AN: This chapter has a bit of humor to it because I felt like it. It also felt really easy to put it where it is, so yeah. It's pretty awkward in the beginning, too, but I'm sure you suspected as much from the last chapter. Anyways, enjoy! :)

This was a problem.

He was..cuddling with the Prince of Camelot.

The Prince of Camelot had his tunic in a death grip, eyes shut tight.

The Prince of Camelot was resting his head in Merlin's neck and he was asleep.

The Prince of sodding Camelotwas waking up and Merlin could do absolutely nothing.

This will be a wonderful conversation, he thought as he let go of his waist. He lifted his head with a yawn. If anything could have happened, Arthur's eyes would have exploded and he would have deflated; the world would crumble all around and the floor would crack open and swallow Merlin whole. He would have a spitting contest with the devil if it meant he wouldn't have to live through this. "Merlin," he whispered. Honestly, the last thing he wanted to hear was his name being said by Arthur; his name being said by anyone, ever again, really. He flinched, trying to look away but unable to avert his eyes. "Merlin?!" He flinched again, but this time it was noticeable. Arthur's features softened, wondering why yelling at him had frightened him. He got up, taking a few steps back. Merlin scrambled to his feet, using the pole of Arthur's bed for support. "What?!" Merlin shrugged, glad to hear anything but his name.

"Arthur, it- 'n it's not what it- you were having a nightmare, I think, and you wouldn't wake up. I- I tried everything. I thought I'd... A- And then I fell asleep and- and now-"

"Merlin, calm down." He looked so ill, pale except for his rosy cheeks. Arthur felt his forehead and neck, worrying if he'd pass out or throw up first. "You're burning up; sit down." Merlin froze. Was he being...nice? After that?

"I don't think you well, either." Arthur sat next to him, watching Merlin get back to his senses. And Merlin was seeing stars, head feeling woozy and lungs heaving for breath. He'd had a rough night dealing with all of Arthur's outbursts of screams, but it shouldn't have made him so exhausted.

"I'll be fine, I'm sure it was just a nightmare." But you don't understand... "You need rest." What... "I'm going to clean up, and I'll expect you asleep when I return."

"Sleep in here?"

"Why not?" It was so tempting to take advantage of this..this new Arthur but something was definately not right. He thought for a long time, looking up when he came to a decision.

"I should, go see Gaius." He yelled to the bathroom, with no response he headed out anyway. Oh my god...

"Gaius, he was screaming for me. Like, high pitched, completely unlike Arthur screams! I know what is saw and heard and I'm really worried!" Gaius sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Why won't you listen to me?! Why does no one listen to me?!" His voice was breaking, and he was yelling just a bit too loudly. His face was lightly flushed with anger and his hands rested on his thin hips, lifeless just as the rest of him usually looked. Gaius didn't have an answer for him. He heard nothing and even at his old age, if his screams were as Merlin had described, then he would have heard. "Perhaps the storm muted it!" Merlin thought aloud, pacing a short rut into the floor. It was possible, but the storm wasn't that bad, and certainly couldn't have clouded his screams from everyone.

"Maybe it was a dream. You did come down here covered in sweat, babbling about some danger or something or other."

"But I was there, I was having a nightmare that's why I was sweating, but it was different and I was scared for him."

"I'm still saying it could be a dream because that doesn't change anything-"

"Yes, but I-"

"But what, Merlin?" He asked calmly. He couldn't say anything about it, he couldn't. Not even to Gaius.

He gulped air and, looking at the floor with a blush creeping up his neck, grumbled, "I woke up the same way I fell asleep. And, and he wasn't acting like himself, he was being nice!"

"A man can't be nice?"

'Not Arthur, well, not to me. He would've thrown me out the window but no, he offered me to sleep on his bed because he said I looked tired!"

"Well, still, what does that prove? Maybe he was just in a good mood!"

"After last ngiht?! No, no, no. He would've been shaking and crying had he remembered anything. It proves that it wasn't a dream, that he was screaming not for me, but for dear life!" He was shaking, eyes darting around the room. Maybe I've gone mad, he thought. I've finally gone mad.

"Merlin, calm down. Come sit, sit." He took his arms and sat him on the bench in front of the table full of equipment and books and papers scattered and torn and frayed on the edges. He should start cleaning up his own messes before he complains about mine, thought Merlin with a huff of a laugh. "My, what has gotten into you lately? All of this destiny stuff finally snap your neck?" He laughed it off, but it was clear that Merlin agreed with him. He pat his back looking him sternly in the eyes. "Now, Merlin, you are not crazy-"

"But I'm not sane, either."

"Oh, would you stop it? What even happened last night, you never explained?" Gaius was taken aback by how visibly mortified Merlin looked, as is remembering it at all made him want to hurl himself from the world. And it did, because hearing someone scream like that, especially a healthy prince, the whimpers he'd murmured throughout the night, it was terrifying. (And he assumed he was able to calm him because of his destiny, but it didn't seem like he actually did much. But did much for what? What had been troubling him and why? And why won't he talk about it?

There were too many questions flooding his head and he felt like putting a spear through it wouldn't even help.) Merlin looked up to him, his usually bright and happy blue eyes dulled and soulless. Gaius patted his cheek, inspecting the way he slouched forward and the bags under his eyes. "Didn't sleep well?" Merlin groaned in response, letting his head fall on the table, his arms dangling as he let his eyes close slowly.

"Let me sleep, then." He mumbled, cheek smushing his words.

"There? Wouldn't you much rather sleep in your bed?"

"It's hardly more comfortable." Gaius sighed, giving him a grumpy look before carrying out Merlin's duties for him. Luckily for the pair of them, Merlin wouldn't have had to do much.

~The Training Yard~

"Merlin, yes, he was very sickly this morning. I tried to get him to rest but he left."

"Do you know where?" Gwen asked, looking worried.

"I'm afraid not. Good-day, Guinevere."

"My lord," She trotted off to Gaius', to check and see if he was there.

It was a sunny day, despie the cold fall air. The knights were out training and getting prepared for any time their sklills might be needed. King's orders, apparently. The knights were every suspicious of Arthur, just like Merlin and now Gwen. He wasn't being a bossy prat giving orders and being lazy. He was being kind and treating everyone like his kin. Everyone. Villagers, servants, knights, guards, everyone. It wasn't natural, or normal, or right (at least, not for Arthur Pendragon). He, who stood before the rest of the knights, smirked to himself as he moved the wooden pole in his hands masterfully. He finished his display, staring at the stick proudly. The rest looked properly idiodic with their jaws slack and eyes wide.

Maybe he should have tonned it down a bit.

"Maybe Merlin's right, I mean Arthur isn't himself." Merlin guestured to her nodding, with an attitude that shoved see-what-did-I-say-see in his face. Gaius sighed, setting down his tome and sitting down at the now-clean-ish table with them

"What do you think it is then?" He asked Gwen, who shook her head. "Well that helps. Merlin, we can't-"

"It's like he's possessed by a nice-demon or something." Gwen mumbeld to herself with a little smirk. The two stared at her, suddelny having an epiphany. "What?" She asked.

"You are brilliant!" Merlin said with a smile that brightened his whole face. Gwen smiled back.

"Thanks," She replied.

"You aren't suggesting he's possessed?"

"Oh, yes I am!"

"But we don't know this for certain."

"We will."

AN: Hallo, so I've been working pretty hard and I'd appreciate some feedback! :) Anyways, I'm glad to see someone has chosen to read this! Well, I hope you've enjoyed and yeah! Bye! :D