Chapter - 4

The day they had both dreaded had come at last and Merlin glowered as he boarded the private jet which would take him to France for the fundraiser. Usually he would be happy and chipper about any event held in a foreign country especially in Europe, he'd even brought Gwen, Freya and Will to one of such events in Spain one time and they'd all had a great time.

This time though he had the misfortune of having to put up with Arthur for a whole week in a public setting which would not allow him to be as unpleasant as he wanted to act. He had to smile for the reporters, bat lashes when Arthur said something stupidly flirty with his stupid smile on his stupid face. The nation was already running amuck with gossip about the two prince's secret affair as they dubbed it and they were all waiting with a collective breath for Arthur and Merlin to declare themselves an official couple.

And what was even worse was the fact that his parents expected him to behave with utmost kindness and graciousness as befitting of his royal heritage. Merlin would have told them to piss off if they were anyone but his parents.

"Mom, are you sure pushing them towards each other is the right thing to do?" asked Morgana unsure as she heard Igraine talking on the phone with the manager of Hotel du Louvre, Igraine signaled for her to keep quiet and Morgana sighed sinking back into the sofa knowing that nothing can stop Igraine once she has set her mind on something.

After having made plans to make sure Merlin and Arthur would have no choice but to spend their time together Igraine turned to Morgana and asked "Don't you think the two of them need this time to get to know each other?"

"Yes, but they have do it of their own accord don't you think?"

"And then I shall have to wait till I am on my deathbed, no Arthur and Merlin are too stubborn, they need this push."

"But I think this is taking it a bit too far."

Igraine patted Morgana's cheeks, "Oh honey, do not worry, Arthur is nothing if not honorable, he would not dare to harm Merlin."

There was a knock on the door and Arthur entered, Morgana turned her eyes away from him which was very uncharacteristic of her and his mother Arthur noted was looking happy, almost too happy and it made Arthur frown in suspicion.

"Please tell me you haven't meddled in anything mother, it's already a pain that you volunteered me to be Merlin's date."

"Arthur Pendragon, do you take your mother for a scheming woman?"

Arthur had an expression that clearly said that yes, indeed he thought of her as a scheming woman and Igraine pouted before going to hug Arthur and give him a kiss on his cheeks saying "Be good to him and make sure you win the public with your charm, they must be dubbing you as Mercia and Camelot's sweethearts when you come back home."

Arthur sighed and nodded, "Don't I know it, and I'll be going now. Bye mother, Morgana."

Merlin was the first to reach the Hotel and for a minute the breathtaking view of the city made him smile before he reached in and pulled out his duffle bag walking inside armed with bodyguards on either side. He'd already been to Hotel du Louvre before but everytime he came he still felt the awe of being in a place as beautiful as this. Paris was easily the one place he'd love to visit over and over again.

He'd been given the Pissaro suite and anticipation was churning in his gut as he'd never actually stayed in the particular suite before. He'd never been an art geek, all his focus were in science but once he was inside he could admit to the beauty of the place, it had a huge bedroom with a massive king sized bed in the center, a separate living room and walk in closet and also two bathrooms equipped with a Jacuzzi and a magnificent view of the city outside.

Merlin laughed jumping down on the bed once he was alone, if he got to stay in a place like this all by himself he didn't think he'd mind being all chirpy for the press when Arthur arrived.

Merlin decided to take a bath in the massive Jacuzzi and then start on his way to the Louvre museum as he had nothing to do for the whole day as the fundraiser was going to be held tomorrow.

What he didn't know however was that Igraine had made a cunning plan to put Arthur and Merlin in the same room during their trip.

Arthur who was informed that he was the given the pissaro suite yet again made his way up, he wanted to take a nice hot bath first and then go and get himself drunk at the bar with French cocktails if he was going to be in any good mood to play nice with the press people tomorrow.

He threw his bags on the bed before he made his way to the bathroom having memorized the whole place by now, he opened the door and his eyes bugged out as he saw that the room was already occupied and by none other than the Prince of Mercia himself.

From his vantage point Arthur could only see the firm pecs of Merlin's pale chest which was shining with the hot water, Merlin's long neck which was stretched out to lean against the tub.

His raven hair was wet and plastered to his head and he was also sleeping soundly with his mouth a little open.

Arthur's pants tightened and he let out a drawn breath, hell if the devil wasn't just throwing such delicious temptation his way, in that moment all Arthur could think of was how amazingly ravishing Merlin looked in this state.

Arthur closed the door silently on his way out and told himself he needed to get laid if his mind was tricking him into thinking Merlin was all sorts of wonderful with that pale long neck which Arthur wanted to mark and bite to see if it tasted as succulent as it looked.

Arthur then made his way out to have some words with the incompetent receptionist when he was informed that the pissaro suite had been booked for the two of them together. Arthur lost his cool and he dialed his mother's phone knowing this was the work of Igraine Pendragon but as expected she didn't pick up and Arthur after reaching their combined suite banged his hands on the wall thinking of how he was going to manage to not thoroughly fuck Merlin over every surface in the room.

He had fought with the manager for another room but as the fundraiser was being held tomorrow all the other rooms were already occupied with important guests and dignitaries and Arthur knew it would look bad if he made them throw someone out for his sake. His mother had well and truly planned this and Arthur scoffed, 'you really think I'm that honorable to resist mother.'

Arthur then remembered that Merlin was still sleeping in the Jacuzzi, the water must have turned cold by now and who sleeps while they are bathing anyway. He was in half a mind to call one of Merlin's security guards inside but he was uncomfortable with the idea of anyone else seeing Merlin while he was completely starkers.

Arthur didn't think Merlin would take well to him waking him up either and he knocked loudly on the door to the bathroom even calling out Merlin's name a few times to no avail.

Just get him out of there, throw a towel in his clueless beautiful face and then you can get laid and forget all about him.

Arthur steeled himself and opened the door finding Merlin in the same position as he'd been before; he picked up a white towel and then went nearer grabbing Merlin's shoulders with his hands and shaking him firmly twice.

Merlin's face showed his displeasure at being so rudely interrupted from his sleep and he mumbled "Go away.."

Arthur got tired of being able to look but not have, he'd been coveting Merlin for the entirety of the time they'd been here and here the brat was with no clue to how much he'd tortured Arthur these past few weeks. This could be fun, after all Arthur was suffering he didn't see why Merlin should be spared.

He went near Merlin's ear being afforded a full view of Merlin in his impressive birthday suite and then he yelled "WAKE THE FUCK UP BEFORE I DECIDE TO MOLEST YOU IN YOUR SLEEP MERLIN!"

Merlin shot up with a start exposing his back which had been leaning on the sides of the tub and looked around in confusion before he spotted Arthur.

He shook his head to clear of the image or dream or nightmare or whatever the fuck it was but dream Arthur who was standing with his arms folded in front of him and that incredibly annoying smirk did not dissolve into a particularly ugly hobo or spontaneously burst into flame.

Merlin realized two things at once, one that dream Arthur was not a dream at all and was very much real, two he was stark naked in front of Arthur who was looking at him with intent written all over his face.

Merlin screamed.

Arthur let him have his little freak out session though he was amused beyond a doubt.

"Why?...What?.. Why are you in my room?"

"I could ask you the same thing, seems we've both been put in the same room for the rest of our stay here."

Merlin was heaving now and there was a knock on the door, Merlin's bodyguards having heard the scream and rushing to check on their prince.

Arthur beat him to it as he shouted "He's fine, don't enter, we're not exactly decent."

The guards outside the door recognized Arthur's voice and chuckled before backing off the door just as Merlin shot Arthur a murderous glance.

"GET OUT! GET OUT! NOW!"

Arthur chuckled truly enjoying Merlin's complete embarrassment before he leaned forward with a dark intent look on his face making Merlin back away and ask stuttering "What…what do you think you're doing?"

Arthur took in the nervous eyes and Merlin's pitiful attempts to preserve his modesty before he leaned forward gazing intently at Merlin's pink puckered lips. Merlin gave out a little whimper and pulled further away until he was leaning against the tub again and had nowhere to escape except to get out.

Arthur's heart beat faster and Merlin felt cornered like a prey for the second time since when they'd met in Arthur's manor although there was anticipation mixed with fear this time around. Arthur finally reached forward and went directly to Merlin's rather long ears whispering "Consider that payback for how you insulted me at my manor. I bet the guards are thinking I'm doing all sorts of dirty things to you Merlin."

Arthur let his breath linger for a while longer watching Merlin blush a furious red as he threw the towel at Merlin and said "Don't make a habit of sleeping in tubs with cold water, you'll catch pneumonia."

Merlin threw the towel at Arthur's back in frustration and anger but Arthur had already left and the towel hit the door and fell on the ground.

Arthur came out dressed and both Arthur and Merlin's bodyguards were looking at him with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. He didn't bother to correct their assumptions whatever they were, he knew they were paid to keep silent and headed to the bar, if he had to share the bed tonight with Merlin and not think of having those long slender legs wrapped around his waist or thrown over his shoulders he better be well and truly sloshed.

As soon as he was dressed and decent Merlin went out of his suite and barked "Why didn't you come and rescue me when I screamed earlier?"

He demanded with petulance and the guards smiled having known Merlin for most of his life as they calmly said "We believed you were not in any real trouble your highness."

Merlin scowled and then asked "Why is it that you guys are never around to save the day when I actually need saving?"

He didn't wait for an answer as he turned back and closed the door again.

The guards looked perplexed before Merlin popped his head out again and said "And tell Arthur to get another room!" he threw out Arthur's bags and locked the door on the inside making sure that Arthur wouldn't be able to enter if he came back at night. If Merlin had to hazard a guess Arthur was probably balls deep in some tramp and he did not want the smell of sex and drinks when he was trying to sleep after the horror he'd been put through earlier.

As he drew up the covers around himself Merlin planned for revenge, it had to be something really humiliating too.

Arthur was moderately pissed when he came back from the bar around mid-night, he couldn't drink too much in a hotel filled with prestigious guests and he made his way slowly to the suit from the elevator only to find the four guards snoozing in their posts and his bags left near the door.

"What is the meaning of this?" barked Arthur and the guards shot up from their slumber like trained pets before they all looked to where Arthur was pointing to his bag.

They looked at one another a bit uncomfortably before Arthur snapped "Tell me what happened within three seconds or I will fire the lot of you!"

Arthur was in no mood to be played with tonight and one of the guards the braver one of the lot answered, "Your highness, Prince Merlin threw them out and requested you to get another room."

Arthur's brain which was usually razor sharp was sluggish to process the information with all the alcohol in his system and he just stared at the guard for a minute before he cursed "WHAT? That little…" and then he banged on the door quite loudly as the four bodyguards looked around to make sure no one was around to witness the commotion.

"MERLIN! Open this door this instant or I swear to god I'll ring your little neck!"

Merlin who had woken up about five minutes ago from all the commotion going on outside just giggled into his pillow thinking serves you right prat.

When the banging continued for the better part of ten minutes Merlin sat up and screamed "Go find yourself another room! This one is mine!"

"Did your mother drop you on your head when you were born Merlin? It's twelve in the shoddy night, open the damn door!"

"NO!"

"Merlin! You better open this door yourself or else!"

"Or else what? You'll go screaming your head off like a chicken?"

"I will break this door down and inform all of the staff here that I had to do it because you were trying to commit suicide locked up inside! I swear to god I will!"

"Oh then I'll just inform them that you were the reason for it! I'll tell them you forced yourself on me!"

The guards were now shooting panicky looks at Arthur and then back at the maids and bell boys who were now gathered in one corner of the corridor looking at the proceedings with unabashed curiosity in their eyes.

One of the braver guards, the one who had deigned to tell Arthur earlier put his hand on Arthur's shoulders and whispered "Your majesty, you're causing a scene."

Arthur would have fired him on the spot except in a desperate bid to make the prince understand the guard turned him around for Arthur to look at the staff now gathered on either end of the hallway talking and gossiping quietly among themselves.

Arthur sighed before shooting a dark look at the closed door, 'you'll pay for this Merlin.' He then picked up his bags and walked outside swiftly not even a little tipsy now than he was in a towering temper, if he'd had any doubts that Merlin was only a spoilt, rich, little prince trying to make Arthur's life hell he didn't doubt it now.

Just when Arthur had gone into the lift Merlin opened the door feeling guilty about having made Arthur stay out as it was his room too, Merlin had checked with the manager and he'd been informed that it was booked together for them. However, Merlin wanted to have his revenge for Arthur teasing him earlier and his face fell when he noticed the guard's disappointed expression.

The next day was literally making Merlin shiver with the coldness which Arthur maintained in his presence. His suit had been delivered by one of Arthur's guards in the morning and then he'd walked out to meet Arthur in the hall where the fundraiser was supposed to be conducted. He had to admit the suit was perfect for him both in fitting and in the way it brought out his pale complexion.

Arthur had given him a dismissive glance when he appeared which stung although Merlin chastised himself for feeling that way and then proceeded to link his hands with his as he smiled and posed for the cameras and the guests. Arthur's blond hair had been styled to look windswept and he looked classy and elegant in his dark blue suit and Merlin noticed more than one head turning to look in their direction or more specifically Arthur's direction.

Arthur on the other hand was still smarting from last nights events and when Merlin appeared in the suit Arthur had had made just for him he had to stop himself from roving his eyes over every inch of Merlin's body before he turned his eyes away and walked forward holding Merlin's arm in a tight grip and turning to the reporters who were clamoring to get a hold of them.

Merlin was soon getting tired of being dragged around the hall meeting with people who were Arthur's friends or other business associates, or allies to Camelot. He admitted he knew most of them as well but he rarely ever had to talk to them like Arthur was expected to probably do by old man Uther.

Still it was somewhat shocking to see this version of Arthur being polite and courteous, the way he conducted himself with grace and his stiff backed posture all screamed aristocrat like Merlin's clumsy disposition never could and he wondered for the first time why Igraine and Uther would have chosen a person like him for their son.

He had to make an honest effort to remind himself that he was in fact a better person than Arthur in every respect. But as the day grew on and on and Merlin saw more and more people in the room throwing him envious glances or showing obvious happiness on seeing Arthur and narrowing their eyes with something akin to disappointment at the sight of their joined hands Merlin wanted nothing more than to tear himself away from Arthur and make a run for it back to his room.

Merlin always knew that most of the royals were cold and heartless and it was just the way it was but never before had he had to have dealings with them like he did now, usually his father handled all that for him and both his parents had cosseted him from the cut-throat lifestyle of his fellow royals. Slowly he came to the realization that he really did not know a thing that was required of him to know if he was to ever rule Mercia like his father did someday and looking at Arthur and being compared to him like he had no doubt he'd be compared to if they ever actually got married was just too much to take.

He didn't want to forever be in the shadow of Arthur, shining and bright like the sun while he was not even enough to be the moon.

"Can we leave yet?" asked Merlin looking sullen and trying really hard not to show it.

Arthur turned to Merlin surprised that he'd talked first when neither of them had said a word to each other for the whole day other than what was absolutely necessary. He noticed the sadness in Merlin's countenance but couldn't bring himself to be bothered by it.

"It's not time for us to leave yet Merlin!" said Arthur condescending.

Merlin scowled saying "You mean it's not time for you to leave, I'm free to go now, I think I've done my obligation quite fine for today."

Arthur looked incredulous and his tone was mocking when he said "You mean I did my obligation quite fine today while you stood there sulking like the child that you are."

"I was not sulking!" protested Merlin thought he knew that was precisely what he was doing. "And I'm not a child!" his voice lacked conviction.

"Really? You can't even handle a political gathering where people size you up for whether your cut out to rule as King one day Merlin, I see you…all you want to do is run away from all these people who frighten the shit out of you," Arthur paused to let the words sink and Merlin's face grew more and more pale as Arthur continued, "A scared little petulant child is all that you are…and probably all you will ever be."

Usually Merlin wouldn't let others see him so vulnerable but he had no control over the stinging in his eyes as he was cut open by Arthur's words, each one booming and resonating deep in his mind, all his fears and anxieties and the entire ordeal of the day taking its toll on him as he let a tear slip immediately wiping it away with the back of his hands as he wrenched them from Arthur's grip and turned back to walk away not noticing two pairs of eyes watching him from the crowd.

Merlin in his hurry to get to his room didn't know that someone had followed him until the last minute when he was pulled into a dark corner of one of the hallways by someone and a thick rough hand covered his mouth while the other was holding him back against the wall.

Merlin tried to look at his captor but it was too dark and the evening light offered no illumination whatsoever as Merlin panicked wanting for someone, anyone to come.

"You really are something eh Merlin! You refused me straight out while your just gagging for the Prince of Camelot to bed you and make you his bitch.."

Merlin shivered when he recognized the reedy voice to be Valiant's and he tried to make his limbs move as he aimed a knee to the brute's groin but he was too near, he tried to slam his collide his head with Valiant's but Valiant just pulled his hair back by the roots making Merlin moan in pain as his head slammed painfully with the wall.

Merlin began to struggle in earnest when he saw Valiant pulling out a white kerchief from his back pockets bringing it closer to his face, he'd seen this enough in movies to know what this meant. But he could do nothing as the cloth was thrust tightly onto his nose and Valiant whispered threateningly "You should have given me what I wanted Merlin, now your going to have no choice about it."

Merlin's head swam as he was picked up by Valiant and the last thing he heard was someone saying "Going somewhere Valiant.." before he felt himself falling and falling into the darkness.

Review? I was so happy I'd gotten 50+ reviews with 3 chapters and decided to post this up sooner rather than later.

Keep me motivated with reviews and I'll try to post the next chapter within next Tuesday tops or even this Sunday if you've given me enough encouragement!

Cliffhanger, I know, don't you all want to know who it is that stopped Valiants devious plans? Arthur? Maybe…xD you'll have to read the next chap to find out I guess.

Wasn't Arthur a meany in this one? Should I make him more nicer…hmm..as the story progresses, now its just too fun to write a mean and closed off Arthur. But rest assured Merlin with re-open every door and break down every wall Arthur's built and unravel him as the fic progresses.