"You're learning magic" Merlin smiled. "I never thought I'd see it! Arthur Pendragon, learning magic! You could be a wizard you know!" Merlin floated, cross-legged in the air and watching as Arthur flicked through one of Gaius' magic books.

He stopped at the picture of a Questian Beast. "That's the beast that nearly killed me, isn't it?"

"Yeah, to be honest I thought you weren't going to live. I was going to give my life in return for yours."

Arthur looked up. "Really? You cared that much about me?"

"Yeah, I guess I did. You're the once and future king! I wasn't just going to sit there and let you die!" Merlin paused, "And you were my friend."

Arthur was touched by that comment, and it instilled more determination inside him to get his manservant back.

"Merlin, I will do everything in my power to get you back, you know that."

Merlin smiled. "I know, I trust you."

Arthur felt a lump rise in his throat as he took up the stance again. "Is this right?"

"Almost, just raise your hand a little, yes, that's right. You've got it."

Arthur smiled. "I want to do it soon, I need you back."

"We can do it tonight, if you want. I'm sick of being a ghost, the novelty's gone now. It's boring!"

Arthur smiled. "I can't practice with you in here! It's awkward!"

Merlin sighed and disappeared. "This better?" His voice spoke from seemingly nowhere.

Arthur laughed, "I guess, I can't get rid of you can I?"

"No!"

Merlin watched as Arthur practiced, occasionally commenting and helping with stance, posture and pronunciation of certain words. After a few hours, Merlin left the castle to find Thomas.

"So you are going to possess Arthur?" Thomas looked at Merlin like he had just produced a unicorn from his arsecrack.

"Yes, and then channel the magic needed to put me back in my body."

"Right, so that's your plan. It better go well!"

"You don't, I can see!"

"No, well I'll lose a friend! I'll have to go back to making full grown knights pee their pants!"

Merlin laughed. "As I said, I'll still talk to you!"

Thomas sighed. "I suppose."

The evening came quickly, and Arthur walked down to the crypt, heart in his mouth and stomach churning uncomfortably. Merlin floated along next to him, equally as nervous.

The crypt was dark, and gloomy, and strange moss grew on the stone walls, thriving on the damp and cold. Bones littered the place, and newer, more recent bodies lay covered with sheets, or just left. The whole place had a rotting, musty smell and was draped with an eerie, pressing silence. Arthur took in quick breaths and stood in front of Merlin's body. He winced as he drew back the sheet to reveal his manservant, lying cold, pale and silent. "You ready?" Arthur looked to Merlin, who was drifting and looking worried.

"Yeah, just a bit nervous."

"You're not the only one." Arthur took up the position he had been rehearsing over and over, and controlled his shaking limbs.

Merlin took in a deep, unnecessary breath to calm himself, and stepped into Arthur's body.

Arthur felt a blinding flash, and then felt like he was being compressed. His vision went and his legs felt like jelly. He could feel his body moving, but couldn't control it himself. He wanted to scream but his mouth was already moving in the incantation Merlin was shouting through his lips. Then an immense rush of energy seemed to flow through his body, provoking a rush of adrenaline following, then there was a loud, terrible ripping sound and blinding light seemed to surround Arthur, growing and growing until a scream burst from his lungs and he was bent double, breathing heavily. He straightened up, his head spinning and limbs aching from the energy. He looked up at Merlin's cold body and his heart sank. It hadn't worked. "M…Merlin?"

Merlin screamed as he was ripped out or Arthur's body, leaving the prince bent double. His own body came closer and closer and then a blinding white light surrounded him, and then everything went dark. He swam up through a foggy haze, cold energy beginning to seep into his numb limbs. He shivered in the cold, confused. "Arthur?"

Arthur looked up to see his manservant looking up at him and smiled. "It worked!"

Merlin tried to sit up, but the energy was too much so he kept still. "I ache like an ass!"

Arthur laughed. "What do we do now?" He asked, face suddenly sullen. "I can carry you to the castle, but we can't let the villagers see that you're alive, it will scare them."

"Yeah, tell you what, I'll act dead until you get me to Gaius, and then we can work something out."

Arthur said nothing, and slid his arms around his manservant. "I'm so glad to have you back." Tears came to his eyes seemingly from nowhere and streamed down his face.

Merlin cuddled the prince, and let him sob, glad of the fact he could now comfort his prince and tell him everything was going to be okay. Without thinking about it, he leaned up and kissed Arthur gently. Arthur felt something inside burst into life, and a warm feeling settled somewhere in his stomach. He kissed Merlin back and it was warm and tender and loving, and spoke of a friendship that was undying and full of trust. They broke apart, smiling.

"I never thought we'd do that!" Merlin couldn't wipe the smile from his face.

"Me neither!" Arthur was grinning like a drunken fool. He scooped Merlin into his arms, surprised at how light he had become. "Come on, let's go and see Gaius."

Merlin nodded and instantly went limp, letting one arm dangle and his head loll backwards and opened his mouth a little. Arthur was taken aback at how dead Merlin looked. He reminded himself that it was an act and shifted him a little in his arms, left the crypt and began to carry him back towards the castle, already thinking of a way of explanation to his father with a smile inside, he slowed his step and struggled to keep his face sullen. He ignored the curious looks he got from the villagers and kept moving, assured that he would soon be negotiating a plan with his father on something that both him and Merlin would be happy with, and would restore faith in the Pendragon bloodline. As he got closer to the castle courtyard, the dreary grey and overcast sky broke, and golden yellow rays of sunlight shone down, sending a glistening mist rising from the damp ground. Arthur smiled a little, he knew things were going to work out okay after all.