Merlin couldn't believe his luck. Not only did he manage to save Gwaine, but also managed to get to Arthur quickly enough to the lake. It has been a close call and he was happy that it worked out. Yet there was still the elephant in the room about his magic. It was not that Arthur didn't know but how he was dealing with this.

The king was avoiding that topic and he could see that the man was figuring out what to do with this. Then there was Gwen who was giving Arthur those looks. Merlin knew that the Queen was happy that he was able to finally be himself. A thing that she had picked up and he knew that she was glad to have now the law rewritten. It made it legal to have magic and be able to use it, only when it doesn't end up being for a bad purpose. Like harming someone as an example.

Yet the laws weren't yet fully active and there was still a lot to do. People still were wary about magic but slowly they got used to it. His friends were both offended and a bit wary about his magic capability. Not that they expected him to harm anyone, that much they knew but they knew what magic could do. Though Gwaine was the first to quickly shrug it off, even mentioning that he had always felt that he was having magic. With Gwaine, others followed though Leon still would take time to accept this fully.

Either way, things were slowly calming down and now he was even busier with having to make allies with other kingdoms who have magic legal and the druids. It was straining but by no -after almost six months things calmed down- that was until Arthur was acting awkward and there was a slight pink hue whenever the king was interacting with him. Not only that but Gwen seemed to give a knowing expression whenever that was happening.

The two were still in love, but there was this shift that Merlin had picked up. Nor was he really sure why that was happening. He was not going to lie to himself, but there was this tiny crush on Arthur. Now that Merlin was sure that the king really accepted all of himself, it was freeing and weirdly enough Arthur was even acting at times that kind that it was off-putting.

"Merlin, take the day off, I know you are planning on working on a spell that makes it possible to teleport to other places." Arthur's voice interrupted his musing and made him blink.

"Uh, are you... Sick perchance?" He couldn't help but ask. "Or is it that you picked up a piece of cursed magic object?" Merlin was too weirded out this time and even let his magic roam free to check up on that.

"Merlin." The warning was heard clearly.

"Um, shut up?" He quipped and Arthur let out a snort and shook his head.

"Yes, and also no I am not cursed. Why would you even assume that?" Arthur's eyebrow even raised and he gave the man his own raised eyebrows in return.

"Simple you are way too nice and it's creeping me out slightly."

"Is it me giving you a free day?" Arthur asked and he nodded.

"Well I got a talk with Gwen and we decided that you need one. Also, I may have been way too harsh in the past, and know now how much you overworked yourself. Also, know that making a new spell needs time." The man shrugged at the end as if that wasn't a big deal.

Merlin should have known that his friend would be the one to suggest it, but that showed that Arthur was going to make sure to make everything up to him.

"I- Okay, appreciate." He felt a bit sheepish now and that was it. He got his first day off, a thing that he never expected, but at least now he could work on his new spell without much distraction.

.

.

.

His brows furrowed at the sharp pain that overcame him in his abdomen. It was just too strange for Merlin as the last thing he-

"For fucks sake, Arthur." He cursed under his breath and realized that his voice sounded different.

This was not something that he expected and from what he could tell that he was in a strange room. The place looked like a place that had white walls and it looked too bare for his liking. Brows furrowed at the confusing room. Then there was the strange thing that Merlin was wearing. It felt not too comfortable and rather stuffy, though weirdly enough the fabric felt a bit softer than what he was used to.

"Okay, everything is just dandy," Merlin muttered and took a deep breath.

As looking down he could see that the skin tone did not fit his. Even his arms were not looking like his own. Which made him wonder how that could be. Merlin feared that he might have somehow gotten himself killed and landed himself in a new life.

Yet what worried him even more was that Arthur was not with him. Merlin had the strange feeling that whatever was going on, was not good. His instinct screamed at him to find Arthur. To find him quickly before he gets even further injured. How he knew that Arthur was injured, Merlin was not sure. His instincts were so far always right and there was no way that he would ignore that dreading feeling of him getting killed.

"Okay, I just need to use that new spell. I can do it." Merlin muttered under his breath, not really certain that he would be able to, but he had to.

That spell would bring him to Arthur or he could just simply try by using his magic instinctually. So, with a deep breath and closing his eyes, Merlin let his magic lead him to Arthur.

.

.

.

Merlin could only watch as a blond young adult fighting an older gray man. The person looked angered and the teenager looked more confused yet clearly knew this person. His brows furrowed in confusion as this blond man was clearly having some trouble, but what made this soon startling was that he was using that knowing fighting style. The only one who fought that way was Arthur, yet there was something else behind that style. It was different.

"Okay." He muttered and took a deep breath as he looked around. He soon found some kind of metallic stick -that was what Merlin assumed it would be and used his magic to make the guy trip.

"Finally, Merlin. Took you long enough." The tone of the blond person made him scowl because even though the voice was different this was Arthur.

"I am sorry for taking that long, but it was your fault for causing this mess as having fucking scared me and causing me to end up mispronunciation one word, prat." He huffed out.

"Also who is even this guy?" He asked next.

Arthur had by now harmed the person enough to make him unable to move his leg. "Some guy called Fox, who is a perve."

He could see that his friend was tense and looking shaken about something. What it was Merlin could not figure out and he really was never wanting to see Arthur ever look that way.

"Do you want me to-" Merlin asked carefully.

"No, killing him would be too easy. I do not know what those memories are but trust me that guy deserves to suffer, and killing him would be the easy way out." Arthur coldly said.

This was the first time that he ever heard his friend sound this angered. It was also now that he realized that he had his own memories. A wince went through him and he carefully went over to Arthur.

"Do I even want to know what he has done?" He asked warily.

"No, you do not want to know. Can you do me a favor and find a spell that heals mental scarring because what I have seen from those memories I will need it." Arthur carefully said and made it clear that things were not good at all.

"I will do it, but first." His gaze shifted towards the asshole who had caused a lot of harm to his friend yet crush.

With a wave, he used a curse that would never leave the guy. Fox would forever feel the pain that he has done to others. Would forever have nightmares that would be at the point of view of those that Fox has harmed. Even when the guy would try to end it himself, he would never be able to. Until he died of natural causes.

"What did you do?"

"Let's just say that you will forever have to deal with the consequences that you have done." His voice was ice cold.

"I- how dare you."

"I do not give a fuck what you feel. My friend had the right to put a curse on you. Try to tell anyone none will ever believe you." Arthur sneered down at Fox.

"Um, Arthur." His voice was hesitant.

"Can you bring us out of here?" Arthur asked and Merlin pressed his lips together.

Them getting somehow out of that place was a hassle, even worse was that they had to drag Fox with them. Luckily he ended up making him lighter and Arthur carried the man like a sack potato. Merlin even made sure that the guy was unconscious. With him feeling his injury it was difficult. As they left the place he almost lost his footing. Someone had ended up holding him up and he blinked owlishly at another man. From what he knew from the memories it was Blanca.

"You are impossible Eiji. You are badly injured and decided to get here? How did you even know that we were here?" Blanca asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just don't ask." Arthur huffed out and gave Blanca a narrowed look. "He just knew. Also, Eiji," The tone of Arthur made him wince. "I swear to god, you give me gray hair."

"Sorry, I just had the feeling that you might die when I am not there." His voice was a whisper as he did not want to lose Arthur again.

"You dumbass, I won't die that easily and don't have a death wish." Arthur shook his head.

"Blanca do whatever you want with Fox. I will drag that dumbass back to the hospital."

"No. I can't heal at the place. It unnerves me." His voice was pouty.

"I know, but you need to," Arthur told him.

"You know what, Ash you get to the others. Blanca could bring Eiji back to the hospital." Another person's voice suddenly came from nowhere.

"I do not want to be separated from Ash."

Arthur knew why and when he was not seeing his king often, and with Merlin meant often, he had bad panic attacks. It was also why he often checked in the night at the chambers.

"Look, I get it. But do you want Ash to end up getting arrested?" Sing asked.

His body slumped down as he swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. Merlin does not want that, but the thought of the separation of his king is not good at all.

"No, but-but I can't." His voice was shaky.

"Come here for a moment." Arthur's voice was careful.

Slowly he was shuffling over at the man. Then he was carefully pulled into his chest. Merlin could tell that Arthur was not fully liking that touch, but bore with it. Though Merlin could tell that there was more behind it and from what he remembered from the memories, he knew why Arthur reacted that way.

"Listen carefully Merlin, do not worry about me. I will be fine and won't be alone. You on the other hand are still badly injured and I would feel more comfortable when you stay at that place that helps with healing." Arthur whispered in old English.

He nodded as he relaxed more. As they pulled away, he could feel the two had watched closely.

"Let's just go back there." His voice was soft and rather anxious.

Arthur gave him a pat on his shoulder before he was alone with Blanca.

"Let's go," Blanca instructed and Merlin could only pout at this.

Let's just say he had been scolded for going to Ash with his injuries. It showed how much they cared for Eiji but he was not him and he wondered what had happened to Eiji and Ash. Something told him that they may have ended up switching with their bodies.