Deserving some peace

Deserving some peace

I do not own any of these characters, I think the BBC owns them (although I wish I owned Arthur…) I do not make any profit from this story, it is written just for fun.

This is my first attempt at writing fanfiction. Also, English is not my first language, so I do apologize in advance for any mistakes in grammar or spelling, or just weird things.

It had been a long morning in Camelot and Arthur was tired. He had been busy with the training of his band of knights. They had lost too many of them in recent fights and attacks from enemies. Uther’s war against magic was harder than ever and it was Arthur who had to take care of most of the practical issues. These days he was busy with the training, but he also had to inspect the guards and make sure the defenses of Camelot were in perfect state, ready for anything. He had to check weapons and food storage.
His duties took him all day, running around often without enough time to rest or even to eat a proper meal.
But despite his long days and busy schedule, Arthur did not know if what he did was enough.

It was difficult to please his father, it always had been difficult. Arthur often had the feeling that his father was disappointed with him, expected him to do better. Every time he came into the great hall to report to the king, there was this silence, as if the king wanted more. At such a moment he felt his mouth go dry, and his mind go blank, trying to find something to say, something to appease his father who just looked at him with a blank stare and then dismissed him. Without giving him any praise for the things he had done.

Arthur left the training field and for a minute he was on his own. He stood still, leaned with his back against the wall. Arthur rubbed his eyes. He pulled his hand through his blond hair, he was tired and the day was not over yet. But he could not let anybody see how tired he was from all his responsibilities. He had to make sure everybody saw him as the confident, arrogant prince who knew what he was doing. Arthur straightened his shoulders and made his way from the training field to the town down the castle. There were issues there he had to take care of, arguments between people he had to settle, orders he had to give and people he had to encourage.

Finally, late in the evening he made it back to his room. The diner in the great hall was already over, and he had missed it, again. Not that Arthur minded. He did not like diner in the great hall. Not with his father’s cold attitude of only wanting to talk about business. Not with Gwen looking longingly and disappointed at him, because he could not return her feelings anymore.

He opened the door of his chamber and was greeted by a fire. He sighed, this was what he had been looking forward to. He sat down in the chair, too exhausted to move. He looked up and saw the dark haired boy who sat next to the fire.

‘Merlin’ was all he said.

‘Sire’, was the answer, ‘Tired?’

Arthur just nodded. Merlin knew what Arthur needed. He stood up and walked over to Arthur. He helped the prince to remove his boots and then helped him out of his overcoat.

‘There, make yourself comfortable, I have something to eat for you.’ Merlin served his prince a meal of hot soup and warm bread rolls. Arthur did not have a lot of appetite, but when he started eating, he did feel better. Soon there was a little more color in Arthur’s face. When Arthur put the spoon down he smiled at Merlin who was looking at him with worry in his eyes.

‘Thank you, I needed that’ Arthur said and Merlin nodded.

‘I know’ he answered. ‘Do you also need something else, tonight?’ He then asked and Arthur looked at him, his blue eyes wide open and he swallowed before he answered.

‘Yes.’ he said, almost inaudible.

‘What was that?’ Merlin’s voice had changed. Arthur responded more firmly

‘Yes.’

‘Again, what was that?’ Merlin sounded stern now.

Arthur swallowed again, it always took him some courage to say the next words out loud for the first time.
‘Yes, master’. He then said, as he lowered his eyes.

Merlin smiled. When Arthur had come in his room that evening he had looked so beaten and sad almost. Merlin’s heart went out to him. He knew Arthur was overburdened with responsibilities, taking care of everybody in Camelot, but always feeling he did not do enough. Always feeling like he failed. Merlin wanted to help Arthur in any way he could and this was something he could do for him. Here he could take care of Arthur.

‘I want you naked and kneeling next to the bed when I come back. Understood?’

‘Yes, master’.

Merlin went out of the room to bring the plates and the cutlery back to the kitchens. He took his time, knowing the anticipation of waiting would help Arthur to surrender more easily.

When he came back to Arthur’s chambers, he locked the door behind him. He stepped into the room and smiled at the sight before him. Arthur had followed the order. He had stripped naked and was kneeling next to the bed. His back was to Merlin, who loved the sight of the strong muscles under the skin, the pale but firm buttocks and the submissive position of the bowed head, the hands that were clasped together at the small of the back.

Merlin walked over to the kneeling young man, and softly stroked his hair. He let his hand wander from the head to the neck and shoulders. He felt Arthur shiver under his touch. Merlin said nothing and Arthur waited. Merlin caressed the neck, shoulders and back of the man before him.

‘What do you need, Arthur?’ he asked.

Arthur said nothing.

Merlin gave him a short and stinging slap against his buttocks. Arthur hold his breath.

‘Again, what do you need? You know I want you to say it’.

Merlin knew that it was difficult for Arthur to voice his needs. That might seem strange for a crown prince who always seemed to get his way, but in truth Arthur only got things when it was compatible with his duties to Camelot. It never had anything to do with what he really wanted. Or needed.

‘Say it.’ Merlin barked and slapped him again, more fiercely. Arthur hissed in pain and finally said:

‘I want you to punish me.’

‘Stand up’. Merlin ordered, and Arthur obeyed.

‘Come here and bend over the bed. I want you to hold on tight.’

Arthur hold on to the headboard and braced himself for what was to come. The first blow of the belt took him by surprise every time. He gritted his teeth, determined not to show anything.
Merlin delivered stinging blow after blow with his leather belt. He saw how the pale skin turned pink and then red. He saw welts on Arthur’s back and buttocks appear. Arthur was more difficult to break this evening. A sign this day had been very difficult for him.
Merlin was merciless and kept on spanking the naked man with the belt, and finally he got the reaction he was waiting for.

Arthur concentrated on the sound of the leather belt hitting his tender flesh, the pain in his back and buttocks. In this moment he could let go of everything. Now it was only about him, Merlin, and the belt. Only about the pain. He could let go of everything else.
His breathing was uneven and he could not suppress his moans, and the moans became sobs. He tried to hold them back, but he could not. Arthur cried out in pain:

‘Please, no more, no more.’

Merlin stopped immediately and put the belt away. He put his arms around the sobbing blond who leaned against him.

“Come here, lie down’. He helped Arthur on the bed. Merlin held him in his arms and stroked through his hair. The sobbing slowly stopped as Arthur drifted off to sleep.
Merlin whispered in Arthurs ear:

‘You did well, baby, you did so well. I am so proud of you, you have no idea. You took so many blows, and so much pain. Rest now, my love, rest now. It is alright, you can let go, you can forget everything. You deserve to rest. You deserve your peace.’