Arthur sat there, at his table, as Merlin sat a few seats down, several different candle sticks, vases and all sorts of formal cutlery sat on the table between them, as Merlin polish them. He was asked to do this by the King himself, so unlike when Arthur asked him to do things, he was actually doing it. Arthur leaned down though, resting his chin on his arms as he watched Merlin. To say the least, Arthur was bored. He had already done his rounds, did his knight training, that was now, thankfully, back outside, as the snow had melted. It was still a bit cold outside, but the turn of the year had brought much less snow and now it was a bit warmer out. Camelot was getting ready for yet another festival, this one...the Festival of Valen, which would take place out in the town. Where many of the people of Camelot and some who would travel into the city, would set up shop and sell their wears, whatever they might be. This festival mainly focused on love, so many would sell girly things or fake love potions. There would be lots of marriage proposals and quick weddings, and plenty of drinking and canoodling and also feasts, though, not as well decorated as the Yuletide Ball, but still had good food.

Arthur let out a rather large sigh now, tapping his fingers on the table, under his chin. Merlin paused, in his stroking of a very large candlestick, and looked at him. "Why don't you go do something?" he asked him. Arthur shrugged. "You don't have to sit here and watch me, I'm going to do it..."

"I am just in shock you are actually doing work, is all..." retorted Arthur. "I'm marveling at it."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "I do more for you than you could ever realize."

Arthur rolled his eyes too. "Yes...sure, whatever you say, Merlin."

Merlin continued his polishing and Arthur continued to watch, but he was still bored, though he didn't want to go into the town, it was too busy with people arriving and getting ready for the festival, which started the very next day. He didn't feel like training anymore, because the new recruit Leon had hit Arthur's shoulder pretty hard and it was sort of sore now. Not that Arthur was complaining, it was quite a blow, he was very impressed. So, honestly, besides bothering Merlin, he had very little to do, unless he wanted to go get told he was in love with Merlin by either his Father or Morgana, which he did not, so there was honestly nothing left.

"Are you excited for the festival?" Merlin continued the conversation, because Arthur had not planned on it, obviously. Arthur shrugged a shoulder, and made a face that said he was about average about it. "I am...all of the roses have bloomed, I will buy some for my Mother, I think."

"How thoughtful," said Arthur. "Perhaps the roses shouldn't be for your Mother, though-"

"Arthur...I'm not giving you flowers," retorted Merlin , all of a sudden, and Arthur, was surprised, he hadn't meant that at all. "I know you're jealous because I give flowers to Gwen and Morgana, but they're girls, they like that sort of thing, it makes them feel special. You just want them because you're a prat and think the world revolves around you."

Arthur picked his head up off his arms and glare at Merlin. "That's not what I meant!" he argued back. "But I certainty do not think the world revolves around me!"

"No, you just think mine should..."

"...alright then, I suppose someone is in a mood today," chided Arthur. "Probably because he actually has to do real work for a change..." Merlin rolled his eyes and stayed quiet now, and it was a good thing too, because Arthur was about to slap him. "I had meant," Arthur continued now, because he had not wanted to start an argument, though Merlin seemed to, "Roses are meant to be romantic, not that you would know much about that...have you ever even been with a girl?"

"Yes..."

"Merlin," Arthur smirked. "Please...I know you're lying."

"Alright, so maybe I haven't, but that doesn't mean I won't!"

Arthur let out a laugh, a good, hearty one, that involved throwing his head back into his chair and holding his ribs. When he had finished, Merlin was glaring at him. "Have you ever even kissed a girl?"

"Does Gwen count?" he offered and Arthur paused for a second, staring at him. He should have known they had kissed, they were much too close of friends. "I mean, I didn't really do anything, I kind of just laid there..." Merlin continued, whether or not he noticed Arthur's look, Arthur wasn't sure, because he didn't comment on it. "I was sort of...dying at the time."

"What do you mean?" asked Arthur, because even though he was slightly annoyed about this fact, he was confused by his words. Merlin set down the spoon he was polishing and looked at Arthur seriously.

"It was when I had been poisoned by the chalice" explained Merlin, and he pulled a face after this. "She thought I had died and I woke up and she sort of just..." he put his hands in front of his face, as if he were grabbing something there. "Kissed me..."

"You don't seem like you enjoyed it much," commented Arthur, no pleased by this fact, necessarily, more so kind of surprised. "Gwen is a beautiful girl...why?"

"I don't know," said Merlin, and he stare off, over toward Arthur's bed, like something interested him other there. "I just thought you were supposed to feel something, when you kiss someone. I didn't feel anything..."

"You are supposed to feel something..." said Arthur, with a smirk. "Tongue, I believe."

"No...you know what I mean, like something powerful," said Merlin, and his eyes widened a little, in thought, "Like you start to feel warm all over and your heart grows so big, it implodes inside of you."

Arthur laughed, "That's not what happens at all...I don't know what fairy tales you've been reading."

"The ones you hide under your bed," retorted Merlin and Arthur faked offence, and held his hand up to his chest, and then stuck his tongue out at Merlin. Merlin grinned back at this. "So...if you don't count Gwen, then I haven't kissed a girl, no..."

Arthur shrugged, he didn't know whether or not to count Gwen, and he found that not to be his place to do so. "If not, then I'm afraid it will never happen, as you are...by far, the most hopeless fool I have ever met."

"I'm not that bad," said Merlin, looking back at Arthur, finally, and glare at him once again. "Girls like me, there was this one girl...well, okay, no, she wanted to kill me...but-"

Arthur let out a laugh, so loud, that whatever Merlin said next got lost. Merlin stopped talking after that, and looked down, back at his polishing work, and obviously decided he was no longer going to talk to Arthur, which was fine. Because suddenly, Arthur had a wonderful idea...a horrible, but wonderful idea. He got up suddenly and headed for the door, Merlin didn't ask him where he was going, and Arthur didn't tell him either. Nor, did he return until nearly dinner time. The next morning came quick, Arthur made sure he woke up before Merlin arrived with his breakfast and dressed himself. He waited for Merlin to arrive and when he did, a little late, of course, he was supposed to see Arthur standing by his table.

"You're up?" he asked, as he walked inside and placed a plate down. Arthur nodded, but he did not have time to eat breakfast now, even if he was hungry. He had something to take care of first. "...I thought you weren't excited about the festival?"

"It's not that," said Arthur, trying to think of the best words to ask Merlin what he wanted to ask him. He supposed just being blunt normally worked anyway. "I need you to come with me," he said, simply. "I want to show you something."

Merlin stare back at him, confused. "What is it?"

"I can't tell you until we're there..."

"Why not...?"

"Just..." Arthur said, losing his patience, a little too quickly. He took a quick breath and allowed himself to relax. "Because, it's...it's a surprise."

"For me?" asked Merlin and Arthur didn't answer that. He headed for the door now and Merlin followed after him. They didn't speak, as they walked down several cases of stairs and outside, into the courtyard. Merlin looked confused, and very suspicious, but did not ask. Arthur knew it was cruel to leave him in the dark, but if he had told him of his plan, there was every chance that Merlin would have said no, with good reason, and refused, or probably quit. "Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Merlin finally asked, as they reached the town and Arthur noted all of the reds and pinks of celebration, strangely shaped tables of things, such as decorations and many things for sale. Arthur looked over at Merlin, who looked back at him, as they traveled deeper into the business. "Why are we in town...?"

"I have been thinking," said Arthur and Merlin huffed, he chose to ignore that and went on. "It's not fair you've not had a proper kiss. So, I make to remedy that."

Arthur stopped, mid stride, to look over at Merlin for his reaction, which did not disappoint, he looked paled suddenly and his eyes bugged. "What do you mean...remedy it?"

Arthur grinned, and pointed to a booth, with pink streamers all over it and a red pair of lips. "I've gotten you a job!"

The color fled back into Merlin's cheeks almost at once, a very bright, red color, and his eyes went even more wide and bugged than before. He turn to look at Arthur and shook his head. "No...no, is that...?"

"A kissing booth," Arthur nodded, with a grin. "The woman running it needed another...kisser, if you will. I offered you for the job." Merlin looked at him, well...he had been the whole time, but now he really looked at him and the utter dislike on his face made Arthur laugh a little. "Go on...you'll be a hit!"

Merlin didn't move though, right at first, he stood there still, staring at Arthur. Probably to see if Arthur was joking, but he really was not. Arthur waved him off, with a hand, and with what must have been a lot of strength, Merlin turned and walked toward the table. Arthur laughed, watching him go, for a moment. Before he turned and headed back the way he had came. He wanted Merlin to be forced to kiss someone yes, but that didn't mean he wanted to watch...

He returned to the castle and ate his breakfast, before long, however, he forced to get ready and go meet the arriving Lords and Lady's for the feast tonight. He met Morgana just outside the doors of the castle, standing idly, while the King spoke to the Lord Lupine, and his wife...something, Arthur didn't really care to remember her name, she looked like a crow, Morgana always whispered this to Arthur, whenever the two turned up in Camelot. This time, however, when Arthur came up to her, she whispered something else entirely.

"Where's Merlin?" she asked, trying not to look as if she were talking, as they were there to be gracious hosts, but neither of them really couldn't be bothered. This would be the part of the title of King, that Arthur thought he would take the longest to get used to. Because he hardly wanted to deal with stuffy, uptight, old fashioned harpies, like Lord Lupine. He was remarkably good at it, actually...being a harpy.

"He's in town, selling..."

"I didn't know Merlin had anything to sell," said Morgana and Arthur smirked, trying not to, as the Old Crow was watching them, with narrowed eyes now. He smiled, politely, and bowed his head at her.

"He does," he retorted, softly. "Himself..."

"What?" said Morgana, as the Lord and Lady passed, along with Uther, who was ushering them inside loudly.

"Yes, come...come, plenty of drink and food await, surely!" he was saying, as he passed the two of them, Arthur continued to stand there, because there were plenty of more people arriving, and King Uther loved to put on a good show.

"He's manning the kissing booth," said Arthur, and Morgana broke character, good thing the King wasn't there to see, and stare at him.

"And you are alright with this?" said Morgana, nearly outraged, Arthur shrugged.

"It was my idea..."

"But you two..." she took in a sharp breath and rolled her eyes, as Uther was returning, she composed herself, chin up and privileged frown on her lips "I'm surprised your ego allows it."

"It is not as if we are married, Morgana...he can do as he likes," said Arthur, casually enough. Morgana tutted, just quiet enough for Arthur to hear and he smirked. "I'm not the jealous type, really...you think so little of me."

"I know you, and you are," retorted Morgana, lips barely moving. He wondered how she manged it. It must be the stuff she puts on them, to make them so red and shiny. "Just imagine...someone much better looking than you, much stronger and bigger...he comes striding up to Merlin, his dark hair waving in the breeze, he sees Merlin. Poor, sweet, innocent Merlin manning the kissing booth, he struck at once...with love, and he goes up to him, he buys a single kiss, that's all he needs. He takes Merlin into his arms, his very strong...bearish arms, and Merlin get's weak. They look into each other's eyes, and it's fate...they share a kiss, full of passion and heat and-"

"...and then I throw up all over the man's boots," said Arthur, and Morgana stop her musing and glare at him. "What are you even going on about, Morgana? Merlin is hopeless, he isn't going to meet a bear of a man and fall in love, he doesn't even know what love is..."

"He is in love with you, so clearly he doesn't," retorted Morgana, and Uther looked back at them suddenly, obviously having heard something. They both stood frozen for a moment, until he turned away, to greet anther Lord. "All I will say is this, Arthur; Don't come crying to me when Merlin finds someone better than you, he deserves it."

"Because I am so horrible, I don't deserve him?" countered Arthur and Morgana frowned and didn't look over at him. Arthur wasn't sure, entirely, what that meant. He didn't care to find out either, because whatever she had to say was rubbish. She didn't know anything. Arthur had tried, he did his very best to be a good Prince to his people, and that included to Merlin, and sometimes...alright, Arthur was a Prat, Merlin told himself, but was he really so bad? He had asked Merlin's Mother to come to Camelot, and even if he did have slight selfish intentions at first, it had made Merlin happy, wasn't that the end goal anyway? Who was Morgana to say he didn't deserve Merlin? She had no idea, no right to say anything...not that he wanted Merlin, it was the point of the matter. If anyone in Camelot got to decide if Arthur deserved Merlin, should it not be Merlin...?

But then Arthur thought, that he would probably agree with her anyway, and he frowned now, feeling lightheaded and bored of these Arrivals. He had stood there and greeted many a Lord, Knight and Lady, and he wanted to leave, it was passed lunch and nearly time for the feast. Arthur complained of a headache to his Father, and Uther agreed to let him go, but he would still be forced to attend the feast, Morgana tutted, as he walked off and he threw a dark look her way, as he left. Maybe she should watch her tongue. One day she would need something from him and he would remember this moment...

He made it to his chambers and found them empty and cold, not that he had expected any different, as he had sent his servant to kiss people for the day, and he still didn't regret that. It had amused him a great deal before. And no...he was not afraid a big, strong Knight was going to come and swoop Merlin away, but now he worried how angry Merlin might be with him, and he wished he had thought of that part beforehand, because to some people a first kiss was very important and Arthur may or may not have just forced him to have many...

Arthur didn't want to think about that now though, his stomach turned, and his head hurt, and he wanted to lay down, so he did. He didn't like the things Morgana had said, she acted like Arthur was some horrible beast. And yes, Morgana said such things all the time, but this time it bothered Arthur more, for some reason. He didn't know why, and he didn't want to worry about why, as he drifted into a sleep that would surely make him late for the feast, but he didn't care about that either...

(A/N: This is kinda a filler chapter, but the next one more than makes up for it, trust me! So, stay tuned for that! ;))