Thanks to Ikchen, myrmidryad, Hogaboom, xXStephRheaXx, Glittery-excuse-for-a Fae and Lozrii! I think I may be reaching the end of this story. It is kind of losing pace so the next chapter may be the last. :)

Merlin was stuck. He was imprisoned in the bird he loved dearly but he didn't particularly wish to share the rest of his life with. Elsu obviously shared his annoyance most likely because he was fed up with the discomfiting intrusion. Merlin could see everything he saw and do all that he did and that was unnerving in itself. Not to mention the fact that the warlock's brain was constantly awhirl with thoughts and ideas and it was hurting the falcon's head terribly. All he was usually concerned with was food, sleep and companionship. Now he was listening to spells and witches and all sorts of things that were of little use to him.

The Merlin/Elsu creature was perched in the rafters of the doctor's quarters overseeing everything that was going on below. It was almost like being a spirit, having an out of body experience. He was seeing himself yet he was sure he was here – if that made any sense. The pair of them surveyed all the comings and goings: Gwen, Gaius, Bedivere, Morgana and finally, much to his surprise, Arthur.

It was not long after they had returned when the young man barrelled into the chambers. On his face was a look that Merlin could only describe as frightened. Prince Arthur frightened? That was a first. The manservant never imagined he would see the day that happened. And yet he couldn't actually see what the prince was frightened of. It couldn't be anything physical as there was no danger in the room.

As soon as Arthur caught sight of the corpse-like body in the middle of the space he froze - literally stopped dead. There was an expression of horror plastered on his face but then he somehow managed to school the raw emotions into one of calm indifference as he hurried to the bedside. Currently in the room were Gwen and Gaius, they looked up as he approached. The handmaiden's face lit up with undisguised joy.

"W-What's wrong with him?" The man asked abruptly.

"I don't know, sire," Gaius answered truthfully, his lined features grave. "I have tried every cure I could think of; conducted every test under the sun but I cannot rouse him. I fear he has slipped into a coma and may never wake from it."
"But how did it happen?" Emotion was slowly creeping back into Arthur's strained voice.

"We are not sure, my lord. Young Guinevere found him like this and brought him back. There has been no change since then."

"So he's just going to stay like that?"

"I'm afraid so, my lord." There was an unfamiliar catch in Gaius' tone, like he was struggling to breathe properly because he was so wrought with feelings.

Arthur tousled a hand through his blonde hair and blew out, exhaling all the pent up air he'd been unknowingly holding. He couldn't quite believe that after all he'd been through Merlin had befallen to some terrible illness or injury that may cause him to remain a vegetable until he starved to death. It seemed unjust. Arthur had truly been looking forward to returning to find his servant and friend safe and sound, if a little worried about his disappearance, so then the prince could tease him about being overly caring. That wouldn't happen now. And it hurt the young man very deep inside him – a dull, throbbing ache.

"Don't look like that! He's not dead!" The voice was so filled with anger and passion that Arthur almost jumped backwards, startled. He was faced with the irate expression of Gwen. She was staring at him with such ferocity he was sure she could burn a whole right through his forehead. "You can do something to bring him round, I know it!"

"Me?" Arthur didn't like the way the servant was addressing him and immediately went defensive. "What on earth can I do? I'm no physician. If he does not wake by tomorrow I will get a new servant." The prince hated the callous tone of his voice, it revolted him but he couldn't show weakness or compassion for his servant. Merlin may be one of his friends, his best friend one might say, but he was not important enough to get upset about. Was he?

Merlin had watched the exchange with sad eyes. He really had no idea what to do to get him out of this predicament. All his ideas were stupid and unsuitable. Not one would ever have a chance of succeeding. They ranged from going back, finding Nimueh and asking/forcing her to free him to flying down and colliding with his own body in the hope that the impact might have affect. Neither practical nor sensible. Therefore he was stumped.

As he perched there in Elsu's body, Merlin couldn't help but think back to the first time he saw the falcon fly and had thought he would do anything to be a bird and be able to see the world from the sky. Now he wished he could change his mind, go back to that day and tell himself no, you don't want to be a bird, it is so restricting and isolating, being human is much better. He couldn't really believe that he'd just thought about wanting to see what Elsu was seeing and then he had. Merlin also remembered his initial escape from the merlin before he'd killed the sparrow. Back then all he had to do was think himself out and he was. Nimueh had blocked that though, created a mental barrier which he could not get passed. However…

…Merlin was thinking and not actually wanting. Yes, the powerful sorceress may have trapped him somewhat but considering he was destined to be a great wizard then there must be something in his mind that could break through the barrier. Maybe all he needed to do was to want harder, to physically need to be back in his own form and he would be. The warlock decided to give it ago. There wasn't anything to lose after all.

"I have to go see to Morgana," Gwen stood suddenly shocking both Gaius – who had yet to see her leave the unconscious man's side – and Arthur. "Gaius, I believe you need to fulfil an appointment with Mrs Woodcock in the village."

"Um…" the old physician looked confused, "Then who will look after…"

"Arthur can keep watch for us. You don't have anything to do, my lord, do you? It will only be for half an hour or so." The handmaiden stared pleadingly into the prince's eyes.

"I-I…um…."

"Good! We will be back soon." With that Gwen grabbed Gaius by the arm and steered him swiftly from the room before Arthur had any time to protest. He gaped after them doing a fairly accurate impression of a fish out of water.

Eventually, realising there was no way he could leave an ill man's side, Arthur sat down reluctantly. He hated being there, it wasn't because he didn't like or care for Merlin but it was because he did. In truth he was slightly scared. Scared of the fact that his loyal manservant was sick and may not get better. Still, he had to stay here and keep his unconscious friend company.

Gwen had lied. Neither she nor Gaius were back in half an hour and the time of absence was fast approaching an hour. The young prince hated sitting in silence and had taken to talking to Merlin. He may not be able to hear anything he was saying but it really didn't matter.

It was as he was telling Merlin exactly how useless he was at hunting that something changed. Arthur couldn't put his finger on what exactly had changed but he could feel it. All the hair stood up on the back of his neck and his spine tingled. There was another ethereal presence in the room, he was certain. The man looked round uneasily. What was going on? He wasn't frightened exactly, more disconcerted. Arthur didn't like not knowing.

There was sharp intake of breath. The prince's ears pricked up and he swivelled back round to stare at the physician's bed. A pair of disorientated, ocean blue eyes stared back.

"Merlin!"

"Arthur," Merlin croaked in reply.

"You're awake." The prince looked astonished.

"It would seem so." The manservant said as he began levering himself off the bed.

"But…what happened?" At this point Arthur had stood up and without a word pushed the other man firmly back down. This was no time for him to go wondering around. Merlin observed his master for a second. There was no way he would ever tell the prince what had happened. He would just have to lie. Besides, he barely knew what happened himself.

"I don't know," the boy shrugged.

"Oh well that's just great," Arthur shook his head. The colour was beginning to return to his friend's ashen face. He was pretty sure he would be all right. "You don't know how you ended up unconscious. It just happened! And whilst you were having your extended nap I was fighting a witch with just a boy and a bird. A fat lot of use you are as a servant."

"Sorry," Merlin half smiled at the prince's sarcastic rant. Arthur paused for a second, looking at the pallid boy, and sighed.

"I am glad you are okay though, Merlin, you know that, right?"

"I think so."