Merlin bounded down the hall of the third floor. The carpets on this floor were a dark green, and the walls beige, giving the hall a cozier feel. Arthur leaned weakly against a wall as Merlin knocked gently on the door of 394, still rattled by the lift. The raven-haired boy hid a smile at his friend's obvious attempts to mask his anxiety.
"Something amusing, Merlin?" inquired Arthur, trying to inject his former arrogance into his voice but failing miserably. Merlin shrugged.
"Nothing, My Lord," he replied even as a grin spread across his face. Arthur started forward to hit Merlin upside the head irritably when the door burst open and Arthur turned to face the interruption.
"Mummy, it's Merlin!" a small, slight child leaped into Merlin's arms, joy practically radiating from her. Her long auburn hair tickled his chin as he lifted her up and spun her around.
"Sari!" Merlin exclaimed. "I brought you something."
He sat her down, a mischievous glint in his blue eyes as he handed over the brownies.
Sari bounced with excitement, huge green eyes lighting up at the thought of eating them. She seemed to Arthur like a tiny little piece of fluff puppy that barked at everything and ran around all the time.
"Thanks, Merry, could I have one now?"
Merlin smiled. "Ask your mother."
"She's in the bath. Please?" she looked up at him pleadingly, all big eyes and sweetness, and Arthur rolled his eyes as Merlin gave in.
"Well…I s'pose one is alright." he opened the package and handed her one, which she promptly stuffed in her mouth with a "Thanks, Merry!"
Arthur cleared his throat, not accustomed to being to being ignored for so long.
"Well, Merlin, aren't you going to introduce me to the famous Sari?" he raised an eyebrow.
Merlin jumped, startled, and turned to Arthur.
"Oh, right! Sorry, My Lord, this is Sari. Sari, this is Arthur." He leaned down closer to her and murmured conspiratorially, "The Arthur."
Arthur nodded at her, a bit put off when she did not bow. Instead, her eyes got, if possible, even wider as she gazed up at him, and after a startled second she swept into the lowest and most graceless curtsy he had ever seen (even worse than that Lady Elena's), almost toppling over in the process.
Merlin reached out to steady her, chuckling.
"It's an honor, Your Kingness! I-I-I…blimey! I mean, sorry." Sari was visibly flustered. Her cheeks reddened and she stopped stammering and just stared. Arthur shifted uncomfortably.
"Er, It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He cut a glance at Merlin. What did you tell her?
Merlin raised his eyebrows and cocked his head, an amused and thoroughly unapologetic smile on his face. What's it matter?
Arthur rolled his eyes, looking down again at Sari, who was looking between them in confusion. Suddenly, a voice cut through the silent conversation.
"Are those brownies?"
Merlin beamed at the owner of the voice. Her hair was long and brown, pushed back from her round face and still damp from the bath. She had green eyes identical to Sari's and dimples, which, combined with her perfect teeth, made for an electrifying smile. She could only be Sari's mother.
"You could have one, if you like." He offered her the dish.
"I'll have two, if that's alright." Her eyes twinkled as she bit into one, then she raised her eyebrows.
"Though I see one has already been taken? Before breakfast?" she looked down at her daughter, who shuffled her feet embarrassedly.
"Sorry Mummy. You were in the bath." Her mother continued staring her down. "And Papa always let me have anything I wanted, Mummy!" Sari looked down quickly again, as if she knew she shouldn't have said that.
"Your Papa always let every woman have whatever she wanted, my love. Now pop in and get washed up if you want breakfast before your brothers wake up and eat it all." Wendy's jaw had tightened at hearing talk of her ex-husband, but she smiled again now and patted Sari's head as she obeyed her mother.
"Sorry, Wendy. I told her she could have one," muttered Merlin, blushing.
"Oh, it's alright. Really, I'm all talk with her. And thank god that's enough, because who could refuse any of those children?"
Merlin chuckled, still looking at her.
"But who is this strapping young man? What's your name, hmm?" She looked past Merlin at Arthur, who looked shocked at being addressed in such a way.
Sari was back. "No, Mummy! You can't address him that way! He's a king!" she was pulling on Wendy's pant leg, hopping around in agitation.
Wendy chuckled. "He certainly looks it, doesn't he?" she took another bite of brownie.
Merlin (holding back a laugh at his friend's surprise) nudged Arthur, who partially recovered from his indignation. It was difficult to remember his newfound lack of authority.
"My name is Arthur Pendragon." He held out a hand to shake, remembering, to his credit, not to bow. "And you are?"
"Wendy Moore." She shoved the first brownie into her mouth discreetly so she would have one hand free to shake. Right then, two boys yelled toward the door from somewhere inside, "Mu-um! What's for eating?"
Wendy's mouth full, she glanced at Merlin, who nodded. "There's milk in the fridge, boys!" he yelled. Wendy swallowed. "Thanks." Merlin shrugged.
"So," she said, turning back to Arthur. "Why have we never seen you before?"
Sari sighed patiently. "It's because he's King Arthur, Mummy, he's just now returned!"
Wendy smiled, smoothing her daughter's hair. "Yes, love, I remember now."
"Your Majesty." She curtsied neatly in Arthur's direction, and Sari smiled. Before Arthur could answer, a boy interrupted.
"That's dumb, Sari." He was young, maybe twelve years old, and he peered at them from behind his dark mussed up bangs. He wore sleep clothes and held a glass of chocolate milk in one hand.
"He's not a real king. There are no real kings anymore. Besides, he's not even got a crown."
"Shut it, Lucas! You're dumb!"
"Sari! Don't be so rude; we have guests. And Lucas, apologize to your sister."
"Sorry you're being so dumb."
"Lucas." Wendy's voice took on a warning tone.
"My sincerest apologies." He stuck out his tongue at Sari, who stepped on his foot.
"Hey!"
"Sari, apologize."
"Why, Mummy?"
"You know perfectly well why."
"Sorry." She glared at him.
"Hello, Luke," said Merlin.
Lucas turned to Merlin and smiled happily. "How are you, Mer? Still baking, I see." he said, slapping hands with the dark-haired wizard and taking a brownie.
"Fine, thanks. And just for the sweets."
Arthur, feeling ignored again, cleared his throat.
"Oh!" exclaimed Merlin sheepishly. "Arthur, Lucas. Lucas, Arthur. Arthur's…an old friend."
Lucas and Arthur nodded at one another. "Good to meet you, mate," said Lucas, extending a hand. Arthur shook it after a brief hesitation. "And you," he replied.
"Did I say you could have a brownie, Luke? You've not eaten breakfast!" Sari looked from her mother to Luke smugly.
"This is breakfast, Mum," he said earnestly. She rolled her green eyes, but smiled.
"Fine. But you'd best get a bit of fruit in today. I'll not have you filling yourself with brownies and-"
"Brownies, did you say?" another, taller boy appeared, this one easily fifteen. Wendy groaned.
"Go on, if you're all set on ruining your breakfasts it may as well be with something tasty."
"Thanks, Mum. And thanks, Mer." The boy said, taking a brownie himself.
"Not a problem." Merlin nodded a greeting at him. "Zachary, this is Arthur. Arthur, this is Zach."
Zach swallowed a mouthful of brownie. "Good to meet you mate." Arthur was amused by this greeting identical to his brother's, but said nothing, jut nodded back at him. Zach glanced down at Sari.
"Is Merlin watching you as usual today? Because I've got no plans." He looked at his mother. "I could take Luke and Sari to the park, play some football."
Wendy bit her lip. "I don't know. Sari's smaller than you both…"
"Come on, Mum, we've gone before. I'll be careful." He was the spitting image of his younger brother when he spoke earnestly like this. "I'm a great babysitter."
"You're not bad," she agreed halfheartedly. "And I suppose it'd give Merlin a day off to catch up with His Royal Highness, wouldn't it...Do you want to go with Zach today?" She asked Sari.
"Yeah!" she cheered, hugging Zach's pant leg. "I love football!"
"Fine. I've got to be off, restaurant customers won't seat themselves. Actually, you know, they probably could. Ah, well." She chuckled. "Be good, boys. Be careful!" she gave them each a kiss.
"Bye Mum, we will." They replied.
"And don't you run off." She bent and kissed Sari's head.
"Bye, Mummy."
Wendy straightened up. "Have a lovely day, you two. And thank you for the brownies, dear." She waved at Merlin and Arthur as she walked off toward the lift.
"Bye, Wendy," Merlin smiled. Arthur waved back at her.
"Well, come on, then!" he said to Merlin once she was gone. "Shall we leave?" he didn't seem keen on staying any longer with the kids. Merlin laughed.
"Fine. Bye, boys, bye Sari, be good, let us know if you need anything. Oh and don't go to the park closest here. Go to the other one. You know they've closed our park down since all of those children are missing."
The boys nodded, and Merlin and Arthur left. Arthur wanted to ask about the missing children, mildly curious, but soon forgot as they arrived in the lobby.
"Well, I guess it's time to introduce you to modern Britain, My Lord." Merlin was grinning excitedly. "Oh, you'll just love this, sire."
Arthur did not look vaguely amused as Merlin grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the door.