See No Arthur, Hear No Arthur...

Summary: Arthur is cursed and becomes invisible to the whole of Camelot – no one can hear or see him, except, of course, for Merlin.

Timeline: Set in season 2

Spoilers: Up to and including season 2

A/N: Thank you hugely for reading and for the great response! Hope everyone has enjoyed their holidays ^_^ One more chapter left after this one, so I hope you enjoy! Thanks again for reading!

Chapter 4

Merlin sat across the table from Gaius, back in the old physician's chambers. He toyed with the plateful of food before him, pushing at it, prodding at it, and generally just sloshing it about. After awhile, he finally gave up and placed his spoon on the side of the plate, pushing both away.

"What is it, Merlin?" Gaius questioned, leaving go of a light sigh.

Merlin looked up to meet the physician's eyes. "It's Morgana. She heard Arthur earlier."

Gaius nodded and Merlin could see that the old man understood exactly what Merlin had meant without him needing to elaborate. "But she couldn't see him?"

Though it was posed as a question, Merlin knew Gaius had already figured the answer out. He shook his head all the same. "Why is it I'm the only one who can see him?"

"You're magic, Merlin," Gaius answered, as if it were obvious.

"But Morgana has magic too."

"Hers is much younger than yours. She has yet to grow into it like you have yours." Gaius placed his own spoon down, his eyes taking on a sheen of seriousness. "But be warned, Merlin, this is powerful magic and we have yet to discover the lasting effects of the spell. I fear that if we do not uncover what is causing it soon, then the magic will only grow stronger until even you may not be able to see Arthur."

Merlin nodded, swallowing thickly. "And the medallion?"

"I'm afraid it is nothing but a simple piece of jewellery."

"I was afraid you'd say that." Head lowering, Merlin closed his eyes briefly. "I don't know what to do, Gaius. How am I supposed to help Arthur when I don't know what's causing this?"

"I have every confidence in you, Merlin. You will find the answer." A soft and encouraging smile spread across Gaius' face. "Though hopefully, sooner rather than later as it is not only the spell we have to worry about but Uther as well. He had wished to show Arthur off to Lord Kenward and his son."

At Gaius' words, Merlin narrowed his eyes and he met the old physician's gaze. "Gaius, what do you know about Kenward's son, Alaric?"

Gaius shook his head, his own eyes narrowing in thought. "Not much I'm afraid. Only that he is said to take more after his mother than his father."

"Could he have magic?"

"It is possible, though I doubt it would be strong enough for a spell such as this. Unless..." Gaius paused, words trailing away as he pushed up from his seat and moved off toward a pile of books. He began to rifle through them, shaking his head at each one he picked up.

"Unless what, Gaius?" Merlin asked, turning to watch him, a frown settling on his lips.

"Unless," Gaius continued, drawing the word out. He picked up another book, old and worn, took one look at the spine and patted the front as if deciding that was the one. Returning to the table, he flipped through the pages and placed the book before Merlin. "Unless he has something belonging to Arthur, though for a spell of this strength, it would have to be something extremely personal."

Merlin looked down at the page, his eyes moving over the words and images scrawled across the paper. He nodded, remembering what he had been told about the feast from others and Arthur. "Like a lock of hair?" he questioned, thinking of how easy it could have been for Alaric to take a piece of Arthur's hair when his sleeve had become tangled with the prat's crown.

"Exactly," Gaius confirmed, his finger coming to rest upon the bottom half of the left page. "In theory and with the right ingredients, Alaric could have made a charm that would curse Arthur in such a way."

Merlin pushed up from his seat, no hesitation in his movements as he headed off toward the door. "I have to tell Arthur."

"Arthur," a hushed voice called out, waking Arthur from his light slumber. He turned over and opened his eyes to stare out into his darkened room. He could see nothing.

The voice called out again, closer this time and if he was right, from the bottom of his bed. He moved swiftly and without needing to think, reaching for his sword. Up and out of bed, his bare feet taking in the cold of his stone floor, his eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and took in the figure standing at the end of his bed, arms raised in defence and gaze eyeing up the tip of the blade pointed at his neck.

"For Heaven's sake, Merlin," Arthur complained, lowering his blade, "I could have killed you!"

Merlin dusted himself down, that cocky grin of his splitting across his features and lighting up his eyes. "Oh, I doubt that."

Instead of gracing such a reply with one of its own, for it was nonsense to begin with, Arthur shook his head and returned his sword to its sheath. "What are you doing, Merlin? It's the middle of the night."

"Alaric," was the reply, bright and cheery and how could his servant manage such a sunny disposition when it was still dark out?

"Bless you," Arthur said in return, taking a seat upon his bed to stare at his manservant. His head was still fuzzy from sleep and part of him wondered if this was all part of some really strange and frustrating dream, though if Merlin was involved, perhaps it was a nightmare.

"I really didn't realise your memory was that bad," Merlin offered up, tone teasing and annoying in that it showed he was clearly more awake than Arthur was. "Perhaps I should have Gaius make you a tonic."

"What are you blathering on about, Merlin?"

"Lord Kenward's son, Alaric. Ring any bells?"

Arthur let go of a lengthy breath and raised both eyebrows, watching Merlin. "What about him?"

"I think it's him that's doing... this." And on 'this', Merlin motioned to Arthur with both hands.

"A bit like you thought it was the medallion's fault?" Arthur questioned, doubtful. He lay on his side, head on his pillow, and rolled over onto his back, his hand already reaching for his sheets once more. "If that's all, Merlin, you are dismissed."

"What are you doing?" Merlin asked, his voice rising just ever so slightly in outrage and Arthur could just picture the look on his manservant's face, but as he was intent on going back to sleep, he didn't care to actually look.

"I would have thought that were obvious. I am going back to sleep."

Merlin scoffed and suddenly the sheets were no longer in reach. "Oh no you're not."

Arthur opened his eyes and looked to Merlin, taking in the bundle of sheets now in his servant's arms. "Give me back my sheets, Merlin," he drawled out slowly in warning.

"Or what?"

Arthur pushed himself up a little once more, boredom settling in his eyes as frustration settled on his lips. "Need I remind you that I am the master here, Merlin, and you are my servant. Now, I know this might be a lot to take into that tiny little brain of yours, but I'm the one who gives the orders and you... you follow them."

Merlin shrugged, flippant, his eyes roaming the room. "Well then, I suppose that means you just want to stay invisible forever then..."

"Merlin," Arthur drew out, but Merlin continued on.

"I mean, it's not like you're the Prince of Camelot or anything and besides, who would notice you were even gone? Except everyone in the whole wide kingdom! And who's going to get the blame? Me. Merlin. They'll think I offed you or something, poisoned you in your sleep then dumped your body out in the middle of the forest one night."

"Oh believe me, Merlin, I doubt anyone would think you're competent enough for that."

"How would you know?" Merlin challenged, eyebrows raised, that stubbornness of his shining through in his eyes.

"Because, Merlin, you can't even manage a simple order like 'leave me alone'." Arthur shook his head and pushed up once more. "And now, now I'm too awake to fall back to sleep."

"Great!" Merlin called out, and Arthur really didn't like the triumph in his manservant's voice or eyes. "Then we'll go now."

"I don't understand why this couldn't wait until morning," Arthur moaned shortly after as the two began their walk through the halls toward Alaric's room.

"Two reasons – the first being that during the day, there are lots of people about and they already think I'm crazy talking to myself."

"And the second reason?"

Merlin frowned and looked to him, something like a secret settling behind his eyes. "Second reason?"

"You said there were two reasons."

"No I didn't." The answer was all too quick to not be a lie but Arthur didn't question it, instead just narrowing his eyes at his manservant as he tried to figure out just what he was hiding.

"So where is this Alaric's room?"

Merlin didn't answer. What he said instead had Arthur straightening up and looking straight ahead. "Gwen!"

Sure enough, Gwen was at the end of the corridor, yawning and looking far too overworked and yet her hair was still perfectly in place, flowers pinned in to match the yellow of her dress. Arthur couldn't help the smile that found its way onto his face or the widening of his eyes as he took her in. She turned to look to Merlin, a lazy and tired smile dancing across her lips.

"You're up late," Merlin continued, moving off down the corridor to greet her better.

"Yes, I'm afraid Lady Morgana wasn't feeling well. She couldn't sleep and I didn't like to leave her alone like that," Gwen answered, eyes never leaving Merlin.

Arthur grumbled, hating that now of all times he was invisible, hating that one of the few people who ever really saw the real him, couldn't so much as see his shadow or hear his voice. "We don't have time for this, Merlin," he moaned, even though he knew they most likely had plenty of time.

Merlin ignored him and Arthur pushed off down the corridor after him. It took him only a few strides to catch up with him and as soon as he did, because at that moment in time, Arthur really couldn't abide to be ignored, a tight smile formed across his lips and he whacked Merlin upside the head. "Merlin!"

Merlin shot him a brief glare, bringing his hand up to his head, but Arthur noticed something else in that glare. A devilish glint. A tiny promise for revenge that grew larger with each passing second.

"You wouldn't dare!"

But the small and mischievous smile on Merlin's lips told Arthur that he did. "You know," Merlin started, turning his attention to Gwen, that smile growing brighter still, "it's a good thing you don't have to attend to Arthur." Then he lowered his voice and leaned forward, as if offering up some secret. "He snores... and he talks in his sleep. And his boots... you do not ever want to be in the same room as him when he doesn't have his boots on."

"Merlin!" Arthur warned, before turning to Gwen and shaking his head, praying she would somehow hear him. "Don't listen to him! He's lying."

That smile of Gwen's still danced upon her lips, laughter lighting up her eyes as a blush spread across her cheeks. "Be nice, Merlin. You shouldn't say such things about him."

"You're too nice about him, Gwen," Merlin replied, voice cheery and bright still.

If anything, Gwen's blush seemed to deepen, her eyes falling to the ground momentarily. "That's because he is nice... I mean, he's nice as in he has his good qualities too. Like he's strong, and sweet and kind..."

Merlin scoffed and shook his head. "That's because he likes you. You get to see the nice Arthur. I get stuck with the prat."

"That's it!" Arthur forced out, gripping Merlin's collar and dragging him back the way they had come. "The stocks are too good for you, when this is over and I'm visible again, I'm going to have you hung."

"I gotta..." Merlin called out to Gwen and Arthur heard her laugh lightly in reply.

He imagined the confused look on her face but couldn't bring himself to turn around to see it for himself. Instead, he kept dragging Merlin backwards until they had turned down another corridor.

"What was that?" Arthur demanded, stalking forward, after his manservant as Merlin began leading the way once more.

"What was what?" Merlin asked in reply, tone far too innocent for Arthur's liking.

"Since when do I snore? Or talk in my sleep?"

"You have for as long as I've been your manservant."

"I have not!"

"How would you know? You're asleep."

"Merlin!" Arthur started, the name a warning between gritted teeth.

But Merlin stopped in his tracks and turned toward the door to his left. "This is it."

Conversation forgotten, the pair made their way into the room, their footsteps quiet, only the creaking of the door announcing their arrival. Not that it mattered all too much, given that the room was as empty as the bed against the far wall. There was no sign of Alaric but given the array of dirty clothing scattered about the floor, it was the right room. Merlin moved further into the room, immediately heading toward the chest at the foot of the bed.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur questioned, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms over his chest.

"If Alaric is doing this, there should be a charm somewhere..." Merlin explained, distracted as he raised the lid of the chest and began to rifle through it. But he stopped long enough to turn to look expectantly at Arthur. "You know, you could help. I doubt Alaric's gone far and it would probably be best if we weren't here when he gets back."

"No one can see me, remember, Merlin?" Arthur asked, but he moved into the room all the same and toward a small cabinet off to the side. "What exactly are we looking for?"

There was a pause, a hesitation, and then Merlin answered. "I don't know exactly."

"I swear, Merlin, you really are completely useless!"

The reply he got to that wasn't what he expected. It wasn't even Merlin's voice. It had him turning to face the doorway and the young man that stood there. Lord Kenward's son. And to Arthur, he really didn't look like he was capable of much, let alone performing a spell to make him unseen.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, eyes locked on Merlin.

Merlin stood and dusted himself down, head immediately lowering, his eyes moving between the floor and Arthur. "I was sent to check that all is right."

Suspicion lingered in Alaric's eyes but he said no more. He simply moved further into the room, looking Merlin up and down before taking a seat on his bed to pull his boots off. "Prince Arthur's manservant, right?"

Merlin nodded.

"And how is the prince?" He spat the word 'prince' out as if it were poison on his tongue and Arthur understand now what Merlin had meant before. There was something about Alaric.

"He's still out hunting," Merlin answered, shooting another glance toward Arthur before looking to Alaric and then the door. He was already moving toward the door as the next words slipped from his lips. "If you don't require anything, I best be going..."

Alaric didn't give him the chance. He pushed up from the bed and watched him. "What do you think of Prince Arthur?" he asked.

Merlin didn't answer.

"Come now, you may speak freely here."

Arthur smirked, tilting his head to watch Merlin. "Yes, Merlin, please, enlighten us. What do you think of me?"

Teasing lit up Merlin's eyes as they met Alaric's, a smile playing on his lips. "He's a royal prat," he answered with a nod of his head, before continuing on in a much more sombre tone, "but he's a good man and will one day be a great king."

Alaric laughed, harsh and bitter. "Yes, I've heard all of the Arthur the Great, Arthur the Mighty before from my father, though I somehow doubt someone so arrogant could truly be all that."

Arthur opened his mouth to argue but before anything could spill out onto deaf ears, Merlin's words filled the empty space.

"He may seem arrogant and vain, not to mention pompous and supercilious... but, he has a good heart. He thinks only of Camelot and its people."

Alaric snorted and turned away, waving a dismissive hand in Merlin's direction. "You may go, manservant of Prince Arthur."

Merlin didn't hesitate. He took his leave quickly but Arthur remained where he was. He gaze remained on Alaric, following the younger man in his movements. He moved to the chest at the foot of his bed and dug a hand down into near corner. When he pulled it back out, he held a vial in his hand and Arthur didn't need to know how magic worked to know that was what Merlin had mentioned. That was the charm. The way Alaric studied it and smiled at it was enough to tell Arthur.

With Alaric distracted, Arthur moved back toward the door and slipped out silently, back out into the halls. It took him mere moments to find Merlin lurking down one of the corridors, studying a stone statue as he seemingly waited.

"Merlin!" Arthur called out to him, voice as hushed as he could make it.

Merlin didn't respond and Arthur growled and moved closer until he was right behind his manservant.

"Merlin," he said once more, but still his manservant didn't respond. "I swear, Merlin, if you're ignoring me again, I will have your head."

Still the reply was nothing, and it stayed that way, Arthur's heart picking up speed, until finally he gave in and smacked Merlin upside the head. Merlin's hand immediately flew up to his head and he spun on the spot to glare at Arthur.

"Oooow!" he complained, "what was that for?"

Before Arthur could answer though, something seemed to light up behind his eyes and they immediately dropped to the ground. "Ah..."

"Ah?" Arthur questioned, frustration lining his tone, along with what he refused to call fear. "What do you mean, 'ah'?"

"Mmm, nothing..." Merlin's lips thinned and he shook his head, turning to head off.

Arthur gripped his arm and forced him back around before he could get far. "Merlin," he drew out, a warning, a plea...

"Gaius..." Merlin started, reluctantly meeting Arthur's eyes and relenting, "he warned that the spell might get stronger the longer in its place."

Arthur tilted his head to the side. "Which means?"

It took Merlin a moment to answer, but he did answer, words almost fearful as he said them. "If we don't break the spell soon... you'll be completely invisible to everyone."

"Nonsense," Arthur answered, though even he recognised the denial in his tone, even he understood that Merlin didn't mean 'everyone', "you can still see me."

"For now..."

Thanks for reading!