Disclaimer: As usual, thank you for reading this story. We hit the halfway mark of the story. Also, as usual, I own nothing related to the characters from BBC's Merlin or any of the songs that Laya might sing.

Days turned into weeks and so on, but Merlin still hadn't returned or even tried to contact them. Laya had grown closer to Arthur in her time there and they had become very good friends. They would spend their days together with her taking over most of Merlin's chores, which in turn brought her closer to the knights. During the day she would forget that she wasn't from there and would have training with the knights or even spending time with Gwen and Morgana. She would forget for a while, then the sun would go down, she would sing for the king at dinner and then get ready for bed.

She developed a pattern. She would go to her room with the intention of sleeping on her own but would eventually end up in Arthur's bed, finding it hard to sleep on her own. Arthur would lay with her and pet her head until they both fell asleep, finding slight comfort.

"Sire," Gwaine asked her one day. "I was wondering if I could take Laya for a night. This way we could get her mind off of the fact that Merlin hasn't been here."

"No offense to you, Gwaine. But I doubt it." Arthur said. "She's been consumed with what ifs."

"Then wouldn't a night away from the castle be what is needed? At least for a little." Gwaine said. "I'm not talking about getting the two of us a room at the inn...but like a nighttime picnic."

"A nighttime picnic? I didn't know you were a romantic at heart, Gwaine." Arthur teased.

"Sire, it is well known that I am well versed in wooing ladies." He replied, smirking.

"At least until you get them into bed with you." Arthur quipped. "I do not want Laya to be just a bedwarmer for you."

Gwaine stood still, staring at Arthur. "She is more than that to me. Since she got here, she;s made me work harder then any woman I've met. I've found myself often feeling jealous when she's off with you or the others...He smile...It entrances me. I want to see it more...to be the source of her smiles for the rest of her time here."

Arthur watched his friend as he talked. He believed what he was saying. "Alright. You can take her on a night time picnic. But I want her back before time for bed." He pretended to scold him.

"Yes, sire."

He smiled. "I don't have to threaten to you. She'll hurt you, herself, if you hurt her."

"I know, that, sire." He said, rubbing his arm. "She's done it before."

Arthur laughed a bit. "Alright."

Gwaine smiled and bowed to him and then ran off to get everything ready, leaving Arthur alone, shaking his head.

His thoughts drifted back to Merlin. Was he alright? Was he eating properly? Where was he sleeping? Where was he? Why wasn't he back yet? Did this really have to do with getting Laya home or was it an excuse to leave them?

He shook his head of the thoughts. Merlin wasn't like that. He wouldn't abandon them. He headed back into the castle and walked around aimlessly. He had nothing to do today and was finding it hard to figure out what he wanted to do. Before he knew it, he was outside of Gaius' chambers. He stared at the door and wondered if he should knock? Was the old man even there or was he out doing something. Just as he was about to knock, Laya came up behind him. "Sire" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

He jumped slightly, "Oh, Laya." He said, looking around. "I was just wondering if Gaius was in at the moment, but I can come back later."

"Are you alright?" She asked. "I mean, Gaius isn't here at the moment but if it's something simple then I can help you."

"I um...uh..." He looked around. "I have a slight twinge...in my chest...yeah." He said.

"Did you get hit during practice?" She asked, opening the door, leading them inside.

"Yeah, Percy got me pretty good. It was an accident, of course, but it still twinges a bit."He waved his hand, trying to say that it wasn't that big of a deal.

"Well, let me check anyway. If anything, I can make you some tea and let you relax." She said.

She made him sit on the bench as she quickly checked him over and then smiled a bit. "You're fine, you big baby. Sit tight, I'll make some tea."

He nodded and looked around a bit. He had never really been in here before, other then when he was a child or when he came barging in looking for Merlin.

"So, you stay here most days when you're not helping me?" Arthur said.

She nodded, "I've been keeping the spare room here clean and helping Gaius."

"Spare room?" He looked over at the door. "I thought it was a closet."

"It was, but Gaius made it into a spare room for when people had to stay over night. Merlin used to sleep in there mainly." The last part came out as a whisper. "When I first got here, that's where I stayed too."

He nodded, heading over to the room to look around. It was smaller then he thought it would be. The two of them slept in here? How?

"Now you see why we always want to cuddle." She said, smirking.

"I can see why you asked for a bigger room." He said quietly. "It's cramped."

Laya nodded. "I think I know why your chest was twinging." She said, suddenly.

"Really?" He asked, forgetting that he had said that to her.

She nodded. "I'll tell you what it is later. But for now, the cure is to get some rest. I don't recommend going back to your room, so take Merlin's cot for now. I'll check on you in a bit."

"Huh?" Arthur had been distracted by the room itself that he hadn't heard what she had said until she was closing the door. "Laya." He said, trying to open the door.

"Rest well, Sire." She said, in a singsong voice, pushing a wedge in the door.

"Laya! Open the door." He said, gritting his teeth.

"Ya know, sire. The whole time Merlin has been gone, you've been ignoring it. Just give in. Snuggle his pillow for a bit." She said, leaning on the door jam. "I know you miss him too."

"I do not miss him." He said. "It's like..."

"He was never here?" She replied, using Merlin's previous words.

"Y...Yes." Arthur said, softly. "Just like before he came to Camelot."

"It feels different. You know he was here. You remember him clearly. You remember his eyes, his smile, the way his face looks when he laughs or when he's sad." She said, hoping her point was getting across to him.

He sat on the bed as he listened to her talk. "Now, sire, imagine that you are the only one who can remember this. None of the knights, Morgana, Gwen...not even Gaius remember him. Even if you brought it up to anyone or even himself, in passing...You are the only one who remembers that you and he share something special. How would you feel?"

He didn't reply. He couldn't. This was what Merlin felt when Arthur had said that it would be better if everything went back to the way they were before. He looked around the room and found one of Merlin's ratty neckerchiefs tied to the bedpost. He rubbed the material between his fingers before taking it down and holding it tight. He wouldn't change anything that he had experienced with Merlin, not a single moment.

He laid down on Merlin's bed, taking in the slightly stale scent of the young warlock. It was faint but it was there and it was comforting. As he laid here, he thought of the first time he saw Merlin. He would never admit to it but he had known right from the start that the boy challenging him could do magic. He had seen Merlin's eyes flash that brilliant gold each time. But he didn't want to hand him over to Uther. He had never admitted it to his father, but even though magic had technically killed his mother, he had always been fascinated with it. The fact that she had used magic to keep him safe actually drove him to look into it more. He had learned about the equal exchange that came with it and in a sense was extremely grateful for it. Without magic, he wouldn't exist. He never would have met Merlin or the knights. He would be a complete mirror image of his father. That thought scared him.

"Come home soon, Merlin...so that I can apologize and never let you go again." He whispered into the neckerchief. "I can't live without you."