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Fools' Day

Fools’ Day. Even the name sounded awful. Arthur did not know who the stupid noble that came up with the idea of celebrating such a festivity was, but he hated him wholeheartedly.

His father, sensible as always, had forbidden said monstrosity at the beginning of his reign for good measure. Such a festivity did not have a place in his strong and wealthy kingdom. Arthur had not even known that such thing existed, but, now, he was beginning to think that his father was wiser than he had given him credit for.

Arthur was not wise. Nor sensible. He was a stupid, weak novel king. And his knights had messed up with him so badly that, weeks later, he was still crossed.

It had been Gwaine’s idea. Of course.

“Any other matter we should address?” Arthur had asked politely before concluding the council meeting at the Round Table.

“Well,” the knight had said, straightening a bit on his chair. “Actually, yes.”

Arthur had stared at him bemused. Gwaine did not use to speak during the councils, mostly because he had the habit of dozing off during them. Arthur should have known it could not have meant any good.

“I have a proposal I would like the council to debate and maybe approve,” Gwaine said with a smirk.

Arthur had agreed, because he was a good and generous king. But, apparently, bad things happen to good people.

“The other day, Elyan found something really interesting at the library. In a book.”

“Well, yes, that’s what you can find at libraries, Gwaine. Books.”

“Yes. See. In that book, Elyan came across a very old tradition that was banned by Uther before you were born,” Gwaine explained with anticipated amusement.

“And so?”

“I would like you to bring it back.”

“And what is this tradition about?”

“It’s a festivity called Fools’ Day.”

“Never heard such a name before.”

“That’s a shame. It sounds wonderful.”

“So, what is it about?”

“During that very specific day, the roles of the masters and their servants were reversed. Servants were the masters for a day, and the masters had to act as their servants, obeying to their wishes and commands. And all the nobles with no exception took part in it, and just had to accept their servants bossing them around,” Gwaine explained happily.

Over the table, smiles began to spread among the knights’ faces. Arthur stared blankly at Gwaine.

“We are not doing such thing.”

“Why not?” he complained.

“Because it’s ridiculous, that’s why. What kind of stupid tradition is that?”

“A seemingly old one, I’m afraid, sire,” Leon piped up.

Arthur looked at him in disbelieve. Surely, Leon would not agree with Gwaine’s proposal, would he?

His first knight cleared his throat.

“My father used to tell me stories about it. Everybody enjoyed it so much. He had a servant he was friends with, they were almost like you and Merlin.”

Arthur felt his ears burn.

“Merlin and I are not exactly friends. And it is a stupid tradition. I don’t think it’s something appropriate, or decent, or… I just don’t see the purpose of lifting the ban on a tradition like that! It would be going against my father’s laws for no reason at all.”

“Precisely,” Gwaine intervened again.

Arthur turned to look at him, frowning.

“Arthur, you’ll have to make your own decisions. To enact your own laws. You’ve already made many changes, and I know you plan on changing some rules. Well. This is a good way to start. It’s nothing important, nothing scandalous. It’s just fun. People like having fun.”

“I think he has just made a point here,” Elyan remarked thoughtfully. “You'd be showing your people that you are not like your father, that you are closer to the people and you respect their traditions. You'd be lifting a ban which is not relevant at all, but that could seem as so. It's a good idea. It would give the people a glimpse of what they could expect from your reign. I thought I’d never say that but… yeah, I agree with Gwaine.”

Gwaine winked at his fellow knight. Arthur looked around.

“Me too,” Percival shrugged when Arthur’s eyes found his. “It’s a pretty good idea. And it sounds like fun. I’m into it.”

“You are all nobles, you know that? You'd have to participate with your servants,” Arthur pointed out.

They all shrugged and nodded their agreement.

“Okay…, let’s vote, then,” Arthur decided with a frown, not sure at all about the whole thing.

Almost the whole table raised their hands. Only a pair of old knights who had served his father seemed to dislike the idea.

“Right then. Fools’ Day is a thing now. It will be celebrated in… uhm… when should we be celebrating it?”

“May I suggest the equinox?” Gwaine asked innocently.

Arthur looked around, in the search for other proposals or opinions.

“The spring equinox would be a perfect occasion,” Leon nodded. “There are many festivities in the villages, and it would be a good way to welcome spring here in the citadel.”

“It’s agreed, then. Spring equinox it is. We will have our Fools’ Day.”

“Brilliant,” Gwaine clapped, far too delighted for Arthur’s liking.

And then it hit him. He would have to participate in this damned thing as well. He would have to be Merlin’s servant for a whole day. That was why Leon had mentioned Merlin, and Arthur had panicked and got defensive for no reason whatsoever (but it had been Leon, right? Leon always seemed to… Damn).

His knights had conspired against him and had fooled him like the idiot he was. Betrayed once more by his most trusted people.

Arthur was the stupidest man on earth. Merlin had been right about him the whole time.

*****

“It’s Merlin’s idea, isn’t it?” he growled between gritted teeth and glowering at Gwaine when the meeting was finally over.

“Oh, no, it isn’t. Elyan read about it and I thought it would be a great idea. It’s my idea. My own brilliant idea. But I’m sure Merlin will love it, don’t worry. In fact, it’s my birthday present for him.”

“Birthday?”

“Yes, sire. His birthday is on the spring equinox. Didn’t you know that?”

“Of course I did,” Arthur lied.

Of course Arthur did not know. He had assumed peasants did not keep record of their birthdays. They did not even have surnames, did they? It made sense, though, that Merlin knew when he had been born, if that was the day Merlin had opened his eyes to this world. As Leon has said, almost all villages held festivities on the equinox to welcome spring. It was an easy date to remember. Hunith, that amazing woman, could have never forgotten it.

And of course Merlin had loved the idea of the Fools’ Day. All his face had lit, and a mischievous and dumb grin had spread all over his beaming face, and Arthur’s heart had fluttered a little bit. And for a moment he had thought that the idea was not that bad. But obviously he had been terribly wrong.

Because, from that moment on, Merlin used that day as a threat every time Arthur was being a bit… Arthur.

“Ah, yeah, good idea for my Fools’ Day. I’m taking notes, you know. I already have a list.”

“Fools’ Day is ahead, remember?”

“Oh, I cannot wait to be ordering you around.”

“Finally, you’ll understand how awful it is to do all the chores for someone who never has the consideration to say thank you. Not even once.”

“You shouldn’t be so pleased, you know.” Arthur grunted once in a while. “Have you registered the name of this stupid day? FOOLS’ Day. It is basically calling you a fool, and you are accepting it so easily.”

“I don’t care, as long as I get to take up your role for a day,” he always said with a naughty grin that made Arthur shiver.

Arthur had tried to be nicer to Merlin for his own sake. He really had. However, he soon found that it was an impossible task for him. It was not in his nature to be nice to Merlin. That was not who he was. That was not who they were. Their relationship was based on banter and sarcasm and Arthur loved it as it was. That was what he had liked about Merlin from the very first day he had met him: that he could see him through his titles and treat him almost like an equal. Arthur could joke with him because he knew that Merlin would dare to give him a proper retort and make him feel less a royal prat and more an approachable human. Although… well, Arthur now could not help but wonder if Merlin saw their relationship in the same way as he did, if he even liked it. Merlin surely did not treat him just as his master, not even just as his king, but in the end that was what he was. They were not equals; between them there would always be an unbalance of power. Maybe it was not that fun being on the other side of their relationship, being the one who could be manhandled, and ordered, and…

Nonsense! Of course Merlin liked it. And Arthur could not be nice to him because Merlin was being so annoying about that damned day that he was driving Arthur mad.

*****

A week before the hideous day, Merlin was already nervous. Outrageously happy, prattling more than ever, bouncing around Arthur like an over-excited puppy.

“I already have everything planned,” he said, with such a radiant smile that Arthur could not look straight at him, because it was almost as blinding as staring at the sun. “Oh my God, it’s going to be the best day ever!”

“I beg to differ,” Arthur grunted.

“Oh, shut up, you’ll love it.”

“How am I supposed to love having you bossing me around?” he snapped.

“Well, I have somehow managed to enjoy being around you, haven’t I?” Merlin replied happily. “Just remember. That day, I’ll be the one to decide everything. I’ll decide what we’ll do. Isn’t that exciting?”

“That was not the word I was thinking of.”

Merlin snorted but did not let Arthur’s mood lower his spirit. Which Arthur took as a personal offence.

“Look, I have so many important duties to attend and I have a kingdom to rule. I am constantly careworn. Forgive me if I’m not looking forward to a stupid day that will be a complete waste of precious time.”

“Arthur, you are so boring.”

“No, Merlin, if you haven’t noticed, it happens that I am a king now. And I have a full bag of new responsibilities I couldn’t even have imagined I’d have. I haven’t had a day rest since I became king. And now, apparently, I am supposed to spend a whole day fiddling around with my idiotic servant. If you really want me not to hate that day, you’ll do well to let me mind my own business.”

“I will certainly not,” Merlin said, crossing his arms over his chest.

*****

The wicked day finally came, and Merlin greeted Arthur with a smug grin Arthur would have loved to kis-- KICK out of his face.

“What do you look so pleased about? I’ll tell you, being me is not that nice,” Arthur said from his bed, eyeing him warily.

“Ah. Well, bad news. Being me is far worse. Finally, you’ll get to comprehend how awful it is to serve an absolute prat.”

“You won’t have to pretend, then. You already are a prat.”

“Ah, no, that’s your personal title. From now on, during this day, you are my prat-servant.”

“Merlin, you cannot address me—"

“Of course I can. Don’t forget what day is today.”

“I hate today.”

“Yes, my prat-servant. I know that. I hate all days.”

“You should be careful, then. If you take this too far on the line, I will make your life a living hell.”

“You already do. It wouldn’t mean any difference at all. So, I’ll just have the best of days today, and if I die tomorrow, who cares. I will die happy.”

Arthur’s guts flinched at the mention of Merlin dying, but he tried to ignore them.

“Death would be too sweet. I will not make it that easy to you,” he groaned.

“Perfect. Me neither,” Merlin said, beaming. “Now, get your fat, lazy arse out of my bed.”

“Excuse me?”

As soon as Arthur got up, Merlin appropriated his bed. He jumped on it like a little child, and giggled, and curled under the sheets, and hugged the cushions with an extremely pleased sigh all the while Arthur looked at him helplessly.

“Aaah, now I understand why you never want to get out of this bed in the mornings,” Merlin yawned. “Jeez, it is far too comfortable. It can’t be healthy.”

“You are an idiot.”

“Careful, you are talking to your master.”

“So? You call me idiot on a daily basis. If I am to be you, I’ll have to do it as well.”

Merlin chuckled.

“Fair enough. Where is my breakfast?” he commanded with a dramatical frown.

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Merlin mocked. “Go and fetch it then! What are you waiting for?”

“I swear…” Arthur growled, slamming the door shut as he left the room.

Merlin always served him breakfast late. So Arthur took his time to take it to Merlin as well. Surprisingly, Merlin did not complain. He just ate it with so much delight that Arthur wondered what he used to have for breakfast.

“Oh my God this is scrumptious,” Merlin said with full cheeks, still shamelessly sprawling on Arthur’s bed.

Arthur stared at him with a frown. He had not meant to give him a delicious banquet whatsoever. Just a few slices of cheese, bread and fruits. Actually, he had intended it to be a bit infuriating.

But Merlin was enjoying it so much that Arthur began to feel slightly guilty. Seriously, what the hell did Merlin use to eat? Yes, he was scrawny, but Arthur had never thought that he could be eating too little. His frown deepened as Arthur thought that he should have brought him a true breakfast with pies and butter and jam.

“What do you normally have for breakfast?” he finally asked.

“Porridge,” Merlin answered giving a bit to an apple. “That’s when I have the time to have breakfast.”

“What?”

“Well, I normally prefer to sleep a little longer.”

"Ah, now I understand why you look on the verge of fainting during the training sessions every so often.”

His servant was a helpless idiot with zero self-preservation instincts. No news there.

“I’ll have the cook serve you a proper breakfast from now on,” he decided. “And you’ll have to eat it if you wish to remain at my service.”

Merlin smiled at him.

“Oh, have you already begun to be nicer? This day is going to be terrific,” he joked with a grin, but then his smile softened. “Thank you, Arthur. That’s pretty sweet, actually.”

“No, it’s practical,” Arthur dismissed with a snort. “I have no use of a servant who is too weak to do his chores properly.”

“Sure. Whatever you say,” Merlin muttered as he gnawed the rests of his apple.

And with that, he jumped out of the bed full of excited energy.

“Perfect! Now, time to get dressed.”

Arthur looked at him grimly.

“You are already dressed,” he noticed.

“Well, I’m wearing my clothes, yes. But I want to try yours today.”

“They won’t fit you.”

“I don’t care. They seem warm and soft. I want to try them.”

“I’m not going to get you dressed,” Arthur warned stubbornly.

“You won’t have to,” Merlin assured him, rising his chin smugly. “I am a full-functioning adult and, unlike some nobles here, I know how to get dressed on my own.”

Arthur spent the following minutes swearing and grunting, looking for clean clothes for Merlin. Merlin wanted a red shirt, and brown breeches, and a pair of well-polished boots. But, as he had promised, he got dressed on his own, although Arthur could not help but stare at him with interest during the whole process. Now that he realised, he had never seen Merlin’s naked torso before. It was a bit unsettling, considering that Merlin got to see him naked daily. To Arthur’s surprise, Merlin was not as skinny as he looked. Sure, he was thin, but he was not only skin and bones. He had well-defined muscles, and Arthur had to admit that he was not completely unpleasant to look at. He almost looked like a marble sculpture, with his incredibly pale skin and his unexpected perfect sizes. Those Greek artists would have loved to have him as a model.

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

Arthur blushed inevitably.

“Well, you certainly should be looking at something.”

“Excuse me?” Arthur blurted.

“Have you seen the state of this floor? It needs urgent washing.”

“Merlin…”

“What? Hey, you said you knew how to use a cloth and a bucket. Go, show me and show off, as usual.”

“I hate you.”

“Ah, now you know what my exact thoughts are each morning.”

Arthur automatically learned where these implausible muscles came from. Washing the floor was actually exhausting, and despite all his training with the sword, his arms soon felt sore. And his knees ached against that cold and hard as a stone floor; they would be bruised the next day, Arthur was sure of it.

Thankfully, Merlin had a wimpy heart made of gold, and he soon took pity of Arthur.

“Okay. That’s enough. Leave it there,” he said with a compassionate smile.

Arthur would have loved to feel relieved or happy, but he just felt… bad. For Merlin. He had to do that every day, and all he did in return was to be a big prat. Perfect.

“Are you done with your dressing up?” he asked eyeing Merlin.

The shirt was surely too wide for him, but Merlin looked so down-right happy in it that he almost looked handsome. Red fit him quite well, Arthur noticed.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said with a slightly shy smile.

Oh, gods, he was cute, wasn’t he?

“Your hair is still a mess,” Arthur pointed out though.

It looked like a dark nest indeed.

“Oh. I’ll have to comb it, then. Wait… Would you like to do that?”

“To do what?”

“To comb my hair.”

Arthur stood up with a sigh.

“Do I really have to?”

“Well, I suppose you don’t. It’s just…” Merlin blushed. “I loved it when my mum played with my hair as a child. I think no one has touched my hair ever since. I kind of miss it.”

Merlin shot him an ashamed glance and shook his head.

 “Forget about it, it doesn’t matter.”

Arthur looked at him, overcome with a sudden wave of fondness.

“Right. Come here. Sit down.”

“I’m the one giving the orders today, remember?”

“Oh, shut up.”

Merlin finally obeyed and Arthur started to comb his stupid but incredibly soft hair. It should not be soft with all those messy curls, should it? Well, it was. Somehow, it was.

Merlin closed his eyes and hummed while Arthur stroke his hair, and the king could not help but fiddle around with his dark locks more time than it was strictly necessary. It was nice, to make Merlin feel good for once. Arthur found himself rubbing the tips of his fingers through the head of the boy, feeling strangely happy every time Merlin purred his comfort.

“I’d better stop now before you fall asleep,” Arthur finally said, grudgingly moving his hands away from Merlin’s smooth hair and returning the comb to its drawer. “I think you finally have a more decent appearance.”

“Thank you,” Merlin said with a bright smile, and Arthur wondered if the scarce thanks he rarely granted Merlin made his heart grow as wide as Arthur’s heart felt right now.

 “Well. Can we go now to do whatever outrageous thing you’ve planned for today?” he asked after clearing his throat.

“Yes. As soon as you’ve changed your clothes too.”

“What?”

Merlin gestured towards his own clothes, which he had carefully folded on Arthur’s bed.

“You want me to put on your clothes?” Arthur asked in disbelieve.

“Yeah!” Merlin nodded with a grin. “I wear yours, and you wear mine. It will be fun.”

“I don’t see how wearing these rags could be fun,” he retorted wrinkling his nose.

“Don’t be boring. Come on. Put these on. They are freshly washed.”

“You were wearing them this morning!”

“Well, just for an hour or so. It doesn’t really count.”

“Merlin…”

“Arthur…”

“God, I swear I’ll forbid this day as soon as it’s over.”

Arthur had no option but to dress in Merlin’s servant clothes. And, to his surprise, they fit him. It made sense, though.  They always looked loose on Merlin, and since they had a similar height, they adjusted well to Arthur’s body.

Merlin looked at him and giggled.

“Don’t forget the neckerchief,” he said, amused.

Arthur grabbed it and tied it on his nape aggressively whilst glaring at Merlin.

“And now, please, be a good boy and make your bed.”

*****

The damned neckerchief smelled like Merlin. All his clothes smelled like Merlin. Arthur should not have known how Merlin smelled, but he did. He smelled like spring, like old parchments, like potions and like pastries. And all these aromas, Merlin’s aromas, wrapped him in a dizzying fluffiness all the way he followed Merlin through the corridors of the castle.

They were still warm too. The clothes had kept Merlin’s warmth. Arthur should have found this disgusting, but he did not. Not in the slightest. It was strange, but Merlin’s smell and warmth somehow made him feel safe. Made him feel home.

So, no, objectively speaking, Merlin’s clothes were not comfortable. But, at the same time, they were soft and warm as a hug. And Arthur felt happily cosy in them. Although he kept furrowing his brow for good measure.

“Will the knights be joining us?” he asked, struggling to keep a bad mood.

“No. They are busy with the rest of the servants’ wishes,” Merlin explained happily.

They indeed were. They found Gwaine in the main corridor, having his hair braided by three little giggling girls who would surely be some maid’s daughters. In the courtyard, a bunch of excited boys was waiting in a row to challenge Percival, who was mercilessly twisting arms all over the place. Leon was making pastries in the kitchens with a shockingly peaceful expression, and he merrily offered them some as they passed by.

Everyone looked relaxed and happy. Servants were running and laughing and wearing colouring and expensive clothes. They vowed mockingly at Merlin with a “Your Majesty” when they walked into him, and then giggled shyly when they took in Arthur’s attire. Merlin was radiantly happy. Arthur began to wonder what kind of atrocities he would have planned to do to him. Using him as a human target (and, given his awful aim, that was alarming at the least), putting him in the stocks, throwing buckets full of frozen water over him… The list of possibilities was endless, and Arthur was starting to regret everything he used to put Merlin through. At least, he thought as he looked around, everyone seemed to be quite busy and probably no one would witness his public humiliation.

To his surprise, Merlin took him to the royal stables. Elyan was there, replacing the horseshoes of an old mule accompanied by an equally old servant.

“Hey, look at you. You really look kingly!” he told Merlin with a smile. “And you…” he added, turning to look at Arthur. “Surprisingly, you don’t look that bad.”

“Thanks, I guess?”

“Let’s saddle a couple of horses,” Merlin beckoned with his eternal smile.

Arthur went to say hello to his favourite stallion, while Merlin hugged lovingly the head of the mare he had practically adopted ever since he arrived in Camelot. In Arthur’s opinion, Merlin spoiled her a bit too much, and so he stared at him with a disapproving frown.

“Come on. Ready your horse. I’ll deal with mine,” Merlin said.

Both horses were soon saddled and ready to be rode.

“See? If you could just help a little bit more, we’d do everything much faster,” Merlin said with a cheeky smirk.

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Shut up, Merlin. I don’t expect you to understand, since you are no noble in real life. You don’t have the slightest notion of nobility, decency or dignity.”

Elyan snorted rather indignantly, but Merlin just shook his head.

“If you mean that I know nothing about how to be a spoiled, arrogant brat, then you are absolutely right, my prat-servant.”

Elyan suffocated a chuckle and Arthur glared in his direction, just to find that the hindquarters of the mule covered him.

“Come on, now. Let’s get out of here before it is too late.”

Arthur and Merlin rode towards the gates of the citadel, where a pair of nobles were waiting for them. One of them handed Merlin a basket, and the other was holding the leash of Arthur’s dogs, Zeus and Lady.

“What the hell?” Arthur blurted as the man handed the leash to Merlin. “Are we going on a hunting trip?”

Merlin turned his head to look at him with bulging eyes.

“Do you really think I would spend MY day on a hunting trip? You really don’t know me at all, do you, Arthur?” he snapped indignantly.

Arthur shifted uncomfortably.

“I know you don’t like hunting, Merlin,” Arthur stammered. “That’s why I am surprised.”

“Don’t be an idiot, then, and stop doing stupid questions,” Merlin said, and for the first time in the morning he sounded as if he was on the verge of losing his patience.

Arthur could not think of an appropriate retort, because he got distracted by his dogs, who were running around his horse, bouncing their tails and barking happily. Arthur could not help but jump off to stroke their little heads, and he received their wet licks with a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve missed you too,” he told them with a wide grin.

When Arthur lifted his head, he was met by Merlin’s soft eyes and sweet smile.

“I knew it,” he said.

“Knew what?”

But Merlin merely shook his head, still smiling, and beckoned him to get back onto his horse.

They rode through the forest, chatting and joking, with the two dogs running around them and chasing the birds they came across. The day was sunny and warm, matching perfectly Merlin’s mood. He was… beaming. He seemed to shine like the sun itself, all bright smiles and sparkly eyes and light comments, and he was making Arthur feel happier than he had been… Well, he was not even able to remember when he had last felt that good. For a while, he even forgot that he was the king of Camelot, and that he bore the weight of the whole kingdom on his shoulders. For a while, he was just Arthur, hanging out with Merlin. And, damn, that was nice. That was perfect.

“We are almost there,” Merlin announced after a while.

He instructed Arthur to get off his horse and tie it to a tree, and then the two of them, with their two dogs at their heels, made the last part of the journey on foot, venturing through the forest.

“Where are we going, exactly?” Arthur asked.

“Just wait and see.”

After a few minutes of hard walking, the trees gently stepped aside, welcoming them with their branches to a hidden clearing, and Arthur suddenly found himself in what seemed to be a stolen piece of paradise. There was a small waterfall, nurturing a pond of crystal-clear waters. The willows’ branches caressed longingly the surface of the water, and a myriad of butterflies and dragonflies fluttered around, making the mirroring waters glow with all the colours of the world. Beside the shores of the pond a few cushions and a rug waited for them.

“What is this?” Arthur asked in awe.

“Surprise!”

Arthur turned around to look at his servant, who had the brightest of smiles on display.

“Come on, let’s prepare the picnic,” Merlin said.

Zeus and Lady got tired of waiting for instructions and went to explore the clearing. It was not long before they were splashing in the waters.

“Ah, I knew they’d love it,” Merlin said happily, nodding approvingly in the dogs’ direction. “Dogs love water.”

“So, this is all because you wanted my dogs to have a bath? You know there’s a lake much nearer Camelot, don’t you?”

To his surprise, Merlin shivered, and his expression became sombre.

“I hate that lake”, he muttered under his breath.

Seeing true sorrow and pain in Merlin’s eyes, Arthur did not have the heart to ask why. Instead, he cleared his throat.

“Well, Merlin, I knew you were a girl. I just didn’t know you were to such extent. Seriously, this looks like the date of a lovestruck princess.”

Merlin looked at him, his expression glitching between annoyance and embarrassment.

“Well. In fact…” he started, and Arthur’s heart began beating unhealthily fast. “I had planned for you to meet Guinevere here.”

His words felt like a punch in the pit of his stomach.

“You what?”

“Yeah. I knew you would never agree to meet with her because you are too proud and arrogant. And I just wanted to help you make amends. I thought… I thought this was a great opportunity to help you forgive her and, and… and get back together. But Gwen, she… She was too ashamed. She refused to come. But I thought we could come anyways. You deserve a day rest.”

Arthur stared at him bewildered, not even knowing how to feel.

“You… You chose to spend you day on me? To help me make amends with Gwen?”

“Yeah,” Merlin said, lowering his gaze. “I hate seeing you unhappy. But it seems you’ll have to settle for my company,” he added with a weak smile.

Arthur’s heart ached. Merlin’s smiles ought to be full, true and brilliant. Never sad, never weak.

“Merlin, you are a fool. And you definitely need to stop planning my life behind my back.”

Merlin looked away, visibly ashamed, and Arthur sighed.

“Listen. I need you to understand that I banished Gwen because I don’t want to see her anymore. At least, not for now. I felt terribly betrayed, Merlin, and seeing her would only mean hurt, because I’m not ready to forgive her. I don’t know if I’ll ever be, but now I just… can’t. Not yet.”

“I understand,” Merlin mumbled.

“And I wouldn’t have liked the surprise, had this soppy picnic included her. God help me, but I rather much spend the day here with you than with her.”

Merlin’s features lit up.

“Well, I hoped you wouldn’t find it too awful. I just wanted you to relax and have a nice day, with or without Gwen. You are too stressed now that you are king. And I knew you’d have never accepted to take a day off if it hadn’t been for this fortunate Fools’ Day. It was my only chance to take you out of Camelot.”

Arthur chuckled softly.

“So, you definitely wasted your day on me.”

“No! Let’s say… it’s an inversion. It would make my life as a servant easier, if you were not in a terrible mood all day.”

Arthur shook his head with a grin and helped Merlin unpack the picnic.  

“And what are the dogs for?” he asked, amused.

“Ah. Well. I fancied taking them for an activity that wouldn’t involve slaughtering innocent animals for a change. And I know you love your dogs. I thought you’d fancy spending time with them too.”

Of course. Soft, pure hearted Merlin. How had Arthur even dared to think that Merlin would use his Fools’ Day to make his life a little bit miserable? How could the possibility of Merlin taking revenge and making Arthur pay for all the shit he made him go through have even crossed his mind? Only his stupid Merlin would devote his day to plan a surprise for Arthur, to try to make him happy.

His stupid and loyal and endearing Merlin.

*****

The meal included Arthur’s favourite food and pastries. And lunch included, too, funny anecdotes, and cheeky retorts, and more laughing than Arthur could recall having had in all his life. By the time the desserts were nothing but crumbs that the dogs were licking greedily, Arthur’s belly ached and his eyes were full of tears, but it did not matter how much he begged for Merlin to stop; Merlin would not stop gesturing wildly and exaggerating all his extraordinary tales and anecdotes.

Then Merlin had started to foolishly play with Zeus and Lady. He ran around the clearing chased by them, rolling on the grass every time they caught him, which was way too often. He then allowed them to lick him all over his thin face, squirming under their wet noses and filling the clearing with his musical laughter. After watching the spectacle for a while with an amused smile, Arthur could not help but join him, although everything was undoubtedly childish. And just like he used to do as a child, he threw sticks to his beloved dogs, who always brought them back to him, solicitous, even if that meant venturing in the waters of the pond and ending up completely wet.

Merlin and Arthur had seen it coming, but that did not prevent it from happening. The dogs shook themselves dried getting Merlin and Arthur completely soaked in the process. After the giggles and the complains, the king and his servant looked at each other, grinning. And, without a word, they let out a war cry and ran towards the pond. Merlin was the first to trip over and fall into the water, and Arthur followed him shortly after.

The water was freezing cold, but they would not stop splashing and wrestling so that the chill would not reach their bones, which were vibrating with laugher instead.

Exhausted, they finally crawled to the shore and lay breathing heavily, their chests raising and falling rhythmically. They stayed there for a while, in a comfortable silence, letting the sun rays warm their clothes and bones.

*****

“Wait”, Merlin whispered after a while, and then he returned with a pair of cushions and a huge book in his hands.

“What’s that? Gaius’s anatomy treaty?” Arthur asked, alarmed.

“Shut up and listen.”

Merlin started reading, his deep and soft voice tickling Arthur’s stomach:

“Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son, Achilles…”

The Iliad. His favourite book as a child. Arthur felt his heart sink in nostalgy, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. He wondered how Merlin knew but said nothing. Merlin always seemed to know everything about him. So Arthur just closed his eyes, and lost himself in the world the magical voice of Merlin built for him.

He could see with all clarity the helmets of all the great warriors, their shining armours, their righteous faces. He could smell the blood and the sweat, and hear their screams, and feel their loss…

As a child, Arthur had always had a soft spot for Hector: the perfect son, the perfect prince, the perfect hero. He had always dreamt of being as noble as Hector of Troy. But now, as he listened, and listened, and listened, he found he could finally understand Achilles’s wrath and pain. He would also lose his mind, should anything bad happen to Merlin. The whole story hit differently now.

Now that he had found his Patroclus. Now that he had Merlin.

Merlin kept reading, and for once the kingdom that was under attack was not Camelot, but Troy. For once, others were the warriors who put their life at stake. And, in the end, Troy irremediably fell, and the greatest heroes of both sides died, victims of their destiny, regardless they were the main characters of the story. That was what Arthur had always liked about the Iliad. It was realistic. It was cruel, and it was sad. As life itself.

“Sorry,” Merlin said as he carefully closed the book. “On second thoughts, maybe the Iliad was not the best choice for reading. I should have brought the Odyssey instead.”

“No,” Arthur replied in a hoarse voice. “No. I loved it. Thank you, Merlin.”

Merlin nodded and gave him a grateful smile.

“Come on,” Merlin whispered with a gentle touch on his shoulder. “It’s getting late. Time to go home.”

*****

It was strange, getting back to Camelot, getting back to his life. A part of Arthur would have loved to stay in that clearing with Merlin forever, listening to him reading, forgetting everything else. His chest felt light, extremely light, as if Merlin’s company had managed to clean and fade all the stains that his heart had gained over the last years. As if Merlin had managed to heal some of the wounds he had thought no one could ever heal. He felt young again. He felt… important. But not because he was a king, but because he was important to someone.

He felt loved.

The castle was still as noisy and crazy as it had been before they had parted, and Arthur marvelled at the fact that Merlin had chosen to drag him far away from all that collective fun, and built a bubble where Arthur would feel as comfortable and safe as when he was a little child who knew nothing about policy and responsibility and pain.

Arthur had thought he appreciated Merlin.

Arthur wondered now what he had done to deserve the devotion of the most caring and loving man who had ever walked the earth.

When they reached Arthur’s chambers, the king was surprised by the sight of Gwaine leaving them carrying a pair of buckets.

“Ah, His Royal Majesty Merlin”, he greeted with a reverential bow. “I have come to prepare you a warm bath. There is a slight chill in the air, this evening.”

Merlin suffocated a chuckle.

“Your imitation of George is terrific,” he snorted.

“George?” Arthur said with a frown.

“One of the servants. You don’t know him,” Merlin clarified.

“Lucky you.” Gwaine smiled. “Can you imagine? He refused to take part in the Fools’ Day. I bet he is crying in his rooms, waiting for this terrible day to end.”

“George LOVES being a servant,” Merlin explained again.

“I think it’s some kind of condition. Anyways. You’ve got a warm bath ready and waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Gwaine. You didn’t have to bother.”

“Ah, my pleasure. It’s nice to have such a sensitive and appreciative master, Your Highness”, he told Merlin with a grin, and left whistling happily, not without winking with insolence in Arthur’s direction. 

“Always so disrespectful. I don’t even know why I put up with him,” Arthur sighed, shaking his head.

“Same reason you put up with me.”

“Same mystery.”

Merlin laughed and opened the door with a content sigh.

“Quite convenient, though. Never thought Gwaine could be that thoughtful. A bath will do well to you after the whole day in the forest. Not to mention that you still stink like a wet dog.”

Arthur frowned.

“Wait, no. You are the master today, and the bath is for you. Gwaine has prepared it for you, not for me.”

“Never mind,” Merlin dismissed with a vague wave of his hand. “Never had a bath before. I think I’ll stick to my cloth and bucket.”

“You what? You’ve never had a bath before?” Arthur asked dumbfounded.

“Well. Not in a bathtub,” Merlin specified. “And not with warm water. I’m a peasant, remember? Baths are a luxury we just cannot afford.”

“Well…” Arthur mumbled. “You can afford it now.”

“Don’t worry, Arthur. I’m not even sure I’d like it. Come on, get in before the water cools.”

Arthur remembered how much Merlin had enjoyed all those little things he took for granted, like his comfortable bed or his breakfast, all those little pleasures Arthur enjoyed every day that were not available for Merlin. He remembered the way Merlin had closed his eyes and relished under his fingers as he had combed his hair. He thought about how he had gone out of his way to make Arthur happy for a day, when it was supposed to be Merlin’s day. And he folded his arms over his chest.

“Merlin of Ealdor. You are going to have a bath.”

Merlin cocked an amused eyebrow and looked at him.

“Is that an order?” he inquired with his ordinary amount of impertinence, which, for once, was completely justified. “What if I order you to have a bath?”

“Then I’ll say that I won’t have a bath unless you have one too. Which wouldn’t be a great idea, considering the way we stink.”

Merlin grinned, his eyebrow going even higher.

“So, are you suggesting we have a bath together?”

Arthur shrugged.

“There’s plenty of space in that bathtub. And we can keep our undergarments. If that’s the only way you’ll be having a bath… Then yes, that’s what I am suggesting.”

Merlin barked a laugh.

“Right then. Deal. Let’s have a bath. But then do not complain, if Leon sees us and starts making wild assumptions.”

“What about Leon?” Arthur squeaked in alarm.

Merlin laughed even louder.

*****

Merlin stepped carefully into the bath, only dipping his big toe at the beginning, not seeming confident at all. Arthur watched him, amused.

“It’s hot water. It’s not going to eat you.”

“I don’t know. It looks pretty much like a coffin full of boiling water to me.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

“Always so optimistic. A coffin. What a beautiful comparation.”

Merlin ignored him and sat down slowly. A shiver run through his spine as he settled himself in the bathtub.

“Well?”

“It’s not… unpleasant.”

Arthur laughed and joined him.

“Oh, yeah,” he sighed, satisfied, entwining his hands behind his neck and resting his head on them.

Beside him, Merlin remained silent.

“Any problem?”

“It’s strange.”

“Strange?”

“Yes. Having part of the body warm. While the rest, shoulders and neck, are cold. Like, really cold.”

“You are so weird,” Arthur opined, opening his eyes to look at Merlin and taking in the goose flesh that decorated his pale arms and shoulders. “But it has an easy solution.”

And, without warning, he pushed Merlin’s head into the water. The boy came out waving frantically his hands, coughing, laughing and splitting water, all at the same time.

“Are you mad!”, he yelled, choking. “Dollopheaded arse! I could have died!”

Arthur laughed at the top of his lungs.

“Don’t be so theatrical and come here. You look utterly ridiculous.”

He reached Merlin’s head with his hands, in an attempt to dye Merlin’s messy wet hair.

“Can’t have a noble looking so shabby, can we?” he chirped, making all his efforts to make him look even worse.

“Stop it,” Merlin protested, but he did nothing to prevent Arthur from messing with his hair.

And it was in that precise moment that someone knocked on the door, and Leon’s head popped in.

“Sire?”

Arthur froze in the spot, his hands still tangled in Merlin’s hair.

“Leon,” Merlin greeted cheekily.

The knight shot them an amused glance, and Arthur suddenly felt the incontrollable urge to kill himself.

“We were…”

“He was…”

“I was teaching him some Physics.” That was what Merlin came up with.  

“Physics?” the knight echoed, fighting to supress a smirk.

“Yeah… Archimedes, you know.”

“Density,” Arthur contributed.

“Floatability.”

“Those things.”

“Right. I'll just leave your supper here, Merlin, so you can continue with your Physics.”

As soon as Leon left, Merlin and Arthur looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“You knew he was coming!” Arthur accused, panting.

“Yeah, I did,” Merlin confessed, which earned him another visit to the bottom of the bathtub.

When he emerged again, rubbing his eyes and alternating coughs with laughter, Arthur stared at his friend with the widest of grins in his face, his expression reflecting all the joy and affection that filled his heart.

“I’m lucky to have you,” he said, softly.

Merlin startled a little and looked at him, amazed. Then he lowered his gaze, blushing slightly, and focused on the trails his long fingers kept drawing on the surface of the water.

“I’m lucky to have you too,” he muttered at last, fixing his eyes on Arthur again.

“No. That’s not true. You don’t mean that. I... I get it. I’m not easy to put up with.”

“No, that’s not true.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow and Merlin sighed.

“Well, yes, you are sometimes difficult to put up with, right. But… I like it. It’s part of who you are. Prince prat before, king prat now. My King Prat. I like the way you are, Arthur. And I like being your servant and getting to spend time with you. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“How can you say that?” Arthur asked, incredulous. “After everything… After everything I put you through. After everything you’ve done for me today.”

“Because it’s true,” Merlin said with a sincere shrug. “Over the years, I’ve come to know you, Arthur, and to accept and appreciate you just the way you are. And you are much more than a prat. You are brave, you are selfless, you are fair. And you are caring, no matter how much you try to hide it. You are a prat sometimes? Sure. But it looks good in you. I guess… I’ve grown fond of you, Arthur Pendragon. Pratness and all.”

Arthur chuckled and looked at Merlin, his heart pumping nothing but fondness towards his servant. It rapidly spread all over his body, leaving no space for any other feeling.

“Well, I’ll deny having said this tomorrow, but… I suppose I’m a bit fond of you too.”

Merlin granted his words with his brightest of smiles, and Arthur felt his heart melt.

“See? I knew this day would be amazing.”

“I’ve actually loved it.” Arthur confessed, gently.

“I knew you would.”

“And you? Have you enjoyed?”

“More than I thought I would.”

“Good. But I still feel a bit bad.”

“Why?” Merlin asked with a worried frown.

“Because you turned it into something that almost seemed like a present to me. And that’s unfair.”

“Why is that unfair?”

“Because it’s your birthday.”

Merlin looked at him, all wide eyes and surprise reigning in all his features.

“How can you know?” he gaped.

“It’s my job to know everything.”

“That’s quite funny, because you never knew until now, and you certainly have no idea of half of the things that…”

“Merlin.”

“Yes?”

“Happy birthday,” Arthur said, handing him the small bouquet of flowers he had been hiding behind the bathtub. He had picked them up back in the forest while Merlin readied the horses, leaving with the pretext of having to answer the call of nature. He had selected the most beautiful flowers he could encounter, telling himself that he was doing it because it was Merlin’s birthday and the idiot liked flowers, and not for any other reason.

“Thank you, Arthur,” Merlin said, visibly touched.

He accepted the flowers and admired them as if they were some kind of precious gem instead of wildflowers. He took his time to caress all their petals, one by one, with delicacy. Arthur noticed that he was blinking too much, as if holding back tears.

And he did not know what came over him, but before he could stop himself, Arthur leaned into Merlin and pressed a lingering kiss on his wet forehead.

“I’m really looking forward to Fools’ Day next year,” he confessed when he parted, looking at Merlin with a tender smile.

His servant stared at him with blushed cheeks and enraptured eyes.

“Me too…”