Hi! this is my first story so please be nice. It's based on the TV series Merlin (which belongs to the BBC). Main characters of Arthur and Merlin (no slash). The only planned relationship is Arthur and Gwen but there is a bit OC lovin too. these are all my own ideas (not copied from anyone so no mean accusations) and it's set mid 3rd series but may not completely compatible with the events of the show as I haven't seen all the episodes yet!

Merlin groaned as he tramped around his friend's room. Arthur was down on the practice field, bashing the heads of his knights together, most likely. And, when Arthur was out, that meant Merlin was on duty for cleaning. The young warlock groaned as he swept the sodden rag across the table. This would be so much easier if he was just allowed to use magic for use. A few quick words and twenty seconds later the whole room would be spotless. He tried to do it like that before but Arthur had a nasty habit of walking in right at the wrong moment. Merlin really did not want to have to explain exactly why the broom was sweeping itself while Merlin was in the other room sorting the linen.

Right sorry about that Arthur! You see I'm actually a really powerful sorcerer who has saved your neck hundreds of times but I can't tell you because then your father would have me killed. Merlin huffed and muttered under his breath. That was one conversation he really did not want to have. He sighed again and then gave in to the drudgery of polishing the stone flags.

Suddenly hurried footsteps approached the room and the door and it flew open.

"Sire, there's a whole band of...who want to...!" the man trailed off and glanced around the room. The man was Sir Rufus' young servant, Geoffrey or something, Merlin vaguely remembered him coming to see Gaius about something for his master a few weeks ago. The man stood panting in the middle of the room and then, spotting Merlin, hurried up to him. "Where's the prince? I have an urgent message for him from his father."

"He's out on the training fields. What's wrong?"

"It doesn't matter! I must see Prince Arthur immediately!"

"I'll take you to him." Merlin dropped his cloth onto the table and the two servants. Geoffrey was fast but, three years of keeping pace with Arthur meant that Merlin had no trouble keeping up. "What's the message anyway? What's so important about it? Has something happened?"
Geoffrey shot him a worried glance.

"I don't know if I should tell you. It is from the king after all."

"Look let's put it this way, is Arthur going to like it?"

"No."

"Then tell me the message so I can rephrase it in a way that won't piss him off."

Geoffrey gulped and hesitated until,

"There's a whole legion of druids approaching the castle. They sent a messenger ahead to warn the king and he wants Arthur on his council immediately to put in a plan of attack."

"Attack? He's not seriously thinking of trying to attack an entire band of druids with simple knights is he? They won't stand a chance. This is worse than when Kilgarrah attacked or Morgause for that matter. Arthur is going to be furious."

While they had been talking, the two men had continued to run and they were now almost at the practice fields themselves. Merlin could see Arthur in full spar with one of his knights and he swallowed. This was not going to be fun. Geoffrey went to go straight up to the prince and tell him but Merlin grabbed his arm.

"Never get in the way of Arthur when he's fighting."Disturbing Arthur in the middle of a spar was never a good idea but Merlin had picked up a few tricks over the years. Reaching over to a small table of refreshments he picked up a small jug and, weighing it in his hand, lobbed it at Arthur's helmet. The jug struck him and the young prince staggered from the weight of the blow. He spun around, sword at the ready. Spotting Merlin waving at him from the sidelines, he gestured for his opponent to stand down. Jogging over to his friend, Arthur frowned as he knew that Merlin would never interrupt his practice unless something was very wrong.

"What's wrong?"

"Druids are approaching the castle. They'll be here at midday tomorrow. Your father wants you in the throne room immediately."

"Attack?"

"yes."

"Us or them?"

"Us."

Arthur stared at his friend in shock.

"Surely my father would not be so foolish as to..." Merlin just looked at him. Arthur sighed frustrated. "He doesn't know what he's doing. He's so blinded by hate."

"That's why he needs you there, to be his eyes."

"You're right. Let's go." tossing his practice sword onto the rack, the prince and his servant ran off in the direction of the throne room.

Geoffrey stood with the knights, his mouth wide open. He had heard that the relationship between the prince and his servant was less than proper but that was just...shocking! The servant had broken a terracotta wine jug over his master's head and the prince had treated it like it nothing! And they way the spoke to one another, it was like they were...equals. It was...incredible. If he had ever addressed his own master that way he would be publicly flogged for disrespect!

He heard a chuckle from behind him. He spun around to see Luke, Sir Leon's middle-aged manservant, fetching wine for his master. Luke was shaking his head and chuckling.

"What?" asked Geoffrey.

"It takes some getting used to, doesn't it? Those two, I mean. Thick as thieves they are. Close as brothers but they couldn't be more different, could they? One a clumsy peasant from a tiny borderland village; the other a prince and heir to the kingdom. Life's a funny thing, ain't it?" shaking his head the older servant trotted back over to his master.

"Life's a funny thing, ain't it" Well he certainly got that bit right. Sighing Geoffrey ran off in the direction of the armoury. If there was to be an attack then his master would need his armour ready as soon as possible.

so yeah first chapter done! not very long (no chapters will be long but hopefully good reading) please reveiw. I love comments!