A/N: Hello all! I'm excited for the positive fees back this story has already recieved. I am hoping I'll be able to update weekly so no one will have to wait to long. Also please let me know if you notice anything overly out of character, I am hoping to keep everyone as in character as u can with some character development that would make sense with the direction the story goes. ENJOY!

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Merlin had told himself that him staying overnight with Arthur was an accident that would not happen again. However it seemed Arthur did not share his need to avoid the situation, he couldn't blame the King, it was clear he was seeking comfort from a friend whenever the hurt returned to him, but to Merlin it was a taste of something he shouldn't have. After the first time Merlin had stayed with Arthur, the blond seemed to start treating Merlin differently when in private. Arthur didn't hide emotion from Merlin and even spoke to him as if on equal ground. He had been asked by the King to stay with him the three nights after the first night, then as Arthur's wounds seemed to heal a little more from the comfort of Merlin's council and presence it became every other night, than less and less as the King felt better. Each time he was asked to stay Merlin would tell himself he would leave as soon as Arthur was asleep, however each time he managed to fall asleep in the King's bed, though Arthur never woke up angry, even when they found themselves wrapped around each other, it was almost painful for Merlin, it truly was a taste of the love he felt that could not be returned by the blond. Gaius noticed Merlin's absence fairly quickly, Merlin had told him he was just getting in very late and waking up very early, the old man did not buy that but he let it go nonetheless.

On this particular night it had been three days sense Arthur had last asked Merlin to stay with him, the warlock had just entered the room, without knocking of course, to clean up the King's dinner when he stopped in his tracks. Arthur was sitting under the window staring off into nothing, deep in thought, his face was in a frown and there were dark circles under his eyes that Merlin had not noticed before. He made his way over to Arthur, kneeling down next to him. "Sire?" Merlin gently placed a hand on the blond's shoulder bringing him back to reality. "This really doesn't look like a good place to sleep my lord," Merlin joked with a grin. Arthur didn't seem amused, he gave a heavy sigh placing a hand over Merlin's causing the dark haired man's breath to catch. "Ha-Have you been sleeping at all my lord?"Merlin questioned with concern as Arthur's eye finally met his. He didn't answer, the pain was in his eyes again, a loneliness that made Merlin's heart ache. Merlin moved to hoist the man onto his feet so he might get him to bed but as he reached for the man Arthur grabbed him and pulled him down to sit next to him. "Arthur?"

"Just… Stay..." It wasn't an order, it was almost a plea. Merlin felt uneasy, his King was not acting like himself at all, during the day he was still the insufferable prat of a King he knew and loved. However, when the council, the uncle and all the other servants were gone late into the night Arthur was almost a broken man. He wasn't truly broken, not like Uther had been, he got up in the morning and took care of his duties, but when duty was gone, when it was just Merlin, Arthur could be just Arthur, emotion and all. Arthur leaned his head over onto Merlin's shoulder, as if too tired to hold his head up anymore. "Perhaps my father had been right, to marry for love is foolish." Merlin shook his head at that statement, his lips forming a tight line.

"I don't believe that. Arthur, a strong King is a man with love in his heart, kindness. Perhaps Gwen was the wrong person," Arthur noticeably winced at the name, silently asking Merlin not to say it again. "but I do not believe that marrying without love would be the right decision. The people want a King with compassion, a King that will treat them fairly as equals, and a King that would marry for status over love is not a compassionate King." Merlin wrapped his arm around Arthur's shoulders, his hand resting on the side of the blond head. He knew it wasn't exactly appropriate for him to take this position with his master but he also knew that while they were alone like this it really didn't matter to either of them anymore. This is the position they held, Arthur leaning into Merlin as he ran his fingers through the blond hair in an attempt to relax the King. When Merlin felt the man getting heavier he pushed the King off of himself. Arthur was reluctant to move but did so anyway, once free from the weight Merlin stood and leaned over to help the King up. As he always did when he was available to assist, Merlin helped Arthur undress, handed him his night pants and let him finish changing without eyes on him. The warlock pulled back the bedding for the King and watched as the man got into the bed.

"Will you stay?" Arthur asked, it was becoming a regular occurrence, Arthur asking rather than demanding.

Merlin nodded. "Just until you fall asleep." He said that every time, and every time he knew it to be a lie. Merlin sat on the edge of the bed next to the King and placed his hand back in the hair, gently running his fingers through. Already Merlin felt his eyes drooping from the long day but he forced himself to stay awake, determined to let the other man fall into sleep first. When Merlin thought the other man had finally fallen into the land of dreams he moved to leave before he himself fell asleep. A strong arm wrapped around the thin man pulling him down into the bed with a yelp. Merlin wasn't sure if the man was awake or not, either way Arthur, King Arthur, just dragged Merlin back into his bed and is now holding the warlock against his chest rather tightly. Merlin attempted to wiggle his way out of the King's grasp without waking the blond however the arm had a very good hold on him, he couldn't use magic as Arthur could still be awake. That is how Merlin ended up spending yet another night sleeping in the king's bed.

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Merlin's eyes shot open, the sun had not broken the sky yet and Arthur was no longer holding him down. Sometime in the night he had rolled over to face the man who was now tucked under his chin against his chest almost like a child. Merlin scooted away a little to look at the blond, Arthur looked peaceful, the circles seemed to have lightened already. Merlin smiled as he leaned in placing a kiss to the King's left temple, then reality returned to the servant. He pulled away as if burned and removed himself from the bed quickly leaving the room. As the door closed behind the warlock another set of blue eyes lazily opened, eying the empty spot in the bed.

Merlin made his way quickly to Gaius' door, he tiptoed his way into Gaius' and his living aea, attempting not to alert the man to his arrival. As he crossed the room he was startled by the very man he was trying to sneak past sitting on his bed watching him with his classic raised eyebrow. "This is becoming a habit Merlin." Gaius said calmly.

"Yes well, Arthur is getting up earlier than usual which means he needs breakfast early…" Merlin started walking for his room.

"The truth Merlin, where have you been? I know you did not come back last night, I was up all night with a patient." Gaius watched him sternly.

Merlin gave a heavy sigh, his head dropping so he might stare at the ground rather than the old man. "I was with Arthur…" It was mumbled but Gaius heard him.

"All night?" Merlin's eyes shot up at the tone in Gaius' voice.

"Just sleeping!" Merlin shouted a little too loud and defensively.

"Is this where you have been the nights you've been "coming back late" Merlin simply nodded. "Merlin." Gaius sounded worried and disappointed.

"I know! He asked me to stay Gaius, Arthur is hurting after what happened with Gwen, I couldn't just leave him alone!" Merlin sat on the steps to his little room with a heavy sigh as he rubbed his eyes.

"But Merlin, what about you?" Gaius said it so gently. Merlin knew what he meant, what about his feelings? What about how much it hurt to be so close to Arthur in a way that was painfully intimate but not have him at all, to know that he was just filling a void left by Gwen and soon enough he would be replaced by a proper partner for the King. However, this was his place in the world, as Arthur's servant he couldn't refuse, even worse, he didn't want to.

Merlin shook his head looking up at Gaius. "It doesn't matter how I feel, Arthur needs me." Merlin got up and walked back out of the room, Gaius knew the truth, there was no longer any point in pretending he had been in his own bed that night. Merlin quickly retrieved the King's breakfast and then made his way back to the man's room. As always he entered without a knock, finding the King already at his work table reading paperwork.

"Breakfast!" Merlin said cheerfully placing the tray of food on the desk. Arthur's only acknowledgement of Merlin was a brief glance up at him.

"Merlin, we are going on patrol today with the knights. Go ready the horses and supplies." The order was very simple and somewhat cold. Merlin was shocked at the shift in the air between them, things had been much more… warm between them these past few weeks but now the King was cold and to the point, not a single teasing word. Thinking better than to question it Merlin simply nodded and left the room to prepare the horses. Once the brunet was gone Arthur's fingers absentmindedly rubbed at his left temple, where Merlin had kissed him earlier.