Merlin looked over the schedule Arthur had written for him; it seemed so short to him.

Merlin

8:30 Train the knights

11:00 Hold town hall

1:00 Have lunch with Gwen

3:00 Run council meeting

7:00 Make a speech during the feast and entertain the guests

10:00 Finish paperwork from the day

He sat down at Gaius' work bench to review the schedule for maybe the tenth time since Arthur had given it to him. It really was short, though he supposed he did know exactly what he would have to do. Arthur wouldn't have any idea what to do if his list was as undescriptive as the one he wrote, so Merlin began to outline a schedule for his master-soon-to-be-servant.

Merlin wrote out a much more descriptive version of his own schedule, taking Arthur's plans for the day into account. Arthur was shocked at how long the parchment Merlin handed him was.

Arthur

7:00 Wake up early and get ready on your own (Don't forget to eat)

7:30 Get breakfast for me from the kitchens

7:45 Wake me up, serve breakfast, and ready me for training with the knights

8:00 Clean the King's chambers (put away laundry, dust, make bed, clean up breakfast)

9:00 Wash laundry and hang to dry

10:30 Get me changed for the town hall, polish the armor and sword after training

11:30 Clean Gaius' leech tank

12:00 Wash the floor in the King's chambers

(eat at some point between chores)

12:45 Get food for lunch with Gwen from the kitchens

1:00 Muck out the stables

1:45 Wash up after the stables

2:00 Retrieve dry laundry and fold it

2:45 Ready me for council meeting

3:00 Stand in for council meeting

5:00 Have pity taken on you and leave council meeting to go help with the feast preparations

6:30 Ready me for the feast

7:00 Serve at the feast

9:30 Draw me a bath

10:00 Ready me for bed

Arthur's eyes went wide reading the schedule, it was much more detailed than he had expected. Merlin had planned out when he would do each chore instead of giving him a list and the set of times he needed to be there to wait on his manservant. He skimmed over the list again, looking at what chores Merlin was trying to make him do.

"Merlin. I am not cleaning Gaius' leech tank." That was simply disgusting, there was no way Arthur would be getting anywhere near any leeches. The stables were one thing, but leeches were off the table, not even an option.

"Why not? I do it." Merlin said, his smirk clearly heard in his voice.

"This is supposed to make me a manservant, not a physician's apprentice. I'm not doing Gaius' chores even if you do them." Also because it is gross, but Arthur was impressed with his own improvised reasoning.

Merlin huffed. "Fine, I suppose you make a good point. Give it here, I'll be generous and move washing the floor to 11:30 so you have time to eat after. But only because you've allowed me lunch with Gwen—and I suspect she had more to do with that then you did." He snatched the parchment and quill from Arthur's hands and scratched out the offending chore. "Though I will point out that there are any number of other things I could add to the list."

The next chance they got, the two wrote up a list of rules for the other to follow during their switch. Like before, they met to review their lists and make any necessary changes before the day of their challenge.

Arthur passed Merlin the list of rules and Merlin handed his own list over to the king. They both read over the pieces of parchment before discussing.

Rules for Merlin:

You must lead and actively participate in the knight's training, the council meeting, and the town hall

You cannot insult any of my council members or the general populace

You must use the titles of everyone in the council

You must write and give a speech at the banquet at least a few minutes in length, no cheating

All reports must be finished completely and correctly before you retire for the night

Rules for Arthur:

If asked for help (assuming you are not directly attending me), you have to agree

All servants are to be called by their names; if you don't know, ask

Titles must be used at all times for those above you in station

Complete all chores thoroughly

Assure that I make it everywhere on time

Provide me with all necessary materials needed for my meetings

Those above you in station must be bowed to

When attending the council meeting and feast, you need to serve—fill goblets, don't interrupt, help other servants

Don't be a prat, no insulting anybody regardless of station

"Merlin, you don't do half of these things."

Merlin scoffed, indignant at the accusation. "I do all of those things. I will not presume to have you be at George's level of perfection, but you will need to get things done with some level of competence. As much as you may deny it, I am good at my job. And while I do not use your title, I do have to bow and use other nobles' titles, so I will hold you to that same standard; you won't need to address me with a title, but you'll have to bow to your sister and Lord Urien as well as their knights and to the knights here and the nobles."

Arthur rolled his eyes and Merlin shot him a look. He did have to conform to the rules of court in some instances, as much as he didn't like to.

"You should just be happy that I've chosen Harold to follow you around instead of George. He'll make sure that the standard you're held to is fair."

Arthur shivered at the idea of George following him around all day. "You'll have Leon reporting on how you do at training, during the council meeting, and he'll be reviewing your reports at the end of the day. Gwen will be with you during the town hall and with me to observe you during the feast."

"Good, good." Merlin nodded in agreement.

"We need to address the whole clothing situation. I can't have you looking like—" Arthur gestured vaguely to Merlin's entire outfit, "That while running my kingdom, even if it is only for a day."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "And you certainly can't wear your own clothing. I have no doubt that you'll manage to ruin whatever you wear and I won't be the one to have to mend it all after.

"Well I can't possibly wear your clothes, Merlin, they'd never fit. And I wouldn't be caught dead in a neckerchief. Your sense of style is abysmal at best."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "You'll have to wear something less formal than all of your own clothes. I'll see if Elyan or Gwaine is willing to donate some plainer clothing to you, that way they'll fit you and you won't be able blame me for their style." After a moment he mumbled under his breath, "Besides, I have plenty of style, who do you think picks out all of your clothes?"

"What was that?" Arthur asked pointedly.

"Nothing, Sire." Merlin flashed him a quick smile that could be described as many things, but innocent was not one.

After a moment a thought occurred to Merlin. "Arthur, when you say formal attire, do I have to wear your crown?"

Arthur snapped his head to look at Merlin. "You are absolutely not allowed to wear my crown!"

"Good, I don't think I could anyways—considering it was made to fit your large head." Merlin ducked out of the room before Arthur could throw the closest heavy object at him.