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

Arthur awoke with a start; Gaius was shaking his shoulder somewhat roughly, as if he had already tried to be gentle and had given up on the second or third try. "Wake Up Arthur! Or you won't get any breakfast."

Arthur mumbled some unidentifiable words and turned away with a groan. The shaking stopped for a moment. Then a pillow hitting his face jarred him from his slumber. He was certainly awake now. "Merlin!" He yelled.

"I am not Merlin. Now get up before I decide to have you taste test all of my experimental potions." Gaius threatened.

Arthur sat up, remembering suddenly why he wasn't in his own bed. He felt exhausted and groggy and his head hurt, but he didn't want to find out if the court physician would make good on his threat. "Is this how you treat your beloved ward?" He asked with as much sarcasm as he could muster at such an early hour of the morning.

Gaius snorted with amusement, "My beloved ward is smart enough to get up the first time. Now get dressed or you really won't have time for breakfast. Harold is already here and waiting to shadow you during your duties for the day."

Arthur rolled his eyes and stretched his arms. As he cracked a few joints he stood up frowning. How did Merlin sleep on this uncomfortable bed every night?

He pulled the borrowed clothes Merlin had gotten him out of the wardrobe and took a moment to look around the room as he changed into the simple shirt and trousers, with only a slight bit of trouble with the laces. The whole room was cleaner than he had ever seen it. There wasn't anything haphazardly strewn on any surface, nothing was left out on the floor, even the clothes in the wardrobe were neatly hung and folded. The only thing out of place was the blanket that Arthur had been using and his own clothes in a small pile at the bottom of the wardrobe where he had put them the night before.

Arthur had long since stopped questioning how a man who cleaned rooms for a living managed to let his own room resemble a disaster zone, but he felt a little touched that Merlin had cleaned his own room since he knew Arthur would be using it.

He didn't have time to contemplate for long because a moment later came Gaius' voice from the main room. "Arthur!" and Arthur hurriedly ran out of the bedroom and down the steps to the table.

Sitting on the table was a bowl of something Arthur didn't even think he could name and Gaius pointed at it as he went about filling small bottles with various liquids. Arthur looked at the food skeptically and sat down to eat; he hesitated before shoveling a spoonful into his mouth. The unknown food tasted like grains, but he couldn't be sure that was what it was. Luckily, it was palatable enough that he was able to stomach eating what was in the bowl. If this was what Merlin ate every day, then they had finally solved the mystery of why his manservant was so skinny.

When he finished he nodded towards Gaius and turned to leave, seeing Harold standing patiently by the doorway. Wordlessly Harold led him across the castle to the kitchens.

Harold waited at the door as Arthur entered the kitchen. He looked around, wondering who he was supposed to ask about getting Merlin's breakfast. Everyone in the kitchen was busy cooking or putting away kitchenware, they didn't have a moment to spare him a second glance. A large tray of fresh pastries was on the table in the center of the room. Arthur moved forward, his mouth watering. He was still hungry even after eating the food Gaius had made. They certainly wouldn't miss a single pastry.

Smack! Arthur snatched his hand back at the pain that erupted in it. Clutching his hand to his chest he turned to look at what had hit him. Mary, the cook was standing just out of his vision next to him, brandishing a long wooden spoon. A memory flashed through his head; he had done the same thing as a child and Mary had hit him then too.

"Maybe Merlin didn't prepare you well enough, but you know better than to steal from my kitchens. I didn't allow you to do it as a child, I don't allow your boy to do it, and I won't allow you to do it now. There will be no thievery!"

Arthur pressed his lips together to prevent himself from commenting. After a moment, he said, "I'm here for Merlin's breakfast, do you know where I can find that, Mary?" An attempt at a smile formed on his lips and Mary looked at him skeptically.

She gestured with her wooden spoon to a long table that ran along the side of the room. "The tray at the end. Tell him I've added his favorite and I hope he wins. He's doing a good thing."

Arthur nodded. The tray was loaded with meat, cheese, and a pastry coated in honey glaze. That must be Merlin's favorite thought Arthur; Mary had made a whole tray specifically to give him his favorite for trying to get them higher pay. There was even more food on the tray than Arthur got in a morning, if he was being honest he was ever so slightly annoyed that the serving staff were going so much out of their way for Merlin. He shook his head, Merlin was doing something nice for them, he was being so Merlin and of course they would help him in any way that they could.

Arthur dodged people left and right to exit the kitchen from the same way he entered; Harold immediately began to lead him to his own chambers, forcing Arthur to speed up in order to keep pace. He felt like he was running through the halls.

When they reached the king's room, Harold nodded to the guards and opened the door, letting Arthur walk through but staying in the hallway himself.