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He wasn't sure if he should be grateful that Gwen said it wasn't his fault -- even though she wasn't aware he was actually Merlin -- or not. After all, he was trying to make her thing nothing was wrong... and was, unsurprisingly, failing immensely. He wasn't very good at pretending to be Arthur, was he? "Well then, I will find the blacksmith who did this and ask them what they did to my helm."

"Ar-rrr...Merlin's having a hard time with his chores?" he asked, amusement hinting in his tone. He had also almost slipped and said Arthur, but tried to fix that by making it come drawn out, almost like a strange version of "Er". Would she notice that? But the thought of Arthur having to do his chores was an amusing one indeed. Sure, he felt a slight bit of sympathy for the spoiled Prince, never having to do such things, but... Well... He deserved it!

"I hope that he didn't do them too bad?" he made it sound like a question, but a statement that "Merlin" had to have done them bad. Like it was his expectations. Even though he didn't care, he had to sound like he did. He didn't really like insulting "himself". "I'm sure there is nothing to worry about, Guinevère. He's probably just being his usual, idiotic self." Yeah... they had to find a solution to this magical switch soon, before something happened.

Merlin knew that Arthur was going to oppose to his idea right away, but that didn't change his mind! Somehow he had to get the Prince to agree to this, before Cenred's men got bright enough to check upstairs and figure them out. It could only be a matter of time, he knew. After all, why wouldn't they check the whole brothel? If they were lucky, the men might get sidetracked by the... other "entertainments" that were presented to visitors of the Brothel. But who knew how long that would last, or if it would even work? They were intent on finding them -- the Prince of Camelot was close to their grasp --, who in their right mind would get distracted in a situation like that?

"Arthur, what other choice do we have?" he pressed persistently. "Cenred's men are out there looking for us, for you, and we need to get out of here!" He tossed the garments onto the bed and began to empty the bag's contents. "Look, we have everything we need to pass off as women." He paused, then added as an after thought, "Well, not everything, physically at least. Although, not all women are as well endowed as most... So we should be fine!" He turned towards Arthur again and held up two dresses. "Red or purple? I think both suit you; don't you? If you don't want a dress, there are other clothes in the bag, too."

Would this work?

Merlin had an even harder time hiding his grin when Arthur glared at him. How could he take him seriously with those ears? Those big, long... donkey ears! And then he began to speak! Or more-so, bray, trying to speak. Which wasn't working out for him very well. He couldn't contain his laugh any longer, and he had a hard time ever stopping.

Nearly choking himself to a halt when Arthur finished his 'talking' and crossed his arms stubbornly -- which looked rather pathetic and childish in his current condition --, Merlin shook his head for a few moments and stood in silence, gathering his thoughts and collecting his nerves. If he had one thing that he considered good from the Goblin's mischief, it had to be this.

Gathering together his composure, he looked at Arthur another moment before saying in a very calm and serious voice, "Just rumors. You know, people talking about your condition. News spread rather fast," he gave a small wave like it didn't matter. While he had no clue what Arthur had been trying to say, other than perhaps the tone of the braying, he would just make his best guess. Continuing, he said, "But that's not why I'm here, Arthur. It's about... a remedy." Was he going to give it to him? Eventually. What was he going to do now? Well... that would just have to wait...

Merlin clasped his hands nervously behind his back and forced his feet to stop their movement. Instead he rocked back and forth on his heels. "Pacing? Who's pacing? I'm not pacing." He took a deep breath and added a calmer, "Sorry." Biting his lower lip, he continued to gaze around the room, but the only thing he could think of to use was whatever was in the bags on the bed, if anything were in them.

When Arthur asked what was in them, Merlin took the cue to check them. Slowly, dragging his steps, he made his way inch by inch towards the packs. Finally he got to them, and just as slowly, he began to tentatively open them as if afraid of what he would find. With his back to Arthur, he peered inside. Thankfully there were only clothes in there. Or so, only in the main space. He remained silent for a few long moments, contemplating, then withdrew away from it, bringing with him a pile of feminine (for they were for females) clothing.

"I've got an idea," Merlin spoke up finally, "and I don't think you're going to like it." He held up the clothes for emphasis, indicating that he was suggesting they dress up like, "Women."

[ Woo! lol ]

It seemed that he failed to convince her that nothing was wrong. Was there? Of course! He was trapped in Arthur's body and had to survive! Could he tell her that? He could, but he wasn't so sure that he should, or how he would explain it. "Yeah, I'm really Merlin" didn't sound so brilliant or convincing, did it? No, that would sound ridiculous!

When she stepped closer to him and offered him council, "Arthur" gulped and raised his hands a little. "I really wish that you wouldn't do that," he said, and then blinked. It probably came out differently from what he had intended, but in reality, he felt very uncomfortable in this position. After all, he wasn't Arthur, and she thought that he was. "Guinevère, really, I'm fine. It's just..." He needed an excuse. Yeah, a believable excuse that would put her mind at rest so she wouldn't think that anything was wrong.

"It's a surprise." There you go! An excuse! Hopefully that would deflect any worried questions. Or it would make the situation worse. He prayed against the latter, however.

Merlin remained in his position against the wall, and was glad that no one had passed by yet. But that luck would soon run out, he knew, for word would have to get out that the "Prince" ran away from practice, claiming to be sick... Yeah, perhaps that wasn't the best of excuses... He sighed and shook his head. Of all the people he could have become, it had to be the Prat?

He was set to stay here for as long as possible, but then to his surprise... Gwen found him. Oh no... he thought with an inward groan. Of all the people that could have found him, it had to be her? She knew Arthur better than any of them, how was he suppose to fool her? Right... well, he would have to figure it out.

"Gwen!" he exclaimed, still surprised, which showed in his tone. No, that wasn't anything near to how Arthur would say it! "Guinevère," he paused when she put her hand on his arm. He looked around now, too, also making sure that no one was around. No one could see! And there it was. So word had gotten out, right? Great... "Nothing that I can't survive," he said, trying to be convincing. But they will cut me to pieces, first! "There isn't anything to be worried about Gwen... er, Guinevère."

Merlin had always claimed to be perceptive, but when the time came down to really needing that keenness, it wasn't there. So fooled was he by the plight of his friend and this girl's innocence and worry, that he was unaware that this whole thing was a giant hoax. His friend would only be in danger when Merlin fully fell for his old -- and still -- enemy's plan. But how could he expect for her to in fact be the sorceress he had believed he had killed? If he had known, he would only have come to try and stop her. But alas... he did not.

When she informed him that he didn't have much time, his eyes widened slightly. What did he have to do to protect Arthur? He felt his heart racing with the urge of wanting, needing, to immediately do so. "Yes, I care a lot for Arthur," he said, forcing himself to calm. "He is my best friend. I would never wish him harm." But would it appear that way for long? No, it would not...

The curse might already be on its way? But she had a plan, she had to if 'this' was the 'only way to save him', right? The curse was close, that was terrible news indeed. He had to do something, he could not allow Arthur to be possessed! To do so would ruin who the man was! And that in itself would be the fall of Camelot...

"The Druid Council went wrong?" he asked. He could only assume that she meant that they all disagreed to do something about it. Of course, could he blame them? Coming into Camelot even for something like that would still get them killed if they failed to escape. But to literally do nothing...

Merlin stayed still as he watched her reach into her bag, speaking of a plan. She did have one; Great, now he could start right away without the risk of failing. She pulled out a flower -- a red lily perhaps? -- and held it out in her open palm. It was a beautiful flower, and he found his attention attracted to it as the girl spoke. It was a magic flower, rare and powerful, she said. With it, he could see the spirit's presence and save Arthur.

When she continued, Merlin slowly reached out to grasp the flower tentatively in his hand. He lifted it up, staring at it, and looked at her one more time. All he had to do was sniff it? Something in his gut told him not to, but his worry for Arthur told him he had to. He would listen to the latter, and lift the flower to his nose, still watching the druid girl. Pausing but only a moment, he drew in a deep breath, drew in the intoxicating odour that would make him want Arthur dead. The real evil here, would not be a spirit sent by a sorcerer to try and possess Arthur. No... it would be an altered view of perception on Merlin's part.

At first he felt nothing, but then the effects started to take over. He began to feel lightheaded, and swooned a little almost as if he was going to topple over. But he managed to hold his standing position. Something was wrong here... Something that wasn't suppose to be happening, or that he didn't think was suppose to be happening... No... was this a trick? But that thought would quickly be erased from his mind as he failed to fight the powerful magic of the flower. Failed to fight off the 'evil spirit' that would indeed be there, but not to possess Arthur...

He looked up at the girl, his eyes quickly flashing between the gold of his magic and then back to normal in the same instance, almost as if it hadn't happened. He had a new perspective, and he did not want to help Arthur at all. No, he would go to Arthur, but only to drive a dagger through his heart and end his life himself.

"Actually... I think the druids were right," he said slowly, effortlessly like they were his own words. They were his own words. "We shouldn't save Arthur. He is a pressing problem to Camelot and those who wield magic. In fact... I think we should kill him instead."

[ lol, it's okay, because I loved it! Sorry that mine is long, too, lol. ]

Merlin was, to say the least, very happy that Arthur had indeed come. He knew that now that the Prince was here, that their chances of succeeding had increased tenfold. Arthur was an invaluable ally, and a great friend to have there beside him. The annoyed look, nor words, bothered him, though, and he only lowered the sword to his side. When the Prince walked past him, Merlin, still grinning, followed after him without any complaints.

Once at the campsite, Merlin tossed his sword next to his bedroll and sat down on the log in front of the fire, beside Arthur, rubbing his hands together to keep them warm. He watched Arthur for a few moments, not knowing what to say to him, how to thank him. He had to thank him, or so he told himself. He was glad that the Prince had come, but didn't know how to express it. With words, obviously, but what words? So instead, he just sat there, and looked at the fire, waiting for the Prince to talk instead.

[ Crap post. lol. Yes, you can join us, Gwen! lol ]

Merlin resisted shooting a glare at Arthur at the comment that he just had to be able to lift the armor without breaking his back. While it was heavy, he doubted he'd break his back! So he just stood gazing at the armor and said a small, "Of course," so it didn't seem like he was ignoring the Prince. He just had to figure out the armor once, and then he thought that, perhaps, he could get it all of the other times!

So when he finally picked up the chainmail, he assumed that his answer to his questions were right. Well... yeah, assumed. Arthur didn't answer, so who knew what was really suppose to go on first? Again, he wouldn't comment on the insult, and instead awkwardly lifted the armor above his head. Arthur wasn't going to make this easy, was he?

When he had it lifted above his head, he stumbled forward a little only to attempt to pull it down over Arthur's head and body. Yeah... that didn't work out quite well. Instead, he thought that he might have gotten the armor stuck. "Uh..." he tried to readjust it by yanking on it, not wanting to get yelled at for stopping, but it didn't want to go on right...