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As Arthur’s servant, Gaius’ apprentice, and general overall sorcerer of Camelot, Merlin didn’t get many chances to rest. And the rare times he does get a moment to himself, it is usually filled by some random request from the great dragon that is frankly not all that great. Merlin barely had an opportunity to sleep these days. His ribcage was starting to stick out of his clothes forcing him to put on layers lest he gets blown over by a swift breeze. Merlin could barely recall the last time he had eaten anything substantial.
“Are you alright, Merlin?” Arthur questioned from his seat behind his desk, shining eyes on Merlin. The sorcerer was trying to clean out Arthur’s fireplace but that was proving to be difficult when he realized he couldn’t make his eyes focus on the task at hand. The long metal rod in his hand kept slipping from his grasp. It was beginning to be more annoying than an inconvenience, although it was very much that as well. “You don’t look so good over there.”
“Well, when was the last time you looked into a mirror, sire?”
Arthur rolled his eyes, but continued, “That’s not what I meant, Merlin. I’m worried about you.”
Merlin ignored the man in favor of doing his damn job, setting an example that Arthur should follow. But who was Merlin kidding? Arthur didn’t know how to follow a single ounce of Merlin’s advice if it killed him, or more likely saved him from getting killed. The blonde haired man sat up from his seat, scraping the floor that Merlin had just cleaned. Merlin could sense Arthur’s presence behind him even before he felt Arthur’s hand on his shoulder.
“Stop.”
“Um, I sort of want to be paid this week?” Merlin bit back not harshly.
Arthur squeezed Merlin’s shoulder. He felt nothing but sharp gangly bones. No meat nor muscle. “I’ll have someone bring in something to eat. You go make yourself comfortable.”
Before Merlin had the chance to argue, Arthur turned on his heel to summon another servant to bring him a plate of something filling. All that the man could do was sit down in front of the unclean fireplace in a heap of cloth and bones. What was going on? Was Arthur suddenly cursed without his knowing? Was this a changeling in place of his prince? Why was Arthur being so usually kind?
“What’s happening?” Arthur raised an eyebrow at that and Merlin realized he had said that out loud. “I-I mean, w-why are you being so nice?” Merlin stuttered, rubbing at his eyes sharply. The soot from the fire made his eyes water. Arthur pulled Merlin’s hands from his eyes and began softly rubbing them clean with a rag. “Okay, now this is just getting weird. Where’s Arthur and what have you done with him?”
“Shut it, Merlin.”
“There he is,” Merlin couldn’t help but smirk.
“Here I am.”