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!

81. Chapter 81

Growing up as the Prince of the Kingdom, the one sole heir who would take over the crown someday, hadn't been a walk in the park. His father had done very little to shield him from the realities of the world, making sure his son was prepared for the worse. This was why he had seen his first execution at the tender age of seven. Why Arthur had taken ahold of his first real sword when he was ten, despite the usual age being thirteen. Why Arthur became in charge of the knights and their training by the age of sixteen, whose responsibility was to make sure grown men twice his age were strong enough to protect their kingdom, and weeding out the ones he'd thought would not ever be good enough to become a knight. His stature in society was why Arthur had led his first raid against a Druid encampment when he was barely eighteen. It was why, after his twentieth summer had passed, Arthur agreed to marry a peasant man-after his initial frantic that this was the next thing expected for him to do-from the other side of the country.

The point he would like to make…Arthur had seen a 'lot' in the past twenty summers he'd been on this earth. He had seen executions that would chill the blood, babies who've had their heads smashed during the height of the panic just because their parents had suffered with the curse of magic. He had seen his own men striking teenaged peasant girl's, or even dragging the odd noble ones right in front of the king for punishment, because they might have been caught being too 'loose' with their own morals, and ignoring the men they had been caught with as innocent victims to any half women-he called them half because the ones he'd seen were stuck in the stage that was between girlhood and being considered a woman-wiles. Leaving these women to be penniless in the streets because nobody with a decent standing would be willing to marry a woman who was 'damaged'. He'd seen plenty of bloodshed, so many victims being struck down that he could not even remember all of them.

Arthur's own hands were coated in so much blood-from guilty and he was ashamed that he'd have to admit, some innocent-he could still see it. No matter how much he tried with cleaning it off, no matter how hard it hurt to breathe after a particularly grueling day that left Arthur hiding in his room, it was always still there. The blood of thousands buried in his skin, until he had trouble seeing what may belong to him and what belonged to another.

And then Merlin had shown up in his life.

And even after two months of being married, Arthur still didn't know what to make of him at all. His husband was a klutz, he had seen him tripping so many times that Arthur was amazed Merlin had yet to brain himself on a tabletop corner somewhere. His consort also had to be the most defiant person across the face of the planet, standing up and pushing back against Arthur at every turn they came across. How many people would prefer to go live in a dump when they could have the lap of luxury at their fingertips. Who in their right mind, would get pissed when Arthur had the nerve to suggest he take some gold and go shopping. Who would try to kill a prince-via a broken box thrown at his head-just because he had broken their already junky items. And that wasn't all: Merlin was stronger than he'd looked. Able to take Arthur's hits during that one sword practice his father had insisted he take his consort with, somehow getting back to his feet when more practiced men would not have moved from the grass. The boy was an idiot, able to find himself as a magnet for trouble and getting himself involved when the others would have turned away. But had that strange mind Arthur couldn't quite figure out no matter what he did, pointing out things to him that Arthur didn't notice or ignored as an unimportant matter. Like the way his men had pointed their crossbows at unarmed civilians gathered outside the gates.

But there was probably one thing Arthur had never seen in his twenty summers, one thing he never thought he'd live to see the day, and it was happening right this very moment.

Somebody standing up to his father, a person questioning him instead of taking his orders as a good son would. As Arthur would.

Arthur didn't know what he should do about that, his father would surely not be pleased by Merlin's incompetence to do what he was told. And he almost feared the only way for Arthur to save face, would have been by just throwing Merlin over his shoulder so he could carry him out of here caveman style. And this was only made worse because of Merlin and his reasoning for standing up the King of the Kingdom: Gwen.

Arthur watched as his father's lips thinned at hearing Merlin's latest questioning, and it did not look good for Merlin. Which in turn, didn't look good for Arthur. "This isn't any kind of debate." Uther said bluntly, leaning relaxed in his chair. "The serving girl will need to pay for being in possession of the poultice. And you have no proof she's ignorant to its existence in her own home. No proof that she's not the one who conjured it up. Not to mention, that girl did benefit from it quite nicely, her father still lives, after all."

Arthur darted his eyes back and forth from his father to his consort and back again, not sure how this battle of wills was going to turn out. And from the looks the other councilmen were giving each other, it looked as if he was not alone in his assessment. It hadn't been all that long ago, that Arthur had suggested, the time he'd discovered Merlin with that stupid flower, for Merlin to try things out with Gwen and see how things go. It had been a mistake on his part, one he'd hated the second it had came from his mouth. But he'd thought he'd been doing good, giving Merlin permission to do it-as long as it was discreet-so he would stop trying to get with Arthur. And stop all of that gay nonsense-giving him favors and/or being near him all the time. Arthur was really regretting it now though, because what if the one time had given Merlin some kind of odd impression that he could do things like this. It was…he was angry. Yes, that was it. Arthur was angry that Merlin was going toe to toe against his father for…her. Possibly innocent or not, Gwen shouldn't have someone in the Royal family fighting so hard for her. And that someone should definitely not be his consort.

"And for that, you would condemn her, kill a young girl whose barely begin to live her life, before you have all the facts? Does Camelot really have so little patience that they would kill before knowing for sure?" Merlin asked, in a surprisingly bold manner with talking to the king. But he was done playing nice, just done trying to please these people by going to the fancy parties and events and learning about their traditions and what they thought Merlin should be doing with his time. He figured he was already a dead man walking, and a man dead on his feet shouldn't go to the brig with silence on his lips. Not if he would die down there in that metal cell that sapped all of his energy from him like a bad trip…Merlin would be heard before he died. And his eyes were reflecting that red hot determination, "The least we can do is find the real sorceress to get Gwen's involvement straight from her."

Merlin knew the sorceress wouldn't be very fore-coming with any information on Gwen being involved, it was all Merlin's fault after all and had nothing to do with the sorcerer who had done all of this. But Merlin also figured it was a problem to be dealt with, but meant for Future Merlin. He often did or said things and not thinking the results through, this was just one more on the list of stupid things he knew he'd done in his life. But still, Merlin wouldn't even be closed to done until he saw the end results that he wanted: Gwen's freedom. So, knowing he was probably hanging himself as he spoke, Merlin turned to speak, gesturing to all of the councilmen just watching what a shot show this was.

"What if this had been one of your very own daughters?" Merlin demanded, making this moment a whole lot more personal with the way he brought their personal lives into the play. "Who had been accused and was now being sentenced to death for something she didn't do? Would any of you be so eager to throw Gwen into the fire pits if she had been born a noble?"

This seemed to be the last straw for many of the members of the court, because it seemed to be one thing to laugh about their privilege and show off how much better they were by being compared to others less than. But it was quite another to have that same kind of privilege being thrown back in their faces as if there was something wrong with being the better half. There was an uproar among the councilmen, and all Merlin did was watch with a sick glee of pleasure at the chaos he'd just created with a few simple words. Obviously, it was these types of men-types with power in the holds of their fists-were the type who did not like being told the truth. And would react with violence once confronted with their own lack of self-worth. Many of those councilmen stood with a righteous anger while shaking a fist or two at him, looking as if they'd forgot themselves and was going to do the King's quest to kill him for themselves. One would have thought he just threatened to kill their daughters himself as they shouted at him:

"How dare you-!"

"Incompetent fool!"

"Who are you to talk to us like that!"

"We should have your head hung for that, boy!"

"Uther, your son's choice for consort is-!"

But Merlin never did find out what that final word was, everybody's voices being drowned out by the other. Except for Gaius, who had settled for burying his head in his hands and shaking his head. Apparently not even Gaius was willing to step up and save him from his own foolishness at this point. Which was why it seemed so surprising when Arthur-silent by his side as he waited and watched how it was all playing out-suddenly grabbed him around the bicep and jerked him close to him.

"What are you doing, are you absolutely mad now!" Arthur snarled into Merlin's ear, doing everything he could not to bodily drag Merlin out of the room. They couldn't leave, not now that Merlin had opened his big mouth. Uther would for sure, not allow it. Arthur knew that his consort was stressing out, having a whole mental breakdown over the sudden changes in his life. He knew now, that all of those odd and awfully irritating moments where Merlin had acted out, trying to do something to get under Arthur's skin, was just his way of trying to get help. Help Arthur clearly couldn't give as his presence seemed to be the problem rather than a solution. It's why he had gotten Gregory to watch over him in the first place. It was hard enough seeing that Arthur was far too busy with the sickness spreading around the city, but at least he could do his duty and still protect his wayward pet from more of a distance. But this…this was more than any of his little acts of defiance had ever been, the problem had grown bigger than Arthur could have stopped. "He will have your head for all of this!"

And there was nothing Arthur would be able to do to protect Merlin from his own foolery. It wasn't as if Arthur would be able to talk down his father if Uther decided Merlin's head was going to be perfect for the chopping block. It had already been pushing it when Arthur had stepped in and convinced his father that his consort was not a sorcerer. Just one highly desperate boy making a fool out of himself to save a friend. Which was a very stupid notion in Arthur's book. Who the hell would start the near-riot over…Arthur scowled without daring to finish the thought, lest he go crazy trying to work out what was so bloody 'special' with Gwen. The point was, Arthur had never seen the council get to out of sorts so quickly in all his life. He'd seen fights and arguing between members here and there, usually cooled with his father's presence. But they seemed to be completely incensed! If Arthur didn't think his consort was still purposely trying to get killed off, then he might have even been impressed by it.

"Good." Merlin mouthed off to him, jerking his arm harshly out of Arthur's grip, so harshly in fact that Arthur could feel his own nails when they caught in the fabric of Merlin's jacket. It caused Arthur's eye to twitch as he sharply ground his teeth together, all of this under a strict cover as the councilmen were so riled up trying to yell at each other, they never did notice Merlin and Arthur seeming to have a conversation of their own right underneath their noses. "At least I'm actually seem to be accomplishing something!" And his eyes met with Arthur's, a vibrant blue and defiant even to what would probably be his last breath in the next upcoming minutes.

Arthur could feel a vein somewhere off to the side of his head start to throb, violently, while sending a little pulse of pain throughout his temple. Accomplishing something? This brat seriously thought he was…accomplishing any thing other than starting chaos? And what? It had sounded as if Merlin thought Arthur had been doing nothing but sitting around on his butt, waiting for somebody else to do all the work and find a solution to help his kingdom out of this. Arthur had been working for what was probably fourteen hours a day straight, since this disease became a thing nearly four days ago. He'd gone through his maps with a fine tooth comb, marking off every area that had already been searched before they had managed to find Gwen-had joined his men in their searching for hours at a time-and he'd still had a few places left in the kingdom that he knew could be searched. He had stressed his head off, sleeping for barely a handful of hours a night whenever he'd finally managed to crawl into bed, spent half of his time in the bed itself wondering with gleeful pleasure if Merlin's back was hurting from that bed he'd be sleeping on at Gaius. And how much more would it take before Merlin came crawling on his knees back to Arthur, leaning behind what 'mental health break' he thought he'd get out of the Royal suite. Needless to say, it was no wonder Arthur was so stressed out, Merlin's constant troublemaking causing him to get to a near breaking point…he always felt like he'd gotten to a breaking point with Merlin, yet he never quite fell over that edge, has he? Not yet, at least, but Arthur felt as if he'd gotten closer and closer to that tipping point as the days had passed.

Arthur opened his mouth to snarl something at her-he didn't know what exactly, as he felt his brain had stopped working when that brat started smirking so infuriatingly at him-but he did hope it would be something disturbing. A bit to knock Merlin off his adrenaline filled up high, because it wasn't right for Merlin to act as if he was on top of the world while Arthur was being crushed by the fallout of all of this would be. He didn't get a syllable out before the entire hall went dead silent, the king had raised his hand and thus, not one man dared to open their mouth again. Not even Arthur, a heir to the throne, dared to try talking Merlin into handling things better without throwing what he thought in the faces of the people who could ruin him without Arthur lending his protection to stop it.

"This is such bold talk," Uther spoke, face so hard that the wrinkles in his forehead looked as if they had been carved there. Arthur was almost able to admire how calm his king was being, as the man set his raised hand down to rest on the table. Despite looking as if he'd be able to burn Merlin with his eyes alone, if he could, the king hadn't raised his voice at all. Arthur knew how hard that was, he'd long since given up on trying to not scream at the boy as it did no good not to. "For a boy that's been pulled right out of the gutter."

Arthur winced, because he was also married to said boy from the gutter. If that was how his father saw his marriage, than maybe he should have done more to get Arthur out of it. But no…Arthur shouldn't think of things like that. His father had done everything he could to stop it, and Arthur hadn't been a good son due to the fit he'd thrown the first time he'd heard about it. And nothing more than being a gutter rat or not, fighting the king over one girl already lost in the system…Arthur did not even try to defend the boy against his father, even if it was his duty to protect him. Arthur's duty to being a good son would always trump his duty to protect as a husband should. The prince just stood there, waiting for something to break between the King and the Consort.

Waiting for Merlin to break, because there's no way he would come out on top over King Uther.

Merlin didn't seem deterred in the least, as he leaned forward and planted his hands with firmness on top of the table, "I might be seen as a gutter rat-" for the first time, Merlin was actually proud of a title given to him. A Gutter Rat would always trump The Consort. Being a gutter rat was something real, something that could look adversity in the eye and say hey, I survived. The King might have meant it to be an insult, but Merlin would take it over any of the other titles people would try to bestow on him at this point. "But Gwen, is no Rat. She's served this family, your family, faithfully over the years, for the better part of a decade."

Merlin thought, he might be a Gutter Rat, and he would take the insult with a pride befitting of one. But damn it, if anybody was going to call Gwen one. After what his friend had been going through, she deserved to be sitting on a damn pedestal, worshipped and loved for surviving such a tragedy in her life. But Merlin didn't voice that, fearing Gwen would end up just like him if he ever got her out. Lost in the sea of endless politics he couldn't hope on a good day to understand, treated like he was the vermin he was proud to be-because that meant he wasn't like the rest of them-by the people who thought they were better than him. Borderline depressed when he thought on his lot in life too hard…nobody deserved to have a life like this.

"Serving girls are a dime a dozen." the king said with a hard voice, shrugging one of his shoulders as if he couldn't care less. And he probably didn't. As much as it pained Merlin to see the proof right in front of his eyes, the king and his people didn't see Gwen, or him, or any other person like them as anything of worth. They were disposable, trash, gutter rats. And where they came from, there was dozens of more waiting in the wings to take their place before they too were lost among the shuffle. Gwen and Merlin would never be seen as People, by these nobles. Not even if they were screaming, on the ground and had been coated in a layer of their own blood as they bled out in front of them, would they be seen as anything more than something that needed to be taken out with the trash. Since all the king had to do was walk outside, point to some random girl, and she'd be more than happy to be Morgana's new handmaiden. The same could be said about him. Any Princess or Lady would have been a better choice than a Gutter Rat.

"But you won't be able to find one as good as Gwen is." Merlin said firmly, feeling almost as if he could breathe fire by this point. As far as Merlin was concerned, nobody would be any good when compared to Gwen. And not just at her job either, taking care of each duty she had until it was perfect. But taking things she shouldn't have to-like the way she had been dealing with Morris harassing her before he'd came bursting in. With grace and a smile as a man told her how awful she was at everything she did. Just like the people told Merlin…but he shook his head because even he knew the king wouldn't pardon a girl he thought was a witch just because she wasn't horrible with a job she's been trained for.

"So," the king said, the harsh lines etched in his forehead loosening up, his voice sounding like he was tittering. "You think I should allow a witch to live because she's good at washing the sheets?" The silent councilmen took this for the joke it was, roaring with laughter-the kind of laughter that had their heads thrown back and their bodies shaking-while Merlin felt his face burn. The laughter seemed to be more awful than being called a gutter rat, and he knew he was starting to loose everybody. If he hadn't already.

At Merlin's side, Arthur felt the same sting of second hand embarrassment. His face didn't burn like Merlin's did, but he still had to resist the urge to cover his face in his hands to hide from it. Damn, Merlin really was going trying to get himself killed, wasn't he? And for that girl…Gwen had obviously left her mark on his consort, invisible as it was. And the back of his throat felt sour. Arthur had left a mark of his own on Merlin, that bloody ring along the boy's finger was actual physical proof. But in that moment, it didn't feel like the proof was enough for his taste. Merlin needed to have something much…more…to combat against the people like Gwen who earned such fight for them in Merlin. Something large and very golden, maybe with a gemstone the size of his face, heavy around Merlin's neck that it'd force his head to hang. He'd be so exhausted from lugging it around, something that only a prince like him could afford. But Merlin would have to live long enough for Arthur to get any thing like that on hi…

The roar of laughter finally seemed to get to Merlin, because Arthur watched as the boy launched his head up to glare defiantly-and he was left to wonder if Merlin had gone and hit his head at some point, because surely he knew this was a lost cause-to the king. Uther wouldn't even bother ordering Merlin to be executed at this point, he would just take his sword and do it himself right here inside the council chambers right now.

"I think you should let her go because it's the right thing to do!" Merlin yelled over the roar of the council's laughter. And the entire hall went hushed, staring at him blankly. Even the prince was gaping at him. Yelling at those of the council…Arthur would never get to adorn Merlin in the jewels he would hate. He would never get to shove Merlin in front of Gwen's face and show off the stupid jewels he had forced upon the boy. He'd never be able to sneer at Gwen and tell ha, you might've been able to somehow get Merlin's loyalty, but the prince was the one that had him. Because he did, Arthur had Merlin. Or at least he did, long before Merlin decided to open his big mouth and continue his statement. "And if I'm wrong about it, then you can just burn me along with her!"

If the room had been quiet before, that was nothing compared to how quiet it was at this moment. Crickets could have been heard due to how quiet it had gone. And Arthur did feel pretty sure his chin was below his neckline as the shock of what Merlin had literally just said washed through him. And he wasn't alone in his sentiment, several of the other members of the council were looking at Merlin with this absolute horror. Even Gaius was looking with dumbstruck at the consort, unable to believe such bold words could come from a peasant boy.

"…Would you like to say that again?" ordered the king, his voice chilling and making all the tension in the air rise with his words. People were darting their eyes back and forth with a panic, trying to determine what the king was going to do about this impudence against the court. Arthur was doing the same, feeling as if there was more wrong with Merlin than just that mental affliction he had going on. Arthur thought…there had to be something more, or something that Arthur wasn't seeing here. He did not just hear Merlin volunteering his own life for bloody Gwen! He did not hear Merlin throwing his own life to the grim reaper just for…Arthur would give his heart, blood, and soul for his kingdom. But for one insignificant girl…none of it made any sense, none of what was going on seemed to connect inside his head. What was Merlin doing, did he think his father wouldn't take him up on his offer? Did he think this was a situation he could just go and bluff his way out of! This wasn't that kind of situation! Merlin would be on the pyre long before the moon started to rise!

"I think you heard me." Merlin said firmly, not allowing himself to be misheard. He knew the king had heard exactly what he'd said, asking him again had only been the king's own way of telling Merlin to turn back while he would still be able to. To backtrack and stop acting like he was a fool before Uther decided he'd take Merlin up on his offer. But Merlin would not be anybody's fool. Not today. And he was going to stand by what he said. If King Uther was so bound and determined to see the girl burn for sins not of her own making, then he would make sure he was standing beside her when he did. If it was the last thing he did in his life, Merlin would make sure Gwen would not die alone. If he couldn't save her, then he would give her peace in knowing the person who did this to her would die right alongside her.

Instead of being angry over Merlin's boldness and cheek, the king started to smile. And that was probably the first smile Merlin had seen from the man flashed in his direction, "Well, well then." Uther's smile looked nastily. The king was big about words. If somebody told him something, then he fully expected them to follow through. And Merlin wouldn't be any different of that front. "Wouldn't that be quite an interesting idea to behold."

And Uther looked as if he was seriously going through the merits of such an idea. That was enough to spurn Arthur into action, feeling as if all of this had gone on long enough. And all he needed to do was convince his father that Merlin's mental affliction had been obviously affecting his inhibitions as well.

"Father," Arthur said hurriedly, before the king could entertain whatever Merlin thought he'd been doing. If Merlin was wrong…what did he think he could do? 'Prove' that Gwen wasn't a witch! That was a fool's errand if Arthur ever heard of one! "You cannot be considering the offer! It's…it's…he's my consort! He shouldn't be executed!" Arthur had literally just saved Merlin from getting executed earlier, but yet, the boy threw himself back down into the fire of the pyre. "It's one thing to have a sorcerer executed, but my consort's only crime would be having a loose tongu-"

"Everybody deserves fairness!" Merlin really had some nerve to interrupt Arthur, who was going out of his way to once again save him from his own stupidity. But Merlin didn't show any gratefulness for Arthur trying to show the more thoughtful side of him. Didn't show any sign of being grateful that Arthur was 'trying' to save his scrawny hide. I'm fact, Merlin was glaring at him, his eyes full on incensed. Then Merlin was shoving him out his way as he was able to get back to the table, Arthur had done managed to wedge himself in between Merlin and the table in an attempt to protect the boy from bodily harm should his father decide to grab a blade and threw it at him. "You've got to give me just one day. One day to find proof that Gwen is innocent about everything!"

Merlin didn't know for sure how he was going to do that. He just…had to pin it down as one more crime the sorceress who had started all of this, should be easy…right? Ever since he'd came to this city, Merlin had been learning to do everything through pretty much trial and error, having to pick what was necessary to keep and dismissing nonsense. And this was no different to any of the other challenges he faced in the last two months. Maybe…maybe all he needed to do was buy him a bit of time for himself. And for Gwen. If he had just a bit more time, he could figure something better out. If he could figure out what the sorceress had done to the water supply, if he could just figure out what spell or potion she had used, if he found 'her', then maybe he could stop all of this! There would be no reason to execute Gwen if Merlin solved these problems…

"The boy wants to make a deal." Uther spoke up in that mocking way he did, so like his own son that Merlin could vividly see how related the two were. The king lifted his eyebrow up to his council, no longer in any kind of playful mood. "What do you say men, should I make the deal?"

Merlin could see the councilmen exchanging eager looks among themselves, many of the men speaking up to voice their agreements in the idea. He gritted his teeth down sharply as he felt a spike of rage shoot through him. The people, these people in particular, were very happy just sitting around discussing the issue going on. Feeding their bellies while the ones in trouble were literally dying on their door. It was disgusting. They probably didn't care for one second rather or not Gwen was the witch in the first place. They were just content with congratulating themselves after a hard day's work, the stench of hellfire and burnt corpse lingering high in the air as a way to satisfy the bloodlust affliction they all suffered from. The group of men probably thought watching her burn would be the easy solution.

But they would have a lot to answer for when Gwen's death did nothing to stop the sick as it spread. Nothing to stop it from eventually working it's way into the city, or surrounding the gates until they had starved themselves out.

A hand wrapped itself around Merlin's upper bicep, and Merlin didn't even have to look to know it was Arthur. The prince had done put his hands on him so many times-seriously, is there a reason Arthur had this extremely odd obsession with putting hands on or near his body at all times-that Merlin was starting to memorize the indentions the prince's fingers left invisibly against his skin. Like a chain he was trying to link them together with.

"Sire," Arthur spoke, not looking at Merlin as he dragged him bodily to his side, Merlin was getting sick and tired of Arthur dragging him around as if he was some kind of living being of a puppet. Something for his pleasure and fun, but with no soul inside of it to speak up for itself. "My consort and I shall give you the moment to deliberate with your council. But I must insist we step out while you come to a decision."

Although, rather the king had actually been planning to deliberate with his council ended up being a moot point. Because Arthur didn't give his father-amazingly enough-the time to stop them. He pulled Merlin along with him-it was Merlin who surprised him the most when he didn't protest or try to fight him off- until Arthur got the two of them to daddy. Well, he would call it safety, but a corner of the room behind one of the pillars where they would be out of sight was the best he could do in these circumstances.

The second they were behind the pillar, the consort was whipping around to look at his prince, "Can you believe them?" he asked in a harsh manner, barely able to get the words out as he jerked his arm out of Arthur's harsh grasp. "They are just sitting around acting as if Gwen's life doesn't matter. Uther…he's one piece of work, isn't he?"

Merlin knew the king was a hateful man, he had to be considering the genocide the man cast upon his people. But he thought even a man like Uther would prefer to capture a real witch instead of just pinning the whole thing on the first oddity they had came across. Out of this entire kingdom they'd searched before coming across Gwen…it was hard to know he really was the only sorcerer around since the prince and his scoundrel of men had yet to find anybody else. Not unless they were like him, and lucky enough to be able to hide the few items they had…

"Don't you talk like that to my father!" Arthur snapped at Merlin. It was bad enough Merlin had the boldness to combat him right to his face, a miracle he was still alive to talk about it, but then he had the gall as to act as if this was his father's fault. His father was a strong ruler, and he didn't need his twenty plus year of experience against sorcerer's and how to deal with them being questioned by this…by this kid. Who couldn't possibly understand a strain one went through when the kingdom as a whole rested on omens shoulder's.

Arthur vehemently ignored the voice buried in the back of his head that said, a man being a strong ruler doesn't make him a good man.

Merlin stared at him for a second, before he was scrunching up his nose and looking away from him, "Figures," the consort told him in a huffing voice. It was obvious that Merlin was finding him lacking in some way again, Arthur gritted his teeth because 'What. Did. He want him. To. Do.' It was 'infuriating!' The rage was pumping in Arthur over how Merlin could just look at him, and dismiss him. Arthur was the damn prince! He wasn't going to let that boy whose mouth was bigger than the whole of his body was, look down his nose at him "I do not know why I'm even talking to you. All you are going to do is agree with your father, and tell me I'm wrong."

And Merlin was done listening to how wrong he was to stick up for himself. How wrong he was to see something was wrong, and try on his own to make it right. Tired of being told to 'stay in his place' but then getting into these fights because he wasn't doing enough like a consort should. If Arthur wanted to stay here and bitch at him for something else, he could do it without Merlin being present. He would rather go back to the table and state his case some more. At least that was actually doing something instead of sitting around waiting for somebody else to make things happen.

Arthur felt a low growl deep in the back of his throat starting to stir up. The prince put a arm out, planting his hand against the white stone of the pillar, preventing Merlin from storming off in an angry huff, "You are wrong! You little fucking brat!" It was the first time Merlin had heard Arthur calling him a brat, the very thing Arthur had stuck in his head as another name for Merlin. But Arthur didn't care, let the brat know his nickname. And when he saw Merlin opening his mouth, probably to spit more and more obscenities at him, he was quick to cut him off, really letting himself loose as he went off into a tirade, "I was literally trying to save your damn life out there! The way you came in here with claims of magic, you were lucky your head didn't get chopped off right then and there! And then you go and what, offer yourself to the flames! Do you have a death wish! My father took you seriously! He won't rest until you are 'dead!' After you fail through this little quest of yours!"

Merlin scrunched up his nose at Arthur again, crossing his arms defensively over his chest and cocking that damn scrawny hip of his out to the side. Arthur eyed it with disdain, while having to resist the urge to grab that hip and jerk it back into place. His hip should not be jutting out like that. The move was meant for girls who thought it would get the attention of a guy, although now that he thought of it, the whole hip move or sway or whatever they did had never really captured his attention like it was now…

"And why do you care so much?" Merlin said, in a demanding tone, forcing Arthur back into attention at the matter at hand. Although, he should probably let Merlin know that bratty tone wasn't going to get him what he wanted from Arthur. Arthur didn't tell him though, the man in him wanting to force more out. To be the one who could see how far Arthur could push that bratty demeanor until the brat-in-questioned submitted, stopping himself from getting Arthur into these situations, "And do not give me any crap. I would have thought you of all people would be pleased, so why do you care if I throw myself into the flames?"

Merlin's eyes were steady on him, and Arthur blinked at him stupefied. Why on earth would Merlin think he wanted him dead? He didn't spend all his time and energy into protecting him after 'Valiant' got too handsy, just to end up with him dead. "Well…" Arthur found all of the anger brimming in him dying off before it was possible for him to blink, stuttering for a solid minute to get a proper answer out, and that should have been Arthur's first clue that something was wrong with him. Prince's did not stutter. Especially not in front of the half of them that was lesser than he was. But he was able to finally spit something out that he thought was somewhat adequate, "Well, I'm your husband, aren't I? I'm supposed to make sure you don't do things that will get yourself killed or hanged. And protect you. That's one of my jobs."

"…You see me as a job?" Merlin demanded as he lowered his hands down to his hips, harsh glare in his eyes. Arthur suddenly felt as if he had just talked himself into a corner, why did he feel as if he was in trouble? Arthur opened his mouth to better explain himself, because he had clearly not done as good as he'd had the first time around like he thought, but not a sound escaped him. Merlin laughed, bitter and probably loud enough for others to hear them if the council wasn't already deep in the conversation. "Tell me, Arthur-" Arthur found his eyes following the way Merlin's tongue is twisting around his name…fuck, how did that brat always say his name as if he was trying to mock him and curse him out at the exact same time. "What did you see happening by dragging me over here? Did you think I would be 'flattered' that my big, strong, husband is apparently trying to 'save' his little damsel in distress?"

Maybe, Merlin thought silently to himself with disgust, if Arthur had stepped in for him back when he had first got here, he might've been flattered. He had been so bloody stupid back when he'd first gotten here, so idealistic that he was gonna be married. Thinking it was all going to be alright as long as he kept trying to get things right, that he and Arthur could 'ride off into the sunset together'. But he was not that delusional anymore. Two months had really been enough to change a person, just a couple of months was all it took to break that delusion from his mind.

"I…yeah…" Arthur stuttered, looking confused at his consort. Didn't people like having other people protect them? Everyone else he knew would have been jumping for joy if Arthur was getting himself involved. They wouldn't have started yelling at him, and treating him like he was the bad guy. Calling him big, strong, and handsome…wait, was that a good thing? Was Merlin trying to hit on him again…nah. Merlin was definitely narrowing his eyes at him in a dangerous manner. "No! I definitely meant to say no. You shouldn't be flattered that I tried to save your life." Arthur would forever deny even to himself that Merlin scared him a little with that glint in his eyes. For a man who was able to take off the heads of very poisonous snakes, a stick thin boy should not be able to incite that level of distress.

"You are unbelievable." Merlin said, the glint in his eyes dying off as he brought his hands up to grab at his hair. "Do not try to turn this around as if you were doing me some kind of favor! You were absolutely no help to me! All you did was get in the way and make me out to be some kind of fool!" As if Merlin needed Arthur's help to do something like that.

"Now hold on just a minute, I made you look a fool? What about how you were the one that made 'me' the fool!" Arthur protested, as he got a bit of his fight back into him. The prince crowded Merlin against the pillar, making the consort put his hands down to his side as he pressed his back up against it, his fingertips graced the edges of the post behind him. His prince put his hand on the post never to the consort's head to keep his balance, both of their faces neared as they glowered deeply at the other. "You've caused nothing but trouble for me since you marched through the doors like a bloody lunatic!"

"I didn't ask for you to butt in and try to save me or some shit like that." Merlin responded, eyes like the blue version of molted fire about to pop into an inferno, still stuck on the part where Arthur thought he'd needed some big hero to get himself out of his own mess. The consort was not the least bit intimated by the much blockier and larger body trapping him against the pillar. If anything, Merlin looked to be strangely comfortable, trapped within the confides of Arthur's arm and the post, unable to be seen by the greater party of the room in their positioning. He should be comfortable in the position by now, how many times has he been in it already? Four? Five? Maybe it didn't matter. Arthur was a creeper who hated him but always contradicted himself by having an inability to stay away from him. "I was having things handled just fine on my own." the boy finished in a softer tone, breath fanning out along the lower half of Arthur's face.

Merlin would have been quite content to be on his way down to the dungeons right about now, if Arthur hadn't interrupted and decided to get in his way. He would have been happy to watch from his own cell-if he managed to stay conscious for that long due to the way it seemed to just sap his energy right out of his body-as Gwen was released from hers. And it would be his penance, the one he knew he'd rightfully deserved, to wait until his stake was finished being built. Pleased to know that the handmaiden would be at her home, snuggled against her father while trying to escape the chill of the dungeon. He wouldn't be here still and trying to get some nonsense deal he had made up on the spot to go through. And the prince was dead set on ruining this for him.

The prince in question didn't even twitch nor flinch at Merlin's exhale of air brushing along his lips. In fact, Merlin felt his eyebrows come together with his confusion, he was actually pretty sure that Arthur had just breathed it in deeply. And was it just him or did Arthur look funny in the eye. The black in the center was expanded, making it harder to see the bluish color of Arthur's eyes around the edges. Or maybe he should just be concerned that the prince was so close, Merlin could tell he had something wrong going on.

"No, you weren't handling it." Arthur hissed at him dangerously, his own breath fanning out to hit Merlin in the face. Unlike Arthur though, Merlin screwed his face up in disgust, before watching the ugly red shade that colored the prince's face. He almost looked offended by the action, as if Merlin turning away from him was a rebuttal against him. Arthur's fingers were on his chin, indenting against the soft flesh of his skin as he moved him back into place, so that Merlin was forced to look right at him. Even though Merlin was on the taller side than Arthur, it definitely felt as if Merlin was the one who had to look up in that very moment. "You were trying to get yourself on the execution's platform."

Merlin rolled his eyes and tried to move pull his chin out of Arthur's grip, but Arthur was narrowing his eyes at him and pressed down on his fingers, preventing Merlin from going any further. Merlin gritted down his teeth with his agitation, "Okay, I was trying to get myself killed. I got that part." He said what had to be the rudest tone he could spit out. "But go on and tell me, what else did I do to upset you this time so that I might hope to correct what behavior offends you."

Merlin didn't give a shit what he had done to offend Arthur's 'delicate sensibilities' but this could be something to laugh about later on if he did end up in his own cell. What was more ridiculous than the issues being undergone by the rich, and the famous, and the powerful ones. The ones who didn't starve or have to wonder where the next meals were going to come from. The one who didn't have to mend their own clothing out of the old because the money was too much to buy new. The people who didn't bake under the sun on a whim as they had work to do for hours at a time, and if they stopped now then they wouldn't get to eat at all.

Arthur seemed to take his mocking as some kind of personal challenge against him, since the prince in question ran his thumb along his jawline. "Well for one," the prince breathed to him, watching with satisfaction as Merlin had a full body shiver going on, the rough pad on Arthur's finger scraping harshly against the much softer skin of Merlin's face, creating a different sensation altogether. Merlin seemed to realize what he was doing, because he had started glaring at Arthur, even though he did not try to move his head away. Good, Arthur thought with a satisfaction of his own, Merlin was starting to learn his place. Was starting to learn there was nothing he could do that Arthur could not contradict. "I think you're an idiot for trying to deal with my father. He will only agree as to see you hanged."

As he was saying this, Arthur trailed his hand further down Merlin's jaw, past the lobe of his ear, until he could rest his hand-hot and very heavy-against the side of Merlin's throat. The position afforded him the chance to feel what response Merlin's body was giving off, and to feel the solid continuous thumping of Merlin's heartbeat against the thick palm of his hand. He knew he had sworn many weeks ago, not long after Merlin had given him the favor that day, to never do something like this again. To never play around with Merlin's affections like this. It was a bad call that never ended good for him, as it gave Merlin funny ideas. Things that would humiliate Arthur as he had to turn them away in disgust. But things changed as Merlin had turned similar affections onto that girl…if Merlin was going to pay that attention to anybody, it was going to be sorely to his husband.

Because god help him, Arthur was acting like a man possessed. God help the poor soul if another man ever arrived and tried to steal away blue eyes from looking at him. If Merlin was going to keep stepping out of line even if Arthur was turning him away, then seducing him might put a stop to it if Arthur mentioned how much it 'displeased him' to see Merlin as he acted out.

"And you…?" Merlin breathed out, darting his eyes down before looking back up at Arthur though his eyelashes. The beginnings of soft pink building up on his cheekbones, while his eyelashes fluttered. "…Would you wish to see me hanged?" The hand along his neck, all the prince had to do was move it further along to cover the entirety of his neck, like Arthur was trying to choke him. It was just in his head but Merlin's heart shot up a notch so quickly that it almost made his head spin for reasons that went untold.

Truth be told…Merlin wasn't as dumb as his princely husband thought he was. He knew Arthur was up to something, with the way he was behaving. Arthur had thought he could catch Merlin's 'gay germs' just by being near him. He would never be this close to him now unless he thought he could get something by doing it now. And Merlin wouldn't say he was entirely opposed against the idea. Arthur felt the urge to play games with him, then it was game on. How far could Merlin push at him in his own game before he started treading this dangerous line and realized exactly what he was doing.

Arthur wasn't quite there yet, Merlin thought as the prince lowered his head so that their foreheads were brushing. There was just one second there, where Merlin felt his heart as it came to a stop. He could have sworn Arthur was about to kiss him, Merlin frozen only with eyes so wide they were about to pop straight out his head, as he waited for it. Not for a kiss itself, but he was too stiff to get a proper fist to get him in the jawline with if he tried. A kiss was going too far in their game of who could make the other flinch first.

Arthur stopped with just a breath of air being able to fit between their lips, "Never." he said, as he breathed the words out in a mockery of a kiss. Merlin had to blink, his fingers stiff and unmoving at his side, before he remembered the question he'd asked Arthur. Right, he had asked him if he too wanted to see Merlin after he'd been hung.

Merlin ducked his head, only slightly because the hand heavy against the side of his neck jammed itself under his jawbone, preventing him from moving very far unless Arthur would want him too. The thought that he was right at Arthur's mercy, the idea that there was the group of councilmen just on the other side of this post that could interrupt and catch them in this false act was enough to make Merlin's heart catch in his throat. It wasn't enough to make him flinch, quite the opposite in fact, as he bit down on his lip. Maybe it was just him, but he could swear Arthur's dilated eyes had shot down to them. For being the one pinned down, Merlin sure felt pretty powerful, even if he gave off the impression of bashful, "And is there anything else, I might have done that's upset you?"

"As a matter of fact," Arthur forced out with a guttural tone, dropping his eyes from Merlin's lips-were a boy's lips supposed to look that shade of pink, he'd never noticed as keenly as he was now-and down to his throat where he could literally see the pulse point pumping in Merlin's neck. He watched it greedily, while moving his hand down so that his thumb was testing directly under Merlin's chin, forcing it up at an uncomfortable angle so that he was able to see it better in the light. "There is."

Merlin swallowed hard, digging his nails into the post behind him when he was unable to properly. "Yeah…" he choked out, forgetting it was supposed to be a game at all, the back of his head was pressed harshly against the post and he couldn't move his head. This was not nearly as funny as he thought it would've been, the tension in the air so thick that it had been cloying up the air, making it that much harder for him to think straight. "And what is that?" He had to scramble through his mind to determine what to even say.

"Well," Arthur licked at his lips, eyes trained firmly on Merlin's neck as he slowly-ever so slowly and tantalizingly-moved his thumb as it buried itself under Merlin's chin, down the slope of his neck. Making sure to feel every little vein, every muscle or scrape of skin, to make Merlin feel how easily Arthur would be to just push forward and control even Merlin's very breath, allowing him just enough air due to Arthur's prerogative. "I didn't appreciate a comment you made in front of my father."

At the time, it had been humiliating to hear it as it came from Merlin's lips. But glancing to those lips in question now, Arthur was finding it hard to understand what he had found that was wrong with it. Okay, sure, maybe it was mildly inappropriate. Arthur was supposed to be leading these people someday, and it was not right for a group of them to go thinking it was him who was some kind of sex fiend. But still…Arthur's was breathing in Merlin's scent due to their close proximity to each other like it was a fine perfume, and he wasn't able to pick those thoughts apart on what was awful about the comment.

Merlin felt Arthur's thumb against his neck so much more acutely when it finally stopped its slow decent down his throat when it reached his neckerchief, the prince not moving down to show more of his skin then he was already showing, "And…what's that?" He asked, voice coming out surprisingly hoarse. His husband was literally dragging reactions out of him to a degree he wasn't sure he liked. Merlin had never felt the slow building of heat-the deep anticipation gnawing at him but for what, he wasn't as sure of even though his body tried to tell him something-but a few times in his life. And all of them had happened in the last two months, centered around Arthur as he'd been being particularly physical with Merlin.

Arthur shot his eyes up to meet with Merlin's own, and he quite enjoyed the startled gasp that wetly came from the slimmer boy's lips as he pressed his thumb against the thin line of his windpipe barely seen through the skin of his neck. Merlin's fingernails clawed into the post behind him, and Arthur took delight in causing such a reaction out of him. After experience this, Arthur knew that Merlin was never going to think of Gwen again. Not if he had anything to say about it, "The comment you said, when you announced to them all of how much I knew you liked guys. It was…you made it sound so indecent!"

Arthur was able to fight through the perfume of Merlin's natural scent to remember why he had been so upset. Arthur didn't exactly want to say he 'shared' his father's view on those who were same-sex couples. His father was the type who would probably have them put to the stake as well, but he was too busy with his crusade against magic that he'd never got the chance to go that far with it. Probably the good thing considering he would be breaking his own law by marrying his son to another boy. Or maybe that was the reason Uther had never gone that far, preparing for the day the contract would be enacted and his son would have to do one of the very things he would be more than happy to condemn. But as soon as the rational thought entered his mind, it was gone as the scene of Merlin's skin perfumed its way up his nostrils.

"A-are-" Merlin was stuttered, and Arthur was frowning because he didn't like the stutter. It would be no fun if Merlin wasn't being the big bratty self he was, it would be no fun if Merlin would break so easily. "Are yo-you-" that was when Arthur realized the reason for Merlin to be stuttering, and he had to bite back a smug grin threatening to emerge. Arthur's thumb is still being pressed against Merlin's windpipe, pressing steadily harder as he got lost among his thoughts so that he'd been dangerously close to cutting off his air supply completely. It was tempting, far too tempting, to see how far Merlin would allow him to go before trying to kick him off when the lack of air started to get too him. But seeing as Arthur hadn't first noticed he was doing it, he wasn't willing to tempt fate, and loosened the pressure. It was still firmly there, but now more like just being present rather than cutting his air off. Arthur didn't actually want to hurt Merlin, just teach him it was best to listen to Arthur and stop all of these problems.

Merlin let out a weak cough, the pink hue on his cheeks darkened a little as he slumped his head forward. Once he managed to get his breath back in order, still feeling in danger of being cut off again but not so much that he was ready to give in and kick a fuss over his treatment, Merlin lolled his head back so it was leaning against the post before he tried again, voice hoarser than ever, "Do you hear yourself right now? That was like…are you to tell me you're still hung up about that?" The consort knew Arthur had a habit of bowing things out of proportion. Always looking for a fight to start with Merlin. It was like the prince expected Merlin to read his bloody mind and predict which pieces he said would drive the bloke insane. "And what do you mean I was being indecent? What was so indecent about i-"

Merlin got cut off and made a gurgling sound when Arthur pressed his thumb in deeper on his windpipe, forcing him to stop talking just to save his breath. "Indecent." Arthur said in a sneer, leaning forward so that his full body was pressing up against Merlin's leaning in so he could hiss in the other boy's ear, feeling as the boy trembled beneath his touch. But not in fear though, Arthur was very careful to see there was no fear in him. It would be no fun if Merlin was showing that fear. "You showed a very indecent side to the court, making them see me as some sort of scoundrel." Knowing full well that Merlin wouldn't get the full gist of what he was saying.

Merlin didn't realize he had given the court an idea that he and Merlin must be having the time of their lives in the bedroom. He didn't know the council was probably thinking how Arthur took Merlin to his bed nightly, how he would probably strip him of his clothing and have his way with him. Merlin didn't know any of this, but that didn't mean Arthur wouldn't punish him for giving off that illusion. Arthur shot his eyes down along the large ear Merlin had, following the trail of skin until he could see the blue neckerchief fastened around his neck. Arthur wrinkled his neck in disdain for the color, the color of the kingdom Mercia. It should have been red, Arthur's colors around his throat to be seen by all. He was tempted to all but rip it off but no, Arthur wasn't going to go as far as to start undressing the boy. It was the reason he hadn't allowed his thumb to go any further down then what the cloth would allow him. It seemed…tainted…to take this so far as quick scrapes of his hand along pieces of skin he should never see.

"Scoundrel? Now who think they are tough shit." Merlin snorted against him, a mocking more on the teasing sound of laughter made his chest move, which sent a vibration right through Arthur who had his cheek pressed along the side of Merlin's hair. "You were the one that started the whole thing anyway. To make me sound like a cheater, claiming that I like Gwen? You were the one that opened the door to that, not me."

And Merlin was starting to lean away from the prince, putting a hand up to push flat against his chest to push him off. Apparently having been reminded of Arthur's earlier antics were enough to make him forgo their entire game in a fit of anger. But he had also mentioned Gwen's name. When Arthur didn't want him to think of her. That was a no go, and Arthur tsked under his breath, putting a hand on the consort's shoulder and pushing him back on the post like they were before Merlin tried to get away from him.

"Now, now, Merlin." Arthur hissed, lowly and dangerous into Merlin's ear, feeling the way his brat swallowed harshly as if just realizing Arthur's playful mood was gone. He had this agitation whirling around deep inside of his stomach and through his muscles, wondering where exactly he had gone wrong. Gwen and her name should have never been uttered by Merlin's lips. He should have all but forgotten about her, and spend his focus entirely onto Arthur. Arthur didn't take too kindly from the people who tried to take what was his. Make no mistake, rather he wanted him or not, the boy was his. "That isn't very nice, trying to go pushing me back like that." He wanted to try biting down on the boy's earlobe directly in front of his face just to hear Merlin squeal but he figured that was a little 'too' gay for him or not apart of this little game of charade they'd gotten entangled in.

Merlin grunted, feeling the heavy weight of the prince pushing against him. Good god, he was a fat arae, "Who said I was trying to be nice to you?" He hissed back, voice low as to not attract attention and get anybody to start wondering what was going on behind the big ugly post they hid behind. "Maybe I just don't give a damn about you or whatever gay thing you have going around." Arthur could say he was straight all he wanted, Merlin believed it wholeheartedly. But Arthur had to have just a bit of something-even just curiosity-lingering under the surface. Because good god, Arthur was 'always' trying to touch him in one way or the other.

Arthur returned his hand to the right side of Merlin's neck, putting the pressure back on it. He knew he could get away with it, as Merlin hadn't fought him the first time. He wouldn't fight him now. A mouthy boy like Merlin would need to be punished, and he better be damn grateful Arthur had already decided clothes being removed was a big 'no'. Or Arthur may have started trying to strip the boy of his own pants and give him the well deserved spank he'd been wanting to give him. "I don't care if you like men." Arthur hissed at Merlin, to stop himself from giving into the basic urge that had plague him for weeks now. "But I swear, don't you go out there insinuating the same thing about me."

Logically, Arthur knew it was already too late for such a thing. He was already considered 'gay' considering his partner had similar body parts to his own. But that didn't stop Arthur or his agitation from getting out of hand. And Merlin sprouting off things that could easily be misconstrued as something sexual was a nightmare waiting to happen. But things that Merlin insinuated were things meant to be kept in private. And knowing Merlin was bold enough to speak of affairs he didn't know the real thing many people thought he meant…it made Arthur wish he'd finally gone and got a proper leash commissioned for the boy. To be chained to the leg of his desk, where he was sure to stay out of trouble.

Merlin didn't seem intimidated by him, while no longer trying to push him away, "You can say what you want." the boy mocked him in glee, resisting a shiver as Arthur's breath was fanning itself down the side of his neck. "But this doesn't exactly bode well for how fragile your manhood seems to be." People were so strict about that around here, acting like that was supposed to be a secret. Or something one knew about others but shouldn't have been mentioned. Like a 'don't ask, don't tell' kind of policy among what little he had seen when he was out and about. Merlin figured if he brought this up, Arthur would clearly see what he was doing was 'obviously' not what a straight man would do. He would freak out on him again and jump away as if Merlin had just tried to stab him. Merlin himself, didn't have any interest in hiding himself away in a cage set by other people the way Arthur was being content to live. Doing what he was told even when it was wrong.

Arthur didn't back away like he thought he'd do. The prince actually took Merlin's words as a challenge to be met, and one he wasn't going to lose out on. "So what do you want me to do about that?" he demanded, making sure to lean even more heavily against that mouthy consort of his. He settled his gaze in a heavy manner back on Merlin's neck, while imagining moving his hand to cup the whole of it firmly. He was offended that Merlin was thinking his 'manhood' was fragile. That was like a huge insult, like Merlin was saying he'd thought Arthur was a girl's petticoat. "Do you want me to experiment to find out if I'm kinda like you? Are you volunteering yourself for the job?"

Not that long ago, Arthur had considered just putting a golden chain around Merlin neck, a heavy one to make him always remember he was married to 'Arthur'. Not Gwen. Arthur. It was now though, Arthur was thinking it might be better to stick to the classics. A leash put on him was a short time solution, Arthur was obviously not going to keep Merlin tied onto the foot of his desk. It was an impractical way to go. But having a solid gold collar for him to walk around with was suddenly appealing all over again. Heavy enough that Merlin would not be able to ignore it's presence, and would be forever reminded of Arthur. Something that had a lock latched onto it, so that Merlin wouldn't be able to remove it without having his permission. What a tantalizing idea. Now, he wouldn't be 'volunteering' to do anything of that nature with Merlin but…it wouldn't be bad for Merlin to have a more solid reminder of who he belonged to…and gold would look fetching against the pale skin along Merlin's thro-

Arthur nearly crumbled over in shock when a sharp pain burst through his skin, and he had to grit his teeth to stop himself from crying in surprise. Merlin had just kicked him. A bloody moron had just kicked him hard enough that he was pretty sure if he had been wearing his shin guards, he still would have been able to feel it. Forget the collar, forget the leash, and forget Arthur's crude suggestion of having a certain boy dragged up to his room just for the sole point of showing Merlin he wouldn't be afraid of anything. Not even…gay stuff. He shot his head up, crouched over and now out of Merlin's personal space as he cupped his chin, to yell at Merlin. This wasn't exactly the first time Merlin had kicked him.

His voice died off in his throat when he saw Merlin's voice. The shock and the horror and the disgust all over it, looking at Arthur like he was some kind of psychotic freak. Yeah, he'd pretty much got cooled off after that when he realized…he was probably acting like Valiant had been. This suddenly didn't seem any fun anymore, Arthur realized as he had a cold-ing chill shoot down his spine. He opened up his mouth, ignoring the throbbing in his leg, but that was as far as he could get. He obviously needed to apologize for taking things too far, but Merlin started talking before he could.

"Are you absolutely nuts!" Merlin whispered yelled at him, looking at him with absolutely wild eyes. Arthur almost would have been insulted over Merlin's disgust at him, didn't Merlin like him at some point? But that wasn't any excuse for the rough way Arthur handled their situation just now. "Why are you acting so crude! I'm not going to…to whore myself out by going on a date with you. I am not that desperate!"

Whore. Whore. Whore. That word played in a loop in his mind, what Markus had called him just earlier that day. Merlin was gonna bloody punch Arthur's lights out! He might not have understood why he was being called that, as Markus obviously didn't know what a whore was-definitely not a guy who couldn't even…do stuff…with another guy like a girl could. It was implausible! Maybe he wanted to go on a date with Arthur at some point, but he'd done some growing in the last two months. And he would rather jump off a cliff before doing any of the sort with him!

"Wa-wait! What! Whor-" Arthur stuttered with a panic shooting through him, hard enough to pound harshly at his temples. Whore? He had called him nothing of the sort! He was…he's…bloody hell! Merlin was a fucking virgin! He's the last person on the planet who would be a whore. He didn't even know where that word had came from. "I did not call you a whore!" He whispered yelled back at him, feeling like he needed to make that clear. The throbbing in his shin was absolutely nothing compared to what Merlin had just called himself.

"No." Merlin scrunched up his nose at him in disgust. "You only want to take me out on a date even though you're not attracted to me in the least. So why would I think you see me as anything else!" Merlin could handle loud mouthed knights who thought they could do or call him whatever he wanted. He would get back at them one way or another. But he'd be damned if Arthur thought he could what, give Merlin some kind of pity date born out of his own amusement. Merlin would rather take his blade and carve out his own eyes before he'd agree to do anything of the sort with…him.

"I don't-" Arthur tiredly brought a hand up to rub roughly through his hair. Of course Merlin thought he was talking about a stupid date. It was probably a candlelight dinner and walks by the moonlight in his mind. Arthur probably regretted his crude suggestion more than he had anything else in this moment. Arthur was absolutely mortified at this turn. Hell, maybe things would have gone easier if Arthur done something absolutely outrageous when he'd been trying to enforce himself on Merlin. Like kissing him! That would have gone over much better, he was sure. It would have disgusted the prince to do so, but…Arthur would have at least won their little challenge they'd had going on. He dismissed those thoughts out of mind when he realized where he was going, their challenge was clearly over and done with. "I wasn't trying to ask you out."

For one thing, if Arthur were to do something like that-and it was a big if considering that it was Merlin-he would be a lot smoother than this. The one he was asking out wouldn't just assume he, for some odd reason, was calling him a whore. Like seriously, what was all that about! And two…Arthur wondered if this was how Valiant had gone about it. Had he made some kind of crude comment like Arthur had done, had Valiant been the one to call Merlin-the witless wonder of a virgin he was-whore? Maybe Merlin's strong reaction was because Arthur had dredged up some back memories of that man…Arthur wanted to start slapping himself for being so bloody stupid! Here he'd been, practically throwing Merlin back into a situation he had escaped from…what kind of man did something like that?

"Listen," Merlin spoke up, and Arthur could hear how much of a struggle it was to keep his voice as low as he was. Merlin was trying not to attract attention to their little corner of the room just as Arthur was, but all Arthur felt was terrible. The low somber tone Merlin was using on him was just another reminder, how Merlin hadn't trusted him enough to come to him when Valiant started bothering him. Days was how long it took before Merlin told him of it. And here Arthur was, proving why he could not be trusted with the proper safekeeping of his own husband. "I don't really care for what he was doing right now, and I don't care what you think you were doing just now-"

Arthur didn't put up any arguing, he didn't try to gloat or anything about having made the other boy flinch first. It had been one thing to try and freak him out, but it had been another thing entirely to 'actually' freak him out. And that was why Arthur kept his hands firmly at his sides, refusing to torment his consort any longer. Besides, Merlin had a point. Arthur did not know what he had been doing, and didn't even know how far he was willing to push the things between them. He would have said he was glad Merlin had broken them apart, long before they had entered any 'no going back' zones, but considering the horror of Merlin's experience and how he had clearly not gotten over it yet…Arthur almost wished they 'had' started doing…gay things…to keep Merlin's mind off of the threat Arthur had long since extinguished. At least Arthur could be sure he wouldn't have tried his hand at breaking into Merlin's own private chambers…if one could call it that. Maybe it was for the best that the boy thought he was talking about a date. This was better than Merlin knowing the truth, and realizing just how disgusting Arthur had been for the suggestion to even come out his lips.

Merlin was still talking, angling himself so he was no longer trapped by the pillar but not so he could be seen by the councilmen still in a heavy discussion, "You can even stand here and have another one of your fits about how this is all my fault or whatever. But while you are doing that, I'll-" he jutted his thumb into his chest, the same chest Arthur had actually been plastered against moments before. "Be busy trying to think of what else I can do to help Gwen if this plan falls through."

Gwen. Gwen. Gwen. It always came back to her. But Arthur supposed, considering she to be put on death row, it made since that not a thing he did would have gotten Merlin's mind off her in the first place. He had been stupid to even try. There were going to be no stupid leashes to tie Merlin to his desk with, no gold collars heavy enough to ache the neck while always remembering the presence of the one who put it on. Those were bad thoughts, the kind of thoughts somebody like Valiant would probably have. And Arthur wasn't going to be the one to traumatize Merlin even more with his folly.

Arthur watched Merlin turn away from him-he had really screwed up, hadn't he? If the boy could not even look at him-to take a proper peak around the corner. Arthur made sure to keep a respectable distance, looking around Merlin to see his father nodding along to the councilmen on his right talking to him with an urgent hand motion. What they were saying were impossible to detect from the distance they were in.

"You know," Arthur said with a soft voice and keeping his eyes on the table of councilmen, no longer raging or full of hate and panic that Merlin was doing this to him. "What you did is bigger than you realized. There's no way I can get you out of this. My father will agree, you'll be put on the pyre long before you have the chance to prove anything." He had struggled to get Merlin out of those false 'I'm really the sorcerer' charges he had tried to stick onto himself. But something like this was out of his hands completely. His father wouldn't allow it to be touched with a ten foot pole.

Merlin glanced over his shoulder at Arthur but turned away just as fast to keep his back to him. "I know." He said, leaning against the pole and crossing his arms tightly across his chest. He wasn't even going to look at Arthur anymore, what he'd suggested earlier struck a nerve in Merlin. He might not understand it, but he knew Markus calling him a whore was his form of an insult. And to think Arthur may see him the same way…it was just one mess after another. He didn't have 'time' to get all pissed off about it. He didn't have 'time' to go thinking Arthur's little 'date experiment' was anything more than a cruel joke. The one and only reason he had kicked Arthur instead of punching him in the jaw was because he was not going to do anything that could screw up this deal he was trying to make. And he was not going to allow Arthur to screw him up for it either. "But, I guess that just means I have more of an incentive to prove Gwen is really innocent."

Unlike everyone else, Merlin actually knew for a fact that Gwen was innocent. He would just have to prove that to everybody else and get her set free. His best bet for actually doing it would be to track down the sorceress, figure out how to stop the sickness from spreading in their water supply. He didn't know how he was going to do that, but like he had thought earlier, let's get the deal to go through before worrying about the 'how' part. Besides, there was always the card he could use hidden into his back pocket. If Merlin ran out of time, and hadn't accomplished anything of note…then he'd just have to come back during the final hour and show his magic. Bearing his soul in front of people who thought it was ugly…and all but dancing naked in front of them as his eyes sparked with the old religion…he would just have to get over himself and do it. Not a soul would deny what he was, maybe he was able to go one step further and saw he's the one who 'enchanted' Gwen into doing things she didn't know she was doing. That was one possibility to save Gwen's life…

As if reading Merlin's thoughts from what bit he could see of his face, Arthur started up his protest, "God, do you never 'ever' just try and think things through? What are you planning to do here? Do you even have any clue what you are getting yourself into?" Arthur had this feeling that Merlin didn't care one bit what he was getting into. And Arthur didn't even have the luxury of trying to enforce his will on him any longer. Not with what had just happened still being too fresh, it would probably be the thing to push Merlin's already damaged mind right over the edge.

"…Nope." Merlin said, looking far too calm for somebody actively 'trying' to get themselves killed. Arthur growled, gritting down his teeth and feeling his fingers twitching down at his side. No. No. No. He was not going to grab a mentally unstable boy and try shaking some sense into him. Even if he was behaving with a completely crazed mind! Arthur liked when he had a plan in mind, liked having an idea of what he had to do. He didn't do anything half the time without having every little possibility mapped out in his head. How…frustrating…it was to meet somebody who didn't plan one thing, who spent all his time 'winging' it, the prince guessed would be the right word.

"…why are you fighting so hard?" the prince asked in frustration. The last time he'd seen Merlin fighting like this…it had actually been during Valiant. When Merlin had been trying to make Arthur see sense, tried proving that the other knight was going to use magic to try and kill him. He had been right then, so he might be right now…no. It didn't matter rather or not Merlin was right about anything. There were just some things that happened, rather or not they wanted them to. And this was one of those times. "Nobody is going to side with you during this battle your fighting. It's a one-sided hopeless battle you can't hope to win on your own. You should just give up with the breath you have left in your body. I'm sure if you apologize to my father-"

"Never." Merlin interrupted before he could finish his sentence, whipping his head around to finally look at him. And Arthur's breath was catching in his throat, taken aback by those multiple swirls of emotion he could detect in his eyes. Never indeed. Arthur could sense a losing battle himself, Merlin would never get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness to the king. Not even on his deathbed, the boy was too strong willed for that. "Don't you see, Arthur?" Merlin turned back so that he could watch the councilmen in disgust. Arthur was almost offended on their behalf, because his own consort was looking down his nose, as if they were the bad guys in the situation. The most powerful men in the kingdom, had just been looked down on by a boy with peasant birth.

"Don't I see, what?" Arthur asked, more than a little snooty. He looked at the table filled up with councilmen, trying to see them through Merlin's eyes, but he couldn't understand at all. He didn't like not understand something a peasant-with no real education, that would be something he'd have to see too if Merlin was going to continue getting himself into situations like this-could see.

Merlin looked at Arthur, the emotion swirling in his eyes gone to be replaced with a much harder one, "The fights that people say can't be won, the ones nobody is willing to fight on the chance that it might be 'too hard' to win. Those are the kind of fights that 'need' to be fought."

Arthur blinked, almost stupefied after hearing this. For just one second, Merlin had sounded wiser than Arthur thought he could be. Arthur dismissed this thought though because there was no way Merlin was wiser than him. Or his father. Uther knew better than both of them, he knew how to deal with magic and the kind that used it. He'd already tried the once to try and help, it hadn't gone over too well. And he knew Merlin's attempt was going to go wrong just as his had. Arthur did want to help Gwen, he really did, even if he didn't understand the reason Merlin was so gung-ho about it. She might be innocent-probably was-but there's every chance that she was as well. His father had been right about people becoming too desperate, and turning to magic to heal loved ones. It was just hard to imagine 'Gwen' was the one that had broken down first. And even if she had used magic to cure her father, was it really something she should be punished for? Shouldn't there be some kind of warning signal in place before just straight up having them executed.

No. Arthur was allowing Merlin and his weird ideas get in his head. His father knew what he was doing, and Arthur had to watch, and learn, and listen. So that he could take over and do the same when it was his turn to wear the crown. Even if he had this weird whisper in the back of his mind, asking him rather or not he would have done the same thing Gwen did, if it had been his father in place of hers.

"And besides," Merlin continued, leaning all of his weight against the pillar-pretending hard as he could, that what Arthur had said to him about 'experimenting' hadn't bothered him in the least. Even though it had. Greatly. Merlin would probably never get the husky way the prince had invited him out, although to what, he was pretty sure he didn't want to know the information, out of his mind. "Gwen's one of my friends, and I'm not giving up on her just because you and everybody else has."

As far as Merlin had seen, Morgana and him were probably the only ones that had taken the time to visit Gwen. Down in that horrible rat infested place that could kill a person, or was it just him? Because Gwen hadn't didn't seem effected by anything more than what her situation was. Either way…Merlin could feel pretty confident when he said nobody else had thought to go see her. Even when he got Gwen out-and make no mistake, he'd be getting her out-she would probably always be stuck with 'witch' attached to her like a leach. A leach that needed to apparently just fend for herself, and take what was given to her with a smile instead of being given any chance to fight for her own freedom.

People who got accused of witchcraft and then released back into society on the rare chance they were proven innocent, weren't exactly able to assimilate well back into their normal lives. Shops might turn them away for fear of the backlash if they were seen having associated with a false witch. Old friends and co-workers might no longer wish to associate themselves with the witch as well, fearful the king might target them the next time a magic occurrence happened in the city. And don't even get started on the 'thrill seekers' those stupid enough to think the whole thing was a game. Or people who thought since the witch got out alive, the same thing would happen if they were the next excused. Some people just got a rush out of being so close to death, they don't realize it's really happening until they'd been tied to the pyre.

Arthur huffed irritably, "You stupid, moronic boy. What makes you think you'll be able to do anything about this. You're just setting up for failure. I tried my hand at it already, and my father barely even looked at me. What do you think you can do that is any better?"

Arthur had protested briefly when Morgana had came in during Gwen's sentencing, trying to help out because of how wrong the whole thing felt. But his father hadn't listened to him or Morgana. Uther hadn't listened to his own heir's concerns and questions, nor had he'd shown any interest in listening to his ward as she tried to defend her handmaiden. There was no scenario on the planet that would've made Arthur believe the King would actually listen to his consort. Only if he wanted to put holes in the boy's story, which was something he seemed fond of doing. But really, what did Merlin expect him to do. He might be a Prince but even princes had their limitations. There's only so much he was able to do before Uther had him grounded to his room, something he had not done since Arthur was sixteen.

No matter what Merlin thought of him, there was no reason for Arthur to help somebody who could not be helped. Gwen was as good as dead by this point. Sad tragedy of it all, he could not help somebody who broke the law like she apparently had.

Merlin's eyes flashed darkly at him, because after all, Merlin was just like Gwen. He was a somebody that could not be helped. He was so entrapped with the magic that ran through his veins, he couldn't even deny it if he tried. It would be like denying a part of himself even if that part made him a monster. Merlin didn't want to even look at Arthur anymore, he was hard pressed to realize just how much Arthur disgusted him. His lack of trying, of fighting for a good cause, was abhorrent. "Just go do whatever it is you princes do when there's an emergency going on." Merlin scoffed, disgust cloying low in his belly. He could 'never' have been the one to sit back and watch when he had even a sliver of doubt that something is wrong. "Maybe you can help somebody else out better than you're helping Gwen. I'm sure one of those rich assholes over there would appreciate you advocating for them trying to get rid of all the peasants."

These people were so far away from reality, it was unreal, Merlin thought. They honestly did not seem to understand how peasants were a backbone to their very society. The farmers who worked under a blistering sun until their skin turned red and started to crack and even bleed in the most insane cases. The peasants who delivered the product from the lands, to the kingdom itself. The peasants who would change the linens and cooked their meals or even the peasants who had to much out the horse stalls were important members of their society. The shopkeepers just trying to make a living and get food on the table had these skills that would probably be useful, and was where the nobles would go to look for more servants to add to the castle staff. Peasants who made deliveries around the kingdom, or who built up their walls while the nobles may crack whips at their backs in days past to get them to work faster.

And they were going through all of this while these people-wearing their ornate white robe and looking as if they hadn't missed a single meal in all of their lives-sat around on large bottoms, trying to determine his fate. Maybe Merlin was just missing something, but also, he doubted it. The people here would never know a day of struggle in their lives, ready to turn over anybody-even sweet, little Gwen who worked her fingers faithfully to the bone for the comfort of their ward-and be happy with what nothing they had accomplished. It wasn't going to be the life for him. Not if he'd be able to help it. Merlin wasn't going to turn a blind eye to the people's suffering, content to pretend everything was okay because the crisis wasn't happening to him personally. He would kill himself before that.

Arthur grabbed his shoulder, and blue eyes met with blue, different in their own manner as fire met ice, clashing together to forge the steel blade neither were ready to hold with the other. "Say whatever you want about me, but don't talk as if you know anything about our culture or what's going on." Arthur knew it might seem pointless, waiting for what was often hours at a time before the council may come to a decision. But this was the way they went about things in nobility, protocols had to be met while the rest of them waited to see what the results would be.

"You're right. I don't understand, and I would never want to." Merlin said, in a steely voice to the prince. The kind of voice that would one day see grown men quavering within the bootstraps they were, when they knew next they'd see was glowing eyes like a demon as they shined through the darkness. It was very unfortunate for him, that his looks didn't cast the same effect.

Arthur darted his eyes around the room to try and figure something else out, when he saw a corridor he knew very well. "Look," he said as he grabbed onto Merlin's bicep, ignoring the way the muscle jerked in his arm. Arthur knew he should show a bit more care, most likely shouldn't even be touching Merlin at all in his delicate state, but he didn't have time to play nursemaid. If they did this quickly, he might be able to get out of here alive. Plus, if he had to, he could always give Merlin a little something pretty to make it up to him. Maybe his box…Arthur still had that sitting up in his room. Whatever, he could think of something proper to help Merlin's mental state not be so broken later. As for now, Arthur nodded down his head so that Merlin could see the hallway he was indicating. "That right there is one of the old entrances for the servants to come in and out during their cleaning rounds. All you have to do is go, it'll lead you out right near the kitchens. You can find your way back to Gaius from there, and I'll just tell my father you got sick or something."

It wasn't really the best plan Arthur had ever came up with, but at least he wasn't winging it like Merlin was. Merlin was so idealistic, and he was childish with the foolish way he would think about things. Sometimes he would be able to show a side to Arthur that indicated a brain buried in there somewhere's. But there were other times-like now, where Merlin had decided diving headfirst was the way to go to get what he wanted-that made Arthur stop to wonder rather or not he had a brain at all. He had learned a long time ago-from what he'd learned on battle strategies and what he had put in practice when he was chosen to lead the latest scuffle-that it was best to always have a plan in place. And then a backup plan if the first plan failed. And even a second backup plan if things went completely off to the side. That was something Arthur would be able to take comfort in, knowing that he had a good, solid plan to fall back on. Already knowing he'd covered for every little possible obstacle that could get in the way. He was already pushing the boundaries of what he felt comfortable with by not knowing what he was going to tell his father about Merlin and his sudden absence. Maybe if he was lucky, his father would make a joke about how his consort had taken the coward's way out, and dismiss the whole thing as nothing more than a boy getting overzealous.

And overzealous he was. Merlin's way would just end up getting people killed. Which was why Arthur had to take control of their own situation now, before it had the chance to just spiral into something else entirely, if it hadn't already. He was left very confused though, as he saw that Merlin hadn't moved from where he was standing.

"…What are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere." Merlin said blankly, even while he was memorizing the route Arthur had pointed out to him. Odds were, he would never need to know where these off to the side tunnels were, it was pretty reasonable to expect that a dead guy walking wouldn't need to know an escape route. But on the off chance he might succeed in this and live to tell the story, then knowing different points in the castle could only work to his advantage. You know, if the consort ever did need to escape. But he also couldn't fathom why Arthur thought he'd just run off and leave like some kind of coward. If he hadn't seen Gwen already, with her hands clasped in chains to prevent her from using magic she didn't even have, then…nope. He still wouldn't have gone. And he was almost insulted that the prince thought for just one second that he'd be more interested in trying to save his own skin after he'd done got all of this other stuff started.

"…Of course you are bloody well going!" the prince exclaimed, glancing back to make sure the table of councilmen hadn't looked up due to his outburst. They hadn't. Arthur turned to look back at Merlin, "Now, stop arguing with me. All you need to do is shut up, start down that passageway, and allow me to find you a way to get out of this mess you have gotten yourself in before you make things worse."

Arthur knew if Merlin failed this little deal he was trying to set up-which he would most definitely do-his father wasn't going to laugh it up and let him go. Merlin had played with a fire by claiming he was a sorcerer, was willing to die by Gwen's side upon a sorcerer's kind of death. It wouldn't be a simple beheading-a quick motion where the pain would be instant and then gone in the next. It would have been this agonizing pain that lasted for only god-knows-how long, screaming as the fire would start to peel the flesh from the bones. Merlin wouldn't even be able to smell anything other than the burning scent of dying meat…a fate meant for only the worse sorcerers as a way of atoning for their sins and sending them to the hell they escaped from. It wasn't a death meant for moronic little boys who thought all of this was just a game, not taking in the very real life consequences for such a thing.

And for what? Because he thought Gwen was going to be free? Gwen was already dead on her feet by this point. Uther had her tight in his clutches and he wasn't going to let her go so easily. Merlin might 'think' this was some kind of childhood story where you knew that the good guy was always going to win by the end, but it wasn't. This was reality, with real problems and real death, something nobody could come back from real. Arthur w found it to be hard enough trying to save Merlin, but it was even harder when the boy seemed to be a constant force, pushing back against him every time he tried to do something nice. And be the one to save 'him' for a change. Like to pay back a debt. He owed Merlin for saving his life, now it was time to repay it…

If only Merlin would bloody well go.

Merlin's eyes sharpened on him, and he put his hands up to his hips. "I won't be leaving anywhere. I promised Gwen's father that I'd get her out, and that's what I'm going to do."

Merlin didn't just want to help Gwen. What he wanted to do was help reunite a family. Merlin was probably never going to see his mother again in his lifetime, the only family he'd had was Gaius. But that was different considering Merlin had only known Gaius for a couple of months compared to his mother, who he had never gone a day without seeing before Leon and his ragtag team of knights had came and got him. But just because Merlin would never see his own parent again, didn't mean Gwen had to go and suffer the same fate. The way Tom had literally been on his knees, begging him as consort to save his daughter's life, it would probably be forever embedded into his retina's. He'd swore to Tom he would get his daughter back, and Merlin didn't go breaking promises he made.

"…Please." Arthur spoke slowly, looking as if Merlin had just kicked him in the family jewels instead of his earlier shin kick, bringing up his hands to clasp his palms together. "Tell me I did not hear what I just heard. You did not go promising somebody something you couldn't hope to deliver on. Tell me, you did not have an 'unsanctioned' meeting with the prisoner's father, you utter idiot!"

One of the many things Arthur had learned in his life of being a prince, was too never have a meeting with anybody outside of the throne room where meetings were allowed and put in place by the proper channels. There was to much probability of something going wrong if it was handled improperly. Words could have been said and peasants could get violent-this was a rare occurrence but it had happened once or twice-if they were given an answer they didn't want to hear. But Merlin had done the exact opposite of that it sounded like and had made promises. And promises should've 'never' been made by a Royal member of the family, because that was pretty much like he was speaking on behalf of all of them. If he'd been there, Arthur could have corrected that notion immediately.

Things should be said like: we'll see to it. We will look into it. We will do what we can. This is a waste of our time so get out. And there's a multitude of similar responses that would have worked in a situation like that. Merlin did not have the experience needed to be able to even 'talk' during a regular meeting. And then he goes and has one by himself…just when it couldn't get possibly worse than it it now, he has to go and tell Arthur something like this.

"Well, what else was I supposed to do when he showed up!" Merlin demanded harshly, as he struggled to keep his voice low enough to not attract any attention. "Just send him on his way? He was a bloody mess, and so was I, in fact! He said you weren't taking meetings and neither was the king! Somebody had to help him, and since neither of you were, his only other option 'was' me. So yeah, I had an 'unsanctioned meeting' with him, and now I'll get Gwen her freedom back!"

During the last two months, Merlin had been struggling to find a balance in his life. Trying to figure out what kind of life he could have as he tethered on a tightrope in which one of the sides was Consort and the other side was Peasant. Merlin absolutely refused to give up on his peasant roots, he understand all those things they went through in a way somebody like Arthur never could. But he also had all of these responsibilities and expectations all but thrown on top of him that he didn't know how to handle. As a peasant, he could have never expected 'ever' having a meeting like he had with Tom, but he had. And Merlin had every intention of following through with it, applying what he had learned about being consort into it. Taking his experience as a peasant and not giving up, even if the weight of this different kind-no longer weighted down by large sacks of materials and now weighed down by what expectations he had.

So yeah, he'd done what he thought was the right thing and agreed when nobody thought Tom's plight was enough to see too. And he'd seen the pain he had caused that family, had known it was all his fault…he wouldn't have to try so hard if Arthur would think two bloody minutes to 'lower himself' down to talking to a peasant. If Uther would open his own eyes and ask the tough questions-like what reason would Gwen have for starting up a plague to take out the entire city? And even if the little poultice he'd left in her home-still stupid not taking it with him after the spell had taken its effects-had started the plague, why on earth would she leave a highly potent magical item so easily found when she knew the kingdom was on high alert and being searched.

Arthur hissed under his breath, eye twitching violently, "Of course I didn't see him." he said with a low growl. "Do you think I wanted to be the one to tell him there's nothing I could do for his daughter? And then you go and make impossible promises…" If Merlin didn't have a delicate mental state-and Arthur questioned rather or not that was even a viable reason to not-Arthur would probably have hit him for all of this trouble. But in retrospect, he should've seen something like this happening. Since he turned Tom away, his only other option would have been Merlin. Just because Arthur didn't see Merlin as a Royal, didn't mean the people wouldn't go to him.

Merlin didn't take this as a proper excuse and straightened up as he felt a righteous surge of defiance shoot down his spine. "Oh, trust me." He said, with this extremely thunderous and dark expression clouding over his face to Arthur. "I have every intention of seeing this promise through." It was practically the same thing Merlin had told his uncle when the man had expressed the same sentiment. But this was also something Merlin felt Arthur needed to know about him.

Merlin wasn't giving up on this. Not even if he had to stand still and help the guards tying a noose around his own neck. Gwen would live to see past the morrow, he would make sure of that.

Arthur felt his face going almost a blistering red as a pulse of uncontrollable anger shoot through him. He wanted to rage and scream about how completely useless Merlin was. He had no plan, no idea what he was going to do and causing issues over what was usually the normal during the caring of a witch. Plus, he should be over there right now discussing the options with the other men. Not standing off to the side, watching the other men doing the work while Merlin persisted in being an awful thorn against his side, constantly pressing in to remind Arthur he was there.

"Leave, now." Arthur hissed at Merlin, able to hear the straining in his voice while he tried to contain the red he was seeing deep in his vision. Merlin might have intimidated lesser men with that equally thunderous expression on his face, but all Arthur could see was that he was a cat with no scratch to it. A wet and sopping mess of a cat whose only goal in life was to mess up Arthur's. Icy eyes colder than a glacier met his fiery inferno, but Arthur was quick to interrupt when he saw Merlin about to say something. "Because you go and say something that will make me strike you down where you stand."

This wasn't an idle threat from Arthur, it was a real and serious concern with him. He was seeing so much 'red', his vision bleeding with it almost-because everywhere he turned, the consort was there making everything worse than it had to be. Because the consort would never shut up, and Arthur no longer found it to be amusing or new like he had during the first day or two he'd known him. The stress of the situation was getting too him, and Merlin was the convenient target for his rage-that it was truly impressive Arthur had not reacted before this and body slammed Merlin into the pillar behind him. Impressive that he had yet to start using Merlin's face as a punching bag to work this rage out of him.

"…Don't," Merlin stuttered, the icy expression in him breaking to show his shock, clearly he recognized how serious Arthur was. It was as if all the fears he had when he'd first came to Camelot-the nights he'd been traveling and would stay up late wondering what husband to be was like-was coming true. Nightmares of being abused and mistreated, forced away to hide unexplainable bruises or resorting to makeup to hide what his clothes wouldn't be able to came to mind. Avoiding Arthur, being too scared of setting him off and knowing he couldn't 'truly' fight back because punches from him did nothing and using magic as the defense wouldn't help him survive.

Sure, they've gotten into their fights before here and there. The time Merlin had tried to punch Arthur the day they met. The time the prince had later came after him with a mace for it. The time Arthur had taken him out for a training session, both of them working on the things they needed to. And dozens of other little things here and there where they both gave as good as they got. Including multiple times where Arthur had all but ripped out his heart and took pleasure in stomping all over the shredded remains-the favor and then the dance being two of the bigger ones he never quite got over. But those were all emotional damage, things that causes scars across his heart. But he could cry out his frustration and be done with it, move on with better things. It was something Merlin had came to expect at this point, for Arthur to go out of his way just to hurt him like that.

But he shouldn't be expecting to be hurt by his own husband. He shouldn't be wondering when the first 'real' hit was going to come at him and what Arthur's excuse would be over why Merlin deserved it. If Arthur was moving on from emotionally damaging him, and was now straight up threatening him…how much longer would it be before Merlin was stuck in not just a loveless marriage. But an abusive one as well.

Merlin licked at his achingly dry lips when this round of tears brimmed his eyes. "Don't you ever-" they were angry tears, unable to hide the viciousness and the resentment hiding in their depths, all angled straight at the man he had been forced to pledge his life to. "Talk to me like that again."

Merlin was strong enough to handle many of the things life had thrown at him. He was able to hide his magic now, without his mother the one to protect him. He could handle having to live with his uncle because just the sight of his husband was starting to turn his stomach. He could handle being bullied by the servants as they stuck their noses up in the air at him until they needed something from him. Merlin was even able to handle the guards who took to shoving him around like he was just some disposable toy meant for their pleasure. They weren't his husband. Somebody who-by just bearing the title of Husband-was supposed to love him. He already knew that wasn't any kind of possible, but he had accepted that. It was even okay by him to have the insults and the mocking and the 'I'm better then you and you're gonna live with it' vibe Arthur always had going on. He was even okay with all the shoving and pinning him down to stuff since these were the few times Arthur didn't act as if he was diseased. But he had a feeling any of that was now off the table.

Because the ONE thing Merlin would not be okay with was Arthur putting hands on him in actual anger.

He would rather kill himself before allowing it to happen.

Arthur grabbed his bicep, and Merlin hissed at him like some kind of wild animal-not a wet kitten any longer, but instead like a jungle cat ready to sink his claws into what he saw as a very real threat-when the prince jerked him close enough that their noses almost banged quite painfully into the other. The Prince did not even seem to notice, fiery eyes glaring at Merlin, and showing the same anger and the same resentment hidden in the ice of Merlin's eyes. "I will talk to you anyway I want to talk to you." He growled, jerking Merlin anyway he liked so that the boy had to stand on tip toes to not fall over. Despite Merlin being taller, he was the one that felt like he held all the power in his hands.

If Merlin would just bloody well shut up for one time in his entire life, he excused himself of his behavior, then Arthur wouldn't do this to him. And since Arthur couldn't spank him to get the message across-no way was the prince going to rip his pants down to wrap around his ankles, and start beating the living shit out of his arse until it started to redden and blister-this was a better alternative. Not even the teary look in Merlin's eyes would be enough to sway him from his opinion. Any bit of guilt he might have felt over this-not even knowing Valiant had once attacked him, and probably in a similar manner he was now-was enough to stop him. The blood red dying his vision was controlling him, and Merlin should just be bloody grateful that Arthur hadn't just slapped him across the face for giving him a bloody cheek, daring to tell him what Arthur could or could not do with him.

Merlin sounded almost feral when he growled at Arthur, but was interrupted before he had the chance to tell the prince exactly where he could stick that entitled attitude of his. "Boys, get out here. We're ready for you."

Merlin and Arthur froze in their position, and blinked dumbly at the other when they heard the king's voice booming from back at the table. The pillar was doing a poor job hiding them adequately, but it was just thick enough to hide the majority of their bodies. Which in turn, hid the tightening grip Arthur was using and loosening constantly around Merlin's arm.

Arthur cleared his throat, still sounding too guttural for his taste, but he assumed that his father wouldn't notice, "Yes, father." And then he gave Merlin a look. The kind of dark glare that said, what are you still doing here, you bloody moron. Get out of here before I really do beat the ever living fuck out of you. And they were still close, far too close that Merlin kept banging his knee against Arthur's leg.

Merlin looked down at the hand gripping onto his arm. And then he looked past the prince to the hallway he wanted to make his grand escape out of. And then he looked at Arthur again. Merlin's ice blue eyes-usually so warm and tender when he looked at anybody other than the prince-felt something in him start to shatter and crack. A harsher crack than he'd gotten the night he'd ran from the dance and cried himself to sleep. Merlin wasn't going to cry himself to sleep this time. Not ever again would he allow himself to cry tears over a guy who would never be worth it.

Merlin's face shut down, harder than steel and almost impenetrable to break through if somebody didn't have the right tools. In this case, a little kindness that could go a long way. There was no kindness here to see, and Merlin was over this shit.

'Merlin' was going to decide his next move.

Not Arthur.

The Prince grunted sharply, eyes widening in shock and intense pain, dropping his hand off Merlin immediately so that he would be able to cup himself. After his consort had jerked the damn knee that kept bumping against his own. And rammed it as hard as he could into Arthur's family jewels. Merlin then wrenched himself from Arthur before the prince would be able to recover and catch him. Dashing around the corner of the pillar so Arthur had no chance of dragging him back without him causing one hell of a scene.

Merlin looked decidedly more put together than Arthur when the prince, huffing-puffing-and limping, followed after him just a moment later. If anybody questioned the pained look on the prince's face, they didn't give the heir more than a raised eyebrow.