"Father, I can NOT believe you just made that idiot, Merlin, my manservant. What were you thinking?"

Arthur hurried after his father, ignoring the fact that everyone they passed stopped to stare. He knew that raising his voice to the King in public like this was bad form, but it was the first chance he'd had since his father's hasty decision and he wasn't about to let it slip by.

Uther turned to look at his son, a strange look of anger mixed with fear crossing his features before being schooled into the composed mask he had perfected long ago for moments like this.

"Arthur, why do you question me?" he asked, a slight hint of annoyance evident in his voice. "The boy saved your life: who better to serve you than one who would act so quickly when your life is at risk?"

"Because he's an idiot. Yesterday he didn't even know who I was and today he still managed to act like a fool. He doesn't know how to behave."

"He behaved perfectly this evening," Uther said pointedly. "You are long overdue a servant of your own, it is no good having the Kings heir being served by just anyone from the castle. I would have thought you'd be happy to finally have someone who could serve you faithfully."

"I would be," Arthur replied hotly, "if you'd chosen someone else."

"Need I remind you," Uther said, his voice rising to match his son's, "that I have suggested several manservants in the past and none have suited. It will do you good to accept this graciously."

"But I don't like him," Arthur spat, "he's ignorant, rude and an idiot."

"You don't have to like him, and as for the rest, well, you'll just have to train him."

"But, father, I…"

"I'm sorry, Arthur," his father cut him off sharply. "My word is final. The boy saved your life and for that he gains the honour of serving in the royal household. Do not let me hear word that my son is ungracious by refusing to uphold his honour."

"No father," Arthur said, head bowing as he realised there was no getting out of this. He watched as his father turned on his heel and strode for his chambers, no doubt to process the night's events and decide how to deal with the aftermath of a shot at his son's life.

Why did it have to be that idiot who saved me? He thought, irritation making him grouchy. Teaching him a thing or two about respect had been fun, when he was just an unknown boy wandering about the castle grounds and lower town. Throwing him in a cell had been even better, but his connection to Gaius had soon dealt with that. How could someone like Merlin be connected to the wise and kindly Gaius?

He had to give it to the boy, though, he had a very strange sense of honour. Not for royalty, as was expected, but honour nonetheless. He'd stood up for a servant he'd never met and then fought Arthur, despite knowing the prince could easily beat him.

An idiot, he thought. It's that simple: who else would pick a fight they couldn't win, not once but twice? He guessed that was why he'd taken so long to beat Merlin that second time, stumbling and falling all over the place. He'd never tripped over so many things before, and the only explanation he could think of was that his opponent's complete lack of self-preservation had thrown him. He'd expected him to either run away, like most servants, or fight back like one of his knights. He had never fought someone quite like Merlin and as much as the younger man annoyed him, he had to admit he was slightly intrigued by what must have been going through his head when he chose to fight instead of flee.

Probably didn't think, he thought and let out a chuckle, startling one of the girls who were busy clearing out the mess in the hall. Arthur shuddered when he thought back to how easily they had all fallen under the spell, how much damage the witch had made in such a short time and how close he had come to losing his life.

Why did he save my life? he wondered. He thought back to how Merlin had appeared out of nowhere, moving him when his own muscles wouldn't react. Had it not been for his quick response, Arthur would have been dead, such was the aim of the old woman. But it wasn't the speed with which the clumsy oaf had reacted but the reason behind it that confused the prince. If he took the earlier examples of Merlin's behaviour, the boy not only hated him but also had no regard for the way in which royalty should be treated. So why had he jumped in to save the man he despised?

Arthur shook his head, realising that he really should return to his rooms instead of remaining here in the corridor where he was attracting far more curious looks than were really necessary. The matter of Merlin could wait until morning when he started in this new role neither of them wanted for him.

As he walked, however, he began to think of all the things he could do to "train" his new manservant and a smirk lit his face. Just because he had been thrust into the prince's employment as an honour, didn't mean he would get an easy ride.

Planning his "training", Arthur called one of the servants he passed and instructed him to call on Merlin. His official work might not start until morning, but a little bit of "practise" might be fun.

Later that night, Merlin returned to Gaius' room, arms full of armour and a long list of chores he'd be expected to do come morning. He couldn't believe the prince had already found time to not only plan out a gruelling routine of tasks from cleaning his chambers to polishing his armour, but had also planned battle training for his new servant.

"I can't take you out on hunting trips and patrol work if you don't even know how to hold a sword right, Merlin, can I?" The prince had sneered, taking far too much pleasure in Merlin's response to the news. "You might have no sense of danger, but I don't want you getting me into trouble by standing there and letting an enemy strike you down while I'm busy fighting someone else. Besides, I have a tournament to train for and I could use a sparring partner."

Merlin sighed. No matter how much he had tried to persuade the prince that he'd be worse with a sword than without, he knew the morning would bring an onslaught of pain and beatings. He guessed he had himself to blame, or rather his big mouth: why did he always have to speak before he really thought about what he was saying? Insulting the Crown Prince of Camelot was not his smartest move, even if he was a prat.

"I guess you'll be needing your sleep, then?" Gaius said, looking at Merlin's list and chuckling to himself. "You'll be wishing you were still helping me sooner than you imagined by the look of this."

"I already wish I were helping you," he replied, frowning at the thought of tomorrow's dawn.

Gaius simply laughed louder and steered his charge towards his bed.