A/N: Thank you Lady Willamina for reviewing! Good guess but no. Same lake though…no more hints! On with the story!

BuBbLeS pArT 2

Arthur passed through the next week in a daze. He seemed distracted during training sessions. Even the knights noticed.

Every night when he went to bed, the same dream would return over and over again. The dark nothingness, the bubbles, the sword, the light. Sometimes during the blinding overpowering whiteness, he would catch a glimpse of a figure in the distance, the edge of a woman bathed in light. He never saw her face. He thought if he was just a little faster, maybe he could get there, the end, and find out why this woman was ruining his sleep.

It seemed Arthur got closer and closer every night, if he just reached out a hand-and then he woke up, gasping for breath, spots in his sight.

Everyone was wondering what was wrong. Gwen asked him if something was bothering him. He made up some excuse about worrying for the upcoming tournament. She wasn't convinced, though the knights seemed to buy the story.

Surprisingly, Merlin didn't ask him. Usually he couldn't get him to leave him alone. Arthur paused in the middle of walking down the corridor. Merlin had been acting rather strange lately. Rather like him. Going through chores absentmindedly, giving short answers. Arthur frowned. How had he not noticed it before? Merlin's lack of annoying chatter should have made him more concerned, but he'd been distracted by his recurring dreams.

Come to think of it, Merlin was like this last year too. Right after that bastet creature escaped. That was how he marked time, by the strange happenings in Camelot. Merlin was even worse then, sad and quiet.

Arthur comforted him, right? Or at least cheered him up, hopefully. But even after that he would find Merlin deep in thought, sometimes a tear in his eye. Following this, Arthur would call him a girl ad Merlin would respond with a smiling "prat." And Arthur would silently congratulate himself for making Merlin grin.

But the depression had returned with a vengeance, and Arthur wanted to know why. So there was only one person to go to. Not Merlin obviously. He would just refuse to tell him, and hide his pain beneath sarcastic remarks.

Gaius would know. Merlin told him everything.

Mind made up, Arthur turned on his heel and headed towards the physician's chambers.

"Hello? Gaius?"

Arthur called tentatively through the open door, not wanting to disturb Gaius if he was in the middle of an experiment.

"Yes?"

Gaius's voice drifted through the room. Gaius, his shoulder-length silver hair falling across his face, was hunched over his worktable, sorting a multitude of tiny potion bottles. He straightened and dusted off his robes, smiling kindly at him.

"Arthur. What can I do for you today, sire? Are you feeling ill?"

Arthur walked into the room and carefully shut the heavy wooden door behind him with a muted thud.

"Actually, it's about Merlin."

"Merlin? What about him?"

Gaius's eyes were no longer shining and now seemed to have a sort of guarded worry.

"Yes, he's been acting strange lately. Do you know why?"

Arthur questioned carefully, watching as Gaius's shoulders drooped ever so slightly in relief.

"I'm afraid not, sire."

"Are you sure? He's been acting all depressed lately and it's affecting his work."

Arthur didn't want to seem too concerned for a servant's wellbeing. It wasn't befitting for a future king. Gaius smiled knowingly for a moment before shaking his head.

"No, Merlin hasn't said anything. I really have no idea what's upsetting him."

Arthur asked Gaius to inform him if he heard anything more and thanked him for taking time from his work to talk to him. Gaius said he would be sure to and it was really no mind at all. Arthur walked back to his room, deep in thought. What could be so terrible that Merlin hadn't told even Gaius about? Arthur wasn't sure he wanted to know, but how else would he cheer Merlin up?

Arthur sighed as he entered his quarters. Merlin was nowhere in sight. Well, Arthur thought, I can get to bed on my own, thinking back to all the times Merlin said he couldn't do anything without him. He'll show him!

Arthur grinned momentarily at nothing as he pulled out his bedclothes. Really, changing clothes aren't that difficult.

Ten minutes later, Arthur was still trying to unfasten the ties on the back of his doublet. He was walking around the room, half-naked, trying to vent his frustration. What kinds of knots did Merlin use? It was made all the more challenging but the fact that he could not see the ties on his back. He had already attempted to pull it over his head with no luck.

Arthur gritted his teeth. There was no way he was going to admit defeat against a shirt. Arthur yanked on his pants, which thankfully didn't require any ties. He climbed into bed, still grumbling about his idiotic manservant and complicated shirts.

Arthur lay on his side and stared at the dark curtains to his left. He squirmed uncomfortably and looked to his right. Were the ribbons on his back always so itchy? He shifted again.

The room was filled with quiet for about 3 seconds. Arthur couldn't stand it anymore. He ripped off the heavy covers and grabbed the dagger that lay on his bedside table in case of intruders. He carefully slit the offending shirt from neck to waist. With this done he removed the doublet and flung it across the room.

He sighed in relief and settled back down to bed, after putting the knife away. He fell asleep almost immediately.

Arthur yawned and glanced around at the imposing darkness. Why was it he always woke up on the ground?

He stood up and unsheathed his sword, checking it as he did every time. And every time it was always the same strange sword as before. He sighed, releasing bubbles, and sheathed his sword. It would only inhibit him as he ran.

Arthur tried to stare down the empty blackness. Now all there was to do was wait.

This was getting boring. More bubbles floated upward.

There! Arthur began his run at a furious pace, hoping to catch it this time. It was like a battle of wills. He just had to believe that maybe, just maybe he would make it one time and put a stop to all this. He couldn't help but admit it made him curious; to find out what was at the end.

The light was coming closer and closer. He could almost see it-

The light disappeared.

Arthur blinked at the rapid change in scenery and tried to focus on where he was. A voice broke through his efforts and he turned blindly, trying to find its source.

"Welcome, Arthur Pendragon."

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