Chapter-3

Merlin saw Gwydre hurrying past the training grounds a scowl etched on his face and frowned wondering what had set their teenage son off now before he looked towards the where Arthur stood looking in the direction Gwydre had went past, soon his gaze found Merlin's and Arthur shrugged at Merlin's questioning glance which more or less meant 'how am I supposed to know what got your son in a tizzy?' Arthur had this habit of conveniently forgetting his role in their son's birth everytime Gwydre created a problem.

As the day wore on Merlin heard from the maids and his son's tutors that Gwydre has sequestered himself in his chambers and had proceeded to insult everyone who dared come within twelve feet of him, he was rather like Arthur when he was in a towering temper and whatever had happened had managed to short fuse his son's temper.

Merlin still marveled at how much Gwydre resembled Arthur, both in appearance and character and more often than not Arthur and Gwydre were always at odds with each other though Arthur loved Gwydre dearly and Gwydre loved Arthur just as much, there was a time when Gwydre used to idolize his father and the King above all else, following him around with his small legs and mimicking every one of Arthur's moves with his small wooden sword, Arthur had been overjoyed and there was never a day when his chest didn't puff up with pride everytime Gwydre did something spectacular.

How he wished Gwydre were still that small innocent boy who loved and adored his parents and actually listened to them. But no, as every good thing must end so did Gwydre's childhood and now at the age of sixteen Gwydre was proving to be a very rebellious teenager and it drove Merlin nuts to be stuck between Arthur and Gwydre's conflicts. He couldn't blame Arthur for being angry, hell Gwydre managed to make Merlin angry that time he went into the woods with no protection, taking Bryce and his little sister Lilith with him, it had taken them five days to find them and when they did Arthur and Merlin came down upon Gwydre in all their parental anger, Merlin refusing to talk to Gwydre for weeks for having endangered little Lilith who had been so distraught being separated from Merlin, her magic was unstable at the best of times and Merlin had kept her close to him all these years ever since her birth and it had taken a lot for him to finally forgive his errant son who was too keen on adventures.

Merlin let it go on till evening when he finally confronted Arthur when he came back to their chambers, "Alright, what happened?" he asked not dilly dallying, he needed to set this straight and fast, again as he was going on a tour to Ealdor to visit his mother tomorrow along with his daughter and if he left the situation as it is Gwydre and Arthur would end up killing each other.

Arthur looked startled before his eyes turned dark in anger and he said "Why are you asking me? Why are you assuming it's my fault?"

Merlin sighed rubbing his temples, "I'm not assuming anything, I just thought it would be useful to know beforehand to confront Gwydre!"

Arthur tossed his cloak off to the side a little forcefully before he said "Your son is being unreasonable and outrageous in his demands, not only does he not respect his father and his sovereign but he has stupid wishes than could get him killed and I am tired of having to tell him off everytime and him looking at me like I am the enemy when I'm just trying to protect him!"

"Hmm, now you have an understanding of my plight when I had to look after you while you insisted on chasing all those dangerous magical beasts! It doesn't surprise me that Gwydre is acting rebellious, he must have inherited your troublesome genes."

Arthur glared at him and Merlin looked back unflinchingly, "So…." Dragged Merlin, "What happened this time?"

For a moment it looked as though Arthur would not answer him but then he said "He wanted to be let in on the group of knights who were going to scout the Mercian borders!"

"He what?" asked Merlin looking alarmed and shocked that his baby, his son would want to go out on such dangerous ventures.

Arthur sighed and slumped into a chair with his hand supporting his chin, "Can you believe it? He wants to go with Uncle Gwaine, says he doesn't see why he can't when Bryce is allowed to go! I mean Lancelot will be there to keep his son in line, and we both know how we can barely control Gwydre when we're around!"

"Arthur, I don't care if you have to order him, he is not going anywhere!" said Merlin with a no nonsense tone, his son really had ludicrous thoughts these days and if he thought that Arthur and Merlin were going to bend to accommodate his whims he was sorely wrong.

"I can put guards around his chamber doors but you know that is barely effective, now I know what Uther must have felt like when I jumped out of windows to go on mortally dangerous quests!"

"How did he get this idea in the first place? He's never asked for something so farfetched before!" Merlin mused but then saw Arthur turn away from him to hide his guilty look and immediately caught on.

"Arthur! What are you not telling me?"

Arthur looked back up not quite meeting Merlin's eyes as he said "What? I'm not…..don't be ridiculous Merlin!"

"Arthur!" said Merlin in a dangerous tone and saw Arthur put his hands up in surrender.

"Alright, I may have told him he'd be allowed to go if he won the spring tourney but that was only to encourage him to fight…." Arthur never got to complete his sentence because Merlin roared.

"WHAT? ARTHUR! How could you promise him such a thing! You know about the band of sorcerers in Mercian borders just waiting to attack Camelot any way they can! You know they are led by Morgana and that little deranged demon Mordred! And you know Gwydre doesn't have magic to defend himself against it! How could you be so stupid?"

Arthur opened and closed his mouth in stunned silence for a while before he said "Merlin, calm down, it isn't as if I'm going to let him go with the knights! I'll order him to stay put!"

Merlin let out a frustrated huff before he joined Arthur sitting at the edge of the table, looking intently into Arthur's eyes he said "Arthur, he is your son, he trusts you above all else and you've betrayed his trust by promising him something you knew you wouldn't be able to give him."

Arthur opened his mouth to say something but Merlin silenced him with a look saying "I am not going to solve this for you this time; you'll just have to find a way to earn his forgivance."

Now Arthur looked panicked and Merlin snickered when he said "No, no, Merlin you can't just leave with him in a state, you know what a terror he can be! Take him with you to Ealdor!"

Merlin pretended to consider it for a while before he said "Nope, I don't think I will! After all it's about time I stopped being the perpetrator of your disputes with your son! I will be leaving with Lilith to Ealdor tomorrow and when I come back I expect you to have solved this otherwise I'm declaring a sex lent for however long I deem it fit."

Arthur looked enraged now and rose up saying "How dare you, you little!" Merlin ran around the opulent chambers dodging Arthur's grip everytime he came near but in the end Arthur caught him and tumbled him to the bed, Merlin was on his stomach giggling into the sheets with Arthur on top of him and he shivered when Arthur's tongue brushed his ear lobe asking "You would dare to deny your king and husband?"

Merlin squirmed underneath Arthur saying "Yes I would you prat and you are a coward!"

Merlin felt Arthur stiffen and knew he had him when Arthur said "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well you are, you just don't have enough courage to confront your son and you're asking me to do the work for you!"

"What Arthur? Too afraid of a little challenge?" teased Merlin loving the feeling of being crushed under Arthur's weight and warmth.

Arthur laughed squeezing Merlin tighter and said "Alright Merlin, I accept your challenge, I will resolve things with Gwydre before you come."

"If you don't?" asked Merlin.

"If I don't, then I'll agree to your sex lent but I won't loose Merlin and when I win this little challenge I want you to serve me on your hands and knees in any way I ask, any number of times and in anywhere I deem fit, no questions asked!"

Merlin blushed despite himself and said "You have a deal" though he was nervous about what would happen if Arthur did manage to thaw Gwydre, the last part of Arthur's declaration really rankled him and he made a mental note to speak to his son and make sure this was as hard as he could make it for Arthur, he did not want to imagine the places Arthur would deem fit to ravish him and he could already hear the gossip mill and the rumors and the jokes and leers.

So this is more, I know I skipped the time frame but there will be more of this!

I may even go back to Gwydre being a kid later on, let me know what you guys think?