Cost of the Crown

                                    

                                          


                          
Set between the 3rd and 4th seasons.
                          


                          
Arthur was in a foul mood as he marched around the citadel, prepared to throw Merlin in the stocks for being so ridiculously late - and making him walk so much. The man must have been everywhere across the castle and town; first he was in the kitchen, then the training grounds, the armory, in the market, upper town, lower town - everywhere! If Merlin wasn't at the outer gates, then Arthur had a right mind to send the guards after him.
                          
"Where is he?" Arthur asked the gatekeepers, glaring at them both and daring them to tell him that Merlin had gone back into the town. "Where is Merlin?"
                          
As if sensing the hostility of Arthur, the two guards both stiffened their posture. "He and some children went into the woods, Sire. There's a small clearing not far in that they visit sometimes."
                          
Taking a deep breath, Arthur stomped towards the treeline. He knew what clearing it was, having run to play there himself as a child. But why on earth would Merlin go there with the children? Especially when he knew that there were many things to be done today!
                          
Just breaking through the trees, the king could already hear voices laughing and talking together. The majority of them were high in pitch, but there was one that stood out among the others...
                          
Hearing the familiar voice, his frown deepened as he marched towards it with more purpose and intent. He was about to yell out for his servant when he could finally make out his words.
                          
"No no," Merlin chuckled, "A king's job isn't easy at all...! If anything, Arthur's job is even harder than mine."
                          
There were small giggles in response to what the young man said, causing Arthur to slowly peak around a tree to see Merlin sitting on a log with a group of children surrounding him with large smiles.
                          
"How is a king's job harder than a servant's?" One of the little boys asked, his head tilted. "All he does is sit around and tell others what to do!"
                          
"I can't argue about that," Merlin smiled, nearly making Arthur come out from his hiding spot, before continuing. "But he does a lot more than that too; training the knights, patrolling the borders, deciding many things you lot wouldn't understand at this age... His Highness is always busy, and because of that I have to do what I can to make him comfortable so he can give his full effort into making this kingdom even better. While I do things that effect him, he does things that effect the whole land."
                          
"At least he can do whatever he wants though," A young girl quipped, pulling Merlin's attention to her.
                          
"Not so, little one. Do you think he wants to be inside all day, listening to a bunch of boring people talk? No, he wants to be out among the people more than anything...! Hunting, riding, training his sword skills, anything but sit in that chair all day."
                          
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly, some of his anger subsiding as he listened to his servant; he supposed that the stocks were a bit much for simply being late... But he would be mucking out the stables for sure.
                          
"Are you sure you're not making this up, Merlin?" Another girl asked, laughing a bit. "You are friends with the King, right?"
                          
Merlin tilted his head back and forth as if considering it before smiling, "True, Arthur is a good friend. But I would never lie about his work to make him seem better; his head is big enough as it is!"
                          
"I still don't really get it..."
                          
Merlin chuckled and shook his head slightly as he picked up a lute that had been resting on the ground, laying it in his lap and strumming a few strings. Arthur's eyebrows pushed together as he watched him; since when did Merlin play the lute? Surely the young man was too clumsy to be able to play an instrument properly.