A Struggle

[weatherfeather.livejournal.com]

Author: weatherfeather
Title: A Struggle
Rating: PG
Pairing/s: Merlin & Arthur
Character/s: Arthur, Merlin
Summary: Merlin tries to get something out of Arthur.
Warnings: none
Word Count: 294
Prompt: #456 Tiny



"Merlin! Just get it out!"

"Relax, Arthur! I'm trying! It's not easy, you know?"

"It hurts! It must be huge!"

"You'll see when it comes out. Put your knee on the chair."

"Owwwwoooo!"

"What would your knights say if they could hear you complaining like this?"

"They would never see me in this situation, and they would never hear me complain like this. That's what you're for." Arthur looks over his shoulder at Merlin. "And if you ever tell them, Merlin, I will not hesitate to give you to them as their sword practice dummy for an entire month. I'll have Leon tie you to the post with only the outer shell of armor and a padding of hay to protect you."

"Keep holding the table with both hands. Leon won't like doing that. He's a great knight, but he has a sympathetic heart."

"But he'll follow orders."

Merlin redoubles his efforts.

"And you know it. Good. Now, get that thing out of me."

Merlin stands up suddenly. "Done!"

Arthur turns around. He squints at what's pinched between Merlin's forefinger and thumb. "It's...."

"It's a very tiny splinter, and you fussed about it more than you would have fussed if you'd had your arm chopped off in battle."

"It's...."

Merlin takes pity on Arthur's speechlessness. "I'm sure it was in the worst possible place and irritating you every time you moved your foot. Right? You're still Camelot's finest warrior."

"Don't condescend, Merlin. I know what I did."

"I won't tell the knights."

Arthur glares at him.

"Honest!"

Arthur leans in close to Merlin's ear. "Practice dummy," he whispers.

"L-let me get your sock and shoe back on, Sire," Merlin says, and he drops down into a crouch on the floor once again.