The day was unseasonably warm for spring, and Merlin could feel sweat beading on his forehead as he attempted to shift the heavy chest which the lady Morgana had requested he move. Well, perhaps request was the wrong word - demanded might have been better. Or simply told. It was a little unreasonable to expect one person to move all this heavy furniture, and Merlin could feel his temper fraying as the heat of the day got to him. It didn't help that Morgana was sitting a few feet away at the small polished table in her bedchamber, or that she hadn't moved her eyes from him once since he'd entered the room.

As the edge of the chest just missed his foot, Merlin felt his temper break. He turned around to face her. "You've only asked me to do all this moving so you can watch me do it, haven't you?" he demanded, exasperated by the slight smirk on her lips.

Morgana reached across the table and lifted a ripe apple from the silver fruit bowl, rolling it between her palms. She took her time lifting her eyes to meet his. "I think you should be careful with what you are saying, considering who you're speaking to," she remarked coolly.

Merlin shook his head, frustrated. "See, this - this is what I don't understand. I don't understand how you can talk like you don't know me."

With a swift, dangerous movement, Morgana flicked her hand back to the bowl, dropping the apple inside. Her engraved silver bracelet made a harsh click against the polished wood of the table as she withdrew her hand. Her eyes drilled into his. "I haven't known who you are for a very long time," Morgana said evenly. "Now, do what I told you to do. Or I will have you fired."

Recognising defeat, Merlin turned back to the chore. As the corner of the wardrobe beside him bruised his elbow, he couldn't stop an angry expletive escaping from his lips.

"What was that?" Morgana's voice was cold, and Merlin could hear without turning around that she was now standing.

"Nothing, my lady," replied Merlin as politely as possible.

She stepped up to him, stopping with hands on hips far enough away that she can still feel taller than he is. "No, I heard you say something. What was it?"

He didn't reply.

"You said 'fuck you.'" Morgana supplied for him, voice unyielding and unamused.

"Yes, I did, my lady," Merlin admitted, hoping that she would drop it once she had what she wanted.

"Who were you speaking to?"

"The...wardrobe," said Merlin, a truthful answer if a stupid sounding one.

Dropping all pretence of height, Morgana took another step to close the gap between them and took his chin in her fingertips, dragging it downwards to force him to look at her.

"Do you think that's an appropriate way to speak in front of a lady?"

"Look, I'm sorry, Morgana, it won't happen again -"

"Because I don't think it's appropriate. In fact I think you need to be punished for it," she continued over his apologies.

Merlin swore again, this time he had the sense to do it internally. He'd get a day in the stocks, at least, that's if he wasn't fired...forcing back his temper, Merlin took a deep breath. "You're probably right. I'm sorry."

Expecting her to call for the guards perpetually stationed outside her chamber, Merlin was surprised if not shocked when she dropped his chin and let a fingertip trace his shoulder. "And I think the punishment should fit the crime," she said, eyes narrowed, a smirk on her lips.

"What?" asked Merlin, not quite getting it.

Morgana pushed his shoulders back against the wardrobe. "Fuck me," she said, right before she kissed him.