AN: Hey again guys. I'm sorry for how short the first chapter was. I'll try not to do that to you guys again. I obviously don't own anything… Except prince Darren he is a totally made up character.
Now the castle of Camelot was rising before them and a knot formed in the prince's stomach. He slowed his knight's pace as they entered into the city. For a kingdom that had spent decades under a tyranny, the happy bustling market was not what the prince had expected
"Your Majesty," Darren looked up to find a pair of knights standing on the road before him. One was scruffy and looked bored. The other was the one who had spoken and was giving a slight bow. He sharply elbowed the other knight who gave a glare but bowed to the prince as well.
"We welcome you to Camelot Prince Darren. I'm Sir Lancelot and he… Is Sir Gwaine. We have been tasked with bringing to the castle." The prince gave the knight… Lancelot a nod and dismounted. "Gwaine," the other knight scowled but stepped forward to take the horse.
"I'll take your horse and send your servants to your rooms," he said, his tone grudgingly.
"Sir Marcus," the prince turned, "See to it."
"Yes sire." The knight nodded, following after Gwaine who had turned to leave as soon as he had ahold of the prince's horse.
The prince caught his servant's eye who in turn nodded. He knew his tasks.
"Follow me your highness." Lancelot bowed before turning and beginning stride toward the castle. "Oh, and don't mind Gwaine, that's just how he is."
As they entered the gate Darren caught sight of a party awaiting him. The king stood in all his glory. A dark haired and skinned girl stood beside him with a crown of sparkling jewels and shining gold. Darren gave a slight bow to the king before stepping forward.
"I'm Prince Darren of Garenth. My father sends his greetings and blessing on your new kingdom."
The blonde king stepped forward away from the rest of the group. "We welcome you to Camelot Prince Darren. You must be tired, tomorrow we shall begin the festivities in honor of your arrival. In the mean time, Merlin." The king didn't look away as he called. The prince's eyes jumped to a black haired man that stood in the king's shadow. The man stepped forward to his king's elbow.
"Your majesty?"
"See to the prince, anything he wishes shall be brought to him." The servant nodded though the king didn't even turn.
Darren turned to the boy, eyeing him up and down. He had heard rumors that Arthur had had a servant for many years, well before he became king. He had heard they were inseparable. He had been hoping to corner the servant, there is no better judge of the character of any man greater than their servant.
"Oh, and Merlin? Make sure Gwaine is behaving." Arthur ordered in an irritated voice.
Merlin snorted and the king shot him a look. "What it's not my fault that you put him on a job that actually requires diplomacy."
"Merlin."
"Shut up?" Merlin answered in a sing song voice. "Your highness," the boy turned to the prince, "If you'll follow me." The prince looked between the king and servant before following after the black haired man.
Merlin wore a large grin as he strode confidently through the castle. He greeted every person he passed by name. His enthusiasm left the prince quiet, walking in the servant's shadow. Once they entered into an empty hallway the prince stepped forward to walk beside the servant.
"Must be irritating, you master putting you under the charge of another," Darren said softly, making the man next to him jump.
Merlin looked over at the prince with a raised eyebrow, "Actually its quite restful. The king normally stays out of trouble while we have guests, in other words less work for me." The raven laughed like it was some inside joke. The prince paused midstep before rushing to catch up once more.
"What kind of trouble?" he pushed.
Merlin's eyes went distant, "You name it, dragons, a questing beast, an evil sorcerer or 20, basilisks, wyverns…"the servant slowly trailed off. Suddenly he shook his head and a grin spread across his face, "Destiny sure is a strange thing," he said to himself. "Ah, here we are." Merlin stopped in a crowded hallway. Darren's knights and servants were bustling about in an attempt to get everything settled.
"GWAINE!" the servant suddenly shouted, stepping forward and grabbing the knight by the ear, "You were supposed to be behaving." The large knight gave Merlin a sheepish grin and a shrug.
"I couldn't help myself. They're just so easily riled." Merlin gave the man a glare and the knight lowered his head.
"Off with you." The servant shook his head, releasing Gwaine.
"Oi, don't tell the king!" Merlin ignored the knight's call and turned back to the prince.
"Anything else you need your highness?"
"Dinner and a bath. Can you show my slave where he can find either." The prince answered as he blinked between the retreating knight and the strange man before him.
"Of course your majesty." Merlin bowed low to the prince. Darren waved to Kyle who immediately came to his master's side.
"Your majesty, I've drawn your bath." Kyle appeared from an adjacent room.
"Thank you Kyle. Did you find anything?" the prince sighed tiredly, stepping behind a screen to undress.
"Its strange… I've never seen a servant given so much respect. The only one who didn't treat him strangely was the cook. She very nearly swatted his hand and sent him out of the kitchen."
"Did he tell you anything?" the prince stepped into his bath, enjoying the warmth on his travel worn muscles.
"No, not particularly. That knight that led us up her showed up again and tossed his arm around Merlin like it was a normal thing." The tone of the prince's servant's voice was scandalized.
"He has been in the castle as the king's manservant for some time. I hear that the king takes him everywhere. The knights are probably used to his presence, atleast the king's personal knights." Darren waved off.
Kyle was shifting from foot to foot where he stood but nodded to his master. "I think that Merlin will most likely be the best place to find information on the king. For the past decade he has spent the most time with him, most likely second only to the queen. Kyle, keep your ears open. I want to know any rumors going around the castle."
"I heard one already," Kyle scuffed his toe.
The prince sat up in his bath, "What?"
"The queen is pregnant."
TBC
Merlin: Poor boy has no idea what he's gotten himself into…
Leth: Says the sorcerer that walked into Camelot and became Arthur's manservant.
Merlin: Shut up!
Arthur: That's my line!
Gwaine: Oh shut up the lot of you. You're giving me a headache.
Leth: That would be the hangover Gwaine.
Gwaine: Oh… right…
Arthur: Idiot.
Merlin: Yes sire?