Another thing Uther thought would be a good idea, a way to take their minds off of their 'troubles,' was to throw an end of summer pool party for all of their friends. Their friends being mostly Uther's friends, and a select few of Morgana and Arthur's friends. As, Hunith didn't have any friends and the only friend Merlin ever did have, slept with Arthur and was otherwise a giant whore. Although, Uther...who knew none of this, had offered Merlin to invite Gwen. Merlin polity declined that offer. Planning a party, no matter how normal or mundane it was supposed to be, turned Merlin's mother into a lunatic. This meant of course, Hunith turned into a bridezilla again. She was just a party-zilla, like no matter the occation...it just had to be her way and what SHE wanted, as if no one else mattered.
She wanted a tropical theme, because she hadn't been allowed to go somewhere tropical for their honeymoon. She bought tekki torches and grass skirts for the tables, she had fruit shaped into flowers and hired a man who would spend the whole night just opening coconuts for people to drink out of. And it being a party and her clearly having someone to impress, be it just herself maybe, Hunith thought she needed a new swimsuit. She and Morgana had gone out and were gone all day only to come back with tiny bags. And of course, even though she bought a new swimsuit, when Merlin pointed out his old bathing suit was from two years ago and was probably too small for him now, Hunith didn't really seem to care.
"I'm sure it will still fit," she had said, offhanded. "If it doesn't just do not go swimming..." when he didn't like that idea at all, because he hardly wanted to be at a party ( he didn't even want to be at the party in the first place,) where everyone else was wearing swimming clothes and he was in jeans and a tee shirt. "Then do not go at all, I am sure no one will mind if you stay in your room..."
Arthur, who had been eating eggs at this point in the conversation, started choking and looked quite angary, but Merlin only made a show of rolling his eyes and didn't mention it again. Merlin knew Arthur and Morgana wouldn't allow him not to go, and Uther would probably be offended, as he did get offended rather easily. About everything, even when it didn't involve him. If it wasn't for the fact that they were a thousand percent wrong for each other, Hunith and Uther were almost perfect for each other in the selfishness area.
On the invites Hunith had made it quite clear, even though it was a pool party, everyone had to be covered while not in the pool. This meant ladies had to wear slips over their swimsuits and men had to wear shirts, only because, and she stressed this point a lot, that she didn't trust Uther not to look at these woman. But Merlin thought, the day of the party, as he stood in his room and yanked his swimming shorts up his legs, that these woman were mostly going to be old anyway, so what did she care if Uther looked? Why would Uther want to look? He probably didn't. Merlin looked at himself now, and groaned in distaste. It looked like he was wearing a Speedo too big for him, because the shorts were so short, you could see pretty much all of Merlin's very white, milky thighs.
Merlin put on a plain, white tee shirt and headed down the stairs now. The party had already started, Hunith had taken to putting on Hawaiian-like music early that afternoon, but now it only got louder, as guests filed through the front door. They were ushered in through the door by Uther, who guided the guests through the kitchen, where there was an assortment of different finger sandwiches and fruits. They were then showed to the pool, though the permanently opened sliding back door, where the indoor pool was located. Out there, on a table, was where the fruity acholic drinks were and next to it, in a giant red cooler filled with ice, was beers of all kinds.
"Nice thighs," someone said behind him, from where Merlin was standing now, between the guest loo and laundry room, in front of the kitchen, watching all the people walking in and looking impressed. Well, at least Hunith would be pleased they were impressed. Merlin turned and saw Arthur there, wearing red swim trunks and no shirt, because he didn't care what Hunith said, he hardly cared what Uther said. Which, wasn't really true, Arthur only pretended not to care what his father said, pretending was really Arthur's M.O.
"Don't look at my thighs!" retorted Merlin, looking at Arthur, instead of the people, with a glare. Arthur only smirked and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Where else am I supposed to look?" promoted Arthur, eyes casting over Merlin's body and landing on Merlin's legs.
"I don't care," said Merlin then, leaning forward and shoving Arthur through the backdoor. "Go away."
"Alright..." said Arthur, almost offhanded, but his voice was thick and full of something else. "Suppose I know what I'll be dreaming about later."
This comment struck Merlin, as his eyes widened, watching as Arthur walked out, not even turning back to catch Merlin's reaction to what he had said. Arthur made comments sometimes, stupid little things, he had called Merlin cute before, in what Merlin assumed was a patronizing way. But he had never said something like that. Maybe he hadn't meant to say it like that, maybe he meant it another way, and part of Merlin hoped he did, but then there were other parts...like his heart, that was now fluttering in his throat and making blood rush to his ears.
Merlin couldn't stop thinking about it though, his words, for the rest of the day, as the party carried on. He kind of just stood off, in the corner, watching as Morgana talked to some guy with red-ish brown, curly hair, at one of the sitting tables Hunith had set up. Every so often, Morgana would hike the slip Hunith forced the woman to wear, up her leg and Merlin knew the guy noticed every single time. He would try very hard not to look, but did so anyway. Arthur however, was just in the pool, not really talking to anyone, and every so often he would get out, pass Merlin to go get a beer and then walk back to the pool. And Merlin's eyes were on him every time, even though he tried not to look, kind of like the guy with Morgana's leg and Merlin knew this was bad and he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it.
Arthur was just strutting around, shirtless and wet and it was ridiculously unfair of him and Merlin knew he noticed all of this, too. Because once, as he passed, he looked over and caught Merlin's eyes staring and he winked...the son of a bitch winked! Merlin wanted to die. After this, Merlin decided to go back into the house. He took to just standing where he had been earlier and looking around. He was really rubbish at parties, he didn't know what to do or who to talk to, he was just so out of place. Uther came in after a few minutes of Merlin standing there, and Merlin wanted to walk away then, because he saw no real need to be around Uther, but Uther seemed to have different plans.
He walked right over to Merlin, with a grin. Clearly, he was a little drunk. He almost tripped over the red night robe he was wearing, it looked like it was meant for old men who wanted to sleep naked but their wives wouldn't let them, though that was besides the point really. Because now, Uther was talking to him. "Some party your mother's put together."
Merlin nodded and he supposed it was nice, just not for him. "Yeah..."
Uther nodded also, clearly and very obviously not having much to say to Merlin, which was fine by Merlin. Uther's eye's, instead, roamed around the room and his eyes landed on a girl in the kitchen. Now, this girl was different for many reasons. One, because she wore an emerald dress instead of a bathing suit at all, and was probably the second youngest woman here. Morgana being the first, then this girl, then Hunith...every other woman here was old and that being said, it was still mostly men.
"That's Elena," explained Uther now. "She's the new bride of one of my clients, Aredian...the bastard." Merlin looked over at Uther as he said this, confused. Why was he calling this man a bastard? Was he jealous of him? Merlin supposed Elena was better looking than his mother, but still. "He's a dirty, pig of a man...her father, also one of mine, must be beside himself with sick..."
"Right," said Merlin, wanting to walk away now, but Uther continued on anyway.
"Aredian's old money, I'm sure he'll pay her way well."
Merlin nodded, but he really had nothing to say to this, Uther was clearly suggesting this girl had married this man for money and somehow...in Uther's circle, this made a lot of sense. Arthur walked in then, eyes traveling over Merlin and then Uther, he pulled a face of confusion at the two of them standing together and instead walked over to the food. Elena was still there, and when Arthur walked over she smiled kindly at him and started to talk to him. Being polite, probably. Arthur started talking back, like a normal person would, and then Uther laughed.
"Aredian better watch out," he said, happily. As if threatening a man's marital life was normal for him, it probably was. "Arthur is young, fit, good looking...Elena would be a fool not to be interested."
"Yeah, well..." said Merlin, feeling rather irritated about this all of a sudden, for one reason or another. "She's married so...it doesn't really matter if she is."
"That's never stopped Arthur before," said Uther then and Merlin rolled his eyes. "Just look at her smile...she fancies the boy, I can tell," Uther went on and Merlin huffed. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but Arthur was grinning and pointing to something on the counter, Elena was nodding along and smiling quite brightly. It might be innocent, but knowing Arthur like Merlin did, it probably wasn't. "You know how Arthur is...he always gets what he wants."
And Merlin, well...he couldn't argue with that.
(A/N: Okay, after all the trouble I had getting my other story to update, I am a little scared about this one...wish me luck! These next few chapters tho, really beg the question; "What IS Arthur thinking?" I suppose we will never know... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!)
