Set somewhere in Season One because I haven't seen Season Two yet.

Arthur crept along the edge of the ravine with his bow in hand. His entire attention was on the buck taking a drink of water at the pond 30 feet away. He moved silently so as not to startle the deer. But he also kept attention to his movements. It was only a four foot drop to the creek but the rocks below were sharp. He dropped to one knee and took an arrow from the quiver. He began to draw the bow back... and Merlin bumped him in the back. Arthur turned his head and glared at Merlin and emphasized with his eyes for Merlin to stop moving and not make a sound. He turned back to the deer.

Merlin became apprehensive when Arthur had turned to look at him. He never understood why Arthur made him come on these hunts. He was always complaining about Merlin's clumsiness. Merlin turned to crawl back away from Arthur when his foot slipped. He lost his balance for a minute and felt himself bump into Arthur again. Wincing as he imagined Arthur completely loosing his temper Merlin turned around to begin the apologizing. He just caught a glimpse of Arthur going over the edge of the ravine head first.


Merlin sat at Gaius' table across from Arthur. Arthur had both his elbows on the table as Gaius bandaged his hands. Arthur had thrown his hands out to break his fall and both palms had been badly sliced and bruised. Gaius was explaining to Arthur had he had to be very careful not to use his hands or get them dirty to keep from getting an infection. Merlin wasn't sure Arthur was listening. Arthur wasn't moving or responding to anything Gauis was saying. He just sat there staring at Merlin with a look of murder in his eyes.

Uther stopped by to make sure Arthur was all right. He listened absently as Gaius repeated the warnings of Arthur using his hands. Finally, Uther responded, "Yes, yes, I understand. Arthur you will follow Gaius instructions to the letter. Have your manservant here take care of everything for you."

Merlin felt his stomach turn over. He had been hoping for the stockade again. Or even a hanging rather than have to serve Arthur in his current mood.

Finally Arthur stood up and strode from the room not even saying a wood to Merlin. Gaius' "Good luck" as Merlin hurried after the prince did make Merlin any less fearful of what was to come.

When they reached Arthur's chambers Merlin rushed to open the door. Merlin followed him in and closed the door standing there bracing himself for whatever Arthur was going to do. Arthur walked over to the table and backhanded a goblet so it fell to the floor. Merlin bent over to pick it up thinking that maybe Arthur wasn't as angry as he thought and it would just be petty chores as punishment. That was went Arthur's boot connected with Merlin's backside.


Merlin was limping down the hallway towards the kitchens when he ran into Morgana and Gwen. Gwen was carrying a tray with a bowl of stew.

"Merlin, why are you limping?" Gwen asked with a worried sound to her voice.

"Well, Arthur's not speaking to me and since he can't use his hands right now, he's been using his boots to get his point across."

"Yes, we heard about Arthur's poor, unfortunate accident." Morgana interjected.

"We thought we'd bring him some of his favorite rabbit stew to make him feel better." Gwen added. The sly look that passed between Morgana and Gwen made Merlin even more nervous than he already felt.

"Come along Merlin," Morgana commanded as she and Gwen continued on their way.

When they reached Arthur's chambers, Morgana politely knocked and then entered with Gwen following along behind her. Merlin took a deep breath and came in last worried about what Morgana and Gwen were up to.

"Arthur, we heard about your poor, unfortunate accident." When Merlin heard her use the same phrase again he began to wonder if they had rehearsed this. "We brought you some of your favorite rabbit stew. We hope it makes you feel better." Merlin decided they had definitely rehearsed this.

Gwen placed the tray down at Arthur's table. Morgana and Gwen then each sat down on the other side looking at Arthur expectantly. Arthur narrowed his eyes at the two women almost sure they were up to something. But he sat down in front of the bowl of stew.

"Oh, sorry, you will need this." Morgana produced a large flat spoon from the fold of her gown and placed it next to the bowl. Merlin now understood what Gwen and Morgana were up to and groaned a little, knowing Arthur was going to take his humiliation out on Merlin once the girls had left.

Arthur reached for the spoon and then stopped and looked at his hand. With the bandages he couldn't move his thumb and could only bend his other fingers at the second joint. That was when Arthur realized he couldn't pick up the spoon. He looked at his other hand, but it was bandaged the same. He looked up at Morgana and Gwen and saw that the fake-serious faces they had entered with were now two giant grins.

Arthur certainly wasn't going to admit defeat to Morgana. "Merlin." Arthur growled out of his clenched jaw.

Merlin hung his head and sat down at the table next to Arthur. He picked up the spoon. His hand was shaking so much from nervousness that he kept rattling it against the bowl. "Spill that on my lap and I will have you drawn and quartered." Merlin quickly brought his other hand over to try and steady the spoon.

Merlin slowly brought it up to Arthur's mouth careful not spill it. Arthur opened his mouth and Merlin stuck the spoon in. Arthur immediately opened his eyes wide and took a deep breath in through his nose. Merlin realized his mistake but froze not sure what to do to correct it.

"Hot, is it?" Morgana asked in that innocent voice. Arthur opened his mouth slightly and allowed Merlin to remove the spoon. Breathing through his mouth trying to cool it off he slowly chewed the piece of meat sitting on his tongue. Finally he swallowed it.

"Well, I think we should go." Morgana announced. "I have a big day ahead of me. I was going to write a letter and then dress myself for a quick horseback ride. I'll need gloves for when I grip the reins. Then I will come back and wash myself off and brush out my hair. I will need to put on my best clothes for the formal dinner Uther is having tonight." She gave Arthur her best fake smile as she got up to leave. Gwen, at least, had the decency to give Merlin a slightly apologetic smile as she got up to follow Morgana out the door.

After they had left Arthur growled, "It will take this stew a minute to cool off. Why don't you pick up that goblet while we are waiting."

"What goblet?" Merlin asked.

Arthur knocked the empty goblet to the floor again and then stood up. "That one."