About Last Night

Arthur woke up, groggy and disoriented, with a massive headache. He stumbled out of bed and closed his curtains, the light obnoxiously bright. He had definitely drunk too much last night. He didn't remember anything. He staggered to a chair and sank into it. He put his head back and closed his eyes. Suddenly the door banged open and in walked Merlin. "Good morning sire." Arthur flinched at the bright voice. "Be quiet Merlin. Let me die in peace."

"You're fine, Arthur. You just need some of Gaius's draft and you'll feel fine."

Arthur nodded and Merlin handed him a vial of foul-smelling liquid. Arthur looked at it with disdain and swallowed it down, gagging. Merlin smiled and went to get Arthur's clothes.

Arthur coughed awkwardly. "What happened last night?"

"You don't remember?"

"No. Why? Did I do something stupid?"

Merlin got a sad look on his face. Then he quickly brightened. "Always. But nothing of significance."

Arthur glared at Merlin. "Can I have my breakfast now?"

"Yes, I'll be back in a minute."

Merlin hurried from the room, closing the doors behind him. He put his back to the wall and breathed heavily. He was relieved and disappointed that Arthur didn't remember what had happened last night. He closed his eyes and tried to recreate the awkward situation he had found himself in.

The party was lovely. There was lots of dancing, bright colors, laughing and of course, drinking. All of the knights were getting sloshed. Merlin had retreated to a corner with Gwen. They were making fun of the drunk and the poorly dressed. Suddenly Arthur had staggered over, drunk and uncoördinated. He stopped in front of Merlin and slapped him on the back way too hard. He indicated in slurred speech that he needed to talk to Merlin about official palace business. Gwen nodded and giggled as she walked away. Arthur beckoned Merlin to follow him outside the party. They stood in a corridor. It was dark and drafty. Arthur looked at Merlin strangely and Merlin asked him if he was alright. Before he knew what had happened, Merlin was pinned to the wall underneath Arthur's strong arms. Arthur whispered, his breath reeking of alcohol. "You know what I think of every night before I sleep, Merlin?" Merlin shook his head slowly. Arthur grabbed his butt. Merlin laughed nervously. "Sire, what are you doing?"

"I think about your ass. And your eyes. And your hideous neck scarf. And I think about your lips... " Arthur leaned in and kissed Merlin on the mouth. Merlin was too shocked to do anything.`Arthur didn't pull away and neither did he. In fact, Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur and the two kissed passionately for almost a minute. Arthur finally pulled away, smiling in a drunken way. Merlin was confused and just stood there, not really moving. Arthur started to speak, but collapsed to the ground in a alcohol induced slumber. Merlin got two less drunk guards to carry Arthur to bed. He pulled the covers over Arthur and walked to his chamber. He didn't sleep all night for shock.

Now, Arthur didn't seem to remember the kiss. But Merlin did. He hadn't expected to enjoy it so much. He couldn't stop thinking about it, about Arthur. But Arthur didn't remember, so neither could he. He ran off to get the young King's breakfast.

Arthur was lounging in his chair, straining to remember what had happened last night. It was slowly coming back. He could remember bits and pieces. He remembered telling Merlin he wanted to talk to him. Then it was all fuzzy. Arthur tried to remember what he had said, but nothing was coming back. Merlin walked in with a plate of food. He didn't make eye contact with Arthur and set it down on the table. He looked up and out the window. "Will there be anything else?"

"Uh, no. Merlin? Are you alright? Have too much to drink last night as well?"

"No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don't know."

"Ok, well, do you know what I said to you last night? I can't remember."

"Me neither, sire. I guess I did have a bit too much ale as well."

"Hmm... I guess we'll find out at some point."

"I guess so."

Merlin hastily left the room, turning his back to Arthur. Arthur glanced at Merlin's ass and it was as if a lightning bolt had struck him. He sat upright. He remembered what happened. He remembered the feel of Merlin's butt, his thin frame and his soft lips. Arthur let his head fall on the hard surface of the table. Merlin would surely leave his service now. Being sexually assaulted by his drunk employer! He started internally ripping himself apart. He was in love with his manservant, he couldn't drive him away. He may not be able to have him in his arms, but he needed to talk to him every day, to see him. He couldn't let Merlin leave! He was about to slam his head into the table once more, when more fuzzy memory resurfaced. Merlin had wrapped his arms around Arthur and kissed back! Arthur sat up once more. If Merlin had liked the kiss, maybe, maybe he had feelings for Arthur too? Arthur got up excitedly and said boldly to no one in particular. "I'm going to find Merlin."

Merlin was in his room, curled up on the straw mattress, trying to rid his mind of Arthur. He thought about everything else. He tried to sexually arouse himself by thinking of the pretty girls his age in the kitchens and in his village, but nothing happened. Yet, as he thought of Arthur's body pressed against his in a passionate embrace, he felt himself become aroused quickly. He started to tear up, furious at Arthur and himself. A king could never be with a man, let alone a male servant. Merlin hated Arthur and wanted to hold him at the same time. He had been perfectly fine until Arthur had kissed him. Now feelings had surfaced, which he could feel had been long there, but well buried. Arthur had doomed him to love an unavailable target. A feeling which would never be returned. Arthur didn't even remember the kiss. He would go about his days, happy and unaffected, while Merlin suffered, watching his King with lustful and longing eyes. Merlin buried his face into the blanket he laid on and cried.

Arthur ran to Gaius's chamber, nearly knocking over several servants and knights. He stopped at the old man's door, breathing heavily. He walked in, and to his relief Gaius wasn't there. He crossed the chamber, leaving the first door open a crack, to Merlin's door. He was about to knock when he heard crying. It was broken and muted, as if buried in the folds of a blanket or pillow. Arthur opened the door slowly, peeking around the crack.

"Merlin?"

Merlin didn't look up, he just choked out a reply between sobs. "Please, leave me alone, sire."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing concerning you, please, leave me."

Arthur opened the door fully, and sat on the corner of Merlin's bed. "Tell me. Maybe I can help?"

"You most definitely can't help."

Arthur looked down at his feet, ashamed. "Is this about last night?"

Merlin looked up, his face red and his eyes puffy. "You remember last night?"

"The kiss? Yes, I remember. And if it helps, Merlin, I meant everything I said."

"You did."

Arthur didn't look up, his cheeks turning red. "Yes."

"That kiss changed something in me Arthur, I don't feel the same. Just seeing you makes me feel, different."

"I'm so sorry the kiss made you uncomfortable, I was drunk and I didn't know..."

Merlin put a finger to Arthur's lips . "Not that kind of different. A good kind." Merlin crawled to the edge of the bed and sat upright, next to Arthur. "I feel something really powerful for you Arthur."

Arthur smiled. "I feel very strongly for you, of course you already know that"

Merlin leaned over and turned Arthur's head towards him. "I want to be with you."

Arthur leaned in, touching his nose to Merlin's. "Me too."

Then Arthur kissed Merlin's soft lips again.

"I love you, Merlin."

Merlin smiled and drew Arthur's mouth to his own eagerly. Softly placing a hand on Arthur's neck, he encouraged the young King to gently pin him to the bed, Merlin laying underneath Arthur's muscular frame. Arthur probed his tongue in Merlin's mouth, and never wanted to part from the taste of Merlin's sweet lips. Merlin finally broke away and whispered quietly. "Close the door." Arthur raised his eyebrows and laughed nervously. "Are you sure?"

Merlin nodded, and started undressing himself. Arthur had a huge erection and was more than happy to oblige. He got off the bed, taking off his shirt on the way and kicked the door closed. He took of the rest of his clothes and turned to find Merlin lying naked on the bed. He had dreamed of this day, but never had he thought it would come true. He crawled on top of Merlin and kissing his face, whispered , "Are you ready?"

Merlin nodded slightly. Arthur touched Merlin's erection, prompting a moan from the boy. "

"Arthur, please."

Arthur stroked Merlin's face with the back of his hand. "I've waited for this for a long time."

Agravaine smiled and closed the door to the old man's chambers. He hadn't seen everything but he had seen enough. The foolish boy King was in love with his servant. This was perfect. Finally, the perfect key to the boy's undoing. That servant was far too smart, and Morgana had a special kind of hate for him anyway. This way she could kill two annoying, insolent birds with one well-aimed stone. He went and fetched his horse from the stables and rode into the woods, a smile playing on his lips. Morgana would finally appreciate how valuable he really was.

Agravaine arrived at Morgana's small cottage deep in the forest, and slipped off his horse as soundlessly as possible. He quietly rapped on the door. The old door creaked open, and a pale figure appeared around its edge. "I hope you bring good news."

"I do my lady," stammered Agravaine, bowing to Morgana. "I have the key to Arthur's demise. You can lure him in for the kill without much of a fight."

Morgana opened the door fully and stepped out into the filtered sunshine of the forest. "What is it?"

"The servant boy, Merlin. It seems our young King is in love."

"Do you have proof?"

"Proof through my own eyes. I saw the two in a passionate embrace through a crack in the door. "

Morgana smiled, her green eyes alight. "Perfect."