A little set up before we begin:

This is obviously long before we are formally introduced to Mithian in the series. Uther is still around for one and Morgana is still good (she's my favorite hero and villain, I'll admit).

This is not canon. It's a deviation from the original plotline and would presumably change future events to some degree, though that's not relevant at the moment.

It's also been awhile since I watched the series all the way through and so this does not have a specific place within the earlier show. Just know that it's there and I will try to avoid touching on details that could be contradictory towards the show's plotline.

Alas, I do not own Merlin or any of the show's components. That right goes to BBC.

I only own the ability to dream that I can one day buy the castle in France where the series was filmed, no matter how absurd that dream is.

So without further ado, my devious little story.

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Merlin is stressed.

Well, of course he's stressed. He's always stressed.

But today, he is particularly stressed. Arthur is being insufferable, assigning triple the usual amount of chores. Uther has already thrown the prince's poor, defenceless, INNOCENT manservant in the stocks once today.

And Gaius needs herbs that only grow an hour outside the city gates, which makes it at least a two and a half hour endeavor if they're plentiful and a four hour endeavor if they're not. However, the old man has already used the last of this particular herb that he had stored and needs more to prepare a potion for tomorrow morning's rounds.

So there's no putting that particular hike off for another day.

"Come on, Arthur," Merlin complains, struggling to keep stride with him as they make their way back to prince's chambers after a late training (late because it took Arthur quite some time to discover his servant had been put in the stocks again and the gods forbid that Arthur might actually knock around say, I don't know, a knight instead of the gangly servant?!). The dark haired man is laden with heavy armor and equipment, all of which Arthur apparently wants to inspect before it goes right back down to the armory.

"I've got to go get the herbs for Gaius today. Can I please do the stables tomorrow?" He's panting as they walk up the last set of stairs, clothes soaked with sweat from the field and the metal he is carrying digs painfully into his already bruised ribs.

It was just a few days ago, after all, that he thwarted the plans of yet another sorcerer hell bent of destroying the Pendragons. A few days since he miscalculated a spell and missed, causing the other man to get the upper hand for a moment and cause quite a bit of damage to Merlin's chest, only some of which could be properly healed with magic before Gaius found and nearly drug him back to their rooms.

"No, Merlin. We are leaving for Nemeth tomorrow morning and you also have yet to pack my things!" Arthur snaps.

"Why are we going to Nemeth?!" Merlin cries, only hearing about this for the first time exactly now. "And can't a stable boy clean the stables? It's actually their job!"

"Because Merlin, I said so," Arthur mocks opening the door for his chambers and for once, stepping aside and holding the door for the other man to squeeze through. Merlin doesn't seem to notice. "Now put the armor down. I'll have a guard take it back and clean it when I'm done. Just check it after you return from gathering herbs. I don't want to show up in Nemeth with a dirty breastplate. I can just hear what'd they'd say about Camelot! 'Oh, what slobs! Such of a waste of gold!'"

At this the manservant smiles gratefully, lets out one sarcastic remark to make sure Arthur knows he's not completely forgiven, and quickly bolts back toward the door.

"And Merlin?"

Damn.

"Don't forget the stables when you get back or our packing. It's a long journey and I will need my court and ceremonial robes while we're there. We're not taking the carriage either, just a few pack horses."

A heavy sigh escapes him. "Yes sire."

He only finds, a little over an hour later, that the herb is in fact not plentiful and the stables have not been cleaned since the last time he was ordered to do so two weeks ago. Honestly, what do they have stable boys for? So it's after dark when he is finally able to pack up Arthur's things, assured by the steward that there are others preparing food and sleeping arrangements for the whole party.

The prince simply sits at his desk, going over papers and maps for the journey. The blond is sultry and pouty when Merlin finally helps him into bed and only barks out a simple command about waking him in time to leave at sunrise and to not forget his own pack this time.

Nevermind that it was only once that Merlin did in fact forget his belongings and yes, he may have caught pneumonia from falling in a river, but can't the prat ever let it go?!

Gaius is asleep when the warlock finally returns to their chambers so he forgoes ointment and new bindings for his chest and ribs and just goes about quietly getting his things ready. The whole castle is shrouded in deep darkness by the time he makes it to bed, only allowing himself to doze lightly in order to be back up in time/ A task he fortunately manages.

Arthur is in a bad mood naturally the next morning and Merlin has to practically force him out of the bed to eat in order to keep him from deciding to chop his poor manservant's head off.

There's a lot of horses gathered in the courtyard, more than Merlin is expecting, but he quickly finds out it's because Morgana is coming on their venture as well. Merlin has a sneaking suspicion that Uther believes she can use womanly sentiment to win the foreign princess to their way in whatever discussions they're about to have.

The sulky King joins them to say goodbye just as everyone is loading themselves into saddles, a whole army of servants also in attendance to send them off. Three will be joining them for the actual trip. Gwen and Merlin will be the only ones allowed to ride instead of walk as their status is marginally higher than that of the average commoner while serving the royal family.

Everyone else, even Arthur, seems significantly more rested than Merlin feels. The dark haired man's shoulders are already hunched before they've reached the city edge and he can tell that it will be an uncomfortable ride with his healing wounds (not that anyone else knows this).

He's happy for Gwen and even Morgana, who both ride near him and make small talk most of the first few hours. It makes him forget the twinges in his side from time to time. He tries to avoid laughing too rigorously, but the jokes at the prince's expense make it a difficult feat. While Gwen is too kind to participate, Merlin and Morgana use their much underhanded knowledge of the man to raise a hearty moral all around them.

The knights boast and shove each other as if merely on a hunt, not on a too-long journey to a different kingdom.

It's all fun and games until Merlin gets called to the front of the pack by a growling Arthur and has to ride with pointed barbs to his intelligence the rest of the day. Even after they've taken their lunch, Arthur won't set him free. Morgana keeps things going from her position, but Merlin himself is able to add little without being wacked in the head. His comments are limited to tame banter between himself and the blond prince beside him.

"Arthur," Morgana calls to him, just after they've started looking for a good clearing to rest for the night. The long ride seems to have given her energy instead of depleting it. She's wearing trousers, her chosen outfit for the trip despite Uther's hearty protests (or so Merlin assumes. He was definitely not gossiping with Gwen during that conversation). "Won't you share Merlin with the rest of us over dinner tonight? I know you're jealous, but we only want him for his stories. You needn't worry!"

"Jealous?!" Arthur cries, outraged. His reply seems to please Morgana, who smirks in utter triumph. There's a chorus of chuckles all around. "What do I have to be jealous of?!"

Morgana pulls her horse up a bit closer as if Arthur's heavier breathing might keep him from hearing what she has to say otherwise. "As I just said, don't worry Arthur. No one here would dare to take Merlin from you, but he's our friend, you know. We do want to spend time with him as well."

Her voice his soft, but there's something off about as if she's mocking a parent's gentle tone. The way she says his name is also a sugary imitation of the way Arthur likes to say it. And dammit all, Leon looks about ready to pass out over there. His fist is clenched tightly over his lips and there is red painting his face a blotchy color.

The man's eyebrows are raised in unconcealed merriment.

What the hell is Merlin missing about all of this?!

Of course, he wants Morgana to save him, but it does not appear that he quite understands what she's teasing her surrogate brother about. He turns to Gwen for help, but her face is hidden in hands and she's leaning forward again her horse's neck to keep from falling.

Instead the King's ward catches his eye and winks. He doesn't even know why he blushes, but he does.