AN: I have a feeling this needs to be said outright. I really didn't want to have to say it but it seems I need to. This story is Slash. Merthur. I will not say how I will not say why because that's the reason I never stated that before. If you don't like it I'm sorry but that is what it is. If you like it I will write a parallel one that does not contain slash but has the basic storyline twisted a bit, but that is the best I can do. Anyway, I don't own Merlin.

"Did you see it?" Kyle asked him as he helped strip the prince down to change.

"I know! The insolence they allow is astonishing. Did you know the king actually allowed the servant to call him a prat! And the knights, they treat him like he's gold!" the prince ranted, tossing off his shirt when he ran out of patience..

"So you didn't see it?" Kyle's eyes were wide with disbelief. When the prince only looked expectantly at him he mumbled, "The shield, it moved on its own"

"What are you on about?" the prince blinked, worried about his oldest servant's mental health.

Kyle looked even more timid then before, "The shield moved on its own. Someone moved it with magic. I think I saw Merlin's eyes flash gold."

Darren paused for a moment before laughing. "Kyle, did one of the knights slip ale into your drink? Do you honestly think that someone would have worked in such a looked upon placed in the household of Camelot during the reign of Uther if he was a sorcerer? He's worked for Arthur near a decade, that means that the majority of it was during Uther's reign. If he was a sorcerer then he would have been caught long ago." The prince shook his head at the servant and stepped quickly toward the door, dressed for the feast.

Kyle watched the room of people from behind his master's elbow. While his master partook in the merriment, his eyes scanned the court of Camelot.. Arthur and Guinevere sat side by side at the main table. The visiting prince sat on Arthur's other side. At his elbow was ot the servant that Kyle was expecting. The servant in charge of the King's goblet was a timid looking brown haired boy who jumped every time the king held up his goblet. Kyle's green eyes sought the raven haired boy in the crowd. The manservant wasn't hard to find. He was in the very back of the room surrounded by the knights from before with a goblet in his hand. His outfit however had the servant's eyes widening. The knights were boisterously loud, though the servant could barely hear them over the normal din of the feast. Merlin was wearing the most obnoxious, outlandish outfit that the servant had ever seen. The dark knight his master had been sparring against was currently swatting playfully at the feather(feathers) on the boys hat. The large man who had led them to their rooms,Gwaine?, was playfully swirling the cloak around the boy. Merlin was standing stock still and stiff as stone. He obviously said something because the group burst into laughter, while the ma's shoulders hunched further.

Kyle's master brought him from his observation by clinking his glass gently against the table. Kyle obediently stepped forward, filling the prince's goblet. He took the moment of new perspective on the room to do a quick sweep. His eyes halted almost immediately however. The king was not looking longingly at the queen, nor was he looking at the prince who was relaying a story. The king's eyes were locked fondly at the group at the back of the room. A small smile was pulling at his lips. Kyle followed his gaze just as Merlin looked up. The manservant caught his king's gaze. A goofy grin pulled across his face and he held the royal's gaze until he was pulled into a headlock and given a noogie by the dark-skinned knight.

Kyle jumped as he stepped back into his place as Arthur gave a snort. The servant could see Guinevere jump next to him and she turned to the king. Her eyes also followed the kings and she asked in a soft voice, "Was it really necessary to bring out the hat?""

"Necessary? No, Amusing yes… Although I wasn't expecting him to actually wear it…" Arthur was chuckling. He took Guinevere's hand, "How are you feeling?"

"Do you honestly think our Merlin would let me go through a moment of even morning sickness?" Gwen laughed, "Not only did that idiot study under Gaius, he's… well.. Merlin."

"You have a point," the king patted the queen's hand before turning back to the prince. Gwen's eyes however, turned back toward the group at the back. A fond smile graced her lips and she shook her head with a grin when she caught a dark haired knight's eye.

The moment ended and the room fell back into normalcy. "Prince Darren, tomorrow you must join us at the round table." Kyle's attention swung onto the king as he addressed his prince.

Kyle could not see his master as he paused, but still the prince answered, "Of course."

"Very well. With that I must ask to be dismissed." The king gave a slight bow to his queen before standing. His eyes sought Merlin who met him look for look before the king jerked his chin. From his place across the room the servant gave a nod and removed himself from the knights.

"Kyle what is the round table?" the prince asked as his slave undressed him.

"I'm not sure Sire. If you wish I can see if I can find out?" the boy answered quietly.

"No, I will find out tomorrow regardless." The prince fell into a tired silence.

"Sire…" the slave began, "Have you noticed that the king's servant is rather…. Strange."

"Of course, the king doesn't punish him no matter what he does or says." Darren had a curt, angry tone.

"Not just that… The knights seem to love him, as does the queen, but above all… no one finds it odd. Even tonight, not a single noble gave them an odd look tonight. They acted as if the knights joking and talking to a servant was normal." The boy rubbed thoughtfully at his shaved head.

"Kyle, I do not wish to think on that tonight. Go fetch yourself food then go to bed." The prince turned to his bed and flopped across it.

"Yes sire," he answered, bowing. He felt a smile pull at his lips as he closed the door. Although he was only a slave, his master treated him well. His master knew that he would not have had the chance to eat since this morning and knew that otherwise he wouldn't eat until the next morning. He wasn't treated like Merlin, but he would feel strange being treated as such.

"Merlin," came a loud whine, freezing Kyle in his tracks, "where are you going? Get back in here!" the slave peeked around the corner to find the servant attempting to escape the king's grip on his wrist.

"Arthur," the voice spoke of long patience with a small child throwing a tantrum, "You do realize my life does not always revolve around you." Arthur gave his scolding manservant a look, "Alright maybe it does but it does NOT always revolve around you passing whim or presence." A pout formed across the blonde king's face. "You got me down for your big fancy speech, even got me in the damn Gods forsaken hat, let me go study. How do you expect me to be any help if you don't let me work?"

The king sighed and gripped the raven's wrist for a moment longer than released it. "Just don't get too caught up up there. I want you there when we convene at the round table tomorrow."

"Yes sire," the manservant's eyes accessed his king for a moment before he sighed, "I'll get you ready for bed before I go." With that he spun and walked back into the room, a smiling Arthur following after.

Kyle would never be sure but he could have sworn he heard a soft, "Works every time," whispered from the king before the door slammed shut.. Kyle stared at the closed door for a moment before shaking off the shock and continuing on his way downstairs to the kitchens.

TBC

Arthur: Sucker!

Lethy: Like you don't fall for Merlin's puppy dog eyes.

Gwaine: No one and nothing is safe when he turns those on.

Arthur: I do not! I'm a king!

Gwaine, Elyan, Lance, Leon, Gwen, Percival, Morgana, Lethy, Merlin, Gaius, and Uther:: BULL