I had kept my powers under control for the rest of the day and they had set up a portion of Arthur's room for me, because I am cursed to be a todp for two more days! He recieved some training from Gwen and Morgana in how to treat a child my age, and although he may think it's a chore, he's still willing to try his best. "Alright, Merlin...time for bed. I see Gwen has already dressed you in a night shirt."
I rub my eyes and nod my head. He picks me up and places me in the very large cot that Uther had ordered to be placed here for me. I lay my head down on the pillow and and cover myself up, and I can feel myself falling into a deep sleep as Arthur crawls into his own bed.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
I'm in the lower town near the training yard and I look down and realize that I'm an adult again, but I was just a baby..."I'm dream walking again!" I shout and it echoes in my mind and creates a magical ripple in the scenery around me. I had only recently realized I have this ability because I dream walked into Gaius' dream more than once and one time I accidentally dream walked into Gwen's dream which was embarrassing to say the least.
"This'll teach him." I hear and it ssounds familiar. I walk to the source of the sound and I see Arthur doing the exact same thing in the exact same way when we FIRST met. Then I see myself place my foot on the shield target and look up at him.
"That's enough. You've had your fun my friend."
"Do I know you?"
"I'm merlin."
"So I don't know you."
"No."
"Yet you called me friend..."
"Yeah, that was my mistake."
"Yes, I think so..."
"...I could never have a friend that can be an ass."
"Nor I one who can be so stupid."
The dream shifted to me walking in the lower towns once more. 'Why is Arthur dreaming of these memories right now?'
"How's your knee walking coming along?" I keep walking away from him. "Oh don't run away!"
"From you?"
"Thank God, I thought you were deaf as well as dumb."
"Look I told you, you were an ass. I just didn't realize you were a royal one."
I kept watching as the memory-dream progressed and I noticed at one of the moments when I used magic and he fell he had more of a curious look on his face. The look turned into pure shock once I grabbed the mace and started swinging.
'Wake up' I hear in my ear. 'Merlin, wake up!'
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
I wake up and I'm in Arthur's arms in his bed. "What happen?"
"You were acting as if you were having a bad dream."
"Not a bad dweam." 'Shut up Merlin!'
"What was it about?"
"It was a memowy. The first and second time we met." 'Please don't ask me anything else! I hate that this stupid spell makes me more honest...like an ACTUAL child.'
"Really, then why were you tossing and turning?"
"Mace fight."
"Right, you know...during that fight I could've sworn..."
"What?" 'Did he see my eyes turn gold?'
"Never mind it's impossible. I'll put you back to bed." He lifted me up and placed me back in the cot and I'm thankful he didn't say anything else the rest of the night. However, I'm still curious as to why I was dream walking a memory in Arthur's dream.
Then next day when I woke up I sat up to rub my eyes and realized Arthur was already dressed and sitting at his desk. I climb out of the cot and I hear laughter come from Arthur. "I suppose its a little useless to have bars on the cot if you can climb out of it so easily. Come here, Merlin and eat. I'm not allowed to leave my room all day according to father so, we're stuck in here."
"What time?"
"What time is it?" I nod my head as I climb into the chair next to Arthur. "Its a little pass noon I suppose."
"I swept for a long time."
"That you did. I guess that explains for how lazy you usually are with the chores I give you." I have no earthly idea why, but I start to cry. "What's wrong was it something I said?" My cries got louder and soon Morgana ran into the room.
"Arthur, what did you do to the poor angel!?" She asked as she scooped me up into her arms.
"Nothing, I just told him that since he slept so late it made more sense about how lazy he is!"
I cried louder and realized that my feelings were hurt because he called me lazy...I hated being called names when I was younger, but when I got older I got used to it. Right now, I'm not older. "He called me wazy!" I told Morgana as she held me. "I twy my best...and...and he never appweciates it."
"Arthur, you should be ashamed of yourself! Right now, Merlin is a small child and his feelings can easily get hurt! Not only that but he really does do a lot for you...When he was an adult and your servant he did everything you asked without question or help."
I look at Arthur as I dry my tears and he just looks down at his papers in defeat. He gets up and walks towards us and holds out his arms. "I'm sorry Merlin. Do you forgive me?"
I laugh and nod my head. "Always!" I jump towards Arthur who then catches me.
Then I soon realize that Morgana and Arthur are sharing the same confused and puzzled look.Morgana touches my arm lightly and curiously asks, "Why always, Merlin? Why would you always forgive him?"
"He's my first real fwend. I had a fwend named will wemember? but it not the same...Arthur is also kind, giving, bwave, and he never means to hurt my feewings. I'm happy to serve him." I smile wide and I give Arthur a hug. 'Damn this honesty. Arthur isn't going to let me live it down.'
Not long after that we heard an urgent knock at his door. "Sire, the king needs you in the throne room!"
Arthur nodded and he held my hand as we walked down the stairs...it took me a while with some steps but I knew that's why Arthur wanted to have me walk there. He hates being summoned to the throne room by his father.
Once we finally made it, Uther looked at me and smiled. It felt strange, and awkward. I have magic and I'm in front of Uther, who looks like he has questions and I'm incredibly vulnerable right now. I clutch Arthur's pant leg and hide a little bit behind him. "I see he's doing well today. Even though he's still in his night clothes."
"He woke up not too long ago." He held a steady hand on the back of my head. "Anyway, you needed to see me, Father?"
"Yes, I wanted to ask you and Merlin something considering the sorceress."
I can't risk saying anything to Uther, so I tug on Arthur's pant leg and look up at him. "What is it Merlin?" Je asks me and I can hear a slight hint of irritation, which is probably due to the fact his father had questions for us.
"I'm hungee Arthur."
I watch his eyes go wide and a smirk appear on his face. "You're hungry?"
"Merlin, have you not eaten yet?" I hear Uther ask curiously.
I look to Uther and put on my best childish pout as I shake my head. "No, I sweapt for a long time, and then we come down here."
I look at Gaius behind Uther and I can tell he is practically biting back a laugh but he then puts a hand on Uther's shoulder. "Perhaps it's best if they eat first. Arthur also has training with the other knights today." He then looked at me. "Merlin, is it okay if the King asks you and Arthur questions after Arthur's training session with the knights?"
I nod my head and look up at Arthur. "Food now?"
He looks at me and smiles. "I guess so."Arthur seemingly remembers my struggle to come downstairs and looks to a nearby servant. "Can you go to the kitchen and grab some food suitable for Merlin and a blanket for him to sit on? Once you do please bring it to the training grounds."
"I'll do it." Gwen pipes up and smiles. "A picnic sounds lovely. Doesn't it, Merlin?"
I can't help myself when I start to jump up and down, laugh, and rush towards Gwen. "Yay, picnic with Gwen!" I grab her hand and I can feel the smile on my face. I used to love going on picnics with my mom and going on a picnic with Gwen kind of felt the same but with a sister. I quickly turn my head as we walk away and I wave at Arthur. "Bye bye." The stunned look on his face is amazing!
As we get closer to the kitchen I can hear Gwen chuckle slightly. "What you laughing bout, Gwen?"
"Gaius told me something interesting earlier today."
"What?"
"He told me that the spell you're under will make you act like you did when you were the age you spellbound to now. He said it's the same for everyone but that you quite a mischievous child. Seeing you now, I think you were quite the adorable child, also...I had never seen Arthur act that way before. It's like he's taking care of a younger brother."
"How?"
"Well, normally Arthur wouldn't consider taking care of a child. He would smile and talk to the other children but he wouldn't tend to them...and to my understanding he started to protest about it when his father told him he would have to watch you right?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, now it seems as if something has happened to make him treat you like he is now. He smiles more, he seems to find you adorably amusing, he is more patient with you now...it's almost as if you're someone he truly feels he needs to care for and protect...like an older brother looking out for his younger brother."
"It not even been two days..."
"I know, which is another thing that makes this surprising."
"He thought I had a bad dweam last night...It was a memowy but it was still a wittle scawy." 'I'm sounding more and more like an actual four year old! Why?'
"Did he try to comfort you?"
"I dink so" I smile up at her as we finally make it to the kitchen.
"What would you like Merlin?" She asked and I quickly heard a gasp come from the cook that was working today.
"Is this really little Merlin? The once strapping young boy that helped me organize the kitchen after one of my assistants tried to bake?"
"Hi cook!" I walk towards her and for some reason I lift my hands up. She picks me up and rests me on her hip.
"Are you going on a picnic?"
"With Gwen!" I laugh.
"What would you like to eat? It's the least I could do after all the times you've helped me and my staff."
"Do you have stwabewwy?"
"Strawberries?" She asked me and I nodded my head. "Of course. What else?"
"Cheese, ham, bwead, and...mushwooms!"
"I remember you asking me to collect the same thing when Prince Arthur was upset..."
"They my favwits" 'Wow, I'm really starting to sound like a four year old.'
She smiled at both me and Gwen and collected all the food I asked for and neatly placed it into a basket and handed Gwen a thun blanket. "You two have fun now."
"Thank you, we will. Come on, Merlin, lets watch Arthur train."
"Otay." I say as I hold her hand once more. 'Please don't let me use my magic whike he trains...If I get scared he'll get hurt...I'm afraid I'll use my magic to try and save him. I did it for my mom and instinctively did it for Gaius my first day here...'
