Chapter Text
"A victory for Camelot! To King Uther! To Prince Arthur!" The cheers rang out before chalices were raised together, wine swishing in them. There was a roar of people cheering to the king, to the victory, to Camelot. Merlin watched them from his position behind Arthur. He was allowed to be at the feast but not join in on the toast. He wasn't noble after all. Honestly, he was glad he wasn't. Who wanted to flock around Arthur like a bunch of peacocks fluttering their tails? Not that he disliked Arthur. He could consider the crown prince one of his closest confidants, especially since their destinies were intertwined. Merlin trusted him, and he hoped that Arthur also trusted him.
He kept his arms behind his back as he looked around. It was relatively calm. The court and the knights were all gathered, wine and food galore, they even had musicians playing for them. The cause for the feast? A victory in battle against a threatening foe, what other reason did they need to throw a feast? Merlin had quickly learned there was nothing more that royals and nobles loved than to flaunt their wealth and party the night away. And here it was.
As he looked around, each detail was perfectly planned. The food was a... work of art. No, really! Merlin had no idea what he was looking at. What on earth was that? It looked to be a chicken, stuffed inside of a duck, both split in half to reveal a cascade of vegetables and herbs falling out of it. That wasn't just it, the entire thing was sitting on top of a roasted pig that had part of its side cut out and filled with exotic fruits; including a pineapple in the pig's mouth.
The guests laughed and clapped, thoroughly entertained by it. Merlin just wondered how much of that was edible and how much was just for show. He was sure the silver orbs on the pig's feet were not.
That wasn't the only garish display of wealth they had. Little gold candies in shapes of fruits and animals, a crown of lamb ribs arranged to look like a fountain dripping with silver, and a very large arrangement of fruits from different lands. That last one was the most tempting to Merlin. He wished he could try a little, but he knew he was being watched. He just needed to wait until they were a few drinks in, and he could sneak some to eat behind a pillar. He always did at feasts like this.
Merlin looked around as the nobles mingled and talked, their servants also standing behind them as they spoke and chatted. The king finally gave a toast, and the feast began, Merlin could feel his stomach growling. He was hungry, and even if most of the food didn't look appealing, it was still food, and it smelled good.
Arthur noticed his servant hungrily looking at the food and had to keep from rolling his eyes at him. The prince was served his food, and he turned to Merlin. "Make sure it's not poisoned. We don't need another close call like last time." He was almost completely sure it wasn't poisoned. That time was caused by a sorceress trying to start a war. He also knew Merlin wouldn't be able to eat the food, so why not show an ounce of kindness and let him try it, at least get something on his stomach so he could stop making starved, puppy eyes at it.
Merlin was surprised by the request but didn't deny it. "Of course, my sire." He replied politely, he was hungry and this would at least help. No one even seemed to bat a lash, too wrapped up in their own conversations and enjoying the feast. Honestly, Merlin wasn't sure if this was a feast, a revel, or a fete; what were the differences?
He finished the food before turning back to Arthur. "All safe, sire." A cheeky smile as he had cleared the entire plate.
"Clearly." Arthur muttered and walked off to be served again. At least Merlin looked happy.
Merlin was lingering around, moving closer to the doorway as he knew nobles usually didn't like the servants meandering in their social spaces. He had food in his system, if only he could get some wine. Merlin looked around and spotted one of the kitchen girls with a pitcher. He was about to go and try to get some when Gaius stopped him.
"How is everything?"
"Fine, completely and utterly good." Merlin responded, giving his caretaker an innocent smile as if he hadn't been trying to take some wine.
"Clearly. I need to speak to you in relative privacy." Gaius gestured for Merlin to follow him. They made it out of the grand hall, away from all the festivities and people. "How have you been keeping up with your drafts?"
The drafts he spoke about were to suppress Merlin's omega nature, his scent, his heats, anything that made him seem like he wasn't just a common beta. Gaius first made them for his ward when Merlin arrived, and he found out that he was an omega.
In Camelot and most of the neighboring kingdoms, omega individuals were highly sought after due to how rare they were. Only an estimated one percent of the population were born omega, and the average could even be lower. Unfortunately, sought after meant different things depending on where and who you asked.
Some kingdoms treated their omegas, almost bordering royalty. A none noble omega could gain a change of class just by their nature. Many royals sought out omega courtesans and concubines no matter their lineage due to their fertility and beauty. An alpha king with an omega queen was said to be an unstoppable force.
Other kingdoms were much less... kind. omegas were hunted down to be used for breeding purposes. Locked up in brothel-like establishments to be used only for pleasure and procreation. You could smell the stench of heat and pain for miles. Usually, omegas were warned of such places, and many did not near them.
Thankfully, it was few and far between. Mostly smaller kingdoms that viewed omegas as lesser and their only worth was creating more children. Camelot was thankfully not one of them. The ruling leaned more to the better treatment of omegas. Merlin knew the late queen was one, and many noble omega women came to seek Uther, but none had won his heart. The king was still in love with his queen.
Which left Arthur. Would he try to bride a noble omega? Would he search far and wide to have a harem? Maybe just a few concubines to bear the next heir?
Merlin wasn't sure, but he didn't bother giving much thought to it. He was here, and he happily took Gaius' drafts to keep his scent neutral and his heat from coming. To everyone around him, he was just a common beta, and he liked it this way.
He could come and go, not worrying about getting hurt or taken, not worrying about being courted by aggressive alphas that didn't want to take no for an answer. No getting his heat every month and being bedbound for a week while feeling sick and aroused.
He had gone through a lot back home. Including one very close encounter at night with an alpha in rut. Merlin got attacked and almost marked by him. Thankfully, Merlin blasted him away before he could do anything. Unfortunately, the blast killed the man. He was thrown into some harvesting equipment and impaled. Merlin didn't know until the next day when the sun came up, the man was apparently someone important, and his companions were looking for the murderer.
Safe to say, Merlin had to lay low and hope no one had seen him, not long after, Merlin had to leave home for his safety. He promised to come back and visit once things settled down. It was then he headed to Camelot. A new start where no one knew of his nature.
"I've been taking them every day and tracking when my heat cycles are supposed to begin and end." Merlin replied, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on them.
Gaius gave a nod, "Good, good. I'm glad to see it's still working for you. Just make sure to be careful. It is not a perfect formula. Drafts like this are not common. Very few have been written about and much less created. I'm doing the best I can with what I know."
"It's alright, Gaius. I know you've done your best, and I'm thankful for that. You've been nothing less than like a father to me since I've been here." Merlin placed a hand on his shoulder as he spoke, giving Gaius a fond smile and hug.
"Alright, enough theatrics. Go on back to the feast, I shall be turning in for the night." Gaius told Merlin as he broke the hug and started walking off, "Oh and Merlin-" He turned to face his ward, "Mind your alcohol, we both know how you get when you drink. Don't come home too late. Don't make too much noise, and my cauldron is not a chamber pot."
Merlin flushed at the last one. Yeah, that had happened more than once, and Merlin ended up having to clean it out in the morning.
He headed back to the festivities and to Arthur's side. The prince looked up from his conversation before passing Merlin a goblet of wine. "Make sure it's not poisoned." It was just a quick interruption to his conversation, and he was soon back to it.
Merlin looked at the goblet of wine and took a taste. It was… not that good. Safe to drink and palatable, but it was rather weak, like the wine hadn't been allowed to mature enough. Merlin wiped the rim and placed it in Arthur's waiting hand. "It is safe, sire."
Arthur gave a nod and took his goblet. He sipped from it and couldn't help making a face. He also didn't particularly enjoy it, it wasn't good. He wiped the look off his face as he returned to his conversation.
The party continued on, and Merlin walked around, giving fake smiles and greeting other servants. He didn't really want to be here, but he was Arthur's manservant, and here he needed to be. Merlin was in his own headspace when he noticed the knights whispering among themselves and a few sneaking out of the great hall. Where were they going?
Merlin drew closer and heard comments of the wine, even they didn't like it. One of the knights noticed Merlin and was about to scold him for eavesdropping when another stopped him. "No, Merlin won't say anything. Just go ahead, I'll slip out in a minute." The knight said as his companion left. Now it was just him and Merlin.
"You don't have to tell me anything, I won't -" Merlin started to say, but the man stopped him as he held a hand up.
"I know you won't say anything to anyone. Arthur trusts you, and so do I..." The knight kept his voice low and hushed, "We are going to the tavern to properly celebrate our victory. This wine is far too weak, and the royals might enjoy it, but the rest of us need something stronger." So, it wasn't just Merlin. "Feel free to join us if you'd like, just don't tell the king or Arthur."
Merlin watched the knight quickly slip away. Wouldn't the king and prince eventually notice all seven knights gone? Well, that was for them to notice (if they even did) and for him to keep his mouth shut about it.
He meandered back to Arthur's side. He stood by, watching, listening, and bored. More and more, the offer of the tavern was sounding better. At least he didn't have to be around nobles, especially the ones who gave him dirty looks.
Arthur was chatting when he heard a yawn behind him. He glanced back to see it was Merlin. Of course it was. His servant was half the time tired, the rest getting in trouble. He turned back to Lady de Vere as she spoke about her daughter and how she was a delight, not an omega, but a very beautiful and submissive beta. Arthur just gave her a charming smile and nodded, wishing they could talk about anything else, especially when she mentioned that her daughter was only ten. No, thank you!
"Excuse me, lady de Vere." A voice came and pulled her attention away from Arthur, a savior in disguise. She apologized to Arthur and excused herself. He just gave a nod and quickly moved away, more than glad to get away. Now, he could breathe and deal with Merlin, who was still behind him.
"Merlin, if you're just going to be yawning in my ear the entire time, just leave." He scolded his servant, "You're dismissed, go." Arthur was already not in a good mood. It took him too long to figure out that this feast wasn't just for their victory in battle. No, it was also to allow members of the court to try and woo Arthur into marrying one of them or one of their children. His father was on the cusp of setting him up for an arranged marriage if something like this didn't work out. It wasn't hard to figure out as his father 'introduced' different nobles to him.
Arthur was now stuck smiling and acting properly around a bunch of people trying to marry him, just a way of trying to marry into the royal family, that was all.
Merlin was surprised to hear Arthur tell him to leave. Usually, the prince wanted him to stick around for... whatever reason. Moral support? Someone to take his frustrations out on? Who knows. All Merlin cared about was the fact that he had been dismissed for the night. He didn't have to stay here surrounded by such strong smelling betas and alphas.
His drafts might suppress his scent, but it certainly didn't suppress everyone else's. His sensitive nose was still picking up every scent, which is how he knew Arthur was stressed and angry, so it was best not to stick around. "I will take my leave then, my sire." Merlin gave a quick bow since they were in public and quickly walked off.
Arthur watched Merlin go. He was about to turn when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Prince Arthur." He sighed as he could hear the tone and smell the scent, Arthur set his face and turned to yet another beta trying to impress him. He needed a drink, a strong one.
Merlin was glad to leave. He started heading back to his room when he remembered what the knight had said. They were going to the tavern, and he was invited to join them. Well... He could go for a drink, and he actually liked the knights; they were growing on him. Gaius wouldn't notice him coming back a little late, for all he knew Merlin was still at the banquet.
He quickly headed out of the passageway and out of the castle, quickly heading towards the tavern. The solid wood building was loud and bright, people inside and outside drinking to their hearts content while musicians played in the background. Merlin walked in and spotted all seven of the knights at one table. They had all managed to escape.
"Merlin!" One of them yelled as they spotted him, raising their pints to him; the ale was already going to their heads. Merlin just laughed and shook his head, soon joining them at their table. He felt an arm around his shoulders while a pint was pushed into his hands. Yeah, this was so much better than a stuffy banquet. Where is the harm in a pint... or two?