He was wrong.

So wrong.

Nothing could have made this worth it.

It started when Arthur went to stand by his car, briefcase in hand, lamp safely in the briefcase, and Merlin quiet inside the lamp. Tom, his driver, was softly talking to his daughter, Guinevere. She was a beautiful young girl in her early twenties, having a gorgeous dark and clear skin, and curly hair done in a simple braid. She gave Arthur a bright smile, and said a shy "Hello", before giving his father a peck on his cheek and walking away, probably to the bus stop that would take her to her college.

Arthur climbed into his car, instructing Tom to take him to office. A moment later, green smoke came out of the seams of his briefcase, and formed one rogue Warlock, grinning from ear to ear.

Arthur looked at Tom in alarm and let out a "Merlin!" through clenched teeth as a warning.

"I am one of the most powerful sorcerers to have ever existed Arthur. I think I know how to make myself invisible to people when I like." He said, condescension dripping from his tone, then continued musing, " Anyway, no one can see me unless you explicitly give me permission. That's zero fun I tell you. I probably shouldn't have told you that."

Quickly looking around himself, he threw a hasty "Posh car by the way," Arthur's way, and then proceeded to press his nose to the window, much like he had in his room, and let out a low admiring whistle.

That was when Arthur clued in to the fact that bringing Merlin along with him was a grave mistake. What was he thinking, bringing his own personal hallucination that nobody else could see, to his office of all places.

When passing through the place where Witch's Den was located, Arthur briefly wondered if he could just return the lamp, but scanning the shop names, he realized the shop just wasn't there. It wasn't just a change of shop names, or some other shop in its stead. It was just... not there. Like it had blinked out from existence.

"She really wasn't joking."

"About what?" Merlin asked distractedly.

"About me never finding the lamp again if I left without it yesterday evening."

"Uh-huh." Was the helpful reply, but Arthur felt insanely grateful for the insanity that had overcome him yesterday. Buying the lamp felt right, and Merlin or no Merlin, Arthur knew he would've regretted not buying it if he had missed his chance.

He grew to regret thinking that way the moment he asked Freya to bring him coffee and a sandwich, and Merlin hovered behind her rolling his eyes at him, raising and eyebrow and saying, "Really Arthur? You treat everyone as slaves don't you?"

Arthur waited till Freya had left his office before retorting, "And whose fault is it that I skipped breakfast?"

"Um... Yours?"

"That's right... No! No that's not right... it's your fault with your stupid ramblings and your head in the clouds."

"Yeah yeah, I am sorry" Merlin replied, very insincerely, and started wandering around the room, running his fingers over the files in the cupboard, and Arthur's Vinyl Records collection, looking up at Arthur questioningly.

"I like how they sound." Arthur felt like defending himself, which made Merlin raise both his hands and shrug his shoulders, shaking his head, as if saying, Hey, I'm not judging. Then he went to the side wall, which was made of all glass, much like the one in his bed room, and eyed the foot balls, displayed on the shelf in front of it. He picked one of them up, spun it on his finger and then proceeded to look at Arthur very judgmentally.

So Arthur hoarded signed foot balls. Sue him.

Arthur raised his eyebrow in response to Merlin's look, and went back to typing on his laptop, ignoring the Warlock.

He lost the track of time, and was startled when Freya came back with his breakfast, leaving it on his table without any comment, and went out to sit on the Secretary's table/cabin thing outside his office.

Something occurred to him when he was eating his sandwich, and he asked Merlin, who was taking out every single Record from its cover and observing it, one by one.

"Can you make it snow? Like right now, in summers?"

"Yes...?" Merlin replied slowly.

"Ah."

"You want me to?"

"No... Not really. Was just asking."

"Arse."

And went back to rifling through Arthur's things. Arthur thought that he should've minded it more than he did.

"What about stopping time?" Arthur asked a while later.

"What about it?

"Can you do it?"

"Sure."

"...and teleportation?"

"Yes."

"What about..."

Merlin cut in before Arthur could finish his question, "I can make a forest flourish in a desert, and I can crumble mountains into dust, and evaporate a sea. I can start a war, and I can kill thousands of soldiers just by wishing it so. I can speed up birth of a new star, or be the cause of destruction of one. I know I can do all that, because I can feel infinite magic bubbling up just under my skin, itching to be let out to play. I know because I have done all that and more... So what is your point Arthur? What do you want me to do?"

Arthur was struck dumb for a few seconds after Merlin stopped speaking. He felt a stupid, treacherous hope bubbling up under his skin though. If Merlin was telling the truth, if Merlin indeed was so powerful, then the one impossible thing, the thing Arthur had wished for since before he could even remember may not be as impossible any more.

"Can you bring my mother back from dead?" Arthur asked in a hushed whisper.

"Oh Arthur." Merlin's voice was full of so much pity that Arthur wanted to throw the lamp out of the window of 30th floor of the building he was currently sitting in.

"Sorry. Forget I said anything." Arthur concentrated on the words he was typing in his laptop, replying to his father that yes he remembers that there is a board of directors meeting at 1:00pm and yes he would be there, but the screen seemed to blur in front of his eyes.

He startled out of his moment of forced detachment with he felt a hand on his. Looking up, he noticed that what he had thought was pity, was actually empathy and understanding. Merlin looked at him with kindness of a being that was centuries old, and had seen things he could hardly hope to grasp.

"I could. Maybe. But I won't. I have never done that before. I don't remember really, I think I made myself forget, but I know I lost someone. I have lost many people, but I lost someone very important once, very very long time ago. And I never even tried to bring them back, although I have never wanted to do anything as much as I wanted to do that. And no one was stopping me. Because having infinite power, more power than is natural for any being to have, gives you this innate sense of wrong. Messing with life and death is wrong. If I do bring back your mother, there is no knowing what I will bring back... You understand that right?"

This was the longest Merlin had ever spoken, and in the most serious and grave tone. There was long forgotten regret and sadness in his voice when he talked about losing someone, and suddenly Arthur felt ashamed that he even thought of asking something like that. He wanted to see his mother, God! How he had always fantasized about seeing her again, and hugging her, and telling her how much he loved and missed her, but Merlin was right. Even if he did manage to bring her back, there was no guarantee she would even be the same woman who had given birth to him.

He looked into Merlin's eyes, and gave a sharp nod. Merlin gave a small regretful smile, and backed away.

"If you keep denying my requests like this, you might be stuck with me till end of times, or at least until I am dead." Desperately trying to lighten the mood, Arthur gave a forced smile, and hoped his voice didn't come out as shaky as he felt.

"Well your company is slightly better than the Witch's."

"Why Merlin. I am flattered."

"Slightly!" Merlin emphasized.

That was when his intercom beeped, signaling that Freya was calling. Wondering what his secretary wanted, he answered,

"Any problem Freya?"

"Um... No? It's just that, you seem to be talking, and I thought maybe you forgot to dial me before you started giving orders... Uh- so yeah."

Arthur wanted hit his head on the desk when he realized what she was saying. The office had glass walls! Or like, two glass walls. One showing the city outside and one towards the rest of the Pendragon Inc. offices. Which meant Freya could see Arthur talking to Merlin, and considering Merlin was invisible to everyone but Arthur, Freya could see Arthur talking to think air.

If he wasn't careful he would end up in a psych ward. Arthur had begun to wonder that maybe that won't be such a bad thing.

He threw one accusing glance towards Merlin, who looked like he was barely holding back his mirth as he gave a shrug as if to say, how is it my fault?, and replied to Freya with what he hoped was a convincing lie.

"Oh no. I was just reading my next presentation out loud. Trying to see how to words sounded."

"Uh- Okay. You sure you don't want anything? Some water?"

"I am fine. Get back to your work."

"Okay Sir."

He made sure the intercom was off, and then looked at Merlin and said pointedly,

"And that's how you say Sir."

"Okay Sire." Merlin said in an accurate imitation of Freya's voice, startling Arthur.

"What... was that?"

"Too much time on hand, when I was rotting away in the lamp. I entertained myself by imitating voices of the customers and stuff." Merlin answered unapologetically, in Freya's voice.

"Just... stop! Don't you ever do that again. That's just...wrong."

"Okay Sire." Merlin answered in his own voice this time, and Arthur was too relieved to even point out that it was Sir, not Sire.

Arthur was busy finishing up his reports that he was going to be showing his father at the board meeting, when the door of his office suddenly and loudly opened, and in strode Morgana, in her high heels and sleeveless dress that reached up to mid thigh. She looked lovely in light blue, but then Morgana looked lovely in every color.

"Brother." She exclaimed happily, and then walked quickly to his table before he could even get up, and pecked him on both cheeks.

Arthur threw a look outside, where Freya was busy ignoring him. He had specially warned her-multiple times-to let him know before letting Morgana in, but apparently Freya was more scared of his sister than him... and for good reason.

Morgana was as scary as she was beautiful.

"What are you doing here Morgs?" He asked, trying to convey annoyance, but he knew his tone was fond.

"Can't a sister want to check up on his baby brother?" Morgana asked slyly, which made Merlin, who was sitting on shelf and swinging his legs back and forth, let out an amused snort.

Throwing what he hoped was a scathing look towards the annoying warlock, he looked at Morgana, complaining, "I am hardly a baby any more am I?"

"To me sweet heart, you will always be a baby." She pulled his left cheek with her thumb and forefinger, causing Arthur to bat her hand away indignantly, and Merlin to howl with laughter.

"Oh!" Morgana suddenly gasped, and that's when Arthur realized that he had kept the golden lamp on his desk, in plain sight, when he had taken it out of his briefcase. Morgana was looking right at it. Merlin might be invisible, but the lamp definitely wasn't.

She was looking at it with what looked suspiciously like tears in her eyes, and then she looked up at Arthur with so much joy and hope, that Arthur had to look away.

"You bought it." She spoke quietly and earnestly.

"Uh- yeah." Arthur had no fucking clue what to say to her at this point. Did she seriously know he was going to buy a magical lamp before he had even seen it? How was this his life?

Very delicately, with the care of someone who was touching a fragile thing, she lifted her hand, and rubbed her index finger on the golden lamp. On his side, Merlin gasped out loudly.

"It's beautiful." She said in a very reverent tone.

"Yes." Arthur could not deny that.

"Oh Arthur," she looked up at him again, and then lunged forward and hugged him really tightly. "I am so glad you bought it. I saw so many dreams. In some of them you bought it, and were happy and alive. In many many others, you walked away, you left it there. I always woke up from those dreams crying, because you died, or you were hurt beyond measure, and were always, unfailingly, miserable." She spoke very fast into his shoulder, and he could feel a little wetness seeping in through his clothes, making him realize in horror that she was crying.

He brought up a hand and rubbed it soothingly across Morgana's back.

"They were just dreams Morgs."

"No they weren't." She said fiercely, as she disentangled herself from Arthur's embrace, and wiped her tears away. "But you did buy it... so it's alright. Everything is alright" She said, smiling.

"If that gives you any comfort... I am glad I did."

"Me too Arthur. Me too." She whispered, and then darted forward to leave a tender kiss on Arthur's forehead and quickly mumbled a quiet "Thank you." After that she rushed out of the office in the same speed she had stormed in.

There was silence in the room after she was gone. At length, Merlin said in an awed voice.

"Wow."

"Sorry you had to see that." Arthur couldn't help defending his beloved sister, "she has always had trouble sleeping and had weird nightmares. No amount of treatment helps. And she hates it when we try to treat her like she is sick. So most days, it's better for her and all involved if we let her believe in some of the dreams. She is amazing otherwise."

"That's not what I am talking about Arthur." Merlin replied, still awed, "She is magic."

Arthur's head whipped around to face Merlin. "What are you talking about?"

"She is not lying about those dreams. She might be a Seer. She has magic. Old magic. I felt it when she touched the lamp. The brilliance and purity of it was... beautiful."

"You are insane. My sister is no witch. She is a normal girl who just has troubled sleep." Arthur refused to believe him. It can't be true... or could it?

"Don't be an asshole Arthur," Merlin threw him a very annoyed glance. "There is no reason she can't be both normal and magic. Magic isn't a sickness or a disease. It just is. It's a part of you. A beautiful wonderful, magnificent part of you. So I would appreciate it if you never say the word witch in the tone you would say the word freak, again."

"That's not what I meant Merlin. And you know it."

"Didn't you?" He glared.

"Yes. There is nothing wrong with magic. My sister just doesn't have it. She isn't like you." Arthur insisted.

"You can pretend to be blind to it if you wish. Your sister is marvelous, is all I am saying." Merlin said dismissively.

Refusing to think about this any further, Arthur immersed himself in completing his report once more.

The meeting was going as boring as they usually do. Each division head droned on and on about the new policies, and what were their effects. Some of them proposed new divisions and new products that would bring in more profit, and then there was a debate about the pros and cons of the idea. Some boasted about their successfully completed or their newly acquired contracts. In the end Geoffrey Monmouth, their financial adviser, started listing the expenditure and profits of the month of each division, and it went on for so long that Arthur thought he might doze off.

"Wow, so this is what being a CEO is like?" A voice said directly in Arthur's ear, startling him so much that he almost jumped out of his chair. He turned and glared at the entirely remorseless green devil he had had the misfortune of acquainting himself with.

"Arthur? Everything alright?" Uther's voice made him snap his head away from Merlin's twinkling eyes, and to his father's cold and annoyed ones.

"Yes. Sorry Father." Arthur shifted in his seat like a school boy chastisized by the teacher for not paying attention.

Uther glared at him for another minute, and then without looking away, said, "Continue Geoffrey."

"Damn. That's your father. No wonder you are always so constipated. He is scary." Merlin was speaking at his side, and his lips involuntarily twitched. He refused to look in Merlin's direction though, because he was sure he would burst into very unmanly giggles if he did so.

Geoffrey continued his monotonous reading of the reports, and Merlin commented,

"We should record him talking. And then sell the recording to pharmaceutical companies. Better than any sleeping pill... any day."

Arthur couldn't help the chuckle that left his mouth at the words, and he hastily tried to cover it with a fake cough. Uther threw him an angry glance.

After the meeting was over, Uther told Arthur to stay back, as he shook hands with everyone and thanked them.

Full of trepidation, he waited, knowing no good was going to come off of it.

"Arthur. Sit down." His father finally turned to him when the room was empty. Merlin floated at his side for moral support and he felt ridiculously grateful for it.

"The way you behaved today was unacceptable Arthur." Uther didn't waste time on pleasantries.

"Sorry Father." Was all he could say.

"Sorry is not enough. I want to know what the hell got into you."

"I... didn't sleep well yesterday." Arthur could hardly tell him he had bought a magical lamp, which had a genie in it, and was distracting him during the meeting.

"I understand. But such behavior cannot go on in the office. You have hardly been getting any rest these days. I want you to finish your work today, and then take the rest of the week off."

What! No! It was just Wednesday. That would mean he would be stuck at home for four days! Alone.

"But..."

"No buts. Consider it boss's order." Uther said sternly.

"Take it you Prat! Who the hell says no to holidays." Merlin said at his side, which made Arthur realize that his four days won't be alone. No! It was worse. Four days, of being stuck at home, with Merlin.

There was nothing he could do though, so he just nodded. Uther got up from his seat, and put a hand on his shoulder, in a rare gesture of fatherly affection.

"Take care son. You work too hard." Arthur gaped after Uther's retreating back, in shock.

"I take it back," Merlin said next to him, "he isn't so bad."

"Come on Arthur. Its 5:00pm. Everyone is leaving. Can't we leave too? I am bored." Merlin whined from where he was lounging on the sofa.

"You have been stuck inside one shop, for the last decade or more, and you are bored now?"Arthur asked, while typing furiously, leaving instructions for whoever would be handling his projects for the next 4 days. It's not like he didn't trust them... it was just that he didn't trust anyone as much as he trusted himself. He was afraid he would come back after his forced leave and find the company bankrupt.

"That was then. This is now. And being stuck in an office watching you type is worse than looking at telly, and listening to the Witch. Trust me. This is as boring as it gets. Deathly boring." Merlin moaned dramatically.

"I have a new idea for a wish."

"Yes... What is it?" Merlin seemed interested despite himself. He really must be desperate to do magic.

"I want you to not speak until explicitly spoken to."

"Never gonna happen." Merlin retorted, collapsing back on the sofa with a dull thud.

"A man can try." Arthur said, grinning. It was fun, irritating Merlin, "Although I didn't expect anything better from you, considering you are the worst warlock to have ever existed."

"At least you called me a Warlock this time."

"I can be generous sometimes." Arthur said, as he closed the lid of his laptop, and started packing his briefcase, putting the lamp lying on his table in it, and inadvertently violently jerking Merlin from where he was lying.

"A little warning would've been nice." Merlin complained.

"I didn't know you would be so physically connected to the lamp."Arthur refused to apologize for something that he had no idea about.

"Oh and the real physical smoke coming out of the lamp and connecting to my torso gave you no idea whatsoever, dimwit?"

"You want to leave, or not?"

"Yes."

"Say thank you then..."

"Thank you Sire."

"Much better CabbageHead."

Arthur left the office smiling, with Merlin saying "You really need to work on your insults," as he trailed behind him. All in all, the day could have gone worse.

A/N: I shamelessly accept that I based Arthur's office to look like Harvey specter's does in Suits. It seemed fitting.