Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. I am not that awesome. I wish I did own it but alas I do not.
Author note: this is chapter two, I hope you followers like it. Sorry it took so long to get up. I don't think chapter 3 will be up for a while. Sorry lovelies but I will try. If you like it be sure to favorite, review and or follow. Love you all. I hope you all like it, now go ahead and enjoy the slashy goodness. -bucktooth22
Arthur loved to fight. Arthur liked swords, bows, spears, anything and he was the undisputed best with them all. He would get hurt sometimes but he would always win. Arthur was a winner. There was one thing the young Pendragon was not good at though. The only thing Arthur was not good at, that he would admit to, was waiting.
"Merlin, are you ready yet?" Arthur called to his boyfriend yet again. Arthur was getting impatient.
"Not yet." Merlin called back, yet again.
"Hurry up!" Arthur called. Merlin came into the bedroom.
"Do I really have to wear this?" Merlin whined. Arthur grinned from ear to ear. Merlin was dressed in a plaid green kilt. He wore a white button up shirt and a hat with a feather in it. Arthur nodded, amused with the outfit. Merlin groaned. "But it's itchy!" Merlin said shifting his legs uncomfortably.
"The Scottish people are coming and we are going to be dressed in their style." Arthur said. "So now we have to hurry or we're going to be late." Arthur said grabbing Merlin's hand and dragging him from the room. They got to the banquet hall just in time. Arthur dropped down into his chair releasing Merlin's hand. Merlin stood with the other servants at a respectable distance as he was expected to do. One of the Scottish girls came over and started flirting with Merlin. Arthur called Merlin over and the young servant was glad to be away from the Scottish girl. Upon Merlin's arrival Arthur pulled Merlin down so he was draped across the prince's lap. Uther coughed, surprised at his son's actions. The royal Scottish guest stared at the two boys with horror in his eyes.
"Arthur." Hissed the king.
"What father?" Arthur asked sighing melodramatically.
"I understand you like to play practical jokes on new people around Camelot but Merlin is a servant." Uther said hoping Arthur would catch on.
"Merlin is not just a servant. He is my servant. I love Merlin, and it is not a laughing matter." Arthur declared, very put off. Uther sighed and pinched his nose. "Merlin, I'm starved feed me." Arthur said grinning to the skinny raven haired boy on his lap. Merlin looked at Uther apologetically before getting off the young Pendragon Prince.
"I'll take the prince to his room now as he seems to have had a bit too much wine. My apologies sirs." Merlin said before dragging Arthur off to his room in the castle by his hand.
"I don't understand you Merlin." Arthur said after Merlin closed the door.
"Not everyone is as accepting to couples like us as the people have been here in Camelot." Merlin said sighing.
"Whoever has a problem with it can take it and shove it so far up their arses it comes out their mouths." Arthur said bitterly.
"Camelot needs good relations with the Scotts and your demonstration may have disturbed them, you will definitely be hearing from your father." Merlin said moving warily away from the door. Arthur changed into other clothes and crawled into bed.
"Tired already?" Merlin said before changing himself out of the itchy kilt.
"Yah. I don't feel good. Scottish people eat strange food." Arthur said before dropping off to sleep. Merlin grinned at his golden haired companion.
"Yep, definitely a lion." Merlin said before he began to tidy the room and out Arthur's things away.
The next morning Merlin woke to an empty bed. Arthur was already up.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked the empty room. Suddenly he heard a slight groaning coming from the hearth near the fire place. Merlin got up and went over to find Arthur curled up in a heap on the cold stone hearth next to a dying fire. "What are you doing?" Merlin asked crouching down next to the prince.
"I don't feel good." Arthur whined. Merlin put his hand gently on Arthur's forehead to find it hot.
"Come here Arthur, come back to bed. It won't do to have a prince on the stone floor." Merlin said lifting the young blond and helping him back into bed. When that was done Merlin ran off to fetch Gaius. Upon the arrival of the physician Arthur was examined.
"In my professional medical opinion, Arthur has a cold." Gaius said bluntly. "Merlin, you should stay here with him for the day to make sure he takes care of himself. You know how to take care of someone with a cold so just do that." Gaius said before turning on his heels and walking out. Merlin took care of Arthur all day. Come dinner time the servant girl who had been unabashedly flirting with Merlin showed up at the door to Arthur's room.
"I heard you were taking care of the prince and wished to offer my assistance." The girl said in her Scottish accent.
"I have it under control." Merlin said, knowing it would upset Arthur to have this girl around.
"I insist." The girl said pushing her way into the room.
"Merlin, who is this and what is she doing in my room?" Arthur said eyeing the girl warily.
"Merlin needed my help caring for you; either that or he simply wanted to spend more time with me, the cheeky boy." The girl said winking at Merlin.
"Merlin." Arthur growled.
"I told you, I have it under control." Merlin said sighing to the girl.
"Poor boy, he must have been delusional at dinner and that's why he had his mitts all over you. But then again, it is hard to keep your hands off someone as cute as you Merlin." She said pinching Merlin's buttocks. Causing Merlin to jump away from her, squeaking in surprise and uncomfort.
"I am not delusional! And keep your hands off him!" Arthur said, his face flushing with anger.
"Arthur." Merlin said trying to sooth his boyfriend.
"No Merlin I will not calm down!" Arthur screamed before pointing an incredulous finger at the intruder. "You. Get out." Arthur growled. She huffed and with a peeved look on her face shuffled out of the room.
"Arthur." Merlin tried again to sooth his sick prince.
"Merlin, don't." Arthur said coldly before breaking into a fit of coughs. Merlin said nothing more but was at Arthur's side, sitting the prince up and rubbing and patting his back until the coughs subsided. They didn't speak until it was very late.
"So should I go back to Gaius for the night?" Merlin asked hesitantly. Arthur shot Merlin a glance that was pure fear before regaining control and masked his expression into one of apathy.
"Do whatever you like." Arthur said bitterly.
"Arthur don't be like that." Merlin said sadly.
"Like what? Flirting with a stupid servant girl? Oh no, that was you." Arthur said icily.
"I was not flirting with her Arthur. She pushed her own way in here. I want nothing to do with any girl or boy that isn't you. I told you once before, Arthur, and I will say it again for your benefit and yours benefit alone. I am wholly and completely yours. Everything I have to offer you is offered. Every whim you have is my command. I love you Arthur and I have eyes for no one but you." Merlin said. Arthur looked at Merlin, the servant, his servant.
"Honestly?" Arthur asked quietly.
"Truly, honestly, and whole heartedly." Merlin said. Just then there was a mighty growl and Merlin's eyes widened in shock and horror.
"What was that Merlin?" Arthur asked, his eyes narrowing.
"My stomach. I seem to be hungry." Merlin said with a sheepish grin.
"Merlin, you idiot, when was the last time you ate?" Arthur said sighing and rolling his eyes at Merlin's idiocy.
"I haven't eaten since you've been sick. I've been too busy taking care of you." Merlin said slowly.
"Merlin!" Arthur yelled upset. "You need to take better care of yourself!" Arthur began. Merlin got up and ran from the room with a quick mutter of getting food and a sheepish grin. He was in no mood for a lecture from Arthur on eating habits.
By the time Merlin got back to Arthur the Prince was asleep. Merlin loved the way his hair flopped down in his eyes when he was sleeping. The covers had been kicked away from the young blond. Merlin pulled them back up to cover up his beloved prince.
"I love you Arthur." Merlin whispered kissing Arthur's forehead softly.
"Mmmmm loveyoutooMerlin" Arthur said before rolling over. Merlin smiled warmly at the young Pendragon before climbing in bed and snuggling up to his sick prince.
The next morning Merlin woke to an empty bed again.
"Arthur?" Merlin asked the empty room. This time there was no response. Merlin got up and changed into new clothes and left. He went out to the practice field to find it bustling with activity but no Arthur. Merlin went to all of Arthur's likely locations finding each lacking one very important component, Arthur. At last, a defeated Merlin made his way to Gaius.
"Merlin! My gosh dear boy, what are you doing here?" Gaius asked surprised at the unexpected appearance.
"I couldn't find Arthur so I came here." Merlin said slowly. Gaius knew something. "You know where Arthur is." Merlin said in an accusing tone.
"It's not a secret Merlin. He's having a talk with his father. I will take you there personally." Gaius said slowly.
"Is there something wrong Gaius?" Merlin asked hesitantly. Gaius didn't answer but began leading the way to the King's court room. Gaius ushered Merlin inside but did not enter himself, instead, turning to shuffle away.
"Merlin." Arthur said waving Merlin over, his face flushed and void of emotion. Merlin could tell Arthur was upset but the prince was wearing a mask to hide it.
"Merlin, I have treated you well. You and my son have been given my blessing. I expected better of you two, you nearly lost me the treaty between us and the Scottish." Uther began. Merlin could tell Arthur had already argued with the king on the topic so he remained silent. "You, Merlin, will be punished. Against my better judgment I allowed you and my son to carry on. I was patient with your relationship and accepting of its unorthodox form. I cannot however, permit this transgression to be unpunished." Merlin looked at Arthur to find the young prince looking down at his feet with his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"You will spend a day in the stocks." The king finished. Merlin had been to the stocks before and it was uncomfortable and he needed three baths afterwards but the punishment could have been worse. Merlin simply nodded and looked to Arthur who lead him to the stocks without a single word or glance. Upon arrival Merlin was closed into the wooden contraption and he prepared himself for the bombardment of rotten garbage. Instead he was greeted by Arthur's back.
"Arthur, you seem to be blocking me from my fans." Merlin said sheepishly.
"Shut up Merlin." Arthur hissed. The entire day Arthur stood with Merlin, no villagers would dare even glance in the direction of the stocks lest they be yelled at by the prince. When Merlin's punishment was finished Arthur unattached Merlin and took him back to the castle.
"Why did you do that?" Merlin asked after he had taken a long bath to sooth his sore muscles and put on warm clothes and crawled into bed with Arthur.
"Well I wouldn't very much want to sleep with a cabbage head now would I?" Arthur said grinning to Merlin who smiled back sheepishly.
"I heard that Merlin was in the stocks for the day and was thinking that he could use a good massage." The Scottish servant girl said before being chased out of the room by a very annoyed Arthur. After half an hour Arthur returned to find Merlin smiling at him, amused.
"What?" Arthur snapped.
"I told you, I'm yours but you still chase the poor girl around the castle. I hope you know I'm expecting a massage out of you since you chased her away before she could give me one." Merlin said giggling.
"I'll give you the massage of your life." Arthur said grinning mischievously.
Arthur began slowly massaging Merlin's bare back.
"Does that feel good?" Arthur asked after a long drawn out moan escaped Merlin's lips.
"Mmmhmmmm." Merlin answered.
"My father had you punished for something I did. It was unfair so I argued the point to him. He said he couldn't punish me because I was a prince. I said that if I were to marry you, you would be a prince as well. He would not change his decision. You were to be punished for my transgression and I was very upset. I decided to make sure no one threw any trash at you, not only because I didn't want to sleep with a cabbage head, but also because I felt it was unfair. I love you and to me, you are perfect. I should have been the one punished today but you took the punishment in my stead. So Merlin, will you do me the honor, and make me the happiest man in the whole of the world by being my Prince?" Arthur asked looking down at the limp body beneath him and waiting for a response when he noticed a slight snoring. "Merlin, you idiot!" Arthur whispered more to himself than anyone else. Arthur scooped up Merlin's limp body and gently laid it out on the bed. Arthur climbed in next to Merlin and pulled up the covers so they were both snug and warm. Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin and pulled him flush against himself.
"Arthur." Merlin murmured in his sleep. Merlin slowly opened his eyes to see Arthur looking at him curiously. "I just had the strangest dream." Merlin said.
"About?" Arthur spurred.
"You asked me to marry you." Merlin said smiling, reminiscing.
"What did you say?" Arthur asked trying to keep the trepidation out of his voice.
"I said yes of course. But it was just a dream. Let's go to sleep." Merlin said.
"What do you mean of course?" Arthur persisted.
"Well I love you with all my heart, you made a very eloquent speech, and I felt so warm under your hands and I never want to be away from you. I want you to know I am always yours and I will never love anyone else like I love you. I know you get jealous and I don't see why because I have no feelings for anyone but you. Our hands seem to fit perfectly together like we are meant to be together and your body fits so perfectly with mine. I want to be with you always so I said yes. I love you Arthur." Merlin explained. A huge grin plastered its self across Arthur's face and Merlin looked at him incredulously.
"I did ask you to marry me. I made a whole speech and everything while I gave you the back massage. And then you were asleep so you didn't answer." Arthur said. "So now that you're awake, are you still going to say yes?" Arthur asked slowly. Merlin smiled up at Arthur, his eyes twinkling in the dim light of the moon but whether it was twinkling with joy, or sadness Arthur was unsure.