Hi everyone! So I just started this new story because I've been wanting to write something in the canon era with a bit of jealous Merlin and I hope you like it. I'm still planning on updating my other fic but its taken awhile (sorry about that) I'll definitely update it in the near future don't worry! Anyways I really hope you enjoy this one! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, if I did merthur would be together and the show wouldn't have ended.

Chapter 1

"MERLIN!" Merlin knew it was coming before the King could even get his name out. He dropped his fork pushed out from the table. "Duty calls." He rolled his eyes before running out the door.

"Yes...sire?" Merlin leaned on the door frame attempting to catch his breath.

"Was your leisurely walk here too taxing for you, Merlin?" Arthur crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I just ran up three flights of stairs!" Merlin entered the room and pushed the door closed behind him. Arthur's arms dropped to his side and he stepped closer to the servant.

"I don't mean to lash out at you Merlin but you know what today is." Arthur put a hand on his shoulder and Merlin's stomach did a backflip. Oh, he knew what today was and he had been trying to forget about it since Arthur told him two weeks ago. He had been dreading its arrival but he would never admit that to anyone.

"What's today again?" Merlin joked and Arthur chuckled and dropped his hand.

"Very funny," he made his way over to his dresser, "and I need to make sure I look my best for it." He held up a red shirt, "How's this? Too casual?"

"Arthur, I'm sure Princess Mithian will like you no matter what you're wearing." Merlin looked to the floor and lowered his voice, "What with your...charming personality and all."

"What did you say?" Arthur said, his head still in the wardrobe.

"Oh nothing, just that she'll like you for your personality!" Merlin nervously laughed and went to make Arthur's bed.

"What're you doing?" Arthur turned to face Merlin as he fluffed the King's pillows and smoothed the blankets out.

"Something called making the bed...which I do every morning, you're probably surprised that it's me and not some woodland creatures, sorry to disappoint." Though him and Arthur were sharing their normal morning round of banter, the air was stiff between them.

"I'm sure even woodland creatures would make less of a mess than you do." Arthur held up another shirt to himself and tossed it aside.

"I make a mess? Have you looked in a mirror?!" Merlin walked around the bed to the side where Arthur was standing and picked up the discarded shirt.

"Good idea!" Arthur pulled the shirt from Merlin's hands and put it on as he walked over to the mirror on the other side of the room. Merlin rolled his eyes and began putting the other shirts back into the wardrobe. And he was the one that made a mess? Ridiculous. "How does it look?"

Arthur turned to Merlin and Merlin looked him up and down. He looked good, not too formal but not overly casual. "Fine." Merlin closed the cabinet.

"What's wrong? Is it a bad color or something?"

"It's white…" Merlin fluffed the pillows more to avoid eye contact.

"Then what is it?" Arthur now stood on the other side of the bed facing Merlin.

"Nothing, will that be all?" Merlin approached the door, hoping Arthur wouldn't ask him any more questions.

"Merlin," Merlin turned around, "What's on your mind? I've known you for years I know when somethings wrong."

"Nothing's wrong at all, I don't know what you're talking about." Merlin opened the door and began inching his way out it.

"Yes you do, and whatever it is, you can talk to me about it." Arthur looked genuinely concerned for his servant but Merlin just nodded and scooted the rest of the way out of the room.

Arthur tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for everyone to arrive, a nervous habit he had undoubtedly picked up from his father over the years.

He hoped his father would be proud of him for doing this. He wanted to be the best ruler he could be for Camelot and its people and he desperately wanted to make his father proud by doing so.

"Will you stop that." Merin said from where he stood against the stone wall of the throne room. Arthur had forgotten he was here, he was so used to his presence that being with him had the same effect as being alone. He felt completely comfortable with Merlin around.

"Sorry, habit." Was all Arthur could say. He couldn't take his mind off of the pit in his stomach for long enough to form a good response.

"You alright?" Merlin was standing behind him now, with a hand on the back of his chair.

"I'm fine," he considered his next words carefully, it was hard to describe what he was feeling, "I just...it's just that I want to be the best King I can be and to do that, I need to strengthen the kingdom. Marrying Mithian will do that but I need to impress her and her father first. I want-"

"You want to make Uther proud." Merlin finished. He had an odd habit of knowing exactly what Arthur was thinking. Maybe he wasn't so clueless after all.

"I want him to support the decisions I make as King, I don't want to disappoint him or threaten the wellbeing of his kingdom."

"You mean your kingdom." Merlin cut him off.

"Right, yes I'm not used to saying that."

"Arthur, whatever you do just remember that Camelot is under your control, not Uther's. You can make decisions that he wouldn't make himself, you're a different person-" Before Merlin got a chance to finish the doors opened and part of Arthur was relieved. Though he trusted in Merlin's council and he knew there was a possibility that his friend was right, he couldn't think about the possibility of disappointing his father more he already had by appointing the Knights and switching to the round table.

"Welcome," Arthur stood from his seat and went to greet his guests, "It is an honor to have you in Camelot my lord," he said, addressing King Rodor, "have you been enjoying your stay here?" Arthur gestured to the table and they all sat down.

"The honor is all ours, Arthur, we have, thank you for the hospitality you have shown us."

"I'm glad, it's a pleasure having you here. It can't be easy being away from Nemeth for so long."

"It is good to get away for even just a week, but, my duties as King follow me wherever I go I'm afraid." Arthur nodded his head at King Rodor, knowing how true that was. A King's first and most important commitment was to his kingdom. That was why Arthur was doing this, not because of his father, well not fully anyway.

A moment later the servants came in carrying a few platters of food for the three of them. Arthur had hand selected the food because he wanted it to be perfect, (also known as Merlin selected the food because there were a million other preparations to be made and Merlin could be trusted with this small task.)

Arthur watched as Merlin took a platter from one of them, placed it before Arthur and moved back to stand near the wall. Sometimes it was odd thinking of Merlin as a servant, though he did order him around a lot Merlin was one of the closest people to him.

Once Mithian and Rodor were served they all began eating. Turned out, Merlin did well picking a meal, it was delicious.

Merlin stood and watched as they ate. They seemed to enjoy what he picked and for that he was relieved. He had spent a lot of time going back and forth between that and another meal but he decided to go against the other choice because it often left people with bad breath.

"So, Mithian, have you been enjoying Camelot?" Arthur grinned at the princess. Merlin felt his stomach tie itself in knots. He should be happy for Arthur but for some reason he just wasn't.

"Oh, yes it's lovely, thank you." She smiled back.

Merlin wanted so badly to go back to his chambers and stay there for a few hours or collect herbs or even clean out the stocks. That would be much better than standing against this wall and watching Arthur in his attempts to flirt.

He crossed his arms, and tried to look away. Arthur was certainly impressing Mithian just as Merlin knew he would.

Merlin could feel Arthur's gaze on him for a short moment but he didn't turn to face him until after he looked away. He didn't want Arthur to think that he was upset.

After the dinner was over Arthur told them goodbye. He shook King Rodor's hand and Mithian curtsied and held out hers. Arthur bent down and kissed it and suddenly a glass flew off the table and shattered on the floor. They all jumped, including Merlin.

He hadn't even tried to do that. It was just an impulsive reaction. He did it before he could even think about it.

"Don't worry, I'll have one of my servants pick that up, my apologies." They thanked Arthur and left the throne room. "Merlin,"

"Yes sire." Merlin walked over to the shattered glass and began picking it up with his fingers.

"No, not you, I'll get someone else to do it, come here." Arthur put a hand on Merlin's back and led him out the door.

They stood together outside and Arthur crossed his arms. "Merlin," he said in a hushed tone, "what's upsetting you? I saw you standing there during the dinner, you looked miserable. And this morning, things were a bit off too. Come to think about it you've been acting like this for the past two weeks."

"I'm fine Arthur. I was just worried you wouldn't like the meal I chose."

"Merlin, it's more than that I've known you for years. I know it is. Why won't you talk to me?"

"That's all it was Arthur. I just hope you're happy with Mithan."

"So this is about Mithian? What, do you not think she's a suitable wife and queen?" Arthur asked, as if his opinion of her would change if Merlin said anything negative about her.

"No! She's fine forget I said anything."

"Merlin-"

"I have to go...collect herbs for Gaius." Merlin turned and began walking away from Arthur.

"Doesn't Gaius have enough herbs?!" He heard Arthur yell behind him but he kept walking towards Gaius's chambers without looking back.