His Royal Pratness!
Summary: Merlin's useless and His Royal Pratness just loves to watch. No Slash!
…
The sun glared mercilessly over Camelot.
The clank of metal hitting metal, triumphant shouts and labouring breaths were the sounds drifting from the castle's courtyard as Arthur and his knight's continued to train. Duck. Swing. Duck. Jab. Arthur smirked as Elyan was left to the mercy of his sword. "Now, Sir Elyan, I believe that's 6-4 to me?" He asked teasingly.
Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot, mock-scowled at his king - ignoring the taunting laughs from Sir Gwaine – and accepting a gracious hand from Arthur.
"Perhaps, Your Majesty, I am just tired. This blistering heat could wither even the most accustomed man." At that very moment, a loud yell came from across the range. A yell that came from a certain kings manservant.
Arthur let his eyes wonder over his manservant who was currently strewn across the floor, a number of parchments lay in front of him. "Speaking of which, Your Majesty, Merlin's just as useless in the heat as he is every other day."
Arthur let himself nod at Gwaine's statement, his lips pursed in frustration. Letting his hands run through his hair, Arthur turned to his knights. "Well, what are we all waiting for?" Not bothering to comment on their perplexed faces, Arthur continued, "let's go watch!"
Gwaine laughed freely, grabbing Elyan and dragging him after King Arthur. Leon hid a smile and nodded towards a smirking Percival, following after the others.
"Merlin!" Arthur shouted as he approached the servant warily picking the parchments off the floor. "Are those important?"
Merlin blinked. Looked at the paper in his arms, then back up to King Arthur, "no." He blinked innocently.
Gwaine chuckled behind Arthur, a disbelieving look on his face. "Ri-ight. Knowing Merlin, it's probably those treaty agreements from some other land or something."
Merlin stayed guiltily silent... "Or something?" He asked sheepishly.
"Merlin!" Arthur cried, "those are important!"
Merlin grinned apologetically, "sorry."
Arthur sighed. He knew the files were important, but he couldn't bring himself to care at that very moment. Instead he watched as his manservant hesitantly inspected the mud that littered the parchments. One minute after Merlin began to wipe the muddy parchments onto his armour, with the knights watching with raised eyebrows. Arthur turned calmly back to Merlin, "you do know you have to wash and polish this armour later, don't you?"
Merlin froze, biting his lip, muttering under his breath – something suspiciously sounding like 'damn that clotpole'.
Gwaine once again chuckled, Leon stared amusedly at the pair, whilst Percival and Elyan stood watching events transpire.
Merlin huffed, "I'll just refuse!" He answered stubbornly.
"Merlin," Arthur spoke warningly, "don't make me fire you!"
Merlin smirked, "you won't fire me! You choose me over that George-Know-It-All manservant!"
Arthur raised his eyebrows at Merlin's smug tone. "Yes, I vaguely remember ordering you to take lessons from this 'George.'"
Merlin just shrugged, "he was a bad teacher..."
"I'm sure he was." Arthur sighed heavily, "I really wish I did end up hiring that George now."
"If you say so, Sire." Merlin smiled, widely. "But I think I vaguely remember you mentioning that you prefer me!"
And with that, Merlin was walking up towards the castle, lightly bouncing on the balls of his feet – leaving behind a flustered Arthur and laughing knights.