Chapter 4

A/N I have two things to say:

last chapter I know that Arthur isn't technically king yet but I'm just going to refer to him as such in people's thoughts, but if his title is ever said he will be called Prince Arthur

2. Magic is going to come into play soon and I don't know how to make up/know any canon spells so in the reviews could you tell me one or the other ,if I need any in this chapter I will likely just use Harry Potter spells and fix it when I have better ones so sorry if you have to deal with them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any other property that appears in this fic

It was so hot thought Merlin as he sat behind the bench polishing piles of armor and weapons. He could faintly hear Arthur prattling on about something or other to the knights, he wanted to listen he really did but he was so tired. Merlin jerked himself awake again just before he smashed his face into the breastplate he was holding, those damn nightmares thought Merlin viciously the little sleep he had gotten the night before hadn't exactly been restful. He could normally battle through the exhaustion but staying awake for the council meetings had taken its toll and then being dragged out into the hot sun and doing such a mind numbing task as polishing…

" MERLIN" he heard Arthur shout and he dragged his mind kicking and screaming out of the realm of unconsciousness

" Yes Arthur" Merlin said hesitantly what had he missed he said his eyes jerking back and forth between Arthur and the rest of the knights. He saw the new ones snickering, normally he would glare at them but he was just sooooooo tired. Merlin was starting to drift off again when he registered a knife slowly coming toward him and before he could consciously decide on a course of action his hand shot out and grabbed the handle as his reflexes had been trained to, he lowered himself into a fighter's stance ready to lash out at anything that came near. Then his mind caught up no no no no what had he done he had been fighting those impulses for years! How had his brain managed to fail him this once. Immediately as these thoughts registered he dropped the knife as if it burned him and tried to stumble over himself, but the damage was done.

Merlin looked up hesitantly at the faces of his friends they were staring at him in complete shock and said hesitantly "Beginners luck?"

A/N sorry this took so long and sorry it's so short life got in the way of writing unfortunately. Anyway as always like it? Hate it? Leave a review just no flames please!