A/N: I know, it's been a while, but this quarter's homework is crazy, and play practice is at the time I normally get my best writing time. I don't know. Review, please. I love them.

I don't own Merlin. Oh well. I guess it'll just stay the way it is.

This chapter is dedicated to: Misagi (Thanks for the review!)

MERLIN POV

Not everything was horrible, Merlin supposed. Not everything had changed. Arthur, for instance, was still a prat, and still always buzzing after training, if all had gone well. In this case though, three of his finest knights had skipped out on his impromptu session.

"I thought I told you to tell everyone, Merlin," he said, his tone irritated.

"I did," Merlin responded, trying his best to keep his tone light, as he always did when Arthur was angry for some reason or another. "They just decided that their time was better spent following me into the forest while I was collecting herbs for Gaius."

As always, Arthur seemed to ignore him. He thrust his arm in front of Merlin, who began to unstrap the armor quietly. When the armor was all sitting on the table, Arthur turned to face him again. "You left before lunch to go gather herbs. Did it really take you this long to gather a bunch of nettles?"

"Who told you I was gathering nettles?"

"Elyan. He said he was worried about you." Ah, Arthur. Always so subtle. "I think it was his way of apologizing. Even so . . . is everything alright, Merlin?"

Merlin could feel his brow furrowing in confusion, and his smile faltered on his face. "Why would he be worried?"

"Don't avoid the question, Merlin," Arthur said, staring at him searchingly with those blue eyes that seemed to look right through him.

Merlin bit his bottom lip, considering. But it really wasn't worth telling Arthur. Not that he could really ever consider it anyways. "I'm fine," he said, doing his best to insert enough confusion into his tone for his expression to be passed over.

"Hm. Well, if you're sure, you can go get me dinner."

Mutely, Merlin nodded and left, relief among the most potent emotions flashing through his mind. He wasn't exactly sure why, but talking with Arthur had made him nervous. As though Arthur might find out about his secret. Well, secrets, and Merlin wasn't sure which one he wanted Arthur to find out about least. The magic, or the scars that had still not quite been erased from last night.

ARTHUR POV

Arthur watched as Merlin left, closing the door quietly behind him. He didn't really believe Merlin when he said he was fine. He wasn't sure why. Merlin had seemed to have no idea why Elyan had been worried about him. Which was what had Arthur himself worried. Merlin was a terrible lire. So then why did Arthur feel like this was a lie?

With a sigh, Arthur turned to the fire in its hearth. But why was he worried? Merlin was his manservant. A king didn't worry about the servants. And Merlin had Gaius looking after him. A great physician if ever there was one. Gaius would have known if there was something wrong with Merlin . . . right?

There was a light knock on his door, and he called for the person to enter. It was Gwen. Beautiful, lovely Gwen. "Are you alright?" she asked, looking up at his face. Absently, he nodded. "Arthur," she said, resting a slender hand on his shoulder. "Something's troubling you."

"Something," he agreed. "Something about Merlin. Has he seemed . . . odd to you lately?"

" . . . I'm not sure. I guess . . . he hasn't seemed quite himself," she said after a pause. "Why?"

"When Elyan, Gwaine and Lancelot finally showed up for training earlier, Elyan said he was worried about Merlin. Apparently he'd been 'out picking herbs' for the better part of the day. Since before lunch, and they returned scarcely a half-hour ago."

He turned to face Gwen. "I don't know why I'm so worried. But it's not just today. Gwaine and Lancelot both say he's been acting 'off' for a long time."

"It's normal to be worried when friends- no, don't argue with me Arthur. Whether you admit it or not, it's true –are acting oddly. But it can take a while to find some herbs in the forest."

"But he came back with a basketful of nettles, and those are springing up all over the place like weeds," Arthur protested, ignoring the friend comment.

Gwen sighed, sitting quietly at the table in Arthur's room. "To answer your question, yes, I have been noticing that something wasn't quite normal about him, but don't worry yourself too much about it. If he was really bothered, he would have told someone, and Gaius is looking out for him."

Arthur nodded, sitting next to her, running his hands through is tangled hair. Gwen gently kissed his cheek. "Stop worrying," she murmured, running one smooth thumb against his brow. "You don't need worry-lines yet."

Merlin chose that moment to enter the door, supper for two people on a tray. "I passed Gwen not soon after leaving," he answered Arthur's unspoken question. His voice was tired, and Arthur noticed that Merlin had bags under her eyes.

"Is there anything else you'll need tonight, my lord?" Merlin asked.

"Um . . ." Arthur was struck slightly dumb by the title. Merlin never paid attention to propriety. "Just . . . polish my armor, then you're free to . . . do whatever."

Merlin raised his eyebrows a little, but simply nodded, picked the armor off the other end of the table, and left.

Arthur noticed Gwen frowning in the direction of the door. "You're right, I think he's gotten worse."

"He actually called me 'my lord'," Arthur muttered. Gwen laughed as she picked up an apple.

"Yes," she said with a joking tone. "That's a sure sign he's not alright." Arthur sighed as he took a gulp of wine.

"I don't know what's got me most worried. Him, or the fact that I AM worried about him."

"Be worried about him, and once he's better, then you can worry about your precious propriety. You are courting me, remember." Arthur laughed quietly.

"How could I ever forget?"