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!

179. Chapter 181

This chapter is dedicated to DayDreamer315, who gave me the idea of how Arthur could figure out Merlin was actually a virgin this whole time. But this chapter is also dedicated to Mithie223, who helped me flesh the idea out a bit. So I kinda combined them into two in order for Arthur to get to the truth, so I hope they enjoyed how I did it ;p

X

"Don't."

Merlin furrowed his brows into the center of his forehead, not entirely sure he was comprehending what Gaius said…don't? Don't…get in the middle of Arthur and Lancelot? But why…tonight was supposed to be the night of fun he'd been dreaming about ever since he heard of the celebrations. The night meant to be seen as freedom amongst his friends, and not just for him! Lancelot was meant to feel that same freedom as well, the freedom of change and becoming a man much greater than Uther Pendragon would ever allow a commoner to be. Even with Lancelot tying himself down to the royal family…he'd been able to change his destiny. He shouldn't have to spend tonight of all nights, defending himself from whatever onslaught Arthur would unleash on him. He knew, far more than anybody else in this kingdom, how harsh Arthur could be. How he didn't care if he said something that could break a person into dust, how he took some sick sense of pleasure out of knocking people over when they were already thrown down on their knees and couldn't get back up again. There was an extremely high chance that Arthur was verbally ripping Lancelot to shreds right this very minute…when it had been Merlin living with the onslaught, it had taken him so long just to recognize he wasn't as alone as he thought. And it took him even longer to hold out his hand and ask for the people who cared about him for the help they had offered time and time again. Merlin NEVER wanted another man to fall into the same cycle of ruin he had been in. Merlin NEVER wanted to see Lancelot struggling with himself and his life choices just because ARTHUR was unable to see himself as the horrid beast that he was.

"But Uncle, do you really expect me to stand here and watch Arthur saying the worst of things to Lancelot? He could be speaking stories for all we know, may even be trying to alienate Lancelot from us. You know that he can't stand to let me be happy for five minutes without trying to ruin it." Merlin stressed out as if his uncle could've possibly forgotten the manner of horrible things Arthur had done to him over the months. He hadn't stopped at Merlin, there's no chance somebody like Lancelot would cause him pause. Not with the history the two of them had managed to get in the last week alone…in fact, Merlin never once considered the possibility that Lancelot and Arthur could've been having a half -civil conversation right now. The prince didn't have 'civil' in his dictionary, and it was only amazing that the two hadn't started fighting right there in the hall in the time Merlin was speaking to his uncle. "Surely the only way this can stop before it gets worse is if I jump in and intervene. Perhaps I could claim some kind of emergency to get Lancelot out of there? Hell, maybe I can just tell Arthur he needs to learn what being a professional is! Lancelot's a knight now! He can't go around treating him like crap just because he doesn't like that I'm friends with him!"

Merlin didn't bloody care that it didn't even look as if Arthur and Lancelot were fighting. The two were just sitting together, although it definitely looked as if it were tense. But there were no fists being thrown, there was no swords drawn to defend one's honor, no raised voices that said things were becoming heated between the two. But that didn't mean anything, that just meant Lancelot had a far calmer temper than Merlin himself did. Already, he could feel his blood as it started to boil…bad enough Arthur had tried getting him away from Lancelot after the main ceremony. But then he decided to take advantage over Lancelot being alone? Decided to drag him away to some far off corner where he could make his threats without being overheard, and who would even believe it when Lancelot tried to come forth? Nobody. Because the people would always side with their prince. And no amount of friendly grins or innocent gifts given from a child was going to change that.

"Yes, Merlin. That is exactly what I expect you to do. Stand here and wait until something happens that needs you to intervene. Lancelot is a big boy and can handle things by himself. What exactly would you plan on doing if I would allow you to march over there right now, furious as you are?" Gaius said sternly, with his hand tightening slightly around Merlin's wrist in case he tried to break free of the grip…Merlin's lips thinned as he glowered down at the floor. He already knew what he would like to do…knocking Arthur's head off his shoulders would always be a favorite idea of his. But even that seemed excessive since the man hadn't actually DONE anything to Lancelot. Oh, don't get Merlin wrong. There were plenty of reasons Merlin could pull out of his arse for why he punched his prat of a husband in the face. But doing it now…it would only make Merlin look as if he had started the whole thing. And then…then he would be right back to where he started with the people. Public enemy number one, to the majority of people who didn't know or understand the reasons Merlin had…fuck. It looked as if his uncle was right…he couldn't do anything about this. "Now you see, do you not, Merlin? Now is not the time to allow your anger to control your action. Rein yourself in, and only step up when it looks as if Lancelot is floundering in the face of your husband. He's already handled himself plenty since he got to the city. I am sure a simple talk is not going to break him."

Merlin returned his glower to the floor, so shiny and glossy that he could have seen his own reflection in it. His messy hair and his blue eyes, and his face red with his anger…rein it in, Gaius had said. So much easier said than done…he'd been doing good keeping his anger in check. Acting as if every time he saw his possessive freak of a husband, that he didn't want to bloody well stab him one blow after the next. Over and over again until Arthur's insides were now on the outside. But for the most part, Merlin had Lancelot near him. His presence was comforting, it helped ease him some, and perhaps he had even started relying on Lancelot a little too much. But now, seeing him in the same position Merlin had been in time and time again…subjected to Arthur's whims…that irrational swell of anger was stirring. He WANTED to cause a scene. If this wasn't meant to be Lancelot's big night. Merlin might have even started throwing the golden platters of food at Arthur's stupid, fucking head. Or maybe he wouldn't…Uncle Gaius would be disappointed if he allowed himself to be so out of control. The Consort pressed his lips even harder together, and forcibly turned himself just so he wouldn't have to see the two…it was easier to control the blood pulsing in his skull when the subject of his anger wasn't dangling right in front of him.

"I…know that I can't do anything right now. Going up to Arthur in the state I'm in would only cause…problems. And I know that Lancelot is strong enough to withstand anything that Arthur tries to hit him with. I just…hate…that there is nothing I can do right now." Merlin tried to enunciate through his gritted teeth, placing his hands around the abandoned plate of food in order to keep both of his hands steady. His eyes were so insanely focused, that one may've thought he was trying to blast it apart with his eyes alone. Something he could maybe even actually do if he tried hard enough. But now was not the time for trying to break plates. Now was the time for…talking…about his feelings, instead of just keeping them bottled up like he used to do. This was something Gaius liked to encourage from him, because apparently talking eased the burden one felt on the soul, or…something like that. "I mean…I know that you didn't exactly like it the way Lancelot and I went about getting him this chance. But Lancelot does deserve this moment. And Arthur…he ruins everything he touches. He ruins-"

Merlin's throat went tight, unable to finish that final thought, though it burned in the back of his mind as if acid had been poured into the old wound that still hasn't fully healed…ME. He ruined ME. But Merlin didn't want to be ruined, and had clawed his way to where he was now by the grit of his teeth. But Lancelot was stronger than Merlin ever was. He wouldn't fall for the same tricks Merlin had been haunted by. But the mere thought of Lancelot looking at Merlin, just as lost and as desolate as Merlin had been for so long…made it harder for him to breathe. He would do anything to protect Lancelot from that. He would not EVER want to see someone else suffering underneath the weight of those that stood in power.

"Be that as it may, there were other ways you could have went about getting Lancelot this moment. He could have saved somebody important, which he's done, in case you've forgotten he saved you. And been rewarded with at least something as a thanks from the crown. He could've became…a knight for hire and helped people who needed to cross the forests but wanted to be safe and sound from bandits if he wanted to use a sword. Or he could've joined another family that didn't have to go through Arthur's screening if he really wanted to become a knight that badly." Gaius listed the different things that the warrior could've done that allowed him to use the skills he had spent a decade or so cultivating into the weapon that it was today. Different occupations that was not going to put Lancelot and Merlin himself in peril if anybody found out what Lancelot's real backstory was. "Or, as I suggested a few days ago. He could've even became a knight for THIS family. Under the Whytt family name, and your sworn protector. Without all the lies and the secrets that he'll have to spend an entire lifetime keeping from Arthur. I fear, no matter what Lancelot does while he's in the service of the crown, will stop Uther's wrath should the truth come out."

Merlin's hands went tighter around the golden plate…he knew they had taken a major gamble with the secrets and the lies. But it looked as if they were going to get away with it. And wasn't all of this worth it, if Lancelot got to live out the dreams he'd had since he was a boy? All those things Gaius had listed out was not acceptable paths…they weren't the same. Lancelot dreamed of being just like the knights that had saved him from the ruins of his village when he was a small child. With the red capes and the golden crest and the tender looks to a lost child in need of aid…Merlin couldn't ask Lancelot to give up on everything just to settle for something that was…the next best thing. Because it wouldn't be good enough…the next best thing was never as good as it should be. It did not have the same sweet taste of satisfaction, having to settle down for such a …subpar alternative. It didn't hold the same feeling of accomplishment, had he been forced to go down a different path. A decade of dreaming, only to be cut off right before the finish line, and told you'd never even be considered as one of the 'elites.'

"I know that it would probably be…easier…doing it that way. I mean, I wouldn't exactly say I don't like the idea of Lancelot being my knight. He has to be one of the very few that I can actually stand to be around, and one of the few that I don't think would try to stop me if I have to do something. But…I can hardly be the one to ask him to settle for being…my knight." Merlin's smile was twisted, as he reached a hand up to grab onto the Whytt crest around his neck. There was a 'major' difference between being friends with Lancelot, and asking him to devote his entire life just for Merlin's protection. It was one thing for him to protect Merlin if he actually saw something, but to make protecting him be his job? How long would it be before Lancelot's work was seen as a burden? Until MERLIN was seen as a burden. And considering Merlin's proximity towards the crown, Lancelot would have daily reminders shoved in his face about that lost dream of his. "I mean…just look at all the people here. Lancelot wouldn't have been here, celebrating with a roomful of people who had came all this way just to see him. What would he have had if I asked him to become mine? A clap on the shoulder and a lifelong duty following me around the place? It sounds like a fate worse than death, if one asked me. Lancelot deserves much more than a life he can't stand to live."

Merlin would be THANKFUL, if he could have that kind of life. Waking up with Lancelot being nearby, going throughout his day with his shadow as he read and studied and worked on his potions as if he didn't have anything better to do with his time. Having his meals with Lancelot sitting across from him at the table. Not having to worry about climbing out his window like he always had to do with the knight Arthur had assigned to him, because he trusted Lancelot to follow and not keep him chained like a dog to the tower. Going to sleep, happy and content because he knew Lancelot wasn't far from him. Somebody who'd not be scared of saying something to Arthur if he ever saw him coming after Merlin when he inevitably got tired of pretending to 'be sorry' for everything he'd done to him in the past. But what might be a dream could true for Merlin, he could only figure would be a nightmare to somebody else. Even somebody as gentle and as honorable as Lancelot was. Arthur had proved to him again and again that there was only so much of 'Merlin' that one could take before they HAD to do something just to shut him up. Or perhaps that was just those dark Merlin thoughts creeping back in on him during a time of self-doubt and worry.

"I never said that he didn't deserve whatever life he wishes to live. Lancelot is surely not like most of the men you'll find around here. He's kinder, but knows when he needs to fight. He doesn't use his skills as a means of forcing others beneath him. Which is why I know he would be good for you, just as I know you would be good for him. He gives you a trusted ally, and you could've given him a purpose. You doubt yourself too much, Merlin. Even with all the process that you've made." Gaius sighed heavily beneath his breath, and Merlin lowered his eyes down onto his hand, he knew Gaius was only trying to help him. But it did not stop the budding feeling of shame from trying to swell up inside of him. He had made progress, but progress didn't always mean going forward. There are some times where Merlin had to go back, to reflect on what has happened and work towards a better tomorrow. Merlin hoped there would be a thousand and more of these 'better tomorrow's.' "Lancelot strikes me as a man that would've been honored to be your first chosen, your first knight and leader of your own guard if you elected for others to join. But you didn't even give it a chance, or even suggest it after I told you. Instead, you played god. Lancelot, by his birth unfortunately, was never destined to be a Camelot knight. And unfortunately, it doesn't matter if he deserves his role. You were the one that set him on a path that you choose. And tonight, it has brought him triumph. But there's no telling what the future may hold for him."

Merlin's grip on the plate went so tight, he feared that he could've shattered it in half without even trying…Gaius had sounded so ominous. So certain. As if all of this was going to go wrong, and the only question was when it was going to happen. It could be tomorrow that Lancelot got dragged from his chambers to be place on trial for his deceit and crimes against the crown. Or it could end as far as many months later, where Lancelot said or did something that aroused a knight's suspicion. Something…commoner-like, that most nobles would end up floundering if they attempted the same. Or perhaps Lancelot did succeed as a knight, and managed to live through another decade of dedicated his services to the crown, only to be discovered. And still executed despite the many lives and excellent work he did, just because people couldn't get over the fact that he didn't have the prestigious bloodline other knights liked using as some sort of shield. And what about Lord Eldred…what if he visited the castle some awful and saw this 'mystery knight' walking around the city while bearing his name and crest. There were so many things that could go wrong, so many things he knew could end all of this in a heartbeat. And Merlin had been so caught up in defending Lancelot's dream…he hardly thought about the consequences of it all. Merlin squeezed his eyes as tightly as he could, dark colors of light looking like stars burned behind his eyelids to block out the noises of the party, before he finally opened his eyes. And gave Gaius a grim smile that hid everything, as well as nothing.

"I don't know what it said on your invitation, but on mine, it said celebrations."

Perhaps it was a stupid thing to say…both Merlin and Gaius knew that he had got no such thing as an 'invitation.' Everybody here tonight had probably got handcrafted letters inscribed in golden ink to tell them where and when to be here. But Merlin's only 'invite' was from a group of loud mouthed boys who'd wanted to rub it in Merlin's face more than anything. Not even Arthur, who had to have Merlin here during these events, had thought to mention it. But at least his words did get through to Gaius…this type of topic was too grim, and it was very likely to go to some very dark places before it was over with. The type of conversation that usually led to a thousand tears weeped, ripping Merlin's soul open and vulnerable to the hands of those that prodded at it, before ultimately allowing Merlin to feel his 'rebirth.' Merlin usually felt better after these kinds of talks, as if everything was out in the open and he could finally wipe some of his slate clean and move on to the next item on the list holding him down. But there was a time and a place for Merlin to bare his soul and confess what sins he may have committed, and in the great hall where anybody could overhear it, was most definitely not the place.

"Alright, alright. I understand your point. We'll table this conversation for a far more convenient time. Perhaps in a few days, where things have calmed down enough, should Lancelot proceed to not be taken into custody at some point in that timeframe." Gaius said, a hint of the dark humor he rarely showed coming to light…if only it was funny. If only there wasn't a very real possibility that his uncle was right about all of this being a bad idea. But if, somehow, the warrior made it through his first real week as a knight, Merlin was most definitely not looking forward to revisiting this conversation. There was only so many times Merlin could feel as if his soul had been scraped raw, before he had to throw in the towel and give it up for a few days. "Here," Gaius placed a hand on Merlin's elbow and nodded in another direction for Merlin to look. "Morgana and Gwen are right over there. Why don't you stick close to them while you're here. I fear these parties are too much for me, so I'll be turning in early. But I don't want to hear you come stumbling in during the witching hour, so don't stay too late."

Merlin followed where Gaius had nodded, seeing Morgana and Gwen standing near one of the other food tables on the far side of the room. In the middle of the party goers, without being directly involved in any of the affairs going on…Merlin smiled softly at the sight of his best friends. Gwen might be holding up a dish with Morgana's food on it, but he could see it was mostly for show. The two girls looked as if they were enjoying themselves, and heaven forbid that a serving girl enjoy herself when she should've been working. Though obviously, Gaius wouldn't just leave him without making sure Merlin had been passed off to a new guardian to look after him. Perhaps Merlin should feel belittled by this move, he was made of stronger stuff then some people gave him credit for and he could control his temper around Arthur when he had to, so he didn't need a new babysitter. But after wading throughout the darkness for as long as Merlin had, after still struggling to keep connected to the lighter aspects of life…this was just nice. Having his friends around him, people who had seen the dark in him and hadn't turned away, people who wanted him to embrace himself and be happy with who he was. This was a night, Merlin knew, that he wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

Merlin said his good nights to Gaius, vowing to stay quiet when he eventually did come stumbling into their home during the witching hour when the party finally started winding down. And he started pushing his way through the thick crowd to get to his friends, completely unaware that Gaius had no intention on sleeping tonight. Completely unaware that Gaius would be spending the next several hours reading his books, and waiting until he was sure Merlin managed to get home. Safe and sound. Without another damaging memory engraving itself onto his heart like every other party, event, or festival that he'd been part of since coming to Camelot.

If only willing for a happy night, was so easy to obtain.

X

Deep down, in the pits of the castle, was a large room overflowing with books and papers and dust. As far as the eye could see, crammed into every nook or cranny the room had to offer, stacked so high that some of the books could've scraped along the ceiling. Very few people ever bothered venturing into such a room, and even less ever explored the depths of these books unless they were looking for one specific thing. But there was only one man, in the entire width of the kingdom, knew where each book rested. Knew how many books were in the library, what kinds of books he had gathered over decades and decades of tending to them, who could find one book among the jungle easier than any in the kingdom.

Geoffrey of Monmouth…Camelot's most noble record keeper.

Some people like to say Geoffrey had been born in the library, that he had not once taken a step out of these chambers. That he spends his entire day with only his books, keeping up with the events of Camelot in his ledgers while they are happening. Having a record of every battle, marriage, death, birth, event, or anything else in-between. Of course, most people would be wrong, the old man had been out of his library plenty of times before to bear witness to such events taken place. In fact, he had been greatly honored to be the one chosen to officiate the royal wedding of Prince Arthur and Consort Merlin. He was the one that got to help Consort Merlin begin his educational career when he first came to Geoffrey's chambers all those days ago, interested in learning about the other noble families he would be expected to interact with. And even now, Geoffrey had been chosen, being that he was the only one who understood his ledgers, to do research on Sir Lancelot Eldred. A job that Sir Geoffrey planned to take great care in completing. Just as he did with all his tasks. His very own library might be chaotic, but that didn't mean Geoffrey didn't known where his information was hiding.

It only took Geoffrey mere minutes, and most of that was only due to his elder age, to pull the thick tome off its shelf. And sitting behind his desk, he flipped throughout the pages one after the other, until he finally got to the 'E' section of the book. And from there, it only took mere moments for him to find 'Eldred' written in dark ink at the top of the page. But as Geoffrey read over what little basic information he had on the page, he could see that there was something clearly wrong with it…he frowned heavily. As far as Geoffrey could see, and he counted three times just to be sure, there was only four sons listed under the Lord's name. And not one out of the four happened to be named Lancelot. This did not bode well, the librarian decided as he leaned back in his chair. He was a prideful man at heart, and took great care in his collection of books. There's not a single treasure trove that has more information about the world than the information that could be found in his library. Geoffrey didn't make mistakes as this. He didn't 'forget' to just record a birth of a noble family. And trust him, he was meticulous about that. Every noble born within Camelot's boarders, had always sent a missive to the castle whenever a new heir was born. For them to be recognized as Camelot nobility, it was practically one of the unwritten laws of Camelot. A noble child would never be allowed within Camelot's Society if nobody knew they even existed.

Which meant Lancelot had to have a record of his existence somewhere.

Perhaps Geoffrey had been having a particularly busy day about twenty one or so years ago, and Lancelot's birth announcement hadn't been marked down in the book as it should've been. He doubted it…he wasn't the type of man that'd make such a fatal mistake like that. But he was human, and he was known as a man who'd check himself four or five times before writing something down, as he didn't take finding mistakes in his work too kindly. And for a job as being a kingdoms 'record keeper', mistakes weren't allowed. Depending on the kind of information needed, it could very well lead to a death if somebody went into a situation misinformed. Geoffrey knew he kept all his paperwork tucked away in the back room though…as hard as it was to believe, it was even more chaotic than the library itself. With information going back at least fifty years, which would be right around the time Geoffrey took up the post of Record Keeper. It would probably take him all night to go through the room, but he was going to get to the bottom of this.

If Sir Lancelot of Eldred from Northumbria truly existed, then Geoffrey would find the record.

X

Arthur Pendragon's leg was moving up and down, up and down, with almost no control from Arthur himself. And the blond was fully prepared to lie on the spot if anybody questioned why he was so anxious…he wasn't anxious! And his leg was not a physical sign of him being anxious. He was just…bored…and trying to alleviate some of that boredom with a bit of physical activity. Yes. It had not a single thing to do with bloody Lancelot sitting next to him on the bench, but now that he was staring at him…how did Lancelot look so bloody calm? How in the world could Lancelot just sit there and act as if them not fighting in some form or another, wasn't the most awkward thing on the planet! How could that bloody ape of a man just sit there, as if he didn't spend his nights fucking and touching and groping his bloody husband! …Arthur's leg started moving up at an even faster pace, one might even say it was moving faster than a jackrabbit could have. How does Arthur even begin to speak to the man as instructed by his father, when he didn't have Merlin there as some sort of buffer…especially as he didn't have the feasible option that would've been smashing his wine full goblet into the man's skull. Until it cracked the bone and muscle into a million different pieces…

"Arthur, you said that you wanted us to step aside so that we could talk. And interrupted by conversation to do it. I assumed you meant to actually talk, as in perhaps figuring out how we are supposed to work together when it's very clear that we don't like the other. We are both…very different people, and that will clearly need to be addressed before we take our issues with us on a battle field." Lancelot said bluntly, reminding the prince of the stupid excuse that he used in order to get Lancelot to walk away with him. It wasn't Arthur's fault if Lancelot made assumptions on why he wanted him here…though Lancelot was not exactly wrong. Knights who held discord towards their own, were often the first ones cut down in battle. Too busy holding grudges to worry about trusting each other to have their back. But…this wasn't a battlefield. This was a party, a night of celebrations! So, yes…Arthur was going to keep holding onto his vices against Lancelot as if his bloody life depended on it. Loving his consort, acting as if he had any kind of future with Merlin… "For example…I'm obviously willing to respect you as my leader, and my prince, and my commanding officer. But I will probably never respect you as a man. You haven't painted a pretty picture of yourself, sire. And Merlin's painted an even uglier one of you. Would you like to comment on that?"

Arthur could feel the way his teeth were grinding hard enough that it hurt him in his temples, any harder and he could've felt them turning to dust right there in his mouth…who the bloody fuck did Lancelot think he was? Acting as if he's so…self assured, about his situation and what was going on around him. Trying to project the image of being the 'calm one.' ARTHUR was supposed to be the calm one. The one that was in charge of leading their conversation. So what if Arthur hadn't known how to start it, or what he could say before making with a hasty retreat the second he had sat there long enough to satisfy his father. He should have bloody well sat there and waited until Arthur decided to speak to him. Not…take charge…Merlin probably liked it when Lancelot took change of him. And Arthur's insides quivered and died at the thought of Lancelot giving his Merlin 'orders'…sexual orders…and Merlin jumping to do them….fuck. The prince was almost too scared to ask what 'ugly picture' Merlin had painted of him…was almost too scared to ask when Lancelot and Merlin stopped all their love making in order to discuss Arthur? But Arthur was a prince, and he wasn't a coward…maybe when Merlin was concerned, but not in front of Lancelot that was for damn sure…so he asked anyway.

"And do I want to know the picture that Merlin's painted of me?"

Arthur's voice was deceptively casual, and though he figured he already knew what Merlin must be saying about him during their…gag…pillow talk… it didn't stop his heart from feeling like it was trying to lodge itself deep into his throat. It was a craving Arthur didn't know he had until this moment…to know exactly what Merlin said about him when he wasn't around Arthur. Did he tell people of the numerous times Arthur had apologized to him? Did he tell people about his failed attempt at a date? Did he tell people how freaked out Arthur had gotten when he first heard Merlin had nearly been decapitated by the beast attacking their kingdom? How furious Arthur had been when he heard what Knight Bryon and Knight Julian had done to him…how Arthur had this sadistic pleasure in his gut everytime he thought of them rotting away in their cells, waiting for a trial that probably felt as if it would never come. Did he…

"He doesn't really talk about you at all, actually."

Lancelot's casual tone had matched Arthur's in equal tandem, but Arthur felt as if he had just gotten a sledgehammer smashed into his skull. His brain may have been being crushed into slime right this minute for all he knew, until there wasn't anything left to even be called a brain. Fucking course…obviously there wasn't going to be enough free time to talk about Arthur. Merlin and Lancelot would have to stop there…lovemaking…in order to speak of him. But that didn't mean Arthur didn't feel…put off…you couldn't TELL Arthur that Merlin had not mentioned him AT ALL! Arthur was his husband! At the very least, Merlin and Lancelot should've discussed the linguistics of how their relationship would be working out when they had Arthur in the picture. That was just good sense! Or were they just relying on…the power of love getting them through by the time their deviance blew up in their faces? But…perhaps it was for the best. Arthur hadn't ever been…kind…to Merlin before. Maybe it was a good thing for Merlin to not speak of him. Considering the things Merlin had said to his face, he was probably not going to like what was being said behind his back

"I mean, sure. There have been times when your names come up, but those are usually unavoidable. Like when you accosted me and decided to tell me all about Merlin's identity even though he pleaded with you not to. It was naturally unavoidable. Your name was brought up several times, of course." The warrior started in on him, and Arthur straightened up, his mouth dropping open in his surprise…was Lancelot…mad at him? Arthur could definitely hear that furious undertone in his voice, the same Merlin had been when he started yelling after the fact. Merlin he could understand, but Lancelot…he should be thanking the prince for not allowing him to wonder around as if he was a fool. Not knowing he was wearing a blindfold over his eyes, as far as the consort was concerned. Unless…unless Lancelot would've preferred for Merlin to tell him whenever he wanted to, to do it in his own time, even if he had to keep walking around like a fool for weeks on end. "And again, it was pretty hard not to talk about you after you tried to kill me with that broom. Merlin was pretty upset about that. And of course, that was right after the lovely conversation I had where I learned about how much you love putting your hands on him. So yes, there were a some talks about that as well, and none of them…favorable."

Arthur couldn't say he was surprised, as his hand curled tightly into a fist over his knee…none of them favorable. That practically sounded like the very staple of his relationship with Merlin. And Arthur's eyes wondered across the crowds of people…he wondered if he had sat here long enough to have appeased the king. He didn't want to hear the ugly truth spewing from Lancelot's lips…he'd already heard enough from him. Enough to last him an entire lifetime, but the prince didn't move away. Not as his eyes landed on that one black clad figure cutting through the crowd as if the ocean was parting just for him…he watched as Merlin reached Morgana and Gwen. The two girls opening up their own little circle to include the boy without hesitation, with so much ease that it made the prince envious. He didn't know how long he sat there, watching the soft, quiet mutters of their conversation, too far away to see anything more than how the way their lips talked as they conversed. Were they talking about him? Or were they talking about something else? How could he find out without them going tense the second he showed up? Arthur glanced over at the man at his side…Lancelot would probably be able to join them with as much ease as Merlin had just done. But…Arthur flicked his gaze between Merlin and Lancelot a bunch of times, probably more than he should have. Trying to see them…together…as a couple…he hated how easy the image came to him. How happy Merlin would look on Lancelot's arm…Arthur cleared his throat roughly, getting Lancelot's attention back on him. His tongue felt thick in his mouth, but Arthur just had to know something…

"Lancelot, you've been in Camelot for almost a week now. And I assume that you have met many different people. I mean, I'm sure you know more than just Merlin and the girls. Unless they've kept you isolated so you wouldn't run away with anybody else…" Arthur laughed weakly, trying to make a joke while he was working up the courage to ask his question…he didn't even know why it was he had to know so bad. He just knew that…Merlin had always looked unfairly good to him. He needed to know that he wasn't insane, that there were others who'd thought the same. But of course, his joke fell flat, Lancelot looking at him with a stern frown. Arthur cleared his throat, averting his eyes briefly before getting to the point, "Well, I just wanted to know…there's so many people that you may have gone for. So many people that you could've ended up…getting with. Why then…when I'm sure there's plenty of people who would by vying just to have your attention…why them?"

Arthur had made his tone deceptively casual, but his entire body was strung tighter than a drawstring. He glanced back over at Merlin, the consort waving a hand as if he was telling the girls some elaborate story of his, and the blond quickly looked away as his face filled with color faster than he could've blinked an eye. But when he looked back at Lancelot, the drawstring in his chest went tight, as if he could've been splint entirely in two just by a single word coming from that man. Lancelot looked…transfixed. His eyes never straying away from the small group of three, as Guinevere threw her head back and laughed loud before holding up her plate to offer Merlin some of the food. How could…how could Lancelot look at Merlin so easily like that? How could Lancelot look as if Merlin was the entire world to him. As if the sun itself rose just so it could fall onto Merlin. When Arthur…Arthur had trouble just glancing at Merlin, scared to death that he would be burned by the light Merlin emitted.

"..She's beautiful."

Arthur's soul felt as if it had shattered with those two simple words, as if there wasn't one single thing in the world that could tape him back together. Arthur didn't even notice the feminine word Lancelot had used, or the way he started to grin when Gwen ducked her head shyly, as if embarrassed by how much she had just laughed. All Arthur knew was…Merlin was beautiful. The warrior said it himself. Which meant Arthur wasn't as insane as he thought he was. The other boy…his consort…Arthur pulled his shoulders up to his ears and ducked down his head as if trying to hide the thoughts in his head…Merlin was beautiful. He was…both inside and out. This wasn't the first time Arthur had heard someone say this, King Bayard had made a similar comment when he first met Merlin all those weeks ago. Back then, Arthur had agreed objectively, but that was only because there was something about dark hair and blue eyes and pale skin that went together so…nicely. This time was different though…Merlin's beauty went far deeper than just his skin. And…

Arthur's hand drifted up to brush along his lips…he could almost still feel how Merlin had pressed against them. He didn't even know if the feeling was from his dream, or from when he had actually kissed Merlin. But either way, he still felt the heat that had nearly crippled him. The desperation that had overtaken him in a moment of weakness…his insides clenched up tight as the forbidden thought came to mind…the kiss wasn't as horrid as it should've been. Merlin's a man, Arthur should have thrown himself off a cliff before he even thought of such a thing. Arthur should've been more likely to drown himself inside of the smallest of ponds before he admitted to…wanting to know whether or not the first time and the dream had been nothing but flukes. If the heat would've still lingered on the air if it happened again…he shouldn't be hungering for this as much as he was. He shouldn't…the sweat was breaking out along Arthur's skin again, and he nearly drowned himself as he downed the rest of his goblet with one large swallow.

"Why did you even come here? There are thousands of places you could've ended up, and yet, you came to Camelot. I haven't exactly made things easy for you. You probably would've had better look traveling the boarder to get in Mercia or Cenred's kingdom and have better luck than you've gotten around here." Arthur ranted, the rushing heat of alcohol in his veins making him far looser with his tongue than he should've been. Lame as it was that he's now getting drunk off a single goblet of wine, he wanted to embrace the heat in his veins. The heat that came from his own doing, rather than from want he was doing to Merlin. Besides…he had a right to be angry. Perhaps Merlin and him could've fixed things up by now, if Lancelot wasn't a thorn standing directly in the way, preventing any process from being made. Or maybe that wasn't more than Arthur's own wistful thinking. "But you didn't. You came to Camelot. And made a place for yourself amongst the court. Made a place for yourself beside my consort. And he actually LIKES talking to you. If you weren't bloody here, it would be much different. My own consort wouldn't have you around to distract him all the bloody time."

Lancelot was staring at him as if he thought Arthur was behaving like nothing more than a dumbarse, but…Arthur wasn't the dumbarse! Lancelot was! It had all gone twisty turvy around the kingdom after Lancelot had shown his face to Merlin. People were showing their true colors, Merlin wasn't entertaining him for more than he had to, and Arthur wasn't allowed to let his grudges hold for long enough to deny Lancelot his spot among the royal guard. Not one of this would have happened if Lancelot had shown up a few weeks before, or if he'd not shown up at all. Arthur could be spending the night avoiding Merlin after his strange dream, instead of worrying himself to death that he'd sneak off to meet with Lancelot the first chance he got. He could have been getting drunk and drowning himself in the alcohol in some misconceived attempt at getting the image of Merlin's bare cock out of his mind. Getting the taste of cum from his tongue. Pretending Merlin's nipples weren't perky little things that wanted and craved Arthur's attention…Arthur's gaze drifted back down to the goblet in his hand…fuck. Why the hell did he have to drink it so fast? Now it's gone and he couldn't see another servant nearby with similar goblets on their tray.

"You know that's not true. Merlin not talking to you doesn't have anything to do with me being here. You were the one that made the decisions you made, and now you have to suffer with the consequences. Merlin's a strong man to not stand back and put up with anything you've been forcing him too." Spoke the warrior, his voice hard and harsh and Arthur's hand clutched tight enough onto the stem of his goblet that he thought the thing might break. He bloody knew he'd screwed up! Bloody well knew he was living with the consequences of those decisions each and every day that Merlin turned his nose up at him…he didn't need to hear the lecture coming from Merlin's lover of all people. He needed to be alone so he could sulk in private, instead of…this! But Lancelot continued on, uncaring if he hurt the precious prince's feelings. "You must've been truly horrible for Merlin to have turned his back on you. Because he has literally opened his arms ip for a complete and utter stranger…for me. Now, I don't know what I did to make Merlin so invested in me, but he is. He trusts me in a way I fear he wouldn't with most others. And I have a feeling you are the reason Merlin's so closed off. YOU hurt him. And I'm trying to make sure the trust he's placed in me wasn't misplaced. I have no intentions on abusing the faith he holds in me. Perhaps you should learn to stop blaming others instead of looking in the mirror at the real culprit."

The gouging hole in Arthur's chest, the one that had been there ever since he had first started learning the real truths about Merlin after he'd been poisoned last month…it felt as if it tore open further. Completely ripping and shredding his insides open. Leaving his life's blood gushing down his ribcage and leaving him with nothing to hold onto. Arthur's body was shaking, and he wanted more than anything to deny it. To throw his goblet at Lancelot's fat head and tell him to just stay out of his relationship with Merlin. Maybe drag the man over to the bowl of wine sitting on one of the tables and shove his head under the liquid to drown him like the fool he was. But…he wasn't wrong either. Arthur'd been so determined ever since he learned the truth, to never place blame on Merlin for anything ever again. He knew that everything was his fault. But he hadn't been able to realize, until now, that he still wasn't taking full responsibility. Arthur'd gone and started pinning that guilt onto Lancelot. Using him as a scrape goat not just for sleeping with his consort, but…for everything else. God…how had Arthur turned into this? This messed up, fucked in the head, sort of man? He didn't know, didn't want to know, but…fuck it if Arthur kept screwing up with everything!

"Now, if you don't mind, sire. I think I'll like to spend the rest of my evening by getting to know more about Guinevere."

Arthur's head came whipping up so fast, he could hear the dangerous way the bones in his neck cracked. His ears were ringing, Guinevere's name standing out to him like a beacon in the middle of the desert…surely Lancelot had just misspoken. Surely Arthur had simply misheard him? Because why…why would Lancelot want to spend his evening getting to know the servant girl? When he had Merlin standing right over there! Why would he want to spend even half a second entertaining Gwen, when Merlin allowed him to stick his tongue down his bloody throat whenever he wanted to. Why…but Arthur already knew why, as he watched Lancelot standing off the bench. Straightening out his tunic as if there were wrinkles in the fabric, fidgeting with his hair and looking as if he was as nervous as hell…hell no. Lancelot WAS nervous. Arthur could recognize the same odd behaviors he exhibited whenever he had to approach Merlin for one reason or the other. But Lancelot wasn't doing it for Merlin, because he's all nervous about asking Merlin for a dance or something…it was GWEN that made him nervous. And all of a sudden, Arthur felt as if his blood pressure had risen to unimaginable levels, his entire face going blistering red. Arthur wasn't even fully aware of himself when he jumped to his feet, grabbing on the other man's shoulder to prevent him from leaving.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing! Are you really planning to go wasting your night with Gwen? What is Merlin going to think if you're with her the entire time! You…you…unimaginable bastard! Are you running around with both of them?" Arthur demanded in a heated rush, his entire body shaking as a way of showing how bloody FURIOUS he was! He could've gutted Lancelot like the pig he was. How dare he…how fucking dare he! How dare Lancelot go out of his way to make Merlin like him, put himself in the middle of his relationship with Arthur, and then not even be fully committed to it! How dare he treats his Merlin like a…like a…like a whore! Just somebody he could sleep around with, as if Merlin didn't have actual feelings for him, and then go running around on him. With Merlin's BEST FRIEND no less! God. The urge to punch Lancelot was never more stronger than it was now. "God, I knew that you were a lot to deal with, but I never imagined you were a cheater! Do you think Merlin's just going to let that go? Do you think he's so cheap that he will let you run off with any floozy you see, and then come crawling back to him later on! Let me tell you, you are in for a rude awakening if that's the case! Merlin is…he's…he's worth at least ten of you! And shouldn't be wasting his time on trash!"

Arthur was absolutely steaming, somebody could probably burn their fingers if they tried touching his skin right now…Arthur had his hands literally balling up Lancelot's tunic. Jerking the other man closer until they were eye to eye, as if the two of them were about to brawl it out right there and then in the middle of the great hall. But Lancelot had a lot to bloody learn if he thought Merlin was that kind of man! Sure, maybe Merlin slept around. But Arthur had no doubt he would stop if he had that one man he cared about more than any other. Arthur had, furiously, thought that man was Lancelot. Until he realized Lancelot didn't feel the same. He was just…just…just playing with Merlin! As if he was a toy he could come back to, expecting it to be in the same condition he had left it. But Arthur knew better, he had already played this game with Merlin before. Arthur had made the same bloody mistake, walking away from Merlin during that one party just so he could dance with Clarissa for all of five seconds. And he never heard the end of it. Arthur had foolishly not sent Clarissa away when she came to his rooms, and Merlin had caught her hands down his pants. And Merlin had rightfully humiliated him by bringing it up in front of his father during that one horrid banquet that should never be spoken of again. And even after Arthur'd put Clarissa in her place and sent her away on the training fields, Merlin hadn't been forgiving. Because Merlin wasn't cheap. And Merlin wasn't going to play at being 'second choice' for any man. Merlin deserved to be a man's first and only choice. Not treated as if his only use came from the carnal pleasure one could seek between his thighs. No. Merlin had so many more uses than simply that. And Lancelot was a bloody fool, like Arthur, if he couldn't bloody well see that!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I have absolutely no idea what you are going on about but I ask that you do not refer to Guinevere as a 'floozy' in my presence again. She is the kindness and most generous and sweetest and strongest woman that I'll ever have the pleasure of meeting. You, an abuser, do not get to smear at her good name." Lancelot spoke up, looking almost as furious as Arthur felt, while pushing Arthur's hands away from his tunic. Arthur looked ready to commit a murder, his blue eyes slit with deadly intention…fucking git. How the hell had he managed to convince Merlin he was somebody worth fighting for? How did he convince Merlin he was somebody worth being with, when his first choice had been to defend Guinevere? As if he had already gotten exactly what he'd wanted from Merlin, and now he was ready to move on…was that it? Had the warrior only been leading Merlin on, to have his full support, until he became a knight? And now that he had, he didn't have any use for Merlin any longer…the trick was something Arthur had seen coming. But in the last day or two, it had been forgotten. Because even Arthur had THOUGHT Lancelot had true, strong feelings for Merlin. But he didn't, and Merlin was about to get his heart broken into a thousand pieces because this jackarse thought with his cock instead of what was honorable. "And I can assure you, I already know that Merlin's worth ten of me. He's got more honor in his little finger than most people have within their entire body. But if he's worth ten of me, then he has to be worth at least a hundred of you. And why are you asking me if I'm…cheating on him? I would've had to be courting Merlin to be cheating on him!"

Arthur's jaw dropped open in rage, the anger pulsing through him was almost enough to make him feel as if he could spit fire! Lancelot…was now going to just stand there and deny he had any involvement with Merlin? Maybe the two of them hadn't been courting in the traditional sense, but they had certainly been heading in that direction. Or at least, Merlin had certainly believed they were heading in that direction. Had probably thought Arthur's presence was the one thing stopping them from going all the way. But it wasn't his marriage to Arthur at all…it was because LANCELOT never had any plans or intentions on cementing his bond to Merlin. He never had any plans on EVER getting tied down to Merlin. And while Arthur knew full well what it felt like to not want to commit to somebody, and would never fault a man for not commingling to any they weren't certain about, Arthur had also never led anybody on. He was up front with the women he'd been with in the past. Had been up front with that consort of him from day one, even with his father breathing down his neck to trick Merlin into thinking they were real. But Lancelot…he was a worm. Taking a stupid boy and using him for his own gain! Arthur couldn't take it any longer, couldn't take looking at Lancelot and knowing Merlin had given everything to him, only for Lancelot to appreciate none of it! Arthur balled his hand into the tightest fist he could, rearing back as he prepared to slug Lancelot in his face as hard as he could, with every intention of breaking bone and tearing skin till his ugliness rested on the outside as well as the inside. Because Arthur had to protect Merlin, even from himself…

"SIRE!"

Arthur froze in mid-swing just before he could slam his fist into the sweet face of a young serving girl popping up between him and Lancelot. His fist stayed in the air, having been just seconds away from pummeling this stupid girl who didn't even know she had been about to take Lancelot's punishment for him. A stupid girl she had to truly be, because she didn't seem to realize she'd gone and interrupted them. She didn't even seem to realize Lancelot was standing there at all, as she immediately started ranting and raving at Arthur in a mad rush. Arthur blinked in stunned disbelief…he could certainly see the girl's lips moving. But she was speaking too fast for him to comprehend most of it. The prince was sure she said her 'sorry's' at least fifty times within the first minute of her talking. And a bunch of stuff about some girl she worked with…and she said something about a rumor…Arthur didn't know what she was actually going on about. He just knew he wanted her gone so he could continue to defend his consort's honor, and damn the scene it would cause when he and Lancelot got into it. Damn the people who'd scream and back away as he and Lancelot went rolling around on the floor trying to kill the other, knocking down whoever and whatever was in their way. Damn the party ending early and on a sour note…or at least that was Arthur's mindset. Until he caught the name he knew far more better than his own…

"Wait, wait, wait. You need to stop talking, back up with all of this, and tell me again. Like, who are you and why do you think it's appropriate to approach me during a celebrations just to tell me your issues. There are proper channels for you to go through that doesn't include accosting me in the middle of…what I'm doing." Arthur interrupted her before her could get too far away from the point he wanted to go back to. And go back to he did, as Arthur grabbed her by the shoulder, bending himself down at the knee so he could match her height and looking her dead in the eye. "And more importantly, what does your business have to do with my Consort?"

Merlin's name had been twisted and intertwined into the jumble of words that this serving girl had been spewing out. And it was the only reason he had not sent her away so he could continue beating the shit out of Lancelot in relative peace. She had sounded stressed as well, panicked, which would be the only reason he didn't demand she go through these 'proper channels.' At least once a month, the peasants were allowed to come to the palace and seek having an audience with him and his father. A chance for them to speak of any trouble in the kingdom, for their grievances to be addressed. It was a way, Arthur knew, to keep the commoners happy. Making them think they had a stronger voice in the kingdom than they actually did. But if something's happened, if this young girl knew anything about Merlin or any trouble that was heading his way, then they didn't have time to do things the 'proper way.' If this girl had information on…something…then it was more important than slamming his fist again and again into Lancelot's face, until his knuckles were bruised and bleeding and Lancelot got the message loud and clear…stay away from my Consort. But as for now, the young girl took a deep breath in as if she was trying to steady her nerves, before she started speaking again more clearly.

"My name is Keira. And I'm one of the serving girls in the castle. I actually work in the laundry room usually, I'm actually supposed to be there right now. But I couldn't just work, I knew I needed to speak with you as soon as I could, and I couldn't dare wait another second just in case that was a second far too long-" the young girl, Keira, said in a hurried pace, but Arthur's glare made her falter for a second. But it wasn't as if Arthur had asked her for her bloody life story, the only thing he wanted was to know WHAT she had to do with Merlin, and whether or not she knew if there was more…plans from his own knights to hurt Merlin. Bloody hell, needing to keep a closer eye on his own people had probably stopped him from digging into more on the stranger working his way into their inner sanctum. "Um, anyway. You needed to know…my friend Julia…she works in the laundry room with me. And a few days ago, she confessed to me something that I didn't know before. I swear I didn't know! But…she said she knew more about consort Merlin than the other servants did. And I told her that she didn't know anything, because Gwen and Mary actually speak to him and I don't think Julia even likes acknowledging he exists' But anyway, I guess she wanted to prove me wrong. So she said she knew the rumors that pertained to Merlin was false! It was all made up, because she was the one to spread it!"

There was a heartbeat of a second where nobody said nothing, and Arthur's brows furrowed into the center of his forehead with his confusion…he didn't understand what she was going on about. She was being a typical girl, giving him way more information that he actually needed instead of getting down to the point. But…the only rumor that really stuck out to Arthur, had been the one rumor that had been a thorn in his side ever since he first heard it…the rumor that claimed Merlin was a no-good slut, who had slept with thousands of men when Arthur hadn't been watching him closely enough. But that was far more than a rumor…Arthur had seen it firsthand with his own eyes. Like that knight Merlin had been flirting with when Arthur first confronted him about it, the one that had been on the horse. And there had been many times Arthur had seen Merlin standing just a bit too close for what Arthur would deem as acceptable distance from one of his knights. And then there was Lancelot, literally right in front of him and being the only living proof Arthur needed. So that obviously is not what she's talking about, but there are also dozens of rumors about Merlin at any given minute of any given day. There was absolutely no telling which of the ones she could've been talking about. But 'Keira' continued talking, trying to explain herself.

"According to Julia, it all happened a little over a month ago. She was doing a few of her chores, delivering a basket of laundry to one of the ladies upstairs I believe. But I suppose that doesn't really matter. And anyway, she claims that a knight approached her. She wouldn't tell me who, even though I pestered her about it. But anyway, this knight came up to her and started whispering gossip into her ears." Keira exclaimed, her dull eyes going wide with wonder as if that was the most horrifying thing about this situation. But Arthur could feel a hard headache was coming his way, the frustration making his temples pound. The only thing he wanted was for her to get to the point, and he still wanted to be the one to smash Lancelot's face in, and- "And anyway, Julia didn't believe it at all. She actually started to laugh when he tried telling her. But she said the knight said it didn't matter if it was true or not! Just that it would be good for a laugh or two. And with all the stories, nobody would notice this one added into the mix! And Julia, you don't know Julia, but she loves a good story! After that, she was so happy to spread it about to every corner of the castle! But then the story got big! And I don't think she expected you to react the way you did! But I mean, she didn't really care too much until recently. She actually thought that it was a good thing you hit Consort Merlin! Said he deserved it for all the other trouble he caused! But now she's starting to panic and it's the only reason that she told me the truth! And then I started to panic and I know you needed to be informed or you'll probably have me jailed if you found out I knew and did not come forward!"

The girl ranted endlessly, but Arthur's body went tight, his face turning almost ashy in color. A small breeze could've knocked Arthur over right now and he'd be powerless to stop it. Powerless to WANT to stop it, because…no. This was wrong, or he had misunderstood something, or this girl was clearly mistaken about what she had been told. Because there was only ONE incident in which had led to Arthur hitting Merlin…the worse and most deadliest bit of gossip he had ever heard. But…no. Arthur refused to believe what this girl was saying to be true. He had spent WEEKS with this rumor in his head, with the proof being shoved in his face again and again…the word of a young girl who thought she would be in trouble was hardly the word he was going to take. He needed far more information. Needed to know for sure she knew what she was actually talking about. Arthur wasn't even going to ENTERTAIN the idea that she could be telling him the truth. Why, she should be happy he wasn't just shoving her into a cell for disrupting him for stirring all of this back up.

"What rumor are you talking about?" Arthur asked, his voice calm, with this deadly air interlocking in it. He was sure there was another rumor out there somewhere, and he was sure there were other rumors that might've gotten blown out of proportion. And perhaps these rumors also claimed Arthur had taken his anger out of Merlin…the dull rush of fury still carried sharply under his skin. And the serving girl's eyes were rounded and large, apparently even SHE had realized Arthur was quite a dangerous man. And she was taking way too long answering him, and Arthur could feel whatever patience he clung to, snapping into nothingness. "WHAT RUMOR!"

Arthur had risen his voice, and he could see a few people standing nearby had started taking note of the scene they were creating…Arthur probably looked as if he was a madman. But he didn't bloody care. He was so sick of the fucking rumors, and so sick of having to do damage control, and so bloody sick of the stories being what led him about. He'd had enough of them to last him a whole lifetime, thank you very much! But this was MERLIN's rumor. And Arthur had to hear what else the woman had to say, the sliver of anxiety rolling the length of his spine. Lancelot had stepped up the second Arthur had risen his voice and Arthur glared at him with a withering stare, he was still bloody pissed with the other man for thinking he could get away with treating Merlin like dirt. But this newest problem didn't have anything to do with the man, and Lancelot's being stupid to not take this time, while Arthur was distracted, to scurry off and hide in some hole before Arthur came after him next.

"The one that said…Consort Merlin was consorting with other men."

Keira's voice, as small and as weak as it had been under the sudden wrath of the prince, had also been spoken with the upmost certainty. And Arthur could feel the ground as it started swaying beneath his feet…no. This was only some trick…perhaps Merlin himself had even came up with this in order to gain some dignity in front of the people. Perhaps Merlin had…no…that sounded as if the prince was blaming Merlin for something again. Just as he had blamed Merlin for everything under the sun during their first four months of marriage. But he still had this serving girl standing in front of him, speaking of something that was so impossible, Arthur couldn't react to it properly. Somebody could have told him the sky had really been green all this time instead of blue, and it'd be easier for him to swallow. He obviously couldn't trust the serving girl though…a servant couldn't possibly understand the implications of what she's saying. She couldn't possibly understand, if what she said was true…could change up everything that Arthur knew. The country was split into five kingdoms, grass in all of them was green, and Merlin couldn't keep his hands off strangers. Those were undeniable facts. But what happens if it turns out…one of those facts had been wrong?

"Sire-" Lancelot was suddenly there, hissing in his ear, and the suddenness of his appearance had Arthur jumping, more skittish than a stray cat. Sure, Arthur had known he was there. But the girl had made him forget everything that was around him. Made him forget about the party, and the people, and the example of knighthood Arthur was meant to be setting. As if Arthur could concentrate on that for even a second. "I don't know what is going on, but I do know that whatever this girl is telling you is clearly upsetting. Unless you want the entire room to see you lose control, again, I suggest we take this somewhere more private. Where you can release your emotions without dealing with the consequences that will come from an audience."

Arthur wanted more than anything to shove Lancelot away, and tell him to go mind his own bloody business. And if he ever got a consort of his own instead of stealing away somebody else's, then perhaps Lancelot got to voice his own opinion about what Arthur's next move should be. But until then, he didn't get to act as if he was included in issues that had started before he ever came into the city. But…Arthur glanced around. And he could see a few people casting a few looks in his direction, women hiding behind their fans as they whispered to their partners. Men who were nudging their friends and nodding over at Arthur as if he was about to give them a bloody show. And Merlin…Arthur latched his eyes across the great hall. Luckily, his shouting had seemed contained to only the people standing nearest to him. Merlin, hadn't noticed, snatching up a bit of food from the plate Gwen held, with fingers that seemed too long to be truly real…the prince swallowed past the lump in his throat. Lancelot was right…the prince needed to take this elsewhere. He couldn't risk drawing a scene, lest it get Merlin's attention. He couldn't bear to even look at the other boy, smiling as he was as he wiped away what juices were clinging to his bottom lip…not till he figured this out at least.

"Come with me."

Arthur didn't wait for an answer before he was storming away, pushing himself through the people as if they were posts standing in his way. He didn't look to see if the girl was following him, he knew that she wouldn't dare try denying him right now. And true enough, when he reached the side door of the great hall that led out into one of the halls used by the servants, he held the door open. And Keira stepped out into the hall with him. Arthur barely had time to glare when Lancelot forced himself through the small crack in the door, but it was perhaps a good thing Lancelot was here. At least, once they got this all figured out and taken care of, Arthur could resume punching Lancelot in his smug face without Merlin trying to get in the way to break up the fight. And speaking of Merlin…Arthur closed the door until it was only open a sliver, and he spied on the dark haired boy that had captured his soul without knowing he had. His consort had taken no note of his absence, grinning cheekily whenever Morgana playfully pushed him against his shoulder without a care in the world. Arthur lowered his eyes to the ground, his heart twisting in his chest, before closing the door completely. He took a deep breath in order to steady himself, and when he turned around, he was met with both Keira and Lancelot staring at him.

It was time to get down to business.

X

Arthur Pendragon had insisted Keira repeat her story, hoping to find far more flaws in her second telling that didn't match up with her first. Looking for any hint of a clue that said it was a lie. But Keira's story had been consistent and on point. She had started from the very beginning, going through the tale of woe as if she was telling a particularly horrific bedtime story. For Arthur, the story WAS a horrific one. Keira gave him more details with her second telling, speaking about how gleeful Julia had been when the rumors about Merlin had first started popping up. And how Keira had assumed it was simply because all the other girls were asking her questions and giving her attention, but it's only now that Keira realized that glee was from the power the story had given onto her. She had convinced other girls to do her chores for days, simply because these girls had wanted to hear the story again and again and thought it was a small price to pay. Keira spoke about how Julia would bring it up constantly to everybody, even when the story started becoming old news. How she'd go off on tangents because her knight friend, if one wanted to call her that, refused to associate with her anymore after their initial meeting. How, only a day ago, Julia had woken Keira in the dead of night and confessed to her as if she was confessing her greatest sins. How there had been true fear in her eyes, before swearing Keira to secrecy. Keira had even shown Arthur the yellowish bruises on her arm from where Julia had grabbed her, begging her not to come forth with this information. How Julia had only turned to Keira, her best friend, after the knight she had been talking too, had told her to shut her mouth and keep her head down and nothing would happen to her…

And in the end, Arthur didn't know how he was feeling. He was numb towards everything around him, he couldn't even feel the wall he was leaning against to hold himself up. Couldn't feel the unrelenting pressure of stone resting under his fingertips. He couldn't even see what was right in front of him, he could've been staring into an endless black hole threatening to swallow him up, and he wouldn't have even noticed. He was facing an information overload, repeating phrases Keira had said to him in a never ending loop, as if they would actually make sense if he kept repeating them. But none of it made sense…it might as well have been like Keira had spoken a foreign language to him.

'Julia was told to start the rumor by a knight.'

'It's a falsehood, meant to stir up the kingdom at the consort's expense.'

'As far as I've seen, Consort Merlin has been faithful.'

'Julia swore it on her mother's grave that she's worried for her safety.'

'The Knight himself thought it'd make for a good laugh.'

'I've never heard any knight I've served, ever admit to being somebody that the Consort has…pleasured.'

'Please forgive me for not coming sooner.'

And that was where they were at now…Keira had dropped down onto her knees and had her head bent down to the ground as she asked Arthur for forgiveness for things she hadn't been part of. She was shaking like a leaf, truly believing it was going to be her that was punished just for being the messenger. But all of this information had thrown Arthur for a loop, and he couldn't make decisions on punishment in this state of mind…couldn't even figure out if she deserved to be punished or not. Because her information had unlocked something inside Arthur's mind, a terrifying thought that Arthur didn't know if he could be brave enough to grasp. If he was understanding this right, if her story was true (and the fear in her eye could not be quieted, she obviously believed what she was telling him) then that meant…that meant….

Merlin was a virgin.

"Why is Julia so scared…why bother coming to me with this now?"

Arthur knew that he asked the question, but he was still staring ahead of him with a blank expression. And he felt as if he was on autopilot, living through the motions but not actually aware of them. All he could think about was…a virgin Merlin. A Merlin that had never, not once, spread open his legs and allowed a man to crawl between his thighs. A Merlin that had never, not once, arched his spine as another pressed kisses against his nipples and chest. A Merlin who'd, not even once, had somebody pressing their fingers against his hole, rubbing the tight ring of muscles until they relaxed enough for said fingers to slip into him. A Merlin who'd never had a man stroke his cock until he fell over the edge of the abyss of pleasure, who'd never had another man wrap his lips all around his cock and suckled until he came down their throat, a Merlin who hadn't ever sat on another man's lap, riding his cock to take his pleasure into his hands. A Merlin who…Arthur's hands were shaking again. Not from fury this time…it was from some strange emotion Arthur couldn't explain. This strange bubble inside of his stomach that he didn't know how to address.

"Because of what you did to the men on the field." Keira answered simply, as if Arthur should've been coherent enough to remember the torment he had given to his knights on the training field. The ones Arthur had forced to scrub off the dirt from their boots until they glistened in the sun, the men he had forced into hard exercise until they gotten literally sick from his training. "Those men were your own knights, the next generation to take on the mantle of knighthood. But you were willing to beat them into submission, humiliate them just because of a single incident that saw your consort no harm. So now we have all started to sort of wonder…what are you going to do to a servant who has besmirched the reputation of your consort. Who has done irreparable damage to your consorts good name…who's only coming forward because of her fear for what'll happen if she does not."

And then Keira was throwing herself back down onto the ground, stopping just short of actually bashing her head against the ground, as if she feared she had said too much or not said enough or would be punished in Julia's place. Arthur still felt no closer to understanding though, no closer to admitting what the girl said was actually true. He had been so sure…the facts had all been there, only leaving enough traces for Arthur to follow and make his own deductions on the validity of the original rumors. But the idea of them being false…maybe Arthur could define that emotion in his stomach now…hope. Hope that what Keira was saying was true. That Merlin really was as untouched as he had claimed to be in the beginning…fuck. Was Arthur really starting to doubt the truth about that bloody rumor? Was Arthur really starting to question if it was real or not? Was Arthur going to follow his gut and the word of a servant and…admit that there was a slight chance he could've been wrong about Merlin?

Why not…

Arthur had been wrong about Merlin before…

"You can go now."

Arthur didn't know what possessed him to send that girl away, when she was the one bloody link he had between Merlin and these rumors and the truth of what it could all mean. But he knew that he needed her out of his sight…he'd never hit a woman before. And he didn't want to start with a woman from his own kingdom. Not if his temper reared its ugly head…he needed her to go so he could think. Keira was clearly startled by this decision, but she was smart enough to not question it, quickly climbing to her feet and tripping along the hem of her dress as she hurriedly curtsied before racing back into the party. As if she feared Arthur would call her back and punish her right there on the spot…the door shut behind her. And Arthur allowed his head to fall back, the breath falling from his lips as he rested his head against the hard wall so that it was twisted upwards, squeezing his eyes shut.

Merlin, the virgin…

Merlin, the whore…

Merlin, untouched…

Merlin, stained…

To think, Arthur never would've had an inkling about any of this if he hadn't punished those men on the field. To think, if those men hadn't decided Merlin was supposed to be some glorified servant, then Arthur wouldn't be standing right here…questioning everything he had thought he knew. Asking himself if he was really ready to open that can of worms, if what Keira had said had been the truth. What would this even MEAN if Merlin was really untouched…what did it mean for them? What did it mean for Arthur…where was he even supposed to go with all of this? What were his next steps? How did he figure out what was real and what wasn't real? What…Arthur's breath was starting to pick up. His breathing was coming out harder than it should've been…was he supposed to be breathing like that? How did one breathe when it felt as if his entire universe had been turned upside down, as if gravity was no longer holding him firm on the ground, as if the entire earth could've been shaking beneath his feet and splitting apart at the seams…

"Arthur?"

Arthur's head whipped up, his eyes wide and pale and desperate, latching on Lancelot, once again he had forgotten the man was even there, but he was suddenly the answer to all of his problems. And maybe…Arthur's breath got caught in his throat…maybe Lancelot WAS the answer to all his questions. All the questions that were filtering throughout his mind one after the next, each thought flying too fast for Arthur to truly grasp it. But Lancelot…he had been by Merlin's side every day this week. Had been the one to claim and possess Merlin in a way Arthur would never be able too, or had he? Lancelot actually looked concerned about Arthur, and Arthur was sure it was because he looked as if he was two seconds away from falling to the ground and screaming until his throat was raw and his heart content, but that only made room for a single question to fall from his lips. A single question that could be the end of every little thing Arthur thought he knew, or the start of something Arthur could not say what was…

"Are you sleeping with my Consort?"

The quested yielded no real answers, but Lancelot reacted almost immediately as a squawk of surprise escaped his lips. He looked well and truly stunned, his olive colored face glowing a brighter red than the Pendragon crest, eyes going so wide they looked as if they would fall right out of his head. Looking as if he didn't know what to say…that didn't bode well for Arthur, with the foreboding feeling taking over the hole in his gut. It was only there, in the darkness of the old servants hallway, did Arthur finally realize he had never actually came out and asked this question. He had made his assumptions, and had reacted with those assumptions in mind. He had attacked Lancelot in the marketplace just because Merlin had said he was sleeping there, but Arthur had never asked if they had been sharing a bed. Arthur remembered the tiny cot in Merlin's new chambers…the memory of it suddenly felt like the bed would've been too small to hold both of their weights. Merlin, petite as he was, was all gangly limbs and soft edges. How could he have shared that bed with a man that was as large as Lancelot was, without falling straight through the center?

"W-WHAT?!

That was the oh, so helpful answer Lancelot had given him…as if THAT would help Arthur make his decisions about what came next. And the prince felt the sharp intense rage bursting into his belly, rushing through his bloodstream as if molted lava was trying to make his body its home. Not today, Arthur decided on the spot, would he be denied his answers. Never again was Arthur going to speak in half-truths or riddles, ruling under the assumption that others would know what he was talking about. He was going to be direct, and he was going to spill it out in the most painfully obvious way that he could. Lancelot would not be able to lie to him, would not be able to keep Merlin's real status away from him. If Lancelot had truly touched his consort, then Arthur would know it before they left this hall.

"TELL ME THE TRUTH!" Arthur practically roared in Lancelot's face, throwing himself off the wall so fast, that Lancelot didn't have the time to react before Arthur was grabbing him, two fistfuls of that stupid orange tunic clutched in his hands. And then Arthur was twisting them around, shoving Lancelot into the wall with enough force that the air got knocked out of Lancelot. But Arthur only pressed himself closer, his fists tightening hard enough that the top may have ripped off if he held it anymore roughly. And then Arthur was drilling his eyes into Lancelot's, searching those brown orbs for any signs of deceit. "Did you EVER sleep with my consort? Did you ever touch him inappropriately? Did you ever slide your hands beneath his clothes and groped him? Have you ever seen him unclothed in any way! You sleep in his chambers! Did you ever climb into that stupidly small bed with him and have your way with him?"

Lancelot was looking more and more horrified as his hands came up to grab around Arthur's wrists, but he wasn't trying to pull himself away either. Good, the prince thought furiously, because Lancelot wouldn't have made it very far if he tried getting away from Arthur. Arthur felt as if he could very well breathe fire at this point, any attempt Lancelot made to escape would've been seen as him admitting to his improper behavior with Merlin. And Arthur would've seen that as a just cause to attack him, to claw his bloody eyes out with his own two hands…Arthur would bloody well make sure Lancelot never had a chance to go checking out other men and women. Would get Merlin justice on this cheating scumbag, while getting some much needed revenge of his own. But if Lancelot had never entangled with Merlin before…had he really been cheating?

"Arthur," Lancelot's hands suddenly grew tighter around Arthur's wrists, being a surprisingly grounding force that forced Arthur's attention back on him. "Let me be the first one to tell you that I have NEVER touched Merlin like that. I am not the type of man who would dishonor him in such a way. I have only slept in his bed one time, and that was when I first got my injury and didn't know that he was the Consort. Obviously, I vacated the bed as soon as I've found out and I sleep on the floor not even in the same room. Besides, as lovely as I know the consort to be, and as much as I admire him, he is not the person that's caught my eye. I'm as straight as they come."

Straight…Arthur thought, this almost hysterical burst of laughter wanting to do its best to escape from him. Lancelot is straight…that was such a strange idea. Arthur had never, not once, questioned what Lancelot's sexuality may've been. If he had, perhaps he wouldn't have been driven to the brink of insanity for all these days. Wouldn't have driven himself mad with what Merlin and Lancelot could've been doing in the dead of night. Maybe if Arthur hadn't been going around so half-cocked, he could've figured all of this out sooner. Could have saved himself so much…the prince ruefully shook his head, this strange smile bringing awe to his face. Lancelot's confession meant only one thing…

The girl had been telling the truth…

Merlin was as virgin as they came.