A/N - A huge, huge thanks to those who reviewed. You guys make my day with your comments. And big thanks to those who read, alerted and favourited. You guys also rock. I hope you enjoy this chapter (one of my favourites)

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Chapter 6

The Banquet

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Arthur didn't have long to recover before he was called back to the arena, those who were the champions in the various events were to be awarded their prizes by the Lord.

Smiling as he was awarded the Swordsman prize, he couldn't watch as Valiant was crowned tournament champion, anger in him as he remembered the way the other man had given Merlin back his neckerchief.

"The next time we meet, Sir Valiant," Arthur said around a fake smile. "You will look up at me from the flat of your back.

"Please," the other knight replied. "You have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting."

Glaring at the man, Arthur walked off, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head, as Leon paid the ferris.

"That armour you wear," she said. "It wasn't made for you was it?"

"What of it?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms, trying not to let the panic rise up in him.

"I could make you such armour that you wouldn't even know you were wearing it," the ferris said, a look of determination on her face.

"And how much would that cost me?" Arthur asked.

"Just take me as far as Camelot," she replied.

Turning to Leon and Lance, he raised an eyebrow in question; Leon shaking his head, while Lance nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Arthur weighed up the pros and cons in his mind, the one overwhelming thought that he'd finally have his own armour won out.

"Okay," he said nodding, grimacing a little as a shot of pain ran through his head.

"I'm Gwen," the woman said, smiling at them, a light blush crossing her cheeks as Lance winked at her.

"Welcome to the group," Arthur replied, hand squeezing the bridge of his nose.

"Alright, now that's out of the way, time I had a look at you," Gaius said, pushing the tent flap open and pulling Arthur inside.

"I'm fine," Arthur said, trying to stand up from where Gaius had pushed him to sit.

"Yes, I'm sure you are," Gaius replied. "However, I promised Merlin that I would make sure of that. So just sit there like a good little boy and let me make sure it isn't a lie."

"Merlin was worried about me?" Arthur asked, his heart racing, as a smile crossed his face.

"Yes," Gaius replied.

"Huh," Arthur said, looking down.

"He also decided he was going to wear red to the banquet tonight," Gaius continued.

Arthur looked up at the other man, seeing the amusement there, and yet not caring. The only thought going through his mind, that Merlin had been worried about him, had asked about him and was going to the banquet in the colour that Arthur usually wore.

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Walking into the hall, Arthur let his eyes wander over the crowd, his heart flipping as they fell on Merlin, not missing the red the other man was wearing, very similar to the colour he wore. He noticed the number of men and women around him, and felt his heart sink a little.

How could he compete with all these people who had been born into this life, who knew how to act, how to woo?

Sighing he wandered over to a table, not feeling as hungry as he had been when he had first walked in, his confidence waning a little.

Looking over at Merlin again, he watched as the man laughed, wondering if he was being foolish in his pursuit of the man. He had found out who Merlin was from Gwen, the ferris informing him that the young man was the King's warlock, the woman he was always with, Lady Morgana, the King's ward.

Wandering outside onto the balcony, Arthur looked over at the view, his thoughts wandering.

"Sir Arthur."

Turning suddenly, Arthur froze as he saw the King walking towards him, not realizing the King had actually been in Ealdor.

"Majesty," Arthur said, bowing low.

When he straightened, it was to look into the King's shocked gaze, the man staring intently at his face, the same way that Gaius had looked at him when they had first met.

"Are you alright, your majesty?" Arthur asked, when the silence had continued, the King still staring at him in shock.

"Fine," the King said, eyes running over his face, before a smile crossed his face. "I'm fine. So, Arthur … I haven't heard much about you before this tournament, tell me about yourself."

"Well, majesty," Arthur started, not sure what to say to the King, a part of him not wanting to lie. "My parents were killed when I was young and I was taken in by another knight. He trained me, taught me how to use a sword, how to ride a horse. He was like a father to me."

"Oh?" the King asked, a kind smile on his face. "Who was this knight?"

"Sir Balinor," Arthur replied, knowing that the older knight would not reveal who he really was. The man had really been like a father to him and had always said that he wished he could have let Arthur be a knight.

Arthur shifted a little uncomfortably under the man's gaze, wondering if the man could tell that he wasn't really noble.

"Who were your parents?" the King asked.

Before he could answer however, Valiant came out onto the balcony, his eyes narrowing as he saw Arthur, Arthur returning his glare with just as much hatred.

"Your majesty," Valiant said, bowing low. "I was wondering if I could ask for an audience?"

"Of course," King Uther replied, smiling at Arthur before walking back towards the ballroom.

Just before he reached the door, he turned back around.

"Sir Arthur," he called. "I'll expect to see you at the jousting tournament at Camelot."

Nodding, Arthur watched them go, feeling a little relieved that the King had gone, the King's intense regard of him a little unnerving.

Turning back to the view, he felt the exact moment that Merlin walked out, felt him move up beside him.

"Sir Arthur," Merlin said, hands resting on the balcony, one almost touching one of his.

"My Lord Merlin," Arthur replied, looking sideways at the young warlock, heart once again beating fast.

"Did you really not know who I was?" Merlin asked him, eyes bright as he met his gaze.

"I grew up in a small county, we didn't really hear much about others," Arthur replied, shrugging.

"It's a first," Merlin said, moving closer to him. "Most people who approach me are well aware, it's part of the … pull to talk to me."

"It wasn't for me," Arthur replied quietly, turning to face the other man, breath catching as he realized how close they were. "There was just something about you. Something I couldn't put my finger on."

"I know," Merlin replied, the smile on his face filling Arthur with warmth.

Leaning forward, he felt his heart race as his lips covered the soft lips of the man standing in front of him.

Gently lapping at the man's lips with his tongue, he let his hands run down Merlin's arms, lightly gripping the man's waist and pulling him closer, groaning when Merlin started to respond, his mouth opening under his, their tongues dueling with each other.

Moving Merlin until his back was to one of the walls, Arthur pushed forward, his body covering the slighter man's, unable to stop his groin from pushing into Merlin's.

"Merlin?"

Pulling away, Arthur couldn't help but smile at the dazed, happy look on Merlin's face, before he stepped away, smoothing down his hair, which Merlin's hands had apparently been running through, before Morgana walked out.

"Hello, Sir Arthur," Morgana said, a knowing look on her face. "I hope I'm not interrupting?"

"No," he replied. "No we were just …"

"Yes, I'm sure," Morgana interrupted a smirk crossing her face. "I need to borrow Merlin."

"Of course," Arthur said, eyes straying back to Merlin, happy to see a goofy smile on the warlock's face.

"I'll see you at Camelot?" Merlin asked quietly, as he went to move past him.

Smiling, Arthur nodded, still feeling the warmth of Merlin's body and mouth against his.

"Of course," he replied, watching the man walk away, a goofy smile crossing his face too.

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A/N - As always let me know what you thought :).