A/N: Just re-watched the season 4 blooper reel. Best part?
"Do you know what this is?" … "A dead one of those!"
Arthur let out a rather un-kingly cry as he fell from his spooked horse, immediately clutching his left arm and beginning to roll about on the forest floor.
Merlin was by his side in an instant, looking his friend over with a practiced eye.
"Nothing's broken, but you've dislocated your shoulder. Lie still and I'll take care of it."
The king looked up at his servant, somewhat taken aback by his brisk efficiency.
Gently grasping the affected limb, the physician's ward bent it to a right angle and rotated it to form an 'L' across his patient's chest.
"Alright, now hold your upper arm still."
He instructed, placing Arthur's right hand over his left bicep.
Seeing that the prat was doing as he was told for once, Merlin proceeded to form the weakened left hand into a fist.
He gave the king a measuring glance before untying his neckerchief and folding it into a small, tight rectangle.
"This is going to hurt- bite onto this."
Arthur turned his head away, refusing the cloth.
"I'm not a child, Merlin. I can handle a little pain. Besides, I know where that thing's been and there's no way I'll allow that in my mouth."
The servant rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation.
"Would you rather I found a nice muddy stick for you?"
The royal looked as if he were seriously considering this option.
"Well too bad."
Arthur grumbled angrily and unintelligibly as Merlin forced the scarf between his teeth.
"Don't make me sit on you."
The blond made a face that said what he thought of the probable effectiveness of such a move, but apparently decided to just put up with the idiot and settled down.
"Alright, here we go."
He slowly turned the forearm until it was perpendicular to the ground.
Being Gaius' apprentice (more or less), Merlin was well acquainted with the likely reaction to what he was doing and so was well out of the way as Arthur's legs began to kick in response to the pain.
He was also well aware that this would likely have to be done more than once and, not willing to put up with any more garbled protests, he looked away just as he moved the arm past the 90 degree angle and ensured the shoulder popped back into place with a flash of his eyes.
The relief was immediate and Arthur relaxed noticeably, taking a moment to just lie on the ground in relative comfort as Merlin placed the arm back across his chest.
Reclaiming his neckerchief, the manservant shook it out and began arranging it into a sling.
Divining his intentions, a look of revulsion spread across the king's features.
"Merlin, that was just in my mouth."
"You don't need to remind me, Sire, I can see the drool myself- I'll be cleaning this very thoroughly when we get back to Camelot."
"It is not 'drool'" the blond huffed "I refuse to wear that- find something else!"
"Like what, your pratliness?"
"I don't know- cut up your shirt or something."
Merlin, in a calculated move, raised an eyebrow at his friend.
"Are you saying you want to see me shirtless?"
Arthur gaped at him, then spluttered "Of course not Merlin! Fine! Use the stupid scarf!"
The manservant smirked.
He may have felt guilty about manipulating his King, but as a peasant he really didn't have very many shirts.
That task accomplished, Merlin stood and offered Arthur a hand up.
"Merlin-"
He turned, foolishly expecting some praise for his efforts.
"Where are the horses?"