(This ff started off as a way to showcase why Merlin and Arthur seemed so much closer in season 5, as a lot of my canon stories start off with me focusing on that, but then I divert quickly. Well, then it quickly changed to what if Arthur found out Merlin and Gwen had kissed in the first season? And then this happened...so, I hope you like it, and obviously I don't own anything.)

it was just a kiss, it was only a kiss...

"What the hell do you mean you've kissed before?" Arthur yelled, Merlin could hear him, as he entered the King's chambers. Merlin had no idea what he and The Queen were talking about, and to be perfectly honest, he didn't really care, he just wanted to get his work done and some food in his stomach. He did note, however, the angry glance Arthur was shooting his way, and again, he had no idea why. He wasn't even late with their food this evening. As he was most of the time, though he denied he ever was. Only really, to annoy Arthur, but he was trying then, right now he wasn't, and he didn't appreciate the look. "You kissed my wife?!"

Merlin didn't appreciate the false accusation either, especially of something so stupid, that Merlin literally had to fight off a laugh from hearing. Guinevere, however, did not, and giggled openly at the question. "He probably doesn't even remember, Arthur," she explained. "He was ill."

Arthur just looked more and more disgusted, glaring at Merlin like something truly ugly was on his face. "That makes it even worse..."

"I thought he had died...do you remember, Merlin?" The Queen gave him a pleased smile, like she enjoyed enraging her husband. And maybe she did, Merlin wasn't going to judge, as it could be fun from time to time. "You had drunk a poison because Arthur was being thick about it and nearly died?"

Merlin did remember, but it wasn't Arthur who was being (that) thick about it, more Uther, though smartly, Guinevere decided not to mention that particular part. She was obviously queen for a reason. Well...serval reasons, probably. "I remember."

"So, you admit it?" Arthur sounded again, advancing toward Merlin like he might do something. Something like punch Merlin in the face. "You kissed my wife!"

"Actually...your wife kissed me, I didn't even kiss back," Merlin commented, because it was the truth. Merlin hadn't even thought of kissing Gwen before, and although nice as it was, it wasn't something he ever thought about ever again. It sort of just happened and then they both forgot about it, at least Merlin had anyway.

"That's treason!" Arthur yelled, going red in the face, looking between Merlin and his wife like he just didn't know what to do with them, like this was really that important to him. Merlin rolled his eyes. "I could have you banished for this...hung by your-"

"It was long before you, Arthur," Gwen stopped him before he continued like an ass, as per usual with him. Merlin was used to it. "There is no reason to banish Merlin, or reason to be angry...unless you're jealous."

"Why the hell would I be jealous of Merlin?" Arthur roared, face gone almost burgundy with rage. "You're my wife!"

"I meant of me," the smile that curled onto The Queens lips was that of the pure devil. Her smile only grew as Arthur's confusion set in more. Merlin took a step back, about to set the table for their dinner. "Perhaps you should kiss Merlin...make the field even."

"I don't want to..." Arthur had gone quiet, his voice was much softer now, and Merlin could feel Arthur side-eying him as he placed down the utensils one by one. Gwen laughed, seemingly having already decided otherwise.

"You make such a big deal out of a little kiss between friends, why is that?" she asked. "We're all adults here, or at least two of us are..."

"Just because I refuse to ruin our marriage with lies and infidelity..."

That was the wrong thing to say, judging my Gwen's short laugh. Merlin kept his head down, setting the plates, and then setting them again to make sure they were just right. Not that he cared any other day, but today it just seemed...rather important. His eyes ached to look at at the couple, but he denied them.

"I see..." Guinevere said. "And I also see you are a giant baby, whom cannot deal with the fact that your wife kissed your servant nearly a decade ago," she paused, in the meantime Arthur tried to speak, but she silenced him. "I see that The King is so immature he thinks a small kiss between friends is infidelity. Well, I do not..."

"Guinevere, how can you think-"

"Kiss Merlin," she prompted. "Level the playing field, Arthur, we should have nothing to hide after."

"I refuse!" Arthur argued, standing his ground. "This is ridiculous!"

"Ridicules or not, Arthur, you started this and if you wish for it to end...you know what you need to do."

"I refuse to kiss my servant!"

"I was a servant once, you kissed me," Gwen countered. Merlin hated to admit it, because he clearly wasn't getting a say in this, but she made a good point. "You married me, why is Merlin any different?"

"You know perfectly well, Guinevere!"

"Because he is a man?"

"...I would call him a boy more like..."

"Merlin is perfectly lovely, and a wonderful kisser at that." Merlin dropped the wine cup at that, and had to catch it before it landed on the ground and smashed. "Really, I wasn't displeased."

"Guinevere...please, just stop this," Arthur begged. "I'm not kissing anyone. I am the king, you cannot-"

At this point, Merlin was done placing the food and he really wanted to leave, like yesterday. And be on his way to Ealdor. He tip-toed from the table, over to the door, and he was almost out but then...

"Merlin!" Gwen called after him. "Don't you dare leave this room, come here..." Merlin frowned, walking over, slowly, to her. "Arthur, kiss him!"

"Guinevere!"

"Do it," she smiled, and stepped back. "It will make us all equals."

Somehow, Merlin doubted that, and it seemed so did Arthur. But even so, the king stepped closer, and almost like on impulse, Merlin stepped back. "I just really don't think this is necessary," Arthur said, obviously noting Merlin's hesitation. "I can't be seen kissing...him."

"We're alone in the room," Gwen grinned. And this made Arthur frown, even more so than Merlin.

"I cannot let this get out..."

"I won't say a word..."

Arthur gulped, Merlin could see his Adam's Apple bobbing up and down. Merlin took a breath, waiting, how did he always get into these messes just by walking into a room at the wrong time? Arthur stepped closer, Gwen eagerly watched on, Merlin noted all of this, all of these things; Gwen's smile, Arthur's movements, right up until The King's lips harshly planted onto his. Some people talked of sparks upon kissing someone, lightening, fire bursting inside of them, Merlin had never experienced any of that. Not until this moment. It felt like every bit of him was on fire, but not in a bad way, in...just the right way, in a way that Merlin just knew he would crave later. And that wasn't even the tiniest bit okay. He could tell Arthur felt it, too, because the king gasped, maybe loud enough for his wife to hear, or maybe just between them, Merlin couldn't tell, everything was frozen around him.

Arthur pulled away, a clear mask playing on his face, he turned to his wife, the glare very much real though. "There."

Merlin stood rooted, still frozen, relishing in the last of whatever had come over him, a spell...it felt like a spell. Though, he knew it wasn't. He didn't want to think of what it was, however, that would lead to trouble. Trouble that he couldn't afford to be in. Gwen seemed pleased, and didn't seem to notice how Merlin was completely stuck there, he might never be able to move again. Or breathe again, his lungs felt like they were on fire. His skin tingled. He forced himself to move, to think...to deny everything he had just felt because The Queen wanted to prove a point. He shook his head, damn it.

Guinevere sat to eat, her back was to Merlin, and Arthur somehow managed to get himself to the head of the table, where he sat and his eyes traveled to Merlin, staring at him. No one said a word, Merlin didn't know why, maybe embarrassment, maybe Gwen figured out this was a mistake? But it was too late now, she had done this...it was her fault. Merlin knew he shouldn't blame her, he didn't even know if he was overreacting right now, but the shock in Arthur's eyes told him he wasn't. The way Arthur had not taken a bite and licked his lips again and again...Merlin wasn't wrong.

But it was only a kiss, one small, tiny kiss, between friends, like Gwen had said. What could possibly happen?

It was only a kiss. How could it end up like this?

(A/N: So, there is this, I realize it's pretty sort, but I figured it would be a lot of chapters And it seems to me, that I tend to write a lot of modern stories in Arthur's pov and a lot of canon stories in Merlin's, I just thought that was odd...hopefully you like this. Let me know! Also, the story title and the song lyrics are from The Killers Mr. Brightside. I thought it was fitting.)