This story takes place sometime between season three and four. Arthur is the Prince Regent (at least, that's what I think his title was. It's when Uther is to devestated to be king, but Arthur refuses the title of king) and Lancelot is still alive. Hope you enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: In no way, form, or fashion do I own anything to do with Merlin...if I did, it would be a lot more violent and Merlin would be hurt more...and their would be more Gwaine haha :P

Chapter 1: The Wardrobe

The sun rose above the walls of Camalot, casting a thin ray of light into one of the tower's windows, the dark red curtains capturing some of the bright morning sun.

Then the curtains were thrown back, revealing a dark haired lad wearing servant's clothes. The light, now free to enter the room, poured into the large room, filling it with the rays of the bright October sun. The light moved toward the large bed with the tangled sheets. The still lump in the bed moved briefly as the bright light reached the form's face, revealing messy dirty-blonde hair.

Prince Regent Arthur groaned as the light reached his eyes. Craving the darkness, the young prince pulled the covers over his eyes and grew still once more.

"Rise and shine, sleepy head!" Merlin, the prince's manservant, chirped cheerfully as he headed toward the dresser to get Arthur's clothes.

"I don't wanna." Arthur whined, his voice muffled by the thick covers.

"Why can't you just get up for once?" Merlin sighed, hanging the prince's clothes over the changing shade.

"Go 'way Merlin." Arthur pulled the covers tight around him.

Merlin shook his head as he headed back across the room toward the desk with the prince's breakfast sitting on it. He was silent as he filled the goblet full of water and placed it beside the slightly cold eggs.

Arthur could hear his servant moving around, but his eyes had closed again in the darkness of his covers and he felt himself drifting back to sleep. He took a deep breath and was almost asleep once more when the covers were yanked away from his body.

"Merlin!" Arthur groaned, turning over on his stomach and buring his face in his pillow.

"Wake up, sire." Merlin said in his respectful, yet disrespectful voice.

Arthur mummbled something unintellagable and Merlin just gave a small grin as he walked over to stand beside Arthur's bed. Arthur shot up out of bed when the water hit the back of his head, soaking him and his pillow.

"Merlin!" Arthur sputtered, now wide-awake.

Merlin just grinned at him and turned to place the now empty pitcher back on the table.

"Your breakfast is getting cold, sire." He said.

Arthur's soggy pillow hit him in the back of the head, causing the grin to fall as Merlin rolled his eyes. Sometimes Arthur was a bigger child then Merin. Arthur yawned and stretched as he headed over to shade and started getting dressed, wiping his wet hair with a spare shirt that was just lying around.

"I expect my bed to be perfectly dry by tonight, Merlin." Arthur announced as he walked to the desk, now fully dressed.

"Of course." Merlin had expected that, but the oppertunity had been to good. His usual goofy grin was in place as he reached down and stole a bit of sausage from Arthur's plate.

"And I expect my room to be completly clean, the floor's washed, my armor polished, my sword sharpened and polished, my laundry done and put away, and the stables mucked out." Arthur listed as he began eating his cold breakfast.

Merlin gaped at Arthur, knowing there was no way he could finish all that in one day.

'Unless the armor cleans itself,' Merlin thought, his grin returning. 'And the sword gets sharpened so much faster on it's own.'

He knew Gaius wouldn't like it, but what was the point in having magic if he wasn't going to use it? It wasn't like he was going to get caught.

"Yes, Arthur." he sighed, beginning to collect the random pieces of clothing that littered the room.

"Oh, and Merlin," Arthur added as he swallowed the water. "Don't forget that you have to help move that new wardobe in here today."

Merlin's mouth fell open.

"But that's not my job!" He complained.

"It is now." Arthur replied cheerfully, standing and wiping his mouth. "Better clean this place up first."

Merlin just stared as his friend grabbed his sword and walked out of the room. Merlin sighed and went back to picking up and cleaning.

Three Hours Later

Merlin stood beside the large wardrobe and looked around in annoyance. Here he was suppose to be helping carry the big, heavy wardrobe to Arthur's room and he was the only one there.

"Typical." he muttered aloud, looking around once more.

No servants were around, but he sighed when he saw several knights approaching. Merlin instantly recognized Gwaine, Lancelot, and Percival. He saw Gwaine's mouth moving, saw the annoyed look on both Lancelot's and Percival's faces and he knew that Gwaine was on one of his non-stop, meaningless lectures.

"Hello, Merlin." Lancelot sighed in relief when he spotted the warlock. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be polishing Arthur's armor?"

"Already did." Merlin grinned at the only man who knew his secret.

It wasn't a lie. Arthur's armor was in Merlin's room, polishing itself and it should have been done by then.

"What're you doin' here, Merlin?" Gwaine slurred cheerfully, flinging his arm around his best friend's shoulders.

Merlin smelled the alchohol on his breath and knew that Gwaine had already hit the tavern, even though it was barely noon.

"Waiting for the other servents to get here and help me carry this blasted wardobe up to Arthur's room." Merlin replied, wondering how drunk the new knight was.

"I don't see any other servants, Merlin." Lancelot said before Gwaine could say anything.

"I don't think they're coming." Merlin admitted.

"Need help?" Percival asked in his usual few words.

Merlin nodded.

"Well come on then," Gwaine said loudly, waving dramatically. "Let's get this to the Princess's room!"

Percival and Merlin laughed at Gwaine's antics, but Lancelot frowned at the obvious disrespect and carelessness that was in Gwaine's voice and speech. The four of them quickly picked the wardrobe up, with Gwaine, Merlin, and Lancelot glad for Percival's size and strength.

It was a long, slow moving thirty minutes as the three knights and the secret warlock struggled up the stairs and into Arthur's room. It took another ten minutes for the four to move the wardrobe into the position it was suppose to be.

"Thanks." Merlin said breathlessly, slumping down onto Arthur's now dry and made bed.

"No problem." Lancelot replied, falling into one of the three chairs.

"Glad to help." Gwaine grumbled, now completly sober, and fell into the chair beside Lancelot.

Percival just nodded and leaned against the wall. They all sat their in silence for a few moments, three to tired, sore, and breathless to talk and the other just not having anything to say.

Then the wardrobe shook violently.