Only For You

Chapter 5

"Merlin, slow down!"

Merlin clenches his jaw in annoyance. He glances over his shoulder at the heavily intoxicated Arthur staggering down the hall behind him. During the remainder of his birthday banquet, Arthur had consumed a little more than a healthy amount of wine, and the effects were in full swing as Merlin tried to lead the Prince back to his chambers.

"Merlin, the floor is spinning..." Arthur braces himself against a wall and blinks rapidly, staring at the ground. "I don't like it."

"It's your own fault you drank so much." Merlin strides back towards Arthur, grabbing him by the arm and tugging him down the corridor. "Come on, dollophead."

"Are you manhandling me, Merlin?" Arthur giggles, stumbling alongside Merlin as Merlin all but drags him into his chambers.

"Yes, yes I am." Merlin exhales through his nose, shaking his head before shoving Arthur into his chambers and stepping inside after him, closing the door behind them. He turns around to face the Prince and crosses his arms. "What the hell, Arthur?"

While Merlin's back was turned, Arthur has sat down on the floor and scooted himself into the corner of the room , overturning his empty laundry basket over his head.

"This is my cave, Merlin." Arthur peers out at him from a gap in the seams of the woven basket. "It's a magical cave."

Merlin arcs an eyebrow. "Really? Well isn't that convenient." He strides over to the corner and crouches down on to his knees. "Get up. We've got to get you bathed, and then to bed."

Arthur makes a face and a disapproving sound. "I don't want a bath...Merrrlin."

Merlin sighs in exasperation. "Fine. No bath, then. Just come on and get up. You need to sleep off the wine." He shakes his head. "You're going to be in for one hell of a headache tomorrow."

Arthur pouts, pulling the basket down farther over his head and staying put. Merlin tugs on his arm half heartedly. "Arthur, please..."

"Do you promise to bring me breakfast tomorrow?" Arthur's voice is muffled from underneath the basket.

Merlin frowns. "Yes..." I do every day, you prat, he adds silently to himself. But if this would get Arthur to cooperate, then he'd go with it.

Arthur pushes the basket off of his head and looks up at Merlin, a slightly goofy smile on his face and pieces of his hair sticking on end. He holds both of his hands out to Merlin, a nonverbal plea to help him up.

Merlin rolls his eyes and obliges, taking Arthur's hands and pulling him to his feet. Arthur sways slightly once standing, staring into Merlin's eyes. He still held on to Merlin's hands.

"Arthur...?" Merlin's eyes search Arthur's face, his heart beating a little faster when he met the steady, yet intoxicated gaze of Arthur.

Arthur doesn't respond. Slowly, almost as if he's in a trance, he laces his fingers with Merlin's, lowering his head to look down at their intertwined fingers. His thumbs begin to brush across the back of Merlin's hands.

Merlin's breath falters in his throat. His stomach does a little flip as his nerves tingle in wake of Arthur's thumbs on his hands. "Ar...thur...." His voice seems to catch and fade away before he can form a sentence. All he can hear is his heart pounding in his chest as he looks up at Arthur, who's standing closer now, their chests almost touching.

Arthur tilts his head slightly, his lips parting, his drunk eyes swimming with something like desire.

Time seems to move in slow motion for Merlin as Arthur leans down, his lips headed straight for Merlin's.

BANG!

Both Merlin and Arthur jump as the door to Arthur's chambers slams open. Merlin swears his heart stops beating when he sees the figure in the doorway. The last person in all of Camelot he wanted to see.

Uther Pendragon.