Hey guys, this chapter is a bit shorter. It's kind of like a little interlude between the next chapters, but what happens in it is very important. And quite amusing. :P Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Merlin lay in the bed, watch the slow rise and fall or Arthur's chest. The light has just begun to shine through the window, making Arthur look like an angel as he slept, his brow creasing from time to time, like he was in deep thought about something in his dreams. Merlin sighed and thought about the night before. He and Arthur had had sex-no sex was too much of a dirty word. They had made love, and Arthur had told him that he loved him. It was the most beautiful thing that anyone had ever said to him. Those three words… He also told Arthur he loved him back and Arthur had accepted it. Merlin smiled and Arthur began to stir. He turned and looked at Merlin and his mouth twisted into a mischievous grin.

"Good morning," he said, twisting his whole body around to face Merlin's.

"Good morning to you too, sleepy head."

"Hey," Arthur protested, "no one calls me a sleepy head."

"Not even me?" Merlin asked cheekily.

"Especially you," Arthur replied before moving his face over to Merlin's to capture his mouth in a tender kiss.

"I know I keep asking this, but are you alright with what happened last night?"

Merlin smiled. He found it cute when Arthur had to reassure himself what had happened the night before. It's like he thought it was all a dream, and that he didn't really love him.

"Of course." Arthur smiled.

"And I said this once and I will say it again: I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life."

Arthur gathered him in his arms and Merlin leaned into them willingly. Arthur had always loved Merlin's honesty, but even more so at that point, because it was exactly what he wanted to hear.

"And about what I said?"

"I said it back didn't I?" Both boys chuckled.

"Yes you did." He bought his face inches from Merlin's.

"I love you."

"I love you too Arthur."

Arthur kissed Merlin, opening his mouth, granting the other boy permission. Merlin ran his tongue along Arthur's bottom lip, causing Arthur to moan loudly, wrapping his hand into Merlin's raven hair. Arthur thought there could not be a moment as perfect as this. Merlin kissing him, pouring his love into him, remembering the special night that they had just shared. He could feel Merlin's hands running down his back and he couldn't hold back an involuntary shiver. Merlin laughed and pulled Arthur on top of him, Arthur now kissing his neck.

Neither of them thought that anything could ruin this moment, until a loud clattering that sounded like metal hitting stone, disturbed the peace inside the room. They broke apart and looked up to see someone's breakfast lying all over the floor. The person who had created the mess was Lady Amelia, most likely being a good bride to be and bring Arthur breakfast in bed. But instead had found that Arthur was having something else for breakfast in bed- his manservant.

If Merlin had ever been scared and embarrassed at the same time ever before in his life- this was probably one hundred times that feeling. He was caught by a princess being in a prince's bed. Arthur had now got off him and began to speak.

"My lady, this is…"

But Amelia had already run out the door most likely to the court to tell her father. Arthur got up to run after her, calling down the hallway in a last attempt for him to try to explain. Arthur turned around to look back at Merlin.

"You have to get out of here," he said.

"I'm not leaving you," Merlin answered.

"Merlin, I am not asking you…"

"And I am telling you, I'm not going anywhere."

Arthur signed and sat on the edge of the bed. Merlin got up to join him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What's going to happen?"

"I don't know, exactly. But what I do know is that you will not be treated with the same mercy that I will be treated. So that is why you have to leave."

Merlin nodded, stood up and got dressed. Arthur took him to the lower town, gave him a horse and did not leave until Merlin was out of site. Merlin did not break eye contact with him until he left the town. Once he knew that Merlin was safe, he turned back to the castle to face his own consequences.

As Merlin rode away from Noresford he did not know when he would see the young prince again- he hoped that it was soon. Merlin prayed for the prince's safety as he set his horse into a gallop, moving quickly away from the great castle on the horizon.

Mystery, mystery eh? I'm really sorry they had to get caught but that's just how the story goes. Secrets don't last very long here.

Anyway, stay tuned and PLEASE REVIEW

xox