A/N: Hey, when I went back a few days ago and replaced a chapter, I did mess something up. An unsigned reviewer pointed out to me that Chapter 7 and 8 were the same; if it was you, know that I went and fixed it… 7 is 7 again :) Also, some people pointed out that I never said there was a conversation with Gaius where Merlin's eyes turned black. No, you're right, I never did, but it's not an oversight—I haven't gotten there yet. I apologize for everyone's confusion. I've never written any mystery stories before and I'm not sure I'm doing it just right! But I promise we're getting there!

Morgana faced her sister, chewing her lip and thinking nervously that it was very dangerous to be meeting in the middle of the day, even if it was out in the forest.

"How is the royal family, Sister?"

"Clueless," Morgana assured the blonde, pulling her cloak tighter about herself. "Arthur and Uther will never see it coming."

"And Merlin?"

Morgana smiled maliciously. "Everything is under control."

"Very good."

Impatient, Morgana said a bit more sharply than she intended, "What is taking so long, Morgause? Why can't we do it now?"

Morgause's cool hand on her cheek stopped her. "Patience, Sister. I am still perfecting the invisibility spell, just a few more days. And I am considering sending for Cenred's men…"

Morgana did not roll her eyes, but it was a close thing. "Why? We don't need them, not this time…"

Morgause shrugged. "As backup… But you are right. We don't need backup. Not this time."

"Gaius?"

Gaius had barely made it back to his chambers, his arms full of books that Geoffrey had reluctantly let him borrow, when the future king walked in. Arthur's fists were clenched at his sides, and he kept looking up and then down, a sure sign that he was uncomfortable.

"Yes, Sire?" asked Gaius, putting down the heavy volume that he had been flipping through and wishing Arthur would go away and leave him to do something constructive for Merlin.

Arthur shut the door behind him, glancing at it nervously and obviously not wishing for a repeat of the last time he'd talked to Gaius.

"It's about Merlin."

"I assumed it was, Sire." A spark of worry found its way into his chest. "Has something happened to him?" He started to stand, but Arthur waved his hand in a gesture that put him partly at ease.

"Nothing like that, Gaius. Though I suppose something has." Arthur stood by the table where Gaius had his books piled. "I went to talk to Merlin after I left you, and when he refused to cooperate, I lost my temper." Arthur decided to skip over the part with the shove for now. (Not that he was scared of the old man's reaction; he just wanted to save time.) " He got angry at me, and Gaius, for a second, I thought his eyes flashed black. Lately I thought that had been going darker, but I figured it was just the light… But no, they were black."

Arthur stopped. Gaius looked at him.

After a moment, feeling the need for emphasis, Arthur added, "As in, black. Instead of the usual blue."

Gaius sighed and looked down at his book. "I know, Sire."

"You've seen it happen too?"

"Yes, once. When I was talking to him earlier today, he became angry when I suggested he talk about what was wrong, and for a moment his eyes did indeed flash black."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know, Sire. I'm doing research on the subject though." Here, Gaius gestured to the books sitting on his table. "I hope to find an answer in them."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" asked Arthur, having just thought of this.

This was going to be a tad awkward, Gaius knew. "Sire, you know how curious Merlin is, and how it tends to get him in trouble on occasion… I had no way of knowing whether Merlin's problem was…" He searched for the right word.

"Magical? It seems magical to me, Gaius."

"In case Merlin had accidentally stumbled upon something not natural that caused this, I didn't wish to get him in trouble."

Arthur was horrified. "Gaius, you didn't think Merlin had dabbled in magic? He wouldn't do that. No, Merlin knows better; he wouldn't betray the kingdom like that!"

"Of course not, Sire," Gaius soothed. "But even if he was just a victim of some magic, without proof, it could seem like…" He trailed off, hoping that Arthur would not notice that his last couple of sentences had been a load of hogwash. Gaius, however, was very accomplished at making utter illogical, badly thought out nonsense sound like the truth, and Arthur just nodded thoughtfully.

"Gaius, what is causing him to act this way, then? None of this is like him."

"I don't know, Sire. But if I could be left alone to my research…" He trailed off pointedly.

Arthur straightened. "Of course, Gaius. Tell me the minute you find the answer."

"I will, Sire."

Arthur turned, mostly satisfied, but with worry for Merlin still eating away at his stomach. He started for the door, just opening it when Gaius's voice stopped him.

"Wait, Sire. Don't tell Merlin anything we discussed in here."

Arthur looked back at him.

"It could just be a sickness of some kind, but until we know for sure, act as though you aren't noticing anything strange. If his eyes change colors again, tell me, but don't say anything to him. He might not be aware it's happening… Unless you already mentioned it, Sire?"

"No," Arthur managed to say, glad that he hadn't shouted it out as his instinct had told him to do. "No, I didn't."

"Good, Sire. Thank you for telling me what happened."

Arthur nodded one more time and left the room, shaking his head as he thought of his manservant and wondering. What is happening with Merlin? What is going to happen?

A/N: I'm sorry that I've been taking a while to update this story... See, I wait to publish chapters until I have 18 reviews for the one before. That's the lowest number I got for the first couple, so I set it as a sort of minimum. It helps keep things going...