He grimaced when he saw himself in the mirror partly because he had almost forgotten that an elderly man was going to be staring back at him and partly because his beard and hair was very knotted. "I'm just going to cut it all off and be done with it," he told his reflection.

"I wouldn't bother if I were you, Merlin," Gaius told him. "Since it's part of the spell, it's likely to grow back at a rapid rate."

"Great." Merlin straightened the hair out with magic instead.

"Besides that, I think the beard gives you a very distinguished look. It makes you look wise beyond your years."

"I'm an 80 year old man. How much more beyond my years can I look? I should probably go to Arthur and Gwen. He won't be in a good mood when he wakes up and I'm not there, young me, that is."

"Good luck with that. Meanwhile, I'll see what we can do about your current state."

Getting into the bedroom proved to be easier than Merlin expected. The guards seemed afraid of him and willing to grant his every request.

He pulled the curtains open with a wave of his hands. Smiling not only because it was a glorious day but because he was able to use his powers in full view. "Time to rise and shine, my favorite royal couple, and greet the day."

Arthur, as usual, wasn't so cheerful this early in the morning. He squinted toward the light trying to distinguish the figure in his room. It sounded so much like Merlin and yet, it didn't. "Merlin, is that you?"

"No, it is I the Great Dragoon!" he replied. It sounded a little overdramatic even to himself but it's what people nowadays expected of a sorcerer.

That made Arthur alert. He set up straight as an arrow with wide eyes. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Since Merlin couldn't be here to help you, I thought it only right as your court sorcerer to fulfill his duties for him."

Arthur turned to Gwen, who was also sitting up wide-eyed in bed. "You see, Gwen, you show someone a little appreciation by giving him a day off and he takes full advantage of it. Many a season's going to go by before Merlin sees another one."

"No!" Merlin yelled. "I mean no. He isn't goofing off."

Arthur raised his eyebrows, "Then he's in trouble?"

"Not exactly."

"Then he's at the tavern trust me. It's his favorite place to hide and get out of work."

"Don't be too hard on the boy. Possibly it's sorcery that keeps drawing him to the tavern," Merlin said, "I promise that when he comes back, I'll look into it."

Arthur looked like he wasn't quite buying that it was sorcery, but he didn't say anything more about it. "Well, there goes our breakfast, Gwen. I'll go see to it."

"I can take care of that too," Merlin told them. "Fleoge."

Both Arthur and Gwen were startled as two plates of food and a pitcher flew into their room until it settled on the bed in front of them.

"Don't look so worried. I didn't conjure it from magic," Merlin assured them. "It's food from the kitchen. I just brought it in here for you."

Gwen murmured her thanks and took a bite.

Arthur took a bite too. "It tastes like food from the kitchen anyway. You're dismissed, Dragoon. I believe Queen Guinevere and I can take things from here."

Merlin set out their clothes for them with his magic. He turned to go but was stopped dead in his tracks. He'd thought for a moment he'd seen Mordred outside the castle but his eyes weren't the sharpest in this guise.

"Can I help you, Dragoon?" Arthur asked impatiently.

"No, I just thought I saw something for a moment but be prepared for anything, sire. I have a feeling something isn't quite right."