Chapter 2; 'Back in My day… "Gay" meant happy'

Merlin huffed as he left the stable, feeling embarrassed and furious.

"Merlin, about back there-what happened in the stables?" Gwen panted, hurrying to catch up with him. He glanced at her, blushing deeply. She was looking at him in a mixture of worry and embarrassment. Merlin heaved a sigh, desperately needing to ask her a question. He stopped walking and turned to face her.

"How much did you see?" His voice broke as he asked; whether from hesitation or shame he wasn't sure.

"Just you…pressed against a wall… with the Prince of Cornwall's tongue shoved down your throat. Seriously, Merlin, are you stupid?" She became incredulous. "Of all the things you've done this is the worst."

"It wasn't my fault. He just...surprised me." As true as it was the excuse still sounded dumb.

"Merlin, this isn't good. If Aldwin's got his eye on you-uh oh." Gwen stopped short, eyes focused on his neck.

"What, what is it?" He asked, panicked.

"Where's your neckerchief?" She muttered voice faint. Merlin reached his hand up to feel for it, hissing as he bumped a particularly sensitive area of skin.

"Ow. Do I have a bruise?" He asked, craning his neck for her to see.

"Sort of." She sounded reluctant.

"What do you mean 'sort of'-Nooo." He protested eyes wide. "Tell me he didn't."

"He did, Merlin." She said fearfully. "The Prince of Cornwall has given you a hickey. And it doesn't look as though it will be going away anytime soon."

"Shite." He cursed, covering it with his hand. "Where's my neckerchief?" He looked around desperately.

"Merlin!"

The both froze. The temperature of Camelot seemed to drop 50 degrees as they both shivered, turning to stare at Arthur.

"Merlin, you lazy, stupid, piece of absolutely uselessness. You are, by far, the worst servant I've ever had." Arthur continued to verbally berate him as he approached. "How could you let the horses escape? We just managed to round up the last one but it was absolute chaos." He paused. "Why are you holding your neck?" The prince asked, looking at him in confusion. Merlin opened his mouth to try to explain but Arthur started speaking again. "No, never mind. I don't want to know. You've made a fool of the whole Kingdom. And worse still you-you know what, I do want to know. Why are you holding your neck?"

Merlin glanced at Gwen awkwardly.

"You see I was…"

"Kicked by a horse!" Gwen burst out excitedly. Merlin looked at her in terror.

Arthur surveyed them quietly.

"On the neck?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes." Merlin croaked, making his voice sound faint and crackly. If he were, indeed, kicked by a horse in the neck he assumed he would have trouble talking.

"And that's why the horses got lose, sire." Gwen said. They both glanced at each other frantically, hoping that Arthur believed them.

The prince continued to stare at them with furrowed brows.

"Let me see." He ordered.

"What?" Merlin asked, feeling like a deer during one of Arthur's hunts.

"Show me your bruise, Merlin." The prince said, voice giving away his irritation.

"Of course." Merlin coughed, hesitantly removing his hand from his neck. Arthur stepped closer to inspect it. The brunette blushed as the prince's warm breath hit his neck. At such close proximity he could feel the heat emanating from the other boys body. He looked over at Gwen who was looking on in earnest.

"That doesn't look like a horse print." The blond boy said. "In fact it looks more like a-" He stepped back looking at Merlin in shock. "You…" He glanced between Merlin and Gwen in surprise. "Merlin, you sly dog!" He exclaimed with a jovial grin. "Of course you can't tell Morgana."

"What?" The brunette boy murmured.

"I'm so glad you've got a Lady. You know some of the knights were starting to wonder but I knew you'd come around." The prince wrapped his arm around Merlin's shoulders, rubbing his head with one of his fists in a brotherly manner.

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Merlin yelled, struggling in Arthur's hold.

"You and Gwen." The other boy said excitedly. The two servants glanced at each other.

"Of course. Me… and Gwen!" Merlin said, looking at her pleadingly. She shot him a glare before smiling at Arthur.

"Yes, me and Merlin." She said quietly.

"Congratulations. But you have to keep it a secret. Father frowns on servant relations." Arthur warned. "And don't think you're off the hook for the horses. You'll still have your punishment. Now, you two lovers say good bye. Merlin, I'll be waiting by the stairs to escort you to father." The blonde boy walked off, seemingly in a better mood.

"That was weird." Merlin stated, staring after the prince.

"He seemed so…normal." Gwen choked out.

They both glanced at each other and laughed.

"Seriously, Gwen? Kicked by a horse?" Merlin chuckled.

"At least I thought of something." Gwen countered, laughing as well.

"It was better than what I came up with."

"And what was that?" She asked.

"A horse gave me a hickey."

Gwen laughed with disgust and amusement.

"That's absolutely revolting." She chuckled.

There were several moments of contented silence before Merlin felt it was time to go.

"Well, wish me luck." He sighed, waving goodbye and heading for the castle.

1 Hour Later:

Merlin sighed, listening to the slow drip of water fall from the stone ceiling. The dungeon was starting to feel like a third home to him, the first being his actual home and the second being Gaius'. He shivered as his mind flashed back to the courtroom, the stone cell becoming infinitely colder at the memory.

Flashback:

"This is one of the most important events in all of Camelot and you have made a mockery of it." Uther growled. He was more furious than Merlin had ever seen him. "The meeting of the Kingdoms is vital towards the wealth fare of our nation and you have jeopardized it with your stupidity."

"Father." Arthur started to intervene.

"Arthur, be quiet." Uther snapped.

"But Father-"

"You will respect me in my court!" Uther roared. "Unless you want to go in the dungeons with this useless servant of yours."

Merlin's head snapped up. Arthur eyed him in concern.

"Yes, you heard me. You're to stay down in the dungeons until I think you're ready to come out." Uther looked at him with sadistic glee. "Take him away." He said to his guards, waving them away with his hand.

End Flashback

Everything had seemed so simple this morning. He groaned and leaned his head against the wall, longing for the comfort of his bed.

'Merlin…'

The brunette boy froze. It was the Dragon again.

'Merlin…'

He leaned his head down, pressing his ear to the stone.

'Merlin…'

He crawled along the floor, listening for the voice. If the dragon was right below he might be able to help him in some way.

'Merlin…'

Merlin had stopped in the middle of the floor, back turned to the dungeon bars.

"Hello?" He whispered.

"Helloo." Merlin wasn't sure how but the voice behind him had managed to make 'hello' sound sexual. Looking behind him he groaned. It was Aldwin.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"From the looks of your position you were waiting for me." The other boy said with a lecherous smile.

Merlin blushed fiercely. He quickly got up off the floor and stared at Aldwin in anger.

"Why are you here?" He growled, hands clenching into fists. This prince was really starting to get on his nerves.

"You forgot this." Aldwin stated, holding up a familiar piece of red material.

Merlin gaped at him. He rushed forward, reaching out to grab his neckerchief. Aldwin pulled the fabric away at the last minute, grabbing hold of the brunette's arm.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!" He snapped. 'They should really have guards in the dungeon area' Merlin thought. He braced his free hand against the bars and tried to pull the other arm free.

"Was he mad?" Aldwin asked conspiratorially.

"Who?"

"Arthur." Aldwin stated this as if it should be obvious.

"Mad about what?" The brunette was beginning to feel nervous.

"About the hickey." Merlin stared into Aldwin's deep blue eyes, expecting devilish fire to erupt in them at any moment.

"Did you steal my neckerchief?" Merlin was started to get really freaked out.

"No." For the first time Aldwin actually looked offended. "I'm not a creep. I found it in the stables."

"Oh." Merlin almost apologized before he realized that were it not for Aldwin he wouldn't be down here in the first place.

"So, was he mad?" Aldwin asked.

"Why do you want to know so badly?" Merlin asked suspiciously.

"I just want to make sure I'm not after something that belongs to Arthur." Aldwin said, reaching through the bars to caress Merlin's cheeks.

"Technically I'm his servant." The brunette pointed out. Hoping that might dissuade the boy.

"Ah, but I'm not looking for servitude from you. Well, not the kind you're used to anyway." These words were said in a low husky voice that sent a shiver up Merlin's spine.

"Let go of me." He squeaked. He once more tugged at his arm but it was no use, Aldwin's grip remained firm. The prince pulled his arm until Merlin's body was pressed completely against the bars.

"Ow. Seriously, let go of me or-"

"Or you'll what?" Aldwin asked.

'Of course. Magic!' Merlin wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. Or why it hadn't activated. Usually, if he was in a desperate situation, it would activate and help him. He tried to think of a spell that would come in handy but it was no use. The space between the bars was just enough for their lips to meet and Aldwin had taken advantage of that.

Merlin let out a little gasp as he was once again confronted with the prince's lips. They were warm against his and seemed to align themselves perfectly with the curvature of his mouth. His eyes slipped shut and he relaxed into the kiss. 'No. Stay focused.' Merlin struggled to concentrate but then there was Aldwin's tongue, running along his bottom lip and making him gasp. The tongue snuck between his lips to tangle with his own, causing the most delicious friction. Merlin moaned and Aldwin pressed closer to him through the bars.

"Again?" They both jumped this time, turning to stare at the figure in the doorway. "You guys have got to control yourselves." Gwen huffed.

"That's my cue to leave." Aldwin said, stepping away reluctantly.

"Wait." Merlin called.

The blonde boy turned around, looking somewhat hopeful.

"What about my neckerchief?" Merlin asked. The other boy shrunk in disappointment before smirking.

"I think I'll keep it." He said, tucking the object into his pocket.

"No. Give it back!" The brunette protested.

"Nuh-uh. This way I'll have an excuse to see you again."

Merlin stared in surprise as the blonde boy left.

"Prat." He muttered sullenly.