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Leon was the perfect Consort. While he couldn’t give them an heir, Morgana already had agreed to lay with Leon so that problem was solved. Of course that could only happen once Uther Pendragon was no longer King.
Arthur had known Leon since forever, and trained with him just as long, it felt. Sometimes Arthur thought Leon was just made for him - or considering that Arthur was the younger one, he was made for Leon. Regardless of that, and due to unforeseen circumstances, Arthur found himself in a pickle.
Hungry and driven by lust, Arthur ambushed Leon, pressing him against the door of an abandoned chamber and kissing him passionately. The prince ravished his best friend, his knight and cemented their courtship's next step.
Arthur was barely sated for a couple of candle marks before he sent for Leon - officially to discuss training - and pulled him into the royal sheets. The prince managed to keep his hands to himself for a couple of days after, having noted how exhausted Leon seemed during training the next day and feeling guilty.
The longer Arthur kept the hunger locked away, though, the worse he felt. So on the third day, he waited for everyone to leave the weapons chamber before approaching Leon again and kissing him hungrily.
“A-Arthur. Sire -”
“Come now, Leon. I need you. Let me suck you off.”
Leon froze and backed away. “Sire… Arthur, what has got into you?”
The prince frowned. “What do you mean?”
“This isn’t like you. While in the past you did tend to be a passionate person, you would never be so uncouth as to solicit me in such a public place. Sire, you have always cited how important secrecy and how delicate the matter of our courtship is. But now you are cornering me like… forgive me these words but it’s as if you are a woman at the brothel.”
Arthur took a step back, hurt by the words - but as he thought of all those whores getting sex regularly, he felt hot, simmering lust in the bottom of his belly. A second later he realized how unbecoming that was and felt shame. “I- I am sorry Leon. It won’t happen again.”
It didn’t. For another three days, Arthur managed to keep his urges at bay. Each day he grew weaker though, fumbled through training. He ate less and less, food tasting like ash.
His skin became paler, rivalling Morgana’s soon enough.
Arthur’s lips looked chapped, some parts bitten raw. Eyebags rounding the gauntness of his cheeks into an image of a man on his deathbed.
The court whispered. Gaius fretted.
Merlin was either glued to Arthur’s side or fucked off to who knows where. Morgana made a point of eating with him at every damn meal, and Leon kept half a step behind or next to him whenever there was training, or otherwise justifiable reasons for his second in command to be close.
Arthur was annoyed. He was angry at everyone and worse, he needed. He craved sex.
It all came to a head on the eve of the third day.
The prince had snapped unnecessarily at another knight during training and Leon was trailing him again - so frustratingly close - the taller man’s smell making his urges flare like a fire. Uther called for him just as Morgana entered his chambers for their dinner. Merlin stumbling in after her, Gwen exchanged a worried glance with Leon before Leon turned to the page and dared to tell him, “Prince Arthur is not available currently. I will go in his stead.”
The page bowed and left, Leon turned to Arthur, Morgana settled in “her” chair, Gwen served them food and Merlin wine. “Sire I will go and see wh-”
“No,” Arthur spoke firmly, cold eyes fixed on Leon, hands gripping the armrests of his chair painfully. A white-knuckled grip, the wood groaning under his hands. “Leave. Everyone leave, but Leon.”
Faintly he registered the coldness of his voice. Of course, Morgana protested and Merlin looked displeased.
“Arthur I will not-”
“I SAID LEAVE!”
He growled. He didn’t know it, but his eyes glowed for a moment and everyone froze.
“Arthur…” Leon’s voice came unsure.
“What?!” snapped the prince.
Morgana and Merlin exchanged a glance before the woman stood again. “I think this confirms my dream.”
“I wish it didn’tMorgana”, replied Merlin
“What are you babbling about? Get out.”
“Sorry Arthur, but I think we have to talk…” Morgana said in a tone that betrayed the uncertainty she felt.
Arthur stood angrily drawing his sword. He would have attacked her if Leon hadn’t stepped in. “Sire!”
Arthur stared at his knight. His partner- his love - and huffed before sheathing the sword again.
Merlin laid a hand on Morgana’s shoulder and grabbed Gwen’s wrist gently.
“We’re leaving for tonight. But we’re coming in bright and early tomorrow.”
After some protest, Merlin managed to lead the girls outside so Arthur could return his focus to Leon who still looked startled - afraid even.
“Leon?” Arthur asked softly.
“Sire, your eyes have turned gold.”
Silence. The drip of the candles, the crackling of the firewood and the heartbeat of men were the only sound.
“You’re joking.”
“No.”
“That can’t be. Golden eyes mean-”
“I am aware Sire…” Then Leon whirled around and strode to the door. “Leon!”
“I will make sure Lady Morgana, Guinevere and Merlin won’t tell a soul. I swear. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
Arthur was rooted to the spot. How did he deserve such loyalty? How could Leon love him still when he was such a thing?
Leon returned soon after, with Lady Morgana, Guinevere and Merlin in tow. They all looked sober and grim. Arthur had not moved a millimetre.
Merlin came to Arthur’s side and kneeled, trying to look into Arthur’s eyes, but the blond had sat so that his fringe blocked out anyone.
It was Morgana who broke the silence. “I had a dream a while ago. A sorceress meeting you in the forest, cursing you for being your father's son.”
Arthur stayed silent. Leon shifted to Arthur’s other side and knelt there.
“Her curse, you remember the words too don’t you?”
“She said you will see what kind of beast you really are. You will lose everything.”
“Indeed. She… used magic of the darkest kind. Merlin and I have been conferring with Gaius and found out the incantation she used belongs to demonic rituals.”
Arthur would ask another day why the three of them did any of that in the first place.
Leon spoke gently, “What does that mean for our prince?”
Merlin answered, pain evident in his voice. “It means she changed him. Arthur is no longer human but… considering everything we’ve seen recently I’d assume he has some kind of demonic relation now.”
Arthur couldn’t deal with this. Wide-eyed and unseeing, he stared down at his table
“Can we do something to reverse it?” Leon’s voice was still so gentle, compassionate in its calmness. Arthur wanted to weep and bury his face in Leon’s shoulder, and hide like a small boy.
Neither of the black-haired people answered. Their silence was all the answer Arthur needed.
Heaving a heavy breath he sat up straight again, looking at no one. “I need to see my father.”
The protests from everyone in the room came unexpectedly to Arthur, even if they shouldn’t have.
In his hazy state, it took Arthur a moment to realise why all of these people - those wonderful human beings that always argued in favour of Arthur- were frantically telling Arthur to stay.
They thought Arthur was about to hand himself over.
“He called for me. I need to go. After, we can… I don't know… figure out how to make me human again?” It felt wrong, having to say those words. He felt human. A couple of moons ago he still had been.
The only thing that had changed remarkably was this constant hunger in the pit of his stomach that he couldn’t sate, no matter the amount of food he consumed. Worried eyes followed his movements, Merlin scrambled to stand and made to follow him but Leon held him back.
“Sire, let me come with you.”
“My father-” Arthur was interrupted by Morgana’s scoff. “Your father will be finding fault whether you went with someone or not. Let Leon accompany you. Meanwhile, Merlin, Gwen and I will make a start on figuring out what exactly you have turned into…”
Arthur looked at the sour expression of his manservant and the determined tilt to Morgana’s chin. The sweet, openly caring expression of Gwen and the worried but composed features of Leon. “Fine.”
The walk to Uther was silent, Arthur dragged his feet. Not because he wanted to postpone this, but because it got harder and harder to walk, At one point he stumbled.
Reflexes from years of training couldn’t have helped him, his body feeling so sluggish that the strong arm slinging around his middle and pulling him upright was welcomed. Arthur leaned against Leon’s side, ignoring the way Leon’s armour dug in slightly, and the shame of needing to use him a crutch.
“Thank you.” the blond whispered.
“Anytime.”
After a short moment of rest, they continued on. Once at Uther’s chamber, Leon stayed outside while Arthur could feel both the piercing eyes of his father and the soft gaze of worry from Leon trailing him as he entered and shut the door.
The conversation, if one could call it that, was more screaming about Arthur’s recent perceived failures and constant needling about how much more qualified than him Sir Leon was.
Arthur could at least agree with that point.
However, most of the words didn’t get past the haze, the burning feeling of need, the endless thirst. Drowned by hunger and fatigue.
Arthur bowed once, just the right kind of low, just the right kind of defiant. Just the right kind for a Prince to give his King. Then he left again. He strode out, proudly. His steps were firm and securely planted on the stone.
It lasted until they rounded the next corridor. Arthur’s knees gave out and he fell onto them groaning. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead and he felt nauseous.
“Sire!”
Hands on him. Warm, caring, tender. Arthur felt his head pounding. Hunger surging.
“L-Leon.”
“Sire… what do you need? What can I do?” the older man knelt beside him, Arthur felt the heat of him so close by.
“I… I am just so… hungry.” He muttered.
“I can bring you to your chambers and you can eat dinner then rest. We can figure everything out tomorrow, Sire.” Leon’s voice sounded panicked.
‘That’s odd. Leon never panics…’
He felt himself being hoisted up, Leon’s arm wrapped around his torso and midsection. He leaned against the warm chest and breathed in the unmistakable scent of Leon.
To his utter horror, he moaned and twisted then to kiss Leon fiercely. Something clicked into place inside him and he grew stronger kiss for kiss. So much so, that he managed to manoeuvre them into a hidden alcove. His fingers clumsily opened Leon’s trousers.
“S-Sire?” Leon moaned, he struggled to say more but Arthur mouthed at his neck- hand finding his prize and he started stroking Leon’s cock urgently.
“Tell me to stop and I will.” Arthur was uncertain about if he was lying.
“Gods- please don’t. You’re doing so well, Arthur.” Leon muttered, loving how Arthur blushed whenever Leon praised him.
Arthur buried his face against Leon’s chest, annoyed at the breastplate and most of the fabric and metal between them. “You’re wearing too much, I am too.”
Leon chuckled, hands skimming over Arthur’s tunic-clad back. “We are. But we can change that next time-” he started to thrust into Arthur’s hand, surprising the younger man. Leon used that surprise to change their position and press Arthur against the wall. If someone walked past, they’d be more likely to identify the person who was not pressed against the wall, and Leon could live with a hit to his reputation.
“Leon?”
“For now let me take care of you, Sire” Leon whispered darkly into Arthur’s ear, and felt the younger man shiver, stopping the hand job fully. The taller knight used the moment to kiss Arthur passionately. He gave his all into this, kissing and caressing Arthur through too many layers of clothing.
His hand finally opened Arthur’s trousers and mimicked Arthur’s ministrations from before. “Come, Arthur, join me. Be the good boy I know you can be, and jerk my cock.”
The prince shivered and moaned loudly, latching his lips onto Leon’s neck again and sucking a bruise into the sensitive skin. Leon moaned.
All it took for Arthur to regain the upper hand was a short moment of inattentiveness from Leon, so he rubbed the hard cock in his hand once before he teased the slit with his pinky finger and even dipped slightly into it.
Leon groaned loudly, a strange mixture of pleasure and pain rattling through him for a second and he forgot what he was doing.
“You sound so gorgeous, Leon. Give more of those beautiful sounds.”
Something dark sparked in Arthur. His endless hunger slowly started to lessen and his energy returned with every stroke of Leon’s cock, every moan from Leon’s throat and every press of lips against Leon’s skin.
Leon’s strokes started to lessen in intensity until they stopped - neither bothering with that. The taller man began to feel weakened and Arthur used the opportunity to turn them around again. “Ar-Arthur wh-”
“Shush. Give yourself over, Leon. Enjoy this.”
Arthur sank to his knees, visible to all who would walk past, and freed Leon’s cock enough to get his mouth on it. The prince moaned at the taste. He licked the head, savouring the flavour of precum and Leon’s unique scent. He felt Leon’s hands in his hair and sucked experimentally.
The grip tightened and Arthur decided he liked this. He started moving his head, inexperienced but hungry for what? For Leon’s cock? Arthur wasn’t sure. He just knew he needed this. He felt energised in a way he hadn’t for days. and he used that to give Leon the best blow job in history.
Leon had to close his eyes, overwhelmed by lust and dizziness. He felt like drowning in it. The sound washed away, a static kind of perception layered his memory in that moment. He didn’t feel the orgasm building, it was just suddenly there. “A-Arthur I am about to-”
Arthur hummed again, bringing the cock as deep into his throat as he could manage and squeezed Leon’s thigh to show him it was ok. The blond man hadn’t expected the harsh shot of cum. Still, after the initial surprise, he swallowed it greedily.
After a moment, he leant back, grinning brightly up at Leon before truly taking in the other man. While Arthur felt vital and strong, Leon looked like he might keel over. White skin, perspiration and bloodshot eyes.
Worried, Arthur stood, holding Leon in place as the other man seemed to fall.
“Leon? What- are you ill?”
“N-no Sire. I… I am fine.” Leon lied through his teeth - and they both knew it.
“I’ll take you to Gaius!” The prince started to get their clothes in order but was halted in his attempt to direct them to Gaius' chamber by Leon’s arm over his shoulder.
“Arthur..:”
“Hush you need your strength.”
“Your eyes glowed…” That stopped the prince. Dread suddenly pooled where the hunger sat before. Now he felt full.
They returned to the chamber, both men leaning against each other as if they had battled for a day straight.
Of course, Morgana demanded to know what happened and, put rather bluntly, what Leon and Arthur were trying to hide.
“So you broke down Leon and you had sex, and after you felt ok again but Leon is now feeling sick?”
To everyone’s credit, they only blushed a tiny bit.
Leon spoke softly, resting in his prince's armchair, which itself was a testament to how weak he felt for he would never sit while a Lady stood and never dare to take his Sire’s chair. “That seems to sum it up well, my lady.”
Arthur cleared throat. “I don’t see how this is relevant, especially considering we are in the company of ladies… but yes.”
Morgana rolled her eyes and even Guinevere huffed softly. Merlin, though, looked deep in thought. Arthur latched onto that. “Out with it. Thinking never suits you well Merlin.”
Sadly, Merlin didn’t bite. Instead, he hummed and hesitantly started to explain.”I think I have read about such a being before.”
No one asked about the source, knowing that they were already committing treason as it stood.
“It spoke about demons that drain humans or other beings of their energy, feasting on them through sex.”
Arthur winced at that description. “Are you saying… Are you implying that I now have to-” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Merlin did for him. “You will have to have intercourse regularly to eat now, yes.”
Leon’s cheeks were nearly as red as his cape. An odd contrast, considering that most of him still looked pale. Arthur didn’t fare much better.
Guinevere, shy but sure, asked: “And self-indulging won’t help him I take it?”
“No, the script said that such demons could only gain energy from intercourse with humans”
“But I am human!”
“That’s where you are wrong, Arthur. You have been cursed into something else.” Morgana didn’t use kid gloves with him, as always.
Arthur wanted to deny this. Wanted to keep a tight hold of normality. He glanced around his rooms, seeing the serious faces of his friends and seeing how drained Leon looked made it all real though.
With a deep weary sigh, Arthur sat on the next best surface. “Will it get worse for Leon?”
It wasn’t a question for him to stay loyal to his lover.
Merlin looked uncertain now. “I think if you don’t starve too long both of you will be fine. Leon just... has to eat more to build up- Merlin coughed awkwardly “Build up stamina for it. I suppose.”
They fell into silence. At one point Merlin shoved some of the food at Leon. The knight refused at first but a glance at the contemplative Prince made Leon eat. He had to take good care of himself now, so he could take care of his prince.
The chambers emptied slowly, none of them in the mood to chit-chat. Morgana promised to keep looking with Merlin, and Guinevere promised to ensure people wouldn’t notice any increased time spent between Morgana and Merlin to avoid adding scandal to the curse.
Leon wrapped up his meal and stood. Arthur got up as well, they looked at each other, conflicted emotion in both their eyes.
“Leon I-”
“If you need more than me, I promise to let you take more lovers. But I beg that for now, we try it being just us. Arthur, I tried to never be a selfish man when it came to my duty to the kingdom, to you. But please, allow me this one concession. A trial period in which you will feed only from me.”
Arthur was taken aback and yet-
“As long as we can guarantee your health I will not look twice elsewhere. You are the only man I ever wanted, more than I ever deserved.”
“Arthur…” Then Leon knelt in a position of fealty and took Arthur’s ringed hand, placing a kiss on Arthur’s mother's ring. “I have already promised once to protect and serve you with whatever I have to give. As a knight to his Sovereign. Today I promise the same- as a courtier to his intended. Should the day arise I cannot keep that promise, I will not be in the way nor object. Whatever you need shall be yours, my heart.”
Arthur’s breath caught and he grabbed Leon by his shoulders, pulling him up and embracing him. “Stay tonight. Lay with me- not for that but… but to share life.”
Leon smiled against blond hair and placed a kiss on it. “Gladly.”