Heeey there guys! :D

First of all, thanks for reading! Please note this is a sequel to my other story "Merlin: The Secret" - I would make me so happy if you'd read that one as well :D

Any thoughts or questions on this story, please share, I am open for anything you may want to ask :D

Happy reading :D

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"Merlin?" Arthur called through the aisles of Camelot's mighty citadel. "Merlin!!" Even after having known each other for something that felt like hundreds of years, things were still the same between the warlock and his king.

Only one thing was different.

Arthur raised his voice. "Look, Merlin, I know what happened to that shirt, there's no point in hiding it..." He held a small pause. "... and I also know that you can fix it as easily as snapping your fingers. So would you please get it done? I don't have all day. Besides, wine spots don't go away by themselves – or do they, Merlin?" 

Arthur was clearly in a mood. Early mornings were definitely not his favorite time of day to say the least; it only made things that much worse.

Outside, the bell was tolling its morning song and inside the citadel itself, a low humming of chatter and footsteps filled the aisles. But Arthur didn't feel that joy right now; it was too bloody early in the morning. Where were those clumsy, idiotic servants when they were needed?

Then footsteps sounded. They came nearer and nearer, and so close that Arthur was able to locate them; they were right outside the doors to his chambers. So Arthur expected Merlin to show up in a matter of seconds...

But he didn't. No one came. Arthur raised an eyebrow sceptically. 

Then the footsteps stopped.

Arthur groaned and went to check what on earth was Merlin doing. He opened the doors. To his surprise there was no one in the aisle - well, only two guards in each end for his protection. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Arthur rolled his eyes and went back inside his chambers, sighing in annoyance.

Then Merlin finally decided to show up right behind the tired king. "Goooooodmorning, Sire!" he said with a great big smirk plastered upon his face.

Arthur gave him a dull stare. "Are you trying to scare me, Merlin?" the king asked, obviously not finding it very amusing.

"Ooooh, no, Sire, I would never do that," Merlin answered – but the smirk never left his face, not when he straightened his back and waited for orders like any good servant would.

"I'm sure," Arthur mumbled, ignoring Merlin's jokes. "Did you get my shirt cleaned, Merlin? I'll be needing it soon..." The king walked past his servant, straightening his back. "And just to be clear; I was not scared at all."

"Really?" Merlin said, still smirking, as he watched Arthur eating breakfast. "Whatever you say, Sire..." In his hand, Merlin held the now cleaned shirt Arthur was to wear for today's meetings. The king hadn't even noticed his servant had cleaned it up.

Merlin himself couldn't help but smile; no matter what, Arthur would always be a cloth pole and surely also a dollop head - even if he was the great king of Camelot.