Wooo! Last chapter! Thank you all so much for reading/the lovely reviews :D. Changed the rating to T for this chapter, just in case :p
Probably going to start writing a Merlin highschool AU after this (which I will try to make more original than the usual cliché story lines, but I can't promise anything. Actually, despite my efforts, it probably will be cliché, but cliché is cool.) It's a potential fail but I think I'll give it a go. Anyway, no more babbling, here's the story, enjoy!
The two ran along the castle corridors, giggling. Arthur was slightly ahead, glancing back every once in a while to make sure Merlin was still following him. Morgana smiled as she watched them run by her without even noticing she was standing there. They were probably trying to keep their relationship secret, but for Morgana, the relationship the prince and his manservant were in was pretty obvious, what with all the looks and slight touches they gave each other it was at least obvious that they longed for each other.
Morgana cringed as she watched Merlin in mid-fall from behind. He had somehow managed to trip on his own feet and she had been about to step forward to help him when she heard Arthur squawk, running back immediately to Merlin who was now on the ground. The kings ward was amused as she watched Arthur pick up his manservant, eyes wide and inspecting for damage.
"Are you hurt? Does anything feel numb? Do I need to fetch Gaius? Oh my god, what if you've bro –" Arthur's frantic analysis was interrupted by Merlins light laughter.
"I'm fine, not hurt at all Arthur. I just tripped, that's all" Merlin grinned as he dusted himself off, "Wouldn't want you to overreact and go crazy again."
Arthur pouted , it wasn't his fault he was always had temporary delusion whenever Merlin got hurt.
"Come on, let's go." Laughed Merlin as he watch Arthur pout. He was about to run forward when he felt Arthur's hand slip into his, abruptly pulling him back. Puzzled, Merlin looked at his hand intertwined with Arthurs and then raised an eyebrow at the prince.
"You want to hold hands while running?"
"Well I'm not going to have you fall and hurt yourself again."
Merlin blushed and the two started running again.
Morgana shook her head with a small smile on her face, they were most likely sneaking out to the forest again. She remembered about a week ago when Arthur had walked into breakfast unusually happy, a smile seemed to be permanently plastered on his face. Even Uther had noticed his sons apparent joy, asking Morgana quietly why his son was so happy and if he had forgotten something important. Morgana replied with a short shrug. She had her sneaking suspicions and they were confirmed as she watched Arthurs smile grow, if possible, even wider than before as Merlin entered the dining room, crossing immediately over to where Gwen, and generally servants, stood. She made a point to watch Arthur even more closely and was shortly rewarded when she saw the prince mouth an "I love you" to Merlin who was now standing alone due to the fact that Gwen was now over at the table refilling Morgana's goblet. Curious as to what she saw at breakfast, Morgana, with the help of a now informed Gwen, moved to follow the two later on who made their way into the depths of the forest. The two girls had stood, watching from the safety of the various bushes around them. Gwen had her mouth open and Morgana just smirked. The kings ward proceeded to giggle quietly as Gwen murmured something along the lines of "Wow, I didn't know Merlin could kiss like that," and "They were slow in getting together but hell they move fast.". Deciding to give the two privacy and incase things advanced and they saw more than necessary, Morgana and Gwen quickly made their way back to the castle.
----
Morgana and Gwen were not the only two that had noticed. Gaius was grumbling, rubbing away the sleep in his eye and attempting to finish concocting a new remedy he had recently invented. He was happy for Merlin and Arthur, really, but did they really have to sneak out at night? And so loudly as well, muttered Gaius. It was also quite frustrating when Merlin coincidently always had to do something important at the times when he was meant to be helping Gaius. The latest excuse was that he had to go help Gwen with the cooking, which was obviously a lie because 1) Merlin is a terrible liar, 2) He is an equally terrible cook, and 3) Gaius could always spot some part of Arthur sticking out of some random hiding place outside the cottage. But all in all, the old physician decided that he was happy for the pair, sleep or no sleep.
----
The two boys walked slowly back to the castle from their two person "hunting trip" in the forest. Merlin was busy arranging his neckerchief to hide the love bites along his neck, courtesy of Arthur. The warlock frowned, brow furrowed as he tried his best to hide the forming marks.
"You know you're lucky I have more self control or you'd have to start wearing a neckerchief." He muttered.
Arthur had been about to retort jokingly, asking if the reason Merlin had always worn neckerchiefs before was to hide love bites from other people, but stopped as he realised there was a possibility that it could be true and he certainly didn't want to hear about other people touching his Merlin. Growling with the thought in his mind, Arthur leant forward and bit down high on Merlins neck, sucking hard.
"Mine!" he growled as Merlins shock slowly turned into a moan of pleasure.
"And now people will know you belong to someone because you can't possibly hide that with your neckerchief."
Grinning and quite proud of his clever little plan, the prince practically pranced to his room.
Merlin grinned, "Obsessive prat."
----
Merlin sat waiting in Arthurs room, having finished his chores over an hour ago and was now fiddling with the hem of his shirt. He was waiting for Arthur to return from a particularly long family dinner with Uther and Morgana. Tapping his foot impatiently, Merlin stood up and began pacing around the room. Suddenly remembering he still had to tidy Arthurs wardrobe, Merlin quickly walked towards it, eager to have something to do while waiting. Before Arthur had tried to lessen the chores he gave Merlin, even offering to hire another servant to do his chores for him, but Merlin had stubbornly refused. He was Arthurs manservant and he would stay manservant no matter if they were in a relationship or not. Arthur had gone ahead anyway, giving Merlin less and less to do and instead piling them on random servants who had the misfortune to have been wandering in Arthurs field of vision. Eventually the young warlock had realised and made Arthur promise him that he wouldn't make other servants do his chores. Reluctantly the prince had agreed, but then Merlin noticed he was starting to get less chores again. Realising that he had finished all his work an hour or two earlier than usual again, Merlin went to find Arthur, expecting to find him giving away his chores to some unlucky servant but instead was met with the sight of the prince failing miserably to do laundry. Touched, Merlin had laughed softly, grinning as Arthur turned around in surprise.
"Arthur, what are you doing, I'm the manservant remember?"
"I want to help," Arthur said, blushing slightly in the process.
With a smile that took away Arthurs breath, Merlin took the dirty shirt that Arthur was holding and started to wash it properly.
"This is my job Arthur, not yours."
Pouting, Arthur slowly gave Merlin the rest of the laundry though he didn't want to, but his hands were hurting and he absolutely hated doing laundry.
Dropping the now clean shirt, Merlin surprised Arthur with a kiss.
"Thank you for wanting to help." And with a goofy grin, Merlin went back to cleaning to various dirty garments.
Arthur watched Merlin and decided that a single "Hi," from Merlin would have been worth the trouble of laundry.
----
Smiling from the memory of the laundry incident, Merlin snapped his head towards the door where he was sure he heard a noise behind.
As Arthur entered the room, Merlin bounded towards him, flinging his arms around his neck and kissing him. Arthur laughed, his manservant was adorable and desirable as ever. Every time Arthur entered his room after being away from his manservant, Merlin was always waiting, running up to him like an excited puppy, and each time Arthur had been equally excited to meet his manservant, returning the kisses in a fit of passion. However, Merlin was always extra excited whenever Arthur came back from a banquet, it helped that the prince always brought him back dessert, it seemed Merlin had an insatiable sweet tooth. Arthur pulled the hidden crème brulee out from behind his back, today's dessert was Merlins favourite. Merlin clapped his hands excitedly, watching the dessert with hungry eyes and a goofy grin. Arthur swooned momentarily, then gathered himself and laughed, he could have some fun with this. As Merlin reached for the plate a little to eagerly, Arthur pulled it away. Frowning, Merlin followed the plate running in circles around Arthur and jumping up high to reach it as the prince continued to move the dessert just out of his manservants reach.
Merlin pouted, "Not fair Arthur, you're quicker than me."
Almost giving the crème brulee to Merlin, after all, how could he keep it away from his manservant after the incredibly cute face he pulled, but gathered himself yet again and shook his head.
"You're addicted Merlin. I bet I could make you do anything for this."
Merlin frowned, but other than that made no move to prove Arthur wrong.
"Want it?" Said Arthur chirpily, holding the plate in front on Merlin.
"Uhuh!" nodded Merlin enthusiastically.
Arthur laughed, "Kiss me first" said Arthur with tone that said I-told-you-you-would-do-anything
Frowning once again, Merlin turned to his side, crossing his arms.
"You're a prat. If I have to kiss you for it then I don't want it, I can survive without it."
Arthur sniggered, this would be fun.
"If you say so then Merlin."
Slowly eating the crème brulee, Arthur watched amused as Merlin fidgeted, obviously fighting the urge to give up. Half-way through the small dessert, Arthur grinned as Merlin started stepping from foot to foot, occasionally eyeing the dessert. Arthur smirked, he could tell Merlin was about to break and give in. Picking up his manservants favourite part, the glazed strawberry covered in icing sugar at the top, Arthur held it dangerously close to his lips. Arthur failed to suppress a chuckle as he saw Merlins eyes go big, his body and head fully facing Arthur now, not even trying in the slightest to be discreet. Arthur laughed, Merlin was so darn adorable when it came to these things, popping the entire strawberry in his mouth, Arthur was amused to hear a funny sort a squeal escape his manservant.
"Don't eat it!"
Bounding forward, Merlin pressed his mouth against Arthurs, trying desperately to rescue his beloved strawberry. Managing to finally take it with his tongue, Merlin pulled away to eat it, smiling triumphantly, his tongue peeking out slightly afterwards. Leaning towards Arthur, Merlin kissed him multiple times, pausing in between each kiss to lick his lips.
Arthur laughed at his manservants odd behaviour and impossible cuteness.
"What are you doing, I thought you didn't want to kiss me because I was a prat."
Merlin pouted, "You taste like crème brulee, doesn't count."
Grinning, the two continued kissing, eventually ending up on Arthurs bed.
----
Half way into the night, Merlin sat up suddenly, frantically trying to make his way out of Arthur's bed. Stirring from the movement, Arthur grudgingly opened his eyes.
"Merlin, what are you doing?"
"I just realised you never finished the crème brulee." Replied Merlin as he rushed over to the half eaten dessert sitting quite alone on a table.
Chuckling, Arthur got up and wrapped his hands around his manservant's waist,
"I love you." He whispered
"Love you too." Merlin replied, stopping his devouring of the crème brulee momentarily to kiss Arthur on the cheek.
End! :D Yay, Hope you enjoyed it!
