Arthur makes his way down to the treasury and opens the secret door that only he knows about. He remembers his father dismissing all the guards and servants and bringing him down here to talk about magic.
Here his father kept magical items that could be used by anyone in order to accomplish certain effects. When he was eleven, he didn't see it as hypocritical for his magic-hating father to keep a magic pendent that will make the wearer change gender, or a stone that will produce liquid gold on chanting some nonsense words – he hasn't had to use that one yet. There's a sword apparently forged in a dragon's breath and he has no idea why he should want one or how it could be useful.
In a blue box with weird paintings of goats all over it, there are two matching brooches. Apparently if you place one on your 'victim' and then wear the other one yourself in a dark place, you can see through the other person's eyes. You can't see into their mind – you need the gold box with the long-necked yellow cow things for that – but he just wants to see what is going on in his own castle.
He picks up the blue box and locks up the secret door, then he carries the box up to his chambers where he finds Merlin puttering about.
Merlin is in a snit because Arthur shouted at him and he stops sweeping and bows his head, which is a sure sign that he's annoyed. Two nights ago he accused Arthur's uncle Agravaine of giving the maps to the secret tunnels to Morgana. As though his uncle could ever betray him, his last link with his sister. It was only because Merlin is his fr… servant and has been very loyal for such a long time, that he even listened in the first place.
Gaius and Agravaine have both said that there is a traitor at court and there was that horrible situation where Gaius was kidnapped and everyone thought he had run away. Merlin was seriously upset about that. Merlin doesn't like Agravaine and Arthur has no idea why. It could be jealousy because Agravaine is his uncle and his advisor while Merlin is just his servant who has weird spurts of wisdom when Arthur least expects it. The trouble is that the rest of the time, he's an idiot who can't do anything right, so there's no point in listening to him.
And then, for a moment, Merlin becomes this incredibly serious and almost adoring person who shows utter belief in Arthur and his good sense. He knows that his master will do the right thing and that's why Arthur has never fired him and replaced him with someone competent. Merlin's 'funny feelings' are annoying, but sometimes informative and Arthur is beginning to wonder if there could be some truth to them other than just Merlin being a scaredy-cat.
So, the big question is, who should he…?
"What are those?"
Merlin has casually swept the floor closer and closer to Arthur and suddenly breaks into his musings.
"Oh… um… they were a… a gift."
"They're a bit boring," Merlin decides.
"Right, because I come to you for fashion tips," Arthur remarks sarcastically. Although Merlin's actually right. They are basically just a silver disk on a gold disk with a pin on the back and no decoration at all – like someone just couldn't be bothered to add decoration. "I don't know what to do with them."
Merlin is looking at them with his usual wide-eyed curiosity. Arthur mentally counts to five and…
"Are you sure they're safe?"
Ah, there it is – the 'funny feeling'.
"They are just boring disks. To be honest I'm more worried about the randy goats on the box." They both look at the goats and then exchange amused glances.
"Can I see them?" Merlin asks.
Arthur snaps the box closed. "No! Get on with your work."
Merlin looks surprised and a bit hurt, but he bows his head and says, "Yes, Sire."
Merlin sweeps up and collects the dust gathered ready to take away with him. He then kneels down to sort the fireplace out.
Arthur watches and wonders if his servant will ever remember that he is actually a servant and not one of his advisors. Probably not.
Arthur turns one of the disks over in his hands and tries to decide who he should attach it to. Leon maybe? Leon only does training and makes boring speeches at the council meetings. Arthur loves Leon, he really does, but the man can be tedious.
Actually, all the knights are out. He has to mentally wash his brain just at the thought of following Gwaine around. Ew!
The Council members are out too as they are basically old men from his father's time who go nowhere, see nothing and would be horrible to watch. He basically needs someone who can go anywhere: who can meet knights, commoners, servants…
Merlin has gathered up the laundry and is heading for the door without asking if he can leave, as usual.
"Where are you going?"
Merlin looks surprised, but answers readily enough.
"Laundry, Rubbish tip, armoury because your armour needs to be polished to a shine that is frankly ridiculous, and then I'm going to go and exercise your dogs because your dogboy is sick and anyway, he's mean to them,"
"They aren't supposed to be cute!" Arthur complains. "They're meant to hunt and fight."
Merlin rolls his eyes because they've argued about this before.
"They don't bite me," he boasts as though that's an answer.
Arthur makes up his mind and gets up, palming one of the disks. It'll be interesting to see just how often his servant really goes to the tavern and what he does with his time as clearly he doesn't spend it doing chores for his master.
"Well, don't coddle them too much," he tells Merlin, patting him on the shoulder and snagging the disk on Merlin's ubiquitous neckerchief.
Merlin gives him an odd look, but carries the laundry and dust bucket out of the room.
There's a tiny room opposite Arthur's chambers with nothing but a cot in it. He made Merlin sleep there for a while, back when he was going through a phase of trying to train him into a proper servant. He was especially horrible to Merlin, making him do extra humiliating things like getting down on all fours and using him as a mounting block, or sending him to muck out the stables, or clean the latrines. It was hilarious, but it had led to Merlin being even more useless and he almost replaced him with that other guy… Cecil? No, Cedric. He disappeared so Merlin ended up deciding that Gaius needed him and he moved out again. Maybe he should have another go…
The bed is like a plank and the pillow is practically pointless – or actually really pointy, with sharp straw sticking out, but if he closes the door, he will be in darkness and no one will think of looking for him in here.
He puts the disk on his chest and closes his eyes.
It's not instantaneous, but after some disorientation he starts seeing a blurry scene which gradually becomes clearer. Merlin is carrying Arthur's laundry down to the kitchens. He weaves in and out of the other servants who either laugh at him, or shout at him, but no one is surprised or particularly angry. They're obviously used to it.
It's quite dull really, watching through Merlin's eyes as he gets hot water from the water vat, replacing it with cold from the pump and then adding soap and… well, washing clothes. Arthur hadn't realised that there was so much to it, but the clothes go in spattered with mud and dust and come out, after lots of scrubbing, clean. It had never occurred to Arthur that you would need to wash them again just to get the soap out, so that means more trips to the pump. Merlin then hangs the clothes on a rack that seems to dangle above one of the many fireplaces.
This done, he grabs a quick drink of water and tries to steal a cake, but Audrey is too quick for him and chases him out of the kitchen.
Arthur hadn't realised that he would be able to hear the scene as well and he's surprised at how fondly everyone speaks to Merlin, even when they are chasing him out of the kitchen with a huge wooden spoon.
Next, Merlin takes the dust bucket to the tip and Arthur is glad that he can't smell everything as well, because that would be gross.
Merlin had told him that he would go to see the dogs, and that's exactly what he does, armed with a bucket of off cuts of meat. The dogs live in the kennels where they are looked after by the Dogboy, who is actually about thirty years old and who always tells Arthur that the dogs are well.
Merlin kneels down and opens the pens and the three fierce hunting dogs who sometimes frighten even Arthur, rush over and start fussing over Merlin. They clearly love him and their tails are happy and waggy as they scoff their food… except for Hunter… Hunter holds back a bit and licks Merlin, but half-heartedly. Merlin sends the other two back into the pen, opening the doors so they can dash about the yard, and then he pulls Hunter to him and tickles his ears.
"Hey, boy, what's up? Are you sad?" Hunter gives Merlin a mournful look and pushes himself closer, almost wanting a hug. Merlin hugs him happily and hand feeds him. "Look, Arthur's King now, he doesn't have the time to see you anymore." Hunter whines and pushes into Merlin again who hugs him again and fluffs his ears. "I get it, Hunts, he's our master and we just want him to pay us some attention, but, you know, at the end of the day he's still our master and we just have to take what we can get. Come on, let's go for a walk and you can tell me all about it."
Merlin calls for the other two dogs and the three of them follow Merlin without a need for a leash. They clearly love him and he loves them and they run about the training ground, which is empty of knights right now. Pouncer and Stalker run about like wild things and play in a way that Arthur has never seen before. They bring sticks for Merlin to throw and pretend to pounce on each other and fight, although it's clear that they are having fun.
Hunter stays with Merlin and watches him. He plays the stick game a bit, but he clearly wants love and attention. Every time Arthur plays fetch with his own dogs, they refuse to give him the stick back and have to be chased, but for Merlin they behave and seem to know what he wants. It's weird.
The light is beginning to dim when Merlin calls the three dogs back to him and they head back, beautifully obediently, to the pens. Pouncer and Stalker get back into the pens and go off to do their own thing, but Hunter wants more attention.
"Look, Hunts, I'll see what I can do. He's my master too, so I can't guarantee anything, but you never know. He does love you." Hunter looks as though he is considering this, and then he licks Merlin again and gives him another doggy hug, then gets into the pen, which Merlin closes. He watches them playing and then heads off to the armoury.
Gods, it's boring watching Merlin polishing his armour. He does it pretty efficiently actually and there is a small difference after he has finished, but then it was pretty shiny to begin with. Gwaine and Percival saunter in and they chat about today's training.
"It's much easier without the slavedriver pushing us further and harder," Gwaine comments, rubbing down his chainmail.
"Arthur just wants us to be the best," Percival shrugs. "You're just a weakling!"
"Hey! That little guy on the bridge called me 'Strength'!"
"That's because he hadn't met our Percival!" Merlin laughs. "I bet you could lift me up like a damsel!"
"I have!" Percival smiles. "You were out of it and someone had to carry you back from the Dorocha."
"You carried me?" Merlin askes.
"You're like a little birdy!" Gwaine teases.
"A big birdy, surely, I'm taller than you!" Merlin insists.
"A scrawny chicken," Gwaine decides.
"I thought you were supposed to be my friend," Merlin complains, grinning.
"You're the only one who can put up with him," Percival teases and Leon calls them in for dinner.
"Oh crap, I need to get the King's dinner to him. I'm bloody late again."
"Hey, don't worry. I'll put these away," Gwaine reassures him.
"Thanks, Gwaine. I just can't do anything right at the moment."
Gwaine looks sympathetic and he pats Merlin's shoulder. "He just doesn't see how hard you work for him. Look, try and get a night off and we'll go to the tavern and get roasted."
"You know I can't do that, Gwaine."
"I'll get you there one day!" Gwaine says as though taking up a challenge, leaving Arthur confused.
The drawback with these medallion thingies is that you can't see the victim's face, you can only see what he sees. Arthur wonders what Merlin's face looks like as he allows Gwaine to clear up his King's armour. Merlin just dashes off to the kitchens where he gets a scolding from Audrey for being late. Merlin grabs the tray, and dashes out of the kitchen. Various people laughingly ask him if he's late again and he agrees, while weaving in and out of the crowds in the servants' corridors.
At three points on his way, he stops and has a quick conversation – once with an old man, once with a little girl who is playing with a ball of wool, and once with a younger man. Each of them tells him about hurts that are better and thank him for helping them. The little girl is proud of her bandaged finger and Merlin makes a point of redressing it, even though it clearly doesn't need a bandage. She gives him a quick hug and skips off.
He helps an older woman by keeping a door open and then promises to come back after he's delivered Arthur's dinner.
At this point, Arthur realises that he should probably be in his chambers, waiting for the dinner, but it's a bit disorientating to be watching through Merlin's eyes. It feels as though he is living a dream life.
The light is dim in Arthur's bedroom, which is unsurprising as Merlin hasn't lit the candles, but Merlin bursts into the room in his usual boisterous fashion and, for once, that makes some kind of sense as he has seen the distance between the kitchens and his rooms.
"Sorry, I got a bit caught up," Merlin apologises, laying the food out on the table. For some reason, Arthur always thought that Merlin cooked for him.
"I thought you cooked for me," he says, before realising that it might sound a bit weird.
"Um… I do, sometimes."
"But this isn't what you usually bring me," Arthur tries to cover it up, looking at the roast quail.
"I'm not allowed to roast fowl as that's only for your table or for the nobles," Merlin explains, faffing about with silver goblets and wine. "I only cook when you want something at a weird time, or the staff are doing a great feast or prepping for something complicated, or when it's a holiday."
"Holiday?"
"Yes, there are certain holidays when all the staff get to go and have a festival and that means that there is no one around to cook, so I have to do it."
Arthur pulls his quail apart and thinks about that.
"What about all the knights and nobles?"
"They either have their own servants who do the same, or they can go and help themselves. The knights tend to join in with the festivals though, as I'm told the food is plain but really good."
OK… that's weird. "Why don't you go to these festivals?"
Merlin gives him a look. It's the 'you're a humungous prat' look. "I just told you, I have to cook for you and you never give me the time off, however many times I ask."
Merlin goes around lighting the candles and turning down the bedclothes. He then crouches down and lights the fire. Arthur is always a bit impressed at how quickly Merlin manages to get a fire going- not that he'd ever tell him. Merlin tends it for a while and then goes back to Arthur, topping up the goblet with wine watered the way Arthur likes it. He then goes and finds Arthur's sleeping clothes and lays those out on the chair by the fire. It's warm weather, but the castle is draughty and Arthur hates cold shirts.
"How were the dogs?" Arthur asks and Merlin looks surprised again.
"I'm worried about Hunter. He misses you."
"He's a hunting dog, he's not supposed to miss anyone."
"But you're his master and he knows that. He just wants a bit of attention from you."
Arthur is a bit surprised that that tallies with what he heard and saw. Merlin has always had a way with animals – it's probably because he's such a simpleton himself.
"I'm going to be busy this evening and most of tomorrow. I don't want to be disturbed. When you bring breakfast tomorrow, bring something for lunch as well. There are shirts to be mended and the usual stuff, but you can go and help Gaius. I don't want to see you until dinner."
"Yes, Sire," Merlin says and Arthur can see that he's itching to ask what Arthur is doing, but he's obviously not going to tell him. "Can I do anything else for you, Sire?"
Ah, back to obsequiousness. "No, you may go." Two can play at that game and Arthur has weighted dice. Merlin bows – which is his way of saying 'you're a git', and he goes, leaving the dirty plates behind. Well, Merlin can deal with those tomorrow.
There's a knock at the door and Agravaine pokes his head in.
"Uncle, what can I do for you?"
Agravaine comes in fully and bows. It has always seemed a bit odd that his own uncle shows him respect when his own servant can't be bothered unless he's cross.
"I wondered if you had spoken to that servant of yours about his meddling."
Merlin hates Agravaine, but Agravaine doesn't like Merlin either. It's quite funny really. "I threatened to banish him!" Arthur smiles. "He sometimes forgets that he's my servant and not my friend."
"You have always allowed him to be disrespectful towards you, Sire," Agravaine sniffs. "You should probably whip him more."
"He's been my servant for seven years and he's very loyal to me, so I allow it. He knows that I'm his master." Arthur can't bear the thought of whipping Merlin – that would just be cruel. After all, it's much more effective (and amusing) sending him to muck out stables and polish armour at midnight.
"Well, he was very rude to me," Agravaine sniffs.
"If you treat him right, he will be very polite, but you can talk to him tomorrow. I'm going to be… busy all day."
"Where will you be, Sire?"
"I have a task to complete and I want to be left alone. You're in charge until the evening."
His uncle smiles and takes the Royal Seal, and Arthur reflects that it is lucky that he has this one, single family member left. Guinevere… he'd still like to make her his family in spite of her betrayal. Merlin was right about that – at the end of the day he would never be happy married to anyone but Gwen.
"I shall endeavour to rule as you would, Sire."
Arthur smiles at Agravaine's pompous speech. "You'll do a great job, I'm sure. Would you mind leaving me? I have a lot to think about."
"Certainly, my lord." Agravaine bows solemnly and leaves.
It's true that between Agravaine's formality and Merlin's total lack of respect, he experiences the whole spectrum. Agravaine is the noble – practically a Prince and the best candidate for his heir at the moment. He's respectful, highly educated, charming, intelligent and he understands the difficulties of ruling. He has even left Tintagel to thrive on its own, just so that he can come and support his nephew.
Merlin is a half-wit peasant who can't do the simplest of tasks and is always late, but every now and again he shows such wisdom. You can't fault his loyalty and there are times when he fixes Arthur with a deep, intense glare and shows utter confidence that Arthur will do the right thing. Arthur wonders how many peasants know how to read. It's odd, now that he thinks about it. He's seen Merlin read other languages and he clearly knows a bit about basic runes.
Arthur decides to get to bed. It's late and he actually does have a lot to think about. Merlin left his night shirt by the fire, so it's pleasant to pull it on, he blows out all the candles except for the one by his bed and he slips under the covers that Merlin prepared for him. He blows out the last candle and then realises that he is still clutching the medallion. The world goes blurry and then he can see through Merlin's eyes again.
Merlin is mending shirts with neat little stitches and talking to Gaius, who is meddling with some concoction or other.
"…vaine and he is the king's uncle, so you just have to live with it," Gaius is saying.
"But Gaius… he just wants me gone! He really, really hates me."
"Well, you aren't very respectful towards him." Gaius crumbles something into his hot pot.
"I am, actually. I treat him like the lord he is. I don't even do that for Arthur."
"That's because Arthur lets you get away with it. Now, be quiet – I need to concentrate."
Merlin does a few more stitches, then… "Why can't Arthur see how loyal I am? Doesn't he know that everything I do is for him?"
"Merlin!" Gaius snaps in exasperation. "If you have nothing else to do, then get on with cleaning the leech tank."
"I'm doing these!" Merlin protests.
"Then mend those shirts and…"
There's a knock at the door and Agravaine comes in. Merlin stands up and all Arthur can see are Merlin's boots.
"Merlin," Agravaine says and now Arthur can see his uncle's boots.
"Yes my lord?"
"Arthur is going to be busy tomorrow, so you will come and serve me."
Merlin looks up and Arthur can see the dislike on his Uncle's face.
"I have chores to do for Arthur!"
"You do not have the right to call him such," Agravaine snaps angrily. "And you will come to my chambers immediately after serving the king his breakfast."
"Yes, my lord," Merlin sighs.
"Good evening, Gaius," Agravaine nods at Gaius, who pointedly ignores him, which Arthur thinks is fair enough since it was Agravaine's suspicion that led to the poor old man being accused of treason. It's partly that comment that Gaius made about there being people around who serve him and do more for the kingdom than he realises that has set him on this spying mission – not that it is really spying. He is the King, so it's just information gathering.
It's odd though, that Agravaine has ordered Merlin to 'serve' him.
Merlin carries on stitching and Arthur just falls asleep 'cos it's late and Merlin is being boring.
Arthur wakes up when it's still mostly dark and Gaius is shaking him awake.
"You'll be late if you don't get up now," Gaius opens the large shutter over the glassless window and the light of dawn is let in.
"It's still dark, Gaius," he says… but Arthur didn't say… oh, right, the medallion.
"And you have work to do."
"It would be so nice to just be able to stay in bed, just once…"
"You say that every morning, Merlin, now hurry up."
Merlin sits up and everything goes dark for a moment as he rubs his eyes. He then looks down at himself and Arthur can see boots.
"Oh crap!" Merlin sighs and he changes his socks, but leaves everything else the same, which is why Arthur can see all this. He must have fallen asleep fully clothed – which works well for Arthur who hadn't considered the issue of dressing and undressing.
Merlin jogs out into Gaius' room where the physician is climbing back into bed.
"Are you not having breakfast?"
"No time. Audrey had a go at me yesterday for being late and I'm not risking that spoon again!"
Gaius chuckles (as does Arthur) and Merlin leaves.
Arthur has never really thought about the fact that Merlin has to get up before him. It feels stupidly early and yet Merlin is dashing about, fetching bread and meat, fruit and milk until he has a full tray ready. Audrey checks it all and then nods, allowing Merlin to leave and Arthur pulls the medallion off.
A couple of minutes later Merlin flings the doors open and strides in shouting, "Wakey, wakey, rise and shine!" because he knows it annoys Arthur.
"Merlin!" Arthur complains, especially when the irritating man drags the curtains open and light floods in. "Merlin!"
"Good morning, my lord. You have a secret mission this morning, so I took the liberty of assuming you wish to be dressed for it," Merlin says doing an imitation of George.
Oh yes, that was a wonderful punishment! Arthur remembers sending Merlin off to be trained by George. Merlin had kept up the strict, pompous politeness for over a week, making terrible jokes and eulogising over well-polished armour, until Arthur screamed at him.
Although, it was odd that Gwaine seemed to think that he couldn't get Merlin to go to the tavern with him. There aren't that many taverns in Camelot, and Gwaine knows them all intimately.
"Arthur? Arthur?" Arthur becomes aware that Merlin is calling him and has been for a few minutes. It's nice to hear him calling him 'Arthur' again. "What happened?"
"Nothing, I was thinking," Arthur says.
"I've told you how dangerous that is!" Merlin mocks him. "You'll strain something."
"Did you remember to bring lunch as well?"
"It's an extra large breakfast, you can always save some. And there's a mountain of servants around desperate to bring you stuff, so you can always call for more."
"I don't want anyone else in here," Arthur grumps and Merlin grins at him. It's the first genuine grin he's seen in a while. Merlin sometimes looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, which is just weird. If only he'd treat his own master with such serious intent.
"Well you can always call for me, I've got…. Chores."
For Agravaine.
"Let's get you dressed then, shall we?" Merlin steps forward with clothes for the day and Arthur gets up.
Eventually Arthur is up, dressed and ready to send Merlin packing. Merlin grabs the plates from the night before, tidies up a bit and then Arthur kicks him out and reminds him that he doesn't want to see his servant till dinner time.
Arthur settles back into the servant's room, taking some of his blankets and pillows to make it more comfortable, and picks up the disk again.
Merlin is hovering outside Agravaine's door and he looks like he's trying to make up his mind. His hand goes to the door, then drops, then lifts again and drops. He turns away and paces a bit, then Arthur can hear the servant take a deep breath and he knocks.
Agravaine is sitting at his desk, twirling the Royal Seal around in his hands, and he looks up at Merlin and… what is that expression? He looks eager, excited? That's not what Arthur was expecting at all.
Merlin just goes in and waits silently.
"Ah, Merlin. I have a number of tasks for you." He waits, but Merlin says nothing, which Arthur thinks is weird, but then Merlin doesn't like Arthur's uncle. "My laundry needs to be done, my floor needs to be cleaned, my boots need to be cleaned and my armour needs to be polished."
Merlin nods, but doesn't say anything.
"I will also require a bath before dinner," Agravaine smiles.
"Yes, my lord," Merlin says.
"Go on then," Agravaine commands and Merlin bows and leaves with the laundry basket.
Once again he watches Merlin wash the clothes and hang them up. He also retrieves the clothes he cleaned for Arthur, although Arthur has the impression that he didn't spend as much time cleaning Agravaine's clothes as he did Arthur's.
Next, Merlin goes to fetch water and a cloth and a broom and he heads back up to Agravaine's chambers. He knocks again, but this time there is no answer. Merlin looks around the room and Arthur hears him huff with relief to find the room empty.
Merlin sweeps and then clears up the pile of dust, he clears out the fire grate and relays the fire, then he starts washing the floor.
Arthur remembers that time when he found Merlin looking far too happy and having washed the floor. He accused Arthur of… doing something or other. He was quite indignant about something. So Arthur demonstrated that he knew perfectly well how to use a cloth and bucket. The memory of Merlin dripping with the bucket on his head makes him chuckle happily.
Merlin is scrubbing hard and has to change the water twice, which involves heading back to the pump each time, down several flights of stairs and then back up with a heavy bucket. He also dropped one bucket when a boy ran down the stairs at him.
When the floor is done, Merlin sits by the wall next to the door and allows himself a short break. His hands are raw and he is panting a little and Arthur suddenly feels a bit mean. He really didn't realise that scrubbing a floor was really hard work. He just thought that Merlin was complaining again.
The latch on the door clicks and Merlin jumps to his feet, and Arthur gets another eye full of Merlin's boots. He hasn't seen Merlin bowing his head like this since… since Uther actually. Arthur wonders again why Merlin doesn't show him, not only his master, but also his king, the same respect.
Agravaine stomps in and walks all over the floor, grinning at Merlin while he does it. Then he picks up his other pair of boots and asks, "Why have these not been cleaned?"
"I haven't had time," Merlin shrugs and then… Agravaine strides over to Merlin and Arthur can only watch as the hand slaps his servant's face. He remembers when Annis did that to him after he executed.. murdered her husband. It hurt.
"That is not an acceptable answer," Agravaine growls. "Change my boots."
"What?"
Agravaine slaps him again and then throws the dirty boots at him. Arthur sees lots of red dust on them. Merlin kneels down and pulls Agravaine's boots off, replacing them with the dusty ones and then Agravaine stomps about again making sure that the floor is in a far worse state than before Merlin started scrubbing.
Arthur remembers that incident with his own floor very clearly now. Merlin had asked him not to walk on the recently cleaned floor and he did just to be mean. That was when Merlin had tried to tell him how much hard work had gone into cleaning the floor… and he has just witnessed it again. Agravaine was just deliberately mean. Expressly mean.
"Clean them," Agravaine snaps. "What are you waiting for?"
"If you sit down then I can take them… Ow!"
Agravaine has hit Merlin again. "Clean them! Now!"
So Arthur gets a close up and personal view of Merlin scrubbing Agravaine's boots while his uncle is still wearing them. It seems a bit weird. Maybe Agravaine likes seeing Merlin on his knees as much as Arthur does?
"Now, change my boots, Boy!"
Merlin says nothing as he kneels down again to take the slightly dirty boots off Agravaine's feet, replacing them with the slightly cleaner ones.
"Get on with your work," Agravaine snaps and Merlin wearily gets back to his feet only to be slapped yet again. "You will show me respect!"
Merlin hesitates and Arthur knows that he is contemplating refusing, but then he bows his head. "Yes, my lord."
Maybe Agravaine doesn't realise that Merlin used his 'I hate you' version of the title as he smiles grimly at him in satisfaction and then leaves the room again.
Merlin kicks the bucket and mumbles something that Arthur can't quite catch, but he's pretty sure it wasn't very complimentary.
So Arthur watches Merlin get back to sweeping and scrubbing. He decides that he doesn't need to watch this again and he's actually rather angry at his uncle, but then again it was just a nasty prank. Arthur removes the medallion and has some lunch. It is while he is pulling chicken off a bone that he wonders when Merlin ate. And where. Something else to think about…
Merlin hasn't quite finished by the time Arthur has eaten and gone back to the dark room. He scrubs up the last bit and then grabs the dirty boots, leaving Agravaine's room before he can be pranked again. He gets rid of the filthy water and then goes back to Gaius' rooms.
"How's it going?" Gaius asks as he reads a tome of some kind.
"Agravaine," Merlin spits.
"What did he do this time?" This time? Arthur ponders that.
"Oh, just making me scrub the floors twice, change his boots that kind of thing." Merlin gets a cloth and starts cleaning the red-caked boots. "Is there any bread?"
"Oh, no. I'll get some more tomorrow."
"Oh… OK…" Merlin says and he bends to rub the boots a bit harder.
"Are you going to do the tank today?"
"Yes…" Merlin agrees unenthusiastically. "I have some more things to do for Agravaine and then for Arthur. I'll do it later, I promise."
"You still need to get the borage and some mallow."
"Yes Gaius," Merlin sighs. The boots are mostly done, although not to the standard he usually manages on Arthur's boots. It's quite funny really. Except that Arthur can see that Merlin's hands are raw and his trousers are still soaked.
Merlin finally finishes the boots and puts them down on the floor. He then pulls himself up to his feet and picks up the bag he seems to carry everywhere. Arthur then follows him out to the woods to find the herbs that Gaius wants.
It's interesting to see that Merlin looks around himself, finding pretty flowers, smelling leaves and blossoms and, once, enticing a rabbit to come close. Arthur would have bagged it, but Merlin just strokes it and lets it hop off again. He's completely ridiculous. There are some butterflies flitting around a clump of plants – god knows what they are – and he watches them too, letting them fly off before he starts collecting leaves and flowers and other green things. He even gives a cry of joy on finding a particular plant and he actually digs up the whole plant, roots and all and puts that carefully in his bag.
He eventually has enough random bits of greenery and he jogs back to the castle, handing the bag to Gaius telling him that he found some French Sorrel. Gaius is enthusiastic and immediately finds a pot for it, asking Merlin to bless it.
Wait, what?
Merlin presses the soil down and closes his eyes, then he opens them again and puts some water on it. Huh, who knew that Merlin was religious in any way? Still, he is a peasant and peasants do weird stuff like that. At least he didn't put two drops of blood on it or anything.
Merlin's next stop is the armoury where Percival and Gwaine are still teasing each other. Gwaine suddenly dives at Merlin and picks him up over his shoulder while Merlin laughs and demands to be put down.
"See? No problem!"
"Yes, but I picked him up when he was completely unconscious!" Percival replies smugly.
"Gwaine!" Merlin demands and Gwaine lets him down and fluffs his hair. "That wasn't at all emasculating!" He grumps.
"Percy over there…" Percival hates that nickname, "thinks he's stronger than me!"
"He is stronger than you!" Merlin insists.
"Elyan is stronger than you too!" Percival insists.
"No he isn't!" Gwaine is insulted and Merlin laughs.
"Arthur's stronger than you too," Merlin tells them and they all stop.
"Yes, he is," Gwaine concedes. "But that's because he's a horrible slavedriver. What are you here for?"
"Armour polishing and sword sharpening – the usual," Merlin tells them, picking up the things he needs.
"That's not Arthur's," Gwaine points out, picking up his own cloth and armour.
"No, it's Aggravating's," Merlin growls and Percival and Gwaine laugh.
"Why are you doing his armour?"
"Because Arthur is doing something, so his uncle has decided to make my life a misery."
"Do you still think Agravaine's the traitor?" Gwaine asks softly.
"I know he is," Arthur breathes in sharply. "But I can't prove it, of course. It just looks like I'm being petty because of what he did to Gaius."
"He was checking Gaius was still breathing when I got to him," Gwaine offers.
"With a dagger? How do you know he wasn't about to slit his throat?"
"Well, it did look like that, but then he showed me the breath on the dagger. Merlin, he is your master's uncle. You have to be careful," Gwaine warns, putting his hand on Merlin's arm.
Merlin is rubbing the armour intensely. "I am being careful. I only… I just said one thing and Arthur snapped at me. Gwen told me about the plans and… Morgana must have copied them… how can I protect Arthur when he won't listen to me?"
"Merlin, I serve him because he's the only noble I've ever met who seems to know what that means, but… you're my friend. You can always count on me."
Merlin looks at him and Arthur gets a close-up of Gwaine's expressive face looking impossibly serious.
"Thanks," Merlin replies. "I'm done with this. I'm doing Arthur's sword. Lord 'Aggravating' will just have to make do and not be quite as shiny as my actual master!"
"Ah, yes, sweet revenge!" Gwaine teases, rolling his eyes.
"I take it where I can," Merlin agrees.
Arthur is still in shock from hearing that Merlin thinks… he really hates Agravaine. That must be it. He's jealous and he's still smarting from being threatened with banishment and from Gaius. He takes great care with the sword, using long, firm strokes so that it becomes sharp and not scratched.
"One day," Gwaine tells Merlin seriously, "Arthur will know everything. He will know all you have done for him and how much you believe in him."
"I just wish he'd trust me…" Merlin mutters, miserably. "I wish he would see that if there is one person in the whole world who is on his side, it's me."
"He knows that," Gwaine laughs.
"But then he laughs and thinks I'm useless. I'm not an idiot, Gwaine," Merlin insists.
"And I know that. I'm off to get some dinner before going to the tavern. You coming?"
"You know I can't. I've got to get a bath for Aggravating," Merlin moans.
"Urgh! One day you will come with me before I pass out!" Gwaine gets up and pats Merlin on the shoulder.
"I won't be able to rescue you tonight," Merlin calls out.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him," Percival calls from behind the pillar where he is soaping his leather armour.
"Thanks, Percival," Merlin says and he inspects the sword very carefully, checking for any imperfections and scratches. There are none, so he returns it to the rack and puts his cleaning stuff away.
Arthur has never given any thought to what having a bath would entail. First it means finding and placing the bath tub. Merlin finds this one in a store on the level below Agravaine's and he drags it up the stairs with some difficulty. Then he drapes sheets in it for comfort.
After that it is the tedious task of carrying buckets up the stairs several times. Arthur loses count and had never realised that for every bucket of hot water he takes from the vat, he has to replace it with a bucket of cold from the well. He also puts a metal bucket of water over the fire, presumably to keep the heat in the bath.
Agravaine appeared after buckets seven and eight and he is sitting at his desk, smirking.
Merlin eventually goes and stands before Arthur's uncle and waits. Agravaine is pretending to read something and he makes Merlin wait, then, at last, he looks up.
"Bath's ready," Merlin tells him.
Agravaine gets up and slaps him yet again. It's quite clear to Arthur why Merlin could possibly think that Agravaine is the bad guy, but then Merlin is always emotional and led by his heart, so Arthur decides to forgive his servant for his almost-treason.
"My lord," Merlin tags on resentfully.
"You will attend me," Agravaine commands and Arthur doesn't have to be able to see Merlin's face to know that he is revolted at the idea.
Actually, so is Arthur. He loves his uncle, but he doesn't want to see him naked.
Arthur gets up and realises that he's really stiff, so he heads into his chambers and does some stretches. He sits on his own bed and revels in the comfort there, and he sits and thinks about Merlin.
Arthur usually wants a bath after a long day in the saddle, and always when he has been on a journey and, it has just occurred to him that Merlin is usually with him, which means he's just as sore and weary and yet Arthur makes him go and draw a bath for him. And he has to empty the thing afterwards as well. Why doesn't he get help?
Several times today Merlin has proclaimed his loyalty to Arthur. Arthur always knew that Merlin was faithful and that he would do anything for Arthur, but it's nice to hear him saying it to other people when he doesn't know that Arthur is listening. And there is Gwaine talking about never getting Merlin to go to the tavern with him. According to Gaius, he's there all the time. He once spent two whole days there, so what was that about? He never sees Merlin eating or drinking… except the odd apple or berries found in the woods.
He mentioned Gwen. He said that Gwen had told him about the stolen plans, which certainly explains why he believed it. Merlin is desperate for Arthur to forgive Gwen and invite her back, marry her and live happily ever after. He is sure that Guinevere has learned her lesson and that Arthur should take her back and Arthur really wants to, but… but… he has never stopped loving her. Arthur just wants to be the one she loves, not one of two. He is the king, he can offer her a kingdom, and yet he is still second best. Why is it that no one wants to put him first?
Except Merlin. Merlin would serve him even if he lost his kingdom. He knows that Merlin would… and has… risked his life for his master. He has downed poison for Arthur and he always follows him, even when Arthur doesn't want him to. That time when he turned up inside Annis' tent, for example. He was being a total idiot, but he still thought he could protect his king.
It's growing dark and the medallion kicks in again, showing Agravaine being clothed by Merlin – thank the gods for small mercies, 'cos naked Agravaine? Ew!- and Merlin is half-heartedly brushing him off and making his clothes hang properly.
"Are the stables mucked out?"
"Stables?" Merlin asks.
"Yes, where they keep the horses? That is a part of your job," Agravaine says, grasping Merlin's… hair? Ah, no… ear.
"Ow… yes, sometimes," Merlin agrees.
"And where is my dinner? And my boots? Have you changed the sheets on my bed? Where are my clean clothes?"
"I didn't know…" Merlin complains and Agravaine lets go and smiles nastily.
"That is not an acceptable response. You are a terrible servant and I have no idea why Arthur hasn't banned you from the castle. You creep around accusing your betters of things you have no chance of understanding and you don't understand that you are just a servant! Say it!" Agravaine grabs Merlin's ear again and Arthur realises that Merlin has been pushed up against the wall.
"I'm just a servant!" Merlin yelps. "I know that, I've never pretended to be anything else!"
"Well, that's not true, is it?" Agravaine twists Merlin's ear and smiles when Merlin yelps again. "Let's see, all the things you have done badly today, all the things you forgot and your appalling attitude… I'd say that's worth about ten."
Ten what? Arthur wonders, but then it becomes clear. Agravaine picks up a belt and Merlin meekly goes to Agravaine's desk and leans over it. His uncle pulls down Merlin's trousers, ripping them slightly, and then he thrashes him.
"Count them, Boy!"
"One!" Merlin mutters and Agravaine hits him again. "Two."
"Oh no, that was me starting again. You count respectfully."
Merlin sighs. "One, my lord," he grinds out.
"You should be thanking me for correcting your behaviour. We won't continue until you can count respectfully. You really are very slow."
Agravaine hits him again and Merlin managed to say, "One, my lord," without the anger.
They get to eight before Merlin slips up again, allowing his anger to be heard, so eight and nine have to be repeated, and finally they arrive at ten. Merlin waits and Arthur wonders what he is doing, still lying across Agravaine's desk. Apparently he is waiting for permission to stand. Merlin never waits for permission for anything.
"You may stand and thank me," Agravaine allows.
"Thank you, my lord," Merlin says to his own boots.
"We will return to this lesson another day. Fetch my dinner!"
"Yes, my lord," Merlin mumbles and he waits to be allowed to leave.
"You may go," Agravaine smiles nastily.
"Thank you, my lord," Merlin says and he runs.
Merlin takes a moment to sort his ripped trousers out – Arthur's not quite sure how because it's dark in the corridor – and then he goes to fetch the dinner.
The kitchen is in chaos, but more than one servant asks if he is OK and he tells one of them that he was serving 'Aggravating' today – the girl nods sympathetically and tells him to get a salve from Gaius. So Merlin isn't the only one to get that treatment?
Merlin delivers the meal very quietly and with great deference, but Agravaine doesn't look at him, or acknowledge him, so Merlin goes back to the kitchens and gathers up another tray of food. Arthur is quite surprised at what he has picked up as he didn't think that Merlin would want to eat half of that… and then he realises that this is his own tray. He had commanded Merlin to bring him dinner.
The knock comes almost before Arthur is ready and he has to shake his head to wake himself up.
"Are you alright, my lord?" Merin asks in genuine concern depositing the tray on the table.
"What? Yes, why?"
"You never sleep during the day. Do you have a headache? Shall I fetch Gaius?"
"No!" Arthur snaps. "I'm fine, stop fussing."
"Yes, Sire… if you're sure. I've brought you dinner."
It's so weird seeing Merlin now after having pretty much 'been' Merlin all day. He scrutinises Merlin trying to see evidence of his pain after being beaten, but, while his face is a bit red, he looks pretty much as he always does. His attention is fully on his King and… and it's quite clear that Arthur is the most important thing in the room. It's a bit humbling in some ways.
Arthur gets up and Merlin helps him pull himself together, still fussing, then he goes to his table and sits down so that Merlin can set his food out and fill his cup.
"What did you have for dinner?"
"What?" Merlin asks in surprise.
"It's a simple question."
"Oh… er… nothing… yet, nothing yet, Sire."
"You haven't eaten yet? But it's dark outside, which means it must be quite late."
"Oh, well, I'll eat with Gaius probably."
Arthur nearly pointed out that there is no bread left, but he's not supposed to know that. He looks at his meal of venison with a sauce and accompanying vegetables.
"Did you cook this?"
"No, the kitchen staff did. Are you alright? You're acting a bit weird," Merlin asks with concern all over his face. "Did you… did you make up your mind?"
"What?" Arthur has absolutely no idea what he means.
"About… you know… marriage."
Oh… he thinks that Arthur has been thinking about Guinevere. Well, it's true that he did say that he had no idea what to do and Merlin told him that he did… and he does…
"Yes," Arthur answers. Merlin waits, but Arthur is not going to tell him, not before he tells Guinevere. "You look tired."
"I am a bit," Merlin agrees. He does. His face is still a bit red and he looks emotional. Arthur has a brief thought that it would be funny to see him sitting down, but then he feels a bit mean.
"Did you not have a day off today?"
"No, Arthur, I did not have a day off," Merlin bites out and Arthur wonders if he would actually take some time off even if he gave it to him.
"What did you do then?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yes, or else I wouldn't have asked."
"That's not true. You'd order me to tell you and then tell me off for boring you," Merlin says and Arthur thinks… actually, that's probably fair.
"Tell me and I'll tell you if I am bored or not," Arthur commands, taking the rest of the chicken, mopping up the sauce with bread and leaving the veg.
"I washed your uncle's floor, got him a bath and went to pick herbs for Gaius," Merlin tells him, "It was pretty boring actually."
"I've had enough. Take it away."
"Do you need anything else, Sire?"
Oh, that again. Sometimes Arthur wishes that Merlin would be honest with him. Why didn't he tell his master that he was beaten by Agravaine? That Agravaine is horrible to him? Then he could order Merlin not to serve Agravaine and so… save him or something. He says that he is always on Arthur's side and he's really loyal, but…
It suddenly hits Arthur. The truth. Why Merlin doesn't trust him in return.
"Are you alright?" Merlin asks again, suddenly moving straight to him. "you've gone white…"
Merlin puts his hand on Arthur's forehead and looks ready to pick him up and carry him to Gaius.
"No… no, I'm fine… I just realised something. Merlin… I've never been loyal to you."
"What?"
"You are intensely loyal to me and I have no idea why…No, don't start with the whole Once and Future King thing. It's more than that. It's like I'm more important to you than you are to yourself… but you don't trust me."
"Of course I trust you!" Merlin looks stricken. "I trust you more than anyone else who has ever existed or ever will."
"You trust me to be a king, but you don't trust me as a friend."
"You always tell me that we can't be friends," Merlin says sadly. "I'm your servant. I know that."
"That's it you see? I… I don't support you in return. You can tell me. You can tell me anything. You don't have to keep secrets from me."
Merlin stands back and looks desperately upset. He walks over to the bed and starts pulling covers back and messing about with it.
"Merlin? Is there anything you want to tell me? Something that has hurt you? Someone?"
"No, Sire."
"Sit down."
"What?" Merlin looks back at him.
"Come over here and sit down."
"No," he refuses.
"Merlin, come over here and sit down. That is an order."
"I don't want to."
Arthur gets up and pulls Merlin around to face him. "Why don't you want to sit down? Is it something to do with my uncle?"
"No! No, if I tell you something about your uncle and you don't like it you'll have me flogged or… or banished… and I can't be banished, because then I wouldn't be able to protect you!"
Arthur has grabbed Merlin by his arms and Merlin is fighting it, but Arthur is a lot stronger than Merlin.
"Bear in mind that I know the answer to this question… did Agravaine hurt you?"
Merlin stops struggling and looks shocked.
"Well?"
"I… it was my fault. I was disrespectful to him."
"And?"
"He…" Merlin swallows, but can't say the words.
"He beat you, didn't he?" Merlin just gives a short nod. "He has no business harming you in any way. I will tell him so tomorrow."
Merlin is staring at him now, as though Arthur has grown a second head or something. "How?"
"How do I know? I'm the king. I know these things," Arthur replies smugly, because it's always fun getting one up on Merlin. "You are such an idiot," he grins. "Go on, go and spend the evening with Gaius. Just take these plates away and I'll get myself ready for bed."
"I wasn't aware you knew how to," Merlin teases, but his tone is slightly off, not quite mocking enough.
"Go on, before I change my mind."
"Yes my lord," Merlin agrees and picks up the plates. He gives Arthur one more puzzled glance and then leaves the room.
Arthur blows out the candles, leaving just one lit and lies back on the bed, waiting for the blurriness to clear. As he expected, Merlin helps himself to Arthur's left overs, hidden in an alcove, using the small piece of bread to soak up the gravy. The way he attacks it makes Arthur wonder again when and where he last ate.
Once he's finished, he takes the plates and goblets back down to the kitchens and takes it over to a station that seems to be entirely for washing up. There's a weird moment where everything goes dark, and when Merlin's eyes open again, he hasn't moved. He seems to pause for a moment and just wait, then someone comes into the area and Merlin is clearly startled. He cleans off the excess water and puts the plates and goblets in a special cupboard, says a quick, cheery hello to the maid and trots off.
"Where have you been?" Gaius demands testily.
"Just doing my job, Gaius," Merlin sighs.
"Well the tank still needs to be cleaned," Gaius reminds him. "The leeches will wither."
"Not a problem from where I'm standing," Merlin grumbles.
"But then you'd have to go to the pond and find me more," Gaius replies crossly, turning a page in his book.
Merlin sighs and pours himself some water, only to discover that there is only a dribble left.
"Great," he murmurs and hefts the bucket to go back to the pump yet again. Once there, in the dark, Merlin puts the bucket down and sits down gingerly with a yelp and a sigh. It all goes dark for a moment and Arthur realises that Merlin is weary, hungry, thirsty and a bit dejected. It only lasts a moment, and Merlin is up again, filling his bucket and heaving it back to Gaius' chambers. At this point Arthur finds himself up close and personal with a tank full of leeches and that is possibly the most gross thing he has ever seen.
Arthur pulls the disk off his chest and gets up. He is King and he has to do something. He strides down the corridors, down the stairs, across the courtyard, up more stairs and into the tower where he just bashes his way into Gaius' room.
Merlin is waist deep in a filthy glass tank and he bumps his head in surprise as Arthur crashes into the room.
"Out!" he snaps.
"Good evening, Sire," Gaius says, looking up from his book. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, something is wrong. Get out of there Merlin!"
Merlin crawls out and Arthur sees that there is leech on his cheek and another on his left hand. He drags the horrid thing off his hand and looks up at his king, wincing when he rests his bottom on his heels and bouncing up again.
"Gaius, as your king I am ordering you to find someone else to clean your leech tank. Merlin will no longer be required to do that task."
They both stare at him uncomprehendingly. "Er… why? Sire?" Gaius asks.
"You've got one on your cheek," Arthur tells his servant and forces himself not to laugh when Merlin flinches and scrabbles at the gross… thing. "Merlin, you haven't eaten today and I'm not sure you ate much yesterday."
"I don't understand," Merlin admits.
Arthur reaches down and pulls him up to his feet, then he pulls at Merlin's neckerchief and retrieves the disk.
Merlin takes it and says, "That's one of those disks you had yesterday… in the box with the naughty goats."
"Yes." Arthur shows him the one he has been holding all day. "I put it on you yesterday. If I stay in a dark room I can see through the eyes of the person with the other disk. I've been seeing through your eyes all day."
Merlin looks completely horrified and it's clear that he is running through the whole day to see if he has done anything bad, or mean.
"You're not in trouble, Merlin. I… I just didn't realise… I'm sorry. I watched you cleaning the floors and… with Agravaine. Gaius, did you know that Merlin was beaten?"
"Beaten?" Gaius asks, standing up. "Who by?" The dear old man looks like he might grab a sword and run the perpetrator through.
"My uncle," Arthur states. "I haven't told him yet, but I will. You, Merlin, need to work on telling people when you are in trouble. If you had told me the truth, I could have saved you. If you had told Gaius, I'm sure he wouldn't have made you clean this tank this late at night."
"I'm sorry, Sire," Merlin mumbles.
"He needs some salve of some kind, Gaius, and he needs rest. He's no use to me half-dead from working too hard on too little food. Go on. Go and apply the salve while I get food sent up for you and, Merlin?"
"Yes my lord?"
"You may have tomorrow off."
"To polish your armour and muck out the stables?" Merlin spits out and Arthur hears actual anger in his tone.
"No, Merlin. To sleep in, to recover and to do something for yourself. You won't work for Gaius either. There are plenty of servants around who can clean your tank. Do you both understand?"
"Yes Sire," Gaius responds, but Merlin is completely gobsmacked and is standing there looking more idiotic than Arthur has ever seen.
"Merlin?"
"You're actually giving me a day off?" he asks. "Without any tasks to do?"
Arthur grins. "I know, it doesn't sound like me." He turns to go, but Merlin stops him.
"Arthur… thank you," he says.
Arthur feels pretty good about himself, even if he has to survive a day of George tomorrow…