A/N: I say this every chapter, but thank you again to everyone that has shown interest in this story. I cannot get over how many views chapter 6 had. Thanks especially to anyone that left a review. They mean a lot, particularly any constructive criticism. This chapter took me a little longer to write due to work commitments so I hope it is up to scratch. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 7.

"Where do you think you're going?" The stern-faced doctor asked.

Merlin faltered. He didn't factor in getting caught this early on.

"Arthur was just going to the bathroom," Merlin replied.

"Was he really?" The doctor glanced towards a door towards the back of the room. It was obviously a private bathroom. For the first time Merlin noticed the other man in the room. He recognized him as the man he had spoken to at the lake. Merlin wondered what he was doing here. Before he had chance to think about it too much, the doctor was speaking again.

"Arthur has been identified as being a flight risk. Due to the nature of his condition, I believe it best if he remains under our observation," he was trying to show his authority, Merlin noted. It made him all the more determined to get Arthur out of this place before he was damaged beyond repair.

"As I have already told you, I am perfectly healthy," Arthur asserted.

The doctor raised an eyebrow. Hesitantly from the back of the room the other man spoke for the first time. "Perhaps we should leave that to the doctor to decide,"

Merlin glared in the direction of the old man. This was not helping. He knew the man knew no better but Merlin couldn't help but feel anger towards the man for hindering their progress. He was so close. One wrong move and he would lose Arthur all over again.

Merlin found himself improvising. "I know Arthur and his condition well. I believe that he will be perfectly comfortable and safe if he returns home with me,"

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "And who are you?"

"This is my Merlin, my manservant," Arthur announced before Merlin could speak. Merlin closed his eyes, trying to keep his cool. He had forgotten just how insufferable Arthur could be. Now really was not the time to be spouting lines like that, no matter how true they were.

The doctor turned to Merlin. "May we have a word outside?"

Merlin inclined his head and followed the doctor out of the room, leaving Arthur and the old man looking confused.

"Who are you really?" the doctor asked. "We cannot just let a patient in Arthur's condition wander off with unknown strangers, you understand?"

"I am a friend of Arthur's," Merlin answered. He decided to play along. It may be his best chance of getting Arthur out of this place.

"He refers to you as Merlin," the doctor stated. "You do not deny him. Why are you enabling Arthur's delusions?"

He could almost feel the cogs ticking as Merlin tried to invent something that was more believable than the truth. Cautiously he answered. "Unfortunately, I cannot correct him. My name is Merlin,"

"Your name is Merlin?" the doctor repeated, the disbelief was clear in his voice.

"That is what my mother named me," he chanced a small smile at the doctor. After all he was not lying. The doctor fixed Merlin with a stare. It was hard to tell whether he was buying this or not.

He could see Arthur from the corner of his eye, watching through the window. He wondered what the King made of this whole situation. He was wide-eyed and innocent looking; an expression Merlin had only seen on his face a handful of times. It hadn't taken much persuasion to get Arthur to leave the hospital. Slowly, a plan started to formulate in the back of Merlin's mind.

"I understand that Arthur needs treatment," he said. "I have been starting to struggle to take care of him. It is particularly difficult considering our names,"

"You should let us help," the doctor's voice had taken on a sympathetic tone. "I am going to refer Arthur for counselling,"

Merlin nodded. That was the last thing he wanted. They would brainwash Arthur. They would tell him his memories weren't real. And then who knew what would happen. "Thank you," he whispered, the words leaving a bitter taste in the back of his mouth.

The doctor offered a small smile, obviously taken in my Merlin's performance. "Visiting finishes in half an hour," he said softly before walking away.

Merlin watched him leave, making sure he was out of sight before Merlin re-entered Arthur's room.

Arthur watched Merlin entered the room. His face was unreadable. Whereas before he had been panic-stricken and determined, now he seemed to be a blank slate. None of the men spoke. Arthur wondered what had been discussed outside, but he could not interpret Merlin's body language. He glanced over at Martin, who was looking down awkwardly at his feet.

"Mr Tucker, I thank you for your company. It is much appreciated, however I would like some time alone with Merlin," Arthur addressed the man. He did not want to offend the man. He had saved his life after all. However, Arthur got the impression that Merlin was holding something back. Holding back something that he would not discuss in front of strangers, no matter how trust worthy and heroic they were.

Martin inclined his head in a nod. "Brenda, my wife, will be starting to worry anyway. I will try to visit again soon," His tone seemed a little relieved that he was being dismissed.

"Thank you," Arthur said again as Martin left the room. He noticed Merlin sending sideways glanced as the man until he was out of the room.

"What on Earth is going on, Merlin?" Arthur snapped as soon as Martin had disappeared.

Merlin visibly sagged. He ran a hand through his hair and walked towards the chair that Martin had recently vacated. He grabbed the chair and pulled it closer to Arthur's bed before taking a seat and leaning forward.

"It is a long story," Merlin muttered. He appeared to be struggling to talk to Arthur. He was glancing around and rocking slightly. His hands were shaking in his lap. Arthur studied Merlin's face. There were dark circles around his eyes and his skin was even paler than usual. He looked like he hadn't slept for a week.

"Merlin, what is wrong? You look unwell," Arthur asked.

"I'm fine," Merlin answered, automatically. He was slightly taken aback by Arthur's concern. "We haven't got much time,"

"Then you better tell me quickly," Arthur instructed, not unkindly.

Merlin sighed again. "Tell me, Arthur. How much can you remember?"

Arthur cast his mind back. "I remember the battle," he ventured. "I remember being wounded. Mordred impaled me with his blade," Arthur pointed to the place just below his ribs where the blade had struck.

Merlin nodded his head, encouraging Arthur to go on. Arthur licked his lips. "Then I remember that I retaliated. I drew my blade and struck Mordred down," Arthur's voice cracked a little. He had liked Mordred but then the young knight had left and joined forces with Morgana. The betrayal, much like the wound in his side, still hurt.

"After that everything gets a little strange," Arthur admitted. Merlin had gone suddenly still, as if bracing himself for a killing blow. "I don't know how much of it is true,"

Arthur lapsed into silence. Merlin didn't respond. It was as if he was scared to look Arthur in the eye. Arthur drew another breath, "Merlin, I think I'm going mad,"

"What makes you say that?" Merlin's head snapped up and he fixed Arthur with an icy stare.

"I remember it plainly," Arthur said, his voice low, "but the only mark is a scar that must be years old,"

He lifted the hospital gown to reveal his side. There was a pale white line just underneath his ribcage where the blade must have entered. Merlin reached out, as if to touch the old wound but suddenly stopped as if thinking better of his actions. His hand fell idly to his side.

"What you remember is the truth," Merlin urged, suddenly leaning very close. His voice was no more than a whisper directly in Arthur's ear.

Arthur watched Merlin intently. "That is all I remember though. The next thing I remember is waking by the lake. Then I was here in this strange place,"

Merlin had gone oddly stiff again. Arthur did not know what to make of his manservant's behaviour. He had to admit, Merlin had always been a strange one. Merlin tugged slightly at his scarf before finally speaking again.

"Arthur, I need to leave soon. I will be back for you tomorrow. The people here have your best interests at heart but they are misguided," Merlin explained.

"What do you mean?"

"Now is not the time to explain," Merlin was whispering again. "Just promise me one thing,"

Arthur considered Merlin's request. Usually he would have replied with some retort about Merlin's status. Something about how Merlin should not be ordering him about but something about the man's tone made Arthur reconsider. "What is it?"

"Do not believe anything they try to tell you," With that Merlin stood. He returned the chair to its original place. "I will be back as soon as I can,"

Questions bubbled up inside Arthur but Merlin had already closed the door behind him before Arthur could call out again. Arthur's suspicions from before were confirmed. There was something going on. Something was being kept from him. The people here were not to be trusted. Of course, Arthur had already concluded that the doctor was not as trustworthy as he originally appeared. Did Merlin's warning stretch to others, such as seemingly kind-hearted Martin Tucker? He was unsure, but he knew from now on he was going to tread lightly even if he wasn't quite sure why.