How To Train Your Dragonlord

So, By The Tree...

After Arthur had sent George scurrying off, the king and the prince ambled up into the castle, leaving the horses with a stable-boy. They strolled through the corridors to Merlin's chambers. Neither of them spoke, as both were thinking on their afternoon in the forest.
For the sake of appearances, they walked with a gap between the two of them. Every so often, though, Arthur's hand would 'accidentally' brush against Merlin's hand. This happened far more frequently and for a longer amount of time than in normal situations, but you would only know that if you had been following them for the entire journey to Merlin's chambers. Which, thankfully, didn't happen.
When they reached Merlin's Chambers, they didn't know what to do. They ended up just sitting on Merlin's bed, hands clasped together, side-by-side, heads resting against the headboard. Both were silent, as they were both thinking about what had happened by that tree, a little while before they had got back to Camelot.
Eventually, they were silent because they both thought that the other was still thinking and didn't want to disturb each other. This was quite adorable, if you thought about it, because they were being silent for each others' nonexistent thoughts.
Then, the time came for them to eat. They both made their way to the King's Chambers. It was only when they arrived here and had dismissed George that either of them spoke.
When they did speak, it was - naturally - at the same time as each other. "Merlin," Arthur said, at the same time as Merlin said:
"Arthur." Merlin looked at Arthur. "Sorry, Arthur. You go first," he added, smiling awkwardly.
"I was... I was wondering if we should talk about the incident by the tree..." Arthur stuttered.
"Why?" Merlin asked, trying to make light of the situation. "Because you were unable to keep yourself upright? Because you're clumsy?"
Merlin's plan worked. Arthur smiled. "Are you mocking the King?" he asked.
"Are you implying that the Prince is being treasonous?" Merlin replied, smiling, too. "We can both play that card now, Arthur."
They both had a laugh for a little while, then returned to the topic Arthur had chosen for them to discuss.

Merlin P.O.V:
"So..." Arthur returned to the topic he had been a little scared to talk about. "The incident at the tree."
"Do you mean from the flower crown onwards?" I asked him. He nodded. " I made the flower crown for you, remembering what Gwaine always calls you. Then, I woke up to find you leaning over me and I didn't know what to do, so I stayed still and pretended to be asleep. When I realised what you were doing, I smiled. But, because you thought I was asleep, I had to stop before you saw. I didn't know that you'd..."
Arthur looked at me as if he thought that I had been disgusted by it.
"Don't get me wrong... It was amazing to see that you... I just didn't expect... So I blushed and smiled. I couldn't control it, then I figured when you stopped that you had seen, so I opened my eyes. When I saw you backing away, I could sense that something was going to happen.
"When you tripped, I instinctively put my hands out towards you... To grab you... I knew you were too far away from me, but my magic assumed that my hands going towards you meant protect Arthur at all costs..." My voice trailed off, realising how mad it sounded.
"Well, I'm glad that is your automatic thought if I trip over. This is good to know," he replied. "Now," he added, "why were you so quiet while we were riding?"
I looked at him. "Like I said earlier, I'm scared. Arthur, we both know I'm not cut out to be king. I don't know the first thing about it. I'm no good with any of the weapons..." I was about to continue, but I cut myself off. I could feel myself getting more and more emotional. I felt better having not said what I had been about to say so, naturally, Arthur convinced me to tell him.
"Merlin, are you hiding something from me? I can tell when you're lying, Merlin." I bit back a snigger. "You can't hide anything from me, I can see right through you." I actually laughed.
"Yes, because you totally didn't need me to tell you, as you almost died, that I had magic. No, not at all!"
"When, apart from that, have I ever not known something you were hiding from me?" he asked, smiling because he knew that was the only thing I had ever hidden from him. Apart from my feelings.
"Never, but..." He cut me off before I could explain. I had even spoken quicker, to fit in what I wanted to say.
"Exactly. Never. So, tell me what else you were going to say."
"Fine. What I was about to say was that the only roles I'm any good at in battle either involve magic or keep me far away from the front line." I turned away from him at the table, standing up out of my chair, as well.
As soon as I had stood, I felt incredibly stupid and wanted to sit back down. But, I felt that it would make me seem weak or unsure, so I just stood there, facing away from Arthur, with my arms folded across my chest.
I didn't hear Arthur stand from his chair, behind me. I wasn't paying close enough attention as he walked to be stood right behind me. It was only as his arms wrapped around me and unfolded my arms that I noticed that any of these things had happened. From behind me, it felt like Arthur was so much taller than me. In reality, we were around the same height.
Slowly, he turned me to face him. As soon as I was facing him, his lips pressed themselves against mine. This took me by sufficient surprise that I did nothing to stop him. Not that I wanted to, but there were standards that still needed to be met. Even alone. As soon as he pulled his lips away, I told him: "You shouldn't have done that, Arthur. I'm your heir. I'm as good as your son..."
He smiled a smile that distracted me from my thoughts for long enough that I forgot my argument. "Yeah," he added, drawing out each syllable in an infuriatingly attractive way, "but you liked it, right?"
My response was lost as he kissed me again.
"You see, Merlin," he said, as he pulled his lips away again, "I know you well enough to know that, while you have doubts about how you're going to do now, you'll be a great king when your time comes." He smiled to me again and gave me a peck on the cheek. "Plus, just because you're my heir and I have to teach you everything I know, doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be like a son to me. I think of you more as, say, my queen."
"Your queen?!" I exclaimed, in reply. "What do you mean?" But he didn't reply. He sat back down behind his meal and continued to eat. Sighing, I followed suit. Ironically, about half a minute afterwards, Leon burst into Arthur's room, muttering something about possible danger and raised voices.
"No need to panic ~ (at the disco) ~, Leon. We are both fine. We just got a bit excited about something private. Didn't we, Merlin?" I nodded silently, having shoved a mouthful of food into my mouth immediately before Arthur had said this.
"Well, okay then, your majesties," he replied, slowly. "I will wait outside your door. Sorry for interrupting your meal." Leon left the room in a much more controlled manner than when he entered, shutting the door behind him as he left.
Once Leon had left, Arthur sniggered. I hurried to finish my mouthful and repeated, in a much more subdued tone: "Your queen? Really?"
"Yeah, you're much more delicate of appearance and physical structure than I am. Plus, you're the one complaining about not being able to fight physically."