Summary: Something is rotten in the state of Camelot. A love story.

The Worm In The Bud (Part 3: Home) by frostygossamer

When Arthur awoke in the morning, he wasted no time kicking Merlin out of bed.

"Letting you stay with me last night was a big mistake, Merlin", he complained. "That sort of thing could get you killed. I think you had better pack your things and go back to your village. You have a mother don't you? I'm sure she'd like to see you alive."

"But, Arthur", Merlin protested. "They don't need me in Ealdor. You need me here with you."

"I'm not in a position to have people I need", Arthur responded. "I need to know you're safe, Merlin. I don't need to know that your life is in danger. Pack your bags and go. That's an order."

Merlin hurried out of the room, and made his way to Gaius' chambers.

The old man looked worried. "Where have you been all night, Merlin?", he wanted to know.

"I was with Arthur", Merlin explained. "He needed someone to show him a little love."

Gaius' eyebrows flew up. "For pity's sake, Merlin", he yelped. "You can't get yourself involved with the prince like that. You're asking to be thrown in the dungeons. Uther won't stand for any ...fraternization with his son."

Merlin shrugged. "I'm sorry, but I don't have a heart of stone", was his only excuse.

Suddenly the door was flung open, and two guards entered, one carrying a warrant.

"I have here a warrant for your arrest, Merlin of Ealdor, on the charge of theft", he proclaimed.

"Theft?", Gaius questioned. "What theft?"

"Theft of a gold ring, it says here", the guard read. "Prince Arthur has generously allowed you the choice of expulsion from the City of Camelot, or a spell in irons in the castle dungeons. Take your pick."

Merlin bowed his head to the inevitable, packed up his belongings and began the long walk back to Ealdor and his mother.

Back in his home village, Merlin was greeted with open arms by his mother, Hunith. She wanted to know to what she owed the pleasure of his company.

"You didn't get the sack, did you?", she asked, pouring him a beaker of cow-fresh milk.

"Well, sort of", Merlin replied. "My master, Prince Arthur, just didn't want me around anymore."

"That sounds a bit harsh", his mother said. "Couldn't they have used you somewhere else? And what about Gaius?"

"It's difficult to explain", Merlin replied, realising that gentle Hunith would be shocked and outraged if she knew the truth about the monarch and his son.

"Try", Hunith encouraged, sipping from her own beaker.

Merlin decided to be vague. "Suppose you knew that a great wrong had been done, and goes on being done, but people told you it wasn't your business", he generalized.

Hunith considered. "The great wrong, does this concern Prince Arthur?"

"Yes", Merlin answered.

"And Prince Arthur is your charge, isn't he?", she asked.

"And my friend", he added.

"Well, that's a change", Hunith chuckled. "You're usually grumbling about him."

"Things are different now", Merlin explained.

"Then it wouldn't be right to stand by and allow a friend to suffer", she declared. "If there's anything at all you could do. Is there anything you could do?"

Merlin shook his head, sadly. "He doesn't want me to do anything. I can only be a good friend", he said. "A friend in need."

"Well, that would mean a great deal", his mother said, encouragingly.

Merlin nodded. "I'll have to go back", he decided. "In a week or two, when they've forgotten about me. I can't leave Arthur on his own."

"Oh, Merlin", Hunith laughed. "You were always the one who took care of injured birds and harvest mice. Your heart is too soft. But that's what I love about my boy. You're such a sweetheart."

Arthur had been missing Merlin, painfully, since his departure. But he told himself that sending him away was the right thing to do, the only thing to do.

He was sitting in on a meeting with his father and his royal counsellors, ostentatiously wearing the very gold ring that Merlin had been sent away for thieving, just to show his father that he wasn't above punishing somebody for nothing either, when the door opened and a page entered, bearing a letter for King Uther.

Uther unrolled the missive with a flourish. It was from one of Camelot's neighbours, King Malefact, a boorish man with an appetite for all things immoral. Uther hated the man, but he was a key player, and his letter spoke of treaty and trade. He wished to visit.

Uther drafted a flattering reply, inviting him to Camelot the following month. Arthur grumbled but had to agree with his father, trade is trade, peace is peace.

When Arthur returned to his chambers he was surprised to find Merlin making his bed.

"Merlin", he growled. "I thought I told you to go back to Ealdor and stay there."

"I've been to Ealdor", Merlin retorted. "It's not much fun. I'd rather be here in Camelot helping Gaius. He's an old man. He needs me, even if you say you don't."

Arthur flopped down on a chair with a defeated sigh.

"If you intend to stay here, I want you to swear to me that you'll keep your mouth shut and not cause any trouble", he insisted. "I won't have you upsetting my father. He has a kingdom to run. The last thing I need is for him to get riled up over you. It would be me that would suffer. You don't know what I have to do to placate the old devil when he gets like that. I wouldn't be able to sit down for a week."

Merlin sucked in a sharp breath. "I promise", he swore.

Arthur was summoned to his father's chambers three times more that month. Every time was a trial. It never got any easier. Except that now Arthur found that he could zone out of his ordeal, as he lay naked and submissive on Uther's bed, face buried in his father's pillow, as the bed frame creaked and complained with every thrust.

He concentrated his mind on the piping hot bath, and the comforting chaste cuddle-up, Merlin would have waiting for him, when Uther was spent, and he was finally allowed to return to his own room.

Merlin would bathe him, dry him, and his tears, and put him to bed clothed in fresh linen. Then he would join him, and cradle his mistreated body in his wiry arms, his long slim fingers tenderly caressing him. He would snuggle his face into the boy's shoulder, savouring the scent of his innocent skin. Merlin's touch would be gentle, his arms strong yet kind, his voice a soothing murmur.

Arthur was brought back to the moment, as Uther cursed and rolled onto his back, his shirt open, his breeches comically twisted about his knees. He tugged at his clothing, hurriedly trying to cover himself, then he gave up and lay back, wheezing.

"Ygraine", he whispered wistfully, followed by a spluttering cough.

He poked Arthur in the side, urging him to get off the bed.

Arthur struggled to his feet and pulled on his clothes without a word.

Uther rubbed both his hands over his still handsome face and through his short iron-grey hair. He sighed loudly.

"Why do you do this to me?", he demanded bitterly. "You're a damnable tease, Arthur."

Arthur kept his eyes down, concentrating on the few feet between himself and the door.

"I love you, son", Uther said with a sob. "But you're such a temptation, boy. You look at me with your mother's eyes. How am I supposed to resist that?"

He began to cry. "You make me do evil things. I'm sorry, Arthur, so sorry."

Then he rolled over and collapsed into a blubbering heap. Arthur gratefully took this opportunity to escape.

He walked awkwardly down the corridor to his rooms, wincing a little with each step. He opened the door to his bedchamber, to be greeted by the welcome sight of Merlin, waiting eagerly for his return.

The room was softly lit and warm. Merlin ran to his side and guided him to his ready prepared bathtub, the steaming water perfumed with cleansing herbs. Merlin gently stripped him of his sullied clothing and he slipped thankfully into the purifying bath.

TBC

A/N: Well, we had to see what was going on. At least Arthur has Merlin to make it a little better. It couldn't get worse, could it? Please read on.