Daily Interference. Please credit llLethall for this idea.

Chapter 3: The Bullying Issue

Arthur strolled up to the Visiting Prince's room. He had something to say to him. Of course he wouldn't be risking everything Camelot has over a sake of a servant.

Damn it, friend.

He knocked on the door of Prince Stephen and waited for someone to open it.
"Enter." A voice called. Or maybe just let him open the door himself. Arthur pushed the wooden door open and strolled inside. The room was dark, the curtains drawn to be closed. Arthur wondered why.

"Has your servant not came up?" Arthur asked out of the blue. "Or did you beat him and make him run away?" The Prince of the North East snorted and turned to look at the Prince of Camelot. Arthur made himself look completely innocent. "What?"

"What are you suggesting?" Prince Stephen inquired.

"I'm not suggesting anything." Arthur mused. He strode forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, he tried to make it look natural. "Although if I find one more bruise on my manservant. I'll see you to blame."

"What kind of a threat is that? I didn't harm your precious manservant." Stephen chuckled.

"So how come he came out of this corridor with a bloody nose? Hmm? One of your daddy's men done that for you?" Arthur said innocently. There wasn't a comment made from the Visiting Prince. "My threat still stands; touch my manservant again, and I'll kill you." Arthur spat.

Morning came too soon for Merlin. His nose hurt, but his head felt a lot better after his talk with Arthur. He lay in bed for five extra minutes, after all, this time he was early. Eventually he got ready and headed down the stairs to be greeted by Gaius.

"Merlin! You're early! How's your nose?" Gaius greeted.

"It's fine. Really." Merlin said, sitting down for breakfast. Gaius looked at him with a curious smiled and handed him his bowl of warm wheat. Merlin quickly finished his breakfast before heading off to get Arthur ready for his breakfast with the King.

(Break)

"How was your first night in the Castle, Prince Stephen?" The King asked while he picked a few grapes from a bowl. Arthur leaned back in his chair and signalled Merlin to refill his goblet of water. Merlin moved forwards and refilled his goblet, and refilled the King's as his father did so too.

"It was most comfortable, sire. Although, I do not have a servant to help me in my room. Is it alright if I use one of Camelot's fine ones?" Stephen smiled, eating a strawberry.

"Sure. You can use my son's manservant." The King smiled kindly. Prince Arthur almost choked on his food.

"Father, no. I'm sure one of the servants that have no master to abide to could help him." Arthur defended. He could see the look on Merlin's face from here, shocked, fearful, helpless.

"Nonsense! I'm King and what I say goes. Stephen, you can use my son's manservant. Do whatever you must with him and under the circumstances, Arthur you will not allowed to see your servant until Stephen's time here has past." Stephen nodded in acceptance, a slight look of evil pleasure sliding across his face. Then he stood up.

"Thanks very much, now if you don't mind, I must go." The Visiting Prince bowed and left his seat. "Servant!" He bellowed. Only Arthur saw the roll of the eyes Merlin gave the Prince, and he had to try and hide a smirk. Once the two men left, Arthur turned to his father.

"How long is he staying?" Arthur inquired.

"Why? It's not like it matters- Arthur's glare changed that- one week." The King gave in. Arthur snarled under his breath. Merlin, he was going to have to talk to Merlin without anyone noticing. Merlin needed to keep his head down and act like a normal servant because if he didn't… he wouldn't survive. Prince Stephen from the North East was a brutal Prince…Arthur knew Merlin didn't stand a chance.

Merlin walked behind the Prince of the North East, trying to be silent, unlike usually chatting to Prince Arthur of Camelot and walking side by side… like equals. He really didn't like the King's allowance towards the Visiting Prince. 'Do whatever you must with him' That really didn't sound good. Arthur wasn't even allowed to talk to him or use him until the time for the Visiting Prince's visit was up.

Once inside the Prince's chambers, Merlin stood near to the wall with his hands behind his back, waiting to be commanded for something. But the command never came. Instead, he got a blow to his ribs, followed by a snarl. He doubled over, shielding his ribs from anymore blows. Merlin looked up questioningly.

"What was that for?" Merlin cried out. He took a slap to his face.

"I saw the roll of your eyes in the hall. I will not tolerate such disrespect." The Prince spat on him.

"I was only going to be staying here for the luxury of Camelot, but it seems like I have work to do. DO NOT LOOK AT ME WHEN I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU TO!" The voice screamed. Merlin felt a tinge of something strange when the Prince screamed. It was getting stronger by the second and Merlin was close to figuring it out. He was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and thrown backwards towards the floor. His head smacked painfully off the hard white stone. Black dots crossed his eyes, but he refused to sink into oblivion, that would just mean that this Prince won.

It seemed like Merlin had some work to do too.

"Gaius?" Arthur called, walking into the physician's chambers. He saw the slumped figure at the back of the room, where his mini-library was.

"Sire!" Gaius greeted, standing up to take a bow. "How can I help you?"

"Is Merlin here?" Arthur asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

"He isn't sire. Wouldn't he be with you?" Gaius inquired.

"No… but I need to speak to him, but you must promise not to tell my Father I will be speaking to him, understood?"

"Yes sire… but why wouldn't you allowed to be speaking to Merlin? What has he done this time to get on the bad side of the King?" Gaius asked, a slight humour in his voice. The humour on his face dropped when the door behind Arthur opened to reveal a rather battered Merlin.

"Merlin!" Gaius exclaimed. "My boy! What happened to you?"

"Hmph." Was all that Gaius got. Merlin strode passed, hands in his pockets, and into his room. Arthur spotted the little glimmer of blood on the back of his head. Arthur growled under his breath.

Gaius went about his chambers collecting a bowl of hot clean water, a cloth and a potion before heading up those steps himself, Arthur followed, wanting to know what happened of course. If he wasn't allowed to kill Prince Stephen, he could be there for support- without his Father knowing of course.

Merlin lay there, curled on his side, cradling the bottom of his rib cage, a bruise visible on his left cheek, his face was blank.

"Merlin, sit up." Gaius ordered. Merlin obeyed, but slowly. His eyes were black rimmed, from tiredness probably, and his head hung down. He never once said a word. "Take your shirt off, I need to see your ribs." Arthur crossed the room to his next to Merlin, to help him take his shirt off, because it seemed like Merlin was having trouble doing so.

"Arthur, could you start cleaning his head wound?" The Prince nodded and took the bowl and cloth while Gaius examined the boy's ribs. "Hm, not broken or cracked, just bruised. You'll be fine in a day or two. Let's have a look at your head." Arthur finished cleaning the wound and Gaius went to examine. "Needs two stitches." Gaius muttered and hobbled out of the door to collect his items. He returned with a needle and some stitching material. Merlin's eyes went wide at the sight of the needle and jerked back.

"Arthur can you hold him or cover his eyes?"

"Yes, certainly." Arthur replied, going for option to cover his eyes. The poor boy was shaking.

"Merlin, you're safe. Stop shaking. It'll be done soon." Arthur muttered.

"He's concussed, partially aware with what's going on. He should be fine after a good night's rest." Gaius said after he finished stitching the wound. He patted the boys shoulder and handed him a potion.

"No. Don't want no potion." Merlin muttered, turning his face into the pillow after Arthur let him go.

"Tough, you're drinking it." The Prince grinned, picking him back up. He kept a hold of him and took the potion in his other hand. "Bottoms up!" He called. Merlin reluctantly swallowed the vile potion. Within seconds of the potion settling into the boy's system, he was in a controlled sleep. Arthur smiled and placed him into bed.

"Lie him on his back, it will help with the pain." Arthur nodded and done exactly that.

Sorry! Merlin whump will continue. This is just the start of it. I enjoyed writing Arthur's threat. But seriously, this will continue.

Right, I am in a dilemma. I am wanting Morgana to come in to this story, but I have scenarios for both types in her character (i.e good and bad Morgana) but which one would you like to see mostly?

Right, these chapters are going to start slowing down this week as I have a pretty busy week ahead of me, but hopefully if an idea comes to me, I will start writing it tomorrow and should be done by Wednesday. Remember this one is early, I said either tomorrow or Tuesday, so watch out! Please review and tell me what you think, you guys are the best!