Chapter Nine: Taking the Potion
It was finally the day that Arthur Pendragon, crowned prince of Camelot and future king was to be turned back into his normal twenty-four year old self. Merlin was dreading it, he hoped Arthur wouldn't be his usual 'I'm better than everyone' and prat like self.
As it turns out, Gaius had set a time frame to the potion it had to be taken between 10:00 am and 12:00 am so that it could take effect immediately.
"Arthur are you ready to go to Gaius' chambers now?" asked Merlin feeling a little hesitant, if the potion turned out to be a failure than he would be stuck with a hyperactive Arthur for a couple more days and that he most certainly did not want.
While Arthur was a good child and did adorable things like getting himself stuck in something like he almost did that day when he put his head inside the basket to see what was for lunch instead of putting a hand in and pulling it out.
He could get quite excited over little things and jump and run around whenever it suited him, and drag poor Merlin along, each day becoming more like a child.
But not today, Merlin crossed his fingers and prayed to whatever god was listening.
"Yeah, I suppose" replied Arthur grabbing hold of Merlin's hand and walking next him, his head drooping.
Merlin lead the way to Gaius' chambers, it was a rather slow, quiet walk for them. Merlin knew Arthur longed to be a child a little bit longer but he couldn't let that happen because if he did, when it came the time to grow up again he wouldn't want to as it is with all small children.
Merlin knew the reason behind it to: For whatever troubles a grown-up, will and shall not trouble a child.
So at 11:00 am they arrived at Gaius' chambers and Merlin sat Arthur on a vacant chair while Gaius got the potion ready for drinking.
"Merlin did you bring some of Arthur's clothes?" asked Gaius because when Arthur took the potion he'd have to be lying down in a room with the door closed for the little clothes he was wearing would not fit him anymore.
"Yes, they are here, do you want me to put them in my room so that he can get changed into them after he becomes normal again?" Merlin asked knowingly.
"Yes, I believe that would be appropriate." replied Gaius.
Merlin placed the clothes in his room, while Arthur took the Potion and lied down then left the room to go wait.
After ten minutes Arthur finally emerged and to everyone's relief was in fact normal again.
Merlin smiled at him and told him to come sit next to him, to his surprise Arthur neither glared or insulted him, he simply complied with the request.
"I'm glad that your back to normal now, it was no fun chasing you around the entire castle that day you ate too many sweet deserts." Merlin spoke to Arthur still smiling.
Arthur smiled back at him an gave a bit of a chuckle "It was fun then, but I certainly wouldn't do it now, that would be embarrassing."
"So are we friends now, and not just servant and master?" asked Merlin afraid of the answer.
"Yeah, I guess we are." replied Arthur patting Merlin's shoulder. In that moment Merlin hugged Arthur and he let him to, for they were now best friends.
