DISCLAIMER: I don't own Merlin or any of it's characters and am only borrowing them temporarily with the full intention to give them right back! I do however own Lady Una and Jane the Barmaid! And I'm quite fond of them so please don't take them...

I wont be saying this again. Thank you for listening. Now I think it's high time we get started yes? Why do I sound posh...

"Rise and shine!" Merlin tore open the curtain of the king's chambers. Light flooded the room, drowning the contents in its warm orange glow. Merlin couldn't help but look around in awe. The light bounced off the metal goblets and newly polished chain mail causing specks of colour to dance across the ceiling.

Arthur didn't quite see the beauty. Arthur couldn't see the beauty. He was still lost somewhere under a mound of bed sheets.

Merlin tore his eyes from the dancing drops and turned to look exasperatingly at his master. "Sire, I am on time, your breakfast is on the table, your chainmail is polished, the stables are mucked out, I have finished all of my morning duties and if you're not going to get up I'm going to assume you don't want these sausages and I'm going back to bed."

Merlin turned to Arthur's breakfast. The sausages did look succulent and he was starving. He'd barely managed to grab a bite of cheese and bread from Gaius this morning before hurrying to work. He'd slept in. Although this time he was putting all the blame on Arthur. What clotpole decides a midnight hunting trip is a good idea!? They hadn't been able to see the tree two foot away from them let alone any potential prey. Arthur had insisted that all the best meat comes out after dark so they'd have more of a chance of a big kill for the feast. They had caught three rabbits. Three measly rabbits. One of which was an accident because Gwaine had gotten his foot caught in a tree root, tripped and fell on the poor thing.

A growl rose from the bed behind him. Merlin felt a sharp point of a sword pierce the skin between his shoulder blades. He froze instinctively.

"Don't you dare even think about touching them sausages."

Merlin turned. Arthur was standing in a hunting crouch on the mattress, sword raised threateningly. "Fine" he announced, "But I'm still done for this morning so if you don't need me I'm going back to catch up on my sleep that you cruelly denied me last night."

"Cruelly denied you?" Arthur plonked himself into his chair.

"How did I 'cruelly deny you' your sleep?"

Merlin stared at his friend. Sometimes he had serious doubts whether this actually was meant to be the Once and Future king. Maybe they'd accidentally picked the wrong one? Maybe they'd got it a bit early? Surely no Legendary King could be this thick?

"You organised a hunting trip three hours after sundown. You made us walk aimlessly through that forest in the pitch black until it was all but dawn and I had to carry everything as usual!"

"You didn't have to come," he said, tearing a sausage in half.

That was true. He never specifically said Merlin had to go. He never said Merlin had to go on any of Arthur's trips. It was just always assumed he'd go. Wherever Arthur went, Merlin followed. Even when he was specifically told not to come, Merlin still went. Everybody just accepted that fact. If Arthur said he and three knights were going hunting, five horses were prepared. One for Merlin. If Arthur said he was going somewhere alone, he meant him and Merlin. To see Arthur going anywhere without his manservant was considered odd. Merlin always followed Arthur. But only Merlin knew why.

"Of course I had to go." Merlin stared at his master. Merlin always had to go. That was his duty, his destiny. To protect Arthur Pendragon, The Once and Future King who would, on day, unite the lands of Albion and restore magic to the kingdom. Not a big asking of him when you think about it… Merlin was loyal. It wasn't just because of what the dragon had said that made him want to protect Arthur. It felt right. He could see the goodness in the Kings heart. He knew the morals that Arthur stood for, that his friend stood for. He knew, destiny or not, that Arthur would be great. A clotpole on occasion, but great.

"If I hadn't have gone with you that first bunny would have torn you to pieces" Merlin began piling up the bed sheets to bring to the laundry room.

Arthur picked up his goblet. He stared at his manservant. None of his other servants would ever have dared talk to the king like that. They had respect for their nobles. They were on time, obedient, never saying a word out of line. Most of them never saying a word in the first place unless it was required of them. They were perfect. Perfect and unbelievably boring.

Merlin wasn't like his other servants. Merlin was… well Merlin. He was stupidly loyal to the point of suicide on certain occasions, frequently throwing himself into deaths arms for the sake of others. He had absolutely no sense of self-preservation or style for that matter. Yet he was different. He actually cared for Arthur. He believed in him. Believed that one day he would be a good king and, not that Arthur would ever admit it, he was a good friend. On that thought he hurled his goblet at the unsuspecting servant.

Right on target!

"OW! What the hell was that for?" Merlin rubbed the back of his head tenderly.

Arthur fought back a grin, trying instead to glare at his friend harshly. "Lady Úna will be arriving soon; I need you to make sure everything is prepared for her stay. Its vital we make a good impression."

"I know I know" The castle had been preparing for weeks for this visit. Cooks were running about like headless chickens making sure they had enough food and supplies to last the stay. Servants were frantically setting up rooms, cleaning every inch of the castle visible to the naked eye. Knights had been training for weeks to show off their skills for the guest. Blacksmiths, florists, farmers, seamstresses, everybody in the kingdom had some role to play in the visit. Some said it brought the kingdom together. Merlin just looked at it as barely organised chaos.

Merlin had of course asked the king why it was so important that Lady Úna came to Camelot. The answer he received was as long winded as he feared.

"The Kingdom of Dungal lies in at the extreme southern border of Camelot's lands. Lady Úna has long been a friend of the kingdom. However, since the Great Purge our alliance has grown weak. It is vital that our neighbours see us as allies to their kingdom. By inviting Lady Úna to our home, we can show her that our hospitality is favourable and our forces are strong and powerful. We can try to rebuild the alliance that once stood between our two kingdoms. This will both add protection to Camelot's people from the south and give us security in the knowledge that we have other forces willing to come to our aid should we need them. It will also show other kingdoms that Camelot can be a trusted ally and that we are a strong kingdom that should not be tried against easily."

Arthur finished his speech looking particularly proud of himself.

"You rehearsed that didn't you?"

"… shut up, Merlin."

A sharp rap on the door broke the two men from their thoughts. Sir Leon's blonde head peeked around the solid oak door. "My Lord, Lady Úna has just crossed the forest. She will be arriving shortly."

Arthur jumped up immediately, practically knocking over the table. Merlin stared at him.

"Well what are you waiting for Merlin! Clothes come on!"

Merlin shot a look at Leon. The blonde knight grinned before bowing himself out and shutting the door. He stayed just a moment to hear the two friends bicker and argue about shirts before smiling and leaving them to it.

Lady Úna gazed in awe at the pale battlements. Turrets scraped the clouds and scratched the sky. She could feel the power that radiated from the stone itself. Never had she seen anything quite as magnificent as this. Its beauty, its strength, its power.

The small box she'd been occupying herself with slipped a little on her lap. She caught it between her slender fingers before it could hit the floor. Returning it into one of the trunks, Lady Úna fixed her ebony hair behind her ears and prepared to greet the King of Camelot.

Authors Note: And so it begins. I promise it gets better!