The Voice In My Head

This story will be slash, so the pairing is Merlin and Arthur plus Arthur/OMC and Merlin/OMC but those pairings will be really briefly and just for the sake of the story.

Disclaimer: This is just my imagination and nothing else…

Spoilers and Warnings: probably for the entire season even though I am not really referring to anything in particular and there are no warnings.

Rating: PG-15

I hope you will enjoy and please let me know if you do. Thank you.

Magic is like life. It's like breathing the air; like drinking water. It's all around me, part of who I am.

I cannot deny it because I cannot deny who I am.

Denying who I am every day is a slow way to die.

~*~

Merlin hurried through the corridors, knowing he was late but not really feeling sorry for it.

It wasn't as if he had planned to be late, but he had woken up late and more delays had just sort of happened. None of which were really his fault.

When he entered Arthur's chambers, Arthur wasn't there.

Merlin stood there, looking around dumbly. Usually if he didn't wake Arthur up the other man would never wake up on his own.

After a few more seconds of staring it became evident that Arthur really wasn't hiding anywhere in the room; Merlin wasn't seeing things: Arthur had woken up without him.

And that was sort of annoying.

Merlin turned around and headed back to Gaius' chambers. If Arthur didn't need him surely his mentor would need a hand. After all, if Arthur did need him, he would know where to find him.

Merlin…

Merlin stopped, tilting his head slightly to listen to the sound.

Then he shook his head, he was probably just imagining things.

He did tend to do that. He had an overactive imagination but then again, no one could fault him for that. Ever since he could remember he had done things which were strange and out of the ordinary, now he had a hard time keeping track what was supposed to be normal and what wasn't.

Merlin…

Here it was again; this time he stopped, listening intently.

He wasn't imaging it, someone was calling him. It definitely wasn't the dragon's voice; but who else could be calling?

Merlin shook his head, this was nonsense. No one was calling him and that was the end of it.

He walked purposefully down the corridor feeling a little justified when there were no more voices calling his name.

When he entered Gaius' chambers he couldn't find the other man either. It would appear that Gaius had gone on his daily rounds without him.

What was it with today and everyone getting by without him?

And why was such a small thing upsetting him?

Merlin…

Crap.

There it was again, some bodiless voice calling his name.

Merlin…

"What?" Merlin shouted, turning around until he almost made himself dizzy, "If you've got something to say just say it!"

Merlin…

"Oh for crying out loud" Merlin swore; this was getting ridiculous.

"Are you talking to yourself?"

Merlin turned round once more and stumbled; which was fitting as he looked like a complete fool while Arthur who was leaning against the door frame, looked composed and elegant.

Merlin glared but he had the feeling that today wasn't going to be his day.

As if he had known that, Arthur smirked at him, clearly amused by Merlin's antics.

"You didn't wake me up this morning."

"You didn't wait for me."

Arthur laughed at that, but apparently, he wasn't really mad about his servant's failure.

Merlin knew that for all Arthur put him through, he really didn't treat him like a servant. There were times when Merlin felt more like a friend and he valued those moments.

He had never second guessed his feelings, he wasn't really in the habit of doing that, but he would follow Arthur to the death if it ever came down to it.

Arthur could be annoying; at times he was a right bastard but Merlin had seen how much the young man had grown in the short time they had known each other. He didn't need any dragons or destiny to tell him that Arthur would do great things with his life.

Merlin wasn't too sure what he needed him for; his only real talent had to be hidden, and while so far his magic had saved Arthur's life, a few times; he couldn't really fathom living his entire life under such secrecy.

And how was this supposed destiny of theirs supposed to work out?

Would Merlin still be Arthur's manservant when Arthur was king?

He was supposed to be an aid to a great king, surely that wouldn't be possible while he was just a servant, even if Arthur didn't always treat him as such.

"Earth to Merlin are you still with us?" Merlin could have sworn there had been a hint of concern in Arthur's voice but he just shrugged it off.

Arthur, despite his bully tendencies was a kind soul; he would risk his life for a stranger. Of course he would feel concerned if his manservant and on off friend looked odd.

No reason to get all fluttery about it.

"Hey…" Merlin grumbled. Arthur hadn't been content to just mock him, he had also proceeded to swat him over the head.

"I'm fine, what do you want?"

That probably wasn't proper behaviour for a servant but Merlin didn't care. Today was shaping up to be a rather odd day and he would be glad once it was over.

At least that odd voice had stopped calling his name for now.

Merlin…

Oh for crying out loud…

Merlin's eyes suddenly widened as he finally realized who was calling him. He had finally recognized the voice and with a squeak he dashed out of the room, ignoring the shouts that followed him.

He was careful, despite his haste and eventually he managed to sneak down into where the dragon was kept.

"Hello?"

No answer.

Merlin sighed, as he was already here, he decided to keep talking anyway. Chances were pretty good the dragon was around somewhere and could probably hear him, even if he didn't want to show himself right now.

"Why can I hear Arthur calling my name?"

"Because he is thinking of you," The answer came out of nowhere and Merlin nearly jumped when the dragon suddenly appeared in front of him. He should have been used to it by now but apparently he was a little bit jumpy today.

"What?" that answer just didn't make any sense. He didn't want to be able to hear Arthur's thoughts; he really didn't want to go there.

"It will only happen if he is really calling for you. Value the gift as it has already been given."

With that the dragon disappeared. Merlin grumbled, "Some gift, so instead of sending someone to get me, all he has to do is think really hard about me and I can hear him? That will be the death of me…"

Luckily the next few days passed in peace, with no more voices calling his name. With relief Merlin decided that maybe Arthur could only really call out to him when he was really needed.

But then again, Arthur hadn't seemed to need him that morning. So why had Merlin heard him shouting his name?

It all made no sense but since most of Merlin's life didn't make much sense, he decided to ignore it and go on with his life.