Chapter Text
Merlin and Arthur stand beside each other on the ledge.
“What are we doing here?” Merlin asks.
“You’ll see” Arthur replies with a smirk. With one glance towards Merlin, Arthur jumps off the ledge.
“Arthur!” Merlin shouts, running towards the edge. But Arthur isn’t below him. He looks up to see Arthur floating above him.
“Merlin!” Arthur calls. “Come on!”
Merlin doesn’t move. He stays looking at Arthur, floating near the sun as he shouts “Merlin! Merlin! Merlin!”. The sun begins to grow brighter, almost blinding.
“Merlin!”
“Merlin!”
“Merlin!” Arthur shouts, shaking Merlin awake.
“Mneh,” Merlin says, opening his eyes into the bright blue ones of Arthur Pendragon narrowed in annoyance.
“You sleep like the dead."
“At least the dead never have to see your stupid face,” he grumbles, rubbing his eyes. “What are you doing here anyway?”
“You’re late for work. My boots need shining and my room needs cleaning,” Arthur chucks a bunch of clothes at Merlin. “Get dressed, you have a long day ahead of you,” he shouts happily as he leaves.
Gaius snickers from the doorway.
Merlin rolls his eyes and gets up to begin his day.
~~
“Please,” Merlin pleads. “I’m exhausted."
Gwen laughs. “What makes you think I can do anything?”
“What’s the good of having the prince in love with you if you can’t get him to ease off your best friend for a day,” he whines, washing Arthur’s clothes with more force than necessary. “He’s been a pain in the arse all day!”
“Keep your voice down” she whispers, lightly hitting him with one of Morgana’s garments with a smile. “You can’t go around shouting about that! What do you think would happen if the king discovered that the prince was involved with a servant?”
“Sorry, sorry."
“Besides, nothing I can say would get him off your back. Tormenting you is his favorite pastime,” Gwen laughs at the pained expression on Merlin’s face. “Is there something that makes you want to be free earlier today? Perhaps a new lady friend?”
Merlin makes a disgusted face. “ No , Gwen”
“Then what is it?” she pokes him.
“He visited my dream last night. Makes for more Arthur time than I’m used to."
Gwen is silent. Merlin looks at her shocked expression. Suddenly his face reddens in understanding.
“Not that type of dream!”
Gwen laughs hysterically. “Then what type of dream was it?” she turns back to washing a particularly large brown stain off.
“Well, we-”
“Merlin!” Arthur interrupts, swinging the door open. “Are you done with my clothes yet?”
“Why? Did you wet your pants already?” Merlin teases.
Arthur begins a snappy retort before spotting Gwen. “Hello Guinevere,” he smiles as Gwen blushes. Merlin finds himself more annoyed than he expected. He ignores it and throws the dryest pair of pants at Arthur’s face.
“Here you go!”
Arthur takes them off of his face. “Come on, we have things to do."
“What about the rest of the clothes?”
“I’ll send someone else to do it. We have a day of hunting ahead of us!” Arthur beams. Merlin’s annoyance goes away in a flash at Arthur’s bright smile.
“Why are you so excited? We’ve gone hunting before."
“Father is coming with us,” he turns to go before adding “try to be less of an imbecile today,” Merlin throws a dirty sock at him this time.
“Come on! We need to prepare.” He pauses and smiles at Gwen. “Goodbye Guinevere,”. Merlin’s annoyance flares once more.
“You can tell me about your dream tomorrow night!” Gwen calls as Merlin chases after Arthur.
~~
“What’s tomorrow night?” Arthur asks.
“We have a weekly dinner,” Merlin replies, tightening the saddle on Arthur’s horse.
“Why?”
Merlin shrugs. “To catch up? We both have pretty busy schedules."
“I see,” Arthur nudges Merlin. “Can I come?” Merlin bursts out laughing.
“No,” he says when he can finally breathe again.
“Why?” Arthur asks, looking slightly offended. An idea seems to pop into his head making him grin. “Do you guys talk about me?”
“No, we talk about the other prince who orders me around all day with an intimate relationship with Gwen,” Merlin rolls his eyes. He feels that strange annoyed feeling again. He still hasn’t figured out where it comes from, but he can tell it’s not good.
“What dream was she talking about?”
“It’s nothing”
“Don’t lie to me Merlin,” Arthur drapes an arm around his shoulders. “I know you too well,” he says into Merlin’s ear.
Merlin’s face reddens. He shoves Arthur’s arm off. “Lying to you? I would never,” sarcasm seeps into his voice.
“Oh really?” a playful smile tugs at Arthurs lips. “What about lying on the floor?” realization of what he means hits Merlin just in time to jump out of the way of Arthur’s attempt at shoving him.
“Your reflexes are getting better,” Arthur laughs. He pushes again, causing Merlin to stumble. “Still not good enough, though.”
“We’ll see about that,” Merlin grins, diving at Arthur. Arthur tries to catch him but fails, sending them both tumbling. They continue to wrestle playfully, rolling around and shoving hay or horse manure into each other’s clothes when given the opportunity. In just a few minutes, Arthur’s got Merlin in a headlock, laughing as he gives Merlin a noogie. Occasionally he’ll stop to take a breath, blowing warm air on Merlin’s face. Merlin’s stomach twists, but not in a bad way. It feels good. The rest of the world disappears, except for Merlin and Arthur. Panting and... close. Merlin didn’t realize how close they were until then.
“Ahem."
They both jump. Arthur lets go of Merlin to scramble to his feet. “Father!”
Uther Pendragon glares disapprovingly at them as Merlin stands up. “We’re all waiting."
“I’m sorry. We’ll be there in a moment,” Arthur says guiltily. Uther nods and leaves the stables. Arthur relaxes the moment Uther is out of sight. “Come on Merlin, you heard the king,” all playfulness and joy from the previous moment gone.
This will be a fun trip,
Merlin thinks as he secures the saddlebags.