A/N: This is another filler story for until I've finished part two of Renovations in case you're interested in reading that. Uploads won't be regular, literally just when I write one. I guess if you have a request or idea for one then let me know and I'll write it fro you.

A series of individual and unrelated one-shots all about Arthur and Merlin comforting each other. They're all in different circumstances so you kind of just have to go with it. The only constant is that Arthur and Merlin are always in a relationship and Arthur knows about Merlin's magic. All other circumstances vary from chapter to chapter. The characters also aren't particularly accurate to the series so if that bothers you maybe don't read this.

Massages

Arthur slammed the door to his chambers, threw his sword onto the table where it landed with a crash, and groaned loudly as he sunk into a chair, "Merlin!"

Merlin looked up from where he was just finishing replacing the bed sheets.

"I want a bath," Arthur sounded truly miserable, "A hot one. Now."

"Yes, sire."

"Do it with magic," Arthur commanded, "Quickly."

Merlin raised an eyebrow but did as he was told. Arthur had had an awful day. He'd had meetings all morning, then training with his knights which, instead of relieving his stress like it usually did, had only made him feel worse. And it had given him very sore muscles. He was really feeling the pressure of being king at the moment as well.

Soon, he was clambering into the steaming bathtub, unable to help himself from moaning happily. Merlin had left quickly, promising to return with some oils from Gaius which would sooth Arthur's muscles. He'd put a spell on the water to keep it Arthur's preferred temperature for as long as possible and returned to Arthur's chambers to find him leaning back against the edge of the tub, eyes closed in contentment. Merlin smiled and set the oils he'd retrieved down on the table quietly.

"Get in with me," Arthur requested.

Merlin looked across. Arthur was watching him with eyes half-closed and hopeful. Merlin nodded and ducked behind the screen to undress and wrap up in a towel before padding back across the room to the steaming bath of water. He gently lowered himself in beside Arthur and moved himself as close to his king as he could get. Arthur nodded in approval, wrapped his arm around Merlin's waist and closed his eyes once more. "Did you lock the door?" he asked.

Merlin nodded while sinking deeper into the water, relaxing into Arthur's touch.

"What were the council meetings about?" he asked after a while of relaxing peacefully.

"Don't even get me started," Arthur growled, "It was horrible. Why do I need a council, again?"

Merlin chuckled.

"Oh, and please keep Gwaine out of the tavern on nights before I'm training with him. He's impossible to spar with when he's hungover and he ended up sending Percival to Gaius with a wounded arm."

"I don't control where Gwaine goes at night. I'm usually preoccupied."

"I know you sometimes meet them there after we've… finished," Arthur chose his words carefully, "I'm not stupid."

"I never stay," Merlin promised, "Gaius would kill me if I got back too late. What else is bothering you?"

"What isn't?" Arthur scoffed, "We get half a dozen messengers a day from outlying villages saying that their food stocks are too low for the winter because the harvests were awful and they don't have enough shelter or firewood. Half the lower town needs rebuilding after that fire at the blacksmiths and it needs done quickly before the harsh weather really starts to set in. There's an illness spreading already which I have no idea how to control and I've just had to battle my way through a trial because the council wanted a man killed for trying to fix all those things with magic even though the laws have changed. I mean really. Is feeding your family, keeping them warm and out of danger from sickness a crime worth dying for?"

"It's not a crime at all," Merlin said, "Look, we have plenty of supplies stored beneath the castle for reasons just like this. We can distribute food and wood to the villages fairly to get them through winter. I can help with the building works in the lower town if it really looks like they'll be in need. That way no one's put out of work but no one's in danger from the weather. Gaius is extremely close to finding a cure to treat the sickness so he's coping with that. And everyone's going to need time to adjust to the new rules. You can't change someone's opinion or remove someone's fear just by lifting a law. It'll take time and you know it'll take time but that's ok."

"What would I do without you, Merlin?"

"Nothing," Merlin said, "Because you'd be long dead."

Arthur laughed.

"Come on. Time to get out and get some rest. You can't sleep in here."

Arthur grumbled but sat up straighter and kissed Merlin before putting his hands on the side of the tub to lift himself up. He grabbed his towel then threw Merlin his. Naturally, because he was still in the bath and he couldn't catch, it went straight in the water. Merlin scowled but he was at least relieved it had cheered Arthur up because he was laughing.

"Don't throw a strop," Arthur said, "You can share mine."

"I don't need a towel," Merlin reminded him.

"Share mine anyway?"

Merlin smiled cheekily and got out the bath. He stalked across to Arthur and wrapped his arms around Arthur's neck while the king wrapped his towel around them both and pulled his servant as close to him as he could possibly get.

Soon, they were pressed up against the table, bodies so close they might as well have been the same person and lips melded together. Eventually, Merlin pulled away, wriggled out from underneath Arthur and finished drying himself off magically before getting dressed. "Leave your shirt off."

Arthur looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. Merlin held up the oils, "Massage."

Arthur looked like he'd just been given the best present in the world. He stumbled over to the bed and fell onto it face first. Merlin followed him and gently dribbled a few drops of the balms onto Arthur's exposed back. Arthur shivered, "It's cold."

"Lie still," Merlin said quietly. He placed the bottles onto the bedside table before climbing onto the bed and straddling over Arthur's lower back. Then, very slowly and firmly, he began rubbing the oils into Arthur's muscles. The king let out a pleasured moan and relaxed immediately which made Merlin smirk. Merlin worked through the multitude of tight knots in Arthur's shoulders and back, smiling at every little noise he made. The entire room began to smell nice, courtesy off the oils and balms which were soothing Arthur's sore muscles.

Soon enough, the noises stopped and Merlin looked up to Arthur's face. The king was fast asleep, breathing deeply and looking more relaxed than he had in weeks. Merlin dutifully finished the massage, carefully got off the bed and pulled the blankets up around Arthur. He kissed Arthur on the forehead affectionately and brushed some hair out of his face. Arthur let out a little sigh and shuffled a bit.

Deciding it would be quicker and quieter to clear the room up with magic, Merlin tidied everything up with only a few words, a wave of his hand and a flash of his eyes. He took Gaius' balms back down to him and ate some dinner with the physician, then went to the kitchens to collect Arthur's food.

"I can't move," Arthur said sleepily when Merlin came in, "What did you do to me? My muscles are gooey."

"Ok, well, I'm not feeding you so unless you can find the energy to raise a fork to your mouth, I'll take your dinner back."

"No," Arthur moaned.

"Come on, then. Sit up."

"You need to give me massages more often."

Merlin laughed and handed Arthur his food. "I don't think the kingdom need to see their king a floppy, gooey, sleepy mess."

"I don't care. It felt so good. Sit with me."

"As long as you don't chew in my ear."

"I had things I needed to do this evening," Arthur said as he waited for Merlin to get onto the bed.

Merlin shrugged, "You can't do anything if you're sick with worry or injured. Everyone needs some time to themselves every now and then."

Arthur hummed and ate a few forkfuls of his dinner, "Have you eaten?"

Merlin nodded, "With Gaius."

"Are you always going to live with him?"

"Until he's not there to live with. If that's not too dark."

Arthur finished his dinner in silence. Merlin took the plate off him then went to stand up. Arthur wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back down, "Where are you going?"

"To take your plate back."

Arthur shook his head and held onto Merlin tighter, "You're staying here."

Merlin put the plate down and twisted around to hug Arthur. He wrapped his arms around Arthur's back and gently started massaging him again. The effects were immediate. Arthur's eyelids started to droop and he shuffled down under the covers. Merlin moved himself so that he was under the blankets too, still digging his fingers into Arthur's shoulder.

"Do that forever," Arthur demanded sleepily.

"Is that an order?"

Arthur nodded before apparently getting too tired and letting his head drop to the side. Merlin leaned up and kissed him. Arthur responded lazily for a few minutes before moving away, closing his eyes and falling asleep.

It didn't take long for Merlin to drift off too, hand still moving in circles on Arthur's back unconsciously.