Arthur held his breath, keeping his eye on Merlin. That didn't tell him definitively exactly what Kay had proof of, but considering his earlier opinion the comment seemed positive enough.

"Quite," Uther announced, still keeping hold of Merlin's leg. Arthur was vaguely aware of Merlin rubbing his leg against Uther's hip and stomach, the action caused Uther's hand to move up Merlin's thigh, and Merlin jerked again. The prince guessed Merlin wasn't entirely aware of who was around him. Leaning forward he looked down at Merlin's flushed face, his eyes closed, but he was relaxed, and probably a little overwhelmed by the sensations he was receiving. It was only the second time he had experienced anything like that.

"Are you convinced Sir Kay?" Arthur heard one of the council members ask.

"Very," Kay announced turning to the lingering council members. Arthur tried to ignore them. It was bad enough when he had to perform for them. For most of Arthur's life he had somebody watching and analyzing his behaviour, in everything he did. This had to be worse for Merlin, servants were not there to be noticed, they were just there to do a job.

"There is no doubt he had been penetrated," Kay concluded.

Arthur glared as two of them stepped forward, moving around to the end of the table to stare at Merlin. Merlin must have heard, or sensed them, his eyes started to flicker open. Arthur moved his hand from Merlin's hair and put it over his eyes. Merlin gave a disgruntled murmur.

"It's all right Merlin," Arthur said gently. He rubbed his other hand over Merlin's concealed erection, it made him move his hips and further shockwaves of pleasure completely distracted him. He still moved his head to try and shift Arthur's hand.

"Just keep your eyes closed Merlin."

Merlin's next murmur was one of agreement. He guessed what was going on, and he probably didn't want to look at whoever was staring at him. Arthur felt a surge of anger as he watched the two men regard Merlin carefully.

"He seems very responsive," one commented.

"He usually is," Arthur snarled. He was getting sick of people just staring at Merlin. It was one of the reasons that he had never exercised his physical right over him in the first place. Merlin was coping with it now, but his reactions proved Arthur's instinctive feelings. He couldn't remember Merlin ever crying, or giving such a significant reaction. And Arthur was starting to stir with a feeling that he wanted this all to himself. As one of the council members reached out, their hand going between Merlin's legs, Arthur moved, he slid his hand down to protect Merlin, realising the man was going to take hold of the wand.

"What are you doing?" Arthur's voice lowered dangerously. "You're not touching him."

The prince watched the man turn to Uther for help. Very carefully, Uther released Merlin's leg, but kept the hand on his ankle. Kay had taken his other leg, rather worried about what might happen if Merlin lost his balance.

"He seems very comfortable with the application of the wand."

"Merlin is," Arthur replied. "He likes it."

"You use it on him regularly."

"Yes."

"There is no need for such an action."

"No, but it's fun," Arthur told him. "I like watching him, and I think he deserves some privacy."

Arthur looked around the room, he's had quite enough, but he couldn't move Merlin and get him out of the room. Not in the position and state he was in at the moment.

"I agree," the king announced, carefully releasing Merlin. "The evidence you required has been supplied, Arthur should be left to deal with Merlin."

Kay's assenting nod left the rest of the group with no option. Arthur watched them go gratefully, his father giving him a curt nod before he followed the others now. Arthur exhaled as the door closed behind them. He turned his full attention back to Merlin, sprawled on the table and he moved his hand from Merlin's eyes.

"Merlin?"

It took several seconds for Merlin to open his eyes. His pupils were dilated, his cheeks a deep red and he was panting gently. Arthur watched Merlin's eyes rove around, head turning to look at the room.

"They've gone?"

"We've proved the point."

"I'm glad we got away with that," Merlin commented. Then his eyes rolled in his head and he moaned as his hips slid on the pillow and the wand moved inside him again. "Correct me if I'm wrong," he eventually gasped. "But was your father stroking my leg."

"A little bit," Arthur confessed. Merlin giggled and then gasped again. "Merlin, I need to get this thing out of you.

Merlin nodded his head, gasping again as Arthur moved to the end of the table and pushed aside the material over Merlin's groin, and his hands. He probed between Merlin's legs, taking the shaft of the wand carefully and drawing it down. Fluid started to leak from Merlin's erection. Merlin shifted, pushing downwards to try and keep the wand inside him. Arthur placed his other hand on Merlin's navel, pressing down to keep him still.

"Stop it Merlin," Arthur ordered as he felt Merlin's hips rock. Merlin gave a whine. "I'm going to take it out, and then I will deal with you."

Merlin went still, but he gasped and moaned as Arthur withdrew the thick, heavy wand from Merlin. He spread Merlin's cheeks to check that no damage had been done to him. The hole was still slightly opened, Arthur expected that, he was just glad Merlin hadn't been hurt. That was another risk. Merlin exhaled heavily, slowly getting his breathing under control. Arthur reached for him, putting his hands on the cushion under Merlin's hips to draw him down the table. His feet slid off the end of the table and Merlin lifted his head.

It dropped back dramatically as Arthur leant over him and licked Merlin's erection from base to tip, in a rather impulsive gesture. He ran his tongue around the head, tasting the salty fluid weeping from the tip. There was a loud thud as Merlin's head connected with the table, and his moan of pleasure was also an 'ow!'. Arthur laughed and licked again, carefully taking Merlin into his mouth sucking gently. Merlin's hips thrust upwards and Arthur took a little more into his mouth.

He felt shocked by his own behaviour. Arthur had never done anything like it before. Taking Merlin's hips firmly, he controlled the desperate thrusts so he could take his time with what he was doing. He had certainly received it, but never given it. Some of the servants had often helped relieve his tension and while they did Arthur was aware that they saw it as a duty. There was no trust involved in the action. In a way he had felt pleased when he could give up that pretence and let another pretence take over. He could let them all think that Merlin was doing the same thing for him and he didn't need to go back to them.

Arthur knew they gossiped, about which knights did what. He did not want his actions and needs analysed, so he had kept it simple. That didn't leave him well versed in what he was doing. Arthur could pleasure himself, others could do it for him and it was nothing more than a job. Merlin, last night, had made it something else. Arthur had watched while Merlin had enjoyed what was done to him.

He drew his head back a little as Merlin thrust again, fighting his grip. By instinct Arthur dug his teeth in, which made Merlin moan even further. Arthur gripped him that way and ran his tongue around the tip of Merlin's erection, and he listened to how Merlin reacted. It was clearly favourable and shifting position slightly, Arthur used his bodyweight to force Merlin's hips down and he regained control of what he was doing, wanting to explore the new sensations.

Arthur could do it now, because Merlin would never tell anyone what occurred. He could trust Merlin to keep it between the pair of them, which was probably why Merlin was expected to do it in the first place. That one simple thought had never occurred to Arthur, it probably wouldn't even occur to Merlin to gossip about it. Merlin had his trust.

He felt his throat tighten as Merlin gave another thrust he couldn't hold and he came, shooting into Arthur's mouth, hitting the back of his throat and making him gag. By reflex he started to swallow and he tensed his shoulders, gripping Merlin hard and he slammed him back down onto the table. Arthur jerked his head up and the last few spurts sprayed across Merlin's exposed stomach. Arthur became aware of Merlin writhing on the table, gasping and panting. Glancing up he could see Merlin's ribcage raising and falling in a fast, but steady, rhythm.

Merlin lifted his head again as he heard Arthur coughing, and he was rubbing the bridge of his nose, the burning affecting his throat and nasal passages.

"Are you all right?" Merlin asked sounding more than a little dazed.

Arthur nodded but he continued to rub his nose with his knuckles, before answering in a rough voice.

"Yeah, that just took me by surprise."

"Did it?"

"It doesn't often happen that way round," Arthur said, eventually looking up, blinking as his eyes watered. "I'm normally on the receiving end. Actually I'm always on the receiving end."

"Why?" Merlin asked in utter innocence.

"Because I…" Arthur paused, suddenly unable to put what he wanted to say into words. Merlin waited, staring at Arthur steadily, looking very flushed, and un-judgemental.

"Because I don't need any more people talking about me, more than they already do. Servants are supposed to service me, not the other way round."

Arthur glared as Merlin grinned.

"I suppose I can trust you, you idiot," Arthur snapped.

"Course you can, clot-pole."

Arthur snorted with laughter, almost choking as he brought something up into the back of his throat. He got his own back on a grinning Merlin by spitting it onto his exposed navel.

"Urgh, Arthur!"

"Oh, shut up, Merlin."