Authors Note: There's some heavily implied Merthur here, deal with it. It won't go anywhere, just lots of bromance they're too clueless to get anywhere. I own Nothing! REVIEW!
2. Prats and Polishing
Arthur didn't like the way the lord was looking at Merlin. He was one of the lords who didn't visit Camelot too often and as such this was his first visit since before Merlin had started working for him a few months ago. The lord had been watching Merlin all night out of the corner of his eye. He looked almost hungry as he watched Merlin serve Arthur, interact with the other servants and even simply lean against a wall listening half heartedly to Uther's speeches.
Not that Arthur was watching Merlin, no. He had happened to be scanning the crowd and caught the lord's hungry stare. There were often rumors about this lord and what most called his 'collection'. Rumor held that this lord was a greedy man, whenever he found something he thought was beautiful he would take it by any means necessary. He was rich and influential enough to get most of what he wanted and a skilled enough fighter to kill for the rest.
Arthur left the feast early, excusing himself with his father by reminding him of the early morning training session he had with the knights and visiting lords the next morning. Merlin of course followed him, but as Arthur glanced back he saw the lord watching them leave with a hateful glance at Arthur. His hungry stare followed Merlin until the door closed. Arthur stormed off to his chambers, Merlin following him.
As Merlin cleaned up and stacked Arthur's armor and laundry Arthur thought. When Merlin turned to him with a stack of laundry and asked if he needed anything else Arthur nodded.
"You're to stay in the antechamber tonight." Merlin frowned. He almost never slept in the antechamber except when Arthur was ill or 'accidentally' overloaded him with work and he missed curfew when there was a dangerous sorcerer on the loose. Neither of these were the case.
"Why?" Arthur cursed internally. Despite his claims to the contrary his servant wasn't a huge moron. He knew something was wrong. The Prince unlike his idiot was a good liar and recovered quickly.
"Because Merlin I need you to polish all my armor by tomorrow. I know you'll waste time carrying it all to Giaus' chambers." Merlin groaned.
"Why!?" Arthur felt slightly bad about piling such an impossible task on Merlin's head but if he was in the antechamber he knew where he was and would get some sleep. Plus he'd be away from the attentions of the lord who Arthur had just remembered was called James of Westfalls.
"Because I am training with the visiting lords tomorrow and I aim to impress. Now get that laundry done and tell Giaus where you'll be. I won't have him lecturing me about keeping an eye on you. Oh and while you're at it bring some wine from the kitchens." Merlin grumbled about prats and armor polish as he banged his way through the door. Arthurs nerves tensed and knew they would not relax until Merlin came barging back into his chambers to retrieve his armor.
Merlin grumbled quietly on his way to his first stop, Giaus' chambers. He paused for a moment thinking. If he really wanted to get finished with Arthur's armor, without magic as the prat had unknowingly taken that option away by making him do it in the antechamber, he would not have time to eat dinner again. He marched into Giaus' chambers ranting about pratish princes and having to traipse around half the castle just to get everything he needed.
Giaus was not a simple man. In fact he prided himself on being quite observant and highly intelligent. He'd seen Lord James watching his young ward with hungry eyes. He knew of the lords reputation and that there was indeed some truth behind the rumors that surrounded him. He was worried for Merlin's safety and had even planned on sending him on a several day long herb hunt, that was until he stormed in ranting.
"Slow down Merlin. What are you talking about?" Merlin huffed.
"Arthur's making me stay in the antechamber of his chamber tonight. He wants me to polish all his armor by morning! Something about the visiting lords. It can't be done!" Then he sighed. "I was supposed to let you know where I'm going to be, now if I'm going to get started polishing I'd better go."
"Merlin." Merlin turned back from the door and caught the apple Giaus had thrown at him. He smiled at his guardian and left biding him a quick farewell. Giaus sighed. Arthur had noticed as well. Arthur only forced Merlin to sleep in the antechamber when he was worried about him. Merlin insisted on sleeping there when Arthur was ill or severely injured but wouldn't do it willingly otherwise. Arthur was worried, and when he was worried he was protective. Merlin would be safe as long as he made it back to the antechamber without running into Lord James.