Arthur rotated his mug back and forth, watching the brown liquid slosh back and forth. The mixture of the hot tea and the fireplace kept the cold at bay, but it still wasn't enough. The old castle just wouldn't keep the heat in and the cold out. Maybe there was a missing block in the wall somewhere, Arthur mused as he glanced around the wall. Merlin was gathering the laundry around his room, working quietly. Something about the early winter morning had a quietness that felt as if it shouldn't be disturbed. Plus, it was way too early in the morning to be making serious talk anyways.

"Would you like another cup?" Merlin asked. It wouldn't be much trouble for him. He had to go through the kitchen to wash Arthur's clothing anyways. Arthur looked up to Merlin and hesitated, thinking.

"No, I think I'm fine-"

Arthur stiffened suddenly. He stared straight at Merlin, eyes wide. It was so sudden, Merlin wondered if he accidentally cast a spell on the prince. Was he okay? Was he poisoned? What was going on? As quickly as it happened, Arthur blinked and then marched up to Merlin. The expression on Arthur's face scared Merlin and the younger male tried to back up. Unfortunately, there was a convenient wall right behind him. The prince grabbed Merlin's chin and turned it towards the left. He studied Merlin's jaw closely. Merlin's stomach sank when he realized what he was looking at.

There was a blueish bruise on Merlin's jaw and Arthur could tell it was recent. As in, a few hours recent. Someone had punched Merlin. "Who did this to you," Arthur asked with a dangerous tone.

Merlin refused to meet Arthur's eyes. There had been a scuffling earlier this morning. Some one had tried to sneaked into the castle to take the prince's life. Usually this would be a serious matter, however the man who had done so was an amateur. The only magic he knew was levitation, and he didn't even know the difference between a goldenrod and a ragweed. He was a danger to no one but himself. Of course, that didn't stopped the man from having a good right arm. During their struggling, he managed to get a lucky hit to Merlin's jaw.

"No one," Merlin replied, stubbornly. Telling Arthur what happened would only make the man more stressed. Plus, Merlin may or may not had some magical help that Arthur could not know.

"Merlin, tell me," Arthur managed through gritted teeth. "Was it one of the knights?" As much as Arthur hates to say it, he knew it has happened before. What to stop it from happening again?

Merlin grabbed Arthur's hand and pried it off his jaw. "It was no one, Arthur," Merlin sighed. "It was just a freak accident. I slipped on those stairs and landed on my jaw. No damage done! Ever had a freaky bruise?" Merlin explained with a smile. He kept quiet as Arthur squinted at him.

It was until almost a minute later did Arthur sighed, accepting the story. "You can be so stupid sometimes," Arthur said, walking back to his desk. Merlin sighed internally. At least that was over. He grabbed the bin of laundry and left the room before anymore questions could be asked.

A week later, Merlin found hand railings in the stairway.

school has been stressful and I've been sick all month bluh. Happy holidays