I had this fleeting image of a bunch of you finding out where I live and showing up here, demanding a follow-up to chapter 11, so I decided I must write it. So, this one is for everyone who wanted to know: WHAT DID MERLIN SAY IN HIS SLEEP?

Now, I feel as if I set a bar with 11 that I just can't compete with in 12, so I apologize if it's not as good as the last chapter.

So, thanks for reading, I don't own 'em, and leave me a comment if you can.

Bye!

Arthur had been visiting the lower town, picking up somethings for Guinevere, when he spotted Leon, Gwaine, and a clearly unconscious Merlin coming towards him. Stomach sinking, dropping the flowers he had been holding, Arthur raced towards the horses, shouting for people to get out-of-the-way.

Trying to keep up with the horses, he called, "What the hell happened? I leave him alone with you two for a couple of hours…"

"He didn't tell us he was sick," Leon retorted, immediately looking ashamed for talking to his king so sharply. "I'm sorry, sire, it's just…"

"Look, princess, either you meet us at Gaius' or you can get trampled," Gwaine snapped, cutting the older knight off, ignoring the aghast look Leon threw him. Arthur decided to excuse the knight's insubordination because he was worried, allowing the two knights to quicken their horses' paces.

Arthur followed as quickly as he could, sprinting faster than he thought possible, and by the time he caught up he was breathing heavily, holding a stitch in his side, watching as Leon and Gwaine carried Merlin up the stairs to Gaius' chambers.

He took the steps two at a time, bursting into the doorway just as Merlin let loose a half-choked scream. The younger man began struggling to break free from Leon and Gwaine, muttering under his breath. Arthur was across the room in a second, trying to get his servant's attention, calm him down, but he froze when he heard Merlin sob, "I-I'm sorry… Arthur please…"

Backing away a step, Arthur allowed Gaius to look Merlin over, eyeing his servant cautiously. Merlin continued to mutter to himself, his struggling weakening, until it finally ceased, a relived breath leaving his lips as he murmured, "Lancelot?"

"Did he just…?" Gwaine started and Arthur numbly nodded.

"Take him to his room," Gaius instructed Leon, and the blond knight nodded, half carrying, half dragging Merlin up the steps.

"What the hell was that?" Gwaine demanded the moment the door was shut.

"I don't know," Arthur replied softly, looking at the floor. He hadn't heard the name Lancelot spoken since Gwen's brief betrayal. In fact, Arthur liked very much if the incident was never bought up again. He didn't care if it was magic or her own freewill, he didn't want to constantly wonder if she was with him because she wanted to be or because she couldn't be with Lancelot.

"Do you think he actually saw Lancelot?" Gwaine questioned just as Gaius' door opened, both knight and king turning to see Guinevere standing in the doorway.

"Who saw Lancelot?" Gwen eyed the two knights cautiously, something flickering in her eyes; something Arthur couldn't pinpoint but didn't exactly like either.

"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked quickly, ignoring her question.

"A servant saw Gwaine and Leon carrying Merlin towards Gaius' chambers," she replied softly, her brown eyes settling on Arthur. "Is Merlin okay?"

"He's sick," Gwaine stated folding his arms across his chest. "He didn't tell us, and he's running a pretty high fever."

"So, that could explain why he saw Lancelot," Gwen commented quietly, the same emotion flickering in her eyes again.

"Hallucination," Gaius supplied coming down the stairs. He had shut Merlin's door, wringing his hands. "I left Sir Leon inside; he's keeping an eye on Merlin for me."

"Okay." Arthur took a seat, resting his hands on the table.

"Oh, before I forget," Gwaine said quickly, sitting next to Arthur. "We think there may be a sorcerer roaming around in the woods. Leon can probably tell you more."

Arthur noticed Gaius stiffen at this news, but the older man otherwise didn't say another word. The king nodded once, sucking in a deep breath. "I can probably send a few knights out to investigate."

"It won't be necessary," Gwaine informed Arthur, looking down at the table. "Whoever it was must be long gone by now."

"It's best to be on the…"

"Gaius," Leon called and the elderly man hurried towards Merlin's room. Arthur jumped up, Gwaine following, and the two followed closely behind, Gwen right on Arthur's heels.

"I think his fever's gotten worse," Leon said worriedly, hovering over Merlin's bed. The man in question thrashed back and forth, struggling against an invisible enemy, muttering under his breath, "Arthur… Arthur please… I don't…" his words trailed off into whimpers.

"Why does he keep begging you to not do something?" Gwaine glared at Arthur. "Did you do something before he left?"

"What?" Arthur turned, eyes narrowed, fists clenching at his side. "And what, do you suppose I did?"

"I don't…"

"Enough," Gaius called over the arguing men. He gestured towards the exit, eyes trained on Gwen and Leon. "Will you two please get water? We need to cool him down." They nodded, rushing out of the room. Gaius waited until they were gone before turning his attention to Gwaine and Arthur. "As for you two, neither of you are acting your age, and it stops now do you…?" Merlin sneezed, cutting Gaius off, and the threesome heard a bottle explode from the front room.

"What was that?" Arthur asked as he and Gwaine rushed out of Merlin's room. Gaius quickly followed them; the three men looked around, eyes settling on a green, goopy looking potion slowly drip down the wall near their heads. "How did that happen?"

"How should I know," Gaius replied throwing his hands in the air. "I have been experimenting with a few new potions, I haven't a clue what that one does, but I'd advise you not to touch it." The two men edged away from the goopy mess, both heading back into Merlin's room.

"Right, I need help undressing him," Gaius informed them from the doorway, clapping his hands together. Arthur sighed softly, unable to stop himself from thinking: The things I do for you, Merlin.

They stepped forward, noting that Merlin's eyes were half-opened, but before Arthur could touch Merlin, the younger man let loose a hoarse yell and scooted away, practically falling off his bed. Hands raised, Arthur backed away, trying hard to ignore the angered look Gwaine threw him.

"I did not do anything to him," Arthur said sharply, watching as Gwaine and Gaius helped Merlin back on his bed.

"Yeah, whatever," Gwaine grumbled.

"Just go sit outside and wait for Gwen and Leon," Gaius advised Arthur with a sympathetic look on his face. Arthur hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and walked out of the room, wondering what had happened to make Merlin react that way.

Merlin

Arthur could practically feel the tension in the room as they waited for Gaius to return. Gwaine was glaring at him, Leon stood in the corner wringing his hands, and Gwen hovered near Arthur's shoulder, her bottom lip between her teeth. Percival and Elyan wanted to her here, but Arthur had sent them out to look for the alleged sorcerer.

"I just would like to know what you did," Gwaine started softly, his voice deadly calm, fingers lightly brushing against his sword.

"I didn't do a damn thing to him," Arthur hissed, clenching his hands into fists. "Stop accusing me of hurting him."

"It's probably just the fever, Gwaine," Gwen said softly, her hand resting on Arthur's shoulder. "He could be mistaking Arthur for someone else."

"Possibly, if he hadn't been muttering 'No Arthur, please don't' over and over again," Gwaine retorted crossing his arms.

"I'm more worried about him seeing Lancelot," Gwen commented absentmindedly.

"Why?" Arthur turned to her, trying very hard to keep his voice casual, and by her look he failed miserably.

"It just makes me wonder who else Merlin is seeing," Gwen replied a little defensively, her hands immediately leaving Arthur's shoulder. "I'm going to go help Gaius," she stated and walked away, closing the door to Merlin's room behind her.

"Did you hit him?" Gwaine asked suddenly and Arthur slammed his hands down on the table.

"I did not do a single thing to him," the king snapped shoving himself to his feet. "It was the bleeding fever and you know it, so stop accusing me of…"

"Arthur," Leon said softly, cutting the king off. "Perhaps you should get some air."

"I am fine, Sir Leon," Arthur said sharply, his blue eyes still trained on Gwaine.

"I'm serious, Arthur," Leon stated moving across the room slowly, resting his hand on Arthur's wrist. As he lowered the king's arm, Arthur realized, with wide eyes, that he had grabbed a copper pot and had it raised to strike Gwaine

In surprise, he dropped it, taking a step back. "I-I'm sorry," he apologized moving backwards towards the door. "I-I should go get some air."

"Yes," Leon agreed nodding. "We'll come get you if anything changes."

"Right."

Once outside, Arthur leaned against the door and slid to the floor. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs, burying his face in his hands. He knew he didn't do anything to Merlin, hell he barely saw Merlin this morning. How dare Gwaine insinuate that he could hurt Merlin. Add that to the fact that his wife seemed a little more obsessed with the fake Lancelot than she should, and Arthur just felt like punching a wall or something.

He sighed deeply, running both his hands through his hair. He couldn't concentrate on this stuff now. His main focus should be Merlin and his health. He'd deal with the emotional fallout on a later date. He stood, deciding to take a walk around the castle, and moved away from the door.