Merlin woke up, pain searing his stomach. Something else was wrong, too. There was curves in his body and to very large lumps on his chest, that felt floppy. What the hell? Someone was holding his hand. He felt hot. What the hell had happened?

Memories slowly flooded back to him. Waking up as a woman, going on the hunt, taking a sword for Arthur. Arthur…..that prat, was he okay? Merlin forced his eyes open, to find everything a blur. Someone was speaking. He couldn't tell who, but it was giving him a headache. Someone was stroking his hair. Would they just leave him alone?

"Hey," he breathed out.

"Merlin!" said a voice. "You're awake. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"What-"

"You took a sword for princess."

"Gwaine?"

It was Gwaine, along with the rest of the Knights of the Round Table. Gwen and Gaius were there too. Arthur was sleeping, as Gaius had urged him to after spending so much time with unconscious Merlin. This was, apparently, the first time Arthur had left Merlin's side.

"How am I alive?"

There was a pregnant pause before Gaius answered. He said Merlin's magic must have interfered. Merlin was calm hearing this news, then started to hyperventilate. He had told Arthur he had magic…the knights and Gwen knew, by Gauis probably telling them….shit, shit, shit, shit, no one's supposed to know! What would happen? Execution? Banishment? Being shunned?

"Merlin! Calm yourself. It's alright," said Gauis soothingly. Merlin tried to stop hyperventilating, but her (his?) breath came out shaky.

"It's okay, really, we've suspected," said Gwen, gripping her (his?) hand.

"Yeah, those falling tree branches make a lot more sense, now," said Elyan. Merlin was touched that Elyan, Percival, and Leon were here. They were friends, but he (she?) was always closer to Gwaine and Lancelot.

Merlin laughed slightly, until the pain in her stomach prevented her. Gauis quickly presented her with a bottle of foul tasting liquid that burned her throat. A pain-killer. Merlin was grateful, but she (he?) felt extremely drowsy now. Typical, Gauis; a sleeping draught. Why did the physician insist that patients that were just unconscious go back to sleep? Before Merlin could make a mental note to ask that later, sleep took her (him?).

"Will she be okay?" asked Gwen.

"In time. Merlin's magic is very powerful and probably doing more than what I'm doing," said Gauis. "Now we better let her sleep. All of you out."

"But Gauis-" pouted Gwaine.

"No. Merlin will be fine when she wakes again."

"Again?" asked a voice. The king of Camelot walked in Merlin's tiny bedroom.

"Yes, Merlin-"

"You were supposed to tell me if she woke up!" Arthur cried indignantly. He looked terrible; huge dark circles under his eyes, hair askew, eyes wild, and a short start of a beard forming. He had stayed by Merlin's side for at least two and a half weeks. Finally, with pestering from not only Gaius, but the knights and Gwen, he took a short nap, no longer than he needed (half an hour).

"Sire, you needed-" started the old man.

"No, Merlin woke up and I wasn't here. She probably hates me," said Arthur, taking his usual seat next to Merlin's head and grasping her hand. "Alright, maybe I was being melodramatic when I said 'hate,' but she probably was….." Arthur was at a loss for words, realizing she probably wasn't even annoyed.

"She was fine," Gauis assured him. "Now all of you out!"

Gwen and the knights left, Gauis giving them the 'if-you-don't-do-what-I-say-something-bad-will-happen' eyebrow of doom. He turned to Arthur, who did not submit, but instead found Merlin's new long hair fun to run his finger through. Gaius sighed as he walked out. When would that boy learn that he loved Merlin?

Back in Merlin's room, Arthur kept vigil. He had wanted to be the first face Merlin saw when she woke up, but unfortunately Arthur presumed Gwaine was. What was it about that knight that attracted Merlin to him? He was pretty sure they were just friends, but Arthur knew Gwaine wanted more.

Gwaine. Why did he have to be so attractive? Funny? Nice? Brave? Kind? Everything Merlin deserved? The man Arthur was jealous of. The king would never admit it, but he was slowly falling for his manservant turned maidservant.

"Ar..thur," Merlin breathed out. His eyes flashed to her face. She was still sleeping. "Arthur," she said again, this time with a small smile on her face.

Is she really dreaming about me? Arthur wondered.

"Gwai..ne," she breathed, then giggled in her slumber.

Arthur felt crushed. Even when she slept, Merlin like Gwaine more; he had made her laugh.

"Oh, Merlin," he whispered, stroking her raven hair.

Her face broke out in the typical Merlin grin, as if she knew he was there.

Soooo? You like? Arthur's so head over heels for Merlin. And thank you to Loves-the-Supernatural, Don-V, Luka-Knight, Saellyra-of-Mirkwood, and WibblyWobblyGirl for reviewing. And Don-V, how did you know that will happen? Are you psychic? Hope you enjoyed! :D