Arthur continued to be pleased with how well Merlin took to his role. He was right that Merlin was a natural submissive. Here rarely slipped up and so Arthur was actually glad they agreed t the daily spanking as part of their routine because Merlin rarely required punishment. Every week during their free periods, Arthur would talk to Merlin and check on the state of his mental health, but the boy seemed quite content.

In fact, Merlin seemed overall quite happy and Arthur started to increase their free time together because he enjoyed Merlin's company outside of his slave role almost more than he did in it.

Arthur loved how happy Merlin was whenever he went to have lunch with his mother each week. Arthur allowed for an additional one-hour free period after Merlin returned from those lunches each week, just so Merlin could tell Arthur all about the lunch and how well his mother was now doing.

Arthur also was having a wonderful time showing Merlin off to the paparazzi and took him out on dates and other excursions often.

After a year the paparazzi were beginning to speculate marriage instead of who his next conquest would be and Arthur was pleased to have finally changed their rhetoric about him being the perpetual bachelor playboy.

...

One afternoon, Arthur was working in his office while Merlin was contentedly warming his cock, kneeling on his pillow under the desk, his head leaning against one of Arthur's thighs and half dozing, when of a sudden there was a commotion at the front of the house.

Arthur quickly pulled his cock out of Merlin's mouth and zipped himself up and made his way towards the foyer. "Stay put, boy," Arthur instructed.

"What is going on here?" Arthur demanded as he entered his foyer and saw George arguing with several police officers.

"I am Detective Cenred. We have a warrant to search your premises," Cenred said, handing him the document before pushing further inside.

"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur scowled. "What am I being accused of?"

"Kidnapping, rape, unlawful detainment of an individual, for starters," Cenred said as he began walking through the house.

They soon found a very naked Merlin hiding under Arthur's desk. "Are you Merlin Emrys?"

Merlin looked up at Arthur, and Arthur took a deep breath. "Go ahead and talk to them Merlin. You're officially on free time until further notice."

Merlin's demeanor changed then and he stood up, no longer ashamed of his nakedness as he had been a year before. "Yeah, I'm Merlin. Why?"

"We're getting you out of here," Cenred said gently, as if speaking to a child. "Do you have any clothes?"

"Yeah I have a whole closet full," Merlin replied. "Why are you taking me away? Arthur? Did I do something wrong?"

"Don't speak to him," Cenred instructed. "He won't be able to hurt you anymore." Cenred was looking suspiciously at Merlin's reddened ass.

"No!" Merlin shook his head. "No, he doesn't hurt me. Not really. He treats me really well."

"That's not what we've been told," Cenred said. "Now let's get that collar off you. Higgins! Get the bolt cutters!"

"NO!" Merlin backed away from Cenred. "NO! You leave my collar alone! It was a gift!"

"Oh you poor sod, he really has broken you hasn't he?" Cenred sighed. "Alright boys, arrest Pendragon and get someone from social services to take care of the kid."

"Wait, I'm not a kid," Merlin protested. "I turned nineteen over a month ago!"

"That doesn't make what that bastard did to you any more legal," Cenred said. "Go put some clothes on already."

"No," Merlin stood his ground. "I am here consensually, of my own free will. I signed a contract. Arthur gave me every chance to get out of it and I still chose to stay."

"You're saying he didn't kidnap you?" Cenred asked.

"Yes, I am saying he didn't kidnap me. I chose to get into his car when he stopped me from jumping off the bridge that day," Merlin explained. "I chose to stay with him. I chose to sign that contract. Everything, absolutely everything that Arthur and I have done together this past year was with my consent. All of it."

Merlin was seething at this point and Arthur was beside himself. "Will you stop harassing my boyfriend!"

Merlin looked at Arthur a bit startled at that declaration but decided not to say anything at that moment.

"Look, Pendragon," Cenred stepped into Arthur's face, who was currently held by two officers who had him handcuffed. "We received reports that Merlin Emrys had been kidnapped and held hostage for the past year. We also have a witness who said he was being tortured and raped. The we come in here and find the kid naked, his ass red from an obvious beating, and wearing a slave collar. That doesn't make it look like he's anyone's boyfriend."

"How would you know?" Merlin shouted. "I am telling you that this is consensual. Yeah it might get a little kinky, but so what? Since when is that illegal?"

"Well, technically it's not illegal," Cenred backed down. "But we have to investigate reports like this."

"Who reported this anyway?" Merlin asked.

"Your friend, Gwaine, and one of Pendragon's household staff," Cenred replied. "Gwaine's been worried sick about you. He helped us in the investigation. When the girl from the maid staff came forward, that's when we have enough evidence to finally get a warrant to come in here and rescue you."

"Hey detective," one of the cops searching upstairs called. "Check this out!"

They all made their way upstairs to see what the commotion was about. They'd found the playroom. Of course they did.

Merlin ducked into his closet which had been unfortunately ransacked to grab some sweats and sneakers to put on. "Oi! Why'd you have to throw my clothes around like that?!"

"Those are all your clothes?" Cenred asked suspiciously.

"Yeah. Arthur and I each have our own closets you clotpole!" Merlin said in frustration.

"You say everything was consensual, so how do you explain this?" Cenred indicated their playroom.

"I already said we were kinky," Merlin said crossing his arms matter-of-factly. "That just proves it."

"Well now that your dressed you can come with us, willingly or not," Cenred said, nodding at two officers behind Merlin.

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you," Merlin groused. "But you better not hurt Arthur!"

Arthur shook his head and was mumbling something about the paparazzi having a field day with this.

...

Merlin sat in front of the police cruiser, next to Cenred while Arthur was handcuffed in the back with an officer keeping an eye on him.

As they approached the precinct there were media vans everywhere and Arthur hung his head. "Now I'm going to have to delay taking Pendragon Industries public. My investors are going to give me hell over all this bad press."

Merlin turned around. "Don't worry Arthur. I'll try to find a way to make it right. I…I'm so sorry."

Arthur looked at him sympathetically. "Don't worry about it. I'll call Gaius. He'll know what to do. Just cooperate with them until then, ok?

Merlin nodded. "Ok."

...

As Merlin was escorted into the police station, former schoolmate Gwaine ran over. "Merlin!"

"Oi, what's the matter with you?" Merlin said angrily. "Why'd you report that I'd been kidnapped, you dolt?"

"Because you were," Gwaine insisted. "You just disappeared and I was worried!"

"You knew I was getting kicked out by my fosters," Merlin said. "Where were you then? I spent a month living on the streets! Arthur took me in and he's been taking care of me. Where were you?"

"Wait, you mean they really kicked you out? Is that why you dropped out?" Gwaine asked.

"Yeah, but it's alright," Merlin shrugged. "Arthur took care of it for me. Got me a tutor and everything. I finished my last exams and graduated just a couple of months ago."

"So that rich bloke is really your boyfriend?" Gwaine looked shocked. "When I saw you in the tabloids, I thought for sure he grabbed you and was doing nasty things to you. Then that maid came forward and confirmed you were being tortured and raped."

"Did I look that miserable in the photos?" Merlin asked. "I remember the maid. Arthur had to fire her because she'd walked in during one of our sessions in the playroom when I was being particularly loud and she screamed at Arthur and called him all sorts of nasty things. It totally ruined the mood."

"Wait so you're just really into BDSM and stuff?" Gwaine asked. "Aw man I'm sorry if I made a mess of things for you."

"Yeah I hope you didn't mess things up permanently," Merlin sighed. "They said I've got to talk to a social worker now and Arthur's been arrested over all this mess. How could you do that? Why didn't you just try and contact me and talk to me?!"

"I dunno, thought you'd been nabbed and when you never came around again, I thought going to the police was the right choice," Gwaine shrugged.

"I just hope Arthur doesn't dump me back in the streets where he found me," Merlin frowned. "He's been helping take care of my mum and everything."

"Wait, you're seeing your mum again too?" Gwaine looked more and more miserable. "Man I really am sorry to cause such a fuss. Detective Cenred seemed so happy to have a reason to go after Arthur too."

"Shit?! Really? Wow maybe it wasn't all about me then," Merlin said. "Lots of people are always speculating that Arthur is into the same illegal shit his dad was, but everything he does is legit."

"Merlin Emrys?" A woman came up behind him asked.

"Yeah?"

"Please come with me Mr. Emrys," she said as she walked off. Merlin waved to Gwaine and jogged to catch up with her. "So how long until Arthur and I can go home?"

"You and I are going to have a long talk," she said. "Then I am making arrangements for you in a group home for homeless former foster children who have aged out of the system. We're going to get you some job training there and help you get back on your feet."

"What?!" Merlin shouted. "That is absolutely ridiculous. I want to go home and I want to go home now."

"Sit down, Mr. Emrys," she said. "First of all my name is Gwen, and I have been assigned to your case. You are clearly suffering from something known as Stockholm Syndrome, which is common for people who are kidnapped and forced to do things against their will."

"I do not have bloody Stockholm Syndrome!" Merlin yelled in frustration. "Look, yes, I signed a contract enslaving me to Arthur. But I signed it willingly. Arthur even made several changes in the contract to accommodate my needs. Everything that is detailed in there, I consented to it. All of it."

...

A couple of hours later and Merlin was practically weeping in frustration. "Just let me see Arthur. Please!"

"No, Merlin," Gwen shook her head. "We're going to make sure that man stays far away from you from now on."

"He didn't do anything wrong!" Merlin shouted. "Look I'm a grown man. I'm nineteen. Why are you keeping me here? Why won't you let me go home? Am I also under arrest?"

Just then an impeccably dressed older man walked in. "I am representing Mr. Pendragon and I have been instructed to see to Mr. Emrys' needs."

"Gaius!" Merlin said with relief, recognizing Arthur's lawyer and trusted advisor. "Are you here to take me home?"

"Yes, Mr. Emrys," Gaius said. "They have no grounds to hold you."

Gwen sighed in defeat. She had thought to convince Merlin that he had no recourse. "No I don't suppose I do, but I promise I will come to check on you and make sure that monster isn't hurting you further."

"Do not call my boyfriend a monster," Merlin seethed. "And don't judge us for how we choose to conduct ourselves in our private home."

Merlin isn't sure exactly when he began to think of Arthur's home as 'ours,' but it felt right to say it, especially under these circumstances.

As Gaius led Merlin out of the precinct and towards the familiar limousine, Merlin finally began to relax. "Is Arthur alright?" Merlin asked.

Gaius nodded. "Yes, he posted bail and is back home. He asked me to come fetch you."

They rode in silence while Merlin impatiently bounced his knee the entire way back. He was anxious to see Arthur again.

Merlin could have taken the out that Gwen had offered him. He could have gone to the group home and taken the job training and gotten away from Arthur. Yet he didn't. It didn't even occur to him to want to renege on their contract, and he found he missed Arthur and was worried about him.

The more he thought about it though, the more he realized his feelings went deeper than just missing Arthur. He had lost himself in his role as Arthur's slave, and he hadn't even realized how deep his feelings for the man he generally referred to as Master ran until now.

No this wasn't Stockholm Syndrome. It was something far worse.

It was love.