A/N: I'm really sorry this took me so long to finish. I know I told a couple people it would be done by last Saturday, and here we are, six days later. I changed the rating to T for this chapter just to be safe. This was really fun to write! I edit my work myself so any mistakes are my own. Also it's 2:00 am and I might have rushed it a bit at the end.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Merlin
For the second time in a few short days Harry awoke far from his bed. He opened his eyes to find himself in a dimly lit room. For a second he thought he was back in Hogwarts. The room looked like a cross between the library and the potions classroom. Bookshelves on every wall featured a vast collection of books. A few tables and shelves were covered in potions of every shape and color. He groaned and sat up, convinced he had fallen asleep in potions and that Snape was about to inspect his empty cauldron. As he sat he was not met with an angry Snape, but with a terrible twinge from his arm.
Then it all came rushing back to him in a flood of images. Dumbledore, where was Dumbledore? He jumped up from the small bed he had been laying on. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he searched frantically for a door. He spotted one on the opposite wall. He stumbled up a small flight of stairs and flung open the door. Light spilled into the otherwise completely dark room.
"Gaius? Crap. That prat is going to kill me." muttered a sleepy voice from inside the room.
Harry heard sheets rustling and in an instant a thin young man stood in front of Harry. He was perhaps a few years older than Harry and he wore a blue tunic with a red neck scarf. He had black hair and bright blue eyes. His eyes widened when he saw Harry.
"Oh, you're that bloke who was attacked by the bird. Harry, was it?"
Harry was getting frustrated. He didn't have time for this bumbling idiot. "Where's Dumbledore?"
The man's expression immediately darkened. "I'm so sorry, mate." he said sadly.
"WHERE'S DUMBLEDORE?" Harry shouted.
"He used magic to save you." the boy said, not looking at Harry, "Magic is outlawed in Camelot. It's punishable by death."
Harry stared at the man, not quite sure he'd heard correctly. There was no way Dumbledore was dead. He had just lost Sirius. "DUMBLEDORE IS NOT DEAD!" Harry screamed.
The man quickly looked up at Harry. "No, not yet. He's in the dungeons. His execution is set for the day after tomorrow."
Harry felt sick with worry. He had to save Dumbledore. Now. Harry turned and ran blindly toward the other end of the room. He threw open the door and sprinted down a hallway. He was running so fast that he did not see the old man emerge from around a corner until it was too late. He fell on top of the man with a string of curses and flailing limbs.
The old man untangled himself from Harry and looked at him sharply. "Shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
Harry looked down at his arm and noticed for the first time that it had been bandaged. A fresh trickle of blood ran down Harry's arm from the wound.
"That was a very serious wound. You lost a lot of blood. You need to build your strength back up."
"I don't have time." Harry said, irritated, "I need to rescue Dumbledore."
"How do you plan on doing that? You wouldn't last two seconds against the guards, especially in your current condition."
Harry didn't want to admit it, but the man was right. He needed to make a plan.
"Come back inside." it was an order, not a request.
Harry let the man lead him back through the door and into the small room.
"Merlin!" the man said upon seeing the young man still standing in the doorway, "You're late for Arthur!"
Harry looked at them, confused. Had he just called him Merlin? And who was Arthur?
The young man looked startled and sprung into action, grabbing a shabby brown jacket before heading out the door.
"Merlin, wait! You should bring Harry with you. I don't want either of you to cause any trouble."
The young man walked back inside and swiftly grabbed Harry's wrist and pulled him outside. They walked through the long stone hallways at a quick pace.
"Sorry about Gaius, I know he can be a bit sharp sometimes. He's really nice once you get to know him."
"Is your name really Merlin?" Harry asked, feeling a bit thick.
"Yes." Merlin said, frowning slightly.
"The Merlin?"
"I don't think it's a very common name." Merlin said, his frown deepening, "In fact, I've never heard of another Merlin. Is their someone famous named Merlin?"
"Yeah, something like that." Harry mumbled. Their was no way that this man was the famous warlock from countless legends. That Merlin was old, graceful, and very powerful, rather like Dumbledore. This Merlin seemed clumsy and distracted. Harry put it out of his mind as they reached a large oak door. Merlin barged through the door without knocking.
"MERLIN!" a voice roared. They had entered a very large, extravagant room fit for royalty. A man maybe a little older than Merlin stood next to a large bed with a red comforter. He had straw-blond hair and blue eyes. His muscles were toned and he was clearly an athlete of some kind. He was blushing and somehow it didn't suit him. Upon seeing him it was immediately clear why he looked embarrassed. He appeared to be completely naked except for a shirt that was backwards and only halfway on. He was covering his... area with a hastily snatched piece of armor. He looked completely ridiculous. Merlin immediately doubled over laughing and Harry couldn't help but crack a smile. The man's blush intensified when he saw Harry.
"Merlin, how many times do I have to remind you to knock? Especially when you bring a visitor."
Gradually Merlin's laughter subsided but a large goofy grin stayed plastered on his face. "Harry, may I present Arthur, prince of Camelot. A complete prat who can't even get dressed in the morning without his servant."
Harry stood gaping at the man in front of him. Surely he couldn't be the famous Prince Arthur, soon to be the greatest king Camelot would ever see? This man looked like an idiot. However, Harry suspected that this was mostly due to an unfortunate first impression.
"That is not amusing, Merlin. May I remind you that you were late this morning. Do you want me to throw you in the stocks again? I want you to help me get dressed, clean my room, polish my armor, sharpen my sword, and muck out the stables." Arthur turned to Harry and said, "It's nice to meet you, Harry." He extended his hand to Harry and promptly dropped the piece of armor.
Harry quickly left the room when Merlin suggested waiting for him at the stables, finding his way with the help of a few friendly villagers. When Merlin arrived Harry spent the rest of the day listening to his meaningless chatter and contemplating the day's discoveries. Desperately trying to form a plan to save Dumbledore.