Merlin sighed. He really didn't want to talk to Arthur. But when you make a promise to Gwen, you don't have a choice.
He stood just outside the lounge. He rolled his eyes at the throne made of cushions Arthur had made. Merlin wondered who he forced to build him that.
Taking a deep breath, Merlin approached him.
"Ah, so they finally let you out?" Arthur asked when he noticed Merlin.
"Yup." Merlin nodded. He offered his hand out to Arthur. "I was wondering if we could make up?"
Arthur glanced from Merlin's face, to his hand, and back again. He shrugged and accepted it. "Why not? I accept your apology."
"Thank you, sire." Merlin appealed to his self given title.
"What's your name?" Arthur asked. "I ought to know all my subject's names. And in spite of recent events, I never learned yours."
"Merlin."
"Well Merlin, would you bring me a glass of water?" Arthur lazily pointed across the room to the lounge water dispenser.
It took all of Merlin's self control not to groan. He had to be at least civil to him, for Gwen, but that didn't mean he could be bossed around either.
"Why can't you get it yourself? It's only ten feet away." Merlin tried to say lightly.
Arthur looked at him like he'd just asked him to clean a horse stall. "Did you just ignore my command?"
"I'm not particularly used to being commanded, so I might not respond as fast." Merlin said dryly.
Arthur simply rolled his eyes. "You are the worst servant ever."
"Servant?" Merlin raised his eyebrow.
"Go on." Arthur gestured to the water dispenser. "It can't take someone this long to respond to a simple order."
Merlin sighed. It wouldn't do him any harm. He went ahead and fetched the 'prince' his water.
Arthur didn't give a reply as he took the cup from Merlin's hand. Merlin decided to leave before another order was given.
He ran into Gwen in the hallway.
"Did you talk to him?" She asked.
"Yes." Merlin huffed. "He then commanded that I get him water from the dispenser instead of getting it himself and he called me his servant. I cannot stand interacting with him."
"Well I never said you had to be friends with him." Gwen laughed.
"How do you do it Gwen?" Merlin shook his head.
"Simple. Just remember who he is, a person. Then treat him like one." She smiled kindly. "It might be hard at times, but it's the right thing to do."
"Gwen." Called the voice of Morgana. Merlin turned around to find the regal girl coming toward them at a rapid pace. She made eye contact with Merlin and stopped in her tracks. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Of course not." Gwen smiled. She turned to Merlin. "You haven't met Morgana yet have you?"
"Uh, no. No I haven't." Merlin smiled at her. "I'm Merlin."
"Gwen mentioned you." Merlin became confused as to why she suddenly looked nervous. "I'm sorry about what Arthur did. I should have been keeping an eye on him."
Oh that was why.
"It's not a problem really." Merlin tried to reassure her. "He's a person too after all."
He heard Gwen barely manage to hold back a snort. Morgana didn't seem to notice. She looked relieved.
"Thanks for not holding it against him." She smiled brightly. Very brightly.
"Of course. In fact, I think in time we'll even be good friends." Merlin didn't know what he was saying.
"That's wonderful. I was worried about him being able to get along with everyone." Her eyebrows went up as she remembered her purpose. She turned to Gwen. "Oh right. I was actually going to ask you if you knew where he was."
Before Gwen could answer Merlin did. "I was just with him. He's in the lounge."
"Thanks." She smiled brightly at him one more time before whisking down the hall. Merlin watched her go with a smile. He noticed Gwen was shaking beside him.
"Gwen?"
She had her hand in front of her mouth to keep from laughing. She made eye contact with him then lost it. She leaned her back against the wall clutching her side. She shook her head. Even after she stopped laughing, only one look at him sent her into a spur of giggles.
"What?" He demanded.
"You like her." Gwen smirked.
"No I don't." Heat flushed his cheeks.
"Don't even try to deny it. It was so obvious." She shook her head in disbelief. "What did you say about Arthur? 'I think in time we'll even be good friends'? You have to be friends with him now. You dug a hole for yourself."
Merlin groaned. He pounded his head against the wall. "What was I thinking?"
"You weren't." Gwen turned his head toward hers with a knowing look. "That's how it's obvious."
That was a long break.
Sorry for the shortness of the chapter. But I hit a small writers block and wanted to actually post something for this story.
As for the ships, it will be mostly canonical. Mergana is going to be strongly hinted. But it won't be a huge part of the fic.[Freya will be showing up eventually ;)] Arwen will. definitely. be there.
Please review and have a wonderful day!
