Author's Notes: Okay! Here is chapter 4. I hope you all like it. It is probably the longest chapter I've written so far but I hope I will not bore you with it. Thank you all so much for your continued support.

To Merthur Dreamer: Thank you! Yes, their love is very heart-warming. I am constantly dreaming of an episode where they would just really show what's been obvious from the beginning. Heh.

To A.L. Cullen: Thank you so much.

To FRANKENSTINWENTMAD: Yes! More, more, more, is right here. :-)

To Sweet: Hope you will enjoy this chapter just as much. :-)

To MirrorFlower and DarkWind: I just suffered from a toothache while writing this. haha.

To HELEN: I share the love that you have for Merlin. I hope you will love this one as well.

To Kigy: Hope you got my PM. Hope you like this one as well.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Only in my dreams can I have everything I want. The song used for this (looooong) title came from "Samson" by the great Regina Spektor. Song isn't mine either. (Sobs)

Chapter 4: I Cut His Hair Myself One Night with a Pair of Dull Scissors in a Yellow Light, and He Told Me that I'd Done Alright and He Kissed Me 'till the Morning Light

It was just the early moments after the sun had shone over the land of Camelot when Arthur was awoken by a knock at his door and someone saying "The king is expecting you for this morning's breakfast, sire."

Having all the adrenaline from yesterday's events drained from his body, Arthur now felt as his muscles ached and screamed at him from being pulled and contorted from his previous quest. His still bruised chest also taunted him with much more excruciating pain. Slowly he got up and did his best to look decent or even at least half decent before he faced his father once more. As he did so, he could already feel a massive headache coming on as he pondered about their dreading conversation. But nevertheless, he felt the same unwavering determination to fight for Merlin no matter what his father might say.

He tried to walk as slow as he can, hoping that his father will soon tire of waiting for him and will just finish breakfast without him. But of course, fate herself has an uncanny way of torturing him as he saw his father patiently waiting for him with a determined look on his face. No pleasantries were exchanged as Arthur sat on a chair opposite his father while trying to gauge his father's mood. His father, on the other hand, said nothing but continued to stare at the blonde prince, his expression unreadable, but obviously trying to gauge his son's mood as well.

"For goodness sake father, if you've got something to say, do speak your mind for I cannot read it." Arthur finally spoke, having grown tired of his father's stoic and unmoving (and somehow fear-inducing) stare.

Uther sighed loudly, and quite dramatically, before he spoke, "Well, Arthur, I do hope you have an explanation for your abrasive and almost barbaric actions yesterday. I did not raise you to be the likes of a ruffian and I will not tolerate any similar behavior from you anymore. I only did it because I knew you were under extreme stress with your recovery and the obvious conflicting notion you have about reciprocating the favors done to you by some servant. I'm sure now that you are rested, you're mind is clear from such meaningless notions and you are back to your rational thinking. So go on, give me some logical explanation." Uther ended with a hand gesture as though he's encouraging Arthur to speak now.

Arthur's jaw clenched with disgust at his father's gestures. He was not a dog that needs permission to speak. He was the future king of Camelot for goodness sake! He loved his father a lot and respected him even more. But really, sometimes conversing with him is like talking to a brick wall, having absolutely no tact in his words and actions. After he made sure that he could suppress the thought of slapping (or strangling) his father, he looked his father straight in the eyes and with a slight smirk ghosting his lips, he answered,

"I love him."

"…"

"Go on, father, I know you have something horrid to say."

That was the last straw. Uther rose from his chair, his face starting to flush with another set of uncontained rage, and sneered at his son with an accusatory finger,

"YOU! You are out of your mind! Saying that you must repay your servant for saving your life can sometimes be understandable but THIS…" he gestured with his hands with a disgusted look on his face, "this, this thing that you speak of is absolute rubbish!"

"Father!" Arthur yelled with a voice just as loud as his father, his beautiful face painted with anger and shock toward his father.

"NO! I will not hear anymore of this. That servant boy of yours has definitely eradicated all sense of logic from your mind! Come now, you can't expect me to believe that you, crowned prince of Camelot, have actually fallen in love with a mere servant, can you? That is ridiculous! I could have believed such foolishness for a bit if your servant were a girl. But, Arthur, he is a man! A MAN!That is disgusting and unnatural! Have you no shame?"

"Father, if you would just listen-"

"No, Arthur. I have had enough of your foolishness and immaturity. He shall be removed from his position as your servant. Better yet, he shall not be allowed any other position here at the royal house! I do not want that boy coming near you ever again! I don't care how many times he has saved your life." Uther seethed with anger and panted violent, shallow breaths as he looked back at his son.

Arthur, who was now just as flushed with anger, was about to reply when suddenly the doors burst open and in came a middle aged man, who looked ghostly white from fear, and said, "Prince Arthur, my lord, I'm sorry for this, but Gaius has asked that you come immediately! He implored that you come as quick as you can. He said it concerned a person named Merlin, sire." He finished quickly as he noticed the king's irritated and terrifyingly lethal gaze pointed at him.

Without another thought, Arthur pushed back his chair and motioned to head out of the room, without even a bite off of the breakfast he was served.

"Where do you think you're going? You actually intend to walk away from me for that servant boy?" Uther said with shock evident in his still flushed features.

"As much as I know you will not believe me, I still do respect you father. But you must excuse me when I say that I would rather attend to Merlin's needs than exchange… how did you put it? Oh yes, abrasive and barbaric words with you because obviously they are futile." With a dismissive wave, he continued out the door and left Uther, once again, with his mouth gaping in shock and incredulity at his son's retreating form.

Arthur was still seething from his unfinished discussion with his father. He tried (and failed, man he was bad at pretension…) to collect himself before he reached Gaius' chambers. But all efforts proved futile because he could not get the voice of his father, angrier than he had ever heard in his life, out of his head. It just kept going on and on like a broken record. He knocked on the door and waited as a relieved looking Gaius opened and greeted him.

"How is he, Gaius? Is he awake?" Arthur asked, his voice still a bit hoarse from screaming.

"Not yet, sire. But his bruises have healed almost completely and his breathing has returned to normal as well."

"I don't think this needs my immediate concern, Gaius." Arthur said quite impatiently.

"Well, there is one other thing…" Gaius said in an almost whisper.

"Oh? And what is that?" Arthur asked inquisitorially.

"He's been… well… sort of talking in his sleep, sire."

"What did he say?"

"Well… your name, sire." Gaius spoke as though that was the most obvious answer.

Without another word, Arthur rushed to Merlin's room as quick as he can.

/

Before Arthur met Merlin, if anyone were to ask him what he would do if he found out his servant was a secret sorcerer, he would have said to them, "He shall suffer the same punishment as everyone else, death by execution in the pyre," immediately and without hesitation. Arthur chuckled as he pondered about it. He knows that he really should be angry at Merlin. Even more so, he should be hating, loathing, maybe even despising Merlin because he was a great example, if not the epitome himself, of everything that Uther told Arthur to fight against. He should not be looking at Merlin like some precious possession, or like a stretch of land owned after a hard battle. But one look at his servant's sleeping form… those red lips little slacked open from peaceful slumber, those black soft locks scattered about the pale ivory skin of his beautiful and innocent face, those prominent cheekbones with a perfect tinge of rosy red spreading across them, and even those slightly oversized ears look adorably perfect… it only took one look and Arthur knew with every fiber of his being that he could never let this go. He could never let Merlin go. Because it was by Merlin that he is reminded what he taught himself to fight for: a love that knows no bounds. A true and powerful love that, although quite terrifying in its intensity, can win even against the darkest of magic. Wasn't Merlin sufficient proof of that already? When he was willing to give his life (almost did) just to save Arthur's?

Arthur could feel the now familiar pain gnawing his insides whenever he is reminded of how close he was of losing Merlin. Of losing this beautiful soul that managed to find his way to Arthur's mind and heart and change everything he once believed in. He reached toward Merlin from his bedside where he sat, and caressed the back of his fingers on the rose-stained cheeks and whispered, like Merlin was the only one meant to hear the next words, "Oh, Merlin, wake up now. I need help. You see, I'm so much in love with one idiotic manservant of mine…" and with a slight smirk playing in his lips, he continued, "Also, my clothes need washing, my armor definitely needs polishing, and-" Arthur paused when he thought he felt Merlin shift. He watched, breathlessly and not moving even an inch. He started calling out for Gaius, who was just outside of the room.

Slowly Merlin's eyes fluttered open.

/

The first thing Merlin was aware enough to feel was a warm hand caressing his cheeks. He tried to move but found that he couldn't just yet. Then he thought he heard a voice in the background calling out to someone. Was the voice calling out to him? Then with great effort, his eyes slowly fluttered open to see Arthur's handsome face looking down at him with a slightly surprised expression. He still looked with those warm azure eyes that Merlin always secretly adored and smiled with those perfectly pouted lips. The first thing on Merlin's mind as he sighed contentedly was that yes, he had died and was now in his heaven (Although a lesser clothed Arthur is more preferred). He was lying there contentedly, enjoying the soft caresses of his version of Arthur (who was damn close to the real one, if he can say so himself…) when he thought he heard a knock on his door (did they have visitors in heaven too?) and he heard a familiar creaky voice say, "Is he awake, sire?"

Gaius?

GAIUS?

In his heaven?

Merlin's head whipped forward to look at the "fake" version of Gaius ready to demand his former guardian to leave him alone with Arthur. But as he did so, he felt a sharp pain run through his body as his eyes settled on the old physician standing by the door. There was something very wrong here. He was pretty sure that there would be no pain when you're in heaven, unless...

SON OF A BLOODY SORCERER!

He wasn't dead.

He was in fact, very much alive.

As quick as he could, he leaped off the bed like a cat would when pushed into a puddle of water.

"I'm sorry, Arthur! I mean, sire!" He stuttered as he tried to steady himself but in his tomato like state, he could not look the prince in the eyes and just stared back at the floor.

Arthur was too shocked at Merlin's sudden reaction that he just stared back at Merlin who now looked down as if the most interesting thing in the world was his dainty floor.

Gaius managed to complete some coherent thought after gaping like a goldfish for a full minute and he spoke, "Merlin, please, sit down, you're going to feel dizzy from suddenly standing up! You've been in bed for almost two days, boy."

And in that very moment, Merlin did start to feel as though everything just started spinning and his legs started to feel very wobbly. Gaius was immediately on his left side and Arthur on the right before he face-planted on the floor. He was ushered back into his bed before everything turned black again.

"What just happened?" Arthur said after positioning the again unconscious Merlin comfortably in his bed.

"I'm sure he was just too surprised. He probably doesn't remember much. I'm sure the second time that he wakes up, he will be more coherent about everything."

"Okay. If you're certain."

"I am sire. Now, I'm sure it would be best if we let him rest."

"Gaius?" Arthur said as he started fidgeting, obviously thinking of how to properly ask the next question.

"Yes, sire?" Gaius was pretty sure he had an iota of an inkling of what the prince will be asking next but he decided to let Arthur say it himself.

"Do you think it would be alright if he… stayed with me? In my room, I mean." Arthur blurted.

"Well, I don't see anything wrong with that. As long as you promise that you can look after him carefully, then I guess we could do that. Besides, I still have to tend to many other sick people in Camelot." Gaius shrugged.

"Perfect. I'll transfer him myself. I promise I will look after him, Gaius." Arthur beamed as he moved to carry Merlin to his chambers.

/

Arthur was tucking Merlin comfortably in his bed when he heard someone knocking on his door. He walked quietly to the door and was surprised to see Morgana staring back at him with those deep, beautiful eyes of hers.

"I heard about the interesting and quite loud discussion you had with Uther this morning."

"Why am I not surprised to hear that?" Arthur said, a bit of defensiveness edging in his voice which Morgana was able to recognize right away. With a sigh she said,

"It's not what you think, Arthur. I am not your enemy here."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Uther was wrong to do that to you and to say those things about Merlin. He is definitely unique. Also, I can see how deeply you care for this man. How deeply you're in love with him."

Damn! How on earth could she have known that? Thinking that there was no point denying it, Arthur sighed softly and asked, "How?"

Morgana considered Arthur for a moment. She could see the slightly dark circles under his eyes and could sense how tensed his whole body was. Her heart just broke as she saw Arthur's broken state. She raised her hand and touched Arthur's face gently before she spoke, "Oh Arthur. I am not as blind and uncaring as you may think. This man has changed you so much in the short time that he's been here. At first I thought that finally you'll have a real friend that will not afraid to put you in your place. But you fought for him, Arthur. You've never done that for anybody else. That's how I knew it was way beyond friendship."

Morgana looked at Arthur once more and observed as Arthur now looked at Merlin's gracefully sprawled form, his eyes glazed full of love and longing.

"And I am glad that you were able to find that something special in Merlin. He is really, really…" Morgana paused as if to consider what word she'd use, "different, but in the best way possible. It's almost like you are one side of a coin, and he is the other." With a chuckle she kissed his cheek and said, "I'll leave you two alone now. You take good care of him. And don't worry about Uther. I'll try to talk some sense into him."

"Thank you, Morgana. I will never forget this."

She smiled one last time before she walked out of the room, leaving Arthur alone with Merlin once again.

Arthur went to his bed and wrapped his arms tightly around Merlin as he, too, succumbed to a dreamless slumber.

/

Merlin felt as consciousness slowly brought him out of his light slumber. He woke up to arms wrapped around him. He couldn't turn his head to the left where the sleeping form was, because the person's head was so close to his. He didn't really need to look to know who it was. The familiar warmth and the sweet smell of shampoo mixed with sweat are just things he knows well enough to know that it was Arthur. His face started heating up as the thought of Arthur being right there next to him began to sink in. He tried to wiggle his way out of the iron grip of the strong arms but he froze when he thought he heard a chuckle escape from the man next to him,

"You're not planning on running, are you Merlin?" Arthur asked with a voice, deep and hoarse from sleep.

"What? Oh, n-no I'm not. Uhm, no…" Merlin stammered quite embarrassingly.

"Good. Because I didn't go through all the trouble of rescuing you from that stupid Isle, carrying your unconscious arse all the way back here, waking Gaius up in an ungodly hour, and fighting with my father, just to have you run away from me." With that, he tightened his hold on Merlin even more as though the younger man really would run off at any moment.

After hearing those words, Merlin pushed hard at Arthur's arms to free himself and maneuvered his body so he was now lying on his side, facing Arthur, who now was also lying on his side as he leaned on his left elbow, and looked down at him with fond eyes.

"YOU saved me?" He asked with voice full of incredulity.

"Yes."

"You went to the Isle of the Blessed?"

"Yes."

"While you were still trying to recover?"

"Yes."

"Bloody hell! What in the world were you thinking, Arthur?" Merlin nearly yelled, his blue eyes now double in size.

"You."

"Well, just kill both of us then, why don't you? Do you have any idea how dangerous it was for you to go there? There, I was risking my life for you and you go ahead and risk yours! What were you- wait," Merlin suddenly paused and furrowed his eyebrows before he asked again, this time slowly and cautiously, "What did you say?"

A bark of laughter escaped Arthur before he said, "I said I was thinking of you, you idiot."

"Have you been on the cider?"

"No! I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You couldn't fight even if your life depended on it."

Merlin didn't respond and just punched Arthur playfully on the shoulder. After a few moments of silence, Arthur spoke again,

"You're wrong you know."

"What are you talking about?" Merlin asked, sincerely having no idea where Arthur was going with this conversation.

"Back at the Isle of the Blessed… you told Nimueh that your mother was the only one you've got."

"And?" Merlin asked, still clueless about the point of this conversation.

"Well, you've got Gaius, and… me." Arthur said with the last part as an almost mumble.

"Gaius and who?" Merlin was sure he heard what Arthur said, but he just wanted to hear it again.

"I said you've got me too." Arthur stammered.

"Are you in some sort of enchantment?"

Arthur smiled at that but his blue eyes were still as serious when he replied, "I mean it, Merlin. You do have me."

"You're just saying that because you pity me." Merlin said defensively, although fireworks were starting to blow in his insides.

"No. You've had me since the day you stood up against me."

Merlin just looked back with his mouth gaping.

For the first time since he met Arthur, Merlin was left speechless.

Arthur laughed softly before he placed his hands on Merlin's cheeks and turned so the younger man's blue eyes now gazed back at his own set of lighter blue orbs.

"And if I were under some enchantment, then I would gladly stay enchanted. Because I would rather know how it feels to love and be loved by someone beautiful and amazing as you than not having loved at all." And with that, he closed the remaining gap between them.

That day, Arthur finally came home; his home, his paradise, his haven, in the form of Merlin.

TBC...

End notes:

Please don't kill me, or at least think of doing so in your minds! I promise to post the next chapter soon! My evil side threatened to take away my muse if i didn't leave this chapter like this. Teehee. Some lovin' will be coming really soon! Still hungry for your reviews! Thank you!