That Ship Has Sailed

Merlin & Arthur I

Two knocks.

A grunt.

Two more knocks.

"Come in," a muffled voice says.

The door opens and a man walks in, dressed in an old suit and carrying a tray of food, "Good afternoon, sir."

"Afternoon?" the man in the bed yawns, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, "Already?"

"You slept quite late."

"Well, no matter. What's on the tray?"

"Eggs Benedict and toast with fresh squeezed orange juice, dark roast coffee, hash browns and two scones."

The man scrunched his nose, "What am I, the queen? Take the scones away."

"Yes, sir."

The man began hungrily eating as the other began to leave.

"Hold on," the man called from the bed, swallowing quickly, "Where are you going?"

"To perform my duties, sir. Shall I prepare your horse for your daily ride with your wife?"

"Yes, she seems to have gotten up before me. Find her and tell her I'll be along shortly. I only have to finish breakfast and dress. By the stables, half an hour?"

"Yes, sir."

"Merlin," the man from the bed said.

"Yes, sir?"

"You can call me Arthur, you know."

Merlin paused, but shook his head, "I don't think so, sir."

The door closed behind him and he paused, leaning against the wall and rubbing his own eyes. Arthur ate his breakfast in the room, having just woken up, and after having slept with his wife. He looked down at the scones and scowled, beginning down the hallway and taking an angry bite of the food.

Once back in the kitchen, he tossed one of the scones back onto the tray, "His royal majesty didn't want the scones."

"Did he know you made them?"

"No."

"That's why. You know how he feels, Merlin. You must give him time."

"I'm tired of waiting around, Mabel."

"Well, wait you must. You don't have to stay here, you know. You can leave. There are thousands of butlers looking for work and I'm sure he could find another. If working for him is too much, then just go and stop torturing yourself."

"I'm not going anywhere. Being away would be worse than being here."

"Are you sure? You've hardly slept or eaten in days."

"I'm fine...Do you know where the Misses is? I'm to tell her Arthur will be ready for their daily ride soon. Then get his horse ready."

"Since Star was sick last week, she wanted to give her a restful warm up before their ride."

Merlin nodded and pushed himself away from the wall he'd leaned against and left the room, heading through the front door and toward the stables. Once there, he found Arthur's tack and brought it to his horse. He pet the nose of the sleek, black beauty and slowly and carefully tacked her up.

Arthur came sauntering into the stables, dressed for his ride, and found Merlin stroking his horse's nose and talking to her.

"He's a twat, isn't he? I should've quit long ago, Beaut. I don't know how much longer I can go under these circumstances."