Hello, all you lovely people. First off there has been a change in the plot. For the story to work I need Merlin to spend more time in Camelot so instead of them staying only two weeks before the ball it is a month. Also, to help with this problem, to celebrate Arthur's birthday there is a three-week celebration since he will be coming of age, and a masked ball will be held at the end of each week. Moving one, plot one is the winner, but for those of you who want some angst do not fear because there will still be plenty to come. I have this story mostly plotted out in my mind and I believe I have figured out a nice balance of angst and happiness. Also, I have an idea for a reveal fic which I will start once this story is completed, that should satisfy all your anguish needs. When I first planed this story, it was only supposed to be maybe seven chapters at the most but as you can see that didn't happen and the story is still growing. I won't drag it out till you all fall asleep, but there are still many chapters to come. Okay enough from me.

MERLIN
I cannot believe this is happening. This is only my third day back in Camelot and already things are going wrong. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I'll tell you what nothing. It's not even the fact that I get to serve someone as a reward for saving that someone's life. It's that fact that it's Arthur. For one reason I still feel like he's my friend even if I'm not his. Also, I have magic and Arthur now hates magic despite the fact that he accepted me as a child.
Speaking of the prat I need to wake him up. I quietly open the door and pick in. I smile at the sight before me. Arthur is asleep on his side facing towards me. His mouth is open and part of his face is hidden in his pillow. I sit his breakfast on the table.
"Arthur it's time to get up." I yell
Arthur doesn't' respond and just lays there. Fine, I'll try plan number two.
Throwing open the curtains I turn around to see Arthur pulling his covers over his head.
"Rise and shine." I pull the covers off of Arthur, who is now glaring at me as if I killed his hunting dog.
"Go away"
"Come on, you're already late."
"What!" Arthur quickly sets up and jumps out of bed. His blond hair is sticky up in odd directions and he has a panicked look on his face.
"Calm down you're not late, well not yet anyway."
His face goes from panic to anger
"Merlin, give me one good reason not to put you in the stocks."
"It got you up didn't it?"
"Your right" He gets an amused look on his face.
"I am?" I have a horrible feeling about this. "Yes, so instead of the stocks you'll be my practice dummy for today and I do believe that the stalls need mucking." His smile turns into a smug grin.
I can't keep the horrified look off my face. "But you have the knights that you can train with." I don't want to be hit with a heavy, sharp, object.
"True but I've believed you've earned that privilege today. Now where is my breakfast?"

I point to the plate on the table.
"What' is that?"
"Your breakfast"
Arthur looks at the bread, apple and cheese with distaste.
"Do you realize how much energy I'll need to train all morning? This will hardly last till lunch." Arthur complains, but he picks up the plate and starts to eat.
I grab a shirt, big surprise it's red, and a pair of brown trousers.
"Here" I hand them to Arthur for him to put them on.
Arthur looks at me like I'm crazy.
"What?"
"You're supposed to dress me idiot." Of course I'm supposed to help him dress. How did that escape my mind? I do it for Morgana all the time. Also, I helped him dress when we were younger but this is different. Arthur's not… well, he's not a woman or a boy now is he?
"Can't you do it yourself?" The thought of seeing Arthur without a shirt makes my face heat up.
"Why would I when I have servants to do it for me."
"Dollop head."
"That's not even a word." Arthur denies
"Yes it is."
"Fine then, define dollop head."
"In two words, Prince Arthur."
"Merlin I can still put you in the stocks. I'm sure I can find some nice tomatoes to throw.
"Fine"
Even my ears are turning red by now. I pull off his night-shirt as quickly as possible and hastily put on his new shirt.
Luckily Arthur starts to put on his own pants. I turn away.
"Don't be such a girl Merlin." I turn around to see that he is now dressed.
"Don't be such a prat Sire."
"Come on it's time for you to play the part of a training dummy."
Oh joy.

ARTHUR
Sunlight suddenly shines in my face waking me up. I quickly pull my covers over my head. I'm not a morning person. I never have been and never will be. I wonder why Gervase (?) is waking me up in such a manner. His always been so perfect, annoyingly so, but perfect.
"Rise and Shine." A cheerful voice orders, wait that's not G… voice. The events from last night, come rushing back.
"Go away." Why did I get stuck with him for a servant?
"Come on, you're already late." Merlin
"What!" I jump out of bed. Cannot believe this I've never been late before.
"Calm down you're not late, well not yet anyway." Merlin admits.
My anxiety fades and is replaced by anger.
"Merlin, give me one good reason not to put you in the stocks." I threaten
"It got you up didn't it?" He looks at me innocently. However, he is fighting a smile.
"Your right" I force down a smirk and smile instead.
Merlin face turns wary. "I am?"
"Yes, so instead of the stocks, you're going to be my practice dummy for today and I do believe that the stalls need mucking out. My smile turns into a smirk.
Merlin looks dismayed. "But you have the knights that you can train with."
"True but I've believed you've earned that privilege today." I'll get him for waking me up in such a manner. "Now where is my breakfast?"
He points to a small plate on my table.
"What is that?"
"Your breakfast"
There is hardly anything on the plate. An apple, bread and cheeses might be enough for a snack but for breakfast?
"Do you realize how much energy I'll need to train all morning? This will hardly last till lunch." I pick up the bread and start to eat. At least it's not Gaius's cooking. He makes the worse porridge which he insists his patients eat.
"Here" Merlin hands me one of my favorite red shirts and a pair of brown trousers.
Is he truly that simple?
"What?"
"You're supposed to dress me idiot." How long has he been a servant?
"Can't you dress yourself?" Merlin's face is turning bright red.
What's wrong with him?
"Why would I when I have servants to do it for me."
"Dollop head" Merlin declares
A long forgotten memory flashes in my mind.
"Dollop head" a young voice claims proudly "That's not even a word." A young me replies.
"Is to" the boy insists "Define dollop head" younger me challenges. "In one word Arthur" My first friend says happily.
"That's not even a word." I try to appear calm, but my heart is racing.
"Yes it is." He claims
"Fine then, define dollop head." Let me be right.
"In two words, Prince Arthur" he jokes. Clam down it could be a coincidence. Yeah what's the chance of that happening?
"Merlin I can still put you in the stocks. I'm sure I can find some nice tomatoes to throw." I threaten trying to sound normal.
"Fine" he pouts
He helps me put on my shirt. I can never do it right, not that I'll ever admit it to anyone.
I put on my own pants. Merlin is facing the other way.
"Don't be such a girl Merlin.
"Don't be such a prat Sire." The time I spent with my friend comes back to me: laughter, jabs, training, and magic.
"Come on, it's time for you to play the part of a training dummy.
Welcome back my secret sorcerer.

Also, I'm going over the whole story fixing grammar errors. Yes I know there is a lot and I'm sorry about that.