Merlin watched with his eyes on stalks as Uther, the council members and Gaius walked in. Arthur stayed where he was, shifting a little. Uther looked around in confusion.
"Are you alone?"
"Merlin chose to leave," Arthur said calmly. "He felt nervous."
He did feel exactly that. But he hadn't chosen to leave. Arthur had thrown him out. Gaius looked relived at the news. Merlin frowned, wondering what was going on. The council members clustered around Arthur. Merlin had to duck around to see what was going on. He couldn't see Arthur. Uther was blocking the view, but Arthur's face became visible as he sat up a little.
"He isn't lacking initially," one of the council said.
"We need to check his seed," another announced.
"You should not have dismissed your servant," Uther berated.
"He is not comfortable around others. Merlin was innocent when he was employed. I can manage on my own," Arthur said.
"Then do so."
Merlin lost sight of Arthur as he lay back. The people around the bed were all focused on the prince. Merlin pushed the door and crawled in and hunkered down by the heavy sideboard. He was hidden in shadow, but he could now see Arthur lying back on the bed, his legs splayed out while he played with himself. Merlin noted that Gaius at least had the decency to look uncomfortable. The rest of them just stared. Arthur shifted his hips and gasped, increasing the pressure on his erection. Merlin flinched as he watched one of the men in the council run a fingertip over the head of Arthur's cock. It made Arthur gasp, and the man then licked his finger.
"He's excreting, well enough," the man commented.
"The prince needs to prove that he can ejaculate," Uther said calmly, but there was a level of strain to his tone. Merlin frowned in confusion. Why would they all need to watch that? Arthur didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it as he lay there rubbing his cock and shifting his hips. As innocent as he was, Merlin at least realised the wand that Arthur had put inside himself would help him. What Merlin couldn't understand was why they all expected him to be there, and why Arthur clearly didn't.
Merlin watched in shock as Arthur carried on, the man rubbed the head of his cock again and Arthur jerked, moaning deeply. He increased the pressure, writhing on the bed and then Arthur threw his head back further, mouth opening in a silent gasp and his body tensed as his cock spurted with fluid. It coated across his stomach and chest.
Arthur continued to jerk, shuddering on the bed, his eyes closed as his hips lowered, letting himself relax onto the bed. His hands fell away from his groin to land at his sides. Arthur didn't react as Gaius used a small sliver of wood to scrape some of the semen from his stomach and then he retreated, nodding at the council.
None of them now looked at Arthur lying prone on the bed. They looked about at each other and Uther straightened his back.
"The prince had proven himself able to perform, I believe."
"Odd to see that he didn't keep his servant with him. I could understand it the first time."
"It wouldn't look very good if I need my servant when proving myself to another kingdom," Arthur said breathlessly.
"The prince speaks with some wisdom."
Merlin couldn't work out who said it but it seemed to make the men happy. Uther reached out and gripped Arthur's forearm.
"You rest now."
"Yes, Sire," Arthur said.
Merlin watched as they left, as Arthur stayed still, until he lifted his head in the direction of the door. It was clear that for several seconds he did nothing but listen before moved on the bed again and then reached down between his legs. Arthur dug his fingers in inside himself, taking the device out of his body. He arched his back and his muscles tensed as he pulled and then released. Arthur relaxed back and Merlin started to crawl away. He was almost to the door when his foot hit the hinge at an awkward angle and the door creaked. Arthur's head shot up, Merlin ducked and ran. He entered the corridor and ran down the stairs, out of the castle and he just ran.
But he couldn't run far enough.
