Title: Enough Credit
Rating: K
Summary: Arthur doesn't give Merlin enough credit. Takes place sometime during the third season but before Arthur and Gwen are found out in Queen of Hearts. NOT slash! Arthur/Merlin friendship, Gwen/Arthur romance(ish), and Gwen/Merlin friendship. This is my first Merlin fic, please be kind.
Disclaimer: I sadly, don't own them.
"It's a wonder how he's managed to just live life without impaling himself on a fork!" Arthur ranted to Gwen. Merlin had dropped all his newly cleaned armor, in the mud. So now it needed to be cleaned again which meant that Arthur had to wait. Not that Arthur needed to rush, the mission was simply enough and wasn't time sensitive in the least. Really, Arthur just didn't like waiting. Gwen sighed in annoyance. As much as she loved the future King, sometimes he could be thick and ungrateful.
"What?" Arthur asked, noticing her sigh. Gwen looked a little startled but realized that Arthur valued her honesty with him so she told him what she was feeling and thinking.
"You don't give Merlin enough credit, Arthur."
"What could that clumsy fool need credit for?"
"Well he puts up with your moods for one. He could simply leave, go back home or become Gaius' full time assisstant but he hasn't. He has stuck by your side." Arthur didn't know what to say because it was true. Arthur insulted and general gave Merlin a hard time everyday, sure Merlin gave just as good as he got but he did stay, even when things were bad. Very bad.
"He's also one of the bravest men I know." This got Arthur attention.
"Brave? Merlin? The same guy that hides in battle?"
"Yes Merlin the same guy that always goes into battle by your side with no armor or weapon to defend himself. He's not a Knight or warrior of any kind, he's just a servant boy. He's completely vunerable to harm but he's there Arthur. He may hide when it gets too rough but he never leaves you." Again Arthur was silenced by Gwen's wise words. He didn't really think about all that.
"I... "
"I think you should show a little grattitude." Arthur considered this for a moment before dismissing it. That's not how his friendship -and it is a friendship- with Merlin worked.
"I could just pick on him a little less." Gwen smiled in amusement. Boys will boys, she thought to herself.
"Yes, I guess that will do... you prat." Gwen said as she walked towards the door to leave Arthur's room
"Prat? You have been around Merlin too much!" Arthur yelled after her. Her laughter was his only reply.
An hour later, Merlin came lugging Arthur's armor into the room. There was an insult on the tip of Arthur's tongue but then he remembered Gwen's words and promptly shut his mouth. He stayed silent as Merlin helped him put his armor on and on the walk towards the courtyard to retrieve their horses. It was barely half an hour into their journey when Merlin spoke up.
"Are you sick or something?"
"No. Why?"
"You've been unusually quiet."
"I haven't had anything to say. Not everyone needs to babble on endlessly like you Merlin."
"Ahhh that's better, you prat."
"Merlin!" Arthur snapped, looking towards his friend who was smiling in good nature. Arthur couldn't help the smile that crawled across his face. Merlin was clumsy and almost useless in a fight but he was also patient sort of, brave in his own way and he was there. He was always there and somehow that made Arthur feel just a little bit better. "Never mind." Arthur said with a shake of his head.
"Okay but you're still a prat." Merlin said with a grin as he rode ahead of Arthur. Arthur grabbed his small napsack and tossed it at Merlin's head. It made contact with a solid thud and Arthur grinned in triumph.
"Now go get it." Merlin sighed as his horse came to a stop and climbed down, muttering the whole way to retrieve the item. And Arthur couldn't keep the grin off his face.