Author's Note: Hey everyone! I want to say, thank you so much for all of your positive reviews. They really keep my spirits up.

So, I'd also like to apologize for the fact that my updates have been as infrequent as they have. I used to do some writing practically every day, and now it's much less often. No real reason, I guess I just lost some of that spark. But I truly feel bad about that, because you lovely loyal readers deserve better. Don't worry, I'm not going to abandon the story or anything. I'm very devoted to this story, and determined to see it through to the end. But still, I'm going to try and get in the swing of it again, so that hopefully I'll be able to publish more quickly. Thanks for your patience.

Thank you so much to everyone sticking with me for this story! Your support is appreciated.

Everyone was in a good mood. Arthur had been astoundingly happy recently, though none knew why (except Merlin, Mordred, Gaius, and Guinevere), and his happiness had spread like a benevolent plague. They all loved their king, and to see him so lighthearted gave them joy. Merlin and Mordred were certainly not immune to it themselves, given how close they both were to Arthur.

Mordred sat at the banquet table, laughing heartily along with his friends, the other knights. No one seemed to be in short supply of smiles, jokes, and laughs tonight. Every so often, Mordred glanced towards the head of the table. Each time, he was immensely gratified to see Arthur gazing unabashedly at his wife with such deep love in his eyes that no one even had the heart to mock him for it. Gwen's cheeks were red with an embarrassed blush that only grew over the course of the evening, but she still seemed happy, and the same love in Arthur's eyes shone from hers.

His soul feeling light, Mordred turned his gaze towards Merlin, who was watching the royal couple with a gentle smile on his face. We did a good thing, he thought. Merlin turned to face him. When their eyes met, the air between them sparked with electricity. Mordred knew he would never grow tired of that beautiful tension, the chemistry between them.

The smile on Merlin's face faded and he stared at the knight, seeming stuck. Mordred waited patiently, though his heart was thumping. He wished he had some way of knowing what was going on in Merlin's mind.

Then, mercifully, the smile returned, softening Merlin's expression. We did, the manservant agreed. It's nice to see Arthur so happy again.

And it's all thanks to you, Merlin, said Mordred.

Well yeah, Merlin deadpanned. Mordred chuckled. As usual.

Modest as ever, I see, Mordred teased. Merlin's lips twitched towards a smirk.

This is what happens when you're not around to keep me humble, was his retort.

Is that so? I apologize for being derelict in my duties then.

In truth, Mordred… Merlin paused. A great deal of thanks is due to you as well, though it took me some time to remember it. I'm sorry for that.

Mordred's brow drew together confusedly. What do you mean?

If you hadn't stopped Morgana, I don't know what would've happened. Without you, I couldn't have saved Gwen.

Mordred warmed at the praise, and his eyes flicked shyly down to the table. I was only doing my duty.

No, it was much more than that. Mordred smiled, but still did not look up. I know it must've been hard for you.

It had to be done.

Thank you, Mordred. Now he looked up, and when he looked at Merlin again, the warlock was smiling sweetly at him. Believe me when I say that I won't forget it. I dared to trust in you, and you came through. I'm grateful.

All I want is to serve Arthur, answered Mordred. As you do. Though I'll never measure up to you, I wish to at least be at your side, doing all that I can for the king.

We make a good team, don't we?

Yes, we do. Though it was you, truly, who saved the day.

I'm not sure you're doing such a splendid job at keeping me humble, sassed Merlin. Then, more seriously, he said, Well, you've always given me more credit than I deserve.

It hurt Mordred how even now, even after all he'd done, Merlin still thought he wasn't good enough. Trying to lift Merlin's spirits on that account, he asked teasingly, Are you accusing me of being a liar, or simply a fool?

Merlin looked startled. I didn't say you were either-

It must be one or the other. If you are so certain that I gave credit where it was undue.

Then I suppose you'd know better than I would.

As I've told you before, I never lied to you.

I reckon you've answered your own question then, the warlock retorted. Mordred was pleased to note that his tone already seemed brighter. You must be a fool.

A fool for you perhaps, was the quick reply. Mordred winked devilishly as Merlin's ears grew pink, as Mordred hadn't seen them do for some months. The reaction brought a bright smile to Mordred's face, which in turn drew a sheepish, crooked grin from Merlin.

Or perhaps you've just had too much to drink, he quipped. You're liable to say anything in such a state.

What if I were to say 'I love you'? Mordred inquired. Would that be written off as well?

Merlin's amused look melted from his features. Mordred felt his stomach twisting. He knew, even before Merlin spoke again, that he'd overstepped the boundary.

You shouldn't ignore your friends for my sake. You should rejoin their conversation.

Mordred sighed, but did as he was bid. The warmth had faded from Merlin's blue eyes. There was no point in continuing on.

He took note of how the conversation had gone. Apparently Merlin drew the line at the actual vocalization of the sentiment of love. A part of Mordred felt it to be insensible, but the better part of him understood. And while it did frustrate him to be met with such resistance on Merlin's part, when Mordred was trying so hard to win him back and be worthy of his love this time round, he squashed those feelings and simply decided to keep trying. What else could he do?

"The king looks very happy, doesn't he," stated Gwaine softly. Mordred nodded, following Gwaine's gaze towards the head of the table, where Gwen and Arthur were laughing together.

"Indeed he does," agreed Mordred. Turning back towards his friend, Mordred saw a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh no. What are you plotting, Gwaine? Please, don't ruin Arthur's reprieve of happiness."

"No, no, of course not." Gwaine brushed his worries aside. Mordred raised his eyebrows, a mix of disbelief and simple curiosity. "I just think that, what with Arthur being in such a good mood lately, it might be a good time to uh… have a bit of fun."

"What do you mean?"

"Well he's bound to be lenient when he's like this, don't you think?"

"Lenient towards… what, exactly?" asked Mordred cautiously. Gwaine grinned and leaned in close.

"Here's what I propose…"

"Mordred!"

He turned with a kind smile towards his king, lowering the rag he'd been using to wipe the sweat off his face. Arthur came jogging up beside him. His hair and face were glistening with the water he'd just dumped atop his head, the perfect way to cool off after a hard training session under a blistering hot sun.

Arthur grinned. "You're in top shape today, Mordred," he complimented. Mordred beamed, happily surprised. "I don't believe I've ever seen you in such excellent fighting form."

Mordred inclined his head graciously. "I've been practicing hard. I aspire to one day be as fine a warrior as yourself."

"Well, it seems as though your practice may pay off!" replied Arthur. His gaze was proud and admiring. "If you continue to improve at this rate, I fear I shall soon face serious competition for the crown."

It was a jest, and Mordred treated it as one, releasing a gentle laugh. "You have little to fear on that account, my lord. There is none other but you who could rule this land with such wisdom and grace."

Arthur was a bit taken aback by words of such esteem, spoken by a man acknowledged by all only to speak the truth. He could do nothing but nod his head slightly, his eyes bright with gratitude. Glancing away, then back, Arthur continued, "I must admit, I'm astonished at how quickly you've improved."

"Thank you, Arthur."

"I mean it," he stressed. "You're one of my very best, as I'm sure you know. I would just like you to know that I know it as well."

Mordred's heart lightened. "I cannot tell you what that means to me, sire," he said. Arthur smiled understandingly, clapping a supporting hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"Keep it up," the king said simply. With one last grin, Arthur strolled away, leaving a very satisfied knight behind him.

"And thus convenes the first council of… Has anybody thought up a name yet?"

Gwaine sat at a small square table, addressing the rest of the group in a mockingly imperious way. To his right sat Percival, across from him was Merlin, and on Merlin's left sat Mordred. Merlin and Mordred were chuckling amusedly at him, while Percival rolled his eyes in a rather long-suffering way.

"You're being ridiculous, Gwaine. As always," Percival said dryly. "I can't believe I even agreed to come to this."

"Aw, come now, Percival! Quit your whining!" cried Gwaine, slapping his friend enthusiastically on the back. "You know you want to be here, there's no use denying it."

"Forget you lot. I'm the one who's taking a real risk being here," interjected Merlin teasingly. "If Arthur knew about this, I bet he wouldn't pay me for at least a week. Maybe a month."

"Yes, but," Mordred countered with a smirk, "unlike you, the rest of us could be subjected to a beating on the training field. Clearly we're risking more."

"As if," Merlin snorted, meeting Mordred's bright eyes. "Arthur beats on me too, just not on the training field, that's all."

Mordred chuckled and Merlin smiled back. "Very well, point taken."

"Can we please get down to business?" asked Gwaine. Merlin and Mordred obligingly silenced themselves and turned their attentions towards Gwaine. "Thank you. Now then! As you all know, we have gathered today to put our brains together and come up with the ultimate prank to pull on our beloved King Arthur."

"I still think you're insane," commented Percival. "Honestly. You understand Arthur has the authority to chop off your head, don't you?"

Gwaine scowled. "And does that sound like something Arthur would do? Now, my opinion is that we should strike fast and hard, while-"

"You make it sound like we're waging war against him!" cried Mordred.

"Oh, we are," answered Merlin. "Don't underestimate the seriousness of a prank war."

"I hardly could, considering the display you put on when Gwaine dared to pull one on you."

"Exactly. And now that Arthur's-"

"Gentlemen," intoned Gwaine with heavy exasperation. Merlin and Mordred both smirked, and again turned their attention back towards him. "As I was saying, I say we strike soon, while Arthur's good mood still lasts."

"Why?" asked Percival, his brow drawing together. "Why should we want to sully his spirits?"

"That's just the thing. I don't think we will," explained Gwaine. "I think that now is the perfect time to pull a harmless prank. He's in such a good mood that he won't even retaliate!"

"I agree with Gwaine," the manservant chimed in. "With the way Arthur's been lately, I think he's much less inclined to react badly to something like that."

"Well then it's settled," Gwaine declared.

"Who made you in charge?" muttered Percival rebelliously, but Gwaine ignored him and continued on, "Now. Does anyone have any special ideas of a trick to play on our poor unsuspecting king?"

The group of four all paused in silence, thinking. After a moment, a sneaky grin snuck onto Merlin's lips. Mordred smiled just at seeing it.

"As a matter of fact," said Merlin. "There's something I'd like to do. For a bit of long overdue payback, I think."

After the meeting adjourned, Gwaine and Percival left the room first, speaking to each other as they walked off. As Merlin made to follow them out, Mordred lightly grabbed his sleeve. Merlin turned to him.

"Can we talk about this?" asked Mordred quietly.

Merlin's head tilted slightly to the side in a gesture of genuine confusion. "About what?"

"About… everything that's happened lately. Between us. What we have now."

Merlin tensed. "I don't… think so, no."

"Merlin, we must talk about it at some-"

"Why?" Merlin asked, cutting him off sharply. "Why do we have to talk about it? Can't we just… leave it? Alone? Everything's… fine. Let's just… keep like this. What's the matter with that?"

"I don't understand why you won't give me a chance."

"You don't?"

"I mean…" Mordred sighed. "I do. I don't mean- I meant-"

"I can't trust you, Mordred," said the warlock. "I just can't. That's what you want from me. And I can't give it to you. Please stop asking."

"It's because of my destiny, isn't it?" asked Mordred, his voice tight. "My fate."

"And what you did with Morgana," Merlin exclaimed.

"Even so. If you'd never heard a word of my destiny, if my past with Morgana was all that lay between us, would you give me another chance to earn back your trust?"

"I don't… I don't know. Maybe?"

"Then forget about destiny," hissed Mordred, stepping closer to the older man. The air between them sizzled with tension, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. "I don't give a damn about it. About any of it. I give that up, willingly. For Arthur. For you. All I want… is you. Please, Merlin."

Merlin's eyes were big, and he seemed stunned into silence.

"That's what you wanted all along, isn't it?" asked Mordred, gentler now. "From the very beginning. Do you think I didn't know your intentions? You knew of my destiny then, from the start, and you loved me still, wanting to change my path."

"And you made it clear to me that I failed," snapped Merlin.

"But you didn't!" Mordred cried, trying to make his words stick. "Don't you see? It only… it may have taken longer than you wished for. But I'm here. Now. Doing just what you wanted. Giving up everything for you. For us. What more can I do to prove myself to you? Just tell me, and I'll do it."

Once more, Merlin was speechless. His heart was racing and his skin tingled with the desire to touch and to claim. He was drowning in the passionate depths of Mordred's blue eyes.

"I-" he stuttered. Sucking in a breath, Merlin tried to keep a clear head, difficult though it was with Mordred still standing so close. "I don't… know." Mordred released an unhappy huff. "I don't know what you could do to prove any of this to me. I wish I did. I do. I just-"

Mordred couldn't take it anymore. His body was clamoring to reach out to the man standing in front of him, and he caved in to the desire just a bit, his hand reaching up to cup Merlin's cheek, his thumb brushing softly against Merlin's smooth skin. With a sigh, Merlin instinctively pressed his cheek into the hand holding it, craving the touch. In a way, the cool palm against his skin helped clear his thoughts.

"Give me time to think about this," he said calmly. Mordred's jaw tensed, but he nodded his understanding. "In the meantime, we need to establish some ground rules." Mordred's brow furrowed. "First…" Merlin reached up a hand and, though it pained him to do so, grabbed Mordred's hand and drew it away from his face. "No touching." He squeezed Mordred's hand and then released it. The younger man visibly winced. "And more importantly, you can't say that you love me."

"But why-"

"Just for now," said Merlin firmly. "Do this for me. Just until I've had time to sort it all out."

Sighing, Mordred smiled sadly at him. "As you wish."

Merlin had a great deal to think about, and thoughts of Mordred occupied much of his time for the next day. A part of Merlin refused to give in to his desires, refused to ignore destiny and fate and Morgana… and then a part of Merlin no longer had the strength to fight. Why should he deny himself the greatest happiness in the world just because something bad could happen, something that his deepest instincts were telling him wouldn't happen?

Because he trusted Mordred. He did. And he trusted in their love for each other. And it was becoming harder and harder to remember why he should deny himself that.

Even so, Merlin pushed aside all such thoughts as the appointed time rolled around. He allowed himself to focus on nothing but the task at hand.

"In the stables?" Arthur asked disbelievingly.

Merlin nodded frantically. "Arthur, it's urgent, please." Merlin quickly set off in the direction of the stables.

"I don't see what sort of emergency in the stables could possibly require my attention," Arthur complained, even as he followed. "Surely there are others better equipped to deal with such things. Yourself included."

Merlin rolled his eyes, but hurried on, reassured by the fact that Arthur followed him despite the lack of any further explanation. When they reached the stables, Merlin stepped to the side and held out his arm, gesturing forcefully for Arthur to go in. Arthur shook his head in annoyance, but did so, striding into the dim stables without a second thought.

"Merlin." Merlin held his breath in anticipation. Just a few more steps… Arthur's head turned round to look at his manservant, but he continued walking forward. "What exactly am I supposed to be-"

The king cut off as his feet tripped over something that his eyes hadn't spotted being moved into his path. With all the grace of a bear on tightrope, Arthur tumbled to the ground, where he landed in a strategically placed pile of manure.

Peals of laughter split the air as Arthur slowly brought himself back up to his feet. Merlin's pearly whites showed in a grand smile, and three other men had melted out from the shadows, all chortling together. The laughter only increased as Arthur turned around towards his friends, the brown substance caked all over his clothes and, of course, face. Arthur's expression didn't change at all as he began to wipe the manure off his face. To the best of his abilities, at least. Mostly he succeeded only in smearing it about.

"Told you you were fair game, Arthur," Gwaine commented, a smirk in his voice. Suddenly, Arthur found himself gasping, drenched in freezing water, courtesy of Gwaine, Mordred, and Merlin, all three of whom were lowering now empty buckets. At least the water had washed away most of the manure.

"There, see?" Gwaine said brightly. Arthur glowered at him. "No harm, no foul! Well, it does smell a little foul-"

"Nah, that's just Arthur," corrected Merlin. Gwaine and Mordred unsuccessfully fought smiles as Arthur scowled at them.

"All right, come on, you lot," Percival scolded, walking over to the king. "You really ought to treat the King of Camelot better than this."

"Thank you, Percival," exclaimed Arthur, both frustrated and exasperated. "At least someone-"

He fell silent as a bucket of water was emptied right over his head, a feat only the tallest knight in the room could have accomplished.

"You completely missed the top of his head!" finished Percival, grinning. The group of friends laughed again, enjoying the way Arthur pursed his lips, clearly displeased.

"Sire, I would just like you to know…" Arthur met Mordred's gaze, expecting some bogus claim that Mordred hadn't been involved, or had tried to dissuade them from the idea. As if Arthur would swallow that. "…you're looking better than ever." Arthur's jaw dropped in shock, while the others broke into appreciative giggles. Mordred's blue eyes twinkled. "Might I suggest you make this a permanent addition to your attire?"

There was a brief pause in the flow of conversation as the four perpetrators of the crime laughed and Arthur composed himself as much as possible. Finally, looking as calm as ever, and as kingly as possible given the circumstances, Arthur said,

"Merlin?"

Choking a bit on his laughter, Merlin coughed, the slightest bit nervous, and responded, "Uh, yes, Arthur?" The room pulsed with anticipation as everyone watched Arthur, keen to hear what he would say. Arthur's calm expression didn't budge, though Merlin would swear that there was a light in his eyes, the tiniest indication of trouble.

"If you can assist me in seeking due revenge on all three of these most noble knights by the end of the week…" Arthur proclaimed. The three knights in question were already paling. "…I will both forgive your part in this and double your wages for the month."

A week later, Gwaine had fidgeted his way through most of a banquet before giving up and running out, scratching his bum embarrassingly as he did so, yelling that the itch was just too much, Percival had screamed and fled when a large unidentified black creature (that he learned later was a bat) erupted into his face as he was taking a leak, and then ran out into the hallways of the castle with his breeches down, Mordred had practically gagged on a dessert in which the sugar had been swapped with salt, before chugging down his drink and the drinks of those around him, and Merlin took home with him a sizable bag of money and a triumphant grin.