The next day the sun was out. There was a sense of calm and happiness over Camelot, and not a cloud was in the sky. The cerulean sky was a perfect shade of sapphire blue, just like Merlin's eye's, thought Arthur. Arthur was in his rooms working, though he longs to be out on the training feild with his knights practicing their quarterstaff fighting skills.

He stood in front of the window gazing out at the scene of Camelot, bird were singing and their was a subtle scent in the air of the apricot trees that were in bloom. A soft breeze ruffled through his blond hair. He thought back to the night before. It had been both the worst and best night of his life. He remembered gis despair at the thought of losing the only person he'd ever loved before he'd even had the chance to realise it and then the pure elation of discovering that Merlin loved him too and that he was going to survive his horrible head wound.

Aurthur could no longer bare being alone. He needed to find Merlin.

He strode over to the window and gazed out upon courtyard below. The people of Camelot were going about their daily business buying food and making other purchases. His attention was drawn by one of his knight and a familiar figure in blue. He smiled at the site and shrugging on his jacket he walked out of the door. when he walked outside into the sunlight he squinted in the bright light and paused to adjust his eyes. For a moment he could not see Merlin in the crowd but then a boyish laught caught his ear.

The crown parted and Aurthur caught sight of Merlin and Arthur smiled, but his smile faltered when he saw that Merlin was talking and laughing with someone else. It was Gwaine, his knight, who hand his hand on Merlin's arm, a roughish smile on his charming face. He scowled as he swpet down and plucked a wildflower fron the ground, presenting it to Merlin on one knee ina fluid motion. Merlin laughed delightedly and took it from him. HIS Merlin! Arhtur had had enough.

"Merlin!!" he bellowed as he strode across the courtyard, causing birds to scatter from the trees at his volume. He was unable to stand it any longer as he walked quickly to the pair fooling around and flirting.

He grabbed the wildflower from Merlin's hand and crushed it beneath his boot as he pulled Gwaine to his feet roughly and inserted himself between the pair back to Merlin as though blocking Gwaine's view of his prey would stop his ceaselessly roaming eye. Arhtur's blood was fire. How dare they make a fool of him, the prince of Camalot, the greatest warrior in the kingdom, like this? He trampled down his emotion like the wildflower.

"I see you two are enjoying yourself and neglecting you're duties" He managed to speak through his gritted teeth. Gwaine grinned at him; insolently.

"No offence was meant, sire, Merline and I were but having a little fun" Gwaine winked at Merlin as he stodd sheltered behind Arthur's back causing the fire of Arthur's anger to reingnite and sweep through him. He regretted that he was not wearing his amour and so had no gauntlet nor glove to throw at his knight's feet.

"Merlin! My chambers are a state, go and do something about it, if you're not too busy having fun with Gwaine to do your job." snapped Arthur not turning to address the man he was speaking to.

"But..." stammered Merlin.

"Now!" Arthur roared, finely turning to Merlin, but only to glare at him, blue eyes full of pure rage and fury. Merlin left silently but not nearly repenantly enough for Arthur's liking. Arthur drew himself up to his full height and stepped closer to Gwaine.

"I understand Percival requires some assistance moving the wetstone in the armory. You should go and help him." He glowered darkly at Gwaine until the shorter man ducked his head and scurried meekly away chastised. Arthur turned on his heel and left, stalking aftrer Merlin.

Arthur stormed back to his room and threw the heavy oaken door open, casusing it to slam back on it's hinges with a ferocious crash that mirrored his anger. Merlin was folding a pile of freshly laundered doublets looking sullen and pouting and didn't eve look up at the sound. Arthur began to pace back and forth around the room, pausing every so often as if to speak but, at a loss for words, he cut himself off before he could begin, each time. Merline glanced up and watched him, nervously. Suddenly Arthur stopped and turned to merlin, arms crossed over his muscular chest and legs planted firmly apart, as though he were bracing for heavy impact.

"I see now that last night was a mistake. In the clear light of day it is apparent that we could never be involved in this manner. It seems my concern for you lead me to act rashly and without thought. I feel it would be best if we pretend this never happened. We must both remember our respective stations: I am the crown prince of Camolot and you are my servent."

Merlin was stricken. He had been so happy with the events of the previous evening, a dream he had been thinking of since he first saw passed Arthur's brash exterioir had finally come true. He felt the harsh sting of tears bubbling up in his eyes - how could it be that Arthurs feeligs have changed so swiftly? Or had the young prince deceived him? His heart cracked at the thought. His arms dropped to his side, arthur's unfolded doublet falling softly to the floor.

"Bu - but why? What have I done? I don't understand Arthur!" he said his voice trembling as he fought the tears that threatened to overflow.

"Don't call me that." Arthur said through clenched teeth, struggling to control the tidal wave of emotion that was crashing though him. Merlin blinked and the tears foinally broke free coursing down his face in a torrent of misery like the unstoppable meltwater streams that ran from the mountains around Camelot each Spring.

Arthur felt his resolve waiver but he was a knight. He had been trained to control himself and do the noble thing- even if it would break his heart. His gaze dropped to the floor for a moment and he steeled himself for what he had to do as he stared at Merlin's feet. He cleared his throat and lifted his chin, a sign Merlin would usually recognise as an attempt to asset his authority when he felt woefully out of his depth.

"Aur-ther..." Merlin choked out through his tears, and Arthur fel his resolve crumble and his heart tear in two. To see Merlin in such pain...he wanted to wrap him up in his arms and keep him safe, but clearly that is not what Merlin wanted.

"If Gwaine will make you happy you should be with him. All I want is your happiness." He choked out, his throat felt constricted with the weight of his decision.

"I won't get in your way. I just... just... please don't let me see it, okay?" Arthur's eyes met Merlin's in an emploring expression. He may be a prince but Arthur was not above begging for this one small kindness.

"Gwaine!?" Merlin sqawked, startled out of his tears. He didn't understand why Gwaine had come up at all.

"Yes, Gwaine." Arthur confirmed in clipped tones.

"But I don't want Gwaine!" said Merlin in dazed coinfusion. He was dumbfounded. Gwain was a friend, and he was Arthur's friend, they both knew him well. Everbody knew he was a terrible flirt and very charming but he didn't mean anything by it, he was more in love with himself than anyone else! Then something clicked.

"Is this because of the flower?!" asked Merlin astounded, he gaped at Arthur in shock.

"Um...well..." Aurthur was floor by how perceptive Merlin was. He felt his anger growing again ashe caught sight of the cheeky grin spreading across Merlin's face. He scowled at him.

"Of course it's about the flower! He was...he was wooing you!" he said staunchly, crossing again his arms across his chest. Merlin snorted.

"He was not, he was-" but Aurthur interrupted him.

"I know wooing when I see it, Merlin!" he countered, stressing the first syllable in a supercilious tone.

"-He was showing me-" Merlin continued.

"Oh I could see what he was showing you!" Aurthur spat the last two words.

"You don't underst-"

"I understand parefectly Merlin!"

"I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU YOU CLOTPOLE!" Merlin shouted at an almost supernatural volume. Arthur fell into stunned silence.

"If you're quite finished interrupting me, Gwaine was telling me about how he's seduced Lucy the barmaid last night! He wasn't trying to woo me! Almost the exact opposite of that!" explained Merline. Hope fluttered in Arthur's heart like a butterfly emerging in springtime.

"Well then. I'm glad. I can't have him fraterinizing and getting distracted in the field. And god only knows you don't need any more reasons to be terrible at your job." Arthir sniffed and turned away as Merlin smiled and approached him.

"...Were you jealous?" came Merlin's voice at a weedle. Merlin steeped into his personal space, running his hands along Arthur's toned arms and pulling them out of their crossed postion.

"I think you were jealous" he smiled.

"Pft, cugh, no, duh. Was not." scoffed Arthur, in a series of derisive snorts and grunts, knowing that he had already lost the argument, but refusing to admit defeat.

"That's a shame," Merlin answered looking serious for a moment before he grinned beautifically again.

"Because you're cute when you're jealous." Merlin ended, raising his eyebrows in mirth. Arthur tried to keep his composure but Merlin's contagious joy got the best of him and his formerly pouty lips broke into a reluctant girn which Merlin leaned forward to kiss off his face.