AN: Hello! Just in case you were confused, I don't actually own Merlin. Sigh...

Sorry, this chapter was a little shorter than I wanted it to be. But I felt like that was the natural cut off place... So I cut it off there... But don't worry! I've already got plans for the next chapter... And I'm a little excited...

I do think I should give you a short warning... This Fic will have moments of seriousness and moments of... not so seriousness... And I'll try to keep everything balanced and all... but I'm an amateur. It's a fact.

Second warning... I'm only halfway sure I know where I'm going with this fic... So... It may change direction at anytime... But I THINK I know what I'm doing.

Cheers!

Arthur was baffled when he woke up. Firstly because he was fairly certain that he was never woken up this early. Secondly, because he was fairly certain that the voice that had woken him up had been polite. And thirdly because he was fairly certain that Merlin would never wake him up on time or politely.

Which is why he wasn't completely surprised when he realized it wasn't Merlin that had woken him up. He wasn't happy about it though. He blinked a few times to more fully wake himself up.

"George." He frowned. Why was George waking up. He felt a sudden panic. Had something happened to Merlin? He had seemed fine last night. "George, where's Merlin?"

George gave him a short bow. "I'm not completely certain sire, however he did leave a letter for me to give to you My Lord."

A letter. What?

"May I see this… letter?" Why on earth would Merlin write him a letter?

George gave another short bow. "Of course sire." And then with a very over exaggerated flourish he produced a letter from a pocket and handed it to Arthur.

Arthur frowned at it. A letter? He didn't know why, but the fact that Merlin had written him a letter was beyond bizarre to Arthur. He opened the letter as George began to clean his chambers. And was completely silent while doing so. Which was strangely unnerving to Arthur.

He brushed off the thought as he began reading the letter.

Arthur,

How's George? Wonderful I hope. Arthur snorted, he could practically hear the sarcasm. Presumably you're wondering where I am. But first I'm going to give you some random trivia.

In the nine years I have worked for you, I have never had a Holiday. Arthur frowned. Never? Surely Merlin was exaggerating. He must be. Wasn't he?

If you added together all of the Holiday time I've collected from nine years of service it adds up to three months. Arthur froze. No, Merlin better not be thinking what Arthur thought he was thinking.

And I don't feel like coming to work for the next little while.

And if you haven't figured out what's going on yet, than you are an idiot. No, unfortunately Arthur knew exactly where Merlin was going with this. But don't worry. I won't be gone for a full three months. Probably. Probably, probably, Merlin shouldn't be gone at all!

Enjoy having George as your manservant. He's very excited, and he is after all the best. He does all those things you keep telling me to do. You know, he's polite, quiet, actually does things without being asked. You should love him. Arthur still hated the sarcasm that he felt practically dripping off the letter.

Merlin

Arthur gritted his teeth. He was going to kill Merlin when he got back. If George didn't kill him first. He frowned. He was going to enjoy having a quiet, respectful servant. He nodded to reassure himself. That's exactly what he wanted, a quiet, respectful servant.

He turned to face George. "I'm glad Merlin had the common sense to ask you to help me while he's gone. It should be nice to have a capable manservant for once."

George smiled and gave another short bow, and Arthur thought he saw a look of satisfaction flash over his face. "It's an honor to serve, your majesty." Arthur gave a short nod, and moved to the table where his breakfast was already laid out. And pretended that the silence didn't bother him.

Arthur wasn't sure if he was pleased or not. He was on time for training. He was never on time for training, what with Merlin's constant chatter, eternal clumsiness, and propensity for forgetting things, it normally took him much longer to get down to the training fields, But George had already had everything he needed laid out, everything was polished until it shone, and he hadn't made a single joke the whole time. It was all "If your honor would allow me." Or "If it would please your majesty." And it was polite and well mannered. And so unbelievably boring.

But even that wasn't what was bothering him. No, he was bothered by the fact that none of his Knights were here yet. Not even Sir Leon. And that was odd. They were normally all here before him. Although he was normally at least thirty minutes late. He supposed that that probably had something to do with it.

And so he waited impatiently. With that annoying silent manservant standing just to his left and just behind him. Merlin never remembered that as his servant he was supposed to stand behind. And now that someone was he found it highly disturbing. It was a little creepy having someone lurking in your blind spot.

He shook the feeling off as his knights showed up in a group. Laughing together. They seemed surprised to see him. And he thought he heard Gwaine complain about not having a chance for some early morning game.

Were they really so used to him being late? When Merlin came back they would need to have words.

His thoughts were interrupted by Gwaine's panicked questions. "Where's Merlin? Is he ok? Has something happened to him?" Several of the other knights glanced over, concern obviously shining in their eyes.

Arthur was surprised, although he didn't know why he should be. Before he could answer Mordred spoke up.

"He's taking a holiday." Arthur blinked in surprise.

"How did you know?"

Mordred shrugged, looking a bit abashed, and oddly slightly anxious. Arthur pushed that last though away and focused on the fact that Mordred had known that Merlin was on holiday.

Last Arthur had checked Merlin had been sending death glares at Mordred. It seemed odd that he would have told Mordred when he hadn't even told Gwaine. "He was practically bouncing up in down with delight when I ran into him in the hall. I asked, he told me."

Arthur supposed that made sense. Although it irritated him that Merlin had told Mordred, and had decided to tell him in a letter. Although Arthur thought that had Merlin told him in person he would have just given him a list of chores to do to delay him.

Gwaine looked offended. "And he didn't tell me? What is this? I would have totally skived off and gone with him." Arthur sent a disapproving look at Gwaine.

"You are a Knight of Camelot. You can't just leave to go on holiday whenever you feel like it."

Gwaine shrugged. "Probably wouldn't stop me though." Arthur frowned. No, it probably wouldn't stop Gwaine. "Plus, it's been awhile since me and Merlin have had a chance to have any fun." He let out a dramatic sigh. "I suppose I'll have to go and erase my depression in the tavern." Arthur just gave him a pointed look to the training field. Gwaine just laughed.

Leon however frowned a little. "Sire, has Merlin gone off on his own for Holiday?"

Arthur nodded. "I believe so."

Leon frowned. "You don't think that's wise do you? There have been rumors of a group of bandits in the area. And if Merlin's alone." He didn't finish his sentence.

Arthur froze. He hadn't even thought of that. "Merlin didn't ask permission, he just left a letter saying he had gone on holiday." He frowned. "We'll take a hunting trip out this afternoon. We need some good venison." He thought it odd that no one seemed at all scandalized about Merlin's blatant ignoring of the proper rules. Except George, he seemed to find it a personal affront. But he noted that several of his knights looked a little worried. He tried to ignore the wiggling of worry in his own mind. Merlin would be fine. And even if he wasn't, as king, Arthur really wasn't supposed to worry about his manservant while he was on holiday. But they really did need some venison.

He pushed away the thoughts, and started up training. He put Mordred with Gwaine, he knew it wasn't Mordred's fault that Merlin had told the new knight that he was going on Holiday, but it remained true that Merlin had told Mordred, not Arthur. And he was well aware that although Gwaine had apparently dropped the subject he was just as offended by Merlin's small slight as he was. He hesitated. It really wasn't fair to Mordred… but he didn't switch up the sparring partners.

Merlin had woken up early this morning for once. He supposed it helped that he was actually looking forward to today. Today was the first day of his holiday and he fully intended to enjoy every last moment of it. He had practically bounced to the kitchens to retrieve the food that Mary had packed for him and had been rather surprised by the large bundle awaiting him. Mary hadn't been there but Esmeralda was and she had insisted on adding a few more parcels of food to his bundle and then given him some breakfast all the time lecturing him on staying well fed during his holiday and making sure to get enough sun, but not to much sun of course. Merlin hadn't been allowed to leave until he promised not to do anything reckless and to be careful. Merlin had smiled and promised he'd stay safe. He wasn't sure their idea of safe was the same, but he decided not to mention that and made his timely, but polite, escape.

He had already collected everything and packed it onto the horse that he was going to borrow when he was hit with a moment of doubt. Was he really going to go on Holiday and leave the Kingdom's protection in Mordred's hands? He shifted uneasily for a moment. But then he remembered the bitterness and exhaustion that had become his constant companion's. He couldn't just keep going on like this. He Needed this break. He frowned. Gaius had said to give everyone a second chance. And Mordred had just stabbed Morgana… He shook his head, he was getting no where. He had already had this argument, and he… he just had to go.

He swung an old travelling cloak Gaius had let him borrow over his shoulders. He had been confused when Gaius had handed it to him and advised that he wear it. But Gaius had had a point. He was going to be traveling through some dangerous country, and since he was going to be alone than Merlin could easily use Magic to defend himself, the cloak would just make sure that no one actually knew who it was that had thrown the twenty feet into the air and magically tied them to a tree. Merlin was already planning interesting offensive and defensive measures he could take… He didn't actually have to be uber-subtle… He wouldn't be crazy or anything… just… a little… original. It got so boring making tree branches fall on people's heads.

He clambered onto his borrowed horse. And hesitated one more time. Maybe he should tell Gwaine that he was going. But he shook it off, Gwaine would probably decide to skive off and join him, and as much as Merlin loved his friend he needed to do this alone. Because Gwaine was his friend, but Gwaine had left him in that cave just as much as the rest of them had. Plus, Merlin hoped Gwaine would be able to help Mordred keep the king safe.

And with that thought he nudged the horse to set off. He was really doing this. He was really doing this... He was going on Holiday!

AN: Isn't life wonderful. And bless Leon for remembering the bandits and worrying about Merlin. Of course it's not like a couple of bandits are really a match for a disguised Merlin who's free to use Magic... But it's the thought that counts... and it's not like Leon actually knows that.

I hope no one was bothered by any OOCness that I accidentally allowed to creep in... But I really don't know what goes on in all of their minds... Or any possible OOCness that may happen in the future... I swear it's unintentional!

I do hope you've enjoyed this chapter just a tiny bit... Do let me know.