it's not fair and i think you're really mean, TAG: GWEN

[Merlin]

It was times like these that Merlin felt more like Arthur's mother than his manservant - the only time he could even start thinking about what he wanted to do was when the Prince was away playing training with his knights or when he was asleep. The older boy had been running him ragged all morning and, luckily, the knights had taken pity on the stressed teenager and dragged the Prince off to play train with their swords giving Merlin the afternoon off. It was times like that he'd happily run about kissing the knights like some lovestruck maiden if they'd just keep him out his hair for a few hours.

Which led to Merlin being here, sitting quite happily on the keep steps in the sun, watching servants and guards milling about around him. It was a glorious day, one he would usually aquaint with working the fields before dragging your friends down to the nearby river to try and drown each other in a bid to cool off. In Camelot, however, it was the type of day where bloody Crown Prince's took pleasure in making you work in the hottest rooms of the castle - which, Merlin thought entirely unfair because he'd never actually been anywhere near those rooms before in his entire time here - and Merlin got lost in the castle often, even after a year.

A few of the laundry maids gave him happy waves as they walked past - Merlin, no matter how hard he tried, could never quite get his head round why girls needed to walk around in packs? Was it as if they thought someone was going to steal them? in broad daylight? From right under the nose of the Royal Guard? Then, he supposes, it's not for protection at all. It's to scare the living daylights out of poor, unsuspecting boys like him, who could easily be taken in by their rosey cheeks and flirtatious smiles. then of course, the rest of the pack would rip him apart and toss him away.

So yeah, Merlin wasn't going there anytime soon. Now, while Merlin wasn't adverse to having a day off once in a while, he only had one problem. No-one else had a day off so he was bored.

[Gwen]

Gwen hated days like this, when Morgana didn't really need her. Of course, she still stayed within a close distance so Morgana could find her just in case. She had been ordered home to see her father by her Lady, but that didn't mean that Gwen would do as she was told. After all, this was her job, and she wanted to be on hand. She knew that if Morgana desperately needed her, she could easily send guards for her, but that would take more time.

Brushing her hair back from her face, she glanced and smiled at all the faces that passed her. Some she knew well, others she knew the names of but little else. She found this often, with her focus being more on Morgana and her father she rarely socialised. She had a few friends, but she wasn't the type who craved a mass group. After all, she felt uneasy being herself as it was with just Morgana and Merlin, let alone a group of women from around her home.

Scrunching up her eyes as she glanced in the distance, she noticed the figure of who she was sure was Merlin. He didn't seem in a rush, just sitting there. So he didn't have to tend to Arthur today? If he did, she knew he would be far more rushed than he appeared to be at the moment. Walking over, she smiled at him.

"Merlin. Not busy today?"

[Merlin]

It was at that moment that Merlin thought it was a good idea to get up to straighten his clothes.

Startling slightly at the unexpected appearance of Gwen, Merlin almost tripped over the uneven stone flooring. It was bad enough being watched by the giggling girls, the last thing he needed was to make a fool of himself by falling at their feet. With a save, that consisted of what seemed to be a form of interpretative dance and surprised even he, Merlin managed to turn to Gwen without breaking something. With his dimples out on full force, he grinned at his best friend, one hand on the wall to hold himself up.

"Gwen! Hey!"

Straightening himself up, he brushed the sleeves of his tunic off, pointedly ignoring the nearby giggles before he did something awful like bit his thumb at them. The last thing he needed was to be dragged in front of his Royal Kingliness for inappropriate behaviour towards women - even though he could argue that his beloved Arthur treated them a thousand times worse. Merlin clearly remembered the last man who'd been arrested for the improper treatment of a lady. Merlin also remembered what his screams sounded like as he watched the axe fall towards his neck. Merlin liked his head thank you very much.

Stepping away from the wall, he motioned for Gwen to follow him towards the shaded area under the overhang. It was hidden from view - namely so Arthur couldn't tease him later - and it also allowed a breeze. Brushing his hand over the stony floor, he laid out his jacket for Gwen to sit on - don’t let anyone tell you he didn’t have manners - before he slowly lowered himself onto the ground beside it, looking up at his friend.

"Arthur gave me the day off, what about you?"

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Word Count: 310
Tag: Michelle <3
Listening to: Rio - Duran Duran

[Gwen]

Gwen made to help Merlin as she saw him trip over himself but he seemed to be catching his balance fine by himself. She smiled back at him when he grinned at her, glad that he didn't lose his balance. After all, it would have been a nasty fall.

"Hello. You need to be more careful."

She couldn't stop the light giggle that came from her lips, glad that Merlin would not take offense. Sobering up, she followed him as he signalled to her. She looked on, slightly surprised as he draped his jacket out but did not sit on it himself. He meant for her to sit on it. Taking a deep breath, she felt that smile he always managed to get from her grace her features before she sat down.

"Thank you. And Morgana has done pretty much the same. However I would much prefer to stay near by, just in case something happens."