The plot bunnies are at it again... ;-)

The next morning Merlin mucked out Arthur's stables in a better mood than usual when faced with piles of horse dung. There was no regret to what had happened. On both their parts.

After Arthur had recovered, he had got up to find water and a cloth and he had cleaned them both up. Merlin had tried to insist that he should do it, but it had not happened. He had then expected to be ejected from the bed and sent home, but instead Arthur had rolled him over and snuggled against his back, wrapping an arm around him.

It was in the morning he had been pushed out. But not before he had been woken by Arthur's mouth licking and sucking the back of his neck. When that had failed to rouse him - it had instead made Merlin bury himself deeper into the sheets - he had been nipped hard. It was followed up by the covers being pushed aside and Arthur's hand coming down on his backside.

"Get up you lazy little lump!" Arthur had yelled. Merlin had jerked awake and looked into Arthur's grinning face.

It was a far better awakening than Gaius yelling and throwing things at his bedroom door. Arthur had shooed him off to get breakfast and sent Merlin off with some bread and cheese and a list of chores.

The stables always took him ages, and he stunk afterwards. Merlin got the feeling he might not be going anywhere near Arthur tonight. He thought that Arthur perhaps saw last night as a one off. Merlin couldn't believe he had done it. It was his first sexual experience, and as much as Arthur could be a prat, he never was when it mattered. He had been so gentle and caring, and all of it had been pleasurable. Even the mild ache Merlin still had held some delight to it.

"There he is."

Merlin looked up at two knights, Sir Breunor and Sir Caradoc. They stood in the doorway of the stable, side by side, regarding him carefully. Merlin blinked, straightening up from where he had been poking around the straw with the pitchfork.

"Can I help you?" Merlin asked, after a moment. Neither man moved, they just carried on staring at him. Merlin stirred his feet restlessly in the straw and added.

"Arthur is in the training ground if you wanted him."

The two men glanced at each other. Merlin's eyes darted from one to the other. They didn't speak but something looked to be exchanged between the two men. Then they turned back to Merlin.

"We know, it's you we want," Caradoc said, stepping forward, and Breunor followed. Merlin took a step back.

"What for?" Merlin blurted out, taking a second step back as they advanced on him.

"Are you sharing the prince's bed?" Caradoc asked flatly. Even Breunor seemed to blink at the directness of the question. Merlin hesitated.

"I wouldn't say sharing," Merlin said, unsure of how to answer that. Should he be or shouldn't he? He suddenly didn't know, faced with an abrupt interrogation.

"Is he using you?" Breunor asked, rephrasing the question as they stepped forward again, backing Merlin up, deeper into the stable and away from the exit.

"Yes," Merlin said hesitantly. It was true enough, even if it had only happened once, so far. Merlin had wondered about more, but he thought that Arthur might assume his curiosity had been satisfied. But Merlin was really starting to consider the obligation he apparently had and that Arthur had protected him from. His answer was truthful in other ways, he mucked out the horses, cleaned clothes, scrubbed Arthur's chambers. It was fair to say Arthur made very good use of him. Only deep down, he knew this was not what these two men were referring to.

"I don't believe you," Caradoc said. The two knights carried on advancing. Merlin backed up into the far wall, hitting it with a jerk.

"Shouldn't you ask Arthur?" Merlin asked.

He tried to look for a way out but there wasn't one. The two men flanked him and Merlin looked for some subtle way to use magic. Then he yelped as Caradoc grabbed him by the throat, shoving the material of his neckerchief out of the way.

"I'm not asking the prince, I'm asking you. Why were you not there for Arthur's testing?"

"Arthur didn't want me to be!" It was true enough. He hadn't.

"Why?"

"He thought it might disturb me, plus Gaius would be there."

Merlin yelped as Caradoc spun him round and shoved him face first against the wall. He felt a hand pull on the material around his neck, dragging it down and a hand brushed over the mark that Arthur had made this morning. One of the knights gave a huff. Merlin guessed Caradoc as his voice followed.

"Hold him," the knight ordered.

Merlin felt Breunor grip his shoulder, clenching his fist against his clothes and he pressed his forearm over Merlin's shoulders, pinning him to the wall. By sheer reflex, Merlin pushed back, trying to resist. He ended up slammed against the wall, banging his forehead. It dazed him, and he turned his head. He felt the rough wall press against his cheek. Merlin blinked. His head was turned so he could just about see Breunor's dark hair, his red clad shoulder and lingering presence. Merlin couldn't locate Caradoc by sight, but he sensed him as he crouched down and Merlin jumped as he felt the knight's hands on the waistband of his trousers.

"I don't understand, My Lords!"

Merlin stammered and then yelped as his trousers were untied and yanked down, the material sliding down to his ankles. Caradoc's hands moved between his legs, pushing them apart. Merlin could only open his legs so far, the material banded around his ankles prevented him spreading out properly.

"You don't need to," Caradoc told him.

"But I… please don't… what are you doing?" Merlin stammered frantically. He could work out enough especially as he felt Caradoc's fingers start to ease his cheeks apart, probing for his opening. Then Caradoc lifted his shirt a little, pressing into the flesh of his backside, where Arthur had smacked him this morning. Merlin flinched and wriggled making Breunor press harder on him.

"Get on with it," Breunor snapped at his comrade.

"The council want to make sure," Caradoc said. Merlin tensed. There wasn't anything in his line of sight that could help him. All he could see was the wall of the stable and out of the corner of his eye Breunor's broad shoulder. He couldn't interpret the sounds happening behind him, until he felt Caradoc's skin against his own, he had taken his glove off to probe between Merlin's cheeks. Merlin tensed his buttocks and shifted away, not far but he managed to elude the probing fingers. Caradoc's arm pressed against his backside, holding him in place as he tried again. This time Merlin wouldn't be able to stop him. He didn't know if the previous night would help him at all. It was a split second before he was violated that he heard the most welcome sound in the world. Arthur's voice.

"What the hell is going on?"

Merlin heard Caradoc's growl of irritation, Arthur probably didn't. but there was no way the knight could disrespectfully carry on with what he was doing, he had to respond to the prince. Merlin closed his eyes and sagged a fraction as Caradoc's hands retreated and he stood up and turned around to confront Arthur. The knight did, however, indicate to Breunor that he should keep Merlin where he was. Merlin didn't argue, Arthur was there, and he didn't sound happy.

"The council voiced some concerns over your servant."

"In which case they should have brought them to me," Arthur said. "Merlin is my responsibility, and take your hands off him."

"The council saw no reason to go through you regarding this matter," Caradoc said.

Merlin listened carefully. There was silence for a moment, and then the gentle sound of straw stirring. Arthur's voice was closer this time, as he said one word, ignoring what Caradoc was saying and presumably addressing Breunor.

"Now."

Hearing that tone, Merlin tensed again. That was Arthur's threatening tone, the one that even Merlin didn't dare answer back to. If he heard that, he just did as he was told, as swiftly as possible. Arthur didn't make use of it very often, and it was, Merlin guessed, an imitation of Uther's voice tweaked to make it sound like Arthur wasn't copying his father. When he did use it, people responded, and this time was no exception. Breunor let him go and threw him into the straw. Merlin didn't care, as he shifted away he scrabbled for his trousers, getting them up over his knees then his thighs. He shuffled back, not caring if he encountered anything disgusting in the straw, although thankfully he didn't. Arthur glanced down at him, but half keeping an eye on the two knights.

"Are you all right, Merlin?"

Merlin nodded, and then paused. He was alright now Arthur was here and the two knights had let him go. A second later, Merlin changed his mind and shook his head, the situation was not all right, especially if the knights had decided they could just start assaulting him. Merlin put his head down and concentrated on fastening his trousers. As he fumbled badly he realised his hands were shaking, and taking a deep breath he forced himself to concentrate.

"And since when do you obey the orders of the council?" Arthur asked. Caradoc straightened up.

"My father is a member of the council. The concerns were brought to the king, and he advocated the inspection."

Merlin froze, risking a very timid glance up. He looked in Arthur's direction, and kept his head down, peering up from under his brow. Arthur's jaw was tense, his arms folded across his chest, his entire body braced as he glared at the two men. The flush on his cheeks from training was fading.

"And what exactly were you looking for?" Arthur asked stonily.

"Evidence that he has been penetrated," Caradoc said, as if it was obvious. Arthur looked furious. Caradoc glared back. "There is no point discussing the matter with him, Merlin will say whatever he needs to protect himself, and you."

There was just a very, tiny flickering of surprise in Arthur's eyes. Merlin noticed it, but he guessed that the other knights wouldn't.

"And why would either of us need protecting. What I do to, and with, Merlin is no-ones business but ours."

"It was unusual for him to be absent from your testing." Caradoc rolled the last word around his mouth, like he was tasting it. Arthur's flush slowly started to creep back. Merlin wondered if this was less about their concerns and more about the fact Arthur not using him would leave him open to other advances.

"I believe I explained that. Not that it is any concern of yours," Arthur snarled.

"The council asked us to investigate the matter."

"In which case, I will take my concerns of the handling of this matter to the king, and the council."

Arthur turned, and backed up, flanking Merlin and leaving the route to the door clear for the knights to take. The hint was obvious, but Arthur made it even more so.

"Now, get out!"

Merlin stayed sat in the straw, hiding behind Arthur. With no other recourse but to retreat the two knights left and once they were gone Arthur turned and crouched down, taking Merlin's shoulders.

"Merlin?"

"I'm okay, that was good timing."

Arthur smiled. "Just lucky, they didn't do anything, did they?"

"No, very lucky timing."

"Didn't they speak to you first?"

"Not really, they just asked if you were using me. I said yes, it's technically true," Merlin said. Arthur frowned but didn't get a chance to answer as he was interrupted.

"Merlin? Oh!" Gaius appeared in the doorway, halting as he saw Arthur. Arthur stood up, pulling Merlin with him.

"I take it word is spreading."

"I overheard the council talking to Uther. Have they?"

"No, I got here just in time, by sheer accident. I need to find out what's going on. Merlin, go with Gaius, stay in your room and Gaius, don't let anyone in there. Lock the door if you have to, and tell them it's on my command."

"What about the stables?"

Arthur glared at Merlin. "Merlin, for heavens sake! Just do as you are told."

Merlin blinked, and took a sharp breath as he realised something. Arthur was worried.