"Good morning, Sire," a voice woke Arthur the next day.

He groaned as the sunlight hit his face at the opening of the curtains. The pillow he pulled over his face helped to keep him from the blinding attack. He groaned again as he woke himself up.

He was called 'Sire'. Not Merlin, then. Maybe she'd finally listened to him and took a day off. He was glad she was taking care of herself, but he'd still miss her. Not that he'd admit it. Even though her replacement would technically be better at her job that Merlin, he had come to enjoy the rhythm they'd settled into.

Turns out, her replacement wasn't better at her job- though Arthur's father would disagree. Objectively, he was better. Technically. He did what he was supposed to when he was supposed to, but it wasn't how Arthur did things in the morning anymore. He hadn't realized that his morning routine had shifted ever so slightly until Merlin wasn't there and someone else was doing what Merlin was supposed to do.

It wasn't the servant's fault that Arthur got huffy with him, either. Technically. But that didn't stop Arthur from blaming the lad in his head. Merlin knew what he wanted without him having to ask for it. As soon as he was dressed and ate, he sent the servant away so he wouldn't have to deal with him doing things the wrong way while he was trying to work.

He decided he would take this morning to schedule the Jenkings' stay, as his father would be expecting some information soon. First off, he thought that he would take their son hunting to strengthen Arthur's connection to the family while their fathers remained in Camelot to discuss the trade. That would probably take a few days, which left him around four days to plan out. There'd be a welcome feast, of course. The main course could be suckling pigs…

Arthur worked in silence for a few hours and was startled out of his concentration when he heard a knock on the door.

"Enter!" he called.

When Merlin poked her head through the barely open door, Arthur found himself having to bite back a grin. He felt like it had been so long since he last saw her, even though it had only been, what, yesterday?

"What are you doing here? I thought you were taking a day off."

"Yes, well. Gaius isn't letting me do anything and he's out for a few hours and I got bored."

"Aww," Arthur cooed. "Are you missing me?"

Merlin hesitated for only half a second before saying, "No," and it wasn't until then did Arthur realize that he was hoping for the other answer. "I just didn't want to be alone. I was hoping that I could read in here. If you didn't mind." She held up a book that Arthur was only then noticing and something seemed different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on what.

"Of course," he said, sweeping an arm out to the few chairs around the table in the middle of the room. Despite there only being two chairs, Arthur added, "Take your choice."

Merlin rolled her eyes but sat down.

Arthur watched her for a few moments as she made herself comfortable and cracked open her book and he realized what it was that made her sound different. It was the way she asked if she could be in his room without her usual loud confidence. She had sounded shy and unsure of herself, as though preparing to be told no, she wasn't allowed to sit with him. He wasn't sure that he liked that thought, that she was expecting him to deny her his company.

For half a second he considered telling her that she didn't have to worry about whether or not she could spend time with him, but then he thought about how she would comment about him being crazy; that she wasn't worried about it, that he was going soft, that he was making a big deal out of nothing. Then she would probably call him a clotpole or something equally ridiculous.

So instead, Arthur dragged his eyes away from her and back down to his desk.

Shortly later, Arthur was again pulled from his work by a knock at the door. This time it was lunch being brought in on a tray.

Looking up from her book, Merlin looked startled and Arthur wondered what book she was reading that had her so engrossed that she, too, lost track of the time.

"Oh," she started as she rose from her seat. "I should get going."

"No, no," Arthur immediately protested without thinking, not wanting her to leave so soon.

Merlin rolled her eyes again, though she did stop where she was and Arthur almost smiled. "I also need to eat and, unlike you, it's not going to be delivered to me."

"Nonsense." Calling after the servant who was about to leave, Arthur said, "Bring some lunch for Merlin, won't you?"

The servant bowed in confirmation and Arthur turned back to Merlin and smiled triumphantly. "See? That wasn't so hard."

She was looking at him strangely with a half-smile and looking a little confused.

"What?" He asked, suddenly defensive.

She glanced away, fiddling with her book. "Nothing. Just typical of you." Arthur wasn't sure if he saw her cheeks darken a little as she sat back down in the chair she had occupied for a couple of hours.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur asked as he took his seat at the head of the table where his food was waiting.

Merlin smirked in lieu of an answer.

When her food arrived, her eyebrows quirked up as she saw what was on her plate. It wasn't as bountiful as his lunch, but if he'd have to guess, "A little more than what you're used to?"

She glanced sideways at him for a moment before picking up her fork and he took that as a yes.

They were mostly civil while eating, though Merlin did manage to insult him a few more times. He wondered why he let her talk to him this way- sure, he was used to it now, and was worried if she didn't occasionally stab him with her words- but when she was first appointed as his manservant, she got away with treating him in a way that no one else had. But then Arthur thought back to the day they first met and he remembered how refreshing it was for someone to not give him special privileges for being the prince.

That didn't mean that Arthur would lay down and take it without protest, however, so he asked "Why do I keep you around?" with a sigh.

"Because you love me," she fired back without pause and Arthur's heart stuttered.

Did she- did she know? If she did, why hadn't she said anything? Was this her way of telling him that she knew? How long had she known? Arthur felt himself beginning to panic as he wondered how many people knew, how long they knew. Did she know that he was in love with her before she was even a 'her'? That he loved the Merlin that shoved his way into his life and demanded attention and refused to be broken into what was expected from him? The Merlin that is here now, nervously asking if she can sit and read with him?

"Why-" he swallowed harshly- "why do you say that?"

She barely spared him a glance when she said "Because I'm a delight. Everyone loves me."

Oh. Oh, she was making a jest.

"Right," Arthur said numbly as he focused on steadying his heart. She didn't know. No one knew. Except maybe Morgana. Not wanting to think about that just yet, Arthur pushed it from his mind.

"You're acting strange. Are you turning into a complete dollophead?"

And then, just like that, things were back to normal. What he was used to.

Arthur pursed his lips as he gave an eyes roll of his own. "No one knows what you're talking about when you say things like that, Merlin."

"Of course they do. You don't, though, because you're a dollophead."

Now finished with his food, Arthur stood and walked closer to Merlin, half-sitting on the table near where she was sitting.

"Hey, Merlin? Could I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

He groaned. "Merlin…"

"Alright, alright. What do you want to know?"

"Just that, well," Arthur stumbled over his words, not knowing how to say this without offending her. "You said you want to get your old body back, which makes sense. So I was wondering why you were so… okay? I guess, with letting Morgana and Gwen putting you in a dress and makeup on your face?"

"Oh, that's easy," Merlin pushed her plate away and shrugged like it was obvious, which it might've been to her. "It sort of reminded me of being a kid again. Playing pretend, I mean. Not the dress and other stuff. I didn't do anything like that as a kid. But pretending to be someone you're not for a few hours is kind of fun. Also, they seemed really happy with it, so why not humour them? I don't know about you, but I'd rather those two having fun as well than having either- or both- mad at me."

"Do you really think they would've gotten mad if you told them no?" Arthur asked incredulously. He wouldn't think that they would be angered over Merlin not wanting them to play dress-up with her regardless of the body she was in. Did Merlin think they would, though?

"No, no. Of course not. But if I can get on their good side now, then it might help me later. It doesn't hurt to have them owe you a favour," Merlin smirked.

"You are so sneaky!"

"You sound surprised!" Merlin laughed. "Do you not remember that hunting trip when mmgrhh."

Arthur cut her off as he flailed leaned forward and clasped a hand over her mouth.

"I told you to never mention that again," Arthur said in a semi-threatening tone, though he was still mostly amused at the way Merlin's now-softer cheeks squished beneath his fingers.

Suddenly something wet swiped across Arthur's palm.

"Merlin!" Arthur yelped as he took his hand off Merlin's mouth. "Did you-? Did you just-?"

Merlin laughed.

"That is disgusting! And immature!" Arthur cried as he wiped his hand on Merlin's arm.

"Right, like you're so much more mature than me," she replied as she stared pointedly at her arm.

"Apparently, yes, I am."

"Apparently? Does that mean that you thought I was the more mature one until this moment?"

"What? No! I never, no. Merlin!" Arthur uncharacteristically, well, uncharacteristically for him except for when he was around Merlin, stumbled over his words as he tried to figure out how to respond to what Merlin had said and tried unsuccessfully to counter.

She just flashed a coy smile at him as she stood up then spun around, her hair flicking into his face. He flinched back, avoiding her hair, but he still caught the scent from it. She still used the same soap from before and he loved it.

She took two steps towards the door, before pausing, seemingly not planning on somewhere to go before she started walking. Arthur was still sitting next to where she had been occupied for most of the morning, so he watched as she started walking again, around the table to the windows as if that was where she had planned on going the entire time.

Arthur took a deep breath, steadying himself from her close proximity only moments before.

"Would it kill you to open a window once in a while? It's so stuffy in here!"

It took a second for him to register what she said. He didn't feel like it was stuffy, but Merlin's face was dusted with a light flush and he supposed that he had simply not noticed.

"You've been in here almost as long as I have. You could have opened it up yourself earlier."

Merlin turned her head to glance at him over her shoulder and Arthur nearly lost his breath again.

The sunlight shining through the window lit up her face, highlighting her cheekbones and her eyelashes forming little shadows. Her eyes were the same sharp blue and in the sun they were so bright like miniature oceans. With the window now open, a light breeze was rustling her hair, the loose ends fluttering around her face.

"Right. Um." Arthur thought desperately for a reason as to why he had to leave. He wasn't sure how he would be able to remain alone in his room with Merlin any longer without making a fool of himself by doing something he shouldn't like admitting his feelings or going to kiss her. "I think- I think I'm supposed to be training with the knights this afternoon. I should, uh, probably go do that."

She leaned back against the window ledge, silhouetted by the warm afternoon light. "Are you," she tilted her head slightly, "asking for my help?"

"If you don't mind." Part of Arthur wondered why he was asking his servant if she wanted- no, minded helping him dress for training, but the other part of him knew it was because it was Merlin. The girl he was in love with.

Merlin pushed herself up and walked over to him, smirking. "Actually, I do mind. It's my day off, remember?" With that, she flicked his nose and walked purposely to the door.

"Merlin!"

"Nope!" she called out without slowing down. She opened the door and was halfway out when she paused to look back at him. "You were the one who told me not to work at all today." And then she was gone.

Arthur sighed, dropping his head to his chest. He really should have expected that from her. It was Merlin after all.

He shouted out the door for a servant to come to attend to him and another to alert the knights that their training would be starting shortly.