"Merlin! Wake up!"
Gaius shook the sleeping figure that had been up all night reading spell books.
"You can't afford to be late again!"
"Yes I can." Came the sleepy reply.
Gaius smiled. Yes, he could. Arthur wouldn't actually do anything except yell and threaten. And if Gaius admitted the truth, he knew Merlin might actually like getting yelled at. Arthur could yell all he wanted; Merlin enjoyed insulting the Prince in return. One day his mouth was going to get him in trouble, but that day was not today.
"I've got breakfast waiting for you. Now get up!"
Five minutes later Merlin was still in bed. At this point, Gaius had had enough. He yanked the sleeping boy out of bed, roughly dressed him, and dragged him to the table.
"Now I have to leave early today. One of the youngest Barkeepers children is sick and I have to tend to her."
"Alright." Merlin mumbled, not really comprehending a word he was saying.
Merlin didn't notice when Gaius left. His eyes drooped closed and he was soon sleeping next to his uneaten porridge that was fast becoming cold.
"Merlin!" Came the yell as the Prince came barreling down the steps, almost colliding with a young maid. He had taken a shortcut through the kitchens and was now paying for it. He hadn't seen this girl before. She must have been new. With a quick apology and the assurance she was alright, he quickly went along his way.
The maid, whose name was Charlotte, was indeed quite new. It was her first time in the castle, and to have already seen Prince Arthur himself was quite the achievement. However with a furrowed brow, she turned to cook.
"That poor man! What did he do to anger the Prince so much?"
Cook barely looked up from the dough she was kneading.
"Oh that's just Merlin. He's the Prince's man servant. You'll soon get to know him. He's a very likable chap. He'll probably collide into you before you meet him."
"What did he do? The Prince looked furious!"
"Oh, I don't know. It's usually one thing or another. He never stays angry for long. They have a very interesting relationship. You'll soon hear about it from the other servants. Now pass me the butter."
When Arthur finally reached Gaius' chamber, he fully planned to slam open the door and make himself known by yelling something or other. Probably a load of chores. But when he opened the door the words died in his mouth. Merlin was sound asleep on the table. His head was flopped onto his hands and there was a cold bowl of porridge next to him. He looked so peaceful that Arthur couldn't bear to wake him. He walked in the room, silently closing the door behind him. Merlin's hair was mussed; he obviously hadn't brushed it. Arthur crept carefully toward Merlin. Noting the dark circles under his eyes. It was then he made the snap decision to let Merlin sleep. Carefully Arthur lifted the sleeping figure up. It wasn't hard. Merlin weighed nothing. Arthur made a mental note to make sure Merlin ate more. He gently opened the door to Merlins room. Per usual there was clothes and books strewn everywhere. Arthur carefully picked his way through the mess and laid Merlin down gently. He was going to walk away, but then noticed Merlin was still wearing boots. Wincing from the memory of his sore feet the last time he wore boots to bed, Arthur began to take Merlin's shoes off. While quietly grumbling,
"I swear Merlin. I'm going to make you clean out my stables for a whole year after this. You owe me."
Picking up the crumpled blanket that was lying near the bed, he tucked it over Merlin.
"Sweet dreams Merlin. And you owe me." He said before tiptoeing out, and closing the door behind him.