Chapter 7.

They were walking through the town now. "I thought you said it wasn't far?" Arthur called to Merlin.

"It isn't. It's over there." Merlin said pointing to a large house on the opposite side of the street.

"That's where you live? I thought we were returning to Camelot?" Arthur said.

"I'll explain when we get inside."

Arthur walked beside Merlin. He glanced at a group of people who were staring at him and laughing. "Why do they all look like they want to kill me?" he asked.

"It's because of your armour." Merlin replied simply.

"Oi! You there!" One of the people from the group called to Arthur. He and Merlin turned round to face the group. "Who are you meant to be? King Arthur?" the person called while the other people laughed. Arthur who was about to argue back was pulled away by Merlin. "Don't they know who I am?!!!" he grumbled angrily. "I should have them thrown in the stocks for that!!!!" Merlin didn't answer he just kept pulling Arthur in the direction of his house.

They reached the front door to Merlin's house. Merlin quickly whispered a spell under his breath. "Ic I tospringae." What use was a key if you had magic? Merlin could feel Arthur shiver beside him. Merlin stepped over the threshold, Arthur was right behind him. Merlin sat down on a leather sofa. He was watching Arthur who was looking around the place in amazement. "We need to get you some normal clothes but for now you can wear a pair of mine." Merlin said, throwing Arthur a pair of jeans and a shirt that he had ironed this morning, using magic of course.

"Merlin! Aren't you forgetting something?" Arthur said staring in amazement at his seemingly forgetful servant.

"No I don't think so." Merlin said.

"You're my servant." Arthur replied. His temper starting to rise.

"Not anymore. The world has changed Arthur."

"Why who rules now then?"

"Elizabeth the second."

"Never even heard of her." Arthur replied.

"You'll have to get changed yourself." Merlin said a slight smirk on his face.

Arthur's mouth dropped open in shock. Merlin looked at him laughing. "Ok. Fine. Just this once I'll help you. But you'll have to dress yourself from then on." Merlin said getting up to help Arthur take off his armour. When Arthur was changed Merlin sat back down and switched on the television. "Did you enchant this?" Arthur asked slightly awestruck by the television. "How did you manage to get the people inside?" Merlin sighed, shaking his head. "What's this?" Arthur said tugging at the wire and disconnecting the television.

Arthur then went into the kitchen. He looked at the microwave and washing machine and cooker. He walked over to the kettle and flicked the switch. It started to make a high pitched whistle. "Merlin help!!! Where did I leave my sword?!!!!" Arthur yelled looking around on the floor.

"Arthur. It can't hurt you." Merlin said getting up and flicking the switch off again. He steered Arthur to the sofa and sat him down. "Do you want something to drink?" he asked.

"Have you got any mead?" Arthur asked.

Merlin laughed. "No. They stopped brewing mead ages ago. I've got some cans of cola in the fridge though."

"What's cola? And what's a fridge?" Arthur asked.

"I'll explain soon though I promise." Merlin said getting two cans of cola out of the fridge, opening them and handing one to Arthur. "Try it." Merlin said. Arthur drank some of the cola coughing a bit at the fizzy taste. "mmm..... it's nice." he said, drinking some more.

"I knew you'd like it." Just then the phone on the table started ringing. Arthur kicked his foot at it. "How do you get it to shut up?!!!" he yelled spilling some of the cola down his shirt. Merlin sighed as he picked up the phone. "No. I think you might have the wrong number." he said into the receiver. "Ok. No problem." he said putting the phone down again.

"Why'd you talk to it?" Arthur asked looking at Merlin like he was mad.

"That's what you have to do." Merlin replied. "There's a person at the end and they talk back to you."

"Really?" Arthur replied shocked.

"Yeah." Merlin said slightly confused.

Arthur picked up the phone and started yelling into it. "HELLO?!!!!! HELLO!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME?!!!!!"

Merlin laughed. "You have to wait for the phone to ring first Arthur." he took the receiver and placed it back into its setting. "And don't waste your time sitting there all day waiting for it to ring." Merlin added.

"Don't be stupid Merlin. I wouldn't waste my time doing that." Arthur said. 'Still I want it to ring! So I can talk to person inside.' he thought despairingly.