Arthur woke, yet again, to the feeling of Merlin's hands on him, this time they were very cold, like he might have been outside this morning. Arthur tried to ignore this, he knew he had many things to do today, but he wanted to keep sleeping, he always wanted to keep sleeping, but he couldn't. He had never went to see his Father the day before, and perhaps he would blame Merlin for that, he was not sure yet, it looked likely though, at least if he didn't stop touching him with his cold fingers. Arthur also had to see to some of the Yuletide Ball decorations, as it was tomorrow and the castle would be buzzing today, with decorators. Merlin started patting him now, on the shoulder.

"Arthur..." said Merlin. Arthur could hear the rattle of a plate and then smelled something sweet, like a pastry. He took in a deep breath of it. "I hope you like your breakfast, Arthur" said Merlin, which Arthur found odd, and peaked one eye open, even if the dull, winter sun did hurt his head, to side eye him. "Also...your Father thinks we have too much sex..."

"We all know that..." Arthur trailed off, and he didn't want to think about it, or be greeted with that information so early in the morning. He only reached for his plate of breakfast, not even bothering to sit up, and fished for the tart, which Merlin must have stolen from the Cook, as this was something that would be served at the Ball, surely.

"Yes, well...did you know he sent Gaius to come tell me to stop?" said Merlin now, and the rush and the slight irritation in his voice said Merlin was not very happy about this. Arthur laughed at it though, because it was stupid. he finished his tart and closed his eyes again, laying back, a little deeper into his mattress once more. "And...that apparently they heard us having sex yesterday...?"

"Well..." said Arthur, he had decided that today was not the day he was going to wake up, forget the Ball, it would come again next year. He covered himself with his duvet and sighed. "I hope I was good..."

"I don't really think you were, as I don't remember it happening..."

Arthur let out another laugh, he knew that some part of him should be concerned and or worried about this, but he had decided that his Father was one hit shy of a brain injury and that there was no sense arguing the point. The point being that Arthur and Merlin were not in love, and were definitely not, under any circumstances, physical in that way. Uther just wanted to see what he wanted to see.

"That's where you're wrong, Merlin," said Arthur, as he sat up now, knowing better than to test Merlin or he and his blankets would end up on the floor. "I was so good, that I blew your mind, and you simply can't remember..."

Merlin smirked at this, though Arthur could sense he was trying not to, because he was obviously annoyed about having to talk to Gaius, and Arthur could understand, he wouldn't want to speak to Gaius about such things either. "I'm sure you've had to tell plenty of girls that before..."

Arthur made a mocked shocked face, and picked up a piece of sausage from his plate, and tossed it at Merlin's face. After breakfast Arthur dressed and headed to where the ball would be held, which was the throne room. This, was where Uther held special courts or knighting's and crowning's. It was more fancy than the normal council chamber, and very bright, with all the windows. It would be lit by candle light tomorrow evening though, when they held the Ball. Right now, many servants were running in and back out of the room, carrying large statues and arrangements of winter flowers. Arthur watched them go and then come back three or four times each. After some time of this, the King walked in, noticing Arthur there and he looked worried, as he walked over to his son.

"Arthur," he greeted, and before Arthur could say anything, he continued. "Have you spoken to Merlin today?"

"Yes..." he trailed off, Uther looked at him for a long moment then.

"And had he spoken to Gaius?"

"Yes, I believe so..."

"Good...very good," said Uther, and then he turned and looked at the decorators. They didn't speak for some time, and Arthur was fine with that, he wanted to keep it that way, but Uther had a mind of his own, and very obvious other plans. "I know you are young, Arthur, you do not understand the difference."

"Please, Father...not here," said Arthur. Arthur doubted these servants, which were mostly all younger girls, needed to hear about how the King thought his son bedded his servant too often. Uther didn't seem to care though.

"The difference between love and lust," he continued on anyway. "And I can see you love him, everyone can, it hardly goes without notice, but you must remember yourself, there is no need-"

But whatever there was no need for, and Arthur probably could assume what, he would not know, because suddenly there was a Merlin running toward them. Looking a bit worried and sweaty, even in the cold. "Sire..." he bowed his head toward Uther. "Arthur," he said quite plainly. No respect. "A fight has broken out in the middle of town, something about a stolen dress...I think, someone better sort it out, because this old lady just kicked the guard and told him to bugger off..."

"You had better go handle that, Arthur," said Uther at once. "Make sure they know any misbehavior during these days of festivities shall be dealt with very seriously..."

Arthur nodded and strolled toward the door, Merlin following after him. Once they were outside and the door was shut, Arthur headed for the stairs, to head for the doors, but Merlin stopped and stare after him. Arthur thought this odd, but he didn't comment on it and continued walking.

"Where are you going, Arthur?" asked Merlin, as he caught back up with him. Arthur stopped and gave him a look, that said he was seriously worried about Merlin's mental health. Merlin laughed. "I thought you knew..."

"Knew what?" said Arthur, confused now, and Merlin grinned at him, like someone would, at a child.

"I made it up..."

"What?" retorted Arthur. Merlin let out another, rather loud, laugh.

"I was talking to Morgana in the hall, and she told me all the things he was going to say to you...you know...about our sex life, so I figured...I'd better save you," he grinned at Arthur now, and bit his lip. Maybe thinking he had made the wrong choice, but Arthur just needed a minute to try to understand Merlin's half baked plan. "See...I do save you! Now you can't say I don't..."

Arthur let out a laugh now. "I suppose I should thank you then..."

"Yes, that would be nice..."

"But I'm not going to."

Arthur spent the rest of the day trying to avoid the King and anything unpleasant he might want to talk about. And the next morning Arthur was not awoken by Merlin, but by another servant, who, instead of waking him up properly, only slammed her fist on the door several times, until he nearly fell out of the bed from fright, and left his breakfast on the table and ran off. Probably to do more last minute cooking or decorating. Arthur did wonder where Merlin was, as he did not show up for the whole day, not at lunch...though, he never did anyway, or when Arthur was readying himself for the Ball. And Arthur did find it rather cheeky of him, as Arthur was escorting his Mother to the Ball, he should have at least been around...the useless toad.

When Arthur met Hunith in the hall, just outside of the ball room, she wore a green dress that had to have been Morgana's at some point, and Merlin must have stolen it. Maybe that's where he was, in the cells, for all the theft he had gotten up to lately. Honestly, Arthur had no idea where he learned that, but it was a skill he should probably forget. However, Hunith did look very lovely, her dark hair was done up in a braid and there were bits of holly in it.

"Good evening, Sire," she curtsy to him. He smiled, as he offered his arm to her.

"Arthur..." he reminded her. She beamed at him, as they walked inside. The throne room had been transformed into a winter wonderland, with tables done up in white, with a bit of red and green thrown in to atone for the season. Plates of food were everywhere, and there was enough drink to satisfy any drunkard. So, mainly Uther. It must have been something, for someone who had never been to such an event before, and Arthur looked over to Hunith and her mouth was hung open and her eyes shine brightly. Arthur, well...he was a bit used to this. They did not sit right away, though dinner would be starting soon. Arthur wanted to find Merlin, so at least he could see his Mother, before he had to focus on his duties, which was to serve Arthur, and by design, as Huntih was his guest, his Mother also. "Where is Merlin, do you know?" he asked her and she shrugged her shoulders. "It figures..."

But then suddenly, as if he knew they were talking about him, he came bursting into the room, at a run, he came up to his Mother and grinned at her, breathlessly. "You look beautiful."

"No thanks to you," chided Arthur, and Merlin looked over at him, confused. "I had to ready all by myself...I suppose it is just natural beauty..."

"Arthur, what...-"

Hunith laughed at his joke, and patted Arthur on the chest. "I'm sorry I took him from you, he was helping me unpack."

"It's no problem," said Arthur, even though it sort of been a bit of a problem, he would look passed it. And now Merlin looked a little put upon and he felt rather good about that. However, Arthur suddenly noticed something. "Merlin, what the hell are you wearing?"

Merlin looked down, as if he had forgotten and then shrugged. He wore all the same clothes almost exactly, the same trousers, same brown jacket, only his tunic was a bright green and it made Arthur's eyes hurt, from how ugly it was. "Gwen made it for me...to be festive."

"It's awful..." Arthur trailed off and Merlin frowned.

"Be nice, Arthur," said Hunith and Merlin smirked now, because Arthur had no right not to take this direct order very seriously, he had no choice, actually. Arthur led Hunith to the table now, where they would eat, as he was not allowed to insult her son anymore, and his blinding green nightmare. Arthur wanted to tell him he looked like a tree, tall, and lanky and strange, but he would have to wait until later, when Hunith was not around.

Dinner was good, as it always was, Hunith only ate half of hers and acted like she could never eat again, so Arthur more than happily finished hers off, too. But now it was that part of the Ball, now that people were drunk off of drink and food, it was time to dance. Arthur didn't really want to dance, so when Merlin asked his Mother if she would dance with him, and gave Arthur a look that asked if it was alright, Arthur only nodded and allowed them to be off. Merlin had done good serving him tonight, though Arthur would never tell him that, normally he was a bit distracted by whatever would be going on, but tonight he was focused, prompt and very attentive. Probably because he wanted to show off to his Mother, which was fine...but Arthur wouldn't let him forget he knew how to properly behave the next time he did not. Arthur walked over to the other side of the room, where there was a rather large amount of wines waiting to be served. Arthur filled his cup up himself, and watched the couples dance. One day he supposed he would have to have a Queen to dance with too, but for now...he was quite happy not.

Over in the corner, passed all the other couples, were Merlin and his Mother, happily dancing together, very poorly, and out of tune with the beat of the flute players. They looked quite pleased with each other though, laughing and talking. Arthur's eyes panned over to where the King sat, next to him was Morgana, and they spoke to each other, but Arthur could tell the King's eyes were elsewhere, and Arthur believed he knew where. Suddenly, the King's eyes were on him and Arthur stare back, narrowing his eyes, almost in a question, and Uther only shrugged, before sitting back and smiling over at Morgana, who must have said something funny.

It was not allowed for a servant to dance with a guest, or to dance at all...and Uther had just given Arthur his word, without speaking, that he would look the other way tonight. Arthur poured himself another cup and downed half of it in one swallow.

"The Ball is very beautiful this year," said a voice suddenly, and Arthur nearly choked, he set his cup down and looked over at Gwen, who stood next to him. He shrugged, because he supposed it was. His eyes traveled back to Merlin and his Mother, and Gwen's eyes seemed to follow his. "He looks very happy..."

"You think so?" he asked.

"Of course, he has you...he has his Mother," said Gwen, and it suddenly hit Arthur that this would be the first year Gwen would be without her Father at this time of year. He gulped. because he didn't know exactly what to say about that, as it was his own Father's fault. "He is very lucky to have you, Sire..."

"I'm not sure he wouldn't call it luck," said Arthur now, and he knew what she was implying, it was what everyone was imply...always.

"I know you two...have a very strange relationship, but Merlin loves you, I see it every time he talks about you," she said and Arthur sighed.

"If he does or not, I'm afraid it doesn't really matter, I have to marry for the good of the Camelot one day," explained Arthur, and Gwen frowned at him, troubled. "It's the way it's always been..."

"It doesn't have to be so, Arthur. One day, you will be King...and you can make that choice on your own," she said, and sounded very serious about it too. Arthur smiled at her, because her hope was charming, but useless. Arthur knew what he had to do, he had known it since he was a child. "If you chose to, you can marry for love..."

"I hope you are right, Gwen," he said anyway, because he didn't want to discourage her, even if she was wrong. He thought about something for a moment, and looked back over at her. "Is Gwen short for something?" he asked then, because he had always wondered, and he was feeling the drink enough tonight, to ask. "Gwyneth...Gwendoline?"

"Guinevere," she answered and he nodded, with a 'hmm,' "It's a lovely name, I like the name a lot. But I never thought I ever much fit the name, that's why I go by Gwen. I'm much too common for the name Guinevere..."

This struck Arthur, for a moment and he frowned at her. "I don't think you're common at all," he said, and she looked at him, with surprise wide in her brown eyes. "I can easily say, I have never met a girl quite like you, Guinevere."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Sire."

He smiled back. "You're a great friend to Merlin, and a wonderful servant and friend to Morgana...Camelot is lucky to have you."

She smiled very brightly at him now, and he smiled back. Suddenly, though, Hunith and Merlin were walking over to them and Hunith was holding her chest, breathing heavily. "I haven't danced in years!" she said, and then looked up at Arthur. "But I do think, it is very much passed my bed time."

"In that case, goodnight, My Lady," Arthur bowed to her, only slightly, and Merlin stare at him.

"Thank you, Arthur, I had a wonderful time tonight," Hunith beamed and leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Arthur's cheek. Arthur smiled at her, feeling somewhere between warmed and a bit foolish for it. Gwen walked forward and took Hunith's arm suddenly.

"Come on, Hunith, I'll walk you home," she said, and Hunith nodded, bidding them both goodnight and then they were walking away. Arthur stood there, next to Merlin, who still stare at him.

"What were you and Gwen talking about?" asked Merlin and Arthur couldn't really remember all too much, as the large amount of wine he had consumed this evening, was really starting to take it's toll.

"You," he chose to say and Merlin glare at him.

"Liar!"

"No, ask her..." Arthur said, seriously. "I was telling her how much I hate your tunic."

"You wouldn't," retorted Merlin. "Because she was the one that made it..."

"Oh," said Arthur, and he might have forgotten that small detail. "It's a good thing I didn't then."

"So...you did lie to me!" said Merlin now, pretending to be upset, and shook his head. "I should have known..."

Arthur grinned at him. "Oh no...what will you do to me? Put me in the stocks?"

"Maybe I will," said Merlin, darkly and Arthur smiled, stupidly, because he might be feeling a little drunk. As now, the two had walked out of the room together, Arthur was free of eyes, and he shoved Merlin into the wall. "What was the for?!"

Arthur shrugged. "Do I really need a reason?"

"I'd like one, yes..."

"Then, I suppose you had better catch me first..."

Arthur took off at a run, down the hall, and Merlin didn't follow right away, only stood there, looking mildly confused, before he called after him and followed, much slower. This gave Arthur enough time to round a corner and hide in a alcove. And when Merlin came walking passed him, slowly, as clearly the Idiot did not understand the idea of a chase, Arthur jumped out and grabbed him around the middle. Merlin yelled out something quite rude, and struggled to get free of Arthur's hold. But Arthur has been trained in combat all his life, that was not going to happen...

"Arthur..." Merlin struggled, yanking and smacking at Arthur's hands, Arthur pulled him closer, Merlin's back flush against him now. Merlin struggled and struggled, but he had began to give up, and went just a bit more limp, letting out a sigh. Arthur let out a laugh, a soft of one, that echoed from his chest onto Merlin's back, he could feel it. "You're being very strange..."

Arthur released him now, pushing him away suddenly and he nearly tripped and fell over. If he had not grabbed the wall, he would have been on the ground. Arthur watched, amused. "Can't even get out of a basic hold...I would never Knight you, Merlin."

Merlin fixed himself, adjusting his green nightmare and his jacket. "Good, I don't want to be...all the Knights are thick."

"I'm a Knight" said Arthur, pointing a finger at Merlin, through they had started walking in the general direction his chambers once more. Merlin looked over at him and smirked.

"My point exactly..."

Arthur went to swing, But Merlin was ready for it this time and caught his hand, and dragged him up the stairs. "Basic training One;..block a hit," said Arthur, and Merlin continued to drag him along the stairs. " Two; Free yourself of a hold...you failed at that. Three; Predict an attack..." as they reached the top of the stairs, where Arthur's chambers lie, he yanked Merlin back, shoving him suddenly, against the wall, between the door to a broom cupboard, where Merlin liked to hide sometimes and thought Arthur didn't know, and a marble bust of a solider. He used his body to anchor Merlin to the wall, while the hand that still held Merlin's, now behind Merlin's back, and the other, he grabbed and pinned above Merlin's head. So, he was trapped, completely. Arthur smirked at him. "Pathetic...really."

Merlin glare at him, though it softened after a second or two, as his chest heaved between them, from the shock and Arthur's obviously gifted swiftness. "Arthur..." Merlin spoke, and it was almost soft, but only with a little bit of sternness. that didn't suit him much in Arthur's opinion. And then there was a beat, where no one said anything at all. Merlin's eyes searched Arthur's face and landed on his own eyes, and Arthur got momentarily sidetracked by this, his thoughts of knights and training technique gone for that moment, as he stare back, and then suddenly, with as much swiftness as a cat, Merlin kneed him in the stomach, and Arthur fell to his Knees. "Four," said Merlin, pleasantly, like he had not just kneed the Crowned Prince of Camelot. "Always be on guard..."

(A/N: Here is another update! You guys are pretty behind now, I write too much to be honest, so I wanna try to catch you all up to where I am in the story. So expect a few more updates for the next few days. Not really anything new there though, I am always updating this. I hope you liked this chapter, I thought it was cute. lol.)