Hello! This is the first chapter of this fic, the second will be coming soon! If you liked it, please review or whatever it is you people do here. ;-;

Despite this hetero beginning, this actually turns out to be Merthur, so don't you worry your gay little heads and stay tuned for that. ;D

As much as I wish I did, I don't own Merlin or the characters, except AYLETH, awh yeah gurl. She's mine.

Arthur sighed in exasperation, pacing the same line he had been for about the last half an hour. Everyone seemed to think making decisions came naturally to him, but they were really a foreign concept, especially if they involved other people and even more so involving women.
Still, the decision had to be made. He wasn't even entirely sure he wanted to make it; both women were so lovely, he wished he could keep seeing them both. Alas, he could only choose one to wed, and seeing as his Father was intent on that happening soon, he needed to decide quickly.

Who was he to choose; the lovely lady Ayleth, or fair Guinevere?
Ayleth was a respectable woman; Attractive, intelligent and a little bit naughty, which Arthur very much admired… But he was also fond of Guinevere, the humble, caring servant girl. Of course, his Father was completely against his son marrying a maid, but the Lady wasn't in his good books either, after witnessing her making eyes at other men of the court. However, the Prince was adamant that if he were to marry under such short notice, it would be to a woman of his choosing, or not at all. As much as Uther had argued with him, he knew that the stubborn blonde would not give in, and so he quietly accepted it.

Arthur was pulled from his thoughts when his bumbling oaf of a manservant rushed into his chambers, not bothering to knock, with a goofy grin plastered on his face.
"Good evening, Sire!"

"Mmhmm." He waved a hand vaguely in the servant's direction, still pacing. Merlin made towards the fireplace, placing some of the logs piled beside it inside, and suddenly the fire flickered into life. If there was one thing Arthur couldn't fault about Merlin, it was his ability to make such a warm fire arise so quickly.

"So, what's happening?" The raven haired boy asked innocently, kneeling in front of the fire to warm his hands.

"Hmm?"

"You're pacing. You only do that when you're planning or thinking deeply about something, and you don't seem to be in pain, so I assume it isn't the latter." He looked over his shoulder at the man, smirking cheekily.

"Har-har, Merlin, you're so funny," He drawled sarcastically, "But you're wrong. I am, in fact, thinking."

"Dangerous." Merlin remarked, rubbing his hands together to create a warm friction, as though the fire wasn't warm enough. Any other Noble wouldn't put up with the boy's behaviour, Arthur thought, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't mostly enjoy it. Merlin was more like a friend to him than a servant, and he certainly didn't make any attempts to act like one.
Arthur half smiled and stopped pacing, instead taking a seat at his desk. "I can't believe I'm about to ask your advice on something... But, I suppose I need it." He added, cocking his head.

"Well?" The boy prompted, turning to face his Prince.

"I need to decide... Between two women." He stated carefully, his brow furrowed.

"Oh." Merlin contemplated for a moment, before continuing, "Well, unfortunately, I don't know that I can be much help to you on the subject. I've never had to choose before." He said, with a shrug.

Arthur merely sighed, holding his head in his hands. He felt as if everyone was always looking to him to make the right decision, but this time, he had no idea what was right. As the situation grew, so did the distance between him and Gwen, a fact he was well aware of... But he just couldn't seem to find time for her.
Merlin, on the other hand, had spent even more than his usual amount of time with Arthur recently and was feeling extremely disappointed with how distant his friend was becoming. Even his insults seemed half-hearted, which, for some reason, Merlin thought he might be missing the most. He would have given anything to see his master happy again.

"I'm ready to sleep." Arthur spoke suddenly, breaking the silence. Merlin nodded and got him changed into his night clothes, then said goodnight and left, silently worrying about Arthur all the while.