That day went by far to quickly. Merlin attended his lessons sitting at the back and making notes in silence. Luckily the others did not want the seat and sitting at the front or near the door he'd ad his head waked things thrown at him his bag swiped later to be found on the rugby field and it had been a gauntlet of out stretched legs to reach the door at the end of lesson. His classes were small no more than five of them in each but the teachers didn't complain about his distance from the group. Though other schools would long ago have tried to rid themselves of this ritual discrimination and bullying Camelot saw no need for such a thing. The scholarship students succeeded what more did they want?

So it was that he was easily able to reach Arthur's room well within time. The older boy was looking over a document of some sort.

"So you are fast tracking in chemistry and mathematics? I'm sure good old cat lover has taken a shine to you."

"Is that my school record?"

"Yes, I decided to pick it up earlier today. Interesting it say that you chose to move schools due to your previous school not wishing you to return yet they gave you a sterling reference and gave no reason for their hesitance to accept you in to their 6th form. Explain."

"I was involved in a few events at the school though not through my own fault. I was unable to get a restraining order because the person In question had a very good lawyer and it was impacting on the school so it was suggested I move away for a while."

"Details."

"Are not any of your business."

"Everything is my business, Merlin, learn that quickly. No matter I'll know soon enough. Anyway I will brief you now on what your duties will be as long as you are in service to me." He indicated a chair and Merlin sat. He was still wearing his classroom clothes despite that most people changed in to designer everything after class not that their shirts weren't designer.

"First you are to place a newspaper on my bed side table in the morning, without waking me, second I expect you to arrive on time with my breakfast cooked properly at seven along with my breakfast you will have my clothes. I expect a fresh pair of trousers and shirt everyday. My jacket needs cleaning twice and week but I expect to find the content of its pockets where I left them when it is returned in pristine condition. My shoes should have been shined and all my clothing for the day is to be place in the bathroom and a warm bath run. Ties must be washed after three wears and ironed. The rest of my clothing will be washed after it is worn. You will have to collect that. You will also be expected to negotiate any repairs of my things and delivery of them where needed. Organising my appointments, sorting out my briefcase for the school day. My bed will need making each day from now on and stripped and turned at the end of the school week and after the weekend. Any shopping I need is also your duty, I expect you make sure my toiletries never run out without a new one readily available that includes my supply of condoms and the carpet need hovering daily, the bathroom kept spotless.

"School commitments will be no excuse for any of these things to not be properly done; neither will sickness. Though I will not be please should I be ill because of you. You will have access to a maintenance supply of money through which you must fulfill these obligations. I don't care how or when you do these things just see to it they are done with out things such as hovering while I'm trying to work or returning clothes while I'm sleeping. You will have a key but you will note that on the door there is a tulip above the door handle it turns if it is upside down you are not to enter, nor are you to enter while I am sleeping except to deliver my paper. Is that all clear?"

Merlin starred for a second while his memory assimilated the list he had just been given. "Yes, perfectly."

"Oh and if you ever enter this room while I have company in that slovenly attire you will rue the day you ever heard the name Avlon." Merlin nodded and noted to him self not to wear the baggy jean again. He guessed as long as he looked what his mother would call presentable; he was only a servant in Arthur or anyone else who would be in the room's eyes so it would not matter. "You will start your duties now, here is a list of people who wish to see me, arrange it. The folder also contains my timetable, a pager for you and you must take spare laptop to be fixed it can't take movies off DVD's."

Merlin looked at the laptop, he just needed some DVD ripped software and a player. He took the folder and laptop. Inside was not a pager but a pager, phone with Internet. It appeared to be on an account. Students were not allowed phones over than mobiles so base on the contact that included every name on the list with out a number next to it this was how Arthur expected him to complete the job. While Arthur started on his schoolwork, he went through to a small office Gwen had said would be useful for him.

It was not much more than a cupboard with a small table and light but it was sufficient to sit at and work on the appointments. He had acquired Arthur's appointment book as well in order to write them out for Arthur, the book was filled with various different handwriting none of which he suspected to be Arthur's. It took him half an hour to negotiate all but one of the appointments and write them in to the book. No one on the list seemed to be surprised not to be talking to the man himself. The last one struck dread into Merlin. Uther Pendragon. Tentatively he rang the number and it was picked up instantly.

"Yes. Who is this?" The voice was deep but clear.

"This is Arthur's assistant, he asked I call to arrange an appointment for him to see you." He said deciding to change from what he had used so far which was an appointment to see Arthur.

"I'm not Uther you know."

"What? Do I have a wrong number?"

"No, What's your name?"

"Merlin."

"Merlin you will soon learn that just like Arthur his father does not answer his own phone. My names David. This is the most direct line to him so I expect we'll be talking often." The conversation went better from there. David well knew the demands of working for a Pendragon and gave him some helpful advise. They confirmed a time and place for the meeting.

"Well, busy, busy."

"Yes, sorry I've taken up all your time."

"No, Merlin its fine. Good luck." Merlin really wished people would stop saying that as he stood and walked out to return the appointments book to Arthur. The Laptop took no time to place the software on to but what took time was setting it up so he could simply right click on the DVD and select a macro designed to rip it for you. He knew that Arthur probable would complain other wise. He placed this back as well and went to look through the bathroom and made a list of things that needed buying and cleaned the bath and sink before returning to his desk and pricing the the shopping list he had detail of the account he was o use as well a visa for it in the folder and having worked out where he could shop and planning a route he stood and took the folder with him placing the phone in his pocket he exited in to the main room.

"Is there anything else you will need this evening? I was going to go buy some more toiletries."

"While your out get me some Carlsberg and half a dozen Bacardi breezes."

"Okay." He was going to a supermarket anyway. "Only, I'm sixteen."

"And?" Arthur really didn't seem to care that it was against the law.

"And it will be here in about an hour." He looked at his watch and walked back to his room dropping the folder and adding two more items to the list. Before shoving it in his back pocket and going out to his bike. Most students were not allowed off site except at weekends but exceptions were made for toms as they chose to attend and put up with so much to attend it was unlikely they were going to disappear and if they did…so what?"

Arthur looked out the window at the odd boy as he disappeared on the bike. He was remarkably capable not that he would tell him. He might be a challenge. He had sorted the computer beyond fault not that it had been needed and the appointments were written in sensibly and legibly. If he came back with the beer then Arthur wasn't sure what he would do. He hadn't even winced at the idea of updating his condom supply which he must be doing that night. This was going to be a challenge. Oh, well the young heir liked challenges.