A/N- here's a new story, please don't forget to leave a comment, follow, favourite etc if you like it. Thanks for reading, enjoy :)
"Wakey, wakey, rise and shine! You want to enjoy the day after your birthday, don't you?" Merlin bellowed in his annoying sing-song voice. Just what I needed. My good-for-nothing servant prised the curtains from each other and poured blinding sunlight into my room. He even knew that I went to my birthday feast the night before and that I didn't want to be awoken until at least midday. But no. Merlin just had to rub my hangover in my face.
"Shut up, Merlin!" My head pounded and I immediately regretted shouting that. As if rubbing my head would make things better I did, but it didn't help- in fact it made things a whole lot worse. Merlin sighed. "What's wrong now?" I asked, tired of him already and I'd only seen him for- what?- one minute?
"You know, you could treat me a bit better," he commented wearily. I turned to look at him sleepily. "I woke up before dawn this morning so that I could clean this floor and then run around after your gigantic backside."
"Merlin, I'm going to pretend you never said that because, quite frankly, I could get another servant instead of you. One that could work harder, be cheaper and annoy me less. Honestly, I don't know why I put up with you." He just carried on- totally ignoring my comment.
"Look at the way Morgana treated Gwen," he said. Silently I hung my head, remembering Gwen. A tear dropped down my face. It quickly disappeared as I realised that I wasn't supposed to be soft. I am the prince, after all. "I would much rather be Morgana's servant than yours."
"We all know that, Merlin. Well I do anyway." I sighed. It had been two weeks since they started seeing each other secretly in the woods. I was out hunting and came across them sitting together by a stream, holding each other's hands. Morgana swore that if I told anyone then she would kill me herself. I don't doubt her. Merlin hadn't been hiding the fact that he was a love struck puppy-not really engaging in the chores that I set him, rather staring at nothing in particular with a vague smile on his face.
"Yeah..." he trailed off. "I'm going to see Morgana this afternoon in the woods. Please can you cover for me if Gaius asks where I am?""
"So Gaius still doesn't know," I sighed. "He will find out one day, you know, and then you'll have a lot to answer for."
"I know. I just know he won't approve of me if he knows I'm with the Lady Morgana," he chuckled and smiled.
"You are so pathetically in love!" I laughed and threw a cushion at him. He caught it and forcefully threw it back and before long we were having a pillow fight like little infants. I smiled and remembered what it was like when I was little with no cares in the world- the weight of Camelot rested on someone else's shoulders.
A knock on the door brought us back to our senses. I quickly shoved a shirt on and the pulled trousers up that Merlin handed to me.
"Come in," I called. Morgana entered and rushed over to Merlin to give him a hug. He blushed over her shoulder and I raised my eyebrows at him awkwardly. Why did they have to hug in my chambers? Couldn't they go to hers? She gave him a peck on the cheek and his ear turned the shade of a beetroot. I chuckled
"What?" Morgana asked. She hated being the subject of a joke, even if it was just me that got it.
"Nothing. It's just you two. You're just so... mushy. Anyway, I'm glad you get along."
"So you should be. I actually came to remind you not to tell Uther about us." So there were two people I had to lie to for the sake of love. She frowned at me, giving me her warning look. "You know all too well what he'll do if he finds out about us."
Sadly I do. Gwen got killed because Uther couldn't come to terms with the fact that I loved her. I still love her. There will never be another like Gwen. A heart of gold. A mind of peace. Honest, brave, loving, sincere; I could go on forever. A wave of guilt washed over me so I sat down on the bed with my head in my hands. Morgana realised the impact of what she said and rushed over to me, curling her arms around my shoulders.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"No, it's alright. I needed reminding. For a second I forgot what it was like to have lost somebody. To be stained by blood. Her honey coloured eyes had melted away and they need to stay in my vision. Obviously Merlin means a lot to you and I still need a servant so I won't tell Father. No." I wept silently as Morgana thanked me and retreated to Merlin, burying her tear stained face in his chest. His arms wrapped round her as he planted a kiss on her head. I could see how much they needed each other. Then, more than ever, it was important to keep their secret from the ears of Uther and the dangers that someone might face if my tongue slipped. A lot of pressure rode on me doing my job properly.
"We'd better go," Morgana smiled sympathetically. "We'll leave you alone now."
"Is there anything else you need, my lord?" Merlin asked. He was so loyal to me, yet I couldn't help but think that our friendship had drifted apart since Morgana stepped in.