As the Queen desires
Merlin stands as usual as the Queen enters the Royal Bedchambers. Arthur is in bed already and Merlin's arms are aching since filling and subsequently emptying the bath, but this is the usual routine. Merlin waits to be dismissed with his hands clasped loosely behind his back.
"Merlin?" Arthur says and Merlin lowers his eyes. They have been doing this dance for many years now and Gwen has slotted in easily. His eyes are lowered, but it's not really out of respect – Arthur would be shocked if Merlin started showing respect now! He just wants to give Gwen privacy.
"Is there anything else, Sire?" Merlin asks formally.
"Don't go!" the Queen suddenly commands and Merlin looks up in surprise.
"My Lady?"
Gwen grins. He has been careful since her marriage to his King to give her the respect due to a Queen. Even though she has been Queen for a good while and sometimes Regent when Arthur is away from Camelot, Merlin knows that she sometimes feels a fraud. She occasionally forgets that she is no longer the serving girl who taught Merlin how to serve his prince.
"We want you to stay," Arthur suddenly insists.
"Um…" Merlin looks around the tidy room as though searching for the task he has forgotten to perform.
"Help the Queen prepare for bed," his master commands.
"I… I'm sorry… what?" Merlin stutters. This is not a part of the normal script.
"You heard me," Arthur smirks and he reclines on the bed, arms behind his head, every inch the perfect prince, toned, muscled and completely naked.
After a glare at the king, Merlin approaches Gwen with some trepidation. She has been without a single maid as the maids all like to support her and take it in turns to help her with clothes and hair. Merlin, however, has never done this before. Arthur, he can dress and undress with little fuss and with his eyes closed (although the one time he tried that it didn't end well).
Gwen smiles encouragingly and Merlin knows that Arthur is smirking smugly at Merlin's discomfort – the git. Merlin tries not to panic at the laces and bits of extraneous satin, but at the end of the day she is wearing clothes and he needs to get them off her.
There is a strange, quiet, romantic atmosphere in the room and Merlin grins to himself. The royal couple are as in love as they have always been, but there is only one person in the world who knows them both as well as each other and he is now gently pulling at a bow on Gwen… the Queen's back. Merlin accompanies them on picnics, on quiet rides, on hunts, so he knows them in their private lives as well as in their public lives.
Once the top is loose, he can remove it and he does so gently, placing the garment carefully on the table. He then undoes the corset and removes that. Next he unties the skirt and then he disappears under the miles of material to remove it cleanly without pushing the queen over.
Merlin can't help wishing that he could really be a part of this. He is preparing his Queen to sleep with his King and he loves them both. Before the marriage, Merlin used to have time with Arthur, when Arthur would command him to stay and serve and he would do so with the devotion that fills his heart.
Once he might have been in love with Freya, but she is now the water spirit, the Lady of the Lake and he is happy that her torment is over.
Merlin, though, is in love with Arthur. How could he not be? Arthur has become the King that Merlin always dreamed he would be. He is fair and just and… OK, he abuses his servant horribly, but Merlin loves him and will do anything for him. Sex is a very small thing that he can offer, but he does and he waits for those times when Arthur commands him to stay. Now, though, there is Gwen and he loves that they are married, that they are so in love.
Apparently there is another dress underneath the jewelled garment and there are more laces and bows and some of the beads snag on Merlin's hair, but even with Arthur's amused sniggering, the mood remains calm with a shiver of excitement.
Merlin places this garment carefully on the table and then he turns back to realise that Gwen is down to her petticoat and smalls… any further and she will be naked! He kneels down to remove her shoes and then kneels back on his heels and looks over at his master.
To his surprise, Arthur waves and nods for Merlin to carry on. He looks up at Gwen, who is wearing a grin that matches her husband's and Merlin wonders if this is really going where he hopes it will go. Of course, Arthur is total prat, so there's every chance that this is an elaborate joke that is going to leave Merlin humiliated, but he takes hold of the petticoat and pulls.
There is just her undercloth to go and Merlin looks up at his queen in wonder. She is perfect. Her proportions are perfect, her hair cascades down her bare back and her breasts are perfect handfuls. Merlin looks quickly at Arthur and realises that he is adoring the slow reveal of his wife, so Merlin tentatively puts his hands on her waist and, when she nods, he pulls the light cloth down, leaving her completely naked.
It wasn't like this when he undressed Arthur. Arthur just wants to be in and out of clothes without fuss and Merlin has grown used to the speed.
Merlin is kneeling in front of Queen Guinevere, looking at the dark curls of the most intimate part of her body, a part that Merlin is pretty sure he wasn't supposed to see. She is so beautiful. His breath catches and he drops his eyes to look at her perfect toes. Perfect… perfect…
Suddenly there is movement from the bed and Merlin flinches. He's gone too far and Arthur is going to order him to the courtyard for a week in the stocks… but Arthur just pads over to stand behind the kneeling servant.
Merlin is now kneeling between the two naked, most beautiful people he has ever known, eyes at the perfect level to see their private parts, and even though he is actually wearing his clothes still, he feels more exposed than ever before. Arthur puts a hand on his shoulder and he rests back on his boot heels feeling the movement above him as the Royal Couple kiss over him. Merlin looks down to the floor feeling perplexed, worried, scared and very turned on.
Suddenly they attack him. Arthur pulls Merlin's jacket off while Gwen removes the neckerchief, then Arthur pulls at the ties on his blue shirt and they both pull it off. Other than a squeak of surprise, Merlin doesn't dare speak. He doesn't dare to hope that this might really be happening. He wants to jump up and throw off his boots and trousers… or maybe he wants to snatch his clothes and run all the way back to Gaius' chambers… he's not quite sure, but it's not up to him. He has no say in this.. whatever this is.
The King and Queen link hands and move away to sit on their bed. Merlin has often wondered what it would be like to lie on that bed. He has tried it a few times when Arthur has been out training or whatever, but he has never slept on it and he never will. He stays where he has been placed, kneeling, feeling a chill on his exposed top half. He wonders if he should maybe stoke the fire… or maybe he should be tidying.. or… he has no idea. He is so beyond his comfort zone that he's going to need magic to find his way back. Arthur has never… not in all ten years he has served him, asked him to take his top off.
"Turn around," Arthur commands suddenly, twirling a finger, and his voice rends the silence, making Merlin flinch again with a massive jerk that makes both King and Queen snort very un-regally. Merlin lifts a knee to obey, but Arthur halts him. "No, stay on your knees."
Merlin lowers his knee again and swivels as indicated so that his back is towards his master.
Hands touch his back [and, unknown to Merlin, eyes meet agreeing that there will be a conversation about that back]. Merlin shivers again. He recognises his master's hands, strong and commanding, but the other hand is rough, small and new. Hands on his shoulder guide him to his feet and turn him around.
Merlin has always been clumsy, prone to tripping and knocking things over. He grew too fast and still hasn't grown into the long, thin body, but with those guiding hands, he finds grace. He still doesn't dare to look at them, so he fixes his gaze on Arthur's toes. He is the same height (Merlin reckons he's taller) as Arthur and Gwen is much shorter, but here, in front of this powerful couple, he feels very small.
Arthur unties his trousers and Gwen unbuckles his boots. It feels wrong, but he is not in charge here. Somehow Merlin manages not to fall over as Gwen removes his boots and Arthur holds his elbow, and suddenly Merlin is free of clothes. His clothes are flung on the floor and he has to resist the urge to gather them up neatly. He almost longs for the privacy screen as he feels the King and Queen looking… scrutinising. It's unbearable.
Then those hands are back and they guide him over to their bed. He can't help it. He kneels down, unable to bear the suspense, the excitement, the fear. Arthur and Gwen exchange surprised glances as Merlin has gone off script, so they sit on the bed again and contemplate their servant. Arthur then squeezes his wife's hand and takes charge.
"Who am I?" he asks, whispering into the charged silence.
Merlin breathes in relief that Arthur is in control as it makes him feel safe. If this is what his king wants him to do, then this is what he shall do. He can do as he is told sometimes.
"The King," Merlin answers softly, eyes avoiding Arthur's, darting from side to side because it doesn't feel right.
"Who am I?" Arthur asks again, louder this time.
"Arthur?" Merlin replies, making it a question, but this too is the wrong answer.
"Merlin, who am I?" Arthur demands firmly.
Suddenly the correct answer comes to Merlin and he looks up and meets Arthur's eyes.
"My master," he responds confidently and a small hand cups his cheek gently, moving him to look at the Queen's deep, brown eyes.
"My Lady," he breathes and then she kisses him.
She kissed him once before, many years ago, back when he was little more than a child. Arthur had gone on an unsanctioned quest to find a flower that would save Merlin's life and Gwen kissed him because they were friends. It was a kiss for joy that Merlin wasn't dead.
This kiss is nothing like that. It is nothing like the desperate kisses he shared with Freya. It is soft and passionate and he closes his eyes so they can't see the tears forming.
Then a larger hand guides him to the left and rougher lips are on his, stronger, demanding, possessive. His master has never kissed him before and he feels it down to his toes. He has never been so in love with his master as at this moment.
They grin down at him and he is honestly a bit surprised that his magic hasn't made him float to the ceiling. He feels loved and the tear in his eye falls down to his cheek. He waits for Arthur to call him a girl's petticoat, but he doesn't; Arthur catches the tear and wipes it away.
The hands are back and they are now pulling him up and onto their bed.
This is familiar territory. This is where he serves his master. He reaches for Arthur's cock, jutting out proudly, just as his own is. He looks up at Arthur, who nods and he bends his head down.
Arthur likes him to touch and stroke a little first, then he bows and his lips surround the skin. He sucks and swirls and then takes his master in completely. The angle is weird because usually he is kneeling on the floor, but he doesn't mind the soft bed. This is something that the Queen should never do as it has always been about dominance and power and Merlin loves it when he can make Arthur squeak and squirm, even though he is the one who is serving. There is suddenly something different though… there is a hand on his own member. It startles him and he pulls himself up and… well.. off.
Arthur and Gwen kiss again and then they look at him again.
"The three of us," Gwen insists and she reaches for Merlin again.
Apparently the whole naked thing and the clothes and… this… has all been planned and they really want him to take part. He has never had this before. It's usually Arthur in his night shirt and a fully clothed Merlin on his knees, climax, clean, clothes, and 'You may go'. This is intimate. This is loving. This is almost unbearable. He never thought he would ever be allowed this.
The hand is back on his cock and Arthur presses lightly back onto Merlin's head, guiding him back. Arthur doesn't climax though, he pulls Merlin up again and turns him around. Suddenly Merlin realises what is going to happen and his heart almost bursts. There are fingers around his arse, exploring and entering. He doesn't know if it is Gwen or Arthur and he honestly doesn't care. There is stretching and poking and something slick, stretching and scissoring… OK that hurts actually, but then… Oh Gods! He squeaks and Arthur laughs. Gwen's hand is back on his cock and she puts her other hand on his cheek.
"Merlin?" She asks.
"Please," he begs. "Please my lady… please… Sire…Master."
Arthur needs no more encouragement and in one swift movement that overpowers Merlin completely, he is in and Merlin is crying. He never thought this would happen. He knows that there was a reason the Unicorn liked him, but he's blown that now. Arthur starts moving and his whole world exists around his prostate, supplying more pleasure than he had ever thought possible and then… his world explodes as that small firm hand rubs him and squeezes and wrings him out.
For a moment that lasts a lifetime, or maybe a couple of seconds, Merlin feels as though his life is complete. He is out of breath, Arthur is covering his back and he is heavy, panting, while Gwen runs her hands through both men's hair. She plants kisses on both, making sure that Merlin is as loved as her husband.
When they have their breath back, Arthur pulls back and Merlin almost whimpers, but he is so happy. Arthur falls back onto his pillow and Merlin turns around, kneeling on the bed and looking at both his friends amazed.
Finally, Merlin moves and crawls off the bed.
"Where are you going?" Arthur demands.
"Cloth, Sire," Merlin explains and he goes to the basin that he uses to wash Arthur's hair and picks up the cloth. While his head is turned away from the bed, his eyes flash and the water becomes warm. With a smile, he brings the cloth over and cleans his master. It turns out that he needs to clean his queen too as she clearly enjoyed that encounter.
"Huh!" Arthur chuckles. "He does know how to be a good servant!"
"Don't tease, Arthur. Thank you Merlin, that was perfect."
She snuggles into her husband's arms and Merlin pulls the bedclothes over them, already planning the sheet washing he is going to have to do tomorrow. He picks up his trousers and starts pulling them on.
"What are you doing?" Gwen asks and he stands up in surprise, picking up his boots.
"I… er… you know, going to bed?" Merlin jerks a thumb in the general direction of his and Gaius' rooms. "Unless… do you need anything, my lady?"
"You can stay," she offers.
Merlin and Gwen both look at Arthur, who is clearly startled.
"You can stay if you like," he offers, and Gwen rewards him with a kiss.
"Oh… no… no my lord, my lady… that would be too weird." Merlin pulls on his shirt and jacket, stuffing his neckerchief in his pocket. He goes to stand by Arthur's side of the bed and pulls his hands behind his back. "The King made it very clear that he is my master and you are my lady. I am willing to serve you in any way, but when my service is done, I will retire, with your permission."
Arthur nods, clearly relieved. "You may go, Merlin."
Merlin does something he usually only does if Arthur has been a dick and he wants to show his anger. But this time he really means it when he bows his head and says, "Yes, my lord."
He snuffs the candles and then he leaves quietly and doesn't look back.
Arthur and Gwen snuggle together and drift off to sleep while their servant jogs back to the rooms he shares with Gaius. He creeps softly across the room and carefully opens the door to his room, careful not to disturb his guardian.
In the dark, Gaius grins knowingly and turns over, happy.