Chapter 2

It seemed like forever before Merlin finished doing the chores that Arthur had set him just after their fight. During that time, he had been trying to figure out what he was going to do. He knew one of the things was to apologise to Arthur but then, what next? Does he just go on like nothing ever happened still trying to ignore this battle that was going on inside of him? Either way his body knew where it was heading as he knocked on the door of Arthur's chambers.

"Come in," Arthur said.

Merlin pushed open the door to see Arthur slumped on a chair next to the fireplace. When Arthur turned around to see that it was him, he jumped out of his chair.

"Merlin," he said, "I didn't think I would see you tonight."

"Well, um…" Merlin looked down at the ground, shifting from foot to foot. Arthur was getting impatient.

"What is it?" Arthur said. Merlin looked up.

"I was out of line." The two males stared at each other for quite some time before Arthur looked away turning his back on him. "Yes, you were." Merlin saddened.

"I'm sorry. I was just angry and, I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

Do it Arthur, he thought. Say you don't forgive him, that you don't speak to your prince they way you did. It is unforgivable. Fire him now; it's more perfect than the opportunity he was waiting for. Do it.

"You're forgiven."

Arthur hung his head low. You idiot. You weren't even looking at him and you still couldn't do it. For some reason, Merlin had this power over him; the power to make Arthur do the right thing instead of the thing that was easy and benefited him the most. If Arthur's decision making skills were taken over by a simple servant without him even trying, he wondered what was going to happen when people started debating his decisions in court when he was king. He chuckled softly.

"What's funny?" Arthur turned to see Merlin staring at him, and he had moved closer also.

"Nothing," Arthur muttered, as he began to pace.

"You know Merlin," he started, "when you were first appointed my manservant, I thought there could not be a more worse thing in the world…"

"As did I," Merlin interrupted. Arthur stopped in mid-pace and smiled.

"Anyway, after a while I began to realise that there are many other things that are worst than having a completely incompetent manservant."

"And what are those?" Arthur stopped and turned to him.

"Seeing you unhappy." He didn't know where the conversation was going at all. It was like a young boy lying to his father to get out of trouble. The trouble was everything that Arthur was saying, was the most truth he had told in his life.

"I am a prince, and that means that I want to be in the most cheerful environment that I could possibly be in. How can I bear it when someone close to me is miserable?"

Merlin looked up and they made eye contact. Arthur's eye were sparkling but not with happiness, but with anxiety and concern. Merlin signed.

"I'm not close to you Arthur. I'm your servant."

Arthur looked like he was about to cry. But Merlin watched as he pushed them back and turned away from him again.

"Merlin, why are you acting like this?"

Arthur could not take this. He needed to know why Merlin was becoming distant. Had he done something? Maybe it was because of the fight, no. He was acting like this before the fight. Did someone die? His mother in Ealdor? He was not going to ask him that. But he still needed to know. He grabbed a chair from the other side of the room and put it right next to his, but in the opposite direction so they were half facing each other. He looked at Merlin.

"Come and sit." Merlin didn't move. "Please."

Merlin looked like he was fighting the decision to move. But soon, he took a deep breath and walked over to the chair that the prince had laid out for him. He sat down just as the prince was. There was only about half a metre between their shoulders. Arthur breathed in as he began to speak.

"Merlin, I don't know what is going on, and really if you don't want me to, I don't have to know. But I hate seeing you like this. I've seen Gwen walk down the halls, she is depressed, and this is most likely because you are. When you came here, you bought fun and good times back into my life, even though you were my servant. But you're not only my servant, and I think I speak for Morgana and Gwen when I say that you are a friend-to all of us. I don't want that to end because of something that is eating you up inside. If you don't want to tell me, then tell Gaius and maybe he can help. If its money, you can talk to my father. You have been loyal, I'm sure he will be able to help."

"No he won't." Merlin had interrupted Arthur again, but this time, Arthur did not get mad. He needed to hear what Merlin had to say. "No one can help. It is something that I have to do myself."

Arthur looked confused. Merlin did not know whether it was about what he was saying or whether Arthur was thinking about something else completely.

"You've gone silent, did I say something?"

"No, no," Arthur replied, "it's just that…"

"What?"

Arthur closed his eyes. He looked down as he began to speak.

"I've been battling something too, for what seems like forever now. I thought I could do it on my own but I realised that I couldn't anymore. So I got some help from Morgana, but that wasn't very successful." Merlin smiled.

"The point is, just because it's your fight, doesn't mean that you have to do it alone. I-I want to help, if you'd let me."

Arthur looked up to see Merlin was now crying. God, he looked so defeated, so helpless. Arthur just wanted to touch him, take him into his arms, hold him tightly and tell him that everything was going to be alright. But he didn't know whether it was. He needed to know.

Merlin was sobbing now as a tear came down his face. Arthur reached over and grabbed Merlin's chin turning their faces towards each other. With his thumb he moved up and wiped away the tear that was rolling down Merlin's cheek. Merlin had stopped sobbing, his breathing heavy as their eyes met. Arthur's heart was pounding in his chest, watching Merlin, and thinking of what to do next. A tear ran down Merlin's other cheek and Arthur removed it with his other hand.

Now both hands were on Merlin's face, but their eye contact had not been broken. Anyone who walked in at that moment would have thought that they were having a staring contest. Arthur still did not know what was wrong with Merlin, but he was comforting him anyway, something that either boy did not expect. They did also not expect their faces coming closer together, Merlin's hand coming to grab Arthur's wrist, and the contact on their faces as their foreheads came to press against one another. It was like each knew what the other was thinking whilst not even knowing. Arthur closed his eyes. He could feel Merlin's warm breath on his cheek, something that he had longed for, for a long time. He opened his eyes as Merlin began to speak.

"Arthur," he sobbed, "I tried, I really tried. I tired to fight this-this- this is wrong."

Merlin looked away and Arthur finally realised what had been bothering Merlin the whole time-the same thing that was bothering him.

"I know," Arthur said. Merlin looked up at him, neither boy still having moved.

"I know… that it's wrong. I know of all people, but…" Arthur stopped as Merlin's lips were just inches away from his own. He was basically speaking into them.

"Me-Merlin," he whispered as he covered the remaining distance between them and their lips finally met.

The kiss was soft and tender, but full of passion at the same time. Merlin had never been kissed the way that Arthur was kissing him now, with so much care and compassion. Merlin moved his arms so his hands were on Arthur's shoulders, Arthur now caressing his cheek with his thumb as they kissed. Arthur parted his lips as Merlin tilted his head, deepening the kiss. As their tongues touched, no one fought for dominance, no one backed out. They just stayed in a rhythm as if they were connected, their tongues partners in a fated first dance.

Arthur noticed that Merlin had started to cry again so he broke the kiss, not releasing Merlin's face. He opened his eyes to see Merlin staring at him, his eyes full of desire as well as fear. Tears began to flow down Arthur's face, and he watched Merlin wipe them away. They sat there in perfect silence, foreheads still pressed against each other, cherishing the feelings of acceptance and love that had just passed between them. Merlin took Arthur's hand, and Arthur never wanted him to let go.

Hey guys! Would like some feedback.

Please let me know if I should continue. I'm aiming for 10 chapters. Thanks