Arthur noticed that his plates seem to be not as full as they used to be, and he is determinate to find out what is the cause of that.
Yes, there will be mistakes, grammar or others, Sorry for that :)
Also I do not own Merlin or any of the characters there, this amazing piece of art belongs to BBC ;)
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There is less and less food on Arthur's plates. He is sure of it. Every time Merlin brings him the meal there seems to be significantly less food than there should be. And Arthur knows that because it's happening only when Merlin is the one bringing the meals. Sometimes Merlin would not make it in time to bring the meal, so he asks some other servant to take his place. Arthur does not mind, he of course prefers his manservant, but as long as Merlin somehow makes sure that the prince gets his meal Arthur is ok with this arrangement.
But every time servant that is not Merlin is bringing the meal, the plate is at least twice as full than when Merlin does it. So it was obvious that whatever is happening with his food Merlin is behind it. Arthur was not starving, not at all, but he wants to know where to food is disappearing to, or more likely where Merlin puts it. Because the cook would not let Merlin, who she knows is prince's servant, leave the kitchen without enough food on his plate, Arthur it sure of that. So somewhere between the kitchen and Arthur's chambers the food just disappear. And Arthur wants to know where and how.
Merlin entered the room with a plate in his hand. As always not as full as it should be.
"Merlin... do you and Gaius have enough food?" the prince asked. Thinking maybe Merlin is taking it for them. He would not be upset, he would let them have more food if needed, so he has not idea why Merlin just does not say so if that is the case.
Merlin looked at him in confusion
"What? Yeah... we have plenty, why do you ask?" Merlin said while placing the plate with prince's lunch on the table.
"Then tell me, what's going on with my food? Where is it disappearing, Every time you are the one bringing it in here?" Arthur ran out of his patience.
Merlin nervously looked at him.
"Ehm... what?"
"Merlin. every time you're the one bringing the meal the plate is half empty"
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Merlin"
"I just... too much food would not be healthy for you"
"You're saying that I fat?" Arthur raised an eyebrow
"No... not at all... well not yet, so it's working" Merlin said seriously
"Merlin... I am not an idiot, so for the last time... what is going on?" Arthur asked
"Nothing" Merlin said and before Arthur could say anything else Merlin quickly left the room
Ok, talking to Merlin did not work. Plan B then, Arthur thought while eating his lunch.
His plan B was to hide near the kitchen and wait for Merlin to came get his dinner and then follow him.
He did not have to wait long and soon Merlin entered and then emerged from the kitchen with the plate full of food. Arthur quietly followed Merlin. Knowing that there is next to no change Merlin would notice him.
Merlin in deed chose strange way to get to Arthur's chambers, so Arthur knew something is going on. They were now in the part of the castle that is not used that much and where is lots of empty rooms. Merlin slipped into one of the many wooden door.
Arthur thought about following him there, but he changed his mind because Merlin does not take that long to bring the meal to Arthur's chambers so Merlin will not be very long in that room. And he was not, few minutes later Merlin left the room with, as Arthur noticed, significantly less food than when he entered that room.
Arthur waited when Merlin will walk pass him and when he was sure his manservant is gone he went to the door to take a look what is behind it.
When he opened them he was surprised, but as the same time not surprised at all.
In the corner of the room on some pillows and blanket lied a dog, probably a female dog because around her were 8 puppies at least 14 days old, because they had their eyes open. Arthur quickly did the math and yes, his food was missing from his plate for like two or three weeks now.
The mother noticed Arthur.
She was obviously unsure about a stranger being there, she was probably used to only Merlin coming in here to see her
"Hey. Hello, don't worry I am not going to do anything to you" Arthur said in quiet and soothing tone
The dog stood up. Arthur quickly noticed that she is being way too skinny, from either the birth or, because she was a stray dog before Merlin had found her and brought her in here, or most likely from both. He also noticed that she is limping on one leg and he felt bad for her. No wonder Merlin took her in here.
He also noticed that she has two bowls there, one with water and the other full with what should have been his dinner and he smiled at that.
"What do you know, we have something in common already. We both are getting our meals brought by the same person" he said with a smile
The dog as if knowing that he is talking about Merlin seemed to calm down about the stranger being there, because if that person knows that skinny boy that keeps feeding her and her puppies then this person will not hurt them, right?
The dog went to Arthur slowly, partly because of her leg, but mostly because even though this person knows the skinny boy, she should still be cautious, just in case.
Arthur let her walk up to him, not wanting to spook her with any sudden movements and when she got to him he let her sniff him to get to know him.
When she still looked like she does not have a problem with Arthur being there, the prince squatted down and slowly reached his hand to pet her. He gave her time to move away if she would not want to be caressed, but she instead leaned into his touch, clearly being happy for that.
While Arthur was petting her the puppies began to curiously coming closer to him as well. Their mom seemed to be ok with it and left them in Arthur's care while she went to her bowl to have her dinner.
Arthur spent a few minutes with the puppies, but then he stood up, knowing that Merlin is probably in his chambers already and if he will not show up the boy will start to look for him all over the castle.
The mother whined quietly when she saw that Arthur is planning to leave
"It's alright, don't worry, everything will be alright" Arthur said calmly and with making sure that none of the puppies will escape left the room. Merlin was not an idiot, this part of castle was really not used very often so no one was coming all the way in here therefor the dog and her puppies were most likely not to be found in here.
When he got to his chambers Merlin was indeed already there
"Arthur! Where were you, the food is going to cold by now you prat" the servant said when the prince opened the door. Arthur just shook his head in amusement.
"Are you in hurry or what Merlin?" he asked, knowing that Merlin is most likely going to the dog and puppies to at least say goodnight before going to his own room.
"Well... no... but... you could hurry up you know" Merlin tried to pretend that he is not dying to go to the puppy room as soon as possible
"You can go Merlin. You can gather the dishes in the morning after all" Arthur told him and Merlin managed to say goodnight before he ran out of the room. Arthur had to chuckle again at that.
He had a plan and that plan requires Merlin to be sleeping, or at least far far away from the room with the dogs so the sooner he will wish them goodnight and play with them, because no way Merlin would leave the room without playing with the puppies, the better.
When Arthur was done with his dinner he began to preparing phase one of his plan. He gathered all the pillows and blankets he did not need and make nice lair in the corner of his room. For the phase two he needed to wait. He took a basket Merlin is gathering the laundry and went to the room with the dog. He listened carefully if Merlin is in there, but he was sure that his manservant left already. He slowly opened the door and did not see Merlin there.
The dog noticed him and wiggled her tail, happy to see her new friend so soon again.
"Hey" Arthur smiled at her and with the basket in his hand went to her
"Look, I promise that nothing bad is happening ok? But you have to came with me now. You will have way more comfort there and Merlin will not have run all over the castle when handing out the meals" Arthur told her hoping that she will cooperate with him
"I am going to take you guys in my room alright?" he told her and placed the basket on the floor. The mother stood up and curiously went to him and the basket.
"Ok, I need you to get in. That'll be the easiest way how to do this I'd say" Arthur petted the inside of the basket, luring the dog inside. She did not get in, but the puppies seemed to be curious about the basket and began to climbing in. Arthur helped the puppies in then.
"Do you think you'd be able to walk?" Arthur looked at the dog. She had no problem with walking, she just needed to take it slow, so Arthur hoped that she might be able to walk while he will carry the basket.
Arthur picked up the basket and the dog was immediately by his side, not leaving him now when he has her babies
"Don't worry, I'll make sure they will not get hurt" He assured her and slowly went to the door. The dog followed him. Her injured leg made her walk really slowly, but Arthur did not mind that at all.
The only problem they had was when they reached the stares. Arthur solved that in no time. He went to put the basket on top of the stares and then quickly went back down, gently picked the dog up and carried her up as well.
They all somehow managed to get to Arthur's chambers without being seen by anyone.
"There you go" he said when he carefully placed the basket on the floor. The puppies began to curiously exploring the new room.
"Come here, you can lay down and rest, it must have been quite a walk for you" Arthur looked at the dog and petted the pillows in the lair he made for them.
She went to him and tiredly laid down. Arthur was petting her until she fall a sleep. The puppies were beginning to be tired as well and went to cuddle to their mom for the night. Arthur smiled at that sight before he went to his own bed.
He was woken up by someone shaking his shoulder
"Arthur! Arthur wake up!" someone... Merlin said. Arthur unhappily opened his eyes
"Hm?"
"Arthur!" Merlin said again and tossed the blanket off Arthur
"Merlin..." Arthur whined and tried to blindly find the blanket again, but with no luck
"Arthur I need your help" Merlin said urgent.
That made the prince finally open his eyes. He saw Merlin looking nervous and worried as hell
"Merlin? What's wrong?" he asked concern while sitting up
"Ok. Don't be mad ok? I found a dog, she had hurt leg and was... well pregnant. I took her in here, in the castle and... I was giving her food... your food. But now she and the puppies are gone... I... I don't know what had happened to them, but I need to find them, we need to find them.... please help me" Merlin began to spewing the information while looking pleadingly at the prince.
"Merlin calm down" Arthur told him
"No... no we need to find them. Artemis had injured leg, she is getting better, but she still shouldn't..." Merlin shook his head
"Artemis?" Arthur interrupted him
"The mom... Artemis" Merlin nodded
Of course Merlin named the dog. He probably named all the puppies as well, Arthur thought. Well at least now he knows the dog's name
"Merlin... turn around" Arthur said calmly
"What?"
"Look behind you"
Merlin turned around and in the corner saw sleeping Artemis with all of her puppies still sleeping as well.
"W-what?" Merlin said confused while looking from the dog corner to Arthur and back
"This way you do not have to walk to he other side of the castle and then in here with the meal" Arthur said
"You... how did you..." Merlin was trying to come up with some words, but not very successfully
"I wanted to know what on earth you're doing with my food, so I followed you yesterday" the prince shrugged his shoulders
"And, and you took them in here?" Merlin said as if still not believing it.
Arthur nodded
Some of the puppies began to open their eyes, and when they saw Merlin they started to make high-pitched happy barks, waking up the ones that were still sleeping, and their mom as well.
The puppies went to Merlin to greet him. Arthur got out of the bed so the puppies were now paying attention to him as well.
"Merlin, you should go get some food don't you think?" Arthur said
"Right, yes" Merlin nodded and left the room
"Artemis?" Arthur looked at the dog who at hearing her name perked up and barked.
"Yes, Merlin will be in here in no time with the breakfast and then maybe a short walk? We'll make sure to take it slow, but you should try to start going outside again girl, you being inside all the time must have been quiet boring for you I guess" The prince was saying while going to her to pet her and then went to get dressed for the day.
Merlin was back with two bowls and one plate. He placed the bowls on the floor, filled up on with water and the other with some food from the plate, then he placed the plate on the table.
"Thank you, Arthur, for... well not kicking them out" Merlin said gratefully
"Thank you for thinking I'd be able to do something like that" Arthur said sarcastically and Merlin chuckled
"I don't, don't worry. I maybe think you're a prat, but I know that you are a good person. But not every prince would took bunch of dogs into his own chambers you know"
Arthur smiled a bit at hearing that.
"I think that Artemis should go for a short walk. Maybe after the breakfast?" Arthur looked at Merlin
"What about the puppies?" Merlin asked concern
"They will be ok, it will not take long after all" Arthur assured him
"And, did you think about what with them next?" Arthur asked
"Ehm..." Merlin started
"Merlin you can not keep 9 dogs, no way" Arthur shook his head
"But..."
"We will find a good people that will take care of them? How about that?" Arthur suggested
"That sounds good, but we will really make sure that it will be a good people ok?" Merlin insisted
"Sure" Arthur nodded
"And I am keeping Artemis" Merlin said without a chance for any compromise in that, Arthur expected this, so he was not surprised at all
"Alright" he nodded
Merlin smiled happily at hearing that.
