Arthur's eyes flew open when the light of day attempted to pry them open. Merlin's face is the first thing the prince saw, his face lit up like an angel... no, a god.

Merlin smiled slightly when Arthur refused to look away, "Is there something wrong?"

Arthur nodded slightly 'You're not in my arms', is what he wanted to say but the romantic words came out as, "Yeah, your ugly face is the first thing that I see every morning".

Merlin frowned and he looked away, he was half hoping for Arthur to suddenly spew out romantic stuff.

"I can get my own clothes so you can go babysit the old man", Arthur said, not wanting to hurt Merlin any more.

"You sure that you can dress yourself?" Merlin scoffed.

"Yes, Merlin. Now leave" Arthur ordered.

Merlin nodded and he walked towards the door. He was about to walk out of the room but he turned around "Are you sure that you can get dressed on your own? There's no shame in admitting defeat". He knew that Arthur did not have a clue on how to look after himself.

"Why are you still here?!" Arthur shouted.

Merlin took the hint and he left.

Arthur was mentally kicking himself for snapping at Merlin, he ended up throwing stuff around his room in frustration. He then forced his mind to try and complete the first task of the day. How was he going to get his shirt on?

Merlin was walking with his hands in his pockets and he went about his chores. He missed his daily talks with Arthur.

When Merlin was just about to sit down, Guias gave the young man a hard glare before giving him a satchel with some medicines inside it. "Go deliver these, I have labelled each one so don't mess up!"

Merlin sighed before he got up and left to deliver the medicines. Each of the small vials were delivered to people in the castle so Merlin did not see what the problem was. He was delivering the very last medicine when a pair of Uther's knights stop him in his tracks.

"You there, servant! Back to your chambers!" One of the knights shouted.

Merlin huffed and crossed his arms, "Why? I'm still in the castle and I'm doing some errands for Guias".

One of the knights rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, "Do not talk back! Move!"

Merlin rolled his eyes and he tried to push past the men, but he was shoved to the ground and he landed on his wrist. Merlin was a little hurt but he was alright, he stood up and patted himself down.

The knights forcibly grabbed Merlin's arms and they escorted Merlin back to Guias's chambers. As soon as Merlin got through the door he slammed it shut, and he ran to find Guias. After Guias had heard Merlin's dilemma, he suggested he spoke to Arthur and explain how it clashed with his work.

Arthur was sat at his desk and he was finishing some paperwork. He sighed and he sat back in his chair "I should not feel this way about him. It's against the law of Camalot and it would put him in danger should anyone find out that I feel this way about him. Why does trouble follow you everywhere, Merlin?"

"Merlin, I need you to get some food from the market." Guias said as he sat down opposite his apprentice.

"I'm not allowed to leave the palace and guards have been watching me all day" Merlin stated.

"It's get food or starve. Winter is a week away" Guias stated.

Merlin sighed and he stood up, he grabbed his jacket and his sactual "If anyone asks tell them that I'm in the bath".

"Good luck" Guias crossed his arms.

"I'm going to need it" Merlin mumbled before he opened the door and he started to creep through the palace.

Merlin saw that no one was guarding the doors in and out of the castle, so he gathered up his strength and he ran out of the doors. He sprinted to the market and he had a smile on his face as he bought all of the food that himself and Guias needed. But when he turned around to walk back to the palace... he saw Gwaine and Leon.

"Oops" Merlin sheepishly smiled.

"Come on, Merlin. You need to come back to the castle" Gwaine sighed.

"Why am I not allowed the leave the castle? Me and Guias need food or else we would starve" Merlin stated.

"By the order of Prince Arthur, you are not permitted to leave the palace grounds ever again" Leon explained.

"Oh... is that so?" Merlin bit his lip before he ran passed the two guards. He was faster so he easily got away from the guards. He hid in an alleyway and he laughed to himself. He thought that he had got off scot free. However... he turned around and he saw Percival, Elyan and Lancelot "Hi, guys. It's really cold isn't it?" He awkwardly smiled.

All five of the knights escorted Merlin back to Guias's chambers and the servant sighed as he sat down. Guias made himself and Merlin something to eat and all the while, Merlin was building up his courage to talk to Arthur.

Later that evening as the sun was setting, Merlin marched up to Arthur's chambers, angry since the royal pain had forbidden him to leave the castle and had even gotten some knights to watch him. Merlin felt like he had been drained of his freedom and free will. Merlin reached Arthur's chambers and shooed off the knights following him, before he started to hammer on Arthur's door.

The door opened and Arthur looked out, seemingly shocked, "Merlin? What are you doing here?", he asked.

Merlin merely pushed past him and he walked into the room.

Arthur shut the door and turned to Merlin looking confused, "What do you want?"

Merlin raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, "I want you to leave me to do what I want, and go where I go without random strangers following me!"

Arthur sighed and fixed Merlin with a glare, "Why can you not keep your mouth shut for once and leave it alone, Merlin?" Arthur walked over to his bed and sat at the end of it.

"Why cannot you leave me alone? Why do you always have to butt into my life?!" Merlin demanded, furious. "I had to run errands for Guias and I got manhandled back to Guias's chambers. I had to get food from the village and I ended up running from Gwaine and Leon. All of the guys escorted me back to Guias's chambers! I was trying to have a bath earlier and two knights walked into my room, and they said that they're orders were to keep constant surveillance on me! I can't even walk through the palace without being tailgated by my unwanted 'body guards'!" he shouted.

"Merlin" Arthur raised his voice "Do as you are told!"

"WHY?!" Merlin shouted, only to find himself suddenly pinned against a wall by two strong arms.

Arthur roughly pressed his mouth against Merlin's, before he pulled back and he took one step back. Merlin stood there, frozen from shock and wanting more.

"Because I love you", Arthur said in almost a whisper.

Merlin did not understand at first but then he smiled slightly "I love you too".

Arthur looked up, surprised that Merlin shared his feelings, he closed the distance again and pushed himself against Merlin. Their lips met and soon they were both swallowed up in a tongue twister. Arthur gripped Merlin's hips and ground himself against the young warlock. Merlin moaned wildly into the kiss as the prince dominated him. Soon Arthur was sucking on Merlin's neck and trying to pull off his clothes. Merlin tried to stop the lustful man before him but found himself powerless as, no matter how much he protested the moans that escaped his lips said otherwise.

Arthur pushed Merlin into the bed and he proceeded to kiss the warlock.

Merlin was on cloud nine but a realisation suddenly hit him. "Arthur, stop!"

Arthur pulled back and he looked at Merlin "What?"

"I'm your servant. Uther would be furious and what if someone heard us?" Merlin asked.

Arthur stood up and he locked his chamber doors, he then locked the windows and he pulled the curtains closed. He walked over to the bed and he climbed onto it, so that he was leaning over Merlin "Don't worry about status and my father won't find out. Nobody will hear us or interrupt us".

Merlin sighed with relief and he groaned with want when Arthur kissed him.