Original Setting:
Ever since Merlin had arrived in Camelot some few years ago, he's never had a day off from being Arthur's manservant. If only Merlin hadn't of saved The Crown Prince of Camelot that one time, then none of this would of ever happened, but, according to The Great Dragon, it was his destiny to protect Prince Arthur.
The night beforehand, Merlin had entered the physician's chambers quite late due to having problems with trying to get Arthur into bed, returning to eat a small helping of food and slumbering off to bed completely exhausted.
Moaning into the pillows as the first few rays of sun were peeping through the window into Merlin's room, Gaius approached the door to wake up his ward. "Come on Merlin. Time to get up. you don't want to be late and have Arthur moaning any more than he usually does." Sighing and wishes he could have a few more moments to spare, Merlin rose and got dressed, coming out for breakfast, before dashing off to the kitchens to collect the prince's breakfast.
'Why can't Arthur for once ever do this himself?' Merlin thought, as he passed through the corridors of the castle towards the prince's chambers. Noticing decorations of flowers everywhere, Merlin wondered what was the special occasion. He knew it wasn't Yuletide, that had not long passed. Then he noticed some of the maids reading small pieces of parchment. blushing over the words. Some of the servants were passing by, composing romantic poems and music... - hold on - romance? The traits that Merlin had seen that morning brought him to a halt, which altogether meant one thing, Valentine's Day.
This would mean Arthur would have special requirements then for Merlin, knowing him to prepare a special gathering of food for a special picnic with some fair maiden, probably the likes of Gwen, who Arthur had his eye on for a good while. Bracing himself and taking a few small breaths, Merlin entered the prince's chambers.
Normally, as Merlin would enter, he would find Arthur still in bed lightly snoring, when Merlin would give him his usual wake up call, and would then get Arthur dressed and make sure he has breakfast, before Arthur gives him the day's worth of endless chores, as Arthur would go about to council meetings or train with the knights.
What Merlin didn't expect though was to have Arthur already dressed, the bed to have already been made, but Arthur without breakfast. George was beside Arthur, making sure all requirements had been completed.
"Ah Merlin, nice to see your here, and you've brought me breakfast. I guess that's one less job for you George."
"Erm Arthur, what's going on?"
"Not to worry Merlin, nothing is wrong. Do take a seat at the dining table. Right George, today you can polish my armour for tomorrow, then you can do my laundry, muck out the stables, walk my dogs, and tell Gaius that Merlin will be needed for the entire day, so he won't be able to give him a hand."
"Of course sire," George replied, leaving Arthur and a very confused Merlin at the dining table.
"Arthur, what is going on?"
"Well Merlin, I'm letting George take care of things today. whilst we're going out." Arthur gave over his suggestive grin, dropping a hint to Merlin of where the pair would be going.
Merlin caught the idea, and was not the least bit happy. "No Arthur. I'm not going with you on a hunt. You can forget that. I'd rather muck out the stables, and that's saying something."
"Relax Merlin. You're always moaning that you never get a day off, and that you deserve one. So, last night after you had left me all alone, I was thinking."
Merlin turned to face Arthur as he started off eating a sausage. "Yeah and..."
"Well I thought that you were right all along. You do deserve a day off, so therefore you're getting today off. I'd count yourself lucky, unless you really want to..."
On second thoughts, Merlin could do with a day off, and if he didn't accept it now, then he might never get another chance. "Thank you Arthur, it is very kind of you."
"That's the spirit, now come and help me eat this up." Merlin was parched, and although he'd already eaten this morning, the supplements of the prince's breakfast were much better than gruel.
Merlin did recieve two orders from the prince that day, one was to fetch the horses that day, the second was to keep this adventure to himself so that Uther wouldn't find out, or they'll both be in the stocks.
"Where are we going?" Merlin asked as he followed on horseback by Arthur's side.
"Not far out of the citadel."
Leaving the citadel, they emerged among some woodland, and once Arthur had found a perfect spot near a small stream, he settled this to be their destination. Climbing off the horse, Arthur collected the blankets and food, leaving Merlin with the horses. "Go and take the horses to the stream. I'll set this lot up." Merlin did as asked, not wanting to displease his prince.
Returning back, Arthur had laid out a picnic for the two, where Arthur was stretched out across the blanket, pressing up on one elbow, casting his eyes directly upon Merlin. "Come join me Merlin," Arthur gave a wink, and pronounced the words in a soft, but quite sexy suggestive tone.
"Erm ok," was all Merlin could answer. Merlin crossed the distance, and propped himself down on the blankets next to Arthur, as they began to start eating the picnic laid out before them. They ate in comfortable silence, and then afterward, both lay down on the blankets, gazing up at the small fluffy clouds.
Arthur turned to face Merlin with a genuine smile. "You know Merlin, it's nice doing this. You and me together, not having to work or run around after people."
"I'd say, if you'd experience the day I have then you'll be glad to know how amazing it is to just relax. I must say Arthur, this is beautiful. Thank you."
"No problem."
Both stared at each other for endless amounts of time, Arthur not realising that he was now leaning on his shoulder, using his left arm to gentle massage his fingers into Merlin's hair, playing with the short strands of Merlin's hair at the nape of his neck. Not thinking straight, both sets of eyes darkened as Merlin leant in to kiss Arthur, Merlin stilling and backing away once he'd brushed the other's lips. "I'm so sorry sire."
Arthur just hummed at Merlin's reponse, not giving a damn of what his father or any thought of his actions, and pulled Merlin back towards him, showing his approval by wiring their lips back together, smiling into the kiss. Merlin gave in and planted kisses across Arthur's jaw and neck, Arthur still continuing to thread his fingers through the raven strands of hair.
Breaking away for air, Arthur directed Merlin at one other thing. "This, is to stay between you and me. If father hears of this, he'll have you executed and I'll probably have to give up my place on the throne, so this is to be a secret."
"What about when your father tries to marry you off to some princess or fair maiden?"
"We'll have to stop it from happening then. Sneak out of Camelot for the time that they're visiting and return once they've left. Don't worry Merlin, I've got this under control."
The remainder of their afternoon session was mainly left for kissing, Merlin and Arthur returning back to Camelot before night struck. "To finish the day off of doing nothing, there's one more surprise I've got for you."
"And what might that be?" Merlin whispered as they returned the horses to the stables.
"You'll have to come up to my chambers later on, and do so quietly. I'll be there waiting, and don't be late," Arthur breathed into Merlin's ear, making Merlin giggle from the ticklish feel.
"Okay, don't be late."
Later on that night after Merlin had returned to Gaius and explained to Gaius what Arthur had planned for Merlin that day, without telling about the kissing and picnic part, Merlin left the physician's quarters to return to Arthur. Without knocking, as Merlin never does, he tiptoed into Arthur's chambers, not having a decent excuse in case someone saw him, other than his job title.
Searching for Arthur, as his chambers were literally a house on it's own, Merlin's jaw dropped as Arthur lay on his bed sprawled out, naked. Merlin's eyes darkened, scanning Arthur's body up and down past the navel, trying not to pass out from the sheer bliss of Arthur in his birthday suit. "Arrthurr..."
"Merlin... You brought me breakfast, so I serve dinner." Allowing his feet to carry him, his brain currently on stand by, Merlin crawled up the bed to where Arthur lay, settling atop of Arthur. "Welcome home Merlin, I hope you've enjoyed your day off," Arthur smirked before returning his lips back onto any part of Merlin's skin Arthur could lay his hands on, leaving them there for the night. Merlin wasn't by half a fan of Valentine's day, but was sure he'd remember this one, and hopefully many more.