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!

74. Chapter 74

The four men was all standing in this semi-circle around the head of the table. And all four had their eyes focused on the little vial of water perched on top of it like it was a deadly concoction. But to be fair, it actually was this deadly concoction, which the flower floating at the top of the water could contest to.

Well if one wanted to be totally honest about the matter, Gaius and Uther happened to be the only ones actually looking at the vial. The other two boys, Merlin and Arthur-somehow they had ended up being stuck together in the middle-were giving the other what could only be described as a 'heated glare'.

Arthur was still pissed that Merlin had the nerve to actually suggest his father had put him out on the frontlines on purpose. So he would get the brunt of things if everything went more sideways than it already was. He was a prince, his father's only heir, it made perfect sense that he would be the one out there so that he could direct things on a more personal note.

And Merlin was completely pissed about literally everything under the sun. Arthur who refused to even entertain the notion that his father may not have his best interest in heart. Pissed that Arthur had the nerve to sick some guard on him as if he was a flight risk and had to be watched in case he ran. Pissed because Arthur had the nerve to bring up his chest he had broken, so flippant and nonchalant. As if Merlin was bothering him about it when 'he' had been the one to bring it up. Merlin was content to push it to the back of his mind, if only because it hurt too much to think about. Pissed that Arthur hadn't caved on having the town cordoned off. Pissed that all of the people out there were dying while they were staying safe behind the walls…it wasn't fair that Merlin was deemed one of the lucky few who had been allowed to stay inside.

At some point, Arthur must have gotten tired of their glaring match, neither one willing to back down for the longest time. Because he turned his head to look at the vial, the flower inside limp and nearly white after what life it had was sucked straight out of it. And then Arthur did something incredibly stupid, and clearly he had no idea what he was looking at.

Arthur reached down to pick up the vial.

Merlin didn't even realized he had moved at first, but he did hear the clinking sound of meta on metal as his ring and Arthur's clunk together as he snatched his hand. His slim fingers curling tightly around Arthur's wrist before he could actually touch the vial.

Arthur whipped his head to the side, a vein popping in his reddening neck-anger surged through him-as he felt the tight squeeze on his wrist, "What are you doing, now?" Arthur hissed. This was probably some kind of odd stunt Merlin was pulling again, some kind of spur of the moment plan to make Arthur look incompetent in front of his father. Merlin had already wasted enough of their time back in the hallway. He couldn't be pulling another stunt right in front of his father.

And Merlin just smiled at Arthur, his slim pink lips curling up into a deliciously cocky smirk, showing a little too much teeth to show the bite he had within him, "Forgive me, Prince Arthur. I know that I am meant to just sit back and look pretty while the 'real men' talk about business-"

Merlin was still pretty bitter about Arthur's nonchalant comment-just sit back and look pretty-he had said just before they had gone into the grand room. And Merlin hadn't liked it one bit. Being made to sit as if he was just a decorative doll, meant to be looked at but he was never heard. No matter how tired he may get from how loud he screamed, only for not a soul to look up. It made him wonder if this was how Morgana felt. Sometimes when they would have their lunches together-something they haven't actually done since the crisis in the city started-she would complain all about it. How it was so hard being a woman around here, being expected to do nothing else but be pleasing to the eye for the men around here. Morgana had a certain status being that she was the king's ward, but even she knew her worth was tied to her being a woman and her only job was to marry well. Well, Merlin had certainly gotten the 'married well' part down. And let's just say he would rather live in a pig's pen than be Arthur's anything.

"-but I figured you would rather live long enough to see the end of this sickness rather than die because of your own incompetence to it." Merlin finished off. Now, he didn't know if it was possible for the poisonous water to soak in through the skin or something if the vial spilled on him-which probably wouldn't happen because it had a stopper-but Merlin also wasn't taking the risk. Arthur had to be the 'biggest' jerk on the planet, but that one dragon under the city seemed to think it was him that could bring back magic. Despite his own misgiving's about Arthur, Merlin couldn't risk the future he wished to see.

"What Merlin means to say," Gaius was quick to say when he saw Arthur's mouth starting to open, before the prince could say anything rude to his nephew. "Is that with his help, we were able to figure out just how potent the water is. It's incredibly dangerous and Merlin is only looking out for your well being."

Gaius found the lie coming off his tongue to be quite easy. He didn't think the king would appreciate it very much if he caught Gaius reprehending his son. Which was something Gaius knew he'd probably do, having gotten a better and clearer picture of just how 'bad' the relationship between the two boys over the last day or so. He hadn't overheard much of their arguments, but considering they had already had at least three-that he knew of-in a twenty four hour timeframe…that wasn't a normal thing.

Arthur felt this almost insane bubbling of slow laughter starting to escape his throat, looking at Gaius amazed, "Pray tell me that you're just giving him the credit, Gaius. I do not think Merlin could have helped you all that much."

Arthur could admit that he had 'very briefly' called Merlin smart at one point. He had to be something to be able to figure Valiant out long before anybody else had. And had to be smart to realize Mary Collins was throwing her dagger, close enough to get Arthur out of the way before he could be struck. But Arthur also questioned rather that was actual brains buried somewhere in that skull, or if it was all dumb luck on his part. Arthur was starting to actually lean more towards the 'dumb luck' side of things. Gaius was a skilled physician after all, and even if Merlin was able to riddle some things out, surely he couldn't figure out more than his physician could. But that was the moment that Arthur hissed, feeling what was a familiar sting of nails digging right into his skin. He had somehow forgotten that the brat was still holding onto his wrist, and most likely didn't appreciate his comment since he was digging his nails into his wrist. The blond glared at Merlin and yanked his wrist out of his grasp, clenching his jaw as their rings hit against each other to make a familiar clank sound.

"Actually," Gaius interrupted, his face looked impassive as he stared down his nose to the prince. "Merlin did all of the practical parts himself, with my direct supervision, of course." He added in, to let Arthur know that he hadn't just let Merlin go crazy with their tests and such.

Merlin felt the blush raising to his cheeks and brought a hand up to scratch awkwardly at the nape of his neck, "…I didn't do much of anything." He grumbled half underneath his breath. It wasn't like he had done anything of significance. All he'd been doing was going along with Gaius' instructions: fetching the water bucket and finding a lively plant to put in the water. Or learning what he could: like how they figured out it was in the drinking water in the first place, or when he'd watched as Gaius was able to extract some stomach acid to test what they'd eaten that day.

Arthur didn't seem to notice this, having all but tuned Merlin out so that he could look at Gaius with a confused frown. He didn't think he could remember Gaius ever talking to him like that before. He had sounded sharp, as if he was warning Arthur off before the prince was allowed to say anything else. Arthur had his frown deepening and darkening as he saw Gaius give Merlin a little nudge forward, as if to encourage him to speak up. Arthur felt his jaw clenched up before Merlin even said one more word.

But with Gaius' support, Merlin started up the 'official' meeting by giving a very poor but to the point explanation of what he and the old physician had been up to the night before as Arthur was writing out the missives, "Well, all we did was put the flower in the water to test if the poison was in the water…the flower was dead before morning."

Merlin looked mournful towards the flower as it sat in the vial. Gwen had given him the little plant, but she probably wouldn't mind if she knew it had been given to a worthy cause. As what could be more worthy that stopping the sickness from touching her father-or any of the people-again. Still didn't mean he could not be sad about it.

A muscle in Arthur's jaw twitch violently, as he did not like Merlin inserting himself with so much-poorly done but there none the less-ease. Especially since it felt like Merlin had succeeded and 'did' show Arthur that he was incompetent for trying to touch the strange liquid.

But Uther interrupted before Arthur could say a word, making Arthur clench down his jaw as he realized…his father would not be happy as he saw Arthur not making any kind of effort to be on Merlin's good side. But it wasn't like it was his fault! Merlin was just…Merlin was just…god, was Merlin irritating.

"Where does the water come from?" Uther questioned, not looking away from the water at all. Arthur had nothing to worry about for Uther hadn't been listening one bit. His eyes hadn't left the vial, his face contorted into panic and concern. He had no time to go off listening to petty squabbles between his son and his son's consort. Not when there all may be dead in a few days time if they couldn't get this under control.

"The pump from where the people are taking their daily supply." Gaius explained. This was one of the reasons Gaius had first made the connection to the water. The sickness was spreading 'way' to fast, more and more of the people catching it in quick succession. Water would be the key considering the line for the pump was always full at any one given time during the day. The people brought this into their homes, drunk from it's bucket. Cooked it with their food. Washed their clothing in it or used what was left for bathing. It had been flooding their systems, soaking into their skin as the hours passed…it was no wonder that so many people had died in only a couple of days. It was a miracle that more bodies had not already dropped.

Arthur got right into it, pushing how irritating Merlin was to the back of his mind so that he could better focus on the problem at hand. It was his city that needed him to stay focus on the crisis. "We may have to stop the people from using it." It wasn't the ideal situation at all, but what else were they supposed to do about it? If the poison was already saturated in the water, then they had to do something to stop it from being used until they could go get the water supply cleaned…somehow.

"But you can't!" Merlin blurted out, looking over to Arthur with something akin to horror on his face. He shook his head, not liking the idea at all. "The people down there need the water! They will die without it! We have to do something else!"

Merlin knew what life was like without having a meal everyday. The slow sensation with one felt as if their stomach was trying to eat itself before it caved in as the days passed, only a small bite to get you through the hardship of the day before. But water…water was just a bit more sacred than that. Water was life, and it was probably one of the only things Merlin had never gone without. There was the river that flowed right off to the side of Ealdor, only a few minutes walk. Out of the way so that it would not disturb the harvest, but also close enough they could get to easily. Merlin had drunk from it's depths many times, had even bathed in it when he'd had this particularly harsh day and needed the icy cold of it just to wake himself up. Going without food, it would sometimes be the water that would fill up his stomach. It made the hunger, gnawing and ever present, almost nonexistent. Almost. But he probably would have died already if that river didn't exist…and now Arthur talked to do the same to his own people.

"What he means to say," Gaius broke up as he took himself to become Merlin's translator, giving the prince the more diplomatic answer that Merlin's passionate one. Reaching up to place a hand on Merlin's shoulder from right behind him, "Is that the city cannot survive without that water."

It wasn't like people could survive without water. It was an essential ingredient to their lives. Drinking the water, the people would go dying within a day or two. But no water at all, how much would they last? Two or three days at the most? Was the extra day really worth it if the people started to grow delusional from the lack of substance. People would probably rather drink the water than suffer the painful and slow death of a drying throat.

Arthur broke in with a gruff opinion of his own, a heavy frown taking up most of his face as he thought the options over in his head. Ultimately shaking his head, the prince said, "All of those people are going to die any way if they continue to use it. At least without it, they will be able to survive just a few more days."

Arthur could only hope that the extra day or two they were able to gain would be enough for him to find the sorcerer. Just a day…that might not seem like a lot but Arthur would be willing to bet that 'anytime' he could gain was time well spent if he 'did' find what happened to their water supply. Just a day…just a extra day…he kept thinking like a mantra, because he knew just one more day, one more hour, hell even one more minute was time that he could devote to getting justice for his land. If only the people could hold out without water for that long.

Merlin didn't seem to agree with him though-when did he ever-because he brushed Gaius' hand off his shoulder and settled his glare at Arthur, "They are peasants." Merlin said with this slow tone, and make sure to enunciate every little syllable for Arthur's benefit. As if Arthur was supposed to know exactly what he thought he was getting at.

"Yes. I know that." Arthur said with this very impatient wave of his hand. "Which is why we have to act quickly and cut off the water. So that they can't use it." The peasants were this needy group of people, and they needed the strong hand on a noble family to take care of them and do what was best. That was what his father had taught him all his life. Now, he might be willing to agree-just a smidge-that it was wrong to just cordon off the lower town and leave them to their own devices. Since it was them that needed Arthur and his family to make the hard decisions that they might not be able to go through with. Like cutting off the water supply.

Merlin, in response to what he saw as Arthur being negligent, put his hands on his hips and raised his chin boldly, "That means," he snapped at Arthur, ignoring the way-out the corner of his eye-he could see Gaius putting a hand to his forehead. As if he knew that this was going to end badly one way or the other. "They work to the bone every single day of their lives just to get a measly little bit of food on their tables. Now, I know that you do not seem to care, but the only thing that have an abundance of is the free access to water. So trust me, as someone who has spent most of my life under the blistering sun to try and get the crops to grow, water is a necessity. Other wise, you're going to have peasants dropping unconscious in the street from a heatstroke."

Merlin knew exactly what the dangers of a heatstroke could cause. How the body could feel as if it was heating up from the inside out. Until you got dizzy, the heat too much for you to take, and hitting the ground was almost a relief. Because that meant you didn't need to use your own strength to be able to keep standing . It was why he had always worn his neckerchief back home, and why he wore it even now. It could get hot sometimes but it also kept the sun off of his skin. The boiling sun was a dangerous enemy to those who worked outside. And if Arthur had no plans of protecting his old people, then that just meant Merlin was going to do it.

That plan was cut short when there was the sound of a fist hitting the table, hard enough that it made everyone flinch before they were turning to Uther. "You idiot boy," the king was snarling at Merlin, eyes like razor wire as he glared at him. "Do you think that my kingdom is so brainless that we do not have any kind of emergency supplies on hand? The people will not die if we have to dip into it!"

It was one of the many protocols they had in the city. There was barrels of water and food, restocked every year to keep it as fresh as it could be, in case the worse happened. Like a drought of a famine that wiped out all of their foodstuffs. Or even like now, if the sickness was powerful enough to wash over the entire city and lay waste to them all. The king didn't deem Merlin worthy enough to explain what it was they had on hand. The kingdom only had enough water to last a few days, and that was only if the included the lower town and were able to tighten ration it. But Uther didn't see a problem with cutting the lower town off with nothing. If what water they did have was only used for those inside the castle, then they'd probably be able to survive a week or two at most.

Uther turned away from Merlin, deciding that he was not going to allow a foolish boy to go wasting his time. Uther wasn't his son. He did not make time for petty arguments against a useless boy when he had a kingdom he had to maintain. "Gaius, tell me, what can we do about cleansing this poison from our water supplies." They couldn't live on their reserve waters forever after all, so they needed to go and have something in line planned for when they ultimately ran out.

Gaius and Uther seemed to dissolve into their own conversation, forgetting the prince and his consort was even in the room. This gave Arthur the opportunity to return his heated glare to Merlin. Merlin who didn't even notice he was looking at him, having gotten lost in his own thoughts. Arthur glanced over to his father to make sure he was distracted proper with his discussion with Gaius. Seeing that he was, Arthur leaned over so that his shoulder was pressing against the back of Merlin's and hissed in his ear, "Are you pleased with what is happening? Are you 'trying' to make me as a fool in front of my own father."

Arthur hadn't been able to believe that Merlin had really tried to start up his argument over what they were doing with the peasants. And right in front of his father, this time! He could admit what they were doing wasn't right for the peasants, it didn't fee right in the pit of his gut. But…as his father had taught him all his life, some things had to be risked for the good of the kingdom. And it was clear that Merlin couldn't understand that.

Merlin scrunched his nose up in disgust as he felt the warmth of Arthur's breath as it went straight down the nose of his neck. God, he hated it whenever Arthur took it upon himself to evade his personal spot. He hissed back at him out the corner of his mouth, "Oh, do you not know that you don't need my help making a fool out of yourself? You do that all on your own." He took great satisfaction, a smirk on his face as he elbowed Arthur roughly in the stomach to get him away. And hearing how Arthur let out an 'oof' after Merlin's pointy elbow hit him in the gut…if Arthur was feeling the need to get in his personal space that he was more than happy to show him how badly an idea that was.

Arthur scowled, and rubbed a hand over his rib cage where Merlin had caught him. He did not want to say that it hurt, but he would say that Merlin had some damn sharp elbows on him. But Arthur also wasn't one to leave him with having the last word, "You know, I know that I've been letting you play around with the physician-"

Merlin's head whipped around, his eyes went cold as he looked upon Arthur's smug face, and he couldn't feel anymore disgust for the selfish prince than right now, "Letting me?" He demanded hotly, keeping his voice low as to not disturb the two older man conversing next to them. He ignored the way that their faces seemed to almost be touching, a scant bit of air right between their foreheads and kept them from touching. "Nobody 'let's' me do anything."

Merlin was perfectly capable of making any decision for himself. And this was just one more reason he was slowly starting to hate the prince. How he was so condescending or so in his own head that he always thought he was winning some kind of game that Merlin had no desire to be apart of. Hell, he was at the point where he was ready to tell Arthur he'd won already. If this 'game' was so damn important to him, just to get him to leave him alone. And what did he mean by fucking just playing around? Merlin wasn't playing around with jack shit. He seemed to be the only one trying to do anything while everybody else ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. It was ridiculous.

And Arthur unknowingly proved his point by reaching out and pinching Merlin on his side-a bit of payback for the gutted elbow he had given him, "But," Arthur continued talking, as Merlin slapped his hand off of him. "I've told you that you shouldn't talk. So unless you've decided your new hobby-" the one Arthur had told him to get back when he'd denied him having an actual job. "Is studying to be a physician, and Gaius has agreed to take you under his wing, there's no reason for you to be talking for him during these proceedings."

Arthur was prepared to fully blame Merlin for how Gaius had treated him. The way that the physician had snapped at him, even if he'd done something the old man didn't think too fondly of, he usually kept the professional air about him. Nothing like the way he'd talked to him just now. And clearly only Merlin could be the common denominator for it. He wouldn't be surprised if Merlin-while he was spending all of this extra time with Gaius-was trying to turn Gaius against him. It might be time for him to talk to his father, and request that his consort be kept to his chambers instead until all of this was over and done with…

Merlin pulled his head back so that he could look at Arthur fully, relieved when he could no longer feel the heat of Arthur's skin so close to him. But he was even more giddy as he realized Arthur had given him something to use. A ghost of a smirk stretched across his face, "You know, I think that is the first good idea you had since we've met. I hope that you won't mind terribly if I take him up on that."

To be honest, Merlin was just teasing about it. He knew Arthur found it disdainful, the way he'd been adamant Merlin stay close to Gaius so he'd be out of the way would have been a clear testimony to that. And Merlin would use everything he had at his disposal just to get under Arthur's skin. Prat deserved every little bit of it and more. And Merlin would never be the one to dare presume that Gaius would be okay with-how had Arthur put it-taking him under his wing? His uncle had already done him a favor by letting him move in with him, and all Merlin had done in return was a few measly chores. He wouldn't feel right to ask for anything more. But the idea of learning a bit more…learning what made people tick…learning how to help people out in the open when he couldn't use his magic, the idea of it was not so unappealing.

And the look on Arthur's face was the cherry on top of the already crappy dessert. Arthur clearly didn't approve of the idea, even if he had been the one to suggested. "Don't you dare." Arthur hissed at him. He had already been embarrassed once when Merlin had ran off to find a job. And that had only been little small gigs, like working in a shop or collecting flour for the baker. Tasks that any young child could have done…or a monkey. Those things that were just not suited for a consort. But to have his consort working as a physician, that was almost too much for Arthur. Merlin would have to get up close and personal with far too many people, would have to learn things that he could not possibly comprehend, and the entire kingdom would end up liable if Merlin started killing people because he didn't know what the hell he was doing. No, it would be better to learn the medicine arts to those that were 'actually' physicians.

Plus, he would never hear the end of it when the word started to spread. The nobles of the court would look at him with scorn for having a consort actually 'working' with the peasant people instead of being kept at home to take care of it. Like a proper consort would.

Merlin rolled his eyes, apparently deeming this conversation as over he turned his back to Arthur. He wasn't getting into what was yet another stupid and pointless pointless fight with Arthur. It wasn't going to solve anything and he had absolutely no desire to listen to the prince going on yet another tirade about how awful Merlin was. He heard it once, he'd heard it a thousand times. It was starting to sound like a modern day broken record and he was not interested in repeating the same old patterns. Beside, Merlin had something else much more important that he could think about as he waited for Gaius and Uther to go finally deciding on what the next step should be.

…he didn't really know if he wanted to start dedicating his time to becoming a physician just because he found the few things he had learned interesting. An actual career wasn't something he'd ever had to think about, and it was something he shouldn't be thinking of at all since he now bored the title of consort. Back in Ealdor, it was pretty much expected that he would become a farmer just like the rest of the village. But that was really the only thing anybody 'could' become back home. It wasn't like the village was big enough to be teaming with other options. It was doing what one needed to survive and that was it. So he had truly expected to be toiling around out in the field until he was too old to continue it. It was never in his plans to become a consort of some godforsaken kingdom. It also wasn't in his plan to grow an interest in learning just a bit more on what Gaius could do…medicine did seem like a more favorable option, one he would rather if he had the choice, when being a consort was the only other option.

Unless he could be both? Had their ever been a consort that was something else on the side as well? Or did all of those who had married into the Royal family in the pass just decide to devote their entire lives to doing the everyday leisure of a consort. Couldn't he be a part time consort and then a part time healing?…or if he ever got the chance, maybe he could ditch the whole 'consort' part and just become a healer. But he was getting way too ahead of himself. He didn't know nearly enough for that kind of step, he didn't even know if he liked medicine enough to pursue it more seriously. But the idea, it was like he'd gotten a seed planted in his mind thanks to Arthur…

And speaking of Arthur, the prince suddenly grabbed him by the crook of his elbow, that touch burning as Merlin whipped his head to look back at him. Arthur didn't look at him at first, too busy making sure that Gaius and his father were engrossed in their conversation before he turned back to Merlin with this kind of disgruntled expression, "Okay, for one, my father would never sign off on something like that. Medicine isn't something a consort should waste their time with."

Merlin rolled his eyes, didn't he already tell the prince that he didn't care what the king thought of him. And if Uther was going to set him to the pyre just because he grew his own interest outside of being what they wanted him to be, then the guy clearly had some very interesting screws loose. Or maybe the king was just a control freak like his son was, and unable to see anybody who wanted to step out of the box he'd been forced into.

That was when Merlin detected the barely audible words as Arthur muttered something under his breath, "Besides, god help me if I'll ever end up under your care." Arthur had this trouble seeing Merlin as a physician. He was able to admit-grudgingly-that there had been some instances where Merlin showed he may have a brain underneath that mop he called his hair. But being a physician required years of intense study, problem solving skills, doing what was right for your patients. And Arthur just didn't think Merlin had it in him to finish.

Merlin's upper lip went up, baring his teeth in Arthur's direction as he was some kind of feral mutt, yanking his arm roughly out of the prince's grip. "Get your fucking hands off of me. Don't ever touch me again." The consort snarled at him, not caring if they were being overheard at this point. Not when he could see in Arthur's eyes exactly what he thought. It was written all over his face. Arthur thought he was too stupid to be a physician. Thought he was too stupid and didn't know what it was that 'he' wanted to do. Rather that was to move out on his own or find something in his wretched life that could be his.

Arthur frowned, looking down at his hand that was suddenly empty of Merlin's bicep, it was strangely cold all of a sudden. The absent of heated skin blocked only by the thin cloth of his jacket. A much too thin jacket and maybe he should get Madame Teresa to commission him a new one. Not red, Arthur already had a red one himself…he shook the thoughts out of his hand. No, Merlin didn't need a new jacket-although that might be an interesting idea as Merlin's 'treat' if he hadn't already settled on getting that stupid box of his fixed…no. Merlin didn't need a treat at all if he was going to deny Arthur what was his marriageable right ti touch. Especially when Merlin was being frustratingly bad..the prince opened his mouth to say something that was particularly scathing, but his voice died in his throat before he could get the first word out.

His father was watching them-with his lips pressing into a harsh line-because apparently Merlin snapping at him had been just loud enough to garner his attention. And Arthur could feel a bit of color draining right from his face when he saw the look Uther was casting in his direction. A look that said Arthur should punish Merlin for his misconduct. A look that said Uther would do it himself, but it wasn't his place to discipline Arthur's consort. But Arthur feared his father wouldn't care much for propriety and would take matters into his own hands if he didn't do 'something.'

Arthur'd had many disturbing thoughts over the last week alone. Thoughts where he was finally able to shut Merlin up by giving him a proper thrashing. To use the boy's very own neckerchief to gag him, the blue clothing so thick it would stick out Merlin's mouth, easily forcing his mouth to stay open at what could only be an uncomfortable angle. To tie off the rest of it around the back of Merlin's head so that the neckerchief would be cutting into the corner of Merlin's lips. And maybe when he'd taken it off later, Merlin would be reminded of his punishment for days to come before of the light bruising or crease marks left marred into his skin. He'd had awful thoughts of just going ahead and 'collaring' Merlin, something as an additional sign that he was Arthur's and his property. And while he had never actually decided on rather he'd preferred a very solid golden collar to show their wealth, or a much more subtle but supple leather black one to showcase against the paleness of Merlin's throat. But he did know either way, he would keep it just loose enough so that it wouldn't choke him. But snug enough that he would feel it's presence every time he would try to swallow, a solid reminder that he was Arthur's to do with what he will. And he didn't want to even think of how many times he been stuck on considering leashes. How many times he had wondered over the benefits of keeping his wrists bound, tied up to either the leg of his desk or his bed. Just somewhere Arthur would be able to keep a proper eye on him without worrying that he'd figure out some godforsaken way of escaping. So he wouldn't be wasting his time by wondering what kind of trouble Merlin was getting into when he was free. How many times had Arthur wanted to give in-to let the insane urge to throw him over his knee and spank him just to show him how serious Arthur was when they got into their fights. That one time he'd even wanted to jerk Merlin's pants down to his knees so that he couldn't hide from Arthur, so that the prince would be able to watch as red stripes the shape of his handprint formed on the pale flesh…

With his father's eyes drilling holes into the side of his skull, Arthur felt the shame. The shame that he had ever thought any of those things, knowing how they could possibly be seen by others in a sexual nature. They would not understand-which is why he had never once uttered a word about any of this to any person-that he only wanted to punish Merlin. To assert his dominance and watch with this deep rooted satisfaction as the fight washed out of Merlin, his shoulders slumping as he'd bowed his neck low, showing Arthur the kind of proper reverence a prince should have. He almost feared that his father knew exactly the things he'd been thinking, as if it was written all over his face, and obviously Uther would think the wrong thing. Take his thoughts the wrong way.

But Arthur's mind was strangely blank, and he couldn't think of any alternative ways to punish Merlin for his cheek. Nothing that was going to appease his father, at least. And to be honest…Arthur didn't want to. Punish him, that was. Arthur didn't know if it was because his father was watching and that it somehow made the whole 'punishing him' thing much more distasteful than it had been. Or if it was because he didn't 'want' to do. God almighty, Merlin's cheek was the most frustrating thing in the world and constantly made him wish he could claw his own ears off, but maybe…just maybe he actually liked it…just a little bit. He was certainly refreshing compared to all of the 'yes men' that Arthur was surrounded by in a daily manner.

Not as if Arthur would ever admit it to anyone ever. Not even to himself.

But there was something else he might be able to do to appease his father. Maybe not a punishment but…he could do was his father had suggested last time. Make a move, make Merlin think there was more to them…Arthur was pretty sure something inside of him just died. His heart shot up into his throat and he was pretty sure he was more than willing to go ahead and throw himself off one of the castle towers. But it was either this or punish him and that…that was something Arthur was not able to do. He just hoped that Merlin was not going to make it work for them by trying to do that thing where he tried to hit him…

"I just mean," Arthur spoke up in a more calm manner, trying to clear his suddenly dry voice as it cracked-he really was miserable, wasn't he? His voice hadn't cracked since he was a teenager- "That being a physician would go take up far too much of your time." Arthur went in for the kill, awkwardly raising his hand and before he could convince himself that this was a 'really' bad idea and Merlin would be able to see through it in an instant, Arthur was putting his hand on Merlin's cheek. Just the back of his finger, trailing it slowly down Merlin's cheek towards his chin, watching as Merlin's eyes widened at the touch…didn't he tell him not to tell him? Fuck. Well, Arthur was not able to go back down. Arthur's eyes were practically pleading with Merlin, a fixated smile on his face, begging him not to mess this up. "All of your time will be taken up by your Consort duties."

Arthur spared a glance towards his father but the older man had turned back to his talking with Gaius. He hoped he had appeased his father enough for the king to realize that he really was trying. But obviously Uther would not go so far as to watch. It was probably disgusting him to see his heir acting in a false manner of affection with another man.

He almost forgot he was still rubbing on his consort's cheek, the skin soft and tender-and almost malleable-under his rough finger, until Merlin shoved his hand away from him. But it was luckily out of his father's sight, as he was forced to snap back to attention. And stop his worrying over his father so he could now worry over Merlin's reaction. Arthur just never caught himself a break, could he, he thought as he saw Merlin's blue eyes glittering with a dangerous tent to them.

"Yeah, my job as consort really does take up every bit of time I have." Merlin said sarcastic, scowling as he crossed his arms across his chest to glare at Arthur. But what he really wanted to do was take his sleeve and wipe off the slime he felt Arthur had left across his face. That bastard! Touching him after Merlin had already specifically told him not to. And not just touching him but acting…acting like he was a concerned lover or something. He had absolutely no right to put his hands on him, and he was just bloody lucky that Merlin wasn't pressing his luck-in front of Uther-and screaming himself hoarse at him. "It's really kept me all tied up."

Arthur almost feared that he'd caught some kind of facial tic, with the way his eye started to twitch. "T-…tied up? Is that so?" the prince asked, pretty sure his throat was tightening up too tight for him to breathe through with properly. Surely Merlin had just used some poorly chosen words, surely this wasn't him consort's way of telling him he knew exactly what Arthur had been thinking the entirety of this time. Arthur had been so busy panicking, thinking his father could see directly into his brain by just the look on his face, that he had never once considered Merlin may be able to do the same. And that was bad…really bad…it had to be Merlin's way of telling him that he didn't appreciate the wrongness of Arthur's mind. Fuck, fuck, fuck…

"We have to find the sorcerer!" They were cut off when Uther suddenly screamed, and their king was slamming his fist harshly against the table. Evidently, Gaius had said something to him that he didn't agree with, or appreciate. It was obviously the one thing they should all be focused on. Arthur should not be having his little spats with Merlin. And he should not be allowing Merlin to get in his head like he'd been. Merlin was naively stupid, obviously he couldn't even begin guessing the 'wrongness of his thoughts.

Arthur still glanced once more-with his full suspicion-at Merlin before turning back to his father. Trying to ignore the sweat forming on his hands, induced by his nerves and panic at Merlin possibly saying something that would elude or bring attention to his awful thoughts about what he wanted to do to him, "I do not believe that they're inside Camelot." he said as he resolved to think on the only thing that mattered. Capturing this sorcerer. Merlin had nothing to do with that. There was no reason he should be looking back at Merlin. He had no reason to wonder if Merlin was disgusted-would be disgusted-if he knew just how awful Arthur's mind was.

Uther threw out his arm, his face contorted in a rage because this sorcerer was somehow eluding their army, "Then extend the search to the villages!" He roared at his only heir in his frustration. That would have to be their next move. It was the only explanation as for why their mass army had yet to track down one witch! Clearly, the sorcerer must have done whatever trickery it did, and then took off, possibly before they had even realized what was going on yet. It-yes it, because he refused to act like a demon had any kind of gender identity-must have taken off while it still had the chance. Possibly hiding out in some abandoned farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, or a family had taken them in from the cold during the night…if anybody was harboring this sorcerer, Uther would be sure that they received the same punishment as the sorcerer itself. Only death was good for those witch sympathizers.

Arthur didn't flinch, he was far too used to his father yelling at him when something went wrong. At least he could comfort himself with knowing this sickness wasn't his fault, just not finding the sorcerer already yet was. "I've already got it started," it was one of the very few things he'd managed to order once he'd realized they were running out of places to go searching in the kingdom. "But I cannot search the entire kingdom."

That wasn't just realistic. Arthur could have the guards searching throughout the entire city, house after house, ever know hide-a-hole a sorcerer could take shelter in. But as much as he hated it, they didn't have the man power to search the kingdom. He could send platoons of men out to the other villages that dotted the country side, but there was far too many for them to comb through. And he was not able to send every one of their knights, it wasn't practical and would leave the kingdom defenseless in case there was a more direct attack. And for all he knew, the sorcerer was bouncing between villages, not staying within one place 'long enough' for them to be caught.

But Uther saw Arthur's explanation as nothing more than a petty boy making some excuse as for why this situation wasn't being handled properly, up to his stands. And his glare was near enough to cut into Arthur's very soul.

"And I cannot stand by and watch our people as they are dying!" The king was practically roaring at Arthur. As if any of this was-as if the sorcerer, and the sickness, and the deaths as a whole-was Arthur's fault. Anyone might have thought he was the one behind it all from the way the king was behaving.

Merlin frowned, his eyes drilling a hole into the prince's back. It wasn't fair of Uther to go off on him like that. As much as he detested Arthur, he wasn't blaming him for what was going on. No, Merlin's rage was sorely for all that he 'had' done. Not for things that were out of his control.

Arthur didn't dare argue back, in fact, he did not say anything at all. He knew he needed to do better, pick up the pace, get everybody-including himself-working double time. And hopefully by the next time he saw his father, he could tell him they had finally found the sorcerer. Arthur bowed his head to the king before he was striding past Gaius, ignoring Merlin completely, and leaving the room.

Merlin's frown deepened when he saw that the king wasn't even gracing his son with a look. Uther had strode across the window to look out of the window, deeming that to be much more important than wishing his son luck or giving him advice on how to handle the situation. What a very odd family dynamic it was, and that was probably why Merlin was following Arthur right out the door.

Arthur was already halfway down the hall by the time he did, and Merlin wasted no time to jog after him. He ignored Gregory who had been standing outside the door waiting for him, and was now following behind him just a few steps. "Arthur," he called out to the prince, not entirely sure why he was the one chasing after him this time. Usually he went out of his way to avoid him when he was able to. "Hey Arthur, wait up."

Arthur finally stopped at the end of the hall, a annoyed look on his face when he realized he could not outrun Merlin who was just going to follow him wherever he went, "What do you want now?" The prince asked him in a sharp voice. He had no time for Merlin and now the two were out from under his father's watchful eyes, he didn't have to pretend anymore. But for fuck's sake, he had so much to do that he didn't even have time to go and boil his hand from when he had been stroking over Merlin and his cheek. His hand was tingling oddly still from the contact.

Merlin reeled to a stop, his insanely curious mood souring in an instant as Arthur's tone. What the hell had he been thinking coming to Arthur like this, he should have just left him to do his own thing. But he was here already and Arthur was giving him that 'fucking talk or do something already' expression Merlin was more accustomed to seeing than not. "I just wanted to know why your father talks to you like that." He said boldly, looking away.

Merlin had only ever had his mother but she had never talked to him the way Uther talked to Arthur. Acting as if the prince was more of a nuisance then his own flesh and blood. It was…actually kind of sad when Merlin got to thinking about it. Because no wonder Arthur had so many anger and control issues if that was the role model he had to look up to. And then he looked back at Arthur who seemed to be confused, as if he didn't know what Merlin was getting at.

That was almost sadder, and Merlin frowned because didn't the prince see it? He had no problem with seeing Merlin whenever he did something 'wrong' but was he completely blind to his father's overreaction? It was one thing to be stressed out about what exactly was happening, but it was also quite another thing to take it out on your son for it.

But just as he saw the confusion, it was gone and Arthur was walking back to him. Merlin watched him get within arm's reach, maybe a little nervous when he saw the blank look on the prince's face. But all Arthur did was reach out and cup a hand to Merlin's shoulder, and Merlin didn't push it off like he did during the last time they were in this position.

Then Arthur smirked at him, patting down on his shoulder in that infuriating way that he'd always done, "Maybe you should stop trying to butt in where you aren't wanted, and try to worry a bit more about other things."

To think, Arthur had been-on and off over the last day or two-wondering how he was going to get his hands back on that stupid box of Merlin's so that he could have it fixed up as a treat for him. So Merlin could have something tangible to hold in his hands, so that he could see Arthur giving him things-more treats-if he complied more often. And then Merlin had to come and show up and what, ask weirdly odd questions about his relationship with his father? Why was he wanting to give this boy a treat again?

Oh, right. Because his father thought it would make Merlin happy. And a happy Merlin was a Merlin that wouldn't try to take their kingdom away if he ever found out about the clause in the contract. And Arthur obviously wasn't so good with words or with compliments, and he knew his odd behavior back in the grand hall was even enough to raise some red flags for Merlin. So a gift would be a better way to go, no talking necessary. Just shove it at him and move on with his life…

"Anyway," Arthur slowly took his hand off of Merlin's shoulder, still smirking when he saw the way Merlin's eyes followed his hand like a magnet. "Maybe one of those things should be your dressing. I cannot believe you went to a meeting with my father looking like that, I am paying for your manservant. The least he could do is make sure you're presentable."

Like he said, not good with words…

Merlin watched as Arthur strode away from him, off to do whatever princely things he had to do that needed his attention. And then his fist clenched tightly against his side, eyes blazing like the sun hitting the ocean as he kept them trained firmly on the square of the prince's back until he had rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.

Merlin felt cold and unsettled. He didn't like it at all. He'd done literally everything he could to separate himself from Arthur. Everything sort of asking for a straight up divorce, which he wasn't even sure he 'could' do. He'd tried to get a job so that he could be independent and not have to depend on Arthur for one little thing. He'd moved out to get some kind of distance where Arthur wouldn't be able to watch his every little step nearly as easily as he had been. That part of the plan had been blown up when he realized Gregory was now being paid to watch his every step. But that one wasn't his fault. Nothing he could do was going to make Gregory disobey Arthur and leave him alone, so his best bet would be to sneak out his window whenever he could. But now that Arthur had mentioned George, the manservant he hadn't seen in a few days…it made Merlin realize just how under Arthur's thumb he still was. Still depending on him for George, he'd gotten a little 'too' comfortable depending on a manservant during his month of isolation.

Merlin may not have seen George but that did not mean that he wasn't still hanging around the place somewhere. It didn't mean that he couldn't just call upon him whenever it was he wanted, order him to do whatever it was he wanted and know that George would do it with that efficient way he seemed to do every little thing. He was still reaping the benefits of being a consort, which was the exact thing he didn't want. How was he supposed to get back to his roots if he had a manservant, the peasants like him didn't exactly have any kind of servant at their beck and call.

He wasn't Arthur, spoiled and self righteous with no consideration for other. He wasn't a toddler or a man-child. Merlin was perfectly capable of cleaning his own room…it didn't get done all the time but that was more of a personal choice on his part, it was easier to see what he had when his room was more in a disorganized chaos. But he could wash his shit just fine, he didn't need somebody else to come in and do it for him. He didn't need to have somebody go and get him his own lunch. He had legs and could walk himself down to the kitchen if he had to, and that was only if his uncle hadn't already taken charge and made them lunch himself.

…This was something else he had to do to get himself as far separated from Arthur as he possibly could…George would have to go.

"Are you coming back with me? I still have a few more tests I can run." Gaius said standing right behind him. Merlin jumped so high that he felt his heart going straight up into his own throat. He hadn't realized Gaius had followed him after a few more short words with Uther in his chambers.

Merlin let a breath escape him when he saw it was just his uncle. At least it wasn't Arthur, deciding to come back to say something else to try and ruin Merlin's day. And then Merlin realized Gaius was still waiting for an answer and his brain scrambled to remember what the question was.

"No, there's something I need to do before I come back. But I'll be there soon to help out, whatever you need." Merlin decided after the question came flooding back to mind.

He supposed he could have gone so that he could observe some of those other tests that Gaius was planning on running. It really was quite fascinating, but there also wasn't much he could actually do on his own without his uncle having to observe his every move just to make sure he was doing so-and-so the right way. And there was something that he wanted to check out before he got himself elbow deep in something.

Gaius nodded his head, but before Merlin could leave, the old physician told him before he came back, to grab some extra vials from the storage chambers. He didn't know how many he would need but he figured with all of the tests he wanted to do on the water, so he could pinpoint what exactly was in it that was causing the sickness, he didn't have enough on hand in his chambers. His chambers were not the biggest room around, so he couldn't get every supply on hand. He had the extra supplies that he didn't need to use everyday-or extra equipment in case the ones he kept with him were broken-stored away in a few storage closets hidden around the castle.

Plus, it was just practical to have these safety caches in place in case of an emergency. Like if the castle went into lock down during some kind of invasion and the wounded were being carted in and out at any given moment. There might not be accessible way to get back into the physician's chambers.

Merlin agreed to grab some before leaving to the Royal suites-only because he knew what he needed to do would be up there-with his 'bodyguard' trotting dutifully right behind him.

X

Merlin made it up to the Royal wing in record time, bounding up the Royal Staircase two at a time. It almost felt weird to be up here now that he'd moved out, as if he didn't belong or as if this place was now off limits to him. But nobody tried stopping him, especially not as he had the big hulking form of Gregory, who stood by his side every step of the way.

Obviously, it was all in his head though. It was not common knowledge-amazing enough as most people seemed to know things around here before Merlin himself did-that he wasn't living here any longer. But he was still-even if it was loathing to him-the Royal Consort, free to go anywhere he pleased or wanted.

Especially his Old Suite.

But Merlin wasn't interested in rehashing his unfortunate past-the past that was all of two days age before he moved out, and was far to ready to move on from-so he walked straight past his room without a look at the closed door, ready to forget that it ever existed. He ignored Arthur's door as he passed it by as well, thanking whatever heavily being there was out there that Arthur was nowhere near. They had a habit of fighting for hours long at a time whenever they got together.

He stopped only when he got to the doorway of Lady Morgana. He can hear voices going on inside, and that makes him brighten up as he can just imagine Gwen is sharing her good news with Morgana. He can just imagine her excitement, sharing and spreading the news that her father had lived. Her father had been spared of the sickness and had emerged out of the freezing grip of death when it tried to take him. Now all Merlin had to do was make sure there was no side effects to the magic he had used, nothing to indicate his spell had not been strong enough to keep the sickness at bay for more than a day or two. It was his first healing spell after all, and he wanted to make sure he had done it proper.

He had to pause before he could enter when he noticed Gregory trying to follow him, and he stopped short. Gregory took his duty as a bodyguard far too seriously for Merlin's taste.

"Gregory, unless Gwen is some kind of master assassin whose managed to fool the entire kingdom all these years, then I'm sure I'm going to come out alive." Merlin spoke in a painstakingly slow voice. He knew Gregory reported everything he did to Arthur, and he was not above making that as hard as he was able to make it. Besides, he'd love to hear the report where Gregory tells Arthur he spent an unspecified amount of private time within the room of his father's ward. With the sweet and kind handmaiden that gave him the flower he oh, so hated.

Gregory didn't look happy about not having his eyes on Merlin at any given time, but then again, he never looked happy. Always looking as if he was made out of some kind of brick wall, impassive. But the knight didn't argue with him against it, nor did he say any kind of word before taking his spot against the wall next to Morgana's door.

With the knight in place, Merlin walked into Morgana's bed chambers, already grinning with anticipation, knowing that he would find Gwen inside, doing her normal everyday duty for Morgana.

The door swung closed behind him, Merlin's smile became a bit more fixated as he took in the scene in front of him. Gwen was inside of the room alright, but the other voice he had heard wasn't Morgana's. Not unless the lady had suddenly decided to get a 'very' awfully done hair cut, including dye. Changing those long flowing skirts and thick dresses of hers into poorly done trousers, as well as her very feminine figure smoothing out into the flat planes of a male.

"And another thing-" Morris continued to talk to Gwen, apparently not noticing Merlin had walked in on the scene. The scene where the manservant was lecturing Gwen, practically berating her as he foamed at the mouth as he continued his rampage. "If you aren't going to bother folding things in the proper manner that it's supposed to be in-" Gwen had been holding a purple garment-one of Morgana's many, many dresses-slung over her arms and held close to her chest, nodding her head to Morris' words as if she was trying to appease him to get him to stop yelling at her. But now, Morris was snatching that garment right out of Gwen's hands, clenching the folds of the dress in his unworthy hands as she flinched back with surprise. "Then why are you even employed here to begin with?"

Morris crumbled the dress into a ball before throwing it at the floor between their feet so that he could stop the fabric with the heel of his boot. A huge ass boot print formed by the dirt appearing on the lighter colored bodice on the chest of the dress. And leaving Gwen looking morosely down at the dress she had painstakingly washed, laundered, straighten out the wrinkles, and folded now in one big crumbled heap on the floor. It was a miracle alone that he hadn't ripped it with all of the maltreatment Morris had given the delicate fabric.

"What is going on here?" Merlin demanded sharply, voice coming out in a protective kind of snarl when he saw Gwen's mistreatment. It was the smug look on Morris' face that had him though, looking so satisfied with himself over hurting Gwen. Some kind of 'big man' because he could talk ugly to a girl that was half his size. The smugness dropped in an instant though, both of them whipping their heads around when they finally noticed that he was standing there.

Morris must have decided that Merlin was not somebody he needed to play his false games of respect with, because he rolled his eyes as soon as he saw it was him. And not anybody else that would be able to toss him straight in the dungeons, like Morgana herself. "What is happening doesn't concern you." Morris said himself, waving a hand at Merlin as if he was trying to shop him away like a dog. "So, go on and do whatever it is you were doing. Gweny and I were having a private discussion."

Merlin clenched his jaw tight at the name he heard him call Gwen. He'd only heard Gwen being called that by one person: her father who'd almost been the latest in the long line of people suffering from the sick. It didn't feel right to here it come from the lips belonging to somebody like Morris, somebody who had this antagonistic attitude towards Merlin ever since the day they met. It was exactly why he found himself sliding into place so that it was him standing between Morris and Gwen, with a protective air around him as he shielded the girl from the manservant's view.

"She's my friend." Merlin spoke up, narrowing his eyes at the other boy as he scowled with a dark intent. He hadn't forgotten the way the manservant seemed to have taken pleasure in telling him the town had been cordoned off not that long ago. How he was just as smug about it then, taking his enjoyment out of the misery of other's. Somebody like that made Merlin wonder what exactly was wrong with the human race, and how somebody like him had managed to last so long in Arthur's own employment. "So it certainly does concern me. Nothing gives you the right to talk to her like that."

Gwen was probably the sweetest person he had ever met. She was the kind of person who saw a stranger locked in the stocks and instead of laughing herself silly or buying her own produce to throw, walked on over before introducing herself. That was how friendships started, how their's started.

Morris was snooty, his nose tilted up in the air as if Merlin was the one beneath him and not the other way around, his hands going to his hips in a false show of bravado. He pointed a gnarly finger at Gwen peeking out from over Merlin's shoulder, "I caught her folding Lady Morgana's nightgowns the wrong way! The way she was doing it will form creases in the garment. No doubt hoping Lady Morgana will just toss it to her when she realizes it's faded out and losing its shape!"

Merlin blinked slowly at him, and then he did it again. And for good measure, he blinked one more time. That…Morris had a stick up his arse because he thought Gwen wasn't up to folding a dress properly…that was just so weird. The difference in problems between those in the castle and those in the streets were clearly more vast than he had thought at first. The way Morris had been acting as he came in, one would've thought Gwen had just committed some kind of heinous crime that needed a severe punishment. Like he found out she'd murdered somebody. Or kicked a puppy. Or was sneaking bits of Morgana's jewelry into her pockets. Not…issues about the laundry. Laundry that had nothing to do with Morris as he had nothing to do with how Morgana's stuff went to begin with.

And behind him, Gwen was starting to go off protesting, as if she thought Merlin might go believing this ridiculousness and discipline her for it, "The way I do it has never caused creases!" she whimpered, and Merlin could feel her small hand grabbing onto the back of his jacket as to steady herself, hand unclench and clenching back. "And Lady Morgana had never said anything about the way I've done her clothing!"

Merlin found it highly unnerving that Morris had nothing better to do than pick on the other servants. With how the nobles would constantly strut around the place and acting as if they were God's gift to the world, one would think the servants would try and band themselves together. Not cause friction that had no reason to be there. But he bent down and picked up the dress, ruined but that was only because of Morris' mistreatment and not anything to do with Gwen.

"There's nothing wrong with this dress." He said, annoyed because he had to mediate the situation that Morris caused because he had nothing better to do with his sad, sad little life. "I'm positive that Gwen knows what she's doing."

He passed the dress over to Gwen, folded up into the ball Morris had forced it into, passing her a small smile to let her know that Morris wasn't going to be bothering her anymore. It was Gwen who carefully took the dress from him, smiling wearily and clearly embarrassed that she had 'dragged' him into her problems as she clutched the dress up against her own chest. Merlin didn't really see what the huge deal was about a dress, it wasn't like it was going to kill anyone if Morgana had one less dress than she did earlier. And seeing as the handmaiden had been working directly under Morgana for at least seven or eight years, he was sure she had a pretty good handle on how to do her own damn job. Which was why there should be absolutely no interference of any kind coming from 'Morris' of all people.

Morris nose went even higher up into the air than what Merlin thought possible. All he had to do was change his clothes to something a noble would wear and Morris would probably fit right in, the way he was sniffing with clear disdain at him, "And I am positive that she doesn't know. And no offense," but the way he said it made it clear that he 'meant' plenty of offense. "But what would you know about cleaning a lady's delicates."

Merlin could feel a steady redness coming up high on his cheeks, because Morris did have a point, what 'did' he know about cleaning a lady's delicates. He was embarrassed to talk about Morgana's clothing in this context at all. His mother had always handled her own washing so how did he know if girls would do something different to their own clothes than a man would. And maybe there was also this kind of different between a peasant woman's washing and a nobles. He supposed all those tricks fabrics and multiple layers had to have some kind of difference when washing. But Merlin pushed his embarrassment aside, as Morgana herself wasn't hear to take up for Gwen. So it would have to be him.

"And what you understand about it?" Merlin asked as he adopted the same snooty tone of voice Morris had been using against him this entire time. "Don't you work directly for Arthur? Unless there's something I need to know, I don't think Arthur has anything in his closet that resembles a 'lady's delicates' for you to worry about."

Behind him, Merlin could feel Gwen giving a sudden squeeze of embarrassment, her face looking nearly purple from the embarrassing image Merlin had just conjured in all of their minds. Merlin couldn't blame her either as he was 'very' disturbed at where his own mind now was: Arthur sitting on the edge of those red sheets his bed was covered in, wearing one of Morgana's silky purple negligees. Or hell, maybe just running around his room in a ladies undergarments…Merlin wrinkled his nose at it. Arthur was 'way' too broad to go making that work. And if Arthur already hated him, then he was going to hate him 'so' much more if word of that ever got out.

In front of him, Morris also looked as if he was turning this dangerous shade of purple as he stared horrified at Merlin, "H-how dare you!" Morris choked out, his voice shaking as if his rage was becoming too much for him to handle. "How dare you talk about the prince in that manner, do you not have any kind of shame at all?!"

Merlin had plenty of shame about a lot of things actually. For one, he was ashamed that he was actually 'married' to Arthur. Who would want to be known as the guy tied to a spoiled prince who took his fun out of being mean to those less fortunate than him. Well, that was Merlin's take on it since most people he'd come across seemed to see Arthur as the victim instead of the other way around. It was Merlin though, who was starting to feel the deep rooted shame whenever he saw his ring, wondering to himself if this was 'really' his life now. If there was truly no way to get out of it intact. Now, if only that was his only shame in the world. If only he-sometimes as he laid alone in his bed late at night when his thoughts wondered to parts he pushed back in the light of day-didn't also feel shame that he was a sorcerer. Don't get him wrong, he loved his magic more than anything. It was a part of him, a part of who he was, he'd even found himself being able to use it to help the people in need-even if that 'people' seemed to mostly be Arthur. But it was hard, knowing at any moment that somebody might be able to discover him. To know that if people could see what he could do, they would run away to scream at the top of their lungs as if he was some kind of monster.

…it was lonely, being the only one who could do what he could. Being the only one that he knew who could use magic at all…

But Merlin had lived a lifetime with that kind of shame swirling around inside him at every hour of the day. So he found it easy to push the pain down, to squish it into nothingness as he smiled cheekily at Morris, content to ignore that it was ever there until the next time it was forced up to the surface, "I don't think Arthur really cares what I think of him, so nope. Not really shamed by it."

If Arthur cared at all what Merlin thought of him, then maybe the married life wouldn't be so bad….who was he kidding? It'll probably be just as bad as anything else Camelot had brought him.

Morris seemed to go even more purple due to Merlin's apparent nonchalance, raging at Merlin, "Don't you understand a thing about our society?" He demanded harshly. He was the consort but all Morris cared was how he was absolutely awful, unfit, should just go be incarcerated somewhere where he wouldn't be an embarrassment to the throne for any longer, "You should feel ashamed of yourself for interfering in castle business! What goes on among the servants is-" he gritted down his teeth to force out the remaining words in his throat. "Beneath your station. And all the underlings need to know the place they have been given in our society."

Merlin felt his shoulders line up sharply as he straightened up, absolutely hating that sort of phrase. Camelot was so restrictive, telling everyone through the things expected of them what they should be. Peasants needed to stay in the lower town where they belonged according to the rules of the city. It was why they were currently blocked off from getting any help, from being able to cross the gates, forced to stay in their lane until the end of their days. Even nobles were forced in a role deemed suitable for them. Becoming knights or guards or any other person that could stand in power. Merlin himself was in a loop where everyone was trying to pull him in a million different directions, telling him who they thought he should be.

Be a consort who does this…

A consort is supposed to act like this…

A consort does not do this…

You're not a peasant any longer…

And then there was Morris, glaring over his shoulder at Gwen who had her eyes casted downward. Acting ashamed of her station in life because of Morris' arrogance.

"And what makes you think you're the one to say who belongs where?" Demanded Merlin in a harsh voice. Merlin, who was always in a struggle to break out of the box people would want him to stay in. Merlin, who just wanted to be who he was without compromising for himself on what other people he wanted him to be. "What makes you think you are any better than Gwen?"

Morris sounded more pompous than he had during this entire conversation, bringing his hand up to rest squarely on his chest, like he thought he was something else, "I happen to be the manservant of Camelot's sole prince. It gives me 'status' among the servants of the castle. And Guinevere over there, standing as if she's a scared little kitten, is just a serving girl. I have ever right to correct her if I see her doing wrong."

Merlin wondered if the guard outside would be of any use too him right about now. It was so easy to be tempted to just grab Gregory and see if he could have Morris tossed on out of here. But for all he knew, Gregory was just like all the other knights and wouldn't care to laugh in his face if he actually tried to ask for something. He was just here to 'protect' him or whatever crap Arthur must have peddled to him. He wasn't here to get involved with a petty argument such as this one. And Morris was a dick, he just had to say to himself. This was something he could do on his own, not wanting to have anything to do with the awful dreaded 'consort' side of his life.

"Real thrilling, being Arthur's servant." Merlin said, clenching his jaw. Morris must be some kind of fanatic or closet over obsessed fan if he thought being Arthur's servant was just so great. Hell, at this point, Merlin would rather have been Arthur's manservant than anything like his consort. At least as a manservant, he would have a 'real job' and be getting paid for it instead of being handed things he definitely didn't want because he hadn't done anything for them other than putting on a ring that he wished he could melt it down and possibly forge it into something a bit more useful. "But isn't Gwen the personal handmaiden to Lady Morgana, the king's ward? And isn't Morgana treated as if she was the actual Princess? I'm sure that means the two of you would be the same status wise."

Personally, Merlin thought Gwen was worth ten of Morris. He knew that Gwen would have 'never' tried to push what little bit of power she had onto the other serving staff. Even if the personal servants to the Royal family are the highest in terms of servant, Gwen wasn't cruel. Wasn't mean. Didn't try to stand on top of somebody else and laugh as they tried in vain to gather their footing in this cruel world.

Morris looked offended by the mere mention that he and Gwen could be considered to be on the same platform instead of him standing far above her, like he seemed to think he was doing. "That is not true." Morris hissed in an angry tone, like some kind of overgrown man child, angry that somebody else had pointed out the obvious. "Arthur is the king's one and only child, no matter how he might treat his ward. Everybody knows the king is just only biding his time until he finds a suitable match for her. One that can actually be a benefit for the good of the kingdom since his heir's own match failed so spectacularly."

"That's not true!" Gwen protested for the first time behind Merlin. Not speaking up for her own defense, but for the defense of others that she cared about. "Uther cares very much for Lady Morgana! It's exactly why she hasn't been married off yet! And Merlin is doing a good job as cons-"

Merlin was pretty sure Gwen was just about to claim that he was doing a good job as the consort. But while he appreciated any kind of sentiment she was trying to show, he also knew full well that this wasn't true. Anybody else under the sun could do a much better job, would know how to talk to these people who liked to dismiss him in spades. Maybe somebody else could have used the right words needed to show Arthur just how wrong cordoning off the lower town actually was. It was probably somebody else who would be able to stand in Arthur's presence without wishing he could just scratch his entire face off until he physically looked just as Merlin looked on a daily basis.

"You delusional, little girl-" Morris started as he sneered, face scrunched up in Gwen's direction over Merlin's shoulder. Calling her a little girl even though they were all around the same age, give or take a year or two at the most.

"Shut up." Merlin interrupted before Morris was able to finish what was no doubt going to be something very disgusting or cruel. Morris could say whatever he wanted to Merlin, he knew that he could take it. But he wouldn't be allowing the same be done to Gwen. Not if he was here to stop it. For the girl who helped him find a way to cart a marble dog statue up like five sets of stairs without asking him why he needed it. "You don't get to talk to her like that." Nobody did.

Morris lips thinned with veiled disgust aimed sorely at Merlin now, his fists tight against his side as if he wanted to deck Merlin directly in the face. But he resisted because he'd knew that was going a step too far. He'd be thrown out on his arse if the consort started going around with a vivid bruised mark decorating his cheek. "I suppose I may just forgive you for interjecting yourself where you clearly do not belong." Morris started with a sneer as he forcibly calmed himself down. The calmness in his voice didn't stop the anger shining out of his eyes. "And because I don't believe you have been here long enough to know exactly how things work around here. But Gwen was in sorely need of my help. And the personal servant to the prince of Camelot will always trump the handmaiden to the king's ward."

Merlin gritted his teeth because it always came back to status, didn't it? He hadn't realized even the servants tried to flex what little power they could have over the other, to be the one in charge during their otherwise powerless life. Unless Morris was just the one who was different. And it made Merlin want to know if Arthur knew he was going around flexing his princely name in front of others like he was. "Gwen doesn't need your help at all! Not the kind of help that you're trying to force at her!" Merlin shouted, not allowing his eyes to start from Morris just in case he tried something. Merlin always had this suspicion that Morris was planning something, hiding behind his job like he thought it was some kind of barricade that would keep him from being found out. Well, Merlin didn't care how many layers he had to peel back, he would be finding out Morris' secrets one of these days.

Morris' face seemed to smooth over with an almost frightening sense of speed. Even the anger from his eyes had gone dormant so he could make room for the blankness in his features instead. Morris took a step closer to them, opening his arms out in a false gesture of pleasantries, "Now, Consort Merlin, please listen to me because I am trying to help you out here-"

Merlin laughed at that before he managed to finish what he was saying, unable to believe just how ridiculous that statement was, "You-you are trying to help me? By mistreating her like that? This is going to be a real good explanation, isn't it?" He finished off with this sarcastic undertone as he crossed his arms firmly across his chest.

Merlin knew that Morris held this 'extremely' high amount of pride for himself-which was just odd if you asked him since he was just a servant. The servant to a prince which might meant he was better off then most of the other servants, but a servant was a servant either way. It seemed strange to hold such a pride over the position. But Merlin started to see that it clearly went far beyond that. The manservant obviously thought 'far' too highly of himself, acting as if the castle itself would fall down around him if he didn't take charge over the others.

"But you are royalty, not a servant." Morris continued talking, as if Merlin hadn't said any thing at all. It was like all the anger was gone from him. Merlin didn't want to say he wasn't angry anymore, didn't want to say the anger had been washed right out of his system so that he could explain his side of things more calmly. It felt more like Morris was just better at hiding his anger, and was just waiting for the right moment to strike. "So what happens to us, or our disputes, really has nothing to do with you."

But Morris had made the huge mistake of reminding Merlin of his position in this crazy fucked up world. He hated being referred to as-a Royal-and wished the entire world could just die so that he wouldn't have to hear it in reference to himself ever again. But Morris was the type to take stock in such a thing, to think the position you were given in life made you who you were. And while Merlin would be more than content to fade straight into the background nowadays, Gwen needed a royal to protect her. Not another peasant who may just end up in the dungeons if he started up a fist fight. And wasn't it a royal's job to protect the people living in their domain? Not like the prince or the king was really enforcing what a Royal 'should' be doing, but if Merlin had to be stuck with it, the least he could do was be better.

Merlin squared his shoulders back again and glared at Morris, tilting his chin just this little bit higher, "It has everything to do with me." He said back. It wasn't like Merlin was ever the kind of person to just walk away when he saw injustice being down. Morris himself was able to contest to that, considering the first time they'd seen each other was when Merlin was trying to stop Arthur from abusing him. It was probably he should have just walked away from if he knew how much a pain Morris would become to him later on. "Gwen is my friend."

In retrospect, maybe mentioning who Gwen was to him wasn't the best call. Wasn't royals supposed to be more detached than that? So they could remain impartial and get the job done without any emotional attachments that could ruin what you were trying to do. Merlin though, personally thought that was a load of crap. He was only here because of Gwen, so why shouldn't he let himself say it. Besides, it wasn't like he was the typical Royal to begin with anyway. It wasn't like he could go make anything worse for himself, he may as well try to use what 'power' he had to make sure the people like Gwen would be treated fairly even if he himself wasn't.

The nobles thought he was nothing more than a joke. Servants thought he was trying to get ahead in life by marrying far above his means. But the least he could do was protect Gwen from some moron on this misguided power trip.

Morris seemed to latch onto the word 'friend' as if it was some kind of terminal illness. The worse kind of illness that Morris apparently thought was funny, before he snorted loudly at Merlin's proclamation. Realizing that he'd been 'uncouth', Morris brought a hand up to cover his mouth and let out this breathy little laugh, almost like how a noblewoman would when asserting herself in a male dominated conversation, "Are you being serious right now? You, a noble of the highest regard, is going to waste his time defending just a mere servant?" Morris lifted an eyebrow at Merlin in question. "What, are you planning to go off defending all of the servants that will laugh at you behind your back, if only because most of them are too scared to do it directly in your face?"

Merlin could feel his face burning red hot at this reminder. The servants might not go on shoving him around like the knights did, but their meaning was still as cutting. When they would freeze him out, turning their backs to him and pretending as if they can't hear him when he tries to talk to them. And that was only when they weren't trying to talk him into spending his 'voluminous' mountain of gold coins on their wares. But he didn't realize that somebody-but he really should have seen it coming from Morris out of all people-would go throwing it back in his face. If the servants were so bold as to do what they did-talking about how awful he was doing, passing their half baked theories around over how he came to be Consort, telling him how he must have done something to Arthur to make him turn on him. Everybody seemed to be taking their cues on how to treat him by how they'd seen him treat Merlin-then he could only imagine what it was they said behind his back.

Merlin's eyes were practically blazing out of his skull, "If I have to." He said boldly. Gwen was nothing like those people in the streets looking for a handout and then cursing him to his face when he didn't give it to them. Gwen was someone who would give another one of her carefully picked flowers just so they'd be able to feel better. Merlin knew how it felt to be bullied around by people who'd thought they were better than you, who thought they were above the world and you were nothing more than scum underneath their boot. She out of anybody, didn't do serve to be treated with disdain and harassment while trying to do her damn job.

Morris clicked his tongue, giving Merlin this sympathetic look. As if he thought Merlin was just some cut little ducking, and it was his job in life to make sure Merlin could waddle right through life. "Consort Merlin, I truly fear that you might not know much about your actual role around here. Or at least how your newest station in life dictates how you are supposed to act."

Merlin tried not to let his insecurities show on his face, even though Morris had been hitting pretty much everyone of them dead on. He'd been having such a hard time transitioning in between his peasant roots and the Consort role he was forced into. There were often-more times than he cared to admit-where he felt like he was just drowning under all of this pressure he'd been forced under. It felt like he was floundering, trying to keep himself afloat during a tsunami. Whose crashing waves kept piling up on his head and forcing him beneath the surface with far more ease then his sore muscles wanted to admit.

But was he really acting so transparent that Morris could see right through him? Merlin clenched his hands into tight balls of fists at his side, "I'm sure I'm starting to get a pretty good idea of what being Consort means." He lied boldly, trying to not be as transparent as he had been. He might not know how to talk to 'nobles' and he might not have one damn idea rather or not him just walking outside his room would cause Arthur 'embarrassment' or whatever other shit he peddled. But he knew what he would want a consort to be, if he was the one sitting on the outside and watching the Royal family from afar. Someone that saw something that was wrong and actually tried to do something about it. "You know, since I have been living as one for over two months."

Morris made Merlin feel as if he thought he could do a much better job, and could face all of the heat and challenges Merlin had been hurtling through without losing even a strand of hair out of place. As if Morris thought he was strong enough to handle the burden that came with the crown. As if he could handle these two months that had been nothing less than absolute hell. Merlin could have lived to be quite happy if these last two months had never happened, but he didn't have any kind of luxuries like wishing things could go back to normal.

He just had to keep pushing on and hope that he can change his own luck around as those days continued to pass.

And then Morris was grinning at him, acting as if he was a friend to Merlin. But Merlin did not think he was any kind of friend at all, just one more person who thought Merlin might be dumb enough to actually fall for any of his crap. "Two months or not, it clearly hasn't been enough time for you to accumulate to our ways." Morris said with a flippant way of his hand, seemingly forgetting the reason for their argument was because of Gwen while he focused entirely on Merlin. "I would have thought by now, that the prince or somebody else would have seen to your education by this point."

Morris seemed to smirk at him, acting as if he found that funny. The idea that Merlin-even with all of the resources now offered up to him-was still stuck with an ordinary peasant education. IE: nothing. This conversation was a game to Morris, a game that he was going to win because Merlin didn't know the rules of it. Or even know they were in the middle of said game.

"Why are you so interested in my education all of a sudden?" Merlin demanded, trying to figure out how their conversation had gone from defending Gwen to making fun of Merlin for being nothing more than a dumb peasant boy. He'd already learned so much since he'd entered Camelot, much more than he would ever be able to learn back in Ealdor. But what he had learned was nowhere near the level of what somebody born a noble would know. He getting an education was probably one of the few things that Arthur hadn't offered him way back when he'd been trying to give Merlin all the things under the sun to appease him not getting a job.

"I'm just showing some concern for the future of our kingdom." Morris said softly, as he stored deeply and sorrowfully in Merlin's direction. Blinking innocently. "I mean, if you are going to put your neck out on the line for a random serving girl, then the least you can do is be properly educated as to back it up in case…well, the next person might not be as nice as I am."

Merlin lifted an eyebrow at that, "You call this being nice?" He asked. If this was nice then he might just go back and start bugging that certain prince of his on purpose. At least the blonde didn't lie and pretend he was trying to be nice to him…other than when he was acting all condescending. And don't even get himself started on Morris calling Gwen some random serving girl. Gwen was anything but random, she was the kind of girl that meant a wheelbarrow to him without asking him any questions he might not be able to answer.

But Morris might go off on some random tirade over how Merlin was Consort and how he shouldn't be 'playing favorites' among the serving staff.

Morris seemed to color just the slightest bit, as if realizing Merlin wasn't fooled at all by his 'let's be nice but only because we have to be' bit that he was doing. But Morris recovered himself pretty easily, his expression dropping until it once more revealed that blank mask that always creeped Merlin out, the one that looked as if his eyes were dead. But as soon as Merlin saw it, it was gone again, vanished only to be replaced with a semi-mocking bit of a smile.

"The peasant education must be poorer than I even thought." Said Morris cooly. He might be a peasant himself but he was also servant of the castle. He'd been taught a few things when he'd been being trained up, just basics to get him by if his master-if Arthur as that would turn out to be later on-left him behind a list of chores to complete and such. But he had gone overboard on educating himself by smuggling books out of the castle before he had brought them back before they'd even been missed. And Merlin was an extremely poor choice for Consort if he didn't even see for himself that he needed to be a bit more pro-active if he was going to survive long in this castle. "I mean, do you even know how to introduce yourself properly?"

That brought Merlin up short, where all he did was stare at Morris with a blank expression for a long minute. How to introduce himself properly? He had no idea what the hell that was supposed to mean because it had to be some kind of trick or something. Or did that manservant think his education-the little bit of learning lessons his mother had managed to scrape together over the years with their meager means-was so poor that he didn't even know how to say his own name. Merlin hated how confused he sounded when he said, "…I say, hello. My name is Merlin…" this was pretty much what he had told Arthur the day they met. In the courtyard where they'd gotten into their first fight just mere moments before Merlin would find out who Arthur was.

Even before he had finished his sentence, he knew that he was wrong. And not because of how Morris slapped a hand to his forehead as he looked for all the world to see, as if he was seriously considering jumping right over the balcony to escape the piss poor future they were all headed towards if they depended on Merlin to do anything with the kingdom. But it was also because Merlin saw Gwen pinching the bridge of her nose, looking less suicidal and more exasperated.

"Er…Merlin, that's not really how the nobles are going to expect you to-" Gwen started in her soft tone, lowering her hand from around her nose so that she could educate him on what would be expected of him. After years of watching Morgana play the field and make friends among the other nobles, Gwen left to trail right behind her, she knew some key points that nobles looked out for. Things like confidence, and elegant word choice, and even how people walked could be judged and socially executed if deemed not perfect.

"No, no, no!" Morris interrupted with great rapid fever, shaking his hands back and forth in time with his head, interrupting Gwen with his exclamation. It was apparently that Merlin and his complete lack of such a basic thing was offending him. So badly offended that he actually took this time to impart on Merlin a bit of the knowledge he had gotten over the years in Arthur's service. "This is the way you are supposed to do it."

Merlin watched dumbstruck, bringing a hand up to scratch through his hair baffled as he saw Morris straighten himself up. He went to smooth out his features again, only looking less creepy and more practiced. It did make Merlin wonder rather or not Morris wasted his time away by practicing this in the mirror, the manservant's hands resting confidentiality at his sides with his feet spread apart to match the width of his shoulders. It looked just like how Arthur always stood, confident and sure of himself.

"You tilt your head like so," Morris said as he lifted his chin up, giving the illusion that he was the one in charge instead of the other way around. "To show your respect when a visitor is in the castle. But remember to keep your back straight, your shoulders back, and lift your head up high because you shouldn't ever be the one that's bowed. Bowing down is for other people, and you are the one that's in charge as the one in the host kingdom. You specifically should always say:" he stopped here just long enough to clear his voice so he could make himself sound more professional than his squeaky voice would usually dictate. "Its an honor to welcome you to our kingdom. I am Lord Morr-Merlin Pendragon, the Royal Consort of Prince Arthur of Camelot."

Merlin caught the slip up Morris had made, when he almost said his own name instead of Merlin's. It was really all the confirmation that he truly needed to 'know' that Morris wanted what he had. And considering it looked as if he practiced all of this in a mirror, and did so with quite a bit of frequency considering how 'professional' or whatever the word should be, it was a touch more on the creepy side than Merlin wanted to admit.

"Well?" Morris demanded his attention when Merlin didn't answer at first, looking irritated and impatient. Or it was more like when the consort didn't start to worship right at his feet, bagging for the other boy to waste his time trying to teach Merlin all of the finer steps in 'being a prat'. "Aren't you going to say anything, Lord Merlin?" He delivered the last words with a mocking undertone.

It was probably the first time Merlin had been called 'Lord' Merlin, and let him tell you, that left a sour taste in his mouth. Lord Merlin was somebody that he wasn't, somebody that the people were trying to force him into being. A 'Lord Merlin' was somebody like Arthur, that somebody who could go to a party inside of the castle and mingle like it was nobody's business. Somebody who could easily walk the walk and talk the talk, somebody that the people bowed down their graces too. But only because 'Lord Merlin' was in a position of power and now because he had actually done anything to earn it. 'Lord Merlin' wasn't …him.

Usually people just referred to him as the Consort or Sir-which he disgustingly hated just as much-and that was only when they were talk to him at all. And now he had Morris in front of him, saying all of these over the top pretentious things that he didn't want to hear…

"I am not saying that." Merlin said bluntly as he refused to even entertain the idea. Merlin wasn't some puppet on a string, expected to perform only when it was deemed ready to do so. Merlin had to draw a line somewhere, and this was definitely going to have to be a 'not gonna happen' scenario.

Morris' lips thinned into this harsh line over what he felt was Merlin snubbing him. Fine he thought to himself, if Merlin didn't want what amazing help he could give him, then Morris wasn't going to waste his time. Besides, if he was such an embarrassment on the throne, then the people will be relieved when Morris himself took over the job.

Morris smoothed his face out and waved his hand in that flippant manner than he used, "I don't want to hear you saying I never tried to help you then. But we've gotten 'far' from our topic of discussion. The point of the matter I am trying to make still stands-" Morris only stopped talking long enough so that he could point his gnarly finger back in Gwen's direction.

Gwen had been watching the interaction between Merlin and Morris with worried eyes, fearful and wondering if she would have to run to find a guard if things turned ugly. The two of them certainly looked like they'd been about to get into it. But now, Gwen flinched at the sudden attention being turned onto her. It was upsetting, embarrassing actually, to have Merlin walk in on this. But it was even more humiliating to have this sudden attention on her when all she'd wanted to do was put away her lady's laundry.

Morris continued to talk with a self righteous tone of his, "She isn't friends with royals, she is a maid and needs to be-often-" he sneered the word. And it made Merlin wonder if that was more than a one time occurrence and if Morris did this often. "Reminded of her place in life. You should just see her running around with Lady Morgana, acting as if she's friends with her instead of her being her mistress."

"I have seen them together." Merlin corrected firmly. And he liked the way they interacted together, acting more like the friends they were instead of what society had decided they 'should' act. If only everybody else was as kind and sweet as Morgana was, treating their servants with the respect they deserved after all the hard ward they did.

Morris next words shocked everybody but he seemed to take pleasure in their dumbstruck expressions, smirking with pleased ease to unsettle them, "I think that you should just be happy that your new status protects you from my generous helping. There's only so much I can do if the 'Consort' himself refuses any of my services."

Merlin and Gwen whipped their heads to look at each other with slacked jaws, unable to go believing how low Morris was getting. How he was so 'absolutely' cocky because he knew it was something nobody was going to stop. As Gwen was just a servant, her complains may be brushed off as nothing more than a petty resentment if she tried to go to the servants head steward to lodge an official statement about it. And Merlin…he could do quite many things. He could try to take matters into his own hands, have fists fights and the like and he would probably fare much better than he had against Arthur. Morris hadn't exactly had any training in how to defend himself. But he also knew it wouldn't change Morris, the man would always think he was so better than all of the rest. He could try and go to someone to complain himself. If it wasn't Arthur or the king, they would be forced to listen. But that would be a waste of time, Merlin was nothing more than a pariah.

"Morris!" Gwen exclaimed as she once again interjected herself into the conversation, this time to defend her friend. "You shouldn't talk like that! Not to Merlin! He didn't do anything to deserve-" she stopped herself short when Morris looked at her. He didn't say anything but the expression on his face said exactly what he wanted. That yes, Merlin 'had' done something to him. But what that something could be was baffling to Gwen.

"Especially something that sounds like some kind of threat." Merlin said sharply, narrowing his eyes dangerously at Morris, refusing to just sweep something like that underneath the rug, so to speak. Did Morris think that he could push Merlin around, if he was a servant like Gwen?

"No, of course not." Morris said with a gentle smile to Merlin. On the outside, he looked to be completely innocent, blinking as if he had no idea what Merlin was talking about. But he had a smile that seemed just a tad too sharp for Merlin's taste. Looking almost like a shark, with his fangs bare for them to see. "All I was doing was giving you a…for instance. I'm just trying to show some friendly courtesy."

There had been nothing 'friendly' about what Morris had said. No matter how Morris tried to dress it up, it had been this thinly veiled threat against Merlin. But a threat to what, to treat Merlin just as bad as he treated Gwen. It was clearly something Morris must have this habit of doing, and Merlin was going to put a stop to it. Or was it even worse, was Morris threatening to do bodily harm if he thought Merlin was doing 'wrong'. Somebody clearly had some control issues.

Morris, now that he was done wrecking his havoc, started to leave. He was satisfied with the chaos he had caused in his wake, he was more than satisfied actually, now that he had gotten his point across. Merlin may be 'lucky' enough to bare the title of Consort. But he'd never have the actual power that came with such a title. Not when the entire kingdom was hating on him for daring to just even exist in their vicinity. As if Merlin needed Morris of all people to remind him of such.

"Did you warn him as well?" Merlin called out after him before he could so much as reach the door, eyes trained on Morris' back as he refused to allow the manservant to leave the room with the last word. "That nobleman you poisoned two years ago?"

Merlin was hoping to throw out something that would rattle Morris. He wanted to rattle Morris like he was trying to rattle him. Trying to show Morris that while most everybody else around here had dismissed what Morris had done, hidden behind his facade as this trusted manservant, he wasn't to be so easily swayed. There was something off about the manservant and one of these days, Merlin was going to figure out just how deep his 'off ness' went. It was better than sitting here and letting Morris think he was just going to take his off hand threats like a dog. A dog trained not to attack back because he'd already been subdued by men much bigger than he was.