AN: Second part of The Curse of Cornelius Sigan! Hope you guys enjoy it!

Arthur didn't really know what was going on. Cedric was there but Arthur didn't feel threatened at all. He liked Cedric, the man was funny, and he helped him get back at Merlin. Where was the clumsy fool anyway.

"What was I doing?" Arthur asked confused.

"I believe you were about to do some paperwork, sire." Cedric suggested.

"Ah yes." Arthur stated sitting down at his desk to work on his paperwork. Good thing he had Cedric around to remind him of such things, if only Merlin were that useful.

Speaking of useless servants, here came Merlin now. Arthur looked up at him with kind of a dopey look on his face. Merlin looked like he wanted to say something.

"Cedric is possessed by an evil spirit." He whispered conspiratorially.

"What?" Arthur asked like Merlin was crazy, the dopey look still on his face, his head felt a little foggy but Merlin was being ridiculous, how could Cedric be possessed by an evil spirit?

"He tried to steal the jewel. But it wasn't a jewel. It was the soul of an ancient sorcerer, Sigan." Merlin whispered quickly.

Arthur really had no idea what Merlin was going on about, jewels that weren't jewels and kind, hard-working Cedric be possessed by an evil spirit?

"Merlin… have you been on the cider?" He asked even though he was the one with the foggy head. He wondered if he had been drinking as well.

"Please, listen to me…" Merlin said exasperated.

Arthur just looked at him like he was crazy.

"Camelot is in mortal danger." Arthur felt that should disturb him more than it did but instead it just made him angry… at Merlin. Why was this man making all these outlandish excuses, Cedric could be trusted, Arthur was sure of it. "Sigan is using Cedric's body to take his revenge." Merlin insisted.

"This nonsense isn't helping you keep your job." Arthur felt his anger flare up at Merlin. He hadn't realized he had gone from believing he would never get rid of Merlin to actually seriously considering doing such a thing.

"You are not listening to me!" Merlin shouted.

"If you're going to shout anyway." Arthur said standing up. "Cedric!" He called for his loyal, dedicated manservant. The one he could trust far better than Merlin.

"Will you escort Merlin from the palace?" Arthur asked. There was something in the back of his mind telling him this was wrong but he squashed it away.

Cedric nodded at his master… Merlin, on the other hand, attacked the other servant.

Arthur bowed his head at them and gave that dopey look again, he should really tell Cedric not to serve him wine so early in the morning. Arthur sighed as he moved around his desk towards the squabbling servants. "Merlin." He called. He scratched his face as they continued to fight and since his hand was in the way didn't see Merlin's feet coming at him until it was too late and he was lying on the floor.

Cedric wriggled under the bed and Merlin followed. Arthur waited on the other side. Cedric emerged and then Merlin, Arthur pounced on him like a drunk cat. "You've gone too far this time, Merlin!" He said, pulling Merlin's arms behind his back. "You can spend a few days cooling off in the cells. Guards!" Arthur dragged Merlin out the door and handed him over to the guards who pulled him through the hallways. Arthur could hear Merlin screaming accusations and warnings which echoed through the halls but he was completely deaf to them, Merlin meant nothing to him anymore.

~.~.~.~

Arthur fell to the ground, he wasn't as sharp as he normally was today and that meant getting knocked around a lot. That last blow had been particularly painful, actually injuring his shoulder, his foggy head didn't really allow him to properly process this.

As he was trying to clear his head he failed to notice the gargoyle returning to finish him off. He tried to wriggle out of the way but couldn't move fast enough. Just when he thought he was a goner his body suddenly slid out of the way as someone dragged him by his arm. He rolled over and looked up to see his rescuer. "Guinevere." He stated.

"Sire." Gwen responded.

"That thing could've killed you." He wasn't sure if he was complimenting her bravery or chastising her for putting her life in danger. He was still out of it and not looking around warily like her, his eyes were completely focused on her and how pretty she was… it was a dumb thing to think about right now.

"And it still might!" Guinevere shouted jumping at Arthur and knocking him to the ground out of harm's way. The air rushed from his lungs as he hit the ground but couldn't help but feel a little pleased at Guinevere's closeness. "Sorry sire." She apologized.

"No, my pleasure." He said a little dopily.

He allowed her to lead him back into the citadel and to a table where she could examine his shoulder properly. The pain was intense but his head was clearing faster and faster.

Arthur blinked at her as she moved away and frowned. "Guinevere!" He called, there was something he wanted to tell her… what was it again? "I wanted to say…" Something… anything… "Just uh… You always surprise me…" That hadn't been it but at least it was something.

Guinevere looked surprised and a little disappointed. What had she expected him to say, what was he expecting to say. "Is that it sire?" She asked.

"That's it." he said turning his confused eyes away for a moment. Wait… that wasn't it.

"Oh and…" Guinevere looked a little peeved at being stopped again. "Thank you." That had been it… well that and 'I love you' but he didn't think that was appropriate right now.

She nodded her welcome but still looked disappointed… oh well… what was he supposed to do?

As his shoulder was bandaged Arthur felt a small bit of clarity seep into his brain from the pain. Enough for him to know that there were still people trapped and it was his duty to rescue them. That was what led to his argument with his father and to him storming out into the night to attack these creatures and rescue said people. He knew it was suicide, these creatures couldn't be killed but it was his duty to protect.

It wasn't long after that he was separated from his patrol and attacked. The next thing he remembered he was coming too, he groaned slightly, not completely awake, he could feel someone touching his shoulder. Despite the pain and the inability to truly regain consciousness, Arthur's head felt clearer than it had all day. In a rush he remembered discovering the theft, seeking out Cedric, being attacked by Cedric and worst of all, the horrible things he had said and done to Merlin.

As his brain rushed over all these things he also remembered Camelot being attacked and vainly tried to push himself to the surface so he could fight.

Suddenly a voice called out. "Who would have believed it?" The voice was familiar, but very different. It took Arthur a moment to place it, it was Cedric's voice, but it sounded commanding and dangerous. "You, a sorcerer and a powerful one."

Who was a sorcerer? Certainly not Arthur. "I won't let you hurt him!" A voice cried out and Arthur realized it was Merlin. Even when Arthur locked him up he couldn't keep Merlin from his side. Arthur had never known a more loyal friend.

"And you're going to stop me?" Cedric asked.

He felt Merlin move from his side and peeked his eyes open to watch him stand in front of Cedric, he still felt too weak and jumbled to do anything more. "I'll stop you." Merlin stated.

"He does not deserve your loyalty. He treats you like a slave." Cedric… or not Cedric because Arthur remembered Merlin stating that he had been possessed by an evil spirit, stated. The words sent ice through Arthur's chest as he once again remembered the horrible things he did to Merlin. He should have never have hired Cedric. He should have known the man couldn't be trusted.

"That's not true." Merlin responded but the way he said it Arthur wasn't even convinced.

"He cast you aside without a moment's thought." Arthur winced, he had been enchanted, surely Merlin would understand that, if only Arthur could talk to him.

"That doesn't matter!" Arthur felt pain knowing that Merlin believed it, that Merlin believed Arthur would so easily get rid of him, even if he claimed it didn't matter.

"But it must hurt so much." Not-Cedric stated and Merlin didn't respond so he continued. "To be so put upon, so overlooked, when all the while you have such great power." Arthur thought about this, he had never known how powerful Merlin was, but guessing from their conversation he was very powerful and Arthur couldn't help but be a little surprised. Merlin was actually good at something? Who knew? He brought his attention back to the present because Not-Cedric's speech was sounding pretty impressive, Arthur wondered if Merlin was swayed, he had every right to be after the way Arthur treated him.

"That's the way it has to be!" Instead of Merlin's words reassuring Arthur he found that those words pained him even more. Merlin had to resign himself to such a lowly position all because Arthur's father allowed his prejudice to rule him.

"Does it?" Not-Cedric asked. Merlin didn't respond right away once again, Arthur wondered if he was weakening to Cedric's speech. "You're young, Merlin." He began his speech again. "Look inside yourself, you've yet to discover your true power. I can help you!" Cedric waited a moment as though gauging Merlin's reaction.

"Think, Merlin, to have the world appreciate your greatness. To have Arthur know you for what you are."

"That can never be." Merlin said, but he was calmer and his answers seemed to be getting weaker, lacking their normal conviction.

"It can!" Not-Cedric encouraged. "If you join me! Together we can rule over this land! Arthur will tremble at your voice. He will kneel at your feet!" Arthur felt fear rising up in him, what if that was what Merlin wanted? Arthur had always trusted Merlin so intensely but in the back of his mind there had always been the fear that Merlin was simply trying to control him, to get close to him so that he could someday stab him in the back in order to gain more power for himself. Merlin's next words quelled all those doubts once and for all. "I don't want that."

"You'd rather be a servant?" Not-Cedric spat the word out mockingly.

"Better to serve a good man than to rule with an evil one!" Merlin shouted and Arthur felt warmth flood through his chest and relief.

"So be it!" Not-Cedric said, his voice hard. "If you will not join me, I will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will." Arthur tried to move but he was just too weak. Whether from the enchantment Not-Cedric placed on him or his injuries he wasn't really sure, all he knew was that he wouldn't be any help to Merlin.

He saw Cedric's body fall and a glowing blue mist seep from his body and surround Merlin, while all he could do was watch helplessly. Merlin began to chant some foreign words which Arthur didn't understand and he held his breath, waiting to see if he was successful.

Merlin's body fell to the ground and Arthur stared at him, breathing heavily as he watched his loyal friend's body convulse. He stopped and lay there a moment before slowly rising to his feet, in his hand he clenched the glowing jewel. Arthur didn't know if that was a good thing or not, was this Merlin? Or the evil spirit?

Merlin walked back over to his master quickly, Arthur shut his eyes as Merlin leaned down to inspect him. He heard his servant breathing and then a sigh. "You really are a clotpole." Merlin whispered and Arthur felt relief wash over him, that was definitely Merlin in there and that could only mean that the evil spirit had been defeated and Camelot was once again safe.

With that relieved thought in his mind Arthur allowed his mind to relinquish its hold on consciousness and fell back into blessed darkness but he couldn't help murmuring out as he fell asleep. "M' not…" The last thing he recognized as he slipped away was Merlin's chuckling and he slipped away with a smile on his face.

~.~.~.~

When Arthur came too, Merlin was nowhere around, while technically Arthur hadn't fired him he guessed that neither of them were really sure what Merlin's position was. After all Arthur had thrown him into the dungeon, a dungeon which the young sorcerer had broken out of and now the lock had to be replaced at the expense of the kingdom thank you very much, Merlin…

Anyway Arthur obviously couldn't apologize, as much as he felt he should he knew that things would take longer to get back to normal if he tip toed around his servant's feelings. So that was the reason he carried a whole bag load of armor down to Merlin and Gaius' chambers.

He knocked on the door before letting himself in. His eyes met Gaius' first. "I've come to see Merlin." He stated even though Merlin was sitting right there. When he turned his gaze to his manservant, Merlin's eyes were cast down, he was obviously still upset.

"I've not forgotten about your lazy, insolent ways." Arthur stated as he strode closer to the table. Merlin squirmed uncomfortably before looking up at Arthur. "Or the fact that you called me a clotpole…but I do have to admit that there was some truth in your accusations against Cedric."

Merlin's whole face brightened, a little too much for Arthur's liking. "Does this mean that you're admitting that on this occasion I was actually right?" Arthur pondered over these words, it wasn't that they weren't true but Arthur couldn't admit to that even if both he and Merlin knew the truth.

He breathed in as he thought. "Not exactly, no." He stated.

Merlin's face fell ever so slightly. "It means that I have a knighthood to bestow first thing tomorrow and no one to clean my armor." He said dumping the bag of armor onto the table and nearly on top of Merlin's dinner.

Merlin obviously had some reflexes because he quickly moved the plate out of the way. Arthur smiled at him mischievously. "All that?" Merlin asked incredulously, holding his steaming plate of food away from the armor.

"Yep." Arthur said happily and threw the bag at Merlin's face before walking out.

As he left he heard Gaius ask "Clotpole?" followed shortly after by Merlin's laughter.

He smiled knowing that things were right between them again even if Merlin didn't get the apology he deserved. It was his own fault, whenever that idiot decided to trust him with his secret Arthur would make sure to thank him for everything he had done. He would find a way then to make up for all of it, but not today, today Merlin was just his manservant and Arthur's responses to him were based on that.

If Merlin wanted that to change he had to do something about it himself.

AN: FINALLY DONE! I can't tell you how happy I am to be done with this episode! As hard as it was to get through I really hope I did it justice… That's all I'm going to say because it's three in the morning… I decided I put this off long enough and stayed up into the night to finish it.

God bless!