The servants of the castle along with the greater knights of Camelot waited on the front steps of the castle with the king and Prince Arthur. Merlin stood aside from his master and next to Guinevere as a party of horses trotted into the square. Upon the separation of horses, Merlin caught the eye of one rider in particular.
The young man's wavy, medium-length brown hair was neatly brushed back and he was dressed in fine clothes, those of which only a noble would be permitted to wear. Merlin paid no attention to the others, even as they neared on foot after dismounting their horses, and only watched the man staring back at him. All the while, there was a strange familiarity that Merlin felt with the man who could only be a year or so his senior.
The man dismounted his horse like the others and started to make his way over. Merlin began to feel nervous as he approached. The man's eyes were soft but piercing. In a moment of panic, Merlin briefly glanced back behind him. Lady Morgana stood on the castle steps only a few feet away and perfectly in the man's line of focus. Merlin let out a quiet and embarrassed sigh.
For a minute, I thought…but I'm nobody special, he thought to himself.
He looked back to the men as King Uther stepped down to greet them, the man Merlin had been looking at in particular.
"Prince Garrick," the king grinned to Merlin's surprise.
Not only a nobleman, but a prince. Of course he'd look to Morgana, one woman that so many men might call the most beautiful they'd ever seen. The lady would make a wonderful wife one day, surely.
"I trust your travel was pleasant." Uther said to the Alder Prince.
"Very much so." Garrick nodded, his attention finally drawn to the king. "I must thank you in advance for your generosity on letting me stay here. My father also sends his appreciation."
"Of course." Uther nodded. "My son's manservant will show you to your room. Feel free to make use of him any time you please."
Merlin stepped forward and only carefully met Prince Garrick's eyes. The prince carried the same expression as before when looking back. Prince Arthur watched with a tensing lip from his place on the second step but turned his gaze from Merlin to the newly arrived prince.
A few moments later, Merlin was carrying Prince Garrick's belongings through the echoing halls of the castle while leading the way to the guest room that had already been prepared. Merlin arrived at the door and carefully started reaching for the handle while still carrying two trunks and the prince's heavier armor.
"Let me." the prince said and reached past Merlin to the door.
He pushed it open and Merlin nodded with a bit of uneasiness that he hadn't done it himself.
"Thank you, My Lord." Merlin managed as he stepped into the room.
The prince followed in afterward and took a quick inspection of the room, seeming pleased with his findings.
"It's quite a nice room." He told Merlin.
"Yes, My Lord." Merlin nodded and set the prince's things down by the bed. "King Uther would only offer the best."
"I see that must also go for the servants." Garrick nodded.
Merlin didn't know how to reply and only smiled a bit awkwardly.
"Merlin!" Arthur called from the halls.
"I must go." Merlin said with some relief as he walked quickly to the doorway. "Uh, well if you need anything, I'm always available."
Merlin hardly let the prince respond before he ducked out of the room in embarrassment. Later that evening, he resumed his usual duties of refilling drinks at the table. He paid extra mind to Prince Garrick's chalice, mostly out of curiosity as to his earlier comment. So far, nothing had come across as suspicious to him.
"And you are comfortable with your room?" Uther asked the visiting prince.
"Yes, Your Highness." Garrick nodded agreeably. "I believe I'll have a pleasant stay."
"We shall view the treaty tomorrow, correct?" the king asked.
"Such haste?" the prince replied. "I'm thinking of walking the grounds a bit and enjoying the incentives that Camelot has to offer. Perhaps I could borrow a servant and he could show me around."
"I will send one for the morning." The king agreed with no intention of denying Prince Garrick such a simple thing.
"If I could, I'd like that servant in particular." Garrick said with his attention directed to Merlin who stood a bit dazed by the sudden attention of all four diners, including the king.
"Merlin?" Prince Arthur asked with a disbelieving tone. "He isn't that fit a servant. Wouldn't you prefer someone more competent?"
"I find his candor refreshing." Garrick told Arthur to which the Camelot prince was slightly confused.
Merlin felt a bit awkward with the tension and was unsure whether or not he had say for a change.
"He's only a servant." Uther affirmed with a nod in Prince Garrick's direction. "Merlin is at your disposal during the extent of your stay."
Prince Garrick seemed pleased with it while Arthur was silently apprehensive. He remained quiet by his father's wishes and ignored the glance from Merlin who didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved that he wouldn't be tending to the verbally abusive prince all day. Instead, he would be with the mysterious Prince Garrick of Sythian.
After dinner, Merlin went back to his own place in the castle where Gaius waited for him with their meals consisting of some odd potato and meat concoction and day-old bread.
"Did the meal go well?" Gaius asked Merlin as he slid onto the bench across from him at the table.
"Uther and Prince Garrick seemed to get on well." the young warlock nodded. "I'm supposed to be showing the prince around Camelot tomorrow. At least it will give me a break from Arthur."
"You say that like he's a bad person." The physician said with a slightly disapproving voice. "He treats his servants well, much better than most masters."
"Well?" Merlin asked in disbelief. "Just a few days ago he used me for hours of target practice and proceeded to insult me, saying how my greatest battle technique is to hide behind things. I've saved his life several times now and I doubt I'll get a break in the future. Thanks to Uther, I'll be saving the prince's hide from behind trees for the rest of my life, or at least his father's."
"Have faith, Merlin." Gaius suggested to his apprentice. "I'm sure Arthur sees your value even without knowing about your greater capabilities."
Merlin would argue but he knew Gaius had a point. Prince Arthur may have been arrogant and spoilt at times, not to mention an irritatingly oblivious prat, but Merlin had already witnessed instances of Arthur's diplomacy. Even under his father's influence, Arthur showed potential of being a strong and fair king one day, one that will guide Camelot to its greatest.
"It wouldn't kill him to thank me, even for bringing his breakfast." Merlin mumbled before dipping a pinch of bread into the stew.
That night, Merlin prolonged his descent into slumber by thinking of places to take Prince Garrick that might impress him, but he realized that the greatest part of Camelot is the place where the prince already rests. Perhaps tomorrow would prove difficult for the already anxious warlock.