When Merlin woke up that morning it was with his usual groan. It was winter and there was a thin layer of snow lying on Camelot. So it was the perfect time to try to stay inside and keep warm, right? WRONG! Merlin was manservant to the Royal Prat himself, King Arthur. So of course Merlin was going to be target practice if he didn't high-tail his backside down to the kitchens, Arthur's breakfast in hand, and rush up to Arthur's room.

So Merlin scrambled out of bed, shivering slightly. Gaius needed to save his firewood for the day for his patients. What Gaius didn't know, and Merlin certainly wasn't going to tell him, was that Merlin was secretly using his magic to keep Gaius warm so that he could stay healthy and heal all the sick from the cold harsh winter. Merlin felt a pang of guilt thinking how he had the luxury of living in the castle with the court physician no less, while so many in Ealdor and the poorer parts of Camelot were freezing, starving, getting sick, and dying because they had no one to help them. Merlin stopped shivering.

Merlin practically ran out the door, a "Good morning" screamed over his shoulder. No time for breakfast. The young warlock ran down to the kitchens, ignoring the aches of his bones and the bruises Arthur had caused the day before in what he calls "training" but really is just an excuse to hit Merlin.

Merlin seems to always have bruises and Arthur has been getting very rough lately during training. He doesn't even notice. Merlin understands that Arthur has been under a lot of stress lately now that he's king and with Morgana on the prowl, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. Merlin suspects that Arthur doesn't even know how badly he has been hurting him, and just loses himself in letting his stress pour out of his fists. Still, he can't be sure and that hurts him even more. Merlin can feel their friendship falling apart. Sure there's still the banter, and Merlin is still one of the few people that Arthur listens to, but the friendship is too one-sided. Arthur has been so tense, that what used to be a playful shove has turned into a not-so-gentle push. "Oh well," he tells himself. Arthur will outgrow his selfish pratty nature, right? Maybe he'll start to notice that other people are under stress too, and the next time he breaks a rib from hitting Merlin too hard he'll realize it. Not that Merlin would ever tell him. In fact he has been working really hard to make sure Arthur doesn't notice. It didn't seem fair to let Arthur know what he has been doing to Merlin, yet not tell him how Merlin has been lying to him. In a way Merlin thought he deserved the bruises. Still, that doesn't stop Merlin from sighing "Puh Stupid Oblivious Clotpole"

By now Merlin had arrived at the kitchens and managed to sneak through and grab Arthur's breakfast without the head kitchen maid, Greta, noticing. Merlin knows that Greta means well, and really is only trying to look out for him so that he gets enough food, but he just can't afford to be target practice today.

On the way up the stairs Merlin was overcome with a wave of dizziness, but kept on going. "Oh right, I forgot to eat dinner yesterday, because I was cleaning Arthur's armor. Stupid prat" he thought slightly annoyed. Though he hadn't fainted in a while (almost 12 episodes!) he got dizzy spells quite often and was used to them. He knew what set them off.

Merlin was about to knock, but stopped himself. Why am I knocking? Don't want the prat getting used to it. If I'm not careful I'm going to turn into some bootlicker.

Merlin was slightly nervous as to what kind of mood Arthur would be in. He didn't let that show, though. Bright grin in place, he barged into Arthur and Gwen's room.