DISCLAIMER - I don't own Merlin or any of it's characters but boy do i wish i did ;)

A/N - hi, first fanfic so please be nice although criticisms are welcome. My idea was for this to take place after season two but i guess it could happen during either season. Well, hope you enjoy. :) x

"Merleen yoou idiot!" Arthur slurred as he stumbled into his chambers, hiding something behind his back. How he'd made it up the stairs only God knew.

"What now Arthur?" Merlin asked wearily, standing up from cleaning Arthur's armour.

"Don't you use that…that impertinent tone with me Merlin!"

"What now, sire? Merlin tried and Arthur chuckled

"You forgot your hat!" he grinned bringing the feathered monstrosity out from behind his back and chucked it at his manservant but missed his target by several metres. "You were meant to catch it," he stated,

"Well I'm over here, not over there!"

"Well I wouldn't have had to throw it if you," he pointed accusingly at Merlin "hadn't been idiotit…idiotitic enough to have forgotten it." he grumbled

"Oh yeah! I forgot it."

"You left it on purpose!" Arthur exclaimed "I thought yoou looooved that hat!"

"With all my heart." Merlin replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Prat."

"But you can't love it if you forgot it on purpose…can you?" Arthur said confusedly

"No kidding. At least we know who the brain of this operation is." Merlin rolled his eyes again and Arthur chuckled, looking very pleased with himself, missing the sarcasm again. He was swaying slightly on the spot. "Come on Arthur, we'd better get you- !" he leapt forward as Arthur had swayed to far forward and nearly fell flat on his face but was caught in time.

"Veery veery good catch!" Arthur nodded approvingly, leaning into Merlin

"Wow! Was that a compliment sire?" Merlin asked, unable to suppress a grin.

"Nooo!" he shook his head against Merlin's shoulder

"I think it was. I think I could get used to them" he grinned, up righting Arthur but not letting go in case he toppled over again.

"You're funny!" Arthur laughed, his emerald eyes sparkling

"And another one! You must have had too much to drink this time. That's two compliments sire." his blue eyes twinkling back in delight.

"I love you Merlin!" Merlin's pale face tinged a slight pink and he blinked in surprise at the sincerity of Arthur's voice

"Of course you do sire." he muttered, knowing this was just Arthur's drunken talk coming through "Now I know you've had too much to drink."

"Nooo!" Arthur cried again.

"Come on, bed now." he said, feeling like he was chaperoning a four year old to bed.

"Nooo! Not tiii-red!" Arthur yawned

"Of course not." he said, beginning to undress Arthur. After that was done he dressed him in his night clothes. "Come on, bedtime."

"Don't want to." Arthur huffed like a sulky toddler

"What do you want then?" Merlin asked as patiently as he could.

"You…To. Talk. To. Mee!" he said slowly, pointing in his face

"About?" Merlin replied, pushing Arthur's hand away

"Dunno, something." he shrugged

"Well that helps." Merlin said sarcastically "What am I going to do with you?"

"Talk to me! NOW!" Arthur demanded "Now-now-now-now-NOW-N-"

"Alright, alright!" Merlin frowned, rolling his eyes once more. He seemed to be doing that a lot this evening "What about Ealdor?" Arthur smiled happily and nodded before staggering over to his bed and clambering into it. Merlin moved over to the bed and sat down by it.

"Well in the summer, the fields in Ealdor are full of flowers of every colour…well it seems like it. I picked my mother some once for her birthday. Will and I always used to hide there when-"

"Will the sorcerer?" Arthur mumbled sleepily

"What?…oh yeah." Merlin said sadly, remembering his friend and how he'd covered for him "Anyway, we used to hide there every time we'd set old Martha's cows loose into the-" He stopped as Arthur let out a huge snore. He grinned slightly to himself before getting up and heading to the door. "Goodnight Arthur" he said but paused before shutting the door "love you too." he whispered and shut the door quietly, missing the pleased smile that crept over Arthur's face.

A/N - am wondering whether i should leave it at that or perhaps continue? Well let me know what you think anyway and some suggestions on what to do if i do continue it would be appreciated :) x