This one kind of snuck up on me, so I squiggled it out... I suppose more could follow... :-)

"Where's Merlin?" Percival demanded.

"I sent him to the river for water," Arthur eventually said, his tone wary. All the knights stared at Percival as he frowned.

"It's raining," Percival said.

"We still need water," Arthur said.

"Yes," Percival drawled with excessive patience. "And it's raining, he could just stick the pot outside and let it fill up, what does he need to go to the river for?" Percival asked and then his frown deepened.

From outside there came a flash as the lightening streaked across the sky. A second later they all tensed as a thunderclap shattered the silence. Percival sighed and turned grabbing his wool cloak and holding it over his head disappeared out of the cave.

Merlin trudged along, holding the water skins, muttering under his breath. He turned and paused, looking up as the lightening flashed again and another crack of thunder seemed to cause the entire world to shudder. Despite being drenched and stuck in the middle of it, Merlin did have to admit there was something impressive about the storm.

Then he huffed as a fat raindrop smacked into his eye. Wiping it he turned giving a high pitched yelp as a huge shadow suddenly appeared in front of him. He almost fell backwards as it moved closer and then another flash of lightening lit Percival's face as he moved to Merlin's side to hold the cloak over him as well.

"Don't do that!" Merlin said staggering as a light nudge from Percival's elbow guided him closer to the large man. It also put Merlin into position in front of Percival so he could herd him in the direction he wanted.

"Come on, we need to get you dried off."

That comment almost made Merlin duck out from the safety of Percival's cloak. Quick as a flash Percival kicked him back into position, and Percival invaded what little remained of Merlin's personal space. It stopped the rain from hitting him but he would have to be quick to evade Percival when they returned.

The rest of them looked up as Merlin entered the cave, Percival keeping the cloak around them both until they were safely over the threshold. Merlin shot forward, holding up the water skins.

"Got it!" Merlin said in a bright voice, trying to hide the shivering. He attempted a getaway as Percival dropped his cloak, giving it a quick shake out and laying it on a rock. Then the knight went after Merlin.

"Oh, no, you don't."

Merlin yelped as Percival got him around the waist, lifting him up. Elyan took one look at Percival's face and obligingly got up to take the water skins from Merlin's hand.

"Hey!" Merlin said as Percival yanked the scarf from around his neck, and then started to pull on Merlin's jacket. Merlin wriggled trying to get away again as Percival used both hands to remove the item. Dropping the clothing Percival caught him again.

"I'm fine!"

"You're wet, and shivering," Percival informed him calmly. "Now, you can do as you are told and get out of those wet clothes, or I can hold you still while I get someone else to strip you."

Merlin's eyes widened as he turned to look over his shoulder at the man keeping a firm grip of him. Percival's expression matched his voice, entirely practical to the point of bored. He wasn't doing it to get at Merlin, as Arthur might. Percival, instead, wanted Merlin out of his wet clothes before he caught a chill and he would simply get it done. Glancing around Merlin realised that not a single one of the knights would argue if Percival ordered them to do it. None of them would dare.

Percival had said something to all of them, after the near freezing incident, and whatever had been said meant they had been occasionally more considerate and Percival now spent his time watching Merlin like a hawk. It made Merlin wish that he had asked Lancelot more about Percival's origins. The man himself tended to be extremely unforthcoming about things.

"Can I at least have some privacy?" Merlin asked resigning himself to the less embarrassing option. Judging by the looks on the rest of the knight's faces, it would have been just as bad for them. As he acquiesced they all seemed to sigh with relief.

"Yes," Percival said putting Merlin down by the fire. He glared at the cluster of knights by the fire. They had shuffled about to give Merlin room and now stared up a Percival uncertainly.

"Warm your backs," Percival ordered them, glaring at Arthur.

Arthur rolled his eyes, and Percival glared harder. It was Gwaine who eventually started them off, shuffling round so he had his back to the fire. In the end the rest of them had no choice but to follow at which point Percival turned back to Merlin.

"Hurry up, I want to get you by the fire."

Starting to seriously feel uncomfortable in his damp clothes Merlin decided the same. Under other circumstances Arthur probably would have found some way to keep Merlin busy, at least this way he would get an easy night, huddled by the fire. Percival picked up the top blanket from his bedroll and held it around Merlin so he could still let warm air circulate around him. The heat did nothing to make Merlin's clothing comfortable, so he started to strip.

Glancing up Merlin realised Percival's eyes stayed on him, a slight frown on his features as he assessed Merlin's body. Merlin shifted a little self-consciously and he felt more than glad when Percival wrapped the blanket around him and started to rub him down. Merlin couldn't really protest through chattering teeth. His eyes widened momentarily as Percival's hand moved lower, rubbing over his backside and legs. Merlin gripped the blanket to protect his modesty as Percival rubbed and used the same motion to push Merlin closer to the fire. As he shuffled closer Merlin waited for the inevitable.

It happened in no more than a second and Merlin felt the vibration as Percival spoke.

"It's fine now."

The rest of them turned around to find Percival sat down with Merlin in his lap, both of them wrapped up in the blanket. Merlin had put his head down, snuggling his face into Percival's neck, his bare feet and ankles hung close to the fire. Percival shifted to keep them away from the flames so Merlin didn't get burnt.

"Is he all right?" Leon asked.

"Cold, but if he's warmed up he should be fine. If you are not going to care for him you shouldn't bring him on these things. Does he even have a proper warm coat?"

Arthur looked stunned. "I don't know. Merlin never said."

"Well, he wouldn't, would he?" Percival snarled. "How many times has he been freezing cold because you waited for him to say so? If he comes out on these things then he needs proper blankets and warm clothes; and take your chain mail off Arthur, the heat will get to you better."

"I'm fine. The chain mail will warm up."

"It takes longer. The heat can't get through and when it does you'll cook."

"I'll help," Merlin said shifting a bit to try and get out of Percival's lap. The arms around him tightened like a vice. "Ow!"

"Sorry!" Percival said releasing his grip a little.

"I can't help," Merlin informed Arthur, whose eyes narrowed. He stopped it when Percival gave him a corresponding look.

"Are you planning to hand him round again?" Gwaine asked.

"He's not as frozen this time," Percival rumbled. "If I need to move before he's warm someone else can have him."

"I'm not a communal toy," Merlin griped.

Percival ignored him and looked at Elyan instead. "Can you leave Merlin's clothes spread out somewhere so they can dry off, he's going to need them in the morning."

"Heck, these are soaking," Elyan complained as he picked them up, the water from Merlin's shirt running down his arm to dampen his own sleeve. He shook the material sending droplets everywhere. Percival rolled his eyes and the weather outside gave an obliging rumble to remind them of the storm. All of them tensed as the sudden loud sound. Merlin jumped in Percival's arms and he felt the knight's arm muscles clench around him anticipating him attempting to escape. Merlin decided not to try, even if he did get away, he would end up naked in the middle of the camp.

"Imagine being in them," Percival said to Elyan, who eyed the clothes and decided he didn't particularly want to. Instead he laid them out, the heat from the fire had started to spread through the cave. Now it was warm and Merlin felt toasty snuggled up with Percival.

"He'll make you pay for it," Merlin murmured.

"Let him try. There are things I will put up with from him but this is not one of them. I know you say you can take care of yourself but you seem to be very inept at it."

"I'm all right," Merlin announced, feeling seriously offended.

"Yes, because freezing to death is very responsible. What is that Gwaine?"

Gwaine looked at the small flask in his hand.

"It will help warm him up."

"Gwaine that will not help. And don't drink any yourself."

"You can't tell me what to do," Gwaine announced but Merlin noticed that Gwaine put the flask away, without taken so much as a sip from it. Merlin rested his head back on Percival's shoulder and let his eyes close. He relaxed, letting his breathing settle and his mind let the thoughts roam through his mind. It was nice to have a moment where he could be this quiet and he thought for a moment that he was dreaming until the rumbling vibration of Percival's chest told him otherwise.

"Don't look at me like that. I know you care about him Arthur, but you still treat him like he's nothing more than an object and it doesn't matter if it gets damaged," Percival said. "Does he even know you care?"

"Of course he does, I've died trying to help him when he got himself poisoned and when he went missing. I didn't give up looking for him."

"None of us did," Elyan said. "We just made sure the patrols directed themselves in a useful fashion, and we didn't have to put up with Gwaine."

"Huh?" Arthur snarled.

"Hey! There is nothing to put up with."

"Yeah, you really are that shallow," Elyan said.

"Hey, I care about Merlin too, protecting him nearly got me executed!" Gwaine sounded almost proud of that.

"It got you banished," Arthur pointed out.

"And who was it that Merlin went to for help to look after you when you went on that stupid quest?"

"What quest?"

"The one to the Perilous Lands," Gwaine informed Leon, who spluttered in shock.

"That is meant to be completed alone..."

"...And unaided!" Gwaine said brightly.

"I found the trident, and I didn't ask either of them to come along, I just got stuck with them."

"That violates the sacred trust of..." Leon started, and frowned as he wondered. Gwaine grinned at him.

"And who will you complain to...?" he asked. "The king? It's a stupid tradition, you put your sons through it and I will..." he tailed off for a moment and then said. "... I won't hold Guinevere back when she takes... certain body parts off!"

Arthur huffed and then went silent. "It's supposed to prove a prince's worth to his people."

"How about just being a worthwhile prince and king. Why do you need to go prancing across the countryside picking up tridents?" Gwaine asked. Percival's arms tensed as he sensed Merlin shudder and as he tightened his grip he realised Merlin had started laughing. The tremors increased slightly as Arthur replied, his voice outraged.

"I do not prance! And picking up the trident was a sacred trust revealed to me in a vision!"

"A vision?" Percival asked, hoping to conceal Merlin's frantic shuddering. He shifted his grip slightly, trying to get Merlin to control himself. "Why a vision?"

"Because that the way that it's done." Arthur said.

Percival frowned at him. "It does sound a little strange if you ask me, considering the laws on magic."

"It's not magic."

Percival frowned, his grip tightened on Merlin, who appeared to have gone very still in his arms.

"Seems oddly close," Percival said casually, which caused Merlin to stiffen slightly.

"I don't suppose it matters," Elyan said as he finished wringing out Merlin's clothes and spreading them out to dry. "Arthur's king now, and he's proved himself."

"Thank you," Arthur said somewhat tensely. "Is he all right?"

"He's sleeping," Percival announced. "He can stay where he is for a while before I put him to bed."

Merlin tried not to feel put out until Percival tightened his grip and murmured.

"You're just as bad. You let him do it to you and then play this game."

"You let me," Merlin murmured into Percival's neck.

"He'd just let you freeze to death," Percival said sounding angry and resigned.

"And you won't."