Chapter Two

Arthur felt himself sink into a chair and look up at Gaius and Merlin. He felt torn between confusion and doubt.

"Alright," he said, trying to sound calm, "You don't….know me." There was a hint of a question in his voice.

"Here," said Gaius, reaching over for a bottle and pouring a small concoction into a cup and handing it to Arthur, "Why don't you drink this? Maybe it will clear your brain a little."

"My brain's not the one that needs clearing," Arthur said a little dryly, but he took and gulped it down. Instantly he regretted it. "Erg, that's foul. What is that?"

"Just a small mixture that should help hangovers and negative effects of drinking."

"I'm not drunk," snapped Arthur, "It's you all I'm worried about. If this is real…and I have to believe it is because surely you Gaius wouldn't do this…would you?"

"If I knew you who you were young man," said Gaius very seriously, "I promise you, I would tell you right now." Gaius felt a tug on his sleeve and saw Merlin gesturing to the side. "Excuse me," he said to Arthur, who had buried his face in his hands. He stepped away with Merlin into a corner of the room and looked questioningly.

"Are we sure he's safe?" asked Merlin. "I mean the man must be mad. Before you came in he was threatening to throw me in the dungeons. He doesn't seem stable."

"Well," said Gaius confidently, "If he really is crazy, and dangerously unstable, I have confidence you could handle anything he were to try. And he seems so confused. We have to help him. It could be as simple as a misunderstanding."

"I don't see how this could be a misunder-"

Merlin was interrupted by Arthur, who was standing to his feet.

"Alright!" Arthur clapped his hands together. "I'm going to assuming that you are both deadly serious. You really don't know me. One man, I might, *might* be able to attribute to natural causes, both two men is too much. Something is going on and we need to find out what. I need-, no,* you* both need help. You don't remember me now, what if this gets worse and you forget other things. Perhaps you already have…maybe this is some sort of illness and you'll forget everything…"

Merlin snorted.

"I'm afraid," said Gaius, "In all my years I've never heard of a disease that would explain what you are describing. While there are illnesses that affect the mind…"

"Maybe that's what he's got," suggested Merlin.

"Look, Merlin," snapped Arthur, "I'm making allowances because at the moment you don't remember any better but I swear, if you keep this up, I'm throwing you in the stocks whether you remember my or not!'

"Really? And why on earth do you think you have that power?"

"Because I'm the Prince you dolt!"

There was a very long silence.

"Perhaps you should sit back down," said Gaius gently.

"No I will not sit back down! I am Arthur Pendragon! Uther's son and the heir to the throne!"

"Are you trying to say," said Gaius gently, coming forward and laying a kindly hand on Arthur's shoulder. "That you think you are Uther's…child?"

"Yes!"

"I see….and who do you believe is your mother?"

Arthur sighed in exasperation. "My mother was the Lady Ygraine, who else?"

Gaius shook his head. "Look here my dear boy, Ygraine never had any living children. She died in childbirth along with the baby."

It was at this point that the last vestige of hope that Gaius might just be pulling his leg evaporated in Arthur. Gaius would never use his mother's death like that.

Arthur took a deep breath. They could figure out what was going on later, now he just needed to get them to believe him.

"Alright, look let me prove to you what I am saying, come up to the castle with me. I'll show you my bedroom. We'll talk to my Father and Morgana and they'll back up my story. "

Gaius looked doubtful. "I doubt we should bring this up with the King, it would only distress him."

"We're talking to my father! You're his oldest friend! He'll be concerned and his word you might actually take on this. Now come on! Both of you," he snapped at Merlin, who he noticed trying to sneak towards his bedroom door.

He headed for the exit only glancing behind his shoulder once to make sure they were both following. Gaius looked troubled but was moving.

Merlin stood stock still for a moment but as he saw Gaius follow he sighed and hurried to catch up. If this man was crazy, he couldn't very well leave Gaius alone with him.

The three hurried across the courtyard, up the front steps and into the castle, up more stairs through a hallway and in a few minutes Arthur was bursting into a bedroom and looking expectant as he turned on Merlin and Gaius and gestured triumphantly.

"There!" he announced. "This room is full of my things! There's my sword lying on the table, the closet is full of my clothes and my spares boots are right here next to the door where Merlin forgot to put them away."

Gaius looked around the bedroom and frowned. It was odd. He moved towards the closet and opened. There were indeed clothes in there and they did look expensively made. But, he reminded himself, that did not make them this man's. He frowned and shook his head.

"Whosever this room is-" he began.

"It's mine!"

"I could say it was mine," pointed out Merlin. "That wouldn't prove anything."

"Look Merlin," said Arthur rubbing his forehead. "I've met your mother! Her name is Hunith. I met your friend William. I went to your village and we saved it from an overlord!"

Merlin frowned. "My village was threatened. I went back." He stopped abruptly and shifted his weight. He couldn't really continue to explain to this man that he'd fought off Kanen and his men with magic.

Of course, how did this man know his mother's name? He had mostly been concerned that this a was lunatic who might lose control. Now he was more worried he was something far more sinister.

Arthur let out a grunt of exasperation. "Fine. We'll go to my father next, maybe you'll actually believe him!"

He whirled around and made for the door.

Gaius hurried to catch up as Arthur practically jogged down the hallway.

"I really don't think we should bother the king with this," he said, trying to sound soothing. "Whatever is going on-"

"Not bother him? His chief physician has gone mad, he needs to know about this! You will believe *him* won't you?" asked Arthur, glancing towards him quickly. "If he identifies me as his son, you will believe him?"

"Yes," said Gaius hesitantly.

"Good, then come on." Arthur sped up and moved towards the throne room. The large oak doors were opened and he swept passed them and entered the room.

Several people were already there. A handful knights and a courtier or servant here or there. Uther was seated on his throne with Morgana at one hand talking to him. She was laughing, Uther was smiling. The looked relaxed. Even with the troubling events, Arthur couldn't help but take a moment to feel relieved. There had been something off between the two of them for some time now. Ever since Gwen's father's death, things…things had not been the same. It was good to see them getting along.

"Your Majesty," said Arthur, stepping closer to the throne. He noticed the guards seemed to become a little more alert as he moved forward. "There's something wrong."

"Indeed?" asked Uther. He looked startled but gestured to Morgana to step away. "How may I help you?"

"It's Gaius. Gaius and Merlin they don't seem…" Arthur shifted, a little embarrassed. He wasn't quite sure how to say this. "…to be able to remember me."

Uther raised an eyebrow towards Gaius.

"This isn't a joke, as absurd as it sounds. This is real! Something is very wrong with both of them. You have to tell them who I am!"

"And who exactly are you?" asked Uther. Arthur groaned.