"What?"
"It is possible for me to have two true loves."
"It is?"
"Yes."
Merlin paused in cleaning up Arthur's room. "Why for you and no else?"
Arthur sat down gingerly on the bed, preparing to take his shirt off with Merlin's help. The massive bruise that marked where Arthur's rib was broken was covered in one of Gaius' bandages, but was still slightly visible.
"I'm the Prince of Camelot," Arthur gasped as the pulling increased on his sore chest.
Merlin picked up Arthur's discarded shirt and threw it into the basket he was carrying.
"So the rules just suddenly cease to apply when it comes to you?"
"Well," said Arthur, stretching carefully out on the bed and kicking his boots off onto the floor, "it's me. I can't help it if I'm so wonderful. The two of them will just have to share."
"Sure," said Merlin out loud in a cheerful voice, and then muttered, "Sucks to be them." He moved towards the door with the basket under his arm.
"Merlin," said Arthur, slowly pushing himself to a sitting position on the bed.
"Hmm?" said Merlin, turning at the sound of Arthur's voice.
"C'mere."
Merlin walked across the room with the basket.
"Set that down."
Merlin set the basket down and stepped up to the bed.
"Do you need your pain medicine, sire?"
"In a minute. Sit."
Merlin did, right next to the lean form of his prince. He didn't look up, feeling that whatever Arthur wanted, it probably wasn't in his best interests.
"You know, my head is still a little muzzy from that love enchantment thing."
Merlin grinned, remembering how the usually-graceful Arthur had tripped over his own feet for the Lady Vivian.
"Oh? You want me to go and get Gwen in here? I bet she'd clear your head for you..."
"Ha, ha, ha. Aren't you cheeky?"
"I try, sire."
"And you're failing miserably."
"Thank you...I think."
"You're welcome," said Arthur, sitting up so that his face was closer to Merlin's. "But back to the subject of my head..."
"Not much to say, sire," Merlin shot back.
"Really? Then you won't be expecting this." Arthur leaned forward and captured Merlin's lips with his own. Merlin had been kissed rather recently, but even that encounter hadn't had the fire and intensity that Arthur's kiss did. It was as if the spark between them had exploded into heat and warmth coursing through him. Merlin leaned into his prince, feeling dizzy and light-headed and wanting so much more than a kiss from him, but Arthur's pained gasp made him backtrack.
"I'm sorry, Arthur. Forgot!"
"S'okay," said Arthur, clutching his side and groaning as he crashed back onto the pillows.
"I'll get your medicine," said Merlin, standing up, grabbing the little bottle Gaius had handed him earlier, and pulling out the cork. "Here. Take a couple swallows of this," he said, handing Arthur the bottle.
"Thanks."
When Arthur had swallowed enough, Merlin recorked the bottle and put it back on the table, then reached over and stroked Arthur's princely blonde head to soothe the pained expression on his face.
"Better?"
"Almost," Arthur said.
"Good," said Merlin, laying a kiss on Arthur's forehead.
"Hey," said Arthur, his voice thickening as the medicine relaxed him. "What was that for?"
Merlin smiled. "Well, don't tell anyone, but there's this prince I'm skivvying for who tends to get into a lot of trouble."
"Mm. Doesn't sound like me. You working for someone else?"
"No, sire. Only you. Only ever you."
"Good. Can't have you being a bad servant to everyone."
"Nope," said Merlin, patting Arthur's arm as he got up off the bed. "I'll let you get some sleep now, Arthur."
"Sure. That sounds like a good idea."
"Good night."
"Mm-hm. Same t'you."
Merlin doused the candle, picked up the basket of dirty laundry, and left the room of his peacefully sleeping prince with a new spring in his step.