Chapter - 3
The indoor tennis court had been constructed when Arthur was twelve and he had developed a flair for the game. Uther was suitably impressed that his son did not follow some of the other less elite sports and had built the court when Arthur had won his first national championship. It was one of the things that Arthur remembered fondly about his father and his childhood in general and he would always have a slight smile whenever he entered the tennis court as he still remembered a young Uther guiding him to it and telling him it had been built exclusively for him.
Today the tennis court was witnessing Arthur's dark moods.
Arthur hit the tennis ball unreasonably hard and aced again when Gwaine let out a huge whistle and Lancelot looked on irked at having lost another game to Arthur and Leon.
"There's no point in fighting today mate, he's in his destructive mode again." Gwaine diligently whispered to Lancelot.
Lance sighed before admitting, "It's not the game, I'm worried about him, he acts like everything is fine but we know its not. The last time I saw him like this was when.."
"Hey Lance, Gwaine, get your arses into the game would you?" shouted Arthur and Gwaine and Lance exchanged a knowing look before Gwaine rolled his eyes and barked "No need to get so iffy Princess!"
When Arthur had brutalized his mates for the better part of an hour everyone realized this had to stop and Lance put his hands up in the air in surrender in front of a sweaty and still ready to charge at a bulls pace Arthur.
"It can't have been that bad!" exclaimed Leon who was also panting with exertion.
Gwaine had taken to lying on the court and commented "I want to meet this kid, whoever it is that can get you this fired up is sure worth the time."
Arthur threw them all a pointed glare more or less stating he did not want to discuss his impending nuptials before he walked off towards the exit wiping his face with a towel. Arthur didn't expect them to understand the turmoil his mind was going through, his friends weren't aware of anything except the newspaper headlines which had thrown the entire nation into a flurry of deliberations about him and the Prince of Mercia.
He still remembered how their night ended and ever since he left Merlin at the doors to his huge manor Merlin had been plaguing his thoughts day and night. For the first time in his life he wondered if he'd been wrong to say the things he said to Merlin that night. They had had such a good time, Arthur had had fun just talking with another person in a long time and his frozen heart was remembering and awakening all the warmth he had felt once before he'd been burnt and the fire had been doused to leave his heart as cold as ice.
Merlin awoke feelings inside him, something he never wanted to deal with or explore ever again and he had retaliated by being cruel to him and now he was sure Merlin hated the sight of him. He had hoped for this to happen, wanted and planned for it even but now that he had made it happen he didn't feel victory, only a dull ache whenever he saw Merlin on tv handling the sudden overwhelming interest of the press with a quiet grace and his radiant smile.
Flashback…
Merlin and his friends were having a Harry Potter marathon in Merlin's huge entertainment room. The large flat screen showed Daniel Radcliff flying out of the fire on a broom along with a flaxen haired boy behind him.
"Merlin, have I ever told you that you look a bit like Harry? With the raven hair and all I mean!" said Gwen and Merlin groaned.
"Yes Gwen, you've said it about a thousand times, ever since we started watching Harry Potter since third grade anyway."
Will snickered and passed the popcorn to Merlin who was thankful for it as he was quite frankly bored as he'd seen the movie only about fifty times yet.
"And you're going to marry a blond!"
"Almost like Draco and Harry!"
Merlin sputtered and sniped "Harry ends up with Ginny! And its not like I'm going off to the altar anytime soon so quit your tittering about it!"
"Oh, Harry and Ginny could never have chemistry like it is with Draco."
There was a knock on the door and Merlin barked enter when a guard dressed in a customary black suite entered stating "Your highness, the Queen wishes to see you in her rooms."
Merlin wondered what it was about as he'd already been grounded for two weeks as punishment for acting the way he did at Pendragon Manor. It had been a week since the incident as Merlin dubbed it in his head and he's never seen his mother so completely disappointed with him in his whole life.
Merlin casually strolled through the large manor house before he came to a stop in front of two oak doors painted in beige, he took a deep breath and knocked twice before he entered.
His mother smiled at him when he saw her sat on the plush armchair and he gave a tentative smile back hoping that all was forgotten and forgiven.
"Mother, you wanted to see me?" asked Merlin as he waited for her to ask him to sit while usually he'd just plonk himself opposite to her.
"Yes Merlin, you know the annual fundraiser for the children home is being held in France this year and I wanted to inform you that you're attending with Arthur this time."
Merlin went from nervous to indignant in a minute before he asked "WHAT?" rather loudly.
"Merlin! You heard what I said clear enough."
"Yes I heard" said Merlin with an edge to his voice, "But I don't want to go with him of all people, I don't want company!"
Hunith sighed feeling put upon by her impossible son, "Merlin, it is expected for the two of you to be seen together if your getting married."
"Mom! I am not marrying him just because you said so."
"Merlin please, there was another struggle near the borders today, we have to resolve this quickly and you both being seen together will assure people that we are trying to maintain peace between our kingdoms."
Merlin rubbed his temples and asked "Well I'm sure that after the last time Prince Pratdragon isn't going to agree to accompany me anywhere!"
"Merlin!" Hunith chastised and then stated "As a matter of fact Arthur has already agreed to it, he'll be coming by later today so you can both go shopping for appropriate attire."
"WHAT? Mom! Today? I have my friends over, and I have clothes myself, I don't need to shop for new ones."
"Merlin, you're being too presumptuous, give Arthur a chance would you? If not for you then for the good of the Kingdom?"
Merlin came back to his room and slammed his door shut making Will, Gwen and Freya look up from the flat screen.
As soon as they saw him they knew something was up and asked him "Why the long face Merlin?"
Merlin frowned before saying "Arthur's going to be here."
"Come again!" said Gwen with a disbelieving expression while Freya was looking at Merlin in wide eyed wonderment.
"Arthur the Prat Prince of Camelot is going to be here and mom just informed me I have to go out with him."
"She's setting you up on a date?" asked Will incredulous.
"ARTHUR PENDRAGON is going to be here?" the girls squealed.
"And you're going out with him! OH MERLIN!"
Merlin winced than turned to will who gave him a sympathetic look before he focused back on the tv more or less saying 'your problem mate'.
"Oh Merlin, I want to meet him, can we?" asked Gwen as Freya nodded along looking eager.
Merlin rolled his eyes annoyed at the behavior of his friends before he snapped "Fine, just don't get too close to him, you might catch syphilis worms."
Merlin turned back around and left the entertainment room to shower and change.
When Merlin came back dressed up the guards outside his room stated that the Prince of Camelot had arrived earlier in their manor and was waiting for him in one of the sitting rooms in the east wing of the manor. Merlin called out Gwen and Freya and Will but Will declined to go while Gwen and Freya were just short of jumping for joy.
"Oh Merlin, I think I finally envy you for something!" stated Gwen and Merlin refrained from rolling his eyes yet again.
"Don't, you won't if you had to put up with the man."
"Oh but Merlin, he's so hot, how can you not see that?" asked Freya genuinely trying to understand Merlin's dislike for the Prince.
Merlin did know how hot the Prince of Camelot looked though he refused to admit to it, "I've seen better looking men Frey, he's not even among my top ten list of people I would sleep with."
"LIAR!" barked Gwen and both of the girls gave a giggle when he glared.
"Let's hear it then, whom do you find most attractive then?"
"Bruno Cavey, Mordred Parker…" Merlin would have gone on except the two girls halted him with their surprised screech.
"Mordred?"
Merlin flushed and Gwen who had a keen eye noticed as she asked "You like the son of the duke of Essex, when did this happen?"
Merlin was defensive as he said "I just may have noticed him, what makes you think something happened?"
"Oh. I don't know that telling blush on your face!"
"Merlin!" Freya exclaimed and then shot him an accusing look as she asked "did you loose your v-card and did not think to tell us?"
Before Merlin could deny it, Arthur and Hunith came around the corner and met up with the three of them. Gwen and Freya having completely forgotten about what they were talking about were gazing at Arthur with an awestruck admiration and Merlin gave him a curt glance while Arthur was looking at him intently. Today Arhtur was dressed to perfection in a crisp charcoal brown suit looking every bit the royalty that he was.
Arthur then looked at his friends and gave a winning smile showing all of his pearly whites before asking teasingly, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely friends Merlin?"
Merlin wanted to do the gesture of vomiting at the sugary sweetness in Arthur's voice but settled for a glare except Hunith was also looking at him expectantly and he slumped his shoulders a little in defeat before saying "Prince Arthur, this is Guinevere Leodegrance and this is Freya Lancaster."
"Pleased to meet you" said Arthur and Gwen and Freya were too stunned to answer anything, they nodded their heads and were this short from hugging each other and squealing like the fan girls that they were.
Then Arthur turned to him and to Merlin's surprise pulled his hand bringing Merlin closer to him, "Come now Merlin, there's no need for you to address me so formally darling."
Hunith clapped her hands as Merlin scowled trying and failing to extricate Arthur's hands off of his. Arthur only held tighter until it hurt to try and move away and Merlin gave up for now vowing to himself to get revenge as soon as they were out the door.
Gwen and Freya were visibly charmed by Arthur too although he hadn't spoken anything to them except for the polite greeting, if even his sensible friends were like this Merlin could only imagine what other girls would be like in Arthur's presence, thinking of it made him uncomfortable somehow and he refocused on their situation to stop going down certain paths he did not want to go.
"I'm sorry I have to borrow Merlin now." Arthur said acting genuinely woeful that he had to separate his friends from Merlin.
Gwen and Freya shook their heads sideways in unison.
"We'll take our leave then" Arthur said throwing a final smile before he turned around making Merlin want to pull away his hands once again, who did the prat think he was to drag Merlin around wherever he wanted to, Merlin was once again overpowered by Arthur's strength and he said his goodbyes to his mother and friends before following Arthur as he had no choice but to do this.
As soon as they were out of their manor Merlin pulled his hands away forcefully, "What do you think you're playing at?"
Arthur looked at him like he was clueless about what Merlin was asking him.
"Oh don't act dumb, the flirting you did back there, it was obvious for everyone to see!"
"So?" asked Arthur like Merlin was the one who didn't understand the situation, "Aren't we supposed to act all flirty to each other anyway?"
"I don't care what we're supposed to do, do you're flirting with one of your bimbos it disgusts me."
"And don't pull me around, next time I will bite your hand and I mean it" said Merlin with a downright petulant look as Arthur turned back around and looked at him with a derisive expression on his handsome face.
"I don't even understand how you get to be Prince when you have such bad manners."
"I may lack cunning mannerisms but atleast I'm not immoral."
"Yeah right," Arthur scoffed before he stated "Don't play the act of innocent violet with me Prince Merlin, I heard everything you and you're friends were discussing earlier."
Merlin flushed despite himself and Arthur scrutinized him intently trying to figure out if the Mercian prince really did have a history with the son of the duke of Essex. For some reason it bothered Arthur to know that Merlin had been intimate with someone else.
Merlin on the other hand was furious at Arthur's probing gaze and snapped "That's none of your goddamn business!"
Arthur shrugged and then said "You're right, why would I care about who you're banging anyway, I'd pity the poor soul putting up with your ghastly personality." Arthur knew he was being harsh but he couldn't seem to mask his irritation like he usually did with the press around Merlin. Merlin's defiant expression fell and he took a quick breath to dispel the hurt he felt at Arthur's cruel comment.
When they were inside their car though Arthur noticed Merlin had gone completely silent ever since they started from the manor and Arthur felt the queasy feeling of guilt despite telling himself that Merlin deserved it even as he didn't believe it. He knew deep down inside that Merlin had nothing to do with this arrangement, he seemed to genuinely want to stay away from Arthur and this whole thing was quickly bothering Arthur more than he'd like to admit.
"Where are we going? Aren't we supposed to be buying Gucci made suits or something?" asked Merlin when he saw the driver stop at one of the five star hotels in Mercia.
"I'll purchase our clothing and send it to you before the fundraiser."
"You don't know my size."
Arthur turned to look at Merlin for the first time since they started their journey and with a slight sexy smirk on his face he said "I sized you up, I'm pretty good at that." Arthur was hoping to see the flush of Merlin's cheeks again but he was disappointed.
Merlin shrugged, he was more than happy to escape having to shop with the bigheaded Prince but he also wasn't comfortable about being seen in a public place with the Prince of Camelot, god knew the reporters would be upon them like flies.
When Arthur started to loosen his seat belt to get out of the car Merlin stopped him with a hand on his arm and when Arthur looked at him expectantly he blurted "Are you mad? Take me home, I don't want to be seen with you in here of all places."
Arthur wondered how many times he would have to put up with the insults this little prince threw at him, everyone in Britain would be honored to be seen with him in public, heck when he was in America men and women flocked around him and he could have their pick but Merlin was refusing to be seen with him when this was the whole point of the affair.
Looking at him closely Arthur could see a hint of fear in the deep blue mesmerizing eyes and he felt a kinship with Merlin at that moment, it was the same look he had when he had to face a crowd of people who all expected so much out of him. He was better at hiding it than Merlin was though, Merlin looked like an open book easy for everyone to see, learn and break him if given the chance.
Arthur silently thought, they would all have you for breakfast and spit you out if you're really like this little Prince.
Arthur then sighed and held Merlin's hands in his own, his grip was light compared to the earlier harshness and his voice was gentle when he said "It will be fine, trust me…I'll handle them myself."
Merlin knew he didn't want to be soothed by Arthur's reassurance, he did not want to let his guard down even for a millisecond around Arthur but he still believed him and they both got out of the car. Every onlooker's eyes were on them and Arthur suddenly and quickly pulled Merlin close to his side holding his hands as they went inside together. Merlin knew that the place would be swarming with reporters when they were going to come back out again.
Merlin and Arthur were on to their main course when the silence became too much for Merlin and he asked "So, how come you agreed to do this?"
Arthur gave him a look as if to say, don't you already know why I have to be involved in this ridiculous charade.
Merlin sighed, "Your parents made you go as well." Merlin wanted to drop his head on the table but since that was a very un-princely thing to do he refrained and then moaned saying "Why do we have to do this? Can't they tell it's obvious we both hate each other."
"I don't hate you."
Merlin looked at Arthur in surprise when Arthur evenly said "I don't want to be married to you but I don't hate you."
"Hmmm, you know now that I think about it I wouldn't have minded marrying Morgana if I weren't so completely gay."
Arthur shot Merlin a pointed look and Merlin realized what he'd just unintentionally blurted before Arthur smiled and said "Morgana would frighten you and make you run for the hills before you can even say the word matrimony."
Merlin chuckled while chewing saying "She's not that bad, after all I haven't yet run away from you right? And I think you're much worse than her at intimidating people."
"I intimidate you more than Morgana?" asked Arthur a grin stretching his lips.
Merlin drew his head up at that and stated "You don't intimidate me period."
"Right" said Arthur sarcastic; he still had the image of Merlin's frightened and cornered expression when they were left alone at the Pendragon manor a week ago.
"You're friends, are they all in school with you?" asked Arthur changing the subject as he was sensing a tantrum if they kept on about their previous conversation.
"Yes, Gwen and I met when she transferred to Mercia in second grade. Freya and Will have been my mates since I was in kindergarden."
"Are they all from distinguished families then?" asked Arthur conversationally but Merlin frowned and then said "What does it matter? They are still my friends."
"So they are not"
"God, are you one of those people who makes friends only with people who are as rich as you?"
"No" answered Arthur easily enough, he had a few friends who were not very rich but his best friends were from royal families or atleast related to them.
"Then why did you ask that?"
Arthur didn't know the reason himself, he was curious about Merlin's friends or to be exact Merlin himself as he didn't fit in with the qualities one would expect in a royal, especially a Prince. Then Arthur decided to be honest and answer him, "It's just strange, you are not a conventional royal."
Merlin scowled and snapped "If you want a conventional royal then you can go dine with Valiant."
"I didn't say being unconventional is bad, it's refreshing to see someone who is not a stuck up royal for once." Merlin gaped a bit wondering if Arthur was paying him a compliment and Arthur continued saying "And I hear that Valiant has eyes only for you.."
Merlin visibly shuddered and let out a soft groan murmuring "Eww Valiant…I don't even know what made me mention the brute…"
Arthur wondered what Valiant must have done to garner such disgust from Merlin, Valiant ran in his circle and he knew the Prince of Cornwall to be a wicked and malicious fool. It was a known thing that King Balinor had rejected King Aglain's proposal when Valiant wished to wed Merlin.
After they enjoyed their dessert in silence they got up to leave and Merlin was trying to hide his nervousness but the way he kept licking his lips and his trembling fingers made Arthur see right through him and he entwined his hands with the slightly damp ones of Merlin and led them out.
As expected there were a crowd of reporters and Arthur signaled for his bodyguards to shield them from the papparazi, Merlin looked at him in surprise as he hadn't seen the ten or so men accompany them before but was grateful to not have to deal with the press right now. Arthur quickly and efficiently led them through as cameras flashed and the reporters shouted their questions all which Arthur ignored.
"Thankyou" said Merlin when Arthur's car stopped in front of the front entrance to his manorhouse, "I can't believe I'm saying this but I enjoyed our time together tonight." Merlin smiled, his cheeks dimpling and extended his hand out to Arthur.
Arthur who had never been the recipient of anything but Merlin's scowls and glares so far was finding it to be quite exhilarating to see Merlin smiling at him, suddenly he had the overwhelming urge to pull Merlin close and kiss those pouty pink lips. That brought Arthur up short and his mind made him remember that he was being forced into this marriage and he could not afford to get his feelings mixed up in this travesty they were going to have to play for the sake of their countries.
After a long moment Arthur took Merlin's hand which had warmed by now and made sure to make his voice as firm as steel as he said "Don't enjoy it too much little prince, remember what we are involved in is only a farce and if you want more out of it than is strictly required you'll force my hand to break it up."
Merlin was silent for a whole minute absorbing everything Arthur had said before he let out a disbelieving laugh, "Huh! To think I saw you as a decent human today…let me say this clearly to you Prince Arthur Pendragon, you're nothing but a conceited disdainful royal who thinks the sun rises in your ass. And you don't have to worry about me wanting more…if I ever fall for someone like you it would be akin to selling my soul to a devil."
Merlin had turned and walked away leaving Arthur to sigh and lean his head back on his seat feeling the hints of regret.
So, how was it? I'd like for you people to tell me if you're enjoying Arthur and Merlin's interactions…
Should I include other pairings in this fic, like Lance and Gwen or Morgana and Gwaine?
Next chapter, they meet for the fundraiser and the parents knowing something was up decided to hurry the boys along with a little push :D
Review lots and I might post the next chapter within this week.