"MERLIN!"

The dark-haired boy flinched and came running into his master's chambers. The prince was glowering not at him but at a corner of his room, where his armor sat, unpolished. It was the boy's first day back on full duty, and Arthur wasn't cutting him any slack.

"Didn't I tell you yesterday to have my armor polished?" the prince said, his tone deceptively calm.

"Yes, Sire," said Merlin, sensing the danger. "I was just on my way to do it when you told me to muck out the horses."

"Oh, so it's my fault," Arthur said, nodding. Merlin wasn't fooled, and began to back towards the door again. "Tell me, Merlin, am I working you too hard? Because, if I am, I'm sure someone would be more than willing to-"

"I'm quite alright, Sire," Merlin assured him, now eyeing the vase that sat innocently on the table in arm's reach of the angry prince.

"Oh, if you're alright, then after you've finished polishing my armor until it shines, I'm sure it wouldn't trouble you at all to mend the shields in the armory, sharpen my sword, fix the lances from the last tourney, and repair my riding boots. Or is that too much for you?"

He threw that last part in after seeing the dumbstruck look on his servant's face.

"No...No, I can do that," said the brunette grumpily. Then in an undertone, "Dollophead."

He didn't say it quietly enough. Arthur's fingers were around the neck of the vase, and then it was soaring through the air. Merlin reacted instinctively, his hands flying up in front of his face.

"Cheater," Arthur accused. The vase hung, suspended, about a yard from the boy's nose. Merlin, grinning hugely, went and took it into his hands, setting it on the table.

"Oh, you don't know the half of it," he laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur wondered.

"Remember when we first met?"

"Of course. I tried to take your head off with a mace."

"But you couldn't."

Arthur opened his mouth to retort, but no sound came out right away. Merlin watched as understanding dawned in the crown prince's blue eyes, followed by incredulity.

"You cheated!" he exploded. "You used magic!"

"Obviously," Merlin laughed. "If I hadn't, you'd have killed me, and then you would've died later that night!"

Arthur scowled and advanced. Recognizing his cue, Merlin leapt backwards just in time to avoid his friend's curled fingers.

"I'll go see to those shields now," Merlin called, laughing as he barrelled down the corridor.

"MERLIN!" Arthur roared behind him as he stood in his doorway.

Some things never changed.