A/N: This is my first fanfiction so I'm a little nervous. Thanks to Dawnfire11 she is an amazing writer and I suggest you go read her fanfic's. Seriously I never would have even started this fic without her. Please read and review.
Chapter 1:
"Mmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr rrrrrrrrllllllllllllliiiiiii iiinnnnnnnn!"
A brown haired figure flung open the door to the king's chambers, stumbling over his own feet as he did so, almost dropping the large plate of breakfast he was carrying from the kitchens.
With a wide grin on his face, he asked "You called sire?" He placed the plate on the table.
"Yes Merlin!" the king yelled. "Can you manage just once to bring my breakfast to me on time? Just once?"
"Well now that you're king, I'm trying to not only keep your waist the same size, but your ego as well."
"I'M NOT FAT!" Arthur shouted.
The king flung a pitcher at his servant's head and Merlin only managed to dodge it by ducking underneath the table. The pitcher clanged off the stone floor.
Merlin popped back up, smiling as he said, "So you need anything else, clotpole?"
Arthur shouted, "Yes Merlin. Have you seen the state of this place?"
The room was indeed covered with clothes, various pieces of armor, food, and bed sheets that had been mysteriously flung across the room. Merlin had cleaned it the day before, but, as usual, the king managed to make a mess out of the room without trying.
"But... but you have a council meeting in five minutes," Merlin protested.
"Fine! Dress me, but when I'm training, your sorry ass better be in here cleaning this mess up."
Ten minutes later, dressed in his red jerkin, Arthur burst open the door to the council chambers, Merlin following close behind.
The council meeting lasted through lunch and proceded Arthur drawing out plans for a part of the outer wall to be repaired. Arthur debriefed the council members on the cost and benefits of the new section, and how long the project would take.
Merlin stood off to the side of Arthur, studying council members, looking for the slightest expression of deceit that could escalate and he would have to save Arthur again from another half-baked plan by another person trying to kill his best friend.
When Arthur was pleased with the plans for the wall, he called the meeting over and swept out of the room, leaving Merlin to gather all the papers off the table and catch up to Arthur in time to prepare his master for his afternoon training.
Merlin was fitting the last piece of armor on Arthur's left shoulder when there was a knock at the door and a guard burst in.
"An urgent matter needs your attention in the council chambers, my lord," the guard said hurriedly.
"Thank you. Merlin, come with me." The king strode out of the room, heading swiftly to the council chamber. A man was standing in the middle of the room when they arrived.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arthur asked.
"My village has been attacked and overthrown by bandits, my lord," the man mumbled.
"What village?"
The man hesitated. Arthur leaned in closer and said, "You may speak without fear. No harm will come to you... I promise."
"A small village in Cenred's lands named Ealdor."