Hello to the people reading my story, thanks following despite my unstable update gaps. Thank you to all those who reviewed and I hope you continue to do so...

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the BBC characters or programs…

4

Merlin tried to pull himself together. He'd dropped the wallet not caring what happened to it and stumbled back his position next to Arthur.

His whole right arm felt like it had been severely burned, his hand and head felt like they were still on fire. Thinking off topic, he wondered why he couldn't smell burning skin. He took a deep breath in an attempt to steady himself but it didn't work. Still, he put on a mask of indifference while he tried to ignore the pain of his arm and throbbing head.

Merlins eyes drifted down quickly so he could glance at his hand. On the exact place where he'd been touched there was a blood red welt. His eyes snapped back to the front and he shoved his hands behind his back to hide the fact that they were shaking. In the few seconds of contact he'd had with the noble, he'd been burnt, literally. Merlin held the sneaking suspicion that if the touch had been held any longer, it would have pierced skin.

He risked a glance at Arthur and found him looking at him like Merlin was contagious. Merlin saw him scoot over a bit in the opposite direction after this and the young warlock almost grinned.

All this had happened in a few seconds and they all continued on as if nothing had happened. "So," Arthur said. "Now that that's over and done with, your quarters should be prepared by now. We just need somewhere for your servant to stay." Merlin stepped forward.

"He can stay with Gaius and I. I'm sure Gaius won't mind as long as he doesn't have to give up his bed." Keep your friends close, Merlin thought with an outwardly amicable smile, and your enemies closer. "I can show him around the castle so he doesn't get lost." Next to him, Arthur nodded.

"Don't think that means you can go slacking off on your chores," the King replied jokingly.

"Of course not, Sire, but then again they are your chores." Merlin replied. The sarcastic remark would have had the perfect retort if someone had not cleared their throat. The two remembered they had company and Merlin stepped away from the travellers.

"Right, uh," The King look uncomfortable. "Merlin will show you to your rooms and get you some night clothes and some fresh cloths for tomorrow. He'll meet you out there; I just need to speak with him for a moment." By the time Arthur had stopped speaking the three in front of them appeared more excited. "Run along," Arthur encouraged them. They all bowed before leaving. Arthur waited for the doors to close before he spoke. "Now Merlin, just because they are who they say they are, that doesn't mean it's a guaranty that they're nice." He lectured Merlin slowly, as if talking to a child. Arthur continued, "I want you to keep an eye on them anyway."

Merlin sighed. "How did I know this was coming?"

Arthur shrugged. "I'm more surprised than you are Merlin; here I was thinking you were complete idiot."

"You're not one to talk..." Merlin muttered.

"What was that?" The king asked suspiciously.

"I said, 'we don't have time to talk," Arthur easily bought the lie, only reinforcing Merlin's previous statement. "You know, they might get suspicious or something, you never know with all these nobles." The king scowled at the young warlock and Merlin grinned at the perfect reaction.

"Just make sure you keep an eye on them." Merlin sighed again but nodded his head in consent. He walked away but paused when Arthur called his name, he looked back at the king. "Why do I smell cinnamon?" Merlin grinned, turned around and kept walking.

"No reason." And he passed through doors.

Merlin dropped the happy façade as soon as he was out of the throne room. He cast a gloomy look down the opposite corridor in search of the group, but still his mind was foggy as his head continued to throb. The whole time he'd been in throne room, since the burn, he'd been trying to act normal. The tiring effects of the act and the physical and mental drain from the jumble of information flowing into his mind just a few minutes before had left him wanting to collapse from exhaustion. But he held back his fatigue and examined his hand as he walked away from the guards.

He'd have to get some burn cream from Gaius when he next got the chance. He'd also have to explain how he got the burn, and about their new guest too… Merlin tried touching the wound to see if it was tender, this resulted in him hissing in pain from the poke. He soon realised it hurt to move, that could be problematic. Maybe I could try healing it later, he thought, though it would be harder than usual with, what-was-his-name? Was it Robert? Rory, a voice inside his head whispered. He shook his head and pushed the thoughts away, disregarding the frightening voice.

Merlin found the group a few minutes later. They were standing in a small circle, talking to one another as equals, though the Doctor did seem more like their leader. Merlin walked up quietly. It isn't really eavesdropping, he thought, if it's by order of the king…

"What do you think he looks like?" The girl, Amy the voice whispered, was asking the Doctor.

This time Robert was speaking, Rory, the voice whispered again, "Is he going to be old? Cause in all the myths, Merlin was always described as old." Merlins blood almost froze. They couldn't be talking about me, could they?

"No," Said the Doctor. "No I don't think he'll be old Rory. Besides, I think we've already met him." The Noble glanced around and saw the young warlock standing there looking incriminating.

Merlin tried to make it look like he was doing anything but exactly what he'd just been doing. He even contemplated whistling, despite his pained mood. "Umm," He said lamely. "Hi, I'm Merlin…"

Amy and Rory nearly burst out laughing right then and there. They remembered the Doctors earlier words, so much for 'history most likely won't even remember his name'. The boy looked uncomfortable. Rory could understand his uneasiness; the man was surrounded by strangers who had just been talking about him like he was some kind of legend. A moment later Rory realized that he would be staying with supposedly most powerful magician of all time. He wondered what it would take to make someone believe that actually had magic. Everyone from the twenty first century knew that there was no such thing as sorcery.

To Amy, Merlin didn't seem just uncomfortable; he seemed down right suspicious of them. Who knew that the most powerful warlock of all time was so paranoid? You would think he expected every shadow to be a monster. They all stood there awkwardly for a minute, not knowing what to say.

"So…..." Merlin said. "Ugh, your chambers are this way." He waved down the corridor on the right.

"Lead the way," said the Doctor. Merlin looked uncomfortable about having his back to them but he obliged. In front of them Amy saw him trying to discreetly knead his forehead, as if he had a headache, and she wondered what was wrong with him. Merlin led them along in silence for a few minutes before he seemed to decide it was impolite to walk along and not talk.

"Sorry about having to take that wallet of yours," he said. " It's just that in the past, like King Arthur said, we've had a lot of trouble with Morgana and other sorcerers trying to take down Camelot. You learn to be suspicious of nearly everyone after a little while. I mean, there's been immortal armies, a dragon, assassins, spies. The list goes on."

When he was finished speaking all three of them were left gawking at the side of his head. Merlin grinned and turned his head back to the front.

"How could there have so many things to defeat?" Amy quietly asked the Doctor. He shrugged in answer.

Before they could ask Merlin about it, they came across a group of knights who all greeted him as an old friend. They spoke for a few minutes and whilst this was all going on, Amy and Rory turned to the Doctor as he spoke.

"We've got to be careful not to arouse any further suspicion. I have almost no doubt that Arthur wants Merlin to keep an eye on us and, judging by Arthurs words, I would assume he doesn't know about Merlin's magic," he exaggerated the word, making it clear he didn't believe, "so no mentioning that." The Pond's nodded, Rory was about to ask a question but in their moment of silence they heard Merlin say he had to go. "Lead the way" The Doctor said again when Merlin reached them. He turned around but kept glancing back at them. He gave a brief wave to his knight friends and turned his back on them.

A few minutes later, after quite a couple of twists and turns through the castle, they reached their room. The whole way there, Merlin seemed to be quietly trying to hide the fact that he was slowly choking. He coughed every few minutes and his hands looked red. On the way they had passed more knights and several servants who scurried along with baskets of washing, some with food for other nobles.

Merlin unlocked the door and walked through, holding it open for them. The Ponds looked around in awe. At one end of the room was a king size bed. Opposite the crib was an elegant dining table that stretched out almost half the length of the quarters. There was a cupboard against one wall and in the far corner was a table for working that held a high back chair beneath it. But it wasn't the extravagant furniture or the food on the table that awed them. It was the very size of the room and, as seen through the glass windows, the view of the outreaching kingdom. "Compliments of the King," Merlin said as he nodded towards the banquet of food. Merlin looked around awkwardly, not knowing what to do with the lack of luggage.

"Umm…." He started. "I have to attend to my chores now but if you need anything just ask a passing servant or guard to come get me. You're welcome to explore the castle if you wish and should you get lost, again, just ask a servant or guard and they will direct you back to your quarters. This evening I will be back with your dinner and your servant will accompany me to our quarters, keeping in mind we will both return in the morning." The ending of his speech was quite firm compared to how it started. "Is there anything you need before I leave?" The three shook their heads, the Pond's in a daze. "Then I shall take my leave." He bowed his head and almost ran from the room.

"Do you think he was okay Doctor? I mean, he seemed sick." Amy worried. The Doctor pondered the question for a moment before answering.

"I'm not sure, but I do think he is some form of sick. But we can't do anything about it for now. I say we have something to eat."

"Amen to that." Rory said and the two men gravitated towards the food. Amy however, was hesitant to follow. She looked towards the door and gave a sighpromising herself she would find out what was wrong later.