AU: Hi again this is the 23rd chapter of The Forgetting Curse. Hope you like it.

I'm sorry that I didn't post yesterday. I couldn't find time to write at all. But that's why the today's one is a bit longer. ^^

Let me know in a review what do you think of the story! This the chapter before the last!J

Love from me!

'The witch, Nimway, said that this shall not be the end.' - Morgana said with fearful voice.

'What should this mean?' - Arthur, who was still on the floor embraced by Merlin, asked.

'I cannot tell, but I have a sense that Camelot is in danger...' - Silence fell across the room. The Prince was thinking of the possible ways of action. He looked through the window. Dusk was falling, even if he wanted, it was too dangerous to travel at night, besides they were all exhausted from today's event. After another moment he said

'We will leave tomorrow, first thing in the morning.' - His voice sounded manful and firm, Merlin was getting groosy fleshed from that. This was in of the many reasons he loved him.

The three of them really needed rest, so after a quick mean they found themselves really sleepy. Eurina had made three beds for them and then left them alone in the room for their sleep, then minute, after, Morgana was already dreaming. Just when the sorcerer was about lie down, Arthur said:

'Merlin... can you...' - He fell silent. When was thinking it in his head, his request sounded good, but now as he was about to say he felt silly.

'What it is?' - The raven haired boy said after a yawn.

'Could you sleep with me to?' - And then rapidly added. - 'I am not. feeling quite well...' - Merlin just smiled softly.

'Of course that I would.' - He said and got himself under the blonde's covers. - 'Good night, my Prince!' - He said, then he gave a light kiss on his nose and closed his eyes.

Thinking about what happened today, Arthur got a bit confused. How did Merlin appeared there. He remembered very well that he was in Camelot, unless...

'Merlin!' - He whispered

'Mhm..' - The boy said still with his eyes shut.

'How did you do it?'

'Did what?' - He muttered.

'To be here?' - Arthur said and raised his eyebrows, waiting for a proper answer. Merlin opened his eyes. He looked at him, his eyes were confirming what the Prince thought.

'I followed you.' - He simply said and smiled.

'Why?' - The blond was a bit irritated, but not enough to get angry.

'I had a strange sensation about what was going to happen... and it turned out to be true.' - He answered and his eyes got worried.

'Oh...' - He fell silent for a minute. - 'But I told you, that is going to be very dangerous.' - He pressed his lips.

'I have been to your missions before...'

'When?' - Arthur interrupted.

'Before, I mean destiny thing.'

'But you could have died.' - He said and wrapped his arms around the raven haired boy.

'I had some doubts too...' - He laughed a bit.

'Never say that again.' - The Prince was looked quite serious.

'Don't worry. We are fine now.' - Merlin smiled a bit.

'But how could you know that?'

'I didn't, but I have done it before!'

'Alright, but explain me how did you defeat the Nameless Beast?' - The Prince frowned.

'My...my magic returned somehow?' - He whispered quietly. Arthur's eyes widened.

'How?' - Arthur was now confused.

'I don't know how..., but I saved you the same way.'

'We would better go to sleep now...Merlin... I love you!' - Arthur said, squeezed him tighter.

'I love you too.'

...

In the morning the rooster sang and Arthur felt Merlin move. He didn't want to wake up, so he just pressed him closer.

'Don't move..' - He whispered in his ear.

'Mmm... I had the finest sleep ever!' – He said and cuddled in Arthur's strong arms.

'Me too…' – He frowned as he heard the Morgana was up too. He was just about to kiss the raven haired boy, but now he was embarrassed.

'We have to go…' – He said and smiled. – 'Camelot is in danger, you do remember.' – Pulling away from the most comfortable place.

'Good morning, Morgana.' - Arthur said as he saw her enter the room about fifteen minutes later.

'Finally you are up.' - She said and put a lock of hair behind her ear. - 'When are we leaving?' - The king's ward asked firmly.

'As soon as you are ready.' - The Prince answered.

'What are we expecting to see when we return to Camelot?' - Merlin, who was locking his bag, interrupted the royal conversation. After his last words silence fell across the room. None of them had thought what might happen with their returning. They all knew that something was going to happen, but what. Their gazes moved from one place to another.

'I have no idea.' - Finally Morgana confessed what all of the three of them were thinking.

'Then it would be better if we hurry!' - Arthur and Merlin said at the same time. Not too long after that they were ready to go. The told Eurina and the rest of the peasants' goodbye and that it was pleasure to help them. And after a hundred 'thank you' sentences they were ready to set for Camelot. They were now on the horses just about to leave the Lower Lands. One last look and then they spurred out the animals.

Merlin, Arthur and Morgana traveled without any hindrances all day. They have rode almost all the time expect when they made a break for a quick lunch. Now as the sun was setting they were tired as never before.

'It will be dark soon!' - Arthur said looking left where the sun had almost hidden in the mountain. They were about to enter the next forest. - 'It would be better if we stopped for the night somewhere.

'What do you think about here?' - Morgana said with sleepy voice.

'It doesn't look that bad.' - The three of them dismounted their horses and Arthur started to collect wood for fire. Just then Merlin said:

'You could leave the fire to me, if you would like.'

'What do you mean?' - The Prince said confused.

'Just watch!' - He smiled. Just then his eyes flashed gold and a couple of sticks gathered in a heap. The Prince was glancing at what was happening in front of his eyes. He knew that Merlin was a warlock, but he had never seen him do any magic. It looked so easy, as though he wasn't doing anything special. After he gathered the sticks his eyes flashed gold again and after saying:

'Inflemente!' - A bright fire was lit. Arthur's jaw dropped.

'How...' - His mouth opened and closed.

'Magic...' - Merlin smiled and the blonde again realized how much he loved one him. This smile... it made him shiver, like the whole world stopped. - 'What?!' - The raven haired boy asked breaking the silence. Arthur realized that he had been staring at him. - 'Is there something wrong?'

'No, no... .' - Rapidly he answered. - 'You are just so... beautiful!' - The Prince said and watched as the raven haired boy blushed.

'Oh...' - He said and blushed deep. - 'Are you hungry?' - He decided to change the topic.

'Not really!' - Arthur said and looked down. They sat around the fire and just watched it without saying a word. The same way stood Morgana feeling not quite in her place. She felt that the boys in front of her needed to talk to each other but without her presence. She took her blanket and walked a few meters away.

'How are you?' - Arthur asked after a couple of minutes finally breaking the awkward silence that had fallen around the place.

'Just fine.' - Merlin answered simply and went quiet again. The Prince sighed.

'What are you thinking about?' - He continued his tries to make a conversation with the boy.

'Things...' - It was obvious that his mind was occupied with something, but what, the blonde was staring at him.

'Is there something wrong?' - He moved closer to him.

'No, I just...' - Merlin's voice was weak.

'You can trust me...' - The Prince encouraged him. Merlin ducked his head.

'I... I... it complicated.. .' - He pressed his lips.

'Hey...' - Arthur caressed his cheek. - 'What is it?' - He felt that there was something really wrong.

In Merlin's head strange things were going. He some awful thoughts in there. Something that he wasn't worthy for the Prince. He hadn't realized that he was warlock and that was an awful thing. He was a bad, bad person. He wanted to hug his knees and cry. Looking down at the fire he sensed his eyes watered and felt Arthur's arms wrap around him.

'Merlin...' - He whispered - 'What s wrong?'

'I'm not decorous for you.' - Merlin said with voice only heard by Arthur. A second later, he pulled away from his embrace stood up and walked away, feeling his tears making their way down his face. The Prince was fast after him.

'What do you mean decorous?' - He asked and frowned. Not trusting his voice, the boy continued walking. - 'Merlin!' - Arthur said softly after he caught his arm. He faced the raven haired boy and saw him crying.

'Let me go, please.' - He said and pulled his arm. The blonde, who didn't quite understand what, happened, so he let him go and watched as he ran away. The same way he ran, the day he lost his memory. His heart squeezed when he remembered. But this time he was not going to let him hide. A moment later he ran after him.

In the front Merlin was running, he was still crying, he wanted to disappear. He was felt awful, no matter if he wanted to find Arthur and wrap his arms around his the thought that he was unworthy for him, wasn't giving him peace. About half a mile from the place they were settled the fire he stopped. He leaned on a broke tree and hugged his knees letting his head lay on them. A couple of minutes from there he felt soft fingers on his shoulder, lifting his head he saw Arthur in front of him. Merlin's face was red and puffy from the tears.

'Hey...' - The Prince said quietly after he sat next to him.

'Hey...' - The raven haired boy answered and took a deep breath.

'How are you?' - Arthur was carefully choosing his words.

'I had better times.' - He gave him a weak smile.

'Why... what happened, Merlin.' - Arthur gently took the boy's hand.

'I cannot say...' - He presses his lips. - 'I just realized that I don't deserve you...' - He fell silent.

'What do you mean? How told you that!' - The Prince said.

'I did... before when I was by the fire and looked at you...' - He wiped a tear from his cheek. - 'I realized that I am not... worthy for your love. I am ordinary and you are royal. I cannot compare to... to you...' - He ducked his head. Arthur was thinking of that he said. Those were nonsense.

'Merlin...' - The boy didn't react. - 'Merlin, look at me.' - He said calmly. He lifted his gaze.

'What?' - He whispered.

'I want you to remember: There is no one, no one more worthy for me than you!' - He said and glanced at his eyes. - 'I love you more that my life and I will do anything for you!'

'But...'

'No buts, I do not care if you are not royal, I wouldn't care if you were. The only thing I want to be with you is to have you returning my feelings. Do you?' - The raven haired boy just nodded. - 'I love you!'

'And I love you too, Arthur.' - Merlin said. He let his knees down and pushed his passionately into a kiss. With one handed at the back of his head and the other on his back he shoved the Prince on the ground. Arthur returned the kiss, parting his lips and licking the boys tongue. He felt Merlin's weigh on him, he felt every part particle of him wanting to sense him. The raven haired boy left butterfly kisses on his lips, jaw-line and neck. Arthur moaned as he kissed the little how above his collar bone. He loved how Merlin knows where exactly to spot his lips on. Returning to his lips the Prince warped him tighter and rolled at the other side. Now as both of them were feeling quite well the blonde broke the kiss saying.

'Feeling any better?'

'Much more…' – Merlin said with a smile on his lips and right before he kissed Arthur again.

'I hope none of those hesitations still exist...' – He smiled thru the kiss.

'Hmm, nope, you managed to convince me…' – Licking his lips, he took a breath and said – 'Promise me never to leave me.'

'I promise.' – Simply said he. Now as they were both out of air, they just stood there on the ground embraces, looking into each other's eyes with a small smile on their mouths.

'We should better return around the fire, if Lady Morgana wakes up and sees we are gone, she might get worried.' – Merlin said – 'Though I am feeling quite sleepy.' – The blonde smiled at him.

'Alright.' – And after a second he added. – 'You shall be sleeping with me again, right?'

'I have nowhere else to go.' – Merlin took his hand and they walked under the moonlight, which was leaving pale shadows on their faces as they walked past the trees. Before finally going to sleep, embraced like nothing will ever separate them Arthur said.

'I love you.' – The same sentence came out of the raven haired boy, before he closed his eyes, burying his head in Arthur's chest.

…..

The sun rose waked all of Merlin, Morgana and Arthur after the unusual night of yesterday. They knew that today they were going to face whatever was expecting them in Camelot and their faces all looked worried for all that waiting.

They were fast on their horses, which they spurred out for a rapid gallop to the caste that all of them called their home. They didn't have very much to talk about, but that came in help because of their rush.

They managed the castle in the early afternoon, when the sun was right above their heads. They walked past the doors and a few guard were fast to tell the King about their arrival. Jogging along the main square, none of them saw anything strange. Only that the people were less smiled, but in the last few days many things happened. The three of them decided that they need to separate for a while. Morgana wanted to change and bathe and Merlin wished to go and see Gaius. They were both to meat in front of the Prince's chambers in an hour. Arthur took a walk around the market, before a couple of guards came to him.

'Prince Arthur, the King wishes to see you immediately.' – Said one of them. "Oh, no" The blonde thought. He had forgotten about what he had talked with his father before he went for the Lower Lands. Now as 'the knife was at his throat' he had to talk to Uther and Merlin about, when they were going to leave, and where. The Prince gulped. Had to follow the guards, but mentally noted that right after the unpleasant conversation with his father, he was going to Merlin.

Unlike he thought, they weren't going to the Throne Hall, as a place where they always met. They walked passed it and continued making a few turns, before stopping in front of his father's chambers. The guards bowed and left him there.

…

Merlin went to the healer. Entering the room, he saw no one there.

'Gaius?' – He said and looked around. It was empty. He left his bag in his chamber and opened the wardrobe. Picking a clean shirt he couldn't help it but notice that everything was cleaned up. He smiled. The healer was so thoughtful sometimes. He dressed and looked in the mirror. He was more than happy. Now the only thing he had to do is to save Camelot. He had done this before and it wasn't that hard. He laughed at himself. He mustn't think like that. But now as he had his magic back, everything looked a bit brighter.

As he said magic. He reminded himself something, the strange way he got it back. The moment he touched the hurt Arthur, back in the Lower Lands, he felt that he was able to do spells again. Walking in the front room, he rapidly spotted the book that gave him the enchantment he used. Opening it, his eyes flashed gold as he thought of that he was searching. He read the text written with the smallest words. It said:

"The potion once made is irreversible but there is only one case and occasion that the magic of the person who did the enchantment can return to him. Magic is something that is being kept in one's heart. And if the warlock makes the potion on order to do something for someone this warlock's magic will be able to return only in order that this someone who the spell has been made for is hurt or dead."

That meant…. That if Arthur hadn't been injured he wouldn't be warlock again… Merlin looked numbly at the world. He was confused. For nothing in his life he would wish for the Prince to be hurt, but if it wasn't for him, he couldn't have his magic back. How was this even possible. He wondered if Gaius knew about this. And if he did, why hadn't he told hin, before. The raven haired boy had to talk with him. Just then a guard opened the door.

'Merlin, Prince Arthur' manservant?' – He asked and though he was much more than that the sorcerer nodded. – 'The King demands to see you in this hour. Follow me.' – Even more confused than before, he did as he was told. Why would Uther to talk with him, he didn't even liked him. Was there something wrong? Walking fast behind the guard, he saw the they were heading for this Majesty's chambers. He knocked and opened the door.

….(At the time when Arthur was at the door.)

The Prince opened the door carefully and saw his father on the bed and Gaius to he walking around it, looking sick with worry.

'What is going on?' – He asked confused. Uther jumped in his bed, he was been not quite asleep.

'The King, Sire, had been ill. From two days he hasn't been able to get out of his bed.' – Gaius explained the situation quickly. Even though Arthur had heard him very clearly he stood like he had hit a wall. He didn't know what to feel. At first time he felt shocked, sad and really sad at the same time. But when he thought of it and remembered all the times he had arguments with him, he just couldn't find the sympathy inside him. – 'Where is Merlin?' – Gaius took him out from his thoughts.

'He went to see you in the healers.' – Arthur said and shook his head.

'Send someone to bring him. I will need his help.' – The healer said and pointed the door. Walking out, Arthur told the guard that the King's wished to see the raven haired boy. Back in the room, he walked towards Uther's bed, took a chair and sat next to him. He decided that now he should behave like a proper son.

'How are you, Father?' – He asked with firm voice.

'Not good.' – He coughed. – 'Did you manage to beat the creature in the Lower Lands?' – He asked. Arthur sighed, no matter if he was ill he still thought only for his people.

'I wouldn't be back of I didn't.' – Arthur said. – 'What is wrong with you?' – He asked with a bit worry in his voice.

'I cannot move' – The king said and coughed again. The next minute there was a knock on the door.

'Enter!' – Arthur said, believing that it was Merlin.

On the other side of the door the boy raised his eyebrows. The King was in his chambers with Arthur inside, something must really be wrong. He opened the door, on the inside he was Gaius who was leaning on the table looking worried, Uther in his bed looking more pale than usual and Arthur next to him also looking worried.

'Good day.' – He greeted feeling stupid.

'Come inside, Merlin.' – Gaius said.

'If I might ask, what is going on here.' – The boy said lowering his voice only for the healer to hear after walking straight to him.

'The King is sick.'

'How sick?' – Merlin asked, frowning.

'Dying.' – Was the only word that the healer said.

Hope you liked it! ^^