Merlin One Shots

Nightmare

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin or any of its wonderful characters. If I did, Arthur would still be alive.

Merlin sighed as he burst into Arthur's chambers, a sizeable plate of dinner in his hand. The Prince grumbled something about Merlin learning to knock,  but didn't say anything too loudly. Merlin put the food on the table and Arthur sat with a grunt.

Slowly, he began eating. Merlin prepared Arthur's nightclothes as the Prince ate in silence. It was strange, they usually had a conversation in the evenings, but Merlin knew today was different. Arthur had woken up in a mood and been silent all day. Not the ignorant, ignore-everyone-until-they-leave-you-alone kind of silence, more like the silence someone held when they had something on their mind. Arthur had even missed something his father had said during a meeting.

"... and I want it sorted by Wednesday, at the latest. Do you understand?" Arthur was leant against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and eyes directed at the floor. Merlin, however, knew Arthur wasn't seeing the floor, nor hearing his father. "Arthur?" The king said. Arthur blinked and looked up as though he'd only just realised where he was. "Hm?" He said. "Sorry, father, what did you say?" Uther shot him an annoyed look, but repeated his statement. "Of course, father. I'll have it done as soon as I can."

That wasn't the only time that day that Arthur had appeared vacant. More than once, Merlin had had to ask for orders as the Prince seemed not to notice Merlin was there.

"Sire?" Merlin said. They were in the armoury. Arthur was sat on a stool, staring a hole through the floor. "Arthur?" Leon said. Arthur paid him no attention. Merlin walked over to him and made to grab his arm, but as soon as Merlin had touched him, Arthur had leapt a foot in the air, unsheathing his sword in the process. Merlin raised his hands in surrender as the dangerous end pointed directly at his chest. "Whoa, Arthur, it's just Merlin." Leon said, reaching a cautious arm out towards Arthur. The knight blinked as though he was only just coming to his senses. "Of course. Sorry, Merlin." He said, sheathing his sword. Merlin let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Are you alright?" He asked. Arthur nodded his head. "Fine. Now go and muck out the stables. And I need you to organise me a new shield. Mine's starting to get a bit worn. Leon, get a party together and go hunting, we're running out of meat." He ordered, then walked out of the armoury. Merlin and Leon shared a glance, they both shrugged, then they too left the armoury to do their respective chores.

"Hello? Merlin?" Merlin shook his head and blinked. Arthur was looking at him from his seat and had apparently been trying to get his attention for a while now. "Sorry. What's wrong?" He asked. Arthur huffed and looked down at his meal. "I'm not very hungry tonight. Do you want any of it? I don't want it to go to waste." Now that was a whole new level of strange. "I'm sorry, did I just hear you correctly? I thought I just heard you being nice for once?" Merlin questioned, laying Arthur's nightshirt on the bed.

Arthur nodded, not even bothering to return Merlin's insult. "Yes. Now, do you want anything?" Merlin looked down at the large plate of food. "If you're sure?" After a confirming nod from Arthur, Merlin grabbed a chicken leg. "Thank you, sire." Arthur nodded again and stood up from the table. "If you want anything else, take it." Merlin nodded, then looked concerned at his friend. "Arthur?" The prince turned to him. Merlin looked him dead in the eyes so Arthur knew he was being serious.

"Is everything alright? You've been... off all day." Arthur pondered his answer for a second, something Merlin couldn't read shining in his eyes, then he sighed. "Yes thank you, Merlin. I'm just tired is all." So Arthur began to change into his nightclothes. Merlin tried to aid him like he usually did, but Arthur moved (flinched) away from him. "Not tonight Merlin." He said bluntly. Merlin nodded and gathered Arthur's dirty clothes from the floor.