Chapter 2

The setting sun peered through the arches and painted the corridor wall with a yellow glow, giving and impression that the walls of the castle was made of gold. After a long day's work Merlin trudged towards the Court Physician's room tiredly. His mind refusing to even notice the dancing sunbeams. His arms were laden with the King's heavy armour which needed to be polished for tomorrow's training session while his mind was heavy with exhaustion with only the thought of getting to his room, completing the chores and finally falling onto his cot and sleep fuelling his trek.

His whole day was spent in running errands for Arthur. The King, in his anger at being almost late searching for the treaty that was right on top the first shelf of his cupboard where all important documents were locked in every night for safety, had given Merlin the longest list of chores he could think of at the moment...which turned out to be pretty long.

And after completing all his chores, with a little help from the sympathetic laundry maids who collected Arthur's laundry in his stead, Merlin was carrying his last chore home while the thoughts in his head all combined into one muddled barely decipherable mess of walk, polish and sleep!. Oh Goddess he was so tired...

He was so occupied with putting one foot in front of the other without tripping that he had no warning until he walked on to a person head on.

The armour fell to the ground with an resounding clang. The noise echoing back and forth in the empty corridor, making Merlin's already throbbing head protest with a flash of pain.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Forgive me I wasn't watching where I was going." Merlin hastened to pacify whoever irate Lady or nobleman he had walked into. His headache giving a small painful throb at the thought of the stocks, and that would be if he was lucky. He quickly bent down to gather the scattered pieces of the armour, praying that it wasn't damaged too bad.

"Not to worry mate! I wasn't watching myse-! Merlin! Just the man I was looking for!"A cheerful voice boomed somewhere above him. Merlin, now quite sure he won't get flogged for his clumsiness, peeked up through his fringe. Almost at once a genuine smile spread over his face when he saw the grinning man who quickly bent down to help him with the armour

"Merlin really, where were you?" Gawain continued in a jovial voice, cocking an inquisitive eyebrow at his friend. "I've been looking all over the castle for you! I even visited the kitchen! And you know Martha terrifies the wits out of me. Honestly she still haven't let go of the fact I stole her apple pie. It's a complement that we steal them you know! They are just so irresistible! And you were no where to found."

Merlin's responding smile came very close to being a grimace and his eyes dimmed, showing his exhaustion in his too thin face. "I've been busy. Running around for Arthur all day. You know.. shining his boots, washing his clothes, mucking out the stables and such." Merlin said with his thin smile, which Gawain noticed, did not reach his friend's eyes, and turned to pick up another armour piece.

"Mucking out the stables?" Gawain asked with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Isn't that the stable-hands' job?"

"Yea..ah." Merlin yawned covering his mouth with his free hand. "Sorry. But you see I apparently failed to wake up his Royal Pratliness on time for a meeting today. He was a bit angry with me I guess." Merlin shrugged nonchalantly, while his eyes took a sad look. "He's under a lot of pressure, now that he is King. But to tell the truth I'm glad that the Gedref envoy leaves the day after tomorrow." Merlin said with a small smile.

Gawain eyed his first and best friend. Merlin looked run down, his eyes were starting to wear black rings of exhaustion, as if he didn't get enough sleep and he seemed to have thinned even more, which frankly amazed Gawain seeing as Merlin had already been a twig in his humble opinion.

"It doesn't give him a right to pile the work of two people on you Merlin.." Gawain said with a cluck of impatience and concerned anger, as he carefully placed the shoulder plate on the growing pile of armour in Merlin's arms.

Merlin immediately protested. "I'm his manservant Gawain. It's my job to do what he says you know." Merlin struggled to his feet, taking care not to let the newly recollected armour end up hugging the floor again. Gawain shook his head disapprovingly as he too stood up.

"You're wrong Merlin. You're far more than that." Gawain stated. "You're my first friend and the best one I have! That alone makes you worth ten times more than the princess!" Gawain stated grandly with a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. Being upset was definitely not Gawain's thing.

Merlin, his heart warmed by the honesty that rang in his friend's outwardly playful voice, couldn't help snorting and asking. "Shouldn't he be Queen now?"

"Ah no!"Gawain said looking important. "That would imply that our princess has grown mature now Merlin! He's just gotten more freedom to yell louder and a larger crown to fit his massive ego!" Gawain stated, sagely nodding at his now giggling friend.

Gawain looked proud as he beheld that some worry lines that creased his friend's face fade with his smile. "That's better." He said, smiling himself. Merlin lifted an eyebrow asking Gawain to explain.

"It's nice to see you smile mate." Gawain said quite seriously. "It's been a while since I last heard you laugh."

Merlin couldn't help smiling at that. His heart felt much lighter than before. Gawain always managed to cheer him up when Arthur is being a prat. As if reading his mind Gawain's voice pipped up, suddenly very serious. "About Arthur... Merlin, don't take what he says to heart al-right? He can't help being King and miserable, so he's just pressuring everyone else so they'll be as miserable as he is!" Gawain clapped Merlin on the back, nearly sending the armour tumbling to the floor again.

Merlin was quite amused. Gawain just didn't do serious. He always add some quip so all the seriousness he tried to gather amounts to nothing in the end. True to form...

"You know Merlin.. I know the perfect way to get the air of miserable Arthur off of us! What do you say? Want to ditch the armour for a bit?"

Merlin immediately looked wary. "Oh no... I know that look. If your brilliant idea involves ale and/or a tavern I'm not coming. Nope. No way!" Merlin shook his head. Gawain's face fell dramatically. His eyes took a halfway pleading look. "But come on Merlin! Please? I hear there's this new barmaid at the Prancing Pony and I need my favourite friend to put in a good word for me and cheer me on when I try to win the lady's heart and preferably free ale!" Gawain almost whined

"No Gawain." Merlin huffed a laugh at his friend's antics. "I'm not helping you to break a poor girl's heart. And you're a knight now Gawain! I should think you can manage to pay for your ale." Merlin admonished the now pouting knight. "Do you really want to polish the entire castle guards' boots again? Besides I have to clean this armour and mend the chain mail by tomorrow morning. You should put your wooing to another day anyway. I think Arthur's planning on having a knights' training tomorrow. He had that look on his face."

Gawain groaned tragically. "Oh yay..Training in the morning with an enraged five year old princess! Just the thing to brighten my life." Gawain said sarcastically as he shook his head in despair. "And I'll even have to wake up early! This just proves it! He's just jealous that we get to have more fun than him. This is payback!"

Merlin suddenly yawned again and Gawain gently nudged him towards the corridor leading to the Physician's rooms. "Off you go Merlin! You're almost asleep on your feet."

Merlin looked at Gawain with bleary eyes and nodded his consent. "Yes I sh...should go now. I'll do this lot and turn in." He gave Gawain a smile. "Don't go terrifying the poor barmaid Gawain. You should turn in yourself."

Gawain rolled his eyes . "Fine fine. I'll just go. " He turned to leave. "Oh and Merlin?" Merlin looked at him. "I'll have you know that free ale served by a beautiful lady tastes far more divine than the paid ones." Gawain gave an exaggerated sniff as he ambled away, leaving an amused Merlin to watch him slowly wandering away towards the knights' quarters, humming an unknown tune.

Merlin gave a sigh as he too turned to go on his way. I must've done a good deed at some point in my life to get so many good friends. He mused as he went to the chambers he shared with Gaius.

Yes! Definitely done some good! Merlin decided as he smelled the fragrance of his favourite soup wafting from a bowl on top of the table just waiting for him to gobble it up. It smelled like heaven to the young man who hadn't had anything to eat since the night before.

"You're late my boy! I was beginning to worry." Gaius greeted his ward as he stood up from the rickety stool he was perched on.

"Ah well.. You see I come bearing gifts." Merlin said cheekily as he showed the armour piled on his arms.

Gaius smiled. "Yes I can see that. Now put those aside and eat your soup, my boy. You haven't eaten anything the whole day." Gaius said looking worried as he eyed up the scrawny youth.

"I wasn't hungry that much Gaius." Merlin said as he quickly turned to place the armour on the nearby patient's cot. "Honestly!" He quickly reassured the physician as he turned to see the infamous Eyebrow, that leaves even the King feeling like a child, start to rise at an alarming rate in both disapproval and disbelief.

After a moment of looking at the wide eyed young man, it seemed Gaius decided to let Merlin off the hook, as he turned around to tinker with some bottles. Merlin carefully sat down on the stool and tucked in to the delicious, if slightly cold, soup with a content sigh. Relishing the feeling of being cared for and loved by his friends and surrogate father. Taking in the feeling to prepare himself to face the demons of his nights.

A/N I'm so sorry for taking so long to update! Real life decided to interfere. First of all... Thank you for all the favourable responses! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Reviews, the follows and the Favs. Thank you ever so much. Special thanks to the four reviewers. You were the push I needed to continue this. I'll try to update soon. but no promises. I don't like to make promises I wouldn't be able to keep [even if they are the best kind ;)] So I'll see you when I see you. I'm open to suggestions. feel free to PM or review. Cheers!

CSMSH