A/N: Our warlock can remain as Merlin here as the younger version does not appear in this chapter.

Chapter 7: An Uncomfortable Situation.

Camelot #1. Two Years after Series 4

"Are you going to tell me what you're up to with that crystal?" Gaius asked as the young man came out of his room ready to start his chores for the day.

"Crystal? Merlin asked, trying to assume an innocent expression.

"Yes, Merlin," the old man said with a sigh. "There's no point trying to pretend. I'm quite aware that you have the Crystal of Neahtid in there. I just want to know why you have it and what you're up to. I thought you had bad reactions to those visions in the past?"

"I did, but that was then and I'm not using it in the same way this time." The physician simply stared at him with a disbelieving look on his face. "I do know what I'm doing, Gaius, honestly," Merlin continued. "It's really important and part of my studies, you see."

"Are you trying to work out what Morgana's up to?" the old man asked then and Merlin looked up, surprised at the unexpected question.

"No, although that's actually quite a good idea." He nodded firmly. "I suppose I really should look into that, try and find out where she is, although I'm not sure how I'd explain anything interesting I find to Arthur."

"You may not be able to tell him, it's true, but at least it could give you early warning if she was about to try something again," the old man replied.

"Yes, I'll have to look into it," Merlin decided, still a bit distracted as he tried to work out how he might adapt his latest work to try and spy on the Morgana in this world.

"Do you swear that you're being careful? Do you promise me that you're not putting yourself in any danger of discovery with that ..." Gaius nodded towards the crystal.

"What?" Merlin was genuinely surprised by the question. "No, I'm perfectly safe, Gaius, I'm just exploring other ways it can be used; ways to get visions that are not from the future and are not so … painful for me."

"Well, if you're sure but I have to admit that I'm getting worried about you. You do seem to spend an awful lot of time locked up in your room just staring at that thing. It really can't be good for you."

Once Gaius had left, Merlin contemplated what the old man had said. It was true that he was beginning to get a little tied up in the other Camelot; perhaps becoming a little too enthusiastic about checking up on his friends there and wondering what was going to happen next. It was beginning to feel like he was reading a set of books, complete with realistic, moving images that could be constantly browsed so that the particular volumes he required could be found at any time.

Too much like books, to be honest, because Merlin was having much the same trouble with this crystal when it came to deciding what time period he should visit next. He was especially impatient to find out more about Morgana and their son, but was also thinking that he should perhaps view the visions like a proper story and watch them all in order. Quite often he'd take so long trying to decide which vision to initiate that he ended up not viewing any at all.

Eventually though, despite the temptation to push further forward in the previous time line, the next time Merlin had some free time, he decided to go backward and find out more about what had happened to the younger Arthur, Gwen and Morgana when they had been growing up.

Now quite confident of his calculations, Merlin focused on the crystal and thought back five years in order to travel back about ten. He kept his thoughts fairly open, trying not to focus of any one friend in particular and just see where he ended up.

Camelot #2

Merlin found himself in Arthur's chambers; the prince apparently dressed for bed and looking over some documents at his large desk. Seeing that he had been rather too distracted by how young they all were in his previous visits to this time period, the warlock now took the opportunity to study Arthur more closely.

It had been about a year since his last visit and the same amount of time had passed in this world too. The young prince was now seventeen, growing up quickly and starting to fill out a little already; his strict training regime beginning to translate into muscle as he got close to reaching his full height.

"Come in." Arthur clear voice rang out and, after a short delay, the door slowly opened to reveal Gwen, who walked in nervously wearing her Night Servant's cloak with Morgana's Band displayed on her right sleeve and Arthur's on her left. The prince just stared at her for a moment, his mouth slightly open and it was quite some time before either of them spoke. Merlin found himself intrigued at where he'd ended up – remembering one of the first conversations he'd ever had with this world's Morgana where she'd explained how Arthur had agreed to take Gwen on as his Night Servant purely to keep her safe from the older lords. Now long over his embarrassment about such things, Merlin had to admit that he was curious to see how events had actually played out.

"It is very good of you to take me on, Sire," Gwen managed eventually.

"Arthur," the prince stated and Gwen looked at him wide-eyed. "You are in my chambers, wearing my Band and so … it's Arthur."

"Oh."

"Although, if we meet outside in the corridor, you have to go back to the formal forms of address," he continued as he stood up, his eyes never once leaving hers.

"Alright ..." She paused. "So … I am your Night Servant then. I mean … I don't mind, of course I don't mind … why would I? It's just …"

"Guinevere ..." Arthur interrupted her. "I understand. You're only just fifteen and you need some time to come to terms with your new status. That's fine. Morgana and I have talked about this and it's decided. Everyone needs to believe that you are my Night Servant and so we need to dress and act the part but … look, here's where you're to sleep. Morgana had it all set up for you."

"Morgana did?" Gwen followed Arthur to the small servant's antechamber situated through a service door next to the area of the princes' chambers that contained his large bed.

"Well, we didn't want the other servants alerted. I mean, if they find out that I'm just letting you stay here as a friend then it won't be long before you're reassigned."

"A … friend?" she asked, blinking in surprise at the description.

"Yes, Guinevere," he replied with a gentle, amused smile.

"But really, Si … I mean, Arthur … you don't have to do this. As I said, if you really need me to … ah, be your Night Servant I would, of course."

"Guinevere," Arthur repeated. "Relax. Look, sit here with me. Have a drink and let's just talk for a while. After that you can go next door and sleep." She tried to interrupt him but he held up a hand. "I absolutely insist. There's nothing more to be said on the matter."

"T-thank you, Arthur."

Camelot #1

Merlin left the couple to their drink with a small smile on his face. Of course Morgana had explained much of this before, but it was far more interesting to see it actually happen and, despite the things he might get to view in the future, he had to admit that he was curious to follow this story a little further. He seemed to remember Morgana worrying that she had somehow pushed Gwen into the relationship against her will and, although he saw nothing in that first conversation to indicate that, he was interested enough to consider returning, just to see what had actually happened. Not that it really mattered when he chose to return, of course, as he now had the ability to travel to any vision he chose.

Grabbing a spare piece of parchment, Merlin sat down at his desk and started to write out a careful time line from the other world, complete with relative dates, so that he would be able to choose what he watched with a little more ease in future.

Camelot #2

Gwen felt guilty, she couldn't help it. She was lying awake in the small anti room thinking about everything Morgana had told her about a Night Servant's duties and how both her mistress and Arthur had gone out of their way to ensure that she didn't have to do any of … that with Lord Owen or his ilk. It was very good of both of them but still, after several nights of sleeping here, she couldn't help but worry how long this arrangement would be able to last.

"Guinevere ..." Arthur voice sounded faintly from next door and had a hint of urgency to it that concerned her. In her haste to move next door, she neglected to cover herself with the cloak, simply walking into the prince's chambers in her very revealing nightdress. There she found Arthur lying on his back in his bed, sheets crumpled and pushed down to his waist exposing his naked chest. Gwen gasped at both that sight and the sudden realisation of what it was that she had just walked in on.

The Prince turned his head towards her and, although his eyes widened in surprise, he didn't stop what he was doing, his eyes instead quite obviously travelling up and down her body and reminding Gwen of just how exposed she currently was. One part of her tried to turn back around or at least use her hands to cover herself a little, but she found that she was far too stunned and embarrassed by the situation to move. Arthur then closed his eyes and moaned, his hand stilling under the sheets as he gained some relief from the curse.

"I'm sorry, Arthur … I shouldn't of … " Finally she managed to find the will to turn away.

"Guinevere, wait. It's not your fault." She stopped and turned back with a wince, still embarrassed at having caught him in such a compromising situation and a little concerned at just how distracted she now was at seeing him in a state of undress. He sat up then and, yet again, she found herself unable to take her eyes of him. How could a man be quite so beautiful, she wondered.

"I just thought … I thought you called for me but, I was obviously mistaken."

Arthur laughed, apparently amused by her comment. "It's alright. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I mean, if you really were my Night Servant then I'd be doing that and rather much more in front of you anyway."

"Oh!" she exclaimed putting her hands up to her mouth. "I've only just realised. I've been so selfish not to have worked it out before."

"What?" he asked as he gently patted the bed next to him. "Come, sit down here." She looked at him wide-eyed suddenly very aware both of her revealing nightdress and the fact that he was probably not wearing any clothes at all under those covers. "Please," he asked, and she found she had no further strength or desire to object.

"I'm pretending to be your Night Servant but, because I'm here, you can't employ anyone else and that means you've no-one to help you with the curse," she blurted out hurriedly.

"It's alright," Arthur reassured her. "I'm managing well enough and your entrance just then certainly helped."

"It did? I don't understand."

"No? You do look very … pretty in that nightdress." Gwen coloured, quite aware that he meant something more from the way his eyes flicked down to her partially exposed chest.

"I really shouldn't impose on your hospitality any longer," she continued. "I should give you back your Band and let you find someone else who can ..."

"No!" She was surprised at how sharply he protested. "No." This time it was quieter and more gentle. "I promised Morgana," he said, turning his gaze away from her with a small frown. "I promised her I'd look after you and, I shall. I don't want you with those lecherous old men. I want you here – with me."

"That's not fair on you."

"Stop worrying about me, although ..." He looked suddenly, uncharacteristically nervous. "I don't want to pressure you but, perhaps the next time I feel the curse you could … I mean, if you want to?"

"Of course," she said. "I understand. As I said before, it would be an honour to be your Night Servant."

"No, Guinevere, I don't mean that, not really. It's just …" He shook his head. "If our relationship was a conventional Master/Night Servant one, then I should be able to order you to do anything. I could have insisted on full services the very first night you arrived and you really wouldn't have had any say in the matter."

"I know," she replied quietly.

"But, we're friends and ... you don't find me or my company totally unpleasant?"

"What? No, anything but. As I said, it's an honour to be ..."

"An honour?" He sounded hurt. "Just that? Just because I'm the prince?"

"Oh, no, sorry. I mean because you're … ah ..." She blushed again. "Very handsome and you've been so kind to me and ..." She jumped as he moved forward and gently stroked her face with his hand. Her eyes widened at the gesture.

"I was only going to say that, if I suggested something and you didn't object then, perhaps this arrangement could be mutually beneficial to both of us. Less like a master and servant and more like the arrangements the servants themselves come to."

"Of course," she said with a frown, although she still wasn't quite sure she understood what he was asking of her.

"Go back to bed now, and we'll talk more about this tomorrow."

"Yes, Si … Arthur. Thank you and I'm sorry again for ..."

"Don't be. Goodnight, Guinevere."

"Goodnight Arthur."

~o~0~o~

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that little scene with Gaius earlier when he felt that Merlin was spending far too much time on the magical internet :D

Even though Merlin's not watching anything that we don't read about or imagine, it still felt much more comfortable for me to write the few true M rated scenes from the other characters' povs.

19/10/12