A/N - This is probably going to be the last update for about a week, because I have an apparently endless list of real life stuff that I have to get done for an impossibly tight deadline…

I also want to thank everyone who has favourited, followed, or reviewed this story - it's really encouraging to know that people enjoy it, and reviews give me the opportunity to see what you enjoy and help me to improve my writing skills.

I hope you enjoy this one, and please let me know what you think!

-JKelly

Bonhomie:

n. - cheerful friendliness; geniality

"Rise and shine Arthur!"

Arthur groaned loudly and pulled his pillow over his face as the room was suddenly flooded with sunlight. He hated mornings. Absolutely hated them. Hated them with a burning passion. Hated them more than anything…

"Up you get Arthur, busy day today." Said Merlin as he shook Arthur back awake. Arthur couldn't help but feel that he was far too happy for this hour of the morning. Far too cheerful. Merlin, he decided, had more bonhomie than anyone had a right to at this ridiculous hour.

"Ughhhhh. Cancel it all." He ordered. Perhaps he didn't seem quite as princely as he hoped though, because instead of following his command, Merlin simply laughed and pulled his covers away from him.

"It's pretty important I'm afraid - look, I'm not telling you what you've got until you're actually awake, so come on Arthur. You've got two sausages with your breakfast..."

For a moment, Arthur was almost tempted by his offer. Then he remembered.

"Merlin... I'm supposed to have three sausages with my breakfast."

"Well, you'd better get up and make sure the other two don't disappear then."

Grumbling about thieving manservants and princely duties that took place altogether too early, Arthur stood up and shuffled his way to the table, the threat of losing his sausages more effective than any amount of Merlin's cajoling could possibly be. Wiping the sleep away from his eyes in a move that he would forever deny made him look like an overgrown toddler, he glared down at the two eggs, three sausages, two rashers of bacon, and six apple slices on his plate.

"...Merlin, I thought you said I only had two sausages today."

"Did I say that? I must have been mistaken, sire. And it's a good job I was, because just look how quickly that got you out of bed…"

"You know Merlin, lying to the prince could get you put in the stocks for a day..."

"Oh! I've just remembered, Gaius has a...herb...he'd like me to...wash."

"A herb." Repeated Arthur sceptically.

"That he'd like me to wash, yes. I should really get going, it's pretty time sensitive, don't want the leaves to wilt, do we, no, so I'll just go and...do that."

And with that, Merlin fled Arthur's chambers, leaving a very bemused Arthur staring after him.

Outside the door, Merlin sighed. The day had only just begun and already he was exhausted. He hurried back to Gaius' chambers and rooted around in the herbs and medicines until he found what he was looking for, and placed them in a mug of cold water. With a flash of his eyes, the water began to bubble, and slowly turned a deep brown colour. With another surreptitious burst of magic, Merlin removed the coffee grounds, took a sip, and sighed again, this time in satisfaction.

It occurred to him that maybe this would be a good way to wake Arthur up in the mornings. He could always say that Gaius has discovered a new use for some obscure plant...

An image of an over-caffeinated prince suddenly popped into Merlin's head, and he shuddered.

No, the secret to his morning cheerfulness was one of those things that it was best to keep to himself.

A/N #2 - I know, coffee didn't really come to England until the 17th century (shortly before being banned by King Charles II for producing "very evil and dangerous effects" along with tea and chocolate, which, if true, bodes badly for me), but the 15th century records of Ahmed al-Ghaffar in Yemen record coffee being prepared and consumed in Arabia in essentially the same way that it is now, so it had definitely been discovered by somebody towards the very end of the medieval period. Merlin is not only the most powerful warlock ever, but he also lives with Gaius, who seems to either know about or have a book on pretty much every plant to ever exist. Therefore, in this version of reality where sorcerers appear every other Tuesday and unicorns casually roam the woodlands, I don't think it's completely outside the realm of possibility that Merlin, being a man who must be in constant need of a caffeine fix, could have access to coffee.

If that does seem outside the realm of possibility to you, a person who is voluntarily reading a fanfiction about a TV show based around magic and the legendary King Arthur, then I'm afraid I can't help you.