Zico: Wow I thought this was going to be a one shot, apparently not since I got a good idea for where this story will be going. Woot!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, 'cept for Viviane.
oOo
It happened in the dead of night. Most inhabitants of Camelot were sleeping peacefully, one being the crown Prince Arthur. The small figure flitted across the room from the window, highly decorative, butterfly like wings carrying it through the air. The faerie giggled quietly, tossing her black and purple hair over her shoulder as she hovered over the prince's bed. Her dark eyes glinted maliciously in the moon light and her lips moved into a smirk.
"To think it would be this easy" The faerie giggled again as she moved lower over the prince. She rose on hand out over his forehead, slowly moving her tiny hand downwards over his eyes. "Swebban" She whispered, waiting for a moment for the curse to set in. Satisfied she flew up higher making her way to the window in which she entered, she flicked her hand towards it and it opened for her. She cast one look back at the sleeping Prince before exiting through the window which clanked shut noisily after her. Despite the sound, Arthur did not wake.
oOo
It was unusual, Merlin thought, that Arthur was not awake before he was. In fact it was downright impossible. He entered Arthur's room uninvited as usual. Merlin was surprised to find the prince still fast asleep in bed when he was normally up with the larks. Merlin grinned as he left the room, returning a few minuets later with a bucket of water. He tip toed over to the bed, not wanting to be caught before his prank could be put into action. He took a deep breath, not bothering to hide his smirk as he poured the icy water over Arthur's head and jumped backwards, waiting for the angry Prince to suddenly up and scream at him.
Nothing, Merlin blinked at the anti-climax. The Prince hadn't even shifted in his sleep. Now mildly concerned Merlin approached the bed, Arthur was breathing that was a good sign. He yelled Arthur's name several times, very close the Prince's ear, still nothing. He gulped and turned to leave the room, Gaius should know what was wrong with him.
oOo
Uther paced back and forth. Merlin glanced nervously between both the pacing Uther and Gaius, who was busy checking Arthur and administering various drafts to try and wake him up. "Isn't there something you can do?" Uther's desperate tone made both Merlin and Gaius look up. Gaius shook his head solemnly.
"I am afraid not sire" He replied carefully. "What I can suggest is, is that we wait. I have tried every concoction I can think off"
Both Gaius and Merlin winced as the King stormed out, obviously not satisfied with this. Merlin moved closer to Gaius, his voice low despite there not being anyone else except for the comatose Arthur in the room.
"You think it might be magic?" Merlin whispered in a worried tone. Gaius nodded slowly.
"Nothing else could make someone sleep so deeply" He explained as he looked over his shoulder to Arthur. "I will keep trying to wake him, but you need to find out what ever else you can". Merlin nodded grimly and turned to leave the room.
oOo
Asking that oversized lizard was out of the question. Merlin thought bitterly as he trudged though the tall grass. It would never speak to him after their little fight. He could hear it hissing before he slept, whispering his name in contempt. Luckily he had a plan B, sort of. He walked quickly through the grass towards the lake again, standing at the bank, "Viviane!" He called out over the wind, "Where are you?!"
The water fae's head popped up from the shallow depths of the lake. She squealed. "Emrys, you came to visit me!" She cried happily. Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Please Viviane, I need your help" He explained, the girl was suddenly all ears.
"Ah of course, tell me how I can be of service" She replied, nodding.
Merlin was thankful that the girl could be serious when it mattered and went on to explain the dilemma. Viviane listened intently, her pointy ears twitching every so often as she nodded her head in interest.
"Sounds like a curse to me" Viviane replied. Merlin paled a little, he knew it.
"How can I break it" He asked quickly. Viviane tilted her head.
"I can't tell you that, not unless I knew what the curse was, you wouldn't happen to know then would you?" Merlin shook his head sadly. Viviane sighed. "Hey don't worry I can tell you what curse it is, I just got to be near the unlucky soul to do it" She chimed, oblivious to Merlin's shocked expression.
"And how do you suppose I get you into Camelot? You'd be killed on the spot the second you walked in" He pointed out.
Viviane giggled, "yeah, and I can't really leave a body of water for very long either" She sighed and perked up, struck by an idea.
"Emrys, go get me a bucket…. Please?"
Merlin raised an eyebrow but did as asked, not minding the long trip back to Camelot to get the bucket and then back to the lake if it meant saving Arthur. He soon returned with a wooden bucket in hand. Viviane grinned with glee.
"Excellent, now here's what you do"
oOo
Merlin huffed as he placed the bucket of lake water down at one end of his small room. He sat down on his bed, kicking his shoes off, glad for the rest after walking back and forth between the castle and the lake. He turned to the bucket of water. "Right" he said to it, "Now what?"
Viviane's head popped up from the water, looking around from over the rim of the bucket. "This is your room Emrys?" She commented, "It's very nice and cozy". Merlin cleared his throat and Viviane snapped to attention.
"I said: 'now what'?" He repeated and Viviane offered an innocent grin.
"Oh you just got to take me to the Prince's room, I'll be able to identify what curse it is with my magic" She explained. Merlin sighed,
"Well we can't go now, Uther is bound to be with Arthur right now and we can't risk you being seen". Viviane nodded.
"So we wait here then?" She asked. Merlin nodded and watched as her head sunk below the murky water.
oOo
Zico: Dear god I cannot write Gaius AT ALL!! I need practice.