Christmas 2011-drum roll-Worst Christmas Ever! It felt like an ordinary day with new clothes and an attack of a medical complaint which required me to cut down everything, 1 small glass of alcohol and two meals, and nothing I wanted for Christmas, there was only one thing I wanted...doesn't cost much- didn't get it. It's coming to the end of the day- what a waste. So you can imagine my mood when I get onto tumblr and find pictures of what people got for Christmas. I only enjoy watching people opening presents, I'm a giver. Christmas eve was the best because of Merlin.

MERRY CHRISTMAS- READ, LOOK OUT FOR ERRORS AND REVIEW- REGARDLESS IF YOU DON'T FIND ERRORS.

"How's you and the bar wench...Is she sweet?"

"Why don't you find out for yourself? She's fair game." Bedivere was keeping coy about his escapades, word had spread fast and the female's popularity was governed by her ability to serve men. Though she was a notorious flirt, she only spent her late nights with men of worth, a few and far between- for she was no whore- just experienced.

"Nah...She isn't my type." Kay was young and would have taken anything really.

"You don't like 'em big aye? You like them small and perky."

"It's not the bosom, it's the hair, I like fair hair and lots of it -something to grab onto." Their laughter rung out across the lake, along with the ferocious splashes of water. Arthur turned to see Merlin staggering in a drunken fashion, hands seeking balance.

"Are you on rocks?" He called over, and Merlin shook his head- he tried throwing water at his face to exuberate himself into thinking coherently.

When that didn't work-"Oaar shit...oar hell, really hawt."Merlin struggled, going slightly pink in the face. Arthur was very concerned, he rushed over to his friend while the men went about their business talking about the fairer sex.

"Pull yourself together- you're like a girl sometimes, can't handle your liquor." Merlin had toppled sideways into him, his eyes rolling about in his head. He couldn't fix on a single face, he kept wallowing from one to another, then to the trees. Oo pretty trees. Wait, hadn't Arthur asked a question- or implied something?

"Haven herda' dwop."

Arthur seized Merlin's cheeks to shake his head, now gaining the attention of the knights, they had since stopped laughing, giving the weird display in front of them a worrying stare.

"What's the matter with him?" Sir Leon had reached for a handful of Merlin's hair, pulling his head backwards at an awkward angle. "He's drunk my lord." Stating all their suspicions and releasing the head so it drooped towards the prince, the titters began again but Arthur wouldn't have any of it.

"No, he said he hadn't a drop...there isn't even a smell on his breath."

Merlin murmured against his master's bare shoulder. "Yeaah..." His teeth grazed lightly and Arthur jerked him back so his head flopped backwards. "Laaadiiees...want."It was sung out of his throat towards the stars.

"That's right Merlin...good times, good times." Sir Leon ruffled the boy's hair, Arthur didn't look amused and the knight sobered.

"You're swooning over them? I knew that place was a bad idea...you want to go back there don't you?" He started to get very annoyed- the servant had sampled something he should have been restrained from, he had corrupted the boy. "Damn virgins." More sniggers in the water and Arthur shot them a look. "The cold water is best for you...you shouldn't be hot Merlin." This was true, why should the boy complain about being warm? The water was above cold.

Merlin could feel the hum, he blamed their conversation- he had got a little hot and bothered. He had imagined his hand caressing the very things they had mentioned. Fingers running through long hair, and hands cupping ashen pert breasts. Oh mother- It was like an explosion of sensations, too much to comprehend, his cock had become a wind dial- pointing him in the direction of the castle. Very unusual...good job he was in deep water. The hum grew louder until it turned into a hiss, that's when the sensation changed. He went rapidly cold, and a shiver reached his teeth.

"Merlin you're freezing." Arthur had begun to drag Merlin through the water, the water turning into knives stabbing his body. The knights had commenced following, feeling the cold also. There was an external hiss and crackling in the air- the others were staring about them in surprise. The water around them was solidifying, the surface becoming ice...and it was closing in fast.

Sir Leon snared the prince's attention. "Arthur quick...the water- it's freezing over, quick men, out!" They didn't have to be told twice, the kafuffle did churn the water long enough to prevent them being sealed in, but they were still nowhere near the shoreline. "My legs are failing- what is this sorcery?"

Arthur remained calm. "It's closing us in...Use your fists- break through!" With one arm around Merlin, he punched the ice with every ounce of strength he could muster with his free hand, the men equalled his strength- forcing the ice into shards they could discard before safely making it to land. They flopped onto the grass- savouring their victory. "What the hell happened?"

"Sorcery, it has to be...you can never see ice develop by the naked eye that quickly. " Bedivere explained, he did a double take on Merlin sagging against a tree. "He must have sensed it first, that's probably why he was all funny-"

"Are you saying Merlin knew this was going to happen?" Arthur snapped making it clear that he didn't want his friend implicated in treason.

"No Sire, he is a skinny lad...he would have felt the cold quicker, less muscle you see- hipponerma."

"-Hypothermia." Leon corrected, and he was ambushed with a load curious looks for having such knowledge. "I got it once."

Arthur shook his head. "Anyway. This is evidence of an attack using sorcery against all of us, we must report this to the King." His stance had became formal once again and he was about to depart with an air of fortitude, still clutching his manservant. But one question hung in the air.

Sir Kay bustled forward desperately. "But Sire...the festival, won't the King cancel everything we have planned for?"

Arthur's doubt was apparent, he shifted the gravel beneath his feet, looking in the direction of his home. "I have to protect the kingdom, safety comes before pleasure...unfortunately."

Sir Leon's knightly voice was heard. "Arthur is right; if this force is used against the kingdom- the consequences could be dire." This sunk in deep and quick, leaving a sickly doom in their guts. "Though it could have been a rapid onset of frost, I mean water being turned into a solid is physics...can be manipulated to look like magic?"

He looked upon stony faces, wishing he hadn't bothered, but Arthur seemed more open minded. "True...we could be jumping to conclusions." Everyone visibly relaxed, but their gaze rested on Leon for more words of wisdom- at that moment he was like a human textbook- occasionally the occupation of Merlin.

"Perhaps our concerns are heightened by past problems we have had with sorcerers, we have forgotten how to relax." More nods of agreement and resignation. "If we still have doubts, we could stay on our guard without alarming the civilians...and the King."

Arthur chipped in stealing back his authority. "Yes, precisely- what he said, we shall not utter a word of this...well the bathing ritual wouldn't have been taken light heartedly anyway." That hit them like a sack of stones, explaining water turning to ice while they were all frolicking in it would be rather silly.

Merlin lay oblivious to the conversation and decisions being made as the blackness consumed him. Boy was it dark, and cold- was he sedated- again? He could hear the blood pumping around his body, which was nauseating, probably because it reminded him of his mortality, or maybe the fact he was not dead and just blind or completely senseless. Wake up. He was being lifted again- if he woke up in another bed he was going to feel like a complete invalid, though last time he awoke to kisses and sweet whispering. That wasn't so bad - he could use some intimate heeling. The sensation of being splashed surprised him, like someone was bucketing him, and this was occurring every time he thought about intimacy. Don't do it.

"Merlin." He was shook to rouse him.

He blinked back sleep, it was crusty and it scratched his eyes. "Ow.." Gaius was cleaning his face with a hot rag. "How did I get here?" He squinted at his guardian, trying to push himself up, Gaius reached out to steady him.

Gaius's rag still clung to his forehead. "Arthur and his men carried you in, you were in the woods and frozen, you were dead when they brought you in, you weren't breathing, and your lips were blue." Merlin looked horrified.

"How?"

Gaius soothed his young apprentice. "There was panic, but when we heard this almighty gasp, we realised you had come back. The others and I thought we must have been mistaken in thinking you were gone, but I have to confess you were, no heartbeat." His voice failed when recollecting the worst few minutes of his life. "Something must have cooled you down so rapidly- you couldn't survive." The silence that took hold was almost a reminder of what could have been.

"I died." His inner child wept. "My magic did this..."

Gaius sought the boy's hand. "It was too soon for you to be going out again, I want to monitor you."

That meant he would have no freedom, he winced. "I'm fine Gaius just... can I have a drink? I'm thirsty, I need to sleep as well."

"I thought you would have had enough, you've looked peaceful all night."

Did he hear him right? "All night...It's morning?" He looked towards his shutters, daylight was seeping through. "The festival!" He threw the covers off himself and onto his Guardian, who huffed at the abruptness.

"My dear boy you are not well, too much excitement could kill you...literally." He tried applying pressure to his ward's chest to lie him back down but he found himself barged past.

"But everyone will be there, it's the day I'm not Arthur's manservant- I'm his friend!" Today was the day everyone was off duty, nobles would get up unaided and would join the townsfolk in the celebrations, it was a sin not to attend. "I don't care if I'm ill, I will drag myself up even if I had no legs, to join them in a dance."

A disapproving stare gave him further reason to get away. Gaius sighed in resignation. "Do you have your clothes ready?"

"Yes." He chucked open his hope chest, and began pulling things out willy-nilly. "White tunic, dark green breeches, moon pendant, laces, boots, dark green jacket, yellow rag, red rag, black breeches, blue neckerchief...an apple?" He discarded it and started to disrobe before Gaius had the chance to excuse himself. "What have I missed?" He mumbled into tunic as it got stuck on his ears.

While looking the other way.- "Well the tavern had a massive clear out since the whole of the lower half of town decided to go for a drink at once. Saw Gwen- she looks nice, she was still attending to her duties out of habit."

"And Morgana?" He chimed trying to avoid meeting his elder's eyes. He could feel the stillness he had caused, and continued dressing to make him seem less interested. "She must be so uncomfortable."

"Yes..." Gaius disappeared into the other room completely before clomping back, he had something in his hand. "Take this." Merlin's hand hesitated on the bottle that was presented to him.

"And what exactly is...this?" He shook its contents, it changed colour startling the young warlock. "A potion- magic- what are you trying to do to me?" It wasn't an accusation, more like a surprise that his medicine was magically made to treat him.

"Never you mind...it will keep you safe, down it in one go, it will last the day -which is how long you will need it."

Merlin gaped. "What's supposed to happen? I'm not putting that in my body unless I know what it does." The heat of his hand was making the potion more volatile- so he put it down.

Gaius elucidated. "Your problem is your body not wanting to accept what it might do in the next 24 hours, this festival represents the end of the harvest also the last day of fertility." Merlin understood where this explanation was going. "So the final day, desperation kicks in- hormones all over the place."

"-So I'm going to want to-"

"-Well you may, but your body won't...your magic is going to stop you, it will try to cool you down, or worse; make you angry- push all feelings to the back until you commit an act of violence." The warlock gulped heavily. "This potion that I have slaved over-"

"-Will stop me yearning?" He finished, Gaius didn't look that satisfied or done- meaning it was the wrong answer.

"No, if I gave you what I gave everyone else...I don't think it would work on you, Morgana is calmer but it isn't her salvation, magic again fights with the formula. This-" He waggled the ever changing potion in his ward's face. "-Will render you a mortal for 24 hours, your magic won't interfere...hopefully, but if you try to use' sorcerer magic'- the non instinctive magic which requires words while this is in your system- you could burn through it a lot quicker, so don't do magic the old fashioned and mortal way- cause even non-warlocks can perform magic." He felt it had been drilled into him.

"I understand."Merlin looked wary, this was the worse bit of news he could have. "I'll think about it."

"No you won't lad...you'll take it before my very eyes!" He demanded, placing it into the younger gent's hand.

"You are asking me to reject who I am in order to attend the celebration."

"For the great or good, just for the day."

"What if there's an attack against Camelot?"

"You would have to use the weaker magic. Wouldn't the other kingdoms be too busy doing their own festivals to be bothering us?"

Merlin screwed up his face. "But kingdoms are at their weakest during the harvest celebrations...how's that going to put me at ease?" Gaius got the impression Merlin really didn't want to take his medicine.

"Are you ashamed of being mortal, of being ordinary...you're being very-"

"-Selfish, you were going to call me selfish! Because I'm making a decision about my body." He knew he was speaking loudly but he couldn't hear what he was saying or the repercussions. He bit back a groan, knowing he was going to give in eventually- Gaius's eyebrow was working overtime to hypnotise him. "Fine...but can I drink alcohol?"

"Yes." He passed him the potion, Merlin hung back, knowing he was going to lose his purpose and uniqueness.

He had already uncorked it and brought it to his lips when Gaius told him he could hear music from the lower towns. Gaius held his breath. "Why are you worried? You're not taking this." He coyly licked the cork and reeled back in revulsion. "Blaaak...Troll goo!"

"Foul isn't it? But I assure there is a pleasant after taste." Gaius tried, and Merlin very disbelievingly tipped some onto his tongue. -"No...down it and don't let it touch your tongue!" Gaius's hands shot forward; one to pinch the boy's nose and the other to knock all the contents out and then force his mouth shut. Merlin hummed in horror, choked and hacked. "See, no problem."

It had felt cold rolling down his oesophagus."Gone, but it's in me." He grossed himself out imagining he was going to turn into a troll. "Now what...Can I go?"

"Yeah, you may get a little depressed." It was almost an afterthought.

"-Now you tell me!..What else- shall I be able to breathe fire?" He retorted, he covered his mouth immediately afterwards- not because he believed he was going to breathe fire, but his sarcasm. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."

Gaius's lip curled. "It's fast acting I see."

Merlin did feel different- was his apology proof? He assumed he had been himself since the brothel. He must have been wrong. He felt somehow smaller and not in touch with the world. His hand was on his chest while breathing in stale air, he noticed a slight problem- his sight. "Um Gaius...I'm having problems seeing into the distance." He held up his hand, yes, he could see that but beyond; it was a little smeared. He approached a looking glass while his mentor inspected him.

"You must be short sighted, Myopia . As a mortal you may need my magnifying glass...or perhaps my ingenious invention."

Merlin appeared more upset than having his magic taken away. "Please Gaius, I don't want to look different instead of being different, sorry." He stared at his reflection, his flesh appeared peachy. "I've tanned."

"You have- just a little, but you still look the same, same eyes, same hair, same cheek bones...same ears."

"-You think it would have shrunk them!" He cut into the calming atmosphere, before biting his lip. "Do you think anything has got bigger?"He chimed while wagging his finger.

"Oh... does that really matter?" Gaius didn't think he could have so much vanity. "Please check in the other room." He added when he noticed his ward's hand wander where it shouldn't...again.

He crept out of the physician's chambers worried someone would see him straight away and point out his differences. Though why shouldn't he be able to blend in if he was mortal? He gasped when Uther passed in normal clothes, and said nothing. Though the King looked just as awkward as him, for he knew he would soon mingle with everybody without his crown, but Merlin knew that to walk amongst them all as a mortal will be the first time he is honest with them. He wasn't a sorcerer, huh...what sorcerer?

He could see a pack of young girls in white, skipping and giggling about to join the festivities. They were being stalked by a load of peasant boys dressed in their finery. He crossed the courtyard hastily and came across a swarm of people lining up to join a maypole. Nice, a way to blend in. "Merlin." He saw Arthur. Crap.

Arthur swaggered to him. "I see you still haven't managed to out dress me, despite me being a peasant and all." He flashed his poet shirt.

Merlin tutted. "This isn't a competition you know?"

"Actually...come to think of it- it can be, we're equals and-"

"-You're not allowed to say you're better than me." Merlin commented dryly, he tugged up his dark green trousers, wiped his nose and pretended to wipe it on his former master.

"Now that was just childish." Arthur rolled his eyes. "You owe me, I saved your life."

"-And I have saved yours." He retaliated. "-In a matter of speaking." He tried to formulate a mortal list to brag about, but was distracted by Arthur's curious stare. "Yes?" Then he realised- he was different.

"Are you wearing make-up?" Arthur patted his face, much to the annoyance of his former manservant.

"No, I've peeled- um, got burnt...and this... was the skin underneath." He nodded to assert himself.

"Or is it dirt?" Arthur was having too much fun, he wasn't behaving any differently to how he normally did, he wasn't even worried. What's the fun in that?

"You know you could be smooched by a pox ridden wench without having any say in the matter, and she won't be arrested." This had gone into Arthur's normal sized ears and had stuck- he looked alarmed.

"I still have free will!" He exclaimed, looking like someone had given away his toys.

"-As much as the next guy." Merlin was pleased with himself, all until it came to his group on the maypole and he couldn't find the ribbon- damn new eyes- and he was forced to swerve as he circled it since he couldn't see people until they were up close, at some point he was paired with a pox ridden wench. Irony, grumble grumble.

For the love of all that is holy; review. Next chapter will be my favourite...festival fever- plus another kind of fever.