The young men (really still just boys whose names were Merlin and Arthur) didn't find each other's company so bad. In a way, they balanced each other out with their ups and downs. Arthur was pigheaded and obtuse, sometimes making things difficult, while Merlin added the comedy and excitement.
So, that's why Merlin could be found sluggishly making his way to Arthur's chambers, still half asleep. He stumbled on the last few steps making him tumble into the door and crash it open with a bang. He fell forwards with little grace and skidded right over the flagstones on his hands and stomach. Air escaped him as his head hit the floor in pain and embarrassment. He was clumsy but never this clumsy! He hoped that the one person he didn't want to see saw his…less than graceful entrance.
There was a sound like wood being scraped against stone and then feet patting over. Merlin held his breath and prayed to the heavens only to look up and see Arthur, crouched down in front of him, smiling.
"Getting into Gwaine's private stash again Merlin?" the older boy, just by one day, asked him with amusement.
Merlin growled at him and gave a vicious glare as he waved his hand into the air. Arthur, taking the hint, grasped onto his hand and helped him to his feet. Merlin shook his head and snorted when he saw a pitcher on the table where Arthur had been sitting.
"No… have you?"
Arthur just shrugged at him as he walked over to the large table and piled the dishes onto the serving tray. His hands worked fast as Merlin went over to the chair and sat down in it. This had become a regular occurrence over last year and a half. Merlin would arrive early and serve Arthur his breakfast (today was the only exception) and Arthur would eat. They would talk about anything and nothing and then, once Arthur was done, he cleaned up his own mess as Merlin sat down in the chair, taking a break from his chores.
Merlin caught a piece of bread and took a bite as Arthur put on his red leather jacket. He snapped the cuffs and rolled his eyes as Merlin threw a piece of bread at him from where he sat.
"So, Arthur, where are we going fishing at?" Merlin asked as he too stood up and winced. He didn't miss Arthur's look as he did so and found it both caring and amusing, as his friend was usually stone cold.
Arthur looked away and went to a little map on the wall. It was an old map that was stained from the weather and age. The edges were browner than the tan color it once was and the forest of kalian had a nice tear in it. Though most of it was Arthur's doing from sticking little niches from where they had been fishing at. He looked over the map and Merlin moved to join him.
At first, they were just master and servant and they had dislike each other from the start. However, when Merlin saved Arthur's life and then vice versa, they had an understanding, of sorts. As time went on though and through many miss adventures the pair grew to like one another and found that, even though they were of different statuses, and Merlin had magic, which Arthur knew about, they had many things in common.
So one day in the summer they were so bored that they went to a little pond in the forest, and in boredom started catching the fish. As the boys went on it became a competition to see who could catch the most. In the end, it ended up with Merlin trapping a fish and losing control: making the fish slap Arthur in the face and making him fall in. as he did, he brought Merlin with him. They had been going fishing ever since.
"I think we will go here!" he said as he pointed to a little inlet in the west, not far from the castle. Merlin sighed. Great. That meant he'd have to fish the old way, being so close to home. He stuck his tongue out at Arthur who already had his back turn.
As they made there way out the gate, he vowed to pick the next spot and told Arthur as much. The prince smiled and punched Merlin in the arm in answer making the boy chase after him in pursuit.
What they didn't know was that Uther watched from his chambers as the two raced away and he was very displeased and disgusted at his son being friends with a servant and the others he chose to hang around. He was going to have to stop this before something happened.
Yes being friend with servants just wouldn't do.