Title: Hydrophilic
Author: PirateRina717
Summary: Double drabble – Merlin is a dutiful servant, Arthur is hydrophobic. Cuteness, but no slash. Merthur friendship.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, Syfy, or BBC. What a shame.
Arthur stared into the water.
"After you, sire," said Merlin, looking hesitantly at him.
Arthur bit his lip. It wasn't his fault. It was Merlin's. He kept rambling on about the great times he would have in his village, where everyone would go swimming in the river.
"Are you a good swimmer?" asked Merlin, "I suppose you are. You're good at everything."
Arthur froze. No, he could not swim. Uther had never let him learn how. If something happened, Uther would lose his heir. Consequently, Arthur was terrified of going into the water.
"Of course I can!" Arthur declared.
Merlin beamed at him. "Do you think we could go swimming?"
Now Arthur, the greatest warrior in the kingdom, was feeling his stomach rise to his throat. "I - I can't," Arthur stammered, edging away from the bank. Arthur expected Merlin to laugh, except he didn't. Merlin just smiled. "You can't swim, can you?"
Arthur shook his head. He felt like a child, but he wouldn't admit his fear.
There was a pause. "I can teach you, if you want."
There was something Merlin could teach Arthur? "Maybe," muttered Arthur.
Later, Arthur would be grateful for the lessons. So would Merlin.