Today, Arthur was nervous. Very nervous. More nervous than he had ever been since Merlin had known him, and this was clear from the minute he entered the room.
Arthur was pacing up and down in front of the window in his nightclothes, stopping every so often to take a deep breath or two, before carrying on pacing. He barely even glanced up when his servant entered the room, but was still able to bark 'Merlin! Where have you been, you useless article?'
Knowing full well that he was in fact early on that particular morning, Merlin decided to humour him; 'sorry, sorry, I was helping to set up the Banquet Hall for tonight. It's certainly impressive, must be someone important' he said cheerily.
Whipping round to face him, Arthur hissed 'Important! I told you yesterday, this isn't just 'important', this meeting could revolutionise Camelot, and its future! If King Boltor signs the Treaty, we get access to world trade, foreign goods and industry from across the continent! This could even…'
'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I remember now, food, money…other…fun…stuff. So! Shall we get you dressed then? Can't have you greeting our Lord and Master in your nightclothes'
As the dinner began, Merlin started his journey, pouring water into the knight's goblets and wine into the Kings', stopping only to talk when spoken to and spending most of the meal behind Arthurs chair with strict instructions to cause a suitable distraction if the conversation turned sour. Arthur would then harshly berate him, displaying his authority and power to his guest, and then laugh about it with Merlin in his chambers later that night.
Listening in closely, Merlin heard Boltor guffaw loudly and chuckle 'My God, Arthur. You do remind me of your father so. I was utterly devastated when I heard the news' Arthurs shoulders stiffened slightly, and whilst Merlin inched closer to his friend, he said 'Yes. Well. It was most unfortunate, but have you seen…' 'But really', the King leaned in 'what happened? Was there really nothing you could do?' 'It was an attack, my Lord, impossible to prepare for. I mean, no one saw this coming'.
Those seated around the pair glanced over at hearing the strain in Arthur's voice, and Boltor narrowed his cold, grey eyes. 'But you have heard the rumours of course' 'Rumours no' 'It is said, in the alleyways that run between your kingdom and mine that the tragic circumstances of your father's death were not entirely an accident. That it was in fact a ploy for the crown, a plot conceived by members of Camelot, sworn to secrecy. A plan followed through by their 'beloved' Prince Arthur' his sentenced ended with a hiss, and glancing around to look at his fellow dinners, his neutral smile would've given the impression that their conversation had been a simple one of weather or work, but Arthurs cheeks had turned scarlet with rage and his eyes burnt with a deep look of loathing.
Shaking slightly with fury, Merlin saw Arthur open his mouth to speak, but before he could there was a great clang as metal jug hit stone floor and Merlin stood, empty handed, feigning shock at the mess he created and successfully distracting the diners.
'You idiot boy, look what you've done!' King Boltor boomed at him.
Bowing his head, he muttered 'Forgive me Your Highnesses, My Lady' he nodded to Gwen and sank to his knees to clean up the wine. 'For goodness sake, you've gotten wine on my finest boots! Dratted boy! I shall expect these cleaned by morning, unless you are thrown in the stocks beforehand!' Boltor snarled, kicking Merlin's hand lightly with his foot.
Arthur, who had done nothing apart from turn in shock, suddenly threw out a hand to Boltor's chest, preventing him from harming Merlin further and said 'Thrown in the stocks? Forgive me, my Lord but that hardly seems an acceptable punishment for a servant of the palace. What sort of reputation would that give us? No, here in Camelot we deal out reprimands as discreetly as we can, and as fairly as we can. A night in the dungeons should serve him right, without dragging the public into our personal affairs'.
Arthur had spoken so evenly, it was almost as if the previous conversation had never happened, and satisfied with this punishment, Boltor turned away, just as Merlin said 'Thank you, Arthur' and stood up holding the sodden rag which had once been his favourite scarf.
There was a pause before 'I'm sorry, what did you just say?' Paling rapidly as he realised his mistake, he faced Boltor and whispered 'I'm sorry, Your Highness'.
Arthur groaned internally and, knowing what he had to do, turned to his friend and shouted 'How dare you! How dare you speak the King of Camelot as if I were a common peasant! As if I was your friend! You're a liar and lousy servant! Come with me!' Arthur's fist gripped around his shirt collar led him out of the hall and into a deserted corridor, where suddenly Merlin was forced up against a wall, almost nose to nose with his friend.
'Now listen' he snarled 'I know you think that you're my friend, my only friend, because you save my life once in a while but right now YOU'RE NOT! I AM A KING AND SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE ONE! ESPECIALLY TONIGHT! YOU'RE A WORTHLESS SERVANT WHO NEVER DOES AS YOU'RE TOLD AND YOU'RE LUCKY I HAVEN'T SACKED YOU BY NOW! IF I LOSE THIS DEAL BECAUSE YOU, I SWEAR TO GOD MERLIN! NOW GET BACK INSIDE AND BEHAVE YOURSELF!'
With this, Arthur swept back into the hall, breathing heavily, leaving Merlin to push himself off the wall and mentally shake himself as he tried to figure out what had just happened. He'd thought Arthur was pretending in the hall, selling himself to the King but…Arthur rarely shouts, and he never shouts at Merlin. Sniffing slightly and wiping his face, he forced himself back into the hall, and back into his routine but pointedly standing behind Percival's chair, instead of Arthurs, for the continuation of the night.