This is for Starfish152 and narniadreamer1. Thank you so much for the incredible prompts.
So, it seems I am on a roll with these which makes me very happy because it really feels like I'm getting back into the swing of things. Seriously, a month ago I didn't want to do anything I enjoyed, but lately I've wanted to write again. I don't know if it's from my TWD stories or me just finding motivation, but I am so happy to be back doing what I love.
Also, NerdBurga, you're right. What writer's block?
Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed, alerted, and/or favorited this story. You guys make this fun to write and I'm glad you're enjoying each new chapter.
So, thanks for reading, drop me a comment if you can, and I don't own 'em.
Bye!
"Merlin," Arthur called pushing his friend's chamber door open. "Merlin, are you in here?" He didn't receive an answer, which worried the king a bit. Usually Merlin was puttering around in his lab, so engrossed in his work that someone always had to drag him outside every once in a while so he actually saw the sunlight. Arthur had drawn the short straw that time around, but it seemed his friend had finally gotten the hint.
The king turned to leave, but he stopped when he heard a small voice call, "Down here, you idiot!"
"What?" Arthur squinted at the floor, his eyes widening when he found Merlin a few inches from his foot, jumping up and down, waving his hands. "What has happened to you?"
"A spell backfired," Merlin answered gesturing to the open book sitting on a table.
The warlock had to be five inches tall, if that, and it took everything Arthur had not to laugh at him. He must fail because Merlin pursed his lips, crossing his arms. "Well, come on, it's not every day your court sorcerer accidentally shrinks himself."
"Shut up," Merlin grumbled heading towards the table. "Just get me up there so I can fix this."
"Now, now Merlin, how would that help you learn?" Arthur teased grinning when his friend glared up at him. "Alright, alright," he said carefully picking the warlock up between his fingers, carrying him towards the table.
"Don't drop me," Merlin shouted as he swung back and forth.
"I wasn't going to," Arthur replied setting his friend down on the table. "This is why you should go outside more often."
Ignoring the blond, Merlin headed towards his book, scrambling up onto the page. He read through the words, tracking each one with his tiny feet, tapping his chin thoughtfully while Arthur watched him; intrigued. When he got to the end, he jumped down and looked up at the king.
"Yes?"
"Can you…" he huffed, his ears turning red. "Can you turn the page?" Chuckling softly, Arthur did as he was asked, carefully turning the page. "Thank you," the warlock muttered scrambling back onto the book, continuing his reading.
"Can you fix it?" Arthur asked curiously glancing over the text. He didn't understand the writing, the language something he hadn't had the pleasure of learning, but he trusted that Merlin knew what he was doing (even if he still was a clumsy idiot sometimes).
"I can," Merlin answered after a beat, looking up at Arthur. "But I'm going to need some things from Gaius' chambers."
"Like what?"
"A couple things only he has." He jumped off the book, moving towards the blond. "Would you mind taking me there? I'd go myself but…" he trailed off, gesturing to Arthur's feet. Clearly, the last thing Merlin wanted was to get stepped on, and, if he were being honest, it's the last thing Arthur wanted, too. Of course, he had to give Merlin a hard time first.
"What's in it for me?" He gave the warlock a curious look, keeping the smile off his face when Merlin scowled.
"What do you want?"
"Gwen and my anniversary is coming up," Arthur answered tapping his chin. "Be nice to have a candlelit dinner underneath those magical orbs you're so fond of." Merlin had actually tried teaching Arthur how to make them, but the only thing the blond accomplished was setting his curtains on fire.
"I suppose I could help," Merlin stated after a brief pause. "Now will you please help me?"
"Fine." Carefully, Arthur picked Merlin up and placed the tiny warlock in his tunic pocket. "Comfortable?"
"Just walk," Merlin replied shortly, his voice muffled.
Arthur headed out of Merlin's lab, closing the door behind him, and started towards Gaius' chamber. Twice, he got stopped by servants, asking him if he needed anything, but he had declined each time.
"You know, Merlin, we don't nearly spend enough time together anymore," Arthur commented as he took the stairs down two at a time. "It's been quite relaxing." He's not being serious; in fact the king missed having the warlock around all the time. Sometimes he longs for the days when Merlin had been his manservant.
"Admit it, you're lost without me," Merlin retorted and Arthur heard the smile in his voice. "I was the best manservant you ever had."
"Lies," Arthur jested ignoring the odd looks he was getting from the castle patrons. "George is by far superior to you, and I am not lost without you, Merlin. I hardly need you at all."
"If you say so," Merlin said skeptically.
They fell silent, but Arthur couldn't keep the grin off his face. He missed this terribly, the banter he and Merlin used to share, the give and take that made their unlikely friendship work. He really needed to take more time to see his oldest friend.
They got to Gaius' chambers in no time, and Arthur placed Merlin on one of the court physician's lab table. The tiny warlock paced back and forth for a bit, squinting up at bottles, pointing the ones he needed out to Arthur.
The king had two bottles in his hand when Gaius' door opened, the chambers' occupant crossing the threshold, holding a stack of books. He stopped, giving Arthur a curious look, and asked, "May I help you, sire?"
"Just… uh…" Arthur glanced down, needing Merlin's help, but the warlock had disappeared. He turned back to Gaius, opening his mouth to explain, but no words would come. He smiled sheepishly, slowly putting the bottles down, and said, "I was just leaving."
Arthur slowly walked past Gaius, looking over his shoulder in hopes of seeing Merlin, but his friend was still missing. A little worried, but mostly frustrated (how dare Merlin hide like some child) Arthur headed down the stairs, but he stopped at the bottom, lingering in the shadows.
"What are you doing?" Gwen's voice startled him and he turned to see his wife giving him a questioning look.
"Standing," he answered running a hand through his hair.
"Okay." She gave him a confused look, looking as if she wanted to say more, but seemed to decide it wasn't worth it and walked away, muttering something about how much he sounded like Merlin just then. Which he did not, sound like Merlin, Gwen had no idea what she was talking about.
Gaius finally left his chambers twenty minutes later, glass bottles gently knocking together in the bag slung around his shoulder. Arthur waited until the physician disappeared around the corner before he quickly headed up the steps again, bursting into Gaius' chambers.
"Merlin," he hissed dropping to his hands and knees, crawling around on the floor. "Merlin, you idiot, where are you?"
"Arthur," a small voice called, coming from the lab table. "Help, I'm stuck!"
"Stuck?" Arthur scrambled towards the voice, peering into the small space between two of Gaius' lab tables. He found Merlin wedged between the two, grimacing in pain. "How did you manage that?"
"When Gaius came in, he startled me, and I sorta fell." Merlin grimaced again, giving Arthur a helpless look. "Please help."
The king maneuvered around so he was sitting, and very carefully moved the lab table with his right hand, catching Merlin in his left. The warlock lay still for a moment, breathing heavily, but finally he sat up, rubbing the back of his head.
"Thank you," he said the words a little shaky.
"You're welcome," Arthur answered putting Merlin back on the lab table. "Now point out what you need so we can get out of here."
Merlin
Arthur had to put the ingredients in the bowl, but Merlin did the rest. The king watched, still fascinated by his friend's spell work, even after all this time. He jumped back a few steps when Merlin started to grow, the five inch warlock soon replaced by a six foot man.
"Thank the gods," Merlin muttered stretching, clearly still trying to work the kinks out of his back from his mishap in Gaius' chambers.
"Are you back to normal? You're not going to start hiccupping bubbles or anything, are you?"
Merlin narrowed his eyes and said, "No, but don't test me. I could easily make you hiccup bubbles."
"Threatening your king?" Arthur started following the younger man from the room. "That's cause for treason. I may have to put you in the dungeons."
"You wouldn't, you need me remember." Merlin grinned over his shoulder, and Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Keep telling yourself that, Merlin."