So, here is another chapter. I hope you'll all like it! I claim no ownership of "Merlin", no copyright infringement is intended; this story is just for fun.

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"Arthur." The Prince of Albion looked up from the book he was reading only to see his sister looking at him somewhat irrately. "Yes, Morgana?" "Oh, you oblivious men" she rolled her eyes. "I am not oblivious" Arthur responded before he looked back down into his book. "Freya and my model fancy each other, you are going to matchmake them, and I am going to do as I am being told, as I usually do when my sister looks at me like that. Did I miss anything?" He looked back up, to see a shadow of approval on her face. "Well, at least you learn" she sat down, doubtlessly to inform him of what his new duties were in whatever elegant scheme she had now come up with.

Morgana's elaborate plan started with breakfast, set with all the Knights and a romantic candle-lit setting. Unfortunately for her, unlike the men around them, Freya knew what she wanted, and how to get it, so by the time she appeared for said breakfast, she did so trailed by a adorably sleepy/sheepish-looking Merlin.

"That's a good look for a painting", Arthur commented, to amusement (the knights), a murderous glare (Morgana) and a blush (Merlin).

"Have you ever painted him in the nude?" Freya asked as she sat down, reaching for the toast. "Can I have your sketches in that case?" Arthur chuckled but replied with all of the grace worthy of a prince. "Only once, actually. A muscle study... you wouldn't want it". "Pity" Freya replied, unbothered, while Merlin seemed like he wanted to sink through the floor. At least with the model's uncomfort, that gave Morgana the opportunity to help, and she set to work making him feel comfortable again with the ease of long habit and all the determination which would now only be wasted on her already abandoned plan.

The next few weeks, Freya often came into the studio, watching Arthur work and even posing with Merlin several times, just to get to touch him. "I have never painted a couple this way before" Arthur commented, as he sketched Freya and Merlin together, draped over a loveseat recently moved into the studio, for the purpose of this setup. "I have painted both Morgana with Leon, Lancelot and Gwen, and my parents several times, but those were all proper portraits, not a scene like this".

"You painted your exes like this though, didn't you?" Freya commented, her head resting against Merlin's half-naked chest, as he was wearing his shirt mostly unbottoned. "Sophia, yes" Arthur replied. "Nimue was always alright with me sketching, supportive even, and allowed me to paint her when she slept, but she never had much patience to sit for me, so it was all a very occasional thing".

"Where is she now?" Freya asked with interest. "In Sidney, last I heard" he replied. "Nimue and Arthur were a pair years ago, ever since school, but she left to go travel the world, experience things" Freya explained to Merlin, who hadn't moved during their conversation, as he was a professional model, after all, but certainly was curious anyway. "You're still friends though Arthur, aren't you?" "Yes" the Prince replied, smiling, eyes on his painting. "I still love her, just maybe not... you know, like that".

"At least she was better than Sophia" Lancelot had appeared at the door, apparently there to check in on them. Perhaps on orders from Morgana, or even the Queen, as she usually liked to keep an eye on that Arthur didn't overwork himself, or lately, Merlin. "No one liked her". "I knew she was a gold-digger, I just thought that... well" Arthur shrugged, wiping a paintbrush clean on a piece of cloth. "It was something honest about it though. I wanted someone who let me paint them, she wanted to be on the arm of royalty. We both wanted something from each other, and neither one of us was in love. It was just a sort of... thing".

"What a hopeless romantic" Freya noted ironically, only to get a reprimand from Arthur, as the comment was finally what was too much and made Merlin snicker. "Sorry" the happy couple said in unison, making Lancelot chuckle and roll his eyes fondly.

"Is there a reason for you to come into my studio, Lance?" Arthur looked up, eyebrow raised. "Yeah, actually" the man replied "a couple of us were thinking of going out for a ride. Late, after sunset. It was Gwen's idea" his expression immediately grew fond, just by thinking about her. "You're envited as well, Freya. Merlin".

"I'd love to come. Do you ride, Merlin?" Freya chirped, with her very own brand of gentle enthusiasm. "Not really" the model's tone was excusing, though he tried to keep the expression off his face. " We were going to have some supper in the old folly down by the lake" Lancelot cut in. "The King and Queen are going to join us. They'll drive there".

"That's settled, then" Freya rested her head more firmly to Merlin's chest, without actually moving much, and Lancelot moved to leave, knowing Arthur well enough to know that he was tired of the interruptions. "At eight, Freya" he added, getting an affirming murmur from Freya. "I will see you at the stables at eight" the prince confirmed by the time he reached the door.

Merlin walked through the castle hallways after finishing modelling for Arthur, as the light got bad when the day wore on. He blinked as he saw a painting featuring himself, seated by a table with lit candles, the scene set by Queen Igraine. He would never get used to walking through a palace, seeing pictures of himself hanging on the walls. It was so odd the word didn't even fit the occasion.

As far as oddity was concerned, it was only about to get worse, as he was going to ride in the same car with the Queen and King Uther later on that evening, as neither of them wanted to ride, and Merlin had yet to learn to. Though now that Freya and her bunch of Knighted friends knew that he did not know how, he had little doubt that they'd teach him, whether he'd like to learn or not, if he knew them right. He didn't mind, if he was honest with himself, in fact, he found that there was a smile on his face.