Uther had prepared Arthur for many things. A king had a myriad of responsibilities, from keeping the people fed to managing the kingdom's finances to alliances with other nations to training the knights. But for all of his harsh counseling, there was one thing that Uther had neglected to warn Arthur about.

Paperwork.

"I swear, I do more writing than the damn bookkeeper," Arthur complained. He had to pen a letter to Annis concerning the heirdom, he had to write another letter to Elena to see if her father's condition was serious enough to warrant a deathbed visit (or, if Arthur didn't make it in time, a condolences visit slash endorse Elena's coronation visit), he had to read and sign off on all the checklists for the food storehouses for winter, approve the guild renewal applications, sign a few contracts, and read Leon's dull as dirt reports.

"How come Leon gets all the boring reports?" Arthur asked.

"Everyone else refuses to do them," Merlin replied.

Merlin, the traitor, was lounging in front of the fire in nothing but his nightclothes while reading a book on Rome. Arthur glared at him. Merlin completely ignored the glare, but it made Arthur feel a little better before he returned to the mountain of paperwork.

"Speaking of Leon," Merlin continued. "He doesn't have a girl, does he?"

"I don't think so, Gwaine would have told me by now," Arthur replied. Gwaine was the biggest gossip in Camelot.

"And Gwen's not sweet on anyone, is she?"

"Merlin, I don't think people use the term 'sweet on' anymore," Arthur said. "But for the record, no."

"Great."

Arthur recognized the tone in Merlin's voice and looked up, but Merlin was innocently concentrating on his book. "Merlin, what are you up to?"

"Up to? Me?"

Arthur glared again. "What are you planning that involves Leon and Gwen?"

Merlin grinned. "Exactly that. Leon and Gwen."

"Are you serious? Or just drunk?"

"Both," Merlin replied. "I've been thinking about this for a while."

"Merlin, it's absolutely insane."

Merlin carefully set his book down and made his way over to Arthur's desk. He took Arthur's hand in both of his and drew him to his feet. "They're perfectly suited for each other."

Arthur frowned, but let Merlin slip his arms around his waist. "They'll kill you if they find out you're trying to set them up."

"But they won't," Merlin said, kissing Arthur's neck right where it merged with his shoulder. "Find out, I mean."

"But—"

"And they do deserve someone," Merlin went on, kissing Arthur's jaw. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Arthur would have admitted that yes, both Leon and Guinevere deserved someone to have and to hold, but Merlin kissed him and Arthur found that his tongue was otherwise occupied for the next few minutes.

"It won't take much," Merlin said when they broke apart. Arthur was somehow lying face up on the bed, his shirt off, with Merlin lavishing attention on his chest—and swiftly moving downward. "You'll help, won't you?"

Contrary to whatever Merlin said, Arthur knew when a battle was lost. "Yes," he gasped out.

Merlin smiled, his face hovering just a few inches from Arthur's lap. "Excellent."

Arthur found himself saying yes many more times over the course of the next half hour.