FIC and ART: Following the Beast

[loaded_march]

Title: Following the Beast (on AO3)
Author: loaded_march/Footloose (LJ/AO3)
Artist: mushroomtale/mushroomtale (LJ/AO3)
Rating: Explicit
Characters/Pairings: Merlin/Arthur, others
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, underage, kidnapping, torture
Summary:
Arthur grew up surrounded by emotionless attendants, was forced to suppress his true nature, and was regularly trotted out as a special-occasion showpiece for the entertainment of pedantic mortals. As he approaches adulthood, he decides that it's time for him to break free of the leash and to take his rightful place on the throne.

There are agents of Heaven and Hell who would stop him. His own half-sister desires the power for herself. His human father refuses to allow Arthur out of his control. The Fallen sperm donor responsible for Arthur's existence wants to take his place.

Arthur's young. His power has yet to mature. All the allies he has made and the loyal men who follow him won't be enough to protect him until he can build the Kingdom he has dreamed of since he was a child.

He needs the help of the person who makes angels and demons quaver in fear at the mere mention of his name. Of the broken, down-trodden man who is now a pale shade of the terror he had been decades ago. He needs Merlin, and Arthur has every intention of making Merlin his.

Notes: Please see the works for artist and author notes.

The Wicked Man series on the AO3 includes Following the Beast (fic), associated artwork, and The Last Hour (fanmix).