Uther stood in the opening of his son's door, unable to take his eyes off the sight that greeted him on the bed. His son, sleeping in his normal way, face down and sprawling, and that manservant, Merlin, beneath one of his golden arms, snoring softly. Both were completely naked.
Uther blinked, unable to form any anger, or disgust, something that shocked him. Here was his son, the prince, in an obviously sexual relationship with a servant.
Uther put his knuckles to the wood of the door her held open, knocking. The sound echoed in the silent room. He watched as the servant, Merlin, he reminded himself heaved a sigh and then flung his hand behind him wildly. Trying twice before it landed with a smack on Arthur's side. Arthur jerked and groaned, lifting his head blearily, not even opening his eyes.
"What?" Arthur's voice was rough with sleep, but he still shuffled closer to Merlin's unmoved form. Merlin grumbled and stretched his legs as he answered, "There's someone at the door. Go get it."
Arthur collapsed further onto Merlin, pushing his face into the crook of his neck. Merlin rolled so he leaned into the pressure of Arthur's body.
"Aren't you the servant?" Arthur moaned, breathing a sigh of contentment that ruffled the smaller hairs of Merlin's neck.
"I'm not even supposed to be here. Go get it. Please?" Merlin hummed, and Uther himself watched as he lifted one of Arthur's calloused hands and kissed the scared knuckles. Arthur sighed again, and sat up to search for and put on his sleep trousers. Uther quietly retreated and closed the door, looking around. He felt his heart beating faster, though he couldn't think of why.
Slightly hopping, though he would deny it, he slid himself in a small nook of the corridor wall, a small place that hid him from Arthur's bedroom door. He listened as his son opened the door and stuck his head out, peering both ways.
Uther breathed a sigh of relief as Arthur reentered his room, this time locking the door.
"No one there." He said from behind the door, and the distinct sound of sheets being ruffled reached the king's ears as he quietly strode by, walking past the door.
"Hmm…odd." Merlin yawned, turning and wrapping his arms around the prince. Arthur fell into bed and moved just enough so his one arm was once again over Merlin, and his nose pressed into the other's hair.
"Mhm. Gnight. I love you." Arthur mumbled, already half asleep. Uther paused in his step.
"Love you too. Sweet dreams." Merlin yawned again.
Uther continued to his own chambers, images of his Igraine following him the entire way. Remembrances of late night 'I love you's plaguing him.