Arthur knew from the moment the dark haired boy appeared before him, that there was something about him. Perhaps it was the insults he so easily slung without any intent of apology. Perhaps it was his thin and small frame that looked so easily breakable. Or maybe it was the way his eyes shone with emotion and something else. Something mysterious. Nevertheless, he annoyed Arthur and so he put the lad in the stocks. It was overly easy, being Prince. Arthur didn't expect to next see the boy in the palace, serving at the feast. Arthur had thought he was just passing through, or else visiting a family member inside Camelot, not becoming a servant in the palace. Arthur wasn't sure if he liked this or not. Still, he watched the boy carefully, trying to find out what it was about him. He smirked when the boy began noticing and seemed to squirm in place as if he could escape Arthur's gaze. But he wasn't so tame, even though it was clear he was doing his best to behave here. It was clear in the gaze he lifted to meet the Prince's, eyes a hard glare with his lips drawn into a frown that made them look so delicious. So bitable.
It didn't take long for his suspicions to grow, after all, he had what he would call an intellectual fascination with magic. Not that he would ever dare admit it to anyone. Especially the fact that as a boy, Arthur had attempted to learn the ways of magic. He had failed though, and instead took to studying all he could of sorcerers and witches. He watched each execution, each prisoner, each found guilty with the utmost care, always going back to how he had seen them before they were caught, blending in with the people. Arthur had found that there was something about magic users in the way they stood, walked, or even looked. Something that held both power and fear. In some cases anger, but it was a way to tell of when they had something to hide, and Arthur made sure to learn it well. And the boy, Merlin, seemed very much like he was hiding magic. Well, at the very least he was hiding something. So Arthur decided to pull out all his hidden books and scrolls on sorcery. He went through them during his spare moments. However, something unexpected came to pass. Merlin had saved his life, and as a result, was appointed to be Arthur's manservant. He could see the clear dismay on the boy's face when his father, King Uther said it. Arthur matched the dismay, not liking having the boy thrust upon him, intruding upon his research. He had a manservant, a decent one that he had clear rules to abide by. Normally it wouldn't be too difficult to 'train' a new manservant into abiding by Arthur's strict rules, but Merlin.. Arthur knew Merlin wouldn't be so easily commanded.
The Prince had time to think on it, though. In the end he came to a different conclusion that would be beneficial. With Merlin being so close to him, he could learn everything about the boy.
Time passed and Arthur found that he really liked bullying Merlin. He loved the way the boy never backed down, would always come back with some insult or scathing comment. That wasn't the only thing he found though, for Arthur had watched the boy, hiding himself to catch Merlin in the act. And he did, several times. Though, it took Arthur a few times to believe it, how Merlin made things move without an enchantment. It was not a thing he heard of. Arthur thought it was impossible. For a while he thought that maybe the boy was just whispering so as not to be heard, but that proved false soon enough. So, Arthur returned to his scrolls and books until he found it. Tales of Emrys. A warlock, one born with great magic. It was a satisfactory discovery that had Arthur wearing a smirk for quite a while. Next was the fun part, telling Merlin that he knew.
Arthur planned it out for some time, waiting for the opportune moment. It had been months since their first encounter and they had fallen into a sort of routine of bickering. Arthur had stopped watching Merlin as if he were a fish and somehow was drawn to him, into a strange sort of friendship that was entirely Merlin's fault. But Arthur liked it. There was power there, between them. Arthur was the Prince and Merlin a warlock. Either one could have power over the other, and they did in some ways. Merlin, however, could not use his power to command the respect that Arthur so easily had. It was endearing to watch him struggle with being just a servant though he truly was so much more. Arthur loved the way Merlin always challenged it, but slowly learned to work the system. And as much as he planned the moment he would tell Merlin he knew, he loved watching the boy come up with strange excuses for what accusations he made.
"Merlin!" The Prince called back at the trees, hands on hips as he waited for the gangly servant to appear. Honestly, even though he knew about Merlin's magic, sometimes Arthur worried he was an idiot anyways.
"Sorry, sorry!" Came the voice as Merlin stumbled into view.
"Merlin, what is the use of you if you can't keep up? Come on!" Arthur ordered, shaking his head and turning to go. Merlin frowned, hoisting the several rabbits Arthur had gotten higher up his shoulder.
"Prat." He mutters, trotting after the Prince.
"Don't be such a girl. It's not that much farther to the horses." Arthur returns with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh yeah, well maybe next time you can carry all the dead animals across the forest for an entire day." The boy sniped, tone conveying his clear irritation. Arthur shook his head.
"It's your job, Merlin. Now shut up."
They got back to the castle an hour later. Merlin put the horses in the stables, delivered the rabbits to the kitchen, then scurried up to Arthur's room to help him change.
"What took you so long?" Arthur asked, arms crossed over his chest as his servant entered the room. "Honestly, Merlin what do I pay you for?" He asks, teasing, but keeping the grin off his face. Merlin rolled his eyes at the Prince, clearly tired, but rising to Arthur's words nevertheless.
"To put up with you?" He suggests saucily and Arthur fixes him with a hard stare. Merlin meets it easily until Arthur lets out a huff and shakes his head.
"I want to take a bath. Get it ready." He saw the boy frown, but nod and start for the door. It was a little while later that Merlin had filled up a tub with water. Arthur came out from behind the screen, nothing but a towel around his hips. He reaches a hand to the water, feeling its temperature. Arthur raises a brow, raising his head to show Merlin his clearly dissatisfied expression. "It's cold" He states like a question as if Merlin should have a good answer.
"It..It was warm when I-"
"Was warm, Merlin. Not is. Do you really expect me to take a cold bath?" He puts his hands on his hips, watching as Merlin's face furrowed into a frown. He was clearly tired and just didn't want to deal with this, but too bad.
"By the time I get it warm again you won't want a bath, Sire, I don't know what you want me to do." Clearly Merlin was going to just keep talking and complaining here, so Arthur decided to cut him off.
"Then why don't you just use your magic to heat it?" Arthur asks, and Merlin begins to respond with a snipe, but then stops completely as the words register. A smirk slides onto Arthur's lips as he watches Merlin's eyes go wide and mouth open wordlessly. He could see the panic clearly, and it sent a wonderful thrill down Arthur's spine. So adorable. "What did you think I wouldn't know? Honestly, Merlin. I've known since the beginning." Arthur steps to the other, leaning to whisper in Merlin's ear. He watched as goosebumps raised in the other's flesh. Another moment passes before Merlin's knees buckle. He would have fallen to the floor had Arthur not caught him, his hands grabbing Merlin's arms. "Hey now." Arthur says as he steadies him.
"Wh-what are you going to do to me?" He hears a small voice ask and turns to watch Merlin's face as the wide eyes stare into his own. Oh, that was a beautiful expression on the other. Arthur smirked again, letting one hand slide down to grip Merlin's hip while the other pressed into the small of the warlock's back. He hums, leaning in to nuzzle Merlin's neck.
"I. Haven't decided yet." He says, teasingly slow. "But I fear it might be something bad if you don't heat up my bathwater. Eh, Merlin?" Arthur feels Merlin's jerky nod and pulls back to watch the warlock's face. Merlin glances at Arthur for a moment before looking to the water. He hesitates a moment before murmuring a spell. His eyes glow gold for a moment and then it fades. Arthur turns to see steam rising and curling from the tub, and he grins. "Beautiful." He murmurs, his thumb stroking across Merlin's hip. He heard the sharp intake of Merlin's breath and grinned. Arthur pulled the towel from his hips, smirking as he handed it to Merlin then turned, showing off the muscles in his legs and back as he slipped into the water. "Ahh, that's perfect." He murmurs in appreciation for the soothing temperature. He glances back at Merlin, enjoying the slight red shade on his cheeks. "Merlin." He says raising an expectant eyebrow. The boy starts a little, raising his eyes from Arthur's chest and to meet Arthur's gaze.
"Y-yes?" He asks after swallowing. Arthur rolls his eyes, leaning back in the tub.
"Get on with it. Wash me."
"W-wash you..?" Merlin asks, looking at Arthur as if he was mad. The Prince held a cool gaze with Merlin until the male looked away with a mutter. Merlin pulled off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves before grabbing a cloth and kneeling beside the tub. He looked over Arthur doubtfully, but took the soap, wrapped it in the cloth, dipped it in the water, then hesitantly pressed it to Arthur's chest.