A/N: Load of thanks to hermitknut for being my beta!
"You were what?"
"...Drafted to help out with the performance for your birthday, sire," Merlin replied. "I couldn't, could I? I mean, I'll so be busy what with being your manservant and helping Gaius out that I couldn't possibly help out with the entertainment as well, could I?"
Arthur looked at Merlin's imploring face and much as he would have liked to agree out loud right now how deplorably insufficient Merlin did his work as a proper crown prince's manservant should, he was more curious as to what it was that Merlin had been asked to do during the feast.
"What could they possibly have you do in terms of entertainment?" Arthur asked.
Merlin mumbled. "Err... well ... dance ... stuff... But ah, I'll be too busy with you and Gaius, right?"
Arthur laughed. "You dancing for an audience? Merlin! This is your chance to show the whole of Camelot your hidden talents! I'll be waiting with bated breath."
The manservant scowled at the blond. "You just want to see me embarrass myself in front of everyone."
Arthur grinned, clapping Merlin on the shoulder. "Think of it as my birthday present from you."
Merlin walked towards the room where Vivace and her troupe were practicing their performance, keeping his head low, full of thoughts and trepidation as to how he could survive this ordeal that Arthur seemed to find joy in even before it had started.
"I heard you're going to be prancing around for the feast, Merlin?" someone teased as Merlin passed them by.
Merlin turned around to see two young knights, Gorven and Isdemus, amusement evident on their faces.
"Me? Psh! No... where did you hear that?" Merlin laughed nervously.
Gorven ignored his query. "Prince Arthur is eager to see you perform. So are we! We're putting a wager whether it'll turn into a comedy act instead. Of course the odds are pretty high so only Sir Leon has bet on your success but we gather he's only doing it for fun."
Anxiety filled Merlin's head, overriding his indignation that they had bet on his downfall, so he did not notice two women, one blonde and the other with dark hair walking up to him until the blonde snagged at his arm to pull him close.
"Merlin darling," Illya purred, pressing her supple bosom against Merlin's side, "It's time we chase the pleasures of the mind and body."
The two knights stared at the two beautiful women before whipping their heads back at Merlin who was looking shocked as they were.
"No! You misunderstand! She really meant-"
"I meant what I said," Illya cut him, pouting at Merlin before turning to Gorven and Isdemus with the sweet smile, "He's so shy it's adorable."
"Not to worry Merlin dear," Sebille said huskily, leaning heavily against Merlin, her slim olive-coloured fingers smoothing the edges of his red neckerchief, "We are going to teach you all that we know. You'll be loving it so much that you'd be panting for more."
"Come," Illya said, leading a sputtering Merlin away with Sebille following behind them, "Vivace's waiting in the room. She said she wants to get on you immediately."
"And don't forget that Olivia is wanting to take your trousers off," Sebille said, before turning around and waving at the gaping knights, "We'll see you later, boys."
"You - you did that on purpose!" cried Merlin as soon as he reached the practice room where Vivace and the rest of the troupe were waiting for him, "Now they're gonna tell Arthur I'm fooling around instead. Oh my God! What if Arthur tells Gaius?"
Illya sniffed. "Oh pooh! It was all in fun. They were being mean to you and I can't bear watching a sweet little puppy being bullied like that."
Merlin stared at her. "I am not a puppy."
Illya stared back into Merlin's blue eyes and squealed, hugging him suddenly that he nearly toppled back, surprised that a young woman so slight could make him lose his balance. "So adorable!"
"We're not keeping him, Illya," Guivret, his tone making known that he has said these words to the blonde before.
"My lady," Merlin turned towards Vivace with Illya still hanging at his front, "I can't keep a tune! Much less dance! Maybe - maybe I can beat a drum or something!"
"It'll be alright, Merlin," Vivace told him, standing up from the chair, "Fredric will teach you how to move. I already have the dance steps drawn out. All we need to do is get you used to the basics first and then we'll do a group practice."
"It'll take years! You saw me! I tripped and threw water all over Fredric on our first meeting."
"True," agreed the dark-haired man, "So why should I teach him how to dance?"
"I will pay you two extra gold coins more than the rest since you are teaching the lead dancer as well as learning your own steps," Vivace countered. "What say you, Guivret?"
The dark-skinned man shrugged. "It does not go against our wager. I see no problem with it."
"So it's an advantageous situation for all those concerned," Vivace said when Fredric nodded in acquiescence.
"But what about me?" Merlin complained, "I'm going to be the laughing stock of the kingdom! I will never hear the end of it!"
Fredric strode over until he was standing in front of Merlin and pulled the manservant forward by the belt with another hand holding him by the dip of his back.
Merlin couldn't stop the squeak that came out of his throat.
"Not when I'm teaching you, you won't," Fredric growled against his cheek, "I am not called the best dancer in all of Gorre for nothing."
"Step, step... dip... turn... and sway... face up, leg front, right... arms here..."
Fredric and Vivace were stern and thorough in their teaching. It felt so regimented that Merlin thought that they could give Arthur a lesson or two on physical training. All of the dancers in Vivace's troupe, including the redhead herself, were physically fit and Merlin felt himself out of his depth. His instructors were moving his body as they wished, with their hands on his shoulders, his arms, his face, his hips and often a leg knocking at his own from behind or insinuating between his knees to bend, push and pull his legs into the proper steps, and all the time one or both of them pressed against him so snuggly that he felt all their curves, bumps and ridges.
Merlin sucked in his breath when Fredric pushed Merlin forward with his a thrust of his hips from behind. He nearly tripped again and would have fallen if the dancer had not held onto his waist with a firm arm. "C-can we take a rest, please. I-I don't think I can -"
Olivia, who had already finished learning her steps with Guivret and was now going through the costumes for their performance, walked towards the three people and looked at Merlin's body thoughtfully before directing her scrutiny at the manservant's trousers. "I think we can use one of Fredric's and adjust the hem a little..."
"You're doing fine, boy," Fredric huffed against the back of the shell of Merlin's large ears, tickling Merlin into turning his head to look at the other man only to be nearly cross-eyed with the closeness and seeing the brown flecks within the grey of Fredric's eyes. He pulled Merlin back a little to allow Olivia to quickly measure Merlin's leg with Vivace helping by lifting the edge of Merlin's shirt for Olivia to see where she should start her measurement.
Fredric started to chastise him. "Really, Merlin. We've only just begun -"
"OH!"
All of the people turned to the open door see a pretty dark-skinned woman who just came into the room, her mouth open in surprise as she took in the scene where Merlin was bent over by a man from behind while an auburn-haired woman kneeled in front of the manservant, holding onto his hips, and a redheaded woman in the process of lifting up his shirt.
"Uh... I-I thought you might be thirsty so.. I-I brought... Here!" the maid stammered, nearly spilling the water when she put down the pitcher with a panicked clatter.
The woman suddenly turned towards Merlin, wringing her hands in worry. "Merlin, ummm... Are-are you... alright?"
"Huh? Of course, Gwen, I'm-" Suddenly the young man's eyes widened at the implication of what she was seeing. His suspicion was instantly confirmed when he spied the fierce blush on her cheeks.
"He's in good hands, my lady," Fredric said, his leering tone coloured with amusement, "We're taking good care of him."
The maid's eyes widened. "Oh! Oh, that's- I mean... well, good luck then! I mean... see you Merlin!" she said in a rush, running out of the room in haste.
"No, wait! Gwen! It's not what you think!"
Fredric's laughter was stopped by a sharp elbow on the ribs from an annoyed manservant. "It's not funny! Gwen's going to think the worst of me!"
"She'll think you're having the time of your life by the time we're done with you."
"H-how long are we going to do this?"
Fredric gave Merlin a decidedly evil-looking smirk. "As long as it takes, Merlin," the dancer drawled, "As long as it takes."
-tbc
