Merlin woke up, his memory a blur and he did not recognize the room he was in. He slowly sat up and observed his surroundings before realising it was his room in Guias's chambers. He rubbed his temples, trying to figure out when he got to his room last night as he could not recall a thing. Blush slowly invaded his cheeks as he remembered each and every steamy detail. Merlin sighed happily and he got out of his bed.

Merlin walked outside and made his way to Arthur's chambers to wake the prince up. With a kiss.. He stopped when he heard a man shouting for people's attention, he joined a crowd in the courtyard as a knight began to give a speech.

"Tonight there shall be a party, held by the king, for the prince! This is where the prince shall choose his betrothed!", as the knight said this,

Merlin had to stop himself from cupping a hand over his mouth and as his heart broke.

"The king wishes for many guests to make the prince feel encouraged! Please spread the word!", the knight returned to his post and Merlin could hear the knight talking to his friends.

"Only a matter of time until Arthur has himself a wife, huh? Maybe I should settle down and get me one too".

Merlin held his emotions in and they began to hurt him. Merlin could feel his chest tearing apart as it began to ache. He turned and ran straight Arthur's chambers as he tried to hold back tears.

Arthur was already up and dressed when the door opened, he looked away from the window and he saw Merlin, he tried to pretend that he had not heard what the knight had announced and he smiled at Merlin. He turned and he walked over to Merlin "Good morning, sleepy bones". He placed his hands on Merlin's slender hips as he spoke.

"Is it true? Is Uther holding a party tonight to find you a betrothal?" Merlin asked.

Arthur froze but he nodded "Yeah, it's true".

Merlin pulled himself away from Arthur and he cupped his hand over his mouth. 'This can't be happening' he thought.

"I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you when the visiting princess and king arrived" Arthur sighed.

Merlin's eyes widened and he turned to look at Arthur. "You knew before today?"

'Fuck!' Arthur thought.

"You knew that you might be betrothed to a princess, but you just thought 'Oh my father wants me to marry a gorgeous princess but I'm going to tell Merlin that I love him and then I'm going to have him in my massive bed!'"

"I do love you, I have always loved you" Arthur stated.

"You sat back and let me find out from a guard giving a speech that Uther wants you to marry the visiting princess. You let me hear that speech, it broke my heart" Merlin sniffled as he held back tears. He then realised something "Oh god, I'm going to have to work at the party".

"You don't have to work at the party" Arthur walked over to Merlin.

"I'm your servant, Arthur. It's my job". Merlin stated.

"I'm sorry" Arthur sniffled but tears trickled out of his eyes.

Merlin's expression softened and he moved to hug Arthur "I'm sorry too".

Arthur held Merlin close and he kissed his Love's shoulder "I love you so much".

"I love you too" Merlin sniffled "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know" Arthur answered.

Merlin and Arthur spent some time together before Merlin went about completing his chores. Arthur did not want Merlin to leave but the raven-haired boy promised that he would be back in an hour or two. He kept his promise.

Arthur hugged Merlin close to himself and he refused to let go. Merlin sighed and stroked the prince's hair as he hugged back.

"We have to get ready for the party soon". Merlin stated.

Arthur shook his head and grunted in aggravation, making Merlin snicker. "I don't want to go", Arthur whined as Merlin pulled away.

Merlin smiled sadly and sighed once more, "I know, and neither do I but we'll get in trouble with your father if we refuse to go... besides, better to get this over with, right?"

Arthur hung his head and mumbled a 'yeah, you're right'.

Merlin chuckled and leaned in to kiss his love on the lips.

Arthur froze up before kissing back passionately, only to growl when Merlin moved away, "I want another one! Longer this time!" he demanded.

Merlin shook his head as the prince's bratty attitude began to show again, "Later... if you behave that is".

Arthur watched Merlin's sly smile and anger filled his being as well as love and lust, he reluctantly got up and got ready for the party.

Merlin and Arthur shared a much-needed kiss before they left to go to the party, Merlin walked away from Arthur as the prince walked over to greet the guests. But they just wanted to hold each other close.

Merlin was stood next to a wall and he watched on as Arthur socialised with all of the guests. He felt his jealousy grow inside of him as all of the beautiful women approached Arthur. His eyes welled up with tears when a young noble maiden sat next to Arthur at the king's table.

Arthur glanced over and be saw the emotions on Merlin's face. His heartbroken and he wanted nothing more than to run over to Merlin and hold him.

Merlin looked at Arthur and he quickly turned his head, he rubbed his eyes and he sniffled before he went back to waiting for orders.

Uther stood up and everyone went silent "Friends, thank you for attending this party tonight! I hope that you all have fun" he then raised his glass "Would you all join me in raising a toast to my son and heir who might have to found his queen? To prince Arthur and princess Cecilia!"

"Prince Arthur and Princess Ceclia!" the guests raised their glasses as they spoke.

Merlin's heart sank but he held in his tears. Was he going to lose Arthur?

Two hours passed and Merlin became too overwhelmed by the party, so he left the hall before he started to cry. He began to walk to his room as tears streamed down his face, he cupped his hand over his mouth and he tried to stop himself from crying.

Arthur had watched Merlin Leave, he made up an excuse to Uther and he left as well. He started to lightly jog through the hallways as he searched for Merlin. He turned a corner and he saw the younger man walking away "Merlin!"

Merlin stopped and he turned around, he saw Arthur and he frantically wiped away his tears.

Arthur walked over to Merlin "What's wrong?"

"That princess is all over you. I can't even stand next to you during that party because I am just a servant. I couldn't hold your hand or say that I love you because I am just a worthless servant" Merlin started to cry again.

Arthur took Merlin's hand in his and he kissed it "You can now. I love you".

Merlin nodded and he sniffled "I love you too".

Arthur kissed Merlin and then he stroked back Merlin's hair "My heart belongs to you and only you. I don't want anyone else, I just want you."

"But Uther wants you to marry the princess. I can't watch on as you promise yourself to another person." Merlin sniffled.

"I will not allow that to happen. I decide who I want to promise myself to, not Uther" Arthur firmly said.

Merlin nodded "I love you so much".

"Not as much as I love you" Arthur kissed Merlin.

Merlin kissed Arthur back and he wrapped his arms around the prince's neck "Impossible".

Arthur held onto Merlin's slim hips and he ground his crotch against Merlin's "My love for you grows every time I see you or think about you."

Merlin moaned and his hips bucked, he felt himself growing hard and he gripped the back of Arthur's jacket.

Arthur smirked and he pulled back from kissing Merlin "We can go somewhere if you want to".

Merlin saw the servants door and he knew that it led to Arthur's chambers "Follow me". He grabbed Arthur's hand and then he opened the door.

Merlin led Arthur up the servants' staircases and then he opened the servants' door into Arthur's chambers. Arthur followed Merlin to his own chambers and he shut the door, he then walked up behind Merlin and he removed the neckerchief from Merlin's neck before he placed his hands on the other man's hips.

Merlin gasped when he felt warm lips on his neck and he let his head fall back. He placed his hands on top of Arthur's hands, he groaned with want when Arthur lightly sucked the skin on his neck.

Arthur pulled Merlin closer so that his chest was pressed against Merlin's back. He heard Merlin moan and he smirked "I want to make it up to you. I want to make you feel good".

"What are you waiting for then?" Merlin smirked.

Arthur led Merlin over to the bed and he gently laid Merlin down before he climbed up onto the bed and he leaned over Merlin, he moved and he started to kiss Merlin's neck.

Merlin moaned and he started to undress Arthur and the Prince undressed him. Arthur pulled back and he looked into Merlin's blue eyes, the warlock raised his hand and he stroked back the prince's golden hair.

"Are you okay with this?" Arthur asked.

Merlin smiled and he nodded "Yeah. Are you?"

Arthur moved and he kissed Merlin "Yes".

The hour grew later as the party guests drank and laughed, they were too drunk to notice that Arthur was missing and Uther was too drunk to care about anything. Well... Except for boasting about how magic had been erased from Camelot. Not so fast Uther Pratdragon.

Merlin and Arthur were lying in bed and Arthur was spooned against Merlin. The raven-haired man was holding onto the prince's hand whilst the blond stroked his hair.

"I wish that I could tell everyone that I love you. I wish that we didn't have to hide" Merlin admitted.

Arthur sighed and he kissed Merlin's head "I know. I want the same, but it would be too dangerous for you and I can't risk losing you".

"You won't leave me if anything happened, right?" Merlin asked when he remembered that Arthur did not know about his magic.

Arthur squeezed Merlin's hand and he thought about what to say "I will never leave you. I will not let anything happen to You. I promise".

Merlin sniffled "I'm scared that I'm going to lose you. I'm scared that I will do something that pushes you away".

Arthur sat up and Merlin looked up at him. The Prince saw the concern in Merlin's eyes and he stroked his raven hair.

"You are not going to lose me. You could never push me away because there is nothing that you could ever do to push me away. I love you more than anything and that will never change. You are my Merlin" Arthur soothingly said and he smiled when Merlin smiled up at him.

Merlin sat up and he hugged Arthur, he buried his face into the prince's shoulder and he sighed happily when two loving and warm arms armed around him and a pair of lips kissed his head.

Arthur smiled as he hugged Merlin and he knew that his purpose in life was to love and protect Merlin. He had no idea that Merlin had already started on his destined path on the day that they had first met.