Chapter 2

After Gaius had bandaged Gwaine's leg, it was up to Merlin to look after him. He had taken it upon himself, really. His excuse was that the man had saved his master's life, and therefore it was his duty to make sure the man would live. The real reason, however, was that he wanted to see the man and figure him out a bit. He had stepped in and helped him and Arthur even though he had had no reason to do so. He hadn't even known that Arthur was the crown prince. It hadn't seemed to Merlin that he enjoyed fighting just for the sake of fighting either: even though he had laughed for the better part of the brawl, it seemed it was more for their benefit. What am I thinking, Merlin interrupted his thoughts, that's some deep-level analysing for a brief chance-encounter with a man in some tavern. He sighed. He dampened a piece of cloth with water and lifted it to the man's brow to brush it gently. "Who are you, Gwaine?"

Next morning Merlin woke up drowsy. Since Gwaine occupied his bed for the moment, he had slept on the examination bench, which was not all that comfortable. Still, it was a lot better than what he had had growing up. Interesting how quickly one can become accustomed to good things. He threw together something for breakfast, but before eating it, he decided to go check how the patient was doing, maybe he was already awake and hungry.

Merlin sat next to him on the bed. Gwaine had stopped fidgeting around and slept soundly. During the night he had lost his shirt, Gaius hadn't taken it and Merlin certainly hadn't either, so that was something Merlin was quite curious about. Gwaine was in good shape. Very. Before he could stop himself, Merlin's left hand found its way on Gwaine's chest. His hand rose as the man breathed in. Merlin smiled and tried moving his hand, but the other man stirred and Merlin jumped. He rushed as quietly as possible out of the room. He grabbed the plate with breakfast on it and returned to the room as if for the first time that morning. Gwaine had nearly gotten up, and without a shirt, he seemed, for all intents and purposes, naked. Merlin tried to stop himself from blushing.

"What am I doing in this bed?" Gwaine demanded to know. Merlin couldn't quite figure out if the man remembered last night. Then he remembered that Gwaine had been down for the count for the most part of their journey back to the castle. "You were wounded. Arthur wanted to make sure you were treated by his physician." "Arthur?" "Prince Arthur, you saved his life."

Gwaine tried to put the pieces of last night and of right now together. So the blond man had been Arthur, prince of Camelot? That is some bad luck if Gwaine had ever encountered it, and he had. On the other hand, he was now talking with the man he had originally wanted to talk to, so things could only get better. Based on the conversation he was now engaged in, Merlin was quite taken with Arthur and his father, but also wanted Gwaine to join them. Gwaine had a hard time believing that Uther would actually give him a reward, nor did he want one. Finally, Merlin asked him the question the boy had clearly wanted to ask from the beginning.

"Why did you help us?"

Gwaine laid down again, crossed his arms behind his head and replied in a voice that indicated he was quite pleased with himself. Merlin grinned, clearly confused with him. "Come on then. Eat up, and after that I'll change your bandages."

Gwaine motioned the other man to dig in as well. Merlin happily agreed. As they ate, Gwaine eyed Merlin. "So this Arthur. What's he to you?" He tried to wink to the boy to indicate he was asking something indirectly, but the boy didn't notice and simply answered. "I am his manservant. I also consider him a friend, though he usually doesn't act like one", he grinned jokingly.

"Sure, that's the official answer. But what I meant to ask you is, is he your lover?"

Merlin choked on his bread. Gwaine smacked him on the back the help him. Once Merlin wasn't in immediate danger of choking anymore, Gwaine gave the boy some water. Merlin took some deep breaths and then exclaimed: "What an earth kind of question is that? I could've died!"

"Just curious, 's all."

"No, no, no, no we're not like that at all. Arthur is in love with Gwe-!" Merlin was about to shout before he remembered that the romance between Arthur and Gwen was supposed to be a secret. "Well, anyway, he's taken. He is in love with a very lovely girl. Better than him, anyway", he added with a grin. "Ah. I'm used to joking about it with Arthur, but if you already don't like him just because he's royalty.."

"Actually if you're able to joke like that with him, I might give him a chance after all. No promises, though."

Merlin flashed him a wide grin. Just as quickly it was replaced with a sudden look of worry. "Why did you expect me and him to be together? Is there a rumor that's going around?" If there was, Arthur would have to do something about it. Rumors like that could weaken other kingdoms' faith in Camelot.

Gwaine, however, laughed and tapped him on the shoulder reassuringly. "No, nothing like that. I was just checking if you were available for myself, that's all." He smiled mock-seductively to Merlin, who laughed in return. "You have a weird sense of humor."

After they were finished eating, Merlin took the plate and returned with bandages. He told Gwaine to lie still. He removed the blanket over the man, only to discover that even though he had lost his shirt, he'd kept his pants on. "I, you. Eh." He tried to make sense out of his words. "I need you to take your pants off." A crimson blush was creeping to his face. What's the matter with me? I've seen naked people before! Especially men, as Arthur's knights often needed bandaging and Merlin was there to do the dirty work while Gaius made the tonics and such things.

Gwaine saw that the younger man was uncomfortable. As if sensing what Merlin was thinking, he said teasingly: "What's the matter? Never seen a man naked before?"

"Nothing, just..take your pants off now. So I can treat you." Merlin further embarrassed himself by adding the last part. Why else would he take his pants off?

Gwaine briefly considered maintaining eye-contact with the younger man while he undressed himself to further tease the boy, but he figured that enough was enough. He threw his pants to the floor and laid down on the bed obediently. Merlin sat down next to him and started examining the wound. "It's healing quite nicely. I think I will change the bandage now, but you won't need another one. You can throw it away tonight." Once Merlin had gotten to the actual doctoring part, he was quite professional. He smiled and was about to get up when, to his surprise, Gwaine grabbed his hand and held it to his chest. "Thank you." Merlin smile back unsurely and nodded. "No worries."

They heard someone calling for Gaius. It was Gwen. Merlin told Gwaine to stay put as he went to see what was up. Gwaine peeked through a crack on the door. 'Gwen' appeared to be a beautiful brunette. She and Merlin talked for a while, mostly of Arthur. Before, Merlin had said that Arthur was in love with Gwe-something. Perhaps it was this Gwen. She certainly looked the part. Apparently there was more going on in the kingdom of Camelot than Gwaine had previously suspected.

Later, Gwaine got dressed and walked around town. Despite his resentment for Uther and nobility, he had to admit that Camelot was all he had imagined it to be, and more. His father had been a knight, and half of him desired to become one as well. The other half on the contrary knew that knighthood in the realm of Uther wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Merlin seemed to have great faith that Arthur would change that.

He happened to see Gwen, and teased her about her being a princess. If she were to marry Arthur, that's exactly what she'd become. Maybe a queen, when Uther would finally kick the bucket. She also rejected his advances, which he took as a good sign.

Speaking of signs, he saw a sign for a tavern. I think I better stop by, if for nothing else then to check the quality of local mead..

Couple of hours later, Merlin came to his rescue and walked him back to his chamber. He rambled on about his parents and nobles and knights. He was pretty smashed up. His thoughts cleared when Merlin confessed that his father had also passed away, or rather, been killed in action. For Uther, nonetheless. He didn't understand how Merlin didn't see that no good could come of serving the court. Merlin kept on saying that Arthur is different and Arthur is going to change the kingdom.

"I don't believe you. I want to, but I don't."

"Perhaps one day you will", Merlin smiled and patted him affectionately on the head. Gwaine stared at him in the eyes a little too long for it to be comfortable for the younger man. He got up abruptly, grunted and bid him goodnight, nearly running through the door.

"Goodnight."