Sorry it's taken me a while to come out with this one! Schoolwork's been brutal this week and with all my English AP assignments, I really wasn't in the mood to write after. Anyways, I hope it came out well and you guys enjoy it :)

Chapter 3

"So what's a Pendragon got to work a part time job for?" Merlin stalls, gathering up courage and shutting his eyes. He wants to immerse himself into the conversation before he tries again.

"Well...it's a long story really. I'm doing this mainly because my father opened this joint recently, because I love the feeling of gliding on ice and because I need extracurricular activities and work experience on my resume if I'm to gain entrance into good universities."

"Oh!" Merlin says, surprised. He takes another step forward and gesticulates incomprehensibly. "But can't you just...ask your father to get you an admission into the universities here? I'm sure he'll do it for you if you ask him." Merlin wants to hit himself for giving Arthur the idea, but is quite astounded that Arthur hasn't thought of it himself. His stomach clenches when Arthur's voice turns cold.

"Of course, you would think that- it's what everyone thinks, isn't it?" he answers bitterly, "That my father pays off or threatens everyone into getting me where he wants me to be. The worst part is that he actually would if I asked him. That's one of the main reasons why I'm aching to get out of this city- so that no-one can tell me I'm only where I am because of my father. They can't judge me like that if I'm in an Australian university, or an American. "

"You're planning to leave Camelot?" Merlin gasped, shocked, "But what about your family here? You'll take over as ambassador someday."

"I'm not so sure about that. I also want to go oversees so I can pursue my own goals. I want to get into medicine, not politics. Arguably, both those decisions are meant to help people but politics is a dirty game and medicine is a pure and honest way to contribute to society. My step-sister, Morgana, is far more able when it comes to the inside workings of the government and she has a good heart. I'm hoping she'll take over instead of me." Arthur pauses, and his voice lowers uncertainly, "You won't tell anyone I told you that will you? It's just...I still haven't told my father. I'd like for him to hear it from me and-"

"Course I won't tell anyone!" Merlin exclaims indignantly, "What do you take me for?"

Arthur's relief is clear in his resulting grin. "Thanks, Merlin. It's just that most people like to call in favours with him and since he'll still have time to stop me if you tell him now, he'll owe...why am I telling you this?" Arthur bites his lips and closes his eyes, berating himself silently.

Merlin is listening intently and catches every word, realising quickly how advantageous it would be for him and his mother if the ambassador of Camelot owed Merlin such a huge favour. His momentary indecision washes away as he peeps at Arthur, whose eyes are shut and who is waiting for the blow. Merlin starts to appreciate the loneliness that must come from being so powerful. He hasn't thought of it before, but although Arthur may be surrounded with people at all times, he always has to stay guarded and caged, has to shield himself from anyone and everyone- even his own father, it seems. Merlin's heart melts for him as he watches Arthur breathe in heavily while contemplating this. Arthur has a childlike expression on his round face, and looks completely harmless despite all his muscle and natural brute strength. He looks absolutely adorable. Merlin knows that no matter what he'll tell Arthur right now, Arthur won't threaten, ridicule or hurt him in retaliation. He thinks he should probably be giving more thought to turning down a potential scholarship, but can't find it in himself to care.

"You know," he says tenderly, tightening his hold on Arthur's hand, "you have serious self-preservation issues. I think it's my duty as a citizen of Camelot to defend your rights for you." Arthur looks up hopefully at that, his baby blues sparkling, and Merlin sobers. "I won't say a word to anyone, I promise. You don't have to hold yourself back with me. You asked me to trust you, and I did. Now, I ask you to return the favour."

They look into each other's eyes for a moment and Arthur gives an almost imperceptible nod, before he coughs audibly and his face lights up.
"You're doing it!" he grins, delighted.

"What?" asks Merlin, taken aback by the abrupt change of topic.

"Merls, you're ice-skating! Look at your feet! You don't...mind if I call you that, right?"

Merlin feels a rush of warmth flow through his body. "That's what most of my friends call me," he says, before registering the rest of Arthur's words. He looks down, realising that he's ice-skating properly a second before he startles at the fact and flounders, falling to the ground and taking Arthur down with him.

Arthur grunts as Merlin's elbow digs into his sides, but then bursts into joyous laughter, so Merlin decides they're okay. He listens to Arthur's melodic laugh and doesn't want it to stop, but like all good things, it dies out eventually. Arthur smiles up at him affectionately and strokes his sides and Merlin feels goose bumps arise. He feels wonderfully comfortable and relaxed, pressed up against Arthur with Arthur's arms wrapped protectively around his waist, but he can practically feel the stares of the rest of skaters digging into his back, so he reluctantly climbs off Arthur. He finds, to his immense disappointment, that that's as far as he can get and pouts. He watches as Arthur sits up and uses the sheer strength of his arms to hoist himself up. He looks down at Merlin and Merlin crosses his arms expectantly.

"Well, if you're waiting for me to burst into applause and fawn over you, I should probably tell you now that that's not going to happen." Merlin decides not to mention that he has been fawning over Arthur since he first met him in his 7th year since that would do nothing for Arthur's gigantic ego.
Arthur smirks at him and lifts Merlin up, nearly dislocating his arm in the process. He steadies Merlin with a hand around his waist as he stumbles again. Although Merlin doesn't need the support so much anymore, Arthur leaves his hand curled around his hip, and Merlin is definitely not going to complain. They continue to skate aimlessly around the rink again and Merlin notices some girls trying to catch Arthur's eye. He hopes desperately that Arthur doesn't notice and realises that this day is fast-tracking onto the number one position on his list of favourites.

"I'm sure you'll do brilliantly whatever you do," Merlin says honestly, "you annoying over-achiever. I think it's fantastic that you have the courage to try to pave your own way and do the right thing."

"That's a nice way of looking at it. So what about you then, Merls? What do you hope to do after you finish school?"

"I want to write books. I know it's unrealistic and risky, but I love writing."

"Creativity isn't my strongest point, but I do love music, and I love playing the piano in my free time- which I'd like to think I'm quite good at. My father told me I inherited that trait from my mother..."

"I'm terrible at music, but I love listening to classic piano...you know, I've always felt as if I should do something safer and more substantial in my career than writing- for my mother; she's sacrificed everything so that I could have a proper education, but I don't feel as passionate about anything else and my mother's always encouraged me to do what I love. Mothers are great like that."
Arthur bows his head slightly and his voice takes on a melancholy tone that Merlin hates passionately. "Your mother sound lovely, but I wouldn't know. Mine died when I was little; she died giving birth to me. I've only seen pictures; she was very beautiful. I sometimes get the feeling my father blames me."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Merlin whispers.

"It's alright. I suppose I've gotten used to growing up without her. I have a nurse- Grunhilda- who took care of me growing up."

"...I know what it feels like to have a missing parent. I grew up without a father; he left my mother and me when I was little because of circumstances beyond our control- my mother said. She doesn't blame him, so neither do I. I asked her once, why she didn't just abort me; she was poor and it would've made her life so much easier. She told me that she's always loved me- even when I was in her womb, and that every mother would die for her child if that's what it would take for her child to live. Your mother would've known the risks and she'd taken them anyway. She loved you even then."

Arthur looks down at the ice and bites his lip again.

It's around that point that Gwyn and Lance come over, looking ridiculously sappy and in love.

"Arthur, our shift's nearly over, and Gwyn and I were going to go over to Starbucks to get some coffee if you two want to join us?" Lancelot speaks reluctantly and Merlin really does want to let him spend some time alone with Gwyn, but the larger part of him wants to spend more time with Arthur- get to know the man behind the mask even better, even if there were others in the mix. Now that he has a taste of the man behind the mask, he can feel the addiction. Before he can speak though, Arthur takes charge.

"No, I think we're good here, but you two go on and have fun."

Merlin's stomach sinks. Of course Arthur won't want to spend more time with him. Of course he doesn't think of Merlin that way; Merlin was just deluding himself the way he always does when he crushes on someone so far out of his league. Arthur may be bisexual, but that doesn't mean he would ever go for Merlin when there are people like Gawain and Sophia who would gladly take him out. Merlin lowers his head and looks determinedly at the floor, and an awkward silence follows for about five minutes before the shift ends and Gwyn and Lance leave hurriedly. Gwyn winks at him mischievously before she leaves and glances quickly at Arthur to make a point. Merlin sighs dejectedly.

"You know...now that I think of it, I do feel like a hot, steaming mug of coffee," Arthur says casually as they're sitting on the bench beside each other and tying their shoe-laces. Merlin feels a faint hope rising up inside of him again.

"There's probably still time to catch them; we know we're they're going."

"Naa, best give them some time alone- it's obvious that they're dying for it. How about we go to Gloria Jeans instead?"

And there it is, Merlin thinks despairingly as his traitorous heart skips a beat, the beginning of the end.