A/N: I have so many things to do! I don't really have time for this, so if anyone asks you didn't see me! I won't be able to update for a few days now. Happy Thanksgiving for those who celebrate! Eh, happy Thursday tomorrow for those who don't! :D
Okay so this is going to go the AU way completely me thinks. Or at least the -Arthur'snotinlovewithgwenyet- way. Hope you likey anyway!

'Arthur,' Merlin mutters between barely moving lips. 'You're supposed to be walking behind or beside me, not in front.'

'What? Ugh.' Arthur pulls a face and slows to fall into step with Merlin. They continue down the corridor in leaden silence, stealing glances at each other the entire time. 'Odd though isn't it,' Arthur says eventually.

'What's odd?'

'Seeing yourself. Don't you find? I mean, how you look through someone else's eyes. It's so different than what you think.'

'Why, how did you think you looked?' Merlin asks him, careful not to sound derisive again.

'Taller, for one thing,' Arthur mumbles a little resentfully. 'And I didn't know my nose was a bit… crooked.'

'Not to mention your feet,' Merlin says.

'What? What's wrong with my feet?' He bends down a bit as they walk to study the boots Merlin is wearing.

'Just, bit big aren't they.'

'No they're not! Besides, don't get me started on you!'

'What? Just being helpful here!'

'Well, at least I will be able to get back looking like normal. Instead of like this.' He slapped a hand against his chest for emphasis.

'What's wrong with the way I look?' Merlin hisses under his breath because they are just outside the throne room.

'Well look at you! All dangly and bony! And those ears, I-'

'Don't dis the ears Arthur. Don't even go there. Or I'll have to say something about y-.'

At that exact moment the doors open. 'There you are! I was about to come looking for you, in case that idiot of a servant of yours forgot to tell you. Again.' Uther puts a hand on who he thinks is his son's elbow and guides him inside. Merlin's eyes widen and he mouthes a 'help' at Arthur over Uther's shoulder. Arthur grins, a little evilly and for a brief moment considers leaving his father and Merlin alone but then decides it is probably in his best interest to know what the King wants to talk about. So he slips inside too and closes the doors behind him.

Uther seats himself behind a plate of a scrumptious looking breakfast and indicates for Merlin, who hovers a little nervously behind the chair, to do the same. His stomach contracts ravenously at the sight of meats and cheese, the luscious fruits and rolls of bread still steaming fresh from the oven. He doesn't even need to look over his shoulder to know Arthur wears the face of a thundercloud. This will definitely be the best breakfast he's ever eaten. 'Even though,' he thinks. 'It doesn't technically disappear into my own stomach.' He still will have the enjoyment of tasting it, while Arthur for a change can be the silent -and hungry- witness.

He is careful at first, watching the King out of the corner of his eye but when Uther waves a hand at the general direction of Merlin's plate while biting down on a huge strawberry, he tucks in. And it's good. It is everything he ever thought it would be when he carried Arthur's breakfast up the stairs all those times. And it is even better than that because he knows Arthur is burning bread roll sized holes in the back of his head as he eats.

'So what did you wish to see me about S-, I mean,' he hesitates, eyeing the King nervously before adding a strangled; 'Father?'

'Ah yes, I just wanted to inform you King Ulridien is passing through Camelot with his daughter Elvira tomorrow.'

Merlin raises a polite eyebrow and says 'Oh?' as noncommittally as he can, wondering if this is supposed to mean something to Arthur. Apparently it does because he can hear him make a noise behind him, something along the lines of; 'Hmgnm.'

Uther, who was about to bite into another strawberry, briefly frowns over Merlin's head as if he isn't surprised at hearing his son's servant making odd noises at random. 'Yes. Now I know there was some… eh, how shall I put this. Oh well, let me just be blunt. I know she wrapped you around her little finger when you were sixteen years old and there were things said and promises made and goodness knows what else.'

Merlin's eyes widen and he has to suck his cheeks in to stop himself from grinning like an idiot.

'Anyway,' Uther continues, shifting a little uncomfortably in his chair. 'I want you to think long and hard before you… eh, … take action this time. Because those promises may not have meant anything back then but they will now. I wouldn't be opposed to an alliance, King Ulridien is a very powerful and rich man with a great army, but use your judgment as the future King of Camelot this time, and not as-, well. As the love sick puppy you were five years ago.'

'Yes father,' Merlin says between lips pulled thin in an attempt not to smile. 'Of course father.' Merlin puts the half eaten bread roll he's still holding back on the plate. I-, there is something that I have to attend to right away. Eh- I have to go.'

He gives Uther a small nod, rises to his feet and lets them carry him out of the room as fast as he can without running, grinning inanely all the while. Uther's eyes rest on his son's retreating back, and he is shaking his head slightly. The girl obviously hasn't been forgotten if her name alone can still make Arthur fluster like that.

'Not. A word.'

A hand grabs Merlin by the upper arm as soon as the doors close behind them and Arthur drags them both up the stairs.

'What are you doing?' Merlin demands, still unable to pull his face in a more serious expression. 'Someone could see!'

But Arthur doesn't care. He opens the door to his chambers and attempts to hurtle Merlin inside but barely makes him stumble.

'We have to fix this!' he says between clenched teeth, his hand still on Merlin's arm and he pulls it up and down with every word. But Merlin is staring at all the shirts on the ground.

'What happened in here?' he asks.

'I needed to find a shirt that didn't itch,' Arthur tells him. 'But never mind that now. We need to fix this problem before tomorrow. You can't meet Elli as me.'

'Oh Elli is it?'

'Don't start Merlin! I didn't sleep well, I am starving, I am forced to walk around looking like you of all people. Really! How do you get through a day like this? I mean, there is just no strength in these arms of yours!'

'Hey! Just because I don't feel the need to wave a sword around all day to prove what a manly man I am!'

'That's not why-! I am a knight and-. Merlin. Stop digressing and find a solution.'

'Fine, I'll go to the library. Why don't you go to the kitchens and find yourself some breakfast. We'll meet in Gaius's quarters, he'll be out on rounds this morning.'

Arthur opens and closes his mouth a few times as if he isn't quite sure what to make of Merlin being so decisive. 'Fine. At least we'll be doing something.' Arthur goes toward the door, tugging irritatedly on Merlin's scarf.

'Eh Arthur?'

'What?'

'You do know where the kitchens are don't you?'

Arthur turns around again and walks toward Merlin, slowly and purposefully. 'You may laugh now Merlin,' he says . 'But my time will come.' Arthur starts to smile in a way that makes Merlin a little uncomfortable. 'You know when that time will be Merlin?'

Merlin shakes his head.

'This afternoon, Merlin. And do you know why this afternoon, Merlin?'

It dawns on him then and his eyebrows almost meet in the middle while his eyes widen in dread. 'Sword practice with the knights,' he says, weakly.

'Sword practice with the knights,' Arthur parrots, sounding positively gratified. 'And who's going to be laughing then, hey Merlin?'

Merlin thinks about that for a while and edges toward the door, his hands finding the handle behind his back before he says; 'Well, the knights probably. You've seen me with a sword.' He manages to open the door and disappear through it just when Arthur's grin falls from his face and is replaced by an expression as if he has just been slapped with a wet fish.