Original idea and story;

Merlin's Days/Where is Merlin by TheSaga.

The first chapter has been mainly written by her.

Beta by Alia Inverse

The summer heat hit like the blacksmith's forge's fire. Under Camelot's citadel the laundry room was damp and musty, and the servant who stepped inside felt how his shirt quickly clung to the skin.

"Have you seen him?" The skinny servant boy asked. He moved nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

The laundress and her ladies smiled but shook their heads. No one asked whom he meant. The situation was just too familiar to them.

"No, I'm sorry. He was here yesterday when he picked up the king's clean laundry." The older one said and she observed the servant boy. He seemed to be one of the new additions to the castle.

"Oh, the king is furious. He has sent everyone he's seen looking for him." The servant groaned.

"Go, do your own work and leave it. I'm sure Merlin will pop out somewhere in no time." The laundress, Lilie, smiled positively.

"I really hope so." The boy muttered and leaved.

Shophie rose and peeked over the high tower of clean laundry.

"He is just too cute, mama Lilie. Those ears…" She giggled.

"Stop drooling and get to work, Shophie." Lilie commanded but couldn't hide her warm smile.

"Why didn't we tell him?" Marie asked. She was also one of the new staff and had been completely shocked when Merlin, king Arthur's manservant, had showed up in the laundry and mama Lilie had just waved her hand and told him to go to sleep.

"Why should we? Merlin needs rest. The king has been just too hard on him lately. It's like Merlin has to be everywhere the king is. Merlin's work has increased much after Gwen's coronation. Even when everybody helps him, he is just too busy. So let him sleep." Lilie sighed.

"But how is he going to avoid the king's rage after this?" Marie was confused.

"Oh, you'll see then. Merlin can handle him. Notice this, Marie. If you keep on Merlin's side and do what he wants, everything will go smoothly with the king." Sophie chuckled.

It didn't take long before Merlin woke and scrambled up behind a stack of clothes. Marie had to admit that this man looked just too cute and she blushed and looked hurriedly the other way.

"The king is looking for you, Merlin." Lilie said, not even looking at the man.

"I'm sure he is." Merlin yawned.

"Be sure to eat something before you go meet him. You are too skinny my boy." Lilie glanced over him.

"Yes, mama Lilie." Merlin began to straighten his clothes and took the comb that Sophie offered to him. He still sounded tired.

"Have you angered him again?" There was hint of worry in Lilie's voice.

"Me? Maybe." Merlin's smile was smug. "But he deserved it."

"You never give up, do you Merlin?"

"Why should I? He needs someone to keep him on the ground. Although, now that Gwen is at his side, I don't have to worry so much about him doing something too stupid."

Lilie knew that the men were good friends, but still, she did not manage to understand how Merlin was continuously able to worry about Arthur. She still remembered when they were ready to kill each other. How much the times had changed since those days.

"You'll get yourself in the stocks." Lilie sighed.

"I haven't been in the stocks in ages. He just needs me around too much. He just doesn't realize that I do more and more of Gaius' work too nowadays." Merlin sighed and smiled at Sophie who giggled when she took the comb back.

"You can tell him that." Lilie started to sound even more concerned.

"I have said that to him. It's not helped." Merlin seemed to have given in to the whole situation.

"You are going break someday if you don't slow down, Merlin."

Merlin's smile faded. Suddenly he looked thoughtful.

"Yeah, I know. I have to do something, but not before I…" He stopped and a new smile appeared on his face.

"Thank you again, mama Lilie. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye, Marie and Shophie."

Then he was gone.

"He knows my name?" Marie asked.

"He knows everyone here in the castle. Isn't he just too cute?" Shophie said and Marie blushed even more.

"Girls, back to work. You can daydream when you are off." Mama Lilie rushed them. She still stared at the door from where Merlin had gone. She was sure that something important was going on.

She wasn't blind. She had noticed that Merlin's smile had not quite reached his eyes. The twinkle in his blue eyes had been slowly disappearing. The past year had changed the king and his servant. But while Arthur's change seemed to have been for the better, Merlin looked as if he had lost his own self.

"Maybe I should speak with Gwen." Lilie muttered.