Arthur looked up from the document he was reading and saw Merlin enter with a precariously balanced lunch tray in his arms. "Lunch, sire," he announced cheerfully as he arranged the food on the table, dropping an empty goblet in the process. Arthur grinned as he saw his manservant blush slightly at his clumsiness, bending to pick up the goblet. He looks absolutely delectable-Arthur stopped that train of thought immediately, his grin fading away.

This wasn't the first time Arthur had felt this – this desire – for Merlin and he knew this would not be the last. However, he knew it could never be. He was the only son of his father, destined to rule Camelot and raise a worthy heir as his father had done. So, he merely shoved the thoughts of Merlin away, an almost wistful look in his eyes.

"Is anything the matter, Arthur?" Merlin enquired. He had noticed Arthur giving him some strange looks.

"Huh? No, no, I'm fine, thank you, Merlin," he replied. "Just famished."

Gwen was on her way to Morgana's chambers as she saw Arthur coming towards her. She smiled and bowed slightly at her prince. My prince, she thought, smiling brightly.

The prince nodded and smiled at her. "How are you today, Guinevere?"

"Very well, sire," Gwen blushed and hurried off to her mistress's chambers.

This has to end, thought Uther Pendragon, as he pondered over the recent rumors about his son and Morgana's maidservant. He was sure this was nothing more than a young boy's infatuation but he could not let this go on. Perhaps, some other way to blow off steam.

"Boy," called out Caleb, Uther's servant. He waited impatiently as Merlin walked over to him, a questioning look in his eyes. "You are the prince's servant?"

"Yes."

"The king requires you to serve your master from now on," he ordered. However, on seeing the blank look in Merlin's eyes, he sighed."You need to satisfy prince Arthur's every need," he explained, leering suggestively at the word 'every'.

"You mean –" Merlin gulped.

"Yes," Caleb simply said.

"But – how – I don't – " Merlin stammered, suddenly realizing that this was perhaps the reason of Arthur's strange behavior. Perhaps, this was what he had wanted, and was unable to say it directly to Merlin, considering – well, considering that he was Arthur, not Uther, who simply took what he desired.

"Don't you act coy now, boy! It cannot be that a pretty boy like you hasn't had serve a nobleman or two," Caleb jeered. "Start today."

Merlin was left dumbfounded, wondering what it was exactly that he was supposed to do. He couldn't possibly just take off his clothes in front of the prince and stand there to be taken? He thought back to a few conversations in the tavern among servants to try to get an idea of what to do.

Merlin had been quiet all day. He's avoiding me. Does he know? But how could he? He couldn't – No it's something else. Arthur looked at Merlin, who was silently doing something or the other in the room, so unlike the usual banter he had on daily. Even when he brought dinner, he merely informed Arthur with a meek "Dinner, sire."

"Merlin?"

"Yes sire?"

"Are you fine, Merlin? Are you ill or something?" Arthur asked, worried.

"No sire, I'm fine," Merlin said softly, before moving on to some insignificant chore. Inside, his heart raced against his chest. All his senses urged him to run way from the situation. But Merlin knew that he would not give in to those thoughts. Arthur was his prince and he was Arthur's servant. It was his destiny – and even his desire – to serve Arthur. He had not imagined a day when he would have to perform such actions – not like this. Merlin fantasized – but not like this. But it was his duty and he would not fail Arthur.

Arthur sat on the bed, having just been dressed in his night clothes by Merlin. Now, he was even surer that something was wrong. His servant's hands had been shaking while undressing him and now, he stood at the foot of the prince's bed, glancing nervously at the blonde.

"Merlin?" Arthur said softly, trying to ease the young man before him.

"I- Sire – " Merlin started but then suddenly he gave up on the words, came to kneel down in front of Arthur, between his legs and started to undo the breeches of the blonde's trousers.

Arthur jumped. "MERLIN! What the- what are you doing?!"

"I-" Merlin was flabbergasted. Had this not been what Arthur wanted? Did he do it wrong? "I'm sorry, sire. I don't know how to do this – I – I've never – But Caleb said – "

"What? My father's servant? What did he say to you? Do what, Merlin?" Arthur said, as bewildered as Merlin.

"You don't know?" The look in Arthur's eyes gave him his answer. "Oh – I – He told me that the king wanted me to – uhm- er – satisfy you," Merlin informed, his eyes on the floor, as he still knelt in front of his prince.

Arthur pulled him up and lifted his chin so that their eyes met. "And you thought I would want you to?"

"I – I assumed it was your desire. But if I'm not good enough for you – " Merlin tried to look away, tears forming in his eyes, for reasons unknown. Arthur could not bear to see such hurt in his friend's eyes. His thumb stroked Merlin's cheek as he sighed.

"You idiot," he whispered. "You don't get it. I would give anything to have you, to hold you, to kiss you, to make you scream my name." Arthur's lips grazed against Merlin's earlobe, sending shivers down the sorcerer's body. Suddenly, Arthur moved away, his hands still forming a gentle grip on Merlin's arms. "But not like this, Merlin, not in this manner, wherein you feel duty bound to do such a thing for me – This was the exact reason why I couldn't make a move, why I couldn't try to tell you. I don't want you to give in to me simply because I'm your prince. I never would want to force you into something like this Merlin, never. I have no idea why my fathr would give such an order but this is not what I desire from you, Merlin. I do not want to be another chore you finish before you head home. I want you to want me. I want to be the reason you smile when you wake up. I want to be the face you dream of at night. I want to be the reason you hum when you do your chores. I-" Arthur broke down. He ran a hand across his face and took a deep breath. "Go home, Merlin."

"Arthur?" Merlin followed Arthur as he turned around and started to move away.

"Just leave, okay, Merlin? I'll understand if you don't come in tomorrow or – " He couldn't complete his sentence, because he would understand if Merlin would like to leave but sure as hell, he would never be able to bear it.

Merlin held Arthur's shoulders and gently turned him back towards himself. Locking his eyes with Arthur's, he leaned forward until their lips touched.