Hiya! Thanks for all your nice reviews and follows and favorites, I really appreciate it!

I'm literally just winging this story with only a few ideas for the plot if I'm being honest haha but the action will start soon I hope. There's just gotta be a few build-up chapters, you know?

Sorry this one is little short, by the way. I'd rather update often with shorter chapters than make you wait a long time for just one long one, you know?

Anyways—enjoy and please review!

Disclaimer: PSH who owns Merlin? Certainly not me. Otherwise Merthur would definitely be canon already. (AGH WELL IT IS BUT IT ALSO ISN'T, YOU KNOW?)

Chapter 2: A Test

Elliot is still laughing about Merlin having been beat up with a broom by Arthur when he sets the silver chest down on the ground and knocks on Lewis' door. "Sire, I have your chest," he announces, but his voice is still unsteady with laughter.

"Come in," Lewis' voice barks from inside. Merlin frowns—why does he sound so angry?

It doesn't escape his notice when Elliot suddenly becomes serious and visibly steels himself. Then, at the last moment before Elliot touches the door handle, his hand pulls back almost involuntarily. Merlin, meeting Elliot's pale gray gaze with his own blue one, reaches over to push open the door for him. Before they go to pick up the chest again, Elliot mutters a thank you.

What waits for them inside is a shirtless Lewis examining his torso in front of the mirror. Merlin manages to catch a glimpse of a jagged scar tearing down from his heart to his ribs before Lewis quickly grabs a jacket and slides it on.

"Merlin," Lewis blurts. Crimson rises in Lewis' cheeks. "I didn't know you were here too."

Elliot clears his throat. "I needed someone else's help with the chest, sire. I feel sick today."

The two servants haul the chest to the foot of the bed before straightening with relieved sighs. In all that time, Lewis stays silent, just watching them, which confuses Merlin even more. First he's angry, then embarrassed, and now he's silent?

At last, Lewis walks over and presses his hand to his servant's forehead, ignoring the way he flinches at his touch. Merlin wonders whether Elliot is always this jumpy around royals. "Yes, you are burning up. Why don't you go to Lillias and take some of her medicine? I'll be here when you get back."

Wordlessly, Elliot nods and flees the room, leaving Merlin and Lewis alone—but not before throwing Merlin a sort of warning glance over his shoulder. Don't say something stupid, his eyes practically say, and Merlin raises an eyebrow at how much it reminds him of Arthur.

Seriously, is there something Merlin is missing here? For once?

After the door has shut firmly, Lewis instantly turns to Merlin, a wide smile back in its place. His eyes seem to roam on Merlin's body once again, but there's only a sort of curiosity to his gaze.

"Lillias is our court physician," he explains distractedly.

"Oh yes, I saw her and Gaius speaking in the courtyard earlier."

Lewis huffs a laugh. "How observant of you."

"Thank you, sire."

Remembering Arthur's words and Elaendra's persecution of sorcerers, Merlin still knows to tread lightly around Lewis, even if he seems to be completely friendly. That means the usual hiding-his-magic-and-saving-Arthur-from-evil-Camelot-visitors bit. After all, if he somehow really is missing something here and gets careless, he would rather not die by flames, thank you very much.

Merlin sighs inwardly. The sad thing about being a perfectly obedient servant is having to wait to be dismissed—if Lewis were Arthur, he'd be able to spin on his heel and leave without a second thought. It's probably best to just avoid Lewis at all costs anyway. But for now, though, he keeps his eyes down to his boots while trying to ignore how the silence makes his heart beat faster.

Which is why he's startled when Lewis steps toward him with calloused fingers under his chin, tipping his head up. He's met with those caramel eyes and a smile.

"No need for that, Merlin. I will have my servants look at me," he says in a gentle voice, but his fingers tighten minutely around Merlin's jaw.

Technically I'm not your servant, Merlin almost says before biting it back. He holds his gaze. This close, he realizes just how tall Lewis really is—definitely taller than both him and Arthur. A musky, earthy scent surrounds him, a result of traveling for days through the forests.

Lewis holds him a second longer before finally releasing him. "I'm curious about something, Merlin," he muses as he turns to seat himself in a chair at the table.

He pauses, as if waiting for Merlin to ask him what, but Merlin remains silent.

"I've been wondering." Lewis looks up to meets Merlin's gaze again, a spark of a challenge in his own. "Are you a bootlicker, Merlin?"

The question leaves him dumbfounded and somewhat offended. Merlin takes a moment to fight back his irritation and study Lewis closer in an attempt to understand this man's thought process.

"No, my lord."

Merlin lets pride wash over him at the sound of his firm, confident voice. He doesn't look away until Lewis does, a chuckle of amusement leaving his lips.

"What a nice look in your eyes," he comments. He stands and slaps a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "Relax, Merlin. This is just something I do with most servants I meet—a small test, if you will."

Merlin's anger immediately fades. He can't help a smile jumping to his lips at seeing Lewis' such open expression. "A test?"

"You know, something to tell them to loosen up around me and stop acting as if I'm a god. I'm only a friend." Lewis tilts his head. "And, depending on how they answer, I get to learn how brave they can be as well. I see that you're on a whole different scale, Merlin."

At Merlin's loss of a response, Lewis hastily continues, "I'm sorry, I'm a bit weird like that. Please don't take it to heart. My curiosity just seems to always run away with me, that's all." He rubs the back of his neck in an act of sheepishness.

Merlin laughs. "No no, it's all right. You're—just a lot more interesting than I thought you would be."

Lewis smiles again. The man never seems to get tired of it. "I'm glad to hear that. Call me Lewis from now on."

He holds out his hand, and Merlin shakes it as a feeling of relief spreads through him.

Really, what was Arthur so worried about?

Maybe he's wrong about Lewis. Maybe the gossip will finally be correct around here. Maybe, for the first time in a while, Camelot will receive some genuinely nice visitors (minus the anti-magic bit), and Merlin can relax rather than wish desperately for it to be true.

Yet, it's difficult to feel relaxed when there's still some faint, insistent voice that whispers, Don't let your guard down.

AHH I FEEL LIKE I GOT LEWIS' WHOLE CHARACTER WRONG AND I MESSED UP THIS WHOLE CHAPTER. XD Like seriously, please tell me how you're feeling about this guy because I wanna make sure I'm translating him from my brain onto paper the way I want to haha!

I hope you liked it though! Please review! Thanks so much! :)