DISCLAIMER: I do not own BBC, Merlin, or any of its rights.
A.N./ Okay, maybe super long was an exaggeration but on my computer it says that this chapter is five pages long… so yeah. NOTE: READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER FOR UPDATE INFORMATION.
Arthur ate his dinner in silence. His father, the King, tried to start conversations about treaties and hunting, and even the weather, but Arthur only responded with monosyllabic answers and eventually Uther gave up. He didn't know what to say. He had no idea what had caused this cloud of malaise to settle over his prince – he was even worse than he had been earlier in the day. Uther noticed that his son had barely eaten anything. Arthur was simply pushing around his food with his fork.
"Arthur, you've hardly touched your food."
"Not hungry," the prince mumbled.
Uther shifted, slightly annoyed. "I cannot help you if you do not tell me what is wrong."
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"For goodness sake, Arthur! Stop behaving like a petulant child and tell me what's bothering you!"
Arthur glared at his father for a minute then stood, bowed, and began to leave.
"Where are you going Arthur, you haven't finished eating," Uther called out.
"I've lost my appetite," he replied without turning as he stalked back to his chambers.
Just as Arthur reached the hall that lead to his chambers, he spotted Merlin and Gwen having a secret conference with hushed words. He couldn't make out what they were saying because they were whispering, but they both seemed pleased with themselves. They leaned in closer conspiratorially and Gwen spotted Arthur who pretended that he hadn't been watching. Gwen said something to Merlin and then rushed past stopping to courtesy and say, "M'lord," before scurrying off. Arthur's gaze followed her as she left, glaring at her suspiciously. He looked to Merlin for an explanation but he simple stared back in mock innocence.
"Whatever," Arthur murmured rolling his eyes, "Is my bath ready Merlin?"
"Yes, sire," the manservant replied, opening the door for Arthur. His room was practically sparkling with cleanliness and next to his hearth was the bathtub, steaming hot and filled with bubbles. Merlin had done a great job, but Arthur would never admit it out loud.
"I trust my horses have been mucked out?"
"Why of course, sire."
Arthur looked Merlin up and down. He was definitely up to something. He never called Arthur 'sire' twice in a row unless he was up to something.
"What?" Merlin asked doughy eyed.
"Hmmph."
There was a knock on the door. Merlin looked as puzzled as Arthur did. Who could that be at this hour? Merlin opened the door to find one of the kitchen servants bearing a silver platter covered in foods.
The mousy man bowed and stated, "The King sends this incase Prince Arthur's appetite returns."
Merlin took it and shut the door on the servant then looked to Arthur in confusion. Arthur scoffed and said, "Just put it on the table, Merlin. You can have some if you'd like."
Merlin thought that Arthur must be in a good mood, he had never offered Merlin part of his meal before. As Arthur went behind his screen to undress Merlin selected a bright red and voluptuous strawberry and took a great big bite out of it.
"What was all that about?" Arthur called from out of sight.
"What was all what about?" Merlin asked with a mouthful of strawberry.
"You and Gwen, just now in the hallway."
Merlin panicked and said "nothing" a bit too quickly. They had actually been talking about the token. Gwen had used the gold ribbon as a border on the red velvet and made a white fur trim out of the rabbit pelt. It was beautiful and Merlin had been complimenting her.
Arthur stuck his head out from behind his screen to give Merlin and "Oh really?" look, then the rest of him emerged clad only in a towel.
"And in the courtyard, more nothing I presume?" Arthur asked with a touch of disdain. He tested the bath water with his hand and upon finding it to his satisfaction he dropped his towel and climbed into the tub.
"Are you, are you jealous?" Merlin asked bewildered but happy.
"What? Why would I be jealous?" Arthur asked, his heart racing.
Merlin began to set out Arthur's soaps and sponges. "I don't know," he said trying to be nonchalant, "Gwen is a lovely lady."
Arthur relaxed. "I suppose so."
"And beautiful," Merlin added.
"I'm sure she's everything you say and more, good for you Merlin," the prince replied curtly.
"Me? Oh no, not me. She has no interest in me, and I no interest in her."
"That so?" Arthur asked, curious.
Merlin finished his snack and thinking he had peaked Arthur's interest in Gwen, said happily, "I'll go fetch Myrtle." Myrtle was the maid that usually washed his royal highness – God forbid Arthur would have to wash himself!
"Myrtle's father has fallen ill and she's gone to the country side to care for him. You can wash me."
"Me?"
"Do you see anyone else here Merlin? Quit being such a baby."
Merlin grabbed a sponge and rolled up his sleeves. Arthur leaned back, resting the base of his head on the rim of the tub and closed his eyes. The warm water helped him release the knots and tension in his muscles and helped him clear his mind. Merlin dipped the sponge in the warm water and poured a bit of the fine scented oils Arthur had on top of it. Merlin hesitated before pressing the sponge to Arthur's chiseled abdomen. 'Just like washing the floor,' he thought to himself as he began scrubbing in a circular motion.
"Not so hard, Merlin! Are you trying to take off my skin?"
"Sorry," Merlin muttered and eased up on the pressure and speed of his circles. His eyes followed his hands as he washed Arthur's chest, neck, and arms—each part of his body seemed to be hand sculpted. He reminded Merlin of a statue, the planes of his body were so solid. Arthur was truly a masterfully crafted piece of artwork. Arthur had a peaceful smile on his face that Merlin had never seen before. It was beautiful. Arthur looked like the sun. 'If he is the sun, then I must be the moon,' Merlin thought. They were so different and yet so very entwined. 'Our destinies lie together.'
"Lean forward so I can get your back."
Arthur obeyed in a childlike trance. Merlin could feel the powerful muscles ripple underneath the blonde's skin as he continued his pattern of small circles. Merlin longed to touch without the barrier of the sponge in his hand, to let his fingers reach out and trace the contours of the man beneath him.
"There, all done," Merlin stated trying (and probably failing) to make sure his voice didn't tremble.
Arthur shifted back to his original position. Merlin fetched the prince's night pants and picked up his towel off the floor, folded the two, and placed them next to the tub. Arthur sunk beneath the surface of the bath water for nearly half a minute and when he emerged, he stood and Merlin averted his eyes.
"Prude," the prince muttered.
While he thought Arthur wasn't looking, Merlin placed Gwen's token on the large oak table. Unfortunately Arthur didn't miss the movement. The prince pulled on his night pants and wandered over to the table and picked up the handkerchief.
"What's this?"
"What's what?"
"What's this!" Arthur demanded, practically shoving the cloth in Merlin's face.
"It looks like a handkerchief, sire."
There he went again with the sires!
"It wasn't here when I got here."
"Are you sure, sire?"
"Yes Merlin, I'm sure."
Merlin fidgeted uncomfortably and something clicked within Arthur. "Are you – are you trying to give me a token of your affection?"
"Wh-What? Me?" Well this was not going the way Merlin had hoped.
Something dangerous fluttered in Arthur as he approached his bewildered manservant. "You can tell me Merlin. I mean, nobody could really blame you, just look at me," he teased saucily.
"You're misunderstanding! Yes I put it on the table, but no, it's not from me! It's from Gwen!"
Arthur halted in his approach. He looked at the token. Neither Gwen, nor Merlin could afford a pre-made token, and Merlin would never be able construct something like the handkerchief in his hand. Plus, it would explain the courtyard, and the hallway, and Merlin's suspicious behavior.
"Oh."
For a second Arthur was sad, but that emotion was quickly replaced. He was embarrassed. Humiliated. How could he be so stupid? Why would Merlin give him a token? Stupid! Thank God Merlin was too thick to realize that Arthur had been flirting with him. If he had found out… if he had found out how Arthur felt, Merlin would be repulsed. He would run away and leave Arthur all alone. And it almost happened all because of Gwen. An angry red flush crept across his face, Arthur did not like having to face that part of himself and he certainly did not like being made a fool of, intentionally or not.
"Well," Arthur said shortly then slammed the cloth on the table startling Merlin, "You can tell Gwen that it is entirely inappropriate for a maidservant to give the prince a token. Furthermore, it is even less appropriate for her to get the prince's own servant to give it to him. You can tell Gwen that I could have both of your jobs for this. You can tell Gwen that I'd never wear something of such poor quality. Not only won't I wear it, but I won't accept it. And you can tell Gwen that the only reason I found out was because you are such a bumbling buffoon! Make sure you stress the part where it's all your fault, Merlin."
Arthur began to storm out of the room when Merlin called out to him, "You can't do this! Gwen spent all her money on that! She made it special, just for you!"
Arthur turned to face the other man, "Do not," he said with malice in his eyes and venom in his voice, "tell me, PRINCE of Camelot, what I can and cannot do." He resumed his exit, pausing to flip the tray of food so it scattered all over and landed with a loud 'clang' on the newly cleaned floor, creating a huge mess. As he left he called back, "And clean up this pigsty!"
Arthur didn't know where he was going, he couldn't go far in only his night pants, but he just had to get out of there. Maybe he'd just storm around the castle till the thought of Merlin potentially leaving him, being repulsed by him, stopped haunting the prince. At least until his eyes stopped stinging.
A.N./… And then that happened. Yay action! Anyways! About that update information I promised you: In case you did not read the author's note on the last chapter, tomorrow I'm going to be posting three or four chapters because they're all short. Why not condense them into one medium sized chapter? At this point I'm committed, stylistically, to this format and I don't want awkward page breaks to ruin the flow. Now that I have your attention! Please do not forget to review, it means a so much to me and I always reply (as long as you're logged in when you review.) Thanks guys!