The Stables, Tuesday Afternoon

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

When it became painfully clear that there were no servants to help him in caring for Arthur's horse, Merlin found himself down in the stables. Mucking out a stall.

Destiny owed him big for this.

"How does one horse produce that much?" He asked--well, he asked the horses there. Not that they could answer him, of course.

[[Open, of course!]]

Comments

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

"I used to think they did it on purpose," Adora remarked, pausing in her walk to Spirit's stall to look in on the boy. "But Spirit promises he doesn't."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"...Spirit talks?"

Lady Aravis had been rather clear the talking horses weren't here!

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

"Only when he has something to say," Adora replied. "Which really isn't all that often. But then, none of the other horses talk, do they?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"None that I've heard before," Merlin admitted. She seemed so very sincere about it, he couldn't out right disbelieve her.

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

"I was just going to get Spirit out for some exercise, if you'd like to meet him," she offered. "Though I'm sure you'd hate to pause in your task." Was that a teasing tone?

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked down, flushing a bit in embarrassment. "I think I could manage to pull myself away from this grueling work."

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

Finally, someone who wasn't her was turning red. "Good, because if I don't get him and he hears me talking out here for too long I'll end up with a horse in my dorm room and I don't want to explain that to the floor."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"How would he get through the door," Merlin found himself asking before he could stop.

[fabulous-secret.livejournal.com]

"Well, there was a unicorn living in the very same room last semester, so I suppose it's rather large enough," Adora explained.

[outofthecage.livejournal.com]

"It is a sign of a healthy horse," Éowyn couldn't help but answer, giving the boy a smile as she came by. "He must be eating well."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Healthy and keeping me busy every morning," Merlin said, putting fresh hay down in the stall.

[outofthecage.livejournal.com]

"Good horses are worth the time," Éowyn insisted, not at all biased, really. "They show their appreciation by not throwing you when they're being ridden."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Not throwing Arthur," Merlin muttered. His own mount was... less inclined. Remembering his manners, he smiled at her. "I'm Merlin."

[outofthecage.livejournal.com]

"I'm Éowyn," she said, giving him a little curtsy. "Who is Arthur?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin chuckled and shook his head at the curtsy. "That would do for Prince Arthur," He supplied. "I'm just the manservant."

[outofthecage.livejournal.com]

"Does that mean I should not be respectful to you? I find it easier to treat everyone well until given a reason that I should not."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Respect?" Merlin perked up at that, smiling. "Well, I think I could handle that, Éowyn. Are you new here as well?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Would you like some help?" came a voice from around a corner.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin looked up, blowing a stray piece of hay away from his face. "Help? Oh, no, no--It's just messy work."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He snorted.

"I spent most of my childhood cleaning after animals. It's practically nostalgic for me. But if you'd like to do it on your own, I certainly won't bother you about it."

He came around and looked over some of the horses in the stable.

"New? Or was I worse than I thought last semester?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"New!" Merlin confirmed, leaning against the stall door as this offered a break. "Very new."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

It also offered a jar of lemonade, unopened, from one hand.

"Then welcome to the island. Your horse?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no no. Arthur's. The next stall has--the one I'm to use." And hated him, he was certain.

Merlin peered at the lemonade, taking it after a moment's pause. "Thank you."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"If you want me to open it, I can. Considering your hands," he said with a nod, accepting the thank you quietly as he did.

"Arthur. The one with the sword?"

He walked around to see the other horse.

"You have a horse, then."

There was a smile to Merlin.

"Better than some."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin waved that off in good humor, wiping his hands off on his pants. "Unless there is another one running around here." There was a pause before he added. "Oh, god. I hope there isn't."

One was more than enough.