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The light from the full moon shone down, making the black wings shine and creating an ethereal glow around the young man standing in the middle of the clearing.
“Merlin… I thought you were supposed to stay inside”
Merlin jumped, blushing lightly as he processed Leon’s words.
“I was but it’s the full moon and I stayed in the last two and if I don’t -”
Leon chuckled and stepped towards the warlock, a soft smile on his lips.
“We know, that’s why Arthur sent me out. He can’t officially give you permission, not until the laws are passed, so he decided you needed protection while you do your ‘naked dancing in the moonlight as he put it.”
“Naked danci- I’m going to turn that prat into a toad.”
“No, you won't. However, I could be persuaded to help you get back at him in a non-magical way.”
“Oh?” Merlin smirked and stepped closer to the knight, his wings stretching to cover both of them. “And how could I do that?”
It was Leon's turn to smirk as he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Merlin's lips. Merlin returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around Leon and proceeding to kiss up to the knight's ears, whispering “Don’t start what you aren’t going to finish.”
Leon laughed, gently shoving the warlock. “I plan to finish, as soon as you are ready.”
Merlin pouted for a moment before breaking out into a grin. “You’re gonna watch over me?”
“Always, Little Falcon.”
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Of course, there was no dancing naked, more of a circle of burning herbs and meditation in the moonlight. At least to everyone else. Leon knew that Merlin went deep into his mind, all the way to his magic, and calmed the turbulent magic of the world by gently adding his own to the stream. Merlin had once described it as grabbing the moon’s rays, the stillness and sleepiness it brought, and letting nature calm itself.
Sounds beautiful but also impossible. But that was Merlin, the impossible man.
Leon didn’t let his own mind wander too far. He knew Merlin had set up wards to keep watch but they could fail and Leon didn’t want Merlin to get hurt… again.
It was the first time anyone besides Gaius had seen the wings Merlin hid using his magic.
Arthur had spent weeks rewriting the laws surrounding magic. To reward his hard work, Arthur planned a hunt for the knights of the round table. While he was away, Arthur left the newly returned Morgana in charge.
Morgana had been so nervous but everyone understood that she was just Morgause’s pawn and had no idea what her sister had really been up to. It took months before people started trusting her, even if it wasn’t like before. Between Gwen telling everybody how Morgana protested the treatment of the people and how she was punished for that and Merlin going around town with Morgana and having her help treat the illnesses and injuries of the lower town, something Uther never let her do, for everyone to see how miserable she was at what had happened. The children were the first to run up to Morgana for cuddles and storytelling, but soon the entire lower town created a safe place for Morgana to just be Morgana, not a princess or the ward of the king. Just Morgana and it brought joy to the kingdom to have her back to herself.
After hearing word of Arthur’s hunt, the Sarrum sent an assassin. The assassin notoriously used poisoned arrows made with cold iron and had initially been hired to go after Morgana, but when Arthur rode out plans changed. It was when they were setting up camp that bandits attacked and in the kerfluffle, the assassin fired a bolt at Arthur.
Merlin and Leon both turned at the sound of the crossbow but while Leon was staring in horror, Merlin screamed and flew to Arthur, knocking him down and taking the arrow in his side instead.
Leon ran to where the assassin had fallen and cut off the man’s head, not wanting to take any chances. He raced to where Merlin had fallen, the arrow protruding from his side as he moaned, low and painful. He found out later that Merlin had thrown him with magic and tried to divert the arrow, but the cold iron prevented any magic.
“Merlin!” Leon cried out falling to his knees. He knew he needed to put pressure on the wound and pull out the arrow but he had to turn him onto his back to do that and…the wings… where in the seven hells did they come from!???
“What the fuck?” Arthur breathed out, eyes wide in panic before he crawled over to join Leon.
“Arthur.. we need to get-“
“I know. Can you support him so we don’t crush -“
“Yes, on three let’s turn him… one… two…”
Between them both they were able to turn Merlin over and look at the wound. “Not too bad, we need to pull it out… hold him tight I don’t want him moving too much.”
Quickly, Arthur yanked the arrow out, looking at the tip in disgust.
“We need to get him to Gaius, there’s something on the tip.”
Finally, out of shock, the other knights came over to help. Between them all they were able to clean out the wound as best they could and wrap it up to keep pressure on it. They all raced home, too worried to care about Merlin’s sudden wings, though Leon had the forethought to wrap Merlin up in his cloak, Arthur adding his to cover them and keep him warm.
The poison turned out to be a magic eater, but between Gaius and Morgana they were able to clear it out of Merlin’s system. An entire week passed before Merlin finally woke up to answer their questions.
“I got them when I came of age,” Merlin shyly responded. “That’s why Mum sent me to Gaius, hoping he would be able to help me know why and hide them.”
“We still don’t know why he has them, but I was able to find a spell that hides them under his tunic, without anyone being able to tell, even when touching his back,” Gaius added.
“Does that hurt?” Leon gently reached out to hold Merlin’s hand
“Not really, though it takes a lot out of me and I have to focus on it all the time -“
“Which is why you’re so clumsy.”
A flush covered Merlin’s cheeks, down his neck to his chest. “It's part of the reason…”
“That just adds to your charm,” Arthur chuckled and mussed Merlin's hair.
Merlin still is uncomfortable showing his wings but everyone was completely supportive, especially the lower town once the baker’s youngest daughter ran up to Merlin and asked if she could touch the pretty feathers. Of course, Merlin melted at the look of awe on the toddler’s face and had knelt to her, one wing reaching out to her small hand. Leon swore he had heard a collective awwww from everyone, including himself, and no one ever stared at Merlin again, just accepting his wings like they had his magic.
“Are you planning on making me a sweater?” Merlin’s voice drifted over to where Leon was standing.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re woolgathering again.”
Leon hummed and grinned at the warlock. “What would you do if I was?”
Merlin growled softly, leaping at Leon and knocking him to the ground.
“I do believe I was promised to finish what you started earlier?”
“Did I? Hmmm I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer unless you're done?”
Merlin smirked and his eyes flashed golden before they were suddenly back in his and Leon’s chambers, laying on the bed. He leaned down, gently placing his lips against the older man, the smirk never leaving his face.
Leon reached up and ran his fingers through his lover’s hair, his other hand reaching towards one wing, barely pressing against the feathers.
The wing twitched before moving closer to the searching hand, allowing Leon to pet the downy appendage, eliciting a purr of appreciation from the man above.
“You want me to take care of you, or do you want to take care of me?” Leon spoke in low tones into Merlin's ear. Merlin had a full-body shiver before moving off the older man and laid face down on the bedspread.
“Please,” he whispered.
That was all Leon needed before he opened the side table and brought out the oil.
“Lay them out flat, it will be easier for you”
Merlin complied and spread out his wings until each tip rested on either side of the bed. Leon coated his fingers in the oil, warming it up to body temperature before beginning his work. Methodically he examined each feather, cleaned it of any debris, and gently rubbed the oil in from base to tip. By the time he was done with one wing, Merlin had already fallen into a contended sleep, a soft purr coming from the back of his throat.
Smiling to himself, Leon finished his work, setting aside the fallen feathers and fluff for the warlock's use later. He got off the bed and quickly washed up, changing into nightclothes before carefully doing the same for Merlin. Leon knew he was one of the few who could do this task without waking the man up and felt his chest constrict with the love he had for the younger man. He put out the candles around the room, leaving only the fire to light his way back to bed, pulling the blanket over the sleeping man before sliding in himself, maneuvering Merlin until he was laying on top of Leon. Leon’s arms made their way around the man, one hand staying around his waist, the other sneaking up to rest between the wings, his thumb and little finger each touching a wing.
Knowing the King, Leon knew he would be excused along with Merlin of any duties for the day, so he let himself descend into sleep, a small smile playing on his lips, and Merlin tucked himself deeper into the man's embrace, rubbing his cheek against Leon’s chest like a kitten.