Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

Some of you wanted details, some not. I decided to put it into another story Trust and Love - missing scenes. You don't have to read it to understand what happens but it may give you a wider view. This way you may even sometimes get more than one chapter a week :)

Enjoy!

The last week passed in no time and Merlin still hadn't registered all that had occurred: him being named First Advisor and Arthur allowing Druids to practise healing magic. But the strangest thing of all was Merlin now had a servant.

The first day of that week went quite well as the warlock was one of the few without a hangover after the feast, which he couldn't resist pointing out and take advantage of at every occasion. Merlin was also adjusting to his new role and even managed to persuade one or two of his servant friends to call him by name. It was the second day that everything was turned upside down.

Unsuspecting Merlin was woken up by a young lad claiming to be his new manservant. That claim abruptly roused the advisor from his bed and made him immediately search for answers. In the end It appeared that after noticing Merlin wasn't assigned a servant, Gwen took it upon herself to remedy this mistake and went to the Head of Castle Servants, Lord Barris, responsible for managing servants and answering directly to the queen.

Lord Barris didn't say it in face to the angry Gwen, but basically he had held a grudge towards her for changing from one of his subjects to his superior. He also had never liked Merlin, since the warlock troubled the Head of Castle Servants with extra work by becoming a prince's manservant out of the typical order. Later dislike only increased.

So it came as no surprise at all that Lord Barris accidently 'forgot' to assign someone to Merlin. The warlock didn't mind, but it was unseemly and an offence for First Advisor to have no servant.

Merlin didn't want to have a servant for a few reasons. One of them being magic, which would have been near to impossible to hide. Fortunately the boy, Tavi was a half Druid and had come specifically looking for a service to Emrys. After the warlock got Tavi to stop bowing and calling him by titles, the servant appeared to be a nice person perhaps even a potential friend, if not so much of a servant since he barely knew what was expected of him. Merlin suspected it was Lord Barris's way of payback by assigning him someone inexperienced.

However, by trying to do bad, the Head of Castle Servants actually did good and gave the warlock just the person he needed. It also helped in the new lord's relationship with servants, who were certainly surprised when Merlin showed Tavi around and taught him how to do his job. The advisor even managed to persuade some of his friends to still call him Merlin.

With Tavi things went quite well eventually, but the same couldn't be said for the Druids. Ninianne tried her best, she publicly healed a few of the willing knights after a patrol or training and generally helped as Gaius's apprentice. Few Druids even dared to come to the city to sell herbs and things made by them. However, most of townsfolk avoided them, making the Court Physician the Druids' main customer.

Right then, a week after the proclamation, Merlin, Ninianne and Gwen were walking through the market in the Lower Town. They hoped to make people more receptive towards Druids by showing the support of the Queen and First Advisor.

Suddenly there was a loud bang followed by screaming and, not minding their stations, the three ran to the place where the crowd began to assemble. Merlin, Ninianne and Gwen got to a construction site, where a merchant was building himself a new shop. The builders stopped and rushed to the man on the ground who was screaming in pain.

When the people saw their Queen, they made a way for her and her companions, who saw the leg of the man on the ground, whom Merlin recognised as Joe, a local carpenter, in a pool of blood. One of the stone blocks must have fallen on him. The warlock ordered a gawking boy to run for the Court Physician and tell him to prepare for a crushed leg. Then the advisor took off his shirt and, not caring about it's worth, used it as a bandage. He also reduced the bleeding and the pain by a piece of unnoticeable magic.

"Ninianne, would you be able to heal him?" Merlin asked in his mind.

She thought for a moment and then answered. "Alone I don't have the needed power, but if you lend me yours I should manage."

"Then go on." Decided the First Advisor and Ninianne attempted to come closer.

When the carpenter noticed her, despite the pain he shouted. "Stay away, witch!"

The Druid healer looked broken and Joe's reaction saddened also Merlin, but it was Gwen who answered him.

"How dare you?!" she exclaimed making the carpenter flinch. "Ninianne came to help to a city where her kind is hated and not so long ago executed, she works herself to the bone and all she gets in return is contempt and fear." The queen paused to take breath. "She may not interest you, but what about your family? How can you be so egoistical?" Seeing his confused expression, Gwen motioned to Merlin. "Go on Merlin, tell him."

The warlock sighed and answered looking at the carpenter. "Joe, your leg has been crushed. There is nothing to be done by the regular means to allow you to use it again."

"But surely Gaius..." uttered a little frightened carpenter. Merlin only shook his head making Joe realize the situation. "But what about my wife? My children? I can't work without that leg." The man was close to tears.

The advisor put a hand on his arm. "Regular means won't help you, but magic can."

Joe looked torn. "I lost my oldest son in the last siege. I..I can't forgive magic for that."

Merlin looked him in the eye. "It wasn't magic's fault but its wielder. Think about your little daughters and your pregnant wife. They need you to survive and you need that leg to provide for them." Joe was still not sure so the advisor added. "I will keep a close look at Ninianne and make sure that everything is right."

The carpenter was still unsure but nodded nonetheless making the Druid come to him. Merlin put a hand on her arm and using the second one covered his eyes pretending that it was because of the sun. The crowd gasped when light appeared on Joe's leg, leaving it with no mark of the injury.

After completing the spell Merlin, feeling tired himself, barely managed to catch Ninianne who collapsed drained from the use of magic. Despite her condition she managed to order the workers to carry Joe to Gaius and supervise them not to move his leg too much.

When they entered the Court Physician's chambers, Gaius quickly shooed most of them out, allowing only Merlin and Ninianne to stay, and prepare for a hard case. That wasn't what he saw after a little closer examination.

"I thought it was crushed and there is enough blood but I see no damage." Gaius said already guessing the answer but wanting the confirmation nevertheless.

"I healed him," affirmed Ninianne. "But still needs to take it easy for at least a week. Preferably two." Then she turned to Joe. "You should rest, preferably not leave the bed for at least today. Your leg is healed, but the bones aren't to their previous strength. For a week you shouldn't strain it and even later use it carefully. I would suggest walking on crutches." By the end of her speech the carpenter was openly gaping.

"My leg was crushed and that's all?" He asked in disbelief.

"You should drink a lot of milk and eat meat according to your capabilities." Added Gaius looking at his ward.

"I will make sure he and his family get meals from the castle's kitchen." Quickly supplied Merlin leaving Joe shocked at the turn of the events.

How do you like it?