authors notes: this is one of my favorite types of merlin fanfiction that i write. i hope you enjoy. i will do shoutouts to those who review. ^^

this will have no spoilers for any aired episodes. i will always give a spoiler alert. i hate reading a fic and than having the whole show spoiled!

The sun slowly made its way over the treetops that surround the castle of camelot. Merlin felt the sun on his face as he awoke from a terrible nightmare, although he could not remember anything about it. Merlin found that when he opened his eyes that he was completely exhausted and felt unnaturally drained. His muscles where sore from being Arthur's target yesterday and in fact, merlin thought, for every day before that this week! Merlin groaned as he sat up, raising his had up to his forehead. I had better get up. That prat of a prince would not be happy if I woke him up late he thought, shaking his head silently as he stood up from his bed, which now that he thought about it seemed more inviting that it usually did. Merlin walked to his bedroom door and then began to walk into the main part of the room he and Gaius shared. Merlin was about to wish Giaus a good morning when he released Giaus was not in the room.

"Giaus?..." merlin spoke the word inquisitively, as if expecting him to come out of the broom closet. Merlin shook his head. He was being stupid. This is about the time gaius makes his first morning rounds. Why did he not wake me up? Merlin thought as he exited the room. He broke into a run so that he would not be late waking up the prince.

Merlin opened the door to prince arthur's room. he did not make an effort to be quiet, nor did he try to be exceptionally loud either. Walking over to Arthur, Merlin released just how tired he was. There was a small sway in his step and a noticeable strain to his voice.

"Arthur..." Merlin whispered. He put a hand to his shoulder and shook him gently. Wait... Merlin thought why should i wake him up pleasantly? he has used me as a battle target for the past week! payback time. Sun poured into the dark room when merlin pulled back the curtain.

"Rise and shine!" Merlin shouted. Arthur was thrown into a panic from the sudden, and not to mention rude, awakening.

"Merlin you idiot! What the hell do you think your doing!"

"Opining the curtains. What else?"

"But why are you opening the curtains, Merlin? Hmm?"

"This place needs some brightening up, don't you think?" Arthur threw a pillow at merlins face. Luckily Arthur was still half asleep so almost no strength was applied and it was easily dodged, even in merlin's state of drowsiness. His vision began to blur slightly, but Merlin shook his head and it cleared. Arthur glared at Merlin when he slid off the bed.

"Make yourself useful and start a bath. I don't have anything to do today and I need one before breakfast."

"Of course, sire" Merlin replied as he was to tired to make and argument or a complaint. Arthur raised an eyebrow at Merlin's complacency but said nothing. As Merlin went to heat the water, Arthur went behind his screen to change.

Merlin began to think as the water sat in front of the fire. Why don't i ever get any thanks? It's always merlin do this and merlin do that. I never get any peace, and if its not him it's giaus saying "Merlin clean the leach tank" or "Merlin go fetch me herbs"! Merlin's drowsiness was beginning to effect his mood. Je hated being tired and feeling like general crap! When Merlin judged that the water was suitable he poured it into the large tub. not a moment later Arthur emerged from the screen, wrapped in only a towel.

"Are you sure it's hot enough, Merlin?" Arthur asked as he was walking. Merlin sighed, tired of hearing the same thing every time.

"No, it's ice cold! I made sure of it!" Merlin replied, his tone cold and angry. Arthur glanced to Merlin before climbing into the tub. The water was heated perfectly. Not to hot, like one time before when it was so hot it boiled, or to cold like that now winter when they could not get the fire started. "Merlin?" the prince called his manservant over. "Their is a list of chores for you to do over on my desk. I expect you to be finished with them in an hour so you can empty my bath."

"Anything else, sire?" Merlin said in his usual mocking tone. Again, Arthur glared at Merlin even though he could not see, for Merlin was standing behind him.

"No. shut up and go do what i've ordered." Merlin huffed and began to walk to the door.

"ah Merlin? thank you..." Arthur mumbled. He had noticed that Merlin acting strange and was actually feeling sorry for him. Sorry for a servant? When did this happen? Arthur thought as he sank deeper into the water. luckily or unluckily depending on your veiw, Merlin had not heard the thanks and stalked off to complete his list of chores.


Merlin finished his list of chores and trudged back to the prats room with no doubt more orders of work. Does it never end? Merlin thought, surprised by his own negativity today. Usually Merlin insults Srthur, but never in the cold-blooded anger he had today. Merlin decided to knock on the door before coming in, just to make sure the pra- I mean prince was not dressing. No response came from the door. Arthur had a habit of falling asleep in the bath so merlin came onto the room. Arthur was indeed asleep, so Merlin decided to leave him be, maybe get a seconds rest. After being already so drained this morning, Merlin was ready to drop where he stood. He made it to Arthurs bed, but only just, before falling asleep.

Arthur tapped his food against the ground to a steady rhythm.

"Merlin..." Merlin's eyes opened slightly "Can you tell me what, exactly, you are doing?"

"ahh..." a small sound escaped Merlin's lips and he realized what he had been doing. Merlin was sitting on Arthur's bed, and had been fast asleep.

"I was tired! I almost never get any sleep anymore with both you and giaus ordering me around." Merlin mumbled that last part.

"Oh you where tired? Well" Arthur picked merlin up by his collar and dragged him off the bed. "I think it would be a perfect time to muck out the stables, don't you?

"Why don't you do it , dollup-head? It would do you some good. How's my diet been working out for you?" Merlin said, referencing the instance where he had first called Arthur fat.

"Did you just call me fat? I could throw you in the stocks!"

"ohhhh, scarry!" Merlin said as he walked to the door. He was still tired, but he felt better after that nap. Although he could feel a headache coming for him because of the irregular sleeping pattern he had today. Merlin was at the door when a big, hard, metal object hit him in the head. He swooned forward but caught himself before he hit the ground. Did arthur just... Merlin wondered. A hand reached up to his head and came away wet with a small amount of blood. He turned to face Arthur, and something snapped.

"What was that for!? Do you know how much I have been doing for you today?! How much I have busted my ass around doing whatever you tell me?! Your pretty little princess behind has never been through as much work as I have since I came here! You have no idea what I have done for you and this is how you treat me? Throwing a goblet at my head?" Small tears formed in the young warlocks eyes. Today had caused many things build up inside the usually calm Merlin.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelled as his servant glared up at him. " You have no idea how hard I work to keep camelot safe. I don't have time to worry about small things like cleaning or cooking."

"Well, maybe you should take a day off and come down from that pedestal of yours to see how hard we, you servants, work. Gwen included." Merlin stormed out of the room.

"Merlin! come back here!" Arthur fumed. "Don't ignore me!"

Merlin slowed to a walk as he came upon the door to his chamber. His anger melted away. What did i do? Why did i snap like that at Arthur? I know he works hard for the people of camelot. As soon as Merlin entered his chambers, a dizzy spell overtook him. The energy he had recovered during his nap was gone and he was dead tired.

"Merlin? are you alright? You look like death its self." It was Giaus.

"I'm alright, just a bit tired." Merlin replied.

"Alright then i have a favor to ask you."

What is it?" Merlin asked, trying to sound polite for Gains had done nothing.

"Would you go outside the city walls and to the forrest line? There grows a flower I need for a tonic. A fever is spreading throughout the outlying villages in Camelot and I am afraid if I don't treat it there, It will spread even further." Giaus sounded worried, so Merlin could not help but say he would.

"Of course, I will be back before dark, Giaus."

"thank you, Merlin"

Merlin left Giaus to go saddle a horse. He would need something to carry the flowers, for he knew Giaus would need a lot if the fever was spreading.


Merlin slowed to a trot as a light tore throughout the sky. Thunder laced the air not a second later. Dark clouds loomed overhead. I'd better make this quick Merlin thought worriedly. I don't want to get caught in th- Merlin's thoughts where interrupted with thunder, paired with a dizzy spell that came out of nowhere. Merlin forced his vision to clear and kicked his horse so it galloped to the wood line. Not two seconds after merlin reached the wood line, It began to pour. Merlin was soked in seconds. He began to shiver uncontrollably. The clouds blocked the sun, and darkness surrounded merlin. He could see nothing. His horse, who stood behind him, jumped when a bright stalk of lightning pierced the sky. Almost instantaneously thunder ripped through the silence. The horse brought it's front legs down onto Merlins head! At first all Merlin could see where fuzzy outlines of trees, then everything slowly whent black, along with an unbelievable feeling of pain.

Pain faded in and out, Throbbing throughout his body, But mostly focused on his head. He was cold and wet. Merlin opened his eyes and instantly regretted it. Rain pelted his skin. Memories slowly returned to his head. He began to sit up but was hit with pain, nausea, and another dizzy spell. They where happening more and more. Merlin rolled over and pucked his guts out. He figured he looked pitiful but he did not care. All he wanted was for the pain to stop. When he was finished, He resiled what time it was. It was after dark, After the time he promised Giaus he would be back. Merlin stood and leaned against a tree to his right. He started in the direction that he thought was back to Camelot.