The sun was shining high up in the sky, the birds were singing and the prince of Camelot was practising his fighting skills. Arthur looked up and he saw Merlin, he stooped and he watched as the servant walked up to the steps. A young knight that was a year or so older than Merlin stopped and he started to talk to Merlin; the knight had brown hair, he was tall, and he was a skilled knight. Arthur's jealousy increased and he quickly thought of a way to get Merlin to come over to him.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouted.
Merlin saw Arthur and then he smiled at the knight that he was talking to "Duty calls. Have a good day, Matthew".
"See you around, Merlin" Matthew smiled before he walked into the castle.
Merlin walked over to where Arthur was and he smiled at the prince "Yes, sire?"
"Pick a sword up" Arthur instructed.
Merlin looked at Arthur with confused eyes, but his love just looked back at him with his 'Prince Arthur' eyes. Merlin sighed and he walked over to the table, he up his actual down and he picked up a sword and he walked over where Arthur was stuck.
Arthur drew his sword and he waited a few seconds before he lunged at Merlin, the servant did his best to block Arthur's sword and he was doing very well but the prince was too fast and Merlin fell backwards. Arthur and all of the knights laughed but then the prince looked at Merlin, he saw that the servant was sat up and that he was looking at his leg. Arthur walked closer and he saw the large cut on Merlin's leg, the guilt hit him and he held his hand out to help Merlin up.
Merlin rolled his trouser leg back down and then he took Arthur's hand, the prince helped him up and he looked at Arthur with slightly hurt eyes. He limped over to the table and he put the sword down before he picked up his sactual.
Arthur watched as Merlin limped to the palace, he felt immensely guilty and all he wanted to do was run to Merlin and scoop him up. He sighed and he went back to training, he would apologise to Merlin later on.
Merlin limped onto Guias's chambers and he put his sactual down on the table, he then walked into his room and he shut the door before he collapsed onto the bed. He sighed and he closed his eyes to have a nap so that he could stop thinking about everything for a few minutes.
The day dragged on for Arthur and he eventually found himself in the throne room with Uther "Father, I am not interested in finding a princess to marry." He was thinking about telling Uther that he found men attractive but he sighed as he decided not to.
"Nonsense, you will find a betrothal and our guests will feel welcomed. No excuses and no arguments" Uther ordered.
Arthur bowed "Yes, father" he then straightened up and he walked out of the throne room. He walked to Guias's chambers and he walked directly towards Merlin's room, his scowl softened when he saw that Merlin was asleep and how walked over to sit on the bed "Merlin. Merlin, wake up" he gently shook Merlin's arm.
Merlin woke up and he saw Arthur "What is it?" he asked.
"King Triser is coming to stay at Camelot for a fortnight. I need you to get his room ready, make sure that he has whatever he desires and then you are to bring my dinner to my chambers".
Merlin sighed and he sat up, he slowly moved his leg and he winced when he felt the stinging pain "Yes, sire".
Arthur moved closer to Merlin and he gazed into the young man's eyes "Guias isn't here. And you know that I prefer to be addressed by my name rather than Sire when we're alone".
Merlin smiled "Yes, Arthur".
Arthur smiled and he kissed Merlin, he groaned as their kiss deepened and he placed his hand on Merlin's thigh.
Merlin bent one of his knees and he placed his hand on the back of Arthur's head, he groaned as his and Arthur's tongues lightly touched each other and he held onto Arthur's shoulder with his other hand. "Arthur" Merlin whispered when he momentarily pulled back for air.
Arthur continued to kiss Merlin and he slowly moved his hand. He slid his hand between Merlin's thighs and he heard Merlin moan with want, he slowly guided Merlin backwards onto the bed and he leaned over him.
Guias arrived back and he called Merlin's name, he sat down and he got to work on preparing medicines.
Arthur and Merlin pulled back from each other when they heard Guias's voice, Merlin stood up and he went to are what Guias wanted "Yeah?"
"How's your leg?" Guias asked.
"It's alright, just a little cut" Merlin answered.
Guias nodded and he went back to work.
Arthur was sat on Merlin's bed and he was bored, he thought about just leaving but Guias would ask questions. He decided to do something that he hated... He decided that he would be patient and wait for Merlin to get back.
Twenty long minutes had passed and Merlin had been anxiously waiting for Guias to either leave or fall asleep, Guias was reading one of his books when he fell asleep. Merlin smiled and he crept back to his room, he locked the door and he looked at Arthur.
"Sorry about that. He's asleep now so you can make your escape" Merlin sighed.
Arthur stood up and he walked over to Merlin "And why would I want to do that?"
Merlin smirked and he gazed into Arthur's eyes "You're not a patient person".
Arthur grabbed Merlin's neckerchief and he pulled the servant close "I know. That's why I need to finish what we started".
Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck and he smiled before the prince kissed him. Merlin kissed Arthur back and he soon found himself being picked up by the prince.
As the day went on, Merlin went about doing all of his chores with a smirk on his face because of what he and Arthur had been up to. The prince had repeatedly apologised for Merlin's injured leg but the servant had just smiled and kissed him before saying 'Don't worry about it you made it up to me earlier.
Merlin had prepared some rooms for the visiting king and his knights, but Arthur had not told him that one other person would be arriving in Camelot. Merlin made his way to the village and everyone gathered as the guests arrived.
A tall man with a bush of greyish hair covering his chin and head rode down Camelot on horseback. The king wore dark blue fabrics that were rich in quality. As the man rode past he caught sight of Merlin within the crowd and dismounted his horse before walking over to him.
Merlin stood his ground before bowing to show is respect.
"Stand up, beanpole", the king ordered.
Merlin straightened up and he smiled shyly at the king.
The king was angered since he was hoping for Merlin to be stubborn and disrespectful like many of his younger citizens.
"Who said you could smile at me?!" the king demanded before he backhanded Merlin, his ring cutting into the boy's cheek.
Merlin's head was snapped to the side because of the force of the slap. He cupped his cheek and hissed in pain as the King went back to his horse.
As he rode off the king took out a half-eaten apple and threw it Merlin's way. The now brown-fleshed fruit landed on Merlin's eye, quickly leaving a bruise.
Merlin lifted his head and he saw that riding beside the visiting king was a young woman. Her hair was long and black, her lips were pink and her dark hazel eyes were focused directly on Merlin before her head turned back and she continued to ride forwards towards the palace.
Merlin watched as the visiting nobles made their way towards the palace, and then he made his way to the palace stables to muck out Arthur's horses.
Merlin finished all of his chores and he made his way into the palace to serve the visiting king. He knocked on the chamber door and he listened for permission to enter.
"Enter!" The visiting king shouted.
Merlin gulped before he opened the door and he walked in "Your Highness". He bowed to shows respect.
"What do you want, boy?!" the king shouted.
"I was wounding if you wanted anything and if the room was to up our liking" Merlin answered before he straightened up.
"Some wine and a good meal would not go unwanted! You have ten minutes otherwise you'll be executed!" the king shouted.
Merlin nodded and he quickly made his way out the visiting king's chambers. He ran to the kitchens and he grabbed a bottle of wine and a goblet, he hurried back to the guest's chambers and he stopped outside of the door. His eyes flashed gold and a plate of food appeared in his hand, he slowly exhaled before he used his foot to knock on the door.
"Enter!" the visiting king shouted.
Merlin used magic to open the door and he walked in, he walked over to the table and he placed the plate of food down. He then put the bottle of wine and the goblet down before he poured some of the wine into the goblet.
The visiting king sat down and he began to eat "Leave me".
Merlin bowed and he made his way out of the chambers. He closed the door and he sighed before he started to walk down the corridor.
Arthur was walking to the throne room when he saw Merlin "Merlin!" he called.
Merlin did not want Arthur to see him with a black eye and a cut on his cheek, he panicked and he started to run.
"Merlin!" Arthur yelled and he chased Merlin.
Merlin hid behind a wall and he covered his mouth with his hand.
Arthur ran down the corridor but he could not see Merlin, so he gave up and he walked to the throne room.
Merlin watched as Arthur walled away and he sighed 'I'm sorry, Arthur'. He thought to himself.
Arthur was bored as he sat in the throne room, he did not say anything as Uther greeted King Triser and his daughter Princess Cecilia. Arthur knew exactly why the guests were in Camelot and the princess was very pretty but... Merlin was gorgeous and only Merlin held the heart of the prince.
The prince allowed his mind to drift away and he smirked when he thought about what he and Merlin had been up to. He felt himself growing hard as he thought about Merlin lying naked in bed... Inviting him over for round two.
"Arthur!" Uther shouted.
Arthur jolted and he blushed as he sat up straight "Yep, yeah?"
"We are discussing the feast and the party. You and Princess Cecilia will dance together" Uther stated.
"I don't dance" Arthur stated.
"No excuses. It has already been decided between king Triser and I" Uther showed no emotion bit of authority as he spoke.
Arthur grunted with annoyance and he signed as Uther and King Triser continued to talk. He did not notice that Cecilia was smiling flirtatiously at him, he just wanted to kiss Merlin.
As the hour grew late, Arthur pulled his cloak on and he walked out of the palace ad he searched for Merlin. He walked into a field and he saw his love sat on the glass facing the setting sun.
Merlin was sat in a field and he was watching the sunset. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked up, he smiled when he saw Arthur.
"Hi," Merlin said.
Arthur sat next to Merlin "What are you doing out here?"
"Staying clear of the visiting king. I don't fancy being backhanded around the face or having an apple thrown at me again or being threatened with execution" Merlin answered.
Arthur saw the cut on Merlin's cheek and his black eye "He did that?"
"Yep. He doesn't like it when the servants' smile" Merlin explained.
"Ouch." Arthur winced.
"I've had worse. Don't worry about it" Merlin looked at Arthur.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Arthur asked.
"Because I didn't want you to see me like this" Merlin answered.
"You still look beautiful" Arthur smiled.
Merlin smiled and Arthur leaned in to kiss him. Merlin rested his head on Arthur's shoulder and he felt a strong caring arm wrap around his shoulders.
"Does Guias know about us?" Arthur asked.
Merlin heard the anxiety in Arthur's voice "No. Nobody knows".
Arthur nodded "Good. Nobody can find out about us".
"Are you ashamed of me?" Merlin asked.
Arthur looked at Merlin "No, but if my father found out about us it would put you in danger. I can't risk it".
"Yeah, I didn't think about that" Merlin laughed.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Arthur rolled his eyes.
Merlin lifted his head off of Arthur's shoulder "Thanks for that". He then stood up and he went to walk back to the castle.
Arthur moved and he grabbed Merlin's waist "Come here, you!"
Merlin was pulled down onto the grass and Arthur leaned over him.
"I may be a total prat and you may be a complete and utter idiot half of the time..." Arthur stated.
"Uh? Thanks again" Merlin frowned.
"But that doesn't change the fact that I love you" Arthur smiled.
Merlin smiled "I love you too".
Arthur kissed Merlin and he slipped his hand under Merlin's back. He lifted Merlin up slightly so that the young man was pressed against his body.
Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck, and he threaded his fingers through Arthur's hair. He wrapped one leg around Arthur, he wanted more but just kissing Arthur was a risk but it was a risk that he was willing to take.