Hey everybody! Thanks for all the reviews! Keep 'em coming, please!
So, I'm super tired right now, and I apologize if this chapter isn't up to par. I wouldn't have wrote it tonight, but I promised you guys! So if it sucks, let me know. Honestly, I love brutal reviews because they help me get better. (But good ones are awesome too, don't get me wrong) So if you think you're going to offend me, don't.
Also, this story probably takes place sometime in Season 3, but before episode 12. Just to let you know.
Oh, and if you're in the mood for a more angsty story, then may I recommend I'm Sorry, I Have Failed You. Just click on my name, and it's under my stories! Yeah, I just did a little commercial. But not very many people have read it, and I really like my writing in it, so I'd like to be judged (:
In the afternoon of the next day, Arthur was fed up with these nightmares. They wouldn't be so bad if the nightmares were based upon something different. He wouldn't of minded if they were about beasts, magic, death, or even an attack on Camelot. But heaven forbid it be about…. Merlin being prince! Merlin? A prince! Ha, that had about as much chance as Morgana being evil and trying to take over Camelot!
And what made it worse… How could Arthur ever be a servant? The servant Arthur, now that's an oxymoron. It's like saying the sun set in the east, the idiot Merlin had magic, or that one day men could fly. (Well, except for the first one, Arthur is dead wrong.) It just wasn't possible, nor would it ever be! And Arthur certainly didn't need to be dreaming about such wild things. It's just not right.
So the prince of Camelot decided to do what Morgana used to do when she had nightmares; go see Gaius. Arthur was very hopeful that Gaius had a tonic to make these nightmares go away, or Arthur might have to result to having a night light, something he hadn't had since he was nine.
He wound his way through the many halls of the castle, nodding at a few fellow guards on his way, and eventually made it to the court physician's chambers. Now, any respectful person might have knocked, but Arthur was prince, not to mention the future King. So, like any bigheaded prince would do, he barged right in without giving any notice of his entering.
This was unfortunate for his warlock manservant, because he had no warning to hide the books of spells he was reading. Sitting on his bed, Merlin quickly snapped the book shut and threw it under the bed. He ran out of his room, closing the door behind him. He gave a fast bow to his master, but secretly his best friend even if neither of them would admit it.
"Hello, Arthur!"
"Merlin, what were you reading?"
"A book on….physics. Gaius is try to-"
Arthur, not really caring about physics (because let's face it, he had better things to do like protecting Camelot) interrupted Merlin, "Yes, where is Gaius."
Merlin breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the subject had changed so quickly, "He's out for the rest of the day, and he left me in charge!" Merlin boasted proudly.
A royal eyebrow shot up, "He left you in charge? The idiot? The girl's petticoat?"
"Yes, prat, he did. Now, is there anything I can do for you, or would you like to wait till Gaius comes back?"
Arthur hesitated. He really didn't want to tell Merlin about his nightmares, but he really couldn't deal with a third night of being a servant. So Arthur gave up on his pride and spoke the truth.
"I don't suppose you know how to make a tonic for nightmares, do you Merlin?"
The manservant's lip twitched, and he quickly turned away to busy himself with herbs and potions.
"And, uh, what are these dreams about?"
The man behind Merlin is silent for a very long time, "Well, they're not the same every night."
"And?"
Arthur sighed, he really didn't want to tell Merlin what exactly the dreams were about, "Is it really necessary for you to know?"
"Well, yes. If I want to make the right tonic, then I need to know what to base the tonic off of."
"Since when did you become such an expert, Merlin."
"I do have a life outside you, you know."
Arthur rolled his water blue eyes, "Fine, I'll tell you." The nervous man quit talking.
"Yes?" Merlin urged him.
"Well….it's like….well, an alternate universe of Camelot. For some reason…I'm not prince."
A grin stretched across Merlin's face. He felt great relief that his back was turned to Arthur, "Go on."
"And well, it's not that I'm not a prince, but I'm a servant! Can you believe it Merlin? A servant!"
"I see." Don't laugh, Merlin thought to himself. Do. Not. Laugh.
"And you know who's the prince, Merlin?"
"Who, Arthur?" Must. Keep. Laughter. In.
"You Merlin! That's who!"
At this point Merlin was doing his best not to let Arthur see him shaking with silent laugher. Merlin quickly put colored water in a cup, regained a straight face, and turned to the prince of Camelot.
"I'm very sorry about your dreams, sire. Perhaps this will help." Merlin handed Arthur the 'tonic'.
Arthur eyed is suspiciously, "Are you sure you know what you're doing, Merlin?"
"Positive."
"You do realize you are giving this to the future King of Camelot. If you kill me there will be no heir, and Camelot will end up in turmoil. So, let me ask you again, are you sure the tonic is safe?"
"Arthur I promise you, that tonic will do absolutely nothing."
Arthur, not catching the double-meaning, snatches the bottle and examines it. He then looks at Merlin one last time, gives a curt nod and walks very princely out the door. Merlin waits until he can no longer hear Arthur's footsteps, and then he breaks down.
The young warlock who was destined to be the greatest wizard of all time (Yes, even better than Harry Potter. Who do you think started this whole magic business?) fell on the floor and laughed long and hard. Now a day's we'd say he was 'rofl'. Merlin laughed and laughed. In fact, Merlin became a little worried that he might never stop laughing. But eventually he did, but only after he had caused some serious damage. He had laughed and laughed so hard that his sides ached, and tears were streaming from his eyes. Eventually he got up to return his magic book under the lose floor board.
Looking up, an ornery grin crossed his face. Merlin's heart leapt at the thought of hearing about Arthur's nightmares tomorrow.