The steady whispers of his dreams left Merlin riding the tides peacefully, letting his imagination run wild. The waters whispered 'Merlin'. He smiled, watching the colours rush past in a hazy spectrum.

'Merlin' the waters called, the voices getting louder, calling him in. He leaned forward, his face an inch from the cool mirrored surface. 'MERLIN!' He fell forwards into the water, the icy liquid stinging his cheeks. He opened his eyes, but he wasn't underwater, just wet. Very wet. 'Wakey wakey!' Arthur grinned, jabbing his ribs with the now empty bucket.
'Please tell me that was water.' Merlin groaned, shaking his saturated sleeves as he stood. He remembered now, he was in Arthurs chambers, and was supposed to be watching for the rats that had once again ravaged Arthur's boots.
'Would you rather it was rat soup?' The prince chuckled, brandishing his sword with a rat sagging over the point, 'caught this thing while it was peeing on your shirt.' He grinned again, wiping the rat off into the bucket and throwing it at Merlin. 'Go make some soup for yourself, and then I need you to muck out my stables.'
Merlin tilted his head slightly, raising one eyebrow, 'Is this for falling asleep? Because there is a really good reason for that.'
Arthur frowned, sitting down to rest his dirt encrusted boots on the table. He laid his hands behind his head, reclining slightly, 'If it's anything other than you were up all night mucking out my stables, then I don't want to hear it.'
'Don't suppose you'd let me off this once, I have saved your life a few times.' He didn't catch himself in time, it was already out.
Arthur gave him a suspicious look, 'When?'
Merlin smiled, leaning across the table, 'What I mean is, metaphorically, I am a life saver, who else would do all this work for you?'
Arthur didn't change his expression, 'You do know there are other servants in Camelot that would do your job, and probably a little better.' 'Ah, but how many would manage it looking this good?'
Arthur laughed, 'You mean that wet? Alright, maybe you are useful at times, now make yourself even more useful and muck out my stables!' Merlin sighed, traipsing out the room accompanied by a drip, drip, squelch, with every step. After leaving a watery trail up to his room, Merlin changed into a different shirt, ringing the other one out into a bucket. There was a light knock at the door. 'Come in' he called, throwing the damp shirt into a corner. The door slithered open, Gwen standing there smiling sweetly as usual. She frowned suddenly, looking at his damp trousers. 'Ah, not what you think. Arthur threw a bucket of water over me.'
Gwen shook her head, 'Oh no, I didn't think you had a problem… not that I think you do now… and it's not that I think about that anyway. I just came to find Gaius; do you know where he is?'
Merlin shrugged, 'probably with Uther. They've both been acting weird lately; do you know what's going on?'
Gwen shook her head, 'No, sorry why don't you ask Arthur?'
Merlin groaned, 'That reminds me, I have to muck out his horses.'

* * *