I don't own Merlin, the BBC does.
Also, let me know if I made any mistakes. If you have anything to say, message me, make a review,… I'd like to get some feedback!
Thanks and enjoy!
_
Merlin runs through the castle halls. He has overslept, again. On a normal day, he wouldn't mind it very much but Arthur wanted to go hunting early that morning. The manservant rushes to the kitchens, picking up the king's breakfast and makes his way quickly to Arthur's room. He reaches the royal chambers right on time and barges trough the doors, places the food on the table and goes straight to the window. With a quick pull on the curtains he lets morning light fill the bedchamber.
"Rise and shine!" he shouts and without a moment's pause he strides towards the bed, pulling the blankets away from the awakening form of his master.
"Merlin!" Arthur grunts and tries to push the young man away.
"No time to waste, sire! You're the one who ordered a hunting trip for this morning. Get up!" the raven haired boy says while pulling his King out of his bed in an ungraceful way.
The royal hits the ground with a soft 'thud' and groans.
"I could put you in the stocks for that!" the blonde threatens.
Merlin ignores him completely and starts picking out some suitable clothes, hanging them over the changing screen. When he turns around he sees the King pushing himself up and wipe his still tired eyes while yawning loudly. The manservant shakes his head and rolls his eyes.
"Didn't get much sleep, did you?" he asks, making the royal answer with a low growl.
Merlin chuckles and ducks away from the flying pillow that was aimed for his head.
"Ooh, I see how you have all the makings of a great king!" he says, a cheeky grin plastered on his face.
"I am already a great king!" the royal shouts angrily, not wanting to deal with his servant's insolence this early in the morning.
"Right…" is the boys only reply while he raises his brows in a disbelieving manner.
Arthur fumes and stomps behind his changing screen. He would make Merlin pay for irritating him this early, he thinks, mischievous plans already forming in his head.
When Arthur is fully dressed, he sits himself at the table and eats his breakfast quickly while his servant makes the royal's bed. None of them saying anything. The king suddenly stands and turns to his manservant.
"Did you pack everything?"
"Yes, everything is ready."
"Well, take this to the kitchens and saddle the horses." he says, making a gesture towards the dirty dishes.
"Right away, sire." Merlin replies.
He collects the empty plates, goblet and pitcher and leaves the room without another word. Arthur turns to his window to see how his knights are already gathering on the courtyard. 'I'm late!' he curses softly and makes his way rapidly towards his men.
"Good morning, your highness!" the knights greet him in unison.
They make a small bow and Arthur nods his head. Looking around he notices that his servant isn't there yet. Just when he wants to say something about it, the boy in question runs down the stairs.
"What took you so long?" the King questions the panting youth.
"Really? Do you know how big this castle is?" he retorts.
Arthur rolls his eyes.
"Just get the horses." he orders.
Merlin huffs and leaves towards the stables, only to return a few minutes later with two saddled steeds.
"Merlin!?" someone shouts just when they were about to get on the horses.
They all turn around to see who had been calling out. A large, muscular man, though not as large and muscular as Percival, runs towards them. He has short, red hair and a little stubble, dark green eyes and a crooked nose that seemed to have been broken in the past.
"Merlin, is that really you?" the stranger asks, eyeing the young man up and down.
Arthur and the knights turn their gazes from the stranger towards their friend who had become pale.
"Ronald." he says emotionless.
"So it is you!" the large man exclaims. "Good to see you, old friend!"
"Yeah, good to see you too, old friend." the secret warlock mumbles.
"You have friends?" Arthur asks a little stunned.
Merlin turns towards the King, disbelief in his eyes.
"Of course I have friends, prat."
"Yes! We are your friends!" Gwaine suddenly says while making a show of walking towards the raven haired boy and laying his arms around his shoulders.
"I meant, outside of the castle." the royal explains.
"You didn't tell them about me?" Ronald asks, faked disappointment in his voice.
Merlin stares at the man for a while before answering.
"What are you doing here, Ronald?" His voice sounds cold and distant, nothing like they're used from their usually cheerful friend.
"I heard you were working for the King now and wanted to check those rumors for myself. Guess they were true." the red haired man answers. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
The servant sighs and turns towards his friends. "Everyone, this is Ronald, Ronald, meet everyone."
The newcomer turns towards the six men and makes a deep bow.
"It's an honor to meet you all." he says.
"From where do you know Merlin?" Lancelot asks, a little suspicion in his voice.
"Ooh, we go way back. Don't we, Merlin?"
All heads turn back towards the raven haired boy who just keeps looking at the man.
"We grew up together." Ronald continues when the secret warlock doesn't say a thing.
"Really?" Arthur asks. "I didn't see you in Ealdor when we visited."
"I must have moved before your visit." the visitor replies.
"I'm sorry, Ronald" Merlin suddenly interrupts, "but we were actually just about to leave."
"That's alright." the red haired man says. "I'll see you when you get back."
"How good are you at hunting?" Arthur asks the newcomer.
"I've been hunting for my own food my whole life, sire." the man replies.
The King nods in agreement. "Go saddle another horse, Merlin, so Ronald can join us."
The servant turns to his master with a disappointed look in his eyes. Did he really not see how much he dislikes the man? Was he that oblivious?
"It would be an honor, your Majesty." Ronald says with a deep bow. When he gets up he looks at Merlin who glares at him before walking towards the stables. No one noticed the soft, satisfied spark gleaming in the rogue man's eyes.
A few minutes later, they are all riding through the gate, towards the forest. Merlin is riding on Arthur's right, at the front of the group. He tries to ignore Ronald, who is riding directly behind him. 'Why did that poor excuse of a man really come to Camelot?' he wonders.
Merlin hates the man, to say the least. It was true that they grew up together, but they weren't friends. In fact, they never had been and surely never will be. The red haired man had been bullying Merlin when they were little. One time it got completely out of hand and the village elders decided to send Ronald away. He was no longer welcome in Ealdor. Ronald, as a teenager at that time, swore he would make him pay for ruining his life.
A shiver runs over the young warlock's back. 'I do hope he's not here for revenge.' he thinks silently.
"I had a wonderful dream!" Gwaine interrupts the servant's train of thoughts.
"I have been dreaming about…! Hold on… apple pie!" The knight sounds so excited that the others can't help but laugh.
"You always dream of apple pie." Percival comments while looking at his friend with amusement.
"I don't." the brave knight says with a pout on his face that makes him look like a petulant child.
"I wish I did though, those dreams are the best!"
The knights roll their eyes and some of them chuckle softly.
"Did I tell you about that time when I kissed the daughter of the owner of the tavern?" the silence hating knight tries again.
"That time when the owner tried to get you two married after that 'one kiss'?" Lancelot asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmmm, apparently I did tell you. Now you've spoiled it for the others." Gwaine pouts again.
"Don't worry, we all heard it many times before." Merlin shouts while turning around to grin at his friend.
"Well then, I'll tell you about…"
"Not now, Gwaine. We're here." Arthur interrupts the talkative man. They all pull their horses to a stop and tie them to the trees.
"Get your weapons and beaters. We're going to fan out." the King instructs.
Merlin quickly gets Arthur's gear and arms himself with a beater. Without a word he gives a spear and beater to Ronald, before getting back to his master. They start to go deeper into the forest. All men are using their beaters to make as much noise as possible. Ronald stays close to the King, much to Merlin's dismay. He keeps a close eye on the man but forgets to look at where he steps. With the servant's luck he stumbles over a rock and falls flat on his belly. He groans but pushes himself up. The knights, seeing that he didn't hurt himself, start to laugh. Arthur who had turned around to look at the commotion, rolls his eyes.
"Lucky for you we are supposed to make noise." the royal says. "Is there something you are capable of doing?"
"Putting up with you." was the short, whispered response from the young man.
Ronald grins, his plan was going to be easier than he thought. Gwaine claps his young friend on his back.
"You alright, mate?" he asks.
"Yeah." the secret warlock answers with a soft smile towards his friend.
The King shakes his head and motions for them to go on. A few branches, that fly towards his face deliberately at the hands of the red haired man, later, Merlin is convinced that whatever the red haired bully is here for, it is not to ask forgiveness for what he did all those years ago. He doesn't get much time to ponder about it though because suddenly they hear a grunting sound coming from the bushes. Arthur gestures to his knights to fan out a little more. They immediately do as they're told, knowing the drill after so many hunts. The grunting noise becomes louder, making the knights get their weapons at the ready. They stalk a little closer until the beast, that seems to be a large boar, jumps out of the bushes with a loud growl. Arthur throws his spear but it bounces off the enraged animal. They all stumble back. Even Ronald, who claimed he was a good hunter, let his spear fall and tumbles over a root. The boar is running at top speed towards the royal. Merlin acts fast and with a quickly muttered spell, his eyes flash gold and the fallen spears flies towards the large animal, piercing it's heart. It falls down, right in front of Arthur's feet. Relieved breaths fill the sudden silence.
"That was close." Elyan says, his voice slightly shaken.
"Who threw that?" Arthur asks, looking around.
No one answers. Lancelot meets Merlin's eyes for a second before Ronald clears his throat.
"Was it you?" the King asks a little surprised.
The red haired man shrugs and nods.
"You just saved my life." Arthur says with a bright smile.
"Honestly, sire, it was nothing." the rogue answers with a fake smile on his face. Merlin raises an eyebrow. He can't believe what he's hearing. It was him who saved the King, not Ronald. But of course he can't tell them that.
"I shall be forever in debt to you. You must be rewarded." The royal says, gripping the man's shoulder.
"There's no need, sire."
"Come on," Arthur tries, "what do you wish for?"
"I desire only one thing, sire."
"Anything."
"A position in the royal household."
"Good, consider it done." the royal says. He doesn't really want to get the man as a servant but he did want to get back at Merlin for his insolence of that morning.
"Arthur! You can't…" the boy in question says with both disbelief and disappointment in his voice.
"This doesn't mean you'll be getting more time off though, Merlin." the King interrupts him, completely ignorant to the hurt feelings on his friend's face.
The knights of the round table don't notice it either. They are too occupied by the heroic act of the red haired man to pay any attention to their friend. Ronald, on the other hand, sees it clearly and a satisfied grin appears on his face.
The knights work together to get the large beast cut in pieces so they can transport it back to the castle. A few hours later they are all back on the road. Ronald has now taken Merlin's place, next to the King. The young warlock rides directly behind them. He can hear Gwaine talking about another silly tavern adventure but tunes him out. He's not in the mood to listen to him babbling. He feels hurt and betrayed. Not only did his childhood bully show up to make his life miserable again, but his friends didn't seem to have a clue about who that man really was. His thoughts get interrupted by Lancelot who comes to ride next to him.
"It was you who killed that boar, wasn't it?" he asks in a soft voice.
"No, why do you think that?" Merlin asks, without looking up.
"Merlin, I know you better than that." the black haired knight says.
"Alright, yes, it was me. But it's not like I can tell him, is it?"
"I suppose not. Still, that Ronald guy doesn't deserve the credit."
The young warlock shrugs. "It's too late for that now anyway."
"Who is he?" Lancelot asks.
"Just someone from my past."
The noble knight raises his eyebrows. "Just someone? Are you sure?"
"It doesn't matter." the servant says with a sigh. He taps his horse to go a bit faster, telling his friend that he didn't want to talk about it. The black haired knight falls back a bit and joins the others again, listening to a new story from Gwaine.
"Bring the meat to the cook. Tell her to prepare if for the banquet tonight." Arthur orders his two menservants.
They are back at the castle now, dismounting their horses.
"A banquet?" Gwaine asks, suddenly interested.
"To celebrate the good hunt." the King proclaims.
Merlin quickly gets everything out of the saddlebags. He wants to show Arthur that he doesn't need Ronald. But the man is eager to prove the same and takes a lot of the meat with him. Unseen to the others, he pushes the raven haired boy to the side and rushes up the steps. Merlin trips and drops the few bags he was carrying.
"Merlin! Could you, please, for once stop acting like a complete idiot and do what I ask you to do!" the King shouts.
"Prat" the servant huffs while picking up the fallen bags.
"I heard that!"
Merlin rolls his eyes and goes inside the castle, towards the kitchens. Once he dropped everything off and told the cook about Arthur's wish, he goes to the physicians chambers to change.
'This is going to be terrible.' he thinks with a sigh while entering Gaius' rooms.
The old physician had been reading in a book but looks up from the moment he hears the door opening.
"What's wrong?" the old man asks, noticing the gloomy face of his ward.
"I saved Arthur's life, someone else got the credit. Just the usual." he answers sarcastically.
Gaius gives him a sad smile. "One day he'll know what you've done for him." he says, hoping to change the boy's mood.
"Yeah." the young warlock answers and goes to his room.
_
First chapter! Yay! I'm thinking of writing five chapters for this one, but I don't know yet, may be more. I'll try to update frequently.
Let me know what you think so far!