Arthur is sitting at the head table, completely bored with tonight's banquet despite it starting no more than an hour ago. He looked around, scanning the room for one face in particular. There. Merlin was leaning against the wall talking to Gwen, standing near a group of servants.

Arthur stared at Merlin until the other lad finally looked over, and raised his glass for more wine. If he had to suffer through the night with his father, Morgana, the knights, and a bunch of people he didn't know when he's much prefer the comfort of reading his book up in his room, well, he certainly didn't have to do it sober.

Merlin had wormed his way through the crowd and grabbed the pitcher of wine from the table against the wall behind Arthur's table. He stepped up to Arthur and poured some of the drink into his goblet.

"That enough for now?" Merlin asked as he placed the pitcher on the table.

Arthur looked in his cup at the amount. "Hmm, I suppose. For now."

"Good, because that was all that was left in this one."

Arthur grinned. "You probably should speak to me with more respect when there are other people around, Merlin. Especially my father."

"Hmm, I suppose. For now" Merlin grinned cheekily.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Sire." Merlin added as if it were an afterthought.

Arthur laughed.

Arthur went to say something to Merlin when the words died in his throat. He thought he heard a faint rumbling noise. It sounded like… thunder? Arthur looked out the window nearest to him and saw dark clouds where there had once been a clear sky coloured vibrantly from the sunset.

All of a sudden there was a loud thwumping noise, and the great hall went silent. Arthur looked down to the crowd, to see them parting around one person.

The man standing in the center was standing in a cloud of smoke, just like in your typical fairytale, and looked to be around 20 with dark hair and green eyes. No, wait, 30 with black hair and blue eyes. Now a teenager with dirty blond and grey eyes? Well, whoever he was, he must be a sorcerer, because who else could poof into a room and not have any set appearances?

Alarmed, Uther stood quickly beside Arthur. "Sorcerer. What are you doing here. I'm sure you are well aware that magic is outlawed here, and anyone found practicing such is sentenced to death. Do you have a death wish? Guards, arrest this man."

Before any of them could move, the man shouted a bunch of words Arthur didn't understand, a spell then, and thrusted his hand in Merlin's direction. Merlin? What could he want with Merlin?

Merlin was flung back as if he were thrown, and crashed into the table holding the refills of refreshments against the wall, food, wine, and water falling down onto him. Arthur quickly rose and rushed to help Merlin up when he started flailing around, to untangle himself from the table cloth and stood up, throwing it to the ground. Arthur froze and stared at Merlin. Merlin glanced down at himself and yelped when he saw what he was wearing. He looked up towards the sorcerer to see him run out of the room.

"Hey!" Merlin yelled at the sorcerer in a higher voice than usual as he took off after him. "Come back here you little-"

Arthur was still frozen as his eyes never left Merlin, following him as he ran across the room, and broke contact only when Merlin was out the door and around the corner.

It was only when Merlin was out of sight could Arthur move his feet, racing after Merlin out into the hallway and down the corridor in the direction he saw Merlin take. He skidded around down the hall and around a corner where he found Merlin at the other end. Arthur jogged to a stop as he approached Merlin who was pacing around, looking out into the courtyard, up one set of stairs and looking down the other.

"I lost him." Merlin mumbled quietly. "Dammit, I lost him!" He said again, louder.

"Well, I don't know about you, but I think that's a good thing right now. What were you planning on doing anyways? You can't put up a good fight in training, what on earth made you think that you could take on a sorcerer?" Arthur asked incredulously.

Merlin harrumphed.

"I don't know. I would have thought of something." He said tiredly, as he flopped down on the the stairs near where they were standing, and for the first time, Arthur got a good look at him.

The sorcerer turned Merlin into a girl. Arthur could hardly believe his eyes. Merlin's dark ebony curly hair which was a bit on the long side before was even longer now, coming down past his collarbones in a soft curtain, curls more prominent, if that was even possible, and were forming loose ringlets. His blue eyes, which have always been the brightest blue Arthur ever saw in someone's eyes, were a brighter, fuller blue, and a bit rounder, too, with long lashes, but still so very Merlin. His nose looked small and delicate on his face, and his lips were plump and red and looked so soft. Merlin's face was rounder, less angular, but his cheekbones were still noticeable, but less so than normal. His skin which had seemed pale before was more porcelain, and delicate. Fragile, even. Merlin had always been lanky and skinny, now was still small, but curvy; shoulders less broad, breasts a nice, round size, small waist, and hips that swelled out perfectly. Merlin was… Merlin was beautiful.

Merlin put his (her?) elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands. His curls fell down in front of his face.

Arthur kneeled down so that he was at eye level with Merlin. "Hey, it's okay," Arthur said quietly. "We'll find the sorcerer and have him pay for his actions."

Merlin's head shot up. "But what if he refuses to turn me back? I don't want to stay a girl." His eyes starting to swell with tears. "I just wanna turn back, be me again." Merlin looked down as he angrily brushed his tears away.

"Hey, Merlin, look at me." Arthur put a finger under Merlin's chin, raising his head to meet his eyes. "It will be okay. You are still you, just slightly different."

"Slightly different?" Merlin whispered angrily, eyes wide. "Arthur, I'm a girl! I have long hair, breasts, and am wearing a dress, in case you haven't noticed. It's weird. I don't like it." His voice was quiet and tired by the he finished speaking.

"Yes, I see that, thank you, Merlin. And we will get you back to your usual awkward self soon enough." Arthur cupped Merlin's face and wiped away the tear streaking it's way down his cheek with his thumb. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. Trust me."

Merlin nodded. "Of course, yes. Of course I trust you." She gave a watery smile, and again Arthur was struck with just how pretty Merlin was.

Arthur stood, and held his hands out for Merlin to take. "Well, come on, then. We have a sorcerer to find."

Merlin looked up at him for a moment before reaching up and grabbing hold of the hands offered out to him. Merlin's hands were small and delicate, much like Morgana's and Gwen's, fingers long and elegant. As Arthur's thumb brushed lightly over the back of Merlin's hands he noticed how soft they were, as soft as the finest silks.

When Merlin was standing Arthur saw that Merlin was now shorter than him. He usually was an inch taller than Arthur, which bothered him to no end, but he didn't dare tell Merlin that. When Merlin got transformed into a girl, not only was he curvier, but also a bit shorter, too, leaving Arthur few inches taller. Arthur grinned and straightened up.

Merlin didn't see that, thank goodness, and looked around at the knights and guards running around trying to find the sorcerer who did this to him.

"What if you don't find him?" Merlin asked, turning up to face to meet Arthur's eyes. Arthur saw an emotion flash across his face before Arthur could identify what it. Was is a look of annoyance, perhaps? Or possibly surprise. Arthur suspected it was because he wasn't used to looking up at him. Arthur realized that he hadn't answered his question.

"I will."

"But he just poofed into the middle of the room, who's to say that he won't poof right out of Camelot again? Or hasn't already?" Merlin was starting to look worried.

"Don't worry, I promise I will find him, and we will turn you back. I promise." Arthur said in the most soothing voice he could, hoping that it would help calm Merlin down.

Merlin stared at him for a second before letting out a breath and nodding. "Okay."

Arthur turned and made his way down the hallway towards the court, and no doubt where his father was waiting. Just as they were approaching the door, Merlin's hands grabbed Arthur's arm and tugged, stopping him before he could enter.

Arthur turned to see Merlin biting his bottom lips as he thought. "Arthur," he said slowly, eyes falling to the floor. "I, you know. I don't really want everyone to see me like this. They'll laugh at me."

"Hey," Arthur cupped his hands around Merlin's face and lifted it to make eye contact. "I promise, no one will laugh at you. If anyone does, they'll have to see to me." Arthur had a sudden urge to kiss Merlin on the tip of her upturned nose.

When he realized this he straightened up immediately, and promptly walked into the court, giving Merlin no choice but to follow. It was a bit inconsiderate, considering what Merlin just confessed, but if he hadn't walked away right then, Arthur's not sure if he could've held back from kissing Merlin.

Uther turned when Arthur entered. Most of the guests had left the room by the time Arthur and Merlin got back, leaving a few servants who were cleaning up after the dinner, Morgana, Gwen, and a few knights.

"Ah, Arthur. Have you found the sorcerer? We must find him at once. Magic is prohibited in Camelot, and to use it in an attack in the middle of a banquet. He must be caught." Uther asked.

"Not yet, father, but the knights are still looking. We will find him." Arthur replied respectfully.

Uther nodded, and then turned to address the young man, eh, woman.

"And how are you fairing, Merlin?"

"Fine, Sire." Merlin answered, her head still downturned, curls hiding her face, which Arthur presumed was red from blushing, by the tone of her voice.

Uther nodded, accepting the answer. "Good. We will send word when the sorcerer is caught."

Merlin nodded.

Arthur could tell that he wanted out of the room and away from being the center of attention, so he put a hand on Merlin's shoulder, and led him away from the prying eyes of Morgana, Gwen, and the knights.

They reached Gaius' chambers after a few minutes of silence. Arthur opened the door, and Merlin walked in and across the room to her door.

She paused just before entering, looking over her shoulder. "Thank you, Arthur."

"You're welcome." Arthur said with a soft smile, and Merlin walked into her room and closed the door.

By that time, it was getting late, so Arthur decided to retire to his own chambers. When he was finally in bed, he thought over what had happened. Merlin was a girl, and a very pretty one, at that. Her beauty rivaled the likes of Morgana, who has always been one of the most beautiful woman Arthur had ever met.

Arthur knew the he has always harboured feelings for Merlin, but he has always kept them hidden and locked away where no one would find out about them. Now? It looked like there was a change in plan, because if Merlin remained very much female, well, there's no way Arthur can keep his love for Merlin unknown. She was going to be the death of him. Arthur's eyes slipped shut as he started to drifted off, wondering what the next day would bring and what could happen if they didn't find the sorcerer, leaving Merlin a girl for a long while to come.