FIC: Any Inn in a Storm

[fifty_fifty]

Title: Any Inn in a Storm
Prompt: The Kings Chambers Prompt #2 - Inn
Rating: Teen and Up
Warning(s): Mentions of sex work
Summary: "Hi," he said politely. "I’d like to get two rooms please."

She scoffed at him. "You’ll be lucky. With this weather we’re booked out!"

"Booked out? Are you sure? My master and I have travelled a great distance. We would appreciate having a place to uh, lay our heads for the night. One room will do, if you don’t have two."

She shook her head. "We’re all booked out."

"There’s nowhere at all? My master will pay well, I promise."

"You speak from experience, huh?" she asked with a sly grin. Merlin felt himself flush at her strange behaviour, wondering what on earth she meant. "Well, there might be something… And lest I be the one who disturbs your trade. I know men such as yourself rely on being able to be discrete. I have one last room. It's very small, only the one bed. Mind, I suppose that won’t matter much to the pair of you. You’re not here to admire the interior."

The weather has been awful all day, and as Merlin looked up through his dripping wet fringe up into the dark sky, it didn't show any signs of getting better.

He shivered, drawing his rain-drenched jacket closer around him as he tried in vain to stop his teeth from chattering. He was relishing the thought of getting under some kind of shelter soon, even if the ground would be water-laden, if they could get some kind of tent erected, it would at least bring some kind of relief from the relentless rain. The firewood would all be soaked through, but a little bit of magic could take care of that just enough that they could make a smokey fire to warm their chilled bones a little.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled over the wind, which cut through Merlin’s clothing. "Come on, this way!"

He blinked away the water as he urged his horse, Aster, to turn and follow. As he mentally prepared himself to keep on going for a while yet, if that was Arthur’s wish.

Aster continued traipsing after Arthur’s horse Hengroen, normally she loved these outings, but even she couldn’t muster much enthusiasm given the weather.

It was on the tip of Merlin’s tongue to ask Arthur how much longer they were going to travel for, but he decided against it. Arthur’s mood today had been as foul as the weather. It was better for him not to poke the angry bear.

As they passed through a copse of trees, it was as though the heavens had opened, beaming down on them as the rain eased and the sun broke through, and Merlin held his breath as he spotted an inn nestled in the hillside below them.

Arthur started down the sloping track as they both trusted in their sure-footed horses to make their way safely down. It winded down the hillside, as slowly, slowly they got closer.

Merlin smiled as he realised they were indeed making a beeline for the building. Warmth, shelter, food. And dare he hope; ale?


"Let’s take shelter for the night," Arthur called. Merlin didn’t need to be asked twice. "We’ll make a fresh start in the morning!"

When they finally reached the inn, Merlin slithered off his horse and started to remove their bundles from their horses as Arthur hailed the stablehand, giving him a few coppers as he asked him to take care of their horses.

The man led them away to be stabled asMerlin and Arthur headed towards the inn.

The second they stepped inside the whole inn went quiet as all heads turned towards them, taking them in.

Arthur gave them a cautious nod of acknowledgement, but thankfully remained silent.

Slowly the chatter and music—provided by an old fiddler in the corner of the room—resumed, Merlin and Arthur headed towards the bar.

"Just… let me do the talking?" Merlin pleaded.

"Why would I do that, Merlin? I'm a man of my people, I'm perfectly able to speak with fellow citizens in a cordial manner."

"Yes, but we’re not in Camelot anymore, are we? And remember what happened that time we met Gwaine?"

"Merely a one off," Arthur assured him.

"Please, just this once, could you trust me on this?"

Arthur rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Fine, just get us a room and board, will you. The sooner I’m out of these wet things, the better."

Merlin shot Arthur a grateful look before making his way over to speak with the woman behind the bar.

"Hi," he said politely. "I’d like to get two rooms please."

She scoffed at him. "You’ll be lucky. With this weather we’re booked out!"

"Booked out? Are you sure? My master and I have travelled a great distance. We would appreciate having a place to uh, lay our heads for the night. One room will do, if you don’t have two."

She shook her head. "We’re all booked out."

"There’s nowhere at all? My master will pay well, I promise."

"You speak from experience, huh?" she asked with a sly grin. Merlin felt himself flush at her strange behaviour, wondering what on earth she meant. "Well, there might be something… And lest I be the one who disturbs your trade. I know men such as yourself rely on being able to be discrete. I have one last room. It's very small, only the one bed. Mind, I suppose that won’t matter much to the pair of you. You’re not here to admire the interior."

"No," Merlin agreed. "We’re not. Could we, uh, get a bite to eat perhaps? We're starving. And in the morn when we break our fast too."

"Oh yes, of course. Got to keep your strength up. And I’ve no doubt you’ll both have quite the appetite in the morning. Here you go, my dear." She slid a key across to him. "The room right at the end of the corridor upstairs, on your left. Just mind you two keep the noise down. We have a full house tonight and I don’t want no complaints from the others, you understand?"

"Uh, yes. No problem."

"Now, why don’t you go upstairs, I’m sure your "master" will be eager to sample the wares. Then afterwards you can dry your clothes by the fire."

"Thank you," smiled Merlin, snatching up the key.

He returned back to Arthur.

"It’s our lucky day," he said. "One room left might be a little small, but it’s warm and dry."

"Merlin, I could kiss you!" said Arthur, slinging an arm around his neck. "Lead the way. I’m dying to get out of these clothes."

"Ah, i bet you are, you naughty man" the barmaid said, as she passed them on the way to pick up empty tankards

Arthur watched her walk through the inn as they started to climb the stairs.

"What a strange woman. What exactly did she mean by that?"

"Um."

"Merlin…"

"I think she might think I’m a, uh, boy for, erm, rent."

"A boy for rent, what do you mean? Or is this place bewitched to make people talk in riddles?"

They made their way along the corridor to the furthest door on the left. Arthur unlocked the door

"Well?" he asked.

"It’s like a, uh, working girl, but the male version…"

"Like a street walker!" Arthur exclaimed as the penny dropped.

"Shh!" hissed Merlin, pushing him inside the tiny room, barely big enough for them to stand next to the tiny bed.

"I can’t believe she thought I was hiring you like some kind of common whore!" Arthur whisper-shouted.

"It’s not that bad. She doesn’t even know us. Besides, if you play your cards right, who kno—"

Arthur cut Merlin off all of a sudden as he kissed him. When they parted, Merlin looked at him with confusion.

"What? Since everyone’s under the impression I'm shagging you… Presuming I’m not overstepping the—"

This time Merlin interrupted him, kicking the door closed behind him.

"Well, now you mentioned it, it would be a shame to waste a room with a bed…" he agreed.