Arthur barged into the physician's quarters. A determined, severe expression blazed in his azure eyes and his jaw was tensed and pulsing. "I need to talk to Merlin...now," he said to the physician, who was tending to Merlin's arrow wound from several days earlier.

"I'm right here," Merlin pointed out. He was obviously confused about the whole situation. His brow was slightly puckered as he first looked at the King and then at Gaius. He hissed when the physician slathered the rest of a healing poultice and securely wrapped the healing injury.

"Ow, be careful, Gaius. There's a feeling person underneath that wound," Merlin griped.

"They never said healing was easy," remarked Gauis as he wiped his hands off on a towel.

It was now Arthur's turn to be confused. Never before, in all of his days, had he ever been so blatantly and flippantly ignored. Staring at the two men before him, his eyebrows rose in a 'You have got to be kidding me' look. Not wanting to waste any more time, the King cleared his throat.

"Excuse me," Arthur began. "I'd like to speak to Merlin alone. Right now."

Gaius glanced over at Merlin, who shrugged and then nodded. "Very well," remarked the Physician as he strode over to his workbench and grabbed a couple of jars of salve. "I need to deliver some salves to the knights. Might I suggest you work them a little less hard, sire? They are quite miserable. They can hardly lift their arms above their heads after a brisk training session."

"They'll survive," muttered Arthur as Gaius left the building. As the door clicked closed, Arthur turned and looked over his shoulder at it as if of to make sure Gaius hadn't decided to return. After a minute, and the physician had not come back in the room, he returned to glaring at Merlin.

"You needed to see me," the manservant said.

"Yes," agreed Arthur, crossing his arms over his chest. "Morgana came to see me. She seemed to want you back."

Panic caused Merlin's blue eyes to widen and his breath to come out in heavy hitches. "What...what else did she say?" he asked.

"She said you poisoned her and killed Agravine, among other things," Arthur informed Merlin. "Is there any truth in her words?"

Merlin just stared at Arthur. His lips were pressed together in a tight line. The warlock found his could not respond; Merlin couldn't even nod.

"Well, Merlin, what do you have to say for yourself? Did you do those things or is Morgana lying to me," demanded the King. His voice boomed. Arthur was so loud, that the rafters shook and dust fell down around the room.

Slowly, Merlin nodded. "Yes, I did do those things. She wasn't lying," whispered the warlock, keeping his gaze lowered (Merlin did not want to see the hatred, the anger, or the hurt in Arthur's eyes). His voice shook when he admitted his crimes.

"Why?" barked Arthur as he pulled out his sword and pointed it at the pitiful warlock. "Why did you do it? Why shouldn't I just skewer you right here and now, murderer?"

"Maybe you should…"

Merlin's words took the King off-guard. It made him lower the sword just a little bit. A frown crossed the blonde-haired man's face. It was as if he was saying, This kid really is an idiot.

"I did do all of those things," Merlin continued. "But, I only did them to protect you or Camelot. I hate what I had to do. I didn't want to. I really didn't."

Arthur nodded as his frown deepened. "All right, I believe you. I don't know why I do, but I do," said the King with a nod.

"You do," asked the warlock. "So…what are we going to do now?"

"We're going to get that curse lifted."

"How? There is no way to break it, is there?" Merlin replied. It was his turn to look confused. His brow was knitted together as he frowned.

"Actually, I think there is a way to get rid of it. Other than requesting I return you to her because apparently she thinks of you as her pet, she told me about the curse."

"Really and you believe her?"

"I don't want to, but she's the one who took you and she's the one who put the curse upon you, so who else should we believe?"

"Good point. So, what did she say?"

"She said that the only way to break the curse is for another being's blood has to be spilt on it. That, or you are killed. Personally, I think she hopes the latter will happen," Arthur explained grimly.

Merlin couldn't help but nod in agreement. There was never a truer statement. "I don't want to die and I sure do not want another to suffer this curse. It's miserable!"

"I know you don't want to die and I know you don't want anyone else to have to go through this ordeal. But, what choice do you have? You can't take the necklace off. You can't continue changing and terrorizing the village."

"Chickens…"

"What?"

"We give the curse to a chicken."

"Are you mad, Merlin?"

"No…no, listen. We grab a chicken and I kill it. It's blood will drip on the necklace and that'll be that."

"You know, that isn't a half-bad idea. What will we do with the chicken?"

"It'll be a little present."

"Let's act quickly. The sun will be setting soon."

Merlin nodded. Then the warlock the King went outside. After a good 20 minutes of chasing a chicken, Merlin caught one. Taking his knife, Arthur pierced the bird and held it over the necklace. Just as the sun set, the blood hit the necklace and Merlin didn't change.

Laughing Merlin took the bird inside and put it in a pot of boiling water along with carrots and herbs. The next morning, he, with the pot of chicken stew, rode out to where he'd been living for the last 6 months. Sitting it on the ground the warlock pulled out a note and the necklace. It read, Enjoy! As Merlin rode off, he heard Morgana furious scream - she had found the soup – and he laughed.

The end

Well, what did you think?