Disclaimer: Don't own Merlin.

The festival was almost upon them and Merlin could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Everyone was filled with excitement and merriment, with grand anticipation of the festivities they enjoyed so greatly. Usually Merlin joined in that joyful feeling, but he couldn't. Not now. Not with Morgana's vision swimming in his head. He pulled out of the last preparations because he had some of his own to do.

The warlock rode around the Ealdorean boundary, putting up new wards and strengethening his old ones. He used the vision he'd taken from Morgana to use as a blueprint of the attack. Where the soldiers entered, he fortified, where they took possession, he armed, where they slaughtered, he put up more protection for the people.

He wasn't surprised when Lancelot joined him one day and stood silently by his side, just watching. His friend waited until Merlin was finished with what he was doing to ask him who was going to attack them, if Kanen was desperate enough to try once more. Lancelot had not been here when Kanen had attacked, but like Gwaine, he'd heard the stories.

Merlin had only told Lancelot because he was married to Guinevere and knew that Lancelot, unlike everyone else, would not say they needed to kick out into the cold those who were hiding in their village. Lancelot was silent, his face grave, and the only words he uttered after the revelation were: "What can I do to assist you?" There really wasn't much Lancelot could do except keep an eye on their surroundings for Merlin. He became something of a scout, patrolling the boundaries of the village daily, and when Merlin saw Lancelot training his wife in the use of a blade he merely smiled and agreed that the girl should learn to protect herself.

But tonight was the festival, it was already underway, and Merlin had done all he could for tonight. So he enjoyed the festivities and the music. The wreath Freya had blushingly placed on his head was quite crooked by now and almost falling off, but he left it as it was. He danced (terribly) and sung (terribly) and had some of the meade as the singing and music filled the air.

Morgana danced without a care, her laughter ringing like a bell as she twirled around with a giggling Gwen and the other girls.

"You know, she is not too hard on the eyes." Gwaine eyed the woman with a pensive look before he added with a huff: "For an irritating harpy."

Merlin raised an eyebrow at his friend before his gaze returned to Morgana. "She is quite beautiful."

"No no no, Merlin." Gwaine flung his arm around Merlin's shoulders. "You cannot be bitten by the love bug and try to marry her. Lancelot already went and left us for a wench. You cannot do me the same thing as he did."

Amusement filled the warlock. "I was not planning on courting Miss Morgana."

"You better not," a voice grumbled behind them. "I already told you that you would not receive my blessing."

Both Merlin and Gwaine turned to see Arthur there.

Gwaine snorted and raised an eyebrow. "Your sister would be lucky to have this boy here after her. Wife of the village warlock. Tis the highest honor."

Arthur snorted. "My sister will not be marrying anyone from this village, much less its warlock."

Gwaine smirked. "That sounds like a challenge."

Merlin's eyes widened in horror at the 'c' word. "Gwaine."

Suddenly girls reached out and stole men from the crowd to dance with them, and Merlin was surprised when Morgana reached for him. He stumbled into the dance, sent a very annoyed Arthur (and very smug Gwaine) a look over his shoulder before he turned to her and followed her lead as they weaved in and out amongst the other dancers.

Morgana's eyes were twinkling despite her serious tone as she announced: "I know what you did."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "I do many things. I am highly productive."

She grinned before they twirled. "You took my vision, and you not only did not tell my family, you did not tell anyone else about it either, except for Lancelot, who would die before anything happened to Gwen." She smiled. "You are also putting protections all around the village." She leaned in close. "Thank you."

He flushed, surprised that she had noticed this, and then nodded. "You are a part of this village, and we protect our own."

She smiled brightly up at him.

He smiled back.

They danced a couple of more dances together before they finally pulled apart as the sounding of the drums let everyone know that the time for the wicker man drew nigh.

Merlin walked Morgana over to where an annoyed looking Arthur was before he made his way to the circle of wicker effigies. He stood in front of the large wicker man and waited until everything had quieted down before he spoke. "We are here once again to thank the gods for all their abundant gifts to us. Now it is our turn to give back to the gods, to show them our appreciation for what they have bestowed on us so far, and remind them that we are forever grateful and their humble servants." He motioned for the villagers to come forth with their last offerings, which were loaded into the large wicker man. "We thank them for protection, for the grains and healthy livestock, for our every breath."

Morgana surprised everyone in the village (but none more than her family) when she moved towards the wicker man. She took in a deep breath and reached into her pocket to place a ring (that all could see was very valuable) into the wicker man. She stepped away, dipped her head to the wicker man in a slight bow, and moved back to where her family awaited her.

The villagers eyed her intensely, differently. Merlin could see that with this one offering, with this one act on her part in giving to the gods and participating in the ritual, the village started to change their mind about her.

He met her gaze and smiled before he addressed those there as he walked towards the wicker man and cut his hand, dripping his blood on top of Morgana's ring and the other offerings stored within. "We give the gods a token of our love, of our appreciation, and of our continued worship. And in return they protect and nourish us, they bless us and allow our crops to grow and our livestock to remain strong. They prevent sickness from overcoming our village like it has those surrounding it. We are faithful to the gods, and in return, they are faithful to us." He showed his palm, the cut healed, and he smiled as, with a flick of his wrists, the effigies and the wicker man, caught on fire simultaneously.

The children ooohed and aaaahed at the different colored flames which rose in the air and connected in an arch above Merlin's head, high into the air. The colors intertwined and danced with a multiple array of shades and tones as they soared high within the air. The smoke which arose formed shapes and designs, smoke dragons soared through the air and breathed ghost fire on those below.

Merlin met his mother's proud eyes and grinned back at her, enjoying the village's enjoyment of the magical display. The children especially giggled and shrieked out laughter, while the adults watched it all with amusement.

Guinevere clung to her husband, her gaze in the sky, wide in shock.

Gaius, once a warlock himself (Hunith had shared this with Merlin), merely smiled.

Leon listened to something Freya told him as he pointed to a catlike beast made of smoke which flew around them.

Morgana laughed and nodded her agreement to something Sophia whispered to her while holding onto an intrigued Elyan's arm. A couple of the women in the village had congregated around the woman, whispering to her. Morgana smiled, chuckled, and whispered back.

Merlin's gaze turned on Arthur and found the young man expressionless, his eyes on Merlin.

Light and color exploded in the air above them, raining down glittering light on the onlookers.

The warlock cleared his throat and looked away, a little shaken, but he got control over himself once more and the celebration continued on.

The music began to play, people began to dance, children chased after the smoke beasts while laughing, and Merlin smiled at his people.

He tried to ignore Arthur for the rest of the celebration but his gaze slipped in his direction a number of times, and each time he found the blonde watching him with that unreadable expression.

"You would have been executed in Camelot without a second thought."

Merlin looked up from the book he was reading out by the large oak. "Good morning to you too, neighbor."

Arthur did not look amused, his arms folded over his chest. "You are not like any sorcerer that I have ever encountered."

"Well, if you executed them all on sight, it is not like you truly ever actually got to know any."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "Every sorcerer I met was trying to kill the king and his family."

"Because the king killed their family." Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Surely you can't be blind to the fact that your king destroyed the lives of many innocent people."

Arthur opened his mouth and then closed it as he looked away. "All the magic I have ever known was evil."

He waited for him to continue, because it was obvious that the shorter male wanted to say more.

The blonde turned back to look at him, highly annoyed. "I felt extremely uncomfortable the other night, and the only reason why I helped with the preparations and attended the festival itself was because Gaius said that we should, that it would help the villagers accept us better."

Merlin nodded to the wisdom of those words.

"But I did not want to be there, did not want to be a part of a ritual of the Old Religion." His gaze lowered. "I felt that by doing so I was betraying the principles that I had been brought up with."

The warlock could understand that, and didn't take any offense to this.

"And then Morgana gave up the ring father gave her, and it was like a punch to the gut." Arthur's face hardened. "I realized then and there that she has truly given up on our life before the fall, and that she means to become a part of this community." His expression went queasy. "She might even marry here. One of these men might become my brother in law."

"Would that be so horrible?" Merlin raised an eyebrow. "The villagers might not be refined courtesans, but we are good people."

"It is not that," Arthur despaired. "What I mean to say is that I never viewed living here permanently as an option. I saw it as something we had to bare before things were right in Camelot and we could return to our previous lives." He let out a huff. "But last night it became ever so clear to me that I am the only one harboring this fantasy."

He had no idea why Arthur was opening up to him like this. It was obviously not a part of Arthur's nature to do so, and he and the shorter boy weren't exceptionally close. Still, it was obvious that Arthur needed to get this off of his chest, and that he trusted Merlin enough to vent at him, so the warlock merely stayed there quietly and let the boy vent.

"Guinevere married Lancelot, Elyan married Sophia, and Leon has been speaking endlessly of "the enchanting Freya" that I know it is only a matter of time before he marries as well." Arthur made a face, clearly unhappy. "All that leaves is Morgana and I with Gauis."

"Are you feeling abandoned?"

Arthur shot him a glare. "No."

Ah, so he was.

Merlin eyed him curiously. "How old are you?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes at him. "What is it to you?"

"Humor me."

"I do not see why I should." And yet Arthur let out a sigh. "Eighteen."

Merlin tilted his head to the side. "You are only a year younger than me." He smirked. "You seem much younger due to the fact that you act like a brat."

"I do not-!"

"You do," Merlin assured him.

Arthur merely glared at him.

Merlin grinned brightly. "Arthur, if you do not want to feel like you are being left behind, do not be."

He raised an eyebrow. "What sort of cockamamie-?"

"They can not leave you behind if you are right there with them, can they?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes at Merlin. "Is this an example of 'country wisdom'?"

"Sod off!" And yet Merlin was laughing. "What I mean to say is that Camelot might have been your home once, but this can be your home now, if you let it."

Arthur took in a deep breath. "There is something about you Merlin, I just can't put my finger on it."

"Yes, I know, I am entirely too handsome."

Arthur sputtered, his face red. "That is not what I mean!"

"You would not be the first boy seduced by my charms, do not fret." He said this with a straight face despite the fact that inside he snickered.

"What charms?" Arthur groused. "You are the most annoying and infuriating man I have ever had the misfortune of knowing."

"You realize, Arthur, that that is quite the declaration of love you have just spouted."

"I did not declare any such thing!" Arthur's face was puce. "If anyone is in love with anyone, you are in love with me!"

Merlin snickered. "Right. Because there is so much to be in love with when it comes to you."

Arthur's mouth clamped shut, and his eyes were narrowed slits. "I will have you know that many women and men in the court in Camelot fancied me."

"I am sure they did," he said in his most patronizing tone.

Arthur was bubbling with rage, it was a sight to behold. "You provoke me on purpose."

Merlin's grin was wicked. "I was wondering when you would notice. I am giving you an education in patience. This is for your own good."

"I do not need any sort of lesson from you." Arthur held his head up high. "I will be the bigger man and refrain from reacting to your provocations." He turned and stormed away.

The dark haired youth watched him go and then couldn't resist the urge as he yelled out after him: "By storming away like that you are still reacting!"

Arthur's stride grew furious as he hurried his pace.

"How is the courtship coming along?" Hunith asked off-handedly as she knitted.

Merlin blinked in confusion as to why his mother thought he would know. "How I see it, Freya will be married by the fortnight, and she does deserve some happiness after how terrible her life has been, but-."

"Yes yes dear, I am very happy for her." Hunith looked up. "But I meant how is your courtship in regards to Arthur?"

Merlin stared at his mother and tried to make sense of the question. "There is no courtship."

Hunith's eyes widened in scandal. "Merlin, you cannot be serious. If you have no true intentions for that boy you need to stop your flirtations. People are beginning to talk. There is gossip." She leaned forwards. "Two of our neighbors have already inquired as to whether you plan on moving into a separate hut with him soon!"

Merlin pulled an Arthur, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly without a sound ushering forth.

"People's expectations are rising, Merlin." Hunith tutted and returned to knitting. "Do not tease them all if you are merely having fun with the poor lad."

"Expectations?" Merlin squeaked. "Why would there be expectations?!"

"Well, because with the way you two flirt all day, people are expecting to find you deflowering the poor boy behind some barn." Hunith shook her head in reproach. "There are wagers, Merlin. You must think of that poor boy's reputation, if not your own." She pursed her lips. "You do not want to be thought of as a rogue deflowerer, do you?"

He blinked, not quite sure that he was truly having this conversation. "Of course not."

"Good." She seemed relieved. "So either make things official with that boy or stop flirting so much with him."

"But we do not flirt." Merlin couldn't understand how this was being misunderstood.

"Please, Merlin, I may be your mother but I was a vibrant young woman once." She smiled dreamily at the memory. "I know very well when someone is acting coquetish around someone else." Her gaze rested on him. "You, my son, are a natural coquet."

"I am not!" Merlin flushed in embarrassment.

"Merlin." His mothed tisked. "I cannot believe you would deny it right to my face."

"But-."

"Merlin."

He lowered his head. "Yes mother."

"Good boy." She continued to knit as if they hadn't had this conversation.

Merlin, in his seat, was quite traumatized.

Whether she realized it or not, this was the second time Merlin avoided Arthur because of Hunith. He felt extremely self-conscious while around the blonde when other villagers were around, and he tried his best not to put out "rogue deflowerer" vibes, whatever the hell those were. He would've thought that these people would know him better by now, he'd only lived amongst them his whole life! Since when had he had "rogue anything" vibes? He couldn't be less "rogue" if he wanted to! It just wasn't possible!

"Will?" Merlin turned to his friend. "Do you ever get the feeling that I will roguishly deflower you?"

Will, bless his heart, took the question in stride, thought it over for about two seconds, and then shook his head. "Not really. Why?"

The warlock finally confided what had been bothering him. "My mother has gotten it into her head that I am going to deflower Arthur behind someone's barn."

"Well that is bloody ridiculous." Will laughed at the whole idea, which made Merlin feel better. "It would happen in the supply shed behind your house. Not someone's barn. It is much more convenient, actually quite comfortable given the fact that you keep hay in there, and there is less of a chance of someone stumbling onto you making him into a man."

Merlin gaped at his best friend.

Will did not seem to realize the shock his friend was going through right now. "I honestly do not know what you see in the prat, but you seem to have the most fun when you are engaging in verbal foreplay with him, so I will just accept that he makes you happy and support you in this love endeavor."

Merlin just stared at Will.

"Oi! Merlin!" Arthur's voice was like a bucket of cold water. "I have been looking for you!"

Will waggled his eyebrows and took off, probably believing he was being supportive by leaving Merlin alone with the object of his "love endeavor".

Merlin turned to face Arthur and tried not to look like he'd just been talking about deflowering him in a barn, or a shed. "Hello Arthur, how may I be of service to you today?"

"By telling your friend Gwaine to back off." Arthur's eyes were narrowed. "If I see him hanging around Morgana again he is not going to be warned away by just words."

Merlin's eyebrows rose. "Gwaine is courting Morgana?"

"No." Arthur's eyes narrowed. "He is not. And he will not. I have heard about his reputation all over the village and will not let him within two feet of my sister!"

Merlin peered over Arthur's shoulder to where Morgana and Gwaine were apparently arguing with each other. The warlock raised an eyebrow. "If you ask me, there is no chance of a romance between those two. I mean, look at them."

Arthur twirled on his heels and glared at the two of them. "I cannot believe the nerve that scoundrel has in flirting with my sister right before my eyes! He is shameless and-!"

"Flirting?" Merlin knew his voice betrayed his shock as he stared at the two dark haired beauties who looked like they would like nothing else than to stab and then strangle each other. "What about that could be considered flirting?" He flinched when Morgana punched Gwaine, straight in the jaw, and stormed off. Gwaine held his face, stared after her, and then charged behind her telling her that she "hit like a girl"... which only made her swing around, punch him again, and this time do it with enough force to land him on the ground.

Sure this would convince Arthur there was nothing there to be worried about, Merlin turned to glance at his companion only to realize that the blonde looked even more worried now than he had before. In fact, Arthur was quite pale. "She likes him. A lot."

Right then and there Merlin decided he knew nothing about male/female dynamics. "What could possibly give you that idea?"

"I know my sister." Arthur palmed his face before he turned to glare at Merlin. "This is all your fault!"

"How is any of this even remotely my fault?" Merlin wanted to now.

"He is your friend! You should have stopped him when he first fixed his eyes on my devil sister!"

"I still am not convinced that he has fixed anything on her!"

"How can you be so blind?" Arthur wanted to know. "Or are you just playing stupid?"

"I do not see how their interaction can be deemed as flirtation!" Merlin threw his hands in the air. "They fight like cats and dogs and provoke each other to utter violence!" He folded his arms over his chest. "If what they are doing is termed flirtation, then the same could be said about what we do." And then he wished the world would just swallow him.

Arthur's eyes widened and his blues seemed even bluer with his blush. "You wish that we flirted!"

"I do not!" Merlin denied vehemently. "I am merely pointing out that you and I share a similar dynamic to that between Morgana and Gwaine." He raised an eyebrow. "You need to understand that so that you can realize that they are not flirting, because that would mean that you and I are flirting, and we are not flirting."

Arthur stared at him in wide-eyed horror.

Merlin began to fidget. "Because we are not."

"Of course we are not." Arthur's voice squeaked at the 'we' part. "We would not flirt! At all!"

"Exactly." Merlin nodded in agreement.

"You are gangly and all ears and not at all attractive!"

Merlin's mouth gaped in outrage. "And you are short and a gigantic prat who might be fit right now, but has the promise of a pudgy stomach once he reaches a certain age!"

"I do not have the promise of a pudgy stomach!"

"You do!" Merlin poked said stomach.

"Do not!" Arthur swatted at that poking finger. "You are just jealous that I have actual muscles and that I don't just have a layer of skin over pure bones."

"Please," Merlin scoffed.

"Do not try and deny it, Merlin." Arthur pointed a finger accusingly in his face. "I am a perfect specimen of manhood. It is okay to feel inferior and inadequate in comparison."

Merlin snorted. "The sun is obviously getting to you."

A couple of girls crossed by them and giggled amongst themselves.

Merlin froze and watched them go, his eyes wide as he wondered if they, like Will and his mother, believed that the argument Arthur and him were having right now was some sort of flirtation or "verbal foreplay". He just was not having that. He had to dispell those "that Merlin is such a roguish deflowerer" rumors that apparently truly were circulating. It was why he left Arthur in mid sentence and hurried after the girls, a smile on his face. "Elena, Vivian, you are both looking exceptionally lovely today."

They blushed, sent Arthur a look, shared a look between them, and then turned their gazes on him. "Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin cleared his throat and moved closer. "I was wondering if perhaps later-." Suddenly something latched onto his ear, and Merlin let out a cry as Arthur (without a by-your-leave to the girls) began to drag him away by his ear. "A-Arthur? What-? Arthur!"

"This is no time for you to be philandering." Arthur's voice was tight with annoyance.

"Philandering?" He gasped and wondered if he truly did have the reputation of a shameless rake. "I was going to ask if they would show me their flowerbeds!"

"Is that what they are calling it in Ealdor?" Arthur monotoned.

He flushed at the insinuation. "They grow flowers that my mother is fond of and I wanted to plant some for her birthday."

"Of course you did." Arthur sounded completely unbelieving as he finally let go of Merlin's ear. "Listen here you idiotic sorcerer, until you fix this problem I forbid you from doing anything else. Especially... flowerbedding."

"It was not a euphemism." Merlin blushed and rubbed his throbbing ear. "And I'm telling you, there is nothing between your sister and my friend... except maybe murderous intent."

Arthur glared at him. "Fix it, Merlin." He turned to walk away before he swung back around and pointed his finger accusingly at him. "And do not let me catch you dilly dallying with the village girls!" He paused and then flushed and glared harder at Merlin. "This is important! Just focus on this!" And with that he turned around once more and stormed away.

Merlin watched him go and continued rub his ear.

"Me and the pompous, better than everyone else, thinks she's the queen of Albion, Morgana?" Gwaine snorted into his drink. "I should think not."

Merlin smiled in relief, having known this but it was nice to hear the confirmation anyway. "Good. Arthur was in a tizzy about it. He has heard all about your reputation with the ladies and did not want you within two feet of his sister."

"Like I would touch that rigid, unnattracive, frigid tomboy!" Gwaine made a face. "Not even with a ten foot pole would I do something so distasteful as that!"

Merlin nodded. "I told Arthur you did not like her." He shook his head, amused. "And he was so worriedly convinced she liked you."

Gwaine froze with his goblet halfway to his mouth. "He said that? He used those actual words?"

Merlin took a sip of his own drink. "He thought that you two were flirting, and that his sister liked you, in his words: a lot."

The goblet slowly lowered to the table. "Did he truly use those words in regards to Morgana's feelings towards me?"

Merlin nodded and finished his drink. "He shall be relieved when I inform him that he was wrong and there is no attraction between you two whatsoever." He then actually looked at Gwaine, and dropped his goblet. "Gwaine?"

"I cannot help it, Merlin!" Gwaine groaned as he covered his face in a groan. "Do you think that I want to have her constantly on my mind? Or that I think smiling every time I touch the bruise on my face healthy? No! But she's bewitched me with those blue eyes of hers with their long, dark lashes, and I cannot even get it up for even Bethie anymore. Bethie!" He groaned and leaned his forehead against the table. "I cannot believe that such a thing has happened to me of all people."

"Me neither," Merlin gulped. "I always imagined you as the single old man chasing after women who were young enough to be your granddaughters."

"Me too!" Gwain despaired. "What has happened to me?"

Merlin sighed. "Love, apparently."

"I hate being in love." Gwaine rested his forehead against the table in a whine. "It's a horrid state of being."

Merlin could only pat his friend consolingly on his back. Arthur was going to kill him.

"I am going to kill him!" Arthur snarled. "I will not let that whoremonger put his grubby paws all over my sister!"

"Arthur, think rationally." Merline put himself in the blonde's way. "Gwaine is in love with your sister, miserably in love with her, and if your ability to read Morgana can be relied upon, she has strong feelings for him as well." He walked backwards since Arthur wouldn't stop charging. "Will you really keep them apart if they are in love with each other and want to be together?"

"Yes! This is my sister!" Arthur glared at him. "She might be evil incarnate, but she is still my flesh and blood and it is my duty to protect her! Even if it is from herself!"

Merlin could tell those siblings had an interesting relationship. "Morgana does not seem the type to just let you tell her what she can or cannot do, much less whom she can or cannot love."

"Well, things are going to change around here." Arthur growled. "I am going to kill him, and then I am going to find the closest tower and lock her up in there until she comes to her senses."

A sigh escaped Merlin's as his eyes flashed gold, and with his magic as help (he'd be unable to do this otherwise) the warlock scooped up the unsuspecting blonde and threw him over his shoulders. "You need to learn how to handle things with a level head and not charge them while you are enraged. You will only make matters worse for all those involved."

"Wha-what do you think you are doing, you idiotic-!" Arthur tried to slam his fists into Merlin's back, but his magic protected him, and Arthur's fists hit an invisible shield. It also restrained his feet and kept him from kicking. "Put me down! Put me down by the gods you so cherish or I will kill you too!"

Realizing that Arthur was furious enough to follow through with that threat, there was no way that Merlin was going to actually put him down. "We are going somewhere and you are going to cool down. You will think this through with a rational head, and if you still choose to object to this union, you will do it calmly and not screaming and yelling and promising decapitation and enforced isolation."

"This is not your business!" Arthur continued to bang his fists against the invisible shield protecting Merlin.

"You made this my business," Merlin reminded cheerfully.

"Merlin! If you do not put me down this instance you will regret it!" Arthur sounded furious. "I will strive to make your life a living hell!"

"You do that already."

Arthur gave the shield another punch. "Put me down!"

"Say please."

"Go die."

Merlin chuckled. "So, you are annoying and deaf."

"So help me, Merlin, I will-."

Merlin did not know why he did what he did at that moment, it had been instinctual.

"Did you just spank my buttocks?!" Arthur's voice was choked.

Merlin cleared his throat and lied. "You are going to make me drop you if you do not stop struggling."

"You spanked my buttocks!"

"Yes, Arthur, scream it louder." Merlin raised his eyebrow, voice a monotone. "I do not think people in Camelot quite heard what you were saying."

"I am going to strangle you."

"Is that before or after you murder me?"

"You are insufferable!"

"Thank you for noticing."

Arthur let out a growl that was ferocious. "When you put me down I am going to-."

What the hell? Merlin wasn't getting out of this unscathed. So why not have fun at the blonde's expense?

"Ouch!" Arthur's voice betrayed his utter shock. "You did not just pinch me!"

Merlin did so again, right on that pert buttocks.

"Hey! Stop that!"

"Stop." Pinch. "Struggling." Pinch.

"Stop that! I command you to stop!"

"As you command, Your Highness." Slap.

"Stop slapping me too!"

Merlin couldn't keep the laughter at bay. "Promise to behave?"

"I am not a child for you to-."

Merlin lifted his hand once more. "Was that a promise?"

"You would not dare-MERLIN! STOP THAT!"

Merlin was sure that that poor butt cheek was starting to turn red from the abuse. "Are you calm yet?"

"If by calm you mean ready to murder you, then yes, I am incredibly calm."

He grinned from ear to ear. "Good."

"How dare you raise your hand against me in such a manner?" Arthur seemed to be asking himself that more than Merlin.

"Aw, poor prat." Merlin rubbed the abused cheek. "Better?"

"Me-Merlin!" Arthur's voice was a squeaked, choked sound.

A group of girls froze as they turned the corner and caught them in that position, with Merlin rubbing Arthur's butt while the blonde squeaked out his name.

Merlin's eyes widened and he promptly dropped Arthur as he realized that this looked like he was taking the resisting blonde somewhere to deflower him, like some fiendish rogue would.

The girls giggled amongst themselves and hurried passed them. One was so bold as to wink at Merlin while giving him a thumbs up.

He groaned and covered his face with his hand, thus he didn't see it when Arthur kicked his feet out from under him and he landed in a mess of arms and legs next to the glowering blonde.

To this day, Merlin is sure that the only reason he wasn't killed at that very moment was because Morgana and Gwaine stumbled upon them as Merlin grinned sheepishly and Arthur snarled at him viciously.

Morgana raised an eyebrow. "What exactly is going on here?"

Arthur turned at the sound of his sister's voice, and his blues narrowed on Gwaine. "Stay away from my sister. You do not have my blessing to be with her!"

Gwaine snickered. "Who said I ever intended to ask for it?" He motioned to Morgana, who glared at Arthur murderously. "The only one whose blessing I need is hers."

Morgana's glare turned into a smirk as her blues rested on him. "You are learning."

"Morgana-!"

"Arthur, be quiet." Morgana raised her chin, voice imperious. "Once you have sorted out your own life, then I might deign to listen to your advice on anything. Might." And with that she motioned Gwaine to follow as she strolled away.

Arthur and Merlin remained seated on the ground.

The sorcerer watched them go. "That went better than I thought it would."

Arthur sent him a glare before he pushed himself to his feet and stormed away, rubbing his apparently quite sore butt the whole way.

TBC