Getting thrown into a wall hurt.

At least, that's what Merlin's bruised brain registered as he attempted to blink his eyes open. He wasn't sure how long he had been out, but as the world fell back into focus he noticed that Jonas was nowhere to be seen and the noise from the great hall was getting louder.

He scrambled to get his feet under him as the doors swung open to reveal the sea of wedding guests, all eager to catch the afternoon sun after the honour of witnessing the royal ceremony. Clasping one hand to his head and the other against the wall, he squeezed his eyes shut, unsure of what was louder; the joyful chatter of the crowd or the relentless beat drumming against his skull.

He was seriously in need of one of Gaius' pain relieving potions.

Or better still; a nap.

But there was no time. Not now that he was too late to stop the King of Camelot from marrying a troll.

He waved off the odd looks from the passers-by, noticing with dismay the blood coating his palm. Pressing it back against his hairline made him wince but it confirmed that he was in fact bleeding – a minor detail really in the grand scheme of things.

"Merlin!" A familiar voice called out through the crowd and it wasn't difficult to spot Gaius pushing through to get to him, eyebrow raised as he took in his appearance. "What happened? You look dreadful."

And, yeah okay, that was a fair assessment. But it was hardly his fault. He was bound to look somewhat dishevelled after being thrown into multiple walls and trapped in a cave for hours. He was achy and dirty and exhausted. He had been fighting against the rocks that Catrina had trapped him with for so long he had felt his magic depleting with every incantation – the last of it draining away during his clash with Jonas.

Now that he had noticed it, he couldn't stop noticing it; the trail of blood working its way down his temple, down his cheek, down his chin, slick and sluggish as it cut a line through the dirt. It was already starting to dry in places leaving Merlin to wonder which wall exactly had caused it in the first place.

"I couldn't—I got here too late." He apologised as Gaius led him towards their chambers.

"Well, I'm sure you had a good reason." Gaius peered up at his head as they walked, brows furrowing as Merlin explained his troll cave ordeal, and by the time they reached their chambers the trail of blood had slowed to a trickle, leaving his face uncomfortably sticky.

Having been in this situation enough times now, Merlin knew the routine. He took a seat on the stool, waiting patiently for Gaius to bring the bucket and cloth over and tried very hard not to flinch as the cold water touched his skin.

Gaius was careful as he dabbed at the cut, clearing away the blood and dust that had also caked into his hair. Merlin squeezed his eyes shut with a pained groan as the cloth touched a particularly sensitive spot. He had no idea how bad it looked but he was really hoping it wasn't too deep — he didn't have time for that right now.

Gaius hummed in satisfaction and handed Merlin a clean cloth to press against it while he began tackling the remaining grime covering his face. He was largely silent as he worked, his ministrations remaining gentle despite his frustration at the two of them being in this situation, again.

"How was the wedding?" Merlin spoke up as Gaius wipe at the dried blood clinging to his chin. The only thing worse than not being able to stop the ceremony, he supposed, was having to sit through the entire thing.

Gaius paused, nose wrinkling as he considered his answer. "It was not…unpleasant. Strangely."

"…You mean, seeing as she's a dung eating monster?"

"Precisely."

Merlin's laugh was largely humourless as he remembered too keenly what was at stake if a troll remained on the throne.

"Gaius, we have to stop her. We have to tell Uther."

"The king is besotted with her." Gaius sighed as he dried off his hands. "He won't listen to us."

He peeled back the cloth pressed against Merlin's head, pleased to see only a small spot of red staining the white. Merlin glanced at it too, already standing as he pressed hesitantly at his temple to make sure the bleeding had indeed stopped.

"But there issomeone who he will listen to." He stated confidently as he made his way to the door. His clothes were still dishevelled but at least he was no longer at risk of bleeding all over the hallways. So, there was no reason to wait around.

"Merlin— just wait a moment." Gaius moved faster than he expected, following him to the door in time to hold it shut, levelling him with the firm look of a parent.

"There's no time, Gaius!"

"There is enough time for me to make sure your head is still intact after all those knocks to it."

"The fate of the Kingdom is at stake." He argued, ignoring how the room spun for a second as he focused on the concern radiating off Gaius. "I'll come straight back, I promise."

The path through the castle was busy and loud. The large number of people milling around was hardly unexpected after such a momentous occasion, but Merlin had hoped the main hallways would have cleared out by now. As he pushed past servants and guests alike, he tried to focus on something other than the increasing pounding in his head. Something like what the hell he was going to say to Arthur. He'd already tried once to convince him of Catrina's true form but now she was queen, any comments like that might end with him thrown in the dungeons— or worse.

He checked Arthur's chambers first and, as usual whenever he needed to find him, they were empty. He would so much have preferred this part to be easy. With a sigh, he turned back around to proceed with a loop of almost half the castle, searching the council chambers, the courtyard, even the stables, with no luck. Only to end up back in the prince's room.

If he left again now they might just end up doing circles around each other, missing each other every time. Arthur would have to turn up eventually and at least in there it was quiet.

He dropped heavily onto the bed, almost jamming his fingers in his eyes with how roughly he tried to rub the tiredness from them. The urge to take a quick nap atop Arthur's luxurious sheets was almost too much to resist when the first chime of the warning bell made him nearly jump out of his skin. It cut through his head as easily as it cut through the castle.

Peering curiously out of the window there were no obvious signs of danger, in the courtyard at least. The townsfolk were looking around confused but no-one was running for their lives yet. In the distance, however, he could see a mass of knights on the hunt for something. Grabbing people roughly and ransacking carts as they left the square. He didn't envy the poor man they were clearly on the hunt for.

The bell was ceaseless as it echoed off the walls and likely wouldn't stop until the fugitive was caught. Which meant he wouldn't see Arthur until that was dealt with. Great.

He moved back over to the bed to smooth out the creases he'd left before picking up the clothes left strewn across the floor. How Arthur managed to make such a mess of his room between breakfast and dinner was anyone's guess, but at least there would be less to do tonight if he tidied up now.

He had to hunt under the bed for a stray sock and nearly added another bump to his head when the door burst open. The shoes he spied from where he was crouched were familiar, as was the way they stormed across the floor once they'd spotted his back end sticking out from under the trailing blankets.

"Arthur, I need to talk to you." He scrabbled to get upright, eager to get the first word in before Arthur began whatever tirade was in store for him.

"No, Merlin you—" Arthur broke off as Merlin made it to standing. His eyes went wide, scanning down Merlin's body to take in every inch of him. "What—?"

He seemed at a loss for words. An unusual sight to witness until Merlin remembered exactly what he looked like. Dirt and dust covering his clothes, stray blood no doubt still coating his hair.

"I'll explain later." He shook his head as he brushed a hand down his front to try and clear it. "I need you to listen to me."

"No, there's no time." Arthur spoke over him, grabbing one arm and leading him towards the side door. "You need to run."

Run? Run where?

Unease settled in his stomach. Arthur's uncharacteristic franticness, the thud of footsteps getting closer as they travelled down the hallway, the bell continuing to ring,

"Why?" He planted his feet as he asked. Turning to face Arthur as he demanded an answer.

Arthur hesitated and Merlin could almost see a hint of concern in his eyes. "The queen has accused you of stealing her royal seal."

"What?" Merlin breathed, the words hitting him like a punch to the stomach. "Arthur I—I didn't. I wouldn't."

Arthur's mouth pulled into a thin line as he peered back at the main door. "There's no time. You need to get out of Camelot."

"No, she—" He tried to fight Arthur's hands as they continued to force him out of the room. "She's not who she says she is. She's a troll!"

"Merlin." He fixed him with a firm and cautioning stare. They'd been here before. Arthur had already warned him of what could happen if anyone heard him slandering the Lady Catrina and by the looks of things, he was destined to discover what that punishment felt like.

Merlin felt sick as he looked towards the exit Arthur was pushing him through. If he left now, he risked failing to save Camelot from Catrina's clutches. Hell, if he left now, he risked never even seeing Camelot again. Not if Catrina gained full control. But he couldn't stay here. Not with the footsteps quickly closing in.

"Go." Arthur ordered once more and every inch of him was pleading Merlin to listen.

So, he did. The chimes of the warning bell, the soundtrack of his escape.

Every time you need to find a guard, they're nowhere to be seen. But the second you're on the run from them? Oh yeah, they're everywhere.

Merlin tried to follow Arthur's orders, but it was too late. Every route out of Camelot was blocked and there was a lot of ground to cover from the castle to the forest without being seen. So, he headed to the next best place.

As he crouched behind a corner, he watched Leon lead a group of knights out the door and away from the physician's chambers. A rough bunch that would not hesitate to drag him forcibly in front of the King. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be the first time they had ransacked Gaius' workspace to look for him and he feared for the state they had left it in this time. But as luck would have it, he was strangely surprised by the lack of damage done.

The door creaked as he nudged it open and peering through the gap, he watched as Gaius spun around, ready to release a tirade at whichever knight had dared to return. His eyes widened as he spotted who it was lurking and immediately gestured for him to come inside.

"Merlin!" He whispered urgently, making sure the door was closed behind him. "The guards are looking for you."

"Trust me, I know. Catrina's accused me of stealing her seal. But I didn't—"

"Of course you didn't." Gaius tutted.

"Gaius, how am I meant to stop her if I can't even set foot anywhere in the castle right now." He eyed the door warily before sealing it with a quick locking enchantment for good measure. A peek out of the window revealed the number of guards searching outside had multiplied, many of them convening in the courtyard. They wouldn't show any signs of giving up for a long while yet.

There was no way out, no escape. Which meant he would have to stay hidden where he was and figure a way through. Hoping beyond hope that no guard was smart enough to check their chambers twice.

The afternoon sun dipped into dusk as they formulated their plan. Gaius would go and petition the king – for all the good it was bound to do considering Catrina never left his side – whilst Merlin went on the hunt for the missing seal. The troll could hardly accuse him of stealing it if it was to miraculously show up whilst he was supposedly on the run.

The warning bell had long since stopped – something he was sure everyone's heads were very thankful for – though he doubted the dangers for him had dissipated just yet. Unfortunately, being Arthur's servant came with a mild level of recognition from everyone in the castle. The guards had learnt his face pretty quickly what with him being by Arthur's side constantly which meant sneaking around was going to be tricky.

They were immediately suspicious of anyone wandering the corridors after dark, but this time they had a familiar face to look out for.

"Maybe I should search for the seal myself." Gaius frowned as he watched Merlin, head in hand, swirling his stew as he swirled his spoon around his dinner bowl.

Merlin sighed wearily as his eyes followed the spoon's movements. "No offense Gaius, but I can't imagine you sneaking anywhere, let alone right under Catrina's nose."

Gaius' bushy eyebrow lifted, presumably sensing an insult hidden in his tired words. He kept quiet as he leant forward to press the back of his hand to Merlin forehead, fully anticipating Merlin's adverse reaction as the boy nearly fell off the stool in his attempt at swatting away Gaius' care.

"You look pale." Gaius said, squaring him with a firm look.

"I'm just tired." Merlin flashed his best smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He rubbed at his head without thinking and instantly regretted it, both for the flash of pain it caused and for the comment that was bound to follow.

"Does your head still hurt?"

Yep, there it was.

"It's fine, Gaius."

"So, that's a yes." The physician tutted, his chair scraping again the floor as he stood. He shuffled past the table and Merlin didn't even have to look to know where he was going. The clinking of glass quickly gave it away as he heard Gaius rummaging through his potions to find his pre-prepared vial.

"The sooner I go and find the seal, the sooner this nightmare will be over."

All afternoon he had been jumping in and out of hiding places each time the ominous sound of footsteps drew too close to the door. He already felt bone tired after his fight with Jonas, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to rest properly until the fate of Camelot was no longer at stake.

"You sure you're okay to do this?"

"Yes, Gaius. Now will you please go before it gets too late."

The king would be retiring to bed soon and if Gaius was going to swoop in for a conversation, it needed to be now.

"Finish that before you leave." Gaius nodded towards the table and Merlin wasn't sure whether he was referring to the stew or the medicine. He hoped he was talking about the pale white liquid swirling around in the vial because as loathe as he was to waste food, he didn't think he could stomach another bite right now.

The sharp rattle of the door sent his eyes shooting upwards and his heart leaping into his throat. He had been on high alert all afternoon, waiting for a guard to come barrelling through the door and it seemed he was right to be wary. He just honestly hadn't expected them to have the forethought to check their chambers for a second time so late in the day.

Only, maybe he shouldn't give their brains that much credit.

After giving his racing heart a second to take in what he was actually seeing, he realised that Gaius' hand was clasped around the handle, features exasperated as he tugged on it expecting freedom and instead found he was still locked inside his own chambers.

"Sorry." He smiled sheepishly. He'd forgotten about that. Luckily, all it took was a quick wordless spell and Gaius was free to leave.

With Gaius off on his part of the plan, Merlin wasted no time in getting himself ready to do the same. And very quickly he was following him out the door, potion left forgotten next to his unfinished meal.

It was late enough in the evening for the people of Camelot to be settling in for the night, cosying up by the fire or getting into bed. But not enough for the corridors to be completely empty, apparently.

Merlin stumbled into an alcove as two guards rounded a corner up ahead, smacking his hand against the wall and praying that the sound hadn't echoed. The metal of their armour rattled as they stalked closer and he held his breath, begging his body not to make a single sound. He squeezed his eyes closed too, almost as a reflex, as if it made any kind of sense. If he can't see them, they can't see him, right?

Their boots tapped along the floor in time with each other, tap, tap, tapping, closer and closer until they were right beside him. Merlin braced himself. He felt his body stiffen in preparation for being dragged out of the alcove and all the way to the King's feet. But instead, the tapping of the footsteps never halted for a second as they continued on down the corridor.

He let one eye slip open warily, poking his head out of his hidey-hole as far as was necessary for him to watch the guards disappear around the next corner. His chest stuttered as he let his lungs resume breathing. He knew this castle and its many hiding places like the back of his hand, but that knowledge would be of no use to him if any guards caught him out in the open on his route to the queen's chambers

Still, he had no choice but to risk it.

The beat of his heart was so loud in his ears, he was so sure it could be heard halfway down the corridor and his shoes had also chosen that precise moment to start squeaking against the shiny floor. But the remainder of his path was mercifully empty.

Reaching Catrina's chambers, he was glad to see there were no guards stationed outside. They would have been tricky to get past, plus it meant the queen wasn't inside. Instead, as predicted, she was no doubt accompanying the King, continuing to sway his every decision.

He pressed his ear against the door for one final check and, hearing nothing, slowly pushed it open. Inside was cold and dark, the last of the evening sun lighting just enough of the room for him to see what he was doing.

He shut the door firmly behind him and began his search. Catrina had not brought a lot with her when she'd arrived in Camelot. Probably half to keep up the pretence of a damsel in distress and half because she was an actual troll.

The wardrobe door made little sound as he opened it, revealing only a few dresses trailing down from the rail. Catrina's costumes for when she played the role of queen. Whether she brought them with her or they were gifted by Uther didn't matter, none of them were hiding the seal.

The chest at the foot of the bed was empty and the cupboard on the wall was small enough to see that there was no seal hidden amongst the vials of foul looking – and even fouler smelling – liquids. His knees cracked against the floor as he dropped down to have a peek under the bed and his stomach churned as he begrudgingly rummaged amongst the fruit on the table that had started to mould but there was no sign of what he was searching for.

"Great." He muttered to himself. It was a long shot, hoping that she had concealed it somewhere obvious and easy for him to find, but unless he wanted to start checking under the floorboards, it definitely wasn't there.

A soft mumbling floating down the corridor pricked up his ears and sent his heart racing once more. Someone was coming and there was no time to get out without being seen. A few precious seconds were spent flustering, eyes darting around frantically as he deliberated where to hide, what to do, whether it was possible to jump out of the window without reaching the ground as a pile of mush. The bed was on the other side of the room which he had no chance of reaching in time, so wardrobe it was.

He had only just enclosed himself inside when someone entered the room, the shuffling feet and continued mumbling making it obvious who it was.

Peering through the slither of a gap where the wardrobe door didn't close properly, he watched as Jones immediately slinked towards the cupboard on the wall, grabbing the vials and bringing them over to the table. Merlin held back a sigh as Jonas got comfortable in his usual hunched position, unstoppering the vials and sniffing each one individually. The moon was rising higher in the sky, lighting the room in a soft pale glow and as night drew nearer, Merlin just had to hope that Jonas would soon be retiring to sleep.

As time slowly ticked away, he was regretting not attempting to slide under the bed before Jonas had walked in. The floor would have been hard, but at least he would have been lying down, not standing cramped inside a small space. He probably could have squeezed in a brief nap if he had known Jonas was going to take so damn long to go to bed. He was 100% certain he didn't snore; he totally could have gotten away with it.

Instead, he was left with tired legs, an aching back and a relentless pounding in his head. The headache may have been from the earlier wall rather than solely the lack of sleep – but he was blaming Jonas either way.

With no fire lit, the room had gotten colder and though his whole body was almost numb from holding himself so stiffly, he could feel the shivers threatening to break through. He dared not move in case the wardrobe creaked and gave away his position and every second he begged for an escape felt like an eternity.

Jonas was still tinkering on, shuffling around the room occasionally but always returning to the table. From what Merlin could tell, he was mixing together a concoction in the fruit bowl, its mouldy contents having been dumped on the floor. Its pungent odour wafted over to the wardrobe every now and then, making Merlin's nose wrinkle as it held back a sneeze. He dared not think about what this mysteriously foul potion was for, but it was likely at Catrina's request. Jonas seemed to do her bidding entirely without question.

It was as Merlin felt himself nodding off, the pull of sleep just too strong to hold back, that he was jolted awake again by a noise. A loud, snuffly snort that seemed to vibrate throughout the room. Peering through the gap, Merlin could see Jonas curled around himself with his head on the table and he knew this was his moment. Wasting no time, he got out of the room and it was only as the chamber doors were firmly closed behind him did he allow himself to breathe again.

The rest of his night didn't go much better. In fact, he would go as far to say it was much, much worse. He had never known there to be so many guards placed around the castle so just getting from Catrina's chambers to the only other place he was going to look took hours.

He hid in alcoves, under tables, behind curtains and every single time whatever guard was passing chose that moment to stand and wait, right next to his hiding place. He figured that Catrina's troll-hovel equivalent of a bedroom under the castle was going to be dangerous to search – should she be sleeping there tonight – he just didn't realise that the journey there would be more perilous.

The hidden entrance to the caves was located on the outside of the castle and as he finally made it out, he allowed himself to pause for a moment and breathe in the crisp, night air. He had hoped the coolness would wake him up, like a bucket of water to the face that really blows the cobwebs of sleep away. Instead, it clung uncomfortably to his skin, like an unwanted blanket around his bone-deep weariness.

Keeping to the shadows, he crept along the cobblestones, head turning back every few seconds to check for guards. He was usually several hours into a good night's sleep by now, so he wasn't sure of their usual night-time schedule, but if the castle was that well-guarded tonight, he was going to assume there were plenty more on the lookout outside.

As if wishing them into existence, the tell-tale sound of gentle stomps and clinking armour approached from around the corner. With no columns or curtains immediately nearby, Merlin was completely exposed. He was so close to the entrance, but if he ran now, the guards would definitely see him. And even if he made it to the door, there was no guarantee they wouldn't follow him inside. The only option was the barrels.

Five wooden barrels lined up against the castle wall, ready and waiting to be used.

He lifted the lid on the one closest and climbed straight inside, his legs folding awkwardly as he attempted to fit himself inside. There was no time to get comfortable as every body part protested the cramped space and he only just managed to slot the lid back into place as the footsteps rounded the corner.

He kept deathly still, holding his breath once more as he waited for them to pass. He counted their footsteps as they drew nearer, one, two, three, four, desperate for them to pass and disappear off into the distance.

And they did quieten. Only, far too soon.

He could feel his heart bouncing against his ribcage, the blood rushing to his ears. Even the night air seemed to silence in anticipation. Then there was a thump. And the barrel shifted slightly.

No. No, no, no.

Did that guard just do what he thought he did?

They were supposed to be on patrol right now. Key word: patrol!

"I hate night watch."

This was not happening.

"It'll be dawn soon."

"It's pitch black, how can you tell."

Were they seriously making conversation?!

Merlin's face shifted in annoyance, his brow furrowing as his mouth fell open as he listened to their mindless chatter. No wonder so many creatures had attacked Camelot in the past if this was how their protection spent their time. He didn't need to push against the lid to know that it wasn't going to budge. Not while there was guard sitting on top of it.

Of all the problems that could have faced this evening, this was the absolute last thing on his list. He couldn't leave, he couldn't sneak away, pins and needles were already cursing his legs with how uncomfortably squashed against the sides of the barrel they were. This was supposed to be a quick, convenient, thirty second hiding place. Not a prison.

The two guards, whose voices he didn't recognise, continued their ill-timed chat and Merlin knew he had to do something. His magic never worked well when he was tired and even less so when he'd used so much of it earlier in the day, but he had to try something.

He closed his eyes and whispered into the darkness. "Swefe nu."

"Did you hear something?" The guard atop his barrel asked and his partner gave a seemingly unconcerned "no" in reply.

Well, that didn't work.

He rubbed at his eyes the best he could from where his arms were positioned awkwardly and tried again.

"Swefe nu."

This time he felt the pull of energy as his magic took hold. It drifted out of the barrel and gently closed the eyelids of the unsuspecting guards. They were asleep within seconds.

He could have cheered. Finally. Something had gone his way for once this evening.

Just as he was trying to determine how to manoeuvre the guard off the barrel, a harsh whisper made him jump.

"Oi wake up."

Oh what now?

Merlin felt the barrel shift as the guard was rudely knocked out of the spell. There was a groan then a chuckle and Merlin could have screamed as two more guards joined the fray.

"Thought we were supposed to be on high alert."

"Why? That servant's long gone."

"He might come back."

"No chance, not if he knows what's good for him."

Oh I know what's good for me. What's good is me not being stuck in some dingey wooden box waiting for you lot to do your jobs!

The guards were obviously friends, quietly joking with each other as they avoided any and all work, four gruff voices whispering into the night. While they enjoyed the last few hours of darkness, Merlin begged for it to end. He'd tried the spell again, but with his aching head and tired eyes, he couldn't muster enough strength to summon any magic. Every time he almost dozed off, the barrel rattled or a chortle from outside kept his eyes from closing.

As dawn lit up the courtyard, its rays shining through the slits in the wood and burning the backs of Merlin's eyes, he wished he had never complained about the wardrobe. He would give anything to stretch his legs. He'd also settle for his own bed and Gaius' potion that he stupidly left on the table, but it would probably be a while before he was gifted either of those.

As if the sun was their cue, the guards left their post and got back to work, presumably to finish off the last of their shift and head home. Lucky them.

With no sign of anyone close by, he took a chance and shoved the lid onto the floor, giving one quick peek before pushing himself up to standing. An audible crack rolled up his spine and he let out a gasp as all the blood rushed back to his feet. His eyes watered with the pain of it and as he climbed out of the barrel, he fell straight to his knees. His feet were so numb they could barely hold his weight.

Rubbing the sides of his legs and tops of his feet, he glanced around to check for onlookers. It was still early, but if the past ten hours had taught him anything, you could never be too careful.

He struggled onto unsteady feet and pushed forward, reaching the entrance within minutes. If only it had been that easy when he'd started his search. The caverns were dark as he ran his hands along the walls, allowing them to guide him to the lair that he'd had the pleasure of visiting just the previous day. The closer he got, the easier it was to find– the nauseating odour helpfully leading the way.

The cavern was empty when he eventually sniffed it out. Well, empty of troll at least. It was regrettable still full to the brim of dirt, dung and despair and he kept to the edges to ensure his shoes remained free from the muck that seemed to collect in the centre. He couldn't imagine the seal being buried beneath the dung but he tried to peer through the brown anyway – if the troll had no issues eating this stuff, she probably had no issues hiding something amongst it.

The mound of straw towards the back of the room seemed like the next best bet. It was piled high, as if someone had stolen a few bales from the stables and pulled it all apart to make up a nice, cosy bed. He stepped carefully towards it, peering back at the entrance as if Catrina was going to step out and surprise him.

Maybe he should have watched where he was going because one second, he was walking and the next, he was flying towards the wall. Whatever was hidden amongst the straw was small enough to be concealed and yet large enough for a very sleep deprived, definitely concussed boy to trip over. His hands missed the wall entirely as he tried to break his fall, the brunt of the impact being taken by his shoulder and the already injured side of his head as it bounced off the brick.

He slid down the wall with a groan, his bottom landing solidly on the straw. So dazed as he was, it took a second for the force of the fall to register but then it hit him. A sharp pain shooting down his arm and across shoulder blade, and an intense ache in his head like someone had cracked it in two.

"Ow." He whispered as he cradled his head in his hands. A tear ran down his cheek without him noticing and he squeezed his eyes shut to try and block out the pain.

Another win for the wall. And third time since noon yesterday. Gaius was not going to be happy.

It felt like his entire body was shaking and somewhere in his addled brain he knew it was from the shock of the sudden pained assault on his senses. He took a few deep breaths and tried to calm himself down, taking a moment to gather himself and beg the trembling to stop. God that really hurt. But at least it wasn't dung that he'd tripped over – or landed in.

Wait— what did he trip over?

He pushed himself onto his hands and knees and began rummaging through the straw until his hands knocked something. Brushing the straw away revealed an elegantly carved wooden box, no doubt property of Camelot removed from Catrina's bedroom. There was no lock, only a small latch which opened easily and as he flipped the lid back, the contents suddenly made the horror of the past night worth it. Amongst a bunch of jewellery and brooches, was the Royal Seal of the House of Tregor.

He let out a chuckle of disbelief as he picked it up, the metal cool and heavy in his hand. As long as he could get this to Gaius, this little thing may have just saved him. And there was no time to waste. With dawn come and gone there would be people out making a start on their morning duties and any one of them could spot him on his return to their chambers.

As he pushed himself to his feet, he stumbled, hand shooting out to grab the wall as little black spots danced across his vision. He swallowed reflexively as he felt his stomach churn and his head pulse. The wall really did win this time around.

As the dots cleared, he took a tentative step forward, grateful that his still tingling feet were willing to hold his weight. He then used the wall to lead him back out of the cavern and all the way to the surface.

The bright, burning light of the sun slammed into him and he lifted his arm to try and block it out. It sent a spike through his brain and forced his eyes to squeeze shut and he was starting to get very annoyed by how familiar that feeling was getting. He kept his other hand outstretched in an attempt to navigate himself while half-blind as he blundered forward.

The courtyard was surprisingly empty with only a few servants milling around, too focused on their long list of duties for the day to pay him any attention. He kept to the walls as he snuck past them, blinking all the while to try and get the world back into focus. Everything had gone awfully blurry and it was getting increasingly more difficult to focus with the low buzzing that had started in his ears.

One of the side doors was mercifully unlocked and allowed him entry inside the castle. It was warmer inside without the fresh morning air nipping at his cheeks, but he barely noticed as he allowed his eyes to adjust to the change in brightness, resolutely ignoring how the slight fog refused to lift from the edges of his vision.

The corridors were a stark contrast to last night with their emptiness with not a single guard in sight and he was beginning to think he might actually be able to get back to Gaius without any trouble when a frustrated whisper froze him in his tracks.

"Merlin!"

Oh no. He knew that voice. Strange though, that voice was usually a lot louder when it was angry.

Turning too quickly made the corridors spin and he regretted it instantly. Even more so when he was faced with Arthur stalking up to him, eyes glancing around to make sure nobody had spotted them.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to run. I didn't cover for you last night just so that you could be caught wandering the halls this morning."

Merlin spluttered through an apology. He couldn't exactly tell him what he'd been doing this whole time. Unless…

"I found it." Merlin looked down at his hand as he held its contents out for Arthur to take. Arthur's eyes widened, surprise and confusion passing over his features as his brows pulled low into a frown.

"Merlin, you—"

"I didn't take it." He shook his head vehemently, wincing as he was reminded of what a bad decision that was. The world was tilting again and he squeezed his eyes shut to make it stop. "She had it hidden."

He felt Arthur clamp a hand against his shoulder to stop him swaying where he stood.

"Are you okay?"

He swallowed hard, forcing out the words. "I'm fine."

"Merlin, you look really pale."

If he had been entirely alert, he would have wondered why Arthur looked so concerned. He also would have questioned why the prince was actually up so earlier and had even managed to put all his clothes on without any assistance. But as it was, the more Arthur spoke, the louder the ringing in his ears seemed to grow.

Then Arthur was grabbing his arm, trying to push him away.

"Guards! Arrest him!" A loud, angry voice filtered down the corridor.

But he didn't have the energy left to figure out who was speaking.

The ringing was too loud.

And everything hurt.

And he barely had time to be thankful when it all drifted away.