Merlin raced through the stone hallways in desperation. Arthur had sent for him ten minutes ago... right when Gaius decided the leech tank ought to be cleaned.

So, wiping the green slime off his face as he ran, unable to get the proper opportunity to wash, he burst into Arthur's chamber.

"Ah, Merlin, I need you to... what happened?" Arthur said, spinning around and looking his servant up and down in disgust.

Merlin grinned sheepishly. "Gaius wanted the leech tanks cleaned this morning, so when Leon came to get me I hadn't the time to wash." he explained. Arthur wrinkled his nose.

"Well, I need you to clean this shirt for the banquet tonight. My cousin just arrived from the nearby region of Cambria and my father wants her to have a grand welcome." he said, tossing Merlin an incredibly musty smelling red shirt with brass buttons and a pair of black pants.

Now it was Merlin's turn to wrinkle his nose. "Ugh, when was the last time these were cleaned?" he asked, thoroughly disgusted.

"Eh, some time last year, perhaps after a banquet." Arthur shrugged nonchalantly, busying himself with his belt. Merlin pushed the garment out in front of him and held his free hand in front of his nose protectively.

"Whenever it was, did it end in a food fight?"

Arthur laughed. "Don't they always? Oh, and don't forget to polish the buttons," he added, pushing a pair of leather boots into poor Merlin.

Merlin grunted in reply, and Arthur left the room. "Would it kill you to say please?" he mumbled under his breath.

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When Merlin finally returned to Gaius' chambers a few minutes later, he was laden with Arthur's wash and thoroughly put up with the lack of respect he was shown. He tossed the clothes onto a nearby bench and crossed the room to where Gaius, the court physician and his own mentor, was grinding herbs.

Merlin plopped down beside his mentor and sighed. "Prat." he muttered.

Gaius laughed. "Arthur taking you for all you're worth again is he."

A grunt was his reply.

Gaius chuckled and continued grinding. "Fetch me the thistle, would you?" he asked his young apprentice, jerking his thumb towards a shelf in the corner of the room.

Merlin nodded and stood, retrieving the said thistle. "What are you doing?" he questioned, holding a glass vial out.

"The Lady Morganna has requested her sleeping draught. It seems her nightmares have returned." Gaius explained, not looking up as he accepted the herb from Merlin and added it to the stone bowl, which was now frothing with a deep purple liquid. "And I suggest you set to work preparing Arthur's clothes. He will expect them soon, I am sure."

Merlin sighed again and fetched the reeking clothing. "As usual, you are correct." he retreated to his bedroom and closed the door softly.

As he gazed around the small apartment, which contained a trunk, a small bed, a chair, and a cupboard, he set the clothes on the floor and brought out a basin. He quickly checked his small window, (though he was certain no one could see him this high up in the castle) and incanted a charm. Instantly the basin was filled with steaming, soapy water. Merlin smiled to himself and dunked the clothes into the water. Next, he grabbed a scrub brush and charmed it, so that is would wash the clothes on its own. He grinned and knelt next to his bed, pulling up a loose floorboard under his bed and bringing out the book of incantations and spells Gaius had given him upon his arrival in Camelot. He laid on the bed, shifting to make himself comfortable, and began to read.

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Elsewhere in the castle, Lydia was getting ready for the banquet. Her servant, Serella, bustled about, retrieving dresses of all sorts for her mistress to appraise. She looked down on all of them.

"I have to make a good impression tonight, Serella!" she whined to her reflection in the full length mirror.

Serella, a young girl of about seventeen, with long, straight, light brown hair and piercing bright blue eyes, brought out the very last dress in her mistress' wardrobe. "What about this, M'lady?" she asked in her thick accent, holding up a jade green, floor length dress covered in lighter colored sequins. It was a fitted dress with lacy, quarter length sleeves, and the material flared at the bottom in almost a mermaid style. "It will complement your dark hair and green eyes well."

Lydia sighed. "Very well." she pouted. "If there is nothing else."

"No, M'lady, this is all." Serella said quietly.

Lydia grunted. "I must request new dresses from Uther. These are less than satisfactory."

Serella secretly rolled her eyes. Her mistress was the most ungrateful, selfish, downright ignorant person she had ever met. She helped Lydia out of her bright yellow gown and into the green. "Which shoes?" she asked.

"Honestly, with the selection they provide, I may as well go barefoot!" Lydia exclaimed dramatically, sighing loudly at the end.

Serella had to bite her tongue to keep from saying, "What? And that isn't even half of what a prat like you deserves?" but she stayed silent, slipping a pair of black heels onto her mistress' feet. Lydia got up and twirled, making the bottom of her elegant dress flare even more. "Oh, Serella," she began. "Bring me my diamond necklace from the cupboard."

"But, M'lady, are you sure you need it? I mean, it might be a bit much with..." but she was cut off.

"Serella!" Lydia screeched horridly. Serella had to fight herself desperately against covering her ears. "How many times must I tell you? That necklace shows I am wealthy, not a poor, horrid little street wretch like yourself! Now retrieve it, before I make Uther put you in the stocks for a month!"

Serella's eyes widened, and she did as she was told. Oh, how she would love to slap that airhead of a princess. She retrieved a rather large, gaudy diamond necklace from a locked cupboard with the key Lydia had entrusted her with. She placed it around her mistress' pale, almost sickly white neck and scrunched up her nose. But only briefly. As quickly as the look if dislike had come, it fled her face. She did not need yet another reason for Lydia to put her in the stocks.

"Now," Lydia exclaimed, clapping her hands together, "I will charm a king."