BE ON YOUR GUARD, LOVE - Sequel to Raining Cats and Lovers
Camelot: a kingdom where loving can be a punishable offense.

CHAPTER 1 : A KNIGHTS' HONOUR

Arthur lay in bed thinking. He was never too sure how much his closest knights had fathomed about Merlin. The two of them had been extremely careful as Gaius had spoken to each of them about the need for discretion. Arthur found it very difficult to have Merlin with him and not be able to touch him. If anything, he was touching him less in public, teasing became a non-tactile sport. Much less than it would have been before. He no longer shoved him, jostled him or put his arm across his shoulders. He hadn't cuffed him across the back of the head in public since their return. Every contact, even minor such as handing him his reins, generated a surge of electricity.

In a way, he really missed the casual physical touching but, everything else was so new to him and he wasn't yet comfortable to resume their old ways in public. He also knew Merlin was likely to get carried away at the slightest provocation. He really loved him for that but he didn't intend to provide a situation in which both of them would be hard pressed not to act or extremely embarrassed if they did and were seen. Not so much by his closest knights who he was sure had long ago realised his special feelings for Merlin. He had a premonition of Merlin arriving in the middle of the training field wanting to give him a little hug before he handed him his bow; to kiss his hand as he handed him his sword. It could never be. Yesterday, he had managed to steal a kiss in an alcove off the main stairwell but it was unsatisfactory as it was of such a fleeting nature.

Now, he realised the luxury of their first few days together. One day, they might have the freedom to express their emotions without looking over their shoulders but...

He tried not to make too much eye contact or even look at Merlin but it made his heart ache not feeling safe enough to return Merlin's grins, as he was quite relaxed with the whole situation. One day, he thought, we will be our old selves again in front of our friends but at the moment we have to be careful.

Surely, one day would offer an opportunity for them to be together long enough to steal a kiss or a hug outside the confines of their room. Gaius had allowed them a few minutes alone when they had been in his chambers but in a castle of this size, people were everywhere and many thrived on gossip.

Late one evening, there was a knock on the chamber door! Arthur automatically said, "Who is it?

"It's Lancelot Sire."

Without thinking, Arthur said, "Come in!"

"Sorry to disturb you so late, Arthur, but the messengers are just back from Aquae Sulis. There was no sign of a disruption and the King's man said that he will be in Camelot himself in four days. The King asked to be notified upon their return. Do you want to disturb him now or leave it till morning?

Arthur had only just caught his breath and hadn't a clue where Merlin had got to. They were going to have to take precautions against this happening again.

Yawning, to feign just waking up, Arthur, stretched, scratched his head and said, "No, Lancelot, I'll tell him myself before tomorrow's Council meeting. Thanks for letting me know."

Lancelot turned and said, "Goodnight Sire."

He took a step to leave and on second thought, continued with a chuckle and a grin at Arthur, "Goodnight, Merlin!"

As the door shut, Arthur heard a muffled 'shit' from under the bed.

One slightly dusty, Merlin appeared. He sneezed! "Arthur my neckerchief, is on the pillow and my clothes are on the floor! Do you think that's how Lancelot knew."

Arthur had his doubts that the neckerchief and clothes were the only clue. "Well, if you will leave your clothes in full view, what do you expect?"

Merlin looked on the floor and saw Arthur's clothes dumped there not so neatly either. "But wouldn't it have been funny if it hadn't been me but someone else?"

Arther glared at him, "Well, I can assure you that if it were someone else, I wouldn't be in this bed with him."

"But it might have been a lady..."

"If everyone is as restless, clingy and demanding as you are in bed, the chances of my having energy for any liaisons is pretty slim."

Suddenly, Merlin's face fell. "Am I restless, clingy and demanding in bed, Arthur?"

"No, Merlin, you're just what the doctor ordered!" He blew him a kiss. "But listen, we're going to have to get some cleaners in, if every time someone comes to the door, you take a header for the floor. I thought you told me that one of the last things you were going to do each night was to make sure that the doors were locked and the main door barred."

"I was but, Arthur, we hadn't yet reached the last thing at night, had we? It's only evening..."

Arthur playfully swatted him but missed, "Merlin, you're not getting back into this bed until you get some of that dust and those cobwebs off you. If you kept the floor under the bed clean, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Merlin brushed the dust off his elbows and knees as best he could and pulled the cobwebs out of his hair. He got a linen towel and carefully washed the dust off his body. "Yes, O Mighty One!" He said as he moved to slip between the blankets.

"Go and bar the door first."

"...but my feet are cold!"

"I am the Prince, you are a lackey, do as you're told..."

As Merlin padded across the flagstones, he murmured in a stage whisper, "Gawaine, he doesn't love me anymore. Where are you?" He dropped the bar and turned.

Arthur said, "Dream On, Merlin!"

"Incoming!" yelled Merlin and ran, jumped, rolled and landed. Luckily, Arthur was prepared and had moved to the other side of the bed.

"When we were camping, I had been looking forward to a real bed, hadn't you? Just think when I am in your bad books and I'm banished to the antechamber or worse back at Gaius's, you will have to come to me. If I'm annoying enough for a long time, you'll see the need for me to have a comfortable bed. And it wouldn't hurt you to get a nice bed for Gaius as well. You really owe him, Arthur!"

Merlin bounced again, to demonstrate what a nice bed could do.

"You do realize that this is a royal bed, Merlin, one day it will be prized."

"Because we slept in it?"

Arthur didn't bother rising to the bait, he just held Merlin where he was and decided to show him another use for a royal bed besides a trampoline.

The room was lit by the firelight which made stuttering sounds and cast soft shadows on the furniture and walls. Arthur lay with his hands clasped behind his head and Merlin snuggled near his heart.

Merlin said, "Ta-dum, ta-dum, ta-dum, ta-dum..."

"What in heaven's name are you doing?" Arthur finally had to say.

"I'm talking to your heart. It has a very limited vocabulary but a really steady rhythm. Let's do something to increase its rhythm.

Arthur could only laugh. When he thought of all the years, he had watched Merlin and longed for him, he had not realised what a fun person he would be to love.

"Come on, Arthur. As you just said, "I am the lackey, you are a Prince, do as you're told..."

Arthur turned toward him and true to his promise Merlin managed to get his heart beat up to a healthy active rate within minutes.

Finally, the fire burned down and nothing disturbed Arthur's dreams. Merlin lay with his hands clasped behind his head and turned to glance at Arthur. He smiled, pulled his hands under the blankets and put his arms around Arthur snuggling into him and thought, 'Not too many people have their own live prince to keep them warm at night'.