MERLIN – CONTACT

AN: Whoa! I'm so sorry everyone for such a late update despite me saying that I'd only be a week. See, I went to Barcelona for a week, but came back with a horrible bug and it was only 2 weeks later I actually felt well enough to write again. And then college work got in the way of uploading the update up since it's my last few weeks of the course, so sorry again. But thank you SO much for everyone that's hung on and for all you Fan-tastic people who have added this fic to your favourites or alerts, please review as well as well as keep tabs on the chapter updates too, it's so much appreciated :) I'm actually also surprised and so glad that my previous fic 'Merlin – The Dragon Calls' is still getting reviews and alert adds so thank you. So I hope this was worth the wait, enjoy!

…~~C~~…

Of course it wasn't like they never touched. But it wasn't the way it usually was expected. Since they met, Arthur would treat Merlin like a manservant or one of his knights. When he cracked a joke that the girl took too literally, he would nudge her in the side with his elbow to cheer her up, which he failed to do because all it would do is make Merlin complain of the pain. He would pat her back or grab her shoulder gently yet firmly to show his appreciation, or even clap her over the head for being annoying. No girl except Merlin would tolerate that treatment.

But every now and then, Merlin missed the hugs and kisses, to remind her and others that she was a girl. And girls, unlike men, aren't afraid to show what they're feeling. She got hugs from Guais and her friend Colin often, but they were still just like the hugs you would be given by a father and brother. At least she got hugs from and kisses on the cheek from Gwen and the Lady Elise.

At first, after Morgana, everyone (including Merlin) was weary of the arrival of a new French ward of the king, especially one that knew Morgana from when they were children. But when the lady had helped save the prince's life from an assassination attempt, Elise proved to Merlin that she wasn't another witch out there to betray Arthur's trust and cut him down with the kingdom. In fact like Morgana, the Lady Elise had Seer powers. Unlike Morgana, that was all she had. She could not do any physical magic. Merlin and Elise had a slow burning friendship from there. However, again, Gwen and Elise were like sisters to the young sorceress. There was still something missing. But what?

…~~C~~…

The Prince and servant had known eachother for almost four years now. The kingdom was recovering after the last attack from Morgana and her newest, now dead, ally Helios the leader of the Southron Army. Merlin's hair was longer than when she had first arrived in Camelot, now so that she could tie it up or style it every now and then if she felt like it. She rarely wore tunics and breeches anymore for chores or walking around the castle, only for when she tagged along on hunting trips or quests with Arthur and the knights. Her favourite was a light blue dress with a silver flower-patterned bodice, sleeves and hem. The neck was cut to reveal smooth pale white skin down to just below the collarbone, and the dress itself hugged the girl's chest and hips perfectly. Just enough to show off Merlin's growing womanly figure, but not so much to give everyone, especially men, the wrong idea. Or anything that looked too much above her station. She still wore her signature neckerchiefs sometimes though. And sometimes she'd wear her tunics with the skirt Guais gave her the evening she became Arthur's servant. But the blue dress that Gwen made for her was definitely her favourite. Even she couldn't help smirking whenever she remembered the first day she wore it in front of Arthur. Then that smirk would turn into a frown.

…~~C~~…

The maidservant entered her master's chambers one chilled October morning with her white blonde hair flowing over her shoulders, and a big tray of breakfast in her hands. The prince was sat at the desk by his bed, going through papers, which seemed like the only thing he did with his time now. He hadn't looked up yet he knew Merlin was there.

"Hey, you're dressed!" Merlin exclaimed, moving some of the papers on the desk to make room for the tray. Disturbed by the movement, Arthur finally looked up to tell her off for possibly ruining two hours work by messing the papers up, but the words caught in his mouth. Merlin didn't know the prince was staring at her for she was busy filling the goblet with wine.

"Which is more than I can say for you," she heard Arthur say, and looked up to meet his eyes. But his eyes weren't met with hers. He was looking up and down at her from her naked neck to her feet. Merlin looked down at herself and back at Arthur.

"But….I am dressed." Then it clicked. "Oh. Um… It's a new dress. Gwen made it. Do you like it?" Merlin stood back with a small smile and did a shy twirl.

Arthur snapped out of it and sunk further into his chair trying to seem exasperated. "No, Merlin," he sighed. "I don't."

Merlin stared at him in confusion. "W-What? Why?"

"Because Merlin, despite the fact that your usual dress sense isn't usually seen around here, it is more appropriate for someone like you."

"Someone like me? I'm a girl! I'm wearing what girls wear. I thought you of all people would approve since when we met you thought I was a boy."

Arthur stood up casually, walked around the side of his desk and leant back on it in front of Merlin. "What girls wear, Merlin? I don't see other girls dressing like they're trying to pass as both a Lady and a Harlot at the same time." He said, gesturing with hand up and down the girl's body.

"What? I'm not trying to pass as anything here. I admit it is a little fancy for a mere servant since you'd rather think, compared to royalty, peasants should walk around in brown rags, but what's wrong with wearing something that makes me feel a little bit girly and special?

The prince sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Because you're not special, Merlin." He looked up at the girl's hurt expression. "At least not in the eyes of everyone else, and certainly not my father. You walking around before in your little breeches and oversized tunics was the limit. If you didn't have me as your master, you would've been made to wear the maidservant's proper attire with the Pendragon colours and crest on. This," Arthur waved at the dress again, "is going to spark up the wrong attention, Merlin. And when that attention comes, I can't say I did not warn you."

Merlin just looked down at the ground and begun ringing her hands, a habit Arthur's leant meant the servant was nervous or anxious. "So you want me to look like a scruffy boy peasant for the rest of my life then?" She murmured. "So it won't look bad on you for letting your maidservant going around appearing like she wants to be noticed for once?" She looked up and the man standing in front of her could see her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "I'm sorry if I ever threatened your reputation, Sire. I'm sorry if your stupid servant ever wanted to delude herself into being something she's never felt like before. I'm sorry for wanting to make good use of something my friend had worked hard on for months to give to me as a late birthday present."

There were a few moments of silence.

Then Merlin heard Arthur breathe out "…Oh Merlin." He walked towards her with his arms held out in front of him. Merlin, thinking he was going for an unexpected embrace, prepared herself by tensing her arms up by her sides. But instead she felt Arthur's hands gripping gently onto each of her shoulders. The sun haired girl looked at her master in temporary confusion and then sadness.

"Merlin, I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?"

Merlin's frown turned into a dark smirk "You need reminding of the date of the birthday of someone you've known for four years." It wasn't a question, she knew the answer. Especially when she saw the prince's mouth open and close numerous times in an attempt to reply with an answer he could not give without proving her right.

In the next few moments, Merlin just tightly smiled and nodded, and calmly walked towards the door. Arthur's arms dropped limply to his side as he watched his servant, say friend, leave, not so much as slamming the door behind her.

"You look lovely, Merlin," he spoke out to the empty room.

…~~C~~…

AN: Hope this was good. A plot will come of this fic. I'll try not to leave it as long as before to update and I'm working on the development of the story right now. Pweeeeease review and I'll see you soon. Thanks :)