Arthur woke up on the floor, clutching his side, and screaming. Merlin was at his side in an instant struggling to force Arthur's hands out of the way so he could reach the scar. "Arthur, stop! Stop! Let me help you!"

Blinded and confused with pain Arthur kicked him hard in the abdomen, forcing Merlin backwards. Merlin spoke an incantation and his eyes glowed gold. He came back to Arthur's side and grabbed both of his wrists in one hand. He pushed them away from Arthur's side with an unnatural strength and sat on Arthur's legs to keep him from kicking. Arthur thrashed about as the warlock brought his hand to the scar. Merlin began the incantation, but the pain only became worse. Arthur's screams pierced the air, but Merlin remained steady saying the incantation again and again. On the fourth repetition the pain began to die down again. It took ten incantations for Arthur's pain to finally subside. He panted breathlessly and Merlin released him as gold eyes faded back to blue. They stared at each other silently for a long time.

Merlin spoke first, "You're getting worse. It took ten incantations for you to get better. Before now the most it's been was five."

Arthur sat up, "It could just be stress. From what happened before."

Merlin shook his head, "I need to examine you."

Merlin helped Arthur back onto the bed. Arthur watched as he switched on the lights, went to the dresser, and pulled out some medical supplies.

Merlin had dark bags under his eyes and he looked pale.

"You look terrible."

Merlin put the stethoscope into his ears, "Shut up and let me examine you."

Arthur glanced at the clock. It was three in the morning. "Were you not sleeping before?"

Arthur inhaled sharply at the sudden cold touch of the stethoscope on his skin. Merlin ignored his question as he listened and moved the stethoscope to different areas on Arthur's torso. When he moved it to Arthur's scar, he muttered another incantation and his eyes shone gold. He held the stethoscope there for a full minute, focusing intently with gold eyes. His eyes faded back to blue and he put the medical instrument down. "There's definitely some activity there. But the magic doesn't seem to be causing any physical damage. It's just sort of pulsating."

Arthur asked, "What does that mean?"

Merlin wrung his hands nervously, "I don't know. It's not attacking your life force, or reabsorbing into your life force, and it's not fading away. It's just there. Just constantly vibrating. I don't know why it's causing you pain because it shouldn't be. It wouldn't be surprising to feel a tickle once in a while, but it shouldn't hurt."

Arthur though for a moment, "Could you just force the magic out of me?"

Merlin shook his head, "I have no idea what that would do to you. Dragon magic is not to be trifled with. If I tried to manipulate it it might start to attack you in earnest." Merlin's voice became quiet, "It could kill you. Again."

Arthur took Merlin's hands in his, "Well, it's not hurting me now. And like you said, there's no physical damage. Let's not worry about it too much, okay? Come back to bed, you look exhausted."

Merlin had a look in his eye and Arthur realized there was something Merlin wasn't telling him. He squeezed Merlin's hand lightly, "Is there something you want to tell me, love?"

Merlin sighed, "I've been awake all night. I keep hearing my name. It's calling out to me. Just like Kilgharrah did when I came to Camelot. Over and over and over …" Merlin stared ahead at nothing.

Arthur stood up and pulled Merlin up with him. "What kind of tea do you recommend for insomnia?"

Merlin blinked, "Chamomile."

Arthur led Merlin into the kitchen and sat the warlock down at the table while he put on the kettle. "We're going to have to tell Leon when he comes tomorrow."

Merlin groaned, "Why?"

Arthur got two mugs and placed a tea bag in each while he waited for the water to boil. "Because he's your friend, and he's been working very hard to find out what our destiny is while you've been taking care of me and this might be a clue." Arthur poured the hot water over the tea bags and placed one cup in front of Merlin as he went to sit down next to him.

Merlin muttered down at his tea mug, "He'll just think I'm crazy. It's not the first time I've heard voices, you know?"

Arthur lifted an eyebrow, "Oh?"

Merlin blushed slightly, "I used to hear you … sometimes. In my head." He played with the string attached to the tea bag and muttered under his breath, "Crazy."

Arthur took Merlin's hand again, "Merlin, look at me."

Merlin raised his eyes towards Arthur.

"You are not crazy."

Merlin shrugged, "I'm a little crazy."

Arthur furrowed his brows, "Alright, but you're 1500 years old. You have a right."

Merlin chuckled briefly and then his face fell back to brooding, "Leon's just as old, but he's not crazy."

Arthur retorted, "Well Leon is a blasted overachiever."

Merlin smiled at him then. The kind of smile that made Arthur feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He smiled back warmly, "Now drink your tea before it gets cold, crazy old man."

Merlin snorted, "Dollophead."

After they had finished their tea and gone back to bed, Arthur cuddled up and wrapped his arms around Merlin from behind. He waited patiently for Merlin's breathing to even out before he let himself drift back to sleep.

They were woken the next morning by the sound of knocking. Merlin grumbled as he opened his eyes. He made to get up, but Arthur pushed him back down and kissed his temple. "I'll get the door. Go back to sleep."

Merlin grumbled and tried to sit up again, "I can get it."

Arthur pushed the warlock back down and got up from the bed himself. "You got less than four hours last night." He tucked the sheets around Merlin and leaned down to kiss his nose, "Sleeeeeep."

Merlin obediently closed his eyes. Arthur quietly got dressed and went to answer the door.

Leon looked surprised to see Arthur answering the door, "Good morning, sire! You're up early."

Arthur gestured for Leon to come inside, "Yes, well, Merlin's having a bit of a lie in."

Leon smirked, "That's not very like Merlin. Wearing him out, are you?" Leon blushed at his own words, "Pardon me, sire. I didn't mean to imply … I only meant … with cooking and cleaning and such."

Arthur chuckled, "It's alright, Leon. I knew what you meant. Have you had anything to eat?"

They made their way to the kitchen and Arthur went to the fridge to pull out a carton of eggs.

Leon spoke, "Let me, sire."

Arthur motioned him away with his hand, "It's alright, Sir Leon. I've watched Merlin do this plenty of times. I can handle making breakfast."

Merlin woke up the second time that morning to the sound of the smoke detector going off. "What the bloody hell?"

Merlin got out of bed and stumbled towards the kitchen in his tshirt and boxers. Leon was spraying the fire extinguisher at the stove while Arthur watched panicked a few feet away. When the fire was out, Arthur turned to see Merlin in the doorway. He smiled sheepishly, "Morning, love."

Merlin glared back at him. His eyes flashed gold and the two windows in the kitchen flew open. Another flash of gold and all the smoke flew out the windows before they closed again. After another moment the smoke detector stopped beeping.

Merlin rubbed his eyes sleepily, "Leon, why did you let Arthur use the stove?"

Arthur retorted, "Oi! What makes you so sure it was me?"

"Was it you?"

Arthur crossed arms, "Maybe."

Leon put the fire extinguisher back on the wall and went towards the cabinet under the kitchen sink. "Sorry, Merlin. I'll clean off the stove."

"Thank you, Leon."

Leon cleaned the stove while Merlin showered and dressed. Afterwards they all loaded into the car to go out for breakfast since Merlin didn't feel like cooking and Arthur and Leon had lost their kitchen privileges.

Leon spoke from the backseat as Merlin pulled the car out of the driveway, "I have another news story for you that I think you'll find very interesting. There's no guarantee it's your destiny, but it might be worth looking into."

Arthur glanced over at Merlin, "That's great, Leon. We actually have something to share with you, too."