Deviner Captive
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…
Merlin was waiting in his master's chamber when the prince came back from the morning meeting.
"Good you're here. I don't think I can stand any more negotiation meetings, I've had enough to last…" Arthur was complaining but was cut off.
"Why have you been avoiding Gwen?" Merlin asked with his arms crossed.
"… Me a life time in the past couple months." The prince went on like he didn't hear his manservant, in a jittery tone. Fumbling while undoing the straps on his jacket.
"Arthur, you can't just ignore this situation. Gwen is really confused by your behavior towards her lately. She was getting really upset when I talked to her earlier." Merlin berated his friend.
Arthur sighed. "It's a complicated situation, I'm not even sure why I'm acting the way I am. Anyway, I can't talk about it right now. I need you to help me put my armor on for training." The prince said in a thoughtful tone then snapping back to his usual delightful self.
"Should you really be having training today, you have royal guests?" Merlin thought he was still trying to avoid the subject. Usually when the prince was frustrated, upset, angry, disappointed… You get the point. Any unpleasant emotion; he either called a training session with the other knights or a hunting trip because he wanted to maim or kill something.
"We always have royal guests lately, the whole kingdom can't just stop what they're doing like they would usually happen because we would never get anything done. Some times they stay for over a month. Now help me with my armor." Arthur said sarcastically as he walked behind the dressing screen to change for training so as not to ruin his best clothes.
"Fine." Merlin grumbled as he collected the armor pieces from the table. He sighed in disappointment. He'd just finished cleaning the armor and now Arthur would just get it dirty again. That meant that he'd have to clean it again this evening. His work was never done.
The prince had started to changed out of his finery and put his crown away while Merlin retrieved his old clothes that he had re-purposed to use under his armor since he didn't care about them getting ruined anymore.
Arthur was only half surprised when his shirt and pants came sailing over the screen, hitting the wall behind him. "Do you have to do that every time, why can't you just place them over the corner of the dressing screen like every other servant in existence?" He said as he leaned down to snatch the clothes up in annoyance.
"Then I wouldn't be special, it's all part of my charm." Merlin replied cheekily as he organized the armor pieces across the table.
Arthur started to put the jerkin and shirt on mumbling to himself. "He's special alright, in the head."
"Did you say something?" Merlin asked though he'd heard every thing.
"I didn't say anything." Arthur denied as he moved out from behind the dressing screen. Walking up to stand in front of his manservant who was giving him a suspicious look. The boy just shook his head and started putting the chain mail over his head, the prince immediately put his arms up to receive.
Once it was in place properly his manservant reached for more armor pieces.
"So what happened with the princess?" Arthur asked. Out in the courtyard he'd seen himself being looked over for his servant. It was hard to miss the way the girls eyes locked onto their target. He could feel the boy tense up at the mention as he was strapping his left shoulder guard on.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. I took her to her room and she asked me to run her a bath. That's about it." Merlin told his master, leaving the part about getting Gwen to help him out of the story.
"Come on. I saw the way she was looking at you before, she must've made some type of a move on you." Arthur inquired, not tip toeing around the subject anymore. Wondering what his manservant's reaction to the advances would be.
"She was starring at me more intently than most but that's about it." Merlin said not denying the princes accusations, feeling uncomfortable talking about it. Securing the other shoulder guard.
"Staring intently is saying it lightly, she was trying to devourer you with her eyes from my point of view. How'd you manage to make it out of her room still in one piece?" Arthur asked, wondering how his friend had managed that feat. The princess seemed like a very pushy person. He actually regretted sending Merlin with her afterwards. Worried about what could happen when he was left alone with the women. His manservant snapped the right arm guard on.
"I'm not the ones whose father's are going to try and set a match up between us." Merlin pointed out, making the prince frown. He snapped the other arm guard on. "Now, back to the topic of Gwen…" He let himself trail off.
"Not right now." Arthur tried to avoid the subject. "How did you even end up talking to Gwenevere this early in the morning?" He asked.
"Ran into her in the hallway." Merlin said. Over the years he had finally learned how to lie. Half-truths were the key. He had run into the girl in the hallway, he just left out the part about how it was before his finished serving the princess. See easy. No need for the prince to know he brought her back with him because he was scared of being with the royal alone.
'How did the two even get on the topic?' Arthur asked himself in his mind as he put his boots on. The many topics they could have discussed in passing and they landed on that one.
"We are very good friends and tell each other almost everything." Merlin answered the prince's question.
"How'd you know what I was thinking?" Arthur asked in surprise.
"I'm psychic." Merlin didn't even need to use magic to read the princes mind. He knew him well enough now that he could almost finish his sentences.
"They'll be needing your help in the kitchens this afternoon because of the feast we're throwing tonight." Arthur told Merlin as he finished doing up the last strap.
Merlin scowled. "You're just trying to get rid of me." He hated kitchen duty and the prince knew that. The head chef always tried to force-feed him; she claimed he was too skinny for his own good. Thing was that the only extra food she could get away with giving him were usually un-eaten scraps that the noble's didn't deem worthy.
"Maybe I am, but you still have to do it if I order you to, because I'm your master." Arthur attempted to remind Merlin who was in charge. He led him out of his chambers, steering him in the opposite direction he was going to be heading in.
He stood starring after his manservant as he made his way down the hall to the stairwell that eventually led to the kitchens. Shaking his head once Merlin had disappeared from sight and turned to head to training.
...
"Arthur!" He'd almost made it to the field but was stopped in the entrance hall by his father who was followed by the visiting king and his 'lovely' daughter, he thought sarcastically. Stopping to wait for them to finish walking to his position.
"The king and I have more things to talk about that wouldn't interest the princess, we were wondering if you could keep her entertained, give he a tour of the kingdom." Uther asked his son.
"I would've loved to father if I didn't already have a prior engagement. All the knights are already waiting for me down in the training field." Arthur replied, getting antsy to let off some steam.
"Take her with you then. I'm sure she would enjoy watching Camelot's fine knights perform." Uther gave his son a look like he had no choice.
"Princess Matilda." Arthur addressed the lady, offering his arm to escort her.
…
All the knights stopped what they were doing when their prince stepped onto the field. It wasn't surprising that he wasn't alone but instead of being accompanied by Merlin he was with a strange women.
"Knights, I'd like to introduce you to princess Matilda who is visiting with her father King Gwrthfyr. She'll be observing our training session today." Arthur introduced her. Most of the knights bowed on hearing the ladies title.
He escorted her to the bench Merlin usually frequented, while being ordered to sit and watch so he wouldn't get into any trouble.
Arthur asked Gwaine to be his training partner. He'd become his favorite in the past couple months since he was knighted. Gwaine never held back against him and was very outspoken even when he wasn't drunk. The knight was like a version of Merlin that actually knew how to hold a sword and hold his licker; but he still could never replace his manservant who had become his best friend.
Both prince and knight took their position on opposite sides of the field. Unsheathing their swords.
"This is going to be good." Elyan commented to Percival standing beside him. Usually at training practices they all picked a partner and claimed their own area of the field but they all just liked to watch whenever Arthur and Gwaine partnered, even the noble knights agreed. It was very entertaining to watch the two attempt to beat the shit out of each other.
The two charged, they swung their swords together with a clang. The prince managed to push the knight back.
"Shouldn't you also be practicing?" The princess questioned from her bench nearby.
The two knights shared a surprised glance that the princess was actually talking to them. So far visiting nobles had hardly spoken two words to them, not deeming them worthy because of their inferior birth.
"We don't want to get in the way. They get really into it and often need the use of the whole field." Elyan explained.
"Is that so." The princess said before standing and walking towards the two. " How often do they do this, does the prince ever pick different partners?"
" Lately it's the beginning of every training session." Elyan answered.
"Is that so." The princess repeated again in a weird voice that he could only interpret as sensual. She turned her attention to Percival. "Are you going to say anything?"
The large knight shifted his feet awkwardly.
"Strong silent type. I like that." The princess exclaim before sliding closer to his person to feel one of his bicep's. Percival shot Elyan a panicked look, just asking for help. He wasn't used to women's attentions because of his monosyllable nature.
Elyan shrugged not knowing what to do. Knowing he couldn't over step his bounds with a royal quest.
"And the prince is down!" A nearby knight exclaimed, in a commentary voice.
"My strap came undone! Merlin didn't tighten it enough." Arthur yelled from the ground at the gloating knight who was dancing around him.
"You're just being a sore loser. Don't blame poor Merlin for your failure. I beat your fare and square." Gwaine stopped dancing to berate the prince into submission.
The commotion happening in the middle of the field was enough of a distraction for Percival to sneak away from the clutches of the princess unnoticed.
Arthur got back onto his feet and grabbed his sword and helmet from the dusty ground while yelling in frustration. "Training is over for today!" Before storming off the field. Forgetting about his guest.
Matilda turned to Elyan. "I guess you get the pleasure of escorting me back to my room." The knight froze under her gaze. The princess took his stiff arm and draped it around hers. "There, lead the way."
...
Arthur grumbled to himself as he pushed the doors to his private chambers. "Merlin! Help me get this armor off and run me a bath, then get my clothes ready for the banquet." He yelled orders, expecting his manservant to be there like he usually was at this time a day, cleaning or mending a boot.
He walked behind his dressing screen and began to strip off his armor himself but was having trouble reaching one of the many straps. Emerging again when he received no answer. "Merlin?" He looked around in confusion finding no sign of the young man.
Only after did he remember that he'd sent Merlin to work in the kitchens tonight. Putting a hand over his eyes in frustration. He was regretting ordering him to do it now but he couldn't stand being interrogated, especially by one of the causes himself.
Arthur left the room to search the halls for another servant since he couldn't turn up to the baguette still sweaty from practice.
The prince didn't know why but recently he'd found his feelings and emotions towards certain things changing gradually ever since Morgana's takeover. Being on the run because someone took over your home makes you rethink your priorities. Things were also very different now.
When they got the kingdom back from Morgana and Morgause's clutches, because of his father's mental state Gaius thought it would be best if he took temporary control and the court agreed. Having had the experience of running the kingdom himself under his belt and the support of the knight's of the round table.
When his father got better and took control again he supported his sons decisions in his absence with gritted teeth. Like he was worried that if he upset his son in anyway he would start an uprising himself over any small matter. The one he skated around most was his relationship with Guinevere.
Recently so had he. Going through all those new experiences had changed him. It was hard not to be. He used to be so sure of his plan of the future to become king and have the women he loved as queen with his friends beside him. Less than a year ago that still included Morgana's insurance that she would always be there to ridicule or support him in his decisions.
He had actual friends now and not just other nobles sons who wanted the prestige of being associated with him and wouldn't just say what he wanted to hear. Guinevere was now a lady and not just a handmaiden or black smith's daughter but a lady of the court. His father actually let him get away with things he didn't fully agree with if he had Gaius' support on it.
It felt like everything was different now. Except Merlin.
Every since the first day he met the boy in the market that fateful day and his father named him his manservant he hadn't really changed. He was still just as snarky and the worst servant ever but also still the best friend he could ever hope for. He was always there to support him despite the danger to himself.
Lately when in the presence of Guinevere instead of being entranced by her like he used to be, he'd been thinking of another. It was confusing him because why would he be thinking of Merlin at one of the rare moments he actually got to be alone with his lady. Instead of confronting the issue head on he'd been avoiding it hoping it would work its self out.
Which it hadn't yet.
Arthur had to search two floors before he came across a servant. " You." He called after the busy servant who had just rushed pass him, stopping them in their tracks.
"Yes, my lord." The servant boy turned around to face him. His arm's full of food supplies for the kitchen.
"I need you to run me a bath." Arthur demanded.
The servant looked confused at the royal. "I'm just a kitchen boy my lord, I usually don't perform such tasks. Isn't that Merlin's job?"
"Yes it usually is but I sent him to help in the kitchens earlier not thinking about how I'd need him after training at this time." Arthur responded surly. It seemed everyone knew who his manservant was.
"You sent him to work in the kitchens, I thought he'd been banned since last time he came to help he ended up knocking over the table holding most of the food." The servant laughed to himself at the memory of the event.
Arthur sighed. 'It sounded like something Merlin would do.' He'd never met this boy before in his life but apparently his manservant had made his acquaintance like every other servant in the castle apparently. Merlin made friends very easily, which made him a little jealous. "If he was I was never informed on the matter and he hasn't turned up again if he was turned away."
"I wouldn't know the first thing how to run a bath and I have to bring this down to the kitchens." The boy tried to reason with the prince.
"You know I really don't care if it's you who performs the task, as long as you find somebody to do it." Arthur said in exasperation as he turned around to walk back to his chambers.
...TBC