Arthur woke to someone gently prodding his shoulder.

"Sire?"

Arthur ground his face into the pillow and swatted away the hand. When the poking kept going instantly, Arthur groaned as he blinked slowly and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He frowned as he put a hand on his back, confused as to why it was so stiff. He'd never had problems with his bed before.

"What do you want, Merlin?"

"Uh, Sire? I'm not- um, what?" A voice that was definitely not Merlin stuttered.

Arthur blinked a few more times as he looked around and took in his surroundings. He was startled to see that he was not in his bed, much less his room. That's also when he remembered what happened and how he found Merlin up here, comforted her and-

Arthur shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked up at the guard that was standing over him.

"Yes? What do you want?" Arthur spoke in an authoritative tone, as though it was perfectly normal for the crowned prince to be found asleep in the furthest tower asking for his manservant.

"Your father was wondering where you were. You missed dinner with him and he said he was wanting to talk to you about the sorcerer. He checked with Gaius because you had run after Merlin, and when Merlin was there and not you, he started to get worried."

"Ahh, thank you," Arthur said as he rose from the cot, wondering why Merlin wouldn't have told them about where Arthur was? She was here when he fell asleep, so clearly she would've known. Perhaps she hadn't wanted his father to know that they were in a far-off tower with only each other for company, especially now that she was a female.

With his head up and standing tall, Arthur started to walk away before he turned back to the guard and said "Not a word of this to anyone. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sire. Of course, Sire."

"Good." Arthur continued on his way, walking down the stairs and across the castle to find his father.

While Arthur was walking, he looked up to the sky and was surprised to see it so dark. He hadn't realized that he'd been in that tower for so long. Arthur winced as he thought about what he would tell his father. He decided that he wouldn't tell him about having a nap with Merlin- his father was sure to lecture Arthur about his responsibilities as the prince, and about proper etiquette and professional relationships when it comes to royalty and servants of any sort.

Arthur had heard that lecture so many times when he was young, as he often referred to some other lower class boys as his friends, which Uther had not been pleased with. 'You can't be their friends, Arthur, they are not on your level; they serve you with what you need, not to be your playmates.' Eventually, Arthur had stopped referring to them as his friends around his father, and as they got older, Arthur was always taken off on his own to learn about princes, duties, and other things that the other boys hadn't been allowed to. Over time Arthur saw less and less of them until it was a rare occasion to see them at all. Once he was old enough, Arthur was thrust back into the streets and told that he should know his people, but whenever he's run into his old friends, so much had happened since they last talked that it just wasn't the same. Arthur had to make friends with those closer to him in the kingdom, rather than those he wanted to talk to.

No, he wouldn't tall his father about being with Merlin. Of course, he would have to tell him about talking to her- he'd run off after her, after all- but he would say that they had departed ways after a bit and that he'd just needed time to think where he wouldn't be bothered. Yes, that sounded like a good plan.

Arthur found his father in the grand hall, pacing by the windows, ranting at Leon who just stood there, not saying anything. Poor guy. Leon was a good person and friend, he didn't deserve to be talked at the way Arthur knew Uther was capable of. Arthur made a mental note to apologize to the knight later.

"I just don't understand where he would've gone. I know he's run off many times before, but this is a serious matter! There are tricky sorcerers out there and who knows how many are plotting against Camelot! Are you sure you have no idea where he is? Why couldn't you have-"

That's when he'd turned around and spotted Arthur standing in the doorway.

"Arthur," Uther growled out. "You're dismissed, Leon."

Leon's eyes were wide- both frightened and with some sympathy- as he passed Arthur as he scurried past him and out the door, closing it behind him.

"Where have you been?!"

Arthur flinched at the powerful anger in Uther's voice.

"Apologies, Father."

"I was worried about what could've happened to you! We've got a mad, now-dead sorcerer in Camelot and you go missing for hours. Hours! You went off after your servant, so I checked with Gaius to see if you were there, but he informed me that Merlin had returned for dinner and that he hadn't seen you at all today."

"After I talked to Merlin, I needed to go somewhere where I knew I wouldn't be found. I needed to figure out the whole sorcerer situation, who he was, what he wanted, why he changed Merlin, how he changed Merlin, how to get Merlin back, and how that would affect the Jenkingses if it were still a problem when they arrive. It's all so confusing. I hadn't meant to be there so long. I lost track of time. I'm sorry."

Uther sighed and rubbed his hand across his face the way Arthur knew he did when he's tired and stressed about something.

"I'm sorry, Father. I hadn't meant to add to your worries."

"It's alright, Arthur. I hope it was at least beneficial to you and not a waste of time. I hope," Uther gave a cool sideways look at his son.

"Of course it was, Father," Arthur replied, confidently. He prayed that Uther would accept the answer and wouldn't ask for more details about his 'conclusions'.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that you're figuring out how to take control of the , tell someone where you are next time, please. I don't appreciate having to search the kingdom for my son just because he needed to think."

"I understand." Arthur bowed. "It won't happen again."

"Good."

"May I be excused?"

"Yes. I'll get a servant to bring you food, as you missed dinner."

"Of course, thank you, Father."

Arthur bowed again before turning to leave the room.

Well, that went well.

Arthur took his time walking back to his room, stopping by Gaius' room to find Merlin.

Gaius was examining the dead body of the sorcerer when Arthur arrived, and Merlin was nowhere in sight.

"Hello Gaius," Arthur said as he stepped into the room.

"Ah, hello, Sire," the older man stood up from over the body. "You're father was here not too long ago, asking for you."

"I know, I just came from him. I'm here to see Merlin."

"Of course. Merlin's in her room, but she's she's been asleep for a while. Your father had wanted to wake her, but I advised against it, as the change to her body has taken a toll on her, and she needs all the rest she can get. I could wake her for you, but again, I don't think that would be best for her."

"That's okay. I'll let her rest. Thank you, I will be back tomorrow."

"Of course, Sire." Gaius bowed and Arthur started to turn to leave but stopped. "I'm assuming you're trying to find out what you can about the sorcerer. Have you had any luck?"

"I'm afraid not yet, Sire. Magic is a tricky business that sometimes can only be figured out with other magic. Of course, your father isn't pleased with that."

"No, I don't suppose he would."

"And you, Sire?"

Arthur frowned. "What about me?"

"You said you didn't think he would. I was just curious as to what you thought."

"Oh!" Arthur was surprised. He wasn't often asked about what he thought of magic, everyone assuming it was the same as his father. "Well, I don't particularly trust magic or sorcerers, I mean, look what one's done to Merlin! But…" he trailed off.

"But?"

"Well," Arthur paused, not sure if he wanted to say what he wanted to say. "There are times where it seems like magic is more of a tool. Like a sword. Magic itself isn't evil, it's those who wield it who are."

"A wise statement, Sire. Let's hope that we can get Merlin back without the use of other magic, for I don't think your father would let us, otherwise."

"Here's to that."

Gaius nodded and turned back to the dead body.

"And Gaius? Thank you," Arthur said with a smile before he left the room and continued on his way to his own chambers.

That would explain why Merlin didn't tell anyone as to where Arthur was. She couldn't tell anyone if she was asleep the whole time. Arthur frowned as he wondered how long she had slept with him and when she had left him up there by himself.

A small part of Arthur was sad that she had left him. He had briefly wished that he would be able to wake with her in his arms. It happened so many times in his dreams, and he wished that it could've been his reality, even for a few minutes.

Arthur squished that thought process before it could go further. Merlin didn't- couldn't want him like that. Merlin thought that he was an annoying, arrogant prince- she'd told him so many times. He just didn't understand why she would put up with him if she didn't like him so much. Well, it was her job to put up with him, but Arthur had never had a servant like her before. And even if she didn't mind him so much as her boss, prince, or person in general, that didn't mean that he would be romantically interested in him.

Arthur had pondered about it all the way to his room, where he found his dinner on the table in the center of the room.

Arthur sat down and just looked at his food for a few minutes before picking up the fork. He was too lost in thought to appreciate his dinner in front of him, just shoving it into his mouth.

Arthur had made up what he was 'thinking about' on the spot when talking to his father, but now the thoughts stick with him, and Arthur kept turning them over and over in his head.

He really hoped the sorcerer mess would be solved before their visitors arrived. The last thing they needed was chaos when trying to give a good impression for the possibility of a new trade. Arthur hoped that a solution to turn Merlin back would arise before then, both for her sake (he knew Merlin wanted her old male body back) and for the Jenkingses. Arthur had no doubt that they would question the Prince having a female personal servant, and he didn't know how he would explain it. Uther wouldn't be quick to show off that they had a sorcerer problem that Uther couldn't solve.

Suddenly Arthur got a mouthful of no food, he looked down in surprise to see that he ate his dinner without even noticing.

Arthur sighed and pushed his chair away from the table, wiping his mouth as he stood up. Quickly and quietly, Arthur changed out of his clothes and climbed into bed.

There was a lot of tossing and turning as Arthur couldn't sleep due to his impromptu nap earlier in the day.

After an hour of staring at the ceiling while lying awake and wondering what in the world he was going to do, Arthur finally slipped into a fitful sleep.