A/N: And for Veilwuarrah, who wanted 'something' to happen after the drinking

Originally had the details of this all fleshed out, but it was better this way ^_~

Gwaine and Merlin stumbled from the tavern shortly after midnight, only staying upright by leaning on each other.

"Didju see the way tha' maid was lookin' atchu?" The knight hiccuped, giggling at the blush on his friend's face. "You could've- whoa!" Gwaine tripped and sprawled to the cobblestones, taking Merlin with him.

"Gwaaaaaine," the servant complained, sitting up slowly. "Oi, can't sleep 'ere, Gwaine." He prodded the older man who stayed stubbornly asleep, beginning to snore loudly.

He was just about to try again when strong hands grabbed him and a sack was thrown over his head.

Cold water woke him, but did little to increase his sobriety.

"Wha's-'appenin'?" He slurred, blearily looking around himself at the dimly lit faces of two grimy men. He became distracted once his eyes landed on the torch. It was incredibly bright, but he just couldn't seem to stop staring at it.

"You're the king's manservant, yes?" One demanded.

Merlin snorted. "Yeah, I look after th' dollop'ead."

The two exchanged a look as Merlin's head flopped back and he gazed at the stars.

"Where are we righ' now?" He wondered aloud.

"We're asking the questions here," his interrogator informed him. "Now, what is the easiest way into the castle?"

"Front gate," the servant supplied, giggling at his own cleverness. "Wasn' I in the tavern? I think I needa 'nother drink."

Grimy number one growled and slapped him across the face.

"You had better start taking this seriously, whelp. Tell me- when is the king most vulnerable?"

Merlin focused on the finger being pointed in his face, making himself cross-eyed.
"Pro'lly when I'm not there."

The second man cursed and spit.
"He's no use to us. Better to just kill 'im."

His partner nodded grimly, drawing a knife...

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Arthur demanded, cross at not only having to get himself prepared for the day, but also being faced with a hung-over Gwaine who had no idea what had happened the previous night or why his drinking companion hadn't returned home.

"I mean 'I fell asleep in the gutter and have no idea what happened after that'," the knight responded miserably.

"And you're sure he didn't return home, Gaius?" The trio looked into the back room as if expecting to see Merlin drooling into his pillow rather than the neatly-made bed they already knew was there.

"Yes, Sire," the physician replied, worriedly stirring a headache remedy.

"We should check the tavern, perhaps he-"

Gwaine cut off as the door flew open and Merlin, covered in dead leaves and clutching a bottle in one hand, stumbled in.

"Merlin!" The three yelled in unison.

"Heeeeeeeeeey!" The servant responded, clearly still drunk- or maybe drunk again, based on the amber liquid dripping from the near-empty bottle.

"Merlin, where have you been?" Arthur demanded, forestalling Gaius' own inquiry.

The warlock frowned in concentration.
"Not sure... maybe the wors' tavern ever? All they had wassis one bottle!" He held his arm up, not even noticing when the vessel slipped from between his fingers.

"Merlin, are you hurt?" Gaius asked, leading his boy to the patient cot.

"Pfffft. Was only one knife," the servant dismissed the danger with a wave of one hand.

The three froze.

"Knife?" Gwaine asked, voice slightly higher-pitched than usual.

"Oh yeah. I'ss fine though." He stared at the hearth for a moment. "I think there wassa... fire?"

Arthur and Gwaine exchanged worried looks before the king stepped forward.

"Merlin, what happened?"

"I'm gonna sleep now," the servant announced, rolling over and drawing the blanket across his face.

The king frowned and reached for the younger man only to be waved off by Gaius.

"I doubt you'll get anything coherent out of him, Sire. Better to let him sleep."

Arthur reluctantly agreed.

But when you wake up, Merlin...