Chapter 1

MERLIN POV.

Dream state. Isn't it wonderful? I can feel the warm bedsheets engulfing me with their presence. I am able to create a whole other life to be played before my eyes. I could be fighting for my life against an evil sorcerer or simply picking flowers in the forests of Camelot. In dream state, nothing can be wrong. Everything is peaceful.

I took in a breath of fresh air, my day was about to start and I had to leave dream state for another night. Arthurs hand was entwined in mine as he, too, was tranquil. I could hear his heavy breathing and feel the pulse in his fingers.

Hang on

Realisation washed over me like a cold bucket of water. Arthur? I opened my eyes.

"Oh my! Arthur!" I whispered as I shook him awake

"Merlin.." Arthur's reply was half-hearted, like he was still in a dream.

"Arthur, I stayed with you the whole night. I must have fallen asleep!"

"Merlin... Merlin stay" Arthur's arm pulled me towards him, his voice still distant. He always has been a heavy sleeper. I looked around the room. The water that Arthur had bathed in last night was still present in the room, for I had forgotten to empty it.

"I'm sorry, but this is the only thing for it" I threw half of the water over Arthur's face, his body shot up in his bed and he looked at me with shock.

"What the hell was that for?" he asked, wiping his face with his bedsheet.

"You wouldn't wake up!" I gave him a sympathetic look "Arthur. I stayed here the whole night."

"You did what?" Arthur stood up "Merlin how could you be so ignorant? What if someone had seen us? What if someone had walked right in here and seen me and my servant sleeping together?"

"I know, I know. I'm so sorry." I muttered. The exact same things were going through my head.

Arthur and I had kept our secret for many months now. To risk it's exposure over something so stupid was ignorant in the extreme. I felt terrible, I really did. But I just wish I could have had a few more minutes with him. Everything was so calm when we were both sleeping. I could still feel his heartbeat against mine. I could see it behind his anxious eyes that he wished for this too. Just a few more moments together.

"Merlin, you need to leave. Swiftly" I nodded at Arthur. No one can see me here in the castle at this time. I start my duties as Arthur's servant after the sun has risen. People would be suspicious if they saw me here before then.

We shared one last understanding glance before I strode out of his chambers.

I could tell that I was looking like I had just got out of bed; which in fact, I had. My hair was spewed all over my face and my clothes were creased where I had been sleeping on them.

The guards in Uthers castle are really quite useless. I'm sorry to be so brutal, but they are. How many times have I had to save a Pendragon's life because of someone sneaking into the castle unknowingly? Too many times to count. Sometimes I imagine how different things would be if I didn't have my magic. How many times would Arthur have died, already? It saddens me that I can't tell him about this. Even though he likes me, he still thinks of me as an inferior. Maybe that's the best way to go.

"Merlin?" a womans voice called from behind me. Gwen. I turned around and nodded at her, I was not in the mood for questions, and I hadn't quite got my story straight.

"Merlin, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine" my hurried tone seemed to worry her. I would explain things later, even if half of what I explain to her is completely made up.

The castles corridor's seemed to go on for ages. My mind was racing with thoughts of Arthur, Gwen, and scolding myself for staying the whole night in Arthurs chambers. I was just finishing my duties for the night, ending them with helping Arthur get dressed for bed. He sat down in bed and asked me to join him. We talked for a while after that. The conversation jumped from talking about Arthur's coming tournament against the other Knights of Camelot, and then to talking about my old life in Ealdor. Arthur seemed intrigued as he listened to what I had to say, and I him. I really do like that about him, how even when I am talking about something he really shouldn't care less about, he still listens intently. There is definately a level of denial in my feelings for him. It's hard to explain- even to myself. My heart feels... warm when I'm around him...like I've just had a bowl of hot broth and it still brews in my stomach.

Bang! The door of the chambers Gaius and I share slammed open.

"Damn!" I excaimed. I hadn't realised that it was slightly ajar. I fumbled as I tried to move to my bedchambers. My hand brushed one of Gauis' potions as I went. I exclaimed again!

"Inbringe cume mec" my enchantment stopped the medicine from smashing on the floor, it slowly rose up and placed itself back where it fell from. Slightly chuffed, I turned to carry on walking to my bedchambers.

"What are you doing?" Gaius' voice came from behind me.

"Hrm? Me!? Well..." I tried to think of an excuse Gauis would vaugely believe, "I must have been sleepwalking"

"Sleepwalking?"

"Yes. Thats what it was. Sleepwalking." I tried to put on my most innocent face, "But I'm awake now, see!"

"O..kay" I could tell that Gaius wasn't really convinced. I think he's had enough of me, to be honest.

"Wow, I am really hungry!" I was trying to change the subject. "Breakfast?"

"I was just about to make some porridge when I saw you had left"

"I'll make it then? Good, okay." What Gaius didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Besides, I was only sleepwalking- wasn't I?