Trust: Chapter Ten

Thanks to everyone that's reviewed! I'm sorry I'm updating so late (It's 8:54pm by my clock here in little, old Manchester) but I have suffered from Writer's Block, for about the hundredth time, all afternoon and couldn't put pen to paper, and when I did put pen to paper, it was pathetically pathetic, to be sure!

I noticed that our friend Mr. Stag from the first scene in the first chapter miraculously dissapeared, and because Arthur was a meanie and killed him, I have decided to dedicate this chapter to him. I have also named him Bob. RIP Bob *sniff*

On a happier note, anonymus review replies:

Andi - Thanks for your review! No problem, I don't mind, school totally steals me as well, but I usually spend all lesson writing so! I'm glad you're back though! :D And yay for Merlin! Also, yes, Uther suspects. I'll come back to that in one of the next few chapters! Thanks again x

Tohda - Thanks for your review! I can't believe you waited for me to update! I'm sorry I took so long, but I do update right after I've finished writing it! Thanks for the advice, I totally changed it :D My bad on missing that! Also, Uther was smiling because maybe he was feeling devious and evil about what he was about to talk to Gaius with, you know, being Uther, but I just saw it in my head as one of those so obviously fake, being the king so I have to be polite sort of smiles as he invited Gaius to lead the way. To lead Gaius into a false sense of security sort of. Anyways, hope I cleared it up! Thanks again x

Swirling his fourth cup of water around idly, Merlin watched as the clear liquid twisted and splashed to its hearts content. He pretended not to notice the prince watching him, his emerald eyes scanning the warlock, stopping occasionally and boring into Merlin's many bad spots. It made the young sorcerer uncomfortable. Not for the fact that he was an item on display in Arthur's mind, but for the fact that each time Arthur indentified an injury or a sunken, pale coloured patch of skin, the prince had to look away in shame before his eyes pulled themselves back to Merlin, refusing to leave the warlock alone. He hated that Arthur was beating himself up.

Sighing loudly, as this was Arthur, the prince turned away from Merlin, looking at the scarlet curtain drapes, but not seeing them. He had yet another choice to make. Although, this wasn't as drastic as a life or death choice, it still held as much importance to Arthur. Would – no – could he let Merlin go? The warlock should leave. For his own safety. Camelot was the last place a sorcerer should hide.

Merlin looked up to Arthur, his eyes curious, yet wrongly worried. He had no idea that the prince's thoughts were of him, yet again. Setting his goblet down, his walked, slowly getting steadier on his feet, to Arthur's side. He put a comforting hand on the blonde-haired boy's arm,

"Arthur?" he asked, his voice crushed and cracked. He cleared his throat, turning away as he did so, but the damage was already done. Like a light in the dark, the condition of the warlock's voice brought Arthur to his senses. Merlin had been through so much already.

"You saved my life, Merlin" said Arthur, pulling away from the warlock's touch and greeting him, face to face, "And for that, I owe you a debt. This is me repaying that debt".

Arthur could have just told the warlock he was going to be sentenced again. A rogue look of pain hit Merlin, before his dropped his eyes to the ground and nodded,

"Of course, sire" replied Merlin in a tone that he could have used with even his worse enemy, "and I believe I should say thank you in return".

"Merlin…" Arthur began, hating that the warlock was reacting this way. This was not what he wanted. But of course, Arthur caught himself, "I think you should leave Camelot. I may not be able to protect you twice. Tonight if you can".

Merlin only nodded, and without another word. He turned away to walk.

A thousand thoughts hit the prince in less than a second. Each one screaming the same thing. What was Arthur thinking? That was the second wrong choice in the one week. Perhaps someone should stop him from making anymore major decisions, because he would undoubtedly make the wrong one. Although, he would change his mind at the last minute.

Throwing his arm out to the side, bracing it against the wall, Arthur stopped Merlin where he stood, almost brushing against his chest. The warlock hit the prince's arm, his eyes still to the ground. He looked up, surprise filtering across his face. Using his other arm, Arthur pushed Merlin against the wall by his shoulder. Bouncing forward slightly before settling, the warlock had hardly clocked on to what the prince was doing until he did it.

Pushing his lips onto Merlin's, Arthur closed his eyes. The warlock, however, was looking at Arthur's lids with wide eyes, shock still in his system. Yet, after a moment, Merlin let his own eyes flutter shut and he kissed Arthur back. The prince felt the warmth on his own face as blood rushed to Merlin's cheeks, the warlock blushing deeply.

As soon as Arthur felt Merlin react, he let go of the warlock's shoulder, and instead, his arm made its own way down the length of Merlin's arm until it found his hand, and, with little effort, Arthur tangled his fingers between Merlin's, pushing both their hands up against the wall.

A tornado of emotion rushed up from a deep, dark cell in the back of both their minds. A whirlwind of affection and insane passion. Of lust. Of love. Such words hold meaning that did not pay justice to this storm of colour and texture that span around their minds while their lips connected them. When the space between them was no longer there, it seemed as if everything became so much clearer.

Arthur saw the truth in everything. He saw how wrong he was. The greatest mistake he'd every made. He saw how foolish he was, how very stupid. It seemed he only saw right in his sea of wrong when Merlin was his guide.

Merlin saw a boy, lost in the dark. His future so bright, so full, so much that the boy feared it. He saw how alone this boy was. And Merlin's only thought was how he needed to save this boy. To help him. To guide him. Because sometimes, he couldn't make it on his own.

Pushing the boundaries of their newly found intimacy, Arthur let his spirit take over, not thinking about what he was doing, and letting himself melt into Merlin. And in return, the warlock raised his free hand and twisted it into Arthur's hair on the nape of his neck.

Control and power reined Arthur like the elements and life did the Earth, yet, as he kissed Merlin, he felt so unsure. Nerves tackled his system, biting at his mind and churning his stomach as if it were sand on a beach. He might have sworn he was shaking if not for the fact he didn't care anymore. Where as, like a reflection, Merlin took charge. He gripped Arthur's hand tighter.

And just like that, it was over.

Truthfully, it only lasted less then a minute, but to both of them, it felt like a lifetime of built up ecstasy erupted in a fountain of bliss. Panting, they both put their foreheads together, eyes still closed. Yet, a smile was present on Merlin's face, something so absent for so long. Hands still entwined and heads still touching, Arthur muttered so quickly, Merlin barely caught half of it,

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I made a mistake, and it almost cost your life. I never wanted anything like that to happen. Merlin, I know you'll never forgive me. You were right. You never should have trusted me, and you still shouldn't. Even when I know what I want, I refuse to accept it. You should stay away from me. But I fear I couldn't let you. Not that I'd stop you if you went. You can go, don't think you can't. But I-I do want you to stay-"

"Shut up, Arthur" murmured Merlin and Arthur opened his eyes to see the warlock smiling gently at him.

Confusion finally penetrated Merlin. Arthur has betrayed Merlin. He had almost cost him his life. And it would be difficult for the warlock to trust Arthur again, especially since he'd lost faith in the prince. But Arthur always came through in the end. Maybe, time would heal everything. Maybe, some day, Merlin could fully forgive Arthur. Forgive, but never forget.

"I'm sorry" whispered Arthur and Merlin sighed with his eyes, curing the prince of all sorrow and pain in one glance. Arthur needed Merlin, maybe more then the warlock knew.

"I know" replied Merlin simply, pushing his lips back to the prince's, two souls merging as one.

…………………………………………………..

The Lady Morgana walked along the corridor, with all the grace of an angel, her dress brushing the floor and her waves of onyx hairs bouncing slightly with every step. Her maidservant, Gwen was at her heels, her eyes to the ground. Neither woman spoke, but held slight, unsuccessfully hidden smiles on their lips. The reason for these smiles was the events of the day. Merlin had been saved.

As they approached the very door behind which Merlin had been taken by Arthur, as seen by all onlookers, staff and nobles alike, yet no one had dared enter. The King and his son were some of the only people in Camelot that were feared by all. All except Morgana. She had grown up with both of them, and both of them were men in boots to big in her opinion. However, perhaps Arthur's boots had shrunken in recent times.

"Actually, Gwen, I think it best if you wait out here" said Morgana out of the blue, stopping the maidservant in her tracks. Gwen nodded, smiling to the seer and replied,

"Of course, my lady" as she stepped to the side of the hallway in case anyone wanted to pass that way before Morgana returned. Smiling crookedly, something only Morgana could do it seemed, the king's ward walked into the room without knocking.

She froze in her tracks, her eyes widening in shock and her mouth setting securely in a gawp so wide it was unlady-like. Her hand was still on the door handle, and her feet still in the doorway.

The sight that caused her to paralyze mind-step was that of Merlin, pushed against the wall, his fingers entwined in Arthur's hair while the blonde prince gripped his hand, both of them kissing each other with a gentle passion.

As if Morgana had cleared her throat, both boys opened their eyes at the same instant, and both their gazes trailed quickly back to the seer. Arthur, like someone had just shocked him with an electrical pulse, jumped half away across the room from Merlin, ripping his hand out the warlock, who was still against the wall, looking flustered and terrified at the same time.

Merlin's hand slowly dropped back to his side as Morgana's mouth closed and she had to bite her lip to stop herself falling into a fit of hysterical laughter at the sight of a messy-haired, deep violet faced Arthur from a suppressed blush. Merlin on the other hand was painted scarlet from the tips of his ears down to his cheekbones.

A silence lingered between the three of them, both boys looking at Morgana, waiting for judgement. Arthur opened his mouth once or twice to explain, but he found no words. Merlin on the other hand, dropped his gaze to the floor. Laughing with her eyes, the seer thought, how many laws are these two planning on breaking?

As her teeth resurfaced from the skin of her lip, Morgana's face burst into a huge grin and she rolled her eyes,

"Well," she said, the only gesture missing was her hands on her hips, "It's about time!"

Merlin and Arthur exchanged a confused glance,

"What?" asked Arthur, Morgana's reaction being the last he expected. She shook her head,

"Oh" she said with a devious smile as she stepped back out the doorway and into the corridor, "Never mind…" and pulling the handle with her, she shut the door behind her, leaving a startled and dazed pair of idiots, who were, in her opinion, so obviously in love. They must have been the only two people in Camelot who didn't see the sparks fly.

Grinning at a frowning Gwen, she merely muttered,

"They're rather…occupied at the moment Gwen. But, don't worry. Merlin isn't going anywhere" as she walked past her maidservant, beaming to herself. Gwen looked at the seer from behind, her head tilted and her eyebrows raised. What had just happened?

Turning the corner, Morgana grin suddenly dropped for a look of confusion, which quickly turned to one of shock.

A/N: Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! Oh, cliffie! :D

I'm awful at kissing scenes, as well as fighting, so maybe I flowered it? Went a bit over the top? Or maybe I didn't go into it enough? This is my first official slash fic, since I've only ever done one slash one-shot and I could hardly call it popular... If I've officially mauled this story, my apologies.

If anyone picked up on the line 'Sometimes he couldn't make it on his own', you will notice it is from the song , 'Sometimes you can't always make it on your own' by U2, and I actually did a Merthur fanvideo for YouTube using that song so yay! If you did make the connection, I love you!

Arthur apologising and pouring his heart out. Hmmm... Very out of character, I know. But, he's a changed man! I can do that and still be content it went okay-ish.

You may have noticed I'm not one for using colours in my descriptions (Thank you Miss Peavoy!) so I use a lot of stones such as emerald, topaz, sapphire ect, becuz they is shiny!

Review please x