There was tension in the air, as usual, as Merlin walked in that morning. The Queen was throwing things, as she readied herself to leave that morning. It's what she did everyday, her and her husband would argue, and she would storm off, and not show up again until dinner time. Merlin nor Arthur have any idea where she goes off to, Merlin assumes the town, or on patrol's with her brother. Elyan had confirmed this a few times before. But even so, Arthur was facing the window, looking thoughtful, and irritated. Merlin didn't say a word as he placed the food for two, on the table. He didn't know why he even brought Gwen's food up anymore, she never ate it, she never ate breakfast with Arthur, it was rare they ate dinner together. They normally fought and Gwen would insist she's 'just going to bed.'

Merlin assumed she was getting food during the day, or else she was starving herself. This had been going on for months, ever since they had that massive fight about Lancelot. All Merlin knew, was this was supposed to be a time of peace, as rumors were going around that Morgana had been captured by some far off king, and for a time of peace; there was very little of that happening. Camelot was hectic as ever, only now, from within. (Again.) Gwen left the room and Arthur let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging. His strong resolve quickly fading away.

"What was it this time?" Merlin asked, Arthur didn't turn around, he stayed, looking out the window.

"Is there any point in asking?" Arthur replied, looking back, over his shoulder at Merlin. Whom, approached him. Merlin came and stood next to him, eying him. "It's always the same. I am a terrible husband, I don't know how to love properly. I was raised like a savage..."

"Well, for a savage...you're kind of cute," Merlin said, with a small smile. Arthur raised an eyebrow and looked over at him, Merlin's smile grew and he pressed two of his own fingers to his lips. Arthur seemed to get the message and his own smile formed on his lips. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to Merlin's lips, and yes...that's what he had wanted. He pulled back and motioned toward the table. "Are you hungry?"

"No," Arthur told him, but headed toward the table anyway. He sat and Merlin came and stood next to him. "Sit," and Merlin did. Watching Arthur only pick at his food. "I just wonder..."

"Wonder how to eat?" Merlin countered, even though he knew Arthur was talking about something else now. But Merlin wanted him to eat, either way. "You just pick it up and put it-"

"Shut up?" Arthur retorted, and Merlin nodded, with a smile. "I wonder, if I am a fool for keeping this going only for my kingdom."

Merlin's smile turned into a frown. "I don't know..."

"I am tired of living like this, Merlin," Arthur swallowed, picking up a piece of bread and looked over it, disgusted. "I dred waking up in the morning, knowing I am waking up to her."

"A lot of royal's have separate chambers," Merlin suggested. "Maybe try that?"

"I already suggested it, she told me she is not allowing me to bring whores into our marriage bed," Arthur rolled his eyes. "Because of course I would, right?"

"No," Merlin muttered, looking down at his hands. "How would you...go about it then?"

"I don't know," Arthur shrugged. "I would give her a spot of land and tell her to go away."

"I'm not sure it would be that easy..."

"Probably not," Arthur agreed, shoving the bread into his mouth. "I just can't see this getting better. Do you?"

"I don't know..."

"You don't know much, Merlin..." Arthur trailed off. "I need you to be honest with me. Do you think my marriage is over?"

Merlin sighed. "Please don't make me answer that, Arthur..."

Arthur looked down, at his food and pushed it away. "I suppose that is my answer." His hand trailed over to Merlin's on the table and overlapped his. "Will you go somewhere with me today?"

"I go everywhere with you as it is, do you really need to ask?"

"I suppose not."

Arthur's great idea was to go out and look for a bit of land he might give to Gwen, whilst he complained about her the whole time. Merlin didn't know what he excepted, with the way Arthur had looked at him before they had left, he was almost expecting something romantic, but he should have known better. This was Arthur, what was he really expecting?

They stopped off for a bit of water, as it reached midday and Merlin let the horses drink while Arthur leaned his hand against a tree and looked around the area. He had been in a bad mood all day, and no form of joking or bickering seemed to help, and it always did. Merlin didn't know what else to do with him. He knew Gwen was hurting him terribly, and he could do nothing to change it, but in the meantime, when they were not together, Merlin couldn't stand seeing Arthur so hurt.

In a heat of the moment sort of idea, Merlin leaned down and clapped his hands over the water and the slash flew and slapped across Arthur's back. Arthur went stiff and Merlin stood, with a sly smile on his lips.

"What the hell was that?" Arthur asked, with a stone cold face, though Merlin could see the corners of his lips fighting a smile.

"It was the horse..." Merlin trailed off, face breaking out into a full smile, he couldn't help it. "I don't think she likes you much."

"Oh, is that so?" Arthur came toward him. "I suppose that proposes quite the problem..."

Merlin flinched as Arthur jumped forward, but he didn't touch him, only slapped his own hand into the water and suddenly, Merlin was all wet. "Now that wasn't fair, what did I do?"

"The horse, Merlin?" Arthur slashed him again, and again.

"Alright..." a mouth full of water, Merlin spit. "I'm sorry?"

"You are not," Arthur stood and reached for Merlin, but he wiggled out of Arthur's grip. "Get back here!" Merlin shook his head and ran toward the trees, Arthur ran after him. Merlin could here him laughing from behind him, and he supposed his plan, half-baked as it was, had worked. "Merlin!"

Merlin slipped through the trees and headed back toward the shore, where the horses still stood, by the water. But Merlin really wasn't paying attention to where he was going, and he tripped, over a uprooted root and landed on the ground, with a huff. No more than ten seconds later, however, he huffed again, as Arthur landed on top of him. Though, Arthur had done it on purpose.

"Arthur...get off," Merlin said, and Arthur didn't listen, Merlin fought and wiggled until he was on his back and Arthur looked down at him with a raised eyebrow. "Don't make me hurt you, my lord."

"Oh...?" Arthur smirked, keenly, reaching between them and yanked off Merlin's neckerchief, using it to dry Merlin's damp hair. Arthur was pretty wet too, it seems the slashes were not only hitting Merlin. Arthur's entire front was wet. "Perhaps if you had any muscle, I would be more intimidated."

"Would you like that?" Merlin asked, batting his eyelashes and Arthur smirked and leaned forward until their lips touched. Merlin kissed him deeply, distracting him, only to then flip them over and hold The King's arms above his head. "Do you like this too?"

"Maybe..." Arthur retorted, Merlin leaned forward and pressed his lips onto Arthur's neck, and he lifted his chin up. "Actually...yes, I do." Merlin laughed at that, and continued to kiss him there. But soon Merlin wanted more than that, he grew bold and reckless all at once, and his lips trailed down, passed the other's collarbone. Merlin licked the patch of skin that Arthur's white, puffy tunic didn't cover, and the man let out a gasp. "Merlin..."

Merlin smiled, against Arthur's skin, and yanked at the ends of the shirt until he forced it off and threw it to the side. He kissed down the center of Arthur's chest.

"Merlin..." Arthur said again, in a rough voice. And maybe Merlin liked that a little bit, alright...he defiantly did, a lot. He kissed down passed his ribs, to his naval. "Merlin!" Arthur basically shouted. "We can't...make love. That's going too far, kissing is...enough, as it is."

All action's stopped, he froze and suddenly, his face was heating up. He looked up and shook his head. "No...no, I wasn't...I was just-" he stopped, he leaned on his forearms and pouted at Arthur, who, despite what he just said, smiled at Merlin. "I know we can't."

"Good," Arthur said, hands coming up and resting on Merlin's back. "It's not fair to Guinevere."

"She doesn't deserve it, half the time," Merlin muttered, letting his hands slip over Arthur's chest, he looked up and Arthur didn't tell him otherwise, so he kept doing it. He knew Arthur liked it, anyway.

"My father cheated on my mother, even though they were perfectly happy together," Arthur explained. "I refuse to do the same, Merlin."

"Yeah, I know...the only thing is," Merlin said, in a teasing voice, as he leaned in and pressed his lips to Arthur's jaw. "You're not going to get a baby out of me."


(A/N: The baby thing is far shadowing. You will see in the next chapter, which will be quite a bit of jump from the time frame of this chapter, It will now be that Arthur and Gwen have been married for whole year now, and are working on the second. I figure their anniversary is somewhere at the end of Spring, early summer. So they had only been married a three or four, maybe possibly five, months before all the fighting began, and Merlin and Arthur, have been doing...whatever it is that is for about five months, starting in the next chapter. If any of that makes sense, it does in my head. Oh well, hope you , I didn't have time to edit this as best as I could, let me know if there is any mess ups.)