"MERLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!"

A rather bedraggled looking Merlin scuttled into the room, his hair pulled into scruffy tufts, a pink flush across his cheekbones. "Yes, Sire?"

"Oh!" Mock surprised flashed across the handsome Prince's face. "Merlin! Are you doing anything at the moment by any chance?" He asked, sarcasm lacing his tone as he flicked a button on his expensive jacket in annoyance.

Merlin's face instantly flashed to a mixture of confusion and suspicion. "No..." He braved slowly and carefully. "Should I be?"

Arthur's blue eyes flashed with annoyance, his mouth smiling like a cat trying to calm a mouse before ripping it to shreds. "Oh... I don't know..." Arthur gestured slowly to the window in a casual swagger, where men and woman dressed in riches were stepping graciously out of carriages.

Merlin's expression stayed completely blank and innocent as he tried to comprehend what on earth the Prince was talking about.

Arthur lost it.

"The FEAST, Merlin!!! I have to be dressed and ready to dine by afternoon, which in case you hadn't noticed is NOW!"

Shock registered across Merlin's face, his eyes opening wide, and he instantly jumped like a small puppy chasing a ball. "OH! Yes the feast! The feast! Ermmm. See, I've got your jacket here... somewhere..." Merlin began flinging random garments of clothes from a once organised pile on Arthur's fur covered chair.

Arthur rolled his eyes. If the truth be told, he was really treasuring the last few minutes spent with his idiotic, incompetent servant before he had to spend half of his day making polite conversation with a bunch of over dressed, over confident, over pampered nobles.

Arthur's thoughts trailed off along the lines of what kind of wine would be served at the feast as Merlin suddenly plonked a pile of clothes down on the table, rattling and almost knocking off an expensive silver goblet. His face this time resembled a puppy that just dug a large hole in the garden, much to his owner's annoyance, and was now standing proudly on guard. Cocking his head to one side and clearing his throat he announced, "Your clothes are prepared, Sire", in his most noble and well behaved voice. Arthur snatched the clothes violently off the table, giving his manservant one last withering glare. Merlin raised an eyebrow and for the second time that minute cleared his throat. Arthur spun around on his heel, his tone exasperated. "What is it now, Merlin?"
"Well sire..." Merlin chose his words carefully." I was simply...imploring... as to whether you required my presence at the feast tonight?" He shifted his balance from one foot to the other, a hopeful smile spreading across his face.
A devilish smile spread slowly across Arthur's face. "Well Merlin. You are SUCH a good servant. And you have been working AWFULLY hard lately." Merlin's eyes opened wide in innocence and disbelief. Arthur continued. "A good manservant is hard to come across and ALWAYS deserves to be praised."
Merlin flashed one of his adorable, childlike grins, looking as though he were going to skip around Arthur's room, swinging his neckerchief over his head. "So I can have the night off then?" Merlin beamed.
Arthur strode across the room, resting his hand amiably on Merlin's shoulder. "Oh no, Merlin! You see, as you've been SO efficient lately I thought it was only fair to give you a position all night serving hand and foot on our wonderful guests." Arthur clapped Merlin playfully on the shoulder before trotting gleefully off to change, a large smile spread revengefully across his face. Merlin's face resembled that of a three year old whose favourite toy had just been stamped on, kicked, snapped into little pieces. "Great..."

***

Arthur was growing increasingly restless, beyond the point of boredom. Well at least if he had to suffer his clumsy idiot of a servant would too. Speaking of Merlin, Arthur hadn't seen that idiotic grin in a while. He'd better not be sloping off. Arthur wasn't sure that he had the heart to put him in the stocks again. Not that he was going soft. "Father would you excuse me for a moment. I must check that everything is in order for our guests' accommodation..." King Uther raised a stern eyebrow, and nodded his head slowly in approval before continuing a rather dry conversation with the portly gentleman next to him. Arthur shot up from the table and strode confidently out of the room, pushing open the double doors of the great hall in a grand gesture, and closing them quietly behind him. Now to find his servant...

No.
It couldn't be him. It couldn't possibly be. I won't let it be.
Merlin's thoughts bordered on irrationality as he sped across the courtyard, his heart thumping like a grandfather's clock in his head. A clock that was taking its toll.
A strike of midnight.
A wicked contorted grin.
Merlin sunk to the floor.

Arthur strolled casually past the kitchens in the lower half of Camelot's grand castle. The brisk midnight air whipped against his skin, tousling his golden blond hair. It felt good to be stretching his legs. He hadn't realised how long he'd been in that torturous hall, making "polite" boring conversation, even if every minute had seemed like an hour. Silver light emerged from its hiding place behind the wispy clouds, as the crescent moon was revealed, illuminating the courtyard in front of him. Arthur had almost forgotten the reason he had wanted to escape the halls. Arthur's boots clattered against the cobbled stone floor as he ran gracefully over to the shaking shape in the centre of the courtyard. "Merlin?" Arthur bent down. "What on earth are you doing on the floor you lazy idiot!" Arthur said, trying to sound stern, but couldn't hide the concerned undertone in his voice. What on earth was Merlin doing on the floor, quivering like a leaf in the wind? "Merlin?" Arthur murmured, his voice really bordering between impatience and worry. Arthur reached over and pried Merlin's hands from where they hiding his face. Merlin instantly jerked back, making Arthur jump back in shock. Merlin's eyes flew wide open, reflecting the moon in their ocean blue colour, making them look surreal. Ghostly. But Arthur could see something else reflected in those eyes. Fear.

"He's back!" Merlin gasped out, choking on his own words, before allowing his eyes to flutter back into their lids.
Arthur stared at his friend in stunned silence.

Who?