#I wrote a bunch of misc clips from this au ages ago

[alverrann]

Arthur rolled off of the prince almost immediately, still breathing hard from his sprint across the room. Merlin's eyes were wide with shock, and the fall seemed to have knocked his breath out of him. 

"You …" 

Arthur whirled to find the king's eyes on him, and a glance towards the back of the room told him that the would-be assassin was dead. The crossbow bolt was still quivering in the head of the prince's chair, but the king seemed to only have eyes for him. 

"You saved my son." 

"I saw him preparing to take the shot, My Lord." Arthur tried to downplay it, wanting Balinor to forget him as soon as possible. 

"It was a clever and brave thing you did - to slow down time is impressive. You must be rewarded!" 

Slow down time? Arthur gaped like a fish. "No reward is necessary, Sire-"

"But it is!" Balinor cut him off. "From this day forward you will be a member of the royal household, as my son's personal manservant!" 

Everyone cheered, much to Arthur's dismay, but a soft curse had him turning away from Gaius's proud expression to look at the very prince whom he had just saved. Their eyes met, and it was clear in that instance that Merlin was just as pleased with the news as he was.