Author's Note: I am very glad that people are still reading this! Thank you to anyone who reads and reviews! All quotes in this drabble are from the show. I wrote this because Merlin seemed to take Arthur's reaction in Valiant very personally for a person who complains about having to work for the prince at all. They not only barely know each other but, at this point, they barely even like each other. I think the fact that both of them seemed to take this incident so personally goes down to that connection they have with each other. I think they have had that from day one, even if they didn't understand it. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: All dialogue in this drabble is taken directly from Season 1, Episode 2. I do not own Merlin.
Chapter 77: Confused Hurt
"You're sacking me?!
That should only hurt his pride. Why did it actually upset him? He never wanted to be the prat's manservant in the first place!
It bothered him more than he would have expected that Arthur was so angry that he wouldn't look at him.
"I need a servant I can trust."
He gasped, feeling oddly like he'd been punched.
"You can trust me!"
How could Arthur think he couldn't?
"And look where it got me this time. Get out of my sight!"
Merlin left. He needed to fix things.
But he couldn't believe how much this hurt.