The Servant and His True Master (part one)

Words: 2,397
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Gaius, Elyan, Percival. For now.
Warnings: Spoilers for 4x06 and naked awkwardness.
Summary: AU to the episode 'A Servant of Two Masters'. What if Arthur learnt of what really happened to Merlin, and had to help save him?
A/N: This is for the guest reviewer kitkat. I absolutely loved your idea and I hope this is what you had in mind, or close. This would have been up yesterday, except halfway through I realised I hated it and completely started over. Luckily I had an hour lunch break today and managed to get it done then. I think this version is a little bit better, at least. As always, huge thanks to everyone supporting this experimental collection. You are all far too kind. Constructive criticism is welcomed just as much as your lovely compliments and prompts/ideas. I promise I am taking note of every idea given to me and will be doing as many as I can. Enjoy :)

"What the hell is wrong with my bathwater?"

Merlin looked up to where Arthur was standing by his changing screen, looking suspiciously at the tub. "What do you mean?" he asked as innocently as he could. This isn't right, a voice in his head cried, stop it! But it was drowned out by a hissing as the back of his neck tingled, and Merlin ignored it. This was what he had to do. This was all he had to do. No doubt. None at all. There couldn't be. Only one truth remained.

Kill Arthur.

"It's all… steamy," Arthur said, gesturing vaguely. True, the water was still bubbling slightly from the corrosive salts he had added to it, but Merlin kept his face apathetic.

"Yes, well, that is called heat, Arthur," he said. "When you heat water up, it steams. You are always complaining about it being too cold, after all."

The suspicion had not yet left Arthur's face. "Is that so?"

The niggling in the back of Merlin's neck increased and he sighed impatiently. "Look, just, get in will you? No matter the water's always too cold, you can be slower than a lame horse at times."

The suspicious look turned into a glare and Arthur stepped closer to the bath, but still did not make to get in. "Why has the water gone… milky?"

All Merlin could hear by this point was the hissing. He barely noticed the very same sound escape his lips as impatience won out and he dove forward, grabbing Arthur by his neck and attempting to push his face into the water. Arthur let out a cry of surprise and immediately pushed back, but the strength of his manservant surprised him. Merlin continued to push with fierce determination, all the while his stomach churning with the constant feeling of wrong.

"Merlin, what are you doing?!" Arthur yelled, getting a grip of the younger's thin wrists and pushing his hands off. Arthur straightened but Merlin did not slow in his efforts, struggling to break free of his king's grasp. "What has gotten into you?"

The only reply was another hiss just as the chamber doors slammed open and in rushed Gaius and Gwen. "Gaius, something's wrong!" yelled Arthur. The aging physician rushed forwards to help restrain his madly struggling ward, Gwen close behind. Spotting the jug Merlin had used to fill the tub, she picked it up off the floor and ran forwards, quickly aiming and landing another well-placed blow to the back of Merlin's head. There was a thud as he fell to the floor, both Gaius and Arthur quickly stepping back.

It was only after a moment of shocked silence that Arthur realised who's company he was in, and what state he was in himself. That is, completely and utterly stark naked in front of Guinevere.

Snatching a pillow to hold in front of him and trying desperately not to blush, Arthur addressed them with what he hoped was a regal voice. "Would someone like to explain what the hell just happened?" Gwen, seemingly having noticed the same problem, was now standing back with her hands clasped and her eyes thoroughly averted to the ground. Gaius crouched down to check his ward's head, half-wishing Gwen would find other ways of incapacitating him. Arthur turned back to the tub as he talked, reaching out for it with his hand. "What was Merlin - "

"Don't!" two voices cried at once, and Arthur brought his hand back like it had been burned.

"I wouldn't touch that if I were you, sire," Gaius said slowly.

"Why not? What did Merlin do to it?" Arthur's eyes narrowed. "If this is some kind of practical joke…"

"Not exactly, sire," Gaius replied, standing up. He walked over to the bath, grabbing the metal jug from Gwen as he went, until he was just standing by the rim. With a slight beat of hesitance, Gaius held the jug by the handle and tipped it forward so only the very top became submerged. There was an ominous hissing sound and when Gaius pulled the jug back out, the rim had been completely disfigured as if melted away or beaten.

For a moment, all Arthur could do was stare. Then he turned back to Merlin, still unconscious on the ground, and his eyes got, if possible, wider. "Someone…" Arthur stopped, took a steadying breath, and tried again. "Someone explain. Now."

They had made their way back to the physician's chambers (Arthur now fully clothed, of course) with Merlin lying face down on a table they had dragged into the middle of the room. Gaius and Gwen had explained as they went, hurriedly dragging the boy through the castle and even having to wave off the concern of one confused Percival.

"A fomorrah, you say?" asked Arthur, leaning in to study the slowly moving shape in the back of Merlin's neck. He repressed a shudder. That could not be comfortable. "And you believe Morgana did this?"

"She is the most likely candidate sire," replied Gaius, "though we cannot be certain until we ask Merlin himself."

Arthur nodded. It would explain the weird behaviour since Merlin had escaped from the bandits - though it would seem that had been wrong as well. The anger Merlin showed when realising Gwen had already served his lunch, the even worse patience than usual… Arthur thought back to when he turned around and saw Merlin on the floor, ceremonial sword in hand. With widening eyes he said "this… isn't the first time he tried to kill me, is it?"

"I'm afraid not, sire."

"Maybe it's you", Arthur had said jokingly, surprised by the worried look on his servant's face. "Don't worry, Merlin, I don't really think you want to kill me."

Arthur tried to clear his head and focus on the matter at hand. "How are we supposed to ask Merlin if this… fomorrah is controlling him?"

Gwen appeared just behind him with some kind of makeshift cloth sponge in her hands that smelt slightly off. Gaius took it from her and turned to his ward. "First we must stun the beast," he said, almost casually, and it was the tone that worried Arthur the most. Since when was it a natural occurrence for things like this to happen? But he kept silent and watched with apprehension as Gaius dabbed the shadow on Merlin's neck, and gradually the moving slowed and finally stopped. Gaius then lifted from another table a small jar of suspicious salts, smoke rising from the opening. "Alright, Merlin, time to wake up."

Arthur's apprehension grew. Would Merlin be himself when he awoke? Would he get his clumsy, innocent servant back? Or was the snake still in control, still using Merlin's body as some kind of suit? What would they do if it was? What would need to be done? Arthur shook his head, too scared of the answers to think about them for very long. He may never admit it, but he never wanted to lose his friend - especially not to some slimy creature that had been brought to life by… her.

Gaius held the salts under Merlin's nose and there was a moment of tense silence, and Arthur couldn't help but hold his breath.

Next thing he knew Merlin was jumping up onto his knees, coughing and spluttering, his face a look of utter disgust. "Eugh, what is that?" he asked loudly, his eyes scrunched up. "Arthur's socks?"

Arthur's immediate relief at realising that yes, this was definitely Merlin, was quickly hidden by offense. "Care to say that again, Merlin?"

Merlin's eyes snapped to his master, the movement unbalancing him slightly, and he put a hand out to steady himself. Gaius rested his wrinkly hand on his arm to help, Gwen watching him nervously as if he were about to keel over. Or try to kill Arthur again, who knew. Finally, after steadying himself, Merlin looked to Gaius and asked in a confused voice, "umm… what happened?"

"You got yourself in trouble, as usual," said Arthur before Gaius could answer. "I mean really, Merlin, of all the people, it would be you that would get himself possessed by a mind-controlling snake with regenerative powers, wouldn't it?"

Realisation dawned on Merlin and Arthur watched curiously (not concerned) as it all came back to him. Merlin slumped with a thud and suddenly his eyes were looking haunted. "Morgana," he whispered. Arthur tensed.

"So it was her who did this?" asked Gaius. Gwen bit her lip, looking sad, and Arthur quietly found her hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Merlin nodded, suddenly avoiding everyone's eyes. Morgana had always been a touchy subject for Merlin, almost as much as Arthur himself. But where Arthur would get angry or defensive, Merlin got quiet and withdrawn. Arthur assumed it was because the two had actually seemed rather close. Morgana had been kind to Merlin before… before. She had gone out of her way to help his village, and helped him to hide the druid boy. They seemed to always have some kind of bond that Arthur had never quite understood. Perhaps that was why Merlin always seemed slightly guilty when she was brought up. Maybe he felt he should have seen the signs. As if Arthur shouldn't have himself.

A knock at the door broke the tense silence and they all turned to see Percival and Elyan standing there, looking worried. "What's wrong?" Arthur asked, wondering what more could have possibly happened.

"Percival told us he saw you carrying Merlin unconscious," explained Elyan.

"Is he alright?" asked Percival.

"As alright as Merlin ever is," scoffed Arthur, then paused as what Elyan had said registered. "Us?"

"Me and Gwaine, we were getting ready to train." Elyan looked sheepishly at Merlin, who was now sitting on the edge of the table with his legs over the edge. "Gwaine was concerned too, but I think he's still a bit sore about the 'filthy fingers' comment and was a bit hesitant to come see you. He seems to think you're mad at him."

Merlin's eyebrows went up. "The what? I'm what? Huh?"

The knights looked from him to Gaius to Arthur. "Merlin has not been himself," explained Arthur. "He's been possessed."

"What? Why?"

"To get to me," sighed Arthur.

"To kill you."

They turned back to Merlin who was suddenly looking a bit shell-shocked, as if it had just hit him. "I was going to kill you."

Recognising the signs of panic about to make itself known, Arthur forced laughter into his voice and said "please, Merlin, as if you could actually overpower me."

"I could have," said Merlin, shaking his head. He twisted his hands together, his eyes wide. "Even if I couldn't, I had access to your food, to your chambers, I could have gotten to you when you were asleep - " his speech had gradually sped up and Gwen stepped in, laying a gentle hand on his arm.

"You didn't though, Merlin. Arthur's okay, and soon you'll be okay. We'll get rid of that thing and - "

"It's still in him?" Elyan interrupted. Merlin jumped off the table and backed up, close to his door.

"You should get out of here, Arthur. In case it wakes up again."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Merlin, I'm perfectly safe. Even if I wasn't perfectly capable of defending myself against you, I now have two of my best knights with me. If anything you're the one in danger." When Merlin still didn't look convinced Arthur added "you couldn't beat me if you had magic, for god's sake." He turned before he could see the look of absolute fear on his servant's face. "Percival, Elyan, gather the others. We are to find Morgana and the beast she holds that controls Merlin." The knights nodded and quickly left. Arthur turned back to face Merlin, who was now standing right up against the wall like a cornered hare. "I'm afraid you're going to have come with us, Merlin. You'll need to show us the way.

Merlin shook his head vehemently. "No, there's no point. I - I was barely conscious, I probably won't even remember the way, I - "

"I'm sure it'll come back to you," Arthur said nonchalantly, confused by Merlin's hesitance. Usually he was begging to come along to any half-dangerous mission. It must be the after effects of the fomorrah. Arthur headed to the door after his knights and said "be ready in the courtyard in half an hour."

Merlin watched him go, trying to swallow down the panic that threatened to overwhelm him. With only a glance Gaius recognised what he needed to do and asked Gwen to leave (politely, of course) so Merlin could prepare. Gwen nodded, giving one more sympathetic look to her friend, before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

"What am I supposed to do, Gaius? What if it takes over again? What if I use my magic this time?" Merlin paused, a new thought occurring to him. "Why haven't I already?"

Gaius frowned and led the boy to a chair, getting him to sit down. "Breathe, Merlin. Slow breaths now. For starters, you should not have to worry about losing control just yet. It should remain stunned for about twenty-four hours, so you have time. Even if you did," Gaius paused, looking ponderous. "I do not think your magic will be a problem. If my theory is correct, the reason it has remained at bay in your attempts could be because of your destiny, or even just your natural instincts; your mission, the reason for your magic, is to protect Arthur. Therefore, I highly doubt it would allow you to hurt him with it."

Merlin nodded, slowly beginning to calm down. He knew his next question would not help his condition, but he had to know. "Did I… come close? At all?"

Gaius paused, watching his ward carefully. "Not close enough," he finally said. "And of that, be thankful."

P.S in case you didn't notice the title, this is only part one. It would have ended up being way too long unless I split it, so that's what I did. I hope to get part two up soon. Thanks for reading!