A/N: Just a little one shot for Monday. Thanks for reading!
Merlin Sleeps In
"Merlin!" Arthur bellowed. "You are in a world of trouble!"
Gaius sighed. The illness in the lower town had spread, and he had spent the better part of the week there, tending to the sick. Even with Merlin helping him, there had been far too much work to go around, and he was exhausted. He'd been hoping to steal a few hours of much needed sleep after the long night they'd had. Unfortunately, it was not to be.
He winced as the heavy oak door ricocheted against the stone wall and splintered, and the king stormed into the room.
"Where is he?" demanded Arthur.
"I thought he was with you."
"He isn't! And I specifically told him to be in my chambers early today, too. He knows the delegation from Nemeth is coming this afternoon!"
Gaius rubbed his temples tiredly. "Perhaps it slipped his mind, sire."
"I don't see how. I only reminded him thirty separate times!"
"And how many times have I reminded you to knock before coming in here, sire?"
Arthur had the grace to look sheepish.
The physician sighed. "He should be upstairs. Go easy on him. I've had him working hard this week."
Arthur was already halfway up the stairs to Merlin's room. "No promises," he growled.
He threw the door open, wrinkling his nose at the mess. There were books scattered all over the floor, and the room was sorely in need of a dusting. The bed sheets were all tangled up in the middle of the bed.
"Get up, Merlin."
Silence.
He went to the bed and prodded the lump of blankets. Hard.
"Ow."
"Get up."
"How would you like it if I woke you like that every day?"
Arthur scowled. "Just try. I'd have you in the stocks before you even touched me. Now get your lazy backside out of bed."
"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather stay here."
Arthur tugged at the blankets. Merlin tugged back.
"Merlin!"
"Go away."
"I'm the king! You can't tell me what to do."
The blanket snorted. "Watch me."
Arthur pulled again at the blanket. Merlin pulled back even harder. Then, without warning, Arthur let go. Merlin immediately toppled off the bed and onto the floor, still clutching the blanket.
Arthur snickered.
Merlin scowled at him. "Go away."
"And you tell me I'm grumpy in the mornings."
"You are."
"So what does that make you?"
"Irritated."
"That makes two of us."
Merlin rolled his eyes. With some difficulty, he managed to extricate himself from the tangles of his tattered blanket and get to his feet. He immediately grabbed the bed frame for support when his knees buckled.
"Still asleep, are you?"
"Can't still be asleep if I never was asleep, can I?" Merlin shot back. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.
Arthur snorted. "You were sleeping like the dead, Merlin."
"Pity I'm not dead," Merlin grumbled. "Then I wouldn't have to deal with you."
Arthur knew Merlin meant it only in jest, but the tone he delivered the words in was so flat, so lifeless, that he hesitated.
For the first time since barging into his chambers, Arthur really looked at Merlin. His face was pale and wan, the skin a sallow, unhealthy color. The dark circles underneath his drooping eyelids did not help.
He always scoffed when Merlin blamed his many latenesses on errands for Gaius. How long did picking herbs really take, after all? Of course, Arthur knew his duties were more demanding than simply picking a few flowers from the ground. And Merlin had been helping Gaius even more than usual this week, with the outbreak of sickness in the lower town. What's more, Arthur had had him at the grind too, preparing for the arrival of the delegation from Nemeth. And that was on top of all his usual duties.
No wonder Merlin hadn't slept. When would he have had the time for it? He'd been run absolutely ragged. Much as he had to do today, could he really make Merlin come to work when he was so exhausted? He glanced again at the shadows under Merlin's eyes. No, he decided. Merlin was in no shape to work. Not today.
Meanwhile, Merlin was looking at him, slightly puzzled. "What did you want, sire?"
Arthur cleared his throat, stalling for time. He'd just traveled the length of the palace and burst into Merlin's room in a fury, all to tell him...what? That he could go back to sleep?
It sounded stupid, even to him. But there was nothing else for it. Might as well get it over with. "Merlin-" he began. "I‒"
"I know," Merlin interrupted, looking gloomy. "You need me to polish your armour, muck out your horses, and get you breakfast...though if you could walk all the way here, I don't see why you can't walk to the kitchens yourself."
"No, you idiot," Arthur snapped. "And don't interrupt. It's rude."
"Doesn't ever stop you, does it?"
"I'm the king!"
"I know. You'd think that would make you have more manners, rather than less."
Bloody hell. Merlin really was a grouch when sleep deprived.
"Merlin," he said, trying to speak calmly, "If you'd just listen to me‒"
Merlin snorted. "Like that's going to happen."
Arthur finally lost it. "Fine!" he shouted, throwing his hands up in frustration. "Don't listen to me telling you that you have the day off, alright? Go muck out my stables, then, if you love it so much!"
There was a brief silence, in which Merlin stared at him, astonished. "You're giving me the day off?" he said finally.
"Yes," Arthur growled. "That is, if you'd be courteous enough to let me get the damn sentence out."
"Oh. Right."
Arthur took a deep, steadying breath, forcing himself not to strangle his servant. "So. I realized that I do not require your services today. You have the day off."
Merlin blinked. "Are you joking?" he said, looking at Arthur uncertainly. "I mean...you're being serious?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" said Arthur testily. "Why would I be joking?"
"You never give me the day off. Ever. You aren't sick or something, are you?" He reached out a hand to Arthur's forehead, but Arthur slapped it away, rolling his eyes.
"Apart from being sick of your stupid face, Merlin, I'm in perfect health. Yes, you have the day off. You're free to do whatever you wish today."
"Don't you have the delegation coming today?"
So he hadn't forgotten. That was something. "It'll be fine," Arthur reassured him. "I'll call for George if I need anything."
It was almost worth being subjected to an entire day of George's brass jokes to see Merlin's tired face light up.
"Thank you, Arthur."
Arthur nodded. "Just don't get used to it."
Merlin grinned. "Never, sire."
Arthur punched Merlin playfully on the shoulder. "So. Any ideas of what you're going to do today?"
Merlin rubbed his now sore shoulder as he mulled it over. "Huh." he said thoughtfully.
"What?"
Merlin smiled sheepishly. "It's just...I've never had time off," he confessed. "I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do."
"Whatever you want. Personally, I'd recommend a few hours of sleep, but it's up to you. Just don't waste the whole day in the tavern," he added, but Merlin was already diving under his covers. He flopped back against his pillow and closed his eyes.
Arthur couldn't resist. "I always said you were lazy."
"Shut up."
"You can't talk to me like that," Arthur reminded him. "You're still my servant."
Merlin didn't miss a beat. "Not today I'm not. I've got the day off, remember?"
"You know, I can always change my mind."
Merlin let out a loud and very unconvincing snore.
"I already regret this," Arthur muttered irritably. Merlin smothered a laugh into another snore as Arthur stalked out of the tiny room. He stomped down the stairs, mentally preparing himself for a full day of George's…well…Georgeness. Arthur sighed. The things I do for you, Merlin, he thought sourly.
Still, he couldn't help but smile at the snores, now genuine, that were coming from Merlin's room. From the sound of them, his servant was finally getting a much needed rest.
Arthur strode past the bed containing Gaius's slumbering form, past the medicine table, and out of the physician's chambers.
At the doorway, he paused, and turned back. "Sleep well, Merlin," he said softly.