"I'm really looking forward to it."

"That's because you have the mind of a child."

". . . . And yet I'm still more intelligent than you."

"I heard that!"

"Are you saying I'm drunk?"

"No, I just don't think you should be wandering around the palace."

"And why's that?"

"Because you've got no trousers on."

". . . . Good point."

Merlin smiled to himself. It had been a great day for him until the whole assassination business. They hadn't even been sorcerers, he groused. Not even his field. Really, he ought to be able to rely on Arthur's guards and the knights to keep him safe from the more mundane threats, but oh, no, apparently they were incapable of using their eyes and ears to discern approaching footsteps.

"GUARDS!"

Speaking of which, he really should've noticed stepping over the unconscious man on his way to Arthur's chambers. Merlin sighed heavily.

It'd better be dangerous this time, or else he was going to have to take a few days off to seek out his nemesis and turn her dress pink to relieve the boredom.