I don't own Merlin sadly. It belongs to the BBC

This story is dedicated to a great friend of mine, Forevercullen. More sister than friend. She got the job! So happy for her xx

This story has six chapters and there will be a chapter posted everyday like always :) I know I am posting a lot of stories lately but I seemed to have finished writing them all at same time lol

Summary: Uther and Ygraine sick and tired of just how spoilt their son Arthur and daughter Morgana are, Uther makes them a deal, question is, will they go through with it when they find out all what it entails?

Warnings: Malexmale. AU. Rated 'M' for swear words.

I apologise in advance for any mistakes I may have made

Arthur stood and watched as Merlin rifled through his things in his tent, placing something at the bottom of his bag before placing stuff on top of it. "Merlin what are you doing?" he asked making his friend jump.

Merlin turned and grinned at Arthur. "I was just looking for something."

"Hiding something more like."

"No. No I am not hiding anything." Merlin lied.

Arthur sighed and walked into the tent and knelt beside his friend. "You also disappeared into the woods this morning after breakfast."

"I went for a walk."

"May I look in your bag?"

"No, there is nothing in there but clothes and blankets and flavours for when cooking food."

"Then why can't I look?"

Merlin huffed and gave Arthur his bag. "Don't know what the big deal is."

Arthur, one by one, started to empty the bag until he reached the bottom. "Merlin what is this?"

"What does it look like Arthur."

"It looks like medication to me."

"Well done. It is medication, I went for a walk this morning and started to feel unwell."

"That is why you came back and shut yourself in the tent."

"Yes."

"What is the medication for Merlin? You are not ill are you? You said you felt unwell."

"Don't you when you don't eat breakfast and stand up and move too quick into doing things? Plus I didn't sleep well last night, there is a certain way of how I sleep and I will be like this for a few days, the medication is prescribed by my doctor to help me sleep that is all. I didn't take one last night so I didn't sleep well, I was just about to take one and have a couple of hours, well try to."

"You haven't slept all night and you didn't eat breakfast? Idiot Merlin. Have you taken a tablet?"

"I have, give it about ten minutes and I will be in the land of nod." he smiled.

Arthur nodded, "you said you sleep a certain way, it's it still the same way when you used to stop over?"

"It is."

"We don't have enough pillows or cushions," Arthur mumbled as he looked around. "I know I will go and see if someone will come and lay with you and you can lay against them."

Arthur walked out of Merlin's tent and saw an empty camp. "Where is everyone?" he asked as he took the mobile his parents gave him out of his pocket, looking for Leon's number he pressed call. "Leon where are all of you."

"Hey Arthur, we all went for a walk before going for a swim further up the lake, Merlin told us this morning he wasn't coming as he wanted to try and get some sleep, we called out to you before we left but when you didn't answer us we just assumed you was stopping with Merlin."

Arthur sighed. "Fine, don't make a noise when you come back, Merlin will be sleeping."

"Okay mate."

Leon put the phone down and looked at everyone. "Merlin said he will tell Arthur about the sleeping tablets doctor gave him, he must have told him."

"Will Merlin be alright?" Morgana asked.

"He'll be fine, Merlin has just spent the last two weeks on nights, he has to get used to sleeping at night again." Leon explained.

"So doctor gave him sleeping tablets to help him until he is used to sleeping at night again?" Gwen asked.

"Yes." Lancelot explained. "Doctor only gave him enough for a few nights, he has taken one now and will take one if he can't sleep tonight."

A few hours later everyone entered camp and crept up to Merlin's tent, everyone smiling when they saw Merlin fast asleep cuddled up next to Arthur who was laying on his back holding Merlin close with his arm around him as the brunet's head was on the blonds chest.

They all stepped away from the tent and Lancelot laughed quietly. "Looks like Arthur actually believed that Merlin still sleeps a certain way and as we all left them alone he offered himself."

Leon laughed as well and put his arm around Freya. "Your plan worked."

Morgana laughed and frowned when she saw Lancelot standing in front of Merlin's tent. "Lancelot what are you doing?"

Lancelot walked away. "Just making sure they are still sleeping." he whispered as he walked back over to them all, hands in his pocket. "Arthur found out this was all a plan to have them sleep cuddled up he would go off on one again saying how straight he is." he laughed.

Uther walked into the kitchen and up to his wife who was washing the dishes at the sink. "Guess what I have just received."

"What's that?"

In answer Uther showed Ygraine his phone where a picture was on the front. "This just came through with a message, telling me it was Freya's idea."

Ygraine dried her hands and took her husband's phone in her hands. "Aw look at them. I have always said Merlin was the right one for Arthur, look how gorgeous they look together, sooner Arthur quits denying the better for them both."

"I know. I sent Lancelot a text back asking him to let us know more and show us more when he has some."

After everyone had eaten they were sat around the fire just talking and laughing, Merlin who was falling asleep jumped a little when he felt a nudge, he looked and smiled to see Freya had joined him. "Fall asleep now you won't tonight."

Merlin smiled. "I know, might not even have to take a sleeping tablet tonight."

Freya smiled and looked over to see Arthur laughing with Leon before lowering her voice. "Arthur fell for it then, that you still sleep how you used to."

Merlin chuckled, "he did. Actually fell asleep himself, I must admit, it was nice."

Freya smiled. "Lancelot has an idea, when he goes to go to bed tonight you need to play along, after Arthur woke up he made it clear to all of us he is straight and was just helping out a friend."

"We can't force this on him Freya, he needs to see for himself."

"Merlin we have been doing that since he was sixteen, he is twenty five now, he needs a shove."

"Fine I will play along."

"Good, I got Leon and Lancelot to lower the washing line as well, you had to stretch up and tie one end and jump on Arthur's back to do the other end, we are not as tall."

"I know I am sorry, made me happy though, at least if not in the way I hoped, I got to ride Arthur." Merlin smirked making Freya choke on her drink before losing herself into a fit of giggles.

Lancelot stood up and stretched before going over to kiss Gwen on the lips. "I am going to bed love. Good night."

"Night Lance, love you."

"Love you more." Lancelot said before looking at Merlin. "Are you ready?"

Merlin looked up and remembering what Freya said earlier he stood up and nodded. "Yeah."

Arthur stopped his conversation with Morgana and Leon and looked up. "Ready for what?"

"Merlin, he is sleeping next to me tonight." Lancelot said.

"He can't!" Arthur said too quickly as he stood up.

"Why can't I? Arthur you know how I am."

"Well because... Gwen, yes, what about Gwen."

"I am fine with it Arthur." Gwen smiled.

"But what if you have a bad dream or hear something and get scared, you can't go to Lancelot as he is with Merlin, and we don't want Merlin waking."

Merlin shrugged. "Okay I will share with Leon." Merlin looked at Leon. "You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not mate."

"No Merlin you can't what if Morgana needs him." Arthur said.

"That's true. Morgause? Freya?" Merlin asked looking at the girls.

Before either could answer Arthur spoke. "Just share with me Merlin, it seemed to help this afternoon."

"Are you sure?" Merlin asked.

"Yes, go and wash up and make your bed beside mine."

When Merlin left to wash up Leon walked over to his friend. "Are you sure about sleeping cuddled up to Merlin? I mean you are straight aren't you."

"So are you, yet you offered."

"Yes Arthur, but I am not a straight man in denial."

"Leon for the last time I am not gay. If I was I would find you or Lancelot or Gwaine or even Percival attractive but I don't!"

Morgana stood up. "Arthur you feel no sexual attraction towards any man?"

"No."

"What about Merlin?"

"He is different."

"Different how?" Morgana pressed on.

"I don't know! I am not gay as I don't find other men sexually attractive but Merlin, I do."

"At last!" Morgana said hugging her brother. "Now tell Merlin that stupid." she added as she got her phone out and rang her mother. "Mother might be so happy she will lets us all come back early, can't stand more nights of this, I have already broken two nails."

Arthur snatched the phone off his sister. "No Morgana, we are here to learn a lesson, to better ourselves, do things for ourselves."

"But I have gone two days without makeup and my beauty products and my hair's a mess!"

"And you still look gorgeous to me." Leon said. "Come on love it is only a couple more days."

Just then Merlin came back and stood in front of Arthur. I am washed and ready for bed but I will be sleeping in my tent tonight, alone."

"Why?"

"I can't do this anymore, it isn't fair on you." Merlin sighed before telling them all the plans that they had done to trick Arthur, when he had finished telling his friend he was surprised to see the blond smiling. "Thank you for being honest with me, but you are still sleeping with me."

"Didn't you hear all what I just told you?"

"Yes I heard, I heard that you were honest with me. Now it is my turn to be honest with you." he took Merlin's hand and looked at all their friends. "Night all."

Merlin sat cross legged at the bottom of Arthur's makeshift bed facing the blond who was sat cross legged at the top of the makeshift bed, "Are you alright Arthur?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well we have been sat here for ten minutes staring at each other and you are yet to tell me what you need to be honest about."

Arthur sighed a little. "I am not gay Merlin."

"So you have said." the brunet replied, unable to hide the hurt in his voice.

"Merlin. I am not straight either."

"You are bisexual then."

"No Merlin." Arthur said as he moved forwards to take the brunets hands in his. "That is the strange thing. I feel nothing sexual towards women or men, just you Merlin. I see blokes naked and nothing, I see women naked and nothing. Seeing you naked... I am surprised and thankful no one saw my hard on."

"Really?"

"Yes Merlin." Arthur whispered. Looking around his tent Arthur sighed. "Father was right there is only enough room in these tents for one and their stuff."

"I know."

"How about I put my stuff in your tent with yours and you stay with me for the rest of the trip."

Merlin smiled and inched his face forwards and took the chance to kiss Arthur, smiling when the blond kissed back. Pulling back Merlin smiled. "How about not. Rules are rules Arthur and I want what I told Uther when he asked."

"But I can give you that."

"No you can't Arthur, you don't even have a job, everything you have is bought with your parents money."

"Merlin if I know you as well as I think then what you want costs nothing at all does it."

"It does cost a lot, but not cost with money."

"Then what with?"

"Trust Arthur. Trust." he said as he moved over to Arthur and lay down beside him. "Now I will sleep here tonight but tomorrow I am back in my own tent."

"We shall see."

"Yes Arthur, you will." Merlin smiled before leaning up to kiss the blond once more. "Night Arthur."

"Night Merlin. Oh wait, have you taken a tablet?"

"Nope. I actually feel tired, see if I fall asleep. If not I will take one. Night Arthur."

Arthur smiled and kissed the top of the brunets head. "Night Merlin."

What do you think?

Chapter five up tomorrow :)

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