Chapter One - Indecision

Arthur stood outside the closed doors of the Throne room, deep in troubled thought. His face was contorted with indecision, his lips formed in a pout. The guards glanced at him nervously.

"Would you like to enter Sire?" one of them asked, pulling Arthur from his thoughts. He glanced at the guard and then again at the closed doors in front of him. Deep in his heart, he knew this was wrong, but he respected his father.

A sudden commotion down the hall gave him the excuse to further procrastinate the situation, one of the guards moved to investigate. Arthur put his hand up stopping the guard and began his proud stride towards the direction of the sound. He heard Gaius's slightly raised voice.

"You foolish, clumsy boy. I had just prepared that batch this morning,"

As Arthur turned the corner he saw Gaius standing in a small pile of various sized and coloured glass vials as Merlin, on his hands and knees, was scrambling, attempting to pick up the unbroken ones and place them into a basket.

"Uh sorry...you know I could just..." the raven haired boy began but Arthur cut him off.

"Merlin" the name on his tongue caused a twinge of guilt in the pit of his stomach, "your clumsiness appears to be a curse not only to you, but to all those around you as well,"

"Well Sire, I could say the same for your arrogance,"

"Merlin!" Gaius chided.

Arthur had always let go the snide remarks. He knew the boy well enough to know that he did not speak this way to him out of disrespect for Arthur, but almost out of a sense of equality with the prince. At first it seemed ridiculous, a lowly servant who felt a sense of equality with the crowned prince and future king of Camelot. Things had changed in the last few weeks, and indeed that line had begun to blur.

An awkward silence had arisen as Arthur had been distracted by his thoughts. Gaius was giving him a scrutinizing glance and Merlin looked at him expectantly for his retort. Their eyes met for a moment and Arthur seemed to hold his breath.

"Yes well, how about after you finish cleaning up this mess you could polish my armour, muck out my horses, polish my boots, mend that shirt, clean my room, scrub my floors..."

Merlin heaved a deep sigh and continued to pick up the unbroken vials as Arthur rattled off his chores to remind him of his place in the world.