Okay, before you read this, let me explain my headcanon. I think that Arthur subconsciously fears water after the events of "The Gates of Avalon." I have no real reasoning other than the fact that he almost drowned. I don't care that he didn't remember what happened; if something traumatic happens to you, you'll get nightmares...A lot of this has to do with the subconscious.

Disclaimer: I'm afraid that I don't own Merlin.

Prompt: From me: Arthur has a fear of something and must overcome it.

Rating: K+

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Angst

Characters: Arthur, Merlin

Time Frame: Post Season 4 (during the Golden Age)

Summary: They are on a ship for a diplomatic mission, and the ship goes down during a storm, and Arthur's freaking out...

Let's Go On An Adventure

Every man had his own fears. To overcome them, one must face them.

...

"Merlin!" the king screeched, his voice raw from swallowing sea water. "Merlin!"

Arthur clung to the piece of wreckage for his dear life. He didn't like water. He started hyperventilating.

"Merlin!"

"Arthur!" Arthur saw the floating bob swimming towards him.

"Y-you're all right."

"I am." Merlin grabbed his shoulders. "Now breathe."

Arthur obeyed, looking back to be sure that Merlin was really there.

For as long as Arthur could remember, he was afraid of water.

But, more importantly, he was afraid of losing Merlin.

Instead of one fear, I made it two. Arthur's fear of water may be silly, but then again, all of my fears are in actuality silly. It couldn't be a creature because he's faced a bunch in his short lifetime. He's lost the kingdom twice, and there were several instances where he almost lost it, yet he's dealt with it. I needed something different, then I decided to give him this subconscious fear.

And since it's subconscious, here's some subconscious reasoning. His soul is tethered to Merlin, and one of Merlin's most famous scars, the burn in his chest, came from an island in the middle of a lake from the same person who (accidentally) killed Arthur's mother. Lancelot died sealing the Veil on this same island. Freya, Merlin's lover, died on the shores of Avalon. Just a bunch of grasping at straws to explain that Arthur hates water because he sort of shares in Merlin's bad experiences with water.

Thank you Arachnide, AutumnMoonlightShine4, Falling Willow, Geccarenee13, ImpalaToDream81, KisetsuWaTsugitsugiShindeiku, Lycropanthy, MythologyStar, Riah021101, Rose PenGibbAck DragoSHaddo, ScruffydaDruid, SisterOfAnElvenWannabe, Skypeoplephoenix732, SweetangelSeve, Sword1428, TheDarkestDreams, artistialyanartist, bonecrusher1st, goodgirl275, himeisawriter91, hollyhobbit101, lexi1220, pezzz, roseannacharlotte, sarahmaria98, skydoe16, and winter368 for favoriting.

Thank you 1 of 1 secondary drone, AnimeFreak132002, Arachnide, AutumnMoonlightShine4, BlankAce, Childatheart28, Dalek. Sec. Tardis, Doughnut Holschten, Falling Willow, Geccarenee13, ImpalaToDream81, Jetom, KisetsuWaTsugitsugiShindeiku, Linorien, Lycropanthy, MythologyStar, Riah021101, Rose PenGibbAck DragoSHaddo, ScruffydaDruid, Seedsiz, ShadowsRising, Skypeoplephoenix732, Smallville Girl, SweetangelSeve, SummerElfOwl, TheDarkestDreams, WEast, bonecrusher1st, goodgirl275, henr4588, himeisawriter91, hollyhobbit101, lexi1220, magicforever39, mersan123, morningstar115, neal4grissom, pezzz, roseannacharlotte, skydoe16,tara hitge, and winter368 for following.

Thank you Arachnide, goodgirl275, KisetsuWaTsugitsugiShindeiku, SisterOfAnElvenWannabe, MythologyStar, and pezzz for reviewing.

Next drabble will be yet ANOTHER headcanon (I wrote these ages ago and are only now getting to them, okay?).

~Lya200~