"Merlin!" Prince Arthur shouted through the halls of the Camelot castle.

Merlin rushed up the steps burdened with the prince's polished armor. He reached the top of the staircase only to run into the Lady Morgana's handmaid, Guinevere, who was carrying some pure white linen draped over her left arm. The armor clamored to the floor and Merlin breathed a poorly restrained sigh. Guinevere knelt down with him.

"Busy morning, Merlin?" she asked him.

"Not at all." Merlin replied with a flirty smile while tucking a shin plate under his arm.

"MERRR-LIIIN!" Arthur shouted furiously.

"He's really going to hurt himself one day." Merlin mumbled as Guinevere helped him collect the armor "Thanks, Gwen!"

Guinevere had no time to reply before Merlin was gone again. She shook her head with a slight smile and continued down the stairs with her lady's bed dress.

Merlin finally arrived at the prince's chambers and carried the armor to the table nearby. The separate pieces clattered onto the thick wood and Merlin looked up at his master. Arthur stood with his arms folded and a dissatisfactory expression in the silence. Merlin cocked his head and eyebrow in question.

"Why did you want me to polish these again?" he asked as if to be reminded. "Is there a tournament I haven't heard about?"

"A knight never knows when he'll be needed to ride out." Arthur stated firmly.

"And you want to look nice and shiny for the bandits, is that right?" Merlin smirked.

Arthur's straight face dove into a condescending glare.

"Are you a fool, Merlin?" he asked his manservant as he circled around to his side, arms still folded in superiority. "Are you looking to be the court jester?"

"I was only making a-"

"The only thing I want you to make is my bath." Arthur said and dropped his arms, left hand to the pommel of his sword. "If you have time to make bad jokes, at least be doing something useful as well."

Merlin opened his mouth to retort but Arthur passed him out of the room and left Merlin in his quiet frustration. Merlin ultimately put aside his argument with a frustrated smile and went about preparing the prince's bath.

Later that evening, Merlin served the king, his son, and Lady Morgana their dinners and tended to their chalices as they spoke over a fine meal. When not needed, he stood aside like a wallflower and pretended not to listen but despite that, their conversations trickled to his ears.

"You underestimate me." King Uther told his son with a proud but slightly condescending grin. "I have many battles ahead of me that I'm fully prepared to fight."

Arthur decided against replying. He knew that if he did, this conversation would only head further in the direction he wished it wouldn't.

"My Lord," Morgana said to the king in an effort to stray his attention from the prince. "I was told earlier today that we'll be having a visitor come tomorrow. Pleasant business, I hope?"

"Ah, Prince Garrick," Uther nodded. "His father is King George Alder of Sythian. Our kingdoms have finally come to an understanding and Prince Garrick is arriving on the king's behalf to personally deliver the peace treaty. He will be resting here before his long journey back. It's important that we keep this peace. Allies in a large land like Alder's is an advantage we can't risk losing."

Merlin refilled the king's cup while continuing to listen.

"Have you ever met the prince?" Morgana asked Uther.

"The prince? No," he answered. "But I have heard he has quite a reputation, battling skills that may even compare to Arthur's."

The king looked to his son who didn't seem convinced in the slightest. It would take quite a lot for someone to exceed Prince Arthur's skills. Perhaps there would be a friendly sparring between the two in the near future.

"Are you worried?" Merlin asked the prince after dinner while preparing his bed.

"Worried?" Arthur asked disinterestedly as he thumbed through a book at his desk.

"About the prince." Merlin nodded and looked back to Arthur. "What if he's better than you? Do you think it would be a good idea to spar with him? Maybe you'd like to practice a bit before he arrives."

"Are you volunteering?" Arthur asked as he looked up.

"NO, not at all." Merlin replied quickly and went back to fixing the bed. "Just don't take it too seriously is all. You shouldn't get a hot head if you lose."

"Do you have so little faith in me?" the prince asked in an offended tone.

Merlin didn't answer but stopped fluffing the pillows.

"…what makes your opinion so important, anyway?" Arthur complained and looked down to his book.

Merlin simply nodded in defeat and turned to face his master again.

"Your bed is prepared." He said.

"Then what are you still doing here?" Arthur asked with an exasperated tone.

The manservant made a curt bow of the head and turned to the door, not looking back before he left. Once the door was shut, Prince Arthur looked up from his book again. He tiredly closed it and traveled from his desk to the changing screen in his room.

He eventually found his way to bed and lied down under the covers. After a few moments he sighed in disbelief and even a bit of amusement before rising up on his elbows in discomfort.

"He still doesn't know how to properly fluff a pillow." The prince sighed to the quiet room.