Chapter 2
Arthur scowled deeply out of the window as he pulled his chain mail vest over his head. The coronation was due to begin in a few hours and Merlin hadn't turned up to help him get ready. He could only guess that he was still angry at him for the Lady Avilia incident though he had no idea why HE would be angry. He wasn't the one who had been interrupted. Behind him a different manservant entered. Arthur turned around and held up his arms, waiting.
A moment later, he turned to glare at the manservant, who stared up at him blankly. Shooting daggers at him, Arthur growled,
'Subian, get over here and put my armour on me.'
The manservant hastened over to him carrying Arthur's armour clumsily. Arthur frowned at the ceiling as the manservant struggled to put the armour on properly. Arthur's patience was wearing thin and he was sure that his blood pressure was sky high.
Damn it Merlin! Of all days to bail out on him, it had to be his coronation day. Merlin might be irritatingly annoying but at least he knew to put his armour on correctly. He sighed quietly; he was feeling increasingly guilty about that morning. He really didn't want Merlin to have seen that, and now he was struggling with the longing that it had been Merlin under him instead. He winced abruptly at that thought; he was fantasising about his manservant! If anyone found out, there was sure to be public outrage.
'A prince and a manservant indeed.' Arthur froze when he realised that he'd said that aloud. By his knee Subian stopped strapping his knee guard in place to stare up at him with wide eyes. Looking down Arthur scowled at him and nudged him with his leg, urging him to continue.
Sniffing he looked back up at the door, wishing that Merlin would just walk in and end this nonsense, but wishing even more that he could swallow his own pride and just go and apologise to him. The manservant left quickly and quietly, noticing Arthur's brooding nature. The coronation would begin in only an hour or so, and Arthur was feeling suddenly very tense. Rolling his shoulders, he went to pour himself a drink. Gripping the goblet tightly, he turned to stare back out of the window.