Arthur waited until the square was empty and the moon was high in the sky before picking up the bag of food that he’d kept aside for Merlin. Three days in the stocks was a record, even for his trouble attracting manservant. While he’d wanted to bring the food the day before, there had been guards posted to make sure that Arthur couldn’t. It was a surprise to look outside and see the guards gone, but he planned to take advantage of it.

Hurrying down the stairs, being sure to avoid the guards on their nightly rounds, Arthur made it to the square without any trouble. Before he actually broke cover, though, he looked all around to make sure no one was about. It would be just like his father to try and catch him in the act of kindness.

Just when he was about to step forth, Arthur spotted another shadow making its way to Merlin and cursed. It was his father, there was no mistaking his silhouette. Keeping to the edge of the courtyard, Arthur crept closer to hear what the King was saying, but only made out the deep rumble of his voice and so moved even closer.

“…and if Arthur won’t make proper use of you, then I believe I shall. Perhaps this will finally teach you manners,” Uther said darkly.

Arthur didn’t understand what his father meant by ‘proper use,’ though there was no doubt about what he meant by manners. Merlin really was far too outspoken for his own good.

His throat went dry when he saw his father walk behind Merlin and unlace his breeches, denial running through him. At least until Uther pulled down Merlin’s trousers as well. He waited for the helpless boy to protest, to cry out, but then understood that of course he wouldn’t. Merlin might not know how to keep his mouth shut, but not even he would deny the King this prerogative.

Arthur watched as his father stroked himself to hardness in short order and then, without any preparation, forced his cock into Merlin. The boy’s cry of pain was soft, but audible, not that Uther paid him any attention. He rode Merlin without mercy or pause, fucking him as he would any convenient hole. From the dim lighting that reached them, Arthur saw his friend get buggered against his will and felt a dim fire of anger racing up his gut.

Uther didn’t take long, thankfully. His hard thrusts gave way to grunting and he came within minutes. The King stepped back and did up his trousers before walking away without another word.

Arthur stayed where he was for a few minutes, both to give Merlin time to recover and make certain that no others would arrive, that the guards really were gone for the night. Maybe his father intended to use Merlin again, he didn’t know. Stepping forward, Arthur crossed the square and hurried to Merlin’s side and whispered, “Merlin, are you all right?”

“Arthur? Oh for pity’s sake, leave before you get into trouble!” Merlin exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Shaking his head that Merlin’s first thought was for him, Arthur said, “I have food for you. Here, eat quickly.”

“No, it’s just as well. No food means, well, that I don’t soil myself so much.”

Arthur drew back, startled by that. He’d never considered such a punishment might actually be hidden kindness. Not that violating Merlin when he was utterly helpless could be considered kindness of any sort. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Are you…okay? Did he hurt you?”

Merlin’s groan was that of embarrassment, but his voice was exasperated when he retorted, “No, it was exactly how I wished to be buggered, thank you, Arthur.”

“You are the most irritating manservant I’ve ever had!” Arthur exclaimed quietly. “I came here to help you!”

“Help yourself, more likely.”

Arthur drew back, stung. “Do you really believe that?”

Merlin sighed and then said, “No, no I do not. I’m sorry, Arthur, I’m just…tired and sore.”

“Perhaps I could help. I brought salve for your wrists,” Arthur said.

Merlin told him, “Unless you’ve a wish to apply it in my arse, then you can’t help. But I do thank you.”

Arthur walked behind his friend and looked at the pale skin that practically glowed in the dark. “I don’t see why I couldn’t…it’s like any other wound, just…in an awkward spot.”

“Arthur, you cannot be serious!” Merlin hissed.

But Arthur pulled out the small clay pot with its salve and laid the bag on the floor, silently putting a hand on Merlin’s backside. He scooped up a finger’s worth and grimaced before carefully pushing the finger into the small hole. Merlin made a squeaking noise of surprise, but didn’t move, going very still. Arthur moved his finger in the hole, making sure the salve went everywhere. It felt very odd, the passage tight and hot around his finger, much like the virgin girls he’d bedded, though more rigid, not as giving.

Merlin himself went very rigid at one point, gasping for air and just about begging, “That’s enough, Arthur, please, please stop.”

Arthur had been going to stop when he noticed that Merlin’s cock was hard and accused, “You like this? You liked what my father did to you?”

“No!” Merlin exclaimed. Lowering his voice, he repeated, calmer, “No. That was just about putting me in my place. I did not enjoy it at all, though I could not escape it. But…this is you.”

Arthur hesitated at the almost helpless tone of voice. His finger still moving inside Merlin, he asked, “You would not mind if I were to…use you in that fashion?”

“I do not believe, it ah, it would not be using, strictly speaking,” Merlin whispered. “Not with you.”

Arthur could not deny that his own manhood was thickening in his breeches. The thought of taking Merlin like this, when he could not say no, was both enflaming and disturbing. Withdrawing his finger, Arthur stared down at the curve of Merlin’s arse and swallowed heavily. He hadn’t bedded a man before and this wasn’t just any man, it was Merlin.

Merlin pleaded, “Arthur, if you are going to do it, just please, do it. The waiting is killing me.”

Shaking his head, a fond smile surfacing, Arthur pointed out, “Even in the stocks, you still order me about.”

“Not order,” Merlin protested, “just…strongly urge?”

Arthur chuckled and settled into the proper mindset, which was that of seduction. They didn’t likely have much time, but he could make it good for Merlin, something to get him through the next day without food. Reaching below, he took hold of Merlin’s shaft and stroked it slowly.

Merlin shuddered and gasped, “What, what are you doing?”

“I am going to take you, but it will be nothing like my father,” Arthur said softly. “You’ll want to remember this. Think of me while you’re here in the stocks for another day.”

Merlin’s dick fit perfectly in his hand and Arthur stroked it as he would his own. He may not have bedded a man before, but he knew this much of how to please one. Taking away his hand prompted a whimper from Merlin, which he ignored to get more salve on his fingers. He pushed two into the small hole and spread more around, twisting his fingers around inside.

“Oh, oh God, Arthur, that feels, it feels so…”

Arthur grinned when Merlin’s words trailed into a moan. It looked as if he finally found a way to shut Merlin up. One that suited them both, for a change. He used his other hand to unlace his trousers, pulling out his dick and staring at where his fingers had disappeared for a few seconds. It didn’t seem like he would fit, but he shrugged and put some salve on his shaft to help ease the way. Merlin had said he wanted it, he would just have to use more care than his father.

Withdrawing his fingers again, Arthur pressed the head of his dick to the hole and slowly pushed it inside. Merlin let out a stifled noise, something between a moan and gasp. Gritting his teeth to keep control, Arthur found Merlin’s body far more welcoming than he could ever have expected. Sliding his hands up and down lean thighs, Arthur continued to push in until he rested balls deep in him. He bit his lip to keep from saying something stupid, like how good it felt, how perfectly wonderful Merlin was.

Even if they’d had time to draw it out, which they didn’t, his body would not allow for a prolonged coupling. He’d been without someone in his bed for well over a month and Merlin’s body was so very good, tight and hot around his shaft. Curled up tight against Merlin, he moved firm and fast, thrusting in and out of the slender body. Wanting give Merlin the pleasure that he should get out of any mating, Arthur reached around and took his dick in hand again. This prompted a long, low moan of need from Merlin, which caused Arthur to grin fiercely as he stroked and twisted it.

Merlin’s hole unexpectedly squeezed around him as tight as a clamp. Arthur shuddered and came at that, grinding up into the soft arse as he spilled. His grip tightened on Merlin and that seemed to be enough to send the other into his own release; warm seed splattered over his hand moments later as Merlin gave another soft cry, this one of pure satisfaction.

Breathing heavily, Arthur rested there for a moment and then, reluctantly, pulled out of Merlin and did up his trousers. He took a few seconds to gaze at the mingled seed that had dripped down Merlin’s thighs, feeling a twitch in his cock again. His father may have been first, but it was he that Merlin would take willingly and as often as Arthur wished. Or so he was guessing from the seemingly lovesick words of before.

Arthur pushed aside the possessive and protective feelings to bring up Merlin’s breeches as well, securing them as gently as he could. He walked around to the front of the stocks and smirked smugly at the stupefied expression on Merlin’s face. Unable to resist, Arthur dipped down and took his mouth in a slow, hungry kiss. Merlin responded immediately, pushing their tongues together and groaning into it.

Pulling free, Arthur licked his lips and said, “I believe it is time for me to go to bed.”

Smiling at him, the faint lighting giving him an oddly angelic expression, Merlin replied, “I would join you, if I could.”

Tapping Merlin on the nose, Arthur informed him, “And what makes you think I want you there?”

Merlin’s mouth opened in a protest, probably a loud one, so Arthur took it in another kiss. When he stepped back, he said, “Do try and stay out of trouble for the next day or so, Merlin. I have a lot of armor for you to polish.”

Merlin had that moonstruck expression in place again as he nodded dopily.

Arthur snickered softly and picked up the bag of uneaten food. He returned to the shadows and strode almost jauntily back to the main staircase. He stopped short on finding his father waiting for him, shock rendering him mute for a few seconds. Rallying, Arthur greeted coolly, “Good evening, Father.”

“Good evening, Arthur,” Uther replied. “I trust you had fun?”

Knowing this could go wrong very quickly, Arthur shrugged and said without apparent concern, “Pleasant enough.”

“So you would have no problems if I used him again?” Uther questioned mildly.

Arthur kept a firm reign on his feelings, all of which demanded that he respond to such a suggestion with violence. Instead, he silently apologized to Merlin and answered, “You are King, Father, you may do as you wish. What care I for a servant?”

Uther made a neutral noise and then leaned in to murmur against Arthur’s ear, “He was quite good, wasn’t he? You should be glad that I opened him up sufficiently for you, Arthur, I don’t believe anyone had had the boy before.”

Arthur gritted his teeth and remained both still and silent. With a low, amused chuckle, Uther strode up the stairs, leaving him to stew in the shadows. He had to forcibly unclench his hands from fists and take a deep, calming breath. His earlier goodwill was almost gone, nearly banished by the encounter with his father, but he held onto the feelings.

He looked out at Merlin in the square and found that silly smile still on Merlin’s face. He hadn’t seen any of the exchange, which relieved Arthur to no end. Feeling restored, Arthur headed back upstairs to his rooms. One more day and he could collect Merlin from the stocks and install him in his quarters where he belonged.

Following his father up the staircase, Arthur thought firmly, You won’t be King forever, Father.

Until then, Arthur would shield Merlin from Uther as best he could. He’d had plenty of practice in that endeavor so far, even if he hadn’t always succeeded. All he had to do was succeed where he’d failed before, learn from his mistakes. No matter how much Merlin mocked his intelligence, and Arthur knew that he did, Arthur hadn’t gotten to where he was by not learning.

Arthur smiled as he thought smugly, Merlin’s mine now.