A/n: this is the next night! JUST SO YOU KNOW! (I skipped the day)
"Merlin, sit down." Henry patted the chair grinning.
"I. I. I can't. That's your chair." Merlin pointed at it shaking his head. Henry pushed him into it, then handed him the utensils.
"You said you would do anything I asked." Henry leaned over, "Did you not mean it?"
Merlin looked at him shaking his head, "I meant it. It's just, I don't understand why."
"I feel bad that I could not help you with your chores." He sighed standing up, " Arthur is quiet strange when it comes to you."
Merlin chuckled lightly, attempting to hide the smile that came over him.
"Its true," Henry smiled, "all the others say so. They think it's because he likes you." Merlin's eyes snapped towards Henry. He wondered why the long lost family member had brought it up.
"Do you believe that?" Merlin looked down, "As Arthur says, 'you shouldn't believe what the servants tell you.'" Henry chuckled hearing Merlin's imitation of Arthur.
"I hope you two don't make fun of me like that!" Henry leaned against the wall, "You're quite talented Merlin!"
Merlin laughed, "Thank you"
Henry shook his head, "I wouldn't say it if it weren't true." He moved across the room. "So tell me, how does my cousin treat you when no one else is around"
Merlin looked at the food, memories of Arthur hitting him, throwing things at him flooded his head. "Worse than he does in public" he whispered.
Henry turned confused to the servant, ready to question him but stopping at the sight of Merlin's obviously hurt face.
"Not all the time. I mean, sometimes we have these great times. He'll laugh with me. Or confide something in me. Sometimes" Merlin tried to chuckle away the tears that flooded to his eyes, "We understand each other so well, We don't even need to say anything to know what the other is thinking" Henry walked toward Merlin, knowing what he felt and wanting to experience the same thing.
"But, most of the time, I'm just a slave to him. Someone he can take his anger out on. Someone who doesn't feel. Who couldn't understand his pain or pressure. Someone, who doesn't matter. A disposable, useless servant." Merlin grabbed the knife and began cutting the meat.
"I'm not Arthur," Henry moved closer to Merlin, "eat up Merlin."
In the hall way
Morgana watched from the slight crack in the door, as Merlin spoke about Arthur. No nobleman would be so kind to Merlin unless he intended on something more than just talking. Smirking, she headed towards Arthur's room. What would he think about his cousin falling in love with his servant and Merlin clearly being in love with him?
Henry's room
"What does it taste like?" Henry stood across from the table, watching Merlin eating his dinner. He'd managed to steal him away as Arthur was changing. Of course, Arthur did not notice, he never noticed, something Henry would use against him.
"It tastes great!" Merlin smiled, setting the fork down, "But I shouldn't be eating your dinner." He stood and stepped out of the large chair, motioning Henry to sit in it.
"Well if it'll make you smile, eat it." Henry walked up to the servant, "I'll eat your dinner."
Merlin smiled confused, "Why? You don't even know me. Arthur would never-" Merlin stopped, Henry had his fingers on his lips.
"There are a lot of things my cousin wouldn't do." Henry moved closer to Merlin, "Good thing, I'm not him."
Merlin froze, his heart beating faster and faster. He couldn't help being attracted to Henry, he did everything Arthur refused to. They both looked the same, only Henry was slightly more attractive. Henry moved his hand to the back of Merlin's neck, moving closer to him. Something inside him wanted to kiss the servant, something wanted more.
"Merlin," Henry moved closer to him feeling the servant shutter at his name.
Merlin gulped, he didn't know Henry. Henry was not Arthur, what would Arthur say if he walked in? He looked into the light blue eyes before his, hypnotized by their loving stare. He put his hands on Henry's shoulders, ready to push him away. Henry, wrapped his free arm around Merlin, pressing him against his chest. Their forehead's touched, Henry moved in towards Merlin's slightly parted lips. Merlin saw Arthur, not Henry, before him.
"Henry, Uther sent me other to bring you more sheets." Gwen walked in, looking up to see Merlin sitting in Henry's chair and Henry by the window. Merlin kept his head down, hoping Gwen would not see the reddish pink blush covering his cheeks.
"Thank you Gwen," Henry smiled and moved toward her, "Would you like to eat some bread? I'm not hungry and Merlin's getting full."
Gwen looked between the two, already figuring out what had happened. After all, how could Merlin resist Henry after the way Arthur treats him?
"No thank you. Merlin, I believe Guise was looking for you." Gwen smiled politely, bowed her head and walked out. Merlin stood quickly, avoiding Henry.
"I have to go." He walked out the room and shut the door behind him. Arthur was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed as he watched Merlin.
"It seems," Merlin's head snapped towards the blond, Arthur stood straight, "That you've developed a fancy for my cousin."
"Arthur." Merlin whispered, his heart sped up quickly, the image of Arthur holding him the way Henry had flashed in his head. Their kiss in the tent.
Arthur stepped towards his servant, "Morgana was right."
"What. What are you talking about? I was just," Henry walked out of the room, causing Merlin to become silent.
"Arthur," Henry looked at Merlin then at the blond, "Merlin here just fix my bed. I can't imagine why you think he's useless. After all, he's very good with his hands." Henry grinned putting his arm around Merlin, knowing Arthur would be angered by the comment.
Arthur clenched his fists; he would attack Henry, if Merlin were not standing next to him.
"It. It was just a small plank." Merlin stated, realizing that it only made the situation sound differently. "The bed was missing one, I mean. I fixed it, then Henry asked me to eat his dinner and then Gwen came in and then I left after her." Merlin began speaking quickly and stopped to inhale.
Henry put his arm around the servant, "Calm down Merlin. Arthur's just angry that you and I are getting along very well." Arthur took a menacing step towards Henry.
"I don't know why he is." Merlin stepped towards the blond. He had no right to be angry, he treated Merlin like shit yet refused to let anyone else use him. "If you have a problem, call Cedric! Since he's such a better servant!" Merlin smiled, frowning as he pushed past the shocked prince.
Arthur turned towards him, feeling his chest cringe as he struggled to stand correctly. Henry smirked at the sight of his cousin suffering.
"I wondered why it was that you always did better when Merlin was cheering you on," Arthur turned to him.
"What?" he growled.
" I wonder if you'll be able to beat me tomorrow and win your place as the next King, while Merlin cheers for me. After all; Why would he cheer for someone who shows no emotional response towards him, when he could cheer for his lover?" Henry walked into his chambers, leaving Arthur stunned in the middle of the hallway.
"Merlin?" he held onto the furniture in the Hallway, unable to believe what his cousin had just told him.
I'm losing everything.