(Merlin's POV)

After having stared at Arthur enough I began searching around his room. There were two reasons for this. One, I really wanted to avoid looking at him right now for fear of what I would see upon his face. The second, I wanted to learn where everything was so that if he needed me, I wouldn't be lost and would be able to find anything it is that he needed. I knew that I wasn't able to leave the room because he made need something. The work of a servant I guess.

I was looking at something above Arthur's head when he got out of the tub. He seemed to have forgotten that I was also in the room. I squeaked and covered my eyes with my hands. I heard the water splash as he turned around. Then the sound of wet feet running away quickly. I stayed with my eyes closed until I knew that it was safe to open them. It didn't matter how I might have felt toward the Prince, he needed his privacy.

"You can open your eyes now." he said as he stepped out from behind the wood sheet. I thought I saw a slight blush tinging his cheeks but decided that I was seeing things. There was no way that Prince Arthur would be blushing. Perhaps his cheeks were red with anger. He studied me and sighed. I held my breath awaiting a scolding but it never came. Instead when he spoke it was soft and kind. "You may go but if you breathe a word of this to anyone, it will be the end of you."

I tried to hide my chuckle because I knew that I wasn't the only one embarrassed by the situation. I quickly turned, knowing that a blush tinged my cheeks. I scurried out into the hall and almost ran into Guinevere again.

"We need to stop meeting like this."

"I agree." I replied. She smiled and it seemed that the whole room had brightened up. I smiled as well because I couldn't help it. "Sorry if I was the cause of you being late the previous time."

"It's quite alright. Morgana understood. I had my reasons. Not like I could keep it from her anyways I mean she sniffs these things out like a blood hound." I chuckled and she joined in moments later. "Besides I didn't mind it either. I mean I saw a whole new side of you."

A doo slammed shut and I turned around, looking for the source but found none. I shrugged it off and smiled back at her. "I should get going. Perhaps see if Gaius needs help. Nice meeting you again Guinevere."

"Call me Gwen."

"Nice meeting you again... Gwen." I smiled before waving and heading towards Gaius' court.

As soon as I turned the corner my smile fell. Exhaustion overcame me and I stumbled forward. I thought about the events that just occured and chuckled at the thought. It seemed as though everything that had just happened was meant to. I mean I literally go from being a poor village boy to being a less poor boy living in a kingdom. I went from being free to do as I pleased to having rules and restrictions. I went from no work to actually working. I even went from making fun of someone and ending up in a cell to working for said person just moments later. How the hell could my life change so quickly?

I continued thinking about it and found some other things strange. Since growing up in a poor village I hadn't had any privacy. If I changed everyone was able to see it and samme goes for others. I have seen many more muscular and less muscular men than Arthur and was never attracted to them. But when Arthur had no shirt on I nearly stopped breathing. Why did that effect me so much when it didn't beforehand with any other man?

I walked into Gaius' chambers and frowned when I didn't find him there once again. He always seemed to be missing when I arrived. At the moment I didn't mind though. I was content to just lie down and sleep. I walked into my chambers and had just lied down when Gaius walked in. "Great if you're sleeping then you have energy to do something. I need a few herbs for my potions. Will you please retrieve them?"

I groaned and sat up before nodding and dragging myself out of the bed. I stumbled out into the hall and towards the gates. I realized that I didn't have a horse which kind of sucked considering I knew I was going to be in the woods a lot. Now I understood my earlier feeling of being in the woods and not enjoying it later. It all made sense now that I work for Arthur of all people.

I shouldered my way through the crowd of people and barely managed to avoid running into Guinever again. Finally I manuevered my way around everyone and found myself at the gates. Taking a deep breath, I stepped out and began my trek towards the woods. There was a forrest closer to the kingdom than the one I had to trek through. Eventually the both of them connected but where I was headed was closer.

The green wood engulfed me and I stared in wonder at everything around me. The lush green leaves hanging down created a sense of warmth and security. The bushes sprang to life with flowers of all colors decorating them. I couldn't help but stare because every thing was so beautiful.

Then I remembered why I was here. I walked over to one of the bushes and began picking at the buds blooming. Thoughts filled my head as I did my tedious job. The thoughts were of Arthur and I found myself chuckling. It seemed that even though I wasn't in his presence he was still there to haunt me. My thought returned to the previous scene and I felt heat rise to my cheeks once again.

Why does he make me feel like this? Why was I blushing? Not the first time I've seen naked men so why did I freak out this time?

I puzzled over these questions for a long while, still picking flowers from the bushes. I couldn't seem to figure it out though. Then suddenly there was a rustling sound and my head snapped up. I gazed in awe at the creature before me. A handsome unicorn of milky white sking and dark brown eyes, stared back at me. I slowly inched foward and was so close to the creature when another set of hooves sounded behind me. The startled Unicorn turned and trotted off in the opposite direction.

Angry because of the missed chance of petting something so rare, I grabbed my bag of herbs and began walking along the path back towards Camelot. My thoughts once again filled with questions but this time not of Arthur.

(Arthur's POV)

After I excused Merlin I left to go train with my knights. They were all down below right now and I decided that I would join them. I made my way down the hall but stopped when I heard a conversation. Both voices I recognized and I smiled a little at that. I decided to listen to what they were saying just a bit before leaving.

"Sorry if I was the cause of you being late the previous time."

"It's quite alright. Morgana understood. I had my reasons. Not like I could keep it from her anyways I mean she sniffs these things out like a blood hound." Merlin chuckled and she joined in moments later. "Besides I didn't mind it either. I mean I saw a whole new side of you."

I decided that I had heard enough of that conversation. For some reason I grew extremely angry and I turned before slamming my chamber door shut. I tried to ignore the chuckling of the two out there. I couldn't hear what they were saying but they seemed to be enjoying themselves. I didn't know why I was so upset about it though. It made no sense.

After all noise had ceased, I left the room and headed towards the training grounds. I grabbed my sword to prepare to train but decided that I didn't feel like it. Instead I went to the stables and grabbed my horse. I stayed on the path when I entered the woods but slowed to a slow trot. I didn't want to be back too soon. I instantly regretted the decision when thoughts clouded my head and question kept flying through as well.

How did he change my mind so fast? Why? Why was I nervous and uncomfortable when Merlin saw me? Many servants before him have seen me so why did he make me so nervous?

Then I thought back to the scene I saw just before I left and I felt my anger rise once again. More questions appeared and I had answers to none.

Why was I so mad when they were together? They obviously enjoyed one another's company and that should make me happy. I shouldn't even care what he does in his down time. So why am I? What am I doing thinking about him all day long? Why can I only think of him? And what was that feeling I got when I saw them together?

My horse suddenly reared up and I tumbled off the side. I heard a crunch as I landed on someone and he yelped in pain. We tumbled down the hill wrapped around one another. Branches cracked underneath my back and finally I landed on flat ground with a very loud oompf when the person landed on top of me. Somehow his hands managed to get stuck beneath my body and out legs were crisscrossed.

The man on top of me shook his head and blushed when he saw who I was. I looked up to his eyes and nearly laughed my ass off when I saw who was on top of me. "What are you doing out here?" I asked.

"I came to get some supplies. And you, my lord?"

"Just a ride."

We sat there for a moment in a peaceful silence. The birds tweeted in the background and the breeze slightly rustled the leaves. The scent of Jasmine floated around and the water in the lake rippled as the fish dipped in and out. It was a peaceful scene but I didn't notice any of it. I was lost in his eyes. They were a goregeous blue color but had other shades mixed in as well.

Finally the horse's hooves snapped me out of my trance and I groaned. "Can you please get off?"

"I would sire, but uh... my hands are quite stuck."

I lifted my middle and he slid his hands out and fell to the side. We just layed staring at the sky. Even though there was plenty of awkwardness throughout the day, many emotions felt, and much pain... this was a peaceful moment. The horse managed it's way down the hill and was eating the grass nearby. The sky had few clouds and the lake shimmered in the sun's beautiful rays.

I sighed, content with how today panned out. I felt more comfortable than I ever had before and by the looks on his face, he too felt the same. At last I finally get up the courage to ask him what I meant to.

"Earlier in the hall, you and Guinever were laughing and talking are you two..." I started.

"Me and her no... but you sound a bit jealous."

"What... no... of course not." I said defensively. He chuckled and went back to looking up at the sky. Maybe it was jealousy that I was feeling. Maybe it wasn't. I didn't know. All I knew was I hadn't felt it before.

I closed my eyes and sighed again because for once I didn't have to be a Prince.