A/N: If even ONE person lectures me on my use of the word 'ironic' bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, BAD things will happen. And believe me, I have my ways.

Sorry, I know that was scary. Anyway, the plot's coming together but the story sort of...wrote itself. And it seems to really want some more Aldwin/Merlin tension. Which is nice. I get really sick of stories where there is another love interest but it gets wrapped up all nice and clean with a 'You aren't my soulmate' moment. And the story seemed to be heading in that direction but that's not the kind of story I want to write. I want a lot of TENSION because that's more interesting.

Also, I didn't say this before but, you can't take this story too seriously. It's not a crack fic by any means but it's not To Kill a Mockingbird either. It's a fun story that does have drama and depth but you shouldn't expect everything to be really big and depressing and symbolic. I know I'm a little late in saying it but I've already got a few reviews where it seemed the reader was taking this story WAY too seriously.

Chapter 20; 'Back in My Day…We thought with our brains, not our genitalia.'

Flashback Before the Feast:

Merlin sighed as he laid next to Arthur, looking at the prince apprehensively. The blonde was laying stomach down on his bed, taking a small nap before they went to the feast.

"Arthur?" He asked, surprising himself with how hesitant his voice was considering their earlier activities.

"What, Merlin?" The prince mumbled from where his head pressed into his pillow.

The servant sighed and glanced around. It was amazing how out of place he felt, how tense he was. He'd been in this room a thousand times before but now he felt wrong, like he didn't belong amongst the prince and his things. "You never answered my question." He murmured.

The prince tensed beside him, body betraying his frustration. The room was quiet, silence echoing around his ears in an unnerving, deafening sort of way.

"Arthur-" He started.

"Merlin, leave it." Arthur said, shifting slightly before settling back in his bed, not even looking at him.

Merlin looked up at the ceiling, a deep hollow feeling curving in his chest. A few seconds of silence passed before Merlin couldn't take anymore. "We should get ready for the feast." He muttered, moving to get out of the bed. He felt slightly disappointed when Arthur didn't stop him.

"Wake me before the feast." The prince slurred from the mattress.

Merlin sighed, shaking his head. "It is before the feast." He snapped and a protest sounded from behind him.

He eventually managed to get the prince up and cooperating. He'd dressed him quickly, feeling awkward as his fingers grazed across skin, and everything continued normally. Well, the prince continued normally, if not a little bit tense.

"You're being awfully quiet." Arthur said, looking at him. Concern hovered just under the surface but, without being expressed, it didn't make Merlin feel any better.

"I suppose I'm just tired." He replied. He looked up and saw Arthur smirking at him. "Don't get cocky." He groused, concentrating on putting on the prince's jacket.

Arthur laughed and Merlin smiled, feeling a bit of the tension trickle away.

Flashback after the feast:

"Aldwin…Aldwin!" Merlin protested from behind the prince, yanking his hand out of the boy's grasp and staring at him in unease. "You can't just…You can't just drag me off whenever you feel like it! I have things to do! I should be at the feast." He said irritably, looking at Aldwin and pouting.

"I'd think you'd be used to being manhandled by now." Aldwin said, a slight edge to his voice.

"What?" Merlin asked, confused. Aldwin just frowned.

"I'm talking about Arthur. Does he ever treat you like an equal?" He asked, walking closer to Merlin and staring down at him seriously. "Because every time I see you together he's ordering you around, calling you names, yanking you all over the place like an object. He's never once addressed you with even an ounce of respect." Aldwin's tone became frustrated, brows forming an angry line on his forehead. "He just takes what he wants with no regard to how you feel…" He trailed off, heaving a sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. There was a long silence as Merlin stared up at him in surprise. "And so did I…" He muttered, looking up at Merlin guiltily.

It took a few seconds for Merlin to realize what he meant. His heart started to pound and he licked his lips, nervously. "Yes…" He finally acquiesced. "Yes, you did."

"Merlin, I'm so sorry." He said and Merlin stared at him. The boy looked so handsome, so genuine. "I care about you. For whatever reason, I care about you. I want you and I got so caught up in my own feelings that I didn't realize how it would make you feel." His voice sounded faint and he had a far a way look on his face. There was a slight pause before he shook his head and looked back at the brunette. "I love you." He said it quite suddenly and Merlin felt his stomach drop. Aldwin smiled at him, no expectation, no obligation written on his face.

Merlin felt weird. How could this boy say it so casually?

Merlin's heart beat even louder in his chest, ricocheting around. He felt his stomach broil and his breath come faster. There was something about Aldwin. Something so real and honest that, despite his actions, made Merlin feel…confused.

Honestly, he was so unsure lately. Everything had become weird. Nothing in Camelot made sense at all and he was beginning to feel claustrophobic, stuck, and incredibly stressed. He didn't feel like himself anymore and everything with Arthur felt wrong.

As the thought crossed him he realized, with a slight sense of shame, that he hadn't defended Arthur at all. Something he'd always done automatically in the past.

But, as he thought about it, Merlin found that Aldwin's words were correct. Arthur did treat him that way. And part of Merlin wanted to defend Arthur, to say that the boy didn't know how else to treat him and was, at heart, a good man. After all, the prince was kind, and fair, and would make a fantastic king. But Merlin found that his own self respect wouldn't allow him to.

Merlin wasn't used to hierarchy. He'd grown up in a small village where everyone knew each other and he'd never had to bow to anyone. They all grew as a community and lived as a community. Coming to Camelot had been a foreign enough experience but here he was, allowing himself to be treated in such a way by Arthur. It wasn't natural for him.

"Still, I behaved like a boor." Aldwin mused. There were several seconds of silence as Merlin stared at him, chest tight. "I'll make it up to you. Come to Cornwall with me." Aldwin suddenly suggested, looking at him hopefully.

"What?"

"Not romantically." He quickly stated at Merlin's look. "Just…you could be so much happier there. It wouldn't be all this," He gestured around the hall, "craziness. You could have whatever life you wanted."

Merlin stared at him in awe and for a moment he got caught up in it. He could picture living on his own merit. He would live in a cabin, his own simple cabin, where he would provide for himself and the breakfast he fetched would be his and the clothes he cleaned would be his and he'd be able to do magic that, while he still had to hide it, could be used freely in his own home.

He looked at Aldwin and saw all the acceptance, all the possibility, all the respect in the other boys eyes. He felt his heart pound faster, felt his brain turn to goo.

But, he realized with a sinking feeling, there was still Arthur. And there were still his duties. He felt torn, and confused.

"At least think about it." Aldwin said kindly and Merlin felt himself nod. Aldwin smiled gratefully at him and, as they stared at each other, Merlin felt a sudden urge come over him. It was possibly an act of rebellion, possibly an act of spontaneity, and possibly an act of something deeper. However, whatever the motivation, Merlin leaned forward and pressed their lips together.

End Flashback:

Merlin felt a little flutter go through him as Aldwin and he kissed. It was a warm contact, gentle and comforting. He twined his fingers in the boy's hair and felt Aldwin do the same, both of them pressing into each other almost desperately. It was nice. It was soft. It was so utterly different from the stress he'd experienced the past week. Ironic considering Aldwin was the source of most of the chaos.

"What do you think you're doing?" Merlin jumped and both boys broke apart, staring in shock as an extremely angry Arthur stormed down the hallway, looking almost homicidal. Lancelot followed behind, looking mildly irritated. However, Merlin knew not to look for anger in Lancelot's expression but in his actions. And judging by how he made no effort to stop Arthur or calm Arthur down…he was furious. And dangerously so.

"Aldwin." Lancelot snarled.

Merlin felt ice flow through his bones, pure terror filling him at the sound of that voice. He'd never heard Lancelot sound so angry. Merlin was thankful that he wasn't the one on the end of that look. He'd much rather deal with an angry Arthur and one glance at Aldwin reaffirmed his relief.

Aldwin looked petrified. And then…he smirked.

Merlin internally groaned. He recognized that look, and it spelled trouble.

"What's wrong Lancey-poo? Did you think you'd scare me away with your 'Big Bad Wolf act?'" He asked and Merlin furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "I want Merlin. I like Merlin. I care about Merlin." He said openly, wrapping an arm around the brunette.

Merlin felt tiny little thrills go through his stomach at the statement. He glanced over at Arthur.

"Too bad." Arthur snapped. "You lost the duel."

"Oh, please." Aldwin sneered. "Did you really think I would keep my promise?"

Everyone gaped at Aldwin.

"B-but…" Arthur actually stuttered, something Merlin had never seen before. Ever.

"It wasn't a knight's agreement. Of course I wasn't bound to honour it. Really Arthur, no wonder you want to keep Merlin around. He's essentially your brain." Aldwin stated this so matter of factly that it took Merlin a few seconds to process. Merlin stared at Aldwin in absolute horror. Really, the other boy was just begging for trouble.

"Aldwin." Lancelot repeated this in a warning tone.

"What?" This time Aldwin sounded genuinely irritated.

Lancelot approached him. Aldwin squeezed Merlin a bit tighter and the servant could swear that the boy shook just a little. Lancelot stopped in front of the prince, looking deep into the boy's eyes. "This is not the behavior befitting a prince."

Merlin stared at Lancelot in exasperation. Behavior befitting a prince? Had he met Arthur?

"A prince should behave justly and with honour." Obviously not. "If you are ever to lead Cornwall you must follow your morals." Lancelot finished. Aldwin stared at him incredulously before he began to laugh.

It started as a light chuckle that erupted into a musical twinkle ripping from his mouth. It really was quite nice to listen too and Merlin blushed. When had he become infatuated with Aldwin?

Aldwin's hold on him was broken as the prince hunched over now, the bright sound pouring from between his lips. Merlin found himself smiling just a little, quite enamored with the sight before him.

"Merlin, would you kindly tell me what is going on?" Arthur growled, wiping the smile right off Merlin's face.

"I…um…" He stuttered nervously, feeling waves of aggravation shooting through him. He really needed a break from all the…well, to quote Aldwin, craziness.

"I can't believe you." Arthur said and the betrayal in his voice was wounding. Merlin flinched, having trouble maintaining eye contact. "You'll do it with anyone, won't you?"

Merlin looked up sharply now, anger coursing through him.

"Arthur." Lancelot turned his attention from Aldwin, talking to Arthur cautiously. "He's just trying to figure everything out." He said, shooting Merlin a kind look.

Arthur just stared at him, looking almost wounded. Merlin matched is look with frustration. The feeling was tense and uncomfortable.

"By the way," Aldwin suddenly spoke up. "Has anyone seen my sister?"

Everyone turned to him incredulously.

"What?" Lancelot asked.

"I haven't seen her in a few days." He stated, seemingly ignoring the uncomfortable situation. That or not caring.

"And you didn't think to mention this sooner?" Lancelot asked.

Aldwin just shrugged, though he looked slightly sheepish.

Merlin shook his head and walked down the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Arthur asked from behind him.

"Gaius'." He snarled, not bothering to look at anybody.

Line Break:

Gaius heaved a heavy sigh and stared at the boys before him.

"Have you asked Morgana?" He asked wearily. Merlin and Arthur averted eye contact. "What is it now?" He growled.

"I haven't…actually seen Morgana...all day." Merlin admitted hesitantly.

"Me neither." Arthur echoed.

"And you two?" Gaius asked Lancelot and Aldwin. Both boys shook their head. There were several seconds of silence. "What is wrong with you four?" He exclaimed and all of them jumped, looking at him fearfully. "Gwen, Rowan, and now Morgana have gone missing and all of you…" He shook his head and threw his hands into the air. "Back in my day," He said, waving his finger at them. "We thought with our brains, not our genitalia."

All the boys blushed except for Aldwin, who chuckled. Gaius let out a big breath.

"I suppose we'll have to tell Uther." He said. He was met with a collective look of horror. "About Gwen, Rowan, and Morgana." He sneered. There was a sigh of relief. "In the morning, right now I need to sleep. As do you." He was met with obedient nods. "Young people these days." He muttered.

A/N: I refrained from having Aldwin and Merlin do it...I really truly did.