(AN: The quote in the description is from Poe's Dream Within a Dream. I hope to update this in a few days. Enjoy!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin


The early morning sun gleamed brightly on the armor of the two men riding swiftly down the forest trail.

"Come on, Your Majesty," the larger man called back to his trailing companion, "You're going to make Gwaine a much richer man at the rate you're going."

"I ought to have him arrested. Betting against his king…" Arthur urged his horse on, gaining slightly on the knight in front of him, "I think putting him in the stocks for a day or two is justified, wouldn't you agree?"

The big knight laughed.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, Leon bet on you. And Merlin as well."

"It doesn't," the king said firmly, even as he fought back a smirk of satisfaction, "Merlin shouldn't be betting on anything. He throws enough of his money away in the tavern; he doesn't need to waste any more. Although, in this case, I think he made a rather safe investment. Hyah!"

Arthur's horse suddenly burst forward, quickly overtaking and passing the knight in front of him. As the king looked back, laughing, he saw a small animal—a squirrel or a rabbit—dart into the path. It sprinted just in front of the mount behind him. The horse panicked, rearing wildly. Its rider was caught totally off guard, and flew from the saddle. Arthur watched in horror as his friend landed hard and a sickening crack rent the air. His brain clamored in denial, but his heart already knew.

Percival was dead.

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Arthur's eyes snapped open. He stared at the darkness around him, heart pounding, mind racing. Blinking, he turned his head to the side. There was Guinevere, sleeping peacefully beside him. The first rays of dawn were slipping through the curtains, illuminating the royal chambers. No forest, no horses, no races, no dead knights…

The king closed his eyes and tried to calm his breathing.

A dream, he thought firmly. It was only a dream.


By the time Merlin and Gwen's maid, Edith, arrived to prepare the king and queen for the day, Arthur had decided to put the dream out of his mind. It had been more vivid, more real than most dreams, but stress and exhaustion were likely to blame. He was determined to push the memory of it aside and get on with his duties. As the day went on, his heart grew lighter as the dream faded from his mind. By the time he set out for the fields to train with the knights, it was all but forgotten.

Until he reached the fields and found that none of his knights were there.

He didn't notice it at first, because there were plenty regular knights there, but his knights— his vanguard, his round table knights— were nowhere to be seen. His brow creased in confusion as he weaved in and out of sparring warriors, trying to spot one of his friends.

"Arthur!"

Merlin, who had returned to the physician's chambers after finishing his morning duties, was sprinting toward him. Arthur's stomach dropped slightly at the look on his servant's face.

"You'd better come quickly," the servant said breathlessly, "Gaius' chamber… Percival."

Arthur's stomach jolted, and he turned and strode quickly toward the castle, Merlin on his heels.


Upon reaching the physician's rooms, Arthur was unsurprised to find his missing knights, along with Gwen and Gaius. Elyan was leaning against the wall near the fireplace, with Gwen standing beside him, hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder. Leon stood on the other side of the room—it looked as though he had been pacing. Gwaine sat, unusually subdued, across from Gaius, who was leaning over a still form on a cot. Everyone glanced up as the king entered the quiet room. Leon crossed to Arthur immediately, like the soldier he was, ready for orders.

"What happened?" the king asked quietly, moving further into the room, "Is he…"

"He's alive," said Leon, "He's been like this all day. At first, we thought he was just having a lie-in. We had… a bit of a late night yesterday." Gwaine smirked slightly. "But then it was nearly time for training, and we tried to rouse him…"

"He wouldn't wake," Elyan said from his place by the fire, "We called to him, shouted, shook him, even emptied a pitcher of water on him, but…"

Arthur noticed now that Percival's hair and shirt were damp.

"He didn't even flinch," said Gwaine quietly.

"Can you tell what's wrong with him, Gaius?" Merlin asked, moving to stand beside Gwaine.

"It's strange," Gauis sighed, "He seems to be in perfect health. He has no injuries, no insect bites, no sign of sickness…" the physician shook his head, stepping back from his patient, "As far as I can tell he's just… sleeping."

"Sleeping," said Gwaine, skeptically. He lifted Percival's arm by his wrist and then dropped it. It fell to the table with a dull thud.

"Sleeping very deeply," Gaius amended, raising an eyebrow at Gwaine.

"Could this be caused by magic?" Gwen asked.

"As I said, Your Majesty," Gaius answered, "I don't know what would cause this, magical or otherwise."

"Do what you can, Gaius," said Arthur, still looking at Percival, "Explore every possibility. Merlin, I want you to help him," his manservant nodded, "And let the rest of us know if there is anything we can do to help."

The other knights voiced their willingness as Arthur swept out of the room. His mind was in a whirl. He tried to control his racing thoughts, but it was no use. He was panicking. Arthur had dreamt Percival's death, and now Percival was down, stricken by an unknown force. Had he predicted this? Had he caused it? All his knights were loyal, but Percival's loyalty had come most quickly and freely, and to think that Arthur himself had somehow caused this malady… Maybe he ought to tell Gaius about his dream…

No. It was a coincidence. It had to be. There was no point in causing anyone to worry. Percival would likely wake on his own, or Merlin and Gaius would soon find a way to help him wake. They had never failed in the past. His dream was a dream, nothing more.

It was only a dream.