Arthur left the mess on his floor, he didn't care...well, no, he did care, but he was going to make Merlin clean it, if he liked it or not. How his Father thought he was in love with this child, Arthur honestly couldn't figure it out. Merlin came barging in that morning, eyes widening when he saw the mess on the floor.

"What's happened?" he nearly shouted, as he almost fell, slipping on a bit of chicken left on the floor from the food Arthur had thrown. He didn't feel badly for Merlin.

"It's simple, my servant is useless and I am looking for a new one."

Merlin flopped the plate of food down in front of him, and the plain disrespect in his very being, was very notable to Arthur. "Just because you are upset at your Father doesn't mean you can be rude to me for no reason."

"No reason, Merlin?" asked Arthur, he couldn't understand how Merlin could have possibly thought anything that he has done lately was okay. Merlin glared down at him, as he started kicking broken glass and old food out of the way of his feet.

"Yes, Arthur, no reason," he shot back. "I understand, you're upset, you don't want to be seen as the kind of man that would...fall in love with someone like me, it makes you feel less of a man, I understand that, but it's not my fault...I didn't say we were in love, I would never say that. I tried to explain my mistake, but your Father just won't listen."

Arthur thought about this, for a long moment. Maybe Merlin had a point. "I didn't realize I was taking it out on you..."

"You never realize," muttered Merlin, but he turned away from Arthur, going to get that broom he had left there the previous night. Arthur mulled these words over in his head, maybe he was too hard on Merlin, there was no reason he couldn't be a little nicer to him...sometimes. Even if Merlin did enrage him beyond anyone who had ever done so before, even Morgana. Arthur could still do with taking a bit of the blame for it. After all, he hadn't exactly sat his Father down and explained in great detail, that he was not in love with Merlin. Mostly, because it was all just a little too awkward for the Prince to take.

"I'm sorry, Merlin," he said, and Merlin peaked his head up, from where he was standing in all fours, on the floor, cleaning it. He raised an eyebrow at Arthur. "I get frustrated easily, I lash out...I regret it. And if I've hurt you..."

"You haven't," Merlin was quick to say and Arthur smiled, softly. Merlin stood up and smiled back at him. "Does this mean you're in love with me?"

Arthur's smile fell and he closed his eyes, praying for strength. "Merlin..." he warned. "I was trying to be nice."

"I know," he retorted, and Arthur could hear the smirk on his lips, rather than see it, because his eyes remain closed. "But it doesn't really suit you..."

Arthur ate his breakfast while Merlin cleaned his floor, without too much complaint, and then helped Arthur ready for his Knight training that morning. They left Arthur's chambers together, Arthur to go to his training and Merlin on the pretenses that he needed to go to town for Gaius, but Arthur wasn't very sure he believed him. He thought he might be just trying to get out of his chores again, but with Arthur trying to be kinder, no matter how his patience was tested, he said nothing about it. He had a good training, the new ranks were learning quickly, being chosen by Arthur personally, of course they were. And beyond them, Camelot's Finest never disappointed Arthur.

He returned to his chambers after this, three hours later, and he expected Merlin not to be there, even though he was supposed to be, to serve him lunch. He was not...not let down, as he opened the door and found the room empty. Of course, he sighed, because he was trying to be kinder...

He changed himself, throwing his armor all over the table, because Merlin will take care of it. As he changed into a red tunic, there was a knock at the door, and then, without as much as Arthur taking a breath, the door burst open. He had thought it would be Merlin, late, but at least somewhat useful, but no, it was only Morgana.

"What do I owe the pleasure?" said Arthur, in a bit of a sarcastic voice, it wasn't as though he disliked seeing Morgana, or even speaking to her, it was just how they talked to each other. He raised his eyebrow, as she stopped just as she entered and shut the door behind her, grinning at him. "What is...?" he asked, a little more concerned now. When she sported that look, it was never good for him. "Why do you look like that?"

"Where's Merlin?" she asked, and Arthur shrugged, a little confused, why did she care? Arthur didn't want to know why. "Not here, as always...he can't manage do his job properly."

Morgana's smirk grew darker. "I'm sure putting up with you is job enough," she retorted and Arthur rolled his eyes, and walked around the table, to look out of the window, to possibly spot Merlin, coming back from town, but alas...not. "After all, he's doing much more than just cleaning your boots, Arthur."

At these words Arthur froze, he could no longer see out of the window, though he was still looking. He felt that all too familiar feeling of red creep onto his cheeks, but not just there anymore, but now up his spine and neck too. He felt it in his very soul, at this point. "You've been talking with my Father...?"

It wasn't really a question, and Morgana didn't answer it. "You are a lucky man, Arthur, anyone would be lucky to have Merlin."

"Well, you can take him then, if you'd like to be so lucky," retorted Arthur and turned around and glared at her, her grin continued to stay on her lips, as she shrugged, and took a step deeper into his chambers, nearer to him. "Nothing is going on between Merlin and I..."

"I overheard Uther and Giaus talking about it," she said, looking ever so sure and ever so delighted. Arthur rolled his eyes. "Why deny it? Just admit you love him..."

"I do not love him!" Arthur retorted and Morgana frowned for a second, rolling her own, very green eyes, and tutted.

"See, this is why Merlin is too good for you," she explained and Arthur didn't often want to throw her out of his rooms. Well, actually he did, but he never did it before. Though, for this, he strongly considered. "Merlin is a lover, he wears his heart on his sleeve, a man like that is so rare, most of them are too busy being like you..."

"As Merlin is an idiot, I'll take that as a compliment," said Arthur and Morgana sighed.

"Fine, don't admit it, but I know the truth, your Father knows the truth..." she grinned, as if she could hardly believe Uther approved of this relationship, Arthur couldn't either and he honestly wished he didn't. "You should be pleased."

"But I'm not," said Arthur, darkly, and in her same sort of dull tone, clearly mocking her. "Funny how that works..."

"You can''t keep it a secret, no matter what it might do to your ego, it's there for all the world to see!" she argued back at him and he paused, startled by her words. There for all the world to see? See what? Arthur growled, rolled his eyes yet again, and turned away from her. "Try to pretend all you want, Arthur Pendragon, but know I am not easily fooled, I know love when I see it."

"I think you must have hit your head or something, Morgana, you're speaking complete nonsense, just like my Father," said Arthur, though he was trying to keep his voice steady, because he was worried, just very worried, why did everyone think he was in love with Merlin? What had he done to prove this? Was it because he had saved Merlin's life and gone against his Father's word? But no, he would have done that for anyone...even for Morgana, though she made him completely furious on an almost daily basis. Maybe she should be in love with Merlin, as she thought he was so great and all, and they certainty had a lot in common, which was killing Arthur...slowly, just by their words alone. And probably just for fun.

Morgana huffed from behind him and he did not turn around to face her, she was clearly tired of arguing about this, and accepted Arthur was not going to admit it to her, because it wasn't true! "Fine," she sighed, yet again, and Arthur took a moment to relax, but it was ill timed. "But have you bedded him yet...?"

"MORGANA!" shouted Arthur, feeling very unsettled by this question. How could she ask him that? That was no question a Lady should ask any man, about any one! And definitely not about his Manservant! He turned around, to give her a glare and she smirked at him, making his lips turn up in a way that must have been very uneasy on the eyes, as she started to laugh at him.

"Uther thinks so," she said, happily, it was as if she enjoyed watching him suffer. Maybe she did, he thought darkly. "He was telling Gaius about it."

"That is no one's concern..."

"So you have?!"

Arthur sputtered. "No!" he said, but the panic in his voice made Morgana laugh, again. "I am not lying, Morgana, I swear to it!"

"Mhm," she grinned, she really was just far too pleased by this whole thing. "I don't believe you..."

(A/N: This chapter is a bit shorter, but the next one is pretty long, so it shall balance out. I'll post it maybe in a day or two, since I have it. I'm kinda just posting this story as I write the chapters, so basically...I have no idea what's going on anymore than you do. ;p Anyway, thanks for reading!)