"You'll be shocked to know I'm perfectly able to restock my cupboards with edible food." Arthur nudged Merlin's knee with his elbow and grinned. What he didn't add was that he missed having Merlin at arms reach, it was strange not having him within grabbing distance whenever anything happened, mundane or otherwise.
He wondered if having his shadow removed would be any odder.
"Some of us would take your continued absence as a mercy."
Some of them who weren't him. But Merlin should sense the well intended joke for what it was, no matter how infrequently they saw one another.