A/N: Okay, I have finally finished chapter two up. Just to make you happier, I will tell you that the chapters around the end should be the best and I look forward to writing them! I mean, come on? When are Merlin and Arthur quests never exciting? Especially with Morgause and Smirkgana
involved!
Also, thanks for all the reviews to those people who reviewed, alerted, and favourited! It really made me smile! Next chapter I think I'll give all those people a special mention and the ones who do it this chapter…. I've just wrote too long of an author's note which will eventually become longer than the story itself if I keep going!
To clear up some possible, future confusion:
It can get a bit confusing in this chapter (just to warn you) because Merlin is now Arthur and Arthur is now Merlin. To unconfuse you a bit, let's have an example: "Shut up, Merlin." said Arthur.
Okay, that means Arthur is saying the words but it comes through Merlin's body. So the mind of Arthur is speaking it through the body of Merlin because they have switched bodies. If they were in their own bodies, Arthur would be saying that. When I say 'said Arthur'. I mean the mind of Arthur.
Wow, that was a mouthful. I hope I did not confuse you more. :|
Hopefully, you will be able to recognise them through their personality. The hard thing is just that you have to picture Merlin speaking but Arthur is the one who really thought up the words. I hope that will clear up any confusion but I reckon you will be able to understand it.
Warnings for this chapter: Arthur purposely hurts Merlin.
The music for this chapter: Remember to set the music up before hand….
•See this symbol '*-*-*-*'? Begin listening to, 'Lepcis Magna' by 'E.S. Posthumus'.
•When you see this symbol, *-*1*-*, listen to, 'Mosane' by 'E.S. Posthumus'.
If the music ends early, start it again until it's the next songs turn or the end of the chapter.
The link to my YouTube channel with all the music is on the chapter before or on my profile. ;)
Otherwise maybe try typing 'g2lm4l' in YouTube search bar.
Disclaimer: I'm not writing this again…. I've done all the legal things in the last chapters…. So there.
Chapter Two: A Strange Discovery
Previously:
Wow, I feel so much better. The pain in my head is gone. Merlin sat up and looked around his chambers but he noticed something very strange. He could see himself lying down next to him.
"Whoa –" Merlin was so perplexed. He stood up feeling like a new man and walked over to his bedroom. He pushed open the door and noticed what little strength he needed. He felt so strong. Merlin then walked over to bowl full of water not too far away. He stood stunned as he looked down into the reflection. The boy felt like a bucket of freezing, cold ice had just been tipped all over himself. He saw sapphire blue eyes looking back at him and bright blond hair on his head. His tunic was red now and felt soft on his skin. He was currently Arthur Pendragon, the Crown Prince of Camelot.
-(I~I)-
Back to the Present:
*-*-*-* "Merlin!" Merlin heard his name. It sounded like his own voice had shouted it. He rushed out of his bedroom and there, he saw himself standing up in a very stiff position.
"Arthur, its okay, but it seems we have switched bodies." said Merlin, trying to calm down Arthur. It was so weird talking to himself; knowing the prince was in there somewhere.
"It's not okay, Merlin and is that really you?" asked Arthur, not bothering to hide the worry in his voice this time; probably because it was Merlin who sounded worried. Not the prince. Arthur was only speaking through his servant.
"Yes, it's me." snapped Merlin.
"How can I be sure?" asked Arthur curiously, Merlin actually wasn't sure how to prove he was Merlin.
He started pacing the room, trying to think of something only Arthur and he would know. He didn't get very far though; only after a few paces, he suddenly caught his foot on the leg of the table and fell forward on to his face.
"Well, actions do speak louder than words. At least I now know you're, Merlin. No one is that clumsy. I can't believe you are still falling over," (Merlin was now scowling at this point of Arthur's speech) "you are not even in your own body, for crying out loud." Arthur said, whilst throwing his arms up in the air melodramatically. "You know, Merlin. Come to think of it…. You are pretty skillful."
"Really? How?" asked Merlin as his eyes opened wide in delight and he sat up eagerly on the floor. He forgot about what Arthur had said a few sentences ago and waited patiently for an answer.
"Skillful at tripping over on flat surfaces." said Arthur cracking up.
"Prat." Merlin muttered quietly to himself as he pulled his own body up so he was standing.
"What was that, Merlin? You do realise you just called yourself a prat." said Arthur smartly.
"For your information, I was referring to the person inside my body and how did you hear that?" Merlin asked; he only quietly spoke the word.
"Well, you, which is now, me, must have very good hearing," said Arthur smiling happily. "I wonder what you have heard, when you were in your own body. Every time I sent you outside my chambers, so I could talk to people. You could have easily been listening through the wall…." Arthur narrowed his eyes significantly on Merlin.
"Anyway, let's now move on to more important matters!" sung Merlin cheerfully; this time Arthur knew Merlin was trying to change the subject. He decided to file it mentally away for later so he could question the boy then. He hated to admit it but Merlin was right. They did need to talk about things that were more important, first.
"Now, Merlin. What the heck happened? Why am I you?" Arthur considerably emphasised the word, 'you'.
"Well, you should be glad it's me of all people, Arthur." teased Merlin.
"Merlin…." growled Arthur.
"Okay, okay. Well, let's think back to when we were ourselves." said Merlin, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling to help himself think.
"Yeah, well. I walked into your chambers and when I opened the door, not surprisingly, you were standing right in front of it…," said Arthur and then paused for a few seconds thought. "It hit you and then –" Arthur was cut of by Merlin.
The spell was cut off and…, thought Merlin quickly. "… then I dropped the remedy –" said Merlin who finished his thoughts aloud. He just remembered he was using magic and he cut the spell short. Could that have something to do with it? In English the spell would say, 'My mind will switch. Heal, heal my skull'. He must have stopped the spell after he said the word 'switch'. Then the fumes from the enchanted, spilt remedy caused his and Arthur's bodies to switch because they were both breathing in the smell.
What confused Merlin most though, was that whenever he had cut a spell short before, nothing had happened. Maybe it was because this was a spell itself.
All Merlin could think of doing now, was reversing the effects of the spell with his magic. But did he still have it? Merlin ran up to his bedroom and Arthur followed. Before Arthur could get through though, Merlin shut his door.
"Merlin!" shouted Arthur. "Come back here and tell me what you're doing!" Arthur was pounding on the door but he couldn't make it move. He was too weak in this body.
On the other side, Merlin was leaning with his back against the entrance, just enough force on it so Arthur couldn't get in. After all, he was now strong, as well as smart and had the power to do almost anything. That was if he still had his magic.
Merlin quickly looked around the room for something he could test his magic on. He looked around the room from left to right and his eyes lay on something right next to his bed. A candle. The boy stuck his hand out; fingers spread and said a spell that should make the candle come to life. It was one of the simplest spells so if it didn't work, nothing would.
"Forbærne," he whispered. No effect. Nothing happened to the candle so he tried again. "Forbærne," Still nothing. "Forbærne!" Merlin shouted this time but the candle stayed unlit.
He knew it wasn't going to work. He couldn't feel the magic burning inside of him like he usually could. The only part of him that made him feel safe and unique was gone.
Gone.
He couldn't believe it. Merlin only hoped that if he did find a way to return to his body, he would still have the power to use magic.
*-*1*-* "Merlin! What are you doing in there? Are you okay?" shouted Arthur as he took a step away from the door. Merlin then opened only entrance to his bedroom and Arthur was glad he had unknowingly stepped backward. It was because of the force that the boy had opened the door with.
Arthur then was withdrawn from his thoughts as he stared at Merlin in complete shock. His own self looked absolutely shattered. He could see the despair in his own eyes.
"Merlin, please don't look so sad. If anyone comes in and sees me – you like this…." said Arthur, he was always told to show no emotion. His father said it made him look weak. "Let's just say we really don't want that to happen –" Merlin cut Arthur off.
"– What do I care? Why do I have to be you?" Merlin was basically screaming at Arthur. "I just want to be myself again." said Merlin now whispering his words quietly. His voice may now have been soft but his clenched fists; knuckles turning white, showed differently.
"Merlin…. I want to be myself too; we will find a way to fix this. I promise," said Arthur laying a hand on Merlin's shoulder. The boy's behaviour seemed really different today. He kept having sudden mood swings all the time. Perhaps, Merlin was now finally feeling comfortable enough to show his true colours. Arthur highly doubted it though. He couldn't imagine a mood swinging Merlin all the time. He was probably just having a bad day and Arthur decided he would be there for Merlin on this day of so called 'toughness'.
"You're not the only one suffering. I am pretty sure I have now lost my superior sword fighting skills because of this mess." joked Arthur. He noticed his playful banter must have made Merlin feel better because the boy slowly started unclenching his fists.
"And I have lost my –" Merlin was about to say he'd lost his magic but realised he couldn't. Now he would have to make something up, or better yet, change the topic. Again. "Um…. I've lost things…." Merlin trailed off slowly.
"Lost things like what?" Arthur asked curiously, narrowing his eyes and taking his hand off Merlin's shoulder.
"Hey, you know, if we can't fix this by tonight … we'll have to trade places for a while." said Merlin desperately trying to evade the subject.
"Yes, I have already considered that." Arthur looked up while he said this. "I think it would be wise, if we were to educate each other on the things we do daily and how we do them. Just so nobody suspects anything."
"Yep, that's a good idea." said Merlin inwardly grinning because of his successful change in subject once again.
"Merlin, one more thing," Arthur sat down in the chair beside him. "What on Earth did I do to your head?" said Arthur loudly; he touched a finger to his temple. Just where he threw the dish. "It is so painful!"
"Yeah, I know. Maybe you will think twice before throwing anything at me again." said Merlin cheekily.
"Slight chance of that happening. Actually…. No chance of that happening. Throwing things at you is definitely worth all this pain." said Arthur with a smile.
"Oh, really now?" Merlin walked over to where Arthur was and hit his head where he knew it hurt most.
"What was that for?" shouted Arthur, now rubbing his head.
"Was throwing that dish at me, still definitely worth it?" asked Merlin smiling and ignoring Arthur's last sentence.
"Yep, because when we switch back to our normal bodies. You will have a pounding headache," said Arthur with a grin.
Merlin raised his right hand again and was about to hit Arthur before he suddenly stood up, moved to the side and grabbed Merlin's arm. He then twisted it behind his back.
"I'm not changing my mind, Merlin. You may be stronger right now but you don't know how to use your strength to your advantage. Until then don't try anything or you might really regret it." Arthur spoke fiercely, his grin gone and replaced with a scowl. He continued to hold Merlin's arm – or should he say his arm – behind the boy's back – or should he say his back.
"You wouldn't try anything. If you hurt me, you would only be harming yourself." said Merlin through gritted teeth. His arm in this position was actually quite sore and tender. Even though he was stronger, Merlin still couldn't move. Arthur had him in a certain way so whenever he shifted, his arm would become more painful.
"Don't be too sure." Arthur pierced his nails into Merlin's skin and twisted his arm back further.
Merlin winced painfully. "Oww…. C'mon Arthur, I didn't really mean anything I said." The pain in his arm was now even more painful.
"Oh, I'm sorry Merlin. Did I hurt you?" said Arthur sarcastically. Just as the throbbing pain in Merlin's arm began to become unbearable, Arthur let go. "That was the consequence for hitting a prince. Remember that, Merlin." Arthur really hated being taken advantage of. Merlin knew that, but he still got carried away. This was because of all the new strength he had. Merlin was sure he would never let that, happen again.
"It's always me who manages to get hurt when it is just us two. Have you noticed that?" asked Merlin as he looked down at the nail marks in his skin from when Arthur had released him from his tight grip.
"You certainly are a magnet for trouble, Merlin." said Arthur, now calm once again.
"Arthur," said Merlin, "apart from apologizing, was there any other reason you came to my chambers?" he asked as he rubbed his tender arm.
"Well, it doesn't matter now but after I apologised I was going to ask if you would be my servant again." Arthur didn't feel as confident anymore. He didn't really like asking Merlin to do things. He preferred ordering him.
"Well, okay. You seem to have changed your ways so I would be happy to become your servant again," said Merlin with a smile. "It's just there is a problem…." Merlin gestured toward Arthur and himself.
"That's why it doesn't matter anymore," sighed Arthur. "Oh, and Merlin. You can't tell anyone about this. Even Gaius." he said as he shot Merlin a serious look. It was as if Arthur could tell what Merlin was thinking.
"Well…. Alright." said Merlin agreeing to Arthur's terms. He really still wanted to tell Gaius though. Not only because of how hilarious the situation was but also, this would prevent his uncle from accidentally informing Arthur about his magic.
Arthur noticed Merlin didn't really want to agree. "That's an order, Merlin"
"You don't look like a person to be giving out orders." Merlin said with a smirk on his face.
"Merlin…," growled Arthur angrily. "I want you to give me your word that you won't tell anyone." he really didn't want anybody to know that he might sometimes be cleaning up after his servant.
"Okay. I give you my word." said Merlin. He just hoped his uncle wouldn't say anything.
Arthur gave Merlin a smile and then he took a slow step toward Merlin and punched his shoulder as a friendly gesture. "My god! That actually hurt! You are weaker than a baby!" shouted Arthur, holding his fist. He now understood why Merlin didn't like being punched in the shoulder. If it hurt to punch, then it must be horrible, to be punched.
"Welcome to my world." smiled Merlin, raising his arms and gesturing around himself.
Well that's chapter two.
One of the spells wasn't in Latin…. As you would have already noticed…. Why? Because "Forbærne" is the only real Merlin T.V. spell I know and it's my favourite. :)
Remember to review! I love your thoughts and tell me if you guessed it right! Did you like the music if you listened to it? Was the story too confusing or was it really simple? Tell me anything about it. Was it good or bad? I am not experienced in grammar stuff so correct it for me if you really want too. Even if it is a one-word review, like: Excellent, boring or awesome. Just review. Every single one counts. :) Reviews also make me finish chapters faster for some reason…. I just get so overly happy that I try finishing the chapter as well and as fast as I can…. Keep that in mind. ;)
Oh, and now do you see what I mean by 'confusing''? I reckon it would be brilliant if it were made into a real Merlin episode. It's easier to visualise that way. :P
