Episode 7- The Coin


"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of this Kingdom and it's dominions according to the statues, customs, and laws laid down by your forebears?"

Uther's words vibrated within the breast of his son as Arthur replied solemnly, "I do sire."

"Do you promise to exhibit mercy in justice in your deeds and judgments?"

Merlin wondered if his Father had pledged these same words, and later repented them. At least he believed that Arthur meant them. "I do sire."

"Do you swear allegiance to Camelot now, and for as long as you shall live?"

"I, Arthur Pendragon, do pledge life and limb to your service. And to the protection of the Kingdom and its peoples."

Arthur's hands felt sweaty as the clasped around the gold bar. It was all worth it though when his father placed the new coronet, the one made for the Crown Prince, on his head. "No, being of age, and heir apparent, you should henceforth be Crowned Prince of Camelot."

Merlin was the first to begin clapping for his older brother. Everyone quickly joined in to congratulate the Prince. Really, he hadn't done anything. He was twenty-one now, that's all. Still though, he deserved the title. Not just because of his blood, but because he'd already risked life and limb for the service of the Kingdom. Arthur was the King Camelot deserved, and today made it official that once Uther died Arthur would be that King.

"So, does this mean you get to be a bigger prat now?" Merlin teased his brother as the feast commenced. "Or are you the same prat with a bigger crown?"

Arthur flicked Merlin's own, smaller, coronet. "I don't know, are you going to be more of an idiot next month when you turn 19?" If Merlin's grin said anything then yes, he would be. "I'm just glad to be officially of a higher status than you again."

Merlin laughed at that, leaving his brother to go and speak with Morgana. "I had a dream last night," she admitted and Merlin tensed up. "No, not like that, but I wish it was. No I dreamt that instead of just being the Crown Prince today Arthur was crowned King."

The words were almost treasonous, so Merlin was glad for the feast's noise. "Someday Morgana, I promise you someday."

She nodded. Merlin kept saying someday, but really she didn't feel like she could wait any longer. Things were better now that she, Merlin, and Mordred snuck down to the dragon's cavern to train, but they were still hiding in a cave! All she wanted was for her magic to be free. For all those with magic to be free.

"More wine, my Lady?"

Mordred stood before Morgana, pitcher in hand, and looking a bit too flushed for the woman's licking. "Mordred, have you been drinking that wine or only serving it?" The boy was barely twelve, and he was working. Now was certainly not a good time to be drinking.

"I only had a glass," Mordred hiccupped with a smile, his eyes flashing gold as he did. "Really I'm fine."

Morgana, who's taken to the boy like any mother, ushered him to the door. "Your drunk, and your 'friend' knows it. Go back to your chambers this minute."

"But I'm supposed to be serving tonight, and Gaius will want to know why I'm back early."

Wow, Mordred had to be really drunk not to notice his guardian/physician standing on the other side of the room. "Just go to bed Mordred. I'll tell Merlin what happened and you can apologize to him in the morning. Just be lucky you're not Arthur's servant or he'd throw you in the stocks, now go."

Mordred drooped off annoyed as Morgana rolled her eyes and went to tell Merlin of their little problem. Honestly, the boy was trouble. In the past two weeks he'd accidentally revealed Merlin's ankle being healed (which got Merlin in trouble for 'lying to keep out of training), got himself thrown out of the kitchens, and stained Arthur's favorite shirt (how it got in Merlin's room in the first place, Morgana didn't want to know.)

Really, the boy was almost more trouble than he was worth. But only almost, because Morgana and Merlin were both happier with him around. M3 as Gaius had taken to calling them "and not for your names either. Because all you do results in magic, madness, and mischief". It was no wonder the physician was going even grayer since he took Mordred on as his ward.

"Mordred is drunk," Morgana told Merlin rolling his eyes. "And his friend came round so I sent him to bed. I wouldn't expect him to come and wake you up in the morning; he'll probably be too hung over."

Merlin rolled his eyes. Maybe he should be harder on the boy, but that was all Mordred was, a boy. He'd never lived in a city before, and probably had never even had wine. Really, it was the Prince's own fault for not watching him better. "I'll speak with him about it tomorrow then. Go, enjoy the party. He'll be fine."

Morgana knew that was true, but she couldn't help but worry. Mordred was young and not used to hiding his magic. Her biggest fear was waking up one day to the sound of smoke and discovering it was Mordred on the pyre. If he was discovered, not even Prince Merlin or Lady Morgana would be able to save him. Uther hated magic too much.

"I promise he'll be fine," Merlin told her again before hearing Arthur calling him. "I better go see that the 'Crown Prince' wants."

Arthur was receiving gifts, and wanted Merlin to hold them for him. Typical. Almost a year later and his brother still treated Merlin like a servant. "What a beautiful… coin," Arthur smiled trying not to insult the serving girl who'd given it to him. It was a gold coin, and really had probably cost her many wages. For her, a stranger, to give him anything at all was so kind Arthur didn't care what the gift was. "Here, Merlin, take the coin."

Merlin went to grab it, but it fell from his hand. Cursing, both Princes reached down to grab it, and did, but only after conking their heads against each other. And that was where everything got so terribly confusing.

Merlin awoke to the sight of his brother's manservant, George, leaning over him. "Your highness, you're awake." Merlin nodded, sitting up and rubbing his eyes confused. Last thing he remembered was touching the coin. "I'll go get Gaius to check you over."

"What happened?" Merlin croaked his voice sounding odd when it left his head. "Did I pass out?"

George nodded, heading for the door. "You and your brother both. I'll be back with your breakfast after I get Gaius."

Merlin wanted to argue that he was fine, but he didn't. He could ask Gaius how Mordred was doing; obviously the hangover had been bad if George was taking care of him and Arthur this morning. Poor blokes.

"Ah sire, it's good to see you're feeling better. We were worried after you two passed out last night," Gaius greeted as Merlin's head swirled. He'd just realized what was so odd about his room.

"Gaius, why am I in these chambers?"

The physician gave him a look as he sat down on the bed. "You must have hit your head when you fell. These are your chambers after all sire."

Merlin let out a laugh, "I think I'd know if my and I swapped chambers. And why are you calling me sire you never do that."

Gaius stood up, looking at Merlin as if the boy had gone completely insane. "What on earth are you talking about? These are your chambers, have been since you were a boy."

No, Gaius was the one who needed his head checked. "I haven't lived here since I was a boy. I've not even been here a year! I grew up in Ealdor, with my mother, your former apprentice!"

"Merlin?"

Finally he was getting somewhere, "Who else would I be? Of course it's Merlin. So why am I in Arthur's chambers, and why are you calling me Arthur."

Gaius didn't seem to have the words to respond, so he only found the lightest mirror and moved it so Merlin could see his reflection. Except it wasn't his reflection he saw, it was Arthur's. Looking down at his hands Merlin realized they weren't his hands; they were Arthur's. "Oh gods, I'm in Arthur's body!"


"We need to find Arthur, me," Merlin ordered sitting up and finding his clothes. "Before he speaks to someone. He's got to be freaking out about now."

Gaius palled, "Oh no. Mordred was on his way to Arthur's chambers when I last saw him. He wanted to apologize for his 'friend' showing up last night." Merlin wanted to throw his head against the wall. Actually, it was a very tempting thought, because surely Arthur's thick skull would protect him.

It was a disaster. Any minute now Arthur was going to discover Merlin, Mordred, and Morgana's magic. "Does Arthur have magic if he's in my body?" Merlin asked before trying to cast a spell and watching nothing happen. "Oh great, I don't have my magic because it's back in my body with Arthur. Fantastic."

It didn't take long for Merlin to find Arthur (himself?) The elder prince was bumbling around, unsure how to use the gangly body. "Merlin, is that you?" he hissed upon seeing his own face. Merlin nodded, and Arthur sighed in relief. "What's going on?"

Gaius, gasping for breath, caught up with the two princes. "It appears some sort of spell has put your consciousnesses in each other's body," he explained, looking as if he on some level found it amusing. "Powerful magic too for it to affect you both." Powerful for it to affect Merlin he meant. His own magic made it harder to be enchanted; he learned that a long time ago.

"We need to tell Father," Arthur declared. "But nobody else. And try to avoid people the best we can."

It was as sound a plan as the two Pendragons ever got, so they stumbled along to the throne room. "Your ankles are terrible Merlin," Arthur huffed, trying to keep them from collapsing in on himself. "Are they why you're so clumsy?"

Merlin nodded. Yeah, they'd go with that. "So this is what it feels like to be fat," Merlin muttered pretending Arthur wasn't standing right there.

"I'd hit you, but then I'd bruise myself so count yourself lucky," Arthur warned, his eyes bright. Despite the situation, the two brothers still found it easy to abuse each other. "Besides, anything is better than being a scrawny git like yourself."

Merlin may have been eating properly since coming to Camelot, but he was still scrawny. "I'm not a git," he finally argued. "And if I was it's better than being a prat."

"Girl."

"Clotpole."

"Idiot."

At Arthur's last words, Gaius threw his hands up in exasperation. "Honestly boys you'll drive me mad. Did you forget that you're under the influence of powerful magic?"

"Magic?" Of course Uther would be rounding the corner at that very moment. How incredibly typical. "What is this I hear about magic."

Suddenly the boys were both finding it hard to form words, leaving it up to Gaius to tell the King what happened. "It appears there was more to their collapse last night than hitting their heads. Arthur claims to be Merlin, and Merlin claims to be Arthur. They've swapped bodies."

"Sorcery," Uther declared as if that wasn't blatantly obvious. "Are you two alright?" Both boys nodded. "Good. We need to figure out how to reverse this spell."

Gaius nodded, "I'll look into it immediately."

"As for you two, it's best no one beyond us four hear what is going on. For sorcerers to so easily bewitch you would reflect poorly on the Kingdom. Return to your chambers and feign illness. I'm sure Gaius will tell us as soon as something comes to light."

Arthur and Merlin both groaned inwardly at being confined to their chambers. "Could we at least got to Gaius's chambers and help look?" Merlin suggested not wanting to do nothing. (And wanting to make sure Arthur didn't notice the magic flooding his body.)

Uther considered it, but nodded. "Very well. Let me know if you discover anything."

Merlin and Arthur went on their way, but Uther held Gaius back. Once the boys could no longer hear, he spoke into the physician's ear. "I want you to keep a careful eye on them both. If this sorcerer has done something to them we would not want a threat to Camelot to go unnoticed."

"I will make sure they are in their right minds, if not in their right bodies," Gaius promised before the King let him go and follow after the Prince's. By the time he got to his chambers, Gaius discovered both boys were already buckled down in his books trying to find something that had to do with a body swap.

"Gaius, I can't find Merlin anywhere," Mordred's voice flooded the chambers as the boy entered. "Oh, Merlin, there you are. What are you doing here I went looking in your chambers but you weren't there."

Merlin looked to Arthur, and the elder Prince remembered no one, not even Mordred, could know they'd swapped bodies. "Gaius wanted Arthur and I here, so he could make sure our dim witted minds weren't hurt last night."

It didn't sound at all like the kind of thing Merlin would say, and once the boys turned their backs Mordred flashed his eyes gold and saw the spell settled on them. He was about to cry out, but Merlin, in Arthur's body, spun to face him. "Mordred, can I speak with you for a moment," Merlin asked dragging the boy up to his chambers.

"Emrys, how did you get into Arthur's body?" Mordred questioned, trying to hide what a disaster his room was. (Merlin didn't mind. The week it had been his room it looked much messier.)

Merlin just shook his head, "I told you not to use that name while in Camelot. People know of the prophecies and I like my head, especially while Arthur is in it."

"How does that even happen though?"

Merlin didn't know. "That's what we're trying to find out, but you can't tell anyone. Not Morgana. Don't even go back down there and look like you know. As far as Arthur knows you think I'm Arthur alright?" Mordred nodded. "Good."

"What's it like being in Merlin's head?"

It appeared Gaius and Merlin were going to have to deck it out for who could kill the boy first.

"What happened to the no telling anyone, Merlin?" Arthur wasn't as angry as he looked, but Merlin didn't know that. Luckily, Mordred stepped in for his idol.

"Merlin just figured you two could use a servant on your side, considering you don't even know how to dress yourself…your highness." Mordred wasn't bold the way Merlin could be, but he was as stupid.

Luckily, Arthur's increasing anger was targeted at his brother, and not the servant. "Oh yes, that's definitely the case. And I'm sure Father will love that excuse."

"Please don't tell him Arthur," Merlin was practically begging, and it made the older Prince proud. "You know how poorly things go when I disobey him."

That stopped Arthur dead in his tracks. It had barely been a month since Merlin was locked in the dungeon for his insolence. Arthur didn't want that happening again. "Fine, but if you start telling Morgana next we're going to have a problem on our hands."

"Tell me what Merlin?"

Of course she would be standing outside the door. Of course. "Um, nothing. Tell you that we're not feeling well. We wouldn't want to worry you."

"Merlin, you're usually a much better liar than that. Actually, you sound a lot like Arthur right now." Mordred's grin told her the rest, and Morgana couldn't help but laugh. "You are Arthur, aren't you? You two swapped bodies."

Arthur slunk in his chair defeated. "Soon enough the whole Kingdom will know it seems." He always was melodramatic. "Never mind. If you all must know you can help us find some way to reverse the spell."

"Merlin, can you hear me?" Merlin's blonde head swiveled at Mordred's voice. He tried to send back a reply, but without magic he could only hear. "I'm going to go talk to the Great Dragon. Perhaps he knows something."

Normally Merlin would have reminded Mordred the dragon only offered riddles, but he just nodded and looked towards Morgana. Mordred got the message though. "Why don't Lady Morgana and I go look in the main library while you three look here," Mordred suggested running out before he could get approval.

"That manservant of yours might just be more useless than you were," Arthur sighed flipping the book open. "And that is saying something."

Merlin agreed though. "Mordred is young, and I don't need a good servant. I like having him around, and that is what matters. It's why you kept me around."

"I didn't have time to fire you," Arthur scoffed knowing it wasn't true. He'd fired plenty of servants in under a week that was for sure. "Now shut up Merlin and read."

Merlin let out a laugh, Arthur's laugh, and it was odd enough for them all to settle back down to work.

"How could sneezing put us back in our own bodies?" Arthur thought the idea was ridiculous, and though he didn't admit it, so did Merlin. Sneezing would not help their predicament, but it had to be tried. All day they'd searched and this was the only reference to body-swap spells they'd found. Only a fool wouldn't give it a chance. "It's ridiculous."

Gaius gave Arthur a look, "Be that as it may it's our only option. It's just a little pepper sire." Arthur knew that, but he hated getting pepper up his nose. It was the most uncomfortable feeling, and always made his nose burn. Maybe it wouldn't do the same to Merlin's nose, but it still wouldn't be pleasant.

Since they had to do it at the same time, Merlin counted to three, and he and Arthur threw their heads back and let the pepper fall in their nostrils. Within a second the brother's sneezed, and a vase shattered.

"What was th— achuu!" Arthur sneezed again, and now the window went. Merlin hadn't even considered this possibility and was immediately regretting it. "Achuu." All the glass in the room shattered, including the leech tank, which sent the creatures flopping on the floor. "That… that was magic. I know that was magic. There is a sorcerer." Even Arthur wasn't that dumb. "No, it happened every time I sneezed. This isn't possible. I don't have magic. I can't be doing this. Except…"

Gaius felt himself standing to move in front of Merlin as Arthur stood to make his accusation. "I don't have magic, but if this body did… You. You're a sorcerer."

Merlin was going to die.


Merlin didn't know what came over him, but he hit Arthur with the butt of his sword. "Merlin!" Gaius cried horrified. "What have you done!"

The younger prince didn't know what to say. "You saw his face! He was about to fun and tell Father I had magic! Uther would have killed us both not caring who was in what body! I couldn't just let him go!"

"But hitting him with his own sword?" Gaius bellowed realizing how much worse Merlin had just made this. "Did you consider what would happen when he wakes up? Now he'll think you have something to hide."

Did Gaius really just say that? "Something to hide? Of course I have something to hide! I'm the Prince of Camelot and have magic! I'm always hiding!"

Gaius's look softened when he remembered how young Merlin really was. He wasn't even nineteen, and had far too much responsibility. "But Merlin, when Arthur wakes up he'll remember you attacking him. It will only confirm his suspicion that you're an evil sorcerer."

Merlin realized that, now, but it was too late. The stupid pepper had thrown everything out the window. "We need to find a way to switch us back. Then…then I'll run. I'll go somewhere Uther can't find me. I'll be alive and so with Arthur. It will be for the best."

Gaius wished he could offer the boy more hope than a life of banishment, but he couldn't. The other option was death because Merlin was right. Arthur would have just told the King. They didn't know each other well enough; Arthur would never trust Merlin knowing what he did.

"I'll give him a powerful sleeping potion," Gaius assured him, rubbing Merlin's shoulder softly. "It will give us time to find a way to switch you back."

"We might know how to switch you back!" Mordred yelled running into the room only to find his master's eyes wet. "Merlin, what's wrong?"

Merlin was trying too hard not to break down, so Gaius spoke for him. "Arthur discovered Merlin's magic, and we had to knock him out. It seems like Merlin will not be able to stay in Camelot after we've switched them back."

"I'll go with you," Mordred and Morgana's outbursts were so immediate they shocked themselves.

Merlin shook his head, "You belong here in Camelot. You would hate exile."

"I'm only in Camelot because of you Emrys," Mordred whispered, squeezing Merlin's hand. "I'm only alive because of you. Wherever you go I'll follow. We could find another druid clan they'll be glad to take us in. Everyone will be glad to know Emrys."

Living with the druids didn't sound too bad, but Merlin turned towards Morgana. "You can't come. Father will think I kidnapped you and come after us. You belong here in Camelot; you said yourself it's been your home for longer than anywhere else."

Morgana's eyes didn't move from Merlin's (which, despite being Arthur's were the same color as what Morgana was used to seeing. For a minute she could imagine Merlin was still in his body.) "For years before you came I had dreams, nightmares, and I knew there was something different about me. I thought there was something wrong with me. Then you came and admitted your magic, and have taught me how to use mine. Camelot was my home for a long time, but I'm only 18. I have a life ahead of me, and wherever you go will be where that new life is."

It was such a powerful statement; Merlin didn't even know how to fight it. Instead, he just gulped. They couldn't worry about that now, not when they still had the body-swap issue to deal with. "You said you know how to change us back?"

Mordred nodded, not looking nearly as excited as he was before. "Kilgharrah said that it was most likely a cursed object that did this. What were you two holding when it happened?"

Merlin tried to look back, and once he did he wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. "There was a serving girl. She gave Arthur a coin and when we both grabbed it…"

"I suspect the girl probably grabbed the coin after you two fell unconscious," Gaius admitted stroking his chin. "Which means you'll have to go out and see if you can identify her. Remember, everyone must think you're Arthur."

Merlin nodded, "So walk like I own the place, notice nothing going on around me, and generally be a prat? Sounds easy enough."

Lots of things sounded easy, but Merlin soon realized they weren't. For one, Arthur had never been to the kitchens in his life, so when Merlin went down there to look everybody stared. "I am looking for a woman," Merlin spoke in his best Arthur voice. "She had brown hair, hazel eyes, and a scar above her eye."

"You'll want Norabella, your highness," one of the kitchen girls muttered looking down. "But she ain't done nothing wrong, I swear it. She's a good girl."

Huh. A troublemaker being described as a good girl; Merlin had never heard that before. "Can you tell me where I could find her? The kitchen girl bit her lip, clearly split between loyalty to her friend and loyalty to the Prince. "I assure you she will be questioned fairly. If she is innocent as you swear no harm will come by her. You have my word."

That seemed to ease her mind enough to loosen her lips. "I ain't seen her all day but she words down in the laundry room. Probably there."

Merlin thanked here, before heading to the laundry room. One glance inside and Merlin found the witch folding none other than Merlin's own pants. She looked up when Merlin cast a shadow over the room. "Your highness," the glint in her eyes told Merlin everything he needed to know.

"Come with me," Merlin ordered, and, much to his surprise, she obeyed. No fighting, no magic, just respect. Of all the things to happen that day, this probably surprised him the most. "You know who I am?" Merlin asked once they were out of the other's earshot.

Norabella nodded, "You're Prince Merlin. I'm very sorry Emrys for any trouble I've caused you, but I had to do it. The Crown Prince will be King soon. He needs to know what it's like to live with magic. I promise I was gonna give you the coin to reverse the spell. I just wanted him to see what it was like being us."

"You're a druid?" Merlin didn't even need her nod to know. "I can see you did not intend to cause trouble, but Arthur has discovered my magic. Once we're returned to our proper bodies I'll have to leave Camelot or face execution."

The girl's face fell to horror, "Emrys, I'm so sorry. I never meant to…"

Merlin nodded, "I know. You were trying to do a good thing…good things just don't always work out the way we want them to." Merlin had done lots of good things in Camelot, but here he was forced to leave. "Just let me have the coin before any more damage is done."

"I'm so sorry Emrys," she sobbed handing the coin over. "I never meant to…"

Merlin nodded again as he took the coin and walked away. Intentions didn't matter here in Camelot, not when magic was involved. Uther saw it as evil, and right now so did Arthur. Maybe someday that could have changed, but not now. Not now that Merlin had to leave.

"The dragon once said we're two sides of a coin," Merlin admitted, tears in his eyes as he explained the encounter. "I guess it makes sense a two headed coin could change us."

Morgana grabbed Merlin's hand and held it tight. "It's going to be okay." No, it wasn't, because they had to leave. Still, Merlin pressed the coin into Arthur's hand and felt the world go dark.

Part IV (Chapter 28)

Merlin awoke, rubbing his eyes. Mordred, Gaius, and Morgana stood over him, tears in all their eyes. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"You switched back," Gaius answered. "And now you three need to go before Arthur wakes up."

Merlin shook his head in confusion. "Switched back what? Where do I need to go?" The three gave him a look. "Why are you looking at me like that? Last thing I remember we were at the feast and then I touched that coin and…"

"You don't remember the last day at all?" Gaius asked, a smile forming on his lips. "You don't remember switching bodies with Arthur?" Merlin shook his head, glad he didn't remember that. "This is wonderful. If you don't remember than chances are Arthur won't either. He won't remember your magic."

Merlin's chin dropped. "He discovered my magic? Is that why we were leaving? Did Arthur tell Father?"

Morgana shook her head, still crying, but looking happy now as she did. "No, no you knocked him out before he could. No one knows. If Arthur doesn't remember then no one knows." Merlin breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe; he didn't have to leave Camelot."

"Morgana?" Arthur stirred. "Why are you in my room? Where's George?" Arthur looked around. "Gaius, why am I in your chambers?"

Every breathed a sigh in relief, Arthur really didn't remember. Merlin was safe.

"And neither of you remember anything of yesterday?" Uther asked incredulously. Surely they had to remember that, but both boys shook their heads. "It must have been strong magic indeed. Tell me Gaius, how did you reverse the curse?"

Gaius cleared his throat, and gave the prepared story. "Merlin told me of a coin he and Arthur touched before being enchanted. I found it easily enough amid Arthur's gifts and when they touched it again the spell was reversed and their memories wiped.

Uther nodded, readily believing his old advisor's story. "Very well then. If you're both feeling well you can return to your duties. I want you searching for the person who gave you the coin though; the witch must be brought to justice."

Merlin and Arthur nodded, taking their leave. Once outside, Arthur turned to his brother. "I think it's probably a good thing we don't remember anything. I can't imagine what it must be like inside a clumsy body like yours. How did you get that bruise on your head?"

Merlin touched the place where, according to Gaius, he'd hit Arthur with the sword to knock him out. "Oh, I don't remember. Perhaps you fell, you know, clumsy body and all." Arthur smacked Merlin, making sure he hit right where the bruise was.

"Ouch! You're such a prat," Merlin scowled rubbing his forehead.

Arthur smiled, "And you, my brother, are a complete idiot."

"Aw," Merlin laughed. "But as you said, I am your idiot."

Without another word, Arthur's hand hit him again.