Thanks for the feedback guys. I was so happy I decided to give you another chapter in the same day. As a result it may be slightly rushed and not as good as the first. By the way, just on an off note, who do you think is better looking: Merlin or Arthur?

Arthur was talking to his horse….and I was listening. To my shame I was hiding in the loft of the stable straining my ears to hear his soft tones as he whispered to the animal. All I managed to catch was the horse's name mentioned several times and Merlin's and Morgana's but they were the only words I could really make out. It frustrated me to the point that I had to shuffle closer to hear exactly what he was murmuring.

My heart almost stopped as I scuffled along the wooden floorboards and kicked a bag of fodder that slumped over with a muffled thump. I froze for a few seconds but luckily Arthur didn't seem to have heard. I scrambled closer, craning my neck to see him past the large support beams.

"….she is so irritating but so….beautiful. Aster, how can I not help but be enraptured by her? It is like Merlin and that hand maiden, what is her name, Gwen? I'm like an infatuated school boy. It is ridiculous. I bet you don't have these problems as a horse, Aster, for you it is a mere case of liking a filly and then having your way with her. Am I right?" Arthur's voice was bitter but full of wistfulness. I couldn't help but feel hurt; it was like he had betrayed me by saying such words though obviously we had never had a relationship in the first place so I was being stupid. This really should teach me that eavesdropping only disappoints you but I still continued to listen.

"What am I saying? I'm talking to you as if you were human. If Father caught me he would think I was going mad. Not that he doesn't already, mind. Ever since I risked my life for my servant's he's thought I'm a few apples short of a pie. But there is something different about Merlin, he's, I'm not sure, just…..different. I care about him. Isn't that odd, Aster, I care about a servant boy? Maybe there is something wrong with my head."

I couldn't help but smile to myself. Watching Arthur and Merlin's relationship develop from my point of view was unbelievably revealing. I could see their bond strengthening and welding the two of them together to the closeness of brothers. From my perspective I could see how each one felt about the other – that may have something to do with my terrible habit of listening to what I'm not meant to – and it was just a matter of time, I was certain.

Arthur began speaking again, after a few seconds pause, and I leant farther forwards because his voice had dropped in volume even more. Unfortunately, it was actually impossible to get any closer because the flooring ran out, however, my mind didn't actually register that and I felt my hand make contact with thin air. With a startled and somewhat girly yelp, I plummeted into the stall below.

The young Prince's head snapped round, his eyes falling on the crumpled, moaning heap that was me. He looked completely astonished, but that may have just been because of the angle I was looking up at him from.

"What on earth are you doing, boy?" He managed to gain the use of his tongue before I had the chance to escape. "Have you been spying on me? Is this one of the King's ploys?"

"No, sir, no!" I stammered, suddenly aware of an acute stabbing pain in my wrist. I struggled not to let out a small whimper.

"Then what exactly were you doing up in the loft?"

"I am the stable boy, sir! I was fetching some fodder for the horses."

"Really? You are the stable boy?" Arthur looked surprised and I couldn't help but feel a sharp, icy dagger of hurt slam into my heart. His careless words stung me more than he would ever know. He'd never even noticed me. He may have given me lodgings but he didn't remember. "Well, why were you taking so long then?"

"Um…" Think fast, I ordered myself, "I sort of, well, I apologise, sir, but I fell asleep in the hay."

Arthur seemed to consider my reasons for a moment, his brow furrowing before it straightened out to reveal his flawless face again.

"I don't blame you, boy, I do that myself sometimes. It's very warm in here. Now, what is wrong with your arm?" His eyes zeroed in on the limb that was clutched protectively to my chest.

"I think I may have broken it," I whispered, barely able to breathe because of the attention he was giving me. It was sickening really.

"Well, we better get you to Gaius then. What is your name?"

"Emery, sir, Emery Talon."

"All right then, Emery, do you need a hand?" Arthur's blue eyes pierced mine and I felt the familiar blush work its way across my cheeks. Unfortunately or fortunately, whichever way you looked at it, Arthur interpreted this differently to what it actually meant thinking I was embarrassed that the Prince was offering me help. "Its okay, I don't bite you know." I wish. "If you don't want my help just say."

Come on, this was my one and only chance to actually get him to touch me, say yes, I screamed at myself. My mouth was not cooperating and he looked like he was wavering on his decision so I needed to speak quickly or it would be too late.

"Yes, please!" I managed to gasp, breathily. It sounded oddly sexual. Luckily, Arthur, being the man that never notices anything didn't notice that either and bent down to help me up. The feel of his strong hands on my bare arms caused my heart to start pumping faster and my hairs to stand on end; gooseflesh enveloped my skin.

"Are you sure it is just your arm? You look a bit ill," Arthur's blue eyes were so close and so intense; focussing solely on me, I was in heaven. Suddenly his face seemed to get a hazy and I couldn't see his eyes clearly anymore. The world seemed to be tilting on its axis and I reached out, hoping to grab onto something. My last thought before my mind went blank was 'oh lord, Prince Arthur, is watching me faint! Great.' Then everything dissolved into blackness.

"…passed out from the pain." Were the first words I heard when I became aware of my surroundings again. I could smell something funny, a mixture of copper and lavender, maybe my nose wasn't working after the fall.

"No doubt, it is a nasty break the boy has there; he must've fallen quite hard."

"He did, it was actually painful to watch."

"Well, it was nice of you to bring him here. Poor boy probably had no idea that today he would be slung over Prince Arthur's shoulder and carried all the way to the physician's quarters. He should be honoured." I vaguely recognised the voice as that of Gaius the castle physician. "What was his name again?"

"Emery," a new voice contributed to the conversation, this one I immediately knew the owner of. It was Merlin. Oh joy, I had forgotten he was Gaius' apprentice and would witness all of my mishap.

"You know him?" Arthur asked.

"Probably better than you. I see him quite a lot round the castle and the stables; dealing with the horses and that. He's the stable boy." I couldn't help but think 'Will that always be my claim to fame? Stable boy?'

"I guessed that, considering I found him in the stables," Arthur replied, cagily. "So, is he going to be okay?"

"He should be fine. Once he comes round I will give him some smelling salts for the pain and send him on his way. The wrist has been set so that is all fine."

"Good. I must go now. My father wants to have one of his talks."

I listened sadly as Arthur's footsteps carried him away from me. Still, I couldn't help be pleased that he'd carried me all the way here on his shoulder!

"Merlin, now he's gone, I need to talk to you about your ridiculous need to use magic for every given thing. You will grow lazy and selfish if you continue in this way. Being a sorcerer is not just about using magic on a whim, you have to think very carefully about how you use it or it could get you killed!"

"I know, Gaius, and I'm sorry about the thing with the broomsticks and the water, it won't happen again. I promise."

Magic?! My mind literally exploded. Well, not quite.

What do you think? I may have used slightly too much dialogue. Review!