Freya and Aithusa helped Merlin from the cavern and back to the flat. They just managed to get him to the door when it flung open.

"Merlin!" Morgana shrieked. Her hands found his arms and pulled him inside. Gauis and Arthur were turning the table back to its upright position.

"Merlin! How are you my boy?" Gaius asked as he checked his pupils.

"Amazing! Freya and Aithusa fixed me up ship shape." Merlin grinned widely.

"Well thank god!" Morgana spoke with relief. "Well, tonight to celebrate your apparent immediate recovery, we are all going to the pub!"

"What?" Arthur almost squawked.

"Well Arthur, I believe Morgana just asked us to have a much needed drink." Merlin said with a grin.

"Merls, you should rest." Freya said softly.

"Nope, not tonight. Tonight we are going to the pub and if you want, bring Gwen. I would like to meet her anyway." Merlin had a determination that Freya could not break.

"Good! Meet us at the Rising Sun tonight at… say six?" Morgana looked between all of their faces, trying to find someone to disagree with her. Merlin gave her his ever goofy smile, which satisfied her. "Okay, come on Arthur, Merlin should use the time he has to rest, without your nose in his business." Morgana strode from the flat determinedly. Arthur was frozen on the spot. Morgana was going out. Morgana took charge and asked Merlin and Freya. Oh god she asked Merlin and Freya. It took him a moment to realize they were all staring at him.

"Well that was interesting." He looked directly into Merlin's, albeit pretty, deep blue eyes. "Whatever you did to her, thank you." He gave a nod to Freya and Gaius and left the apartment. Merlin collapsed into the back of the couch. His face was worn and his eyes tired.

"Why did it have to be a bloody cave? I'm going to have a crick in my neck for ages," he groaned. Gaius chuckled slightly but sat on a stool in front on Merlin.

"Yes well cave or not, we need to know who did this." Gaius said calmly.

"Is there a way to track the spell?" Freya inquired.

"No this is much too complex magic for that. Merlin do you remember anything that could help us?"

"Oh yes. If they come within ten feet I will be able to tell who they are. I could feel their magic. It was cold and dangerous when they grabbed my shoulder. It won't be easy to forget." Merlin's eyes had grown dark and cloudy.

"Well that's good. We will catch them, even if we can't do anything to speed up the process. Now I demand you take a nap. It will be too draining for you to go out tonight if you don't." Freya's voice was stern.

"No Freya. I think tonight is exactly what we need. A little time to relax and let go for a few hours. I will nap though, but you'll have to wake me up. Call Gwen, I want to meet her." Freya began to answer but Gaius laid a hand on her shoulder and stopped her. Any rebuttal would be pointless, Merlin was already asleep.

"I worry for him Gaius. Many of the things I see are coming to pass, but there are still so many futures and outcomes left. I can't promise what is going to happen." Freya's shoulders slumped as she looked at her sleeping brother. He was all she had, and it would tear her apart to lose him.

"Yes, but it is his future to walk. He will learn from him mistakes and hopefully make the right decisions. Now do as he says and phone Gwen. He needs a few hours rest."

*2 hours later*

"Merlin," Freya shook his arm softly. He just groaned and attempted to roll over, forgetting he was on the couch. He ended up face first in the carpet with another groan. A soft giggling came from above him. He lifted his head and found Freya and Gwen standing over him. Her eyes were a deep warm brown. Merlin felt that he could tell her anything.

"Five more minutes," he said laying his head back down.

"No way. If you don't get up Morgana and Arthur will come here." Freya stated.

"Morgana and Arthur Pendragon?" Gwen looked at Freya with wide eyes.

"Yes Morgana is a friend of Merlin's… Arthur on the other hand is…" Freya trailed off trying to think of a word.

"A self-centered prat," came Merlin's muffled voice. Freya giggles softly, so only Gwen could hear. Gwen raised an eyebrow and Freya winked. "Ugh fine." Merlin pulled himself up from the floor slowly. "It's nice to meet you Gwen." He bowed his head slightly and she returned the gesture. "But I have spent many hours in a damp cave and must shower." Freya smiled.

"For the love of god Merlin, don't wear a neckerchief." She called, but he scoffed and shook his head. After his shower he no longer felt gross and smelly. His neckerchief was securely in place, blue today, and his hair… well he tried to run his fingers through it. Freya and Gwen were talking quietly in the kitchen when he made his appearance. "Good, Morgana has already texted me asking where we were." Merlin rolled his eyes but gave her a smile.

"Then shall we go?" Freya tossed him his keys and they departed.

The Rising Sun was one of the most crowded pubs on campus. But it had to be seeing as it was the hangout of Arthur and his friends. Freya pushed through the crowd with Merlin and Gwen in tow. She had taken control so Merlin had struck up a conversation with Gwen. He realized she was an amazingly sweet girl with a heart of gold. He could see why Freya liked her. They followed Freya until she stopped at a large table at the back of the room.

"There you bloody are," Morgana said loudly. She was seated at the table with Arthur across from her and an unknown man next to her. She reached out and pulled Merlin into the seat next to her. He tripped into it with a yelp. Freya and Gwen burst into laughter as his face turned cherry red. The man next to Morgana raised an eyebrow and even Arthur cracked a smile. "Oops sorry. This is Leon. He's one of Arthur's oldest friends. Leon this is Merlin, his sister Freya, and…?"

"Gwen," Freya substituted.

"And Gwen."

"Ah so you two are the lucky people who Arthur opened his big mouth too, my condolences." Leon reached over and shook Merlin's hand. He hand a firm grip and a kind face. Merlin smiled gleefully.

"Well Prince Prat does make one feel quite lucky when he speaks." Merlin replied. Leon's face split into a grin.

"Prince Prat. Oh Morgana I like him. Arthur don't be a child. You got yourself into the mess in the first place." Leon gave Arthur a hard look who was slumped in his seat, a sour look on his face. Gwen let out a breathy giggle. Merlin looked over and found her barely containing her laughter. "I hope no one minds, but I invited my new waiter."

"The one who served us the other day? He was very good looking." Morgana stared into her drink thoughtfully.

"Freya, Gwen, do you want something?" Merlin stood, looking at the two.

"Whiskey please," Freya answered with a smile.

"Just a coke please. Someone will have to drive you drunkards home." Gwen said with a smile

"Freya I do believe she just called us drunkards."

"Yes I do believe so. We will just have to prove her right." Freya's smile was twisted and predatory, but Merlin just snorted. "I'll help," she said as she jumped up. Once they were far enough from the table, Merlin spoke.

"I like her. She is a very sweet girl."

"Yes I think she's pretty amazing." Freya agreed

"Indeed I think we should keep her." Merlin gave her a smile and she laughed. "A double whiskey neat, a double scotch neat, and a coke please." The bar tender nodded and quickly had their drinks on the bar. As they walked back to the table Merlin took a long drink of his scotch. At the table was a long haired man talking loudly.

"I was having this dream about eating a cheese that tasted of apple pie!" Merlin choked on his scotch and sprayed it everywhere. The man whipped around after Merlin's drink covered him.

"Jesus Merlin, could you be any clumsier." Arthur drawled. He didn't see how the man and Merlin were keeping eye contact.

"Oh my god!" Freya squealed. She threw herself to the man and enveloped him in a huge hug, he returned the hug, but his eyes were on Merlin. She let go, but still held his hand.

"Gwaine," Merlin said with disbelief.

"Oh come on Merls, don't act so surprised to see me!" Gwaine's face split into a grin and he grabbed Merlin into a hug. Merlin hugged him back, hard. He smiled as Gwaine pulled back.

"It has been too long Gwaine." They held eye contact before someone cleared their throat.

"So you two know each other?" Arthur interrupted. They turned and the entire table was staring at them. Arthur had a sour look on his face still, Morgana and Leon were curious, and Freya was smiling widely.

"Oh yea, Merlin and I go way back. High school was crazy!" Gwaine had a smile plastered on his face and an arm thrown around Merlin's shoulder. "Till you two left that is." Freya and Merlin's smiles dropped. Arthur and Morgana shared a look. Gwaine still had his arm around Merlin, but he didn't realize what he said. He must not know about their parents, Arthur thought to himself. That gave him a deep sense of satisfaction, knowing something Gwaine did not. The initial jealousy of Gwaine still burned hot in his gut, even when he tried to shove it down.

"Yea well you know us. We were always on the move." Merlin shifted from foot to foot, looking anywhere but at Gwaine. His eyes found Arthur's. They were much softer than he expected. Not that he had ever thought about it. But if he had, he would expect something hard and inhuman.

"Well now we have to regale this group with our adventures!" Gwaine shepherded Merlin into the chair next to Arthur and began a random story from their school year.

"Does he not know…?" Arthur asked.

"Nah. You and Morgana are the only ones that have really ever gotten that out of us. There is something about you Arthur Pendragon that just royally pisses me off." Merlin smiled softly. Not his usual goofy grin, but something special and much softer.

"Then he threw the mug at the douche, nail him in the face!" Gwaine's voice cut through their moment like a knife. Arthur raised his eyebrow.

"Honestly Merlin, you probably throw like a girl." Arthur sniped gleefully.

"Oh, so you're saying Merls could throw better than you?" Freya added.

Arthur shot a death glare at Freya.

"You are all terrible people." Merlin chuckled and sipped his drink.

"Oh don't' worry Merls, I'm always on your side!" Morgana giggled, slightly tipsy. Though tipsy enough that she leaned over Gwaine and kissed Merlin on the cheek. Merlin's face instantly became cherry red. Morgana, Freya, and Gwen giggled madly, while Gwaine let out a roar of laughter.

"Hahaha well Morgana I believe you'd have the best chance of swaying him, but good luck!" Gwaine wheezed. Freya was clutching her side with laughter as she made eye contact with Gwaine.

"Remember that time the blonde…" She gasped.

"She was literally on his lap!" He supplied.

"In the middle of the café." Merlin shook his head with a grin. "That was absolutely mortifying."

"Aww Merlin, you didn't tell me you were gay," Morgana pouted.

"Would it have truly made a difference?" He asked with a wink. His eyes flicked to Leon for a second and he grinned.

"Oh you shush. Now that I know your preferences, we get to set you up with all sorts of handsome men." Morgana was grinning when Merlin choked on his drink again.

"Ha! Don't worry Merlin, I will protect you from the terrifying woman!" Gwaine threw an arm around Merlin and brandished his ale in the air.

"No, you had your chance Gwaine. It's time for Merlin to have a magical new future." Freya interrupted with a smirk. Merlin sent her a withering glare. The entire debate was giving Arthur mixed feelings. He had no idea why his stomach did an excited flip when he learned about the possibility of being with Merlin, or why it stopped and clenched when Freya brought Merlin and Gwaine's relationship into the light. There was no way he liked Merlin. He was scrawny, pale, sarcastic, witty, and the most amazingly beautiful blue eyes. Stop! He thought. He had to stop. He glanced around to find the conversation had moved on, but Freya was staring at him. When they made eye contact she smirk and raised an eye brow, like she knew exactly what he was thinking. She winked and turned her attention back to the conversation.

"So Arthur have you met anyone lately?" Leon asked.

"Me? Yes definitely. Between class-"

"Which you don't go to," Freya interrupted.

"Having a babbling idiot run into me-"

"Who you ran into." Merlin corrected.

"And dealing with my father-"

"Whom you have dealt with for at least a month." Morgana injected.

"No Leon. The only thing new are these three idiots." Arthur finished with a grim expression. The entire table burst into laughter at Arthur's face of resignation. The rest of the night was much less talk and much more drink. Arthur ended up with a blue eyed blonde hanging off his lap. Gwaine, Merlin, and Leon began an incredibly lengthy conversation with Lancelot, whom they had ran into earlier, until Morgana pulled Merlin into the fray of random dancing. There were people everywhere, by the end they were almost all completely drunk, except Freya and Gwen. When Merlin was perfectly smashed, Freya stealthily removed the blonde from Arthur's lap and successfully bumped Merlin away from Morgana. He tripped and landed sprawled on Arthur's lap.

"Oof. Merlin!" Arthur grumbled.

"Sorry not all of us are perfect princes such as yourself!" Merlin spat back. He shifted but didn't get off Arthur's lap.

"Yes but most possess more coordination than you do."

"I make it up with my wit and good looks." Merlin said with a grin. Arthur scoffed.

"I don't know where you got that information."

"Hey, I have it on good authority that my eyes are positively gorgeous!"

"Well at least they didn't lie," Arthur said without thinking, but a second too late, and his eyes widened.

"Was that a compliment? Arthur Pendragon I never thought I would hear it!" Merlin grinned with disbelief before swinging his head around to look for Freya. She stood at the bar with Gwen. Both were watching with eyebrows raised. Merlin jerked the head to the door and Freya nodded, being their signal to leave. "And Arthur Pendragon, here is your reward for not being a complete and utter clotpole," Merlin bent his head and captured Arthur's lips in a delicate kiss. Arthur found his arms wrapping around Merlin automatically, but before he could reciprocate fully, Merlin pulled back. "I will never be able to do that sober. I think your blonde was shooed away by Freya, but I doubt you'll have trouble getting her back." Merlin gave him a wink and a smile before easily sliding off Arthur's lap and squeezing though the crowd.