Hidden Royalty Chapter Six

Merlin sat nervously waiting on the fourth floor of the library, it was the floor specifically equipped for students so on a Saturday you wouldn't find many, if any at all. It was the perfect place to talk in private.

When he woke up around nine-ish that morning he had checked his phone but he didn't had received any messages from Arthur. Until about half an hour later when his phone beeped and he checked the message he got. It was indeed from Arthur and all it said was; alright. So he texted him the time and was now waiting for Arthur to show up and he felt really nervous about seeing Arthur again.

He wondered to himself that how it was possible that in a time period of just two months a guy could have won him over, normally he was very sketchy of entering into any kind of relationship, even friendship, with people because he's been hurt and betrayed before in the past for going too fast. But something about Arthur made him not even realise that he would be going to fast, it just felt right and nothing like a relationship he had when he was a few years younger than he was now.

Alright it was with an Australian boy who was just on holiday in England when he was about fifteen years old, and it only lasted like six days, but he was really hurt when it turned out to be just a summer romance. He really thought that this could've turned into something more. The hurt intensified when he found out that the guy, was already in a relationship with someone back in Australia when he was on that holiday in England. He felt betrayed and particularly because he almost slept with the guy, which would be his first.

Ever since that happened, he was just cautious in getting too close to people. That however also meant that he was still an eighteen year old virgin.

Merlin sighed thinking about that, and thrust his hand under his chin as he kept waiting for Arthur to arrive. He checked his phone for the umpteenth time to see if Arthur perhaps decided to call it off, but his phone was still blank, save for the one message he just received from Will with some last encouragements.

He then felt an hand on his shoulder and looked up, he looked straight into Arthur's blue eyes and just as fast as they connected, just as fast Merlin averted his eyes. As he looked around he saw not one, not two but a total of five men dressed in all-black attire and keeping their finger pressed firmly at their ear and talking through -what Merlin presumed- mics in their collars. Two of the five were standing next to the entrance of the floor while the other three stood quite closely to Arthur, and Merlin started to feel queasy about the looks that they gave him.

Merlin pointed with a jerk of his head at them. "Yours I guess?" He asked, almost mockingly.

"Merlin…" Arthur began exasperated. "Don't do this. Forget they're here." Arthur slid the chair besides Merlin's back and sat down.

Merlin scoffed and rolled his eyes. "It's not that easy to ignore them, they are looking at me like they want to murder me."

Arthur closed his eyes for a second and inhaled deeply. He then turned his head and gave a short jerk with it. The men in black fanned out more so they wouldn't be so in view and Arthur hoped that this would make Merlin a bit more comfortable. "Better?" He asked and Merlin gave a one shoulder shrug.

Arthur licked is dry lips. "Merlin, thanks for texting me. We really need to talk."

"We sure as hell have to." Merlin replied harshly and looked away.

Arthur softly shook his head. He turned to look towards Merlin and saw his annoyed face. He felt guilty for making Merlin acting like this. It was not exactly like he had figured everything out beforehand, he was just instinctively acting, but he didn't regret anything. If any, he wanted to know what Merlin's feels about this were, hopefully they would be the same as his.

"Merlin." He said, but Merlin refused to look at him. "Merlin." He tried again, this time a bit harder and this time Merlin did look at him, however he leaned heavily back against the backrest of the chair and crossed his arms in front of him.

"Merlin, I won't apologize for what happened yesterday." Arthur began and he heard Merlin scoff. Before he knew it, Merlin stood up but he couldn't get away since the chair Arthur sat on was blocking his way. Arthur reached out to grab one of Merlin's wrists and looked up. He tried again.

"Merlin, I won't apologize because I don't regret doing it." Arthur grabbed all the courage he could find inside him and said what he wanted to say, and damn any consequences. This way he would have it off his chest and Merlin would know what he actually felt for him. He tugged gently on Merlin's wrist to get him to sit down again, and, however reluctantly, Merlin did sat down again. Taking one last deep breath, Arthur said it. "Merlin I like you. More than a friend. I guess you probably don't see me like that, but I felt the need for you to know. When I… kissed you yesterday I let my emotions run its course and not thinking what the aftermath would be. Merlin my feelings for you are genuine, but I would understand if you didn't want to see me again."

Merlin said nothing in return and also didn't tried to make any eye contact, he kept looking at the table they sat on.

After Arthur waited a minute or two for Merlin to react to any of it but got nothing in return, he stood up. "I guess I know your answer then." Arthur softly said and slowly started to walk away. Two of his bodyguards already moving forward to join the Prince in escorting him outside.

When Arthur was almost at the door, his arm was grabbed and he was forcefully spun around, only to feel lips crash against his own in a deep kiss. For a moment, Arthur's eyes widened but then he was beginning to understand the situation and a happy feeling began to fill his whole body and he melted in the kiss. He knew now that Merlin did feel the same for him as he did about Merlin.

Having to take a much needed oxygen break the two of them parted and Arthur saw the flush evident on Merlin's cheeks and looking to something behind him. As Arthur turned his head he saw all five of his bodyguards; each were deliberately looking in a different direction to have given the Prince some kind of privacy during the personal moment.

Arthur tried to take Merlin's mind of the feeling of being watched and brought his hand to Merlin's cheek, pushing it lightly so Merlin wasn't looking at his guards anymore but would be looking at him instead. And he did, Merlin looked at him and smiled and there was nothing to keep Arthur from returning that smile. He led Merlin to a couch close-by and motioned to his guards to stay put.

Arthur felt giddy and didn't know what to do with his hands, but at the same time he didn't want to overdo it and throw himself onto Merlin, they have only shared a kiss so far. On top of that he had never been in a real relationship, so he wasn't sure what to actually do. Alright he had lots of flings since the age of fifteen, but they basically only existed out of shagging each other. Also he discovered that most of the guys and girls he went out with were just with him because of his title.

He was now nineteen years old and ready for his first serious relationship.

And then Arthur felt a hand slipping into his own hand and he looked down to see Merlin having entwined their fingers and Merlin graced a smile on his lips. Arthur saw that Merlin wanted to say something, but there were just no words coming out, and Arthur would just wait until Merlin was ready to say what he wanted to say. Finally, after what looked like eternity, Merlin spoke but didn't quite make eye contact.

"Arthur, for everything you just said, I feel the same. For some weeks actually." He took a small pause to breathe in deeply and continued with his hand gesturing between the two of them. "But how is this going to work? I mean-"

Merlin couldn't finish what he was about to say because he was interrupted by Arthur. "No, Merlin. I know what you're about to say, but please just don't say it." Arthur turned his body so he faced Merlin, one of his leg bend on the couch the other set down on the ground. "Merlin, I just want to know one thing. Why is it such a problem to you that I'm… well that I'm royal." He couldn't help himself but to let out a chuckle when he continued. "I mean everyone else wants to be with me just because of that reason and you must be the only person not to be with me because of that very same reason. Please, just explain that to me."

Merlin shook his head and withdrew his hand to fold his two hands together. His fingers slightly fidgeting and he kept looking down to his lap. "Arthur, I can't. It's… difficult."

"Then explain." Arthur moved his hands forward to grab Merlin's but Merlin pulled them out of their reach. "I don't know if I can. I don't even know what exactly the reason is." He started to mumble frantically and only stopped when Arthur's hand touched his shoulder. He finally looked up once more to Arthur's concerned and slightly confused look, his eyebrows pinched a little together.

"Hold on, calm down and breathe. What you mean you don't know the reason, reason of what?" Arthur asked, his frown deepening.

"I told you, it's complicated!" Merlin exclaimed, wanting to stand up but Arthur prevented it by gently tugging at his lower arm. Arthur's face was full of concern and that was only making Merlin feel worse about himself. He wanted to understand, to explain, but he didn't had the answer himself. The only thing that was keeping him from fully giving himself to Arthur was his mother, despite her secret he still loved her more than himself. She was and always would be his mother and the woman who was with him every step he took in life.

He knew as much that her secret involved the royal family, but what if it involved Arthur. Would that be the reason that she was so opposed at him spending time with Arthur? He just didn't know. And even if it didn't make sense to him, his mother would be having a good reason to keep her secret for so long. But the one thing he didn't understand is if it involved the royal family, why move to England in the first place and staying so long? It didn't made sense.

He knew he had to say something now. He had to give Arthur some kind of explanation even if it would be an irrational one.

And so he began telling about his mother, how she was acting strange ever since the first day that uni started and that he found out that his mother kept something from him but in some way it involved royalty and because of that he was acting so weird the last few weeks and that was also why he couldn't make the commitment yet to get into a relationship because there were just too many things going on in his life right now to even think about a serious relationship.

Arthur had nodded and understood. He placed his hand on Merlin's leg and looked him right in the eye. "Merlin, I'm glad you told me. And I'm sorry if it turns out to be my family that has done something to your mother. Is there's any way I could… help?" He tentatively asked and he got a small smile in return from Merlin.

"No, you don't have too." He shifted a little bit closer to Arthur, he lowered his voice to an almost hush and said, "And that I don't want to commit to a relationship, doesn't mean we can't be together." He squeezed Arthur's hand. "As in a trial you could say. A secret perhaps?" He asked almost unsure about whether Arthur even would want that.

He got a squeeze in his own hand in return and Arthur's face was suddenly very close to his own and he felt the warm breath caressing his skin when Arthur breathily answered, "A secret. You and me, I'd like that. For now." He added. He bent even more forward, tentatively, and held a few millimetre of space between their lips. Arthur's eyes searched for some kind of permission in Merlin's if it was okay to kiss him. But Merlin answered by closing the small distance and they shared their first official kiss as a somewhat couple.

~oOoOo~

The kiss turned out to be short but sweet and the two teenagers were grinning like fools when they parted. Arthur glanced at the time on his phone and was shocked at how late it already was.

"Merlin, I'm sorry… really you have no idea, but I need to go."

"Oh." Was all Merlin said.

"I'm sorry, I need to have lunch with my parents. Discussing and preparing for some things for the visit of King Balinor of Mercia. You know he's coming to our uni on Tuesday right?" Arthur saw Merlin nod his head, but Merlin didn't commented on it. "Well, I need to be there to greet him, explain things, etcetera." Arthur saw that Merlin rolled his eyes. "Merlin, I know now that you don't exactly love royals right now, but Merlin I swear that Balinor is different. He's not uptight or arrogant as the average royal. I've known him my whole life and I always feel good around him. You'll see."

Merlin shrugged with both shoulders, scrunching his nose. "Indeed, we'll see. And it's not like I need to spend time with him. Will I still see you that day?" He asked.

A smile spread across Arthur's face and he teased, "Missing me already are you?" Arthur playfully shook his head. "Don't worry, this will take an hour, two tops. You'll have me the rest of the day." Arthur glanced again at the time and he was really pushing it. "I'm sorry Merlin I really need to go." He began to stand up and Merlin stood up with him and placed an hand on his upper arm.

"I know we're keeping it a secret, but I want to tell Will… and Percy." He let his hand slip of Arthur's arm." I've never kept secrets for Will and Percy is now part of our clique so I want him to know too… just so we don't have to be, uhm, awkward around them. I haven't told you this, but they… err… they sort of figured it out all along that you and I, well had... you know." He moved his hands in a twirling motion, hoping that Arthur would understand and he heard Arthur softly snorting so he probably did. "Will told that me when I, ahh… when I told him what happened between us yesterday. I'm sorry, I just needed to tell someone!" Merlin quickly argued, and Arthur chuckled in return.

"Merlin, its fine. Really. Tell them… tell the whole world for all I care." He winked, but took in Merlin's shocked face. Arthur placed both of his hands on Merlin's upper arms. "Merlin I was joking. You decide when you're ready and also when you're ready to come out publically to be my boyfriend. Because Merlin the public will find out one way or another and we're better off by coming forward on our own than that the paparazzi or press will intervene. But that's something we need to discuss another time."

Merlin totally forgot about press, paparazzi and just about being in the public eye all together. But surely all of that would be worth it if he would be together with Arthur.

He suddenly remembered something. He walked the few paces back to the chairs they earlier sat on and bent down to grab his backpack. As he walked back he zipped it open and grabbed the red and white jacket out. He had picked it up from home before he came to the library. He knew his mother wouldn't be home at that time because she would be at work, so there wouldn't be a chance he would run into her, he wasn't in the mood for yet another confrontation.

He held the jacket out in front of him. "You… you forgot this yesterday."

Arthur grabbed it in his hand and held it for a second before he moved behind Merlin and draped the jacket over Merlin's thin shoulders. It was a few sizes too big for him, but Arthur didn't care and neither did Merlin. He bent forward to whisper, "You keep it, you look good in it."

Merlin slightly blushed and Arthur motioned one guard forward.

"Merlin, this is Elyan. He will bring you back home or to wherever you want to go. He won't tell a thing to anyone about what happened here today, so please don't worry about that."

For the last time he looked at the time and he knew he would get into trouble if he would be delayed any longer. A quick peck on Merlin's cheek was all what he did for a quick goodbye. "I'll text you later." He added with a smile and walked away, occasionally glancing over his shoulder.

~oOoOo~

Merlin asked Elyan to drop him off at home, he felt a bit awkward at suddenly having a bodyguard slash driver. But Elyan made him more at ease, he was friendly and acted casually; using Merlin's name -at Merlin's request- instead of the 'sir' he kept using at first.

When Merlin came home he made sure to hide the jacket… for now. A box under his bed was the perfect hideaway spot. He began to text Will.

To: Will
11:53
Wanna have lunch? Have big news.

From: Will
11:55
Sure, where?

To: Will
11:55
Subway? We could then go to the little playground close to the park or so.

From: Will
11:56
The playground? We haven't been there since forever.
You come here then?

To: Will
11:57
Yes, on my way.

He sent a quick text to his mum where he would be since she would be home in about fifteen to thirty minutes and walked out the door. Elyan still waiting at the smaller and not so noticeable car compared to the big SUVs Arthur usually sat in. Merlin gave the directions to Will's house.

~oOoOo~

Hunith was just putting butter on her sandwiches when the doorbell rang. She had received Merlin's text minutes ago when she was already on her way home and she thought it was maybe Merlin who came back home because he had forgotten his keys once again and had figured that out when he was out. She started to walk towards the front door and opened it with a big smile. "Merlin did you forge-" She stopped midsentence and gasped loudly. Her hands started to shake lightly when she saw the person at the other side of the door. It couldn't be, not now, not ever. How?

"B-Balinor?" She said softly, still not believing that he was actually standing right in front of her. She saw two of what she presumed security guards standing closely behind Balinor.

"Hello… Hunith." Balinor replied in return with a smile.