A Marriage that Started a Legend

by IJustShowedUp

Follows canon but with my own arranged marriage spin on it. What happens when Hunith makes a mistake and is forced on the run with her infant son? What happens when Camelot knights find her twenty years later? What happens when Arthur learns he's betrothed to a peasant boy? Will Merlin be able to stand among royalty? Will these two different boys survive each other? Review!

39. Chapter 39

Merlin glanced away from Arthur as soon as the last words had left his lips. He could feel his face burning as hot as the ray's of the sun on the warmest of day's. With one hand loosely holding onto the strap of Arthur's glove, he brought the other one up to awkwardly scratch at the back of his head.

Merlin didn't know what had possessed him to say it, but he wasn't entirely sure if he regretted it or not. No matter which angle he tried to think at it from, he couldn't have been able to say if he'd just been teasing, joking about the times that Arthur had done it to him. Or if he'd been serious, and would actually do it if Arthur gave even the smallest hint of being open to it.

But now that it was out there, now that he had said it, he couldn't help but feel the burning weight of embarrassment practically crushing him. He had said a lot of thing's in his life, probably a lot of thing's that were actually more embarrassing than what he'd just said.

But this particularly situation was probably an all time low for him. He couldn't even bring himself to look back at the table now that he'd just said what he had. Every time he did, all he could see was himself pushing Arthur against it, and he could practically see Arthur scrambling to keep himself balanced with his hands pressed firmly against the table top.

But after that...nothing. If Merlin even got that far, he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do next. But he did know what he would like to do. He didn't think that he would oppose to much to pressing his own lips to Arthur's, to finally taking something he'd constantly been thinking about, if only to keep Arthur's complains over the rough treatment to a minimum since his mouth would be otherwise engaged.

Fuck, his mouth was known for getting himself into troubling situations.

But it might be an effective method to get Arthur to shut up for once.

But still...it was almost a relief to know that Merlin still found the urge to just give in and do it, to test his luck and see just how far he could get away with before Arthur pushed him back. It was a heart pounding sort of relief to know that Valiant hadn't ruined that for him, despite his attempt.

But that relief was drowned out by the knowledge of knowing that Arthur probably would push him back. Then Merlin would know what Arthur felt for him, and he still felt the never ending stirring of 'what if' questions lingering in his mind.

What if Arthur shoved him away when he kissed him? Could Merlin allow himself to be tied forever to a man who hated him?

But what if he didn't push him away?

Would Arthur grab him by his hair and force him closer, force his tongue into Merlin's mouth and take him for all that he had-just like he'd seen when he was just reaching double digits and wandered into a barn just to find two older teenagers had taken shelter there for a spot of...relief.

And even if Arthur did allow for it, there still brought the question-what would Merlin do now that it had been cleared that the prince was even willing to do it with him. Would Merlin even be able to please him?

Would Merlin completely ruin it by his obvious inexperience. What if he was so bad that Arthur never wanted to do it again, would never even want to try it, just to see if Merlin could get better at it with a little practice.

He could feel his palms start to sweat, and his throat was achingly dry. He didn't feel like this at all when Valiant had been trying to proposition him. He hadn't felt as if his heart was going to pound straight out of his chest, nor had he felt this growing urge to just pounce, if only so the 'what if's' would finally shut up now that he'd gotten an answer.

He still hesitated to do it though. As much as it killed him to ask the 'what if's', he found that his feet were practically rooted to the ground, and he couldn't move no matter how hard he tried to just give in.

His answer though, was pretty much given to him as he was jolted out of his mind when Arthur practically wretched his gloved hand away from him. Merlin's eye's boggled, and he whipped his head up to look at Arthur for the first time since he made his offer.

The prince was looking stricken, and he had his lips thinned into a harsh line, holding his hand half behind him as if he thought Merlin was going to make another grab for it. Merlin felt as if his heart had just plummeted into his gut like a stone.

He had only been joking when he'd made the offer...maybe...possibly. Arthur didn't have to look as if he'd just seen Merlin start throwing magic at him.

Arthur glanced away from Merlin, feeling probably more uncomfortable than he had ever felt in all of his twenty summers and four months of living. Because the last thing he wanted to be reminded of was how he had held Merlin down like some kind of uncivilized oaf. His consort or not-his husband or not-a once commoner and him a prince in charge non-withstanding, it was terrible unbecoming of him to do something like that.

He'd been behaving as if he were some kind of wild animal seeking retribution for a slight made against him. As if he were one of those horrible men that tried to take whatever he wanted from a woman, Arthur had never even held down his lovers in the pass.

So what had possessed him to do it to Merlin (who was most definitely not his lover, and even if he used the excuse of just trying to seek out answers to do it) would forever remain a mystery to him.

But now, Merlin had it in his mind that it was something acceptable. And that wasn't something that Arthur could accept.

It took a second, but Arthur eventually found the will to face his uncomfortable embarrassment, and he said, "You don't have to worry about such behavior from me again. It was..." Arthur stopped just long enough to search for an adequate and word of propriety to use. "Terribly undignified of me to do it in the first place. It will not happen again."

He felt his uncomfortableness increasing by the minute, but he felt as if he had done a good enough job to mentally pat himself on the back. He had gotten way to comfortable since he'd done it in the first place, and he knew that he needed to draw himself back so that it wouldn't happen again.

Even if he had already promised himself that he would-and he had already failed that promise-he did swear to himself that he would.

But like a moth to a flame, Merlin's next words were the thing that refused to allow him to leave while he still had whatever dignity he was clinging to.

"And what if I actually liked you being 'undignified?'" Merlin spoke up, his tone bold and strong. The boy had a scowl on his face, looking more annoyed then anything else.

Merlin promised himself that he would only take things if Arthur wanted him to take them. He had promised himself that he would make thing's very clear, that he would even spell it out if he had to, that he was very interested in making a relationship between Arthur and him work out.

His statement was probably the closest he had gotten to actually doing it.

And since Arthur wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, Merlin found himself being okay with that. It wasn't exactly a grand declaration, or a whisper during one of the few moment's of privacy that they had allowed themselves, but at least it was something. He might just have to drag Arthur kicking and screaming into a relationship, since it was clear that the prince was most obviously emotionally constipated.

His thought's were proven true when Arthur looked at him with what was probably the most horror struck expression that he had seen on him yet.

Arthur couldn't believe what he'd just heard, and he was almost to scared to ask him to clarify just what exactly he meant by that. He knew Merlin had a stupid crush on him, it was even more stupid if he hadn't seen it. He hadn't seen anyone be more obvious then why, himself when he was thirteen and had just gotten his first crush on the fifteen year old daughter of a visiting noble.

She had laughed at him and called him cute, even daring to reach out and pinch his cheeks as if he were a small babe. That experience had been horrifying and embarrassing for all around when she had learned that he was being serious. It had honestly put him off women for a good two years before his changing and maturing body had forced him into showing an interest toward's other's.

But if Arthur thought that experience was uncomfortably embarrassing, it was clear that he had been very mistaken. He had obviously never felt such if what he was feeling now-combined with dread-was any growing indication.

Arthur felt his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides as a muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. His expression was almost blank as he gave up on propriety-he should have known that it would be wasted on Merlin-and he said, "Then I guess you're just going to be disappointed, if you expect it to ever happen again."

Arthur would just have to physically remind himself to stay away from Merlin. It was clear that the boy was dangerous in his own ways, and Arthur was positive that he didn't want to know just how dangerous the other boy could be, if given his way.

Merlin found himself huffing, looking both put out and irritated. He really hoped that Arthur was just talking out of his arse, or maybe he was just having one of his mood swing's again. He couldn't help himself by finding that version of Arthur, the one that didn't hesitate to pin him down onto any flat surface, so much more interesting and appealing.

The guy that could cut loose and looked like a mess -who looked as if he was actually feeling something (even if it was at Merlin's expanse), rather than this stiff and composed figure standing in front of him. He just didn't look...real.

Merlin didn't like it one bit.

Merlin huffed again, this time being much louder and making his annoyance about this situation much more clear. Arthur winced at the sound, feeling as if he'd just been hit by a modern day sledgehammer of all thing's.

Merlin whipped around, turning his back to Arthur as he stomped back to the table. The prince watched him go with weary eye's, not entirely sure what to make of this sudden movement.

"I guess I will be disappointed." Merlin spoke up, his back still to Arthur as he snatched something up off the table. Arthur felt himself stiffening when Merlin turned back around, holding his belt in hand.

Arthur felt as if he'd just died a little inside, when he realized that Merlin was now holding the belt as if it was a lethal weapon. It was just a belt, nothing more than leather with a little bit of metal on the end to hold it in place. But seeing Merlin folding and unfolding it in an agitated manner, looking as if he would actually try to hit Arthur with it if he thought he could get away with it, almost made the prince want to jump out of the window to escape.

And it didn't help him none when Merlin approached him. The other boy looked him dead in the eye when he'd gotten closer, but not so close that Arthur felt as if he'd lost sense of his faculties.

"But I saw how you looked when you were doing it." Merlin said quietly, keeping his word's just between them. The way that Arthur had been eyeing him pressed against the table, had practically stalked after him when he had tried to leave back at the stadium, it still sent uncertain shivers down Merlin's spine. He wasn't entirely sure what Arthur would have done to him, if given the chance and if they were in a much better place, but he was just curious enough to want to find out. "And I know," Merlin continued, just as quietly as before. "That you're going to be just as disappointed by not doing it."

And then he was dropping to his knee's, feeling the harsh and unforgiving stone press up against him through his pants.

Arthur felt as if his stomach had just shriveled up and died, standing frozen as Merlin's word's rung in his head. It was the only reason that he hadn't thrown himself back after Merlin had said such a thing and then practically throwing himself down onto his knee's.

Who did this boy think he was to make such declaration's? Did he think that Arthur had so little control over himself, that he would let him emotion's decide his action's for him? Did Merlin think that he drove Arthur so mad, that Arthur couldn't just walk away before he did something that he regretted?

Arthur was as stiff as a board-and glowering-when Merlin got to work, pressing the side of his cheek again his stomach as he stretched his long arms around his waist to fetch the other side of the belt.

If Merlin hadn't done the exact same thing when he was preparing Arthur the first time, Arthur could have sworn that the boy was trying to hug him. But no, that wasn't Merlin's style, the boy was more liable to try hitting him to get his point across.

Arthur still found himself carefully angling his lower region away as best as he could, if only so Merlin's chin wouldn't brush against something highly inappropriate. Arthur thought he may just throw Merlin himself out the window, if he came into that close of unwanted contact to the prince's nether region.

Merlin didn't even seem to realize how compromising his position could be constructed as.

"So," Merlin said as he pulled away some after finding the other end faster than he had the first time, eye's still intensely focused on what he was doing as he started working one end of the belt through the metal loop. Arthur had just started to relax some, but just the sound of barely a word from Merlin left him stiffening all over again, and he waited with baited breath for the rest of it. "You're really not going to tell me? About what had you so freaked out back there?"

Merlin glanced up, searching for Arthur's eye's, before looking back down at what he was doing.

Arthur felt as if he had whiplashed, and it took him a second to realize what Merlin had done. He had gone back to their original conversation, back to when Merlin had been trying to practically pry what had happened out of him. Arthur let out a breath of air, surprised because he hasn't even realized just how tightly he had been holding it in.

He wasn't sure if Merlin had finally recognized just how uncomfortable their topic of conversation had been for Arthur, or if the other boy had just decided that nothing he said was going to change Arthur's stand on the subject.

He was not going to hold Merlin down like he'd been doing. Not now, and not ever again.

Arthur looked away, ignoring the light tugging on his waist as Merlin pushed the metal piece on his belt into place, locking it down. "...No." He finally said. And then he waited.

But what exactly was he waiting for, he couldn't even begin to say.

He was almost positive that Merlin was going to complain about his answer, that Merlin was going to come up with some stupid argument about how Arthur would feel better if he just got it off his chest. But Arthur didn't want to see the smug expression that Merlin would no doubt be wearing if he ever admitted that he had freaked out so bad because of how startling it was to realize he hadn't minded being so close to Merlin, half covered in the darkness of that hallway. And that would only open doors for Merlin to continue arguing about how Arthur shouldn't 'hold himself back' and 'let Merlin be the one to pin him down this time.'

It was a secret that he was more than willing to take to his grave. And if Merlin thought that Arthur had freaked out back at the stadium, it would be clear that he had seen nothing yet if he ever tried to pin Arthur down.

Arthur had a feeling that his freak out would be legendary. Hell, he'd probably be verging on abusive territory from how hard he would hit Merlin if he tried anything stupid like what he'd suggested.

Merlin glanced up from his position on the floor, frowning while his hands lingered on the edge of Arthur's belt before he drew his hand's away, "...Was it really something that horrible?"

Merlin didn't think that he could come up with something that was so horrible, that you couldn't tell anybody about it. Well, he supposed having his magic could qualify, but Merlin was keeping that a secret simply because of what he'd been raised to do, because of how unfair and wrong the world was to his kind. Because it was dangerous to not only himself, but to others if the wrong people found out.

And one could never deduce who exactly was the right person to tell (so it was best to tell no one), or if the person that had just discovered your biggest secret was willing to keep it to themselves.

But somehow, Merlin didn't think that Arthur was hiding something like having magic. He wasn't entirely sure what Arthur's views on it was, but if Arthur was anything like his father, Merlin rather liked the idea of keeping his 'rose colored glasses' on just a little bit longer.

Arthur glimpsed down at Merlin, but just as fast was he looking away. Almost as if he couldn't bare the sight of him any longer, not that he ever actually could to begin with. But still.

Arthur kept quiet just long enough to lick at his increasingly dry lips before he said softly, "...It was the worse thing imaginable." And then he was ducking his head, letting his bangs hang down in front of his eye's.

Merlin just felt his eyebrow's coming together, looking more confused then ever by this statement. Merlin's biggest nightmare was being burned at the stake (probably by Arthur's hand). But from the look on Arthur's face, it was obvious that whatever had scared him so badly was just as dangerous, if not moreso.

And Merlin wasn't entirely sure if he could handle something that was scarier than what he was already going through. But he would have been willing to do something to ease up that fear, if only Arthur would have opened up to him.

Merlin slowly rose to his feet, looking solemn as he did so. "I hope you know, you can come to me...if you ever do decide that you want to talk."

Merlin had already put the offer out there before when he'd offered for him and Arthur to find a spot of privacy at the meet and greet, but it couldn't hurt just to throw it out there again.

He'd never been able to tell anybody about his own fear's, or his own secret's. He knew just how heavy a burden it was, to never be able to share himself entirely with somebody else. He didn't know how bad Arthur's secret was, but if it lifted off the heavy weight that it no doubt carried, Merlin would have done what he could.

If only to give somebody else the relief that he could never have.

It didn't bring the comfort that Merlin had hoped it would. If anything, Arthur just seemed to shut down even more than he had been before.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Arthur said, his face looking so blank that it was almost scary. Arthur knew that he would allow hell to take his soul before he ever uttered to Merlin the truth.

Merlin's face dropped, but he nodded as he finally let it go. He had put the offer out there-twice-he had let Arthur know that he could come to him if he ever wanted to. There was only so much that he could press before even he had to admit that there was nothing else that he could do about this.

Now...now anything that happened after this concerning what had happened to the prince in that hallway, it was up to Arthur.

Sighing heavily, Merlin got back to work and picked up Arthur's long red cape that he was supposed to tie around his neck. Arthur's gaze dropped to the cloth in his hand's, watching as the red velvet contrasted sharply against Merlin's pale skin.

And his bitterness grew, as he watched Merlin absentmindedly picking at the string that he had knotted up so bad, Arthur had to raise the whole thing over his head just to get it off, embarrassing himself in front of the entire kingdom. He'd never been more pissed then when the knight waiting for him had asked him if he needed help getting it off, as if he was some kind of child that couldn't untie thing's properly.

It wasn't his fault that Morris had always tied his thing's for him, in a fashion that Arthur was just now realizing had been ridiculously easy to untie. Had Morris done that on purpose? Because he knew Arthur didn't have time to struggle with undoing knots?

Arthur scoffed under his breath, watching as Merlin tugged lightly on one of the strings in his hands. Maybe he should have Morris give Merlin some actual lessons on the proper way to handle his equipment.

Who knows what Gwen may had done by teaching the boy bad habits. She may be an excellent handmaiden for his father's ward, but he doubted Gwen knew as much as she portrayed about armor. The only recommendation she had was being the blacksmith's daughter.

"You know," Merlin broke the silent that had settled around them, not looking up from where he was mostly toying with Arthur's cape then he was actually trying to get it open. "We never did decide what we were going to do about your father."

Arthur felt a muscle jump violently in his jaw as Merlin brought that up, and he hated to admit it, but he had also been half hoping that Merlin had forgotten about it. They had gotten derailed and side tracked when Merlin tried to pick apart Arthur's reasons for being so scared earlier.

"Don't you ever just shut up?!" Arthur found himself barking, talking to Merlin like he would one of his subjects that had the misfortune of crossing his path. If any noble had walked in at the moment, they would have been most horrified to see a consort being spoken to so harshly. Especially in Camelot, where it was known that their consort's were expected to be treated with a little more equality and respect then the other kingdom's.

Merlin whipped his head up, giving Arthur an almost frightening scowl. But Arthur just scoffed, because it resembled more like a wet kitten then an actual threat. The scrawny packaging that Merlin came in did him absolutely no favors.

"No, I'm not going to 'shut up.'" Merlin said firmly. "Before you leave, we need to figure out what we're going to do. Unless you want me to go about this on my own, and say something you don't like the next time your father tries to corner me!"

Arthur knew he'd been played. He knew that Merlin knew full well how important it was for him to keep his reputation in tact, how important he felt it was for him to keep up his appearance. But he was also fully aware that Merlin spoke the truth. He had a mouth on him, and would probably say something that could ruin them both.

So swallowing his spite, and feeling as if his eye's were literally red hot with anger as he glared at Merlin, he forced himself to spit out a dark, "So what exactly do you want to talk about."

Apparently Merlin had already thought about this in great detail, and had already prepared exactly what he wanted to bring up because his answer was near immediately.

"Kissing."

Arthur's anger drained right out of him only to be replaced with numb shock. His eye's had opened so wide that he actually thought they were going to pop straight out of his head. Merlin's voice rung through his head and all he could hear was that stupid word playing on repeat. He completely lost all control of his motor functions as he struggled to stutter and comprehend exactly what Merlin had just said to him.

"K...k...kissi..." Arthur couldn't even get the word out. And unwittingly, he felt his eye's dropping to look down at Merlin's slightly chapped lips. Kissing...Merlin wanted to talk about kissing. Merlin wanted to...oh god, please tell him that all of this wasn't just some stupid ploy Merlin had planned out in an attempt to get Arthur to kiss him.

If Arthur could get away with it, he would have the boy locked in the dungeon just for the suggestion.

Merlin didn't look at all put out by his reaction. In fact, he actually looked surprisingly composed, as if he hadn't just shaken Arthur up straight to his core with literally, just one word.

"Yes, kissing." Merlin repeated, as if he thought Arthur was brain dead. And while he definitely felt as if he were, Arthur still felt the strong urge to just strangle him. He had already heard it once, he didn't need to hear it again.

But he bit back his pride, if only just, so he could get through this with his brain still intact.

"Uh, um, o...Kay. What exactly does... kissing...have to do with anything..." Arthur trailed off, stuttering in an unprincely like manner the entire time. He even crossed his arms and tried leaning against the wall, trying to make it appear that he wasn't the awkward member of this party.

Merlin was the virgin! And he looked so composed, as if there wasn't anything wrong with this particular turn in their conversation. Arthur, on the other hand, had kissed several people before in his lifetime. Yet, he was the one that found himself fumbling and awkward, like a blushing bride on her wedding night who actually knew she was about to lose her virginity.

Unlike Merlin.

Arthur's problem became even more clear when he forgot that he was nowhere near the wall. He had to stumble and catch himself before he fell and hit the ground. But just as fast was he scrambling to straighten himself up, steadfastly crossing his arms back over his chest and ignoring his almost near humiliating fall.

"I don't want you to do it anymore." Merlin spoke up, his head held high. His tone had come out clear and loud, making exactly what he wanted known.

Arthur felt his arms drop down lifelessly at his side, and he found himself gaping at Merlin in disbelief. He honestly would have thought Merlin was going to start trying to convince him that it was a good idea for them to do it more, that kissing in front of the people even when they didn't have to would settle anybody's doubts about their marriage.

Arthur was preparing himself to toss the other boy out of the room and out on his arse for suggesting something so awful.

What he hadn't been expecting, was for Merlin to-in a way-turn him down.

"What do you mean you don't want me to kiss you anymore!" Arthur exclaimed, his voice loud enough to show just how shocked he was. He was almost, strangely enough, offended that Merlin didn't want to kiss him anymore. This should have been a good thing, something that Arthur should whole heartedly be enjoying. Arthur should just shut his trap, agree with Merlin, and then walk away happy as a clam.

But he didn't.

And only because his offense had grown to great. He actually felt insulted that Merlin didn't want him to, how many people would give their lives for just one kiss from a prince of his statue? And then here comes a boy-with absolutely nothing to his name-who would actually deny him?

"Exactly that." Merlin said. "I don't want you to kiss me like you did at our wedding, or my ring like you did at the meet and greet, ever again."

Arthur felt himself start to arch an eyebrow at that, still indignant and righteous that Merlin thought he could deny him if Arthur actually wanted to kiss him.

Which he didn't, he definitely didn't.

He could admit that the kiss at the wedding wasn't exactly his best work. He had been quick about it, wanting to get it over with and done as soon as possible. He wasn't interested in drawing it out or giving Merlin any pleasure from it. So maybe it shouldn't be so surprising that Merlin was turned off by it.

But when he'd kissed his wedding ring? He had actually put a little more effort into that, a little more heat then he had actually been feeling. He'd wanted Merlin to want more, to tease the boy with something that he could never have, if only to give Valiant the message that his husband was off limits.

"You don't get to be the one to decide if I kiss you or not!" Arthur blustered out before he could really think about his response. And he felt his mouth snap shut as soon as he said it, feeling like a right idiot the second the last syllable had left his mouth.

Merlin felt himself stiffen at that, and he raised his head just a little higher with a glint of defiance sparking in his eye's. "And who exactly does get to decide that!" He snapped, full of righteous fury. "Your father?"

Merlin could admit that he felt a desire to kiss Arthur, but that was before Arthur's stupid comment. Right now, he was more than likely to strangle the prat with the stupid velvet cape he was twisting with agitation in his hands.

Valiant had barely touched him last night, but it had still shaken him to the core when he realized the other man didn't like taking no for an answer. Just the way the man had been looking at him was enough for him to realize that the man had some truly awful intentions. It was why he hadn't naively agreed to allow the man to walk him back to his room.

He hadn't considered that Arthur might be the same. That he might not take Merlin telling him no well, denying Arthur any right he had as his husband to kiss him whenever the hell he wanted to.

Were all nobles this way? Was it something in their DNA that prevented them from realizing that the world didn't evolve around them.

Arthur felt as if he'd just been doused in cold water at the reminder of his father. Right, they had been talking about what they were going to do about his father, but what that had to do with kissing confounded him.

"What exactly does my father have to do with my kissing you?" Arthur asked, even his voice sounded stiff and tense. The word 'kissing' came off of his tongue just a little bit easier than it had the last time he had said it.

Merlin scoffed, deciding to put his worries to the side. If Arthur really did try to kiss him without his permission, Merlin would just use this sword behind him to stick him. Arthur may think that he was dumb and didn't know how to properly use a sword-which Merlin could attest to due to their failure of a training session-but even he knew the pointy end would be the most effective.

"Your father has everything to do with all of this!" Merlin found himself fighting back, giving Arthur the most outrageous scowl that he could give. "Especially considering you only ever kiss me when it's by his command!"

Arthur felt himself flush, mainly because he knew that this was true. He never would have kissed Merlin on his own violation. And it wasn't like he actually wanted to kiss Merlin now, he was just pissed that Merlin thought he could deny a prince whatever it was he wanted. Not that he wanted to, but it was the point of the matter.

"Well, when else am I supposed to kiss you?" Arthur grumbled, half under his breath as he averted his eyes. It wasn't like he was going to March up to the boy in broad daylight and plant a heart shattering kiss to his trembling lips. That was just stupid.

Merlin rolled his eye's, "If you can't figure that out by yourself, then you're more hopeless than I thought you were." There had been plenty of opportunities for Arthur to kiss him since they married. Like when Merlin had been getting him dressed the first time, or when Arthur had cornered him in the hallway before he had freaked out on them.

Arthur whipped his head around to give a heart stopping glare at the other boy, but Merlin looked largely unaffected by it. Arthur felt himself start to chew on the inside of his cheek, wondering if he could get away with slapping the boy's sharp mouth.

"You'll find," Arthur said darkly. "That the only chance I'll kiss you is when it's necessary, and when that is has already been decided by my father." He mainly just wanted to point that out, if only to show Merlin that he should be grateful. The only reason he had ever been kissed by Arthur in the first place was because of his father. Otherwise, Merlin never would have gotten the chance to have such attention from the prince of Camelot.

But Merlin wasn't impressed by this line-he even rolled his eye's because apparently, whatever romance that could have been was dead if they were seriously letting Arthur's father decide their 'romantic' entanglements-nor did he show any sign of being grateful for the opportunity that he'd been given. Instead, he bit out a pissed off sounding, "Your father is not in our marriage. The last time I checked, I made my vows to you, not your father."

The only reason Merlin was broaching this subject with Arthur at all was because it directly affected him as well. Because he needed to know right from the get-go that Merlin wasn't going to be some kind of puppet who just sat back and did whatever it was that he was told.

Arthur ducked his head, fighting back the urge to start chewing his lower lip raw. With an almost hesitant tone, he said in a rough voice, "You act as if you don't like me...kissing you, that is."

Arthur had never gotten a complaint from someone about being kissed by him. They were usually very eager, and took whatever it was that he was willing to give. Even the few small moments between Merlin and him would have been taken by anybody, if they had the chance.

"I don't." Merlin said bluntly, and Arthur's head shot back up, a harsh crack coming from somewhere in his neck region because of how fast he had done it. "Nobody like's being kissed as if it's some kind of chore."

Merlin may not be the most experience person, or no experience actually, when it came to kissing, but surely it wasn't supposed to be like that. Nice was probably the nicest word that he could use to describe it, but to be honest, even he thought that he was being to generous with that word.

But it might harm Arthur's fragile male ego to know that Merlin wasn't looking forward to another kiss from him. Not if it was anything like the previous two experiences, where Arthur acted like kissing him was a pain.

He'd only seen kissing when he'd stumbled across a girl and guy that had snuck away to fondle each other, and neither had seemed anything less then eager to do it. Before they got mad when they realized they'd been discovered.

And that was what he wanted. To be eager and to feel excited, for his partner to feel the same as they kissed. To spend hours just enjoying the touch of lips against his own.

...Surely it wasn't supposed to be so different between two guys. Arthur kissing him had felt more like actual work instead of something that was supposed to be natural. He refused to believe that being kissed like he had been was the standard way between two men. Maybe all he just needed to do was to find a better partner...if only.

Arthur felt his eyebrow go to twitching, and there was a sneer on his lips when he said pointedly, "Even if I do consider it a chore," Merlin scowled at this comment. "You should just take what you get and like that I'm giving you any attention at all."

Arthur also wanted to point out that Merlin was being pretty damn selfish for trying to get any more of Arthur's time than he already had. But he figures he already got his point across with his first statement.

Merlin started to giggle. It was a very small and barely noticeable giggle, but it had been there nonetheless. And Arthur found himself drawn to the sound immediately, his eye's darting down to where Merlin's lips were curled up just the slightest bit.

What was so damn funny?

Merlin answered his silent question when he finally said, "Do you even hear yourself when you talk? Or do you just like exhaling hot air?"

Arthur felt a zing go down his spine, and he was almost throwing lightning out of his eyes with how hard he was glaring at Merlin.

Merlin finally seemed to realize that Arthur wasn't laughing with him, and stopped to clear his throat as he quieted down. But he still had that stupid grin on his face, that seemed to widen even under Arthur's scrutiny.

"For the record," Merlin finally said, finally giving in to his urge to destroy Arthur's 'fragile male ego'. "I think your kiss would have been nice, if you actually seemed like you were into it." It was pretty obvious-even if it had taken Merlin a minute to realize it-that Arthur just wasn't into showing Merlin the kind of attention he wanted to be shown.

By Arthur, and definitely not by Valiant.

Arthur boggled at him as he got stuck on the first part of that statement, looking as if he'd just been slapped, "Nice..." he repeated slowly. "It was just...nice?" Sure, he could admit to himself that his first kiss hadn't been his best work, but considering who he'd been kissing, it was the best that he could do. But surely it had been more than just...nice! And his second kiss hadn't exactly been much better, but at least he had put more of an effort into it. And Merlin still claimed it was only...nice.

What did that brat know about quality kissing?

Merlin shrugged, dismissing Arthur's with a wave of his hand. "I said that it would have been, not that it was."

Arthur felt a rush of irritation go through him, the kind that left him clenching his jaw so that he wouldn't do something stupid. Like actually kissing the boy to show him what a quality kisser he was. Arthur let his eye's drop back down to Merlin's lips, before he darted his eye's away just as fast.

Nope, no way. Not on god's green earth was he ever in any way possible going to make that move. They'd have to kill him before he went that far.

Maybe he could just track down one of the ladies that had the honor of kissing him, and let her tell Merlin how good of a kisser he was.

Merlin shook his head and let out a very heavy and tired sounding sigh. It was actually so tired sounding that it actually got Arthur's attention back on him. But still, Arthur steadfastly refused to look anywhere near the lower half of Merlin's face, less it start another argument about how Merlin just thought his kiss was '...nice...'.

He still couldn't get over that one.

"Listen, Arthur." Merlin said, untangling the cape that he'd been twisting in his hands. "I've just been thinking lately, that there needs to be some kind of boundary between us, some kind of...line in the sand that we shouldn't cross."

And Arthur watched as Merlin gave a simple tug on the string of his cape, actually trying to get it to open up now. Arthur's eye's widened just a touch as the whole thing slid apart from that simple tug. Apparently Merlin had known exactly what needed to be tugged on to get the tie to open up. Which would have been nice to know before Arthur had gone out to his first match and had been unable to undo it, resulting in him having to lift it over his head.

Arthur shook his head, trying to get his mind back on track. "Boundary?" He asked confused. "What kind of boundary are we talking about here?" Being prince, and the second most important person in the entire kingdom just after his own father, there had never been some kind of 'line in the sand' that he couldn't cross. He was able to step over that line pretty easily, and usually got a free pass to do whatever it was that he wanted.

As long as it didn't disgrace his father, or ruin his reputation among the finer people of high society.

Merlin shook out the cape, the flutter of red velvet distracting them for only a moment. He kept his eye's down on what he was doing, ignoring Arthur's steady gaze on him, the kind of gaze that felt as if his skin was being pinprick.

"I can agree to act nice during these outrageous functions of yours, and try not to embarrass you to much." Merlin said, already feeling as if he was signing away his soul just by saying that, not was he entirely confident that he would actually be successful. He didn't think that he could act nice if he came across Valiant again, he refused to act docile if that knight tried anything on him again. But if it got Arthur to agree with his proposition, then at least it would get them somewhere out of this weird in-between state that they had fallen into. "But only if you agree not to kiss me anymore, not unless you actually want to on your own violation."

Merlin glanced up from what he was doing with the cape, his eye's looking almost doe like as he waited for the blonde's response.

Arthur narrowed his eye's and his lips thinned, watching Merlin as if he was waiting for some kind of punch line to the joke. But when none came, Arthur was forced to admit that the other boy actually looked serious.

The prince licked his lips, not saying anything for a long moment and trying not to appear as stiff as he felt when Merlin swung the cape over his head. The slimmer boy tugged on the strings of his cape, not to tug him closer like the first time they'd been in this position, but just to give himself more space to work with so that he could tie it properly.

Or as properly as Merlin did it.

"...So you'll play nice, and all I have to do is not kiss you again?" Arthur asked, trying to make sure that he had the working's of their deal straight. He steadfastly ignored the part where Merlin was apparently trying to get him an opening to kissing him again, he did not want to touch that offer with a ten foot pole.

Merlin had his eye's focused on tying the cape, Arthur's chin tilted up just slightly so that his finger's wouldn't brush against his skin. But now he was glancing up toward's Arthur's face.

"I said I'll try, no promises though." Merlin said wearily. "I seem to have this problem where I talk before thinking thing's through."

"I've noticed." Arthur said grudgingly. So Merlin would try, but that didn't exactly give Arthur any confidence in the matter. But on the other hand, not having to put his lips anywhere in the vicinity of Merlin was actually a pretty tempting offer. But there was still the matter of what his father would say if he just stopped it...but maybe there was some way he could work this situation to his advantage. All he would have to do is find the proper word's, the one's that would make his father think that it was a good idea to not show so much affection in public. Like maybe Arthur could play around with planting the idea in some people that he and Merlin really do get those feeling's out in the bedroom.

That would be okay...right? It would get his father off his back, and Merlin and him would know the actual truth. Arthur would know that he wasn't taking Merlin to his bed every other night.

And okay, maybe he wasn't exactly trilled about people thinking that way about him and involving Merlin anywhere near his bedroom-it was actually pretty disturbing-but it had to be better than actually doing anything with Merlin.

As if sensing that he was wavering on it, Merlin finished off the tie in an awkward looking bow before he said what was hopefully, his closing argument.

"This is a hard no for me, Arthur." Merlin said quietly, tugging Arthur's cape so that it fell neatly over his shoulder's. "I don't want you to kiss me again...ever." This was Merlin's chance, to see if Arthur was like Valiant. To see if the other man could take Merlin denying him something. Denying Arthur something that people could actually argue was his right, and had been since Merlin had this ring slipped onto his finger.

But also...Merlin didn't think he could take getting his hopes up again, only to realize that Arthur was only doing it to please his father again.

That was when Arthur knew that he was-without a doubt-screwed.

Arthur could feel himself stiffening at the phrase that Merlin had used. About how kissing him was a 'hard no'. It was one thing to do it when Merlin didn't protest or only mildly complained about it. But this was something's else entirely. This was Merlin drawing a clear line, this was Merlin telling him exactly what he didn't want to do.

It was that pesky little thing called consent biting him in the arse again. It was that very fine line before 'enthusiastic consent' and 'dubious consent'. Arthur hadn't bedded Merlin that night because not only couldn't he go through with it on his own violation, but because he didn't have Merlin's knowledge or consent on the matter.

And now, now he didn't have Merlin's consent to kiss him.

Arthur didn't say anything as he watched Merlin walking back to the table, this time picking up his sword. It was only as Merlin was walking back, and Arthur leaned away as far as he could without actually moving his feet just in case Merlin tried to take what would no doubt be a very awkward swing at him, did he finally speak up

"And what would you do," Arthur said slowly, cautiously broaching the subject where Merlin had said that Arthur could kiss him only if he wanted to, while looking insanely focused on what Merlin's answer would be. "If I said that I was never going to kiss you again."

Merlin was close now, far to close for comfort. But Arthur made no protest as the other boy pushed his cape over the back of his shoulder, freeing up his side so that Merlin could slide his sword into the scabbard already attached to this particular belt.

Arthur wasn't entirely convinced that Merlin was okay with never being kissed again. He had seemed to enjoy it when Arthur had put in a little more effort into his kiss during the meet and greet. He wasn't entirely sure when that had changed, or what had happened to make Merlin feel the need to put up some boundaries between them, but he almost felt a touch of gratefulness for it.

He was still insulted that Merlin didn't want to kiss him-who wouldn't want to kiss him-but he was still grateful nonetheless. Grateful that hopefully, he would never have to do something like that again.

Merlin shrugged, "I'll say, then it'll never happen again." Merlin wasn't exactly thrilled that the only two kisses he would have in his entire life was as undesirable and as lackluster (one of them not even being on his lips!) as they had been. But this was better, better then having to go through the emotional turmoil that another unwanted kiss would leave him with.

Arthur nodded, and Merlin nearly fell over when a gloved hand was suddenly thrusted into his face. "Then you have a deal." The prince said boldly, waiting for Merlin to shake on it.

Maybe Arthur was just being foolish, and maybe none of this would actually work out in the long run. Maybe his father's will was just so strong, and Arthur would have to break his oath to Merlin so that he could please his father.

But for a second, and just this second only, Arthur allowed himself to have some kind of hope on what his future would become. A future where he didn't have to feel so scrummy, because he knew that Merlin wasn't going to be expecting any kind of love commitments from him.

Merlin stared dumbly at the hand in his face for a long second, before he shook his head and an almost teasing grin lit his face. Arthur almost could have sworn that something in him relaxed at the sight, but he dismissed that thought as soon as it had arrived.

"You nobles, you always have to do thing's by the book, don't you?" Merlin asked, shaking his head. He had just been looking for a verbal agreement, some kind of word that Arthur wouldn't try kissing him again. Trust Arthur to act as if this deal was some kind of transaction between them.

Forged by a handshake between two men.

"Must I remind you," Arthur asked with a wryly twist of his lips. "That you're considered a noble nowadays as well." It wasn't exactly something that Arthur was thrilled with having to say, but he couldn't go around being embarrassed because Merlin was forgetting his place in society, and acting more as a servant that what his true status would suggest.

Merlin shook his head again, his eye's lighting up because the dry tone that Arthur had just used nearly matched his own. Merlin glanced down at Arthur's hand, before glancing back up at the prince's face.

"Trust me, I'll never be a noble." Merlin said, grinning as he reached out to take Arthur's hand, clasping it firmly in his own.

Arthur wondered why that vaguely sounded like a threat.

Merlin would forever walk the very thin line that separated the nobility from the commoners. He was a boy with a secret, that had literally been raised from the ground up with nothing to his name. Only now, he had available to him all of the resources and gold that a noble was born having. He had behind him the power and the strength that came with bearing the Pendragon name.

He just needed to learn how to flit between these two. He couldn't allow himself to get sucked into the thing's that being a noble could offer him, nor was he willing to forget where he came from and lose his commoner roots in the dirt behind him. But at the same time, he had different duties and jobs, he had to learn different thing's that a commoner would naturally, have no business in being a part of.

He definitely wouldn't have been having a conversation like this if he was still just a commoner. But if he was a noble, he probably wouldn't have addressed it as something that was necessary. He would have probably been raised thinking that this was just how thing's between him and the person he'd been married off to was supposed to be.

It was going to be a difficult transition, but all Merlin could do was hope that he could get through all of this intact.

As soon as Merlin let go of Arthur's hand-he had to ignore the rush of warmth that had shot up his arm at the touch-he was darting back over to the table to grab the last item on it.

Arthur watched him come back with an unimpressed stare. A stare that only grew when Merlin picked up his arm and shoved his helmet into the little cubby hole his arm had formed away from his side. Arthur gave a grunt when Merlin unceremoniously dropped his arm back down, so that he was holding his own helmet tucked against him.

Merlin stepped back, crossing his arms high up on his chest as he scanned Arthur up and down. He had a grin on his face, the kind that looked as if he was the cat that had caught the canary.

Arthur rolled his eye's, and deciding that he was done-and that he better get out before Merlin tried to start anything else-he started marching toward's the door.

"Oh, come on!" Merlin's voice stopped him before he could actually get to the door. "I think I did a pretty good job at getting you all dressed. I didn't fumble nearly as much as I had the first time." In fact, if Merlin hadn't taken his time so that Arthur wouldn't run out on him at the first opportunity that he had-before Merlin was done discussing things with him-he would have gotten him prepared in half the time it had taken him the first time.

Arthur found himself feeling exasperated as he turned sideways so that he could face Merlin, having to readjust his grip on the helmet under his arm as he did it. "I hope you're not looking for some kind of reward just because you succeeded in doing what you were supposed to be doing."

Merlin felt as if he had a sort of bounce in his step, a little more than happy that everything had sort of turned out alright. He hadn't spilled his guts to Arthur about Valiant, he had addressed his concerns about what Uther wanted from them, and Arthur had agreed to never kiss him again...maybe he should be a little more disappointed about that one. But hey, at least Arthur hadn't laughed in his face and told him something stupid like 'this is what nobles do. You're a noble now, so act like you enjoy my unwanted and peer-pressured induced kisses'.

"Not a reward, no." Merlin said. He wasn't a child who expected a cookie just because he did something that he was supposed to be doing anyway. "But a little commentary would be nice."

"Commentary?" Arthur asked, looking amused by this. And Merlin had to wonder exactly what he had just unwittingly talked himself into. "Well you could certainly stop manhandling me. My helmet is sacred, not a child's toy that you can just cast aside when your done with it. And we really need to work on your tying skills because you clearly have no idea how to tie a cape properly. And-"

"And-" Merlin interrupted quickly, before Arthur had the chance to go even deeper into his spiral. "You really need to learn that some thing's just don't always need your criticism. But if we're playing that game, I can point out a few thing's myself. Like-"

Merlin had a mental list a mile long of thing's he could have said in that moment. Thing's that he would be more than willing to say, but he got interrupted before he got the chance.

"Although," Arthur said quickly, before Merlin could fall into a tirade of his own-which would no doubt involve thing's that would leave Arthur confused, shocked, and horrified that somebody actually dared to point those thing's out about their prince. "I will admit that you did better than before." Merlin's endless talking aside. Arthur had a sinking feeling that this was probably going to be his new normal-and before Merlin could get to excited or cocky by this-which was apparent by Merlin's growing and strangely smug grin-he was quick to throw in as an afterthought, "Not that it could have gotten any worse."

Arthur was pretty sure he was suffering from some kind of deep post traumatic stress after he'd allowed Merlin to dress him the first time.

Merlin shrug, still looking more than a little smug for Arthur's taste as he said, "I'm a fast learner." He knew it probably hurt Arthur a lot to admit that Merlin was actually capable enough to do something, but was it wrong that he was taking some kind of sick pleasure in watching Arthur swallow his pride?

Arthur took in that stupid little grin playing at the corner's of Merlin's lips. The way his eye's were practically gleaming as he took in his success at getting Arthur prepared. It was strange, realizing just how young Merlin looked in that moment, younger than him he had to remind himself. He certainly didn't look like some unforeseeable monster that was going to show up and just completely ruin his life.

Arthur shook those thought's aside, turning serious. It didn't matter how young and boyish Merlin was looking, not when the boy was more than likely actually going to ruin his life. Or at least more than he had already.

"I hope, for your sake, that that's true." Arthur spoke up.

There were just so many thing's that Merlin was going to have to learn in such a short amount of time if they were going to pull any of this off. There was protocol's that would need to be memorized, Camelot's rich history and laws that would need to be ingrained into his skull like it was second nature, and etiquette lessons (Arthur looked over Merlin's slouched form) definitely wouldn't hurt.

Merlin's lips curled as he wobbled back and forth from the toes of his boots to the heel, "I would say good luck out there, but somehow, I don't think you'll need it."

Arthur actually had to stop for a second to look at Merlin with a raised eyebrow. For a minute there, he could have sworn that this would have actually been a compliment. "Does that mean that you've finally given up on rooting for my opponents?" He wondered if this was just Merlin's way of trying to seek amends for what he had done in his attempt to rile Arthur up.

Merlin's grin only widened, looking as if it would split his face in two. Arthur had never seen somebody smile so much, or so gleefully either. The only smiles he was accustomed to were the polite smiles that high society would give to each other, or the demure smiles that the lady of the court would give when trying to fish in an acceptable husband.

"Your going to have to keep dreaming about that one." Merlin said gleefully, even daring to reach out to tug on Arthur's cape, absentmindedly fixing it so that it fell in neater lines against his lean body.

Arthur didn't even protest the movement, and just allowed Merlin to fidget, brushing off invisible lint and such off of his shoulder. He was to busy trying not to give in and actually laugh. Here he was, trying to be serious. And there Merlin was, still trying to challenge and disrupt him. He wasn't even mad or irrationally irritated that Merlin was apparently still going to root for somebody else.

"And you know," Merlin said, speaking so casually that it got Arthur's attention immediately, and the prince could feel his nerves start to react. That tone never seemed to bode well for him. "I am your consort, right? So you should really watch how you speak to me lest I do something...impractical. I mean, I do have a little influence around here, right?"

He may not had been what anybody had been expecting in a consort, but he was still a consort. He doubted he could make anything big happen, wasn't even sure if he could make anything actually happen-things that would probably help out the common people-more than lining the pockets of the nobles with even more than what they already had. So maybe he was just trying to test his limit's by planning what he had with Mary the night before, to see just how far this 'consort's power' was willing to be given to himself personally.

Arthur immediately narrowed his eye's, watching Merlin suspiciously as the slimmer boy kept poking and prodding at his cape. He was almost convinced that this was just Merlin's excuse to keep touching him, which was really confusing considering Merlin didn't want him to kiss him any longer. But maybe Merlin was okay with touches, just not the kind that came from the lips...whatever.

"What are you on about?" Arthur found himself asking abruptly, and he could feel what were the beginnings of a migraine starting to form. Merlin still wasn't looking at him, his eye's were focused somewhere around Arthur's covered chest, but he still wore that ridiculous cheeky grin on his face. When Merlin had stated that he was the consort, he hadn't been bragging or trying to assert his perceived power-Arthur wouldn't even allow Merlin to have command of the most common commoner if he had it his way-but Merlin had been merely... teasing?

It was a strange concept for the prince, who had never known such light hearted jabbing.

"Well," Merlin started. "After you kissed me at the meet and greet-"

"That wasn't a real kiss!" Arthur blurted out before he could say much else. "I didn't actually kiss you!" He could feel his nerve ending's going off after Merlin had said that phrase so boldly, as if it wasn't rocking Arthur's world that it was being said at all. And sure, they had already talked (more than Arthur wanted) about Arthur kissing him, and it hadn't seemed so scary then. But that might have been because it had been swallowed up by how offended and angry he had been.

So hey, there was nothing wrong with having a brief moment to freak out. He thought he deserved it for not physically harming Merlin when he actually had the nerve to bring it up in the first place.

"When you kissed me-" Merlin repeated, his eye's practically daring Arthur to interrupt him again as he finally pulled his hand's away and stopped touching Arthur. Arthur hadn't even realized that he'd still been doing it. "And after the talk I had with your father, I ended up stopping somewhere on the way to my rooms."

He chooses his word's very carefully, making sure that there was no mention of Madame Clara or Knight Valiant in there. Nothing to indicate to Arthur what had actually happened. That was just something that he wasn't prepared to get into, at all.

Arthur could feel a sense of dread start to creep onto him, and was it strange that he felt more dread because of this ominous statement? Then he did when Merlin and him had been talking about kissing?

"...What did you do?" Arthur asked, feeling as if a ringing had returned to his ear's. Every thing else had muted out as he waited for Merlin's response.

But all Merlin did was give a light hearted half shrug of his shoulder, before he gave Arthur a tight lip smile. Then he had the audacity to reach out and give Arthur what felt like a very patronizing pat to his shoulder.

"I guess that's just something you're just gonna have to figure out for yourself later on today."

Arthur would be spending the entire day wondering what on earth Merlin had done, and just knowing that it was probably something that would cause him trouble.

Arthur watched in disbelief as Merlin walked past him to the door. Maybe he was just imagining it-because even though Merlin was walking normal-Arthur could have sworn that there was a clear swagger in the other boy's steps. It made his hips sway just the slightest bit-and he was almost positive that he wasn't imagining that-but he still found his eye's drawn there, feeling way to lax as Merlin put his hand on the door handle.

Merlin stopped just long enough to look back over his shoulder, and Arthur's eye's snapped back up to his face, feeling as if he'd just been caught doing something wrong. If Merlin noticed anything-which he probably didn't because he was an absolute moron of the highest degree-he didn't say anything.

"I hope you can actually impress me this time, Arthur."

And for a second, Arthur honestly didn't know what Merlin was talking about. Was it about kissing again? Was Merlin saying he wanted some more kisses? Oh...wait...no, it was just about Arthur impressing Merlin on the field.

Arthur swallowed hard, his throat feeling suspiciously dry. "Maybe...maybe you should try to impress me sometime...if you can..." he crossed his arms awkwardly over his chest, before he was moving up one hand to scratch awkwardly at the base of his hairline, feeling as if he didn't know what to do with himself.

As far as insult's go, it probably hadn't been his best one. But it was the only thing that he could come up with considering how strangely blank his mind was.

Merlin just smirked at him, a weird little smirk that made Arthur want to throw up because of the sudden flip his stomach did, and he brought a hand down to rest across the flat smoothness of where his stomach was under all of his gear.

"Oh," Merlin said saucily. "I intend to." And then Merlin was yanking open the door, ready to make his grand escape with those parting words. He didn't get very far though, jumping back with a startled yelp as somebody fell through the opening.

"Oh, uh..." Morris said weakly, propping himself up on his elbows. "I was just...checking out the door hinges." He finished awkwardly.

George was peeking in through the door, now looking down at Morris with a put out expression on his face.

Merlin narrowed his eye's, not trusting that this was actually true. But Arthur took it and ran with it, anything to get out of this room. It had somehow gotten so stuffy, and Arthur hadn't even noticed for the longest time, to caught up in his conversation with Merlin.

"Good thinking, Morris!" Arthur said quickly, keeping a wide berth from Merlin. "That's exactly the kind pro-active manservant that I need."

Merlin looked at him as if he were a dumbarse, and Arthur definitely felt like one in that moment.

"I think I'm needed...elsewhere." Merlin grumbled. He would take being anywhere else right now, and finding a good spot in the stadiums seemed like something he should be doing with his time right about now. He had to carefully step over Morris who was still sprawled out over the ground just so he could get out of the door, even holding onto the sides of the doorway so that he wouldn't trip over Morris.

Arthur found himself nodding in silent agreement. After everything that they had discussed today, it was probably best for them to get a little space. Arthur knew that he definitely needed it more than anything right now.

"Are you coming, George?" Merlin called over his shoulder as he started walking down the hallway.

"Uh, yes. Sir Merlin!" George said quickly, practically falling all over himself in an effort to follow quickly.

Arthur watched them go in silent contemplation, his eye's focused on the darkness of the back of Merlin's hair until the boy was out of sight, heading down the stairs at the end of the hall. Only after he was gone, did Arthur bring his hand back up to rub over his stomach.

That flip his stomach had made...it had been strange and unusual, something that he was pretty sure he'd never felt before. He wasn't sure what exactly had caused it, or why it made him feel so sick all of a sudden, as if his own feet wouldn't have been able to hold him up.

"Sire? Did he prepare you properly?" Morris asked, making Arthur jolt in surprise. He hadn't even notice Morris climbing to his feet, nor did he notice the other man returning to his side. "Do you need me to fix something for you?" And then Morris was reaching out, looking as if he was about to readjust Arthur's cape that Merlin had so keenly been fidgeting with mere moment's before.

Arthur was jerking his shoulder away before Morris could even make contact with it.

"Er, no." Arthur said quickly, trying to run excuses that would never be said through his mind. "He did an adequate job. Now, get a move on! Before I'm late!" Arthur practically barked this out at him, trying to get back into the rhythm of things and feel somewhat normal.

Morris jolted at the sudden command, but he quickly bowed and threw out several different version's of 'yes sir' before he took his place just half a step behind Arthur.

Arthur started down the stairs himself, and he briefly took in the fact that Merlin was long gone. He shook his head, for that boy's many fault, apparently he could run.

It was only when he was halfway down the stairs did he realize that he still held a hand on his stomach. With a flush, he yanked his hand away from it. At least he didn't feel so sick anymore, the flipping in his stomach had settled down for the most part.

He ultimately decided to ignore it, and brushed it aside. It was probably just something that he ate anyway. If it got any worse, if his symptoms continued, he might entertain the idea of visiting Gaius a little earlier for his annual check up.

X

"George, was he listening to my conversation with Arthur?" Merlin asked. He was standing on the main staircase that led down into the courtyard. He had taken a wrong turn somewhere because of the maze of hallways, but he hadn't thought to ask George where he was going. But now that he was in the courtyard, he knew exactly how to get to the stadium.

The only problem was...Morris. It was why he had stopped only halfway down the stairs, and now had his hand on the railing so that he wouldn't fall backwards as he turned to look back at George.

Merlin had been hoping that he and Arthur could keep their talk in private. And knowing that Morris might have overheard everything they had said, well...Morris was the last person he would have wanted to overhear them.

The guy was just so...squirly, and more then weird. Even weirder than Merlin, and that was saying something.

George didn't hesitate when answering his master-he was an excellent servant after all, diligent with what his master wanted from him, which was more than he could say about Morris, "Yes, Sir Merlin. But I do not believe that he was able to hear much, if anything, considering the colorful language that he was using."

Merlin could feel the tense muscles in his shoulders start to relax at that. Good, it looked like Arthur and him actually had managed to keep something private between them, without it feeling as if the whole world was watching their conversation.

"Good, that's good." Merlin said, half talking to himself. He turned back around and started walking down the stairs. He had come across one or two people on his walk there, but it seemed as if most everybody had already retreated to the stadium.

Merlin made it to the cobblestone ground of the courtyard, and started walking with wide and hurried steps across the yard in the direction of the stadium, with George following close behind him.

He had a certain skip in his step, it had returned now that he knew that Morris hadn't gotten whatever he was hoping to achieve by spying on them.

The sun was shining down on him, and he breathed in the deep afternoon air, he could hear the bird's chirping in some distance. It was turning out to be quite a beautiful day after all. He had woken up so petrified that Valiant would be waiting for him, but he wasn't anywhere to be found, which was a plus in his book.

And he had actually had his first real conversation with Arthur. And sure, people could argue that they had talked plenty of times since they'd met. But this conversation had just felt kinda...different, in a way. It had actually felt as if they had gotten somewhere, as if some kind of process in their relationship had actually been made.

Merlin had actually been hoping to end their conversation on a more serious note. He didn't know exactly what he had been hoping, but he did know that he had wanted to be taken seriously. And in a way, he was. But also, the conversation had turned and ended on a more teasing kind of note, before Morris had busted in on their party.

Minus Morris, Merlin quite liked this version of events better than what he had thought would happen. He'd honestly had been expecting Arthur to throw him out at several points in their conversation, but he never did.

And if his step was a little more cheerful than normal because of that, well...nobody had to know exactly why he was so happy.

How was Merlin supposed to know that in barely a few hour's time, all of this giddiness going through him would be wrought with pain and heartbreak. But, that wasn't neither here or there. That was future Merlin's problem.

And maybe this Merlin was still riding on the high of bliss, happily treading the walkway as rough cobblestone started to shift into malleable grass, but he started to think about favor's again.

It has been so far off his mind after how his day had ended so horribly yesterday. But he almost felt as if he was on some kind of winning streak, with how easy going his day was turning out to be. He was even on his way to go and enjoy a tourney! And this time, he would be sure to actually enjoy the tourney, and just not go looking for Arthur at the first opportunity.

He felt just a little more confident with himself, as if things were finally somewhat looking up. Arthur had even agreed with him! Now, wasn't that a miracle in itself.

And with Merlin's confidence, came a new found excitement. Sure, he had all but demanded that Arthur would no longer be allowed to give him kisses, but that didn't mean that Merlin didn't want them.

He just didn't want them being coerced or forced. But if Merlin got Arthur to want to kiss him...then all bets were off. All Merlin needed to do was give Arthur a favor, just to show him that he was willing and open to try. He needed to make the first move, since it was clear Arthur was to busy having that stick up his arse to see him as anything more than an annoyance.

He just needed to be seen in a different light.

The problem was though, exactly what it had been the first time he'd came to this dilemma of his. What the hell could he possibly use-Merlin nearly tripped over a stone sticking out of the grass at this point, and he quickly caught himself before brushing aside the hand's of George who had tried in vain to catch him-and he brought a hand up to scratch at the side of his neck.

What to use, what to use...it was only as Merlin reached the walkway to the tournament, did he scratch a little lower on his neck and the tip of his pinky brushed against the side of his red neckerchief.

Merlin nearly tripped over his own feet again, and had to grab onto the corner of the doorway to the stadium before he face planted into the door trim.

"Sir Merlin!" George exclaimed from somewhere behind him, completely overreacting. But Merlin ignored him, finding it surprisingly easy to tune the other man out of his mind.

"I am so stupid!" Merlin grunted, bringing up a hand to slap at his forehead. It hadn't even occurred to him when he had been spending all of that time stressing out over what he could give Arthur. All of that time and panic, pretty much wasted when he had something that would be perfectly acceptable-all this time-around his neck.

Merlin's finger's worked quickly to start tugging at the cloth around his neck, and within seconds he had the neckerchief in hand. He held up the fabric, holding it open so that he could really see it.

The neckerchief was clean and fluffed-thanks to George no doubt, and whatever cleaning products was available to the castle servant's. It was as thick as the day Merlin had gotten it three year's ago, because he did at least try-not that it always worked out-his best to keep such a close eye on his meager possessions. But there were also certain area's that had thinned out over the years, his neckerchief had truly withstood the test of time-there was nothing that he could have done to prevent those patches from forming-and there was nothing that George could have done to fix it without ripping the whole thing apart.

And it was long enough to not only wrap twice around Merlin's neck, if he wanted to fashion it more into a scarf than a neckerchief (not that he would because neckerchief's were far more superior). But that also meant that it was long enough to tie around Arthur's bicep.

And the best part about all of this.

The neckerchief was a light red coloring. Out of all the color's he could have chosen to wear today (his light blue, or faded teal one being his only other options), he had grabbed his red one. Now, it wasn't exactly the same shade that was known as the Pendragon red coloring-it was several shades off actually-but the red one was still a much better offering than his other one's would have been.

And maybe there would be other favors being passed around at some point that would outshine his-but no-he couldn't allow that doubt and negativity to come back and ruin what good place he managed to find himself in.

His own neckerchief would just have to do in the pinch that he was in. And if his heart started to pick up the pace and a flush started to build on his cheeks when he imagined Arthur wearing his worn out cloth around the pristine armor on his bicep, well...that was just one more secret that Merlin was going to keep to himself.

X

It wasn't long after Merlin had decided to use his neckerchief as a reasonable substitute for a favor, that he found himself in the front row of the bleachers. As soon as they had entered the actual stadium, Merlin had dismissed George to enjoy the tournament with his own friends (mainly so the manservant would stop asking him why he was grinning like a loon).

The crowd's filling up the bleacher's were just as loud as the first time, and there were dozens upon dozens of conversation's being thrown about. There was an air of excitement that seemed overpowering, and there was a certain buzz in the air that made every sensation Merlin had seem to heighten.

Merlin could literally feel his neckerchief burning a hole where he had tucked it into his pant's pocket. After deciding that he was going to use it for Arthur, Merlin had opted not to put it back on. Knowing his luck, this would be the first time he lost it, even around his own neck. And maybe he was just a little to eager to see it on Arthur's arm was another reason that he had decided not to wear it.

There was a sudden uproar as the crowd surged to life, many people standing on their feet now like Merlin was. And Merlin felt his grip around the rail he was holding onto tighten, his eye's lighting up with excitement as the roar made his ears start ringing.

The grin on his face grew as he saw Arthur striding out of the back chambers, walking out onto the field until he got to the direct center. And then the prince was raising a triumph fist into the air, forcing the crowd to get even more pumped up then they already were, the screams of excitement reaching a near deafening level.

Merlin found himself leaning against the railing, his elbows resting on the bar as he shook his head. His smile was just a little bit softer, and he ducked his head down to let out a breathy little chuckle, before his eyes were ultimately drawn back down to the blonde hyping up the crowd.

That cocky little bastard, Merlin thought almost fondly, in the privacy of his own mind. If Arthur was nervous like he had been during the first matches-not that he had been willing to admit that to Merlin, but he could still tell from the way he'd constantly been fidgeting as he had prepared him-he was definitely good at hiding it. There didn't seem to be an ounce of nerves on him. He was confident, and poised, and looked every bit of the proud prince that he was.

It made Merlin feel as if he had bubbles growing in his stomach as his nerves unsettled. Arthur just looked so...prince like, it was a little intimidating, but in a good kind of way. The kind of way that made Merlin very, very eager to find out everything that there was to know about his husband.

From his deepest and darkest secrets (like the one thing he hoped Arthur would open up to him about someday), to the smaller thing's like what he liked on his sandwiches.

His mother always did seem to think that he had a death wish in the marking, unable to stay out of trouble for even a second, she would say. It was nice to know that this habit hadn't left him when he had came to Camelot, because Merlin-looking down at Arthur now in all of his glory-had a feeling that he was in a lot of trouble.

The kind he didn't think would be so easy to get out of. The kind of trouble that just kept sinking you in no matter how hard you fought against it.

But then again, Merlin's hand absentmindedly drifted down to his pocket where he could feel the bump that his neckerchief was making, he didn't think he was trying to hard to stay out of it.

He didn't think he wanted to stay out of it. He kind of liked this weird sensation that was growing with every encounter he had with Arthur. This sensation where it felt as if he was starting to fall down a short incline, but somehow his feet were still planted firmly on the ground.

"Is it my imagination-" a voice started to say from right behind him. "Or are you beginning to enjoy yourself?" After all, the last time Gaius had seen his nephew, the young man had taken off and out of his chambers in a fright.

Merlin felt himself flinch violently, and strangely enough, feeling as if he'd just been caught doing something particularly... naughty. "Uncle Gaius!" Merlin exclaimed loudly, jerking his hand away from his pocket, almost as if he thought his uncle would know what his plan was before he went with it. It was bad enough that he'd had Morgana and Gwen hounding him about it back when he'd been freaking out about favors, he didn't need his uncle to do it as well.

Gaius just raised an amused eyebrow at the boy. It was almost relieving to see Merlin now, wearing that nervous little (but lighthearted) grin, as if Gaius had walked in on him doing something in the privacy of his own rooms, and was now trying to talk his way out of being caught. It was a much better sight compared to when Merlin had been freaking out in his chambers about an all manner of thing's.

Being called a gold digger, and panicking on him when Gaius had just been trying to give him 'the talk.' Although he supposed now, since he'd made that deal with Arthur, that was entirely out of his hands.

"W-er-what was it that you were saying?" Merlin stuttered sheepishly, glancing back out at the field where Arthur was now stepping backwards. The prince was reaching up to tug at the tie on his cape, and Merlin shook his head as he watched Arthur ultimately just pull it over his head and tossed it to one of the knight's standing by for it. He didn't know why Arthur kept doing that instead of just untying the damn thing like his opponents did.

But Merlin supposed his prat just liked to show off some, and be different then the other's. Merlin shook his head, a little grin playing on the corner of his lips as he turned back to his uncle.

Only to freeze when he saw that the older man was still looking at him, only far more amused than he had been before.

"I was just seeing how you've been enjoying the tournament." Gaius said dryly, giving an obvious glance out onto the field where Arthur's opponent had just started trekking their way across the sand and grass. "But I can already see that you are."

Merlin felt a flush starting to build up on his cheeks, catching his uncle's insinuation and he just knew that he had been caught practically ogling Arthur. Was it his fault that the man, for all of a prat that he could be, really knew how to wear a set of armor!

"My day hasn't been...entirely horrible." Merlin sheepishly admitted. He'd done nothing but complain when he had seen his uncle the last time, but today just seemed way to beautiful and almost...hopeful, for him to give in to his worries. Any problems he had could wait for another day, and not when he was riding off on his high on life. Merlin glanced back over at his uncle, "Believe it or not, this last hour has probably been the highlight of my life in Camelot."

"Is that so?" Gaius asked curiously, watching as Arthur's opponent casually untied his deep green cape and tossed it to the second knight who had been waiting for it.

Merlin turned back around to lean his elbows against the railing, reaching up one hand to brush his fingers in a poorly concealed effort to smooth his bangs back over his forehead. "Well, it's no secret that things have been...pretty rough since I've arrived."

Oh god, that was putting it mildly. If anybody had asked how his time in Camelot had been since he'd arrived, he wouldn't even know where to start. He had to deal with Uther, and Morris, and Madame Clara, and (he shivered) Valiant. He also had to put up with Arthur's pretentious ways (he still wasn't letting any of that just be bygones, despite his crush on the jerk).

And those were just the bigger thing's that he could think about. There was an all manner of little and smaller things that had cropped up over the last few weeks.

Let's just say, maybe he actually was a little grateful that he was able to see this tournament. It at least got his mind off of thing's, and he got to check out Arthur in his armor when the prat couldn't complain-which he probably would if he ever caught Merlin 'actually' looking at him.

"So I don't know," Merlin gave a little shrug, watching Arthur and his opponent shake hands-grasping each other by the elbow-before they were stepping back and pulling out their swords. "Things just seem to be looking up."

Merlin didn't even flinch when Gaius clapped a hand onto his shoulder from behind, giving him a firm and sturdy pat as he said, "I'm glad to hear it."

And Merlin supposed that he could have spilled his guts to Gaius. That out of anybody, he was probably the only person Merlin could actually trust, the only one who knew the truth about him. He could have told him that Madame Clara had attacked him for his ring, how Valiant was apparently stalking him (but hopefully he had given up when he realized that he couldn't get to Merlin last night).

But he didn't, not now at least. Not unless something drastic happened and it forced the truth out of him.

He didn't need to needlessly worry him over something that was probably already over and done with. Valiant had just been trying to get some kind of sick pleasure out of trying to scare him.

Merlin found himself wanting to just give it up, to let his worries slip away in the breeze while he allowed himself to enjoy this day. To just give himself a moment to breath, to find some kind of peace in his new life, even if it lasted for only a moment.

So that was just what Merlin did.

He let himself go, and found himself throwing in his all into watching the tourney. He had to hold on tight to the rail so he wouldn't start screaming in excitement when Arthur won his match, but that was no surprise there.

Arthur still looked beautiful, with a startling grace to match, holding that damn sword.

But when he could see Arthur taking off his helmet, raising his fist back into the air at his win-the two knights that had taken their capes racing back out onto the field to carry Arthur's opponent off-Merlin made his face go impassive.

And when he could see Arthur turning in his direction-not even sure if the prince could see him specifically because of the crowd of people that had practically melded around him-he lifted a very simple and unimpressed eyebrow.

He got a kick out of riling Arthur up in any way that he could.

X

Out on the field, Arthur had already made his way back to the knight's quarter's. He raised up a hand to set it on the edge of the doorway, and looked back over his shoulder with a huff.

He wasn't able to see Merlin anymore from where he was standing. Not like he could back when he'd been in the center of the field. But he could still picture the boy vividly in his head.

Arthur's eye's had found Merlin's form immediately in the crowd after he'd knocked his opponent to the ground. He had looked different somehow, something wasn't the same as it had been just half an hour before, but he just couldn't put his finger on what it was.

But whatever it was didn't matter in the long run. Not when all he could see was that stupid eyebrow cocking up, as if silently asking Arthur 'is that all you got?'

Arthur could feel the start of a challenge, the thrill of forcing Merlin to admit that he actually had been impressed starting to form under his skin.

With that thought in mind, Arthur pushed away from the wall and entered the room-ignoring the thumps of congratulations on his back from the braver of the knights-to await his second match of the day.

He waited until he reached the corner nearest to the exit-to lean against the wall-just as he had during the first round's. As he leaned there, Arthur reached up and scratched his hand through his sweaty and thick blonde locks, his eyes glancing around him from knight to knight. He was already categorizing different strategies for different competitors, sizing up what he knew about their strengths and weaknesses.

If Merlin wanted Arthur to put on a show for his next match, to prove that he really was the best of them all, then that was exactly what he was going to do.

X

Merlin felt his hands clamp more tightly around the rail he was leaning on. But this time, nothing on the planet could have gotten him to let go as a spike of terror shot through him.

Valiant had strode out onto the field after Arthur, and he had raised his fist into the air to get the crowd wild up just as Arthur had the match before. But the difference was, Valiant found Merlin much earlier on then Arthur had.

And as high up as the bleachers were-even with Merlin being in the first row it was still pretty high up off the field-Merlin could see Valiant looking straight at him.

And that was when Merlin knew without a doubt, that Valiant hadn't forgotten about him.

And he was coming.