"You want me togo on that?" Arthur asked incredulously. "Are you mad?"

"It's fun!" Merlin protested. "And I think you'd like it."

"MERLIN!" Merlin couldn't help wincing slightly as Arthur bellowed his name. "Do you have a death wish, you idiot!?"

"You always said that you liked a bit of risk in your life?" said Merlin slyly. "Or was that all just talk?"

Arthur froze. "Are you saying that you think I'm acting like a coward, Merlin?" he snarled. "Because if you are, you'll regret it."

Merlin shrugged, unconcerned. "If you don't want to go on it, that's fine with me-" he began.

"No!" said Arthur quickly.

Merlin smiled. "So you want to go on the roller coaster, then?"

"Well, I can't have you thinking I'm a coward," said Arthur firmly, although Merlin could see the distress in his eyes as he turned to stare up at the roller coaster, currently hurtling up the track before plunging downwards, causing a few of the passengers to scream. Merlin saw Arthur swallow.

"Look, if you don't want to-"

"Come on," Arthur interrupted, looking pale but determined. "It shouldn't be too bad. It…it might even be fun," he added weakly as Merlin raised his eyebrows at him.

"Well, I'll go and get the tickets," said Merlin cautiously. He paused. "Arthur, are you sure?"

"Of course!" said Arthur brightly, although Merlin detected a slight tremor in his voice. "I, err, can't wait to go on it!"

"Well, you seem to have changed your opinion of it pretty quickly," Merlin murmured as he headed off to buy the tickets, smiling wryly as he remembered Arthur's heated objections just a couple of minutes ago.

He made his way back over to Arthur once he had bought the tickets, now feeling slightly nervous and regretting ever bringing up the subject of the roller coaster in the first place. Arthur was standing as though someone had glued him to the spot, staring up at the roller coaster with his mouth slightly open. As Merlin approached, he turned round to face him, wearing a rather fixed smile.

"This…looks great!" he said faintly, gesturing to the roller coaster with a shaking hand.

"Do you really mean that?" said Merlin doubtfully.

"Of course!" Arthur jabbered. "Looks fun, really, really fun…"

"Arthur, are you okay?" said Merlin, looking at his friend closely. Arthur's face was coated with a sheen of sweat, and his fists were clenched tightly.

"What? Oh yes, of course," Arthur said quickly, taking a deep breath.

"Look, maybe we shouldn't go on it today," said Merlin gently.

"No, no, it's just come to a stop, look!" Arthur squared his shoulders and began to make his way over to the roller coaster. Merlin followed him helplessly, knowing that it would be pointless to try and persuade Arthur to leave it to another day once he had decided to go on it, even if it was only to try and prove that he wasn't a coward.

The two of them climbed into a carriage, Arthur keeping up a bright, slightly hysterical, flow of chatter about how much he was looking forward to going on the roller coaster, and how only cowards were scared of them. He fell silent, however, once the roller coaster began to move slowly.

"Just keep calm," Merlin told him quietly, keeping a comforting hand on his arm. "Don't panic."

Arthur's retort was muffled as he covered his face with his hands.

The roller coaster began to speed up and Merlin squeezed one of Arthur's clammy hands in his, pulling it down from his face. "Come on Arthur, you'll be fine…"

Arthur whispered something, now shaking like a leaf. He closed his eyes as the roller coaster rounded a corner sharply, and groaned.

"What is it?" Merlin leaned towards Arthur to try and hear what he was saying.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Arthur moaned weakly.

Merlin patted him on the back helplessly. He could feel Arthur shaking all over, and felt a flash of guilt for ever making the suggestion that Arthur went on the roller coaster in the first place.

As they flew round another corner, Arthur let out a gasp of terror, clutching Merlin's arm so tightly it hurt. His earlier bravado had disappeared completely.

"It's okay," Merlin whispered, rubbing Arthur's back soothingly. "It'll be over soon, I promise."

Arthur mumbled something unintelligible.

As it finally slowed down, eventually coming to a halt, Arthur jumped out without even opening the carriage door. "That was fun!"

Merlin followed him more slowly. "You thought it was fun?"

"Of course," said Arthur in a dignified voice. Now that he was off the roller coaster, he seemed to have regained some of his composure. "Very-oh, look, horses!" Merlin turned to see him pointing at a merry-go-round.

"You want to have a go on that?"

"Yes," said Arthur eagerly. He began to run towards the merry-go-round.

Xxx

"Well, Merlin," said Arthur as they left the fairground. "I feel as though I have proved that I am a worthy king today."

"Really?" said Merlin in mild interest.

"Yes. After all, Merlin," he said grandly, "not many people would have the courage to do what I did today."

"No, not everyone goes on roller coasters," Merlin agreed.

Arthur shook his head. "I meant that merry-go-round thing. Now, it was very brave of me to go on that!"

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this! :)