Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim any right (which I don't have) to claim that I own the show or characters or other such devices.

A/N: I know this is a bit later than my usual updates but given I had an assignment due Monday, have another due Friday, a weekend of castle visits to plan and my nephew's birthday coming up, frankly I'm lucky to be getting anything out this week at all. Not to mention after last episodes 'next time' teaser, I've been scouring the net for spoilers and so yeah... But hopefully the fact that this chapter's about 30% longer than my average updates will make up for it (that's right I did the math). Also, last week I sat and managed to plan most, if not all, the rest of this story out and have changed the summary (again) accordingly, but trust me you will understand in time. So here you go, an extended, slightly late update. Please review!

Additional A/N: I also want to mention Jane Mays who made a great point regarding the potion affecting Merlin and I don't want to say what it was for fear of spoiling this chapter but hopefully I address it enough. If not let me know (about other mistakes/problems/omissions as well) and I'll get to it when I have the time.

Chapter Seven: Nothing Wrong

Golden streaks were scattered across the sky, dissolving into a slight pinkish-purple haze as it faded towards the horizon. Few clouds destroyed the beauty that spread out above Camelot, allowing the warming rays of the setting sun to warm the air around them as they walked along the road to yet another town.

So far today they had been through around four settlements, slowly drawing further and further away from the castle they'd left that morning. Unfortunately too many of the people they'd approached had recognised Arthur as the heir apparent and as such their answers were as would be expected.

They were worried Uther had sent him and all of them spoke proudly, fiercely of their opposition to magic and those who use it. Some seemed less assured of their proclamations but Arthur knew pressing them would get him no further.

Merlin had had worse luck, if it were possible. Each person he spoke to scolded him, telling him he ought to know that such topics were forbidden by law. One well-meaning but otherwise useless woman had hissed at him to beware as the prince was nearby seeking out sorcerers and such questions would put him under suspicion.

Still, during the times they were walking Arthur noticed how Merlin seemed rather upbeat for someone in his situation. Although he didn't chatter incessantly as he normally would, he managed to keep pace with the prince who now walked one stride for every three of his servant's.

The well-worn track they trod now, passed between a series of sparsely placed trees. Great, thick, gnarled beings that granted a great deal of coverage as the high greenery created a thin canopy that caused the golden sunlight to scatter and dance as the wind gently buffeted the leaves overhead.

It could barely be considered early evening but as Arthur heard a crash behind him he stopped, rolled his eyes and sighed. The sight that greeted him was one he'd seen around four times already in the last hour; Merlin face-down on the dusty track already struggling to get up again.

As before, the boy pushed himself to his hands and knees, muttering out a string of apologies while avoiding Arthur's gaze.

The prince watched as Merlin tried and fail several times to get to his feet for the next few minutes, his look growing more and more concerned. "What's the matter?"

A few moments silence stretched out between them before Merlin sighed exasperatedly and carefully sat back. "I can't get up."

"You can't get up?" Merlin just shrugged, his eyes seemingly fixed on the ground around Arthur's feet, clearly embarrassed at his current condition. The prince closed his eyes reaching up with his right hand to rub them in frustration. "You can't get up."

"You're not making me feel better."

The turn of tone in Merlin's voice flooded Arthur with concern, devoid as it was of his usual charming and cheery nature. Opening his eyes, the boy he saw knelt at his feet was almost a stranger to him.

Merlin was bent over, facing straight down with one hand raised to his face while the bag had been lowered to his side. A sniff carried up to the prince's ears as Merlin's shoulders tensed…

He was crying…

"Come on." Dropping his bag at his feet, Arthur leant over hooking Merlin's free arm and wrapped his own arm around the servant's chest. Feeling Merlin freeze at the unexpected motion, he chose to ignore it, instead pulling up gently to make sure he had a firm hold before lifting the now silent boy to his feet.

Knowing that to actually lift his servant would only worsen his already shaky mood, Arthur settled with guiding him towards the edge of the path to sit beside one of the great trees. Once certain that Merlin was safely seated, Arthur untangled himself before striding back to middle of the road.

Moments later he returned with the satchels placing them to one side. Turning slightly, he noticed Merlin watching him with an empty expression.

Although they had split up while searching in the towns, Arthur had watched Merlin as closely as he could without alerting the boy to his observant gaze. While his ward had recovered from whatever fit had gripped his body the evening before, Gaius had expressed to the Prince his concerns over the effect the physical transformation would have on his mind.

"Everyone will see him as a child and treat him as such but he is still the same man he was when you set out on your investigation." The physician's heart had been heavy as he explained his meaning to a confused Arthur. "No matter how or who you are, there is only so long you can be treated a certain way before you begin to question things that you know to be true."

Gaius had gone on to recall several times when the Prince was but a young boy and he had stated how he didn't understand why everyone was starting to treat him differently than any other child his age. "They treated you as though you could do no wrong, as though everything you said or did was nothing short of miraculous and eventually you became proud. Arrogant and over-confident to an overbearing degree."

Until Merlin.

He remembered quite clearly how, even once the boy knew who he was, Merlin had refused to acknowledge the Prince as his better, instead mocking him after witnessing his heinous actions towards his servant of the time. Since then, even Arthur had noticed that he challenged his father more over his decisions.

So it was, that Arthur had sworn to do what he could to treat Merlin the same as he always had. Only it wasn't that easy; for one thing the boy kept tripping over, more so than usual and every time he seemed shocked, as though his distance from the floor was constantly taking him by surprise and Arthur always felt the overwhelming need to help the clearly embarrassed boy to his feet. Then, every once in a while, he would become distant and quiet, avoiding eye contact with pretty much anyone, settling for short answers and a shy grin when Arthur tried to strike up conversation.

The prince wanted to help his friend and servant but Merlin wasn't exactly making it easy.

"Are you okay?"

Merlin turned his face from the sudden attention, a mixture of shame and fear burning in his cheeks. Slowly, the boy bent his legs, reaching out an arm around them and drawing them to his chest before resting his turned cheek on his knees. "M'fine."

That was obviously a lie. Despite his cheery disposition there was no denying that the day hadn't been easy on Merlin. The fact he was trying to make himself as small as possible was evidence enough. Sitting down opposite the young boy, Arthur watched him carefully but Merlin didn't move in the slightest.

"What's wrong with me?"

The murmur was silent and could easily have been lost, carried off by a summer wind were it not that the comfortingly warm air around them was still, and Arthur felt a shiver of worry tempered with anger flush through him. It was wrong that the servant should feel driven to ask such a question; no matter what happened, no man…boy…no one should feel the need to question themselves in such a way.

As Merlin drew up and looked over his knees towards the prince there was a great sadness within those eyes. For probably the hundredth time since this had started Arthur found himself shocked at how, even though his body had changed rather drastically, the boy's eyes were still so full of experience, emotion and, perhaps greatest of all, distress.

Even in the slowly dimming light of the sunset, he could see the bright blue orbs glistening with the tears the boy was no doubt forcing to stay within his eyes.

"There's nothing wrong with you." Arthur spoke as plainly, clearly and calmly as he could, not wishing to sound patronising or condescending. The way he had seen many people treat Merlin during the day. "You just look a little different."

"Is that all?" Like his eyes, Merlin's sarcasm was far too familiar to possibly belong to anyone other than Arthur's manservant. Yet, the use only stung as he realised it didn't come from the boy's need to say what he thought as he was accustomed.

Those dejected blue eyes fell to his own knees before gently burrowing into his folded arms. Arthur's instinct was to look away but instead he kept his focus on the small, frightened form before him, hoping to commit the image to memory and allow it to drive him in the days to come.

"It doesn't matter how you look, Merlin." The prince struggled to find a name for the gnawing pain that sat heavy in his chest as he continued to watch his servant, but even so he managed to keep the pain from his voice as he spoke. "You're still the same person."

There was no movement but the sound of a vague murmur was lost in the boy's arm. Slightly worried but otherwise untroubled, Arthur leant back against the tree letting out a great sigh, closing his eyes as he allowed his head to fall back onto the bumpy gnarled bark.

Try as he might he couldn't fight the smile that resiliently forced up the corners of his mouth. "Certainly complain enough."

A muffled snort followed by some near-silent sniggers caused his smile to grow as the harmless comment had the expected result.

Some things should never change.


The same old servant he may be but physically Merlin was still a child and as such his body wasn't as durable as it had become through serving the prince. That was why he kept collapsing; it was the boy's body telling him that he couldn't go any further; he had to stop before he burnt out.

Despite Arthur repeatedly and consistently trying to convince him to stay down Merlin kept trying to get up, even if just to gather some firewood as the sun continued to disappear beyond the horizon. Except, his body was still against him, exhaustion and fatigue beginning to claim a large portion of the feeling in his legs.

It was with a great flush of embarrassment that he watched as Arthur instead gathered the kindling, lit the fire and used some of the food they had to create some soup which he passed directly to Merlin who took it in earnest, but paused as the heat coursed through the tips of his fingers.

The comforting feeling tingled through them, its tantalising tendrils encouraging the muscles in his hand to relax, although only slightly. As he ate, he noticed the sensation spread throughout his entire body, beginning to realise how greatly tired he truly was. Still, he fought the fatigue not willing to allow it to win just yet.

Once Arthur had dealt with the remainder of the food, he sat down where he had been before, a small pile of firewood not too far from his feet and gazed over the blazing fire that now sat between them. So bright and warming were the flames that Merlin had barely noticed that the sun had passed, allowing the dank, cold, blackness of the evening to settle over the land.

Closing his eyes, Merlin allowed his mind to turn to his magic, the sound of which was practically silent just as it had been all day. True, there was a slight restless quality to it, clearly wishing to right something wrong, and he felt he could make an educated guess as to what that was, but otherwise there were no problems.

Contented, he opened his eyes again, looking over the fire in confusion at the blanket that covered the prince before looking down and seeing a similar one covering himself as he laid, supported between two large roots of the tree behind him.

He didn't remember shifting position… How on Earth had that happened?

"You're exhausted, Merlin." Arthur wore a relaxed smile as he watched Merlin's confusion in amusement. "Try and get some more sleep."

More sleep?

Had he been to sleep already? He certainly didn't feel like it.

Yet as his eyes slowly fluttered closed, he realised he didn't really care, because sleeping, you know, sounded pretty brilliant right now. So with the sounds of the fire crackling before him, he felt overwhelming comfort and relief as he allowed the exhaustion to claim him…again, apparently.

Merlin didn't dream, at least not that he recalled, but after some time he was slowly brought to half-awareness by the nearby sound of movement. Still sort of delirious from being half-asleep he began to shift and stir in reaction to his flaring magic.

The previously restless power that had been bubbling within him was going wild, spiking and fighting to burst forth and protect him from whatever was nearby. It probably would have done so if he didn't have the clear memory of Arthur being sat across from him. He couldn't risk Arthur being the one moving around, as unlikely as that was.

Then strange, silent, softly spoken words, obviously laced with magic floated into his conscious as he felt someone's breath on his left ear.

Somnus puero puer.

Non est hic molestias.

Tutum est somnus usque mane.

Lorem.

He didn't understand the words, nor did he recognise the spell but from the first word his magic slowed, growing smaller and quieter as he felt himself slipping back into a deeper level of blissful unawares.

He heard nothing beyond those words, more than happy to lose himself in this calming nothingness he'd found where even his magic was silenced.


"You're exhausted Merlin." Arthur was concerned, Merlin couldn't have been asleep more than half an hour but already he was sitting up again looking around in confusion. His eyes were still heavy and half-closed as they finally found the prince's face through the flames. "Try and get some more sleep." Merlin frowned at him, seemingly surprised to see Arthur, before sluggishly giving a half-nod as he lowered himself back down to the ground.

As the servant's breaths evened out, Arthur became increasingly aware of the growing protests of his own aching body. Fatigue stretched along each of his muscles, it was slowly but surely invading his mind and he found himself considering the fact that maybe it might be a good idea to try and sleep. Naturally he fought it, wishing to keep watch in case of bandits or potential threats, the memory of that would-be attacker fresh within his head.

In an attempt to keep his mind alert, the Prince thought back upon the events of the evening.

Arthur had been shocked to see just how desperately Merlin gulped down the pretty shoddy soup he had made. Almost as though he hadn't eaten in days…which thinking about it was entirely possible.

The boy made a comment about whether the prince was going to eat but Arthur just waved the concern away. He wasn't the most competent of cooks and when he finished the soup there was about enough for one of them and well, Merlin was the one who was under the influence of a spell; not to mention the collapsing or the fact that his eyes were slowly drawing closer together.

Arthur didn't think much of Merlin falling silent as he cleared up, lost as he was within his own thoughts. It wasn't until he turned that he noticed Merlin slumbering peacefully.

Due to the lack of tension left in his body, the boy had slumped down, partially turning to his side and Arthur couldn't help but smile. Merlin may still be his manservant but he couldn't deny that it was nice to see such a heartening sight.

Still, it did look rather uncomfortable sleeping in such a way; the boy kept shifting in his sleep but never quite managed to move much so, retrieving the blankets he'd packed into their satchels, Arthur proceeded to settle the boy into what he hoped was a more comfortable position, laid on his back between two protruding roots.

Merlin shifted in response, a few mumbles escaping his lips, most likely in protest at the unexpected movement but he didn't wake, even as Arthur threw one of the blankets over his legs. He shifted again at the sudden weight but settled down, one hand unconsciously gripping the top of the cloth.

Fatigue began to claim Arthur again once he sat down, covering himself in the other blanket as he began to feel the biting cold of the increasing night seep into his body.

His tired eyes scanned the edges of darkness just beyond the reach of the fire's comforting light. This position wasn't exactly ideal, they were rather exposed but necessity is the mother of doing that you normally wouldn't…or something like that.

Every time he closed his eyes they threatened to remain that way. No matter how much he fought to stay alert, there was no stopping the heaviness that was slowly taking over his mind. Breathing deeply, he smelt the ashen remnants that were falling from the fire with a hint of the soup flying on the wind and it seemed to entice him towards sleep.

Awareness slowly trickled into his mind and Arthur realised that he must have fallen asleep. Silently cursing himself, he tried to resist the urge to jerk himself awake simply letting himself take in everything piece by piece.

He never thought to question why he was awake, the lack of bright sunlight was surely proof enough that it wasn't morning yet but there was something nagging at him; something that was wrong, something that was right there and he just wasn't seeing it. Or hearing it.

There was movement; beyond the quiet crackling of the fire and the gentle rustle from the canopy overhead, there was the sound of someone moving around, carefully and with great purpose.

Still somewhat drowsy, he reached instinctively for his sword as he struggled to bring himself to full awareness, wanting to identify and deal with the immediate threat but not wishing to startle the attacker. Continuing to feign sleep he listened as the footsteps moved slowly and almost silently away from where he lay until they stopped a short way off. The empty silence that dragged out was terrifying but Arthur would have given anything to not hear what came next.

Unfamiliar words, spoken slowly in a soft hushed voice carried over to him from where the intruder was but there was no denying that each breath of them was laced with powerful magic. The shock forced his eyes openly suddenly, where they adjusted quickly to the darkness as he stood, as quietly and swiftly as he could.

The sight that greeted his eyes was one he wished was not of truth. Crouched down next to the Merlin was a stranger; a man who was hissing forbidden, dangerous words into the boy's ear with golden eyes and Arthur felt a combination of horror and confusion stop his heart for a moment.

Once he was finished, the man drew back, reaching out an affectionate hand and gently ruffling the short raven hair that matched the colour of his own scruffy locks. "Take it easy." He muttered quietly as his eyes faded to their natural muted brown colour.

"What are you doing?"

Straightening up, the stranger turned, confused at the sudden, unexpected intrusion. It quickly melted away, a cocky self-assured grin taking its place. "Easy! Don't get your tunic in a twist." Holding up his hands in a form of mock surrender he smirked cheekily. "It's only a simple little sleeping charm to ensure we grown-ups can talk in peace."

No smile graced Arthur's face as he stared into the dark eyes of his would-be attacker, unsure what to do. An unnerving spark resided in them that matched the stupid smile on his face. "Who are you?"

"You can call me Peter." He moved so as to lean on the tree behind the surprisingly still form of Merlin. "And I believe you've been looking for me."

The sorcerer! "You…!"

Peter raised a hand and playfully waved it at him. "Hello."

"You've been selling spells."

He nodded, crossing his arms. "Yes."

"To citizens of Camelot."

The smirk disappeared as he shrugged. "I don't tend to ask. I just," he swept a hand out towards the distant horizon, "go where I'm needed." Arthur unconsciously tightened his grip on the sword tightly held in his right hand and watched as Peter's eyes flicked to his side, his attention no doubt attracted by the sudden movement.

Brown eyes rose to meet blue ones, flashing with a challenge, daring him to try it.

The gaze was held between them for a few minutes, neither allowing the other to intimidate them. Eventually, it was Arthur who tore his eyes away, unable to hold it any longer. There was no way he could just kill this man, he still needed his help; Merlin still needed his help.

The prince didn't see the small smile that grew on the man's face as he turned. "There's something you need to understand about me, Arthur." Shoving himself away from the tree, Peter straightened up. "I'm one of those who believes in Magic For The Masses. Giving the chance of Power," he raised his hands into a typical threatening sorcerer pose before stepping forward to point at the Prince, "to the People."

One solitary finger was now pointed directly towards Arthur's chest, hovering two inches away from his heart. Arthur stared at it, aware as he was that it would take just one well-chosen word to strike him dead where he stood.

Following the Prince's eye-line and most likely train of thought, Peter rolled his eyes. "Oy! I'm not here to kill you!" Arthur glanced up, looking the annoyed sorcerer in the eye. The man drew the finger back placing the hand it was attached to on his own chest, glancing at the Prince with a pure look of sincerity. "Hand on my heart."

It would seem that he spoke the truth, for had he wished Arthur dead he could have struck him down a thousand times over already. Still, as his father had said, there was little trust worth putting in the words, or indeed the actions, of a sorcerer. "You were saying?"

Peter sighed but continued regardless. "No doubt you're father will be pleased to hear this, but you don't have a small hoard of hidden magicians within your realm, o great Prince." He bowed mockingly with a stupid flourish. "I only sell my spells to non-magical persons who ask for my help."

Arthur's brow furrowed. "But then how-"

"Uh-uh." The sorcerer wagged his finger before tapping his nose. "Trade secret."

"You are aware that sorcery is a crime in Camelot?"

He turned slightly and leant back against the tree over-dramatically stroking his chin. "And yet people still come to me for help. I wonder why that is…"

Taking a deep breath, Arthur reminded himself that punching this man would do him no good…no matter how much satisfaction he felt he would take from the action. Throwing his sword to the ground, afraid that temptation may prove too much for him, Arthur reached for the folded parchment that he hadn't let off his person since it had been retrieved from that house.

He held it out towards Peter who confidently took the paper in his fingers. "Is this one of your spells?"

Flattening it out, Peter cast a quick eye over the parchment. "Looks like one of mine." Reaching a hand to his chin, he proceeded to read it in greater detail. "Oh yes, I remember, quite a curious concoction." He chuckled lifting the parchment slightly into the air with a smile. "You see, the magic goes into the potion rather than the incantation. That way a servant was able to save a sorcerer without the aid of the magic he never had."

Arthur watched as a shadow passed in front of the man's dark eyes, showing moments later on his face. Since he'd first arrived, the man looked genuinely saddened.

"I recall the young woman I sold it to. She was quite distraught wanted anything that could help her elderly father." With a solemn look he closed his eyes gently shaking his head. "Quite a powerful spell, I tried to warn her against it but she refused to listen." Opening his eyes he turned them to the Prince. "Why do you ask?"

Arthur just held an arm out to the still slumbering form of Merlin at the foot of the tree. "It went a bit wrong."

"Ah…" Peter's eyes widened and he rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Well that certainly explains why you're looking for me."

"You need to reverse it."

There was a light chuckle as the man turned his attention back to the blond prince, a confused smile upon his face. "Pardon?"

"Change him back."

Defiance, challenge and mockery shined at him from those dark eyes as Peter looked the Prince up and down, almost as though looking for something that wasn't immediately obvious.

Taking a deep breath, he turned away gently shaking his head. "No."

"What?"

"I see no reason to." He shrugged nonchalantly, his cocky self-assured grin once again settling in. "I've been watching the pair of you and I fail to see how him being older would make things better."

"But you have to!"

He snorted. "I don't have to anything."

"But this isn't natural!" He threw a hand in Merlin's direction but the sorcerer didn't even turn to look.

"Had a change of heart, have we?" With a slight chuckle, Peter met Arthur's confused look with golden eyes.

"It doesn't matter how you look, Merlin." The Prince's breath caught as he felt the chilling touch of the man's magic force his earlier words from his lips. "You're still the same person." The spell withdrew as soon as he'd said the last word and Arthur fell to his knees his chest heaving as he began breathing again.

"How did-?"

"Did you mean that? Or were you just lying to make him feel better?"

Shaking; Arthur was shaking. For so many reasons, he was shaking. Fear was one of the main ones. For himself, for Merlin; for the tangy feel of that man's magic that still lingered in his chest. He couldn't recall ever feeling like that; so at someone's mercy. A warrior with a sharpened blade he could handle; he could fight back and protect himself but against an attack so underhanded and dirty…he was helpless.

There was a glint by his side, the blade of his sword catching what little light there was coming from the dwindling fire. Barely thinking, he reached for it, grabbing at the hilt and jumping to his feet. Running forward, driven by his fear, his anger and his hatred for this man he swung the blade through the air, intending with every fibre of his being to cut the man down where he stood.

There was a loud thunk as the blade embedded itself into the wood, the sorcerer having disappeared at the last moment.

"Careful now." Peter's voice came from behind him and Arthur turned, his rage giving him the strength to tear the sword from the trunk. "Don't do something you'll regret."

The sorcerer no longer looked cocky but he wasn't going to help; he was ruining people's lives and he'd done something to Merlin whom, it would seem, he had believed to be a child. Clearly he had power and he claimed to want to help people, but not them. Not Merlin!

Peter just shook his head with a sigh as Arthur charged at him again, sword raised intent on attacking him. "Fine then." His eyes lit up again just as Arthur took his swing at the man's shoulder and watched as the Prince continued into the follow-through unarmed.

Glancing between his empty hands and the man before him Arthur wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. Glaring up at the sorcerer his eyes flared with the flurry of emotions that swirled in his head.

Peter matched his gaze but his eyes instead held the glimmer of a smile as he reached out and brushed an imaginary hair from the Prince's tunic. "You shouldn't be so eager to hurt me, you know."

"And why's that?"

Taking a step back, he tilted his head slightly to one side. "I'm not evil. I like to think of myself as a reasonable guy." He raised an eyebrow before pointing purposefully at Arthur. "If you can prove to me that being a child is really so terrible for him, I'll put things to right."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

Untroubled, the man shrugged. "Not my problem." He turned his back on Arthur and took a few steps before half-turning back, smiling menacingly at him. "I'll be watching."

And with a flash of gold he was gone.