I squared my shoulders, taking a deep breath before I knocked Arthur's door.
"Come in." It was now or never. I opened the door, stepping into his room and looking around. It was huge. Obviously. Majestic with the red bed curtains, quilt and coat of arms hanging above his fireplace but otherwise it was rather simple. More practical than beautiful with just a few touches that showcased the wealth of Royalty. It was also a mess. Clothes were strewn about the floor, with armour resting on every available surface, dust and mud beginning to darken the wooden furniture and marble floor, soot and ash staining the unlit fireplace. No wonder he'd already begun sending for me. It was going to take days to clean everything!
"Not had time to change your clothes or do you only own the one outfit?" I spun to look at Arthur, distracting me from the mental list I was compiling of all I'd have to do tomorrow. He was lying sprawled across his bed. Shirtless. I tore my eyes away from his well-defined chest, meeting his eyes. Oh, he was pissed. "No, of course not. After all, the last time we met you'd been impersonating a boy." I rolled my eyes, amused that it seemed to have bothered him so much.
"It is not my fault that you saw only what you wanted to see," I told him, finding a laundry basket that had been left in the corner and beginning to pick up his dirty clothes off the floor.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It was easier for you to believe that a man might challenge you. If you had looked closer it would have been obvious that I wasn't and then you would have had to fight using words instead of your fists." I answered, not bothering to look at him as I continued collecting his laundry.
"Or I could have simply had you arrested."
"You had me arrested, too." I reminded him.
"Right... well, it appears you can handle yourself, regardless."
"We outline villagers usually can," I began explaining. "We do a lot of hard labour and don't have guards to protect us; you learn, you get strong, or you don't survive."
"Is it really that bad?" I looked up then, realising how much I'd just said. I hadn't said it so he would feel sorry for me, I had just been answering without thinking about it. I didn't think he would actually care.
"I can't speak for your own villages. I know nothing of how them. I'm from Essetir." Why was I telling him all this? He didn't need to know where I was from or what my life had been like before. It was unnerving how easy I found talking to him, especially seeing as this was our first real conversation.
"Cenred's Kingdom?" He clarified, seeming just as at ease as I had been.
"That's the one."
"They why did you come here?"
"Do you care?" I asked, not wanting to lie to him and also genuinely curious.
"Not really. I'm just making conversation." I shook my head, laughing. "You have a nice laugh." He complimented, his face showing he clearly hadn't meant to say it out loud. "Wear your breeches tomorrow. You're going to need them." He continued, not giving me time to respond to the compliment. Not that I had known what to say to it anyway.
"Why?" I had finally got his clothes together, leaving the basket in the corner ready to take down to the laundry tomorrow, and had begun clearing out his fireplace.
"You don't get to ask questions, Merlin. You just have to do as I tell you."
"Like that's going to happen," I muttered, concentrating on trying not to get soot on my dress.
"You do realise you're my servant now, right?"
"Do you think I would be cleaning up your mess if I didn't?"
"You think you're funny, don't you?"
"I'm funnier than you," I smirked, setting out the fresh kindling.
"Do you have an answer for everything?" He was getting irritated with me and I fought to hold back my laughter. Maybe working for him would be more fun than I'd anticipated.
"Pretty much."
"Get out." I couldn't help my snigger. Standing up from the, now lit, fire and brushing away the soot I hadn't been able to avoid.
"Gladly." I agreed, already heading for the door. I hadn't planned on cleaning everything up tonight, anyway. I mockingly bowed to Arthur before opening the door, barely avoiding the pillow he threw at me in reply.
Arthur had sent one of his Knight's for me a little after dawn, one of the group who had watched our fight. He was carrying a bundle of green cloth under his arm and handed it to me without another word before continuing on with his patrol. I shook it open, surprised to see the emerald cloak I had lost in the market. I hurried to reopen the door, shouting a thank you to the Knight's retreating back. He paused, turning back to nod and giving me a small smile before strolling away. I hurried back inside, knowing I already had very little time to get ready or have breakfast. I had hastily plaited my hair back into a single braid and threw on the breeches and tunic Arthur had ordered me to wear, doing as I was told only because it was too early in the morning for me to get into a fight with him and eating an apple on my way to the field just outside the castle walls where the Knight had said I was to meet him.
He was waiting for me in full armour, an extra set in a heap on the grass beside him. The smirk on his face had me immediately on edge as I wondered what fresh Hell he'd planned for me today.
"Put it on," He ordered, motioning to the metal at his feet. Upon getting closer I could see it was only a neck and shoulder guard and a helmet, not a full set like he was wearing.
"Why?" I asked, unwilling to show him any sign of my wariness.
"Because, Merlin, we're going to train."
"Are you insane?" My voice had gone high as I realised what he wanted me to do. Surely he had Knight's to train with! Why did I have to be the one getting my ass kicked?
"You wanted to fight, let's see what you can do." He was trying to get back at me, I realised. Attempting to prove who was really in charge here. I grabbed the armour, refusing to give him what he wanted, and struggled to fasten the damn thing. It wasn't like I'd ever worn armour before and it was heavy for goodness sake! I got it done up in the end, embarrassed as he watched me fumbling before placing the helmet on my head and accepted the sword and shield he offered me. I could hardly see anything through the small slit in the helm and began to grind my teeth in frustration. I'd never used a sword or shield in my life! How was I supposed to get through this with any of my dignity intact?
"Are you ready?" He taunted, knowing I was already struggling and we hadn't even begun to fight yet.
"Would it make any difference if I said no?" I ground out, making a few practice swings with the sword. It was heavy too, but manageable. It was the shield and helmet I was going to have the most trouble with.
"Not really." He answered, beginning to do the same. "Body." He called as he struck, barely giving me enough time to raise the shield in front of my chest. "Shield." He struck it with strength, almost causing it to fly from my hand. I tightened my grip further, placing my feet to keep my balance, as he continued to call out before he swung. I couldn't help beginning to back away as his strikes came quicker and stronger, making it harder and harder to block as time went on. "Head." He called, swinging straight for my helmet, I tried to raise my shield but hadn't got it further than my shoulder when his sword connected, nearly knocking me to the ground. I caught myself, barely, and watched him carefully as he began to circle me. I moved with him, not letting him get behind me. "Come on, Merlin. You're not even trying."
"I am trying!" I growled as I swung my own sword, becoming careless as I got frustrated, giving him the opportunity to get behind me as he dodged it and smack me on the rear with the flat edge of his blade. I stumbled forward a few steps before spinning back to face him. I threw the shield to the ground. My arm had gone numb from trying to hold the damn thing up and I clasped my sword in both hands, instead.
"Once more," He ordered, choosing not to comment on the absent shield. "To the left." I swung my sword out, catching the edge of his blade and thrusting it away from me. He raised an eyebrow, his only outward sign of being slightly impressed. "The right." I did it again, spinning the blade easily between my hands. "Left." I did it again. I was starting to get the hang of this. "Head." Or not, I thought, as his sword connected with my helmet again. He tried to get behind me as I fought to regain my balance but I was ready for him this time, allowing him to get behind before spinning, keeping my sword low, as he aimed for my ass again, the blades ringing as they connected. "Come on Merlin. I've got a tournament to win." He taunted me, beginning to smirk, as he noticed my struggle to lift the sword again.
"Can we stop now?" I asked, refusing to stoop so low as to beg. He swung for my legs in answer, forcing me to jump back before aiming for my left. I lifted my sword back up just in time but nearly dropped it from the force he'd struck out at. We carried on like this for a few more strikes, him not bothering to warn me anymore, before his sword collided with my head again. I lost my balance this time, falling flat on my ass before the rest of my body collapsed to the ground, my helmet flying off. He stood above me for a few moments, just watching me regain my breath, without a word. He shook his head, breaking himself out of whatever thoughts had been running through his mind.
"You're braver than you look." He admitted, reaching a hand down to help me up. "Most servants collapse after the first blow." I rolled my eyes as I accepted the hand he offered, the world spinning a little as I regained my feet.
"Are we done now?" I asked, the world spinning a little as I fought to stay upright.
"That's just the warm-up. How's your mace work coming along." Destiny was an asshole, I decided, taking the mace from him and leaving my sword and helmet on the grass.
"You might want to put that back on." He advised, nodding towards my fallen helmet. I shook my head. It was more of a hindrance than a help and if he was going to be swinging that thing at me, I at least wanted to be able to see it. He sighed at my refusal, giving me time to get my dizziness under control before we began again. I was really starting to wish I hadn't saved his ass.
He lunged again and time automatically began to slow, giving me the chance to step to the side and swing my own mace out, smacking him straight in the stomach as time returned to normal. He dropped his mace as mine made impact, his hands automatically going to the metal breastplate that had protected him from any real damage. He pulled a face as he fought to get his breath back, my strike winding him.
"Now are we done?" I smirked, watching him. He just nodded, still unable to speak, and I began collecting the extra weapons, shield and helmet before practically skipping back to the castle, content that, for now, I had won.
I spent the rest of the morning cleaning up Arthur's room, unsurprised when he chose not to come back himself, I'd likely wounded his fragile ego. At least, with Arthur's armour now out of the way, I was able to clean everything down without having to move too much. My body was shrieking in exhausted agony by the time I finally made it back to my own chambers, Arthur's dirty clothes now with the laundress' and his lunch on the table for it he returned, covered with a metal dome so as not to get cold before he had time to eat it, not that I particularly cared if it did. He would deserve nothing less after being too much of a coward to face me. I couldn't help the snigger that escaped when I remembered the look on his face, unsurprised to find Gaius waiting for me when I opened the door to our chambers.
"So, how goes your first day as Arthur's servant?"
"Could have been worse." I shrugged, wincing when it caused pain to shoot through my neck and shoulders.
"What did you do?" I knew he wasn't talking about hurting myself, I must have looked far too smug to appear innocent.
"It was his own fault!"
"Yes, you said that last time." He answered, referring to our previous spats.
"He wanted someone to train with him, he decided to use me and got a mace in the gut as punishment." He sighed, deeply, clearly at a loss as to what to do about my temper. I wished him luck, my mother had been trying to calm me down for years with little to no improvement.
"Did you use magick?"
"No." I lied, his expression showing he didn't believe me but not able to prove it. I sat down on the bench, beginning to rotate my shoulders to try and loosen them up, sighing in relief when Gaius took over, beginning to massage them gently. "I've still got to learn all that tournament etiquette before the morning and how to properly fit Arthur's armour. How does he expect me to know all of this stuff? It's not like I've been a servant before." I complained, truly wondering how I was supposed to learn everything without having someone to show me.
"Gwen could teach you more about armour in ten minutes than you're going to learn reading that book," Gaius suggested, nodding towards the book of tournament etiquette I'd left on the table this morning. Arthur's guard had delivered it when he'd come to wake me up.
"Do you think she'd have time?"
"I would have thought so."
"Do you think she'd know about the other stuff? The etiquette things?"
"I doubt it, Merlin. She's the servant of a Lady, not a Knight." I nodded, focusing on the book at the other end of the table.
"Unhuen octem bracten." I murmured, using a spell I had managed to learn before going to sleep last night, smiling widely when it worked, the book sliding down towards me. Before Gaius smacked me around the head for it, anyway.
"Oy. What have I told you about using magick like this?"
"If I could actually feel my arms I'd pick up the book myself." I lied, knowing full well I'd have tried the spell anyway.
"Never mind your arms. What do I do if you get caught?" That was a very good question...
"What would you do?" He grabbed my arm and pulled it back, working out the kinks. It hurt like a bitch, but I had to admit, it really did seem to have loosened it up.
"Let's just make sure that doesn't happen for both our sakes." He was serious and I felt a little guilty for worrying him so much, I really didn't want to get myself executed and I certainly didn't want to end up taking him down with me.
"How is it that I save Arthur from being killed and I end up as a servant. How, exactly, is that fair?" Gaius continued his ministrations, now working on my lower arm.
"I don't think fairness comes into it. You never know, it might be fun." I hadn't exactly hated hitting him with the mace... that bit had been fun. As for the rest...
"You think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun?" I had barely spent any time around horses, I had occasionally jumped on the plough horses in the fields back home, getting a scolding off my mother every time I got caught, but that was about the extent of my experience with horses. "You should see my list of duties," I grumbled, remembering all I still had to do. I'd gotten the bulk of his cleaning done but the list certainly hadn't stopped there. The more I'd done, the more I noticed needed doing. How long had he gone without a servant?
"Well, we all have duties. Even Arthur." Oh yeah...
"It must be so tough for him. With all the girls and the glory." At least Gaius could tell I was being sarcastic, even if he did pull a little harder than necessary on the arm he was now working on.
"Well, he is the future King. People expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure." Speaking of pressure, Gaius seemed to be putting a little too much on my arm.
"That makes two of us." I squeaked.