Arthur sped angrily through the castle, his sword swinging wildly at his hip, his blonde hair practically bristling above the scowl on his face. A confused and bemused Merlin followed him from a distance just large enough to keep him out of the Prince's orbit but not large enough to suggest that he wasn't doing his duty.

Servants ducked and scurried out of his way. The Prince in such a foul mood was something that should be avoided at all costs.

"What's with him?" mouthed Matthew, one of Uther's messengers who happened to be walking by. Matthew was known for an impertinence that rivalled even the Crown Prince's manservant.

Merlin just shrugged and gave Matthew a look that clearly said who the hell knows but would you want to be me right now?

As they reached Arthur's chambers, the Prince threw open the door and threw his sword and scabbard on the table.

"Well, come on," he said angrily, "don't take all day. Get me out of this armour."

Merlin moved over quietly and diffidently began untying the straps on Arthur's breastplate as if the Prince was an animal that might bite at any time.

"So, Sire," he said nervously, "we rescued Gwen. And Morgana. I would have thought you'd be happy."

"Happy, Merlin? Oh yes, I'm ecstatic. And do you know why I'm ecstatic, Merlin."

"Because they're not dead," replied Merlin with a hopeful grin.

"Because I'm Arthur Pendragon and in the last week I've saved the lives of four beautiful, grateful women."

"You say that like it's a bad thing..." said Merlin, even as a sinking feeling told him that this was a subject he should be avoiding. After all, rescuing four damsels in distress should have made Arthur happy.

"Oh, I didn't say they were grateful to me, Merlin, I just said they were grateful. No, all I did was risk life and limb to save them from fates worse than death and, in some cases, death, and what do they do when they're finally free?"

"They... thanked...you... Arthur, what are you talking about?"

Arthur's breastplate came free and he stood back unencumbered by the metal and glared at the man in front of him. Was it possible, he thought, that the idiot didn't even notice? Oh, yes, he thought, with Merlin any general absurdity was possible.

"Let me spell it out for you, you buffoon. Let me take you back to the beginning: last Wednesday when that Merman kidnapped the Princess Jacquelyn and imprisoned her in that cave underneath the Lake..."

So, this is a single story I've written that I've deliberately broken up into pieces just to torture you. Basically, three adventures the boys went on with a bridging conversation between each. If you enjoy, you know what to do.