Substandard: Below the usual standard.

Courting: To establish a relationship of a more endearing kind.

"Parry…I said to parry!"

WHACK!

"Ow!" Merlin yelled, rubbing his own backside, dropping the sword he had been holding just seconds ago. "And I told you to stop doing that!" he barked, the sting of pain still smarting on his skin. This was stupid anyways, he didn't need to learn how to use a sword, he had his magic to protect him, but of course Arthur didn't know that.

Ever since Merlin had returned from his vacation, which more or less meant kidnapping, Arthur had been very keen on teaching him some defense skills. So what, Merlin thought, he might have gotten wounded by a bandit, it was Arthur's big, dumb idea not to just leave him there and run off on his own, prompting these stupid bandits to chase them through the woods, resulting in Merlin having to use a magical rockslide to protect Arthur from them.

Needless to say, Merlin had wound up in Morgana's clutches and she had turned him into her own personal, little assassin. Luckily though, for Arthur, Merlin was the worst assassin ever. Well, that's what Gwen and Gaius told him, the whole thing was still a little fuzzy in Merlin's mind.

"Are you even listening to me…?

WHACK!

"Why do you keep doing that?!" Merlin yelled once more, rubbing his stinging bottom. Why didn't anyone ever tell the king that it was rude to hit people with swords? Merlin glared at Arthur, who smirked in return.

"Come now, Merlin," he said, as if this whole sword-fighting thing was a breeze. "We have seven more drills to do before we can be done."

"Seven more?" Merlin asked, eyes widening. He gave up then, falling over, flat on his back, he just wouldn't do it. "I don't want to…I'm hot, I'm tired…I smell like Gwaine!"

"You really are the laziest servant I have ever seen," Arthur remarked then, leaning over Merlin, blocking out the hot, summer sun. "It's my own fault, I have spoiled you."

"Spoiled me?" Merlin asked, eyes widening once again, for the second time in only a few minutes. "You've made me muck out your stables so many times…and that's not even my job!"

"Would you stop your complaining?" Arthur rolled his eyes, standing up right and running a hand through his blonde hair. "That will be all for today I suppose, but you must learn these simple drills at some point..."

"Simple my ass…" Merlin mumbled.

"They can help you protect yourself better."

"Yes, I know," Merlin nodded, leaning up on his elbows. "Can we go inside now?"

"Yes, you girl," Arthur remarked, holding his hand out, for Merlin to take. He did and was lifted up off the ground. Instead of letting go right away, though, Arthur kept his hold on Merlin's hand and grinned at him, looking him up and down. It was just as Merlin started to feel uncomfortable, did he finally move away.

Things like that, had been happening more and more since Merlin had been back, Arthur looked at him in…he didn't want to say in an affectionate way, but that's what it was. Something had shifted slightly in their relationship, it was barely noticeable, unless you were really looking. It wasn't that Arthur was kinder to him, he still treated him the same, and called him an idiot, but it was just something…

"Merlin, get your damn sword!" Arthur yelled. And Merlin pulled himself from his musing to pick it up off the ground, before following the king inside. No, he was definitely not nicer, but then again he was. Just like now, as Arthur jumped ahead to open the door to the armory for Merlin. It was strange things like that, that he had never done before, that made Merlin wonder. But perhaps Arthur was just happy Merlin wasn't dead, it had been a close call.

Merlin left Arthur in the armory then, it still being early and Merlin still needing to get his chores done. The fact that he still smelled like Gwaine and that he wouldn't be able to take a bath any time soon, if at all today, was rather annoying to him. But he did his best to ignore it as he headed down the halls. It was around this point that he bumped into Agravaine. He smiled an oily smile at Merlin as he passed and Merlin watched him, glaring. There was one more thing Merlin had found out while being Morgana's assassin, Agravaine. Merlin finally understood what bothered him so much, Agravaine was a double-crossing, lowlife, and that was on a good day. He was working for Morgana, and this whole time Arthur thought he could trust him…

Merlin sighed, it still upset him to think about, he had never liked Agravaine, but now he hated him. He wanted to tell Arthur about him, about his betrayal, Gaius was even encouraging him to, but he just didn't know how, he didn't want to hurt Arthur. And surely, this would.

Merlin finished up the chores he had to do in Arthur's chambers, he had just finished cleaning out the kings fireplace when he had walked in. Merlin didn't address him, just quickly finished his work of restocking the newly clean fireplace with wood. He was all covered in ash and soot and suddenly wished Arthur wasn't in the room so he could clean himself up with magic…

"Merlin," Arthur said then, as if rubbing the fact that he was there, in Merlin's face. "I have been thinking…"

"Oh no," Merlin mumbled, sarcastically. "You, thinking?"

"Shut up!"

"You've been thinking shut up?"

"Merlin!"

"Sorry, sire," Merlin grinned. He stood up then and constantly reminded himself not to wipe his hands on his pants, then the ash and soot would get all over his pants too.

"I have been thinking about a picnic."

"You've been thinking about one?" Merlin asked, a bit confused and a bit teasing. "Any one in particular?"

"I mean having one!" Arthur corrected him. And Merlin made and 'Ohh' noise and nodded. "Today, I was thinking we could go and have one today…"

"Today?" Merlin asked, crinkling his nose at the horrid idea. "It's hot!"

"We can go by a stream…"

"But that means I have to go make the basket and wash the blankets, find Gwen-"

"I didn't mean for Guinevere to come," Arthur said then, rather suddenly, biting down on his bottom lip. "I was thinking it would be just you and I this time…"

"Why the hell would we go on a picnic?" Merlin asked, confused. "Why would you want to go without Gwen, isn't that when you get to spend time with her…you know, outside of Camelot, where you can be more yourself?"

"I thought perhaps we needed some time to spend together…"

"Why would we need to do that…?"

"To get to know each other better!"

"I know you well enough by now," Merlin insisted, this was very strange and confusing. And the frown Arthur was now sporting made Merlin feel sort of bad. "Look, if you don't take Gwen on this picnic, you can just forget about making her your queen."

"Why would you say that?" Arthur asked, still frowning and now with a forwarded, confused brow. Arthur really did know very little about girls, Merlin sighed.

"Because, the kitchen maids will know I was making a picnic basket and if you don't take Gwen someone will tell her and that will lead her into thinking that you don't wish to have her company anymore, therefore lead her into thinking you no longer love her, and therefore loose your chance of marrying her."

"All of that because I don't wish for her to accompany me on one picnic?" Arthur asked, almost looking astonished. Merlin nodded, he might have over exaggerated a little bit, but it could happen.

"Hey, don't expect me to understand a girls mind," he told him. Arthur sighed then.

"Fine, bring her along."

After Merlin cleaned himself of the ash and soot, he started on preparing for the picnic; first, he went to find Gwen, who happened to be doing her own servent duties, (which were much eaiser than Merin's mind you,) in a nobles room.

"Hey Gwen," he said, leaning against the doorframe. She turned around and smiled, seeing him there.

"Oh hello, Merlin," she told him, folding what could be a towel or a pillowcase. "What brings you here?"

"Arthur," he answered simply. He almost rolled his eyes at the way her eyes lit up at his name, it was rather sickening. "He wants to go on a picnic."

"Today?" she asked, looking down at her dress, as if it was not up to par for a outing with the king. Merlin was pretty sure though, that Arthur didn't care what her dress looked like.

"In about an hour, actually," Merlin told her. Her mouth fell open then, and she dropped the thing she had been holding, rushing around him, out of the door.

"I had better go…get ready," she said, in a panic, running a hand through her hair and fiddling with her dress. "I wish I had known before…"

"You look lovely," Merlin tried to calm her a bit; she only smiled a little at this.

"Thank you, Merlin."

And then she was gone, rushing down the hall, Merlin rolled his eyes yet again, letting out a huff of laughter as he watched her go. He headed to the kitchen after that, where he started packing the basket with cheeses and the cold meats Arthur liked so much. One of the kitchen maids, Merida, stopped by next to him and leaned against the counter.

"Hello, Merlin," she smiled, watching him closely. "What are you doing?"

"Packing a basket," he answered, as he threw in a few extra apples for himself. Hopefully Arthur would be too busy fawning over Gwen to notice. Merida leaned over it, her long, curly, red hair getting all in Merlin's way. He pursed his lips, waiting for her to get finished being nosy.

"Who for?" she finally asked, (as if she didn't know,) as she backed up and grinned at him, her freckles all aligned, looking like dirt along her cheekbones and nose.

"The king," Merlin stated then, as her blue eyes lit up, much like Gwen's brown ones had…but in a different way.

"Is he taking you-know-who?" she asked, making kissy lips at him afterward.

"Gwen?" he asked. (As if he didn't know.)"Yes."

"Oh!" she giggled, grabbing his arm. "That's what…the second outing this week they've had?" she bit her lip and squeezed his arm. "They're becoming quite serious!"

"I guess…"

"Oh, it's so romantic!" she said, a bit dramatically. "Before long…they will be married and there will be little princes and princesses running around."

Merlin made a disgusted face at this, "I don't think so…"

"Jealous?" she looked up suddenly and smirked.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he asked, glaring at her. She giggled again.

"All of Camelot knows how you feel about Arthur," she said, sighing. "It must be hard watching him in someone else's arms."

"Unless you're getting some on the side," another servant, Belle, said, who was cutting potatoes at a nearby table. Merlin turned around, to give her a nasty glare. "Lots of king's do it, you know, take a wife but find time for a little…side fun with their favorite little servants."

"Arthur isn't like that!" Merlin argued, finding this conversation hard to stomach suddenly.

"Not yet he's not," Belle told him, grinning, whilst whisking a strand of brown hair form her matching eye. "But you'd never tell us if he was."

"I wonder if he's good in bed," Merida giggled.

"With a body like that, love, I bet he is…"

Merlin decided then, he had to get the hell out of there. He tied up the basket and marched for the door. Leaving a trail of giggles behind him.

He was so flustered it took him extra time trying to find the picnic blankets; he might have forgotten where he had left them once or twice, his mind replaying what the two serving girls had said. Not everyone thought Arthur was like that, did they? If they did, why would Gwen still want to be with him?

Either way, Merlin didn't have enough time to clean the blankets, they were just going to get dirty again anyway, he figured, so what was the point? He headed toward the doors then, where he was supposed to meet Arthur. Arthur was already waiting for him, standing in the doorway, looking out at the sky. Merlin smiled to himself as he approached. How could anyone ever think Arthur would cheat? He was much too loyal, much too noble, in short; he was much too good of a man.

"Merlin," Arthur said then, turning to see him getting nearer. "Took you long enough."

He was also a giant prat.

"Sorry, I was…" Merlin mumbled, not sure what to say, he didn't want to exactly tell Arthur what his kitchen staff thinks of him. "Looking for the blankets."

"Only you could misplace them," Arthur remarked, rolling his eyes. "Did Guinevere agree to come along?"

"Yes, she did," a sweet, female voice said behind them and Arthur spun around, while Merlin just peered over the king's shoulder at Gwen. She had changed dresses and done her hair differently. Girls are so strange, Merlin thought.

"Guinevere," Arthur said, Merlin couldn't see his face, but he bet the prat king was smiling. "You look…lovely."

"Thank you, Arthur," Gwen beamed. Now, Merlin had just told her that less than an hour ago, but somehow it didn't mean the same coming from him. Merlin didn't bother taking offence. "Are we ready to go?"

Arthur looked back to Merlin then and raised an eyebrow. Merlin just nodded in return, holding up the basket.

"It seems we are," Arthur said, turning back to Gwen after. "Shall we go?"

"I think so," Gwen beamed still, taking the kings arm, and then they were off, going on their picnic.

They chose their picnic point just outside of Camelot, at the edge of a river, with water so clear you could see the tiny, yellow fish swimming and the marbled rocks below. Merlin sat, as far away from the couple as he could, still being in ear shot if needed. He had already set up the damn picnic and filled their cups with wine twice, now he was just forced to sit there, watching, but trying not to watch, as Gwen hung on Arthur's arm and giggled at dumb ass things he said.

It seemed a bit stupid now, but Merlin sort of wished Gwen hadn't come along, it was sickening watching them laugh and kiss and be any normal in love humans. It never normally bothered Merlin but today it was, for some reason, it was annoying just sitting there, being ignored. It might be nice at that, to be able to sit and talk with Arthur in a normal way, without worrying about a kingdom or its people, just have a chat about the sky or the moon, perhaps a cow…anything, just like Gwen and Arthur were doing now.

Merlin wasn't stupid enough to get jealous of Gwen, he knew she was the future queen of Camelot, and soon she would be sharing a lot more than just picnics with Arthur. It would be a room and a bed and soon, maybe Arthur wouldn't need him as much, Gwen being a servant once before queen, she might not want Merlin invading her privacy as he did Arthur's now. Merlin could turn Arthur's room inside out and know how to put everything back the right way.

There would be no more just walking in, the curtain would be drawn, and soon Merlin would actually have to knock before coming in. Soon everything will change and it terrified him…

"Merlin." The voice made him jump, ripping him from his musing. He turned to look at them and glared, he didn't mean to, but he was rather annoyed at the moment. It was Gwen who addressed him. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, yeah," he nodded, though, he might be having some sort of attack on his heart. He would have to ask Gaius what this current sick feeling was later. "I'm fine."

"We were wondering if you could get us some water?" she asked, holding up Arthur's waterskin. Merlin nodded, rolling his eyes, they probably just wanted to stick their tongues in each other's mouths again and wanted to get rid of Merlin. This would be how it is after they were married, not wanting Merlin there, wanting to be alone, coming up with dumb things like getting water just to get rid of him.

"Of course I can get you water," he said, an edge in his voice and he didn't care that it was there. "That's why I'm here…to get water." He took it and headed toward the river, going toward the left so he wouldn't be in sight anymore. "Don't mind me; I'll just be here…getting water!"

Once he could no longer see them and he was sure they couldn't see him either, he threw the waterskin into the river aggressively and plopped down on the grass. Whining then, because the damn grass was wet and now his backside was as well. He looked up at the sky and cursed. It wasn't as if he hadn't known all this would happen someday, but somehow then, it didn't seem as close as it did now, it could be any day that Arthur asked Gwen for her hand and as much as he wished for them to get married, he couldn't see Arthur with any other woman, he also rather Arthur just stay the way he was now.

And it annoyed him, him here with his ass all wet while Arthur had his mouth all over Gwen, it was sickening and annoying . They act like children, Merlin thought; they have no business getting married. Had Gwen even seen Arthur shirtless? With a dark chuckle, he thought then, that probably not.

"Merlin!" someone called after a moment, and not just any someone, the prat himself.

"What?" he called back, not bothering to look over at him. For some reason, he didn't want to look over at him, for some reason he knew it would just anger him even more. He could hear the clotpole approaching him.

"Where's the waterskin?" Arthur asked, and Merlin knew he was right next to him now. So Merlin shrugged.

"I dropped it."

"You dropped it?" Arthur repeated, in a question. Merlin still didn't bother looking over.

"I dropped it in the river."

"And you didn't feel like picking it up?"

"I dropped it and it floated away," to prove the point further, Merlin made a motion with his hand. Arthur didn't seem impressed in the slightest.

"That is coming out of your pay!" he told him and Merlin shrugged.

"Fire me instead, might be easier."

"What is wrong with you?"

"My ass is wet and you're an idiot!" Merlin told him, standing up then, finally looking over to glare at Arthur. "If you wish for the waterskin so much, Sire, go in after it!"

"Or, I could fire you…"

"Go ahead!" Merlin told him, heading around him and back toward the horses. "Go ahead, see if I care," he shouted, as he walked away. "See if I care about anything that you do!"

"Merlin!" Arthur called after him, but he didn't stop, he passed by Gwen, who was watching him, looking confused. "Merlin!"

"I'm sorry, Sire," he turned around to glare at Arthur again. To find him right on his tail. "How can I help you, Sire?"

"You could stop with your attitude," Arthur told him. "Before I put you in the stocks!"

"Once more, I must insist that you…see if I care!" Merlin told him, turning to go, but stopped. "You have the face of a toad, Sire, and I cannot see why anyone likes you!"

And with that, he walked away, back to his horse, his battered, old horse. While Gwen got a fresh young one, which she hardly used mind you. He was sickened, just completely sickened.

(A/N: Welcome to the Merlin is a jealous child story, I will be your host! I really did base him off a jealous child in this chapter, I was like...how would a little kid act about this sudden realization? Anyway, he doesn't act like this the whole time, don't worry. Oh yeah! I almost forgot, did the two servent girls Belle and Merida sound familiar to any of you?)