Hello again, thank you for the review Sword (fancy seeing you again !) Also thank you Dobby'sPolkaDottedSocks (awesome username) glad you enjoyed it ! TheSilverSleeper- Who in their right mind doesn't want to hug Colin lol? Also thank you April29Roses, I hope this chapter is ok for you too. hey Absentminds, your comment made me laugh ! I might have to steal the phrase supermeggafoxyawesome, it is pretty epic and I wonder how many conversations I can get it into in real life...let the challenge commence! Glad that I made your day. So, I hope you enjoy the next chapter. There is more angst in the third one I promise, but the opportunity for fluffy bunnies in this chapter couldn't be missed!

Chapter 2

Merlin awoke with a start the next morning feeling himself being shaken. What was going on?

"No, earthquake? Arrgh! Arthur?" Merlin mumbled blearily and rubbed his eyes, sitting bolt upright and jumping when he was confronted with Gaius' face in an uncomfortably close proximity. "Gaius what in the name of Wilddeoren are you doing? What time is it?"

"5 O'clock." Gaius replied swiftly with an amused glint in his eyes.

"5! Why 5? What have I done to deserve this?"

"I wanted to teach you some reading and writing before you set off for work. And you have a speech to write. Come on, rise and shine!"

Merlin mumbled something unintelligible about where he wanted to stick Gaius' quills and stood up, quickly pulling on a fresh set of clothes and following Gaius out into the main chambers, dragging his feet and still grumbling. He sat down in his chair and was faced with yet more blank parchment, the last thing he wanted to see at this insane hour! Gaius began to write out the alphabet, leaving a space between each row and handed the page over to Merlin, instructing him to copy out the letters. Merlin flushed with embarrassment and nearly knocked over the ink pot whilst snatching up the insufferable quill. This was so humiliating! Gaius just shrugged and gave him a knowing raised eyebrow accompanied by a kind smile.

"Everyone has to learn at some point my boy. Just think soon you will be able to read and write Arthur's speeches at the drop of a hat." Merlin nodded and bent his head over the page, clutching the quill in his hand. Gaius tried to bit back a laugh and lent forward to rearrange Merlin's skinny fingers so that he could at least hold the thing properly. Merlin gave a small grunt of thanks and began to write, incredibly slowly and furrowed his brow in concentration. When he eventually sat back to admire his work Gaius beckoned for the page, which was handed over reluctantly. Gaius then squinted at and inspected the wobbly lettering.

"Not bad, now then, why don't you read some of this passage out and then you can copy it up." Merlin agreed half-heartedly, this would be a long morning, and he picked up the medicine book that Gaius had handed to him. Gaius shifted his chair so that he was beside Merlin so that he could see the page and prompt Merlin when necessary.

Merlin began to read, stumbling on every other word and squinting at the writing, he was clearly struggling and getting more and more frustrated. This was mad. What is the point of magic if you can't even do the basic things in life? Merlin began inwardly cursing everything from Arthur's stinking slippers to the grumpy waitress at the tavern. Gaius gently filled in the silence when Merlin was really stuck on a word (or cursing) and after an hour Merlin had managed to read the entire page and had copied it up in his messy scrawl. Gaius had inspected this, marked on the spelling mistakes and told Merlin to try and learn the words. If he could remember countless incantations and spells Gaius was sure that a few words would not stop him. Glad for the break Merlin began to write his speech, or at least the quill did, and he sat back proudly when he was completed. Maybe waking up early wasn't too bad, he had certainly been productive and he soon found himself wandering up to Arthur's chambers with the scroll in hand.

"Merlin you are late! And don't you ever knock you idiot." A bleary eyed Arthur was sitting up in bed, running his hand through his blonde locks and fisting his eyes tiredly.

"SORRY!" Merlin called out as loud as he could, grinning to himself at the glare he received for being so loud first thing in the morning, (well, first thing in Arthur's morning at least). He then skillfully avoided the pillow which was launched at his head, picked out an outfit for Arthur and placing the speech on his bedside table.

"Ah, my speech." Of course there was no thank you, but Merlin was used to it, at least he wasn't currently being insulted or having a goblet thrown at his head. "I wouldn't leave it there though if I were you!"

"Why on earth not?" Merlin grumbled, he had just crossed over to the other side of the room and had a feeling that Arthur was going to instruct him to come all the way over just to move the scroll.

"The woodworm might eat it!" Arthur burst out laughing at his own wit and didn't even notice Merlin's withering gaze. Merlin still didn't understand how he had gotten away with that excuse when stealing Arthur's keys; I mean really, Arthur called him an idiot! Who was he to take the mick? 'He can write his own speeches from now on!' Merlin shuffled around the room, retorting to Arthur's usual verbal abuse and being threatened with the stocks at least four times. At least it was his morning off tomorrow and he could have a bit of a lie in, of course that would be after he had mucked out the stables, filled and warmed Arthur a bath and tucked his royal Pratness into bed (metaphorically speaking unfortunately!) When Merlin finally dragged himself into Gaius' chambers he collapsed into his chair and wolfed down the meal in front of him, not noticing the grim look on his guardian's face until it was too late.

"Why are you looking at me like that." Silence…

"Gaius" More silence…

"Tell me that wasn't rat again." Deafening silence. Merlin cringed and forced himself to swallow down the last mouthful. It was better than nothing. With that he wandered into his room and pulled out his spell book, checking for any spells which improve your handwriting. Gaius had been kind earlier but Merlin knew that his writing was pretty much illegible in comparison to Gaius' decorative calligraphy. However tiredness sunk over him, his muscles were screaming in protest and he found himself falling fast asleep on his spell book. Merlin dreamt that night, not his usual nightmares about bandits or Arthur ordering him to clean the stables with a hairbrush, but of quills chasing him down the corridors and into the dungeons. He woke with a start when one of the quills had plunged into the heart of his dream-self and he groaned. He could hear shuffling outside his door and judging by the sunlight pouring in through his window it was about seven. So much for a long lie in! He stumbled out of bed, washed with a bucket of water, which he secretly heated with magic, and pulled on his blue tunic and red neckerchief. He then went over to Gaius and accepted his breakfast, a chunk of bread and cheese and sat down at his table. The sight before him led to an expression of dismay. Gaius had placed yet more blank parchment down along with a book and Merlin immediately understood, Gaius was not going to let him relax. It would have been preferable if he had been sent out to gather herbs, and that was saying something.

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The next chapter is longer and there is a lot more Arthur and angst involved. There are four parts of this story and I have finished the third and half of the fourth part. I will update the day after tomorrow, or maybe tomorrow depending on reviews. Hint hint ;) Hope you enjoyed it.