"You know, Merlin," Arthur ruminated as he looked out of his window. "You've been my servant longer than anyone else I've ever had."

"Oh?" said Merlin, only faintly interested, as he was picking up Arthur's room.

"Yes." Arthur kept talking, and so Merlin kept listening. "One died. One quit, and two were fired."

Merlin chuckled a bit. "Well, that might be my fate too someday," he said.

"Oh, do you plan on quitting?"

"No. Do you plan on firing me?" He paused. "Again, I mean, and for good this time."

"Not at the moment," replied Arthur.

"I suppose that only leaves one way for me to get out of your employment," Merlin said, mock seriously. "And it shouldn't be hard, what with all the opportunities I have."

Arthur rocked back, a little (and only a very little) alarmed at the fact that he'd never really thought of before. If Merlin wouldn't quit (and Arthur knew Merlin; he probably wouldn't), and Arthur wouldn't fire him (and Arthur would never fire him—not for long), then that left the other way for their knowing each other to end. One of them would die someday.

That was a thought that Arthur didn't like dwelling on. He didn't want to die (he didn't even have an heir yet!) and he did not want Merlin to die, either. He really did not want Merlin to die.

Arthur stared back out the window, his eyebrows drawn together, no longer pensive but instead melancholy. The thought of death had unsettled him.

But Merlin, before he left the room, seemed to see the black cloud that suddenly lit on his king. Wanting to help and a little sorry he'd brought it up, he said, "You know, Arthur, there's one other way I'd stop being your servant."

Arthur raised his eyebrows, successfully distracted. "What?"

"You could promote me."

And with that, he escaped from the room. Arthur chuckled at his exit as well as his idea. Promote Merlin? The idea was laughable. Promote him to what, advisor? Sure, Merlin gave good advice and was never cowed by Arthur's title and helped him when he was confused or wrong, but—

But…

Arthur wandered over to his bed and sat down, thinking. But what? Why was the idea so ludicrous?

Because, he told himself, Merlin is an idiot.

But he just wasn't as content with that answer as he used to be.

A/N: So there you go. Because why Arthur doesn't make Merlin his advisor is a mystery to me. In my mind, this is set after the season 4 finale, but I guess it could be anywhere after 4.03.