Hello again. How are you all? Good I hope. I don't have much to say here this time. Oh ouch, I heard you all sigh in relief when I said that. Less and less people are reading this story, and reviewing it so I am beginning to think it may be time to pack it in. I don't see much point in continuing to write if no-one likes it…Please don't interpret this as a desperate bid for affirmations of my brilliance. I am just honestly having mixed feelings about this story. That said, I probably will keep writing. I hate leaving things half done.

I really do appreciate the people who have reviewed (especially those who have reviewed more than once!). When I get reviews I end up with this weird goofy grin on my face- it kind of looks like this :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, or Arthur, or Gwaine, or the BBC, or the will power to exercise regularly.

'Gods Merlin! Would it kill you to be quiet for once? How one person can make so much noise is beyond me!' Arthur snapped.

It was the second day of the hunt and it wasn't going well for King Arthur. So far he had barely managed to glimpse a living creature. By sunset of the first day Lord Ektor had killed quiet a large boar, currently placing him in the lead of the competition. Lord Garreth had also subdued a very impressive buck, however he had not made it back within the citadels walls before the sun had left the sky, so his kill had been disqualified. Lord Garreth had been enraged at this news but Arthur had been adamant. He had outlined the rules to the visiting nobles before the competition had commenced during the ceremony. It wasn't his fault that Lord Garreth had become bored with all the speeches, pomp and ceremony, and had dozed off when he had been speaking.

Arthur had thought the rules were simple enough that even, well, Merlin could understand them. The competition commenced each day at dawn, and ended as the sun set. For any game to be counted the hunter had to be within the citadel walls, with their quarry before the last rays of sun left the sky. The competitors themselves had to kill their game, on their own, without assistance. Competitors did not have to hunt every day, and the person who killed the largest single animal won the competition. Arthur had thought this would prevent the Lords from killing everything in sight, leaving some of the smaller game for the townsfolk, who he knew supplement their diets with the animals.

Arthur still hoped that he could bag himself an impressive animal. After all it was only the second day of the seven day competition, he had time. Well he had time if Merlin didn't scare off every animal in the vicinity with his insistent chattering. Arthur sighed in absolute frustration as Merlin continued to bash his way through the forest making more noise than a Griffin and a Dragon dancing during a thunderstorm. There probably wasn't an animal left in the forest that didn't know they were coming. Merlin was so infuriating Arthur just wanted to shoot him sometimes.

Hold on, Arthur thought, that gives him an idea. Stopping abruptly Arthur twisted around to glare at Merlin with a slight smile pulling at the side of his mouth.

'Merlin did I put any limits on what kinds of animals would be counted in the competition?' Arthur queried.

'Geese Arthur, are you losing your memory already? I mean at times Gaius forgets a thing or two but he's got at least a few more years on you. Maybe the stress of leadership is aging you prematurely. Hmm now that I think about your hairline has been creeping back a little. I mean most people would be barely able to see, your hair being so long and all, but when you look at the right angle ...'

'What do you mean my hairline is receding?' Arthurs hand instantly went to his forehead desperately checking on his hair. 'I mean maybe it isn't as far forward as it used to be but...wait...just shut up...my hairline is fine.'

Arthur was now scowling at Merlin as he self-consciously kept his hands by his sides. Arthur couldn't help but involuntarily flex his fingers back and forth. His hands just itching to continue his check of his hairline. 'Just answer the question Merlin.' Arthur retorted exasperated with the direction the conversation had taken. He wasn't impressed with how the way he intended to tease Merlin was turning out. 'Did I, or did I not put limits on the kinds of animals that would be counted in this competition?'

Merlin looked at Arthur with a puzzled expression, not sure where he was going with this line of questioning. 'No, you didn't Arthur. You said any animal is fair game, but the biggest animal wins.'

'And, Merlin, would you say that you are bigger or smaller than the boar that Lord Ektor killed yesterday'

Finally seeing where Arthur was heading with his line of questioning Merlin rolled his eyes.

'I dunno. I'm quite a skinny thing. There is probably barely enough of me for a good roast.'

'Well you see Merlin I think that it would be pretty close, size wise, and intelligence wise between you and the boar. You certainly smell quiet similar. So if I shot you, I do believe I would have a very good chance of winning the competition.'

'Yes well you might, but you won't.'

'And why is that.'

'You'd miss my sparkling personality?'

'Nope'

'My incredible wit?'

'Can't say I would'

'You need your socks washed?'

'There is always George'

'Gwen would be horribly angry at you.'

'I think she would forgive me- extenuating circumstances you see.'

This is how Gwaine found them when he caught up. He wasn't entirely sure what they were talking about. Almost everyone in the castle could attest to overhearing part of a conversation between the King and his manservant and not being entirely sure if they were speaking a foreign language

'I know! I know!' exclaimed Merlin, with a large goofy grin on his face. 'No-one would want to eat me. You said that there will be a feast where everyone gets to eat a bit of the winning beast. As King you couldn't possibly want to serve me up to all those important guests. They would get sick.'

'There Merlin, I think you might have a point. But you never know, with the right seasoning, it could work. Although knowing you, you probably couldn't even be a decent meal. You do manage make a mess of everything you do.'

'Sorry to interrupt you two girls' gossip, but I thought we were supposed to be hunting,' interjected Gwaine.

Gwaine wasn't actually participating in the competition. After several days of numerous nobles, as well as, their wives and daughters taking over the castle Gwaine had had more than enough. The Lords were barely tolerable, walking around the castle as if they owned everyone and everything in sight. The demands that they had been placing on the servants were ridiculous. The servants had been worked to the point of exhaustion. He had even seen one servant fall asleep after leaning against a wall for a moment. Although Gwaine was often hot headed he could put up with them. The Lords were only here for another week and most of them were out of the city during the day on the competition.

What he couldn't stand were all the noble Ladies. He appreciated the view of a pretty lady just as much as the next man. What he didn't appreciate was a bunch, no a herd, of said ladies constantly giggling, fluttering eyelashes, fake fainting (yes they did that he discovered), and generally playing the young knights off each other for entertainment. Give him a kind, down to earth beauty any day over those vivacious, vicious, self-centred airheads. The ladies games had caused many of the knights to become resentful and suspicious of their brothers in arms. The ladies showed little decorum, bestowing favours on one knight one day and another the next. The resulting atmosphere amongst many of the knights was not pleasant. Many of the knights were well aware that they were being played with. The only noble worth perusing was a landed noble, and knights, being younger sons, did not fit this category. Yet what man could resist the soft smiles and stolen glances of young woman.

So to escape the insistent twittering of the painted dolls Gwaine had joined the King as he competed. Arthur had tried to order Gwaine back to the castle, but he was determined, and there was nothing the King could do to get rid of him. Gwaine wanted a day of freedom, in the fresh air under a blue sky, without any drama or intrigue.

The three men started off again through the forest hoping to catch sight of some game worthy of being pursued. Merlin and Arthur were still continuing with their nonsensical conversation from earlier. Gwaine rode slightly behind the two men, often chuckling under his breath as one of them used a particularly good insult. The day was warm, with a soft cool breeze blowing through the trees. The greens of the bushes and trees standing out clearly against the back drop of the bright blue sky above and the rich brown earth beneath their horses hooves. The day was peaceful and serene, and the three men were simply enjoying each other's company and relishing their time away from the city more than seriously hunting.

They continued this way for some time before Arthur bought his horse to an abrupt halt, while signalling the others to do the same.

'What is it?' asked Merlin

'I don't know' replied Arthur with a concerned look on his face.

'Come on princess, there's nothing here. You're just over reacting', quipped Gwaine after a moment of tense silence.

The silence continued on with no movement around them or sounds other than the chirping of birds overhead.

Arthur suddenly relaxed, smiled and turned to Gwaine, 'looks like your right, there's nothing here.'

As soon as those words left Arthur's mouth there was thunderous movement in front of them. An enormous boar barrelled out of the undergrowth directly towards them, giving the three men little time to react. The men's concentration was centred on the large beast and its large tusks. While trying to avoid being pierced by the boar's tusks and arrow went flying by Arthur grazing his arm and only narrowing missing the boar in front of him. A second arrow flew towards them only seconds later from a slightly different direction, embedding itself in a tree directly over Arthur's shoulder.

'Stop! Stop shooting!' yelled Merlin, 'Don't shoot!', while trying to stop his horse from bolting in fright.

Gwaine was having similar trouble with his horse. Although they were experienced war horses of Camelot they were not used to being pelted with arrows while being attacked by large boar. Arthur had had less trouble with his horse; after all it had faced dragons, griffins, and Arthur, almost daily without flinching. He was, however, bleeding profusely from his arm where the arrow had hit him.

Several figures began to emerge from the tree line in front of them. By this time the boar had made its escape into the forest, to terrorise horses and men another day. The figures approaching them were heatedly arguing.

'That was my kill, you had NO RIGHT! NO RIGHT! To try and take it from me!'

'I had been tracking that beast all day, if anyone had any claim to it I did!'

The men were now close enough to be identified as Lord Garreth, Lord Ektor and their hunting companions. The Lords were obviously fuming at each other. After the disqualification of Lord Garreth's kill yesterday the men and had been bickering and sniping at each other constantly.

The two parties had now met, and the Lords could see who had been caught in their cross fire.

'Your Majesty! My humble apologies, I did not realise you were so near the beast', grovelled Lord Ektor.

'Your apology is accepted Lord Ektor, however I trust you will be more diligent in the future to check your line of site before you begin shooting,' Arthur replied coolly.

'Yes of course, Your Majesty, never again your majesty.'

Merlin and Gwaine shot each other a look and rolled their eyes as Arthur visibly cringed at Lord Ektor's lack of spine. Arthur had never been fond of suck ups. Bootlickers he called them. He couldn't stand them when they were servants, and they drove him mad when they were nobility. Lord Garreth on the other hand had been silent throughout the exchange. Arthur looked at the older Lord expectantly. Lord Garreth was looking around at the group, seemingly unperturbed by the fact that he had almost killed his King.

'Oh, yes, sorry about that', Lord Garreth offhandedly offered as a way of apology. 'What were you doing right on top of that monster anyway? It was more likely to kill you with its tusks then we were with an arrow.'

'It was not our intent to be that close to the boar. It rushed out of the undergrowth and came at us, probably because it was being pursued by you Lord Garreth,' stated Arthur through gritted teeth. The older Lords attitude was beginning to seriously wear on what little patience Arthur had. Lord Garreth had been nothing but high handed, rude and entitled since the moment he entered Camelot.

Your injured Your Majesty!' Lord Ektor exclaimed finally noticing Arthur's bleeding arm, 'We must get you to the castle to the physician immediately.'

Arthur looked down at his arm with a passing interest. Although it was bleeding copiously it was little more than a flesh wound.

'It is nothing, Lord Ektor, that cannot wait till the hunt is over this evening.'

'Yes well you need all the time you can get don't you sire,' quipped Lord Garreth. 'I don't believe you have bagged any quarry as of yet.'

Arthur glared at the Lord, annoyed at the jab the man had just made at his expense. Wanting to be out of the aggravating Lords company as soon as possible Arthur thought it best to take the least argumentative road.

'Yes you are right.' Arthur said with fake regret and modesty. 'I really should get back to the hunt if I want to be of any competition at all. Obviously we cannot all depart in the same direction. My party will be heading north...', indicating to the direction that the boar had come from, '... to try and find some fresh game. I suggest each of you pick a different path and get back to the hunt.'

At this Arthur signalled to Merlin and Gwaine that they should depart before the Lord Ektor could grovel some more or Lord Garreth had another wisecrack comment to make. The three men headed north for a few moments. As soon as Arthur was sure that they were a decent distance from the Lords he stopped and turned to Merlin.

'Merlin, could you do something about this bleeding', gesturing to his arm, 'It really is getting annoying.'

The three men dismounted their horses. Gwaine took care of the horses and secured them to a tree while Merlin began to bandage the Kings arm.

'aarrrrr'

'Stop moaning Arthur, it can hurt that bad'

'I wasn't moaning Merlin.'

'Yes you were, I heard you. And you say I'm a girl.'

'I said I didn't moan Merlin, who are you to question a King.'

'I'm your manservant Arthur. You really should see Gaius about that memory problem of yours.' Merlin quipped with a cheeky smile on his face.

'aaarrrrr'

'Really Arthur, stop moaning, I'm all done.'

'I said it wasn't me Merlin', Arthur snapped.

'Ssshhhh', commanded Gwaine. He then gestured to his ear and then to the bush in front of him, indicating that was where the noise had come from.

Arthur crept forward toward the bush, sword in hand. He gingerly pushed the bush to the side using the tip of his sword. Arthur's face paled.

'By the gods' he softly muttered.

Merlin and Gwaine rushed forward to see what was there. Peering behind the bush both men drew back.

They had not been expecting this...

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