Merlin wasn't sure what he had done wrong, but everyone was avoiding him. This morning he had taken Arthur's breakfast up to him but he found that Gwen had already done it.
He understood that they would want to spend time together but pushing him away completely. What had he done? He went to Gwaine to ask if he knew but he also avoided him.
Lancelot and Percival talked to him but when he had bought up the subject they made excuses that they needed to be somewhere else.
With nothing else to do but wander the halls, he went back to his room; passing Gaius on the way who asked if he was alright. He mumbled an answer but couldn't muster enough energy to start a conversation.
Later that night after Merlin lazed around in his room trying to work out why his friends were avoiding him, Gaius knocked on his door. "Come in." Merlin mumbled and when Gaius walked through the door and saw him sprawled out on his bed with a depressed expression on his face, he frowned.
"What's the matter with you?" Merlin rubbed his shoulder; it had gotten stiff from lying on his rigid bed for so long without moving. "nothing." He mumbled before rolling onto his front. "Well get moving then, Arthur's calling for you in the throne room."
Merlin sighed melodramatically before pushing himself from his bed and began to sluggishly make his way towards the great hall.
The doors were closed when he got there and when he asked the two guards to open the door they grinned cheekily and it disturbed him quite a bit.
They knocked on the door loudly and waited until there was a quiet replied knock from the other side. Merlin wondered what the hell was going on.
One of the guards stepped forward and held out a brightly coloured scarf. "Sorry mate, kings orders." And then he tied the scarf around Merlin's head effectively blinding him. "Hey, what's going on?" he asked but got no answer.
He heard the doors creak open and jumped slightly when a hand rested on his shoulder. He was lead slowly into the hall and was scared at the eerie quietness of it.
Suddenly the blindfold was ripped from his head and he jumped ten foot in the air when half of Camelot came into view yelling "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
A grin broke out on Merlin's face. He had forgotten that today was his birthday. He shook hands and hugged so many people that he started to get dizzy. Arthur came up to him with a beautifully decorated book. It had gemstones and gold inlaid in the cover.
"Happy birthday Merlin." He said as he handed over the book. When Merlin realized what he was holding, his eyes widened in surprise; it was a spell book. "Thank you Arth- your majesty."
Arthur grinned widely and threw his arm over Merlin's shoulders. "just enjoy yourself, court sorcerer."