Merlin was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard his name being shouted.

"MERLIN!" Arthur shouted.

"Coming, Sire" Merlin sighed as he walked over to see what the royal prat wanted.

Merlin walked into Arthur's room, he gulped when he saw the heir to the throne had taken the armour off of his upper half. Arthur was walking around his chambers with no shirt on, therefore his chest was exposed. But Merlin did not understand why his heart seemed to beat faster and why his throat went dry. It's was the same every time he saw Arthur being... well... Arthur.

"Get me my clothes...", Arthur said this as if Merlin should already know, and was therefore dumb.

Merlin brought himself back to his senses, and hurriedly he nodded before he got Arthur his things.

"My boots need polishing, my sword needs to be sharpened, the stables need to be mucked out and my armour needs to be cleaned" Arthur ordered.

"Yes, Sire" Merlin huffed as he placed Arthur's clothes on the huge bed, he then picked up Arthur's boots.

"Don't take too long" Arthur said.

Merlin straightened up and he walked over to the doors.

"And, Merlin..." Arthur started.

Merlin turned around "Yes, My lord?"

"I need a target to practice on later. You might want to get an early night tonight" Arthur said without looking at Merlin.

Merlin rolled his eyes, his legs still hurt from the previous day of being the target for Arthur and the Knights. He walked to his chambers and he began to polish Arthur's boots, he was about to take the prince's boots back to him when he heard a loud sneeze. He jumped and his mind forced and exaggerated explanation for the sneeze. Did Dragon just sneeze. Merlin walked out of his room and he saw Guias blow his nose "Guias?"

Guias looked up at Merlin "Bring me a drink of water would you please, Merlin?"

Merlin got Guias his drink and he handed it to the man "You look awful".

"It's just a sickness. I'll be alright" Guias sneezed again. "Go and be where you need to be."

"You sure?" Merlin asked.

"Yes I am quite sure!" Guias stated.

Merlin did not argue, he picked up Arthur's boots and he walked to the arrogant prat's chambers. All the while preparing himself to be routinely picked on by the prince. As soon as the door opened a something hit Merlin's head, he stumbled back and he was momentarily dazed 'Here we go again' he thought to himself.

"Merlin, my cup is empty" Arthur stated.

"I can see that" Merlin nodded.

"Well then get me a drink, idiot" Arthur ordered.

"I've polished your boots, Arthur" Merlin put Arthur's boots down, and he picked up the cup to get the prince a drink.

On his way back to Arthur's chambers, Merlin walked passed Morgana.

"Merlin" Morgana looked at the servant.

"Hi, Morgana." Merlin smiled.

"Have you seen Guias? Uther's requested for him" Morgana smiled.

"He's in his chambers. He's sick so I wouldn't pester him" Merlin answered.

"Thank you, Merlin. I'll keep that in mind" Morgana nodded before she walked off to find Guias.

Merlin sighed "Why do I even bother?" He then walked to Arthur's chambers again.

Merlin gave Arthur his drink and he prepared the prince's bath.

"Merlin, is my bath ready?" Arthur asked.

Merlin checked the water and then he shook the droplets off his hand "Yep".

Arthur walked over to the bath and he was completely nude. Merlin looked away and he felt his heart race again, his palms were sweaty and he bit his lip. Arthur climbed into the bath and he started to wash himself, he kept looking over to where Merlin was stood and his heart started to thunder.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked.

Merlin looked at Arthur "Yeah?"

"How's Guias? You mentioned that he was ill" Arthur stated.

Merlin was surprised that Arthur had actually listened to him "Yeah he's sick but I think that he's alright. Probably just annoyed at seeing my face too much" he tried to make a joke of himself.

'Why would anyone be annoyed by seeing you?' Arthur thought. "Probably true."

"I'm gonna go and muck out the stables. Will you be needing anything?" Merlin asked.

Arthur shook his head "No. Go and do your jobs."

"Thanks, Sire." Merlin smiled before he went to muck out the stable. He mucked out the stables and he sharpened Arthur's sword, he heard the sound of the guards shouting and he went to see what was going on. He saw that Arthur was practising his archery skills and he sighed.

One of the guards saw Merlin and he grinned "The target's here!"

Arthur looked up and he saw Merlin 'I don't want him to get hurt again' he thought. But he had to maintain his reputation "Merlin!"

Merlin gulped and he walked over to Arthur "Yes, Sire?"

"Pick up the target" Arthur ordered.

Merlin picked up the target and he walked a good distance away from where Arthur was. After a moment he felt something hit the target and he opened his eyes, he saw the arrow head and it was meer inches away from his nose. He became nervous and he shuddered, he moved slightly but the next Arrow was just inches away from his eyes. After five arrows, Merlin put the board down and he looked at Arthur.

"How are your fencing skills, Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"Not as good as you" Merlin picked up a sword.

Without warning Arthur lunged at Merlin, and the servant tried his best to defend himself. The guards laughed when Merlin was knocked onto his back and Arthur looked at Merlin.

'I hate doing this' Arthur thought.

Merlin stood up and he limped over to Arthur "Will you be needing anything else?"

"No. You may go. Make sure to have a bath though" Arthur pulled a face of disgust.

"Will do, Arthur". Merlin said before he started to limp back into the castle.

Arthur watched as Merlin limped back to the castle, he was sad that Merlin was hurt but he did not know why.

Merlin limped back to his chambers and he had a bath, he then got dressed and he saw the bruise on his ankle. He laid down on his bed and he conjured up an orb of light, he watched as the light floated around the room and he eventually fell asleep.

Once it had grown dark and Guias had left to help Uther with something. Arthur snuck into Merlin's chambers and he opened the door to his servant's bedroom. He saw that Merlin was asleep and he crept over to the servant's bed. Arthur saw that Merlin's ankles were not being covered by to thin blanket, he rolled up the leg of Merlin's trousers and he saw the large bruise on Merlin's ankle.

"The goblet's been poisoned. Don't drink the wine, Arthur" Merlin muttered as he slept.

Arthur looked up at Merlin "Merlin?"

"Arthur, don't drink it!" Merlin cried out.

Arthur quickly moved and he hid behind the door, he watched as Merlin woke up and limped over to a bucket.

Merlin sighed and he pulled his shirt off, he then started to wash his face with the water.

Arthur was horrified when he saw all of the bruises on Merlin's back 'How did you get those bruises?' He thought.

Merlin hissed in pain and he limped back over to his bed, he put his shirt back on and he shivered as he pulled the blanket over himself "I was meant to have an early night. I need to stay awake tomorrow otherwise I'll be bullied by Arthur again. The Knights like a laugh" he said to himself.

Arthur felt disgusted with himself, and he realised that after practice some of the Knights often had bruises. The amount of times Merlin had fallen surely had an aftermath, and it made Arthur feel physically sick. He waited until Merlin fell asleep and he snuck back to his chambers. Arthur climbed into bed but he could not stop thinking about Merlin.

Arthur woke up the next up the next day when Merlin opened the curtains, and the light of the early sun shone into the room.

"Rise and shine" Merlin smiled.

Arthur sat up and he looked at Merlin "How's your ankle?"

Merlin looked at Arthur "It's better. It doesn't hurt when I walk on it now".

"Show me" Arthur said with a voice full of remorse.

Merlin looked at Arthur "You're never this concerned about me. Where did the clotpoll go?"

"Merlin, just do as you are told!" Arthur raised his voice.

Merlin sighed and he rolled up one of his trouser legs "It's better than it was."

Arthur sighed "I'm sorry".

Merlin looked up at Arthur "Did I just hear you say sorry? I didn't know that 'sorry' was in your vocabulary" he joked.

"Don't get used to it" Arthur said firmly with a glare.

"Don't worry, I won't" Merlin smirked.

Arthur watched as Merlin walked over to the bathtub and he started to heat up some water. 'I am very sorry' he thought to himself before he walked behind the screen to take his clothes off.