This fanfic will vary from comical to angst and everything in between. I never intended to write a Merlin fanfic. I'm new to the series. I've seen maybe 6 episodes? So, I'm dubbing this Au, because the only knight I know is for sure that's in this series is Lancelot. I could look up which ones are present in the show, but I don't want to ruin anything. It's Au anyway, despite things being the same in certain areas.

I'm warning everyone right now. This story is being written for my own amusement. Something to have fun with when I get frustrated or just need a break from my Harry Potter fanfics.

So, between everything previously stated, my random run-ins with my health, work, etc. I make no promises on updates. They'll happen when they do.

Oh, and the biggest warning. This is a slash story. Arthur/Merlin. Eventually.

Warnings: SLASH Arthur/Merlin, Merlin/Arthur, gay, yaoi, whatever you dub it, that's what it is.

Warning: AU (Alternate Reality) Despite that, it's taking place in Camelot during the same time period.

Notes: (X) is pov change and or time jump

Chapter 1

"Where's Merlin," Arthur asked as he stepped into Gaius's tower. He had a pair of boots in desperate need of polishing and quite frankly, it was the only excuse he could come up with to see Merlin that evening. Not that he needed an excuse, he was the prince after all. If he wanted to see Merlin at any time of the day, he could. That was his right and Merlin's duty. And getting another servant to fetch Merlin and send him to his room had seemed too tedious, so he'd come to the tower himself. Besides, when they were with Gaius, Merlin was more at ease and far more willing to act like he used to. He wasn't sure what had occurred within the last few weeks, but Merlin had actually begun to shut up and that was a sure sign that something was wrong, and he wanted to know what.

"At the tavern," Gaius said, his eyes flicking up from the herbs he'd been crushing inside a bowl with a pestle.

"Again?" It wasn't like Merlin couldn't go, but he'd told Arthur just that morning that he was tired and hoped Gaius wouldn't keep him busy for long so he could get some sleep. "He said he was coming straight back here to help you with something." Did Merlin feel the need to lie to him about going to the tavern? Was his drinking problem getting that out of hand? Was that why he'd suddenly become so distant?

"He did," Gaius said. "And then Sir Lancelot came and begged him to go with him to the tavern." He grabbed a nearby book and studied its page before nodding. "Is there something you needed him for my lord? I could go fetch him for you."

"No… it wasn't anything urgent." He left the physician's room, his chin in hand. It seemed like every time he came by lately; Merlin was at the tavern. And now he was in a tavern with Lancelot. Perhaps this was a problem. After all, his knights shouldn't be going to the tavern and sharing drinks with a servant. At least not his servant.

Should he go track them down? He didn't want to make a scene, and technically Lancelot wasn't of noble blood, but he was a knight. And he didn't actually care that they were at the same tavern, there were only three in all of Camelot. There was a considerable distance between them, and Arthur didn't believe for a second Merlin would step foot in the one in the lowest quarters. That one was more known for its "entertainment" than its drinks. The commoner's tavern was better, but chances were they were in the tavern in the upper quarters.

That meant people would recognize them. Alright, everyone recognized Merlin. But that was all the more reason the two of them shouldn't be drinking together. It wasn't like he wanted to go and ruin their fun, but his knights' reputation were important. He couldn't allow them to go drinking with servants, or rather, he couldn't let them go drinking with Merlin.

There was no other choice. He'd wait for them to return and tell Lancelot he couldn't do such things and order Merlin to stay put. If Lancelot wanted a drinking buddy, he'd have to get one of the other knights to go with him or take along some other servant. Some nobles did that, so the servant could watch their things and make sure they got home safe. He'd be more than happy to get Lancelot his own personal servant to go to taverns with, just not Merlin.

And so, he waited in the hall, pacing back and forth until he could take it no longer, and went back to Gaius's chambers. Without waiting for an invitation, he sat down at the table drumming his fingers on its wooden surface, each passing second adding flames to his anger.

"It's almost midnight," he shouted when he could no longer bear it.

Gaius turned to Arthur and offered him a small shrug.

"I do apologize Prince Arthur, but it happens sometimes," he said. "I'm still willing to go fetch him if you'd like."

"No!… No," he repeated, clenching his hand into a fist and slowly relaxing it while letting out a hiss in irritation. "I will deal with him and Lancelot tomorrow. You warn Merlin if he's late waking me up in the morning, he will be scrubbing the floors of the castle the rest of the week!"

"Understood my lord." Gaius bowed his head gently in his direction. Arthur was sure he could see amusement in Gaius's eyes.

That humor had better be for Merlin's possible punishment.

With another frustrated sigh, Arthur got up and left. He stormed down the hall, his boots echoing throughout the tower with each step, the guard at the entrance stepping out of his way and bowing his head as he raged by.

So help you if you're late Merlin!

(X)

Merlin stepped into Arthur's room, his pants leg catching on his shoe. He flew forward clutching the tray of food he was holding as tight as he could, only holding onto the tray itself wasn't the problem he and the food were.

No, I can't start the day like this, he mentally groaned. He'd been doing so well lately too, only waking Arthur up a few minutes late now and keeping his mouth shut, sort of. Sometimes certain things just had to be said. If he didn't, no one else would, and Camelot might go up in flames because Arthur was not a trustworthy prince when it came to deciding what was good for the kingdom. Better than before when Merlin had first arrived, but as it stood, Merlin would agree with the nearest horse's idea versus Arthur's right now.

He felt his magic rush through his body, his eyes no doubt flashing gold. The tray and he stopped, the food freezing in place a foot over Arthur's face. He quickly got his balance restored and pushed the food threatening to topple onto Arthur's face into the middle of the tray where it could do no harm.

"Oh good," he breathed out before letting out a quiet laugh in triumph as a reward for saving Arthur's breakfast as well as himself. Now he wouldn't have to spend the next few hours in the stocks or the dungeon.

Arthur's eyes snapped open, his face contorting in confusion. "Merlin… what in the hell are you doing?"

Merlin yelped, the tray and all its contents falling on top of the prince. The tray dropped onto Arthur's right shoulder, the fruit beat on Arthur's cheeks, the water drowned his hair. The cheese pieces rolled down Arthur's blanket landing by his waist and the bread hit the prince's arm before managing a marvelous spin in the air that landed with a perfect score of ten on the floor.

Merlin watched it all in complete horror and yet, worst of all, he could not help laughing. He backed away from the prince, knowing this was the last thing he should be doing, but how could he not? He knew Arthur's shocked look was going to turn fast into rage and Merlin would be lucky if all he had to endure was a week in the town square getting rotten food thrown at him. Gaius had warned him over breakfast that Arthur was already mad at him for running off with Lancelot to the tavern and threatening to make him scrub the floors of the castle if he was late that morning. That should have been enough to make him bite his cheek and hold in his laughter, and yet it was not.

But that wide eye, mouth open look of utter disbelief was too funny and perhaps worth the three weeks in the dungeon Arthur would probably decide to discipline him with in the end.

He watched as a look of rage took hold over the prince's face, his hands clenching into fists.

"MERLIN!" His entire body jerked towards him, the tray clattering loudly onto the floor. Whatever food previously spared by landing on Arthur's blanket joined the bread, but not landing nearly as eloquently on the floor.

Oh, no! He tried had to stop, but it wasn't happening. Weeks of training with Uther's personal servants were fast going out the window. He needed this outlet, though. He'd done his best to pretend to be a 'regular' servant as Huon instructed, a title he'd never achieve because he wasn't just Arthur's servant, he was his shield. Two vastly distinct positions. If only he could explain that to Arthur, because trying to act like an everyday servant was rather exhausting and depressing, and he just wanted things to go back to the way they'd been. Not that things had been great before Huon had grabbed him. Arthur still tried to pawn him off from time to time and they still bickered, though Merlin enjoyed that.

"I'll get a towel," he managed between laughs, tears pouring down his cheeks. He bolted from the room to retrieve a towel, knowing his freedom and good cheer would end soon. But it was Arthur's fault. He had had the situation completely under control until Arthur had woken up and spoken to him. If he'd just waited until Merlin had gotten the tray onto the table, none of this would have happened.

"MERLIN!"

He cringed and laughed harder as Arthur's voice followed him down the stairway. The guard at the bottom gave him a curious look as he ran by. There would be hell to pay upon his return. But that face!

"What's so funny," Gwen asked, coming down the hall. She was holding a stack of clean laundry close to her chest, no doubt for Morgana.

What luck. "I'm, or rather Prince Arthur is in desperate need of one of these," he explained, snatching a towel from the top of Gwen's laundry pile. Morgana would understand. "You've probably spared me a few extra days in the stocks."

Gwen let out a gasp, followed fast by her own laughter. "What did you do this time?"

"Fed prince Arthur in bed," he grinned.

"You didn't!" Her laughter brought fresh energy to his own, and he brought the towel up, hiding his face behind it to muffle his laughs. "Merlin! Get back up there before he decides to have you executed!" Her warning ruined as her laughter intensified. "Now!"

"I'm going," he said, stopping after a single step. "You'll bring me food if I'm thrown in the dungeon, right?"

"Go!"

They continued to share a laugh, Merlin waving the towel in some weird goodbye before their paths separated. He took two steps at a time up the tower stairs, hoping Arthur wasn't waiting for him at the door with his sword ready to behead him.

Oh, he's going to let me have it. He bit down on the towel, trying to stop his laughter before reentering the room. He removed the cloth so Arthur wouldn't know he'd had it in his mouth, took a few deep breaths to calm himself, and burst into more laughter.

The door flew open, Arthur standing before him with a look that promised him pain and so much worse if he didn't get inside the room and make everything right.

He knew his laughter was going to get him whipped at this point, not that Arthur had ever had any of his servants whipped, but Uther had, and Merlin was going to be Arthur's first if he didn't stop. But he'd been trying so hard to keep a wall between him and Arthur as instructed by his "teacher" and this moment they were sharing was too much.

"I'm so sorry, but the look on your face!" He held the towel up and Arthur jerked it out of his hands so hard and fast, he stumbled again into the room.

"This is not funny," Arthur screamed, his face bright red. He began drying his hair and face off. "I cannot believe you!" He slammed the door shut, the poor wooden slab vibrating in place. "What were you doing holding the tray over my face in the first place," he demanded.

"I stumbled into the room," he managed. He found the tray on the other side of Arthur's bed and picked it up. "I managed to catch myself, but then you spoke to me and, well," he grinned at the prince as he walked around the bed and began picking up the food from the floor.

"This is not my fault," Arthur screamed.

Merlin looked over his shoulder at the prince. "Of course, it wasn't." He let his smirk speak for itself and set the bread and pieces of cheese onto the tray.

Arthur let out a frustrated growl and stomped towards Merlin. He grabbed him by the shoulder, pulled him around, and up to his face in one swift and fluid movement, the tray and food clattering back to the floor.

Arthur's sudden strength amazed Merlin.

"Are you drunk," he asked in a hiss, his words dripping with venom.

"What? Why would you think that," Merlin asked, scrunching up his face. Of all the things to come out of Arthur's mouth, this he hadn't expected. "I've told you over and over I don't drink." Not that it was Arthur's job to remember everything he said unless it was important, as Uther's head personal servant Huon had reminded him every chance he got. It was Merlin's job to remember everything about Arthur, not the other way around. As far as it concerned Huon, Arthur didn't even need to remember his name.

Arthur threw him to the floor, Merlin landing on his bottom and lower back. He winced at the sharp pain that followed, but kept his eyes fixed on Arthur. Perhaps his laughter had been too much because Arthur had never once thrown him like this or looked at him with as much anger and disgust as he did right now.

This was exactly why Uther had forced him into servant training, to begin with. He kept screwing up and Uther, unknown to Arthur, had finally given in and told Merlin he would remove him from his current position if he didn't shape up. Actually, his exact words were, 'If you can't learn to act like a normal servant in the next few months, I'll be rewarding you with a trip into exile.'

He'd almost answered with, 'Arthur wouldn't let you do that,' and then remembered all the times Arthur and he had tried to get him replaced over the last few years. His confidence had died immediately. They'd tried so hard to get Merlin's 'reward' revoked, Uther denying every attempt and plea that Arthur had said he'd given up, but Merlin couldn't risk that and find himself back in Ealdor the very next day. He couldn't leave Camelot until Arthur's life was out of danger, whenever that would be.

"Then why is it every time I come to see you, you're at the bloody tavern!?" He took a step towards Merlin, the warlock scrambling backward to keep the distance between them.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he blurted, his words falling over one another. "I was there last night—"

"Past midnight!"

Merlin made a face. "You waited until midnight for me?"

"That's not the point!"

Merlin flinched. No wonder Arthur was pissed. He'd waited all night for Merlin to return and as a result hadn't gotten a full night's sleep. And then Merlin, who'd unknowingly and unintentionally caused the sleep deprivation, had woken Arthur up by dropping his breakfast tray on him.

"Why didn't you just ask Gaius or one of the other servants to come get me," he asked, using the wall to help him get back on his feet. Another sharp pain followed. But he'd have to deal with that later.

"It wasn't that important! The problem is you spend way too much time at the tavern! People are going to think my servant is a drunk!"

"I don't drink," Merlin said again. "I was there with Lancelot helping him make a gift for Gwen." He glared at Arthur, biting back the insult that Arthur drove all the servants to drink, not just him. But the situation was volatile enough. "It's Sweets day this Friday," he said, trying to keep his voice even. Arthur seemed to be calming down, his chest no longer heaving, his eyes no longer narrowed. "Lancelot wanted to give Gwen something special, so he asked me to help him." He swallowed, fear setting in as Arthur watched his every move. It was the same way he watched his enemies on the battlefield. One wrong move or word and you were dead.

"What can you possibly help Lancelot with?"

"Gaius has books with pictures of herbs and flowers for his medicines. Lancelot picked one out he thought was pretty and… and we made a pendant in that shape for a necklace. Gwaine helped us last week to find a gemstone for the center of the flower. We've been working really hard on it."

Arthur studied him and finally nodded.

"Fine." He turned his back to Merlin and walked towards his closet. "I think I'll take my breakfast with the other nobles today," he said, still clearly annoyed. But not angry, Merlin noted. "Perhaps until further notice, at least until you've learned how to walk properly," he snapped, pulling out a dark red tunic.

"Okay," he said, just loud enough for Arthur to hear. To his amazement, Arthur removed his nightshirt and pants without any help. A blush crept across Merlin's cheeks as he watched Arthur fight to pull up his pants, shirtless. This made the sore back worth it. His grin found its way back onto his face as Arthur finally managed to pull his pants up over his bum.

Arthur seemed to somehow sense Merlin's eyes because he turned around, catching Merlin in the act of enjoying his eye candy. "You think it's funny I can't trust my personal servant to dress me," Arthur demanded grabbing the tunic he'd set on the table. He slipped it on over his head.

"Of course not," he said, running to grab Arthur's socks. It was a shame Arthur hadn't waited to put his tunic on. He rather liked staring at his abs too, especially while he helped Arthur get his socks on and he got a closeup view. Perfect for his late night fantasies. "I don't see why you don't trust me though. I did dress you up perfectly in food this morning."

Merlin heard a sharp intake of breath from behind.

"Merlin, do you have a death wish," he asked calmly.

Merlin turned, holding the socks. "You know, sometimes I wonder," he said, frowning. His life would be easier if someone would be nice enough to come by and end it. Of course that might make Arthur's life as far as the prophecy was concerned a bit harder. Oh well. Fate could figure something out.

"So, do I," Arthur said. He sat down on his bed and Merlin knelt, wincing yet again as he did so. It was going to be a long day. He took one of Arthur's feet and worked the sock on.

He knew he shouldn't have laughed so much at Arthur's food attack. It was his fault, and he had apologized, but he'd been laughing while doing so. Arthur and he insulted each other all the time, though. Merlin liked to think his relationship with Arthur was stronger, friendlier than it was with the other servants. That they could tease each other and be okay, but perhaps he'd been thinking too highly of himself. Maybe Arthur only continued to put up with him because he was stupid enough to drink poison for him whenever the situation arose. Basically, everything Huon had yelled at him about the other day.

But we've been through a lot. I've saved him plenty of times! Not that he knows about most of them….

He started with the other sock.

"Where was this silence when you needed it?"

Merlin looked up, their eyes meeting. He looked away, no longer sure that Arthur saw him the way he'd thought he had. Or maybe he had, and Merlin really had gone too far today. Or Huon had been right, and Arthur really thought he was a horrible servant and person, only tolerating him because his father had personally assigned Merlin to him and wouldn't let him change servants.

"I don't know," he answered quietly. He finished with the second sock and grabbed Arthur's boots. That was easy at least and Merlin needed easy right now because his mind and emotions were a complete and utter mess and if anything he did required proper attention, he feared he might set it on fire. Which he could not afford to do right now. Arthur wouldn't think twice to run him through with a sword if he found out about his magic with the chaotic morning he'd caused.

He stood up, refusing to acknowledge the pain, both mental and physical. He'd make sure Arthur was with his father and the other nobles eating in the dining hall and then ask Gaius for something to help stop the ache.

"Okay… let's see." He grabbed Arthur's belt, the prince taking it from his hands. Merlin gave him credit. Arthur lodged a wonderful battle against it, grunts and groans included. When it was obvious he wasn't going to win, he stomped his foot and looked up at Merlin, his red face daring him to say something.

Merlin had no intention of saying anything. He enjoyed dressing Arthur and delighted in buckling his belt. Besides, he really did need to behave until the cranky prince calmed down. He wrapped the brown leather around Arthur's spectacular hips and fastened the buckle.

He took a step back to examine their work and nodded. "All good, my lord. Shall we go to the dining hall?"

"And risk you tripping so you can shove me down the stairs," Arthur asked with heavy sarcasm.

"That wasn't my fault!" It had been Morgana's, not that Arthur had believed him when he'd tried to explain.

"This room better be spotless before morning training." He turned on his heel like a real noble, his head held high, and strode out of the room.

"Spoiled prat," Merlin muttered after he'd counted to ten to make sure Arthur was far enough away not to hear. "You're lucky our destinies are intertwined and even luckier you have such a good-looking arse."

It took slightly longer than planned to tidy up Arthur's room. The water had not just drenched Arthur's hair; it had soaked his bed as well. He used a spell for drying clothes on the mattress and grabbed dry sheets for the bed. It worked out well enough in the end, though. The weather would be turning cold soon, and Merlin would have had to get the thicker sheets and blankets within the next week, anyway.

After putting on the winter sheets and thick duvet, he went to work picking up the food. Arthur had managed to step on some of the cheese. A shame, everything had looked so good before its gymnastic act. He retrieved the goblet and set it on the table.

He frowned, noting how chilly it was in the room. He didn't want Arthur getting sick again, even if he was a prat. I guess I don't have a choice. The pain medicine would have to wait. He stepped into the middle of the room and held both hands out above his head, facing in opposite directions. "Beþast gerúm." A rush of warm air filled the room, making the temperature comfortable.

He was going to need to a cover story though….

His eyes fell on one of the many candles in the room. "Perfect." Grinning, he grabbed it and using the wax from the candle, made a seal around the wood that covered Arthur's window. A window sealed against the wind and cold outside made for a warm room, right?

Satisfied with his work, he grabbed the tray and nibbled on the bread as he went down the stairs. He knew the food wasn't that dirty. He scrubbed Arthur's bedroom floor all the time. He deposited the tray and its contents in the kitchen, making sure to say hello to everyone as he did.

Now he just had to get something to ease the pain in his back. He stepped out of the castle, his heart falling as he watched the knights gather at the training grounds.

This was not fair. All he needed was maybe four minutes to bother Gaius for some medicine. He walked over to the edge of the training grounds, wishing the day to be over with already. Sighing, he folded his arms and placed them on top of the wooden fence, before resting his head on them, trying not to wince every time he shifted his weight.

Lancelot waved to him before putting his helmet on. Merlin waved back, regretting it immediately. He must have thrown me harder than I thought. That or he'd fallen the wrong way. It didn't take much to turn what should have been a minor injury into a serious one. Which seemed to be the case right now because no matter what position he tried to rest in, the pain wasn't letting up.

"Merlin! Shield," Arthur yelled to him.

He nodded and walked over to the stand full of shields, glad to be doing something. If he didn't keep busy and stop thinking about his back, he was going to go mad. Not that his other thoughts were any more pleasant. When his back wasn't complaining to him, Huon's voice was echoing through his head about all the stupid things he'd done and why Uther was going to remove him from Arthur's side.

(X)

"Merlin," Lancelot called to him, jogging over. "I believe we should finish today," he said, grinning. "Meet me at the tavern after dinner?"

"Sure." He needed an escape from his current life, anyway. Tonight, once again, instead of Merlin the foolish servant, or Merlin the somehow greatest sorcerer of all time, or Merlin the failed servant student, he could simply be Merlin the jewelry maker, which he was surprisingly good at.

"Lancelot!" Arthur came walking towards, his expression not happy.

"Careful, I made him really mad this morning," Merlin whispered.

"No wonder he was working us so hard," Lancelot whispered back.

Arthur stopped in front of them, only addressing Lancelot. It seemed Merlin had forfeited his right to be acknowledged as a fellow human after his little mishap that morning. "I'll allow you to finish the gift, but after that, you need to stop taking my servant to taverns. It's unsightly for a knight to be drinking buddies with my servant, and I don't need the people of Camelot thinking he's a drunk."

"Excuse me," Merlin jumped in. Why had his life after work become such an issue with Arthur? "I'm not on duty as your servant when I go out with Lancelot! I'm not even Gaius's apprentice when we go out. We're just friends!"

"The knights of Camelot outrank you," Arthur snapped, fixing a glare on Merlin. "You are not friends."

Merlin felt his mouth drop.

"With all due respect, my lord, we knights owe Merlin far too much to not consider him our friend. He's invaluable during our scouting sessions and missions and—"

"This is not up for discussion," Arthur said.

The other knights had at some point joined them, watching silently until Gareth stepped forward. "We are agreed upon this, my lord," he said, his green eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Merlin is our friend."

"My word overrules all of you! Merlin is a servant, nothing more!"

"And when he takes over for Gaius as court physician," Gareth pressed.

"I will never allow such an idiot to be the physician for my court!"

"THEN I'LL BE SOMEONE ELSE'S PHYSICIAN," Merlin screamed. He ran for Gaius's room, ignoring the shouts from the knights. If the clanking of their armor was of any indication, they were either chasing him, or a fight had broken out. Either way, he didn't care. How could Arthur say such a thing?

No, how could I be so stupid to believe he thought any differently, he scolded himself. When was this lesson going to sink in? There was plenty of proof that Arthur only tolerated because he had no choice, not because they were friends, or even on good terms. He'd thought… You always think and you always end up hurt. Just stop!

"Watch where you're going!"

Merlin froze, mere seconds from running headfirst into Uther. Even though he hadn't done anything, the king's ominous look was worse than anything Arthur had ever thrown at him.

I would have been sent to the dungeon for sure. Or maybe Uther would have done him a favor and just exiled him.

"S, Sorry King Uther. Gaius needs my help immediately to help with a medicine and—"

"Just get out of my sight," Uther grumbled, shoving Merlin to the side. "Should have just gotten Arthur a dog," he sighed as he walked past.

Please do! Then I won't have to deal with you or your ungrateful son! He started running again, making sure to keep his head up, so he didn't almost crash into anyone this time. When he made it to Gaius's room, he slammed the door shut, tears running down his face.

"I hope there's a poisoned cup somewhere at dinner tonight and I am not drinking it for Arthur this time!"

Gaius stared at Merlin from the ladder he was standing on. He climbed down and walked towards the table just as Merlin collapsed into his usual chair and groaned. "What happened," he asked gently.

"I'm a fool! I accidentally dropped Arthur's breakfast on him this morning and I laughed." Gaius raised an eyebrow at that. "I thought… I made the mistake again of thinking Arthur doesn't hate me, but…. I went too far." He wiped some tears away before giving up and dropping his head into his hands. "He's been angry with me all day and now he says I can't spend any time with the knights, because they outrank me!"

"Prince Arthur doesn't hate you," Gaius said, his voice gentle. He took a seat next to Merlin. "And he isn't wrong, the knights do outrank you."

"That's beside the point! Uther said he should have given Arthur a dog!"

"Well, a dog—"

"You're not helping! Where do I even stand on this ranking scale!?"

"Well. First there's King Uther, then Prince Arthur. Then all the nobles in Uther's council, followed by all other nobles. Then there's the scholarly staff, Geoffrey, and myself. The commoners, the lepers, the dead, the other servants, and then there's you."

Merlin slowly turned his head, his face one of pure shock. "I have to die to obtain a higher rank!?"

"I'm afraid so." He patted Merlin on the arm. "There, there. It's not so bad."

"You don't have to catch an incurable disease to talk with Lancelot! What about the me that's part of the prophecy!?"

"I think that might actually lower your current ranking status considering we're in Camelot," Gaius said, frowning.

Merlin let out a frustrated growl and slumped back in his chair. "I mean it Gaius. I knew Arthur would never openly call me his friend, but…." He'd thought they'd gotten past everything and were friends all the same. After everything, he'd done for that ungrateful jerk! After all, they'd been through, he'd been so sure they were secretly friends, but Huon had been right. He was no more Arthur's friend than the trees outside of the castle were.

He gave his head a firm shake. "You know what? I'm not helping that prat right now, so I am a commoner, so ha! The jokes on him! I can go wherever I want."

"You were going to go anyway," Gaius said, smiling at him. "But first let's have some dinner."

"Can I have a pain killer first," he asked, giving Gaius his best pleading look.

"I'm afraid my medicines only help with physical pain, not emotional."

"Arthur threw me this morning, and I landed wrong. My back has been hurting since," he said, keeping his voice quiet. He doubted anyone would overhear them, but the knights had a knack for showing up just as Merlin was blurting out something he wanted no one else to know about.

Gaius looked somewhat alarmed. "Are you okay?"

"It was my own fault," he sighed. "My laughing got out of hand and…"

Thankfully, Gaius didn't push the issue. He went to his shelf of vials and began rummaging through them while Merlin got up to find the items they'd need to make dinner.

"Here," he handed Merlin a vial with brown liquid in it. "I'll make some more after dinner, just in case. Just try to be more careful, Merlin."

"I will." He was done letting himself believe him and Arthur would ever be anything, friends or otherwise. Any feelings he had for the spoiled arse were one sided. He removed the top from the vial and poured the contents of it into his mouth, wincing. "Ugh! This stuff is awful." He set the vial down and rushed to find some water.

They worked together after that, Merlin cutting the vegetables and Gaius cooking them. Merlin set the table, and they ate their dinner of bread and soup in silence. When they finished, they cleaned up so Gaius could get back to work.

"Oh, Merlin? The seamstress will be closed today before you can get there today, try, and make it tomorrow. It's already getting chilly out, and I don't want you catching phenomena when it starts to really get cold."

"Sure," he said, doing his best to look away before Gaius could look him in the eyes.

"Merlin…." He said, his voice full of suspicion.

A knock on the door spared Merlin a lengthy lecturing. Grinning, he ran and opened it. "Lancelot!"

TBC