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“As a reward for saving my son’s life, you will have the honor of serving as Prince Arthur’s manservant,” intoned King Uther.
“Father, no, really, I …,” protested Arthur.
“Nonsense!” Uther declared, “He begins tomorrow.”
Arthur wanted to trounce out of the great hall, but years of discipline had taught him better. He lowered his head and replied, “Yes, Father,” hiding his internal turmoil. There was no way he could survive with this gorgeous, cheeky, defiant, pain-in-the-arse in his rooms on a daily basis. It was all he could do to repress his feelings towards men without having someone who was just his type thrown into his most private space.
Arthur sighed deeply, stealing a quick glance towards Merlin, who, truth be told, looked just as uncomfortable as Arthur felt. He excused himself from his father’s presence, and rushed off to his rooms to try to think of a plan to get Merlin to leave of his own accord, knowing there was no way his father would give in to Arthur’s wishes on this.
The next morning found Arthur in a royal snit. His dreams had been completely unacceptable. He was even more convinced that Merlin must be gotten rid of…and quickly, so why had the man occupied his dreams…and in that particular manner. It was truly aggravating. He did feel some slight regret for throwing objects at What’s-his-name…the barely competent twit who had brought him his breakfast and drawn his bath. That’s it. I’ll just have to make things absolutely impossible for Merlin. I’ll assign him the lowest, meanest tasks. I’ll throw things at him.…I’m sure I can think of other ways to make his life pure hell. There’s no way that undisciplined, mouthy creature will be able to withstand it for very long AT ALL. And when he pipes up, I’ll have him thrown in the stocks. And I’ll make sure that there is plenty of rotten fruit around. He’ll have his bags packed and be on his way back to where he came from before the week is out.
Arthur stepped out of the bath and was wrapping his bathing towel around his middle when the door to his chambers was shoved open. “MERLIN!” he shouted. The last thing he needed was to be standing half-naked in front of the man he’d spent most of the night dreaming about. Especially when that man was looking at him in that specific way! (Though noticing Merlin’s roving eyes did make him preen just a tiny bit.)
“What?” asked Merlin.
“What?” Arthur repeated.
Merlin shook his head, regaining his senses. “Sorry. What, sire?”
“Are you an idiot?” said Arthur. “That is not how you address me. And furthermore, do not come in here without knocking! Is that understood?”
“Sorry, my lord,” Merlin said. Arthur could tell by the slight twitch in his jaw and the tightening around Merlin’s eyes that he was fighting back the mocking tone he was itching to use. “I was just distracted. I ran into your former servant...what’s his name?”
Arthur sneered. “I really don’t care about you or What’s-His-Name.”
“Fine. I just wanted to know what his name was. You do know his name?” Arthur briefly looked to the ceiling before looking back at Merlin with a shrug. “Unbelievable. He worked for you, but you couldn’t even bother to remember his name?”
“I knew there was no point to it. And it turns out, I was quite right,” Arthur said with a smug grin, leaning against his bedpost. He was really surprised Merlin didn’t snap at that. Hmm, I’ll have to work harder to provoke him, but from that rise of color in his cheeks it looks like he’s really struggling not to react. I’ve got to do something to make him snap so that I can throw him in the stocks.
“How very wise you are, sire. You asked me to attend you. Is there something that you need?”
“Yes.” Arthur pushed away from his bed and stepped closer to Merlin. “There was something I should have said to you earlier, after that horrible incident with the witch.”
Merlin stood up straighter, looking slightly appeased. Perfect, thought Arthur, I’ve got his hopes up, and now I can go in for the kill! No way he’ll be able to hold his tongue.
“I need to go over your list of daily chores.”
“Of course,” said Merlin.
He’s still not biting. Arthur felt a twinge of sadness. I wonder what happened to the firebrand who challenged me in the marketplace.
Arthur continued in his most arrogant voice. “You need to be up before dawn to fetch my breakfast and you had better get it to me while it is still hot! You are responsible for waking me up. Unfortunately…for you…I am not a morning person!” Arthur waved slightly, indicating the dented goblet on the floor that he had launched at What-was-his-name earlier in the day.
Merlin grinned devilishly. “I am shocked, my lord.”
Arthur nearly smiled at Merlin’s impertinence, but he caught himself and frowned instead. Oh Great Goddess, I am such a sucker for that cheekiness. “You know you’re very funny, Merlin. It’s a good thing that you have humor. I mean it certainly doesn’t make up for your lack of looks, grace, charm, or sophistication. But at least you have something to fall back on. If your job as my manservant doesn’t work out, you can apply for a position as court jester. I might even put in a good word for you.”
Arthur noted that Merlin’s jaw tensed, but he still refrained from the kind of insubordination that would justify throwing him into the stocks. “While I eat my breakfast, you will arrange my clothing, and draw me a bath. When you’re done bathing me…”
“I have to bathe you?!” Merlin seemed slightly panicked.
“Yes. Is that a problem for you, Merlin?” Arthur asked, with a hint of something dark in his voice..
“ You’re a grown man! Why can’t you bathe yourself? I don’t see why I have to be subjected to...” Merlin waved his hands in the general vicinity of Arthur’s crotch.
“Are you insinuating there is something wrong with my body?” said Arthur, stalking forward and stepping right into Merlin’s personal space. Arthur felt a thrill as he noticed the blush creeping down Merlin’s neck and the way Merlin couldn’t take his eyes off of Arthur’s still bare chest.
“That wasn’t what I meant…" stuttered Merlin.
“Good. As I was saying, you will bathe me, and then dress me. You will clear away my breakfast. Then you will make the bed, sweep, scrub the floors, and clean out the royal chamber pot. After that, you will clean my armor. Then you will muck out the stables. Make sure you are clean, presentable, and don’t stink of the stables when you return to serve me my dinner.”
Merlin looked miserable. “Is that all…sire?”
“Is there something wrong, Merlin?”
Arthur saw the first hairline crack beginning to spread as Merlin’s eyes flashed at him. “Wrong? What could possibly be wrong? Who wouldn’t want to spend their days knee deep in horse excrement? Why this is considered a reward, I will never understand,” grumbled Merlin.
This is it. If I just push a tiny bit more, he’ll storm off and quit . It’s for the best , thought Arthur, surprised by the deep sense of hesitance he felt now that the moment had come.
“If you don’t want the job, Merlin, I am sure we will manage just fine without you. You have been granted the privilege of a position of trust in the royal household. It is an honor, and you would do well to try to show some level of gratitude!”
Arthur was right. That was the last straw for Merlin. He stepped even closer to Arthur, until they were nose to nose. “Gratitude?! You’re talking to me about gratitude? I saved your royal backside and you haven’t been able to spare one kind word to me. You can talk about me lacking grace, but I know that the least you can do when someone saves your life is to say thank you.” Merlin took a deep breath and exhaled. He realized how close he was standing to Arthur and took a step back. “I-I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re not,” Arthur said quickly. He rubbed at the back of his neck and appraised Merlin again. He felt churlish refusing to thank Merlin, and yet he had a plan to stick to. A plan that hurt more and more as he realized how much he wanted to get to know this man who was not afraid to stand up to him and speak the truth. He found himself longing to taunt Merlin until Merlin came right back at him. He pictured himself tussling with Merlin on the rugs in front of the fire until tussles turned to kisses, and realized that he was going to take a chance on letting Merlin stay.
“I’ll tell you what, Merlin. Just for tonight, you may say whatever it is you truly wish to say to me right now.”
“You’re not serious,” said Merlin.
“I’m completely serious. You have my permission to speak freely. Not that you’ve seemed to need it before.”
Like watching a storm blow in over the hills, Arthur watched as Merlin’s true feelings swept away his fear and hesitation to speak. Merlin uncrossed his arms from across his chest and pointed at Arthur rudely. “You, Arthur, are a PRAT. You are rude and inconsiderate.You’re a bully. You take advantage of your position as prince to act badly.”
Arthur was beginning to regret inviting Merlin to speak his true thoughts. “Alright then, I think I’ve got the idea. You don’t think much of me…”
“I am not finished! You said I could speak freely, well, I am not finished. No, I don’t think much of what I’ve seen so far, but for some reason known only to the gods, I think, I believe, and I really do hope that I am right, that there’s something more to you. I believe that somewhere in there you are hiding a kind heart, courage, and a true desire to do right by your people. You could be a great king, and more importantly, a great man. And as annoying and difficult as you are, I hope I’m here to see it when that happens.”
Gods, how does he do this? thought Arthur. How does this farm boy get right to the heart of me? Why do I want nothing more than to be the man he thinks I can be? Arthur caught himself staring at Merlin, leaning in towards him as Merlin held his gaze. Were they going to kiss? Arthur panicked and pulled back abruptly. “You can go now, Merlin. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, sire,” said Merlin. He bowed slightly and backed away slowly. He was clearly as shaken as Arthur felt. He was reaching out towards the door when he was stopped by Arthur’s voice.
“Merlin?” Merlin turned around slowly. “Despite what you think, I haven’t forgotten what you have done for me, and I am grateful to you. More than I can say. Don’t presume to know who I am.” In contrast to his serious tone, Arthur smiled rakishly, “You really have no idea….at least not yet.”
Arthur watched Merlin, enjoying how flustered he looked. He followed as Merlin closed the door behind him and rested his head against the door. Oh Gods, what have I gotten myself into? He could stop neither the sense of panic that threatened to overwhelm him, nor the smile that spread across his face as he looked forward to spending much more time with Merlin. Was Merlin to be his destiny or his doom? He wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t wait to find out.