The party was in full swing, their guests had smiles on their faces that were bigger than a single nobleman's coin pouch. Even if they'd been split straight down the middle, as each person stood just far enough away from the middle of the room to create a pathway for the Lady and her Prince to walk down.
Morgana smiled, a practiced smile that would show just how at ease she was standing right in front of Camelot's most elite society. A fair lady deserved to have her gentlemen by her side, which she did in the form of Arthur, their arms hooked together. And this was actually, probably most likely, the reason she wore her smile so forcefully.
"You know," Morgana drawled out to Arthur as they stopped long enough to wave to the noble people on either side of them, who had long since pledged their loyalty to Camelot as well as the royal family. Many of the families in attendance tonight had sons who'd been in the tourney itself, in hope of trying to make a name for themselves by catching the eye's of the royal family due to their skills. Although it was quite obvious that none had managed to do so with Valiant stealing the show, "I have noticed something is different then how your usual wins go."
Arthur's demure-for the people smile-looked to be forced near identical to Morgana's. And he had also found himself waving to the people, and nodding his head to those he passed, "Well, I am sure you are just dying to tell me what it is you've noticed." He said, out the corner of his mouth as well, keeping their conversation low so that it would stay just between them even in the midst of the crowd.
Morgana's grin seemed to turn just a tad less demure and more cheeky, overlooked by the crowd around them who was more excited to see their champion than anything else, "This, I do believe, is the first year you've won where I haven't had to sit through your bragging."
She wasn't wrong about that. With the Prince winning against Valiant, this would mark the fourth year he'd won in a row. It was quite the feat to be sure. And every year before, Arthur had bragged about his conquests so much, it had gotten to the point where Morgana had to resist the urge to claw her own ears off just to get it to stop. But this year, it was strangely nothing. Arthur hadn't said a single word on his victory other than the bland, I beat Valiant that he had said earlier. But she recognized it had only been said because Arthur wanted to try and make a claim as for why Merlin would need to respect him. And one could trust the lady on this one when she said that this was 'very' unusual.
Arthur's smile for the crowd seemed to be a little more strained now when he addressed her, "I've had other things on my mind." He'd admitted. He didn't say exactly what those 'those' things were, but it was pretty clear to Morgana from the way his eyes were darting from person to person. As if he was looking for somebody specific but had yet to find the one he wanted among the crowd.
Morgana shook her head, feeling the way her hair slipped over her shoulders. Why did she have to know boys that were only pig-headed and stubborn. She knew, despite the side of protectiveness he showed her back when he had been preparing for his fight with Valiant, that he would never admit that he still sought out Merlin, even after the threat was gone. So instead, she turned her sights on Uther, who was waiting for them on the other side of the hall with a proud expression.
"I suppose that your father hasn't apologized for not believing you or Merlin?" She asked as she changed the subject. It would not be any great surprise to her, to find that the king had not apologized for his great error. An error he had made that could have cost him the life of his only heir. The king was just as pig-headed and as stubborn as his son, there was no way an apology would ever cross his lips.
Because then he would have to admit that a peasant boy-rather he be a consort now or not-had seen the danger when the king had been singing said danger's praises.
Arthur seemed to share the same sentiment as her, because his royal smile looked to be a bit more bitter when he said, "He'll never admit that he was wrong, yet along apologize to someone peasant born." Arthur showed no delusions, he knew that his father's pride was the most important thing to the man. That no matter what Arthur did, he would always have to come second to his father's own prideful ways.
Morgana glanced over at him curiously, and her arm tightened around his inconspicuous, "Unlike yourself, of course?" She asked him, wondering if Arthur's pride matched his own father's. Or if he would actually be the one to suck it up and admit to Merlin that he'd been wrong to doubt him.
Arthur's shoulders went up to his ears as the prince winced because, right...he would have to apologize to Merlin. He couldn't let that go hanging around between them unresolved, it would have to be done. No matter how much it pained him to actually do it, he just knew he was going to have to swallow his own pride to do it. But he wasn't going to admit that to the Lady, it was bad enough that he'd have to go looking Merlin in the eye and spit the words out. He was just...hoping that he could do it in a more private setting.
Quick to change the subject without actually answering Morgana, Arthur said, "I just hope that you aren't to disappointed that you were unable to attend with Valiant. You know, with me hurting him out on the field and all." But it was probably a good thing Valiant hadn't gotten to live long enough to attend. Arthur wouldn't have been able to control himself if that was the case, and Valiant's death probably would have been a lot more gruesome.
"Oh, I'm not upset about that at all." Morgana said dryly, her lips pursing as she turned her head to look away from him. Maybe she was just as pig-headed as Uther and Arthur both, because she was also refusing to admit what had occurred. That she too, had fallen prey to Valiant's manipulations, growing what would become known as 'a school-girl crush' many generations from them. Luckily, what little of the infatuation she held had shattered within moments of hearing what his true character was when Merlin had made his claims. "As it turns out, would be-rapists aren't the best for champion material."
Arthur nodded, feeling as if the excitement of the party had gone down some. Not for those in attendance, this was something that could only be felt by himself and Morgana. As if the little bit of pride he had gotten from winning a tourney had completely drained away so that it could make way for something that would be a bit more solemn. "That was some finale." Arthur muttered, half under his breath and it was barely detectable by even Morgana and her sharp ears.
Arthur couldn't allow himself to feel any pride over his win. Not when the cost of having the fight at all could have been Merlin and his lost virtue.
Sensing the change in the air, as well as the prince's drifting thoughts, Morgana seemed to bounce back. She whipped around just so she could smile brightly at Arthur, showing all of her teeth as she tried to get him to rally in the excitement instead of the depression he seemed to have fallen into. "Tell me about it." She said cheerfully, tugging on Arthur's arm wrapped around her own. "It's not everyday a girl gets to save the prince."
Morgana brought this up herself, unable to resist throwing in that she had been the one to save Arthur's life by tossing down to him a sword she had swiped off the guard standing by her. Her. A woman. Had saved the life of a prince. It was a story that Morgana would just love to tell people. There didn't seem to have nearly enough stories-truth or fable-that had a woman as the hero. All of the stories she'd heard growing up always had a man saving the day, and always the kind where the man whose brain left much to be desired as they were far too small to fill their armor proper. A story about a woman hero, now that was the kind she would have loved to here as a child, to be able to see a different future for herself then the one where she ended up eventually married off to the first man Uther deemed to be acceptable to have her hand.
Arthur, unlike before, was clearly not going to be showing her the same sentiment that he'd had before. If anything, he gave her this look that said she must have just been imagining things, or making things up to make herself look good. "Uh, I wouldn't say I needed to be saved." Arthur insisted in an obvious tone, it'd reeked of him refusing to admit that the great Arthur Pendragon had actually been saved... by a woman. And then he was shrugging one of his shoulders as he dismissed what would have been her own 'moment of glory'. "I am sure that I would've thought of something."
Besides, Arthur thought in the privacy of his own mind, the moment of glory should have been his alone. He should have been the one to save Merlin's naivety and innocence, there wasn't supposed to be someone else as they swept in like a fallen hero to steal away what was essentially 'his thunder'. Even if he had been surrounded and weaponless during the moment, Arthur was confident that he could have pulled through without the help.
Morgana's jaw dropped and she squinted her eyes at him because she was able to see his fake bravado sticking out like a sore thumb, "So are you really to proud to admit that you were saved by a girl?" She demanded, refusing to allow Arthur to dismiss her contribution to his winning.
"Uh, because I wasn't." Arthur said in a tone that was so obvious, it almost had Morgana questioning what she remembered doing as being true or not. But no, Morgana shook her head because she knew exactly what she did rather Arthur would admit it or not. He would not be here at all if Morgana hadn't been the one to give him the weapon he needed so he could defend himself.
"Are you also to proud to admit that you only did all of this to save Merlin?" She spoke out boldly. She knew Arthur like the back of her hand, knew exactly where to push to get out the reaction that she wanted. And it seemed to her that Merlin was turning out to be a sore subject.
True enough, Morgana didn't try to hide her amusement when she saw Arthur stiffening. As she also did not hide her growing grin as she met with Arthur's scowl. "I did not gut a man because he went after 'Merlin.'" Arthur said in protest, feeling the lie as it coursed through him. "I did it because Valiant attacked a man whose a citizen in my kingdom:" he finished his words with stubborn finality.
That was all there was to it. Arthur knew he would have shown the same ferocity of a dragon, the furious anger of someone who'd been wronged, if Valiant had gone after any other man. He just knew that he would, with every fiber of his being. It was, after all, his solemn duty to protect his kingdom. So why did it feel as if Arthur was missing something?
Morgana huffed at Arthur's stubborn nature and turned her head to look away so fast that her hair flung out and whipped Arthur across the face, leaving him sputtering out in shock and surprise. "Morgana!" He exclaimed out at her, but Morgana was no longer listening to him or his complaining.
"You know what?" Morgana said boldly, with her chin tilted up as she talked over Arthur's sputtering. "I wish I suggested to Merlin that he and I attend together. I am 'so sure' that it would be more of a people pleaser than you and I."
Arthur gave her a smile, the kind that was a bit more thin lipped to be real before he told her, "You know what, I think that would have been the best idea you ever had. You and him could go talk about whatever it is that girls do so at least I wouldn't have to listen to it."
He would probably like it, Arthur thought with grudging. Walking into the hall on Morgana's arm, taking in all of the praise that came with being a Pendragon. Instead of sneaking in as if he was planning on stealing something...at least that would free up a bit of Arthur's time as well. He wouldn't feel as if his eyes were constantly darting around to try and track the miserable boy down when all he would have to do was find Morgana to know where'd he gone.
"Well Merlin would have by far, made better company than you." Morgana defended the boy as she heard Arthur calling him a girl. He was such a jerk, Morgana thought, using the term 'girl' as if it was supposed to be some kind of insult.
"Oh, I am so sure he would have!" Arthur shot back at her, refusing to believe that Morgana would have had any real fun if she had been accompanied by Merlin. It was clear to Arthur that Merlin would have absolutely no clue on how to treat a lady of Morgana's status.
"You know," Morgana sneered back at him in distaste, "You think you would be just a little bit nicer to him. Considering you did just kill a man to 'save his honor' or whatever it is you knights will kill for." It wasn't like it was Merlin who was at fault for Valiant attacking him, so the least Arthur could do was treat him with a bit more dignity than he was at the moment.
Arthur seemed to realize this as well because he winced, as he realized how exactly he was behaving. He had forgotten himself for just a minute there, had forgotten how far he'd gone to ensure that Merlin wouldn't be violated while under Camelot's care. It would not do for Camelot's reputation if it's 'beloved consort' was shown to be mistreated in such a way only weeks after arriving. As if showing that Camelot could not protect those that were supposed to be safe within it's walls. And he was supposed to be the vigilant guardian that kept those in it's boarders safe. How could he be entrusted to keep his kingdom safe if he'd been unable to protect one man?
Arthur opened his mouth to say something back to Morgana, although not even he knew what was about to come out, his brain hadn't fully formed a thought one way or the other. But luckily, he was saved from-either arguing that he hadn't gutted Valiant to save Merlin or his virtue, or agreeing that Morgana was right and he should start showing just a little more grace to an assault victim-answering by the arrival of his father.
"Now children, what is going on here?" The king asked the two in his care. He looked between the two as he approached them, the crowd melting away to return to their partying now that the excitement of the prince and his arrival had worn off. Although the royal group still had the odd glance over in their direction.
"Nothing, father." Arthur said hurriedly as he was quick to look away from Morgana. Arthur was not sure how much his father realized how he had his anger fueling most of the fight, if he'd known Arthur had allowed his emotions to be controlling him during most of the fight. He'd nearly lost the fight because of that, and that was one of the first rules of combat: don't go into a fight emotionally. One wouldn't be able to fight properly if they couldn't think clearly.
Morgana, who had never trained as a knight, had no such reservations. "Arthur and I were just having this riveting discussion about his win." She said as she smiled up at Uther with a much more demure smile than she had ever given to Arthur.
"Is that so?" Uther asked, his eyes narrowed as if he thought he may be being lied to, and looking between the two of them. "What was being discussed exactly?"
Arthur's smile was a bit stiffer as he passed Morgana off to his father, Morgana wrapping her arm delicately into the crook of the king's as she went from one man to the other. "It is not anything of consequence, father." Arthur told him quickly.
Morgana was quick to amend that, "He is just showing a touch of modesty tonight. I'm sure he is quite shaken after having such a close encounter with a sorcerer." She said, as she shot an amused look at Arthur from over the king's shoulder.
Arthur glared at her, trying to will Morgana to shut up with just his eye's alone. But it didn't work and he was forced to smooth back his expression when Uther looked away from the Lady to his son.
"I wouldn't exactly say that I was shaken," he said quickly, trying to make up for Morgana's false words. Maybe he actually was a little bit shaken, but he wouldn't have exactly said it was because he fought a sorcerer. Maybe he was more shaken because of how he allowed his anger to get in the way of his sworn duty to protect his citizens.
"Nonsense." Uther interrupted him before he could finish, looking as if he understood what Arthur must have gone through. It made the prince wince, biting down on his lip as to not protest. Maybe it was for the best that Uther thought he was just shaken. It was the better alternative then admitting he had lost his cool so outrageously because of a peasant boy. "It must have been tough," Uther said as he then reached forward and clasped a hand onto his son's shoulder. "I do believe this happened to be your first real fight against a sorcerer-"
This was true. Arthur had seen sorcerer's and had seen some of the things that they could be capable of. But his father had done what he could and shielded him and Morgana from their powers. The king had not wanted to risk his heir or ward in his fight against magic. So other then being taught of the danger magic-users possessed, neither of them had been allowed to have close contact with one. Not unless they were in iron chains and being led to the execution platform.
"And while it did me proud to see you face off against one of those evil sorcerers, and come out on top," Uther told his son. It made Arthur straighten up, as he allowed the pride he had been ignoring to fill him up. He had only ever heard his father tell him he was proud of him twice in all of his twenty years. Once when he was eighteen and had been conducted fully into the sanctum of knighthood. And then he had again well, when he had agreed to follow through with his marriage to Merlin, which in turn had subsequently stopped them from being forced to overturn the kingdom to the boy and his family. Which is probably why he should have realized there was a going to be a 'but' coming up. And true enough, "But," he heard the king saying. "I do have to express a concern I couldn't help but notice during your fight."
Arthur's head snapped up so that he would be able to look his father in the eye, "You're concerned, father?" The prince asked as he started to feel his shoulders sag, the pride in his veins slipping away to disappointment in himself. He should have known that his father would point out whatever error he made. The King claimed it was just to prepare Arthur and make him stronger, for when there was a time that Uther would no longer be able to pass on the guidance that Arthur needed. It was all to prepare Arthur for the day he would become the king. But it was hard to remember that as it seemed that everything Arthur did had something wrong with it.
If Uther noticed Arthur's downtrodden face, then he didn't say anything, choosing instead to explain himself. "Yes, Arthur. While Valiant was a sorcerer and certainly deserved what he got, you did so with a...ferocity to it that I have not seen in you. It was quite horrific to be honest. Is there something that I need to know?"
Arthur felt an uneasy shudder going down his spine, not sure how to answer that. Would his father accept that Arthur had just been really angry-murderous if one wanted to be more accurate-because his consort had been the intended victim. Maybe Uther would agree with him if Arthur claimed he had just been a bit overzealous because Valiant had attacked a member of the court. Merlin was technically a member of the court, right? He didn't think his father would accept so easily that Arthur had shown so much anger just because the victim had been his peasant born consort.
Uther raised an eyebrow at his son, trying to determine if there was anything wrong with his heir. While his son did him proud when he struck down the sorcerer, the anger in which he had used was a concerning matter. It was probably just a one off, the stress of fighting his first sorcerer forcing his heir to use what means he could, but Uther wanted to be sure that his son wasn't about to start cutting the people down in the street. If Arthur wasn't a prince and Valiant a sorcerer setting out with plans to kill him, Uther probably would have had anybody else committed into one of the old asylum's on the far edge of the kingdom, where they wouldn't disturb the better folk.
Luckily, Arthur was saved from having to give a detailed answer by Morgana giving this tiny light hearted giggle, her smile just a tad more wicked then it should be on such a sweet and kind face, "Oh, I am sure that there is plenty to discuss." Morgana said casually, flashing Arthur that wickedly teasing smile, "But the fight is not one of them."
Morgana would have loved to have a chance to talk more with Arthur about Merlin. Uther had not been lying about the force of anger that Valiant's actions against Merlin had been stirring up in Arthur. It was just enough that it made Morgana want to poke and prod at it as she tried to figure out if Arthur really was just as hard and as rude as he portrayed himself to be.
Uther looked down at the ward on his arm with a confused frown, "Morgana?" He asked her questioning, not understanding what she was getting at. Morgana's smile looked just a bit more sweeter when she smiled up at the king and opened her mouth. But she was also promptly cut off before she could get a single word out.
"Nothing, father!" Arthur said almost frantic if only because he was scared to hear what the lady would say next. Almost anything, Arthur was sure, would feel like his downfall. He did not want Uther looking further into anything than it was. Arthur had killed Valiant because he had been a sorcerer and his presence in the kingdom would have caused strife, giving him a 'public execution' was the only way for Arthur to protect his kingdom from the threat Valiant posed. Just like his father had taught him from an early age, sorcerer's were evil so they needed to be destroyed at any cost. He had only been following the example his king had shown him all his life, and that is all there was to it. "There is nothing to be concerned with, father. I saw a sorcerer and took what chance I had to end him."
That seemed to satisfy Uther at least, if that nod of his head was anything to go by. And at least it had put an end to his questioning, had stopped him from digging any deeper as if he was trying to find the real reason that hidden itself between Arthur's words.
Morgana didn't seem to be nearly as pleased by Arthur's answer, because the Lady shot him a scowl. Arthur just gave her a thin lipped smile, as if he was trying to convey to her 'ha! He believed me.'
Snidely, Morgana said, "Maybe you should go and find something to entertain yourself with Arthur. I am sure your 'Consort' will need you to save him. Unless your planning on leaving him to be your manservant's date."
Arthur frowned because he had no idea what she was talking about. At least until she gave an incline with her head, indicating for Arthur to look behind him. Which he did, and Arthur finally saw Merlin standing off to the far wall by himself. Well not by himself because Morris was with him, and the two boys seemed to have fallen into some kind of conversation, leaving Merlin's back towards the prince.
Arthur turned back to his father, "I hope that you can excuse me, father, but I don't think it will be a very good look if my consort is seen spending more time with my servant than he is with myself." He brought up a hand to his chest, looking every bit the gracious prince he had been brought up to be.
Uther nodded in agreement, flashing a frown of disgust-his lip curling-over Arthur's head and seeing the scene as well. "Of course son, you go on over there and remind your servant he is not to be seen conversing with anymore 'nobles'." His lip curled even further in disgust when he was forced to call Merlin such.
To most people, all they would have seen was two serving boys talking, and even then it'd have been largely ignored, unless they were being yelled at to get back to work. But for those who actually recognized Merlin as the kingdom's 'consort' the scene seemed to be a lot more indecent. It was clear that Merlin wasn't giving Morris' instructions, and what could be more embarrassing than nobility who treated a servant as if they were a friend instead of a worker.
Arthur gave his father a bow, hands stiffly at his sides before he then left the ward and the king behind so that he could do away with his manservant and talk to the consort. He had a feeling that if he didn't apologize to Merlin for not believing him before the night was up, he most likely never would.
Ten Minutes Earlier:
Merlin popped what must have been another apple slice in his mouth. He had given up on the grapes when he realized he had ate most of the bowl, and had moved onto a different bowl that rested beside it that held apple slices in it.
Maybe it was all of the stress, but Merlin-for the first time with so much food now being available to him-found himself eating down his feelings. The feelings got even worse as he forced himself to watch when Arthur and Morgana first entered the room and started down the stairs.
Merlin's frowned deeper as he watched the two being swallowed up by the crowd, nobles finding their way to flock the prince and ward until the people grew so thick that Merlin was unable to see them any longer. He wished he couldn't see them at all, because Merlin had an image of the two of them when they'd been first announced as they came into the room practically ingrained in his mind's eye now.
Morgana's dark hair-so thick and curled in a very elegantly manner over her shoulder was seemingly able to compliment Arthur's thick locks swooping across his forehead as they'd fallen in a deliberate manner underneath the crown across his forehead. Morgana had this pale skin that seemed to go quite well when compared to Arthur's tanner skin tone. And don't even get him started on the clothes, as he could still see them brightly inside of his own mind. Morgana and her thick blue dress that flowed out behind her as she walked, as well as Arthur's thick red robes that fell in just the right way over his shoulders. It made him feel as if he was just some walking disaster of a mess. Even if he had worn the clothes that George had brought to him, he didn't think he could pull it off as well as they could.
Merlin slipped yet another apple slice into his mouth and crunched down on it loudly, giving him a few glares from some nearby servants that had just passed by. He didn't care at the moment, if anything, it just made him eat a bit more loudly, if only to really stick it to them for judging him.
After the servants had wondered away, Merlin felt his shoulders sag in defeat, recognizing just how stupid that had been. "Some party." He grumbled to himself. What was he even doing here? It was clear that Arthur wasn't to enthused by his presence, if his reaction to Morgana suggesting he walk them both into the party was any indication. It wasn't as if he belonged here anyway, among all of the glitz and the beauty. He'd feel more at home if he had dirt under his fingernails as he dug into the ground to plant something. Or maybe by having stains on his clothes because he had gotten into one of Gaius' potions and tried to make his own. He didn't belong...in a room with people that was more comfortable when they sat on their golden chairs and barked at those who stood below them.
Maybe...it was clear that Morgana had been born into a lifestyle that he feared he'd never get no matter how long he stayed. Maybe it'd have been better if Morgana was the one that had married Arthur instead. At least the Lady seemed to know what she was doing, could flash the crowd of worshippers cloying smiles that they seemed to eat up in a heartbeat. He couldn't even talk to the king without feeling as if Uther would take his head off if he dare utter the wrong remark.
"They are quite beautiful, aren't they?" Was a sudden voice behind him said, so close to his ear that it startled Merlin. His knee came up and hit against the corner of the table, and it made Merlin bit back a curse as a throbbing erupted down his leg.
"W-what?" Merlin hissed confused, bent over as he was pressing his hand against the ache in his knee, trying to alleviate the pain. While it did help with the pain in his knee, it did not a thing to help with the pain this person was gonna be in his backside.
"I was just mentioning how lovely the prince looks with Lady Morgana." Morris said with a smile that seemed to be a tad bit more snide than a servant should use when talking to the consort. The manservant gave a deep sigh as if he was in awe or something before he said, "The two of them have always had a certain... quality to them. I don't know what it is to be exact, but I do know they are quite a fetching pair, wouldn't you agree?"
Merlin stopped rubbing his knee long enough to straighten up, his eye's narrowing down on Morris in suspicion. He wouldn't say he'd had forgotten about Morris, or what Mary claimed he had done. But Morris had been the least of his concerns when he was still dealing with Valiant. But now that Valiant was gone, Merlin found himself eyeing Morris with suspicion in his eye's. As if he thought the servant would start pulling poisons out of his pockets while flashing them at Merlin. But of course, it did not happen.
"...Not particularly." Merlin forced himself to say when the silence started to drag on for an uncomfortable amount of time. He wasn't about to admit to 'Morris' of all people that he had been thinking practically the same before he had shown up. It felt to much as if he would be giving in to whatever sick game it was Morris was trying to play with him.
Morris' eye's widened in false astonishment at this, "Really? Are you sure...nobles always flock among their own, and those two have been together since they were children. It'll definitely make a storybook ending if they'd been the ones to end up together."
He nodded his head to somewhere behind Merlin's shoulder, causing the boy to glance over as well. He frowned, seeing the way that Morgana and Arthur were greeting the crowd, he was just able to see their heads through a gap among the noble people that seemed to have formed a semi-circle around them. So, Merlin determined, Morris wasn't here to try and poison him like rumor had it he did to the other guy. He was just here to...what? To toss Morgana and Arthur in his face, to throw into the fact that Merlin wasn't among them. Was it possible that Morris didn't know that Merlin knew he wasn't welcomed among those that had been deemed more important than him by birthright? If he did know, then it was clear that Morris was truly cruel, trying to rub what Merlin already knew into his face.
Merlin's face went blank and he turned so he could look at Morris, acting almost as if he'd wasn't the least bit concerned that his own husband may have some kind of feelings for Morgana: he did remember their wedding far to clearly, like when Arthur hadn't been able to take his eye's off of the dark haired goddess when she had entered the wedding dinner. "Well, Arthur is married to me and not her." Merlin said pass the lump growing in his throat, the words themselves almost tasted like ash on his tongue, but he also did not allow that to show on his face in the slightest. "So...were you supposed to be actually going somewhere with this..."
He allowed the sentence to trail off, to try and make it sound like Morris was just wasting his own time. To make it sound as if he wouldn't care one way or the other who Arthur choose to spend his time with. It wasn't like he could just stomp up to the blonde and demand him to give Merlin the proper attention. He wasn't able to force the prince into giving Merlin any real reason to be here...besides, did he really want to if Arthur wasn't interested? He would probably just be wasting his time by trying to catch Arthur's eye, he'd already tried once by giving him the favor and one could see how that had turned out.
Morris didn't look pleased to see what would appear to be nonchalance on Merlin, because he scowled deeply at the consort. But Merlin didn't know what he was expecting? Did the manservant think that Merlin was going to act like a toddler and start stomping his feet, was he hoping that Merlin would cause a scene in a way that would embarrass Merlin and cause Arthur's reputation to hit rock bottom? Or he may just be trying to hurt Merlin, maybe he'd thought Merlin was clueless of Arthur's clear affections for Morgana and thought to bring it to his attention...did he want to see Merlin running out of the room in a mess of tears?
...Whatever it was, Merlin was determined, he wasn't going to get it. Merlin wasn't going to run out of the room crying, and he wasn't going to start screaming and acting as if he'd just caught Arthur cheating on him. He'd just stand here and be happy, damn it! Eating his way through the golden platters as he forced himself to watch Arthur and Morgana as they mingled easily throughout the crowd, being the center of attention. But he'd be the most happiest person on the planet, even if it may bloody well kill him.
"You know," Morris finally said as he pulled his gaze away from Morgana and Arthur to lock eye's with Merlin, and that look of annoyance on his face dissipated so quickly that Merlin had to wonder if it had even been there in the first place or if he had imagined it. "I saw what happened." And he looked at Merlin with a genuine expression of remorse, as if he truly felt sorry for Merlin for whatever reason. For marrying Arthur? For being most obviously un-included in the festivities?
A sudden thought-what should have been the first thought-shot through his mind and Merlin went as straight as a pin as a shot of pure panic shot through his brain. Morris had claimed he saw...did that mean he saw what Merlin had done during the tourney? Had he seen Merlin using magic, did the manservant know that Merlin was a magic-user? Or was he just panicking for nothing, "W-what'd do you mean?" Merlin asked, hating the way his voice cracked at the beginning, betraying his true feeling of panic for Morris' inspection. It also brought up the question...what would he want if he hadn't already turned Merlin over to the crown?
Morris gave him this sympathetic nod, hands tucked behind his back as he said, "I know he switched your favor with another's." And then he was nodding his head somewhere over his shoulder, but Merlin didn't dare look knowing that all he would see was the prince and the lady whispering conspiratorially towards the other.
Those words sent a shot of relief through him and it was almost ridiculous just how fast the panic drained out of him as Merlin nearly slumped against the table behind him, "Oh, is that all?" He said, relieved. It would be much better if it was known that Arthur didn't want him, rather then anybody finding out that he was a boy sorcerer. His life would have been forfeit before he'd even gotten the chance to live it.
Morris didn't take to kindly to what appeared to be his lack of reaction, if that scowl on his face was any indication. "Is that all?" Morris repeated to him, looking as if he didn't know if he should believe that Merlin really didn't care or not. "I think I would be a little more concerned about my husband showing any interest in someone else..."
Merlin tensed, and he felt it when his jaw was suddenly locking into place, not liking that he was bringing that up. Wasn't he supposed to play the part of devoted husband...or wasn't that what Uther wanted? For him to act as if he was in love with Arthur? A real husband would probably fly off the handle in a jealous fit of rage...no. Merlin didn't feel like playing any kind of part, nor did he feel like acting as if he was anything other than what he was. It was just far to emotionally draining, "Well, it's not exactly news to me..." Merlin said in what was an awkward tone, tilting his head behind him to indicate where he knew Morgana and Arthur were across the hall. Morgana hadn't given him the purple favor, Merlin was able to comfort himself with that.
Morris shook his head at him, "Okay, there is just this one thing that I have to ask you." In a very rude manner that was ill-fitting to talk to a consort with. It was probably a good thing for Morris that Merlin wasn't a proper consort then.
"And what is that?" Merlin asked, bringing up a hand to his cocked out hip, narrowing down his eye's in a tone that was just as rude as the one Morris had spoken to him in. There was something about it that just made his heckles raise.
Morris stepped closer so that he stood next to the table beside Merlin, setting his hand on the edge of the table, "You see," he started in an eerily calm manner. "I have been in service of the Royal household for quite a few years now, and I believe I'm pretty confident when I say I know everything there is to know about the prince. Do you know how many girls have tried to give him favors over the years since he reached his majority? And some even did try to give him one before he was old enough to accept it-"
Merlin found himself shifting uncomfortably on his feet at the reminder that his husband was three years older than him. Now, it may not be that many years in the grand scheme of things, but it did bring up the question 'what had Arthur done in those three years'. And if Arthur was also aware of that small age-gap between them...if he thought Merlin was just some dumb kid. He sure felt like one when he saw Morris' expression, something that was kind of condescending and mocking, as if he was in on some great joke that Merlin didn't even realize he was in.
"That's not a question." Merlin pointed out as he scowled. He hated feeling as if he was this dumb kid who didn't know anything, as if the entire world knew exactly what was going on while Merlin was just struggling to catch up. It wasn't a good feeling to have.
"Okay." Morris said as he finally moved onto the point instead of wasting his time taunting Merlin. "I just wanted to know-" he leaned in as if he was going to whisper conspiratorially to Merlin. "If you really thought he would go with yours when he literally has the pick of the lot."
Morris was cocky as hell, thinking that Merlin had some nerve, thinking a prince like Arthur would accept the rag he'd given him. Now, he hadn't been able to stay long enough to know who had given Arthur the other favor, but just knowing another had given him one gave him a thrill of pleasure. More specifically, Arthur's public rejection of Merlin gave him a thrill.
Merlin looked away from Morris, not wanting the other boy to see neither his hurt nor any of his frustration, maybe he was just a dumb kid if even Morris thought he was stupid to try, "I think it's time you left, Morris." Merlin said gruffly, feeling as his hand started to curl into a fist. He already felt stupid enough, had thought he put this whole favor thing behind him so that he could save Arthur's hide, but it was brought back to the forefront of his mind by Morris.
Morris made himself at home instead, leaning himself against the table they stood at, as he crossed his arms over his chest broadly, "Did that become an order, Sir Merlin?" He asked amused, as if he somehow knew that Merlin wasn't going to go ordering him around.
Merlin did have the power, he could very well order the manservant to go away and never bother him again. Could get the guards to be involved if Morris didn't, and have him put in the stocks for the next day if he wanted. But while Merlin did have this kind of power, he'd been stuck with the mindset of a commoner who'd never held power a day in their life. As far as Merlin was concerned, he literally could not make Morris leave. Not unless he tried to punch him to enforce the message, but that probably wouldn't go over so well during this fancy party.
After the disaster of a council meeting, Merlin was at least a bit more aware of his actions.
Merlin's jaw clenched even tighter as he felt a muscle in his jawline jumping frantically, "No." he bit out harshly. "It isn't." He wasn't Arthur, he didn't go around 'giving' orders.
Morris took this as permission to continue on, as if he thought Merlin actually wanted to talk to him, "You know," Morris said confidently as he leaned back comfortably on his elbows to hold himself up against the table, and looking at Merlin with half-lidded eye's and this really lazy looking smile. "It really was actually kind of cute-" and he sounded so patronizing that it sent a burn of humiliation through Merlin, it was like this burst of heat was burning in his chest as his face flamed. "But I also suppose I can't blame you, you're not the first one that has fallen under the prince's charm, and you aren't the last peasant that he'll invite into his bed..."
Merlin stiffened up, his anger draining out of him to be replaced with confusion, "W-what are you talking about?" He stuttered, invited to his bed? What in the world was he talking about, why would Arthur invite Merlin to his bed? Merlin hadn't even seen Arthur's room for more than a few minutes-he only touched Arthur's bed at all the night they'd married to sit on the edge of it-but why did Morris seem to think Merlin would bother being in there at all, would be invited even? The times he 'had' gone in there was because he had bursted in on him, Arthur would surely never 'invite' him in.
If Morris thought there was anything strange about Merlin's response, he didn't show it at all. In fact, he even seemed to be showing a kind of amusement to it. "Well, I didn't want to just come right out and say it-" Morris said cockily, looking as if-despite his words, he 'really' wanted to say it. "But you should know just how close these nobles can be towards their own-personal-manservants."
Merlin blanked, blinking dumbly at Morris as he struggled in vain to connect the dots. It was clear to him that Morris was trying to tell him something, or was insinuating something but he didn't know what that something was. And Morris was waiting for Merlin's reaction...how close nobles were to their servants? He didn't think nobles cared much for their servants, to him it had always seemed as if nobles either ignored their servants or abused them. But it was Morris-an actual servant-who'd told him different. Close...servants were close to their masters...who else were people close to? He could mean as friends-but Merlin didn't really see Arthur being friends with Morris. But that didn't seem like a big deal if it was true. But people could also be close if they were family or friends of the family. Or even if...
Merlin's jaw dropped and his eye's widened in awed disbelief, "You've been on a date with Arthur?" He asked, and he had what was this almost morbid curiosity to know how it went down. Which was strange, he most definitely should not be thinking about Arthur and who he'd been on a date with. But should he even believe Morris? Arthur going on a date...now if it was one of those noble girl's that flocked around the grand hall, he may have believed it more readily. But the prince going out with Morris...it was more than a little strange...
"...a date?" Morris repeated slowly, trying to figure out if Merlin was just messing around with him. "...I suppose you could have called it that." He lied, trying to make Merlin believe that Arthur spent his time fucking around on the servants. The one thing Arthur had never done was touch a servant-unless one would count being pushed aside by him-and those had always been the males. Arthur had never put his hands on one of the female servants.
If he was caught by the guards or pretty much any noble for insinuating what he just had, he'd probably be hanged. Uther wouldn't allow a servant to go making claims like that without some serious repercussions against it. But to make Merlin doubt the role he had in this kingdom, to make the boy think Arthur was as unfaithful as could be-which wouldn't be hard considering how easily the prince had made for him-wearing that favor and such.
The risk was worth it.
But Merlin had to be playing around with him because there was no way that anybody was so 'stupid' as to not realize what he meant. It was hard though, not to bash his own head into the table when Merlin still didn't seem to get it.
"But..." Merlin trailed off as he remembered what Arthur had told him back when they'd been in the bedroom, when Arthur had been making wild accusations about Merlin being in love with him and why it couldn't work, "So you had a date with Arthur...but I thought he only liked girl's...and me..." he spit out the last part hastily, not wanting anyone to know that he was pretty much here against his will.
But he could still remember the way Arthur'd told him he wasn't gay, and then told Merlin he would help him 'get over him'. Maybe he'd just been holding onto a bit of hope that-like Gwen had said all that time ago during those first rounds of the tourney-that Arthur hadn't considered the possibility before. Or he may have been hoping that Merlin could bring that part of him out...that hope had been steadily dwindling away as the days past. But if what Morris said was true-then that meant that he did like guys...so why wouldn't he give Merlin a chance?
Morris just gave a light hearted shrug, as if he thought he was doing Merlin some kind of favor by telling him all this, "Maybe he likes a little variety sometimes." He said, and then he was giving Merlin a once over-as if the other boy was trying to say without actually saying the words-that he thought Merlin was lacking in something serious.
Merlin caught himself when he realized he'd moved his hands up to try and straighten out his jacket, as if it would look better on him if he did. Morris caught the aborted motion and shot Merlin a smug smirk. Merlin went tense, his cheeks puffing out as he'd clenched both hands into fists, ready to storm off from this horribly awful conversation-a sneered remark to Morris' clear dismissal of him forming onto his lips-but he was interrupted before he was able to get the first sound out.
"Morris-" a commanding and dismissal voice said gruffly, breaking easily into the bubble of privacy that Merlin and Morris had fallen into at some point. Both boys jolted straight, and they looked quite off-kilter when they noticed Arthur had walked up to them at some point, had he heard them?
Morris felt a zing of panic going through him as he could already feel the sting of a noose being fitted around his neck. But forget him being hanged, Arthur would probably kill him himself-just like he had Valiant on the field-if he knew what Morris was saying behind his back. Morris-in his service to the prince-had many things thrown at his head whenever the prince was just in a bad mood-but he'd never felt the sting of the prince's blade. And didn't look forward to it if Arthur 'had' heard him.
"Go make yourself useful and grab yourself a serving tray." Arthur said, giving Morris what could only be this dismissal wave of his hand, as if Morris was bothering him with his mere presence.
But it appeared that luck was on his side as the prince didn't act any different then he'd always would-didn't even seem to realize he had walked in on something. What would any peasants have to talk about that would interest him, would have been his mindset.
"Of course, sire." Morris said respectfully as he bowed his head lowly to his prince. And he was doing it again, this time to Merlin, though it was done much more slowly and seemed to be more mocking-a trait that only Merlin had seemed to notice. "I hope that you can have a good rest of the party, Sir Merlin." And then he was flashing him a smirk as he left.
Merlin watched him go with a scowl, hating it when he realized Morris had gotten under his skin so easily. Yes, Merlin would be enjoying the rest of the party-even if it killed him-now that Morris was gone, and out of his sight as he disappeared into the crowd.
"Have you heard what Morgana has been saying?" Arthur asked him as he whipped his head to Merlin-making Merlin jump with how sudden he'd said it-and talking to Merlin as if they were old friends, and not unfortunate participates to a facade of a marriage. "She's got some nerve, saying that she saved my life and all. Like I needed any help."
Merlin blinked at him, not entirely sure why Arthur was over here and trying to bitch at him about Morgana-he'd thought he liked her or something-but Arthur just looked annoyed by it all, "...What..." he asked him confused, as well as a little standoffish. Merlin wasn't sure why Arthur had approached him at all, he had almost been anticipating an Arthur-free night once the party had kicked off. He'd had not a doubt that Arthur would come find him, not after the way he'd reacted when Morgana had suggested they go together. But now with Morris and all of his weird insinuations, he wasn't even sure he wanted Arthur around him at all.
Because if Morris' words had any little bitty grain of truth to them-which he doubted but he did have this small part inside of him that refused to let it go-it meant that Arthur had lied to him about liking guys. Which also meant that Arthur did like guys, he just didn't like Merlin. It hurt, but Arthur should have just told him that instead of denying that he liked guys altogether!
Arthur seemed to have noticed the mood that Merlin was in, because the prince winced just a bit as a grain of guilt started to curl around in his stomach. It was a bit sickening actually, he couldn't remember a time where he'd felt guilt, but he had also never accused anybody of lying about assault before. If he was able to assess anything from the way Merlin was behaving, it was that this probably wouldn't end well, but he still has to at least try.
"So," Arthur cleared his throat awkwardly as he tried to buy himself some time as he was left to frantically search through his jumbled mind to figure out how to start this, "...You've realized that you have nothing to worry about anymore. I mean, about Valiant-" he then cut himself off because he could already tell he'd been able to ramble. And Merlin wasn't even looking at him. The dark haired boy he'd been married off to seemed to have found something absolutely fascinating about the table they'd stood by.
"I noticed." Merlin said dryly, keeping eye's on the wood grain of the table as he ran a finger along the edge of it. "I did see you killing him out on the field..." although he wasn't entirely sure why Arthur had felt the need to come on over here just to tell him what-that the knight was dead?-he already knew that! Maybe the prince was just trying to brag and had gotten bored with bragging to the nobles, so he had come over here to regale the tale to another type of audience. One who was-peasant-and would no doubt be more-in awe-of whatever swordsman skills he had.
"Right, right." Arthur nodded his head, as he then brought a hand up to scratch harshly at the back of his neck. He needed to feel that pain to ground himself, and it was better than being seen pinching himself. "You know-" he tried a different approach. "I almost thought that you weren't going to come..." and then he flushed because that made it sound as if he had been actively looking for Merlin. And okay, so what if he had been, he had worried that Valiant had done something to the other boy before the match, there was absolutely nothing wrong with looking for him in those specific conditions! And maybe he was still a little bit annoyed-an annoyance that was now mostly drowned out by his guilt, that Merlin had 'overslept' and missed half his fight.
And Merlin still wasn't looking at him when he said, "Well, I wasn't exactly going to miss the finals, was I? I had to see if you were as tough as you thought you were, going head to head with the snakes I told you were there and all."
It was a dig, Arthur knew that. A dig because Merlin had warned him, several times in fact before he had even gone out there, and he'd ignored all of the warning signs for the favor of his own pride and his father's words, "Yeah you did," Arthur grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest, mainly because he felt as if he didn't know what to do with them, as if they were suddenly to large for his body or something which was just ridiculous. Arthur was unable to resist throwing in his own kind of dig in response, "Well at the end, I saw the way you were cheering for me. I suppose this means that I've finally impressed you?"
And although he tried to hide it by turning his face away, Arthur was watching Merlin out of the corner of his eye, almost desperate to be able to see his reaction. How many times had Arthur fought only for him to see Merlin off in the crowd and screaming for his opponents? It had been entirely new to see him shouting his own name, and Arthur didn't think that he would ever forget the euphoric rush that had shot through him when he had seen the way Merlin was beaming at him. Well, he wasn't beaming at him now.
All Merlin did was snort in a very unroyal-like manner, Arthur found himself not caring as much as he would have before, when the boy who still refused to look at him allowed a small grin to play in the corner of his mouth, "Not at all." He answered Arthur, making the prince's cocky mirth drop in an instant. "But my choices were between you or Valiant, so I went with the one that has yet to try and kiss me."
The words that came tumbling out of Arthur's mouth without his permission almost felt like an offense, "I've kissed you!" He exclaimed, if only to remind Merlin of the two times they've somewhat kissed-once at the wedding, and again at the meet-and-greet although that one had only been on the back of Merlin's hand. It was not his fault that he felt offended because he thought Merlin had forgotten about it. Arthur had thought he had played his part quite well in fact-and it was almost an offense that the boy did not share the same sentiment. Did he not force back the urge to throw up when he had kissed Merlin on the lips for the very first time, you would have thought Merlin'd thank him for not giving in to it. And did he not also add in a bit of heat for Merlin's own benefit as he kissed the back of his hand, drawing all of his attention away from Valiant and back to Arthur where it should be. One would have thought Merlin would be positively swooning by Arthur's own generosity, giving him that extra bit of heat when Arthur didn't have to.
Merlin finally looked away from the table so that they could meet eye's, and Arthur nearly flinched when he saw the annoyance that he bore on his face, "Forced kisses by your own father doesn't count." He said firmly, as he'd outright refused to believe those two kisses were the proper way to kiss somebody.
"Right," Arthur said, mostly to himself than to Merlin. He was surprised that he had almost forgotten that Merlin didn't like being kissed if they were orchestrated by a third party. He shouldn't forget that again, because Merlin had 'drawn the line in the sand' so to speak when it came to unwanted kisses. His father wouldn't be happy about it, because the two of them were supposed to play up being this 'couple in love', but kissing was a 'hard no' boundary for Merlin and Arthur was going to respect that. There was just no other way to get around that, nor was he going to try.
Just like there was no other way for him to be able to get around what he was about to do next, which was probably the hardest thing he had ever had to do in his young life, "Look, I-" he started out, getting into what was the real reason for him approaching Merlin in the first place. "For everything's that's happened this week, I do believe that-for not believing you-I owe you an apology." Merlin's reaction to his apology sure did sting though.
Merlin, who had gone back to looking at the table, whipped his head up so fast that his neck nearly snapped, eye's boggling as he realized that Arthur was seriously apologizing to him. He hadn't even known that the prince knew what an apology was, yet along that he was able to do one properly.
Arthur supposed he deserved the reaction though, and he winced as the renewed guilt shot through him. But he steeled his nerves and tried again, trying to enforce onto Merlin that he really was sorry for everything that'd happened, "Valiant was being inappropriate towards you, and I wasn't able to protect you inside of your own home. You should know that I won't make this kind of mistake again, you will be safe here."
If this whole experience had taught Arthur anything, it was to be more vigilant towards his consort. He didn't care if he had to make a solemn oath on his princehood-which was probably one of the highest vows a prince could make in the first place-he wouldn't allow Merlin to fear those kind of advances.
Not in his kingdom.
Merlin shook his head, the little grin on his face curling just a little bit higher because of his sheer baffle-ness. He idly wondered if the protection Arthur was talking about would be applying to his magic. He didn't think that the prince would be so willing to offer him any of this 'protection' if he knew. He almost wanted to laugh at the idea of it, that he would need Arthur to protect him when it had been him who had protected Arthur, "I don't think I'll be needing your 'protection'. He was just being a creep, it wasn't like he was going to hurt me or anything."
Valiant's real focus seemed to be on trying to kill Arthur and win the tourney. He'd messed around with Merlin only during his spare time.
Arthur didn't seem to share this thought with him though, and shook his head as he looked truly astonished, "You have no idea what he'd could have done to you, do you?" He wasn't really asking Merlin, he knew full well that the boy was absolutely clueless. But now, he felt this almost insane urge to lock the boy inside of his room so that Arthur could keep an eye on him. To protect him and the stupid virtue that Merlin didn't even know he was clinging to.
Merlin just looked at Arthur blankly, his smile dropping with his confusion as he blinked up at Arthur innocently, "Do what?"
Arthur's eye twitched at this, staring down at Merlin's almost doe-like eye's. The strange urge he felt to keep Merlin protected seemed to grow ten-fold in a snap, making him almost wish that Merlin wasn't the type to cause any kind of scene while Arthur snatched him up by the wrist and dragged him up to his room so that Arthur could chain his wrist onto his headboard. At least then Arthur would know that nobody else would go about getting any funny ideas with Merlin under his strict and watchful eye.
Arthur brought a hand up to rub harshly at the space between his eye's, already feeling the familiar headache that started to emerge in his temples, "Why did you even bother to try saving me?" Arthur grumbled. It wasn't as if Arthur deserved it, not after the way he had been acting. Merlin wasn't a knight, it wasn't his job or duty to keep Arthur safe. And it was clear that while Merlin may have been able to see the danger the snakes had possessed to him when nobody else could, it was obvious that he wasn't able to see all of the dangers the world was able to possess. It was clear that Arthur was going to have a new lifelong job to do. If he wasn't going to keep Merlin chained to his bed, the least he could do was keep a closer eye on him.
He hadn't been expecting Merlin to answer him, but answer him he did, "Because it was the right thing to do." Merlin said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. He'd even turned away from Arthur and started to pick his way through the plates spread out in front of him again.
So he didn't see Arthur when he was left with his jaw dropped, dumbstruck and shocked by what felt like a confession to him. But was the simple truth to Merlin. By the time Merlin had turned back to him, Arthur had forcibly fixed his expression into a more neutral one.
"...Valiant was trying to kill me." Arthur forced himself to say, if only so he wouldn't say anything else. He really did need to do better work on his apologizing skills anyway. "So I shouldn't have gotten mad about what happened at the council meeting." He couldn't help himself to add in, "But we really do need to work some on your tact."
Merlin would need all the tact he could get if he was going to be sticking around. A council meeting was only the tip of the iceberg when compared to some of the thing's Arthur had to do as prince.
Merlin's response was fast and quick, sharp and amused as well, "We'll work on my tact when we work on your ego."
Instead of being riled up by being called out on like Arthur would have expected, he found himself looking down at the ground, as a curl of amusement flickered in his stomach. It was just a Merlin thing to say that he couldn't help himself as a smile appeared. And Merlin had noticed as well, if the cheeky grin spreading on his face was anything to go by.
"And I should also mention," Arthur spoke out quickly, forcing his smile back. "That with the guard situation. I've gotten things figured out on that front, and you should know that what happened with Valiant isn't going to happen again. Nobody will be able to get on our floor that isn't supposed to be there." He needed Merlin to know that before he left, needed to have Merlin know that he had been taking the threat to Merlin's safety seriously.
But then again, Arthur wasn't all that sure he wanted to leave Merlin alone. He felt an ease in his stomach that he usually didn't feel, like his apology was starting to lift a weight that had been sitting heavily in his stomach.
"You did?" Merlin asked him, surprised when he heard this. "What happened exactly?" He wanted to know what had happened with the guard, or how Valiant had gotten on the floor at all. Theories ran through his mind, had the man bribed the guard at the hall? Or had he'd managed to sneak in when the guard walked away for whatever reason? He also had more sinister reasons run through his mind, like as if Valiant had maybe killed the guard like he'd tried to Arthur.
"Just know that I had it take care of." Arthur said stiffly, his jaw locking. He didn't want to get into it all of that right now when there was a party to be had. With Merlin looking at him with innocent eyes, it was almost like talking to a child. And would one really tell a child the more gruesome details? He could remember Knight Charles on his knees, feel it when the anger had swirled around in his veins, smell it when the small bit of blood had permeated in the air...no, it was best for Merlin to not know that Arthur had nearly-bloodily and recklessly taken off the head-of one of his own guards.
Merlin didn't know what 'take care of' was supposed to mean. Did that mean Arthur had ordered a full-scaled investigation to finding out what had went down? Or did he already know what happened, and was just keeping this information to himself for whatever odd reason...but when Arthur didn't elaborate on what exactly 'taken care of' meant, he was nodding his head with a confused frown.
Arthur had only brought it up in the first place so that Merlin would be able to sleep easy, no more reason to fear somebody breaking open his door in the middle of the night, but Arthur could see the curiosity forming in Merlin and his eye's. "And I should also apologize again for, well, for ruining your first tourney." He threw in there before he could start asking any questions.
It was like some kind of addiction had formed under his skin. Once he'd started apologizing to Merlin, he almost felt as if he was unable to stop. It wasn't nearly as hard to apologize as he thought it would be, and despite his own personal feelings for Merlin, he knew that it wasn't right to go out of his way to ruin the boy's first tourney.
Merlin shrugged and turned away, feeling the flush forming under his skin. Arthur had been acting really weird ever since he approached him. It was really creeping him out, but it was only because he may be liking this new kind of Arthur. "It's no big deal." He said, with this shy and sheepish smile. "I've never been one for tourney's anyway." He lied obviously as he snagged one of the fruits off a serving platter and stuck it in his mouth, "All that excitement and all those people...it's not for me."
Arthur chuckled, nodding his head lowly as he said, "Right." And clearly not believing him but finding amusement in the lie all the same.
Merlin went back to his snacking, and it took him a surprised second to realize that Arthur was still there, looking at him expectedly. He had almost thought Arthur would be walking away now that he had apologized and gotten rid of whatever 'guilt' he had for not listening to Merlin in the first place. But no, he was still standing there, and looking as if he expected Merlin to say something else.
Merlin wracked his brain around, "...You can always buy me a drink and call it even." He'd suggested awkwardly. If Arthur thought that his 'apology' wasn't enough, then he could at least buy Merlin a damn drink.
Arthur nearly laughed at that, he'd never had to buy a drink a day in his life. Not while he'd been inside his own kingdom of course, when he could just order his servants to fetch him a goblet of wine from the kitchens. "Uh, I'm the prince, I can't exactly go into the nearest bar and grab my husband a drink." Just the idea was ridiculous enough.
"Oh, right, right." Merlin nodded his head in an over-exaggerated manner. "I'm only your husband, and I suppose I can't be trusted not to drug your drink or something. And you do only have need for me when it's important royalty business and all that..."
Arthur winced, remembering when he had full on yelled at Merlin right after the council meeting. He had been clear then, that he only had need for Merlin's presence whenever he was required to be there. "I can't go and buy you a drink." Arthur said quickly as he felt his guilt returning fiercely. He was already raising his arm up to flag down a servant. There was one by his side almost in an instant, as if he'd been waiting to be called down, "My husband requires a drink." He commanded in this royal tone. "Be quick about it".
The servant bowed and quickly hurried away to do what was ordered of him.
When Arthur turned back around, it was to Merlin giving him a 'WTF' look. "What?" The prince exclaimed, feeling as if he had done something wrong. "You said you wanted me to get you a drink, so I'm having one brought out to you."
It was so ridiculous that Merlin snorted, "You could have at least told him please." He said in a pointed manner. Arthur just looked as if he was confused, as if it had never occurred to him that he could be polite to the servants who kept his household running. "You can go away now." He said dismissively, figuring that Arthur would take the opportunity to leave. "Since Valiant is gone and all, I'm sure that if anybody else comes and starts stuff with me, I'll be able to handle mysel-"
A hand-hot and heavy-came down onto his shoulder, silencing him when Arthur turned him around forcibly, his eye's like steel when Merlin mentioned the other Knight's name to him, "I need you to swear to me Merlin," the prince said firmly. "That if anybody tries to do what Valiant did, then you come and see me 'immediately'. If anybody tries to-" he spit out his next words. "Kiss you' again, then you are to come straight to me so that I can handle it".
It pained Arthur to say 'kiss' instead of saying 'violate' but it was only a small matter. It was much more important that Merlin knew he was to come straight to Arthur. If only so that things didn't go completely out of control as it had just now.
Merlin didn't take Arthur nearly as serious as he should have. Other than the initial surprise when Arthur had grabbed him, Merlin was left snorting at the thought of Arthur trying to play 'hero'. "What?" He asked amused, "Are you going to kill them all?"
Just like he'd gutted Valiant on the field, how he had rammed his sword straight up into the man's stomach and through his sternum.
Arthur's hand on Merlin's shoulder seemed to tighten almost unbearable, and it was clear to Merlin that Arthur wasn't joking around with him. "If I have to." The prince said darkly, firm. The harsh wave of anger he had felt when he had been fighting Valiant returned so fiercely when he heard the casual way Merlin spoken his name. As if the knight in question hadn't spent his week tormenting him, trying to get close to him, tried to get into his room so he could perform unspeakable acts...it was truly disgusting and if Valiant was still here, Arthur would be foaming at the mouth in his efforts to re-kill him. Over, and over, and over again until his corpse was so destroyed that the man's own mother wouldn't have been able to recognize him. And he'd be nothing more than a distant memory to Merlin, replaced by the way Arthur had taken him out overtime. "Now, swear to me you'll come to me."
Merlin wanted to feel horrified by this, almost wanted to protest that Arthur couldn't just go around killing off whoever showed a liking to Merlin. But the dark warmth growing inside of his belly stopped him, spreading out until that curl of warmth was licking at him... everywhere. "I swear." He choked out, almost unable to bear the warmth licking in the pits of his stomach. Was it there to warn him-was it trying to tell him that Arthur was dangerous and he should get away now while he still had a chance? Or was it trying to tell him to take a chance while he still could, and get closer to Arthur before the prince started behaving in his normal manner again. Because Merlin may actually like this dangerous vibe that Arthur was giving off like waves. Was that wrong? That he had found himself wanting to curl up in that darkness as if it was some kind of weighted blanket, ready to sleep because he knew that danger would protect him from all of the harsh realities that was his life.
The thought burst like a bubble, making him shiver uncontrollably when he saw what the expression on Arthur's face was like. As if he was just now realizing the kind of effect he'd had on Merlin.
Arthur cleared his throat, his hand suddenly feeling like it weighed a ton when he patted Merlin on the shoulder stiffly, "Good, good." He said gruffly, looking away while acting like he didn't know what to do with the hand he'd left sitting on Merlin's shoulder. "I'm glad that we've got that settled." And then he left his hand on Merlin's shoulder, staring down at it with a confused look on his face.
"...Right." Merlin said softly, feeling it when his eyebrows creased together in his confusion. It was an odd time, where he wasn't entirely sure if he knew what Arthur was thinking. He glanced down at the hand on his shoulder as he pointedly gave Arthur a look. The hand he had left on him felt so heavy handed that he'd almost could have sworn his knees had been about to buckle from it.
Arthur practically snatched his hand away as if he had been burned, "Sorry." He said as he dropped his hand heavily at his side. He felt almost as if his face was burning, and he was left to glance away in his awkward manner as the questions rung through his mind. He had known that he was angry, so blistering angry at the thought of some unknown person with their face clouded in the shadows making his move onto Merlin without his permission, that he'd allowed his rage to briefly overcome his brain as he all but manhandled Merlin around to his liking, to demand words from him that would soothe over the savage beast that had been growing inside of him since the day he'd met the boy. But his anger gave him no right to do whatever he wanted with the boy's own body, the thought of becoming anything like Valiant in the boy's eyes left him sickened. So why had it gave him some kind of sick thrill of pleasure when he saw the way Merlin stared at him wide eyed and flushed, blinking at him as if he didn't know who he was seeing-but with a noticeable lack of fear that Arthur was sure Merlin would be wearing if he did think the prince was anything like Valiant.
Arthur swallowed hard passed the lump in his throat when Merlin grinned cheekily at him, "I don't know about this." He told him, making a dizzily amount of warmth shoot through the prince's stomach in a way that alarmed him if it wasn't so soothing as well. "I'm starting to wonder if Valiant did something to you."
Arthur blinked, not entirely sure what Merlin was going on about, but it wasn't his fault he didn't understand! His mind felt all fuzzy in a way it never had before, and he was left with uttering a stupid sounding, "Huh?" The boy's brightening smile doing something towards his insides.
"All of these apologies." Merlin clarified in a way that was on this side of-to innocent-to truly be innocent. "They don't look as if they are hurting you, but I'm almost positive that they would have to. I wasn't even sure you'd know the word before today."
That was an insult, Arthur decided as he was quick to force the fuzzies out of his mind. He decided to block them out, figuring he must be coming down with something or his fight against Valiant must have been more draining then he thought. Maybe the cut on his neck was infected and it was causing some kind of strange reaction to his brain, "I am capable of apologizing when I know that I've done wrong you know." Arthur said sternly. He hadn't had to apologize before-unless it had been to his father but even those had been rare and far between as he strived to do everything he'd been ordered to without fail or fault.
Merlin seemed to pick up on this without him having to say it, if the widening of his grin as he tucked his hands broadly behind his back was anything to go by, "Oh? So you do admit that I was right...about everything. And that you shouldn't doubt me again if I do come and tell you I've discovered a plot to kill you or something."
Arthur sputtered, "W-wait!" He said in this blustering manner. "I said that I was wrong, I didn't say I was just going to believe every word out your mouth-" with the mouth on him it was almost to scary to think of what he may try to come up with. "And what do you mean by the next time! How many plots to murder me do you think you're going to uncover? You only got lucky with this one!"
Somewhere out there, the fates started to crackle with laughter.
Merlin opened his mouth as if he was about to protest, but in the end he just snapped his mouth shut and gave Arthur an innocent kind of smile instead. It made Arthur frown, almost because he was positive that Merlin looked as if he was about to tell him something. But then his brain must of caught on because he went quiet instead.
Arthur didn't like feeling as if he was in the dark, and opened his mouth to tell Merlin that when he was nearly shoved to the side by the sudden weight attaching itself on him. Arthur was forced to abandon his questions, as they left him like sand blowing in the breeze, as he stared down at the talons clinging sharply on his bicep.
"Arthur!" Lady Clarissa said with a painted and bright smile, pointedly ignoring Merlin as she delicately slipped herself into the space that was between them. It was only then that Arthur realized how close he and Merlin had been standing, when he saw that Merlin had to actually step back to avoid being ran over by the Lady. "What on earth are you doing by yourself way over here, it's so drab and dark when the party is over there." She said as she inclined her head to the left where the main party goers actually were.
"Lady Clarissa," Arthur said forcefully as he took a deep and heavy breathe. If this was any other time, he almost would have been glad to see her, or to use her as some kind of excuse to give Merlin so that he could walk away. But he thought his apology talk had been going quite well-or as well as could be expected-and didn't appreciate the interruption as much as he should. He was sure his face reflected that before he'd been able to smooth it over. "I was just talking to my consort, he quite likes his little hidden nooks away from it all, you know." Arthur said in a delicate tone, despite not knowing at all if Merlin liked hidden nooks or being involved in the middle of the crowd.
"Your consort?" Clarissa said in a delicate tone as she removed his arm from where she had dragged it into the valley formed in between her breasts. "I have been most eager to meet his acquaintance. Can I have the honor of meeting him?" She said this in a sultry tone, walking two fingers up his upper arm.
Arthur saw the look on Merlin's face the second the other boy seemed to realize what was going on. And the way his eyes zeroed in on the slim digits walking up his arm. It made him feel as if he had just been caught doing something wrong, "Lady Clarissa," he said in a quick tone, snagging her fingers before he turned her around to face Merlin. "Might I be the first to introduce you to my consort, Merlin Pendragon. Merlin, this is the Lady Clarissa, of the Beckett Family. Her uncle is a high-ranking official in the Royal army, one of the best actually."
Merlin blinked slowly, because that meant absolutely nothing to him. Although it did sound important, especially from the way that Lady Clarissa preened at the praise, as if it were her own accomplishments that were being talked about instead of some distant relative.
"...One of the best." Merlin said stiffly, not sure what he was supposed to do with that information. Or who Lady Clarissa was and why exactly she had her grubby hands on his husband's bicep. Try as he may, he couldn't keep his eye's off of where she was touching, his gaze drawn there like some kind of strong magnet. "That's good to know."
"Yes, it quite is." Clarissa said, just as stiffly as she finally let go of Arthur, smoothing her hands down the front of her lilac dress. It was on the just wrong side of modest, her corset tied a little to tightly with the bodice having a decorative ribbon tied down her stomach till it stopped where her dress would fan out into the skirt. There was this little bit of white lace at the top of her dress that was supposed to preserve her modest bosom, but only did so in mockery. Clarissa seemed to recover from the poor expression she had made when she first saw the consort-in his awkward clothing and poorly kept hair-because she smoothed her face over with grace. Which would have been fine if Merlin hadn't seen her disgusted expression beforehand. Lady Clarissa had on dainty black heels that clicked as she walked to him, and held out the back of her hand, her knuckles pointed upwards, "I find it quite the pleasure to meet you, Consort Merlin. I mean, it was quite the scandal when proper society got wind of the prince's marriage. But I have been looking forward to this meeting myself personally. I've been dying to meet the man who went from peasant to Royal," she said this as if his status was more important than who He was, as if his status defined his entire worth. "I have heard so much about you."
No doubt from the gossip that's been running amok from the moment Merlin shown up at his own wedding, wearing this wedding outfit made of red silk.
Merlin looked down at the hand that she had thrusted under his nose, as if it was a foreign object. He hated her nearly instantly, literally from the second she had shown up and held onto Arthur's arm like it was her lifeline. It had been a disgusting display of impropriety that set Merlin's teeth on edge. He may have just thought she was an unusually bold woman or an old friend of the Pendragon family maybe, if he didn't see something else. The Lady was smooth faced and gave the impression of this true gracious Lady of the court, if she also didn't have this veiled look of disgust that had been just barely concealed in her eyes. Looking at him as if he was some kind of insect.
"...You have?" Merlin asked, taking her hand and shaking it awkwardly. Behind them, the prince was just barely able to hold back the groan building in his throat. Clarissa would've been expecting him to kiss the back of it like a gentlemen, not shake it as if he was holding onto some kind of dead fish. "Because I don't believe I've heard anything about you." Merlin glared over Clarissa's shoulder at Arthur, as if he was trying to send death through his eyes before he was turning back to the Lady, "I'm sorry, how do you know Arthur?"
"Oh," Clarissa flipped her thick blonde hair over her shoulder as she gave a furry of little giggles, there was this faint but false blush of modesty spreading on her cheeks as she let loose a flurry of giggles. "Arthur-" she spoke the name with this familiarity that made him increasingly uncomfortable. "And I have only met not that long ago. He was in quite a bind, and I was more than happy to help him out."
She flashed a glance towards Arthur, looking as if she had stars in her eye's as she played with the sheer purple cloth that made up the arms of her dress, this see-through material giving way to show off more of her skin. And to think, Merlin thought stiffly, feeling as if he had this clawing void digging around inside of his chest as if there was this monster trying to dig his innards out, he'd thought this spot would give him privacy to enjoy the party out of sight from the main party-goers. But he'd done had Uther over here, and Morris, as well as Arthur and now...Clarissa.
And he couldn't stop staring at the sheer cloth on Clarissa's arms, something niggling in the back of his mind that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Merlin's lips thinned, "Yes," he said slowly as he shot another glare towards Arthur, who'd been standing there stiffly and watching as if this meeting was some kind of carriage wreck in the making. "That's my husband, I'm sure he was very happy to accept your help."
First Morgana, Merlin thought hatefully as he could already feel the burn of tears trying to make their way past his defenses. Defenses that were building up way to fast in his short time in Camelot. And now Clarissa. Was there any Lady in Camelot that hadn't held onto his so-called husband's arm.
"Oh, he was." Clarissa said, putting her hand back delicately on Arthur's arm. Looking as if she was the one that belonged to the crown instead of Merlin. Just like Morgana had. Just like anybody on the planet other than Merlin would have. And still, Arthur stood there and didn't say a word as she laid her hands over him. "And Merlin dear," she drawled out in the thick Spanish accent she had. "There is this favor that I hope you would indulge me in."
Merlin didn't like where this was going and he narrowed his eyes, feeling as if his heart had jumped into his throat and he was having this trouble getting his lungs to expand properly as he literally watched his future as it was disappearing in smoke in front of him, "And what is that?" He asked, his voice sounding off in his ears.
"I was hoping that you wouldn't mind terribly if I got to have a dance with your husband." It was the cheshire grin she wore on her face as she inclined her head to a small group of couples that had started dancing off to the side of the party.
Merlin blinked dumbly, not entirely sure if he had heard her right, "You want me to say yes to you...dancing with my husband?" He found himself repeating. It had been bad enough to watch Arthur accompanying Morgana, but he had soothed himself with the knowledge that he had sent them in himself, and he actually liked Morgana-even if he hadn't liked having her escorted by Arthur so much. But Clarissa was this entirely new entity that he didn't like nor did he trust. He wanted to be able to spit fire, while at the same time his blood felt as if he had ice going through his veins. And there was this part in the back of his mind that was seeming to rumble, whispering darkly to him-he hadn't even gotten to dance with Arthur.
"Of course," Clarissa said, and then she was turning to Arthur. It was then that it became clear to Merlin that she had only asked him at all for the sake of propriety. She'd looked as if she was some kind of harlot-not a good look for a gentle born girl of high society to have, ruining her marriage prospects for the far off future-if she hadn't first asked the partner for permission to dance with someone else's husband. The lump in Merlin's throat grew as did the harsh burn of tears returning full force as he realized Clarissa had every intention of having her dance with Arthur. Asking him had been a formality, nothing but what she would consider a simple stepping stone to get what she wanted. His answer was irrelevant. And this was proven when she spoke only to Arthur at this point, her hand reaching out to grab at his bicep again, giving it a gentle squeeze of her dainty fingers. "You did say that we could get better acquainted." She spoke softly, then leaning against his side so that her full figure was pressing in against him. "You promised for when the tourney was over!"
She fluttered her eyelashes at him, ignoring Merlin's gasp of horror as his mind ran wild at all of the implications of what that particular conversation could have been.
Clarissa Beckett and Merlin Pendragon were left staring at Arthur, waiting for what would be his ultimate decision.
