A Manservant's Loyalty (Merlin BBC OneShots)

Vanduo

Animals # 2.1

It was a love/hate relationship between the king of Camelot and the natural element of Water. The reason behind it was unclear to almost everyone apart from a select few, who've been sworn to secrecy by the previous king.

Merlin found it odd but he has learnt not the question it. He only ever got told that Arthur's skin can't come in contact with an excess amounts of water. Meaning most of winter is spent indoors, baths were a privet occasion and lakes or swampy areas were avoided at all costs.

That's why Merlin was shocked to hear they were visiting the island of Atlantis, which was just over a week traveling by ship. In the months prior Merlin's questions were ignored or answered to a new level of vague, that he didn't know existed.

Apart from his concerns for his king, Merlin was overall excited for the trip. He has never traveled over seas before and from the small amount of information he has managed to find, Atlantis was seemed to be absolutely beautiful.

Since the knights of the round-table were the most trusted people in Camelot, they were staying home to keep the kingdom running and  safe for the month long period that Arthur will be gone. Leon was appointed leader of Camelot for that time since he was the closest to Arthur.

Merlin was only allowed to come because he was fluent in Lithuanian and latin. The Atlanian language was extremely similar, so Merlin could come as a translator, even if he wasn't allowed he would find away to go. There also were a group of three carefully selected knights coming too.

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King Dane Pearce, is the newly crowned king of the the small southern kingdom of Arethiel. Dane had trained with Arthur when they were younger and though they haven't seen each other for around a decade they still kept in contact.

"Arthur Pendragon, it's been too long old friend" Dane greeted with a wide smile. Bright green eyes, pale faced and a mop of fiery orange curls on his head. "It certainly has" Arthur laughed dismounting his horse, walking into the open arms of the orange haired king. Dane was so kind to offer a ride on one of the trading ships to Atlantis.

They stayed in Arethiel for the night by request of Dane, there was a banquet that Merlin was allowed to attend as a guest. Arthur relaxed as he listened to his childhood friend tell tales of past adventures, his eyes periodically going to his manservant who had a large grin on his face as he held the attention of the three Camelot knight plus a few Arethiel knights.

"Does he know?" Dane asked, a knowing smirk on his lips, Arthur's attention snapped to the king beside him. "I don't know what you're talking about"  Arthur snapped failing miserably at the blush that coloured his cheeks.  Dane laughed loudly, eyes gleaming, "I was arranged to marry a random princess before I was born. Thankfully by the time we married we were good friends." Dane said smiling affectionately.

"Don't get me wrong I love my wife but I am not attracted to her in anyway or hold any romantic feeling for her. She is in love with a knight in her own kingdom, whom she is visiting at the moment. Nice fellow he is, Ive met him a handful of times." Dane explained thoughtfully,taking a sip of his wine before continuing. "For me, boys have always been more interesting and fun. Nothing to be ashamed of I say. The heart knows no boundaries"

"I am a king, he is a servant." Arthur muttered shaking his head from his dangerous thoughts, "you're not marrying him and what a king does in his spare time is no ones business" Dane stated simply.

"I will not be unfaithful. When i marry I will not pursue anyone else and If I were to pursue -which I won't - a relationship with him, I will not marry another."  Arthur stated his eyes going back to the ebony haired man.