I know, two chapters in the same day! What is wrong with me? I suppose i'm trying to make up for the next two days of non-writing that i'm probably going to be doing. Anyway, thank you to everyone who reads and reviews. Also, i just realized that i haven't done the disclaimer yet, but i will now.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but a few OC's and a couple of ideas, everything else belongs to someone else. I am not writing this in order to make any other profit than the pleasure of myself and others, as well as praise for my God. Please don't sue, i have nothing but my pretty hair.

After Merlin had eaten everything that Margaret had forced into him, and she had told him to take better care of himself, he was given the food for the trip he'd asked for, (and probably a little extra,) and went on his way.

He was still glowing from the praise he had been given when he bumped, (literally,) into Arthur.

The prince looked him over for a moment; taking in his smile and protruding stomach as well as the lack of dirt or smell on him. Then he said,

"Merlin, did I or did I not tell you to muck out my stables?" Without waiting for an answer he continued, "Instead of listening to me you seemed to have rested and relaxed while my horses are still stuck out there in that filth. Go and do it now, and what did I say about the smiling?"

"You told me to stop, though why I should suffer just because you're in a bad mood continues to puzzle me. And I have not just rested and sat around; I cleaned your room, polished your armor, and managed to get the food for the next five days. And I'll have you know that I was coerced into sitting down."

Even though Merlin's tone was indignant both he and Arthur knew it was just the same old banter that always went on between them. Which is why Arthur really couldn't be too insulted by Merlin's tone or words, and Merlin didn't believe that Arthur honestly thought he was entirely lazy.

"You were coerced?" Since when did Merlin use words like that? He wondered."Who forced you?" Arthur asked, even though by the look of Merlin's tummy he had a pretty good idea of whom.

"Margaret, she wouldn't let me leave until she was confident that I had eaten more than a cow does in an entire year!" He looked down and rubbed his stomach as if to comfort it.

Arthur was secretly grateful to the slightly scary woman; if only she force-fed him more often then maybe he wouldn't be so unnaturally thin. "You didn't seem too put out when you ran into me. In fact, you were grinning like the idiot you are!" Merlin pouted at this. "So, now that Margaret has insured that you will have no remotely reasonable excuse to pass out like a little girl anytime within the next eight hours, will you go and muck out my stables?"

Merlin looked like he might deliver one of his usual insults, but instead he gave a theatrically deep bow that in no way resembled anything respectful. "Yes, sire!" he said, once again without anything but rudeness in his voice, though the smile that was still on his face continued to get bigger.

Arthur just couldn't let a thing like that go. No way. So he after he slapped Merlin on the back of his head, not too hard though since he didn't want any more brains cells dying, he said to him in his most prattish voice, "Just for that, Merlin, you have to draw me a bath, get the dents out of the armor I used today, and wait on me at dinner tonight with my father. And you'd better not come smelling like the horses." He smirked and waited for Merlin to give in, for he knew he had won this round.

Merlin knew it too and after a scowl and a muttering of the word 'prat,' he slipped into the obedient servant mode he uses when he's lost another verbal battle. Satisfied that he had won, Arthur turned to walk away, then turned back and said,

"Oh, and Merlin, if you skimp or skive off any of your duties I'll know about it, and then you'll have to do them all over again." And with that he walked away leaving a grumpy Merlin behind in his wake.

The rest of the day passed quickly for Arthur and agonizingly slowly for Merlin. He'd had to do so many chores that his arms ached, his back ached, his legs ached, and even his magic seemed to ache. His stomach ached too, but he believed that that particular pain came from the large amounts of food that had been shoved into his mouth earlier that day.

And so it was that an exhausted, dirty, and all around grumpy Merlin trudged into the physician's chambers, much to the surprise of the physician.

"Merlin, what happened to you? You look like death itself!" exclaimed Gaius.

"Arthur," was all the boy said as he went up the short steps to his room and, upon entering, flopped on his bed.

"What did you do?" Gaius asked warily once he was standing at the foot of the tiny cot.

Merlin briefly lifted up his head to not-quite-but-almost-look at his guardian. "Why do you always assume that it's something I did? Why can't it have been Arthur just being his normal prat-of-a-prince self?" And once more the head flopped down, nearly missing the bed in the process.

"Because, despite what you think, Arthur wouldn't cause that," he gestured to the ragged, limp form in front of him, "without you first having done something to provoke him. Besides, I know how annoying you can be when you wish to, Merlin."

They both knew what he was talking about. When Merlin was recovering from the poison that had almost killed him he had been a constant nuisance. At first he had just begged to be allowed to leave his room. And once he had accomplished that he had endeavored to go back to work, something Gaius wouldn't hear of. That is, until he started to fear for his own sanity. Merlin would whine and complain, and babble on and on nonstop. Eventually Gaius had resorted to drugging Merlin just so he would stop talking. And since the physician couldn't leave his quarters without the young boy attempting to escape, he'd had no other choice. But he ended up paying for his few hours of precious silence by even worse babble once the boy had woken up.

The warlock was more physically drained than he had been in years, there was no doubting that. The poison, which had been enhanced with magic, had taken a great toll on his system. The first day and a half after the event had seen Merlin still in great amounts of pain, even though he had tried to hide it. The dark poison and even darker magic had gone so far as to mark the poor young boy.

But no matter how bad he felt, Merlin had continued to pester him. Why, the court physician had no idea for the boy seemed to hate all the work both he and Arthur gave him and still he'd rather go back to it than be cooped up. And as he looked at the boy who had saved basically everyone in Camelot at least once, who had still not recovered from the last time he saved a person's life, and remembered how he had given in and continued to give in to Merlin's pestering ways, he felt…ashamed. Something he felt every morning when he tried to get Merlin to rest and failed.

And now looking at Merlin he knew the annoying sorcerer had done the same thing to Arthur, though perhaps not intentionally. Arthur had, if only slightly, been going easier on him.

No matter what Merlin thinks, Arthur does notice things; though sometimes he does purposefully ignore things he can't explain or doesn't want to think about. But he noticed Merlin, and Gaius had, in turn, noticed how much Arthur just wanted to tell the boy to rest, but the prince's pride would get in the way and he would just stay silent.

Gaius wondered when both Arthur and Merlin would realize that their friend is more important than their ego. Probably a while from now, he guessed.

Just then, Gaius was brought out of his musings by Merlin getting up, if a bit slowly and sluggishly.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I need to take a bath." At Gaius' still confused look considering that he'd never take a bath if he was this tired, he added, "As part of my punishment Arthur said I'd have to attend him at his dinner with the king tonight. Though why he is incapable of pouring his own wine is beyond me. Oh, and I, the lucky servant that I am, get to go on a hunting trip in the morning with Arthur." And with that Merlin stalked off to wash up leaving Gaius still wondering what the warlock could have possibly done to annoy Arthur this bad.

Arthur was trying not to look guilty during the supper with his father. But it was really hard since the object of his guilt was standing right behind him; just in his line of vision.

He had been paying attention to what his father was saying up until the moment he realized how drained Merlin looked. And then of course he realized what had caused the weariness; him. He had given him all of those chores when he had known, and even been a bit worried about how tired the boy looked.

But in all fairness it was hard to think of him as an invalid when he still seemed so happy and energetic. And Arthur had to admit that that was one of the things that intrigued him about Merlin. No matter how bad he is feeling, no matter how dismal the future may seem the servant always seemed to have hope and joy, even if it was sometimes a little buried.

And so, considering all that, it was hard to remember sometimes that things weren't always alright with him. Even now the manservant tried to look as cheerful and energetic as was appropriate to look in the presence of the king. It was obvious that the boy was bored, but that didn't stop him exuding an aura of joy.

Arthur pulled himself back to the conversation he was having with his father, he couldn't think about Merlin right now, that would only get him in trouble. No, think about possibly apologizing later. And as he tried to get back into the flow of what his father was saying he almost wished he hadn't since the man had turned to the subject of one of the very things that had been bothering Arthur of .

"There have been a few rumors circulating amongst the people that there's a new sorcerer in Camelot, but since there have been no talk of the man's whereabouts there's not much more we can do but send out patrols. It may just be idle gossip. However, Arthur, if he is real, and if there is information as to his location the knights should be more than capable of finding him and taking him down. There should be no great need of your skills while you are away. Still, I wish you to be vigilant while you're gone in case the sorcerer should try to come after you."

"Of course, father, I shall keep an eye out for him." Arthur replied, honestly not sure what he would do should he see anything concerning magic. Not that he'd let his father know that.

"I know you will, I have every confidence in your abilities, Arthur." Uther smiled slightly and then took a drink and therefore didn't notice how Arthur didn't seem to lap up the praise like he normally did. But Merlin did notice.

It wasn't until after the dinner was over that both boys could allow themselves to think about all they had seen and heard that night, since they couldn't very well let Uther know what they'd been thinking.

Arthur puzzled about better ways to get Merlin to rest that didn't involve showing that he cared. And about what he would do if he came upon a sorcerer in the forest, I mean, what if it was the one that had sent the orb of light? Do I kill him for using magic to save me?

While Merlin wondered about how Arthur had reacted at dinner to Uther's comments and praise. Was it possible that the prat is learning to think for himself; to except magic? Is it possible that he no longer craves his father's praise and love?

And as both of them went to bed exhausted, though for different reasons, they both had the same, solitary thought: I don't know what I think, but maybe I can find out while hunting tomorrow. It's going to be a big day.

Ah, this chapter is done so now i can take a break from writing for two days. Which means that when i come back my mind should be refreshed and ready to write some more. I hope. Sparkling reviews should help with that, hint, hint. Well, i hope you will all enjoy, hopefully the next chapter will see them actually on the hunting trip, not just talking about it. See ya soon!