Arthur slowed his pace as he entered the castle but even so, he quickly covered the flights of stairs to his chambers and, stepping past the guards and entering, closed and latched the doors behind him, leaning his back against the hard wood frame. He closed his eyes and caught his breath, the scene still replaying in his mind. He had no idea how he was going to face Merlin even though he hadn't actually seen him spying on him. He pushed himself off the door and walked further into the room when suddenly he heard a noise coming from the bed. There lie Guinevere, arms grasping his pillow and blankets wrapped around her. He sat on the bed to take off his boots and she stirred, looking up at him with sleepy eyes.

"Where have you been?" she asked, sitting up and wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"Out," he said, noncommittal. She frowned and pursed her lips, sighing heavily.

"I've been waiting for hours Arthur, the least you could do is tell me where you went," she said. He was secretly elated that she was actually speaking to him, but that elation quickly died when he remembered the dinner he would've eaten alone had he stayed.

"Where were you for dinner?" he said sharply, and Guinevere visibly shrank. "Right, I don't need to ask. Go to sleep, Guinevere" he said. She sighed and lie back down, turning to face away from her husband. He stood from the bed and took off his tunic then walked to the dresser and took out a pair of trousers to sleep in. He stepped into them then walked back to the bed, sliding silently in next to his wife.

He lie awake, sleep evading him as his mind was still filled to the brim with thoughts of Merlin and the young blond man's interlude. The way his manservant rutted into the other man, the delicate look of his pale skin against the moonlight and that positively sinful moan of his was enough to send Arthur over the edge at the mere thought. He couldn't get the image out of his head despite how he tried. Feeling the heat growing in his trousers, he silently cursed himself for insisting that Guinevere come back to bed tonight of all nights. He had no desire to make love to her, and pleasuring himself while she was in bed with him was out of the question, so he roll over and tried to sleep. But, the friction of his trousers against his erection was unbearable, so he pushed the blankets off him and got out of bed. He walked to his desk, turned the chair to face the wall and sat, pushing the feelings of guilt out of his mind and resolved to do what he had to as he sat. He slid his hands across his chest and down his torso then began to rub himself slowly through his trousers, the feel of the fabric against him forcing a low moan from his lips. His flesh ached to be touched, so he reached inside his trousers and began stroking himself.

He closed his eyes and arched his back against the chair, forcing the image of Merlin out of his mind and conjuring those of young maidens with large bosoms and curvy hips. This was usually what brought him to orgasm quickest, but his tried and true methods failed on this occasion and he began to go soft. Suddenly, the image of pale skin, a lithe muscled form, and narrow hips flashed before his mind's eye and his erection twitched in his hand, roaring back to life. He stroked himself faster, arching further from the chair and fucking into his hand. He gave in, letting his memory of the scene replay in his mind. He recalled the sound of Merlin's moans, the pleas that fell from his lips as the other man touched him.

He was close, and he bit his lip to keep from moaning too loudly. He came hard, opening his eyes and seeing white, still rutting into his hand as he spilled onto his torso. He relaxed back into the chair and caught his breath before grabbing a towel to clean himself with. After he'd finished he pulled up his trousers then walked back to the bed. He sat on the side for a while, feeling too guilty to lay beside his wife after what he'd just done despite her actions, but finally sleep greeted him, and he lie down on the bed and burrowed under the blankets, sated and quickly drifting off.

The next morning he woke abruptly, feeling the insistent tap of a hand against his shoulder and blankets being dragged from atop him. He groaned, the coolness of the room wafting over the bare skin of his torso, and opened his eyes. He noticed that Guinevere was already gone and he sighed to himself, burying his face into one of the large pillows.

"Come on, you lazy clotpole, wake up," said a voice he immediately recognized as Merlin's.

He rolled over and the early morning sun shined into his still-closed eyes.

"Where the hell were you yesterday?" he asked as he sat up, doubting seriously that Merlin would tell him his actual whereabouts.

"I was er- sick," the manservant said as he walked to the table and placed down Arthur's breakfast.

"Sick, hmm? Well I hope you're feeling better today because you're going to need all your strength." said Arthur sarcastically, "My armor needs cleaning, my boots need polishing, and my laundry need doing," Arthur slid his feet off the bed and onto the floor, grimacing as he felt a thin film of dust coat them as he did so. "Oh, and scrub this bloody floor, would you? It's disgusting."

He walked across the room to Merlin, avoiding eye contact as he took his clothes from Merlin's hands and went behind the modesty curtain to dress.

"Good morning to you too," said Merlin to himself,silently noting Arthur's decision to dress himself today.

"I heard that. Greetings are for good servants who come to work and do their jobs properly, you are in fact not that kind of servant," said Arthur as he pulled his tunic over his head. He stepped into his trousers and laced them, then stepped from behind the curtain.

Merlin busied himself making the bed and picking up clothes to be laundered while Arthur sat down at the table and ate his breakfast.

"I took the liberty of writing out your schedule, sire. You have a meeting with the counsel and then training with the knights." said Merlin, walking to the table and laying a piece of parchment beside the king's plate. "Hopefully this session goes better than the last," he said under his breath.

"Merlin," Arthur said warningly, keeping his eyes deliberately on his schedule as the young manservant stood over him.

"I've said all I have to say about it, Arthur." said Merlin, moving from the table and walking about to collect more of the clothes that had been strewn about the room for washing. Suddenly it clicked in his mind that Arthur had refused to look at him since he came in. A frown slowly formed on his face.

"Is that why you're acting this way?" he said, and Arthur looked up from the parchment and scowled.

"I don't know what you mean, Merlin." he said patronizingly.

"Admit it, you're still angry. You haven't any reason to be, though, you know I was only trying to help," said Merlin.

"I realize that in your idiotic way you were only trying to help, but that's not why I'm angry." he said, and Merlin huffed. "You know, it's a very high honor to be in a position such as yours Merlin, very high. Given the nature of your position, it is tantamount that we have complete trust, is that clear?" Arthur asked, and Merlin frowned.

"Of course sire." said Merlin, the sincerity in his voice causing Arthur to second guess himself. But he knew this had to be done, so he sighed and continued.

"I visited Gaius's last night, Merlin." he said bluntly, and Merlin's face fell

"Oh,"

"He said you hadn't been home since the night before. So what exactly could you have been doing, if not with Gaius, that would've prohibited you doing your job? Choose your words carefully Merlin, I'm in no mood for entertaining liars," Arthur spat. Merlin stood quietly. If Arthur was questioning him he had to know something, he just didn't know to what extent. He had two options, lie or tell the truth, and he was sure that neither of which would have a favorable outcome. He sighed and resolved himself, the truth it was.

"I went out," he said finally, squaring his shoulders and staring Arthur down.

"Not sick, then?" said Arthur and folded his arms across his chest and cocked his head to the side, anticipatory.

"Not in the traditional sense, no." said Merlin truthfully, and Arthur scowled.

"Then what exactly do you believe gives you the right to shirk your responsibilities, Merlin?" Arthur growled. The manservant stood silently for a moment, then drew in a breath and closed his eyes.

"Because I'm sick of this, Arthur. I'm sick of you sulking about, pretending like nothing's wrong then blowing up because you can't hold it in anymore, and I'm sick of having to defend you and look a fool every time someone questions your authority because of what you've let happen with Gwen and Lancelot. I hate it. I hate seeing you like this, and I hate what you're letting them do to you. Can you understand how much this hurts me? Gwen was my friend Arthur, but it's my destiny to stand by your side not hers. Yet every time I try to help you dismiss or shout at me. That's what I'm sick of." Merlin huffed, and Arthur dropped his arms to his sides.

"I didn't know you felt that strongly about me Merlin" Arthur said finally, and Merlin's eyes widened.

"Are you mad? Do you know how many times I've risked my life for you? How many ridiculous situations I would've otherwise not been in had it not been for trying to save you? I love you, you great prat!" Merlin shouted, then, realizing what he'd just done, slapped his forehead and wished he could disappear.

Arthur stood in silence as he took in Merlin's words. He wanted to confess what he'd seen, to tell Merlin that he'd spied on him but he couldn't, not after what the man had just told him. Someone loved him, he thought, and his heart leaped. Granted it wasn't his wife, or even a woman for that matter, but someone still loved him and at this point that was enough. He crossed the small distance between himself and Merlin before reaching out and pulling the manservant into him, embracing him for what seemed like an eternity.

Author's Note:

I give you chapter four and apologize that it took so long to upload. It's been about three fourths finished for a week now but I just couldn't figure where I wanted the ending to go until today. Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and/or put this story on alert. I adore you all.

LaTraviesaCubanita