Hello! Before we begin I'd like to say a few words but feel free to skip right into the story! First of all, I do not own Merlin, though technically I'm not sure how much BBC owns either because you can't have copyright on characters who have been around for over a thousand years. I do have the rights to my individual plot, but well that isn't much. Secondly, I find a lot of the Merlin writers are college and beyond, and I hope I can live up to that standard even if I am younger. Thirdly, I'm warning you that this story is written a bit...oddly I guess. I'd finished season 5 the night before I started this so I just needed to ease my pain and then suddenly I've over 100 pages in... I guess it's the flow that's weird because like the first 9 chapters are just Mergana fluff and then BAM plot. Well I guess you just need to read, but I do hope you enjoy. Please comment with any questions or improvements I could make.

Chapter 1

"The prince and princess are here," Balinor called from the window. Merlin didn't even look up from the book he was translating. "I said Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana are here."

Merlin finally looked up not mentioning to his father that he knew well what the man meant. "You mean our hostages are here?" Balinor didn't even bother to correct his son; they both knew the prince's feeling on the matter. Ward or hostage-the words looked so different on paper, but in reality…

"You should go to your chambers," Balinor prompted pulling the curtains taught around the window. "It's getting late." Merlin continued transcribing the page until his father pulled the book from beneath his nose. "I don't want you wandering the halls once they've arrived Merlin; it's not proper to see one's bride before the ceremony."

There it was, that word Merlin had been dreading since his father first told him of the peace treaty with Camelot. "Most men know their brides before the wedding day father. Arranged marriages are going out of style I hear."

"People like us don't get the luxury of marrying for love," Balinor told his son for the hundredth time. It was a stupid thought coming from King Balinor though considering Merlin's late-mother had been a bar-maid the king grew too fond of as a teen. "Merlin," he said placing his hand on the prince's shoulder. "You know I always hoped you'd have the chance to marry a woman you love, but our duty to our kingdom must come before our duty to ourselves. We need assurance that Camelot will hold up their end of the treaty and not attack."

Merlin snorted at that. Surely King Uther realized that if he'd lost once he'd lose again. "And holding the prince captive, I mean generously taking him in as your ward, isn't enough of an assurance?"

Balinor steered his son towards the door shaking his head. "Arthur is only here for four years until he will take the throne of Camelot. We need something to make the peace last. Besides, I hear Princess Morgana is very beautiful."

Merlin had heard that as well, but that wasn't his point. His point was that at 17 he wasn't ready to marry anyone, never mind a stranger who probably hated him. "Princess Morgana, she's not even a real princess Uther just gave her the title to sweeten the deal."

"If you're referring to her illegitimacy then yes, it's not ideal," Balinor admitted before speaking quickly. "But she is Uther's daughter and Arthur's sister. You need to marry someone to keep the kingdom safe, and you can't exactly marry Arthur now can you?"

Merlin wanted to fight his father more, but he knew where it would get him. "Well, I'm sure Will hasn't even bothered to get my clothes together so I'll have to do it myself. Send someone to get me when everything is set."

Balinor considered following after his son, but he knew it would be useless. The prince had a million reasons to be upset, and considering he never once voiced them in public the King knew that Merlin understood his duty well. As a father though, he could only wish his first duty could be to his son and not a kingdom.

None to Merlin's surprise, Will was nowhere to be found. Honestly if the boy wasn't such a good friend he would have been out of a job as a servant years ago. Merlin didn't mind Will slacking off, in some ways he enjoyed the work. In a different life I might just have enjoyed being a servant. Merlin mused. He was in no rush, knowing that it would take Princess Morgana a while to get ready, so Merlin carefully picked out his best outfit. Will arrived in time to help him drape the signature blue cape of Cymru over his shoulder, and much to Merlin's delight the servant brought him an apple. "I hear this marrying business can be exhausting," the boy teased. "And maybe she won't be repulsed by your kiss if you at least smell good.

Merlin wasn't sure anyone would want to kiss an apple, but what did he know? Will was the one who drank and whored, Merlin…Merlin had never even kissed someone. "Just don't let her know that," Will reminded as if reading the prince's mind. "A prince should be experienced."

Merlin rolled his eyes. How come princesses were expected pure, naive and chaste while somehow a prince was supposed to be all experienced. Honestly he wondered if life would be easier if he was born a girl. It would have made his father's job easier, that's for sure. If Merlin was a girl he actually could 'just marry Arthur.'

Arthur. The prince of Camelot was truly the unknown of the night. Merlin had met plenty of princesses, and they were all rather boring and the same, so he knew what to expect with his bride. Prince Arthur on the other hand… Well his father actually let him fight in the war meaning he was a killer. Sure, he'd butchered sorcerers under his father's orders, but Merlin knew the prince had no fondness for the magical.

That was why he was here after all. Balinor hoped that spending four years as his ward in Caerdydd would make Arthur at least sympathetic to those with magic. Merlin wasn't sure it would work, and to be quite honest the prince terrified him. Here Merlin was, the most magical person in all of Albion, possibly the world, and he'd be sharing a household with someone who's killed sorcerers and warlocks for years. Merlin could hold his own in a fight, but there were methods to remove someone's magic. If somehow Arthur was to deprive Merlin of his magic…

The prince would die quickly. Merlin had trained for years in the art of swordsmanship, but he never succeeded. The boy was just too clumsy; his weapon of choice would forever be magic.

"Hey, did you even hear a word I was saying?" Will called poking Merlin out of his thoughts. "I was giving you tips on how to please the new wife tonight. Girls from Camelot are pretty tame, but I'm sure she'll be impressed by a few tricks…"

One look from the prince and Will shut up (minus his laughter.) Merlin had to get through the ceremony and feast before he could even tackle the impossibly horrible and repulsive idea of his wedding night.

"Prince Merlin," a voice called knocking on the door. "They're ready for you."

If only Merlin was ready himself.