Hi everyone! Sorry it took me so long to get back to you - holidays and all - , but I've finally come back with a new chapter! And it's a very promising chapter with lots of twists! (I'm very proud of it.) Hope you like it and keep reading and reviewing! Thank you to all you readers! Luuuvv ya ! xxx


'What a stange day!'

I open my mouth wide, yawning, as a result of lack of sleep and the tiresome day I've had today, cleaning stables, searching for answers and arguing with people about my actions yesterday. I look outside my window in my room, where the sun suddenly pierces through the grey sky giving the somber streets of Camelot an enjoyable spring glow. After three straight hours spent in the dark cold and humid stables, I'm looking forward to a nice hot bath and my royal diner with Arthur ... If you had asked me this morning about my top three worst days of my life, today would have definitely been in it. But then everything changed.


Flashback

After we left Gaius and Marcus, Gwaine followed me to the stables and stayed there with me for almost an hour. In normal circumstances Gwaine is a chatty man, but this time he didn't say much. Gwaine spent most of his time cleaning with me, pausing once in a while to look through the little window at the grey sky, sighing, and than he would turn his eyes in my direction whenever he thought I wasn't looking. It could have been my imagination, but I thought he wanted to tell me something but somehow couldn't or didn't dare to. After a while I was beginning to worry that things had become awkward between us, due to whatever I said last night- despite the fact that we had spent almost half a day in each other's company. But then his question reassured me.

'Are you feeling any better?'

I put down my rake.

'Time for a break', I tell him, sitting down in the straw and patting a free spot next to me. Gwaine smiles and sits down.

'I'm feeling much better!' I admit to him, not lying for once.

'That's good.' He nods. I see him hesitate for a moment.

'And your memory- loss from yesterday, how's that going?'

Perhaps this would be the best time to tell him.

'Earlier this morning, in the library, I had a flashback of something that hmmm happened ... between us.' I am thinking of the woman I kissed in front of him and the hurt look on his face, but I have no idea that is not what is on Gwaine's mind.

'I just want to apologize for that. I don't know what came over me. Well I kind of do now that I saw this witch in the library, but that's not the point ... Can't we just forget everything that happened and pretend it never happened?'

In a split second I watch Gwaine's face turn very pale and his hands start moving around searching for a grip. For a reason that completely escapes me, he looks at me like I just stepped on his heart. Then he nods and whispers 'if that's what you want'.

I am about to ask him what's wrong when Arthur interrupts us.

'Merlin. Gwaine. What's going on here? I didn't realise I had two manservants.'

Gwaine shoots him daggers with his glare. Then I see a smile play on his lips, daring Arthur.

'Someone had to help him concidering you don't care much about his health, always overloading him with work. And as his best friend ...'

At this Gwaine pats my shoulder.

'... Merlin knows he can always count on me to help diminish the burden.'

Surprised, I look at him sideways, flashing him my most thankful smile.

'Well then, I'm very happy that my servant and my knight get along this well, but Gwaine I must now ask for your help with the hag- situation.'

'The HAG- situation?' I ask.

'Yeah, the old hag. I think we may have found something. All my knights are searching for her in Camelot, apart from Gwaine. So could you help?'

'Absolutely. Just tell me what to do.'

'I've given everyone a different territory to look for her, with the description Merlin gave us. Lancelot and Leon are searching the woods, Percival is doing the Southern part of Camelot, Elyan is searching North, Boris is searching East and I need someone, you, to search West. Whatever you find that is suspicious, bring it back to me. We're meeting up at the royal court in two hours. Do not be late.'

'Well then, Merlin, we'll finish our conversation later.'

He winks at me as soon as that, he's gone on a quest for my old hag.

Too caught up in my own thoughts, I forget that Arthur is still in the stables with me.

'Soooo ... Merlin ... How are you? Feeling any better?'

'Why does everybody keep asking me that today? I'm fine.'

'That's not really what I wanted to ask. Oh God, this is awkward ...' Arthur mumbles that last part quietly. He scratches his head while walking up and down the room.

'Arthur?'

'Hmm. What?'

'Sit down. You're making me nauseous.'

He looks at where I'm sitting and takes place right where Gwaine was seated minutes ago.

'Why is everyone so troubled today?' I ask.

'You're troubled yourself. I mean, just look at you. You look like a zombie.'

'Then for once my look matches how I feel.'

'And filthy.'

'Nooo! I smell like roses. Here, smell me!'

'I'm not smelling you.'

I'm not that filthy. To proove my point, I sniff my underarms, immediately regretting it.

'Oh God, what is that?'

'That would be you Merlin.'

I bump his arm. Realising the absurdness of our conversation, we both start laughing. In front of my eyes I see Arthur relaxing, laying down on the straw. I follow him almost as soon.

'Aaah, this is nice. I wouldn't mind doing this all day', he says to me.

'Shouldn't you be on your hag- mission, like all your other poor knights?'

'Mmm ... Let me think ... No. I need to stay here in case one of them finds her. I'm the coordinator.'

'Right.'

'Merlin ... You could try to hide your sarcasm.'

'What fun would there be if I did that? Everybody keeps kissing your ass. You need a little resistance or there'd be no stopping to your prattness.'

'That's funny you say that, because you didn't show any resistance last night.'

'What are you talking about?'

Arthur looks at me, smirking.

'Never mind.'

'Why won't you tell me anything?'

'I told you this morning Merlin. If I'm satisfied with your work today, I'll tell you everything there is to know by the end of this evening. Or even better, I'll show you.'

'And now you lost me. How can you show me anything?'

I look at Arthur and he looks at me. Suddenly, out of the blue, he grabs a hold of my arm, firm but gently, and pulls me close to him so that our faces are inches apart.

'But first you need a bath, you really stink!'

And he releases my arm, making me fall backwards onto the straw.

'So I'm finished?'

'For this once, I will let you finish early. You can use my bathtub, I don't mind. When you're done, join me at the royal court with the other knights. You can join me for dinner after that. I want to see you eat in front of me. You're getting too thin.'

'Okay ...'

Better not protest now, or he'll change his mind.

End flashback


And that's what happened so far. Arthur is suddenly Mister Nice Guy and I'm about to use his bathtub, the same bath I've bathed/burned him in hundred times before. I can't help but snicker at the thought of him burning his flesh in the water I prepared.

'Aaaah, this is much more comfortable than Gaius's tub. '

The warm water feels very soothing on my cold rugged skin and it doesn't take long before I slowly drift to sleep.

Some time later a sound suddenly wakes me up and as I open my eyes, I find Arthur leaning against the wall opposite me, watching. I do what comes first to mind and I quickly cover my intimate parts.

'Jesus Arthur. What are you doing here?'

Not even remotely embarassed, Arthur explains.

'It's been more than an hour. All my knights were at the court, but you weren't there.'

'Really, has it been that long? Did I fall asleep?'

'You did. And I'm glad I came or you would have drowned in my bathtub. I don't know how I would have explained that to my father; my dead servant in my bathtub.'

'How did you get in? I put the lock on.'

'I have my ways.'

He smirks. Typically Arthur. And he's still there, watching.

'Would you mind turning around so I can get out of the tub?'

'Don't tell me you're shy! After the thousand times you've seen me naked.'

'But I wasn't staring at you like you are staring at me now.'

'Fine! I'll turn around.'

Once he's done so, I quickly get up and grab my towel, which I drape around my hips. When I look up at Arthur, who still has his back faced to me, I realise he's looking at my reflection in the tall mirror right in front of him. I can't suppress the blush making its way too my cheeks.

Too embarassed to do or say anything, I choose to ignore the situation.

'So, what did I miss while I was asleep?'

'Ooh, uh not much. Only that we found your hag's clothes lying on the floor not far from Gwen's! We wanted to ask her is she'd seen anything, but she wasn't home. We searched for the hag everywhere, my knights interrogated some villagers as well, but there're no more signs of her anywhere.'

'What about the woods? Maybe she's not from around here?'

'Merlin, I'm sorry but I've done all I could possibly do out of my father's sight.'

'I know you did, Arthur. And I appreciate your help.'

I give him a sincere smile and in response I see something in his features soften.

'We'll still keep an eye open for her, you know that. Nooooww ... not that I mind what I'm seeing, but don't you think you should put some clothes on before you get a cold?'

Realising I'm only wairing a little towel - that is hanging particularly low might I say - I blush for a second time and avoid Arthur's intense gaze once again. While I'm dressing out of Arthur's sight, I hear someone entering the room and placing some things on the dining table. When I hear a metal sound of some kind of top being removed, the scent of fresh meat and seasoned patatoes reach my nostrils. The feeling of my empty stomach is revived and I dress up a little too quickly before rushing to the table.

'Easy there, Merlin!'

Vaguely I hear his laugh dying in the distance, but all I can focuss on is the excessive amount of food spread out across the table.

I'm so hungry, the sight of food makes me dizzy, but before I can fall I feel two gently hands touching my shoulders and pushing me into a chair. I look above my head at the man helping me down to see it's Artur and he's serving me food from all the plates - roasted chicken, lamb, tomatoes, patatoes, carrotts, garlic bread ...

'There you go. Don't hold back 'cause you're at my table. Feel free to eat as much as you want. I've made sure we have more than enough.'

'Why are you so nice to me?'

'I suppose you could say I never realised until yesterday how much you mean to me.'

Wide- eyed I look at him, unsure if I just heard that correctly.

'What are you talking about?'

Arthur's about to answer me, when we hear footsteps in the hallway speeding up in our direction. The intruders don't even take the time to knock, they burst into the room, presenting themselves as Gwen, Lancelot, Gwaine and Gaius.

'Hmm excuse me ...' Arthur's wants to give them them a lecture about their rudeness, but Gwen interrupts him.

'Merlin, you're in grave danger!'

While my mind is mentally processing this new information, my apetite doesn't seem to react to it as I continue shoving down my wine and nibling on my chicken drumstick.

'Merlin, did you hear what she said? Let go of the drumstick and listen!'

'But I'm hungry Arthur. And I AM listening, I'm just eating at the same time.'

Gwaine finds the situation amusing, even though he can't hide his visible concern for Merlin.

'Tell them what you told me' Lancelot tells Gwen.

'I was at my house earlier today when I saw this old woman around the corner of Melvins' farm. She wore a long gray cloak. I saw her use magic to change her appearance into that of a young woman. There was something off about her - she left her cloak there on the ground - so I followed her into the woods. I didn't think she would go far, but she did and eventually she stopped somewhere I'd never been before in the forbidden section of the forest. And there, in the middle of nowhere, I saw her enter a cabin that was hidden by a giant tree and plants. I'd already gotten this far, so I walked up closer to it and tried to peek inside. That's when I heard another voice. They were two witches, Aislin and Moira they're called. I overheard their conversation and they were talking about you. About how Moira enchanted you yesterday, trying to isolate you from us, your friends, and about how it didn't work. And then I heard them talk about new plans...'

I see Gwen looking at Lancelot for a split second as to ask him for confirmation of what she should tell.

'Tell me Gwen' I order her impatiently.

'Merlin, they want to enchant you again as soon as they can. Some place public, at the market or so, like she did the first time. Tonight, tomorrow ... But none of us will ever see it coming as we don't know what appearance she'll be taking. And this time Merlin, they want you dead.'

Blatantly I swallow the last piece of chicken - I haven't stopped eating since she started telling - and out of the corner of my eye, I see Arthur balling his fists in rage. Gwaine is pacing the room back and forth looking at me with an expression of anger mixed with concern. It seems like I'm the only one not pannicking.

'But what do they want with Merlin, Goddamnit? He's just a servant.' Arthur roars smashing his balled fist on the table making most of the dishes fall over.

'Easy Arthur' I tell him while patting his arm with my free hand, emotioned by his strong reaction to my planned death. I of course, know the answer to Arthur's question as to why they want me dead first. They know. I look at Lancelot, apart from Gaius the only one in this room who knows too, and he nods at me confirming the witches know my secret. But how?

'And there's more to it' Lancelot continues.

'After they kill Merlin, they'll go after you, Arthur, and your father. They want to take over the kingdom and reinstore magic so that fear will reign.'

'Brilliant! Just what we needed, evil witches. My father'll be thrilled! I'll go warn him.'

'I wouldn't do that if I were you', Gaius opens his mouth for the first time since entering the room.

'Your father is blind when it comes to magic. If you tell him, he'll open a witch hunt in Camelot and then no one will be safe. We must keep this to ourselves and keep our guards up and our eyes open. Trust no- one. Invent a secret password so that if the witch takes on the appearance of one of us, we'll know. At this point, you can't trust anyone but yourselve.'

With my mouth stuffed with food, I stand up from my chair and lift my arm victoriously.

'I'm with Gaius. That sounds like a plan. Our password should be something stupid, something no-one would ever think of saying. Something like ...'

'Dollophead!' Arthur says. Gwaine snickers. I just stare at him.

'Dollophead. I say that all the time. You're serious?' I ask Arthur.

'Yeah. You indeed keep saying that to me. Time to reverse the roles, dollophead.'

'I'm up for dollophead', Gwen laughs putting her hand up.

'Me too', Lancelot of course follows.

I look around the room and everyone nods.

'Then dollophead it is!'

Everyone claps cheerfully.

'Shhtt. Don't make too much noice. If we want my father to stay in the dark' Arthur whispers.

The noice immediately reduces.

'Gwaine, go warn Boris, Elyan and Percival and then come back.'

Gwaine nods and walks off.

'Arthur, can I talk to you for a second' Lancelot asks pulling Arthur out of my hearing.

Gaius signs me he's going to do more research on Moira and Aislin in his chamber. I remain standing alone with Gwen looking at me in a strange way.

'What's up?' I ask her.

'Not much, Emrys.'

For the first time this evening, I pannick hearing Gwen calling me by my wizzard name.

'What did you call me?'

'You heard me. I know all now.'

Upon seeing the look on my face, Gwen smiles at me apologeticly.

'So it's true? Why didn't you tell me?'

'I can't tell anyone. The less you know, the safer you are in my presence. And not everyone would understand,' I say sadly looking in Arthur's direction, who is still in intense conversation with Lancelot.

'I would have understood. You could have trusted me.'

She plants her hand on my upperarm and gives it a light squeeze.

'But I forgive you. Lancelot told me about how he found out. And I think you should give him more credit too' Gwen says looking at Arthur.

'We all see how he cares for you. It would be difficult for him - like choosing between you and his father - but he'll choose you.'

'How can you be sure of that?'

'It's in the way he looks at you I guess.'

Hearing Arthur and Lancelot finish their conversation, Gwen and I leave ours to where it is for now. Lancelot and Arthur turn their attention back to us, seemingly cheerful about something.

'Lancelot made a very good point. As it is impossible to guard Merlin twenty four/ seven without having my father noticing, there's only one solution to keep Merlin and the rest of us safe. You'll all have to reside in my room, spend night and day here until we've found and killed the witches.'

I blink in surprise by what Arthur's saying.

'You want to lock us up in your room?'

'Well that's another way of putting it Merlin, but yes I'm locking you up, I'm removing you from your freedom, I'm taking the key and throwing it away ...'

'You can't do that!'

'Oh yes I can. And if you care about your life- not that you have a choice anyway - you'll stay here. It'll be FUN! Live a little Merlin!'

Arthur laughs, but I don't see what's funny about staying locked here, never escaping out of everyone's sight, when I'm the only one that can save us with my magic. How am I gonna do that now?

'What about Gaius?'

'Well that's easy. Gaius will remain in his chamber, in case my father needs him, but I'll ask him to meet us here every few hours so we can keep an eye on him as well. As for my knights, some of them will have to keep guard outside, amongst them Elyan, Boris and Percival. Gwaine and Lancelot will stay here with me, but tomorrow two of us will go to the woods and search for the cabin.'

'What about me?' Gwen asks. 'Morgana will search for me?'

'Morgana! I forgot about her! Ooh, that's a problem. We can't tell her obviously, my father would notice if we both act strange. And there's just no more room for an extra person in my room ...'

'There's not even room for us' I interrupt frustated by this whole plan.

'I'll make room. You can sleep next to me Merlin if sleeping on the floor is such a problem for you,' Arthur says mockingly winking at me implying things that stir up my imagination.

'I don't mind sleeping on the floor,' Gwen says quickly poking me in the ribs.

What's up with them today?

'Fine, then that's what we'll do. We can divide the room in two parts - it's big enough - so we'll have a bit of privacy and so you can all hide should my father walk by. Toilet visits are always with two people, never go off wondering alone', Arthur says, mostly looking at Gwen who nods at every word.

'Gwen, I'm affraid tomorrow you'll have to help Morgana like usually. Act as naturally as possible, but be vigilant.'

'I will Arthur.'

'So, it's decided. Gwen and Lance, go fetch some pillows and blankets for everyone. Merlin, you can help me dividing this place in two.'

'But Arthur ...'

'No buts. We'll inform Gwaine as soon as he's back.'

With that said and Lancelot and Gwen leaving the room holding hands - when did that happen? - Gwaine is back with a big goofy smile on his face.

'Are we having a sleepover?'