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The castle of Camelot was silent when Arthur returned from the hunt. He and Merlin had argued that morning, as the sorcerer wanted to keep his king confined within Camelot's walls until the end of the pregnancy — something that was definitely out of the question, since Arthur was the king and would hate being trapped in the castle for nine months! This resulted in the two of them shouting at each other until Arthur simply turned his back and left the castle. Leon, Elyan, and Percival followed him, promising Merlin they would take care of him, while Gwaine, Gwen, and Gaius stayed behind to keep watch over Merlin.
Now that Arthur was back, he noticed that the silence was strange — the kind that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
He handed his mare's reins to a page and climbed the stairs toward the royal chambers with quick steps. Something was wrong, and he could feel it had something to do with magic — more specifically with Merlin. His pregnancy had left the king sensitive to his beloved, always alerting him when Merlin was up to something or needed help.
The door was ajar.
Arthur pushed it open with more force than necessary, and what he saw made him freeze in the doorway.
Merlin was sitting on the floor, legs crossed, with an expression of intense concentration. Before him, a low table was covered with cards — not ordinary playing cards, but something older, darker, with symbols that glowed faintly in the candlelight.
And, on the other side of the table, seated on a stone throne that definitely hadn't been there when Arthur left, was a man.
Or something that looked like a man.
He was tall, pale, with eyes black as coal and a smile that revealed teeth slightly sharper than normal. He wore dark clothes, and the air around him seemed colder than the rest of the room.
The man — the creature — raised his hand and placed a card on the table.
"Three souls," he said, with a voice that seemed to come from a very deep well.
Merlin, without hesitating, placed his own card on the table.
"Five souls."
The demon tilted his head, studying the sorcerer with a mixture of admiration and frustration.
"Eight."
Merlin didn't back down. His eyes gleamed with that golden light Arthur knew so well — that gleam that meant Merlin was ready to strike if things didn't go as he wished.
"Ten."
The demon leaned forward, his pale fingers drumming on the table.
"Twenty."
Merlin placed his hand on the table and, with a smile that was pure insolence, pulled all the cards toward himself.
"A thousand."
The demon stopped. His black eyes widened.
"You're bluffing."
"Am I?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Want to risk it?"
The silence that followed was charged with tension. The demon studied Merlin for a long moment — and then, with a sigh that seemed to come from the abyss itself, leaned back in his chair.
"You win, young dragon."
Merlin smiled — a wide, radiant smile that made Arthur want to strangle him.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you."
The demon just shook his head and began to rise.
That was when Arthur finally moved.
"MERLIN."
Merlin and the demon froze simultaneously, turning to face the king.
Arthur stood in the doorway, arms crossed, an expression of pure fury on his face. His eyes were fixed on Merlin, but his entire body vibrated with a rage that seemed to have grown the entire way back from the hunt.
"I WAS GONE FOR ONE AFTERNOON TO HUNT AND LEFT YOU IN CAMELOT SO WE COULD HAVE SOME SPACE, ONLY TO COME BACK AND FIND OUT YOU JUST WON OVER A THOUSAND SOULS FROM A DEMON IN A CARD GAME?!"
Merlin opened his mouth, but Arthur raised his hand.
"NO." The king's voice echoed through the room, making the candles tremble. "NO. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TRYING TO EXPLAIN."
"But, Arthur, they were just a few souls—"
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS THAT YOU WERE GAMBLING WITH HUMAN SOULS!"
"Technically, they were damned souls—"
"THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT BETTER, MERLIN!"
The demon, who had remained motionless until then, took a hesitant step toward the door.
"Perhaps I should—"
"QUIET!" Arthur pointed his finger at him, and the creature stopped instantly, its black eyes wide. "YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED! LOSING TO THIS IDIOT IN A CARD GAME IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING I'VE EVER SEEN!"
The demon frowned, his shoulders hunching slightly.
"But—"
"BUT WHAT? YOU'RE A DEMON! YOU SHOULD BE A MASTER AT DECEIVING OTHERS! AND YOU LET HIM—" Arthur gestured frantically toward Merlin, "—BEAT YOU?"
"He was bluffing!" the demon protested, his voice almost childish. "He didn't have the cards!"
"AND YOU FELL FOR HIS LIE, YOU BASTARD!"
The demon opened his mouth, closed it, and emitted a small sound that resembled a muffled whimper.
Arthur ignored him completely. Instead, he turned to Merlin with an expression that was a mixture of fury, exasperation, and something that seemed dangerously close to affection.
"You," he said, his voice now lower but no less intense, "are going to explain to me WHY in the hell you thought it was a good idea to summon a demon to play cards for the souls of the damned."
Merlin hesitated. His eyes darted to the demon, who was still cowering in the corner like a kicked puppy, and then back to Arthur.
"Well..." Merlin rubbed the back of his neck. "You know how I get when I'm worried."
"You did this out of worry? That doesn't even make sense!"
"And I was thinking..." Merlin continued, as if Arthur hadn't shouted, "that maybe it would be a good idea to make sure our... I mean, our future heirs had an extra protector. Someone who could watch over them when I'm not around."
Arthur froze.
"What are you suggesting?"
Merlin shrugged, with an expression that tried to be casual but couldn't hide his pride.
"I negotiated with him. The souls in exchange for services. He's going to protect our children after they're born—"
"I'M NOT PREGNANT WITH 4 BABIES, MERLIN!"
"You are, I can feel them..."
"STOP TALKING NONSENSE! I'M ONLY IN THE FIRST MONTH!"
"But I—"
"MERLIN, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP NOW!"
Merlin stepped back, raising his hands in defense.
"It was just a precaution! I'm just trying to make sure our children are safe—"
"OUR CHILDREN DON'T EVEN EXIST YET!"
"But they will exist, and I want them to be safe!"
Arthur opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Instead of words, what came out was a sound that was half scream, half sob.
Merlin felt panic take over his body.
"Arthur—"
"NO!" Arthur turned away, his hands covering his face. "YOU CAN'T JUST SUMMON DEMONS BECAUSE YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN! NOT WITHOUT CONSULTING ME FIRST!"
"But they're going to need protection—"
"THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU!"
Merlin stopped.
Arthur was standing with his back to him, his shoulders trembling slightly.
"They're going to have you, Merlin. You're the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived. You're going to protect our children. You don't need a demon. I don't want a demon taking care of our family. When you talk like that, it sounds like you're planning to leave..."
The silence that followed was different. No longer charged with fury, but with a king's insecurity and fear.
"Arthur..." Merlin took a step forward. "My king, I just wanted—"
"I know what you wanted." Arthur finally turned around. His eyes were wet, but he wasn't crying — not yet. "You want to protect our family. I know. But I want both of us to be part of the baby's life. You can't delegate the task of protecting our baby to a demon!"
Merlin opened his mouth to respond, but Arthur raised his hand.
"Now. Send him away."
Merlin hesitated for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he turned to the demon.
"You heard the king. You can go."
The demon, still cowering in the corner, raised his head.
"But the souls—"
"Keep them."
The demon blinked. "Keep them?"
"Yes." Merlin waved his hand. "I don't need souls for anything. Besides, I'm the protector of the royal family — I'm always killing people destined for hell anyway."
The demon stared at him for a long moment. Then, very slowly, a smile formed on his lips — not the threatening smile from before, but something closer to relief.
"Thank you, young dragon. Your kindness will be remembered."
He turned and, in a movement that distorted the air around him, disappeared.
The room fell silent.
Arthur was sitting on the bed now, his head in his hands. Merlin approached with cautious steps, sitting beside him.
"Arthur..."
"No."
"My king..."
"I said no."
"You're pregnant and I'm an idiot. You have every right to be angry."
Arthur lifted his head. His eyes were wet, but his lips were curved in a smile — a reluctant smile, but genuine.
"You're an idiot."
"I know."
"You summoned a demon."
"I know."
"And played cards with him."
"I know."
"And won."
"I know."
Arthur stared at him for a long moment. Then, very slowly, his shoulders shook and he began to laugh.
"You're the most stupid and ridiculous man I've ever met."
"And you love me for it."
Arthur laughed — a low, tired, but genuine laugh.
"Yes," he said, finally. "I do."
Merlin leaned in, his forehead touching Arthur's.
"I just wanted to protect you. You and the babies. I know it was a stupid idea, but I can't help it. I can't stand the thought of anything hurting you."
Arthur closed his eyes, feeling Merlin's warmth against his skin.
"I know," he whispered. "I know."
They were silent for a long moment, breathing together.
"But, Merlin?"
"Hmm?"
"If you summon another demon, I'm throwing you out the tallest tower window."
Merlin laughed — a low laugh that vibrated against Arthur's chest.
"Do whatever you want with me, my king. I'll do anything for you and our babies."
Arthur snorted, resisting melting against his dragon's warmth.
"Shut up. Don't start being a good servant now." The king pushed the sorcerer back lightly. "And stop saying it's more than one baby. I've already told you it's just one, and you're just being paranoid!"
Merlin laughed softly. His stubborn king would kill him when his belly grew to accommodate the 4 babies growing inside there. It would probably be a turbulent day when that happened, but Merlin could hardly wait to see his beloved king so beautiful and round.
"Your wish is my command, my king. I promise to keep my mouth shut from now on."
The afternoon sun was beginning to set, painting the room in shades of orange and pink. Outside, Camelot Castle continued its rhythm, oblivious to what had happened.
Arthur and Merlin lay on the bed, intertwined, the silence finally comfortable between them.
"Arthur?"
"Hmm?"
"Were you really angry that I tried to make a deal with a demon?"
Arthur opened one eye. At first he seemed irritated by the stupid question, then he sighed and took a deep breath.
"I'm gaining weight, I'm always hungry, I'm literally going through something my body shouldn't even be capable of, besides the constant dread of imagining the pain of childbirth. What do you think?"
Merlin smiled — that smile Arthur loved so much.
"I think you look wonderful when you're angry, my king."
Arthur tried to keep a serious expression, but couldn't. His face flushed and he smiled.
"You're ridiculous."
"And you're a clotpole, but I still love you despite everything."
The coming months would be interesting.