Merlin's POV
How could I have been so foolish? It was all I could think as I stood there about to be killed by Arthur. Arthur of all people! I couldn't even mutter a spell for fear that he would recognise my voice.
I was doomed. Doomed, doomed, doomed!
It was then I heard Gawain's voice call out for Arthur. This was just what I needed to escape.
"Gawain? I'm here!" he sounded desperate, did people really find those with magic that scary? I thought back to Morgana's rein of terror and shivered. I guess they had reason to.
Anyway, I've got work to do. Whilst Arthur's back was turned (rather uncharacteristically I thought) I silently cast a spell to slow down time. Now I thought about what I could do. Nothing verbal obviously or Arthur would recognise me
I remembered a spell that turned oneself into a mouse for an hour but I was unsure if I could manage it, it was a very difficult spell, only cast by extremely powerful warlocks. It would required all my concentration.
It felt like a lifetime but in reality it was only a few seconds.
Enough time for me to transform myself into a rodent. My clothes felt baggy around me and then they grew completely out of proportion.
Suddenly I was on the cold stone floor, scurrying for my life out of the armoury. It was weird being a mouse, not only was I tiny, no more than five centimetres, I was covered in a soft warm fur and the tail really helped my balance.
I never stopped running until I reached the stairs that lead up to Gaius's chambers. I couldn't climb up the stairs because I was too small but neither could I undo the spell because I had left all of my clothes in the armoury. I definitely couldn't go back for them. The warning bell had already been sounded and I could hear guards racing about the castle, searching for the sorcerer.
I was just about to give up when I had an idea.