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!

65. Chapter 65

Things finally seemed to be looking up for Merlin. Well…not really. But hey, he could at least pretend for this brief moment in time that his life wasn't a complete wreck. There was no consort duties that he didn't know or even understand how to do when he was on his knees, hands buried in the spongy dirt that moved with malleable ease under his slim pale fingers. With the trowel in his hand and him smoothing over the dirt where he'd just buried the zucchini seeds…it was almost far to easy to pretend that he was back home and completing his normal duties to prepare for the harvest so that the least amount of people would starve that winter. With the sun on the back of his neck, his dark blue colored neckerchief keeping the harshest of the rays off his vulnerable skin and the soft breeze in the air cooling his heated skin…it was so easy for him to fall back into what he knew. It was so easy to act as if everybody didn't turn up their noses at him: nobles and peasants alike, with disdain. It was so easy to pretend there was no Arthur, and the metal still on his ring finger keeping him chained to this land wasn't even there. Not when he quite happily got to talk with the elderly man, explaining to him what he had been doing wrong during his first attempt to grow something.

After all, while everything did need the same basics to live: sunlight, water, food, shelter, not everything needed the exact same thing or the same amount. Some things would need something quite different, or less than one or the other. But the fundamentals were similar enough once you played around enough to know exactly what it was that what you were growing needed.

Merlin supposed he was quite similar to a kind of plant in that way, he thought as he gave up on the trowel and used his fingers to pack in the dirt on top of the seeds. He was quite content with the small bit that he'd got over the years. And he would have been quite content with this new life of his…if it wasn't everything he didn't want.

He should have known that he was having to much fun. Then maybe he would have known it was about to come to a very startling and horrifying end…

"And all you need to do is sprinkle a bit of water on them every morn-" Merlin chattered away needlessly, going over every bit of little useless fact that he knew to the elderly man concerning his zucchini. He was cut off with sharp clarity as a hand slapped itself down on his shoulder. Before he could blink, Merlin yelped as he was jerked up to his feet by his jacket. He almost felt like some kind of horrid rag doll when he was forcefully turned to face his assailant.

Merlin almost expected to be punched in the face simply from the sheer violence that the mystery person exhibited. And he squeezed his eyes shut on instant. Although he'd been shoved and tripped-pushed around and very much treated like the waste of space that he was-it would be the first time somebody had shown such outright violence. Or was dumb enough to think he wouldn't be trialed after he committed treason by attacking the Royal consort.

Unwanted or not, there was still certain types of responsibilities that needed to be upheld to a certain degree. And it would be remiss to have it go unpunished by either King Uther or Prince Arthur….if only Merlin could summon the will to go to them for help, but it was hard to do when one knew nobody wanted to truly help him.

But the punch to his face never came, and Merlin scrunched up his face when he never felt that burst of pain he had been expecting. No…he peeked open one eye, as the hand of whoever had him tightened into his jacket shoulder so that the material pulled taut against him.

…Arthur.

Merlin opened both eye's now, and his face completely dropped as a burst of pain shot through his chest. So sudden and surprising that it took his breath away, and it took everything he had to not show it on his face. This was the first time he'd seen Arthur since the night of the dance, and that pain suddenly resurfaced as if it'd never left him to begin with. But…he was better, he was completely over and done with anything that had to do with Arthur. It was one of the many reasons he hadn't bothered to try and seek him out himself before this moment. But the pain had apparently never left him, it was still there underneath the surface of his skin. Maybe he had fooled himself into thinking it was gone at all. All it had taken was Arthur's reappearance for it to come roaring back to the surface.

"What on earth do you think you are doing!" The prince practically roared in Merlin's face, making the boy flinch with surprise. Arthur's face was red with anger, and he paid not any kind of attention to their audience-the farmer trailing after Arthur and the elderly man still kneeling in the dirt. It was only luck that the time was still in the early afternoon, and most of the people who lived on this street would still be out and about doing either their work or their daily shopping for dinner supplies.

Merlin blinked rapidly, he may be bullied by the rest of the city but he wasn't going to go be bullied by his husband. He steeled up the nerves he had that had all but been beaten down to nothing over the last month of being constantly terrified to leave his own room for fear of things escalating and ending up being pushed down the stairs next, "What does it look like I'm doing?" Merlin demanded, trying to raise his voice to match Arthur's anger. It was pretty weak and he hated how most of the anger he'd brought in the city with him seemed to be gone, washed out into this pale imitation of what he used to be.

Arthur, hand tangled in Merlin's jacket, had felt it when he flinched. But like he always did when his anger got the best of him, it was far to easy to just dismiss it in favor of jerking him around. Arthur had startled him after all, it was just from his surprise and Arthur should count himself lucky Merlin had yet to make more of a scene then he already had by doing…common work…Arthur's face screwed up in disgust as he saw the trowel hanging loosely in Merlin's grasp.

Arthur clenched his jaw so hard it felt as if his teeth were going to snap, "It looks as if you're wasting your time by playing in the dirt." God, could the boy be anymore of a child? And he wrinkled his nose in distaste because the brat had a streak of dirt across one side of his cheek. God, this brat…how many of his free hours had Arthur wasted going from one shop after the other. And the whole time, the brat had been having himself a swell old time. Playing in the dirt as if he was some kind of overgrown toddler who didn't have anything else to do.

But Merlin didn't seem to please by Arthur or his neglectful words and he gritted down his teeth as his anger roared up. Feeling his shaky nerves solidify into something stronger and more determined, he jerked his arm out of Arthur's grip. "I'm doing what I wanted to do! And I'm not playing with dirt, it's called gardening." Merlin sneered at him. "But I suppose somebody whose never picked up a gardening tool in his life wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

Arthur sniffed at that, "Why would I waste my time doing that when I have personal gardens being maintained by Royal gardeners." These 'gardens' were really just the tress and all of the land that grew around the castle keeping it from over growing. The city didn't have any 'official' gardens and even if they did, it wouldn't be open to the public to use. Arthur looked past Merlin at that mound of little dirt he had been working on and just scoffed at it, "And I wouldn't really call that a garden."

Merlin rolled his eyes and crossed his arms defensively over his chest-nobody noticed the way his fingernails dug into his arms for how much he hated this. It was just one dark argument after the next with Arthur, and the one thing he wanted to do more than anything was clobber him across the head with his trowel, "You have to give it time to grow you prat. Food isn't going to just pop up out of the ground fully grown or ready for you to eat." It wouldn't surprise him if Arthur, who got food brought out to him on silver trays, probably thought they did. God, why couldn't he just go find what's-her-face, and leave him the hell alone!

Arthur glared at him, his eyes flashing as the argument grew more and more heated in the middle of these people's front yawn, "So, will I be seeing 'expert gardener' on your resume, or is that a special skill you're keeping just to yourself so that you can surprise your brand new employers?"

Merlin's toughness nearly cracked at that with his surprise. How did…Merlin's eyes then drifted past Arthur to where the farmer was watching the show unfold…of bloody course it had been him. No wonder he had insisted that Merlin stay, it was so he could go and be able to run off and tattle to Arthur about what he decided to spend his time doing. Merlin forced his shoulder's back and raised his chin just a little higher, it wasn't like he would be able to deny it, he was sure new rumors were already starting to spread by the minute.

"And?" Merlin demanded in this bratty tone to purposely get under Arthur's skin, which was working exceptionally, "What I do is none of your business!"

This was a hill that Merlin was willing to die on at this point. Arthur didn't get to ignore him for the majority of his time, spend that time 'flaunting' other girls in his face just to show Merlin something he would never have in his life. And he most certainly didn't get to act as if he had any kind of say in what Merlin decided to do with the ample free time he'd gotten by not following Arthur around.

Arthur snarled under his breath, getting into Merlin's face again as he hissed, "Everything that you do is my business!" Arthur felt such an intense desire shoot through him, and how dare Merlin deny him. He needed to know everything that Merlin was doing, and Arthur wouldn't allow Merlin to hide anything from him. If he was reading, then Arthur wanted to know what kind of books-and if he should start monitoring them. If he was wondering in the city, Arthur wanted to know where he had stopped, what he had bought, and who he'd talked to. And if the bloody moron wanted to spend his afternoon looking for himself some kind of job he didn't need when Arthur could foot the bill for whatever monstrosity that he thought he needed before the prince would ultimately cut him off before he could spend all their gold on useless stuff, then he should know exactly what kind of jobs Merlin thought a consort would fit in around the marketplace. And Arthur would be damned if Merlin would try denying him the answers he wanted, the rush of intense need in his chest seemed to grow until he wanted to claw every little needless thought out of the boy's mind.

And god, that bratty tone the boy had spoke in made Arthur want to wring his neck. He felt his heart going ninety miles an hour beneath his rib cage…

Merlin leaned back, his face scrunching up in distaste and a surge of defiance shot through him because who exactly did Arthur think he was? He had lost any and all right to be given any information from Merlin's life the second he had taken his heart in his hands and quite happily stomped it to pieces in front of half of the city. And Merlin was done with it, so then he ducked his head as if he was showing his reverence to the prince and said in the most sarcastic tone he could manage, "Yes, sir. Of course I'll tell you everything, sire."

Arthur stiffened, and something dark seemed to curl up in his chest. His eyes were boggled at the boy, his jaw opened just a little and he stared at Merlin in disbelief. That dark rush went straight from his chest and through his entire body until it was all he felt…sire…that made Arthur want to drive himself forward to throw Merlin into the wall of the house behind him. And it made him want to slam that very mouthy boy's head into the wall by gripping his hair and….well he didn't know what exactly he would do but he'd have to do something to get Merlin to shut up for once…Arthur felt his hands curling into fists at his side as his blood was literally boiling at this point. It was just like when Merlin had called him sire back at the meet-and-greet, that rush of fire made it's return, licking at the inside of his veins…and it screamed at him to do something. To force Merlin to his knees and make him show some kind of gratitude for the chance at the new life he had to make something of himself that wasn't a farmer…

Arthur saw it when Merlin rose his head and his eyes flicked somewhere past him…Arthur stiffened. Right, this conversation wasn't being had in private. The farmer and his father were still watching the exchange, no doubt preparing to fuel the rumor mill going on. Arthur took a large step back, and forced himself to take a deep breath. The fire inside his veins-the fire that was only there because of Merlin's clear insolence and Arthur's desire to do anything that would get him to shut up for once…the fire cooled from boiling over the top to just a barely there shimmer.

Arthur glanced over his shoulder at the little audience of two and narrowed his eyes. He'd need a bit more privacy than this to demand some proper answers, and maybe remind his 'husband' who he was talking to in that tone with "I shall thank you," Arthur said gruffly to the two watching. It was in the political tone he usually used when talking to those visiting nobles. It would usually be a wasted effort on these commoners, but Arthur supposed that the situation called for a more finer touch to be used, "For keeping my consort distracted till I arrived to collect him."

Merlin's jaw popped open a little in surprise at the phrase…collect him? Arthur had made it sound as if Merlin was a disobedient thing who did nothing but run off, not somebody who was just trying to find his own in a world that seemed to want to abandon him. Then it got worse when Merlin saw Arthur stick his hand down into his jacket pocket, digging inside before he pulled out a small pouch. And from the clinking sounds, it was most obviously a thing of coins. Not many, but to a peasant it would have looked like a gold mine. Nothing a noble couldn't spare as a reward after having something returned to him-after having Merlin returned to him.

Arthur tossed the sack to the old man, Merlin couldn't stop his fingers from loosing and the trowel fell free, hitting him on the foot. But he couldn't feel the pain, watching as the elderly man took his reward. And to think, Merlin had been naive enough to think that things were going alright for once. But…Merlin ducked his head to hide his shame filled flush…he hadn't been helping the old man at all. He had just been entertaining Merlin, amusing him as he blabbered on. The old man probably hadn't even been listening to a word he said, to busy daydreaming of what coins Arthur would give him after giving the prince the means to drag him back to his glided cage.

He didn't make a sound of protest when the prince took him by the wrist, as if he'd done something naughty and now needed to be marched back home to await for punishment, and started carting him back to the castle as the old man and his son started digging into their new loot.

Merlin kept his head bowed when Arthur was dragging him through the marketplace, all of the fight in him having been drowned out by realizing…nobody would be his friend when all they wanted was a handout. Not even an old man who had needed help planting down his zucchini seeds. He also didn't want to see the faces of everybody who had turned him down for a job earlier, and Arthur didn't say a word either. The prince didn't even look back at him, keeping his eyes forward and keeping his back straight. The only reason Merlin had known the prince still knew he was following was because Arthur's hand around his wrist almost felt like a manacle. Hot and strong, unyielding in their grip and refusing to allow him to leave even if he had tried to fight back against it.

It was only when they reached the stairs that would lead to their Royal suites did he finally say something, but he was numb when he'd said it and his soul felt dead inside of his own body. "You're touching me." Merlin's eyes had fallen down on Arthur's hand around his wrist for quite some time. It was the only thing he could stare at that wouldn't be smirking down at him, the townspeople probably thinking he would finally be punished and put down in his place.

The touch practically burned and it was just yet another thing that he hated.

Arthur stopped at the top of the stairs only so he could glare down at Merlin trailing behind on the step below, relishing in that one inch he finally stood above Merlin, "I'm touching you," Arthur hissed. "Because I need to make sure that you aren't going to run off and do something else that is stupid!"

Trying to get himself a damn job, was Arthur thoughts, the stupidest bloody thing he had ever heard in his life. What would the people think with his consort out there roaming the streets! Earning a living by carrying sacks of flour from one place to the other was just so completely beneath them that it was bloody ridiculous! How many people would start to talk and say that Arthur couldn't take care of his own husband, couldn't provide…it struck a particular nerve inside of Arthur. Out of all of the stupid things this boy had done since the day he walked into Camelot-and that did include that first day where he tried to punch the sole heir to Camelot's throne in the face the day they met-this had to be the bloody stupidest!

Merlin wasn't nearly as agitated as Arthur seemed to be. More depressed, as if he was falling into a downward spiral into himself that he couldn't get out of. So he pursed his lips and glowered down at the floor as if he was a kid again and his mama had caught him doing something he wasn't supposed to. Only he talked back to Arthur in a way he'd never talk back to his mama, trying to hit him where it hurts just like Arthur kept hitting him where it hurts, "Ah yeah, but if you keep touching me, I am pretty sure you're going to catch all of my 'gay diseases'."

Arthur's hand went slack as his face dropped to look at Merlin in horror, nearly dropping his hold on Merlin's wrist. And his eyes dropped to look down at his thick manly hand holding onto Merlin's much smaller and dainty looking knobby wrist, enough that his whole hand probably could have wrapped itself around the thing twice. "G-gay diseases?" His mind ran wild at that in a panic. Arthur hadn't thought for one second that the boy may have caught something out there in the wild-or wherever that village he came from was. Was that why he'd spent time with Gaius? Was Gaius trying to treat him for some incurable disease that would end up taking his life…wait…Merlin was a virgin…that much Arthur knew was true. But he could have sworn things like that could only come from sexual contact…so either he had done something he really shouldn't have in the last month and Arthur was gonna beat his arse for it, or…he was fucking with him, "Is that actually possible?"

Arthur wasn't being sarcastic, rude, or even mean. He was genuinely panicked merely by the thought that if Merlin did have something then he could catch it. Maybe it wasn't going to be something sexually transmitted cause Merlin definitely hadn't been going off having sex, so maybe it was just something that gay people could catch? But wouldn't that make him immune as a straight guy? Besides, what did Arthur know about the average health of a gay man?

Arthur still didn't let go of Merlin's wrist. He was safe after all, being a straight man. As surely this 'disease' could tell the difference between an actual gay man and just a normal man trapped in an abnormal marriage…

Merlin looked at him as if he was the most obviously, stupidest person he had ever met in his entire life. As if he couldn't believe this was an actual conversation he was actually having with somebody…Arthur was so bloody paranoid! A burst of irritation shot through him and he jerked his wrist out of Arthur's grasp, slack enough that it fell away quite easily, "You absolute moron, of course it's not bloody possible!"

Merlin suppose sexuality wasn't something that was covered in Arthur's 'Royal lessons' that he took so much pride in. Merlin would be the first to admit he knew next to nothing about any of this-he knew he liked guys but that was pretty much the gist of it-but even he knew sexuality wasn't something people controlled. They didn't get 'diseases' from being the minority around these parts…and Arthur was an absolute moron to think that it could just happen to somebody otherwise.

Merlin stormed passed Arthur, practically shoving him out of his way as he walked with fast harshness down the Royal hallway just to get away from the imbecile.

Arthur stuttered in surprise, "And just where do you think you're going!" He demanded to his consort's back, unable to believe that he had the nerve to walk away from him when he was so angry! Didn't Merlin know that he was still in trouble, the problem hadn't gone away just because Merlin was having another one of his hissy fits. He steadfastly ignored that blush growing on his cheeks, what did Merlin know about anything! So Arthur didn't know that a disease couldn't be contracted simply for 'being' gay. At least he knew what sex was supposed to be! Maybe not much on the gay sex but at least he knew it existed! What did Merlin know? Bloody boy didn't even know if somebody was being inappropriate with him!

Merlin rolled his eyes so hard as he reached his bedroom door that it almost felt as if they were going to fall straight out of his head, "To my dungeon, sire." He said in the same bratty tone he had used back down at the farmer's home. "Or is that also not allowed?" His room may as well be a dungeon. All he needed was for it to be locked on the outside, preventing him from leaving. But Arthur's keen eyes on him may as well have the same effect that a key would. He'd lock himself inside if it meant Arthur couldn't bug him.

Arthur stiffened again just like earlier when he had called him that, and he gritted down his teeth. But he didn't allow that sudden and harsh surge of angered heat-some very kind of strange reaction his body would be hit with whenever Merlin called him sire, exasperated by the bratty tone combined-to control him or his actions this time. He stalked after that bratty consort of his before he could enter and escape his wrath, "We still need to talk about what you just did!" He demanded with this shrill tone. He'd be damned if Merlin had thought he would get away after having this embarrassing situation cast over them. And the stupidest of it hit him all over again…he had to have the only consort on the whole of the planet who actually thought he could go out and get himself a job as if he was one of the many nobody's that roamed their streets.

Merlin refused to look at him, that irritation in his chest sparking just shy of a full on inferno which would happen if he stayed back here any longer, "We will do absolutely nothing of the sort!" And when Arthur opened his mouth to argue, to demand to know who Merlin was that he thought he could defy his prince and his husband…the door got slammed into his face, nearly bruising his nose in the process from how close he had been standing.

Arthur's voice died in his throat as he was left staring blankly at the wooden oak of the door in his face. For a full minute, he just stared at the door, unable to comprehend that his brat had the 'nerve' to slam a door in his face. As if Arthur was the one causing problems or the one bothering him instead of it being the other way around. And when Merlin didn't emerge to apologize immediately for his impudence was when the anger roared its ugly head.

"Merlin!" Arthur screamed, and he started to bang on the door like some kind of absolute raging lunatic. But there was no answer, not a single peep from inside to even indicate that Merlin was there. But Arthur knew that he'd just walked in so he banged even harder than before, the door rattling in its frame, "Merlin! I know you're in there! Open up the door!"

Arthur snarled under his breath when there was no answer yet again. And he had to stop and wonder-not for the first time-just who his father had married him off to. It couldn't just be some docile little woman peasant who'd bow her head when he passed and talked to him in a whispery tone of reverence but only when she was spoken to. No. It had to be the one boy in all the world who was more insolent than he was tall. It had to be the boy who'd yelled back at him, and fought him every step of the way. It had to be the boy who went out looking for a bloody job, when Arthur didn't even give him permission to leave the bloody castle! Not when there were dangers lurking around every corner who would love to take a pound of flesh out of the boy's hide if he got to far out of Arthur's sight, god! He should have assigned a bloody guard to the boy the second that night at the dance was over, at least then he wouldn't be here trying to force his way in to drill into the boy's head just how stupid he was! The guard would have reported the behavior straight to him and Arthur could have gotten it under control long before it blew out of proportion.

Arthur stopped his rampage, but only when he noticed Gregory standing at the end of the hall on guard duty, clearly wondering if it was Arthur who was the raging lunatic. Arthur gritted his teeth, it wasn't him! It was Merlin who was absolutely crazy! Slamming doors in prince's faces as if he couldn't get in trouble for that! Why, if he wasn't his consort and the embarrassment it would cause to the royal family itself, Arthur would have him dragged out to the stocks and kept there for hours to come!

With frustration, Arthur tried the one thing he hadn't yet, the door handle. Then he froze in surprise when he heard the solid click of the latch being undone…Arthur wanted to go and hit himself now. So, the brat would lock away his door when Valiant was trying to break in, but he didn't think Arthur carried a similar kind of threat level?

With a huff, Arthur stormed the room before he slammed the door-inviting himself inside of the room-behind him where it closed with a loud bang.

Merlin, laid out on his bed and trying in vain to ignore Arthur banging on his door, jolted up off the bed as if it was on fire. He stared in disbelief at Arthur, the large abundant room that he didn't need suddenly felt soooo much smaller now that there was a second body in there with him. And then the anger hit him so he pointed a finger towards the door, "Out of my room!" Merlin shouted madly.

Was there nowhere truly safe in this castle, he thought frantic. Not even his own room was the sanctuary from the outside pains like he thought it was. Now, the biggest pain was on the inside, trodding all over his personal space as if it was just a playpen meant for his own amusement.

Arthur didn't take to kindly to being ordered about in his own castle, and pointed an almost dangerous finger in his direction, "I will when you get out of my castle." He hissed, refusing to allow his consort to get away with talking to him like that.

Merlin stiffened, his mouth snapping shut as the idea rolled around in his mind. Get out of the castle…well, what was really keeping him here in the first place? There was Gregory at the stairs, but he had never stopped Merlin from coming or going…it was a little seed that had just been planted inside his mind. A very nagging kind of seed that knocked around on the inside of his skull, refusing to leave him to any kind of peace.

Arthur started talking again before Merlin was able to take him up on his very 'generous' offer. "Now," the prince barked at him from across the room. "I told you that we were going to talk so damn it, we are going to talk!"

Merlin blew up at him, throwing his arms and fists around in the air, "Okay!" He shouted at the prince before going on a tirade. "Let's go and start talking then! What about! Maybe we should talk about just how bossy and irritated you always are! Or maybe we can move on to talk about your arrogance, and how full you are of yourself! Completely rude, and with no respect for anything or anybody!"

When Merlin was done screaming, his chest was heaving because he hadn't stopped and taken a breath, but he had done it. He had let it all out, while staying clear from the dance-which he was totally over, of course he was-and he hadn't even broached Arthur and his insistent need to drag Merlin away from what he as farming-okay, so maybe the people had not wanted him there, but he had at least had fun while it lasted. Even if it was fake and only being used to keep him there so that bloody Arthur Pendragon could drag him back to this glided dungeon he was kept in.

Arthur allowed Merlin his rant, hoping that it meant the boy wouldn't interrupt him when he started his own. And only when Merlin had stopped screaming at him, did he take in this deep breath to calm himself down-a trick he needed to know as there was sure to be very many times in his life when somebody that he needed to be nice to-another noble that he'd need something from-had pissed him off. But he would use it now to calm himself down, so that he could drill into Merlin's head just how absolutely wrong he was about everything in the world. "We are not talking about me," the prince said forcefully, and his voice sounded stiff from how hard he was restraining himself to not give in and start yelling again. The calmer he was, the more childish Merlin and his screaming work look. So no, he couldn't grab up one of the teal pillows off of Merlin's bed and use it to smother him with. Or better let, take his belt off and use it as a practice leash over the boy's neck until he could have a real one brought up…"We are talking about you, and your complete lack in decorum." Nobody was going to take him seriously if he was married to somebody whose favorite pastime was to play around in the dirt. How could he grow to be the king his people needed if Merlin trailed right behind him covered in the muck? "Going around acting as if you are…you are…"

Arthur searched in vain for the right word to come to him. Commoner, peasant, uncouth, disgusting, crude, hopeless…but none of the words felt right to him. None of them showed just how furious and frustrated he was, none of them was good enough to show Merlin he needed to crease this ridiculous behavior or Arthur was gonna get desperate and start to whip him into shape himself…

Merlin figured he would help the poor guy out by crossing his arms over his chest defiantly with a pinched expression on his features, "A dirty peasant boy?" It was something Arthur had called him before, like it was some kind of insult. And to the upper class, that would be exactly what it was. But to Merlin…he was coming to quite like the title. It made him out to be quite different from the nobles in this castle, a reminder of who he was long before he was forced to come to this strange land.

Consort, Sir, Lord, Prince's Husband…those were all things people wanted him to be. But dirty peasant boy, that was what he actually was.

Arthur didn't seem to think of it in quite the same way, it was quite the insult considering Merlin's new Royal status. But he ran with it anyway, quite liking the reminder that Merlin belonged in the dirt at his feet, just not going around playing it in like he had been with his so called 'gardening'. "A dirty peasant boy!" He agreed just as quickly, before Merlin had barely finished saying it himself. It still wasn't the right word that he was looking for, he had been looking for something a bit larger than the simplicity to sum up exactly what Merlin was…his pet? His Consort? His burden? His brat? A Royal who should only do anything when he would have Arthur's bequest?…nah, to much. Even if all of those words included the one word he had been looking for…His.

His to do with what he wanted, his to control and deny at his leisure or pleasure, his to be able to protect from the outside dangers that the world posed to a stupidly naive Merlin. He who was giving Arthur a run for his money by going out of bounds and refusing to submit if Arthur told him 'no.'

Arthur brushed those thoughts aside, bound and determined to beat some sense into the other boy's head-feeling overheated and very frustrated as the heat of anger surged inside the pit of his belly when Merlin huffed before turning his back to him in a snap, arms still crossed defiantly over his chest-even if he'd have to use his own fist to beat it in.

Arthur ranted at him, "You cannot go around the city begging for a job as if you are some kind of scoundrel!" The prince wailed at the consort's backside, gritting his teeth because he had to stop himself from yanking Merlin to face him and shaking him so hard that all his teeth would rattle around in his skull, "You're a consort! And it's about time that you start acting like one!"

Arthur could forgive a lot of things. He could forgive this little act of defiance Merlin put on for him. He could forgive the boy-had already forgiven him-for the mess of a council meeting last month because they had both made fool of themselves. Could even forgive Merlin as he raged and yelled at him in private, even if Arthur wanted to slap his smart mouth every time or try to think of something that would put it to good use-he failed every time. But the one thing he could not forgive was this disobedience, this embarrassment, he would not have Merlin out and about down inside of the lower town making a fool of himself. And by proxy, making a fool out of Arthur as well.

"And how does one act like a consort?" Said consort scoffed, keeping his back firmly to Arthur as he pointed out how nobody even bothered to help him. Not unless one would count the few brief lessons Morgana would give him when she visited on how to talk with purpose and how important it was to use the right words so that said council meeting that flopped wouldn't happen again. "Do I have to be all high and mighty as yourself? If that is the case, the you can have the entirety of the kingdom to yourself and shove it straight up your arse!"

Arthur growled, clenching his hands into tight balls of fists, God! If anybody else had nerve to speak to him like this, they would quickly find themselves being hanged! God blasted Merlin and the stupid Royal status that kept him from somewhat being punished publicly, "This would be exactly what I am talking about!" Arthur blew up at him, not addressing Merlin and his literal lack of knowing, to angry to be able to think straight at the moment. Hell, he could swear that red was starting to brim right on the edges of his vision. He paced back and forth across the room, growing quite more agitated with every step that he took, "You've got absolutely no respect at all! How can you go around acting like this! I don't know how it was back in that little no-name village you've come from! But this is not how the consort to the prince of Camelot is going to behave!"

And against Arthur's better judgment he had stopped his pacing and was now looking at Merlin's back-his eyes dropped till they were resting on the patch of pale skin at the base of Merlin's neck. The ridiculous neckerchief he wore covered most of it, but there was this patch of unblemished skin between the cloth and where Merlin's hair line started. The cloth would have to go to reveal more of the neck, but he could almost picture it now. Some kind of leash around that boy's throat would truly make him more appealing, something Arthur could yank about to cart him around with, or just to jerk whenever he thought Merlin was getting a bit to lippy with him. A black collar would really bring out his pale skin tone, with diamonds encrusted into the leather to show off the wealth of the Pendragon family. Like a prized show dog…or maybe the golden collar would be the better option. There would be nothing more telling of their riches then that solid gold wrapped snuggly around the boy's throat, not tight enough to cut off his breathe but still snug as a constant reminder of who he was now. And who he belonged to.

"Ealdhree," the boy in questioned muttered under his breath something indistinguishable to the human ear. Arthur blinked slowly-he'd been trying to picture just what a collar-made of either purest gold or supple leather-when he had spoken. Arthur's head almost felt kind of fuzzy, and there with a dark want inside of his stomach to see it in person. Twisted and hungry, to pin Merlin down and force any kind of metal around his throat-the perfect piece he would be able to find…Merlin may not be who he wanted to marry, but if the boy would not stay hidden in the shadows where he had belonged, then Arthur would drag him right in the light kicking and screaming. Showing off to make him see who he was denying with his commoner behavior.

"…What?" Arthur asked, having not caught what Merlin was saying because of where his thoughts had gone. Collar…gold or leather? A piece of skin warmed metal or something like silken leather to be softer for the skin around Merlin's throat…maybe the gold could have Arthur's initials carved in the metal. Or maybe he should just stick with the diamonds on the leather…so many choices. So many ways that he could show Merlin who he belonged to…… he couldn't stop himself from thinking such a wild thought. To have Merlin be collared and at his feet, serving him in whatever way that he deemed appropriate, and then having the boy thank him for allowing him the honor of serving him…his mouth nearly watered at the mere thought of seeing such a defiant boy be on his knees for him, wanting to serve him. To not be forced there by Arthur-even though he did think the thought of forcing him would be rather tempting, the idea of him being there quite willingly sent a hot flash of pure heat up straight to the prince's head.

"I'm from Ealdor!" Merlin shouted, turning to face Arthur head on, throwing his arms down to his sides, his eyes lighting up that the blue in them almost looked like they were glowing in the light of the bedroom from the sunlight streaming in through the windows. "Which is something you would know if you would ever bother with anybody other than yourself. You can call yourself the Prince of Camelot all you want, all I will ever see is the biggest arse of the century!"

Arthur took a minute to register that, his over heated skin suddenly feeling a lot lighter from being snapped back to attention by the yells coming from Merlin. He brushed off it all-the unexplainable heat (because this room was clearly stuffy, maybe he should suggest to the cleaning staff that they start opening up his windows to air it out some), as well as the whole collar thing (because no matter how it would feel to stick a collar on his brat and to show him who the one in charge was here-as Merlin seemed to think it was him with all the yelling he did-he couldn't exactly do any of it without raising awkward questions from both his father and the people if Merlin was walking around with it. But forget it! There was only one thing Arthur could do! And that was sticking a gag in Merlin's mouth! Calling him an arse again…he was gonna take off the stupid neckerchief Merlin seemed so fond of and tie it around his mouth! Nobody couldn't stop him if it was kept in here…Arthur felt his fingers twitch at his side at the thought of just doing it. Hearing Merlin squeak when he took it off, squawking with protests as Arthur easily batted his hands away to get a good knot so he would finally shut up. Arthur then raised a considerable eyebrow, he would look better for sure with a gag. At least he would no longer have to hear that irritating voice as it went off at him…

But before Arthur could make his move and do something that may end up heading in a direction neither boy would be ready for in the long run, Merlin turned his back to him to mumble something truly regrettable…

"You are just like Valiant," Merlin said just loud enough for Arthur to hear in the quiet of the room. "Trying to barge into my chambers like you own it…"

The room went dead silent-eerily so-for an indescribable amount of time, where Merlin just scowled hatefully at the wall and Arthur just stared dumbly at his back. Arthur could have done many things in that moment, could have gone a million different ways. One thing he could have done was say yes, he did own this room as it was his father's castle and it was destined to become his own some day in the far off future. He could have raged and/or screamed-he could have torn through this entire room smashing and breaking every bit that he could get his hands on, rather it came with the castle or Merlin had brought it from home wouldn't matter. It would be his way of forcing Merlin to see that he wasn't anything like Valiant, that he had worked overtime the first few weeks they were married to show he wasn't by not stealing Merlin's virtue as well as keeping it from his father long before that knight had even rolled up on the scene. But no….that would probably show Merlin that he was exactly like Valiant albeit in different kind of ways. Arthur would never try to actually force himself on someone…he wouldn't.

Arthur had to work his jaw several times to be able to fight off the cold wave of shock that had gone through his system when he heard he was being compared to that…that…that monster, as if he'd just been punched hard in the stomach. "…I am nothing like him." But his voice was weak.

And…maybe he was. Here he was thinking of keeping Merlin collared, shackled in some way at his side. And only now was he thinking that this could be misconstrued as some kind of sex thing. It wasn't a sex thing! Even if he knew there was people that got off on that whole thing-what was it?-some kind of slave and master play? Some kind of pet play thing gone wrong…Arthur himself had never been a player in either of those fields. Definitely did not see him becoming one now and…oh, god, he was pretty sure he was about to start this hyperventilating. No! He was a prince, he was not going to hyperventilate just because he'd realized his whole collaring thing and shit-the gag thing as well-could very well be looked at like a sex thing! Think god he hadn't actually tried to gag Merlin. No, scratch that-thank god Merlin was stupid and didn't know what it would have meant if he had tried. It! Was! Not! A! Sex! Thing! No, it was a…a…a control kind of thing! Arthur liked being the one that was in control, the one in charge. He was just trying to demonstrate that control over Merlin and his disobedience…oh, god! Why did that suddenly feel like a sex thing! Arthur started to completely freak out at this point, trying to not imagine any of the scenarios he'd been thinking of earlier suddenly turn…dirty…

Valiant probably would have liked it. And now it made Arthur's stomach turn just thinking of it.

"…I know." Merlin's quiet admittance was just enough to snap Arthur out of his rising panic, and not a second to soon either. Another hint of a minute later and Arthur's mind probably would have been filled with…many thoughts he did not even want to contemplate at that moment. Or any other moment actually.

Merlin had regretted it the second he had said it. Arthur was a lot of things-a total jerk being on the top of that list-but he wasn't a creep either. Valiant had tried to force a kiss on him, tried to kick in his door to do it to. But Arthur had kissed him to-if the kiss at their wedding and on the back of his hand could be counted. But both times had been only because it was some kind of obligation. Then Valiant had tried to chase him down the halls with taunts about it, and Arthur had been the one to agree that he wouldn't kiss Merlin only after he made his displeasure clear. And as of so far, Arthur had kept his word. Valiant was ugly in twisted and horrible ways. Arthur was ugly to, but in a far different way. Merlin had no fear that Arthur would try to force it. Now Merlin disliked Arthur-may even want to start verging on hate but didn't think he was quite there yet-but comparing him to Valiant had been extreme.

It was also the exact shock they both needed to cool down their rising tempers before the worst could happen.

Arthur brought a hand up to rub at the skin on his nose, taking a deep calming breath as he forced any all possibly related sex things to a lockbox in the back of his mind that he'd never open again, "Okay," he said softly, with exhaustion as well, because he'd realized just yelling at each other all day everyday wasn't going to get them anyway. Especially not if all it did was remind Merlin of Valiant. "Let's try to do this again. Let's start with…the job. What did you think you were doing actually going out and looking for work?"

Merlin finally turned around to look back at the prince, sighing just as heavily before he loosened the defiant cross of arms he'd had folded over his chest. He decided to give the whole 'talking thing' a chance. It was faster than yelling around in circles after all, "What's so strange about it?" He questioned, not able to see what the big deal was. Why did every person have a problem with him wanting to work? He wasn't trying to steal jobs from the people who needed them more, all he wanted was to earn something for himself. "I needed to get a job, so I went out looking for one."

Arthur rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, as if he was begging for the gods to give him what patience he would need to get through such a conversation without falling back into their old habits and yelling at each other. Because really? He 'needed' to get a job…why would a consort ever need to degrade themselves by working among the common, he breathed harshly though his nose and made sure to keep his voice even lest he be remembered as that awful Valiant again, "Alright, I give. Tell me, why on earth do you think you need a job for?"

Arthur found himself on the receiving look of an expression Merlin gave him far to frequent for his taste, as if he thought it was the prince who was the stupidest person he'd ever met just for asking the question, "…To buy stuff I want." Merlin said slowly, speaking as though he thought Arthur was a toddler. "With those coins I've earned from giving my services to somebody…"

Even if Merlin was willing to relent and allow the crown to keep providing him with those free meals, there were still some things that he would like to buy for himself. Trinkets and such-like the things he had spent the last of the coins he'd brought to Camelot with him ladening down his pockets at the moment-to decorate his room. Make it more 'him', just a little to make this dreaded place feel more as if he was home. A few new neckerchiefs to be thrown across his bedside table, maybe he'd get a book or two of his own that he hadn't borrowed from Gaius to make his desk a little less bare…maybe a few jars of herbs to make the room smell as if he actually lived there. Or even candles so that George wouldn't come in every night asking to light the fireplace for him….maybe then his room wouldn't look as if he was a guest prepared to leave any day now, nearly as bare and as empty and large as the day he arrived two months ago. Not that Arthur would understand that. Merlin'd seen his room, and it was filled with useless possessions, more than any one man would ever need to be happy.

Arthur's eye started to twitch at Merlin's tone but he forced back his temper-and valiantly refusing to think Merlin might actually look a bit better with a gag stretching his lips open, at least he wouldn't be able to continue with saying stupid things if his mouth was being otherwise engaged- "You really are an idiot, aren't you?" He said slowly, his voice strained as to not release his growing temper at Merlin again. And before Merlin-who had opened his mouth to start yelling at him again-he kept on talking, "You do not need a job! I am capable of providing you with any fancy that's caught your eye!"

Not that long ago, Arthur would have been more than happy to strangle himself before he would dare hand over a pouch of his own personal funds to Merlin. But that was before Arthur realized Merlin thought he wasn't able to provide. This was a matter of pride, Arthur could provide for Merlin so well that the boy would never have to work again a day in his life. And the idiot needed to know that! Arthur and his pride wouldn't be able to rest knowing that Merlin apparently thought the family he'd married into was penniless fools who needed their consort's to work for their own wants or needs.

But Arthur reassuring Merlin that they were quite prosperous seemed to give the boy the opposite effect, "My fancy?" Merlin exploded at him, offended because he felt as if Arthur was talking down to him. As if Merlin wanted to waste money by buying the newest things on the marketplace just to fill his space with useless objects he would never use, "And why would I want you to 'provide' it? When I want absolutely nothing to do with the money of yours!"

Arthur blinked-his temper completely gone as he stared at Merlin as if he was some kind of alien being-completely baffled. Here he was, trying to show Merlin that Arthur would be able to do more for him than anybody else could have. To show him that Arthur could go and have anything he wanted brought to him at a moment's notice-if just to show off quite a bit-to get that whole job nonsense out of his mind. And Merlin…didn't want it? Who did not want to be provided for? To be given their heart's desires with the snap of a finger, who would yell at somebody willing to provide him with such? Maybe Merlin didn't understand so Arthur needed to be more clearer about the matter, "…Do you not understand the wealth that comes with the Pendragon family? The fuck were you doing out there begging like a dog for a scrap of attention…" he said the last part half to himself, trying in desperate vain to understand what was going on here. Gold, he had it. Merlin had access to it. And he didn't want it. So he'd went looking for…work?

Arthur had pride in abundance. But it would turn out that Merlin had his own pride as well, and wasn't going to allow Arthur to talk as if wanting to work was some kind of personality flaw. At least not without bringing Arthur and his own faults into it. "You're one to talk." The consort said defensively. "The way you can't go one minute without being in the center of everybody's attention."

Merlin had only been here for two months but that was enough for him to start seeing who the prince really was, instead of whoever he wished him to be. How many times had gone by where Merlin would peek out his window during his self-isolation, only to slam closed the curtains because Arthur was training with his sword in the middle of the courtyard. Was there not a training field for that? It had kind of felt like a dick move, training in the middle of the cobblestone walkway right in front of the castle where there was a lot of foot traffic when there was a perfectly good training field not that far away.

Arthur wanted to laugh at that, "Me?" He'd asked, bringing a hand up to his chest with amusement. Because all Merlin had done the moment he'd shown up was drawn attention to himself. From that very first punch the day they met to now. Everywhere Arthur turned, there was more and more rumors that concerned Merlin. Everywhere he turned, the boy was making a fool of himself. And everywhere he turned, it was up to Arthur to clean up after him. Like now and with this whole job thing, Arthur would have to make sure Merlin would not do such a thing again once he was out of the prince's sight…it wouldn't be a bad idea to actually have a guard watching him. Arthur obviously couldn't keep the boy out of any trouble on his own. "Stupid, stupid boy. Do you realize that you represent the Pendragon family? Do you realize that every time you've stepped out of these walls, all eyes would be going straight to you? Do you know why?" He spoke in a sultry tone, the quiet of the room making it more apparent. "It's because what you do in public, is a direct reflection upon myself. So tell me-little attention seeker-how do you think it looks when I find MY consort is out begging for scraps from the people."

Arthur spit out the 'MY'-his amusement from earlier now drained out of him because of the situation he was in-quite possessively. And no, it was definitely not a 'sex thing'-he tried to comfort himself with that knowledge. It was just his control issues roaring it's ugly head. He just needed Merlin to understand that enough was enough. Merlin was a consort and that was all there was to it. He shouldn't wear the rags he insisted on, he should be dressed in only the best. He shouldn't be friends with the servants, he should be commanding the ones he saw to do his bidding. He shouldn't be out looking to earn his own money, what he should be doing was charging whatever purchases he wanted to make straight to the Royal treasury. Arthur wouldn't even bother to complain about the bill when it showed up at his desk, as long as Merlin got his head on straight and started doing exactly what has been expected from a Royal consort.

Merlin's heckles raised as he bristled, he did not appreciate it one bit. Arthur talking about him as if he was a thing, something for him to play around with until he gone bored. He was a person, and he would demand to be treated like one. Even if he had to go after Arthur with a low blow to remind the prince that he would not roll over like a dog and take his command like a 'good boy'.

"Then maybe the problem is you." Merlin said before he worked up the courage to spit out the next part, knowing that it would send the Prince running out of his room as if his pants had caught hellfire. "Maybe you should take better care of what you consider 'yours.'"

Arthur was so afraid of 'catching the gay' or whatever he thought could happen if all he did was talk to Merlin. Afraid of catching this random disease that he had apparently been thinking only gay people could catch…so he should be running out at any minute now. So convinced that Merlin was trying to 'make a move' on him or something to convert him. Hell, he probably thought people choose to be gay or straight or bi or whatever else there was in between.

Even if his stomach was coiling in on itself by referring to himself as 'Arthur's'.

Arthur felt his throat dry up a bit at that, and a squeezing sensation as if he would slowly be choked to death. But he had to force past it, refusing to be seen as a coward. He could talk to Merlin without worry that whatever it was that was 'Merlin' would rub off on him in some way. He was Prince Arthur Pendragon and was not going to be run out of his own home because his consort thought it funny to taunt him.

"Rather you like it or not," Arthur said as he straightened his resolve to finish up with this conversation. He steadfastly ignored the way Merlin had-albeit mockingly-called himself Arthur's. It had made his heart spike inside of his chest to hear the words themselves, but he wasn't sure if it was nerves that the boy might try to do something…gay…to him while they were in here together and alone. Or if it was something else entirely. But whatever it was wasn't his concern at the moment. That brat of his and his insistent need to backtalk Arthur was. "You are my consort-" and Arthur would take care of him like he was. He would make sure Merlin stayed alive and unharmed but that was as far as his generosity would go. "And you need to start behaving like you are one. This peasant behavior has became to much with this latest stunt that you've got to pull. Your only concern should be on how to better yourself as a proper consort. So do not go back into town looking to…to…muck out the horse stalls or sharpening weapons as if you are some kind of servant."

Merlin may have been able to pass by as if he were a servant, with those rags he wore. But Arthur would be damned if the people would see him acting as one. And speaking of those rags, Arthur wrinkled his nose, he might take some initiative himself and approach Madam Teresa on Merlin's behalf to get some actual garments brought up for him. So that Merlin would at least look the part of Consort until they got his personality straightened out. But until they were ready, Arthur had a reputation to uphold and that meant Merlin couldn't just go off all Willy nilly doing whatever the hell he wanted.

Merlin went off on him, whipping his head to look at him as if he was a storm cloud that'd been about to burst. "Well, how else am I to do that?" He shouted. He was sick of being told to be a better consort, but nobody trying to explain to him what that meant. He got a few tips here and there, but nothing that was really concrete. The best he got was when Morgana visited him and would give him any lesson she could on how to speak properly or whatever. So that he'd be ready for the next time he stood in front of the council, but he truly doubted he ever would again. Not after the last council meeting. "In case you haven't noticed, I am not consort material!"

Merlin steadfastly ignored the way Arthur had muttered quite loudly under his breath, "Oh, I noticed." And continued on with his rant as if he hadn't heard him.

"And it's not like anybody has bothered to stop long enough to explain what the hell I'm supposed to be doing!" Merlin exclaimed, as he ran a hand frustratingly through the top of his hair. "I don't know what exactly a consort is supposed to do! So I'm here going mad as I try to figure it out myself! So, yes! Excuse me for going out and trying to escape all of this complete boredom!"

Merlin threw himself back down onto the side of the bed, leaning forward with his elbows to his knees and buried his face into his hands in his mountain of frustration. He just couldn't do this anymore. All of this fighting, this non-stop anger between them, this…whatever this was. Merlin may want to show Arthur that he didn't need him or his money, that he could earn it himself, but the boredom was getting to him. He needed something to do with his life, some kind of goal that he could keep his eye on. Something that he could work to and feel good about himself when he was able to accomplish it. This whole…posh life, wasn't for him. This life of luxury, it was worth more than Merlin wanted to pay. He half felt as if it was draining his soul away, leaving him with just bits and pieces, barely enough to keep him moving on some days. He may even go so far as to say he was starting to feel very…depressed.

"You're…bored?" Arthur repeated slowly, as if he hadn't heard anything so ridiculous in his entire life. Boredom had never been much of an issue for Arthur. His days had always been filled, an endless parade of schedules that he couldn't always get out of. So, he kind of felt out of his depth with this one. "…For real?"

Any of this intense anger or frustrations with the other that may have still been lingering in the room seemed to pause for the time being right now. Now the air seemed to be filled by more confusion and baffleness as they each tried to feel the other out.

"Yes, for real." Merlin said, raising his head from his hands to look at Arthur, looking so utterly helpless and frustrated and he hated it. Feeling weak in front of Arthur. "I'm bored, alright. Because like I said," and here he gave Arthur a stern look, as if he would be more than happy to lay his lack of knowledge right at Arthur's feet. "Not anybody has gave me clear instructions on what I'm supposed to be doing. Like why am I even here? Or what am I expected to do with my time?"

Merlin had pretty much lost any real interest in being a consort. He didn't want to be good at it, or to let it overtake his life by showing all that he could do something that-if things had been normal-he was never meant to be apart of. To show that a commoner had some kind of potential, and could be a consort due to his own merits. But that didn't mean he still wasn't curious about Arthur's thoughts on all this. Or what Arthur had been expecting from him. It wasn't like they had ever talked about it for real. Just a bunch of yelling and false accusations as they struggled with their new roles in life.

Arthur felt pretty stupid. Here he was-or had been a while back-thinking how stupid some people were. Or how stupid Merlin's mother must have been to not realize her son might just need to know what sex was in the far off future. But Arthur was stupid to. Because of course the fool didn't know what exactly he was doing, and his actions reflected that as well. It was like somebody floundering after they were thrown in the deep end of the lake and didn't know how to swim. So Arthur suppose-for at least this one moment-he could let his anger go and throw the kid a life preserver.

"A consort is-" Arthur started, thinking hard on how was best to put it into words. He had never actually had to explain it before, it was just something everybody knew. The consort was a partner, a wife, somebody who helped shoulder the burden made twice as heavy by the crown their particular family wore. Merlin wasn't the consort to one of the many lesser noble families, able to spend his time fiddling around with whatever he wanted. He was the Royal Consort, so that right there would make things a bit more different. Arthur then found himself sinking down onto the bed at Merlin's side, contemplating the exact wording to use for Merlin's understanding.

"…Just admit it." Merlin said dryly, giving the prince an odd look when he sat down beside him. He hadn't thought Arthur would want to risk coming anywhere near him-not with that whole 'diseases' thing Arthur had thought he had for that brief moment. "You have no idea either, do you? I'm just here for some kind of pawn between our families."

Although why anybody as rich or powerful as Uther would make a deal like this with people like his parents were still a mystery to him. He didn't think anybody had thought this whole contract thing out throughly. And now it was up to Arthur and Merlin to deal with it all.

"I do to!" Arthur shouted back, whipping his head around to glare at Merlin. But the prince sounded so petulant that it almost made him smile. But Merlin shook that thought away to mask his expression. Right, he was still mad at Arthur even if they weren't hurling insults at each other. He still hadn't forgiven him for the whole dance thing, or for dragging him away from his fun in the dirt. It had been the first time he had felt like himself in a really long time, and he just wanted to get back to that.

Arthur tried again, bending his head down so that he could speak. And even though Merlin and Arthur were the only two in the room, the low way Arthur spoke seemed to bring a kind of tension to the air that seemed to be going unnoticed. "A consort is supposed to provide the kind of comfort their husbands needs during hard times. She is supposed to support her-" he cut himself off when he saw Merlin lifting an eyebrow up at him and he colored before quickly correcting himself. "I meant a consort of…any gender…is meant to be like a pillar of support for their husbands in all matters, and lend a listening ear during tiresome times. Or provide companionship…"

Arthur cut himself off abruptly because that last word suddenly brought their positions to his attention. Somewhere since he'd first sat on the bed and now, he had started to relax some. The darkness of the room, as well as the low tones they've adopted when they'd finally given up on yelling at each other. His thigh was now pressed up against Merlin's, and the other boy didn't even seem to notice or at least he didn't say anything. Arthur gave a loud clearing of his throat, "I'm just…gonna go stand over there." He finished awkwardly and made his way to the window, trying hard to make it look as if something outside that window happened to have caught his fancy.

He could still feel the heat pressing against his thigh though, right through his pants, as if Merlin was still pressed up against him. Or as if Arthur was the one doing the pressing. He might push things he didn't want to think of out of his mind, but even he was forced with having to admit that he was the one that sat by Merlin in the first place. The one that had sat close even though there had been plenty of room on the bed for space between them.

Arthur ducked his head, not liking any of the implications that might lead to… "So what I'm hearing is how I'm supposed to worship your backside as if you're a god or something? I like to think I'll just tell you upfront if you're doing something wrong. And I won't be supporting any of your bad decision making either."

Merlin figured that Arthur could throw all of the hissy fits that he wanted. He could yell at Merlin till he was blue in the face, just like he had been doing since the day they met. But like hell Merlin was going to 'support' Arthur if he needed it. At least not if it was as stupid as his idea to go to the council had been. He hadn't even wanted to do it. He'd only done it because he thought Arthur knew what he-as somebody who grew up in the life-was doing.

Arthur stiffened his shoulders, almost feeling offended because he felt as if his culture was being mocked about. And of course the boy wasn't going to take any of this as seriously as he should. Why did he even bother with it at all? He didn't look back when he said with a formal undertone, "Well it's a lot more complicated than how you said it, but that is basically what the job of a consort boils down to."

Merlin could argue with the decisions Arthur would make in the future all he wanted. But only if he did it in private. Arthur would not have Merlin denying him in public. It would've looked like their home was divided and could crumble so easily from within…it wasn't the look one wanted to have during this day and age. Things might look prosperous now but that could tumble faster than a deck of cards.

Behind him, Merlin rolled his eyes because Arthur was absolutely no help to him. And he threw himself back so that he was laying out sprawled over his bed, propping one foot on the edge of the bed and stretching his arms above his head, "Well then, I suppose I'll just have to make one awful consort, won't I?"

It was best to get it all out there now before there was anymore fighting between them. It was clear that Merlin had been doomed from the start. Doomed to fail as everyone giggled from amusement, knowing that he had tried his best and still came up short.

Arthur scoffed and rolled his eyes, turning to say something probably rude at him, but then cut himself off. His jaw dropped a little and he could have sworn his eyes was going to start falling right out of his head. He found himself torn in between two thoughts-should he slap a hand over his eyes to stop himself from looking or should he throw a blanket on top of Merlin to hide him. In retrospect, Merlin did not look provocative in the least. He was just laid out across his bed. But considering that Arthur had gags and leashes on his mind just a few minutes ago, it suddenly felt a lot more awkward than it should. What, with Merlin's bony wrists folded together above his head, it wasn't so strange that a piece of leather may look quite nicely to bind them together. And with the way he arched his back as he found himself stretching-Arthur allowed his eyes to follow the line of Merlin's back briefly-down to where his leg's were spread slightly…then the prince shot a hurried look to the unlocked door.

Anybody could just come on in here and see this. Didn't Merlin realize what an indecent sight he made? That he was absolutely completely…being obscene. And anybody who saw Merlin in that position might mistake this conversation for something far…different…then what had really been going on.

"Must you lay like that?" Arthur demanded in a huffy tone, bringing up a hand to cover his face, shaking his head with the upmost horror. He just had to get it all out of his mind. There was no leather tying Merlin's wrist down, because Arthur had no reason to want to control Merlin at this particular time. And remember, it was definitely not a sexual thing, Arthur had absolutely no interest with tying up Merlin. Not anymore since he'd had that realization that it could totally have been mistaken as a sex thing.

"What's your deal?" Merlin demanded hotly, not knowing why Arthur was suddenly being so prissy with him.

The only good thing about his outburst was that it made Merlin sit up, but caused him to frown at Arthur oddly. But it didn't matter as Merlin no longer looked indecent, even if he was now blinking at him innocently. Maybe a bit to innocently…no! Merlin obviously didn't realize what a sight he had been making. Not that him sitting up had helped much, Arthur was pretty sure the sight was burned forever in his retinas. It made Arthur want to go and find a wash bucket so that he could scrub his eyes out to get rid of it.

"…It's nothing." Arthur said heavily, running his hand down his face in his absolute misery. He was never going to speak of this moment again for as long as he lived. Not to Morgana, or to his father, or to Merlin. Hell, he wouldn't even think about it if he had the choice. The prince did try to move on though, anything to get his mind off Merlin looking like he'd been expecting Arthur to start crawling up through his opened thighs…right, where was he? "The least you can do is make an effort." That was when Arthur decided to pay Merlin some kind of compliment. He wouldn't go throwing himself back on the bed if he thought Arthur was happy with his performance…right? "Like what you did when Valiant came-" Arthur's lip curled up in disgust at the name. The vile man who hadn't suffered nearly as much as Arthur had wished he had. Arthur had been far to eager with his blade to draw out any real torture, "You brought to my attention how much he wanted to kill me. So that was a good start at being consort…"

Merlin didn't throw himself back on the bed, thank god. But he did lean forward and rest his elbow on his knee, looking at Arthur as if he thought he'd been replaced by some kind of alien creature. Which wouldn't be to far off as Arthur very much felt like an alien creature at this moment. "In case you have forgotten it," Merlin pointed out dryly, not hesitating to throw in his faults because geez, there was just no pleasing him! "I then mucked it up by the council meetings. Besides," he waved his hand in the air between them. "Exactly how many times do you think I'm going to catch somebody trying to kill you?" Somewhere in the catacombs deep underneath the castle, a dragon started to laugh. "What am I suppose to do with my every day life if I don't have a job to spend my time on?"

Merlin waited for Arthur to give him some kind of suggestion. If the prince didn't want him to work, then he better have some kind of alternative suggestion. And Merlin may as well listen, it wasn't like anybody down in the village was willing to hire him. And he would be willing to listen to anything right about now, even Arthur.

Arthur got back on track with their original conversation, and the reason they were here in the first place. Just like Merlin, he would be willing to listen to anything as long as it didn't have anything to do with ungodly positions that shouldn't even exist. "Well clearly, you're gonna have to find yourself a hobby for you to idle away your hours with. I won't have my consort working for others as if they are the ones above him and not the other way around. Don't you see how humiliating that would be for me to have to explain?" He could only imagine what his father would say.

Merlin rolled his eyes with a bored expression because of course Arthur was making this all about him again. It couldn't be about Merlin and his problems, because that would just be ridiculous to entertain somebody else or their emotions. Why did he ever have a crush on this prat again? "Yeah, that's me." Was what Merlin drawled out, slow and sarcastic and meant to get under Arthur's skin. "Just one moment of humiliation after another when I'm around here."

Something about the tone of Merlin's voice set Arthur's teeth on edge, and it made him get riled up. "You absolute idiot." Arthur said as he brought a hand up to jab harshly at his own head, as if to indicate he was talking about Merlin's head. "I don't care if you take up needlepoint, or collecting stupid useless items, take up journaling for all I care. But a job is absolutely out of the question."

And that would just have to be that, Arthur decided as he made the decision purely on his own. He didn't care what kind of hobby Merlin took up, as long as it would keep him busy and out of the public's eye. At least until he can be trained up some, taught the proper way of behaving in the public's sight. Not for the first time, Arthur wondered what the boy had been thinking, looking for a job honesty. The people would no doubt start to think the kingdom was having monetary problems with Arthur's own consort resorting to get a job.

But Arthur was vastly underestimating Merlin and his stubborn nature. Because Merlin was leaping off of the bed-thank god, Arthur now thought-with his fists clenched tightly down at his sides. "I'm not getting a hobby!" Merlin said defiantly, eyes harsh. "I want a job. And I need that money!"

Merlin wasn't going to let Arthur boss him around as if he had any kind of say about the matter. Arthur had lost any right to have any kind of say to his life. If he didn't want to be Merlin's actual husband, then fine, there was nothing he could do about that. But he didn't get to have a discussion over rather or not he should work. And maybe the job search had been a dead end, but Merlin wasn't going to tell Arthur that he didn't have to worry about Merlin working. After all, nobody was willing to hire him. But Arthur was grinding down on his nerves, and he wanted to show that jerky, spoiled prince that he may have the entirety of this kingdom jumping at his command but Merlin wasn't going to be one of them.

Arthur brought one hand up to rest on his hip and he lowered his head into his hand to rub at the center of his forehead. Jeez, what did Merlin want from him? Everything he did just made the boy more mad, did he like all of the issues he was causing for him? Arthur had to take a large calming breath to stop himself from raging on the boy. He was a prince, he had a bit more decorum than yelling over this completely ridiculous topic-or at least that was what he kept telling himself through his breathing.

Arthur finally lowered his hand away from his face and waved it at Merlin, "Alright, I have to ask you, is this because you're worried and acting out for attention? I know your living arrangements from before must not been the most ideal, but do you think I'm not able to pay for your upkeep?"

It was the only thing that he could think of that made any kind of sense. Merlin was from that place-Ealdor? He had called it-and it was clear that this money thing was a big deal for him. So was money scarce in Ealdor? Or was he reading to much into this. Maybe the brat was just trying to get under his skin…but the prince supposed it didn't matter. He needed to get to the bottom of this so that they could put the matter to rest for good. So he would at least know for sure that Merlin hadn't run off the second he left to go back to the whole job hunting thing again. But it might be Merlin not realizing just how prosperous their land actually was. And Arthur-a spark of pride that shot through him-needed to correct this poor notion Merlin had gotten into his head during some point in the last month.

"Do you think I cannot provide for you?" The prince asked, getting more and more anxious at the thought. That Merlin may think he had to provide for himself because he doubted Arthur's ability to do so-and wasn't that just a blow to Arthur's already fragile manhood. "I can assure you that you will not want for any little thing. Heck, I could…I could…" the prince stopped to think of the most ridiculous and the most obnoxious thing he could possibly think of before his eyes landed on the floor so he spit out, "Pave your entire floor in gold if you wanted it!"

And already Arthur was thinking of how they could have it done. Maybe they could have the Royal blacksmith melt down a few golden bars that were in the treasury so that it would be liquified. Then some of the servants could spread it over Merlin's floor, add a little heat to harden it…would that even work? It would certainly be a damn good reminder to Merlin that Arthur was more than capable of giving him his heart's desire, no matter how hugely ridiculous it was.

Merlin didn't seem nearly as enthused by the idea if the blanched expression his face had undertaken was any indication. "Please don't do that." Merlin said, absolutely disgusted by the mere thought. People were starving and here Arthur was…offering to get him a golden floor. What use would that be for him! Other than making his glided cage feel even more like a cage than it already was. Pff, floors that were made out of literal gold, he'd never even heard of something so stupid.

Arthur was frustrated, and it showed greatly on his face. "Well then you need to give me something here!" The prince insisted, as he felt like he was the only one coming up with any reasonable solutions. And yes, a golden floors were very reasonable. What he really felt like doing was jerking Merlin around by the shoulders and insisting that he never try to do this shit again. Jobs were for commoners and the poor folk, not for anybody that wore a twenty karat silver wedding ring around their finger. "Because we are just going around in circles at this point." And heaven forbid if any of them left this room before this matter had been resolved. As a last ditch effort, feeling as if he was losing Merlin's attention, Arthur blurted out, "Would you like a tour?"

Merlin's head snapped around to look at the prince confused, "A tour?" He repeated, and sounded as if he had no idea what the prince was going on about.

But Arthur nodded his head rapidly, and was now stuck on this idea since Merlin wasn't to keen on the golden floors. For the first time, Arthur had forgotten that he was supposed to hate Merlin. He wasn't supposed to be trying to reassure Merlin that the kingdom had enough gold to house another without breaking. But his pride wouldn't allow him to rest, not when Merlin thought he was apparently penniless and struggling to feed another mouth… "I'll bring you to the Royal treasury. And then you can see for yourself that our riches are very plentiful. And you have nothing to worry for in my care. You will be very well provided for."

If Merlin had any interest in checking out this supposed treasury, it suddenly popped due to Arthur's words. Merlin wasn't interested in listening to Arthur trying to explain himself, or soothing the prince's obvious ego. Yeah, and Merlin was clearly being well cared for so that would just be unnecessary. What, with all the food he could gorge himself on and the array of bruises he had across his shoulder blades due to the knights treatment of him. With all of this 'care' why would he need to see any of the gold itself? "No, thanks." He answered in a bored tone.

For one thing, Merlin wasn't interested in being taken care of. He'd rather take care of himself, even if Arthur's 'poor ego' couldn't take the thought of Merlin not needing him. And wasn't that the whole point of the job thing in the first place? To show Arthur that he didn't need him….hell, if Arthur insisted on Merlin doing anything with this gold of his, he sure wouldn't be wasting his portion by using it to poor liquid gold across his floors. At the most, Merlin might be interested in using it to have a proper tutor brought to him. Morgana and her diction lessons were great and all but he felt as if he could be doing so much more than just practicing things to say during the fake scenario's she'd try to set up for him. It didn't look as if Arthur was going to offer for him to actually learn anything useful, so the 'consort' definitely wasn't going to ask. He didn't need to ask Arthur for anything.

But Merlin's dismissive nature only seemed to rile Arthur up, "No?" The prince demanded in a hot tone, eyes flashing. Here he was trying to bend over backwards to show this stupid boy that gold was the last thing he needed to worry about and he just what? Dismissed him without even a second thought? "You don't want to see all of the gold you have access to?" He demanded, as most people would've made themselves quite at home already and taken whatever they wanted.

Merlin walked past Arthur, his blue eyes dull and almost lifeless. He looked almost like an odd puppet, able to walk and talk without any strings to control his movements, but the fire that burned within him earlier seemed to dull away into nothingness. Merlin leaned against his window and looked out lifelessly into the courtyard below, crossing his arms over his chest-less defensively and more protective in a way, "Rather you believe me or not, I have no interest in seeing your gold."

Merlin didn't care what Arthur would offer him in his effort to soothe his ego-as it was clear Arthur was only offering him anything because Merlin had offended him and not because he thought it would make Merlin any happier than he already was. After all, glided prisons were still prisons. Even if the bars to his cell was made out of wedding rings and fancy rooms instead of harsh steel. He was stuck either way.

Arthur followed him across the room standing right behind him, his eyebrows furrowing into the other as he stared at Merlin's reflection in the window, "I do not understand why you're being this way." Arthur told him bluntly, as he wasn't giving up on trying to find anything he could use to perk the boy's interest. "Do you not know how frustrating you are?"

Merlin wanted to laugh, but he didn't have the will to do it. He was the frustrating one? Maybe it was time for Arthur to invest in a proper looking glass. One that would show Arthur the truth of who he was, instead of the falseness he thought he could get away with. A noble knight of the kingdom indeed.

Arthur didn't even notice how strangely quiet Merlin was being and continued to ramble on about how rich he was, "You know, I could've every item-if you do not wish for the floors to be done-inlaid with solid gold. Or maybe you aren't interested in the gold itself but in what the gold can get you? I have power. With just a snap of my fingers-" Arthur snapped, and it almost made Merlin flinch from it being right near his ear, the suddenness of it sounding far to loud in the quiet of the room. "I could get a dozen servants in this room and you've got my full support to order than around until you're content. What are your favorite kinds of food? Or is there something you've never had but would wish to try? I can have some of the kitchen servants bring it straight up and you can even have breakfast in bed tomorrow if you want. What about your clothing?"

The prince's eyes dropped down to take in the raggedy things Merlin kept on wearing and shook his head. Arthur's pride roared it's ugly head all over again. There was a Royal event coming up next month and he would be damn sure that Merlin was dressed properly for it. Even if he had to hold him down to get him dressed for it himself. But that would be a problem for another time. He was still trying to find the one thing that would show Merlin that Arthur could take care of him just fine.

"Those things you wear belong as nothing more than bits of kindling. We should have them burned and I can have a full wardrobe made especially for you. Or would you like to have a walk in the marketplace? No more job searches for you of course, but maybe you'll find something pretty that will catch your eye and I can get it for you. Or if you'd like to go by yourself, all you have to do is tell them to send the bill to me and I'll sign off to have it paid for."

Despite Arthur thinking all of his suggestions had good intentions tied behind it, Merlin felt positively ill the more he went on. He thought Merlin wanted his room inlaid with gold? Even though Merlin could barely stomach the room as it was already! And what was that crap on ordering servants around! Merlin was born a commoner! He wasn't suddenly going to go ordering them around as if he was somehow better than them! And the food? Merlin had already tried to many foods that he'd never ate before. He could return home happily and he'd even smuggle a few spices with him as he was sure the people in Ealdor would enjoy a bit of flavoring to their otherwise bland food stocks. His clothes? Good god, Arthur could not have insulted him more then he just had. These were the only real things he had from back home, the only thing that could remind him that he had a life that came before all of this. And Arthur wanted to just burn that part away? Burn it as if it hadn't ever existed? Why didn't Arthur just take out a rusty knife and go ahead and cut his heart out with it! And don't even get Merlin started on the marketplace. He'd already had his fill of it, he would be lucky if he could ever show his face around there again. But really…it was quite tempting…maybe he should go into the town and buy every little item that caught his eye. Let see Arthur being so free with all that money if Merlin started spending it more than the kingdom was getting.

When Merlin didn't say a word for the longest time, Arthur figured that his proposal must've been rejected. The prince sighed, letting out a frustrated breath because Merlin had been giving him literally nothing. He was getting no feedback on his very generous offers. Well, enough of this. Arthur stepped forward and cautiously put his hands on his shoulders from behind. He felt it when Merlin stiffened under his hands, but all he did was ignore it, focusing on Merlin's face in the reflection of the glass window. Arthur didn't really know why he had to touch Merlin to get this out, but it at least got his attention and seemed to have brought awareness back to his face instead of the zombie state he had seemed to fallen into.

"Merlin," he said slowly, enunciating the name and each of the syllables it had. "Despite any grievances we have with the other-" he didn't really know what to call their attitude towards the other but he supposed that was the best word for it. "I really can assure you that any job you could find in the lower town would be completely pointless. It won't be able to give you anything that I can offer you without your working for it."

Merlin ducked his head to glare angrily at the ground, "You should be more careful, as you sound as if you are trying to buy me off." He could certainly believe that one. Arthur was just trying to buy him off, to get him to agree to his offers so that Merlin would forget about what he really wanted: his independence. He definitely felt as if Arthur's 'generous' offers had strings attached. Like anything he would agree with would add to some non-existent debt that existed only in his head.

Or maybe not so much in his head because the light grip Arthur had on his shoulders had gone tight and it made Merlin wince because it was right on top of his bruises-unnoticed or ignored by Arthur. "No, I'm not buying you off although I do believe you should put this job nonsense aside and out of mind. It might be easier to accept my suggestions, because it does not end well for those who try with my patience. Do not try doing it again."

Arthur's voice had a lingering bit of threat in it as his hands tightened up again. Arthur could say all he wanted that he wasn't trying to buy him off, but it certainly felt like he was. And it was the grip on Merlin's shoulders that spoke of it not being optional.

But when had Merlin allowed anybody to stop him from speaking up against the injustice of it all. "And if I do?" Merlin spoke boldly, trying to hide the wince from Arthur's hands on top of his shoulders. The only reason he hadn't shoved them off yet was because he thought it would show Arthur a weakness, something to be exploited even though he didn't know the real reason Merlin was refusing the touch to his bruised shoulder blades. He met eyes with the prince's in the reflection, "What are you going to do about it?"

It was the insolence of that tongue that made Arthur clench his jaw and tighten his grip on the boy's shoulders before he loosened them and said in a more strict tone, "Well then, I'll just have to punish you then." And before the prince could stop himself, his earlier and very odd thoughts came shooting back into mind at the thought of what he could do to punish Merlin properly. The gag came back into play, Merlin's stupid mouth sputtering as he tried to talk but unable to because of the gag that split his mouth open. Maybe he could treat Merlin like the disobedient brat that he was and throw him over his knee, give him a good swatting to his backside to show him that he had been kind so far. But Arthur wouldn't be tolerating anymore of this misbehavior.

Merlin's mouth dropped open with surprised horror at this though, making Arthur feel as if he had finally gotten through to the boy.

"Punish me?" Merlin demanded as he got riled up. "Punish me for what? Trying to better myself?" Had Arthur seriously said that he would punish him? And how serious were they talking? Taking away his makeshift Royal privileges or flogging him in the middle of town square?

Arthur came back to attention, cursing once again inwardly when he realized swatting the boy on the backside may also be considered sexual in nature. Which it wasn't! He wanted to show Merlin who was the real boss in this relationship, but why did the punishments he wanted to give the boy have that element to it. Arthur tightened his grip on Merlin once more-due to his own frustrations more then anything Merlin had done this time-before he let him go and took a step back. He pushed all thoughts of Merlin over his knee, and any thoughts of ball gags, or beating the respect into him out of his mind. It was clear that he would need to use a more…delicate touch if Merlin was concerned. So he smiled wryly as he tucked his hands behind his back.

"No, Merlin." Arthur said slowly, and that was when Merlin decided he hated the way Arthur said his name. All cocky and smug, almost as if the very name itself-and by extension him-belonged to Arthur. It was nauseating. "But I will punish you for disobeying your prince so maybe an hour or the two in the stocks would curb your tongue."

It was an idle threat as that was one threat he couldn't follow through with. Putting Merlin in the stocks would cause a tizzy to go around in the village. Having the Royal consort away in the stocks? It would almost be worse than him looking for a job! And there was already so many rumors roaming around the citadel, Arthur did not want to add more fuel to the already glistening fire. But Merlin didn't know any of that and Arthur would be happy to use Merlin's lack of knowledge to his advantage.

But Merlin had completely relaxed now that it was out in the open. And he shrugged one of his shoulders because as it turned out, those stocks didn't scare him. Once you've been in it one time, it pretty much lost the scariness aspect. "It didn't work much the first time."

Arthur narrowed his eyes and his lip curled in disgust when he remembered the deal Merlin had somehow managed to wrangle, the one that Gaius had worked out for him. Merlin got out of the dungeons early after throwing him a punch that first day-before they knew they were to marry the other-and Merlin had been in the stocks afterwards. But Merlin was right and clearly the stocks hadn't given a proper lesson. In fact, Arthur almost swore that the consort was even worse since then, always mouthing off and showing his insolence while at the worse moments for it. "Then, I suppose I will just have to be more creative with my choice of punishments."

There was something about Arthur's voice that sent an uneasy shiver down the back of Merlin's spine. Something promising and very dark about his voice that made Merlin and his throat just dry up like the Sahara desert. And it almost sounded like he had the night of the dance, the way his voice had been just dark and twisted, making Merlin promise to come to him if anybody like Valiant had ever tried to hurt him again. But back then, it had left this bubble of flushing warmth in it's wake, there had been this growing warmth right in the pit of his stomach that made him want and crave more of Arthur's attentions. But things were a bit different now and whatever lingering trace of his crush on Arthur had been disappearing with every reminder of how obnoxious Arthur was now that Merlin wasn't letting that crush get in the way. All he felt was cold dread and disgust coiling around in the pit of his belly.

When Merlin didn't say anything, just looking at Arthur with those big blue eyes of his, he figured he had finally won an argument with the brat. So he reached forward-and quite patronizingly-patted Merlin on his cheek, "So no more of this job nonsense, Merlin. And as much as I would love spending my time with keeping an eye on you, I actually do have to go. And I suspect that you'll just have to find yourself something to be entertained by. My suggestion is finding yourself that hobby we were talking about earlier."

Still patronizingly, Arthur gave one more pat to the side of Merlin's cheek, maybe a little to close to where his mouth was opened a little from how stunned he was by all of this.

Arthur would leave, feeling all cocky and/or smug of how their talk had gone. He knew that Merlin would fall into line now-as Arthur knew he wouldn't want to be punished now that it was on the line. Arthur would have to remember to check on him from now on, to peek inside his room at least once a day just to make sure he hadn't ran off again, but he didn't see that happening. As for now though Arthur made a stop by his room to where his manservant Morris was putting away clothes in the wardrobe. He gave the manservant his clear instructions: to go to Madame Teresa and have the Lady do a few mock-up outfits for Merlin. Arthur hadn't been lying when he had realized some things needed to change, and Merlin's clothes had been one of them.

After all, King Bayard was going to arrive in the next month to discuss a potential trade agreement and peace arrangement. It was very serious business, and Merlin needed to be dressed as the part of Consort. No more of this running around in rags business.

X

Back in his room, Merlin dragged the tattered bag he had came to Camelot with out of his closet and started shoving his clothes into it. He was so out of here.