In the Armory ~ for RavenclawMerlinFan
where Merlin gets upset and Arthur comforts him in his awkward Arthury way
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"What happened?!"
Arthur looked over at himself but saw nothing out of ordinary that his servant would be so riled up about.
"I spent hours polishing that!" - the dark haired boy blurted out with disbelief of just how messed up the armor had become in that little time the prince wore it. It looked like Arthur had just fought two dragons and an un-dead army in the swamp and all at once.
"Yes.. well.. You're going to have to polish it again because I will need it in the afternoon." - the young prince said nonchalantly, yet slightly amused at his manservant's expression.
Merlin opened his mouth, but he was unable to actually say anything. It seemed ridiculous for a member of the royal family to always want the same bloody armor polished. Didn't he have other ones? Merlin had to keep polishing the same one over and over again only to have it undone the next day.. On second thought, - the boy pondered - better not, the prat might want both armors polished at once..
"Right. So you can roll around in the mud." - he retorted.
"What?"
"I said, you are sure training hard."
Arthur nodded, still unsure he heard right, but Merlin continued with his chores - in cleaning his room, - so he didn't give further thought.
The night before, the prince had told Merlin to polish his armor just after he went to bed; so the manservant had no choice but to stay up late until he finished making it look like it was brand new. By the time he got back to the physicians chamber the old man had already turned in for the night, leaving a small piece of cheese and bread for the young warlock, which Merlin took into his room to eat so he doesn't bother his guardian; and he was up bright and early that day; leaving to help the prince put his armor on for an early morning training. - the whole time him listing more things for Merlin to do that day, in the end not missing to make a mocking remark on his manservant's' abilities to 'get them done right'.
Arthur just made fun of him. He made fun of all the work and effort he put into his work as manservant and all the sacrifices he made as secret protector of the Pendragon boy and was getting no thanks as usual - he couldn't exactly expect thanks for the later part being in secret, but the mountain of chores he tackled daily were a different matter. He felt tired and depressed about it, more now then ever before for some reason; and he could blame it on the lack of sleep in the passed few days time, or the persisting aches thanks to the bruises he got while playing stand-in practice dummy at trainings, but knew all to well nothing will change about it; so he just gathered the armor pieces as the prince took them off. He knew he will just have to get over it. Like always. A few days pass and he will move on. Until something else comes along to take his mind off of it.
The young warlock was over the point of loud raging. He knew all too well, that never leads anywhere – except to the stocks if he really pressed his luck too much. Commoners just didn't have a word against royalty. And it was his job after all; a privilege even – he rolled his eyes every time he heard that; - It wasn't unfair, it was just a little too much for one person to do in such short notices, all the while running errands for Gaius as well, and trying to do some spells and herb studying and keeping an eye out for the prince's safety. And Arthur just seemed to get a kick out of piling chores on him.
He could have done them in a swing of a hand, though. And by the Gods, it was tempting to just get it all done at once with a spell; but Gaius would yell his head off, no doubt. He was right.
Gaius was right. Arthur was right. And Merlin, well, he just had to grin and bare that despite all his efforts – known and unknown – all he did went unappreciated. He struggled and it was ignored, sometimes he was even laughed at for it and called names. His thoughts trailed off from the armor escalating to all the other things, much more serious things, he had done for Arthur and that went unnoticed.. It's hard. – he came once again to the bitter conclusion.
"..muck out the stables, and while you're there, make sure you take the white mare to have her hoof checked, it sounded to me one of the horseshoes might be a bit loose, then after that I want you to.. " - Arthur continued on his monologue of a mountain of tasks and Merlin found it hard to keep focused. He was rather staring at the muddy footsteps the prince was leaving all over the place as he walked up and down on the freshly mopped floor. – that he just finished doing no more then few minutes ago.
"Are you listening?!" - the blonde man snapped.
"No.. Yes!"
"Merlin.." - Arthur's jaw tensed in annoyance.
"Yes! Yes! I know! I know! I'll mop your boots, polish the horses and have the blacksmith take a look at the stables.. muck out.. armor..! I get it! I'm not an idiot!" – he snapped and picked up the prince's armor, then stormed out of Arthur's chamber before the young man could say anything.
Arthur looked after him with a grimace of utter confusion, not sure what to make of his servant's odd behavior. He was clearly upset about something, but the prince couldn't figure what that could be. – Oh, he'll come around.. Merlin always comes around. - He considered demanding an explanation, though, just out of curiosity, but brushed it aside once he spotted notes upon notes on his desk: patrol reports. He let out an annoyed sigh, thinking he will have to look those through, and wondered for a second if he could get Merlin to do them, feeling awfully tired after the rigid training.
Better not, Uther certainly wouldn't approve, he figured with a pout and went to sit down and get to it, before they pile up into a too tall stack, but he immediately shifted when he felt he sat on something hard on his chair, only to find a piece of his armor left behind.
"Merlin…" - he growled to himself and put it on his desk with the intention of tossing it at his servant once he gets back.
Arthur was nearly done with the parchments when said servant came back, balancing a tray of food a little more clumsily then usual – the prince noted to himself. He also reeked of horse dung and looked rather rattled.
Merlin placed the prince's lunch on the table and without a word he headed towards the door.
"Forgot something, Merlin?"
The manservant turned around, and only had time to jump back as he saw something dark and fast approaching him; He shielded himself with his arms and hit the flying gauntlet, sending it the other way, then shook his hand of the pain where the metal had collided with it.
Arthur laughed. – of course he laughed. He always laughs. Merlin let out an annoyed sigh giving Arthur a glare, then picked up the gauntlet and was on his way again. The prince still had a smile on his face, but it faded a bit when something came to him.
"Merlin." – the servant stopped, the after a moment hesitation he turned around to face the prince with his usual 'what now' look.
"What's wrong?" – Arthur asked.
"Nothing." – he spat.
"Is it about that punch yesterday on the training field?"
"Punch? What punch? You had a mace in your hand."
"And you had a shield. It's not my fault you didn't use it properly."
Merlin opened his mouth to retort but then just shook his head and turned away to head out of the prince's room.
"Merlin!"
"Nothing, Arthur! Nothing.." – he shouted back and disappeared behind the wooden door.
The prince looked on furrowing his brows for a while. – He'll come around.. He's Merlin. He always comes around. .. Does he?
Arthur finished his meal, and seeing as the servant didn't come to pick up his plates he started thinking more seriously about his behavior. Eventually he pushed his seat back and started pacing in his chamber. Merlin still hadn't come. Arthur scooped up the reports and left his chamber to go talk to his father – but planning to make a little detour first.
He found Merlin in the armory, - as he thought he would - scrubbing his helmet.
"Merlin." - the young man looked up surprised to see the prince there.
"I'm not done yet." – he mumbled shaking his head and turned back to the helmet.
"Forget the helmet. We need to talk." – Arthur said with all determination.
"About what?" - the boy looked at him.
"About what's upsetting you."
"Nothings upsetting me." – he said a little too quickly, his expression going firm a bit and turned back to his chore.
"Clearly that's not true. We both know that." – he said with a scoff and rolled his eyes, then gave his servant one of his usual 'don't kid me' looks. – "So out with it."
"Nothing Arthur."
"Is it the training? That I'm involving you more? I just thought since you always come along on patrols with me, it would do you some good to know some moves with the sword."
"No."
"Well then what is it?"
"Nothing."
"Come on. Don't make me force it out of you." – he said jokingly punching the young mans shoulder. But Merlin just hissed, rubbing his shoulder and gave him a glare.
"I said nothing." - he said between his teeth.
"Merlin." – Arthur was losing his patience, but his manservant was insistent on defying him, not even looking at the prince.
"I tell you everything, why cant you do the same?" – he asked almost pleadingly.
"Cos it not my place, sire." – Merlin said.
"Don't "sire" me. Tell me the truth."
"The truth?" – his eyes looked like something obsessed as he picked his head up. – "The truth is you never care about what goes on around you. All you see is yourself. You're so arrogant. You just expect a ridiculous amount of things to be done at once, not bothering to take in consideration that I am just one person. And I may be just a servant but.. "
"Feeling bad about the too many chores huh?"– Arthur cut him off jumping to the conclusion that his servant was yet again just overreacting and complaining about his job, but Merlin wasn't finished talking. – "Well Merlin, as a servant.."
"You have no idea what it is like to be a servant!" – his voice louder then usual. – "So you cannot tell me what I can and cannot feel!"
Arthur didn't know what to say to that. And the dam broke and Merlin just continued his shower of words.
"All day I run around doing things, and all I ever get is you calling me an idiot or a simpleton, but nothing more.. Would it kill you to say please and thank you once in a while?!"
Those words echoed in Arthur, for it was the second time he heard it from someone that, despite lower in rank, was close to him. He was lost for words and just looked at his servant in shock.
"Leave me in peace, Arthur, I have work to do." – Merlin went back to polishing his helmet, determined not to look at his master.
The prince of Camelot certainly wasn't used to being dismissed, certainly not by his own servant. He opened his mouth to retort, but instead just bit the inside of his mouth, turned around sharply and left. He had wanted to say something, but couldn't form a sentence. He had wanted to find out what was troubling his manservant, but was not prepared for the things he just heard.
Merlin sat and continued work, scrubbing the helmet in the same spot with a zest, eventually slowing down once hearing the prince's footsteps get far enough. He peered over to the entrance and then just let the cloth fall to the table, looking in front of him blankly. He marveled how the prince didn't just drag him off to the dungeons or the stocks after his outburst. He felt a little embarrassed; a little guilty. Maybe he had worked himself up too much over all this.. maybe.. Maybe revenge will come for his outspokenness. He feared, but continued to polish the armor.
The afternoon flew away quickly and with reticence; and after delivering Arthur's dinner Merlin found himself in the company of the all too familiar armor and scrubbing cloth once again; wondering if he should just enchant it to repel dirt. No doubt that would be efficient, but it would also draw unwanted attention. He took a deep breath and continued his work by the candlelight.
Arthur finished his meal and wasn't really surprised when his servant didn't come to pick up the leftovers and take the trays away. He felt irked and troubled by it. This can't go on. – he thought getting rather annoyed. He is the prince after all, and Merlin is his manservant. He looked out the window and let off a sigh. He decided he will have another talk with that idiot and make him come to his senses. Gods forbid, Uther finds out about their dispute he will have Merlin in the dungeons in no time; or the stocks; maybe even replace him, and for some reason Arthur realized that he wouldn't like that. There was something about Merlin, he couldn't quite put his finger on, but it made him feel uneasy to think he was upset, because of him.
He turned away from the window and got distracted once he noticed Merlin forgot to take his sword down to the armory, so as frustrated he was he decided to take it down himself.
"Merlin.. how useless can you get.." - he mumbled to himself as he strode along the corridors towards the armory.
He didn't expect to find anyone in the armory so he became focused once seeing a crouched shadowy figure by the table that had armor parts - his armor – scattered on it. It didn't seem there was danger to be wary of, so he let the sword dangle on the case and walked over to the table, recognizing the red shirt and greenish neckerchief once stepping closer. Merlin had the sleeves of his shirt pulled up, a piece of cloth in one hand, an armor piece in the other and his head rested on the table, with lips slightly parted he was deep in slumber.
Sleeping on the job Merlin? – the question was at the tip of his tongue as he walked up behind his servant, with the intention to startle him awake just for the fun of it; but just as he positioned himself behind him with arms crossed and drew breath, something caught his attention.
The dark-haired boy had his shirt slipped to the side as he crouched over the table and the prince felt his stomach drop once he notice the unmistakable patterns of Gaius's bandages over the manservant's shoulder Stepping closer, he became sure that they were bandages indeed and he spotted bluish shades on his forearm, that looked much like the wooden shield's handle he made Merlin hold during training session yesterday; and he recalled he hasn't been particularly careful about the blows that very day. The mace might have been a bit too much for the servant. After all, he didn't have a knights training.
Yes, he certainly wasn't very nice that day.. - Arthur thought. Merlin complained, but Arthur just didn't take it seriously. Merlin always complained. He didn't know he was really injured this time..
He was so caught up in his guilt he didn't realize the boy was waking up, only after he actually jumped to his feet.
"Sire!" – he gasped startled. – "I.. I'm.. terribly sorry, I fell asleep.. I'll.."
"Merlin.."
"I'll.. get it done.." – he continued blinking to chase off the drowsiness – "I'm nearly done."
"Merlin!" – Arthur raised his voice slightly to get his servant's attention.
"Yes?" – he looked up.
"You'll do it tomorrow."
Merlin looked on as if he didn't understand what the prince was saying. Arthur was getting uncomfortable, and as such, he was getting irritated.
"It's fine. You can finish it tomorrow, so you can go sleep now. You .. need rest."
The young warlock was lost. He frowned at the prince and for a moment he wasn't entirely convinced he wasn't dreaming.
"You should rest that shoulder." – Arthur said quietly.
Immediately his hand went up to it, pulling his shirt up as he noticed it slipped.
"Its fine." – he shook his head.
"How bad?"
"Just.. pulled it a bit."
"You have it bandaged.." - Arthur pointed out.
"Only so it will keep it warm and have the medicine work faster on it. I have no wound and Gaius put a poultice on it, it will heal." – he nodded convincingly, still a bit startled.
"Alright. Good."
Merlin nodded. He wasn't used to the prince being like this. It was confusing.
"I ..didn't mean to.."
"I know." – Merlin cut in. – "It's alright" – he gave a weak lopsided grin – "Had worse before."
Arthur smiled a bit as well.
"Go on, get some rest." – said the prince holding his arm out to motion him to go, he took him by the back of his head and gave his nape a friendly rub as he steered the young man out of the armory.
It wasn't like him to comfort anyone, but there was just something about Merlin, he couldn't quite put his finger on.
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Hope you liked it~ Reviews are welcome!
(Sorry about the delay.. season finale had me distracted)
