Arthur paused outside Gaius's chambers. From within he could hear laughter and lots of it.

There was also the distinct smell of well brewed mead floating out of the open door.

Oh dear.

Merlin and any type of alcohol were not by any means a match made in heaven. The boy was such a lightweight. Arthur actually thought it was hilarious getting his manservant drunk, just to see what he'd do.

The last time it had happened he'd actually marched up to Morgana and kissed her. She'd told Arthur afterward that she was shocked he'd done it but that she was more shocked by how good a kisser he was. Of course the moment hadn't been planned at all and Uther had witnessed the event. Predictably Merlin had been sent to the stocks. It must be a second home to him by now.

But this time he didn't sound drunk. He wasn't singing like an out-of-tune sailor or speaking in a very broad Irish accent as were his usual customs when intoxicated.

He was just hanging out with Gwen. Why was he not drunk? He should be drunk.

Mind you it was probably a good thing he wasn't. Gwen would be pregnant by morning if he was.

Arthur wouldn't admit it to a single soul but the recent extra-closeness of Merlin and Gwen was making him quite jealous. He could hear her laughing as she recounted an amusing story.

Peeking round the doorframe Arthur saw the pair of them, sitting cross-legged on a table close by each other, knees practically touching. He could see both their faces clearly, but in profile. Gwen was howling away, her head resting on his chest while he too was laughing, tears rolling down the sides of his cheeks.

"You never did that." cried Merlin

Gwen raised her head slightly and glared playfully at him. Arthur didn't at all like the fact that she was now literally inches from his Merlin's face. He'd only have to move forwards a little to kiss her. "I did too. And I wasn't even drunk."

"How was she? 'Cos you know, I can't really remember?" Merlin wiped away the tears of laughter with his neckerchief.

"She was amazing but more importantly is what she said about you."

"Oh and what did she say about me?" Arthur could swear that Merlin was flirting.

"That even Arthur didn't kiss as well as you do."

"And she knows this from experience, does she?" Was he jealous? Arthur hoped he was.

"Apparently. Well someone had to teach the boy how to kiss. All those damsels he had to wake with a kiss to break the spell would have complained if she hadn't."

"Gwen that's just mean." despite his words, Merlin laughed.

"Come on, you know it's true."

"Yeah I'll give you that. Forget Prince Charming, he's really Prince Not-So-Charming." This made Gwen laugh even more.

"I'm passing that onto Morgana. She'll love it."

"Fine, but next time I get dibs."

Gradually Gwen's giggles subsided and she took another swig from their shared tankard of mead. As Arthur watched Merlin took the cup from her and also took a sip, never dropping eye contact with her. Arthur looked away.

"Morgana really said I was good?" Merlin asked curiously.

Even though he wasn't looking Arthur heard Gwen roll her eyes.

"You want proof? Come here you." That worried Arthur so he fought with himself whether he was brave enough to take another peek. He decided he was so when he looked in a few moments later, after a nerve-racking silence from within, he felt his jealousy bubbling within him.

Gwen and Merlin were kissing and getting really into it.

Arthur tore his eyes away from them and withdrew into the shadows again. He wanted to march into the room and wrench Gwen off him. He controlled his jealousy however and looked in again.

Thankfully they'd stopped kissing but he didn't like how dazed Gwen seemed to be by it. Merlin was waving a hand in front of her face which she ignored.

"Guess I'm gonna have to give you the kiss of life." Merlin said cheekily.

That woke her up. Putting a hand over his face she pushed him backwards as he leant in to kiss her again. "Good though you are, you kiss me again and I'm going to have to put you into a coma."

"You really thought I was good?" Merlin asked pulling her hand down but not letting go of it.

"You're a better kisser than Arthur, I'll give you that." a second after she said it she covered her mouth with her free hand, her eyes wide, knowing she'd let something slip.

"Oh so you've kissed Arthur?"

"Just once." She cried defensively.

"When?" despite his smile Arthur could swear there was a slightly angry look in Merlin's eyes.

"Mistletoe. I seemed to be caught under it a lot last Christmas."

"Who can blame them?"

"All by Arthur."

"Sounds like he has a bit of a thing for you."

"Not since you turned up."

"What?" Merlin looked adorably confused.

"Come on, don't tell me you haven't noticed it. Your master wants you. In more than just a master/servant way."

"You're out of your mind."

"Fine, believe what you want, but he wants to test out your kissing skills too."

"Hm." Arthur couldn't read the look on Merlin's face.

"You're considering it, aren't you?"

"Possibly."

"I know you better than that. You do anything concerning this, and you're taking advantage of him."

"Gwen, face it, he deserves to be taken advantage of."

Gwen considered this. "Alright, fair's fair, he does."

Merlin snorted. "He takes advantage of me every day."

"He's your boss, he has to. But I reckon he secretly likes bossing you around so much." Gwen sniggered.

"Are you kidding, he loves it." Merlin laughed. "You should see the gleeful look he gets in his eyes when he orders me to do a particularly horrible task. It's adorable."

"You dark horse."

"What?"

"You've considered it before haven't you?"

"…Maybe." Merlin said shiftily.

"Come on, own up, you've been having those thoughts too haven't you?"

"There are some advantages to having to dress him every day."

"Well I'll give you acting credits. No one would have guessed you secretly desire your boss."

"I'm never going to hear the end of this, am I?"

"Um…not ruddy likely."

As Arthur listened to them, he thanked god for whoever invented mead.