Merlin lay in his bed and listened to the voices outside his room. It was a clear, warm morning and the sun streamed brightly through the window. Gaius had not come to wake him, Arthur had not sent for him, Morgana was not at present attacking Camelot, and in the aftermath of battle Merlin enjoyed a well earned lie in.

"Two spoonfuls," Gaius' voice droned outside in the main room. "Yes, good, take off the top, we don't want any extra. Go on."

"Crushed arnica flowers," Bri said.

"How much?"

"One teaspoon."

"Very good. Yes, now stir it in very gently, like you're wrapping a pig in a blanket."

Bri laughed. "A pig in a blanket? Isn't that some sort of food?

"Delicious sausage wrapped in fluffy pastry," Gaius recited. "Not that the castle cook ever manages it right!" he said disdainfully. "The cook at the Rising Sun in the lower village, on the other hand, makes a mean pig in a blanket!"

They both cackled. Merlin, alone in his room, grinned from ear to ear.

"Shh! Not so loud, we don't want to wake him," Gaius whispered.

Tucked in his bed, warm and comfortable, Merlin sighed contentedly. He threw the blanket off, swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. There was a full pitcher of water on the wash stand, and he washed himself quickly, dressed and quietly stepped out of his room.

The room still showed a bit of disarray from the days past. Gaius sat at the workbench, making notes in a large journal. Bri stood at the other end, mixing up a bruise healing paste, by the looks of it. She checked her work against a page in an open tome that lay on the table beside her. Her sleeves were rolled up, and her hair pinned at the base of her neck. On her cheek there was a little white smudge.

They both looked up when Merlin walked in.

Gaius stood and came towards him with a big smile and his arms open. Merlin hugged him back. Over Gaius' shoulder he saw Bri smiling at him.

"Merlin, you're a wonder!" Gaius said, squeezing him hard. He let go of him eventually and Merlin stood smiling bashfully. "Come! You must be hungry. I've made your favourite!"

"Pig in a blanket?" Merlin asked innocently, making Bri laugh. He snuck a quick look her way, enjoying the sight of her laughing. He was tempted to brush his fingers along her cheek, where the white smudge was.

Gaius filled a bowl with a generous portion of stew and set it at the clear end of the table away from Bri's work. He brought him another plate with fluffy white bread, cheese and dried ham.

"Sit, Merlin, and eat!" Gaius ordered.

Merlin glanced awkwardly at Bri, but she'd gone on with her work and didn't seem to pay any attention to him. He sat and started eating. Gaius sat down opposite him, rested his elbows on the table and joined his hands together under his chin.

Bri had finished and bottled her paste in a jar. She cleaned up and put her things away. Merlin half ate and half threw glances her way.

"I'll be off then, Gaius," Bri said. "I've promised Gwaine I'd deliver this as soon as it was done."

She gave Merlin a quick half smile and a brief nod and he stood up awkwardly, almost knocking the bench over.

"You're a marvel, Merlin," Gaius said again after Bri had gone, but this time the tone was teasing.

Merlin stood staring at the door. He eventually sat down and started eating again.

"She knew who I was," Merlin said to Gaius.

"What? Of course she knows who you are."

"No, Gaius, I meant she knew it was me when I was disguised as Emrys."

Gaius looked startled. "Well, I certainly didn't tell her!"

"I know you didn't, Gaius. But then how could she have known?"

"Eat your food, Merlin," Gaius nudged him. He was silent for a while, thinking. "She is an exceptionally observant young woman, Merlin. Perhaps she got a close look at you."

Merlin's cheeks flushed. "You could say that."

He ate the rest of his food in silence, and when he finished he told Gaius the story of how they became trapped beneath Camelot and how he had revealed his powers to Arthur.

"I never thought there would be Wilddeoren beneath the castle, Gaius. Right beneath Camelot, can you imagine?"

"And why should you be surprised? What do you think the dragon survived on all those years of imprisonment?"

"I've never thought about it." He shook his head in wonder. "What about you, Gaius? Tell me what happened after Morgana attacked."

Gaius told him briefly of their capture and imprisonment.

"She tried to convince Mordred to join her," Gaius recounted, "and when he refused she made sport of him."

"If she'd known he knew who Emrys was, she would have tried much harder."

There was a knock at the door and Arthur walked in. Merlin stood up.

"Sire!" he said with some surprise. "Am I late for anything?"

"Well, as you can see, I have managed to dress myself." He looked down at his sleeves. "Guinevere might have helped a little bit." He smiled sheepishly.

Merlin smiled back.

Gaius stood and bowed. "I must leave you, Sire. I am needed in the lower town." Merlin knew of no such assignation, but he didn't contradict Gaius. He was both pleased and anxious to be alone with Arthur.

When Gaius had gone out, carrying his medicine case on his shoulder, Arthur walked forward into the room with halting steps.

"So, I take it from your absence this morning that I need to inquire about finding another manservant," he said, not quite meeting Merlin's eyes.

"What? Why would you do that?"

"But now that you... I mean now that I know that you..."

"I miss one morning and you're getting me replaced?"

Arthur's head snapped up. His old irritated manner was returning.

"No, Merlin, I didn't say that." He looked at him awkwardly. "You seem to be rather over qualified."

"It makes no difference, Arthur," Merlin asked. "I don't want anything to change."

"You don't? I thought that surely you did."

"My place is at your side. I wouldn't change that."

Arthur looked closely at him. "I don't understand you, Merlin. Why would you want that?"

"You're my friend, Arthur. You're meant to rule Camelot, and I am meant to serve you."

Arthur shook his head impatiently. "Yes, you've said that before. But you really want to continue to be my manservant?" he shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably. "I mean, it's not the best job around."

"No, it's not," Merlin agreed.

"Merlin!" Arthur warned him. He paused for a moment and inhaled a big breath. "What I mean is ... I mean, what I was thinking was..."

"That sounds very confusing, Arthur," Merlin interrupted him. "Perhaps you shouldn't do so much of it. Thinking, that is."

To his delight, Arthur punched him in the shoulder.

"Merlin!"

"Yes, Arthur."

"Pay attention! I want you to join me at the round table, you fool."

All the foolery went out of Merlin and he stared openmouthed at Arthur.

"You're serious."

"I am."

Merlin sat down heavily on the bench, his back to the edge of the table. So much had happened, and so much was coming to fruition. He almost could not believe that he was having this particular conversation with Arthur. He had imagined it many times. He almost had it on the road to Avalon before he lost him. But that had been so bittersweet. To have Arthur know him for such a short time, and then lose him, had been cruel indeed, and it had left him little consolation.

He thought of himself at Arthur's side around the round table. He thought of Morgana, plotting away, stopping at nothing to overthrow Arthur and claim Camelot. He thought of Mordred, safe and loyal still, but for who knew how much longer?

"Arthur, perhaps it would be wisest if you invited Emrys to join you at the table instead."

Arthur tilted his head for an explanation.

"Morgana still doesn't know Emrys' true identity. She fears him and seeks him. As long as she doesn't know that he and I are one and the same, we hold a small ace up our sleeves. I think it would be wise to hold it a while longer. It will come out eventually, but perhaps not for some time, and in the mean time it will serve you well."

"And you will be beside me regardless," Arthur conceded.

"I will be." Merlin agreed with a smile.

"Polishing my armour." Merlin's smile faded. "Shining my boots. Mucking my stables." A pained look replaced the smile on Merlin's face. "Bringing my breakfast," Arthur continued.

"Calling you a dollop head, when necessary."

"It is never necessary, or advisable even, to call your King a dollop head, Merlin. How many times must I tell you that?" He snaked his arm around Merlin's neck and pulled him in for a head knuckling.

"I can hex you, you know," Merlin mumbled from within Arthur's grip. "I can make you break out in boils."

"Serving as target practice. Washing my floors. Laundering my shirts."

"Ow!"