Lancelot wasn't capable of blushing in this form, but he most certainly would have in his human form.Pretty thing.That should be insulting, calling him a thing.But the words didn't feel like an insult when Galehaut said them.They just made him feel precious.
He stopped a few paces away, spreading his arms."What do you think?"
"I think you are lovely.I've never seen anything like you, and I have seen many strange and wonderful things."He closed the space that Lancelot had created and reach up to toy with a piece of kelp."How is it already tangled so?"
"It's always there when I change, the waters welcoming me home."
Galehaut smiled, tossing the kelp back into the pond before lifting his enormous hand to cup the side of Lancelot's face."Loved wherever you go, Lancelot du Lac, and yet you settle for this worthless scoundrel."
"You lost everything for me," Lancelot whispered."How could I not choose you?You really do not find me…"
Galehaut kissed him, bringing up his other hand so he was entirely cupping Lancelot's face.His hands were huge and nearly hot, a sun-warmed rock after a day in frigid water.He kissed Lancelot as hungrily as ever, as though trying to absorb every last part of him, uncaring of the slightly altered face, the wickedly sharp teeth.
Lancelot groaned and pushed in close, greedy for more and more and more.He would never have enough of this man who was so fierce and yet so gentle, who had cared more about doing the right thing than all that he had lost in doing it.Disowned, banished, spoken of with contempt by so many in the Distant Isles and even beyond.Because he had surrendered his home, his birthright, for a single day and night.
Who would not fall madly in love with that?
When they finally parted, it took Lancelot a moment to even recall what they had been doing."Where are the others?"
"I sent them back to their home to attend the poor man who will probably bathe in nothing deeper than a bucket for the rest of his life.They have offered that home to us for the night, so the rest went ahead to settle the horses and such.I promised I would bring the noble hero forthwith.I wish I had said it would take longer, so I could fuck you."
"Shameless," Lancelot chided playfully, though they both knew that he would happily lie in the dirt and spread his legs for Galehaut at the slightest urging.
Galehaut's heavy hands dropped to cup and knead his ass briefly before, with a rough noise, he withdrew."Come, your clothes await, as does your hero's welcome.Tonight, though, after all are abed, I will certainly have you."
"I will hold you to that promise," Lancelot said, finally letting his scales fade away as he went to get dressed.
Lancelot opened his eyes, smiling faintly at the curious creatures that had come to see him in the night.Little fish swimming around, a couple of sturgeon serving as guards, and a few eels had twined themselves around him.He greeted and thanked all of them, then sent them on their way.
When they'd gone, he pushed off the throne and swam to the surface, then headed slowly for shore.
Merlin waited for him there, holding a towel, clothes, and a cup of hot ale that tasted precisely as it had all those many centuries ago."Whatever happened to coffee and tea?"
"New fangled nonsense," Merlin said with a playful scoff."It's in the kitchen, but I thought you'd like this."
"Always," Lancelot said, because it really had been one of his favorite things.Strange now, to drink any sort of beer first thing in the morning, but once it hadn't been so unusual at all.In a time when so much water had been teeming with hidden dangers, it had often been the safer option."Have I missed anything?"
"Nothing at all, save some shenanigans because Dred, Tristan, and Percival were left unsupervised.I'm surprised they did not try to bother you."
"I was far too deep for humans to reach me so easily."Mordred especially, such a child of fire in a way even the other fire-bound in their circle weren't, had no desire to explore deep waters.He didn't fear water the way Galehaut did, but he was never in a hurry to go for a swim, either."There's an entire castle ruin down there, complete with glowy throne."
"Glowy throne?"Merlin asked, brows lifting.
Lancelot related the conversation with his mother as they walked.All around them, the castle was already teeming with life, though it was all NPCs that Merlin no doubt was responsible for."No players yet?"
"Technically this area isn't unlocked in-game yet.According to the datamining, it won't be available for at least six months.I can do a lot, but not that.I'm sure people will find ways, they always do, but for now it's just puppets to help get this place in tip-top shape."
"Could other players even come here, if we're technically in the pocket universe?I do not understand any of this, not really."
"There's a lot of overlap.Yes, players will eventually be able to come here, but I don't think they'll slide into the pocket universe portion of it like we do.I think that requires being us, or something unique to us and Maleagant's forces, but I could be wrong.Maybe some poor bastard will show up, die here, and wind up dead in real life.I hope not, though.Unfortunately, only time will tell."
"Only time," Lancelot echoed quietly.
"I'm glad you got to see your mother.I cannot imagine her grief waiting for you to return to her."
Lancelot smiled softly."As ever, she bears everything with unfailing grace.I hope someday to be even half what she is, should I be granted the time that feat would take."
Merlin scoffed."You are her son, and it shows in every stitch of you.Come along, Your Highness.Breakfast and mischief await."
