"I gotta know if your sweet love is gonna save me." The Eagles

.***.

Arthur was in a foul mood, most of which had to do with Merlin's sudden disappearing act.

He swept through the castle, intent on getting to Gaius's rooms. All the while, worry crept into his rage. What if Merlin had taken ill in the night? What if some accident had befallen him? The servant was so clumsy that Arthur didn't put it past him to take his own head off by falling down the stairs. So many worst-case scenarios were running through his head that he didn't see Gwen until he'd already run her over.

"Oh!" He said, scrambling off the servant girl and looking around at the mess he'd caused. Gwen had been carrying a basket of clothes to be mended, and now they were scattered all over the floor. Without thinking, he began to grab at the clothes, stuffing them back into the basket.

"Sire…Prince Arthur, it is alright. I can take care of the clothes." Gwen peered at him from beneath her dark lashes. "Where are you going with such single-mindedness that you don't even take notice of your surroundings?"

"I have not seen hide nor hair of Merlin all day." Arthur said, "Have you an idea where he may be?"

Gwen cocked her head to the side, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "Are you two finally stopping this charade? Because most of the castle has a pool going on what week you two will get together, and I bet on next Tuesday, so if you can just hold off a little longer…"

"A pool?" Arthur asked, mouth springing open against his will. "What are you betting on?"

"When you and Merlin will finally stop dancing around each other and admit your feelings. Really, Arthur, if you didn't want anyone to know about it you could have been a bit more subtle."

Arthur straightened up, feeling indignant. "Does everyone know of my…my infatuation?"

"No." Gwen said lightly. "I'm fairly certain that Merlin has absolutely no idea." She winked. "But if you're planning on speeding things along, I saw him slip into Sir Matthias's chamber just now."

"Matthias?" Arthur mused aloud, still trying to process all of this information (the whole castle knew of his mooning over Merlin? He would never hear the end of this!) "What is he doing in there? He's my servant!"

Gwen shrugged, turning away. "A servant is compelled to obey orders given by anyone above them. If Matthias told Merlin to do something and he refused, even to go to you, sire, then he would pay dearly for it later."

"You're right, you're right." Arthur ran a hand through his hair. "I'll be going then, Gwen. Thanks."

"No problem. Just remember – I'm betting on next Tuesday!" Arthur waved a hand over his shoulder, glad that his back was to the girl so she couldn't see him blushing scarlet.

He didn't bother knocking on Matthias's door – in all honesty, he didn't expect to find anyone in there. The hour was late, and he was sure that Matthias had gone down to the jousting field and Merlin to the kitchens long before he managed to track them to the chamber. He was wrong.

He'd been prepared to say…something…to Merlin. Something along the lines of what Gwen (and, apparently, most of the castle) was hinting at. Something about the fact that whenever Merlin was near him he could concentrate on nothing but the way the other man's body moved in the sunlight. Something about the way Arthur was constantly thinking about Merlin, about talking to him, hunting with him, and being with him. About the way he never wanted to be around anyone else.

And maybe, maybe, he would mention the jealousy he felt every time he saw Matthias sneaking looks at his man.

All that flew out the window when he saw Merlin on his knees in front of Matthias, doing something he'd only done in Arthur's most private fantasies.

"What are you doing?" Somehow, he'd expected this from Matthias. Matthias, who had always taken the most pleasure in things that made Arthur uncomfortable – watching animals suffer once they'd shot them while hunting, rather than put them out of their misery; bullying smaller kids by using his stature of his fists – there had always been a note of cruelty in his every action, a note that Arthur had overlooked because of that long-ago day when Matthias had saved Arthur's life.

But Merlin…Merlin had always struck him as something else entirely. Sweet. Naïve. Pure and innocent, in action, thought, and word. And here he was, avoiding Arthur's gaze, red creeping up cheeks, neck, ears, as he pulled away from Matthias's large, heavy hand.

It was Matthias who said something first, putting a hand on top of Merlin's head to keep him in a kneel. "Arthur," the young man's voice was calm, as if they were saying their good mornings while breaking their fasts. "Imagine meeting you here."

Arthur looked at Merlin, feeling suddenly humiliated at the words he'd been about to say. He had sought out the young servant to proclaim his undying love for him! "Merlin, if I'd known these were the positions you find most comfortable I needn't have bothered training you as a servant at all."

It was as if Arthur had slapped Merlin across the face. He looked so stunned, confused, disoriented, upset, and still he was looking everywhere but directly at Arthur. He made as if to get to his feet but Matthias's hand was still strong, still pushed him back onto the hard stone of the ground. Merlin's knees were bleeding. None of the three men in the room noticed.

"Why this charade?" Arthur was surprised at his voice – steady and quiet, the tone he'd been trying to master from years of hearing his father use it against him whenever his only son became a disappointment. "Why pretend you can't look at me? After this – a man whose rank is so far above yours you shouldn't even be looking him in the eye!"

"His gaze is aimed quite a bit lower, Arthur, I can assure you." Matthias's words made Merlin turn a shade of red Arthur had never seen before, and finally the servant made eye contact with the master.

"I cannot…I have no excuse, sire." Merlin said, and if Arthur had been in his right mind he would have noticed that accent, the adorable accent that came out whenever Merlin was anxious, or scared, laced between these words.

But Arthur was not in his right mind, or he would not have continued, "No excuse? Well, I hope so, because I for one cannot think of an excuse for you to be messing around with a superior, an old friend, who is a visiting dignitary who could help form an alliance for Camelot. Do you want to blow this, Merlin? Ruin everything for the sake of a tryst in front of the whole of the castle? Did you know that everyone saw you coming into his room this morning? You're nothing but a common prostitute!"

Finally, Merlin's eyes met Arthur's and held the gaze beseechingly. "No! Arthur, please, you can't think -"

"What I think," Arthur said slowly, "Is that you'd better stick to 'sire' from now on. If you can manage that level of professionalism."

Arthur's turn was robotic, still reeling from the shock of this betrayal, and when a small sound came from the boy behind him he whipped back around, anger and hurt pouring from his every word. "I trusted you! I trusted you with my life! I called you friend, even though it earned me mocking from my own knights, because what kind of prince befriends a servant? You disgust me," Arthur spat, eyes turning into slits as he gazed at Merlin, who looked quite near tears, "You disgust me, and you'd better find another position away from Camelot, because I don't want people like you working for me."

"Sire…" Merlin tried one more time, but then the pressure on the top of his head suddenly let up and he was being dragged to his feet. Matthias's tongue found its way into his mouth, and it was all the young man could do to keep breathing.

Still, his eyes were on the door when it banged shut. His salvation had literally walked out on him.

.***.

okay, look, Arthur is our favorite charater. really. he has this kindness about him that he doesn't want others to see, and he truly cares, and in every incarnation of this legand he's always our favorite. but he is also is love. and his love seems to be with someone else. so before you guys start bashing Arthur think about it for a minute. what would you do?

and please review.