Merlin took the furs and Arthur's jacket with him to the training grounds. He sat on the stool as he continued lining one of Arthur's plainer coats while Arthur didn't need anything. It had been two weeks since he saw the dragon.

Despite Arthur's threat, the only one still nice to him was Morgana. She treated him without pity, only anger at Uther. Gwen however, didn't know how to act around him, though she was kind to him. The guards kept their hands to themselves but still would hiss horrible things whenever Merlin passed. The maids and servants all avoided him. He had no one to talk to anymore.

His relationship with Gaius was strained, not because of Gaius, but because Merlin was too ashamed to look him in the eye.

The only one that still treated him as usual was Arthur. Merlin looked up from the lining he was working on, when everything seemed to go still. Suddenly it was as if every knight was looking at him. His eyes widened slightly, wondering why on earth they were all looking at him. Then, just like that, they stopped, looking away with judging looks and Merlin felt a chill deep in his bones.

He saw Leon approaching the weapons rack and Merlin struggled to find his voice. "Training going well, sir Leon?" Merlin managed to force out of his throat.

Leon looked at him, avoiding his eyes, smiling faintly and nodding. "Well enough, Merlin." At least he replied to Merlin, but it didn't change the fact that he left as quickly as possible.

The knights now knew. Merlin shifted uncomfortable, his heart racing and could feel his magic raging inside him. He was going to lose control. He shoved Arthur's jacket in the basket and stood, rushing to Arthur's side.

"What is it?" Arthur asked, seeing him approach.

"Please may I be excused, sire?" Merlin asked.

Arthur scoffed. "We're almost finished, I'll need your help when I do."

"Please, sire!" Merlin yelled, gathering attention from others around them but Merlin didn't care. His heart was racing and panic shone through the tone of his voice. Arthur looked at him with confused and wide eyes.

"Fine… go." He said.

Merlin rushed back to the palace. He didn't think about where he was going. He just got there as quickly as possible.

He realised too late he headed straight for Arthur's chambers. Once there, he dropped to his knees and rubbed his arms, closing his eyes tight, trying to calm the raging magic within.

"Please… please stop…" Merlin whispered to himself, taking deep breaths. All he could see was the knights' looks, Leon's short answers, the whispers the mocking. "Stop." Merlin shuddered.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked and Merlin turned to him horrified, his breathing erratic.

oOoOoOo

Arthur entered the room to see Merlin on his knees with a wild look in his eyes, which were glowing gold. Arthur took a deep breath and pretended he wasn't seeing anything as Merlin got to his feet.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I'm fine sire." He managed to say. Arthur nodded.

"I already asked another servant to prepare the bath, since I knew it would take longer with the colder temperatures." He said.

Merlin turned to look at the filled tub with steaming water, as if noticing it for the first time.

"Come, help me with my armour." Arthur said. Maybe… if he got Merlin to do his usual things, his magic would calm down. But what was wrong? Why now? Maybe a hot bath will help him relax and calm down.

As Merlin took the armour off piece by piece, he could see the wild look slowly leaving his eyes, his breathing evening out, and with every accidental moment of eye contact, the magic ring of gold slowly decreased until only bright blue remained.

Once that was done Arthur reached over and for the first time, decided that he would be the one to undress Merlin. He stepped a little closer than necessary, letting his fingers trail up the other's sides and eventually arms as he pulled off his shirt.

Merlin gasped softly at his touches and it sent a delightful current of desire running through Arthur. Merlin avoided his eyes, as if sensing Arthur's abnormal feelings.

"Your turn." Arthur said, trying to contain his voice from revealing what he really wanted.

Merlin reached forward and brought up Arthur's shirt, faster than Arthur but he could still feel the accidental trace of Merlin's fingers from time to time.

Arthur reached forward and undid Merlin's trousers. He kept staring at Merlin, wishing for the other to meet his eyes, but Merlin didn't. Merlin removed his trousers too and they both stepped into the bath, sighing blissfully in the water.

Arthur used the moment to return to his senses. He was not going to take Merlin again unless they were forced to or unless Merlin wanted to.

"So what happened?" Arthur asked. Merlin finally looked at him as the tense mood of before began to fade away.

"The knights know now… you should see the way they all looked at me." Merlin whispered.

Arthur was surprised that Merlin actually answered him. "Has anyone mistreated you again?" Arthur asked.

"No. Not physically." He said but looked away. Arthur watched him as the other seemed to go over the memories. This wasn't the Merlin he wanted. He didn't want to see Merlin this sad. That look on Merlin's face should never exist. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen Merlin smile. "I know what you're doing." Merlin said, turning to look up at him.

"What am I doing?" Arthur asked calmly.

"You don't want to hurt me, so you hold back. You don't have to. As the king said, I'm here to satisfy all your needs." Merlin said. Arthur caught a glimpse of an empty expression that faded away after a second.

"I… I need to go somewhere tonight, Merlin. Will you accompany me?" Arthur asked. "You don't have to enter the establishment with me, but it's probably not wise that I go alone." Arthur said.

"Where are you going?" Merlin asked, looking a little confused at the change in topic.

"It's not important. You don't have to come." Arthur changed his mind. He couldn't really admit where he was going. He was too ashamed that he even was. He passed the cloth to Merlin and they proceeded to finish washing. "But wait for me here."

"Of course, sire." Merlin said.

Arthur almost wanted to roll his eyes. As if Merlin wasn't going to follow him. Better this way. At least Arthur was sure Merlin was coming out of his own accord, in a way.

oOoOoOo

Arthur wore his travelling cloak with the hood covering as much of his face as he could manage, then rode one of the more common horses they had, leaving the proud andalusian royal family breeds in their stables. He couldn't risk being discovered for anything in the world.

Once he was clear of the castle, he took the directions given to him by one of the knights he'd gotten drunk enough to forget their conversation. Arthur had no idea how to get to the place. Even when he'd once upon a time been brought over, he was never allowed to see the way.

When he finally got there, Arthur had to take a second to gather his bearings. The brothel looked as decrepit as he remembered it. Women littered the whole street, trying to draw clients in, but Arthur knew this was not where he needed to be. He got off his horse and made his way round the back of the brothel, where he saw a handful of men, pretty men, rough-looking men, younger men than Arthur when he first came here, there weren't as many as women, but there was definitely a selection.

Arthur showed a gold coin and one of the pretty ones approached. Arthur watched the confidence in which he carried himself, only obtained after years of faking interest to his clients. "I'm here to see…"

"I know, darling. She sent me to get you."

"Thank you," Arthur walked after the man, entering the establishment. They went up to the second floor, to a small looking study with its own bed. A bored looking woman was counting up money while smoking something foul.

"Ah, my lord, welcome." The Madame knew who he was. It wasn't the first time they'd seen each other, after all. "I've prepared two of my best pets to go over your education again." She said, almost amused at the situation and Arthur felt his cheeks burn red.

"I'm here because…" But before he could complete his sentence, another man joined the pretty one and sat on the bed, across from Arthur, looking at him with interest.

"My darlings, this is a dear friend of mine. He's acquired himself a manservant to please him and wants to be reminded how to do it properly." The Madame said.

Arthur tried to find words to explain himself further, but he wasn't used to talking about such things so he just nodded.

It was almost as horrifying as the first time he was here. The Madame would go over what the top man was doing, while the one below cried out beneath him. Arthur's stomach churned as he watched the bottom man for the first time. Hands clenched into fists, eyes blank and unseeing, face twisting in pain from time to time. Was this what he'd put Merlin through? He almost felt sick.

"Stop!" Arthur finally exclaimed.

"What's wrong, my lord?" The Madame asked.

"I don't want to know the mechanics… I want to know… how to make my manservant… enjoy it." He said, looking up to see the two prostitutes glance at each other confused, while the Madame laughed.

"My boy, what does it matter?"

"It matters to me!" Arthur said fiercely.

"You've come to a brothel… to learn how to make love?" The bottom prostitute asked and the top scoffed, looking away as he tried to hide the laughter.

"Make love?" Arthur asked.

"You won't find that here, my boy. My darlings are things to be used and gained pleasure from." Arthur caught the two of them flinch at those words but none argued, acceptance in their frames. "Just as your manservant will be when your father has you marry and you send him our way."

Arthur felt cold all of a sudden, as he turned to her very slowly, rage coursing through his veins.

"What did you say?" He whispered.

"I… my lord… it's what happens to all servants… it's the only job they can obtain after being used in such a way." She said.

"Wh-what makes you think I'm ever sending my manservant away?" He yelled.

"Pressure from your father, for one. Pressure from your wife second." The Madame said.

"I would never send him away! He is my most loyal servant and friend. I would rather die than let anything like that happen to him!" Arthur said passionately.

"Oh, you pathetic man." The bottom prostitute said and Arthur snapped his head to meet a look full of hatred. "Such pretty words, I'm sure he'll appreciate your empty promises. I appreciated such promises once too. 'I'll never send you away, you're a good friend, when I marry you'll continue as my servant' is that what you'll tell him? It's what most of us have been told."

"Well, I'm sorry that happened to you, but it won't happen to my servant." Arthur said.

"You'll get rid of him and he'll be brought over and he'll get fucked until he can't feel anything anymore. You think it feels good? It never feels good. Not even when my old master would embrace me. What kind of man wants to be taken like that? It's not natural." Arthur shook his head. A voice kept telling him to get out of there. This wasn't the place he needed to be. But he couldn't. He looked at the prostitute and all he could see was Merlin's face filled with hate and eyes that looked like they'd been empty for many, many years. In the bath he glimpsed a similar emptiness that flickered into Merlin's eyes for a second and it struck Arthur like an arrow to his chest. He felt his eyes burn and his vision blur. The man seemed to snap out of his enraged rant and looked at him with some worry and then fear.

"I see I'm in the wrong place." Arthur said and stood, handing over some gold. "I apologise for the trouble." Arthur turned and left. He got out of there as fast as he could. He tried to control his breathing and blink the blurriness away.

Up ahead he could see a horse leaving towards the castle. He would bet anything that it was Merlin making his way back. He looked up at the moon, which was beginning to hide itself behind dark heavy clouds. Snow began to fall and Arthur climbed onto his own horse, heading back to the palace as fast as he could.

oOoOoOo

Merlin gasped as he threw his shoes and shirt to the side and ran toward the bed. He tried to calm his breathing. Why was Arthur in a brothel? That's why he was here! To serve him! Why was the idiot making such a dangerous trek when he had Merlin right here in his bed? Not that he was there for long. He looked like he was running when he left the place.

Merlin jumped up as Arthur slammed his door shut and entered the room. "A-Arthur? What the-?" Arthur stood before him, looking seconds away from tears as he just looked at Merlin. "Ar-"

"Undress…" Arthur ordered and Merlin gulped. What the hell happened? He reached down to undo his trousers but Arthur came round, pushing him onto his back, reaching down and pulling off his trousers himself.

"What's wrong, Arthur?" Arthur didn't answer as he climbed on top of him and caressed his cheek, shocking Merlin into silence. Arthur's eyes flicked to his mouth then continued to lean down, pressing their lips together. Merlin felt something deep inside him celebrate with enthusiasm and reached up to pull Arthur closer, kissing him back with as much hunger as the other was showing.

"Merlin… undress me." He whispered. Arthur made no move to get back up so Merlin reached down and began to take the other's shirt off, shuddering at the intensity with which Arthur was looking at him. When his shirt was off and Merlin reached down to undo his trousers, Arthur leaned down and began to taste his neck, making Merlin squirm beneath him.

It was so different. Arthur seemed to take his time with him, while also radiating desperation to do so much more. He caressed his body and followed his touch with his lips, making Merlin groan underneath him. A breathtaking kiss after, Arthur looked down at him.

"Merlin… I want you to enjoy this." Arthur said. "Tell me what to do."

Merlin opened his mouth and closed it again, unable to speak for a few seconds. "I don't know, Arthur." Merlin admitted. Arthur reached down, wrapping his hand around Merlin making Merlin's face instantly hot and he looked away embarrassed.

"Does this feel good?" Arthur asked, moving his hand, making Merlin shudder at the feeling.

"A-Arthur, you don't have too… nnhh."

"I don't give a damn what I have to do or not." Arthur almost growled into his ear making Merlin shudder. He could feel the pressure building slowly at the base of his stomach. Arthur reached for the oil and Merlin started turning around. "No." Arthur held his arm and turned him onto his back once more. "Let me see your face." Arthur whispered.

Merlin nodded, shuddering at the feeling of the oil. He groaned as his body welcomed Arthur and he wrapped his arms around him, holding him close as they began to rock together. Merlin moaned loudly, everything more pleasant than before. There was still a burning discomfort but it was easily overlooked amongst everything else. The fire in Arthur's eyes just made him feel alive. They kept their gazes connected as they embraced each other.

Merlin felt that pressure building and building until he couldn't hold back his cries. It seemed Arthur understood what he wanted as he moved faster. The pressure kept building and building until it finally snapped and Merlin cried out, arching his back, making Arthur cry out and reach the same point.

Merlin shuddered, relaxing completely beneath his prince, feeling the wetness on his stomach as Arthur collapsed onto him, holding him tight against him. Merlin couldn't see his face right now but he could feel a deep sadness in Arthur's heart and pulled him close against him.

"Arthur." He whispered, reaching one hand to pet his golden locks. They were like that for a good while. Merlin almost thought Arthur had fallen asleep on him. Eventually he pulled back and they cleaned up. They put their trousers back on and sat on the bed, looking at each other uncertainly until Merlin smiled at him and Arthur smiled back, almost with relief, pulling him close as they curled up under the blankets together.