A/N: I made another. Quick update, right? I'm thinking that I'll write another version of this storyline from Merlin's point of view. What do you think? Let me know.

Disclaimer: You'll never believe what I own. That's right! Not BBC Merlin

The third time was a surprise to Arthur.

After the second kiss, Arthur had sworn he wouldn't pursue that line of thought about Merlin any longer. Easier said than done, though.

Merlin was always with him. And as the months passed by, Arthur's attraction didn't diminish in the slightest. In fact, it seemed that after Arthur made the conscience decision that he could not have Merlin, he suddenly found himself noticing all of him. From his always slightly messy hair or his vibrant blue eyes, to his well worn boots. All of Merlin was a distraction to him. Especially Merlin's lips.

Oh, good gods, those lips. Smiling cheekily at him. Moving to make some snarky comment. Under his own. Oh, under his own. Two brief kisses were enough to send Arthur's mind haywire. Imagining those lips other places. His neck, or lower. As much a Arthur tried to ignore the attraction it became obvious in his dreams. Sinful, lustful dreams that no Prince in his right mind should be having about his manservant. Dreams where Merlin's lips whispered lovely, sinful things in his ear, before dropping lower. Gods, he couldn't handle it. And to make matters worse, he couldn't find escape in the love story he had made with Gwen.

For some reason, Gwen no longer wished to pursue that sort of relationship with him. He hadn't really noticed it until he had forbidden himself from Merlin, and consequently, was looking for a distraction. But when he thought about it, Gwen had been, well, not distant exactly, but not really romantically loving with him since before Lady Vivian had come by.

The whole visit was rather cloudy for Arthur and he only really remembered them arriving and then his memory becomes almost as though he was watching from a particularly thick veil. He could remember there being colors and sounds, but not what those colors and sounds were. His mind only became clear when he was in his tent by the sparring grounds with a rather distressed looking Merlin standing over him. Merlin had been touching his arms as he sat on the small cot in the tent. Then he had become aware of a rather powerful pain in his ribs. Merlin later explained that Arthur had been enchanted and had entered a fight with King Olaf for Vivian's hand. Arthur didn't really understand why Gwen would hold such a thing against him, but he could only guess that he must have said or done something while he was enchanted. When he questioned Merlin about it, the dodgy servant changed the subject.

Regardless, Gwen was still with him as a friend and advisor. Arthur was honestly, probably more okay with that relationship than a romantic one. But it was hard when he couldn't get his mind off of Merlin by pursuing Gwen.

After the third kiss though, Arthur acknowledged to himself that pursuing Gwen probably wouldn't have distracted him from Merlin anyway.

The decision to go after the Trident of the Fisher King as his quest was probably an ill-advised one. Merlin certainly seemed to think so. It was strange to say to Merlin that he couldn't come with Arthur. It was even stranger to go off on the journey without Merlin's constant and comforting babble alongside him. But away he went. And with every step he took, every foot he traveled he was getting heavier and heavier. As though some great weight was pushing and pulling down on him from all sides. A terrible time to get a fever, honestly. He thought for half a second about going back and waiting until he was well to complete the quest. The thought was instantly dismissed and he continued on his way.

Fighting off the Wyverns when his sword suddenly decided to weigh around one hundred pounds was no easy feat either. He thought that he ought to be congratulated on the fact he made it all the way in the castle with the way he was feeling. He made it all the way into a room with doors and everything before succumbing to the black that had been creeping on the sides of his vision the entire quest. Blacking out with Wyverns in the room might not have been the best choice of times, but it all turned out fine in the end. He awoke to the sound of a familiar voice calling his name. Merlin. He opened his eyes and saw the comforting figure and warm, relived smile of his best friend. Before Arthur could register in his brain that he ought to start yelling at Merlin for ruining his quest, Merlin surged forward shouting Arthur's name in relief.

And kissed him. Hard and desperate.

Arthur froze. He thought about the past months of trying so hard to ignore the feelings he got when Merlin was in the same room as him. Then he grabbed Merlin by the back of his head and pulled him closer. The third kiss lasted a bit longer than the other two, but eventually, inevitably, Merlin pulled back.

"I'm sorry-I-I-can't-not, I was just so worried and you-" Merlin was cut off by the scream of a Wyvern that had been creeping up behind them. The beast fell to the floor with a smash and behind it, looking rather smug, stood Gwaine.

Fucking Gwaine.

"Oh and did you bring the whole of Camelot with you too?!" Arthur cried. "What don't you get about alone?" Arthur continued his rant about how Merlin had ruined his quest and how he couldn't believe that Merlin and Gwaine were there, but he still heard the muttered "You're Welcome." That came from Merlin.

They found the Trident and got it back to Camelot with no big issues (except if you count that minor panic attack Arthur had when Merlin got trapped in the throne room). However, when everything was settled down back in Camelot, Arthur expected something to change. After all, Merlin had kissed him this time. But nothing did. Everything went back to normal, much to Arthur's dismay.

It hurt, actually. That even though Merlin and Arthur were so close, Merlin still pushed Arthur away. Still wouldn't let him all the way in. So Arthur tried to go back to ignoring the feelings, but it ended up hurting way more than it had before. He didn't know why it did. He didn't understand what had changed. Maybe it was the absolute confirmation that Merlin wanted him too. He just didn't know. He just knew that it was painful and he wanted it to stop.

He wanted Merlin and eventually, he wasn't going to be able to ignore it any longer.

A/N: Awww... Arthur. I'm sorry that this hurts. But don't worry! There are only two more chapters! I'm sure everything will work out in the end.

R&R, if you would loves. It keeps me going.