Merlin woke up groggy the next morning. He felt pleasantly sore in places only Arthur could reach and he smiled dreamily remembering the night before. He turned to look at Arthur and leaned in, kissing his shoulder.

"Up you get, my prince." Merlin said.

Arthur frowned. "Mmh… No…"

Merlin smiled faintly, and kissed the back of his head. "I'll go get us breakfast." He said and got dressed, making his way to the door.

"Get me sausages this time." Arthur called after him.

"What?" He teased.

"I said-!" Merlin shut the door and chuckled to himself as he went to the kitchens.

oOoOoOo

"Come on boys, hurry up, we have the hours counted until the banquet." The cook barked orders while the men worked diligently in their different stations.

"Morning cook! Morning everyone." Merlin said. The cook barely sent him a glance before having to go off to grab something from the stores.

"Hmm… well you look… properly handled." One of them said. Merlin felt his smile faltering. "Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't mean it in a bad way." He smiled and patted Merlin's arm.

"Ugh… it's wrong, Ben." Another said.

"Don't listen to Damien. He got his heart broken and won't open it up for nobody else." Ben said. "Prince Arthur truly loves you."

"I-I…" Merlin didn't know what to say to the kitchen servants.

"It's alright, we're loyal to him, not Uther. He saved our lives, you know." Ben said. "Here, I want to give you a little tip." He leaned in to whisper in Merlin's ear. Merlin listened with curiosity, which then turned to wild embarrassment.

"Leave him be, Ben, you've turned him into a blushing mess." Another servant said.

Ben winked at Merlin and returned to his chores while Merlin quickly grabbed Arthur's breakfast tray and rushed off. He tried to burn what Ben had told him out of his mind. No one would enjoy that! W-would they?

oOoOoOo

Arthur groaned as Merlin returned and his stomach rumbled pleasantly as it smelt the breakfast. He, with much dismay, got out of the warm bed and stretched, releasing a big yawn. After all of that, he realised that Merlin was looking at him nervously and far too quiet.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, instantly alert. Merlin came closer, hands behind his back and looking somewhat… embarrassed?

"The kitchen servants… one of them said something to me." Arthur was instantly alert but confused. Why would the kitchen servants insult Merlin? After all they'd been in a worse situation than Merlin for a long time.

"What did they say?" Arthur asked.

Merlin hesitated. "Well… it was more a… friendly suggestion." Merlin said. "We could try it, if you'd like." Merlin said and now Arthur was really confused. What could they possibly have told him that they could try together?

Seeing his confusion, Merlin leaned in to whisper, despite there being no one around to hear them. "Would you like it if I took you into my mouth?" Came the whisper and Arthur instantly felt the heat rush to his face. Turning to look at Merlin, he could see the same expression of utter embarrassment, though Merlin was keeping eye contact, as if curious about the whole idea.

Arthur choked on a combination of a scoff and a laugh and shook his head. "No, Merlin you don't need to do that."

"But you might like it." Merlin said.

"Well then… would you let me do it to you?" Arthur answered back and again, Merlin's face went hot. They never talked about this kind of thing. Their time together almost always went on instinct at first since they'd barely had a clue about being with someone before this whole mess began.

"Maybe?" Merlin said. "Never mind, forget I said anything." Merlin said and pulled him over to breakfast.

"No, Merlin. We need to talk about these things… since no one else will." He grumbled the last part under his breath, remembering that abhorrent experience trying to get answers at the brothel. "Hey," Merlin looked up, still somewhat embarrassed, which was a wonderful expression that Arthur had rarely seen on his face before. "I love you." He said softly.

"I love you too." Merlin said and reached to cup his cheek. Arthur's heart warmed hearing those words. He never would admit it to anyone that he'd never been told those words genuinely before.

He'd never been touched or cared for with such adoration and the fact that he finally had it, from Merlin, made his heart soar. He never thought he needed it before. To be loved.

He could count on one hand the times Uther had hugged him growing up and Morgana had been raised too strictly by her nurse maids to ever even hug him back then. Of course that's what made her all the more rebellious as she grew, but by then it was too late for their bond.

But Merlin, from the very start, he'd cared for Arthur much more than Arthur remembered anyone doing. He risked his life for him again and again, as if he were someone precious. Arthur couldn't imagine himself ever being with anyone that wasn't Merlin.

He leaned closer and kissed Merlin deeply. "Don't ever leave me." Arthur whispered as he held Merlin close.

"Never." Merlin replied. They stayed like that for a few seconds, just holding each other, until Merlin pulled back and smiled. "Come on then, or you'll blame me for the food getting cold." He said and led them to the table, where Arthur was pleased to see three sausages on his plate.

They could revisit Merlin's suggestion at another time, when they didn't have anywhere to be. Unfortunately, for now, they had a picnic to prepare.

oOoOoOo

Arthur watched as Merlin secured the horse seat for him when he saw Princess Elena coming down the steps.

"Please, allow me to help." He offered, stretching his hand to her.

"It's fine, this is something I can actually do." She hopped on the horse faster than even Arthur and rode off on her own. The visiting princess was leaving the citadel. Alone. Unguarded. He glanced at Merlin who was staring at her in surprise.

Arthur ran to his horse and jumped on, following the unguarded princess before she went completely out of sight. He was actually very skilled as she trotted ahead of him.

"Slow down!" Arthur yelled.

"No chance!" She laughed. So much for a slow trot to the picnic spot. And yet, Arthur found himself smiling.

She finally stopped by a stream. She patted the horse's neck gently, smiling at it with fondness.

"That was very impressive." Arthur said honestly. "I'm not easily impressed.

"Well, neither am I." She said. "And I wasn't!" She gave a little snort as she laughed and patted his arm like one of the knights would. Arthur felt a twinge of offense but tried not to show it and wondered where Merlin was. What was the point in flirting with Elena if he wasn't around to see it?

It didn't seem that Elena took the silence well because she looked desperate to fill it when she continued.

"I've been riding since I was a child." She explained. "I don't get to do it as much as I'd like, princesses don't." She rolled her eyes at that and Arthur chuckled.

"Royal life can be restrictive, unnecessarily, sometimes." Arthur said and she smiled at that.

"Yes! That's what I always tell father. Not that it makes much of a difference. Fathers always think they know what's best for you." She said.

Arthur felt his stomach churn. "Don't I know it." He came to check on her horse, patting its neck. "They expect us to marry. What say you to this?" Arthur said, looking at her.

"Well… I don't know you very well yet. But I trust father's judgement. People say you're noble and a fierce warrior." She said.

"I try to be noble." Arthur said softly, looking at her kind smile, but she didn't love him, obviously. Nor was she completely infatuated with the thought of marrying the crown prince of Camelot from what he could tell, so that was a good sign.

Merlin arrived then and Arthur went toward him. "What took you so long?" He demanded.

"You were riding so fast, I thought you were desperate for some time alone." Merlin whispered and Arthur leaned closer.

"Maybe you're right, Merlin. Good thinking." Arthur said and patted him on the arm, not missing the small glare Merlin sent his way as Arthur turned to face Elena once more. "So, Princess Elena, the real reason you beat me here was because I stopped to smell the roses." Arthur said and tried to hide the grin that wanted to form as he heard Merlin scoff somewhere behind him.

Elena looked at the flower in surprise. "Oh! Thank you!" She snatched it from his hand, looking it over. It's… beautiful." She smiled and glanced over his shoulder. "Oh! Food, I'm so hungry." She said, taking his hand and pulling him along before freezing and remembering herself, smiling as she let go of his hand. "And I can offer you a re-match any day, my lord. But I can't promise the result would be any different." She teased as she sat down on the perfectly laid out picnic blanket.

Merlin had moved to sit up against a tree, looking away from their picnic. It sat wrong with Arthur. But Merlin insisted so Arthur would deliver.

"Oh really? We'd have to see some other time." Arthur said as he sat down beside her. "So tell me more about yourself, my lady. What made you so interested in horse-riding?"

She had a mouthful of grapes as she spoke. "Well, my mother was an excellent horsewoman." She swallowed and smiled wistfully. "I guess, I wanted to feel closer to her at first, since she died before I could meet her, but I truly grew to love it."

Arthur smiled. He understood that feeling. "I never knew my mother either. Sometimes I wonder if I'm anything like her. I hope I don't take after my father entirely." He said.

"Oh, you don't!" She laughed with great relief, which sounded almost like an insult to his father, if he'd been present. Arthur looked at her trying to conceal a laugh. "I didn't… mean that… in a bad way." She said, frown on her face and biting on a grape nervously. Finally Arthur did laugh.

"No, not at all." He laughed a little more and looked at her. He was surprised that he was getting along with her so well. "You're a wonderful person, Elena. Not many people can make me laugh."

She smiled. "Well, you're not too bad yourself. Now, I propose you start eating, otherwise I'm going to feel like a pig for eating by myself." She said rather bluntly and while Arthur reached into the picnic basket for some food she seemed to frown at her own wording, clearly remembering too late who she's speaking too and it only made Arthur more amused. She was so much like Merlin when he was overly clumsy.

Arthur glanced at Merlin and his heart throbbed as he saw him still looking away from them, jaw set firm, showing he was definitely not pleased with all of this.

Once back she stood a little straighter though still looking uncertain about all of this. "Thank you, I had a lovely time." She said.

"Likewise, my lady." Arthur said and she smiled, uncertain, before reaching over to hug him. Arthur was a bit surprised by it… but specially because of the strange way she chose to hug. He simply patted her on the shoulder since he had no clue how to respond.

She still smiled faintly as she pulled away and made to go up the steps. Arthur felt something strange go through him. The way Merlin's magic passed through him when he freed the dragon. Everything around him slowed down and he saw the moment Elena's foot caught on her skirt. He reacted.

He reached up and caught her by her waist before she could fall. Everything seemed to return to normal speed as he helped her regain her balance. "Are you alright?" Arthur asked with a frown. She looked at him surprised before laughing nervously.

"Sorry. I'm just clumsy all the time." She said.

"Here, let me help you." Arthur said and offered her his arm. She looked uncertain but then smiled, using his arm to make a safe way up the steps.

"Thank you, Arthur." She said gently, and continued on her way, almost tripping a couple of times as she walked.

Merlin slammed hard onto his shoulder from behind as he walked past. Arthur watched him go and sighed. The idiot probably injured himself more than Arthur.

Things didn't get better as Merlin dressed him for the banquet. He hadn't said a word since the picnic. "You were the one that insisted I go along with father's decision." Arthur finally said.

"…"

"I love you." Arthur said, smiling fondly at him, specially as Merlin looked up to glare in return.

"You seemed to enjoy her company far more than I expected." Merlin said, adjusting his straps and straightening every crease on his cloak, before bringing over his circlet and slipping it gently down onto his forehead.

Arthur stared intensely into his eyes and leaned in to kiss him but Merlin moved away.

"Ready, my lord." Merlin said.

Arthur sighed. "Very well. To the banquet it is."

oOoOoOo

Elena sat herself down beside Morgana, completely missing Arthur's attempt to pull the other chair out for her. Pretending that nothing had happened, Arthur casually sat himself down and smiled at Morgana who looked as bright as always, while Elena's hair looked a little wild and untamed.

"May I introduce my sister Morgana?" Arthur said motioning over to Morgana who almost dropped her fork as she stared at Arthur with shock. Elena too turned her face in shock to Arthur. "I meant like a sister, Morgana, is father's ward, she's like a sister to me." Arthur said and glanced at his father nervously who was busy talking to Elena's father and hadn't heard a thing.

"Oh, yes, we met briefly before." Elena smiled at Morgana. "You mentioned studying Camelot's laws?" She said.

"She did?" Arthur asked glancing at Morgana.

"I did." Morgana smirked.

"It must be fascinating to delve into a subject so deeply. I'm never allowed to explore topics as much as I want." Elena said with some dismay.

"Well, you're welcome to explore Camelot's library to your heart's content. I'm sure Geoffrey could help you find a book on any topic you might be curious about." Arthur said.

Elena looked at him surprised. "That… would be wonderful, Arthur, thank you so much."

"It's my pleasure, I do want you to enjoy your stay." Arthur said. Morgana sent Arthur a look and Arthur instinctively knew to look back at Merlin, who was staring at him coldly. Arthur sat back on his chair. He somehow felt like he was in trouble.