A/N: Yes, I decided to continue this story. It's fun to write, and if people find it funny, then who am I to refuse? Anyway, my life is a bit of an insane mess right now, so I can't promise a regular schedule of updates, but I'll try to do the best I can. I'm hoping to post one chapter a week. Oh, and one other comment, I changed the name of the story since I decided to continue it, and the old title didn't really work for the entire story, so hopefully no one is too confused. So now, on with the story! Well, after my disclaimer. I enjoy writing disclaimers. Does that make me weird?
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. I wish I owned Merlin, but that's my life for you. Anyway, if you mistake this story for the actual writing for Merlin, than you have a very low IQ. Oh god, I just insulted my readers. Don't hate me, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! Although actually, as long as you don't mistake me for a writer for Merlin, then I did not insult you. So yay!
It only took a moment for Arthur to decide to return to the castle. After the damage to part of his memory, he did not want to hunt any more. All he wanted to do was return to Camelot and check that the rest of his memory was intact. Of course, since his memory had never been damaged in the first place, it was still perfectly fine. This fact was unknown to Arthur, however, so he was still somewhat worried.
They traipsed through the trees, Arthur quietly and Merlin not so much as he crashed through the undergrowth. It was a rather noneventful journey. If Merlin tripped a little more than he normally did, well, that was hardly unusual. It could have nothing to do with the puppy spinning at his feet. No, the puppy was entirely innocent as puppies always are. Soon enough, they arrived back at the castle. The return trip had been completely without incident.
"Merlin, you have to mend my clothes and polish my armor and clean out the stables," said Arthur, reciting the jobs that Merlin has to do all the time, even though Merlin should know the list by now. Apparently, Merlin had the memory of a goldfish or possibly significantly less.
"I can't, sire," said Merlin. "I have to set up my chambers for Fred. I've never had a puppy before, and I don't exactly have anywhere for him to stay. I need to get him food and water and toys and a place to sleep and—"
"Merlin," Arthur interrupted, "who gives the orders around here?"
"You do?" Merlin said cheerfully.
"Yes, that's right," said Arthur. "I do. Now go do your chores."
"All right," said Merlin, "but first I'm going to set up my room for Fred." He quickly picked up Fred in his arms and ran off before Arthur had a chance to do anything except look at him.
Arthur shook his head before yelling after him, "You're a useless servant!"
"At least I'm not a clotpole!" Merlin yelled over his shoulder before tripping over empty space. "I'm fine, I'm fine!"
Arthur shook his head again, marveling at his servant's inability to walk. "Idiot," he muttered.
"Bark!" went Fred from a distance, his yap carrying through the air in the way that only a terrier's bark could.
Arthur shook his head for what seemed to be the millionth time. "What would it take to get a decent servant around here?" he muttered, before turning back toward the castle. "He had better be back soon."
It was then that Arthur remembered that, having returned from his hunting trip, he needed to check in with his father. Normally Merlin would be standing behind him, but obviously that would not be the case this time. How could he almost have forgotten such an important thing? Perhaps it was another result of his damaged memory.
Arthur walked quickly to the throne room. As he walked through the city, his posture changed subtly. He held his head high in an arrogant fashion, or, Arthur would argue, an honorable fashion. He was behaving in a way worthy of his status and knighthood. But still, if Merlin were there, honorable would not be the word to leave his tongue. Definitely not. On the other hand, Merlin was not there, because he was too busy taking care of Fred, so what did it matter what he would say? Arthur certainly did not care, not in the slightest.
As Arthur walked through the castle, the world around him steadily changed. It changed because he was entering new hallways, which were of course different from the ones previous. His feet tapped on the floor as he walked. He was no longer mumbling to himself about his idiot servant because he was a prince, and he was going to look like a prince.
Arriving at the throne room, Arthur nodded to the guards who promptly stepped to the side and opened the doors to admit him. It was an awful lot like Arthur had said, "Yo, I'm the prince. Let me in homedogs," except that he hadn't said that at all. He hadn't said anything. The guards simply let him in.
Arthur walked in to see his father sitting on the throne as usual. Arthur respectfully nodded to him.
"What do you have to report?" Uther said.
"I don't have anything to show from this hunting trip," Arthur began. "I was hit on the head with a branch, and my memory was jolted. I thought it was best that I return to Camelot."
"Your memory was jolted?" said Uther.
"I have a few blank spots in my memory," Arthur said. "It's nothing too serious, just a few moments that I can't remember from a short while before I was hit on the head." Arthur had already decided that it was a good idea not to mention that he had imagined he had killed a puppy. He did not know how his father would react to the idea that Arthur had had visions. That was too close to sorcery for Arthur's liking.
"Have you seen Gaius yet?" Uther asked.
"No," said Arthur, "I thought it was best that I checked in with you first."
"You did well. I think it's best, however, that you check in with Gaius now. We don't want any permanent effects on your memory. I don't know what I would do if my sole son and heir was to develop some sort of mental affliction like your idiot servant boy has."
From a spot beside the throne, a scowl broke out on Morgana's face. Sole heir, indeed. After a moment, however, she quickly smoothed her face back into a graceful expression. No one noticed the lapse in her control because they were all apparently blind.
"Trust me," said Arthur. "You have nothing to worry about me becoming like Merlin."
"I should hope not," said Uther. "That would be a horrible thing indeed.
Arthur gave a slight bow before turning to leave the room. The guards parted in front of him once more, as if he had again said, "Yo, I'm the prince," but still, he had said nothing. Arthur walked quickly through the hallways. He began heading in the direction of his chambers, before he suddenly remembered his father's order to go see Gaius. Arthur had to admit that it was a good idea. He had been hit in the head after all. Of course, Merlin would argue that the hit to the head could hardly have injured him because he was so hardheaded and all. But again, Merlin wasn't there, was he?
Arthur swiftly changed his direction and began to walk toward the residence of the court physician. If Merlin was still there, setting things up for Fred… Well, Arthur could not be responsible for whatever he did. He did not know what he would do.
Arthur knocked on the door, and heard Gaius yell, "Come in!" As crown prince, Arthur did not really need to knock, but he preferred to do it out of politeness. Arthur was hardly polite, but every so often he would do something small that he thought compensated for the infinite pit of his rudeness.
He opened the door and was met by the usual sight of bottles and potions covering the table as well as filling the shelves throughout the room. There was also a variety of books lying spread out on the table. Gaius was sitting at the table and seemed to be researching something, although what exactly he was researching, Arthur could not be sure.
Suddenly, Arthur heard a yap, and a small white fluff of fur came bounding toward him.
"FRED!" Merlin yelled, running after the dog. "Don't jump on—Oh, hello, sire." A look of surprise came on his face, followed by a slight expression of fear.
"Merlin! What are you still doing here?" Arthur said angrily. "I told you to get straight back to work! I didn't even give you leave to set up your puppy in the first place. The least you could do is get to back to work in a timely manner."
"Err… I am working," said Merlin haltingly. "I'm working on… err… your mending. I'm working on your mending!"
"No, you're not, Merlin," said Arthur. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that?"
"Umm… yes?" said Merlin.
"Then you are an even greater idiot than even I took you for," said Arthur, "and that is saying a lot."
"I'm really working on it, though!" said Merlin defensively.
"You are?" asked Arthur. "Show it to me then."
"Okay," said Merlin. "It will just be a moment." He quickly walked away and disappeared into another room.
A moment later, Merlin returned. "See! I told you, I was working on your mending!" he said, holding up one of Arthur's shirts.
Arthur looked at him for a moment. "Well, I guess you at least did something," he said. "Although I still suspect you've been paying more attention to the puppy than my mending. Get back to work!"
"Yes, sire," said Merlin with a grin. Little did Arthur know, Merlin only had the shirt because he had forgotten it in his room the last time that he had done Arthur's mending. Arthur had too many clothes. He couldn't even tell when something was missing.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Arthur.
"Well, I have to go get more clothes to mend," started Merlin, "but I really don't want to leave Fred alone."
"Oh for God's sake, Merlin," said Arthur, "he'll hardly be alone. Gaius and I will be here. Anyway, he's a dog. He can survive."
"I guess you're right," said Merlin nervously. Well, I'll just go get more of your clothes then. Don't leave him here alone, though. What are you doing here anyway?"
"I got hit on the head with a branch, remember? God Merlin, even your memory is useless. And you weren't even hit on the head."
"Oh, yes, that," said Merlin. "Well, I'll just be going then." He ran out the door, not looking back behind him.
Once Merlin had left, Gaius turned to Arthur. "You were hit on the head with a branch?" he asked.
"Yes," said Arthur. "It was while I was out hunting with Merlin. It knocked me out for a while. I thought it would be best if you made sure there wasn't any damage."
"Oh I see," said Gauis. "You were right to come and have it checked. Have there been any side effects?"
"Only one," said Arthur. "My memory was a little jogged."
"Okay," said Gaius. "Well, come sit over here, and I'll check you for a concussion."
Arthur walked over and sat on a stool. Gaius quickly shined a light in his eyes. "No, sire, you don't have a concussion. You appear to be fine. Can you just explain to me what exactly you mean by your memory being 'jogged'?"
"Well," Arthur began, "you can't tell my father. I just told him that I had a few gaps in my memory. I didn't want him to worry more than he had to or blame it on sorcery when that could cause harm to innocent people. Really, though, I noticed some more noticeable discrepancies. After I got hit on the head, I woke up, and thought that I had shot and killed that puppy," he said, pointing at Fred. "The puppy was perfectly fine when I regained consciousness, however, so I don't know where that memory came from. It seemed so real, but Merlin said that it never happened, and we all know that he is an awful liar."
Here Gaius began coughing, and Arthur looked over at the physician to see a slightly dazed look on his face. "Gaius?" Arthur said.
"Yes," said Gaius, clearing his throat and shaking his head to clear it, "you are quite right."
"Is something wrong?" asked Arthur.
"No, everything is fine," said Gaius. What he was really thinking was a slightly different matter, however. His thoughts more accurately followed the path of 'Stupid Merlin, how could he be so careless. I know this is his doing. He always had a weakness for puppies.. and kittens… and unicorns… and dragons.' All he said, however, was, "There is no sign of injury, but even a strike to the head with no other negative effects can cause a slight jog to the memory. It's nothing to worry about."
"Thank you, Gaius," said Arhtur, standing up. "Well, I had better go find Merlin and make sure he's actually doing what I told him to. You know how he is."
"Yes, I would say I do," said Gaius.
With a goodbye to Gaius, Arthur walked out the door to go find Merlin. He did not see the puppy staring after him, its eyes glinting evilly, glowing red in the room's lighting that held not the faintest tint of red.
A/N: So what did you think? Reviews are loved as usual =].