A/N: Yes, I know I should be posting new chapters for the stories I already have, but this one'll be really quick- I promise!
For a fairly cute little story, stick with this chapter; it'll go South from here.
Blowing out the candles and leaving Arthur to sleep off the exorbitant amount of wine he'd drunk that evening, Merlin traipsed out to the king's kennel in a gait that resembled exhausted stumbling more than walking.
One of the royal greyhounds had been injured on a hunt and the physician's apprentice had been caring for him the past two days.
The wound was minor, the dog had run down a fox and been bitten for his trouble, but Arthur doted on the beast and as such Merlin found himself doing likewise.
"Alright, show me that leg," he said as if the animal could understand him.
Hunter, the uninspiringly-named brindle laying in front of him, merely blinked and yawned in response.
"Just like your master," the warlock grumbled before settling down to take hold of the front leg.
Not liking the attention, Hunter bit the pale hand currently unwinding the used bandage.
Merlin let out a curse and swatted the hound on the snout before sucking at the wound and wrapping it with the linen he had prepared for the dog's leg.
"Happy now?"
The dog had retreated to the corner of the little pen he'd been sequestered in during his convalescence and now looked guiltily at the servant.
Arthur did, of course, have a full kennel staff but Merlin still spent a lot of time with the dogs; occasionally taking them out for walks and always seeing to their health when they were under-the-weather. Even if that hadn't been the case, the friendly young man had always enjoyed a high level of popularity with animals and the royal hounds were no exception.
He sighed.
"I know you didn't mean it. Come back over here."
The dog responded to the summons, coming to the open hand with tail between his legs.
"There now," the servant produced another bandage roll from his kit and wrapped it securely around the freshly-cleaned bite, "all done."
Merlin rose to leave but was stopped by Hunter's pitiful whining.
"Oh, now you want me to stay?"
He grinned at the dog looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"I just slept here last night and you wanted nothing to do with me when I came in- what makes you think I'll stay for such an ungrateful beast?"
The brindle whimpered and rubbed up against his companion, prompting a laugh.
"What are you, a cat?"
Another whine and imploring glance.
"Alright, you charmer. I came prepared this time."
Merlin plucked up a bedroll from outside the pen and spread it out on the dirt floor, leaving the pile of straw for its intended user.
The dog gamboled about a bit, trampling on Merlin in the confined space, before being reprimanded.
"That's enough! You don't need to be straining that leg and this pen isn't big enough for your enthusiasm. Here," he patted the straw bed and Hunter circled it a few times before curling up, back pressed up against Merlin.
"Well at least I'll be warm..." he muttered, drawing up his blanket regardless and putting out the torch with a quick flash of his eyes.