After Merlin left Arthur for what was likely to be the second to last time, he was, quite understandably, irritated with nearly everything that interacted with him. The only person that he really wanted to speak to was Arthur, and that was only because there was never a time that he didn't want to speak to him. This foul mood extended to his attitude towards Gaius, who was thankfully too absorbed in his work to notice that anything was off about Merlin's behavior. Merlin probably would have snapped at him if he had asked anything about Arthur. That was a bit of a sensitive topic.

Merlin, however, was extremely relieved that he didn't encounter any of Carlain's knights, as he didn't think he could stand them calling him 'my lord' at the moment. He strongly suspected that an encounter with one of them would end with someone getting run through, and as Merlin had managed to defeat Arthur Pendragon, he didn't think it was likely for that person to be him. Regardless with his irritation at the knights, he didn't want to start his reign by killing his knights. Artuhr hadn't explictly told him so, but that was a part of being a king that Merlin thought he could figure out on his own.

He finally collapsed on his bed, almost daring to hope that dusk would come before anyone would disturb him. He was right, and as had become custom when that happened, it was utterly infuriating.

When Gauis finally did knock on the door, Merlin was no less irritable than he had been when he had first taken up his position on the bed, thouroughly annoyed by everyone and everything around him.

He rose when he heard the knock, just hoping that the knights hadn't arrived. Fortunately (for once), it was only Gaius. After Merlin opened the door, Gaius asked, "Are you ready?"

"Probably not, but I don't think I'm going to get any more prepared."

"I'm afraid that's likely to be true. How did the lessons with Arthur go? I've been meaning to ask."

"They've gone surprisingly well, considering how much of a prat he is," Merlin said, biting back a very different reply.

"You're going to have to see him again, you know. Treaties like the one you're likely to be signing tomorrow are the beginnings of close relations between two kingdoms."

"That shouldn't be a problem. I wouldn't want to leave my friends behind, not after all of this."

"Friends? I wasn't under the impression that you'd manged to make any friends."

"Gwen, at the very least, and possibly even Arthur."

"Now, why on Earth would you want to visit Arthur?"

"He just spent the last three days teaching me everything I know about royalty. I figure I at least owe him a visit or two." Merlin was hoping that he wasn't blushing. Damn it, Arthur. Why do you have to do this to me?

If he was, Gaius either didn't notice or didn't say anything. Merlin sincerely hoped that it was the former; he wasn't exactly sure what he felt for Arthur, and he didn't want people to learn of it then leave Arthur to deal with the backlash. Whatever his feelings toward Camelot's crown prince, he didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble for the kingdom in which he had lived for years.

He knew that those years were about to come to an end, and that did nothing except amplify his feelings for the second place, after Ealdor, that he had been able to call home. Where he had friends and a job, somewhere to stay, and the closest thing to a father that he would ever know. He was reluctant to leave, but he knew that if he didn't leave Camelot willingly, the kingdom could very well find itself under siege from Carlain's knights. They would not take kindly to their king remaining in a different kingdom.

Too soon, far too soon, a knight came to Gaius's chamber to summon him to the great hall. He supposed that the treaty was finished, and needed to be signed. Merlin didn't want to think about what would happen almost directly after that.

He knew that he didn't have much of a choice in the matter; he was already starting to feel some of the pressure that Arthur had described: the feeling that the entire world was depending on you, having to think out every action and how it might affect everyone in the kingdom, trying to keep tabs on people's moods, seeing if they were happy. It was a lot for Merlin to learn in three days. He knew that, Arthur knew that, but neither of them were sure that the knights of Carlain actually knew that.

Everyone in the room except for Uther and Arthur bowed when Merlin entered the room, and as they prepared to sign the treaty, Arthur stood behind Merlin's chair, willing him to remember all of the information from the lessons.

Arthur's presence behind him slowed Merlin's heartrate, but only slightly, from a panicked, almost frantic beating, to the steady, but fast pace that Merlin knew came not from nerves, but from being next to Arthur again. He was just angry that what might be their last meeting wasn't private enough to kiss him. Of course, less than a foot away, the other prince was thinking exactly the same thing.

Arthur was barely paying attention to the treaty, instead choosing to take the time to memorize Merlin's features, the look on his face as he concentrated, and added it to the knowledge that he had gathered about Merlin, not over days, but over years. Years of watching his frustrated as he tried to make a point that it wasn't his place to make. The look of shock, quickly replaced by happiness, that Arthur had only seen about two days previously. However, Arthur's favorite by far was the look that Merlin gave him when he was certain that no one was watching, the look that told Arthur beyond a shadow of a doubt that the feelings he had for the dark-haired prince were very much reciprocated.

When Merlin stood, Arthur was snapped from his thoughts by a new look, a look that told Arthur two things: That Merlin was concerned, and that he wanted to be alone, though Arthur wasn't entirely sure if he was invited.

A nod from Merlin changed that, and the two of them left the room. Merlin spoke first.

"You told me I wasn't allowed to leave without saying a proper goodbye."

Arthur rightly took that as an invitation to kiss him, and he did.

"This might be the last time I ever get to do that." He felt that the words needed to be said, though he personally had absolutely no desire to be saying them.

Merlin was not going to be the first one to say it- he refused. Finally, Arthur pulled him into another kiss. Merlin looked at him with an expression of curiosity, and Arthur suddenly felt the need to defend his actions. "You know, I do enjoy that. I wouldn't want to miss another golden oppotunity."

"Good, because I wouldn't want you to."

"I hate goodbyes."

Merlin looked at him for a moment before replying, "I do too. I'm just hoping that this won't end up being our last one."

"We can hope."

A/n: I am so sorry to anyone that has gotten involved in this. I'm going to completely destroy you guys. I've already written through Chapter 10 (Yes I'm going to put them all up soon.)