Men!

Disclaimer: Still do not own 'Merlin'.

AN: because you guys are just so utterly fabulous, here you go ,chapter 2 already! I would like to dedicate this chapter to roxanne92 who was not only the first person to favourite one of my works (ie this one, there's only one) but also the first person to do anything so the first e-mail I received from here (apart from the confirmation one) was one to say that "roxanne92 just favourite this story" and that gave me that warm fuzzy feeling inside and made me push on through my maths revision! So a special thanks and love to roxanne92. Also, (sorry this is so long, I'll go soon!) I would love to thank Tefnut Talvi for being the first person to follow one of my works (again, this one, what a surprise) and Loulou2a, thank-you, here is more, just for you! TwigStar you're amazing, Cls0511 you're gorgeous, Troilus (cool name) you go, girlfriend, and Burning Souls you're just too good for words. Here you go, all of you, and more, enjoy!

"Rise and shine, your majesty!" Merlin flung open the curtains, letting in the dazzling sunlight.

Arthur groaned and rolled onto his other side. he complained. "It bliiiiinds."

Merlin just laughed as he threw apart more curtains and prepared the room for the day's work.

"Up you get, sire. I've brought breakfast!" he clinked the spoon against the bowl encouragingly and eventually saw Arthur beginning to drag himself out of bed. Merlin noticed some paperwork that he had been asked to bring up and cast his eye over it, scanning it quickly before determining what needed to be done with it.

"What have you got there?" Arthur asked, coming up behind Merlin, peering over his shoulder to read it. Almost subconsciously, it seemed, Arthur's hand crept to Merlin's waist again, slipping slightly under the course fabric of his shirt to rest on the bare skin there.

"Just some paperwork for you, sire." Merlin responded holding it higher so Arthur could see too. Neither of them either realised or commented on this new progression in their friendship and stood in this way quite comfortably. Unfortunately, fate was not on their side and an intruder burst into the room without a knock for notice or any polite measure. And, naturally, there was only one person who was as rude as that.

"Aaaahh, your majesty, just who I was hoping to find! I'm awfully sorry, I seem to keep appearing at the worst of moments." The slime-Prince. It just had to be the slime-Prince. And again, it was only when they were awakened from this dream-like state ( that they always seemed to end up in when they were around each other) did they realised the way they were standing… with Arthur's chest pressed against Merlin's back, his hand on his waist and his chin on his shoulder. They sprung apart and the slime-Prince shot them a look of superior contempt, seemingly pleased that he kept catching them in such ways.

"Er, yes, hello. What did you want? Err, sire?" Arthur stumbled over his words while trying to focus on the problem at hand as opposed to Merlin and, well… just Merlin really.
"Just to ask if you would like to accompany me on a hunt on this fine day?" the slime-Prince practically simpered. Urgh, he was so… so… slimy.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Merlin sharply cut in. "I'm sorry, sire, but the prince, Arthur, already has a busy schedule for the day…" Merlin was tempted to add "Such is the way when you are the royal heir to a great kingdom," but held his tongue. Just.

"Ah, well that is a disappointment, perhaps I'll ask the Lady Morgana to go for a ride instead seeing as you are so… occupied…" It was evident in the slime-Prince's eyes that he was not only referring to Arthur's schedule and with one further arrogant, all-knowing glance at the pair, he turned on his heel and stalked off.

"God, he' such a…" Arthur faltered for the right word.

"Pretentious, smug, conceited, insolent, supercilious, stuck-up snot-ball?" Merlin supplied and Arthur shot him a surprised look. Widening his eyes to pretend an air of innocence, Merlin shrugged "Just a suggestion." Arthur couldn't stop the grin that ended up spread across his face.

"I had no idea you knew so many words, Merlin. I thought your vocabulary was limited to complaining only."

"I learned them all from finding words to describe you… sire." Merlin winked and Arthur couldn't help but laugh outright. He just couldn't resist when Merlin was being so… Merlin-y. "Come along; I wasn't lying when I said you had a busy day…" Arthur just groaned and followed behind him like a puppy being led to the vets.

...

"The Lady Morgana!" came a bellowing greeting from behind her in the corridor. "Just who I wanted to see." It was the 3rd Prince of Darya and, from what she had heard, he was either one of the strongest, bravest and noblest men that there ever was to roam this Earth or he was an incredible liar.

"My Lord." She curtseyed graciously. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was most disappointed when we did not find time to discover each other's company last night at the banquet and so I thought that perhaps you would like to accompany me for a ride out?" he proposed in a drawling voice.

"Ah, I'm truly touched and should honestly love to but I have suffered a frightful injury and have been banned from riding for a while. Instead, I should thoroughly enjoy your companionship if you should wish to take a turn around the castle? I could give a guided tour?" she offered, with an Irish lilt softening the edges of the words, and a gentle, tinkling laugh to accompany it. She seemed so frail and angelic to be capable of the deeds that surrounded her such as, rumour has it, beating Arthur in a sword fight when they were younger. He sensed there was something within her, something more than most people would notice. She definitely had a daring streak hidden just beneath the china coated exterior.

"I would be honoured." He replied, offering an arm to her. She took it and they began to walk.

"I saw you and Arthur getting along well yesterday at the celebrations." It was a question without a question mark and he knew she was inviting him to talk in depth about his and Arthur's relationship and how this would form a strong bond between the two Kingdoms in the future.

"Naturally, we held an intriguing exchange, in which I felt able to discuss my feats knowing I was in the company of one just as triumphant as I without feeling like a brag. However, I feel there is someone's company that he deems even more captivating than mine, than anyone's no doubt."

"Oh, I'm sure he would never dream of appearing rude, my lord. I'm positive that he treasured your company but, pray tell, who is this damsel who has captured the heart of our Prince?"

"No damsel, my lady, but his man-servant, Merlin. They spend all their time together; didn't you see them at the celebration yesterday? They are entranced by the other!"

"What in the world gives you the impression that they are, I dare say, in love? I mean, they are surely very close, although King Uther doesn't like it, he cannot help that Arthur has indeed grown attached to his servant, but only in that they are the best of friends." Morgana, herself, however, had noticed the devotion that not only the servant had to his prince but, also, the prince had to his servant. Had he not risked the deep depths of that cave to save his life? Or even drank from the poisoned goblet? She always suspected, and somewhere inside, she couldn't help but feel, she hoped that they were something more to each other than just friends. They seemed like they were always meant to meet, to save each-other's lives, over and over. Like two pieces of a puzzle, two sides of the same coin. The slime-Prince coughed, bringing Morgana out of her cloud of thought. He gave her a questioning look before repeating what he had said.

"They are not only close in mind but also in body. I saw the two of them, last night and today, pressed against each other in various embraces. They act like they are a couple; I heard them bickering like they had been married twenty years yesterday. Are you sure they are not together in secret?" Morgana couldn't help but wonder why this man was taking so much interest in the love-affairs of a distant prince and his man-servant.

"Arthur would've told me, I'm sure of it. He can't keep a secret for the world. Goodness, it's a surprise he's managed to forgo with these feelings without confiding in me so far! Unless…" but that couldn't be possible… could it? Even Arthur's not that stupid? And what about Merlin, he must've realised… Well, they do say that love makes you blind.

"Unless…?" the prince prompted.

"Unless they haven't realised they are in love." Morgana suggested. Yes, this must be it. They are totally besotted they just haven't noticed. Men!

"It would explain why they always looked so confused and surprised when I walked in on them." the prince admitted.

"We must make them realise!" Morgana gushed, her face lighting up with the excitement of planning tricks on her brother again and especially when they had such an important purpose.

"And what exactly are you proposing?" The slime-Prince inquired but Morgana only raised one slender eyebrow suggestively before turning and positively dancing away, evidently expecting him to follow. Surprising even himself, he propelled forward to pursue her. With only the slightest of sighs he wondered what on Earth he had got himself into.

There will be more, probably later tonight, maybe tomorrow, I promise. Hope this lived up to your expectations, really sorry if it didn't. You know what to do, fabulous people, criticize away! Thank-you again and treasure the fact that you were mentioned in my first story ever. I hope my mention gave you a warm fuzzy feeling inside, if it didn't, well then I'm sorry, am I not good enough for you? *sniffs*