Merlin's magic (Oneshots) 1

Scars and Magic

Merlin was many things. Shy was not one of them.
It was hard to think of someone as shy when they wore torn clothes to battle instead of armor.
Even harder when said person decided he was above status and royalty and could just insult them as he pleased.
A man who happened to be the physicians apprentice and therefore could not afford to be shy.
Never someone this brave, this trusting and naive.

And yet, in a way he was.
"Come one, Merlin!", this was frustrating. I mean, sure, Merlin was always annoying and frustrating but not to this level.
"I said no.", Merlin said decisively and dodged Arthur's attempt to grab for his scarf.

"Will you just get changed already, Merlin! We're getting guests and I am not having them think my personal servant has to run around in those ... lumps." After another attempt to grab him, Arthur sighed. Merlin was a lot more agile than he'd liked to admit. "Don't be such a girl about it!"

"I'm not being a girl about anything. I just don't see why I have to get changed in front of you. YOU at least have your screen so you don't feel watched. Why is it any different for me?"

Arthur halted at that explanation. "Because I'm the king! And that screen is mine!", but his mind lulled out at the end, because what the hell?
First of all, they were both guys and Merlin had certainly seen Arthur naked before. So why was it any different if it was the other way around? Certainly Merlin didn't think -

"Merlin, look. I'm not interested in you like that – you know that right? Come on -"
"What?", Merlin looked at him confused.
So that was not what he had meant then. Great. Arthur made a fool out of himself for absolutely no reason. Merlin frowned at him comically, turning away from Arthur.

Arthur sighed. And now Merlin thought he had been lying or hinting at something or -
"God, Merlin. Come on. I know you're not a knight. I'm not judging you for being – I dunno -"
"Not thick?", Merlin continued, an amused smile now breaking through his irritated frown from earlier.
Arthur hesitated for a second, thinking of jabbing at Merlin for calling him fat. He nodded instead, with a grim expression.

"I'm still not going to change in front of you.", Merlin pointed out.
"Fine, then use my screen! I wasn't gonna look anyway!", Arthur threw his arms out in exasperation.
"Really, cause it kinda sounded like you did.", Merlin teased, before Arthur could attack him for being disobedient.

"Now get changed already!", Arthur growled as he finally threw the dark red robe at Merlin. The material was not as carefully stitched as Arthur's was, but it was worth at least a year of Merlin's usual income. Merlin should be honored! But no, of course he would look at it as if Arthur was insulting him.

At least Merlin was finally moving behind Arthur's screen, hurrying to get the formal robes on.
Arthur sighed, as he relaxed a little.
Still – somehow this didn't sit well with him. What was Merlin so ashamed of? On hunts they had bathed together, hadn't they? Arthur blinked. Huh? This was weird.
In fact – his mind was searching for images, for fun memories of him, the knights and Merlin playing in a river.... But each picture had Merlin sitting at the shore, or being thrown in the water with his clothes still on.
Had Merlin never – Arthur shook his head. This was private. He may be the prince of Camelot, but there were things that he wasn't supposed to know about his staff.

For a second Arthur wondered if Merlin maybe couldn't swim – but he was certain that Merlin could.
Also, his current behavior wasn't exactly screaming for a fear of drowning.

Arthur shook his head, trying to convince himself that this was none of his business. Which – to be fair – it really wasn't. Still, Arthur couldn't help but be curious.
Only when Merlin came forth, complaining about his new robe did Arthur manage to put the questions to the back of his mind.