Gaius had come to Agravaine's champers that night, to insist that yes, Agravaine seemed to have a drinking problem. (Later to tell Merlin that he might have forgotten to mention the 'slight' after effects of the memory potion.) However, luckily for Merlin , not only did Agravaine forget about him being a sorcerer, but it seemed Arthur was too busy being a new king and dealing with the current drunkard title his head advisor now had, courtesy of Gwaine, to remember about Merlin and his gayness. But that didn't mean Merlin did, the whole ordeal had been weeks ago and still, Merlin couldn't shake the worry he felt. He was more careful around his friends now. A few days before, Gwaine had cornered him in a hall and the passing maid had given them some very interested and knowing looks as she passed, needless to say, he almost punched Gwaine in the face that day. But that was nothing compared to the looks the maids and knights and everyone else (so it seemed) were giving Merlin, when he tended to Arthur.

He could hear them whispering as they walked past Merlin outside of the king's chambers, or found them giggling when he showed up for the king's breakfast, messy haired and late. These things were nothing knew, the lateness or the messy hair, the following around like a loyal dog, (in which case Merlin was the dog, by the way,) yet these maids and knights and hell, maybe even advisors too, were all seeming to act like it was. Advisors, Merlin was scared to think what they must be saying to Arthur now, they all knew. Everyone had always known of Merlin and Arthur's closeness, you don't go through some of the things they have and not end up close, whether or not King Prat wanted to admit it. But what if the maids or knights or gods forbid, the advisors suggest such things to Arthur? Merlin would be fired on the spot; Arthur would not allow himself to be called gay.

And Merlin, no matter how much it hurt, understood, he didn't like to be called gay either, being gay was looked upon as wrong and giggled at, mocked and disapproved. No one would respect a king if he were known as gay, so there was just one thing for Merlin to do; avoid Arthur like the plague.

So then it started, Merlin made sure he was never seen alone with Arthur, or standing too close if they were seen together at all. He sent servants to help, when he knew Arthur would want things like a bath or help with changing and armor. (Which he was not allowed to do, but did it anyway.) He had faked sickness a few times as well, to get out of tending to Arthur all together. He would only go to clean when he was sure Arthur was out, he didn't want anyone to think they were in the room alone together, he had even started sending Gwen to wake Arthur in the morning, he figured Arthur would rather see Gwen's face first thing in the morning than his anyway.

At some point, he knew Arthur would start getting suspicious, what he didn't know, is how fast he would. It seemed only a week into this new found avoidance did Arthur start getting annoyed, he would purposely try to track Merlin down in random parts of the day, to the point where Merlin had to hide in a broom cupboard under a staircase, just so Arthur wouldn't find him. More than twenty times a day did he hear Arthur yelling for him, in which case, he would drop whatever it is he was doing and run as if his life depended on it. However sometimes, no matter how Merlin tried, Arthur could not be avoided.

It was then, as Merlin walked down an empty corridor, that he was tackled to the ground. Merlin might have let out a girlish scream, might have...he was just lucky he was smart enough to control his magic.

Who was on top of him is no surprise, a blonde king, with darkened, deep, blue eyes with annoyance written inside them. He looked a tad rabid, at that.

"Merlin!" he seethed, pinning Merlin to the floor, not that Merlin was trying to leave by any means. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Oh, you know…" Merlin muttered then, shrugging, or trying to rather. "Here and there."

"I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"By everywhere you mean that cove over there? If so, you weren't really trying very hard," Merlin pointed out, looking over to the right, to see where Arthur had attacked from.

"Ten days Merlin, I have barely seen you; it is as if you have forgotten who you work for…" Arthur said, still sounding annoyed beyond reason, Merlin just let him talk. "Ten days it's been, Merlin, since I've told anyone to shut up! Do you know how frustrating that is?"

"You know you could always practice on someone else…" Merlin suggested then, a smirky grin on his lips. "Like Gwen or a knight, Gaius…perhaps."

"Shut up!" Arthur barked, giving him a little shake, Merlin smiled.

"See, you haven't forgotten!"

"That is not the point, the point is, you are my servant you are meant to be serving me at all times," Arthur was barking once more. Merlin rolled his eyes. "It's like you've been hiding from me, like you don't wish to be around me…"

"Aw, have you missed me?"

"No!"

"That's funny, because…" but he stopped then, looking up at Arthur to realize that they were in the middle of a corridor, on top of each other, his eyes widened. This would be gold for any passing servant, maid, knight…all of Merlin's work in avoiding Arthur would be ruined. "Let me up!"

"No," Arthur said, gripping on Merlin tighter in protest. "Not until you explain to me where the hell you've been!"

"I don't want to!" Merlin almost yelled, trying to wiggle out of the hold he was trapped in. "Just let me up!"

"You will do as I say, Merlin!"

"No!" Merlin yelled, pushing Arthur off him with as much force as he could. He bolted then, getting off the ground and ran for the passage out of that corridor.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled after him, but he didn't stop, he needed to make a lot of ground between the two before anyone saw them. Merlin took refuge in the kitchens, where he was scolded by the cook, who claimed he stole her food…, which he did not!

It was inevitable though, Merlin would have to start doing his chores again, or else Arthur would most likely hunt him down with a team of wild dogs. So, that night, Merlin showed up at the king's door, a tray of dinner in his arms as he entered the room. Arthur was shirtless, muttering something as he ripped through his clothes cupboard, Merlin noted all the shirts sprawled around the room and sighed, he would have to clean that up.

"Merlin!" Arthur snapped then, turning around to glare at the servant. "I'm shocked you remember where my chambers are."

"I could never forget, sire," Merlin said, sarcastically, as he set the food down. He could hear Arthur chuckling from behind and he sighed again, he really didn't want to know what was funny.

"Merlin…" Arthur said again, he turned back and raised an eyebrow at the king, who was still shirtless, mind you. "I think I've realized why you've been avoiding me."

"You have?"

"Yes, I have," Arthur grinned, taking a few steps forward, rather arrogantly, if Merlin did say so himself. "And I understand completely."

"You do?" Merlin asked, how would Arthur know? Unless someone was talking…Merlin heaved a breath.

"I want you to know that I understand, it must be hard for you to see me every day, being so close and yet…not close enough, for your own needs," Arthur placed his head over his bare chest and sighed. "I know what it feels like for a love to be forbidden, I felt the same when I first started having feelings for-"

"Wait," Merlin held up his hand, trying to hold back the laugh that was threatening to leak from his lips. "You think I'm…?"

"In love with me? Yes," Arthur said, matter-of-factly. It was then Merlin laughed and laughed really hard, he almost fell to his knees he laughed so hard. "I don't see what's so funny!" Arthur chirped a moment or two after. "Love is not a joke, Merlin…"

"You are…"Merlin tried to answer, but his ribs hurt from laughing. What an ass, he couldn't be serious. "You have got to be joking!" Merlin rubbed his eyes then and blinked, taking in Arthur's annoyed face. "I am not in love with you!"

"I hardly think that's true," Arthur said, once again, matter-of-factly. "It explains it all; why you have always been so utterly loyal to me, why you follow me everywhere and why now, you have been avoiding me."

"I am not in love with you!" Merlin repeated, shaking his head, he could not belive he was having such a talk with Arthur, this was stupid!

"Stop the lies, Merlin," Arthur told him, walking closer once more. "I am no fool, I can see it clear as day in your eyes, they say it all."

"They should shut up then, because-"

"You can't hide anything from me!" Arthur interrupted. Merlin wanted to say how he had hid his magic, but thought better of it and just watched as Arthur smirked smugly, and placed a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "I am flattered you feel the way you do, honestly, I am not sure what I have done to win your love…"

"Been an utter clotpole…just like right now," Merlin said, cocking his head to the side, watching Arthur. He was still in a bit of shock, over this whole thing, it seemed like his life was slowly spinning out of control.

"There must have been something I've done," Arthur grinned. "What was it?"

"I'm not going to boost your ego!" Merlin retorted, trying to push the man's hand from his shoulder, but the action only made Arthur's grin grow.

"So you admit it, you are in love with me!" he said, sounding far too happy about this for any straight man. "I knew it!"

"I'm not in love with you!" Merlin said, he had to leave, this was getting ridicules. He wasn't even really gay, let alone in love with the king. However, on his way to the door, Arthur cut in front of him, blocking his exit.

"I say you are!" he challenged, Merlin sighed.

"If I agree will you let me leave?"

"No…"

"Then I'm not and I never will be, because you're an ass!"