Heylaa! Sorry it's been so long. Just started school so I've been pretty busy.

Well, I finally get to the slash in this chapter! It's not much, just a bit of an undercurrent. I'm still trying to figure out where I'm going with all this. But, rest assured, I'll try very hard to update more often! Just be patient with me if I fall a bit behind. Enough of my rambling. Enjoy, and review please!

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"Ow! Merlin, how on Earth do you manage to be so idiotically clumsy? That's the third time you've dropped something on my foot today!" Merlin waited until Arthur was finished venting all his frustration before he began mumbling his apologies.

"I'm terribly sorry, sire," Merlin said quietly, bending down to retrieve the book. "I guess I'm a bit preoccupied." And hurt, he wanted to add. However, the young warlock held his tongue. He wasn't even sure why he felt that way, so he certainly wouldn't be able to explain it to Arthur.

"Well here's an idea," Arthur began sarcastically, "How about you get your dopey- eared head out of the clouds and focus on your duties. Honestly, Merlin, all you need to do is follow orders. It's not that complicated. I've seen eight year olds do a better job than you," the Prince ranted, failing to notice Merlin's pained expression that deepened with each stinging insult.

"And you think yelling and criticizing every little mistake I make is going to help me improve?" Merlin spat before he could stop himself. His eyes grew wide for he feared Arthur's reaction to his words. The other boy stood there for a moment, glaring blankly at the suddenly frightened Merlin.

"Excuse me?" Arthur asked in a dangerously quiet voice. Merlin's eyes flickered up to his master's darkened eyes and darted quickly to the ground again. He remained silent. "What did you just say to me, Merlin?" Arthur pressed, his volume raising.

"I-I didn't mean it that way, Arth- sire," Merlin backtracked, unconsciously stepping away from Arthur. "I only meant that it makes me even more nervous when you shout at me, and whenever I'm nervous I get a bit…clumsy," he finished lamely. Arthur's hard blue eyes were smoldering when he replied,

"You need to learn to watch your tongue." With that, he spun on his heel and walked out of his chambers, but not before adding, "And finish the chores I left you. I'll be back later."

So there was Merlin, all alone in the prince's chambers, unsure of what chores he had actually been left with. He tried to remember back to earlier that morning, when he had brought Arthur breakfast. He recalled Arthur saying something about his armor needing to be polished, the stables being especially filthy, and how there was a massive pile of laundry beside Arthur's wardrobe.

Now that he had his to- do list in order, Merlin set about completing his tasks. He figured that while he was there, he would get the laundry done and out of the way before heading out to the armory. Scooping the bundle of clothes up in both arms, Merlin swept out of the room as gracefully as he could while not being able to see his own feet. He hoped no one noticed him stumble and drop a couple of tunics on the way out.

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Arthur strode out to the training yards, his mind filled with ways to punish Merlin. Each step sent a shock of pain reverberating through his entire body. Merlin will really be in for it if those tasks aren't done by the time I get back, Arthur thought menacingly to himself. He stopped abruptly, however, for he didn't actually know where he was going. All he knew was that he needed to be away from his bumbling manservant to hear himself think.

And what exactly was there to think about? Nothing exciting was happening, or had happened the past few days. He had no urgent business to attend to; no one was coming to Camelot as far as he knew.

A thought deep in the recesses of his mind nagged at him then, whispering that he knew exactly what- well, who- he came out here to think about. Arthur shook his head briskly, attempting to banish the thought, or at least lock it away for a while. He simply refused to dwell on the feelings developing deep in him for that klutz. There was no way in hell he could possibly see Merlin as more than a friend.

Reassured once again, though rather weakly, Arthur changed his course and headed back to the castle to check on Merlin. He hoped no one noticed the small shiver that travelled up his spine at the name.

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Terribly sorry about the long wait. I went through an awful bout of writer's block while working on this. Anyway, I hope everyone liked the new chapter, and I hope to update again soon! Sorry it's so short.

**And I'm going to add in the 'big trouble' part from last chapter later. ;o