening. There was a reason Vivien hadn’t been bonded yet and that was simply her extremely bad personality. She had been spoiled rotten (even for an omega) by the overly attentive Olaf.

“What kind of welcome is this? You have us hanging around like the last swallows of summer.” Olaf announced to Uther, determined to out manoeuvre Uther with his own dramatic entrance.

Uther tched. “You are welcome, indeed, Olaf!” he declared regardless.

“May I present my omega daughter, the Lady Vivian?” Olaf purred.

“Lady Vivian.” Uther greeted jealously. Presumably he had intended to have Morgana on hand to counter this attack, but Morgana had taken insult at his suggestion that she be shackled to the portico to greet visitors with him and disappeared for the day. As had a sizable quantity of hemlock.

Vivian scowled and spat at Uther's feet. “How like your mother you are.” Uther complimented.

With Morgana AWOL, it fell to Arthur to escort Vivian to her chambers – which might normally be a considerable honour, but Merlin was always horny for a couple of days post-heat and demanded he return straight away.

“I hope everything is to your satisfaction.” He said coldly, desperate to get away. Even if Merlin was an exclusive top outside of heat, the cuddling after was always nice.  

“Adequate.” Vivian returned, equally as cold. She was used to a certain level of fawning from alphas and she wasn’t getting any from Arthur, the first alpha she’d been in company of that wasn’t in the geriatric range.

“Most of our guests are extremely happy here. I'm sure you will be, too.” Arthur grumbled, luckily Gwen chose that instance to appear, which gave him an excuse to leave. “Well, er, may I present Guinevere. She'll be looking after you for the duration of your stay. You'll want for nothing. She is truly one of Camelot's finest.”

Vivian cringed like she'd smelled something bad (which realistically, as an omega she probably had, Morgana had made sure to thoroughly scent Gwen so the company didn't get any ideas. Vivian rudely cast an eye over Gwen in a most judgey manner, leaving Arthur and Gwen quite flummoxed. Morgana had impeccable court manners (only belittled people when they weren’t there), and Merlin, while lacking in court etiquette was still always quite pleasant to the castle betas (except cook… but then every omega had their self-appointed nemesis).

Arthur and Gwen paused as they exited Vivian’s room and once the door was closed behind them, looked at each other and laughed.

“Good luck with that one.” Arthur sympathised.

“Mmm.” Agreed Gwen.

“I… uh… I need to go now… prepare for the feast and all that.”

“Right.” Teased Gwen. ”The feast that isn’t until tonight.” Even Morgana wouldn’t start her preparations for at least a few hours. “I suppose Merlin will be helping you?” It wasn’t so much a matter that she was particularly observant, but that Merlin liked to make up for a month of silence and there was no one in Camelot with working ears that could possibly have missed it (basically just Geoffery of Monmouth on the grounds that he was more than a little deaf, Uther on the grounds that he was not physically on the actual grounds, and a number of knights that had been escorting Uther on his red herring chase).

Arthur blushed deeply and excused himself.

“Merlin, what kind of impression do you think this gives?”

Merlin indolently rolled over as Arthur pushed his thumb through the hole in his pants. Obviously it sent the message that Arthur had been too slow pulling off his pants when Merlin had needed him to.

“…moths?” he suggested cheekily, already slipping back into mini-verbal communication on the grounds his throat was quite sore today.

“I can’t wear these to the feast!” Arthur declared tossing them aside.

Feast? Now that had Merlin’s attention. He had been rather preoccupied the last few days and hadn’t kept up with his social calendar… feasts were for important people. Why was there a feast? “Who?” he demanded (Merlin was still recuperating from his sex-marathon and was considering skipping if the guest list wasn’t important enough to at least break out the good comfit).

“The five kings,” Listed Arthur. “probably the Lady Vivian too.”

Merlin hummed. He’d been waiting for Vivian to come up since he’d spotted Morgana hissing at her in the corridor earlier (when he’d slipped out to make sure Leon knew he was still unmarked).

“Well…” admitted Arthur, “she’s pretty enough, not as pretty as you of course,” Merlin preened, “but she's incredibly rude. You should've heard what she said to Gwen.”

Insulting Gwen…? Merlin scoffed. Clearly Olaf’s whelp didn’t know about Gwen’s skills with a blanket. And that’s the way it should stay. Merlin didn’t need strange omegas coming into his territory and looking at his betas.

Nothing attracted the attention of an alpha quite as quickly as an omega walking into a room and breathing fire. Survival instincts and sexual attraction tended to go hand in hand with alphas after all. Next Trickler released half a dozen butterflies.

“Quite... skilful.” Admitted Uther, who seemed to recall having a little fling with an omega that looked very much like Trickler a few years at the last peace treaty signing… so it would be quite rude to point out that not only were the butterflies dead, but at least three of them had had the heads bitten off.

“We aim to please.” Alined preened. A compliment to one's omega was an affirmation of self after all.

This was Trickler’s first opportunity to get a good look at the other alphas at the banquet. Old. Old. Already had him. Old. Already had him. And then… then there was Prince Arthur.

Trickler cocked his head to one side. Surely an alpha prince (given there were no other heirs) was just as good as a King?

Then Trickler went and hissed at Vivian and Morgana for a while which eventually devolved into hair pulling and eventually everyone diplomatically retiring for the evening since the mud pit wouldn't be ready until at least tomorrow.

Now despite Trickler’s best efforts, he hadn’t managed to keep Arthur’s attention on any level during the banquet. Not even with the fire and alphas were always wary when omegas played with fire. Instead the Prince had simply filled up a platter of food from the feast and slipped away when no one was looking.

This suggested that Arthur was seeing that unmarked omega that Alined had been whining about since they’d set off for Camelot, which was quite delightful from the perspective that Uther seemed to be completely oblivious and terrible, because if Arthur was already besotted with another omega it would be quite difficult to get into his bed.

Luckily Trickler, apart from boffing kings and collecting gold, had more than a passing interest in chemistry and magic and absolutely zero scruples when it came to using both on alphas (as most omegas would agree).

Making a ‘love potion’ was well within his abilities.

“... læfe he híe þonne he áwæcaþ. Biþ his hyht þæt he her seón mote ána oftíe þonne ealle mán.”  He chanted over the vial. Then he collected some hair that he presumed was his own off his robe. Which was funny because last time he looked he didn’t have long blonde hair. Whatever.

Then it was just a matter of sneaking into Arthur’s chambers and pouring the droplets into his eyes and shoving the hair under Arthur's pillow, and Trickler would be able to put another notch in his bedpost.

Now Merlin was particularly territorial straight after heat and this was amplified with so many foreign omegas in the castle, so sneaking into Arthur’s room was no simple task. It required the Rube Goldberg of all plans to work – which was ideal as these were exactly the type of plan that omegas were best at. Now if only Trickler could figure out where to get 17 geese, 12 drinking horns, a bucket (preferably yellow), 403 spoons and a jellied eel at this time of night...

Arthur stared out his window at George supervising the filling of buckets in the courtyard (there was a lot of cleaning to be done after a heat). Merlin’s post-heat had well and truly broken during the night and Arthur had subsequently been booted out of his own bed.

“Mpff.” Said Merlin rolling over on the bed as the sunlight from the window hit him.

“Never have you been more right, Merlin!” Declared Arthur cheerfully (sustained sex will do that for an alpha). “It is the sunniest, the most fragrant, the most beautiful morning I've ever seen in my life!”

Merlin groaned. The sheets were sticky so he probably wasn’t going to be able to just go back to sleep again, and the sandwich he’d been saving was too soggy for even him to contemplate eating, so he supposed he might as well get up. He yawned and stretched.

Arthur was of course high as a kite on omega-ketamine, a hormone that omegas produced when satisfied during heat. O.K. would of course not be discovered for at least 5 centuries, but that was irrelevant to the fact that Arthur was currently extremely receptive to omega commands. Merlin grunted again and held out his arms so Arthur could carry him to the bath (even if it would break his not-clean streak there were times bathing was acceptable, and straight after marathon sex was one of them).

Arthur gently put Merlin in the bath. ”Let’s get you cleaned up. And then it’s my job to woo you.”

Merlin looked at him incredulously.

“To woo. I wish to make a proclamation of love.” Explained Arthur, presuming Merlin hadn’t understood the word.

Merlin rolled his eyes and smacked Arthur upside the head (with a convenient bludgeon, proving just how important it was to return that kind of thing to the armory rather than leave it lying around when you’d finished playing with it, Arthur). Having finished bathing, Merlin went off to find some breakfast. Which was unfortunate really, because when George returned with the bucket brigade he had an unconscious Arthur placed back on the bed where he would be susceptible to that hank of Vivian’s hair under his pillow.

Chapter Text

“Merlin, I’ve got a problem…” started Arthur.

Merlin had problems of his own. Like how he could possibly be so exhausted as to miss a feast…

“So,” continued Arthur oblivious to Merlin’s inner turmoil, “ I need your help in expressing my feelings.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. This again. Was Arthur going to be super clingy every time they smashed uglies? It was just bro’s helping o’s while Leon was out doing Uther things…

“Feelings! It’s for a girl, should I send flowers?”

Oh. It was for a girl. Merlin had very strong beliefs about flowers… and that was they were tolerable only because bees liked them, and bees made honey, but if it was for a girl then… he nodded.

“Excellent. Go get some. You should write a note as well.”

Merlin frowned. Why would he write a note? And since when was he Arthur’s servant for that matter? Servant for real reals anyway…

“Something moving. Something from the heart. Something...you'll think of something.”

Challenge accepted (or rather loyalty purchased with a wedge of cheddar).

Merlin in true omega fashion had come up with a list of ‘girls’ that Arthur might wish to give flowers and convey feelings to, and just randomly selected a few. Cook had been terribly impressed with the bouquet he had given her (‘The barriers that keep us apart will not save you should you not increase the meat proportion in the venison pie.  – Arthur’), as had Gaius (so Merlin had a little bit of a problem judging primary gender when it came to betas… it was probably the floor length robes and long hair…) on receiving his (‘I know what you did. Tempt not my wrath – Arthur’; an obvious allusion to Gaius eating the last of the ham while Merlin was in heat). Not to mention Morgana (Arthur really shouldn’t have said what he did on that one… hopefully Gaius had stocked up on antidotes recently).

Gwen wasn’t home, so Merlin placed the flowers on her table ‘I wouldn’t mind you sticking a needle in my blanket. You can sew my seams any day. – Arthur’ He mulled over his own brilliance before placing the note carefully next to the flowers.

“Your demands are noted and will be taken into consideration in due course. In the meantime, is there anyone else who has any questions?” and then because there was far too many hands raised he quickly added, “Questions about the Northern borders and not about when Merlin will get here? Anyone?”

Mysteriously, all the Hands lowered. Even Arthur’s, but in his case he actually knew where Merlin was, so it was mostly peer pressure.

Suddenly Merlin did appear, giving Arthur a thumbs up to show he had completed the flower task.

“Well, may I just point out,” blustered Olaf getting to his feet and trying to steal Uther’s thunder in front of the omega. “that...” nobody really paid any attention to whatever it was he had to point out as they were busy ogling Merlin who had sidled over to Arthur.

“Did you do it?” whispered Arthur.

Merlin nodded.

“You're sure she got it?”

Merlin paused… cook had... and Gaius certainly got his. He’d been talking about treason and packing when Merlin last saw him. And Gwen had to go home eventually… so yeah. He nodded again.

“Good. All we can do now is wait.” Decided Arthur.

It wasn’t long before a rather rabid looking Vivian burst into the meeting, ending any pretence that there was actual discussion taking place (there hadn’t been a great deal to begin with, but even that had deteriorated into alpha posturing with Merlin’s entry). Gwen of course accompanied Vivian as her assigned beta (something that had Morgana quite annoyed).

“Oh, but heaven has blessed me. She's even more beautiful than before, don't you agree?”

Gwen had a basket of sewing (watching a quilt being sewn was quite hypnotic for an omega, so Gwen never left home without one) and was that… yes! The corner of a new quilt just poking over the side… it was enough to bring tears to an omegas eyes.

“I want to tell the world! I want to shout it across the kingdom!” declared Arthur.

Merlin disagreed. That nasty bint Vivian might not have noticed the quilt yet – if she did, he might have to fight her for it. And frankly he had seen Vivian absolutely shred a guard yesterday when he didn’t get out of her way fast enough (while it was tempting to grow out ones nails to use as a weapon, most omega kept their nails short to prevent blanket damage). Merlin wasn’t sure he could take her. He tugged urgently on Arthur’s arm to hold him back.

“You object? To what?” asked Arthur, slapping him away.

Arthur had… slapped Merlin away. Arthur… dared… (maybe it was the post-heat talking but Merlin found himself purring).

“Lady Vivian's of royal blood! A future queen! I will have your head if I hear such insolence again!” barked Arthur, storming away.

Oooh… playing hard to get… Merlin likey…

--  

“Merlin, can't you knock?” Asked Gwen when Merlin arrived at her home and threw open the door.

He simply had to have it. He went to the sewing basket and dumped the contents out. Nothing.

“What is it?” Gwen asked, perturbed by the unusual actions of Camelot’s gentlest omegas (in her opinion anyway – of course even though she hadn’t been present for some of Merlin’s greatest acts of violence, if she just applied a little imagination and replaced the memory of a suckling pig with a man’s face she might change her mind).

“…rats.” Said Merlin – which was quite believable. Even though Merlin was vetoed when he presented his extremely progressive essay on the sustainable meat resources of Camelot (presumably because the Camelot Department of Agriculture was entirely populated by betas) it was quite well known that Merlin was always looking for studs for his rat farm (the location of which was unknown - something that kept George awake most nights).

Merlin ducked under the table to see if the blanket was there and Gwen peeked under to check on him.

“Are you feeling alright?” She asked, noticing Merlins miserable face.

Merlin nodded sadly.

This didn’t really bother Gwen. Omegas were prone to mood swings just after a heat. “I'm having a very surprising day.” She stated casually, intent on distracting him from whatever had him down. Unfortunately she chose a poor topic.... “Did you have any idea that Arthur fancied the Lady Vivian?” 

Merlin cocked his head. He had lost all hope when he didn’t find the blanket… but this…

“What now, Merlin?” Gaius asked. Merlin looked rather put upon, which could be caused by almost anything within the range of a prickle in his boot to Uther putting a tax on bacon.

“…mistake.” Whined Merlin. Of course he was just using Arthurs professional services to get through his heat. He could do what he wanted... court who he wanted…

Gaius froze. Anyone and frankly everyone knew what Merlin and Arthur had been up to while Uther was away, “…and what mistake is that?”

Merlin shrugged and made some hand gestures that were obviously meant to be him picking flowers. Obviously.

“Well.” Gaius cleared his throat. “It’s not like I completely didn’t see this coming…”

“…Vivian!” Exclaimed Merlin.

“What?! The Lady Vivian?!“ gasped Gaius. After spending at least two heats with Merlin (possibly three, he still hadn’t decoded what happened in Ealdor – either it was some sort of extreme a-o sex or Arthurs buttocks had exploded… details weren’t Merlin’s strength) Arthur was absolutely smitten with Merlin (it was only years of emotional manipulation from Uther that kept him from bonding). Arthur shouldn’t even be thinking of looking at another omega…

In comparison, the Lady Vivian was a particularly nasty, little thing that had tried to gouge out Gaius’s eyes in the hall not a half an hour ago on the grounds he was the ugliest, old woman she had ever seen. Not that Gaius was taking sides… buuut…

Merlin whined again. Right. Back to business. “If Arthur professes his love for Vivian, Olaf will be furious. Surely, Arthur knows that?” Not to mention life would be miserable for Gaius having to deal with three omegas in Camelot on a permanent basis.

What Arthur knew, Merlin could hardly speculate on. Arthur said he was going to woo Merlin and now he was giving flowers to another omega…

“And it's your job to stop him!”

Vivian stared incredulously at Arthur.

“It is destiny, my love! Destiny… and chicken!” Arthur declared, pulling back the cover to reveal a roast chicken. It had been Merlin’s suggestion (surely Vivian would be offended Arthur hadn’t bought at least a goose or rack of lamb, yeah?). ”What a beautiful combination, eh?”

Vivian slammed the door in his face. Appropriate gifts for princess Vivian were expensive jewels, very fine blankets or a quart of human blood, lightly chilled, two olives. What was this utter nonsense?

“The beans are a little cold, but the meat is very good!” Arthur threw the door open again, determined.

Vivian scowled at him.

“My love, I do not know what I've done to offend you!” Arthur could appreciate maidenly virtue but this was worrying…  “Is it you father? Your father does not worry me!”

Vivian slammed the door in his face again. Her father was brilliant with a knife, thank you very much!

“Just five minutes!” Arthur begged, bringing on the door again. “What about the chicken?”

Merlin, watching the show with glee, smirked. His sabotage had worked. Chicken indeed! That might be good enough for a one-night roll in an inn, but in the castle walls you wanted to give at least beef.

Arthur shoved the tray at Merlin (who immediately regretted not telling Arthur to get the goose after all) and staggered away at the brutal rejection, while Trickler and Alined watched on, unbeknownst.

Trickler was unusually pleased with himself… well…. Perhaps not ‘unusually’ – Trickler had extremely high self-esteem for an omega and could even make three-word sentences when he wanted to (not that anyone would know since he couldn’t be bothered).

According to Alined, Trickler had intended to make Arthur fall in love with Vivian all along to ruin the peace talks. And since there was a lovely bag of gold as a reward for Trickler, Trickler was inclined to agree. That had totally been his intention.

Unfortunately, Vivian had not reacted quite as Alined had predicted.

“Diet?! Every woman in the land is attracted to this boy! I'm almost attracted to him myself!” Alined whined.

Trickler rolled his eyes. Alined’s preference for bottoming was perhaps the reason Trickler had to look afield to other Kings to meet his needs in the first place.

“We only have until the end of tomorrow to scupper these talks. I need war. Do you understand?”

Trickler nodded enthusiastically. He didn’t actually have a clue what 'scuppered' meant but Alined had punctuated the sentence by shaking a pouch of gold, so he was sure he could figure it out. If he was lucky it was one of those rhetorical questions and Alined would tell him anyway.

“Peace will make me poor, and you know what happens to poor kings… they can't afford castles, or knights, or omegas…”

Trickler gasped on queue and whined pathetically… because it was expected. It was threats like this that had led to Trickler owning more of Alined’s Kingdom than Alined did. When Trickler finally left Alined he totally planned to do it with half of the treasury (the big half), a diverse stock portfolio and preferably a pretty alpha King (or prince!) on his arm (a blonde one would be nice...).

“ There will be time for snivelling later!” declared Alined, pleased with Trickler's whining. “Now there is work to be done!”

“You do not think I should pursue my love.” Arthur sulked pathetically.

Merlin licked some chicken grease off his fingers and rolled his eyes. Arthur was such a drama queen… then because it was quite tiring to watch Arthur sulk he went to take a nap. Plumping the pillows he came across the hank of blonde hair under Arthur’s pillow.

What the actual f*ck… was Arthur’s hair falling out? While Uther had a bit of a receding hair line it wasn’t that bad… an alphas hair was important to an omega (it was an important indicator of alpha health… plus pulling it was fun). Was Arthur sick? He needed to show this to Gaius…

“Arthurs enchanted.” Stated Gaius, examining the hair closely.

Merlin gasped. A curse! A curse to make Arthur go bald! He suspected as much…

“This completely explains his infatuation with Vivian.” Gaius declared. And thank god. It had occurred to him if Arthur took up with Vivian it would be on him to deal with a rejected Merlin. As much as Merlin claimed Arthur was just a fling, rejected omegas were pitiable, miserable and hurt… but mostly vindictive and sneaky. “But who placed the enchantment?”

What? Arthur had been enchanted to fancy Vivian? Of course. How could Arthur have been interested in Vivian when she wasn’t even as pretty as Merlin? 

The only time someone could have placed the enchantment was when Merlin had snuck out to watch Vivian and Morgana brawling in the middle of the night, so it couldn’t have been either of them. But who else could do magic? That would want to cause problems for a poor innocent omega and his boy-toy?

Merlin gasped. It was that bitch Trickler! Trickler thought Merlin hadn’t seen him ogling Arthur but Merlin most certainly had!

‘…Trickler!” Merlin burst out.

“Trickler?” asked Gaius, “Merlin, you can’t just accuse him because it’s another omega…”

“…Trickler!” Insisted Merlin, stamping his foot.

“But why would Trickler want Arthur to fall in love with Vivian?” Ah. That was the part Merlin didn’t understand yet. “Although… an advance by Arthur would be a sure-fire way to ruin the peace conference. Maybe Alined wants war?”

Merlin nodded. 

“It's the sort of cowardly behaviour you would expect from him. Cowardly, but clever.”

“…Arthur!” insisted Merlin, because breaking that enchantment was important. Then Arthur would be normal again and bringing Merlin chickens again.

That night, Trickler snuck into Arthur’s chambers again – now having already been enchanted, Merlin presumed the harm was done, so it would be fine to leave Arthur undefended and go watch omega fight night in the barracks (aka: Morgana vs Vivian round two). Spoiler: he was wrong.

It was quite disturbing to wake up and find Merlin asleep in the workshop. Merlin almost exclusively slept with Arthur these days (Merlin claimed it was the superior mattress, but Gaius knew better – it was about being there when George brought in the breakfast).

“Breakfast?” offered Gaius pushing a plate across. He and Merlin had spent hours looking for love spells last night after Merlin had miserably come down claiming Arthur talking about Vivian in his sleep kept waking him up (and not because he was hiding from Morgana who had found out he had not backed her to win the fight against Vivian (the system was flawed! Wagers were supposed to be anonymous!)).

Merlin had narrowed it down to two spells. Unfortunately they both had side effects if he cast them wrong. The first would make Vivian’s hair fall out (a risk he was quite happy to take), the second would make Arthur turn into a toad (reducing his ability to assist Merlin in heat considerably (and yet not completely...).

Meanwhile Trickler was off making sure his enchantment on Vivian had worked.

Vivian glared at Trickler. Trickler glared at Vivian and pushed across a tray of breakfast.

Having spent the last two days at war with Morgana, Vivian hadn’t been able to join the feasting as more oft than not her meals had been laced with poison (despite being starved she had rejected Arthur’s chicken presuming that as her half-brother, Arthur had poisoned it - however there was nothing to suggest Trickler would be on Morgana’s side). An unexpected ally had appeared…

“Happy?” probed Trickler as Vivian ate.

“Love.” She admitted around a mouthful of sausage.

“Trickler?” Suggested Trickler.

Vivian giggled. The idea of bonding another omega… it wasn’t that two omegas couldn’t fall in love, just that more often than not such a union resulted in a mass extinction event. There was a reason omegas were so rare in the human genome.

“Who?” Trickler whined.

Vivian blushed deeply. “Arthur!”

Trickler growled despite himself. All royal alphas belonged to him in his heart. Heck… he’d even had Olaf a couple of times… but no point admitting that to Vivian. He slyly covered it with a cough. Stick to the plan! War first, Arthur later! “Confess!” He demanded.

“What is it, Arthur? You look like you have something on your mind.” Asked Gwen, spying Arthur morosely grooming his horse.

Arthur sighed. “You read me like a book. I've made a fool of myself, that's all. That's everything.”

“I'm sure that is not true.” Lied Gwen. Alphas were constantly making fools of themselves from a beta perspective, but there was no reason to be cruel about it…

“You have a good heart, Guinevere, but I'm afraid it is. I have made a gesture, but it was not well received.”

Ah. What had he said to Merlin now… thought Gwen. “Did you try a chicken?” Merlin might pretend to hold a grudge, but truthfully forgot most minor insults when any kind of food was offered. 

“Pretty sure.” Arthur admitted, remembering Vivian’s rejection of the meal.

“Then you are wrong.” Gwen said simply. “Did Merlin eat it?”

“Well… yeah. But I don’t see how that’s important…” then again, Gwen probably understood omegas better than most, so perhaps he shouldn’t question her wisdom.

Gwen let out a laugh. “Then your token was much appreciated. But the situation is delicate, and it is not always easy to express what is really in one's heart.”

“You think there's still hope?” Asked Arthur.

“There is always hope.” Gwen smiled.

Merlin was laying on Arthur’s bed contemplating the two spells, but mostly eating Arthur’s breakfast since Arthur had gone off to sulk in the stables, when there was a banging on the door.

Merlin wasn’t getting up, he wasn’t some kind of servant (mostly) so he was still sitting on the bed when Vivian let herself in.

“Arthur!” She demanded eying Merlin distastefully. We must presume it was quite annoying to come to your crushes room in your night gown to declare your love and find another omega sitting on his bed eating sausage.

Merlin knew exactly how it looked (you couldn’t appreciate a good sausage unless you were in the buff after all). He smirked knowingly.

“Arthur!” She demanded again.

Having finished, Merlin licked his fingers clean. “No.” He said simply.

“Where?”

Merlin shrugged and stretched out on the bed proprietarily scenting the blankets. “Go.” He shooed.

Vivian growled again. “Waiting.”

Merlin sat up and glared at her.

“Arthur.” She insisted.

George for his part hadn’t been this scared since Morgana and Merlin had had it out in the council chambers over possession of a particularly fine silk duvet. After a seven-hour stand-off of posturing and hissing, Merlin had finally sniffed and walked away as if he had never been interested in the bedding to begin with, ceding the victory to Morgana – but that had been months ago before Merlin had more self-confidence. George was sure this Merlin would not backdown (spoiler: George was mistaken).

Now it’s not that George was taking sides… buuuut… Vivian had attacked him in the hall yesterday on the grounds that he had the ugliest outfit she had ever seen, and that had hurt (and not just the part where she had tried to rip off his ears). Merlin only ever hurt George when he was resisting bathing or clothing and occasionally by accident when George didn’t put down the food tray quickly enough.

“Mine!” she screeched, climbing on the bed, kicking Merlin aside and starting to scent the bedding for herself.

“Where is he?!” bellowed Olaf, throwing the door open.  “I know she's in here, Arthur! Hand her over! Or feel my wrath!”

“What's he talking about?” Arthur asked.

“Naked!” Accused Trickler simping in behind Olaf. “Bollocky!”

“Sir, If I have dishonoured you in some way, then, by all means, provide me with proof and I'll face the consequences.” Replied Arthur coldly. It was an incredible faux pas for one alpha to enter another alphas bed chambers without permission.

“Trickler here has told me that the Lady Vivian is in your chambers.” Olaf stated.

Trickler nodded furiously and pointed at the bed. This was of course when he realised it was Merlin in the bed and not Vivian.

Having already been ousted once today, Merlin glared back at Trickler and growled.

“If only that were true.” Sighed Arthur.

Olaf grabbed the front of Arthur's shirt with both hands, before George quickly intervened, “If only that were true you would not be mistaken!” he babbled. At this point George really didn’t know what was going on, but alphas were quick to blame a beta and no one would believe Merlin had manoeuvred Vivian into the closet on his own.

There was also the bigger picture to consider. The Lady Morgana was of marriageable age, and would no doubt leave Camelot in the near future. Camelot would need an omega and George would much rather that omega be the relatively harmless Merlin than vicious Vivian.

In lieu of evidence, Olaf had no choice but to release Arthur. “Search the room!” Olaf ordered his men, before turning back to Arthur,  “you better hope I don't find her!”

Trickler, this not being his first time hiding or rediscovering corpses,  checked under the bed, the garderobe and finally the wardrobe, shaking the doors savagely when they refused to open.

Merlin snickered from the bed, and Trickler glared at him.

“That hasn't opened in years!” George lied smoothly.

Olaf glared at Trickler, then his eyes wandered. Olaf’s omega queen had been lost at sea (lost… with a handsome, blonde, Northern alpha – possibly why Olaf was so quick to believe Trickler’s lies about Arthur) some years back.

Trickler shuddered. He’d had Olaf a few years ago (when he didn't have quite so many liver spots) and never bothered going back for seconds. Still, no point in having an angry alpha about. He fluttered his lashes winningly.

Olaf sighed, it was difficult to stay angry with an omega. Even when they had just humiliated you in front of a younger alpha.

Olaf turned back to Arthur

“I am, er, so terribly sorry, Arthur, to have disturbed you. I...I do hope that you will forgive me.” He ground out, refusing to make eye contact. It wasn’t exactly the first time Vivian’s games had him falsely accusing another alpha of impropriety.

Arthur waved away the apology, still having no idea why people were saying the Lady Vivian was in his room at all.

“Check on the Lady Vivian!” Olaf ordered his men. “And remain outside her room!”

“If only the Lady Vivian were in my room.” Arthur mused after Olaf had departed. “How delightful that would be. Eh, Merlin?” But Merlin had already absconded (oh and the wardrobe was open again. Lucky that.)

If any of the beta guards saw Merlin dragging Vivian through the corridors by her ankles, unconscious in her nightgown, they knew to keep their bloody mouths shut. Merlin dumped her unceremoniously back in her own bed and heaved a sigh of relief.

  
“Merlin!” Accused Trickler, before whining… “Forgive Trickler?” he batted his eye lashes in Alined direction for impact.

“Ohhh… I can’t stay angry with my golden boy!” He patted his lap meaningfully until Trickler sidled over and sat. “You have a matter of hours before the peace treaty is signed.” Alined pointed out. “It's less time than you've had already, and you haven't managed it so far.”

Trickler scowled but quickly hid it. “Enchantment.” He reminded Alined. “Strong.”

Alined ran a finger over Trickler’s cheek. “For the sake of your prettiest feature, you had better believe that to be the case.”

Trickler wasn’t actually intimidated by the posturing, but he let a little pee out anyway. It was part of his behaviour correction program that whenever Alined did something he didn’t like (like making threats) he punished him with a little ‘accident’. It was all misplaced and highly ineffective of course, because some alphas where into that kind of thing.

Having seen Arthur being a twat and all ‘Vivian this’ and ‘Vivian that’ Merlin was extra motivated to hit the books and find out how to break that enchantment… and if he got it wrong… well…

“Are you sure? You're not going to turn Arthur into a horny-eyed toad or something?” Asked Gaius innocently, causing Merlin to snicker, because if Arthur had to be a toad he sure hope it was that type.

Gwen had been terribly busy today, what with dosing Morgana with tranquilisers (bromide being discovered several centuries earlier due to necessity) and placating Vivian. But he couldn’t forget Arthur being so miserable about being rejected by Merlin. And now apparently the clod was showing interested in another omega and the cold-blooded Vivian at that…

Now, it’s not that Gwen was taking sides… but like hell was she going to let that harpy become queen of Camelot. Plus Merlin had given her flowers and even signed them with Arthurs name, which was the sweetest thing ever, so she was determined to her get Arthur and Merlin back together. She just needed to get them in the same place so the misunderstanding could be resolved…

A second chance. Sunset. Bring chicken.

Alas, the misunderstanding continued. Arthur, not recognising the handwriting presumed it must be from Vivian and made haste to her chambers. Finding guards on the door he hid the chicken and looked for another way to sneak into her chambers, settling on climbing the outer wall to her window, which was very difficult to do while holding a roast chicken.

Merlin couldn’t find Arthur… this made things extremely difficult. Even Gwen seemed to know he was looking for Arthur but her suggestion that Arthur was in his chambers waiting for Merlin with a chicken was just plain wrong.

There was only one place he hadn’t searched (besides Uther’s garderobe but by all accounts Uther was in there after Morgana had found out who had ordered her dosed) and that was Vivian’s rooms. And the spell keeping the harlot awake should be wearing off right about now too… Merlin gasped and made his way to Vivian’s rooms.

Ignoring the beta guards (they might be Olaf’s guards, but an omega was an omega) he threw the doors open.

Ewwww… kissing…? Outside of heat?

“Abuge áglǽccræft.”  Merlin cast.

Nothing happened.

“Abuge áglǽccræft.”

Nothing. Just more snogging.

“Abuge áglǽccræft.”

 Nothing. Not even a toad. He squinted but there was no evidence Vivian was going bald either.

Regrettably, Olaf stormed in next followed by Alined, Uther, and Trickler.

“I knew it!” declared Olaf.

“I don't believe it. Arthur hasn’t even presented yet!” said Uther, father of the year, misjudging Arthurs age by about 8 years. ”He’s not even interested in omegas.”

Olaf threw his glove at the foot of the bed in challenge.

“Father!” growled Vivian.

But when Olaf spoke, it was to Arthur, “You once said that if you ever truly offended my honour, then you would happily pay the price. What say you now, Prince Arthur?”

“How have I offended your honour? Surely not with my love alone?!”

“Love?! You don't know the first thing about love! You're taking advantage of an innocent omega!”

Vivian snorted. She hadn’t been innocent since she presented three years ago and had started sampling the castle knights – but to be fair, Olaf didn’t know that.

“I assure you, my feelings for your daughter are as real as they are strong!” Arthur declared.

“Unhand her, or suffer the consequences. Is this really worth risking your life for?”

Hmm. Fat old man (beloved father) vs captain of the knights… she knew where she was placing her bets. She hugged Arthur tighter.

“Indeed, it is!” Arthur declared, buoyed by her affirmation. “I would rather die than deny my feelings. I love your daughter with all my heart.”

Arthur snogged Vivian again and then picked up the glove.

Merlin, forgotten and horrified by the whole affair,  grabbed the chicken (waste not, want not) and ran.

“It's no good. I've spoken to Olaf, he will not rescind the challenge. He says his honour has been tainted. Can’t he see you’re just a child?” Uther whined.

“You didn't have to do that, Father.” Groaned Arthur.

“The fight is to the death. What did you think you were doing?”

“I’m the Captain of the knights father! Don’t you believe I can beat him?”

Uther did not. He had always presumed it was nepotism that had gotten Arthur to that position and not actual skills. Arthur was barely out of swaddling after all. “You do realise that your actions threaten the peace talks, and that it may yet bring war to Camelot?” Uther pouted. The peace talks were supposed to be his grand gesture to Merlin of what a great alpha he was…

“I am happy to fight for what I believe in.” Arthur sniffer haughtily.

Uther turned to Merlin (who was picking sadly at a chicken. “And just look! Your actions have upset your mother too! What’s happened to you?

“Lady Vivian,” sighed Arthur. “Nothing more. And yet, who could wish for more?”

Merlin didn’t understand. Trickler's magic was strong, but surely it couldn’t be stronger than his own. He whined pathetically at Gaius about his failure.

“These love potions are strange things.” Gaius stated.

“Uther?” suggested Merlin at a loss.

“No.” Gaius disagreed (even if that had totally been what Gaius had done with Freya. Merlin scowled. “If Uther realises that one of the kings is using magic, there will certainly be a war. The only way out of this situation is to unenchant Arthur. And unenchant him fast.”

“Have you heard? Arthur was discovered in Lady Vivian's chambers.” Gwen informed Morgana. ”King Olaf has demanded recompense. They are to fight to the death. All for the love of a woman. And Lady Vivian at that.”

Morgana nodded. This was intolerable. She simply could not allow that strumpet a foothold in Camelot. The idea of splitting Camelot’s finite blanket resources between three omegas was unthinkable.

It was strange really… Arthur had had that thing with Merlin and seemed quite content. Why he would risk Merlin to take up with this fricatrice was beyond her.

Trickler was very pleased with himself as he jimmied another jewel out of Alined's crown before settling it on the Kings head.

“Trickler, I shall cast your fingers in gold! I could not have wished for more.” Alined decreed.

Trickler wouldn’t mind having golden fingers (golden anything really), so he preened.

“If Olaf kills Arthur, then Uther will start a war. If Arthur kills Olaf, then his men will start a war.” chuckled Alined, “We cannot lose!”

“King Olaf has demanded recompense.” Uther ground out. He had assured himself overnight that he could always make lots of new heirs by Merlin, so it wasn’t like losing Arthur was such a bad thing. If anything it was incentive to mate Merlin as soon as this whole nasty business was over. “And by the ancient laws of Camelot, the matter will be settled by a tourney with three stages. The weapons chosen are quarterstaff, mace, and sword. The fight will be by the Knights' Rules, and to the death. Are we all clear?”

Now how it was possible to have a three-stage tournament to the death was beyond Merlin. Surely if you fought until you died it was a one round tournament… and now that idiot Arthur was too busy looking at Vivian to pay attention… oooo that was gonna leave a bruise.

“Nothing can hurt me today. I'm invincible. Love really can conquer all, Gaius. It's true.” Declared Arthur.

Gaius disagreed. So did Arthurs broken ribs.

Gaius turned to Merlin in desperation, “Merlin, this can't go on. The fight's not fair. Arthur's head's in the clouds.”

Merlin sulked. He’d tried…

“If you can’t help, then find someone who can!”

Stupid Arthur should just hurry up and die already. Once Merlin had finished explaining just how stupid stupid Arthur was, Kilgharrah burst out laughing. “This is magic indeed!” He declared. On account of the old language being written by omegas, there were 636 different variations of the love spell, and it was amusing to think of the prince enthralled by one. “From what you tell me, the spell has captured his heart.”

Merlin nodded furiously.

“There is no magic that can break this enchantment.” Kilgharrah advised. “It’s hold is too great.”

Merlin whined pathetically.  Well. Nothing for it then. Leon had looked particularly fine at the tournament after all…

“Not so fast young warlock!” interceded Kilgharrah. “The solution lies in a force greater than you or I can understand, a force that has puzzled many minds...”

Merlin tapped his foot impatiently and huffed.

“Why, it is the greatest force of all!”

Merlin whined in irritation.

 “Love! You must find the omega Arthur truly loves!”

“….” Well that didn’t couldn’t be right. Merlin only knew of five other omegas and one of them was Arthur’s half-sister and two of the others were dead. By process of elimination that just left himself or Trickler.

“One kiss from shim will break the enchantment, and he will desire Vivian no more.”

Merlin sighed. This left him no option.

Merlin bursts into Gwen's house without knocking, causing her to startle. With Morgana sedated it was a rare day off for her and she was enjoying the relaxation.

“Rats again, Merlin?” she asked with humour.

Merlin whined pathetically.

“Armor? But why?

He needed Gwen to make him a suit of armour so Vivian couldn’t scratch him up like she had poor George. It was the only way he was going to be able to survive in a Camelot where she was bonded to Arthur.

“Merlin, don’t worry so much. Arthur loves you!” chided Gwen.

Merlin whined again.

“Anyone who spends five minutes with you can see how you feel about each other! Look, I do not have a lot of time to explain, so you are going to have to trust me. Arthur loves you!”

Merlin blinked.

“If you don't trust me, trust your feelings.” Gwen advised.

“…enchanted!” Merlin pointed out.

“Yes, with Lady Vivian! I can see that! But none of his feelings for her are genuine!”

Merlin looked at her sceptically. Even if Arthur’s feelings for Vivian weren’t real, Arthur would soon be dead. And maybe it was just the friendships speaking because the idea of a dead Arthur didn’t even make Merlin hungry… just sad.

“Search your heart, Merlin. You know who he loves!”

Merlin strode purposefully towards Arthur's tent, pausing to take a deep breath before passing Gaius on his way inside.]

“Ah! Have you come to wish me good luck? 'Cause I really don't think I need it anymore.” Arthur responded when Merlin skittered up to him.

“No.” Said Merlin decisively.

“Well, honestly, that's rather rude.” Arthur frowned.

Merlin pinned Arthur up against the tent pole and kissed him.

Arthur looked confused for a moment before closing his eyes and kissing back. Putting his arms around Merlin and deepening the kiss. And that was quite enough of that in Merlins opinion, so he kneed Arthur in the groin and staggered back.

Dammit Arthur! He wasn’t even in heat! Merlin scowled darkly.

”What… what have I been doing?” Arthur asked, dazed and sore.

“You're in a fight. To the death.” Gwen who had tagged along advised him. “You're losing.”

“But... why…?” Arthur had no idea why he was fighting… who he was fighting….

“There's no time to explain. Just... don’t die. Live for Merlin!’ Gwen begged. Arthur looked at Merlin who had taken his mace and was meting his anger on a bowl of walnuts, whose tough shells denied him.

Arthur approached Merlin and reclaimed the mace (something he could probably only do because Merlin was finished with it anyway). Merlin smiled and handed Arthur his helmet.

Maybe.. maybe it was confidence in his training… but probably it was enkephalins and the other hormones his body was throwing out in response to Merlin pashing on him earlier. Either way Arthur felt ready to fight.

As expected with Olaf being twice his age and on the portly side, Arthur quickly bested him.

“This is no way to achieve peace!” Arthur announced to the crowd as he held his sword over Olaf. Arthur tossed it aside and extended a hand to Olaf.

Olaf, pride in shatters, but glad to be alive, accepted.

“I'll take her away from temptation. She's far too young to encounter such things.” Olaf stated, leading Vivian away.

Vivian itched at her head again, causing a few more strands to fall. That had been happening a lot today… whether it was a spell gone wrong or a spell gone right (from the perspective of vengeance) was another matter entirely.

Alined pulled a rather disgruntled looking Tickler along behind him.

Trickler whined pathetically at the treatment. He didn’t see why Vivian could get away with being in her night gown in another alphas chambers and he couldn’t… Alined was such a prude sometimes.

“Why so cross Alined?” Smirked Uther. It was all over the castle that Trickler had been caught in one of the other Kings (nobody bothered to remember his name on the grounds that despite being an alpha he had neither an omega wife nor omega daughter) chambers doing something that didn’t involve butterflies (or if it did, it was in a very lewd way).

“Anyone would think you didn't want peace!” Arthur pointed out, oblivious to castle gossip as usual.

“But of course I do.” Grumbled Alined. “Peace? Love it.”

“Well, you may return any time to view the treaty.” Uther invited, unaware of Alined's involvement or indeed the enchantment at all. “You and Trickler are always welcome.”

“You're very kind.” Growled Alined.

Trickler, spotting Merlin tugged insistently at Alined until they hurried away.

“I’m rather glad they’re gone.” Arthur stated as the last carriage departed.

Merlin for one had been quite aware of the origins of the enchantment and had taken measures to prevent Trickler's return. He coughed up another butterfly. Buggers were all wings.

“Well. Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did.” Arthur teased.

What he did? Was it the magic…? The dried haddock in his bathwater…? It could be any number of things…

“You kissed me. In the tent.”

Merlin glared. It was embarrassing for an omega to have to throw themselves at an alpha like that… unless they had exceptional abs anyway, and Arthurs were merely fine.

Merlin looked away innocently. If he didn’t acknowledge it, it didn’t happen, yeah?

“Merlin. What happened in the tent...” Arthur prompted again.

Merlin snubbed him again.

“Merlin… I said I'm sorry...for... for what I put you through…” whined Arthur. “I don’t know what came over me… I don’t even like Vivian!”

Now that the threat of losing Arthur was over, Merlin realised that this was all Arthurs fault for being enchanted in the first place. Merlin wasn’t the sort of omega that could be bought off with just a sincere, heartfelt  apology and a jar of honey. There also needed to be roast chickens. And cake…. No! Cakes! Plural!