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There were always two guards outside Arthur's chambers, Merlin had made sure of that long ago. The shifts were divided between five special guards that Merlin personally knew and was sure of their loyalty. He had recommended them to Leon a while ago and Leon had known since the very first months of Merlin's arrival in Camelot that when the raven told him anything, it would do him good to listen to it. So of course when those five guards came with a personal recommendation from Merlin, Leon did what the servant asked him to do, putting them in for guarding outside Arthur's chambers at all times. If someone asked Leon why he listened to a servant boy, he wouldn't have an answer. Just that things would go better if people just listened to Merlin.
So that was how for years and years, always a pair of only those five guards were stationed outside Arthur's chambers. Arthur didn't know all the guards in the castle but he knew all five of them by name and would usually take time to chat with them for a few minutes, a great privilege that the other guards didn't get.
Of course Merlin always made sure to do more than that. They were close friends with him, sometimes giving him a hand with his never ending chores, helping him carry things, inviting him to their houses for dinner, and of course always getting him out of the stocks Arthur would order him to every five seconds. That was one of the secrets they kept close to their chests. They would never take Merlin to the stocks if they could help it. And they could, most of the time. But all of this wasn't nearly enough to appreciate the young boy. Not after witnessing Merlin save Camelot and her soon to be king time and time again. They knew about Merlin's magic and his secret missions to protect Arthur. That was another secret they kept and would take it to grave with them too. One of them, Leonard, at first had his doubts about Merlin but the others held him back from doing anything rash and he too after seeing how Merlin nearly died to get rid of a assassin that somehow had passed all the knights and guards, coming out of the fight with a fatal wound and still came to work the next day, smiling and sweet, letting someone else take the credit of his heroic act, was convinced the boy meant no harm. And who were they kidding? Merlin was the best thing that happened to Camelot since they lost the queen. The young servant brought back the light to the place. He did more than thwarting evil, he would take Arthur down the peg, making him bearable and all in all a better man. Maybe it wasn't very obvious to someone that didn't see the two boys everyday and didn't have a chance to know them as they did but they could see how Merlin kept the prince in line, how Arthur looked up to Merlin, always listening to what his servant had to say even if he pretended not to care. Merlin took the proud spoiled prince and helped him become a better man, someone they were proud to serve. They were forever grateful to Merlin for that.
But even this wasn't all of it. Merlin was just the kindest soul. He would go out of his way to help people. He always had love to spare and he kept most of that for the prince. Despite their constant bickering that the guards always found amusing (sometimes it was really hard to keep a straight face when Merlin would come up with a new insult or when he would tease Arthur about this thing and that), Merlin gave the prince the love and attention he had craved for so long but he never got. No one would dare to get so close to the crown. No one would look past the title to see Arthur himself, let alone giving him love and adore him with all they had. But Merlin did. Of course he did. The boy was so ridiculously brave and loving that it came as no shock to any of them when the prince started loving back.
That was another secret they had to keep. No one could know about the young lovers. So they stood outside the chambers and ignored the sometimes questioning sounds coming from the inside, the banter, the words that would be considered treason and have their favourite servant hanged by dawn, ignored the fights and the tearful confessions but just stood there, ready to put their lives on the line for their two loving idiots if worse came to worst.
So of course the guards stayed and sometimes did more than the guards ought to. They were looking out for their boys, sue them. Things like this for example;
A new respectable lady had come to Camelot with her father to apparently give the yearly report but actually hoped to gain something more than just that. Getting something through Arthur, that was the plan all of them shared, all those stupid girls and their fathers with their bald heads that were full of hay instead of an actual brain. Oh their lives, Merlin was rubbing off on them. Leonard and Theodore were on post today, but last night guards Oliver and William told them all about the visitors Arthur and Merlin were complaining about the night before. So they knew when the lady in question walked up to them, like she owned the place, that this couldn't be good. The lady moved to walk right in the chambers which of course the guards didn't allow, crossing their spears together, blocking her way, making her take a few steps back in fear and shock.
“I'm afraid you can't enter, my lady.” Leonard said to her, hoping that she would take that and leave. But they had no such luck.
“I want to see Prince Arthur.” Lady whatever-her-name-was crossed her arms, showing she wouldn't go that easily. Well too bad, two could play this game. Or three, in this case, and they could play all day.
“I'm sorry my lady, but his highness are not in their chambers at the moment.” Theodore told firmly, his face stern. Out of all of them, he was the most loyal to Merlin, since Merlin saved his daughter's life years ago. And like Leonard, he wasn't gonna let this silly woman interrupt Merlin and the Prince. The two were having a good morning, peaceful and quiet, something they were seeing less and less. So she had to go through the guards if she wanted to take that from their boys.
“It's alright. I can wait for him inside.” She replied.
“Can't let you in my lady. It's against our orders.” Leonard answered this time.
“And what are those orders?” She took a step closer to them.
Theodore scowled at her. “King’s orders, as to not let anyone in the prince's chambers but the prince and those who the prince allows.”
Leonard took a step closer to Theodore, blocking the door completely. “And that if anyone wanted to enter the chambers without permission, he or she is to be arrested immediately.” He told her slowly so she could understand the meaning of his words.
“Alright, I'll come back another time.” She backed away, running the opposite way of the one she came.
“One day. Can't they have one day?” Theodore grumbled. Leonard gave him a pat on the back and smiled at his friend's protectiveness towards the two boys that were actually still in the chambers. Then they heard the muffled voice of Merlin say something that made Arthur laugh. One of those open laughs that he didn't try to hide by coughs or slight chuckles. It brought a smile to the guards’ faces. Just for that alone, Merlin deserved the world.
Unfortunately, their peace wasn't to last longer than that because sir Leon came to get the prince for the council meeting. Merlin pushed Arthur out the door when the young prince refused to leave and shut the door behind himself to show he was following his friend into the battle, like he always did. Arthur smiled and nodded his head, clearly grateful for the company before ordering Leon to follow him down the hall. Merlin waited until Arthur and Leon were far enough to whisper a thanks and pat them both on the shoulder before running after the prince. The guards couldn't stop grinning even if they wanted to.
When later that day the two boys came back, Merlin was teasing Arthur again. “The extra weight looks good on you, sire.”
“Are you calling me fat, Merlin?”
“I didn't say that. You did.”
“Hmm. Well maybe we should work on adding some weight to you. A wind could blow you over.”
“I must be doing better now, because I seem to recall you telling me you could take me apart with one blow.”
“I still could.”
“Why don't we put that to test.” Merlin suggested and the guards saw Arthur blushing a deep red. “Maybe we should.” the prince murmured and took Merlin's arm to push him in the room before looking at his guards and ordering, “Don't let anyone in. I take no visitors tonight.”
“Yes, sire.” the guards stood straight. Arthur nodded and went inside, closing the door behind him and walking further in the room to where they could hear Merlin talking. Then the talking stopped and the door was locked but they didn't hear the sound of footsteps coming to the door to lock it. Merlin must have used magic, then. The guards shook their heads. Reckless idiots.
But they still made sure to ask a servant to bring Arthur's dinner for them once it became clear that Merlin was otherwise engaged. They may be idiots but they didn't have to be hungry idiots.