Merlin slammed the door to Arthur's chambers as he entered after his master, seething.

Arthur looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"Ever heard of being a little careful, Merlin?" He asked.

Before Merlin could respond, Arthur dumped a huge pile of dirty clothes in his arms.
"I need these washed, dried and laid out for me for tomorrow evening. Our royal guests from Islea are arriving and I need them ready for the welcome feast." Merlin staggered under the weight of the washing, dropping a couple of socks. Arthur threw up his hands.
"For goodness' sake, Merlin, I'll pick them up, shall I?" He bent down and retrieved the socks, adding them back to the load, muttering "absolutely useless..." He sighed dramatically.
"Then I need you to polish my ceremonial sword," he continued, placing the sword on top of the clothes in Merlin's arms, "and do it properly, Merlin," he added, "not the shoddy job you usually do of my armour."
Next he lifted added a pair of boots. Merlin practically shook to keep standing.
"These need polishing too, and what did you do with that barrel you were supposed to clean?"

"In Gaius' chambers, that's what I was-"

"I want you to take it down to the kitchens and fill it with our finest mead. Then take it to the banquet hall."

"Ah, oka-"

"And Merlin?"

Merlin just about managed to raise his head from under the colossal weight of Arthur's clothes, boots and sword, to see Arthur looking at him sternly.

"Can you do something for me?"

Merlin had just about had enough of doing chores for the prince without getting any acknowledgment, but this sounded like something more personal, something that Arthur wanted Merlin's opinion on as more than... Just a servant.

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Will you make sure you're polite and welcoming to the guests? Let's just say I know you're usual manners aren't... Tip-top- both the Isleans and I will expect you to be on your best behavior."
Arthur grinned.
"It'll only be for a week or so, don't worry, then you can get back to being the clumsy, useless Merlin we all regret to know."

He playfully hit Merlin on the arm, leaving and shutting the door behind him.

Merlin dropped what he was holding and let his head fall back onto his shoulders with a long, frustrated sigh.

It was the last thing he wanted to do, but what choice did he have?

He set to work.