Chapter 10

"Gaius!" Arthur called as he rushed down the stairs. He stopped abruptly and turned to the physician's door. He knocked hurriedly. "Gaius?" he called. Gaius hadn't stepped out again, had he? A moment later, the door swung open and a shocked Gaius stood in the doorway.

"Your highness, I'm afraid there's nothing new," Gaius informed and stepped aside so Arthur could see Merlin still lying flat. He'd been moved onto the bed, but it was the same thing. He still barely breathed and moved little.

"But there has been something new, Gaius," Arthur said and walked over to Merlin as though he hadn't been rushing.

Leaving the door open, Gaius hurried over to Arthur's side. Merlin slipped down to sit on the ground by the door. A soft sigh escaped his lips. He was happy Arthur was more in the know now, but he still couldn't bring himself to enter the room. This was about as close as he was going to get. He was still too scared about feeling… dead.

"What have you learned, Arthur?" Gaius asked, looking over Merlin and then up at the prince. Arthur looked at Merlin as though confused but pleased. Arthur was trying to put together that the comatose body before him and the moving objects in his bedroom were the same person.

"Merlin's not in a coma, Gaius. He's been separated from his body- like a spirit or something. That happens sometimes, right?" Arthur asked, looking at Gaius. The old man looked torn between disappointment and concern. Arthur groaned. "I'm not crazy, Gaius! I swear Merlin was in my room just now! He picked up my dishes! He talked to me with them!"

"Are you sure it wasn't some trickery of magic?" Gaius asked, kneeling by Merlin. He almost seemed scared to admit Merlin wasn't right here in this body.

"I'm certain. I've never been more certain in my life. He told me he's under a curse… He said something about a… about a statue or something. I didn't understand what he meant, but he said to come see you. I assume this means something to you?" Arthur asked. He hoped so because otherwise he had no ideas on how to help Merlin.

Gaius shook his head, and Arthur frowned. Damn! He'd been so sure that Gaius would know! Wait. If that's not why Merlin sent him here, then why? Merlin sat in the doorway and frowned.

"Come on, Gaius. Think! It's only been two days…," Merlin murmured. He laced his fingers together in anxiety.

"Wait a minute!" Gaius suddenly exclaimed. He paced back and forth twice and then headed for Merlin's room.

"What is it?" Arthur demanded, following like they were glued together.

"Two days ago, Merlin came back from gathering ingredients. He said he'd tripped over a statue in the woods, and he brought it back home with him," Gaius explained as he unhitched Merlin's door. Arthur almost smiled. Two days ago? That was when Merlin said he'd been charmed! "Last I saw it, it was sitting on his table."

Gaius mentally prayed Merlin had his magic book hidden and opened the door. The statue could be seen sitting on the desk as Merlin had left it. It had grown two inches and the clothing had become grander, but it sat there all the same. It hadn't moved at all. Gaius nodded.

"That's it. That doll is definitely magic. Last time I saw it, it was smaller and more plain," Gaius explained. He moved to step into Merlin's room, but a force of some sort shoved him back out and he fell to the floor in his own room. Arthur stood on the stairs and watched in shock.

Arthur turned back to look into Merlin's room. He reached his hand out slowly, afraid of whatever force had hit Gaius. Then his hand stretched over the threshold, and he felt something push it back gently across the doorway. The prince frowned.

"Gaius, I think the statue is keeping us out of the room," he said and quickly went to help the old man up.

"Yes, I believe so too," Gaius grunted as he was pulled up. He leaned on his table and then sat down. "I'll do some reading. Don't worry, Arthur. Now that we know what's doing it, it'll be a lot easier to find a way to stop it."

"I trust you, Gaius. Take your time," Arthur replied, standing in view of the statue. He narrowed his eyes. It looked so harmless.

'You've ruined everything, Emrys,' the statue's voice echoed in Merlin's head.

"How so?" Merlin asked.

'The test is not complete. How can one discover how the prince feels about the knight if the prince is given all the answers? Why can we not have the answers as well, Emrys? Do you not want to know… as I want to know?'

"No. I don't need to know. I need to be physical again. I need to be able to save Arthur when danger comes to Camelot. I don't care what he feels about me, so long as I can protect him," Merlin declared.

The voice of the statue did not reply.

-- -- -- -- -- -- --

"Merlin?" Arthur asked, looking around the room. His eyes landed on some bottles as though staring at them would make Merlin hop up to use them as communication. They didn't even twitch.

"What are you doing, Sire?" Gaius asked. Arthur scratched his ear.

"I'm trying to see if Merlin followed me down here. I sort of tricked him into talking to me before. I'm not sure where he is anymore," Arthur admitted.

"I'm sitting in the doorway, and I'm NOT coming in," Merlin answered defiantly. Nope. He hadn't moved an inch from his earlier position. Day was fading and Arthur should have been heading up for dinner, yet he was still here… and Merlin was still outside of 'here'.

Gaius nodded in understanding and turned his face back to his books. He skimmed page after page quickly. He'd gone through two books already. Usually he had some idea where to look, but he was merely guessing this time. He'd heard of statuary magic before, but never like this. Usually a sorcerer bewitched the statue into doing their bidding. This statue seemed almost… alive.

Suddenly Gaius looked up, shocked.

"Sire," he called and caught Arthur's attention. "You need to go to dinner."

"No. The key to saving Merlin is close, Gaius. I can't eat at a time like this," Arthur replied, shaking his head and looking back to the doorway they'd left wide open.

"Arthur," Gaius scolded. He left his book and walked over. "Your father believes there is an evil magic force in Camelot," he began.

"There is an evil magic force in Camelot," Arthur interrupted. Gaius paused and gave Arthur a slightly disappointed look. Then he continued.

"If you don't show up at dinner, he'll think the worst. Now do your subjects a favor and go to dinner before Uther starts arresting everyone who entered the castle courtyard today," Gaius partially teased.

Arthur knew it was a tease, but he also knew how true it could be. His father was ill, so his judgment would probably be even more rash than normal. Arthur cast a contemplative gaze over Merlin's slowly breathing body and then over Merlin's bedroom door. He sighed a bit and nodded.

"You're right, Gaius. I'll return in the morning," Arthur insisted.

"Of course. I won't rest until I find what we're looking for, I promise," Gaius replied with a smile.

Arthur nodded and walked toward the door. Halfway there, he stopped. He looked back over Merlin and a confused look passed over his features. Where had Merlin disappeared to? In the doorway, Merlin was off in his own thoughts.

The more he sat there all alone, the more he thought about the statue's words. The statue wanted to know Arthur's thoughts about Merlin? Hadn't it been listening earlier? Arthur had said Merlin was "the closest friend" he had and that he felt like he could tell Merlin anything. Wasn't that enough? What more did it want? Why was it so curious?... and the more Merlin thought on it, the more he was curious! How could Arthur call Merlin his closest friend and then try to kiss him?! Or was he really trying to kiss Merlin or had it just looked that way from Merlin's point of view? Merlin ruffled his hair. Stupid statue! Now Merlin was confused too!

Suddenly, it seemed like legs were running into him. Merlin grunted in annoyance.

"Hey, watch where you're walking," he complained before remembering he was invisible. He almost growled at himself in annoyance before he heard Arthur's voice.

"Merlin?" the prince asked in confusion, looking back at the doorframe. Merlin froze and then hit himself. He quickly stood up and dusted himself off.

Idiot. For a moment he'd forgotten he was intangible and had gotten angry at being walked through… which of course meant he'd spoken and that Arthur had heard him. If he hadn't been sitting there, however, he would have entirely forgotten to follow Arthur again, so it sort of balanced out… sort of.

When Merlin didn't speak or move anything to say anymore to Arthur, the crowned prince shook his head and continued walking. Merlin kept close on his heels, but not too close. He didn't want to run into Arthur and accidentally start breathing in his ear or something.

"Hey, Arthur," Merlin spoke even though he knew he wouldn't be heard. "The statue seems to believe you'll show some different emotions than the ones you've already showed… Do you think it believes you wanted to kiss me?"

Arthur didn't reply. Instead he stepped up to the dining hall's doors. Merlin stopped outside the doors and almost didn't follow in. He frowned a little. Could it even be possible? As Arthur stepped through the doors the guards were opening for him, Merlin spoke.

"Arthur, I think it thinks you love me," he said. The doors started to shut and Merlin scrambled his way in. He'd give anything to be in a room alone with Arthur so they could talk… or perhaps have Arthur alone with his body. Now Merlin was curious too.