CHAPTER 13 : TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

When Merlin returned, Arthur was seated by the fire, talking to Sir Claude and Leon. He stopped as Merlin walked in and stood up, saying, "We can go down stairs now."

Leon asked, "So how did the rabbits go over?"

"Gaius already had one on the spit." Arthur looked quizzically and raised his eyebrows so Merlin continued, "He was called away, something to do with a squire…then he had to visit a knight. So he said he'd let me know tomorrow how they were." Arthur nodded slightly.

"Well," continued Leon, "They should be good as they were certainly fresh." He turned to Arthur and said, "What's on our menu tonight, rabbit?"

Arthur shrugged, "Hopefully, some pork! That was a nice sized boar, the huntsman got yesterday. A couple more like that, we'll have plenty to last us till the end of the month."

The three of them walked downstairs chatting about Claude's proposed trip to France. Merlin followed, he had often wondered if the ground in France felt the same as the ground in Camelot. He'd have to check with Claude as he had been born there.

The meal was set up in the small dining hall and about ten knights were present. Squires were everywhere but Merlin served Arthur and also Sir Leon who sat beside him. It was braised pork with root vegetables. Merlin thought, 'Well, at least Arthur would be in a good frame of mind when he returned to their chambers.' He felt a shiver go though him, he wasn't as sure of himself as he had been last night and again this morning. He was keeping an eye on Arthur as he seemed to be drinking heavily.

Gawaine was egging him on but then Gawaine soaked up alcohol like a sponge with no ill effects. Arthur would get tipsy and actually become quite amusing however, if he drank too much he turned quiet and morose. Hoping to avoid that, Merlin only half filled his goblet but he was brought up short by a voice saying, "Eyesight not up to what it used to be Merlin! Save yourself the trouble of returning, fill it to the brim!" So, he filled the goblet three quarters full.

Knights started drifting back to their chambers and Arthur was still drinking. Finally, Gawaine said, "Arthur, Merlin is almost asleep on his feet and he can't leave until you do. Go to bed! I'll see you at training if the field isn't too muddy."

Arthur went to shove himself away from the table so Merlin moved his chair so he could stand more easily. It looked as if it was going to be a 'but, Merlin, I'm feeling great' night but first they had to negotiate the stairs and the corridors with out any mishaps.

Merlin had to laugh as Arthur decided that if he was awake, so everyone else should be and wanted to knock on all the doors in the corridor. Merlin kept him in control until they were on the royal floor and he quite happily tapped on every door in sight. None of the chambers were occupied and at least it kept him moving along. He reached the end of the corridor and then seemed disoriented. Merlin smiled to himself as in banging on doors, he had passed their chamber without going in.

"Where did our door go, Merlin?

"I think we passed it."

"Why didn't you answer the door when I knocked? You're not a very good servant you know…"

Merlin turned him around and guided him to the correct chambers. Once inside he said, "I'm sleeping with you tonight, Merlin…"and headed a little unsteadily to the manservant's room off the antechamber.

"But, Arthur, I think you would be better in your own bed, it's bigger and very comfortable."

"But I want to sleep with you…" Arthur said and pouted like a spoilt child.

"Well, let's go and sit by the fire and discuss this further." Merlin got him into his royal bedchamber and left him sitting by the fire rambling on about ruins, snow and sleeping with someone.

Merlin drew back the covers and laid out Arthur's night attire. He'd be lucky to get him out of his clothes let alone into something else. He knelt before him and got off his boots but it was difficult as Arthur kept stroking his hair and running his hands down his neck. He stood up and eased one arm out of his doublet and by walking around the chair was able to pull the rest of it off with little effort.

When he tried to unlace the top of his tunic, Arthur wanted to hold onto his hands so in the end he gave up. Looking at his trousers, he thought, 'To hell with it! He can sleep in those as well."

Standing up, he stood in front of Arthur, encouraging him to stand as well. After a few tries, they were coordinated enough to accomplish it. Merlin sighed; a few steps to the bed and he would let him sit down and swing his legs…but he was caught off guard as Arthur leant into him and kissed him. Not the gentle kiss of the morning but a more demanding one. It sent shudders through Merlin. He smiled to himself and realised, 'This was kissing…'

Merlin decided that it wasn't at all unpleasant but Arthur was leaning into him too much and he had visions of overbalancing and the two of them crashing into the fireplace. He managed to disengage his lips and said, "Arthur why don't we sit on the bed?" That seemed to do the trick as he was able to manoeuvre him onto the bed.

"Sleep with me…Merlin." Arthur pleaded and although Merlin's head was yelling yes, his mind told him no. Whatever was going to happen would be better if Arthur wasn't drunk.

"Arthur, you have had a lot to drink. I want you to have a large glass of water and lie down for a while."

"With you?"

"Yes…" Merlin lied. He got up to get the water but by the time he had returned, Arthur had slipped onto his side fast asleep, so Merlin just swung his legs onto the bed and tucked the covers loosely around him. He banked the fire and filled the large water kettles for the morning. He then blew out the candles leaving one lit on the stand beside the bed and one in the water closet with the door open should Arthur need to get up during the night.

He turned and looked at him lying there and walking back his pushed the hair off his forehead, placing a little kiss there saying, very quietly. "Goodnight, Arthur Sire, I'll see you in the morning." To be safe, he left the bed chamber door wide open as he did his own little chamber door so that should Arthur need anything, he smiled as he thought, 'Anyone…' he would be able to hear him.

He undressed and slipped between the cold sheets. He realised he missed having a warm body beside him and he fell asleep.

He awoke with a start as a body slipped into bed beside him. He knew there was no use arguing, so he just let the fully clothed Arthur snuggle against him. He loved him, he knew he did and together they would learn all about loving someone besides yourself. He knew he wasn't going to sleep but in no time, to Arthur's regular breathing he felt himself falling asleep.

-0-O-0-

He awoke to Arthur's snoring, each snore punctuated by a soft whistle. He wanted to giggle but he knew that he'd wake him. He could see daylight coming from Arthur's bed chamber so he decided he should try to get up without disturbing Sleeping Beauty whom he knew would have a headache once he opened his eyes. He turned his head and looked at him and his heart melted. He looked so innocent, with not a care in the world, deserving of all the protection which he, Merlin could afford him.

Merlin thought, 'I love you, Arthur, so much but I'm scared that this whole love thing will come tumbling down. I'm scared for you more than I'm scared for myself.' He thought of the prisoners whom Gaius had visited. He had not had a chance to tell Arthur what Gaius had said before they went to supper and afterwards, it would have been breath wasted.

Like a contortionist, he got his feet on the floor and managed to edge his upper body away from Arthur making sure that he put the covers back against him so that the cold empty space wouldn't wake him.

He needn't have worried. Arthur was still fast asleep when Gaius came by much later with a headache remedy having dealt with Sir Claude earlier. Merlin had unlocked and then relocked the door as he let Gaius in and naturally, Gaius had gone into the main bed chamber.

"Has he already left?"

"No, he's still asleep…"

Gaius glanced at the bed and said, "Well, where did you leave him overnight?"

Merlin blushed, "He's in my little chamber. He started out in here but half way through the night he joined me. I didn't invite him, Gaius, but I couldn't turn him away."

Gaius spun on his heel and went to find the prince. Arthur was lying flat out on Merlin's bed, fully clothed and still dead to the world. Gaius started to laugh and covered his mouth, going back into the other chamber. "Merlin, how will you explain this to anyone who comes in to see him."

"I'll just make sure the door is closed so no one will see...!"

"…or think of looking for him in there…" said Gaius with a smile.

Gaius sat by the fire talking quietly to Merlin. He had seen both of the prisoners and assured Galen that he was not in any trouble regardless of what the king had said. Sir Bryan was furious about the whole thing but Gaius assured him that they would be released before the end of the day.

Merlin ears picked up noise from the antechamber and a tousled haired Arthur appeared in the doorway, "Merlin, where did you go?"

"I'm here, Arthur! You have a visitor." The look on Arthur's face was priceless; his obvious first thought had been that it was the king but then when he saw the long grey hair he smiled.

"Gaius, I need your help, I have a headache."

"Not surprising, young man, and why is it that your bed has hardly been slept in?"

Merlin tried to keep a straight face.

Arthur panicked, looking at Merlin and mouthed, "Help!"

…and Gaius laughed.