Jealousy. It wasn't something Arthur had ever felt, not really. He had never met anyone who had been able to provoke such emotions from him and even if he had he would not have allowed himself to display it in any way. He was the prince, he wasn't supposed to be fawning over someone while he could be training and working to become the future king of Camelot. So when his hands balled into fists at his side and he found his teeth chewing angrily on his bottom lip he was more than bewildered.
Unnecessary anger gnawed in the pits of his stomach as his vision took on a reddish tint. Everything had been fine, ordinary as it gets when it comes to Camelot. He was reading a book of laws for Camelot while thinking of improvisations that could be added along the way. Merlin had been tidying up around his chambers, picking up stray clothes and abandoned books as he strode clumsily around the large area. A knock has sounded at the doors, making Arthur look up abruptly and Merlin scurry to the doors.
Arthur had shaken his head and looked back down towards his book when a feminine voice, far too excited and pleased to be normal, had floated through his courters and to his ears. "Merlin! You're very hard to find, did you know that?" Arthur knew that was both a lie and a horrible icebreaker, Merlin was wherever he was and everyone knew that Arthur usually resided to his room by this time to study.
He didn't know why he was so interested in the inner workings of the peasant community, but his pale blue eyes managed to subtly peek over the top of the book, allowing him to survey the entire room. A servant who was at shoulder height with Merlin stood a little too closely to his manservant. She was absently twirling a strand of long ebony hair around her tan finger, a large smile on her face as her hazel eyes zeroed in on Merlin's sapphire blue ones. This had caused the feeling to begin, small and timid at first as he bit on his lip, his teeth breaking through the soft skin. Then she had moved even closer to Merlin as she took a small step forward to rest her hand upon his.
The movement was casual, almost absent-minded in its behavior. Yet the sight of her tan skin clashed with Merlin's porcelain skin made Arthur's blood boil as he fought to stay inconspicuous. The small part of him that was thinking rationally told him his reactions were unjustified and foolish, that he shouldn't get so worked up over a servant. It told him that he had stopped listening to the conversation, so the move might have been completely natural. But that part was slowly getting drowned out by his angered thoughts, the exact angered thoughts that caused his bottom lip to slowly bleed as his teeth cut through it and his hands to curl into fists around his book.
His mind raced with words he could say, but before he had the chance Merlin had stepped politely back and gave her a smile, the exact smile that disarmed a lot of people in Camelot, before answering a question Arthur had not heard and escorting her out of the room. As soon as the doors shut Arthur felt his fingers unwind themselves and his teeth pull back slowly from his lip. He raised a hand carefully to wipe away the small trickle of blood that flowed down his chin before looking back up towards the room.
Merlin stood by the door as he gazed at Arthur, his expression a mix between amusement, confusion, and something else Arthur can't quit place. Arthur realizes a beat too late that he was supposed to say something causing him to clear his throat awkwardly before speaking in a halfhearted snapping tone. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go draw my bathwater, and do try to make sure it's hot this time." Merlin chuckles and the sound is somehow soothing to Arthur as Merlin replies with a sarcastic "Why of course, sire."