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This was terrible, completely terrible! Cenred's men had found them in the lower tunnels, and now they were caught! And it was all Morgana's fault, she had somehow told her "partners" about where they were headed. This rescue had turned into an absolute disaster... They had come to rescue Gwen's brother, Elyan, and Morgana just had to come. She ruined it all, insisting. She knew of Arthur and Gwen's feelings, wanted to use it against them... Merlin just fell further into the knowledge that he would never be able to forgive her. Never be able to forgive her for betraying her own friends. He could understand about him, but Arthur and Gwen? All they ever did was care for her...

He stumbled into the cell when he was pushed into it, he turned around to stare forlornly at the door that was slammed behind them. What were they going to do? he wondered. They were at Cenred's, at Morgana's, mercy, and he doubted any "mercy" would be forthcoming. He checked a sigh and sat down against the wall, glaring at the door with a rather helpless stare. He was tempted to blow it down, but with Arthur right there... He couldn't muster the nerve to break the silence, as if breaking the silence would make the worse come true.

What were they going to do?

Oh no! Had she caught on?! He almost breathed a sigh of relief when she suggested that he was probably just tired. And going and laying down was probably a good idea -- not only because he could still hear the ringing of a sword on his helmet, but because he didn't want to make a bigger fool of himself! ... Of Arthur! ... Arthur... Oh no! Arthur would kill him for embarrassing him so! He groaned, and not inwardly.

"But I have to get back to the men, they'll be worried. But... you are right," he said. He had no problem with resting, actually was really agreeing with the idea, but he had to sound Arthur-ish! "I will rest. Thank you, Guinevère." He didn't respond to the 'Merlin' comment, he let her assume he agreed with it, and had thanked her for that, too. In fact, Merlin was a little afraid to see Arthur later anyway, as well... he could be sure Arthur wouldn't be pleased about the Knight instance. But at the same time, he needed to talk to him! They needed to come up with a plan or something!

He followed her as she took his hand and led him away. "You should get some rest too, Guinevère," he said warmly. "You work so hard for Morgana. I can talk to her to see if she'll let you off early to do so." He'd prefer not to talk to Morgana, but he wasn't himself, he was Arthur. And she acted pleasant around him! But really, he felt Gwen needed a break to! She was so dedicated to her friends!

Merlin looked around like he had no part in any of the appearances that Arthur was humiliated from. He knew he referred to the donkey thing, but Merlin didn't mean to let the Goblin loose! But... he did mean to drag on Arthur's suffering just a while... He deserved it!! "Because, Arthur, you aren't going to be seen, at least, recognized." He held up one of the cloths he had, shaking it a little in midair like he had a plan. They didn't have wigs, so unless they could find some, they'd need to improvise!

"Good. Don't take it off, you'd just get confused anyway," Merlin mumbled. Actually, he was quite glad that Arthur wasn't going to actually listen and take it off. He was much more relieved with Arthur actually going through with this plan -- made him safer in Merlin's opinion! "But don't bicker to me about it. You had the chance. Besides... It's annoying." It was rare indeed when he actually told Arthur that he was being annoying, usually it was the other way around!

When commanded to turn around, he did so without question. He wouldn't comment on it, at least yet, but a smile stretched across his face once more at the thought of Arthur's embarrassment about having to use socks as breasts. Hey, wasn't Merlin's fault he didn't have them!

"Oh come on, Arthur!" he was growing exasperated now! "You're suppose to be the Crown Prince! Sure, you have to wear a dress, but your life is more important than half a day in a woman's clothes to save your life! Even if you were noticed in a dress, the people who count, the people of Camelot, are more concerned with your well being then your appearance!" Seriously, it wasn't that long that they would be wearing one! He took a deep breath and sighed. No, he had to keep optimistic about this, despite Arthur's words telling him otherwise! To make light of the situation was better than not doing so! And even though he found Arthur's dressing as a woman highly entertaining, he just wished he would shut up about it!

To say the least the rest of his finishing the laces wasn't gentle as he was slowly growing irritated. Oh, so Arthur did want him to be serious? Somehow he doubted it, but it didn't matter to him. He'd get serious if that was what he wanted! "Okay, fine. Take off the dress, then, and go get yourself killed. I thought a fighting master such as yourself would realize when stealth was more important then appearance and pride, but I guess I was wrong on that account!" He stopped tying the dress in a huff, then immediately calmed himself down again. It wouldn't get them anywhere.

At first, after Merlin had got the other items out -- and he was thankful that Arthur didn't bring up... that thing he found (there would be a lot of things the two wouldn't bring up when they were done with this) -- he didn't realize what Arthur was talking about. Yeah, they would be useful, but for what, exactly? What was Arthur hinting at. He gave the Prince a confused stare, obviously not understanding. "What?" he questioned, his tone equally bewildered. Then, when Arthur glanced 'downwards', Merlin understood. "Oh! Right. Here!" he tossed some of the socks to the Prince and walked over, holding out the items just in case he wanted to use any of the others.

Merlin shook his head slowly, conceding that Arthur did, in fact have a point. But then again, there had to be something marking it as a Brothel! How would people find it otherwise and... he cut that disturbing thought off. "Yes, Arthur, but you didn't have any other 'bright' ideas to get us out of this." And so Arthur would just have to deal with it! "It won't be long before you can take the dress off, we just have to get away from Cenred's men."

Merlin grinned again at Arthur's notice that he was in fact, quite enjoying this. Hard to miss though, he wasn't exactly successfully hiding it. Didn't matter much, though, did it? It still didn't change the fact that the situation was more serious than he made it out to seem. And not just because it was a serious issue if Arthur was noticed wearing a dress and recognized as the Prince. It was serious because there were men below that wanted them dead. Well, if they had actually entered the Brothel, which he found rather likely. He gave a small, but sharp, tug on the laces during this to tell him to stop complaining, and said, "You're right, I am. Would you prefer me to be all dark and grim and remind you that there are men downstairs that want us, want you, dead, sire?" His tone grew in intensity, and he added the title to add weight to the seriousness of his words. At least Arthur was cooperating with wearing the dress.

When Arthur inquired about what else was in the bag, Merlin turned around without hesitation -- knowing Arthur didn't intend to look and someone had to -- and walked over to the bag once more. Peering inside, he shuffled around the contents, searching. "Um, let's see.... more dresses, some other... strange clothing, uh... Oh god!" the tone was shocked, and he shoved the contents of the bag over to the opposite side to look over there, his face slightly red. "Stuff we don't want to know, er... Aha!" He pulled out some other articles of clothing, some socks, and several cloth-like fabrics. "These might be useful!" he exclaimed, holding them up triumphantly.

When Arthur exclaimed, obviously appalled by him in the dress, Merlin couldn't hold make a loud laugh. Yes, it amused him immensely. Choking his laughs to a halt, he asked in a shaky voice -- trying not to laugh again -- "Aw, you don't think that I look pretty? You're not a very nice guy." He shook his head as if disappointed, but still wore his amused grin that stretched nearly from ear to ear. Really, besides the fact that he also had to wear a dress -- though it didn't bother him as much as the Prince, Merlin would rather live then not put it on when it was the only choice -- the whole situation still amused him from every comment Arthur made. The situation just couldn't get any better! Or to Arthur, any worse, Merlin was sure.

Still staring at the wall, his back still to the Prince, Merlin drawled out an exaggerated, "Heeey," to his comment, then added, "I don't like to wear women's gowns. Do you think I like this anymore then you do?" Okay, he did, and it went back to the "amusing" factor. "I would just prefer to get out of here as quick as possible. It was your bright idea to come into the 'Inn' Mr. Smart Guy." He 'title' came out sarcastically. Yes, an Inn that just so happened to be a Brothel! Merlin had told him that this wasn't a good idea! Inns and taverns always proved to be bad for them! This time it was worse! It wasn't one at all!

He waited for a while, knowing fully well that Arthur was having trouble with the dress even though he didn't look at him. Why wouldn't he? He hardly knew how to get into his own clothes in Merlin's opinion! Let alone a dress! He smirked when Arthur finally admitted the problem, and gave a dramatic sigh before turning around to face him. "It isn't that hard, Arthur," he said, walking to him. "And not just because I know how dresses are suppose to go on -- NOT because I wear them!" he added in a rush. "Now stay still so we can get this done." Taking the laces in both hands, he skillfully began to lace them up, crisscrossing them over each other where they should, and making it just tight enough to be comfortable.

"I must say," he commented when he finished, "you look quite good in a dress.... But as a woman you wouldn't be very attractive..."

If Merlin had any ounce of an idea as to what was going on to change his view so, he didn't show it. Why? Because he didn't. Deep down there might have been something that still lingered, but the magic's effects were so strong that if there really was, it wouldn't be able to get out. Wouldn't be able to break the enchantment. And so, believing that Arthur really should die, Merlin was in all words: a different person. Accept for appearance, life, and those things. But in personality, perspective, towards his best friend... he was.

He tucked the flower away in his pocket, not realizing it was a source of magic that made him think differently. And he wouldn't realize it, if at all, until it was too late. He was completely under Nimueh's spell, and still believed that she was a druid girl. So when she grabbed his arm gently, he just listened intently, and gave her a quick nod. "Yes, Arthur is a hindrance. But the question is, how do I kill him?"

He knew how. Any way that he could, that's how. And if the question was how did he get to the Prince to do so, why, he was one of the best people to do so. He was with the Prince nearly at all times, running errands for him, going on journeys with him, doing other things with him. In fact, the Prince was probably wondering where he was at this very moment! Wondering where the hell his armor was, or some such thing.

It would be easy to get to Arthur, catch him unawares and out of public, and kill him. If, and that was a strong if, he could catch the Prince when he wasn't paying attention. And alone. He couldn't let everyone see him kill him! And he had to act natural, like nothing was wrong, lest Arthur detect something was amiss. That could ruin the plan. He didn't want that, he had to succeed in this dangerous task.

"Yes, I can't believe that I ever believed Arthur was my friend," he said calmly, truthfully if that's what it could be called. "He treats me terribly. I always passed it off as jokes, but... Now I see through that, they weren't jokes.

"I will kill Arthur Pendragon."

Merlin's grin returned when Arthur spoke next. His even extra irritated tone only told Merlin for sure that the Prince had absolutely no idea what to do with the dress. Merlin, on the other hand, new more about dresses, really. After all, he had lived in Ealdor with his mother for quite some time. That was where he would credit this knowledge from. Besides, he just didn't find it that hard to understand! Clothes were clothes, after all! "Of course, madam," he said in amusement, turning abruptly around and walking a little ways further across the room.

Beginning to undress himself, he ignored the queasy feeling he got about doing so in the same room as Arthur, he held the dress up in front of him to examine it and better get an idea of how it was suppose to go on. Not that hard! he decided in satisfaction, and undressed all the way until he got to his trousers. Unfastening the front, as it had a few buttons to add to the style around the semi-low neckline, Merlin slipped the dress over his head and wiggled his way into it casually. Once all of it was in place, he fixed the sleeves so that they were more comfortable around his elbows, re-buttoned the buttons, and messed with the lower half a little until it flowed out below him.

Without glancing at Arthur, he turned his head around a little to examine himself, and asked, quite seriously, "Does this dress make my butt look big?" He would turn in circles a little to try and figure it out. When his eyes made contact with Arthur, he abruptly turned away. "It's not that hard, just put it on."

Arthur obviously didn't want Merlin to comment on the dress, as much was clear when he told him to shut up. Still, Merlin couldn't help but be amused by the Prince's reluctance to wear a dress. It wasn't like it would kill him -- maybe internally, but not externally -- and honestly, it wasn't as bad as it seemed! Okay, maybe it was, but he wasn't about to voice that aloud for the Prince to hear, that was for sure! "Right, sorry," he said, forcing himself not to laugh and therefore invoke the Prince's anger further.

He did, however, immediately stop grinning when Arthur told him to. Because, yet again, he didn't want to make Arthur angry, or even more reluctant to put on the dress. He was sure it was hard enough for the Prince as it was to put on the dress -- no, he wasn't sure of it, he knew it was. However, it was a rather hard thing to keep up when he saw Arthur look at the dress. Okay, so perhaps it wasn't the best of dresses, but oh boy was it amusing! He silently thanked whoever had left their clothes in the room. Not only because it might indeed save their lives, but because it was just funny to see Arthur's whole attitude about it.

He looked at the dress he was holding, the purple dress that Arthur hadn't taken. This said dress's sleeves were tied off where they would meet the elbow, and had a slightly poofy bottom where the waist and lower would be. He, now, couldn't hide his own disgusted look and quickly looked up at it at Arthur, wondering if he noticed.

"Right," he said again to Arthur's comment. He didn't know what he was doing, did he? "Then I will leave you to figure out what to do with it. I'm sure the Crowned Prince of Camelot knows all about dresses!" He glanced at his own again before looking back up with a frown at him. "And I am not eager to put it on! Nor have I worn a dress before!" Now, somewhat to try and embarrass the Prince further, he added, "Come on, then. Let's see you put it on!"