Author's Note: A day late, hopefully no one noticed!?
ANYHOW. I changed the rating of this from M to T, because I'm officially sure it will not progress into smut. This chapter mostly focus' on the change between Merlin and Arthur, mystery girl wakes up next chapter! :) And once she's around, tons of humor.
"What on earth happened?" Gauis asked Merlin, who was coming through the door, just behind the prince. His gaze only lingered on him for a moment though, before returning to the young woman unconscious and bleeding in Arthur's arms.
"We heard her being attacked in the woods. Arthur saved her," Merlin said, trying to keep the pride he had for the royal one out of his voice.
Arthur followed Gauis' motions and moved into Merlin's room to sit the girl on his servant's bed. "You two can wait out there. I'm going to need to strip her clothes off to tend to her wounds."
The prince and servant gave a simultaneous short nod to the physician before retreating out of the room, Merlin closing the door behind them. Merlin rubbed his eyes and yawned into his fist, resembling a child up past his bedtime. Arthur was not exactly the poster-boy for energetic tendencies at the moment either, as he plopped, in a manor that was anything but princely, into a chair and sat his head in his hands, fingers touching the roots of his hair.
Merlin's mind still revolved around thoughts of the girls emotional well being, while Arthur's concern was on a more pressing matter; her safety inside Camelot. When the morning came around, he would have to report to his father of the altercation in the woods, the sorcerer he had killed, and his daughter whom he'd rescued. Being the offspring of anything magical guaranteed a short life expectancy in Uther's kingdom, and first thing in the morning, he would have to explain this to the strange girl sleeping in Merlin's bed. If she and I are smart enough, we might be able to save her life, Arthur told himself before speaking to Merlin.
"Would you like one of the empty guest rooms to sleep in for the night since your room is preoccupied?" Arthur stifled a yawn, "The one next to mine is empty."
Merlin's eyebrows raised in surprise at Arthur's worry for the fact that he was without a bed. "Well, yes, thank you, Arthur."
The prince's gaze fell and he just nodded. Arthur pushed himself into standing position and walked toward the door pausing just before he stepped over the frame. He did not turn around and Merlin tentatively peered at his back, uncertain what vibe seemed to be passing between them.
Arthur had wanted to say something to Merlin. Anything really, just to stay a moment longer, despite his exhaustion. He wanted to say something brilliant, or funny. Something to make Merlin laugh, or maybe even insult him. He just wanted to say something that would make Merlin interact with him. However, the prince swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat, and stepped out into the hallway, his feet echoing off the stone.
Merlin stood staring at the doorway where Arthur had been, wondering exactly what made him halt at the exit. He wondered if the prince was mad for something he had done wrong, or if he had possibly even considered complimenting him for once. What he found most peculiar however, was that he wished the prince had stayed longer.
- | -
Gaius did not finish dressing the girl wounds until the sun was shining in through Merlin's window. Leaving a glass of water beside the bed in case she awoke, the old man laid down to get a couple hours of sleep in before getting a late start on his day.
Merlin rolled out of a bed much larger and more comfortable than the one he was used to about the same time he usually did every morning; late.
After quickly making up the room like he had never been there, he made his way to the kitchen's for Arthur's breakfast. The cook who handed him the tray gave him a disgruntled look and muttered something about having to reheat the food 3 times. He gave the much heavier man an apologetic smile, before racing off to his master's quarters.
Forgetting to knock yet again, Merlin stepped into Arthur's room to see him half naked, and looking at a twisted up shirt with a very confused expression on his face. Closing the door with one hand and holding the tray of food with the other, Merlin tried to contain his laughter while Arthur glared at him in frustration. "And all those times I thought I was joking about you not being able to dress yourself," Merlin teased, sitting the tray on the table and walking closer to Arthur's half naked form.
"Perhaps if you weren't so incredibly late everyday, I would have been properly dressed by now, Merlin," Arthur hissed his retort.
Merlin grinned a boyish grin and took the shirt from Arthur. The truth was that Arthur got out of bed early to avoid Merlin having to dress him. He didn't know why, but for some reason Arthur did not like being naked around him. He would of course discover later, that it was because he felt far to tempted to remove Merlin's clothes as well. Currently, however, he pushed all evidence of such things and his thoughts of why he had attempted what he had out of his head when Merlin looked at him incredulously. "My god, Arthur. Did you try to put this thing on with your teeth? You ripped it at the seams in two different places!"
The prince just looked at him in innocence and shrugged. With a sigh, Merlin went to the closet and got the man a different shirt before slipping it over his head. "There," Merlin said with finality and he smoothed the shirt across Arthur's shoulders and chest, "Perfect." He stepped away from his servant to look in the mirror. The shirt was tight and fell off his muscles perfectly, but for some reason, knowing he looked good didn't make him smile like it usually did, though he curled up the corners of his lips for the happy grin he saw behind him in the mirror.
"Well," Arthur cleared his throat, "Thank you, Merlin."
"Of course," Merlin's half grin crept up into a full blown smile. Arthur never said thank you. "So what is on the agenda today for Camelot's finest?"
"We have to go request an audience with my father and inform him of the incident with the sorcerer last night." A chill seemed sweep through the room so fast, there probably isn't a small enough term to describe how quickly it took place. Goosebumps rose on Merlin's skin and he only nodded, seeing how troublesome this could be for the young girl who's live was already hanging by a thread. "I think it would be best if I spoke to my father alone," Arthur scrutinized Merlin's face, checking for any sign of hurt or objection in the boy's face and when he saw none he continued, "Why don't you go back to Gaius' and I will meet you there when I finish," he paused for a moment, trying to figure out the best word to use, "discussing, things with my father."
"Alright, Arthur. I will see you later then, if there is nothing else?" He nodded and stepped towards the door, barely waiting for a response.
"Yes, that will be all, Merlin," Arthur said quietly. He knew the words had no purpose, for both their minds were busy worrying for the young girl, not even conscious to defend herself.
I'm aiming for next chapter by Saturday. Reviews feed the muse, and it might happen faster.
:)
