Okay, I'm taunting you now with the beginning of this chapter, drawing out the wait. I just wanted to do this update before I got down to some serious revision! You should be very happy.
Btw, some of you seemed unhappy as to how Merlin reacted last chapter and I was wondering were you just cross at the character in the story or at me for writing it like that? Did you think it OOC? Cos I mean, I think Merlin has a right to be angry and not listen, to be honest.
Peter wasn't really sure what to do. He was sitting in his master's chambers wrapped in the Prince's own blanket but Arthur himself wasn't even there. There was a horrible feeling of being an intruder in the pit of his stomach. However, he was reluctant to leave. Arthur's bedroom had become almost a second home to him, a safe haven from all things bad in the world – namely Uther.
When he had arrived at the Castle of Camelot he was full of the dreams and aspirations of a naïve village boy, believing he was about to join a legendary household. He had joked with his young friends back home about how he would meet the Great King Uther and persuade him to take him on as a knight where he would battle with Prince Arthur and save the kingdom.
He'd been ecstatic when he had been promoted from his lowly job as messenger boy to Arthur's personal manservant. However, he did feel slightly bad because Merlin had always been the Prince's servant as long as he could remember and the two of them looked to be great friends. Observing them he often felt jealous at their close bond – he believed they would die for one another. It seemed though, that Merlin had moved on. That's why the job offer was open.
On his first night on the job, he found himself summoned from the servant's quarters by the King himself. Thinking that maybe he had been selected for some special task – hopefully including knights and swordplay – Peter had hurried along. When he found out the task Uther wanted him to do he was shocked and appalled. Never before had he touched another man's penis, he hadn't even been with a girl, but sucking the King off. It made him feel sick just thinking about it.
Then Arthur had found out. Peter had been stunned at how livid he was when; trembling with pain and fatigue, his manservant had finally admitted what Uther was doing to him. Somehow though, the Prince didn't seem surprised by his father's bedroom antics. He was still furious, especially when he discovered Peter's age. The disbelief and horror on Arthur's face was still burned onto the young boy's memory. His words too:
"Twelve? You're twelve?! Oh my god, this is getting too much. He's a sick, twisted, dirty old man! First Mer…..then you! How many other boys is he going to use?" Peter didn't miss the slip of the tongue – he was a quick child.
Peter was eternally grateful to the young prince for helping him after those long and awful nights. He didn't think he would have survived had Arthur not been there to comfort him. It was strange, when he thought of coming to Camelot, he hadn't even thought of actually getting to meet Prince Arthur, let alone coming into his room every night. If the situation wasn't so dire then he would have already been sending letters back to his friend boasting of his relationship with the Prince. They were even on first name terms.
He still didn't know what to do though, alone in the bedroom, did he leave and risk being caught out late at night in the castle or did he stay here and await Arthur's return? Would he ever return? When he had run after Merlin, Peter wasn't sure he was coming back. Unfortunately, it seemed the decision was out of his hands because just then the door opened. King Uther stood in the entrance to his son's bedroom with a peculiar expression on his face.
"What are you doing here, boy?" he finally said. Peter stared at him with wide, scared eyes.
"I-I…." How could he say that every night he'd been coming to Uther's son for comfort and reassurance? Would that get Arthur into trouble? Luckily, the King's brain seemed to be working on a different path to his because suddenly his eyes glinted with amused knowing.
"Ah, so he's throwing insults at me when he's actually doing exactly the same thing behind my back. The sly little snake." Peter reckoned Uther was talking more to himself than him. Although the boy knew what the King was implying he didn't say anything for fear of getting Arthur into trouble. "Well, where is Prince Arthur, boy?"
"Er…."
"Er….what?"
"I don't know, my lord, he left quite awhile ago. I'm waiting for him to return."
"Oh, right," Uther nodded, weighing things up in his head. This was working out better than he'd planned. His son was completely absence. Perfect.
When he had bumped into Arthur earlier in the corridor he'd not really been coming to tell his son to be quiet. He'd actually been sneaking up to his son's chambers to see whether he was asleep in bed or not. If he was then he could carry out his plan in peace. Once he'd checked on the prince he would then carry straight onto the physician's quarters where he would find the boy, Merlin. The King was so desperate for Gaius' ward's touch that he had stretched himself to these lengths.
"I will leave now, if Prince Arthur returns you will tell him nothing of my visit. You understand?"
"Yes, your majesty." The child replied earnestly. He just looked relieved that Uther had asked nothing more of him.
The King turned on his heel and left with a sweep of his cloak.
Merlin stared for a moment - stunned. The crumpled body of his master lay at the foot of the tree completely motionless. What had he done? With a small whimper of terror, the young manservant hurried over to where his friend was sprawled. Crashing to his knees beside Arthur, Merlin touched him gently, hoping to rouse a response. He hadn't meant to launch the prince across the clearing. Looking back he wasn't even sure why he punched Arthur in the first place. As he gazed forlornly down at the unconscious man it was hard to be angry with him at all. What if he died from something Merlin had done? What would he do then?!
"Merlin?" the voice was quiet and confused. Arthur blinked his eyes dazedly and looked up at his servant who was leaning over him. Then, with some effort, he sat up, trying to ignore the blazing fire in his nose and the back of his head in favour of the comfortably warm heat of Merlin's hands on his shoulder and chest. "What the hell happened?"
"I….punched you," the dark haired boy stated.
"I realised that," Arthur said, subconsciously reaching up to feel how battered his face was. The damage wasn't too bad, he just had a nosebleed. Considering how far he flew across the clearing he would've expected more (well he hadn't inspected the back of his head yet, that could be in worse shape). Still, he couldn't believe that Merlin could pack such a punch.
"I'm sorry." It was strange, Arthur thought as he stared into the guilty face of his friend. This was his normal Merlin, kind and caring, not the one who had been shouting at him just a few minutes earlier. He liked having the normal Merlin back, maybe that meant he was on the long road to forgiveness.
"I guess I deserved it," the prince admitted, "I mean, I just kind of sprang that on you didn't I?"
"Just a bit."
"But Merlin, you have to believe me when I say that I never intended to use you and I never did anything with Peter – that boy in my chambers. In your place, Uther had been abusing him too. I was comforting him."
Merlin was silent. His expression pensive.
"I do…love you. I didn't realise before, I just thought you were an annoying servant that I cared too much for. Father always said don't get to attached to servants and I see why he said that now. However, I realised over these past through days just how much I would do for you. I would fight my own father, the King, to make sure you were safe."
Still Merlin made no reply. Arthur wasn't even sure if he'd registered the words.
"Merlin, I know my father hurt you in ways unimaginable and I didn't even realise what was going on; you had to suffer in silence, but I know now and I won't let it happen again. I promise. I love you too much for that."
Silence.
"You know, I never had you down as the mushy type." Merlin's tone was amused.
