When the cock crowed, Merlin groaned. He ached in places he had not known could exist, his skin sweaty, and in places a bit crusty from the night's carnal delights. Arthur didn't look much better, bruises on his neck, and one spectacular one near his left nipple. Merlin remembered putting it there, and the one on Arthur's thigh, and smiled at the memory.

But it was a new day and Merlin merely a servant once more. What they had done in the night would not hold in the light.

Quietly, trying to sneak from under Arthur's arm which was flung across Merlin's chest, Merlin wiggled a bit but was caught fast. He knew he'd have to get started with his chores and more importantly, try and forget what had happened in the darkness. Arthur made it very clear that it was for one night only and Merlin would just have to accept it.

But Arthur's arm tightened, and he mumbled something.

Merlin froze a moment, then started to move again, but Arthur looked up, then kissed Merlin's shoulder, muttering, "Not yet."

"The cock has crowed, sire. I have to get your breakfast and then you have a meeting with your father after and…." Merlin slowed to a stop when Arthur just shook his head.

"It was the nightingale. You should clean out your ears once in a while." Arthur reached up and flicked Merlin's earlobe before laying back down again.

It was ridiculous, of course. There was light streaming through the curtains.

Rubbing at the sting, Merlin said, "Arthur, my ears are fine. It was the cock crowing. Besides, it's light outside. I have chores and Gaius….." Merlin stopped when Arthur's hand covered Merlin's mouth.

"If I say it's the nightingale, then it is, you idiot," Arthur muttered, then gave him a tentative smile. "You just have to acknowledge that your prince is always right."

Merlin's snort was muffled by Arthur's hand, but as he tugged those brilliant fingers away, Merlin angled up onto one elbow. "Arthur, Twelfth Night is over."

For a long moment, Arthur didn't say anything, just stared up into Merlin's eyes. Finally, he said, "Do you want it to be?"

Hell, no, he wanted to dive back down into Arthur and never come out again, but that wasn't possible. "What we did last night was something I'll never forget but… you are a prince and I'm furniture."

"I'm quite fond of my furniture," Arthur said. When Merlin just gaped at him, Arthur grinned. "My armoire especially. And my chair is comfortable and my bed properly large. The carvings alone…."

Merlin tried not to smile but Arthur was just being ridiculous. "I like your bed the best. It's soft and comfortable and I just want to sink into it and never come out again. A lot like you."

"I am not soft." At that, Arthur sat up, then pulled Merlin in for a long, hungry kiss. "Twelfth Night is meant for people to let loose, to enjoy the pleasure of the flesh and then put them aside. As if it were as easy as turning a page. For some, it's really that simple but I'm not simple."

"Are you sure about that?" Merlin grinned.

"When it comes to you, simple isn't the half of it." Arthur scrubbed his fingers through his hair, turning it into more of a bird's nest than it already was. "It is expected that we put last night behind us."

Merlin couldn't help glancing down to where Arthur's behind was half-covered with a sheet. It was a pretty glorious arse. Merlin would know. He'd become intimately acquainted with it in the last few hours.

Arthur must have seen Merlin's stare because he started smirking. "Told you I was fighting fit."

"I'll give you that." Merlin started to get up, but Arthur pulled him back in. "Arthur, seriously, I don't know what you want. You told me that it was one night and then done. It's not what I wanted, but I understand. You have obligations. Chasing after your servant isn't one of them."

"I chase after you all the time," Arthur said, watching Merlin closely. "You are never where you are supposed to be."

"And where is that?"

Arthur reached over, brushing his fingers across Merlin's throat, lingering on a spot where Merlin remembered Arthur biting him, then soothing the pain away with his tongue. There must have been a spectacular bruise growing there but Arthur was gentle, his touch welcome. Merlin tried not to close his eyes and sink back into the feel of Arthur's skin against his own.

"By my side," Arthur murmured.

Merlin didn't groan, he didn't, but it was a near thing. "So what happens now? We go back to what we were, prince and furniture?"

"For now, yes. My father will be watching for signs that things have changed, and he's not one to accept change of that sort. But Merlin, don't ever think I've forgotten this. And I know it's a long time, but Twelfth night is only 364 days away."

"Actually, it's only 363 days and twelve hours away." Merlin gave Arthur a nod. "I'll do some research, though. I'm sure other kingdoms have such things on a more regular basis."

"In the meantime, I'll be throwing things at you and calling you idiot, and if we happen to go on a few hunting trips, just the two of us, well, what happens in the woods…" Arthur grinned.

"Stays in the woods?" Merlin said. When Arthur nodded, Merlin laughed. "Well, you've done it now. I hated hunting trips and now… now I look forward to them."

Outside, the cock crowed again.

"Oh, ugh, okay, time to rise and shine," Merlin said, standing up and limping a little to where his clothes lay scattered on the floor. Arthur just groaned, muttering about ridiculous servants, and plopped back down again. Merlin knew Arthur needed to get up, so he walked over, still mostly naked, and pulled the covers off, saying as he did, "Shake a leg? Up and at 'em?"

"Merlin…." But Arthur didn't reach for the sheets, just lay there in all his naked glory, smirking a little.

Merlin tried not to stare, honestly he didn't. "Seriously, Arthur, I have to get your breakfast and with you there… all bare and such, it's hard to think." He waved his hands in the general direction of Arthur's groin, and the pillock arched his back a little.

When Merlin didn't just jump back into bed, Arthur heaved a sigh, then got up. He was even more gorgeous in the daylight. Sauntering over to Merlin, he pulled Merlin close, then whispered in his ear, "I have an idea. I'll have you for breakfast."

Merlin let out a little grunt.

Arthur just smirked, the pillock. Then he shrugged, abandoning whatever he was planning. "Okay, I hate to admit it, but you are right. Work first. I'll need breakfast and a bath drawn before I go see my father. I can't go to him smelling of our night's pleasures. After that, you can use my bath water to clean up yourself, then I'll need you to sharpen my sword—the proper one, Merlin, you took care of my other sword last night and very well done, too. After that, I need a speech written and my second-best armour has dents that need repair. My dogs need walking, and you are expected to help with clean-up in the Great Hall at some point."

It sounded like a regular day with regular chores and somehow Merlin wanted to cry a little. But he just nodded and thought about how he was going to get on with potion making among all the other things he had to do.

"Merlin, oh, and one more thing. The larder is getting low on meat what with all the feasts we've been having lately. I believe we'll have to go hunting day after tomorrow if the weather holds." Arthur leaned over and whispered in Merlin's ear, "It will be an overnight trip so bring a bedroll and small tent."

Blinking because that didn't make sense, Merlin said, "Shouldn't that be two bedrolls?"

"Should it?" Arthur smiled, his face full of want and hunger and intent. "I thought maybe we could share."

Sharing was perfect.

And so was the hunting trip. And the many after that.

And funny enough, other kingdoms did have festivals featuring wine and debauchery and misrule and Arthur just happened to attend them all—in the name of goodwill and diplomacy, of course. If Merlin came along, well, a prince had to have his servant with him, didn't he?