Friday 14th September

In the end, to Merlin's surprise, Arthur won the cooking challenge, as more favoured Arthur's Pasta Bake by a smidge to Merlin's, but in reality it was more of a draw.

Arthur had met his sports studies team on Wednesday, beginning their training with theory of the human body, and Merlin had met Morgana and Mordred through Alchemy on the Tuesday morning.


After a long day of studying, people needed a break to breathe some fresh air, so they all went down to the university bar and club, known as 'The Golden Eye'. Arthur thought it would be cool to wear a tight t-shirt and jeans with trainers, and left off drinking loads of alcohol, as it was bad for his image. As for Merlin, he wore a shirt with skinny jeans and converse, and put some product into his hair, and with Will waiting downstairs in the front room, the three took to the club.

Freya and Gwen, as well as Arthur's teammates and the remainder of the Tregor Household were already there, the night spinning out in front of them. Getting drunk wasn't always the best solution though when it came to socialising, as Gwen had pulled Merlin out of the main club to somewhere more private. Okay, so Merlin had complimented Gwen's dress sense as Gwen did with Merlin, Gwen strutting out a pink cami top, short skirt and silver wedges. In spite of that alcohol can do wild things to people, and by now, both were in a deserted corridor kissing. Gwen had one hand in Merlin's hair, messing it up even further and the other hand on his lower back. Merlin had one hand on her waist and the other by her neck.

Merlin knew that this wasn't the best idea in the world; heck he had only known Gwen a week or so. Complementing someone's dress sense and actually admitting feelings for one another were two different things. Even though he followed Gwen out, not knowing her intention, she pulled him in for a kiss, which he tried to back out of, but she still clung on, as she threw herself into the wall, him following her, feeling quite dazed. Merlin wouldn't know that Arthur had seen the majority of this encounter, and didn't know what he was about to experience afterward.


Arthur went in search for Merlin as the early hours were drawing in, only to step out of the club and into the no longer deserted corridor to find Merlin and Gwen sharing an intimate moment. Although Arthur had only known Merlin for a short period of time, he felt the pang of jealousy rising through his stomach, thus needed to block the pain. Will came out of the bar to find Arthur, knowing Arthur's jealously, put a hand on Arthur's shoulder and lead them back into the bar. Why should Arthur care? If Merlin wants to be in a relationship with Gwen, or even someone else then he's entitled to, and Arthur should be happy for him. But happy wasn't the word you could describe Arthur at the moment, it was more of disappointment that it was not he up against the wall being beautifully kissed by Merlin.

Feeling blue and not wanting to see reality, Arthur would throw his good image out of the window and get himself plastered, not knowing someone had poisoned his drink, fainting to the floor as he was dancing in the crowd, the medics taking him back to his room.


Merlin heard the news shortly after the incident so he departed from Gwen and made his way back to the house and up to their room. Arthur was laying on the bed with Dr Gaius attending to him, trying to understand what caused him to go unconscious in the first place.

"Gaius?" Merlin called throwing open the door and flying across the room to Arthur's bedside.

Hearing his name, Gaius turned towards Merlin. "Merlin where have you been?"

Merlin answered truthfully, knowing he was going to get a lecture for this. "Out with Gwen, I only just heard about the situation and came as quickly as possible."

Gaius went to give his lecture. "You should be protecting Arthur, you know what Kilgharrah told you."

"I can't always be around Arthur! He'll think I'm some creepy weirdo always stalking him."

"Yeah well he's getting there. Still unconscious but I still need to find a cure. Stay with him and call me if anything changes."


Gaius left the room, with Merlin to take care of Arthur. He checked for a pulse, running his pale fingers over the slightly tanned wrist and neck without trying to blush. Merlin felt a pulse at the neck, so Arthur was still alive, which relieved Merlin a little. He then placed his hand to Arthur's forehead, which he felt quite hot. Merlin thought of the time when Arthur had took care of Merlin, practically on the first day after the door been whacked into his face, and thought it was only fair if he returned the care.

Grabbing a cloth, he soaked it with warm water and brought it out to place on Arthur's head to try and cool him down, moving Arthur's fringe out of the way with his other hand. Knowing now on how important is was to make sure Arthur was safe; he would stay with him for as long as possible. Merlin moved his other hand and entwined it with Arthur's, Merlin whispered words to Arthur, tears in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry Arthur. I promise I'll find out who did this. I promise we will find a cure and get you better, and I promise I'll always keep you safe."


Sunday 16th September

Two days in and Arthur was still unresponsive. Gaius had thought that Arthur had gone into a coma after been suspiciously poisoned on the Friday night, where someone must have mixed up his drink at the bar, which of course the ideology of that only made Merlin worse, blaming the incident on himself for not keeping an eye on Arthur.

Gaius would still go on to try and find a cure. Seeking help desperately, Merlin went to Kilgharrah for help.


Merlin pleaded to Kilgharrah. "Kilgarrah, I haven't got the faintest clue of how to cure him. I don't know of any spells."

"You should have listened to me young Warlock. You should have been by Arthur's side, but no, you were off having your own adventure!"

"I am allowed a love life."

"I know, but Arthur needs to be safe, no matter of the cost."

"Anyway, I'm not going out with Gwen. But I know it's my fault and I apologise for doing wrong, but Arthur is unconscious and he doesn't need this right now. Please!" Merlin literally sat in a heap weeping, begging for help.

"Fine, I will tell you, but will promise to me that you will never leave Arthur on his own."

"I'd promise, but he's got to go on some residential thing for his Duke of Edinburgh award which no familiars are allowed to go, and well as some expedition thing."

"You'll have to sneak your way through. You'll find a way to protect him."

"I promise."

"Very well then. What Arthur needs is a kiss. Not just any kiss, but needs to be from somebody he loves."

"He said he was dreaming the other day, who it was of I don't know."

"You'll find out."


Monday 17th September

Merlin had given up on the idea of who would Arthur like. He mentioned it to Gaius and he didn't know of anyone, and suggested that he should talk to his teammates and the remainder of the household. For all they knew, Arthur could like someone who didn't even attend the university, which meant breaking the spell was much harder than intended.

So on Monday night after dinner, everyone that Arthur got on with was down in the dining room, listening to Merlin who was explaining the only found cure for Arthur. Merlin asked if anyone knew of anyone that Arthur might be interested in. The majority shook their heads. He asked Morgana, who would know him better than anyone, who said he never mentioned his love life in front of her. That's when Will spoke up, knowing that if Arthur found out that he's spilt the beans, it's the Tower of London dungeons for him.


"Merlin? He's going to kill me for this, so no one tell him but Merlin, you need to kiss him."

This caused Merlin to turn concerned. "Me? What the hell for?"

"As much as I know you'd love to kiss him..." The words causing some aww's, outing Merlin on his feelings for Arthur "... The night we were at the club, he found you kissing Gwen. When I went to him, he looked incredibly jealous, maybe of you, maybe of Gwen, I'm not sure. But I think it's one of you two. Also, when Gwen asked you to grab a coffee with her a week ago after class, I was walking back with Arthur. I asked him about liking you, which he didn't admit to, but you could see it in his eye, so I think it's more you than Gwen."

Hearing Will's statement, Merlin turned to Gaius, who was sitting in one of the chairs at the table. "Can we try both to see if it works Gaius?"

"I suppose you could, but then it might mean if we get it wrong it will be harder to wake him the next time round."


So upstairs they all went into Arthur's room. Arthur hadn't moved an inch since Friday, and the warmth of Arthur was turning into ice. Gwen tried curing him first, as many thought Gwen, even if Will's words were different, would be the most likely candidate of the two Will mentioned that Arthur liked.

Gwen bent down to likely peck him on the lips, her's covering his own. She stood and waited, nail biting as she hoped to have saved him. The others thought game over as Arthur was still frozen afterwards and went downstairs. Arthur hadn't moved an inch. So Arthur didn't like Gwen, well not in that way anyway, which Gwen gradually accepted. Next was Merlin, although he felt this being wrong, as no way Arthur could like him, this was a serious matter so that it was either kissing him or possibly worse.

Merlin bent at Arthur's bedside to his knees. One hand went to Arthur's hair, slightly stroking as the before huge audience had dwindled to just Merlin and Gaius. He bent himself, closing his eyelids as lips slightly touched. Merlin felt Arthur's lips began increasing in temperature, responding to the action going on, and underneath him, Merlin felt a twitch. Arthur, thinking he was in a dream, lifted one arm and felt for the body of the lips that were kissing him, and wrapped an arm around Merlin's body, edging him closer still, the other going to his hair.

"Mmm. Merlin, come here now!" Merlin and Gaius sighed in relief that Arthur was back, but Merlin now edging closer to Arthur meant awkward things for Merlin.

"It's alright Arthur, you're just dreaming." Merlin tried to calm down Arthur and ease him back to sleep, where he'd be much better in the morning.

"Merlin, here now! I want you by me!"

"I'm right here Arthur." Merlin began to stand up, only to be pulled onto by Arthur, falling on top of the bed, Merlin finding himself in an awkward position.


Merlin mouthed to Gaius saying 'help me please'. Gaius on the other hand tiptoed out of the room, shaking his head to saying; 'You should have kept an eye on him, now face the consequences.' He turned off the main light, mouthing 'have fun' and closed the door, Merlin in no way of escape.

With Merlin feeling uncomfortable, he went on to ask a pretty stupid question. "Arthur? Can you let me go?"

"Merlin. Mmm Merlin, why have stopped kissing me?" How did Arthur know it was Merlin?

Merlin would then tell lie number three. "I.. I wasn't kissing you Arthur."

"Who else's delicious lips would have made contact with mine then, and the scent smelled of you. You smell of mint Merlin."

"That would be my shampoo Arthur. The whole room smells of mint with a hint of honey." Merlin thought thank goodness for the light being off to hide the blush from Arthur's compliment, even though Arthur would surely be back to normal tomorrow.

"Gwen kissed you Arthur. Not me."

"Don't talk rubbish, it was you." Arthur began to stroke Merlin's back as if it were completely normal. "No one else could compare to you. All the rest are normal. You on the other hand are sexy though, with your porcelain skin, your ruffled up dark hair, cute ears, striking eyes and awesome personality and fashion sense, how could I resist you?" Arthur reached up and planted a kiss on Merlin's jaw. "I need to taste you. Now!"

Merlin by now could feel the blush spreading from his cheeks down to his neck, and try to and quieten Arthur, began to stroke his hair again, planting a kiss to Arthur's forehead, like a mother would do to her child to soothe them. Arthur welcomed his kiss with many deep ones, Merlin knowing that one night couldn't hurt, even though it was just one night and no more.

"Merlin. I want to feel you."

"I'm here Arthur, I haven't moved."

Arthur then jolted up and switched the lamp on, to find Merlin atop of him. Merlin tried to back to back off from the shock of Arthur suddenly awake, scared that Arthur may be angry with him, but a hand grasped Merlin's shoulder, unable to move.

"Merlin. What are you doing here?"

"We share the room Arthur." Merlin teasingly added, trying to cool the air off a bit.

"I mean on me."

"Oh, long story actually, you were poisoned and unconscious for three days or so. Someone had added some form of poison to your drink back at The Golden Eye, and to break the spell, someone you loved needed to kiss you. So I gave it a shot and here you are. You kissed back though and requested more of me."

Arthur felt humiliated that he had almost outed his feelings for Merlin, hoping that being unconscious would smooth things over. As much as he longed for him and wanted to be with Merlin, he knew some things just couldn't be. "Oh God, I'm sorry Merlin, self-consciousness must be playing with me. "

"It's fine."

"Can I pretend it's a dream though?"

"I suppose."

"That settles things then." Arthur added as if it wasn't Merlin who he was dreaming about, and would use Merlin as a prop, his head still fuzzy.

Arthur made no delay and sat up to kiss Merlin. Merlin found this odd but yet beautiful, settling atop of Arthur again, removing his trainers as Arthur removed the duvet to let Merlin in, kisses much deeper than before, as hands found there way around each other and clothing become discarded. Surely by tomorrow reality will be back in place.


Tuesday 18th September

Arthur woke up to Tuesday with a foggy start. Thankfully, his Sports Studies class wasn't until 11am, and the clock next to him read 7:20am. As he turned, his head blasted with pain, probably from dehydration, and he felt a lump against him. Blinking himself into reality, he noticed it was only Merlin against him, half-naked and laying his head atop of Arthur's chest, who himself was also half-naked.

'What the hell have I gone and done?' Thought Arthur as he quietly slipped out of bed and straight into the bathroom, feeling quite mortified on the fact that he doesn't remember much and has the idea he's probably coaxed Merlin into sleeping with him with Merlin acknowledging it.


"Arthur. Have you nicked the bathroom?" Called a dreary Merlin as he awoke to a drizzly Yorkie morning.

"Erm, yeah. I won't be five minutes!" Arthur called back trying to hide his worried expression, even though this didn't help.

"Arthur, are you alright?" Merlin knew Arthur was tensed up over something, and he had an idea on the exact problem.

"I'm fine."

"No your not. I can tell through your voice something is wrong. Please come out and tell me."

"You won't get mad?"

"Of course not."

After a few murmurs of silence, Arthur clicked the lock back and came out of the bathroom, and sat next to Merlin on his own bed, Merlin looking as attractive as ever. Arthur needed to address the situation, even if the outcomes might not be for the best.

"Arthur. What is it?" Merlin looked uneasy, and had placed a hand to Arthur's shoulder for comfort.

"Merlin. About last night, I don't remember much, and on what I do remember, I had an idea that I'd led you onto something that you didn't want to do, and for that I apologise and will never approach you like that again."

"Arthur, you had been unconscious for three days, I never knew what to expect, so it wasn't your fault."

"I know your already in a relationship so I'm sorry if I haven't caused any harm, anyway, I'm going for a shower and then I'm going to get ready for class, I need to talk to Gwen beforehand." Okay so Merlin hadn't expected to hear that, and needed to set things straight that he wasn't dating Gwen, or anyone for that matter.

"Arthur, I…"

By the time that Merlin could get out that he wasn't in any relationship, and that what Arthur did was fine and he understands, Arthur had already taken his clothing into the bathroom to shower and dress, soon heading out of the door for class.