I know it's been a long time and I am SO SO sorry for that! Been crazy with work and holidays and life! But here is the latest chapter and I will do my best to update this quicker...
So PLEASE enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Merlin and that just sucks . 3
"Think back," Gaius instructed the boys, "What did you both do before the switch?"
Arthur thought back, "I was in my chambers for most of the day," He stated. "Only left the room twice to relieve myself."
"Did you speak to anyone? See anyone different?"
Arthur shook Merlins head. "No..." He looked at the others. "These three are the only ones I've interacted with today."
Gaius looked to Arthur's body that had his ward inside, "And you?"
Merlin thought back and started to pace. "Woke up here, went to the kitchens, then to Arthur, then back here when you gave me the medicine for Madrina, delivered it to her in the kitchen when she gave me the food for Arthur..." he spun around in realization, but found himself tripping to the floor.
A/Merlin rolled his eyed at him. "Do be careful with my body, Merlin." M/Arthur climbed back to his feet and gave his body a look.
"I'm sorry. It's hard to walk around with these boat feet!"
"Are you saying my feet are bigger then yours?"
"This is really not the time!" Gwen asserted. Both men shut their mouths and looked at one another.
"So what happened after you got the food for Arthur?" Gwen asked her husbands body.
"I brought it to Arthur, he ate, we both fell unconscious and awoke like this..."
"Wait." A/Merlin looked over at his servant. "Who gave you the food?"
"Madrina," M/Arthur replied.
"Who?"
"She's the eldest cook in the kitchen," M/Arthur replied.
"Why didn't Hilda?"
"I don't know," the manservant replied. "It's not the first time she made your pre-meal..."
"Who tested the food?" Gwen asked. Usually there was another kitchen servant who taste tested the food.
"I don't know," M/Arthur responded honestly. "But I had sampled a bit myself."
A/Merlin gave him a look, "you ate some of my food?"
"I had to make sure it wasn't poison..."
"That's what the taster is for, Merlin."
"So both of you ate the food?" Gwen interrupted. "That's the only action in common."
"I'll go ask around the kitchen," Mila started for the door.
"I'll come with you," M/Arthur said.
"No," Gwen demanded, "Arthur will go with her. We can't have the servants seeing the king in the kitchen. Not to mention we have a banquet to prepare for."
The two men looked at each other.
"There's no way he can pull this off!" A/Merlin exclaimed. "He doesn't know the first thing about being a King!"
M/Arthur rolled his eyes, "because, you know, your speeches just write themselves."
"We'll have to make do," Gaius stated. "Gwen will go over details with Merlin that he may not know for the banquet. Mila, you and Arthur check the kitchens and ask around. Everyone should be there preparing for tonight."
The four young adults left the room on their missions and Gaius sighed.
They were going to be the death of him...
*M*
Mila tugged on M/Arthurs arm quickly, slowing the pace before they split their ways.
"Can you use magic?" She whispered.
M/Arthur looked at her helplessly. "I haven't really tried. I'm almost afraid to. What if it's my body and Arthur figures it out?"
"Well, if you get a chance, try. We need to know for sure..." Mila said.
"Mer-..um Arthur," Gwen called, ever-so-sweetly to him, eyeing the guards that were standing nearby.
A/Merlin gave a little sneer, but Mila elbowed him and pulled him down the hall towards the kitchen.
*M*
"Here," Gwen pulled out some clothes and handed them to M/Arthur. He looked at them then moved behind the dressing blinds. "You've been to so many of these banquets, you must have an idea of the goings on."
"Greet everyone, first bit of entertainment, then speech before dinner, more entertainment, some dancing and then a thank you and goodnight."
"Good" Gwen turned with a long scroll, which cause M/Arthur to gape. "Now to go over names."
*M*
"Maybe you should let me do all the talking," Mila said, looking nervously to who she saw as Merlin.
"I can be Merlin," A/Merlin responded. "Oh there's something scary going on, I'm going to go hide behind a tree," he whined. Mila gave him a look. "Sorry,"
"You don't really think that of him, do you?" Mila asked him.
"Of course not!" He said defensively. "Just...don't tell him I said so. I don't want him thinking any differently."
Mila stopped for a moment and studied him. "How has it been...In his body. Do you feel anything different?"
"Different? Besides seeing things from a different perspective and feeling colder than usual."
"Do you..." Mila paused, choosing her words cautiously. "Do you maybe feel the spell?"
"No. I feel normal besides."
Mila sighed in relief.
They turned the corner into the kitchens.
"What are you doing here? The plate not enough for his majesty?" Hilda commented when she saw 'Merlin'. Then she noticed Mila was with him. She liked Mila, which had made things easier for Merlin sometimes. "Or are you two trying to sneak off for some time alone." She gave Mila a smile.
Mila rolled her eyes as A/Merlin gave her a questionable look. She gave him a look back. "Is Madrina here?" Mila looked around the kitchen.
"Oh no...she went back to her bed. And a good thing too." Hilda shook her head and tsked. "She's getting pretty delusional these days."
"What do you mean?" A/Merlin asked.
"Well she doesn't ever do anything, just gets in the way. It's heart-breaking. She just wants to feel useful still."
"Didn't she make my-" A/Merlin caught himself, "the King's plate before?"
"Oh goodness no." Hilda laughed. "I think it was Beatrice who made up the food."
"Where is she now?" Mila asked.
"Oh, probably in the servants quarters..."
"Thanks!" Mila grabbed A/Merlins hand and pulled him along. Hilda just smiled after them.
"Now what?" A/Merlin asked.
"We find Beatrice," Mila turned into the servants quarters, which was a decent sized open room that led into smaller bedrooms for servants who worked overnight, or stayed within the castle.
"Do you know what she looked like?" A/Merlin asked.
"No...but..." She stopped when she saw two men looking at them. "Have you seen Beatrice? The King wanted to compliment her on her cooking."
The men looked at one another. "She headed towards the stables last I saw her," One of the men replied.
Mila and A/Merlin huffed in annoyance as they turned and hurried towards the stables.
A/Merlin grabbed Mila's arm and tugged her down a different hallway. "There's a short cut this way." He informed her.
"Really?"
"Yes. No one really knows about the door over here except for some of the guards and knights."
They kept their pace brisk, but Mila stopped as something caught her eye.
"Arthur," She said.
A/Merlin stopped and turned towards her. She reached down and picked up a necklace with a bright stone on it.
"It's a necklace..." Arthur replied, his annoyance shining through Merlin's voice.
"Here in a hall that is hardly used?" Mila asked.
He thought on that. Mila handed him the necklace. "Bring it to Gaius," She said. "You're faster. I'll continue to look for Beatrice to question her." He nodded as he took the necklace and headed back to Gaius.
Mila looked down the hall and continued towards the stable. Suddenly she saw a flash of color as someone ran from a side room and out the door.
"Wait! You there!" She picked up her skirt and pursued them.
She hardly got out the door when something heavy came down on her head and everything went black.
*M*
A knock came at the King and Queens door. M/Arthur glanced nervously to Gwen, who went over to the door, allowing Leon inside.
"Leon," M/Arthur addressed him.
"I apologize, but I come with news for the Queen."
Gwen looked to her "husband" and back to Leon. "Yes. What is it?"
"I wanted to inform you that your handmaiden was found by a side door, unconscious."
"Mila!?" M/Arthur exclaimed. "Is she alright?"
Leon, clearly a bit confused by the King's reaction, kept his cool. "We believe so. Percival has brought her to Gaius."
"I will go to her at once." Gwen stated, heading for the door. "Thank you Sir Leon."
M/Arthur started to follow, but was stopped by Gwen's look before she left the chamber. He felt his heart in his throat, which he swallowed back and looked at Leon, who was still studying him.
"Are you alright, Sire?" Leon asked him.
"Yes. Just...Just having one of those days," M/Arthur gave him a forced smile.
"One of those days, Sire?"
"Yes...Just one of those days..."
So there it is! Hope you enjoyed it! Please review! Reviews do help motivate writing you know ;-)
