Title: The Interest in Merlin

Author: Wereleopard58

Rating: T/Teen and up audiences

Show: Merlin (BBC TV show)

Pairing: Arthur/Merlin, Slash

Summary: On their way back to Camelot they join with another camp. There is a sudden interest in Merlin, which makes Arthur take a closer look at his own feelings. The interest becomes some much more that there new 'friends' decide to join them and go back to Camelot. Will Merlin be won over, will Arthur step up or will it drive the warlock away.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Merlin, I am not making any money, and I am just doing it for fun.

A/N This is my first foray into Merlin (I write in many other fandoms). Let's call it an AU as I may mess the timeline up a little to fit the story better. I do have a Teen Wolf/Merlin idea, but just seeing how this story goes first. I hope you all enjoy. I have no beta as she hasn't seen Merlin, but plans to and don't want to spoil her. I have no idea if this story will, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

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The wind whistled through the trees, as the darkness came. The firelight flickered because of the breeze. Animal calls could be heard out deep in the night, close enough to watch, but far enough to be able to escape. Merlin turned as soon as he heard his name being called out from the other camp. It wasn't the familiar yell of the once and future king. Arthur had taken some of his knights, soldiers and, of course, Merlin out to one of the furthest villages to aid it. There had been multiple attacks, and it had to be shown that this was not allowed.

They had started to set up camp when they had been joined by another group. It was soldiers as they waited for the return of healers, who were on a pilgrimage to teach their ways and to learn new ones themselves. The request had been asked for the armed men to remain outside.

"Merlin, come here." The voice called out again.

The warlock sighed and glanced over at Arthur hoping that he was needed. Just his luck the prince wasn't even looking in his direction. He took a breath turned and headed towards the other camp. They were close, but not joined. He was glad that Arthur insisted on that.

"Yes, did you require something?"

"Why yes, I did. So Merlin." Codor slowly walked around the slender man. His hands slid across his chest, down his back until it landed on his arse.

"Hey, get off." Merlin slapped the offending hand away as he jumped back.

"Come on little one, let's have some fun. You must be something special for Prince Arthur to allow to still be around him. I've seen you work, and you're not the best are you?"

"I…"

XXXXX

Lancelot frowned in the direction he'd last seen Merlin. His friend was wily and of course, had magic, but it always worried him that it would be done at the wrong time. Then he would be killed for it. It had been the way some of the soldiers had leered at him that made him uncomfortable; it also gave him great concern. In his travels, he'd heard horror stories about how some servants were treated. If he'd seen anything of the sort he would stop it even if it had been a stranger, but this was his friend.

He stood and started to walk; he had to make sure things were okay. Just then Gwaine and Percival walked towards him.

"Where are you going?" Gwaine asked.

"I'm worried about Merlin." The knight replied honestly; he wasn't the only one that cared about the young man.

"You think he might be in danger from them." Percival nodded his head towards the other encampment.

"I do, I could be wrong, but I'm going to check up on him just in case."

"If you need help let us know if they've done anything to him…" Gwaine growled the ordinarily cheeky face full of anger and worry.

Lancelot nodded and then continued his way.

XXXXX

Merlin almost fell to his knees and kiss the feet of the man who just called out his name. "Lancelot, over here." He called back.

The knight took in the situation, the distressed look his friends face. He smiled, but it never reached his eyes. The other man was still close and smirked at them. It made him all the angrier. "Are you finished here?"

"Yes, I–."

"Merlin is more than welcome to stay here." Codor leered.

"That won't be possible; Prince Arthur will need him."

"I bet he will."

"Are you trying to imply something about our future king?" Lancelot's hand went to the hilt of his sword. It wasn't about protecting Arthur's honour, but more about his friends.

"No, of course not." He held up his hands and walked backwards, while still managing to ogle the arse of the man he wanted.

"Well," Merlin clapped, "we'd better be off." He added cheerfully and quickly escaped.

XXXXX

Arthur looked up as the two men returned. "There you are, Merlin. You've been permitted to sleep with the other servants." He nodded in the direction that they'd just been.

Merlin looked over desperately at Lancelot. The other knights glanced at each other.

"I do not think that would be the wise sire," Lancelot spoke out.

"Oh and why not?"

"Some of the soldiers have taken a more, uh, personal interest in him. It would be dangerous for Merlin to remain unprotected."

"A 'personal' interest you say?" Arthur felt a sudden anger burning away inside of him. Merlin was his…servant and his to protect. No one was allowed to touch him but–he cut that thought off quickly. "You truly believe he is in danger?"

"Yes, my lord I do," Lancelot responded immediately.

"Very well, Merlin you are to sleep close to the fire with me. The rest will spread out around you, us."

The knights and soldiers all nodded in agreement and began to get ready to sleep. They honestly have nothing but the highest respect for Merlin. He'd always been faithful to Arthur; only Lancelot knew how much he truly did. The magic he used to protect the prince.

"Thank you." The sorcerer whispered.

Arthur smiled slightly and nodded. He could no longer remember a time when this man had not been at his side. How lonely must it have been?

XXXXX

Codor slowly moved amongst the soldiers. There was something special about Merlin that drew him in. It had been such a long time since he had wanted someone this much. Arthur was a pompous arse he would never start a fight over a servant. For a large man, he'd always managed to be silent; it was a skill he'd honed over the years.

As he made his way to Merlin and he kneeled down at his side. A quick glance around showed that all the others were still asleep. He bent his head until his lips touched those very kissable ones. This was just a prelude, the urge to taste more, to feel more had grown.

Merlin's eyes shot open as he tried to scramble away, but strong hands gripped his hips so he couldn't escape. Codor opened his mouth to talk when suddenly many swords bit into his skin.

"I will give you anything you want my Lord; I will do anything you require. All I ask is just one night. He is, after all, just a servant. You have a castle full of them, probably better ones."

"Yes, well, as inept as he may be, you are correct in that he is MY servant. I do not whore my people out; they are under my protection and not to be used in such a way. It has been made very clear to me that Merlin is not interested in your advances. If you do not leave and join your own camp and stay there, you will regret it."

Codor quickly ran his thumb over Merlin's lips. People may think that he was just a soldier, and that is what he wanted, but he has people and lands of his own. He loved playing this part. "Oh, what fun we could have had." He stood, turned and walked away.

"Thank you all again."

Arthur had to drag his eyes away from those lips that Codor had just caressed. This man was his servant and nothing more. "We need some of you to stay awake. I have doubts that he will stay away if we were all to sleep. We only have a few hours before we need to be on our way and that means you, Merlin. If you don't get any more sleep, you'll be useless to me for the rest of the day."

"But–."

Lancelot placed a hand on his shoulder. "Prince Arthur is right my friend. You have no need to worry, we will keep you safe."

Merlin finally nodded and settled down with the safety of his friends and the man he cared most about surrounding him. It didn't take him long to fall back to sleep.

XXXXX

The sun arose in the sky; there was a slight chill in the air apart from that it was a good day to travel. They should be back at Camelot by nightfall. Arthur couldn't wait for them to leave all this behind. Even though Codor had kept his distance, they could hear him lurking in the woods and then going. Since everyone was awake, all he kept doing was leering at Merlin. This felt different, he'd seen women flirt, and that was okay, but this was a man that thought his servant was attractive. It brought his own feelings to the surface, the ones that he'd kept buried so deep within him. The attraction had happened the day that they met, when Merlin stood up to him and having no idea who he was. Not that his attitude changed that much when he found out. As time went on he got to know the other man better and the attraction became more, feelings had started to grow. Merlin was the one person he could indeed count on and trust. Whether it was facing his father or a mythical creature, there was one man at his side, always.

"Ah, Prince Arthur, I'm glad to be able to meet you. I'm Ildur, the healer."

"It's a pleasure." He replied simply, there was no time to chat, it was time to leave.

'Emrys' a voice echoed in the minds of the healers, the soldiers of their camp, Codor and Merlin.

The warlock turned and noticed lots of eyes on him, but what scared him was the look of the man who had been chasing him.

Arthur glanced at his knights, and they looked just as confused as him, more of them seemed to take an interest in Merlin, but why?

Lancelot felt real fear; there could be only one reason. What would happen if the person closest to the future king was found to have magic?

Codor's eyes widened; his mother had been a druid, his father a lord. He heard the name echo in his mind. He'd always been drawn to power; it had confused him when he felt nothing towards Arthur. Now he knew why. It was the servant, who had a very enticing appearance, but the power within was extraordinary. He was the strongest of all sorcerers.

Merlin was the fabled Emrys.

"We've heard there are dangers on your route back home my Lord. We would not allow you to travel alone. It would be our great honour if you would allow us to accompany you." Codor smiled at the way the knights and soldiers bristled, they could and would protect their lord.

Ildur nodded. "I believe I have some techniques that may help your people. I believe Gaius; your court physician would be very interested. I would also like to learn as well."

Codor could no longer just take the man he wanted; he was no longer a servant. He was going to have to win Merlin if he were to have the magic as well as the man. The seduction of Merlin would begin.

"Very well, it would be my honour if you would return to Camelot with us." He muttered through gritted teeth. Something had changed, but he didn't know what. All that he did know what that the interest in Merlin had increased.

TBC