Merlin woke up in his house on the outskirts of what is now known as London, England. He didn't look as old as he was and only had one friend only because they were stubborn to the point that they grew on him. His friend was named Kendra which he found funny since her name meant magic yet other than an over positive demeanor, she appeared to be just a normal person. The differences between the two of them were strange she had curly, honey blonde hair with dirt brown eyes, her skin was tanned as if she was just on a vacation but that wasn't the case, she always had the tan. Merlin on the other hand was quite pale, with sky blue eyes, and straight raven black hair.
He was barely awake when Kendra started knocking on his door. When he eventually opened the door for her. She was holding her forest green umbrella with her right hand constantly needing to readjust it, in her left hand she had their breakfast. Merlin on most days would skip breakfast if it weren't for Kendra making sure he eats it before he leaves for work at the museum that used to be Camelot castle. He led tour groups throughout the castle, and he met Kendra in one of these groups. Kendra was a writer who was going though a slump in her latest novel set in the Arthurian era. So, she thought going to an actual castle, tavern and a few other places would help her get inspiration.
"Merlin you idiot, you overslept again and don't have time to make yourself breakfast. What would you do without me?" She questioned him putting her umbrella against the wall while pretending to be mad at him.
"If I didn't oversleep, I wouldn't get to taste your banana-chocolate chip muffins or anything else. But most likely without you just skip the bloody breakfast like I was before you started showing up at the museum with breakfast for me until I told you, my address." He quipped back at her with a grin causing her to roll her eyes. She had her book bag with her and was dressed nicer than she normally did. She wore a storm grey three-quarter sleeved shirt, it was more of a peasant blouse, she paired this with a pair of navy-blue dress pants and black two-inch ankle boots, she had the same necklace and bracelet she wore every day that she claimed were her good luck charms. They were both made of braided leather with red Jesper stones on them the only difference between the necklace and bracelet were the details she added to them. Kendra added a picture of a dragon to the necklace while she made a tree out of some craft wire, she had laying around for the bracelet.
They ate bantering back and forth like any other day, but Merlin noticed that his friend was stressed like she normally is when meeting her publisher. "You'll be fine, but we better go, or I'll be late. Hang out tonight or do you have a date with that guy?" he raised an eyebrow Kendra's boyfriend was a ponce how Kendra stayed so humble and kind around that boy was a mystery to Merlin.
"I prefer not to talk about him…. I caught him cheating the other day and he tried to blame it on me. So, I dumped him." She explained grabbing her umbrella before they both left to start their day. On his way to work Merlin's mind started thinking about the day he met Kendra.
*4 years ago. *
Merlin was waiting for his next tour group to arrive when he noticed a twenty-year-old with a curly ponytail, a red jasper bracelet, tan skin, and a note pad wondering the hall taking notes. She was just under six foot and trying her best not to draw attention to herself but failed by walking strait into Merlin. "Sorry do you work here it must be neat." She said as the group was starting to form.
After the tour was over Merlin saw the girl sitting in the garden still taking notes. "Do you want a more in dep tour? I just finished my last one for the day." He offered only to get a smile from the girl before she thanked him and stood up. She looked relieved about something, but Merlin wasn't going to ask her what.
"I'm Kendra Summers thank you umm…. Merlin, you said it was." She put her notepad in her purse to shake his hand. They spent rest of the day walking the castle and Merlin telling her things as she took notes. She took him to dinner to thank him for his kindness where he might have let it slip that he skipped breakfast and had a light lunch. He didn't expect that she would show up the next day with a travel mug of orange juice and a container of banana-nut bread just to tell him to eat it when he had the time. He went to his old room to eat he knows that some of the people he hired would have a fit about him coming up here and messing it up, but he couldn't seem to care. He bought the castle when Arthur's line died out and turned the place into a museum later and bought his own place. So, he still could go wherever he wanted just had to keep things clean he chose only a few rooms to be shown on tours on special occasions there would be a full tour of the castle.
He could see Kendra by the fountain with her notepad and a forest green umbrella. She was writing but he couldn't see what but could see when she crossed something out. He returned the container to her and went back to work the following day she showed again. "Hi Merlin, did you eat this morning?" she asked him holding her bag and smiling.
"No, I overslept miss Summers why do you ask?" he raised an eyebrow in response to her question.
"Want to join me outside when you have time then I think you got a tour now." She rolled her eyes at him, and this continued for about a month before Merlin gave her his home address only to find out that she didn't live that far way from him. Then it turned in to her dropping off breakfast for him when he was about to leave for the day, he would find a travel mug of juice with whatever she decided to make him for breakfast that day with a note on his doorstep. He in return would clean the dishes when he got home and leave them where he found them for her to grab the next morning with a note of his own.
After a year it turned in to her actually showing up on his doorstep when she had publisher meetings. She wrote about a time traveling vampire wizard hybrid from the civil war in America. And she brainstormed with Merlin often when she wasn't sure if her ideas were any good. She wrote the first book out of high school and the second one the year after but stalled at the third leading them to meet. She told him that her parents didn't believe in her and the only one who did was a cousin who unfortunately died tragically while she was still in high school. So, in a way to honor her cousin she named the main character of her book series after her. Merlin found that touching since instead of trying to give the rest of her family the middle finger and make them bad guys in her stories she chose to take the high road and made the one person who believed in her the hero and chose not flash how well she's doing to the doubters but live on the outskirts of the city and donate money, as well as do volunteer work.
*back to the present*
Merlin's day was slow since it was really rainy out. So once Kendra was done with the publisher, she started texting him. "You were right it went well but they want me to end the series soon said six books is more than enough for a sci-fi fantasy series."
"That doesn't make sense since there is a book series with forty-five books in it. Did you want to hang out tonight or do you want a night to yourself?"
"let's hang out. My place I don't feel like going out we can order in.
"Alright see you in a few hours we have a full castle tour tomorrow so we're deep cleaning today." He ended the conversation and started cleaning he just used his magic to clean since it got done faster. He was in the hall next to Arthur's rooms when he heard a clatter from them. He stopped what he was doing and ran there thinking someone was dumb enough to try to break in from there. He was surprised to find Arthur slumped over his desk asleep still in full armor looking the same as the day he sent him to the sidhe of lake Avalon. But he just looked like he fell asleep at his desk Merlin finished cleaning before taking Arthur home with him and changing him out of his armor. When he realized that he had no clothes that would fit Arthur he started to panic but Kendra knocked on his door with a bag of her ex's things.
"Thought you might want some of my ex's things if not I'm donating it to a reuse store or a shelter." She said angerly but she had every reason to be mad at her ex. Cheating then he tried to get her to take the blame it wasn't her fault she had a deadline to meet. Her ex also didn't like the fact that she refused to flash her bank account on pointless things like cars.
"I was actually just about to text you that I needed bigger clothes. How did you know?"
"I felt something happen and it didn't feel like rain, so I guessed I also brought some of my old clothes since I wasn't sure exactly what you needed. I'll come over here instead later and I'll make dessert if that's okay."
"More than okay thanks Kends I should order dinner for three in a bit something messy?" He asked taking the offered bag of clothes while his friend smiled at the idea of a messy food night.
"You know it. See you later Merls." She told him before walking off to get some things done leaving him to look through the bag of clothes. He was thankful that Kendra for the most part wore guys tee shirts, so he had a lot of shirts to choose from for Arthur. He eventually chose a deep purple V-neck tee shirt and a pair of ripped jeans he put rest of the clothes away in the guest room that he had for some reason, but it was going to get used now. He also found it funny that Kendra would wear guys jeans, but he was thankful for it now, she said it had something to do with fockets on women's clothes whatever that meant.
Merlin heard Arthur move after he was done in the shower, and he ordered their dinner. "Merlin!!!" Arthur called from the guest room and Merlin will admit he missed his king but not this. He went to see what the royal prat wanted before Kendra showed up again.
"I have to say sire that I'm grateful for my friends odd clothing habits now those suit you well but what do you want?" Merlin quipped falling back into his old ways that only Kendra knows of.
"Draw me a bath. And I assume the kitchens are already making dinner."
"Things don't work like that anymore sire but I would gladly show you how to work a shower. And yes, I already ordered dinner my friend is bring dessert. I'll have your clothes on your bed for when you finish." Merlin then led Arthur to the bathroom and showed him how to work the shower. He pulled towels out for him before leaving the room and getting a separate set of clothes out for him.
The doorbell rang and merlin got the door to greet the delivery guy with their food. "Are you having a party?" the driver questioned Merlin since he ordered a lot of food. Merlin paid online so he got all the food in and relaxed. Until Arthur came out of his room.
"That was quick remind me to thank the cooks." Arthur said trying to start eating without realizing that the kitchen wasn't used.
"It's called take out I wasn't in the mood to cook neither was my friend who is on her way over and we're just friends she just dumped her boyfriend recently last night I believe." Merlin explained as someone started knocking on the door. Before Merlin could open it, Arthur had it open and was helping Kendra with her trey of baked goods.
"Dessert is here Merlin was his takeout two?" he asked, and Kendra giggled.
"No, I made it all from scratch don't try to sneak any before we eat, I've seen every trick in the book and heard every excuse possible in my twenty-four years alive." Kendra scolded the boys as they both tried to take one of the sweets.
"But I'm a king." Arthur pouted and she didn't buy it saying that her little brother tried that one when she was making her birthday cake for when she was going to be sixteen.
"Food first then treats got it your majesty, got it Merls or I take them all home with me." She said looking serious about it and both boys nodded their heads.
"Right Arthur this is my friend Kendra Summers, Kendra this is King Arthur Pendragon. Who is still a prat." Merlin introduced them.
"Is he still an idiot?" Arthur questioned Kendra smiling.
"Was he always one thought it came with age. If it weren't for me, he would be skipping breakfast." She responded before going to eat.
Kendra during dinner watched Merlin and Arthur banter back and forth it was almost like they were flirting. She chose to bite her tongue on the flirting but not that Merlin would bring Arthur and the knights several times over the years since the two of them became friends. "So, Kendra How many books did you actually have planed for this series of yours if the publisher wants you to end it sooner than you do." Merlin raised his eyebrows trying to change the topic
When Kendra went home, she left the rest of the treats with Merlin and Arthur. Telling them goodnight she walked out of the door. Merlin made quick work of the dishes using his magic before showing Arthur how a laptop worked and going to bed himself. He heard Arthur call the computer sorcery before falling asleep in his clothes.
When Kendra arrived the next morning Arthur was still in bed and Merlin was running late. Kendra just handed him his breakfast and said that she was going to look after Arthur for him. That didn't sit well with Merlin, but he didn't have much of a choice in this. He was handed his coat and pushed out of the door.
Merlin was gone for about an hour when Kendra heard Arthur call for him. "Merlin is at work, and he left me in charge of you today Arthur did you need something?" she asked the king when he poked his head around the corner.
"I…. umm…. I can't find my clothes Merlin normally sets them out for me." He mumbled out face turning red.
"I'll come in and help you if you're decent."
"I'm shirtless is that okay?"
"Seen Merls shirtless before to wake his butt up. That idiot likes to oversleep." this got the two blondes to laugh.
"Will you help me then? Miss Summers "Arthur asked opening the door fully for her. She walked in not looking at him and started showing him where everything is. She handed him an apple red shirt and a pair of jeans.
"I'll warm up Breakfast while you get dressed then were going shopping. Since you only have enough clothes for a few days."
"Sounds good have someone saddle my horse."
"Don't be daft Arthur no one rides those unless for fun anymore. I hired a car to take us to the mall. It should be here shortly." She left the room to leave him to get dressed. She heated up their food and poured the juice she brought over before Arthur came out. They just finished when their car arrived.
The driver opened the door for them "Miss Summers how are you today? Did you want to visit Merlin before heading to the mall with your friend." The driver Offered them. Arthur looked at Kendra excitedly so she said sure, but they would have to make it quick since he was terribly busy today. Arthur nodded his head in understanding, but he didn't understand just how busy Merlin actually was that day.
When they got there Merlin barely had time to stop and say hello to them and Kendra had a few people asking her to sign her book which she did with as many swirls as possible. Merlin looked at them and smiled when he had a break. "Can I talk to you two tonight I have an idea for this place that would need your help." He told them excitedly and the two blondes agreed.
"I'll make dinner then meet at my place." The blonde girl told the black-haired man as she and the other blonde walked away and back to the car. The ride to the mall was interesting with the two blondes talking about their black-haired friend. Once at the mall they went to a clothing store. They looked at everything Arthur would need. Before they went to lunch.
"Miss Summers this is too much you, made me breakfast, paid for my new wardrobe and my lunch and now you're making me dinner. How will I be able to repay you for your kindness?" Arthur asked his blonde companion.
"No thanks necessary but if you want to help me make dinner and get tomorrow's Breakfast started, I'll be happy with the help." Was her response as they went through the grocery store to get things for dinner and more on her list. Arthur looked in amazement at all the different foods and even asked his companion about some of them. He was fascinated by microwave food and deep frying.
When they got back to the car their bags in hand, they got dropped off at Merlin's house so they could drop off Arthur's new stuff. Before walking over to Kendra's house. When they got there, she started putting things away and Arthur was passing her things. "Your home has more color than Merlin's miss Summers. Thanks for having us over for dinner." Arthur smiled at his companion, and she started playing music with her phone. She nodded before mixing things for dinner.
The two blondes got dinner in the oven, worked on dessert and prepped breakfast for tomorrow. "Why buy so much food if you live alone occasionally dine with Merlin?" Arthur asked Kendra who sighed. Then she explained that she cooks most of it and gives it to people in need down in the shelter. "that's very noble of you. Any of my knights would have done the same especially the ones who weren't noble since birth." He commented as Kendra made a few hot notes on some paper she had laying about. She made it a habit of keeping notebooks everywhere one in her purse and several around the house. Just in case she had an idea for writing or just needed to remember something.
Merlin started knocking on the door as soon as Kendra was taking dinner out of the oven and placing the dessert in the oven. Arthur got the door for her "Thanks Arthur you have been very helpful this afternoon." Kendra called out from the kitchen as the two men started talking Arthur about his day with Kendra and Merlin about his day at work. And since neither of them were paying attention, she used some magic to get some dishes that were just out of her reach. When Kendra used magic her eyes flashed silver while Merlin's flashed gold. She didn't know much since she didn't talk about her powers and her parents wouldn't let her practice. She found a way to hide her powers, but she never really let people know that she had them in fear of being judged.
She plated the food braised beef, roasted potatoes, and vegetables. This time there wasn't any access food, but she and Arthur made S'more pie for dessert it had a Graham cracker bottom chocolate brownie center and marshmallow topping. Kendra sometimes made that when going to visit daycares or schools, so she had the recipe down to a science and Arthur picked it.
"Arthur, Merls come eat before the food gets cold or dessert burns." Kendra said and they both rushed to the table. She laughed at then she had Graham cracker crumbs to go on top of the pie once it was taken out of the oven and since Arthur and she cooked the brownie already they were only waiting for the marshmallows to brown at the top which can go from done to burnt really quick. She went to check the oven as Merlin came over to get the plates and Arthur got drinks.
"Thanks for looking after the Royal prat today Kends." Merlin said to his blonde friend while she was getting the dessert out of the oven using magic because she thought no one was watching. She set the pie on the counter and started putting the crumbs on the top. She told him it wasn't a problem he was nice to have around. They sat down to eat, and Merlin started telling them his plan. He wanted to do a special appearance by king Arthur and Merlin around Halloween and Christmas. He also wanted Kendra to be the character out of her novels around those times as well.
"Merls Lady Lillian Grayson isn't actually a part of the king Arthur mythology remember and she's only a lady in my books by her actions she's not really nobility remember I will gladly settle for the lady of the lake or Morgana." Kendra pointed out and Arthur looked confused.
"Miss Summers you are far too kind to be Morgana even if it's just pretend. Merlin maybe she can be a what ever it is you do while you pretend to be my servant again." Arthur suggested with a wave of his hand.
"Or she could be the queen of the fairy folk." Merlin suggested and Arthur looked surprised. "I actually met her while saving you once she was nice." Merlin added casually like it wasn't a big deal.
"Fine I'll be the fairy queen but can you two stop with the eye sex." She asked them before playing with her pie. Merlin looked away ashamed he was caught openly staring at Arthur. The hammered out the rest of the idea he wanted to start it the following month.