A Marriage that Started a Legend Chapter 162, a merlin fanfic

Arthur Pendragon knew just checking over Merlin's top half wasn't going to alleviate the stress he felt over Merlin hiding any possible injuries from him. A simple chest checking didn't mean Merlin might not have some markings along his legs or his thighs. And it was quite obvious to the prince that Merlin's dark red nipples, flushed with blood and straining in his direction-a silent plead for the prince to spend more time there than he already had-hadn't been suffering from any pain. In fact, Merlin's nipples looked as if they were quite enjoying all of the attention he'd given them during his checking, but regretfully…there was no real reason for Arthur to linger. No reason for him to touch. And absolutely no reason for Arthur to waste his time playing. Though it still took great effort for Arthur to tear his eyes away…so what if he was curious whether or not those nipples could grow more beautiful in their desperate straining, he was simply a curious boy, and there was nothing wrong with that…and looked down towards his consort's legs.

Endless long legs that could've gone on for miles.

Arthur would continue acting as clinical as he had been this entire time, slowly dropping down onto one knee so he was kneeling before his dark angel…every deity deserved to have a worshiper, did they not? And it only made sense that this worshiper be Arthur himself…his hands shaking as he slowly lifted Merlin's boot covered foot up off the ground would betray how absolutely not clinical it really was. But Arthur would hold out, holding onto Merlin's heel to keep Merlin steady as he slipped the boot off that dainty ankle of his. Merlin would've gone back to being impassive, no longer in a state of interest now that Arthur wasn't laving the proper attention to his chest, but that would've only made the blond prince more nervous as he set the boot aside. Pretending as if he couldn't feel the burning eyes of Merlin on the back of his neck, staring down at him as the prince kept his head down to keep focus on the task ahead.

A dark angel indeed…

Perhaps even a dark god…

And Arthur helpless to do anything but kneel before his feet…

Merlin's toes would wiggle and squirm under Arthur's touch, as the prince was sliding a finger between them. It was almost fascinating, as he trailed just one finger down the side of Merlin's foot, over the soft heel and up to an ankle so slim, Arthur could've wrapped his entire hand around it and forced the consort down to his level. But the prince did not dare to try something so barbaric, as he carefully set Merlin's foot back down to the ground and lifting the other up on his knee, uncaring of whatever dirt might come off the bottom. Because the prince knew…if there was anybody out there who was more powerful than the future king of an entire kingdom, it would be the god who ruled alongside him.

Gods deserved to be worshipped by their followers.

Not treated barbarically as if they were common filth off the street.

Arthur would spend an entire lifetime being punished by this god for whatever indignations he had caused him. And Arthur would walk across the hot coals of hair just to be able to stand and bask in the presence of such a man…it would be quite a struggle for Arthur not to press a gentle kiss against the tip of those squirming toes, showing his worship in one of the only few ways that he could manage. But unworthy men like Arthur did not deserve to get more than their god would bestow upon them, so Arthur would allow the second foot to slip its way from his fingers and settle on the ground before him. Little toes stretching and arching at the feel of the dirty ground sliding between the digits…

Dirt should not look as good on a person as it did right now.

But Arthur Pendragon would be determined to treat his god right, and so he'd stand back up before he made a fool out of himself. He would stand up to his full height, taking a strange pleasure out of his dark god being the single inch taller than him, something that had haunted him when they'd first met. What a silly, silly boy he had been back then. To think there was anything wrong with his little darkling…blue eyes would meet blue. Arthur's being half worshipping and half amazed to be standing here at all, being trusted and allowed to check his Merlin…his little bird…Merlin's continued impassiveness would only end up increasing Arthur's interest. So stone faced…what else would it take for such a mask to break…their gazes wouldn't waver as Arthur hooked his finger into the top of Merlin's pants, jerking him close so that his god would collide into him…

For Arthur was only a man.

And what man could resist touching a god…

Arthur would eventually slide his eyes down Merlin's body until he connected with the waistline of his pants. He would still be insanely aware of those eyes on his face, but Arthur would only be concerned about untying the string that held his Merlin's pants up. And honestly…it didn't matter to either of them that they were standing outside. Hidden between two stalls, with barely any crates in the walkway, spread apart just wide enough for men like them to squeeze their way through the opening. Any could see them if they peeked through the gap, but any would be lucky to not have their eyes gorged out by Arthur's sword for trying to spy on his Merlin during such a vulnerable time…

Merlin's pants would drop, falling around his ankles like a puddle…

"What the guards were doing isn't important. They were probably distracted by something else…a whole bunch of crates had fallen over just as I went and left so I think they were helping out with that. But like I said, that isn't exactly important right now." His dark angel was telling him, as Arthur's eyes fell onto the very small undergarments he wore…they looked suspiciously like the same red pair Arthur had once tried giving him as a gift. But perhaps that was simply Arthur's mind trying to fill in what he could not possibly know… "I know that it can be difficult for you…all the time…but focus here. The man I'm talking about saved my life. I was outside the gates in the forest and this…this creature thing tried to attack me. But then HE showed up…are you even listening to me right now? What the bloody hell are you looking at? Arthur…you do not get to ignore me today. Trust me, I wouldn't want to subject anybody under your rule, and I wouldn't bother if I didn't think this man couldn't make it as a knight-"

Ah…Arthur thought, his fingers started to trail sensual and slow along the top of the undergarments, playing with the idea of tugging them off to continue his checking or do his legs first before returning to such a…private part of his god's body. Something only the worthy should see, despite his god's habit to give away the viewing to any…his sweet Merlin had such a way with his words. So cruel in his delivery, uncaring if it struck Arthur's heart just like a blade into the chest would have. But no less deserved…Arthur would take the blows that he got as if they were kisses bestowed upon his brow…for his God's attention would always be good. Even amongst the bad…a bubble almost felt as if it had popped around Arthur. Merlin's words finally registering some deep part that'd been pushed to the back of his brain…his sense of reasoning. And Arthur took in what was happening…

There was no dark god bestowing attention onto him…

Nor was there a checking where said god would allow his unworthy worshiper to do…

There was only a boy in front of him…

No more a god than Arthur was, but still so much more…

"I…I….what?" Arthur's voice cracked, the sensation so surreal when he noticed his consort was fully clothed. Not a stitch removed from his form because the prince would never be allowed to touch a single hair on his head. For a second there, Arthur could have sworn he had been…he'd had been…he could swear it had all been real. He could still see the flush of Merlin's nipples straining in his mind, could see the wiggling of toes against dirt…hear the dirty moan echoing in his mind and the heat of Merlin's skin against his fingers…the prince's body BURNED. In humiliation or something else, Arthur didn't know but this wasn't something he wanted to examine. He was sure though, if Merlin's conversation was not as dire as it was…he would have taken off. Unable to take having such thoughts coming back…those thoughts hadn't been punishing or disciplining his Merlin like they had usually been. They had been…something else entirely, a whole different scale that he didn't know how to take. It had been…this was just a checking. Like it had been in his fantasy. Perhaps with Arthur wanting to do different…be different…his fantasies had started to evolve as well? Turning into something more caring and sweet…Arthur didn't know how he was meant to feel about 'sweet' and 'near naked Merlin' being anywhere near each other…but the object of his thoughts was now arching a strict eyebrow at him. With a face just as impassive and stony as his fantasy had been…Arthur's hands went to twitching at his side before he forced himself to settle. "What…what do you mean you were outside the wall? That isn't possible. The guards wouldn't have allowed you to leave without a proper escort. They know how dangerous that it is to travel those woods alone. You shouldn't even be out there when your only place is within the walls…"

Arthur's voice stuttered and died in his throat as his consort stared down his nose at him…clearly every bit the dark god in person as he was deep inside of the confines of Arthur's brain. Arthur was starting to find things were getting blurred between the reality that is, and the fantasies that could've been…but reality was a world in which Merlin walked the woods alone. Reality would be the world in which his consort not only put himself in this dangerous situation, but hadn't thought to tell Arthur until hours after the fact. And only because it had something to do with what he wanted. Reality, was the world in which the prince would find out who was on guard duty yesterday, and demand to know what they were thinking by allowing a royal to leave the boundary line without a protector in Arthur's steed. Though really, if his guards could get so easily distracted by crates falling over, then perhaps he needed to assign Merlin a personal detail. A group of men trained and assigned for the sole purpose of protecting said consort for the rest of their days…men that wouldn't allow his consort to slip them. Men who knew to expect it, and knew how to counter all his moves as if they themselves had thought of it first…

Merlin seemed to hesitate for a moment longer, strange since his consort had proven himself lately that he would not restrain himself from speaking towards the prince anyway he wanted…even stranger that Arthur didn't mind when the consort spoke to him so strictly and cruel. But it left Arthur wondering if there was something he needed to know, something Merlin was toying with on telling him or not…the answer would've been yes. Merlin should tell Arthur whatever it was he kept hidden. But Arthur knew Merlin wouldn't…knew he should've been grateful for what information he was getting out of him now. But how could he be grateful when he knew, despite being here now, Merlin didn't trust him. He was only here as a means to an end, not because he truly thought that Arthur cared to know each and every cruel and agonizing detail.

"I'm surprised you didn't already know yet. I mean, I would've expected for all of this to be all over the village by this point. It wasn't exactly being kept as a secret, especially with me and Derrick taking Lancelot to my uncle after he'd sustained his injuries from healing me." Merlin said bluntly, looking at Arthur in an accusing manner, as if it was somehow his fault for not knowing when he'd always kept his nose away from the rumor mill. Or at least the best ways that he could, only interfering when it became major…like Merlin sleeping around on him…Arthur had to set that thought to the back of his mind. Arthur 'wasn't' supposed to behave like a jealous arsehole anymore, wasn't supposed to even be worry over such old news-though it still felt as fresh as the day he'd found out-when he now had new news to pile on top of it. "Besides, Knights Tristian and Dorian were right there as well. I'd probably still be lost in the woods had Dorian not found me when he did! And Lancelot would've surely been dead as well. Dorian even left yesterday in order to inform you and the king about what happened! I've half been expecting you to show up on my doorstep demanding answers and dismissing what I said like you've always done."

Arthur's mind stuttered to a halt, his heart clenching inside of his chest until he felt like he would go into cardiac arrest…His consort had been waiting for him to show up. His consort had WAITED for Arthur, and had been expecting a fight even after he went through something horrific…he should've been waiting for Arthur to make it okay. For Arthur to take the pain away while Merlin sought him out for comfort…Lancelot. That was the name Merlin had used…the name of the man that had taken his place and saved his consort from certain death…it had to have been bad if the man was injured. And Arthur didn't know if this was the moment where he should feel grateful it wasn't his consort suffering or worse, or if he should be upset over Merlin's clear admiration over a man he had just met…a man he had met in the woods, by the way! A man who could've been literally anybody on the planet…from an innocent passerby to an actual assassin paid to do away with his consort. Arthur might not know what to do about that, but…he did know Knight Dorian was on the docket of things he had on his schedule to do today. Dorian had called for an emergency meeting, and Arthur was meant to meet him after lunch today…was this what Dorian wanted from him? To inform him of the incident…

"I…I was gone for most of the day yesterday, Merlin. And it had gotten late by the time I arrived back in the city. Dorian hasn't had the chance to speak with me quite yet." Arthur forced out through a clenched jaw…he should've seen to Dorian the second he saw 'emergency' written on the day's schedule that had been delivered to him just that morning. But Arthur had wanted to escape into the sunlight and get some of his frustrations out on the knights…he had figured if it could wait the night then it could wait a few more hours. Until Arthur fell in a better mindset than what he had been. But god, if he had only known that an emergency like this included Merlin, Arthur would've cleared his schedule for the entire day. Maybe that was something Arthur should induct into all of his paperwork…Arthur had a seal that said something was an emergency to stamp the paper with. Why not have one made, perhaps a stylized 'M' to warn him it had to do with Merlin. EVERYTHING had to do with Merlin, so it wouldn't have been a surprise for his name to crop up in his work. "But rest assure, I'll make myself fully aware of this situation and everything that happened. So how bout you tell me what kind of creature it was that attacked you. Was it some kind of wolf or bear…a cougar maybe?"

Arthur drilled Merlin like a sergeant would, determined to know what creature had seen his consort and decided to make him his lunch. Oh, Arthur was most definitely not done with Dorian. He intended to have him punished, severely, for releasing his consort into the wild when he got into enough trouble as it was in the walls. But he wouldn't tell Merlin that…the consort had spoken as if he had held no annoyance towards Dorian for allowing him to leave. Merlin didn't need to be concerned if Dorian happened to disappear for a few months as he did a stint in the cells for his gross negligence towards his consort. But it was also a thing that could wait until after Arthur pulled together a hunting party…maybe he could give Merlin the pelt of the beast as some sort of gift. Furs made into a blanket to warm him…that tattered old thing he had at Gaius' couldn't have been doing enough to keep his consort warm at night. And his consort could sleep easy knowing the beast wouldn't attempt to come after him again…

"No." Merlin said bluntly, bringing Arthur back into the conversation. Merlin was pursing his lips at him as if he had done something wrong, and Arthur could only venture a guess that his consort didn't like him talking…quite an unfortunate reason but a rightly deserved one as well. Perhaps his Merlin was more willing to explain if Arthur allowed him to fill in the gaps…so the prince gestured for him to go on ahead. He would listen, and only speak when it was deemed necessary. As per his consort's comfort…Merlin had been expecting for Arthur to dismiss him. He would simply have to prove he wasn't going to be doing anything of the sort. Merlin eyed him, clearly expecting an interruption to happen, but when Arthur kept quiet, he continued. "I don't exactly know what the thing that attacked me was…Uncle Gaius didn't know what it was when I spoke of it to him either. He said he'd look it up, but…it was something big. Like no beast or creature I've seen before…it had wings bigger and longer than my arms may stretch and…"

Wings…

The bloody thing that had attacked his consort had been something that had wings…something Merlin didn't recognize as just a particularly vicious kind of bird. There was a cold chill that settled deeply into Arthur's limbs, saturating his bones until it felt like he had frost growing inside of him…wings. The image of the village he had visited with his father both yesterday and just earlier this morning came to mind. The burning of fires and smoke reaching as high as the sky was…the people already working overtime in order to set the place back to rights despite the devastation they had lived through…the missing people that would never be found. Had Merlin…had his consort…while Arthur had been oh, so very busy checking on others, almost became another missing victim in the long list of victims? Had he almost became another casualty of this creature…

"It had wings?"

Arthur's voice almost sounded further away than it should be, a ringing in his ears…Merlin had described it as a beast he'd never seen before. Just like all of the villagers had described it…a strange creature with wings. His consort saw it, was a witness to what it was and what it looked like…and had almost lost his life due to it. How had that beast gotten so close to Camelot…the initial report had said it had flown in the opposite direction. They had thought, despite all of the precautions being set up, they were safe. But if the thing had decided to double back for some ungodly reason…it could very well still be insanely close to the kingdom. The people could be in danger…his Merlin could be in danger if it returned…

And Arthur didn't want to think about it, but…this was a very strange and odd coincidence. Even if the beast had doubled back and ended up getting near to the city without being seen, what were the odds of it coming across Merlin? Of all the people who could've been wondering out in the woods, and out of all of the people the beast could've attacked…why had it been Merlin? Unless it was no coincident that Merlin had been attacked and nearly taken. That witch…the one that swore she would have Merlin or wage war against the city…could this have been her doing? She was the one that confessed, when Arthur had been hanging from the stone wall by his fingertips and only inches away from falling to his death, that she had created the muck monster that had once waged the plague over their land and people. How hard could it be for her to have made a wild beast subject to her commands…how hard could it be for her to command it to take Merlin far from here out of Arthur's reach. Perhaps Arthur was simply being paranoid and there was no real connection between these two events at all, but he wasn't willing to put Merlin at risk by being inactive.

He would need to inform his father.

Not of the witch, but he should know about Merlin being a witness…

"Yeah, it has wings. Huge wings that might be strong enough to lift a man off their feet when it flaps them." Merlin spoke coldly, and it was clear from that expression he wore, that he was imagining 'Arthur' being the one lifted from his feet and thrown up in the air. But Arthur could only imagine the opposite of it happening…Merlin's weakened body slamming on the ground with no armor or pads to keep the skin on his body from ripping and tearing. "But it's already flown off, so I'm not real concerned about it at the moment. So you need to be stopping this whole 'getting me off topic' thing that you're doing. Just tell me whether or not you are willing to make Lancelot a knight so I know if I'm only wasting my time with you again?"

The cold, icy feeling in Arthur's core only seemed to grip him tighter…Merlin should never feel as if his time with Arthur had been a waste. Because time with Merlin, to Arthur, would never be a waste again. He would take every bit of the insults and the hate and the cruelty, just because it meant Merlin would be near. But now was not the time for Arthur to get sentimental…if the creature had really flown away as Merlin had said and hadn't just disappeared to plan a new attack-it was probably smart, considering it's managed to evade any kind of search party given by the initial inspectors of the incidents-then that would buy them some time. To triple the security protocols, put new guards down by the gates to refuse exit to anybody until the matter was settled, put archers or night watchmen up in the battlements and by the warning bell considering the thing could fly. Which meant…Arthur had time to meet this 'Lancelot' who had taken up a place by his consort's side.

"The man that saved you. This…Lancelot…correct me if I'm wrong-" he knew Merlin would without a doubt. "But didn't you say that he was injured in your fight?" Asked the prince, fighting back the urge to sneer at this. Merlin clearly was impressed by this man, but Arthur didn't find it so impressive that the man Merlin claimed good enough to be a knight, had bled all across the floor of the forest. It wasn't a good impression….but saving the life of Arthur's consort was and that agitated him. If Arthur made this man a knight…it would be very likely Merlin would hang around more. Come to see their training and practices and all that, but…he would come there for this 'Lancelot.' Not because he wanted to come and see Arthur. "How bad exactly were his injuries? Obviously, there is nothing I can do if he was hurt too badly other than giving him some kind of reward for saving you. But I can't put my own men in danger if he was injured seriously and can no longer fight properly."

Putting his own men in danger due to the inadequacy of another was going to be, of course, entirely out of the question. But Arthur knew he was only asking Merlin this because of his own purely selfish reasons…he didn't know just how much he would be able to take looking at this 'Lancelot.' Working alongside his consort's savior day in and day out, training with him, having the man walking around the city wearing his colors…and knowing he was only there because his Merlin stuck his neck out to get him there. But if he did save his consort…then the Pendragon's owed this man a debt. And Arthur didn't like being indebted to a stranger, not one that could make his consort talk to him of his own free will for the first time in weeks now…perhaps even longer. It had been quite a while since Merlin had approached him for anything other than when it was strictly necessary or demanded of him.

"I know that I said he was injured, but he still knows how to fight! Gaius said it was serious but nothing that wouldn't be able to heal after he got the proper medical attention that he needed." Merlin protested, bringing him hand up to his hips and staring down his nose at Arthur…the prince almost could've sworn Merlin knew 'exactly' why he wasn't eager to meet this man. But that would've been impossible for Merlin to know…and the prince could feel his feeble little excuse already leaving his fingertips as Merlin continued talking. "Besides, he is already up and moving around on his own. He might be a little stiff after the whole creature attacking him thing, but I don't think that's going to stop what he wants. And what he really wants, though don't ask me why, is to become a member of your army. Or is your consort's life really worth so little to you, you would even publicly scorn my savior like this?"

Arthur bit back the low growl ebbing from somewhere deep within the confide of his throat…Merlin's life was worth so much more than the consort would've ever known to Arthur. And here he was, just throwing everything back into his face…he was actually trying here! Trying so hard to be good, and look after his Merlin properly, and change his ways, but…he hadn't anticipated for any of this to be as hard as it was! Hadn't expected he would have to once again resist an urge, born more out of habit than any true desire, to throttle Merlin. Maybe he was just upset because…Arthur was starting to realize how far removed he had truly been from Merlin. It wasn't Arthur, after all, that Merlin had ran to when a time of need came. It was this…Lancelot. And a very unflattering image of this random man came to mind of what Lancelot might look like…greasy hair and a large pot belly to boot.

"…You have absolutely no idea what I would've done if I had been the one to find you when you needed help, Merlin. So do not pin actions on me that I've not taken. You already have the pick of the many I have done, do not get any upset with me for what you THINK I might've done if things had gone different than they had." Arthur bit out through his clenched jaw, watching as Merlin's own tightened in response. But as much as Arthur wanted to roll over and let Merlin kick him in the ribs for all the sins he'd done against him, there was no reason for Merlin to be upset over what hadn't happened or his perceived way of how he thought Arthur would behave. "Besides, there's a lot more to think about other than just allowing this strange man to enter my forces. Where did he come from, who is he, does he have a reputation that I need to know or be concerned about? Is he a good fit amongst my men? Or is he somebody I will have to look out for? Besides, as 'wonderful' as I'm sure your new friend might be, I'm also not legally allowed to just put anybody into the army. I might be a prince, but even I am subjected to the laws of the land. And I cannot just go up against the First Code of Camelot."

Arthur could see the way Merlin was starting to get fired up, his eyes going to a glacier cold look that could shatter the prince at any moment, but there was precious little the prince could do to stop what blowout was about to come out of his consort. Though the prince had to curse at himself…why did the one and only thing Merlin have to ask him, be the one and only thing that he could not give him. The first code of Camelot had basically built the land on which they were standing on, his father himself had integrated the law when he had first became king, it was tradition and honor, and something that Arthur couldn't stand against. Not for a stranger, whose only crime seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time…

"The what?"

Merlin's voice was more softer and calmer than it had been in quite a while…he honestly couldn't remember the last time Merlin had spoken to him that hadn't been cold or indifferent or scornful, but now…Arthur's eyebrows were furrowed in his confusion. It took him a few seconds to finally understand why the other boy was asking such a question, and his breath escaped him when it became quite obvious. Arthur was so used to the people around here, people who had grown up in the area and knew exactly what to expect, already knowing things like this. But perhaps things were different where Merlin came from…the first code of Camelot wasn't exactly a state secret. It was common knowledge that the knights only came from certain stock…people couldn't just become one of his men because they 'wanted too.' They needed the backings of a family that would support them and pledge loyalty to the kingdom, just to get themselves through the front door. And a basic grasp over what protecting the kingdom…knowing they might be asked to lay down their lives in the name of the crown…meant. Not everybody could hack it when it came down to it. That was why the procedures to become a knight were so insanely strict. One couldn't trust any ordinary man to do the extraordinary things a knight would be asked to do.

"Perhaps that should be the next gift I bring to you. A book detailing the rules and the laws of the kingdom. Just so you're aware of the very foundation that this land has been built upon." Arthur said formally, already scrambling to think of the perfect book he could give to Merlin when it was time for him to get the next gift from him. But Merlin's decidedly unimpressed scowl made the prince remember how…uninterested, Merlin was in his gifts. And perhaps such things were better left to be a surprise, where it would be harder for Merlin to turn it away. Arthur cleared his throat roughly, and quickly explained before he could lose Merlin's attentiveness. "The first code states that only noble men shall be allowed to serve as knights. It's been that way for generations now, and I can't exactly break one of the finer laws of Camelot. So unless your…friend…just so happens to have noble blood running through his veins, there is literally not a thing I could do. My father wouldn't allow for it."

It sounded almost like cheating, bringing his father into a conversation that was meant to be sorely his and Merlin's, but it had always been the best way to end an argument with anybody else. His father's word was law, and there's no way around that. And his father had already decided long ago that any man born of common blood, wouldn't have the prestige it took to be a knight. They didn't have the same courage that ran through their veins as their own noble ancestors did. And honestly, Arthur had often found himself agreeing with this law. What did people born from farmers and seamstresses, possibly know the great honor and strength it would take to carry their kingdom on their backs to safety. What did people who raked cow manure or sewed dresses could have possibly known about the great sacrifice it took on a man when they would be forced to take another man's life in the heat of battle. It took great pains and even greater hardship to become even the lowest of knights, and it took much more than that to become a truly great knight. Commoners just didn't have the kind of mindset and instinct, given to them over generations of ancestors they could've learned from, needed to wear the simmering red cloak of Camelot.

How good could a commoner be with a sword anyway…

"Oh…well you don't need to worry about that. He's a nobleman, probably even more noble than you are. So I'm sure he'll fit in among all your knights without any problems." Merlin finally said, after having taken a minute to roll what had been said in his mind. And Arthur straightened up, because…that was one hell of a coincidence. It had been strange knowing Merlin had been saved, but now knowing a nobleman had been the one to save him…what was the odds of such an event occurring? Or perhaps this was Arthur's punishment, doomed to end up working with this 'Lancelot' no matter what proper excuse he might use to get out of it. "Besides…the least you can do is meet him and see all his nobility for yourself. I'm not saying allow him full access if he falls short, but I do have faith that you won't be disappointed in him. I mean, you might be disappointed in me and my…generic maleness. But considering you owe me, the least I think you should do is test his skills for yourself and judge them based on that if you aren't going to believe my words…again."

Arthur's stance wavered where he stood…knowing exactly the guilt trip Merlin was trying to lay on him, and damn it for working as well as it did. Arthur had been the one that told him, during their big blow out fight after Merlin woke up from the poisoning, that he hadn't wanted to be married to Merlin because of him being male. And considering there was absolutely no reason for Merlin to be throwing that in his face during this conversation…it led him to believe that Merlin was only doing it to get a reaction out of him. But…Merlin wasn't wrong in the least. He owed him…A LOT. And maybe it wouldn't be a bad call for him to…meet this Lancelot. Just to see what exactly he was all about. And find out what family he came from…Arthur had been taught about many of the families that came from noble stock. And he couldn't remember a son named Lancelot, in any of the family trees he'd been forced to memorize as a youth. So even if he was noble, he had to have came from one of the very small families that didn't interact with the more important families. They were rare, but some just never left their estate or lands to travel to the inner kingdom.

"I mean…drinking poison wasn't exactly the easiest choice I had to make. Nor did it just come to me when I stood in front of you and yours." Merlin drawled out in a slow, sickly sweet tone. Arthur's head flung up faster than he thought possible, having not expected the event to ever be brought back up again, but one look in Merlin's eyes made him insanely aware of how much Merlin looked to be…enjoying this. Enjoying the sick and nauseated expression crossing the prince's face, as if he knew Arthur's belly was starting to churn. "It was quite a long, and dark road to get me to that point, Arthur. And after I did it, it burned, did you know that? Did you know what it felt like to drink straight poison, feel it coursing through your veins like fire. And knowing as the room starts to darken and your throat starts to swell, that it was going to be your last moments? Did you know that I barely felt the floor when I hit the ground, feeling every thud of my heart telling me it was my fault that I ended up there? That it was my fault that I would never wake up again? Did you know-"

The nausea increased with each and every word spoken by Merlin, sickly sour and thick on the back of his tongue…there had been moments, where Arthur'd wonder in the dead of night what Merlin must've been feeling the day that he'd done it. But hearing the reality of it struck a cord in Arthur, hearing about all of it from Merlin himself, in his own words…left him stricken with guilt. That event was not something Merlin should've ever had to do. He shouldn't have felt the pain of fire licking at him from the inside, or the terror at knowing the end was coming, or knowing that it was Arthur who had brought him to such a low point in his life…the nausea was starting to creep up his throat. And he knew, as he saw Merlin opening his mouth to continue being descriptive of the pain he had gone through and Arthur's involvement in it, that he had to stop it before this went any further. If he didn't…if he didn't stop it…there was no doubt that the prince was going to lose his breakfast all across their feet.

"STOP IT!" Exclaimed the prince, sweat clinging to his brow and his clothes were sticking to his body, and he grabbed onto the stall behind him in order to steady himself. Usually, this was the time where Merlin would've protested, he had every right to talk as much as he wanted, after all. But Arthur was grateful when Merlin fell silent…Arthur didn't think he had ever been more vulnerable in front of the consort than he had been right now. He could've been stripped of his armor and left naked in front of Merlin, and he still would've felt more clothed than he did right now. "Fine…fine. You win." He agreed, gasping though all he could taste was the sour tang of his own vomit he was forced to swallow back down. "I…I can't promise anything. But I'm willing to meet with him to see just what he can do. Make sure he brings his seal of nobility with him, of course, to the training grounds tomorrow to get him enlisted as a knight. If he's as good as you say, he may not even have to go through the regular training courses…that'd shave at least six months of lessons off that would prevent him from getting a knight's salary. Will that be an acceptable course of action for you?"

Even though Arthur agreed to do this, he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that he was only acting under distress. He would've never agreed with a stranger having his consort approach him, instead of approaching him himself like a man, but…there was only so much Arthur could take. And Merlin using an incident like his poisoning to…manipulate Arthur into agreeing…this truly made him sick. But…Arthur thought Merlin wouldn't take him at his word alone, and what else was Merlin meant to do in order to get him to listen. This was all his fault. He had turned Merlin into…this. And he was only reaping exactly what he deserved…

"Thank you, Arthur. I knew that you were going to see things my way, one way or another." Merlin said, with a callous little shrug, and Arthur felt an unsettled shiver going down his spine. When had Merlin turned so…cold, against him. Or better yet, why hadn't Arthur expected this kind of reaction from Merlin? He'd lived through serious trauma already, even before the beast, and he obviously associated that trauma with Arthur. And now he was forced to ask his abuser…his something this big. Arthur couldn't have done it. Not when any other man in Arthur's position was more likely to take advantage by forcing Merlin to do something in exchange. But…Merlin had done more than Arthur could've ever hoped for. It wouldn't be right to demand even more from him. "I will be there tomorrow with Lancelot, bright and early. I'm positive that you won't regret this decision."

Arthur nodded weakly, still holding onto the stall as if his very life depended on it, knowing his hand would be ripped up and torn from splinters if he hadn't been wearing his gloves. Merlin had said he wouldn't regret it, but…Arthur just knew he wasn't going to know how to react once he came face to face with his consort's…savior. Tomorrow already filled him with dread, making him feel far more lightheaded than he had been…Lancelot was literally Merlin's savior. The one thing Arthur himself had never been. And how many times had Merlin went and saved Arthur in the last four months alone…from that very first week when that sorceress had thrown a dagger at his heart…

Merlin had been special, even back then.

And he only continued being special every day since.

Coming back to face Arthur even after he had been tossed from his room after that first council meeting against Valiant…coming to watch his fight even when he knew Valiant was going to try killing him. Storming into Arthur's chamber to warn him about the muck monster, when he'd had every reason in the world to leave it alone…nobody had asked him to come with Arthur to the caves. Boldly raising the poisoned goblet above his head, saving Arthur's life when anybody else would've just let him die after what he'd done. And yet…what little had the prince done to repay that?

He brought Merlin a flower…

Arthur had brought Merlin a flower that would heal him, fought against his own men, and had gotten locked in the cells by his own father. And Lancelot…that man had left a lasting impression by BLEEDING for Merlin. Arthur had climbed a stone wall to get to that flower, but Lancelot had fought for Merlin. The other boy had literally been right there, and SAW HIM fighting to protect him. All the consort had from Arthur was stories he couldn't even be fully honest about, as he didn't want Merlin to worry about the witch's threat. He just wanted to keep Merlin PROTECTED, but Lancelot was the one showing him protection. It really was no wonder why Merlin was clinging so tightly onto this man. It was truly no wonder why Merlin was…why he was…why he was walking away?

"H-hey! Merlin! What…you're just going to leave now that you've gotten what you wanted from me?" Arthur stuttered out helplessly, pushing himself away from the stall, though his legs still felt weak after Merlin's manipulation. And the consort stopped at the mouth of the entrance…it was almost time for lunch and people had started disappearing to their homes, so there were less people out and about…less chance for Merlin to freeze up like he had earlier. And said boy turned around to look at him, the light of the sun shining from behind him in an odd sort of eternal glow. Arthur's hands clenched and loosened down by his sides, especially when Merlin tilted his head to the side and frowned at him as if he didn't understand what Arthur could want from him. Arthur swiped his tongue across his incredibly dry lips…Merlin would probably be running off to tell Lancelot the news of his possible enlistment…god, he hadn't even met him and already he hated him. "I…I just mean you don't have to run off as soon as the business side of things are done. It's still quite a…beautiful day, and there is still hours of daylight left. There's no reason why we can't…stay here..for a little bit longer. We can check out the stalls and what's up for sell? Or perhaps you want to do more business things together…you are more than welcome to come with me while I inform my father about your attack…"

Arthur Pendragon knew he was stalling, not wanting Merlin to run off and go back to…him, but he felt like a right fool doing so. But then again, if there was anybody Arthur was willing to be a fool for…it would've been Merlin. Even with said boy looking at him as if he was stupid…his suggestion hadn't been crazy…had it? Arthur knew that he would definitely see Merlin come tomorrow, there was no chance he wouldn't show up, if only to make sure Arthur was treating his new friend right. But there was no telling when the next time he and Merlin would be able to talk like this again. Or if they would just go back to ignoring each other as the days passed them by…Arthur couldn't handle that. Couldn't handle letting Merlin leave now and not knowing how long Merlin would stay mad at him, or how long he'd need to keep watching his step around Merlin, or even how much longer it was going to be before Merlin stopped looking at him as if he was evil incarnate. This month of separation…Arthur didn't think he would be able to survive another one like it.

"…why would I want to go see your father? Do you not think you can handle a simple matter like that on your own? You need somebody to throw underneath the carriage if he reacts badly? And who else would be better for the job other than me?" Merlin said bluntly, no hint of doubt in his words…he truly believed that was the only reason Arthur would want him there. Merlin hadn't lifted one single finger and yet, the prince felt as if he had just been punched in the ribs, his stomach clenching up so tightly that it hurt for him to breathe. "And on that note…why would I want to waste my day with you. Like you said, it's a beautiful day and I think being at home and spending time with people who will actually want me around is the perfect thing for me to do. I also think-" Merlin stopped and thought for a moment, before giving Arthur a thin lipped smile, no trace of warmth in his eyes. "I think we should only interact with one another when it's for the benefit of the court or the people. Other than that…we don't need to go on anymore pretend dates. So don't bother trying to contact me unless you do find yourself needing Consort Merlin."

…interact…

The breath escaped from Arthur's lungs for the umpteenth time since he'd met Merlin, and he knew why those words were so familiar. Merlin was quoting them …Arthur had been the one to say them. Many, many weeks ago when the other boy had been annoying him for something or other, Arthur couldn't remember which particular situation it had been. But Arthur had told Merlin this just so he would stop bothering him, and oh…how the tables had turned, Arthur realized in startling clarity. It was like looking in a mirror…a mirror in which it was Arthur who now spent his days bothering Merlin. And Merlin who sent him away like a disobedient pup with its tail between the legs…Merlin was truly far more petty than Arthur had given him credit for, throwing his words back into his face like that. Arthur only wished he could go back in time and shake his other self for being stupid enough to say something like that to Merlin…Arthur could've only imagined how horrible it was. Having something like that festering in the back of his mind. And then continuing to come at Arthur, even when knowing it was going to end badly for him.

"…What if I don't want to see Consort Merlin today? What if I want nothing to do with Consort Merlin…I'll even push back meeting with my father if I do not have to see him." Arthur said quietly, his voice ever so small and weak…so very unlike the strong and confident Prince that he usually was. But Merlin seemed to have torn away his walls and defenses and left him helpless to do anything other than keep trying…but Merlin grimaced at his words, though he looked to be entirely unsurprised. And Arthur's throat went tight as he saw Merlin turn away from him, taking another step to the entrance of their little corner. Arthur forced his voice to come out louder, stopping Merlin in his tracks, "What if I do not want to see Consort Merlin, because all I want is Merlin? What if I do not want to go on a fake date with my consort because my father commanded it of me, and simply want to spend the day getting to know the man I'll be spending the rest of my life with? It won't be a date, obviously. Just…two friends getting to know each other properly?"

The seconds ticked by, and then the minutes…it could've been hours that have passed them by, where Merlin did nothing but stand there. Keeping his back to Arthur…refusing to allow the prince to see a thousand or so different emotions as they crossed it. But Arthur knew he would've waited an eternity just to get any kind of positive feedback from Merlin. Surely he would see…see how hard he's struggling over here. Surely Merlin could see how much straining he had to do to stop himself from going up to Merlin and demand he pretend nothing's gone wrong between them…the past was the past and they could start fresh with a new beginning. Surely Merlin would know…after Arthur had given in and would allow Lancelot his moment to shine…that he wasn't nearly as bad as the other boy thought he was…

All he wanted to do was see more of Merlin.

Because Merlin was the stronger one between them, the one who didn't need a crown in order to get people to listen to him. He could walk into a room and command it effortlessly, gathering people's attention without the need to yell or attempts at trying to sound smarter than one actually was. Merlin could go up against venomous snakes and muck monsters and still come out on top of it all, without a single stitch of armor to protect his frail bones. He could look death in the eye and spit at it, could probably walk into the mouth of hell and make it his own…and he could do all of that without the title of consort being the weight that held him down. It hadn't been Merlin's title that had done all of that…Arthur had known plenty of consort's from visiting nobles and none had carried the same strength of self that Merlin carried. And Arthur wanted to just have a chance to get to know THAT Merlin.

The Merlin who was redefining the Consort name with every event that tried to separate them.

"…You tried to give me away to somebody."

Merlin hadn't turned back around to look at him, but the soft tone he used was enough to make Arthur feel as if he had been struck across the back with one of the fiercest of whips to ever grace the earth. It left Arthur flinching violently, even more-so when he knew immediately what Merlin was talking about. It had been the day everything had taken a turn for the worse…the day where he had over crossed his boundaries and stepped over the line and pretty much ruined their relationship forever…a crack in the chain…a step in the doghouse…a day so beautiful, but marred with the harsh stinging of a slap. Cold and harsh and punishing, meant to hurt and humiliate just as Arthur had been humiliated and hurt. Just before that, after Arthur had heard about the rumors claiming Merlin was sleeping around on him, he had came across Merlin talking to that guy on the horse…one of his men. And Arthur had been so full of rage, wanting to get revenge and show Merlin how utterly beneath him he was…he'd gone and told the other knight that he could keep Merlin. Luckily, nobody had taken him that seriously and the knight hadn't tried making a claim in court or something…a knight's word was law, a prince even more so. The knight could've easily gone to court and try enforcing Arthur's words, legally making Merlin his property…

Arthur knew now, it was probably one of the biggest mistakes he had made in his entire life.

And Merlin remembered it.

"You gave me to some random knight, and treated me as if I was nothing more than your trash. Something to spit the fat from your fancy steak into and throw to the side for some servant to clean up afterwards." Merlin continued with the same careful, drawn out tone, making sure each syllable felt like another slash cutting into Arthur's ribcage. Arthur didn't know if it was on purpose, or if this was just the consequences of his actions, but either way…Arthur could feel the wet sheen starting to appear in his eyes. He wanted to cry…for Merlin. And for himself. And for their fucked up lives…for the lives Arthur had forced them into living. "Now, I fully understand that our marriage meant absolutely nothing to you. I get it, I really do. And it pretty much means nothing to me by this point on. But at one point, a long time ago…this whole marriage did actually happen to mean something to me, and you did nothing but tread on it with your steel toed boots and did nothing more than tell me to get over it. And then you just come to me and say we should act like friends? What is wrong with you?"

And for that question, Arthur found that he truly didn't have an answer…he did not know what was wrong with him. He had spent so much of his time and his energy, wasting it away, because he wanted to blame Merlin for everything he saw wrong in his life. And now he's here, underneath the same sun but on this new day…basically asking Merlin to give him a chance when he already knew it wasn't going to happen. He kept…humiliating himself, by putting himself inside these situations that he knew wasn't going to end in his favor. But it wasn't as if he could just stop trying either…he'd only just begun to try cracking apart all the hardness Merlin had built up around him. A wall of pure solid marble Arthur knew didn't even have a dent in it yet, not even a crack that would start a slow splinter outwards until it finally fell apart the day Merlin realized the prince was going to be relentless in his pursuit.

But the time for ruthlessly pursuing Merlin's favor wasn't today, not when fresh tempers were struck like the heat of a flame, as Merlin finally turned around to face him…face his enemy. Arthur's insides quivered as Merlin's blank face met his…he had seen that expression many times in the last month or two. And yet, it shook Arthur down to his core each and every time, knowing he was the sole person responsible for putting such a face on Merlin. Though the consort also seemed to have no reservations against making Arthur feel this way, and as he started striding to Arthur, the prince fell back and pressed himself up against the stall once again.

"I just want to make this clear, Arthur. So there are no misunderstandings to be seen between us, alright? You, Arthur Pendragon, are not my friend. And since you are never going to be my friend, I have no reason to still be here. You may be my husband, but that only goes so far as name only. Which means I do not want to hear another word about 'fake dates' from you again. I don't care what your bloody father declares, that is YOUR problem to figure out, because I will not have any part of it. Going to banquets and meetings and attending events I cannot get out of is one thing, but you tricking me here crossed a line. So now, any 'dates' are completely off the table, and you have nobody to blame for this one other than your own dishonesty. Do you understand me, Arthur?"

Arthur had never heard his name being spoken with so much disdain dropping from it before, but he nodded weakly. He didn't know if he would even be able to say anything to defend himself, his voice seemed to fail him beneath Merlin and his disdain. Perhaps things would've been different if Arthur had just came out and told Merlin what the plan was from the start, but it was too late to go back and change things now. He had allowed his own fear and homophobia to rule him, had tried hiding things because a 'date' with Merlin had freaked him out beyond belief. Honesty was a very important factor when it would come to any relationship, but especially one like theirs…and apparently Merlin was the type of man who valued honesty. But Arthur was so used, had been trained, to talk with other nobles with veiled truths and hidden agendas sneaked between his words. He didn't know how to be fully transparent, but…that was what the consort wanted from him. And…Arthur blinked, jolted back into reality as his consort…as Merlin…threw his arms out at him. For a second, Arthur thought Merlin was trying to shove him or hit him or punch him, but…Merlin only stood there with his hands held out.

"This Arthur, is what happens when people are forced to spend an extended amount of time with you." Merlin said boldly, and Arthur blinked, stunned, and dragged his eyes away from Merlin's serious face down to his arms. Almost immediately, upon seeing the state of Merlin's wrists, his sleeves pushed up just enough for Arthur to see the pale flesh, made him queasy. Merlin didn't seem to see nothing wrong with baring himself in this fashion, "The bruises you left on my face might have healed, but there are some things that haven't healed at all. And I don't know if they ever will, or if I'm stuck with these for the rest of my days. And even if they do fade until they are barely noticeable, I'll still be left with the scars you left on me. Not all injuries can be seen on the skin. And not all can be healed by time washing it away. You might be trying to erase the past, but my heart will never forget the agony that it was put through under your so called 'care.' And you can be damn sure that I won't let you have a chance to forget what you've done to me. I will be there, everyday, reminding you of what a terrible, awful, horrid human being you are. If one can even call you human."

Done with Arthur, Merlin lowered his arms and casually rolled his sleeves back down his wrists, shielding Arthur's sins from view. Merlin clearly decided that they were done here, and he left Arthur standing there against the stall all by himself. But Arthur didn't try to stop him this time, he knew there was no point in it, just as he knew he needed a moment to get his mind to stop reeling. But his stomach convulsed and twisted, his breath coming out quicker, and Arthur was bending over. Vile green gunk spewing from his mouth as he emptied out his stomach right there and then. Decorating his shoes with what he knew was once his breakfast. Arthur had to grab onto the wall, his entire body vibrating and shaking under the force as more vileness spewed out of his mouth…there had been so many times something or other had made Arthur sick. There had been many times where Arthur had to swallow down the vomit, back when he had first been told he was to marry a man especially, but…this would have to be the first time Arthur had ever ACTUALLY lost control of his faculties.

But the scars…Arthur choked as another wave of nausea and a watery mush came from his throat. Arthur had to grab harder onto the wall, bending down more to steady himself, so he wouldn't fall face first into the gunk. The scars had been horrible, awful things. Arthur, in the fantasy he just had on checking Merlin's body over for any visible injuries, his arms had been smooth and silky skin. It had been purer than the freshest snow, had been as soft as the petals on a flower…reality was so different. Merlin's wrists hadn't looked like any less beautiful than they had always been, but they'd also been…marred. With those crescent shaped markings that identically matched the shape and the size of Merlin's fingernails…remnants left behind from when Merlin had started self-harming himself. Luckily, they hadn't looked as if Merlin had rebroken the skin recently, which meant Merlin hadn't resumed hurting himself…or he had found a spot less likely to be seen. But the fact that they were there at all, imprinting into Merlin's skin and leaving him with physical proof of what had happened to them…more vile spewed from Arthur's mouth. Feeling less like it was his food coming up, and more like he was throwing up his own stomach acid…

Merlin had been right to leave him here on his own.

Arthur deserved nothing less.

It would be quite some time before Arthur was able to move away from where he stood against that wall, would be quite a while before he walked out so he was once again beneath the light of the sun…his face pale and ashen when he squinted against the burning light. He would ignore the strange looks he would be getting, his mouth cleaned after Arthur scrubbed his arm across it, but his boots still stained…there was nothing he could do about that until he got back to the castle and passed them off to a serving boy. But…the first thing Arthur did when he got back to the castle, was call off the knights he had assigned to look after Merlin. Like he should've done when Merlin first displayed just how…displeased he was about their presence.

It was a little thing, but Arthur would need to find a different way of keeping his Merlin safe.

And happy.

Happy and safe…

Lancelot would swear, should he ever be found out, that he was not the type of person who was nosy. He usually kept his nose as clean as he could, being sure to stay out of trouble and stick to himself unless he saw something that couldn't be ignored. This…wasn't that kind of situation. Lancelot could have easily ignored the obvious, but when one literally had nothing else to do and filled with nervous anticipation, it led to very…un-knightly behavior. And it had all started when Gaius came home early, demanded to know where Merlin had disappeared too, and then subsequently sent Lancelot upstairs to Merlin's own bedroom so he could 'rest' while waiting for Merlin to return.

Resting so his injury had the best chance of healing-a light twinge caused him to grasp onto his side and rub it to soothe the dull ache-was probably the best choice for Lancelot to make. But how was he supposed to lay down in Merlin's little twin bed, small enough he was surprised Merlin could sleep considering his long, gangly limbs, when he was finally so close to everything he had been working towards for almost a decade now. He was more liable to pace around the floor, feeling like a cage beast, restless and impatient for Merlin's return to his home, than he was to actually lay down. But…Gaius had seemed like he had been pretty agitated when Lancelot had told him Merlin had left…Lancelot had been too embarrassed to explain 'why' he had left, not wanting to jinx anything before it actually happened…but he hadn't argued and instead, retired into the other boy's bedroom. But even now, he could hear Gaius stomping around and moving things roughly, grumbling just loud enough for Lancelot to hear 'just what is that boy thinking this time', and it led to a few questions…

Like why Gaius apparently didn't want Merlin gone.

Merlin certainly hadn't looked or behaved as if he was mentally incapacitated in any way, so Lancelot didn't know why Gaius had behaved like he had. There was no reason, as far as Lancelot could see, why Merlin had to stay here and couldn't come and go as he pleased. It wasn't as if Merlin was a child that had to have constant supervision or anything of the sort, for fear they would have walked in front of a moving carriage without a second thought. Lancelot was absolutely positive Merlin was alright, though…that might also depend on how the prince reacted to Merlin's…rather strange request.

In retrospect, things had started all innocently enough. Lancelot was a guest in these homes, and Merlin was doing him such a huge favor…he still couldn't believe Merlin actually KNEW Prince Arthur Pendragon, and felt confident with asking him something of this magnitude…that he hadn't wanted to overstep a boundary by digging around in Merlin's stuff. But like all things, even the most innocent of actions can lead to bigger consequences than one would originally have expected. And it had all started with Lancelot spotting this small chest on Merlin's bedside table. It was a dainty little box, with such a small and delicate lotus flower hand carved in the top, and…it left him curious, as his fingers were slowly tracing along the soft looking petals…so life like, it was.

It looked as if it could've been a jewelry box or something, a place to hold the small and delicate bits of jewels usually fashionable worn by women. But the wannabe knight didn't dare open it…he knew how personal jewelry boxes were treated by those who owned them…he was just surprised Merlin happened to own one. Not that there was anything wrong with it, of course, Lancelot hadn't ever been a man who judged one for what they liked. If Merlin was interested in carrying such fashions, then it was sorely his business, though Lancelot felt like Merlin could probably pull off such fashions in a way many people couldn't have. The real puzzle though, was HOW Merlin had any jewels of any kind that he could wear…peasants usually couldn't afford such things. And would sell it for extra coin if they ever managed to get their hands on one.

It was hard to imagine Merlin being able to have a whole little chest worth of jewels to use…why, even the chest itself looked like it was worth more than the simple nephew of a physician could afford. Hand crafted items usually costed a pretty penny, and with this much detail afforded to it…he would've thought it was something Lady Morgana herself would've owned. He couldn't even began to imagine what Merlin must've done, or how hard he had to work and save his coin, in order to get something like this made for him. Though…it did make the wannabe knight curious to know more about Merlin and who he was…what kind of work had Merlin done to even be able to get enough coin when he was also so young…

Some things took years to save up for…

Lancelot left the box alone, but he did look around the room to see if there was anything else that would jump out at him. But the room seemed to look absolutely spotless, cleaned and shining to the brim…the bed itself made with the same precision a general would insist on having. Tight lines and sharpened corners. For some reason, Lancelot would've expected Merlin's room to be far more…of a mess. Something that was more natural. Lancelot almost felt like he couldn't touch anything for fear that he might mess something up and Merlin would assume-or guess correctly-that Lancelot had been making himself just a little 'too' comfortable in his space. But…the strangeness of the room made some sort of…red flag appear in the back of Lancelot's mind.

Who bothered making the bed so strictly, when peasants already had enough to be worried about…

And what kind of peasant owned an original hand crafted jewelry box, and left it shoved as far back against the wall as it could get like it wasn't worth a thing to them…

That was what really made Lancelot's explorations began. Lancelot had been around the block enough times to know, if something sounded too good to be true; than it usually always was. And if Merlin was hiding something…should he not know what it was if he was staying here? Merlin might've been helping him out, but…what if he was in some kind of trouble? What if Merlin had stolen the chest and its contents…perhaps that might even be the reason those knights had tried attacking him. If they had figured out Merlin was stealing things from the nobles, well…Lancelot had seen stranger things. Not that it would be a real excuse for their behavior, but…it at least gave the knights a reason for acting as they had…

Lancelot started with the wardrobe first, but he found it to be extraordinarily plain. The exact type of wardrobe he would've expected a peasant to have…a single tunic hanging up. Though it was also a pitiful wardrobe…even less well off peasants who didn't have an uncle who worked directly for the royal family had more clothing than that. But Lancelot also found a bag buried down deep in the bottom of the wardrobe, half hidden in the shadows as if it was meant to be out of sight. One would've thought this was where, if Merlin really turn out to be some kind of thief, he would keep all his treasures. But the only thing he found was another tunic and a pair of pants and…a water skin? And small bits of food wrapped in a napkin…why would anybody keep things like that hidden in their room when there was a fully functional kitchen area just downstairs…

Unless Gaius disapproved of his own nephew having his own food down there …

And thus; the mystery would continue.

Lancelot would look around every nook and cranny, trying to find answers for the small inconsistencies that followed Merlin. He didn't want to get dragged into something that might mess up his chances at being a full fledged knight, or perhaps he would've just let it go. But no…he kept looking. Searching right beneath the bed for anything hidden beneath it, and other than a loose board on the floor that really should be fixed considering how loud it had creaked as Lancelot knelt on top of it…he hadn't found anything. Nothing that was out in the open, at least. Which meant…Lancelot would actually have to dig through Merlin's belonging's if he wanted to learn more about his host.

This was where Lancelot got his first inkling as to what was going on…

There had been a large chest situated against the far wall of Merlin's room, a much larger wooden crate with golden accents decorating the edges and the lock. It didn't look as if it was one of a kind like the lotus flower did, it looked more generic than that. But still something one wouldn't have expected to be found in the room of a peasant…Lancelot had expected this to be a place that Merlin kept his trinkets, just the odd bits and bobs one may collect over their lifetime and needed someplace to put it. But what he found inside were more clothes…why did Merlin keep these clothes in a separate container when there was a fully functioning wardrobe that barely had anything inside of it?

Who had enough clothes to their name, that they kept them divided?

But it was such a strange thing for Lancelot to come across, that he started to dig around in the box, expecting to find something far more incriminating than a bunch of clothing. But digging through the box, Lancelot wasn't able to help noticing that these clothes were…better off than he would've expected. There were several tunics that had been dyed different colors, each one carrying this slightly different shape and style to it…designed and cut for the sheer purpose of dragging one's eyes to it. This…perhaps Lancelot could've ignored the lotus chest despite how out of place it was. But this chest…it wasn't something that was so easily dismissed. Why, the clothing inside…Lancelot had only ever saw nobles wearing such outfits. There was absolutely no reason Merlin should've been in possession of clothes like this…not unless he apprenticed beneath the royal tailor or something.

But considering these clothes were already tailored, and there was nothing in the room-like a mannequin or measuring tape-that would indicate Merlin had a career in dressmaking, he doubted this was the case. But…what other reason could there be for Merlin to have such nice things. Peasant's couldn't afford to have this type of clothing! Even saving up one's gold, Merlin would have had to work for three decades just to afford a single scrap of the cloth. Which meant there was absolutely no explanation for how Merlin came to be in possession of several full outfits. Did Gaius know his nephew had clothes like this? Did he know WHY or HOW Merlin had clothes like this. Why, peasants clothing were made for functionality and hard labor but a noble's was made to carry all these embellishments and designs that showed off the ability to afford the flattering pieces.

The white one was almost see through…

The dark one had a low neckline that would do nothing to protect one from the elements…

And the gold one looked as if it could've been painted on!

Lancelot was honestly too scared to look at the last one after that.

The only possible explanation Lancelot could come up with was…Merlin being a thief. Stealing pieces here and there from noble families who might not have even noticed they were gone, but…Merlin hadn't exactly struck him as being a thief. But he had only known the boy for a short time, so…really. What exactly did he know about Merlin? Other than the fact that he liked flashy outfits…but that still didn't make sense. Even if Merlin was a thief, there was no reason for him to steal clothes! He couldn't do anything with them! The second a peasant wore something like this in public, they would've been swarmed by the guards of the kingdom and taken to trial…perhaps even have his hands cut off, which was the usual punishment for thievery though it was becoming a less common practice in the last few years.

Merlin wasn't even hiding his ill-gotten gains! Anybody could've opened up this chest and came across them…

Unless he thought he had no reason to hide them…

So, maybe Merlin hadn't stolen them?

Perhaps there was another reason as for why Merlin would have such luscious clothing at his disposal. If he hadn't worked for them, didn't create them, and hadn't stolen them, then…maybe he had gotten them as a gift? But that almost made less sense than Merlin having stolen them! Who, in their right mind, may have given Merlin such expensive gifts? And what could Merlin have done that would've made this mystery person wish to reward him, unless…it was as if the torchlight inside Lancelot's head suddenly went off. The neuron's inside of his brain started firing off in a thousand different directions, but they came back to the same conclusion…

Prince Arthur Pendragon.

Lancelot remembered, just before Merlin had left that afternoon, that he said the prince owed him a favor and Lancelot had given him something to ask for…but Lancelot hadn't understood what Merlin could have done in order for the very Prince himself to owe him a favor. What could a PEASANT have done for the Prince of an entire kingdom to give him special attention? Unless special attention was exactly what Merlin gave to the prince…the dots started to slam into Lancelot like a sledgehammer. His entire face turned bright red, and then he dropped the golden tunic he had been holding as if it burned him, and the wannabe knight slammed the chest back shut. His heart trying to beat almost like rapid fire out of his chest…

Was Merlin some kind of courtesan?

Was Merlin Prince ARTHUR's courtesan?

If that was true, then Merlin probably walked to Arthur's chambers nightly while wearing these clothes…and whatever jewels lived inside the smaller chest had to be things Merlin used to decorate his body with. Things that were meant to please the prince. Lancelot would have never guessed Merlin was one of those courtesan people…such people were usually hidden somewhere in the castle…a room created sorely for housing people like a brothel. Lancelot had heard all the craziest of stories…like how they bathed in milk baths because it made the skin more supple or something. Courtesans were most definitely, not expected to be found in the middle of the woods getting beaten down by brutes…

Lancelot hadn't even realized Prince Arthur had courtesans, he certainly had not heard that detail over the years.

And…where did Prince Arthur's Consort fit into all of this?

Lancelot had heard so many fantastical tales about the consort since news of Arthur's marriage had first broken out…stories that featured a brave man who stopped any obstacle placed in front of him. Truth be told…Lancelot was more than a bit intimidated by the consort, almost more scared to meet him than he was the Prince. The consort was said to have been a peasant before he ended up married to the Prince, and Lancelot himself was a peasant…they were only a step away from being kin! Coming from the same background and moving up in the world…it was truly terrifying to meet a man who must've came from the same humble beginnings that Lancelot did. And was still strong enough to be facing the segregation that must come when the classes between nobility and commoner started to mix…

A true steady hero, the consort was said to be amongst the outer villages!

Brave enough to stand up against tyranny.

Cunning enough to talk deals with the great Uther Pendragon.

Seductive enough to charm Arthur Pendragon into his arms.

Kind enough to look out for the commoners forgotten behind.

But perhaps all of this was also why Merlin was living with his uncle, instead of being kept near the prince like a true courtesan would've been. Hearing that a noble had taken a lover on the side wasn't exactly uncommon, but from all the stories he's heard-whispers of conquering beasts made out of water and mud, warnings spoken to beware of a man who could control snakes, disrespecting the king straight to his face before dying for their kingdom's protection only to rising from the dead like some sort of guardian angel reincarnated-he must've assumed the consort wouldn't have put up with this kind of disloyalty from his own husband. Maybe the consort didn't care, as long as it was kept out of his face? Or maybe the consort did care, and Arthur kept Merlin here like he was a dirty little secret…

Lancelot had to know more.

If Merlin really was a courtesan-Lancelot had thought the Prince would've had more honor than to hide a secret lover-than there would've been more proof of it hanging around. And since Merlin deserved so much more than being kept a secret-Merlin was so innocent looking though, how on earth did he wind up as the Prince's lover?-he continued looking for the proof. If Merlin didn't want the lifestyle that came with something like this, Lancelot would do everything that he could to help get him out of this. He wanted to impress the Prince, but…not at the expanse of Merlin being all but gutted. But he needed solid proof before he embarrassed himself by bringing it up and finding out he was wrong. And…there was only one place to look that he hadn't checked yet…the bedside table drawers.

Lancelot would find his proof in the top drawer.

The very first thing Lancelot pulled out of the drawer was a goblet. A big silver one, with blue gemstones larger than his palm encrusted along the edges of it, a truly beautiful work of art. But Lancelot felt sick looking at it…that was more proof of what Merlin might be doing in order to receive such gifts. There would never be a reason for why a peasant would own a goblet, when they got all the use they needed out of a tin cup. Good god. Lancelot was never going to allow himself forgiveness if Merlin, who'd been gone a long time, was using certain…skills in order to obtain Lancelot's spot amongst the knights. Had he used that skill in order to earn this cup? It wasn't exactly something Arthur could've said was meant to please him. A cup wasn't like sensual styled clothes or jewels to give the body a pleasing glow…a goblet was nothing sorely but a gift meant to be apparently given to a favorite lover.

God, what Arthur's consort must've thought about all of this…

But the real kicker was when Lancelot gently placed the cup back where he'd found it, and pulled out a small silver ring. Small enough that it could've fit on only somebody as dainty as Merlin was. With a deep red dragon carved right into the side of the metal…and Lancelot just knew his theory was true. Merlin really was playing a lover for the Pendragon Prince. The dragon design on the ring was basically a calling card, a sign of possession, telling others who they belonged too…a lover to the Prince of Camelot…Merlin. The scrawny little guy in the woods who fought with nothing more than a tree branch and his bare hands…

Did Arthur know how lucky he was?

He couldn't have, or he wouldn't have been betraying both Merlin and his own consort in order to have both of them.

Lancelot didn't know why, but…he was almost disappointed. He had always been raised to never judge a person based on what they did with their lives or what they did to survive…Lancelot had seen more working girls than he could count who didn't deserve where they had ended up. Perhaps Lancelot had just been carrying some…glorified idea, of the Prince inside his head. Because he'd always imagined Arthur to be more…classy than this. Not falling for the sins of the flesh like so many other nobles who would take advantage of those who'd did what they had to in order to feed their families. But why…Merlin clearly was not going to be starving considering his family. So why would Merlin wish for a life such as this?

Unless Arthur had taken a shine to him, and was making him…

Lancelot hesitated for a minute, before replacing what he had taken and shut the drawer. He didn't really know what he was supposed to do with this kind of information…perhaps it would be best for him to watch for a few days just to get a better idea of what was going on. He didn't want Merlin to feel as if he's judging or condemning him for his choices if THIS was actually something he's okay with doing. But if this was something more sinister and Merlin was being coerced into doing this, then…Lancelot would be willing to help him in any way that he could. He just…needed to have more information before he could try anything. There was every chance in the world that Merlin wouldn't want his help with this…hell. He might even enjoy the prince's attention and gifts. A Royal concubine had more luxuries than a working girl on the street did…

Lancelot's mind was still reeling from all the facts he had learned about Merlin in the course of a simple hour, pelting against the insides of his head, that the sound of the front door downstairs closing nearly sent him into a panic. It took all of a second for Lancelot to throw himself back to his feet, his heart leaping into his throat as he took an aborted step towards the door. But no, wait…this might have been the moment Lancelot had been waiting all his life for, but he had to stop long enough to look around himself first. Check to make sure all of the boxes and items and drawers were exactly where they had been when he'd found them. His cheeks were still red, having never met a concubine before in all his travels and almost unsure how to behave now that he knew the little fact about Merlin, but everything was at least where it should be. Which meant that Merlin wouldn't know that he knew he did, but…it was so dishonest as well. He could hardly meet with the consort himself, something that would most likely happen the longer he stayed in Camelot, knowing the man that is sleeping with his husband, if he didn't know about the arrangement…

"Lancelot!"

Merlin's voice called up the stairs, apparently having been informed by Gaius where he was hiding, and Lancelot almost flinched at the sound of his name. It almost felt as if Merlin knew exactly what he had been doing while he'd been up here and knew exactly what he had found…now see! That was exactly why Lancelot didn't go snooping around in other people's belongings, for fear that he would find something they wanted to keep hidden. But…if Lancelot didn't go down those stairs right now, and meet Merlin head on, then Merlin was only going to come up here to find him. And one look at Lancelot's face would have given away what he knew. And…maybe it was selfish, but…what if Merlin would decide his snooping had drawn a line and refused to help him anymore. It was going to be much harder getting involved with the knights if he didn't…if there was nobody to vouch for him. But Lancelot hadn't prepared to have to take the easy road to begin with, or he never would have decided the path of a knight was meant to be his only road. For Lancelot…there had never been anything to fall back on. Nothing he would be content spending the rest of his days doing just to make ends met…he wanted to HELP people. Be something that was far greater than he was. And everything could fall into place, all the bloody sweat and tears he had shed over the last decade, or it could all fall apart. He simply needed to…go downstairs and…make his dreams come true.

"Lancelot, are you awake?"

Merlin's voice came back up the stairs, and this time it was accompanied with a soft creaking that came from Merlin stepping on one of the steps…he could hear Gaius hissing something urgently at Merlin, and Merlin hissing that there was nothing wrong…which wasn't a good sign for his 'Merlin's the concubine to the prince under duress' theory…but he steadied himself. His face going to an impeccable mask…he could do this. He wasn't going to chicken out just as he was reaching the finish line. Merlin didn't HAVE to do anything for him, his act of generosity had came from a moment of gratitude. And Lancelot could hardly ignore that…or ignore the pounding of his heart that made him feel so very faint. He could've been sick from the nerves creeping into him, the palms of his hands coated in a nice layer of sweat…Lancelot hardly noticed how he'd made it down the staircase without falling and breaking his neck. But he was down the stairs, and his eyes fell onto Merlin almost immediately, ignoring the physician as he grumbled beneath his breath and threw his hands up into the air…strange, but his focus was entirely on Merlin.

"Well, did you get the chance to speak to him? Is he going to allow me to be a knight? What did he say when you talked to him?" Lancelot exclaimed, as the impeccable mask broke almost immediately. He had never been able to keep a blank face, he knew if Arthur turned him down than it was going to hurt more than anything else in the world. But the thoughts he had been carrying among his thoughts for the past decade kept coming back to him…why would Arthur want him to join them? What skills did Lancelot possess that every other who'd ever stepped in front of Arthur didn't have? Would Arthur even give him just a single chance to prove himself, or would he take one look at Lancelot and his dirty clothes and decide to turn him away on the spot. "Merlin, please do not hold back. I want to know everything that happened while you were gone! Was the prince willing to speak to you?"

Gaius was hissing under his breath again, casting Merlin disapproving looks, and this time Lancelot looked at him with a furrow between his brows before he turned back to Merlin, who was giving Gaius the same look…did that mean Gaius knew and was aware of the…things Merlin got up to with the prince? And he disapproved of what Merlin did in order to make money…? Lancelot allowed his eyes to roam over Merlin, trying to find any markings or such that might have indicated Merlin did something 'more' than just talking with Arthur. But if the prince didn't make time for a favored concubine, then…what chance had he'd ever really had to begin with? He had been planning to approach said prince himself before he had arrived, in order to petition for a spot amongst the ranks of knighthood, but…Lancelot didn't see anything that indicated Merlin had did more for Lancelot than he said he would.

"Yeah. It was easier than I thought to get Arthur to talk to me, but I did speak to him about you, and what you did for me. It really…piqued his interest when he heard how you took out that creature in the woods." Merlin said, dragging his eyes away from Gaius and ignoring his uncle entirely when the older man huffed disparagingly. But Lancelot could feel his chest starting to swell with hope…he hadn't expected to audition for the prince by a complete accident, but he was hardly going to be upset with the creature for showing up when it had. Not only had it chased those two knights away from hurting Merlin…were they upset with him for being the prince's favored concubine, did the consort inspire that much loyalty from them that they wanted 'revenge' on the wrong person just because Arthur decided to bed him…but it might've gotten him the foot he needed in the door with the prince. "But, you see…the thing is…Arthur is kind of a complicated person who's hard to be around. So don't expect too much from him, but he…"

Lancelot stopped when he finally saw the expression on Merlin's face, when he saw just how discontented he was…Lancelot's heart dropped straight down to his stomach. No…no…Lancelot staggered back as his stomach twisted. He had worked so hard, he had came so far from where he had begun, and…despite all he had done-what could catch Arthur's attention if saving his favorite had not done anything-Arthur was turning him away. Arthur was turning him away and …Lancelot would need a new plan. This was just…this was just a setback. And Merlin had tried to help him, and he was grateful for Merlin even trying, but he had to do something now. He couldn't just…accept Arthur's answer for what it was. There had to be another way for Lancelot to catch the prince's attention…

He couldn't just let this stop him.

Lancelot knew, with every fiber of his being that he was meant to become a knight to this kingdom.

He just needed Arthur to see that as well.

And prove to Merlin that he wasn't wrong to try.