"Who's that?" asked the newbie knight, Jonathan, pointed at Merlin, who sat on a bench relaxing in the sun, lying back with his neckerchief over his face.
One of the older knights, Caradoc, took one look and then put an arm around his shoulders. "That, my man, is Merlin. Prince Arthur's manservant." Jonathan blinked and looked again.
"Is he allowed to just laze around?" Jonathan asked hesitantly, unsure, as nobody was doing anything about him. A servant, just lying there instead of doing servant duties? It was shocking. All the servants in his household always did their chores with their heads down. It was just the way things were done.
Caradoc eyed him disconcertingly for a minute. He spoke, "Have you had your introductory yet?" Jonathan was confused.
"Wasn't that what we just did? With the sword fighting and testing and such?" he asked, becoming more confused when Caradoc sighed and called over three other knights, standing by the water barrel. Sir Kay, Bedevere, and Owen strolled over.
"This young man needs to be briefed, about Merlin." Caradoc said, peering about, "quickly, before Arthur gets back." The other men nodded and then turned serious eyes to the new knight.
Owen stepped forward, "Alright, very first thing, do not, ever, hurt Merlin, emotionally or physically."
Bedevere put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't speak to Arthur about Merlin unless it's good things."
"Don't join into Arthur's teasing, just laugh and smile."
"Never give a chore to Merlin unless you clear it with Arthur."
"Don't ever complain about Merlin, or his habits."
"He's well-loved everywhere here, so you're better off just staying quiet about that servant complex you have."
"Be polite to Merlin, he's a person too."
"If Merlin makes a mistake just tell him and help him out when he needs help."
Jonathan reeled at the rush of information the knights were throwing at him. When a voice cut into whatever Kay was saying next, he nearly cried out in relief. Then he saw that it was Merlin and he choked up, afraid to do anything, for fear of what the knights would do.
"Oi! Oi! Stop scaring him you idiots!" Merlin put his fists on his hips and glared at them, his neckerchief once again around his neck.
"I don't know what you mean Merlin, we were just introducing ourselves." Sir Owen tried to say, innocently. Merlin humphed and shook his finger at him. "Yeah right, you were just warning him to walk on eggshells around me and practically saying I'm made of glass." He turned his attention to the now relaxed Jonathan, "Is that right?"
Jonathan smiled, a little wearily, "Something like that." Merlin snorted.
"Don't' listen to them, they just say those things cause their scared of what Arthur would do to them would you do something you weren't supposed to." Merlin gave him a reassuring smile.
But then Sir Kay piped in, "Yeah, remember, Broderick?" this brought a shudder from a few of them.
Jonathan was afraid to ask, "What? What did he do?" Before the knights could start in on it, obviously about toe exaggerate terribly, Merlin pulled him away.
"He was just an idiot who gave me a bit of a beating. So Arthur gave him one back." Merlin patted his back, as Arthur rounded the corner, "I'm sure you'll be fine."
"MERLIN!" hollered Arthur, stomping towards them. Merlin chuckled a bit before intercepting Arthur, speaking to him. Jonathan was a bit too far away but the conversation ended with them both laughing and Arthur ruffling up Merlin's hair.
As the prince strode to him, Jonathan gave a bow, hoping that this business about Merlin and servants and warnings to be over. But then Arthur put a beefy arm around his shoulders, all but pinning him down.
"Ignore what the knights and Merlin say. There only one thing you need to know." The prince held up a finger and narrowed his eyes at him, making Jonathan feel small and insignificant.
"He's mine, not yours."