The Midnight Curse

Chapter One

For the first time since the Dragon's attack on Camelot, the Kingdom was in high spirits. With the Lady Morgana's birthday approaching, the whole castle was busier than usual. The hall was cleaned and decorated with crimson banners and flowers, the greatest entertainers in the five Kingdoms were arriving one by one and a grand feast was in the making for the big celebration.

Merlin rose earlier and went to sleep later each night as the workload seemed to double. Between gathering herbs for Gaius, helping Gwen set up the flowers in the hall and finding a gift for Morgana from Arthur,  Merlin barely could catch a moment for himself.

As usual he was woken in the early hours of the morning by Gaius's yelling, "Merlin, get up!" With a yawn Merlin turned and pressed his face into his pillow, pretending not to hear him. As the door to his room opened with a loud squeak, he sighed.

"Did you not hear me?" Gaius asked loudly with a frown.

Merlin lifted his head to look at Gaius, "Oh I heard you." he said tiredly letting his head fall back on his pillow. "Just tell Arthur I died or something I don't care, just make it sound good." Merlin mumbled pulling the covers over his head.

Gaius rolled his eyes and stepped towards Merlin's bed, he quickly ripped the blanket off him and gave him a disapproving look.

"Gaius!" Merlin complained loudly, he shivered as the cold air hit him.

"You do not have the luxury of sleeping in Merlin, the Prince will be down here in the next hour if you do not get up. And I doubt he will be that forgiving, given today is the Lady Morgana's birthday." Gaius said sternly.

"Believe me I know what day it is." Merlin groaned. "I've had to do all my chores for Arthur on top of helping the other servants with decorating the place and finding the prat a gift to give tonight. Do you know how hard it is to get something for a girl?" Merlin complained as he sat up rubbing his eyes.

Gaius's lips twitched in amusement before he put on a blank face, "As trying as that may be, that is no reason for you to still be in bed. Now get up or when the Prince asks where you are, I'll tell him you've gone to the Tavern again."

"You wouldn't!" Merlin said quickly standing up, his eyes wide.

"Let's not find out, now shall we?" Gaius smirked leaving the room.

Merlin quickly got dressed in his usual clothes but couldn't find the red neckerchief he always wore. Deciding he did'nt have enough time to look for it he rushed out of his room to see Gaius eating what looked like runny porridge.

"Come have your breakfast before you go Merlin." Gaius said gesturing to the bowl opposite him.

"I wish I could, but I'm already late, bye Gaius." Merlin said quickly grabbing an apple from the table and rushing out the door.

The sun had barely risen in the sky as Merlin crossed the courtyard. With Winter just around the corner, the air had turned colder making him wish he had a warmer set of clothes. Merlin pulled his brown jacket closer to his neck as he climbed the steps and shivered. Without his neckerchief he felt like something was missing, but with a busy day ahead of him he knew he had little time to search for where he may have misplaced it.

Merlin hurried into the royal kitchen grabbing anything he could find for the Prince's breakfast. Some of the cooks gave him fond looks, while others looked on disapprovingly at him as he rushed around them, almost dropping his tray of food. He flashed them an innocent smile as he ran out and made his way towards the Prince's chambers. The guards outside the room did'nt even blink as Merlin rushed into the room without knocking.

"Come on, it's time to- " Merlin trailed off as he stepped into the room and noticed that Arthur was already awake, dressed and sitting behind his desk with a pile of papers in front of him. Merlin blinked back in surprise. "You're awake? And dressed?"

Arthur rolled his eyes, "As it so happens Merlin, I am perfectly capable of getting myself ready for the day."

"Not that I've ever seen." Merlin mumbled with a grin as he set the tray on the table.

"There's something different about you today Merlin, what is it?" Arthur remarked with a frown. He leaned back in his chair and looked at his servant intently.

"Nothing I can think of Sire." Merlin replied as he moved to make the bed.

Arthur suddenly clicked his fingers together, "Oh, I know you're not wearing that stupid thing around your neck today." Arthur said looking proud of himself for figuring it out.

"It's not stupid." Merlin muttered rolling his eyes. "I must have misplaced it somewhere." He added sadly.

"Honestly, Merlin, it's just a scrap of fabric." Arthur said rolling his eyes. He glanced at the breakfast tray and shot Merlin a look of disbelief as he held out a tiny piece of bread and two apples. "You call this a breakfast?" Arthur asked with a glare.

"Well, you wouldn't want to spoil your appetite for the feast tonight." Merlin said with an innocent shrug as he stuffed the bed covers into a basket.

"That's twelve hours away Merlin." Arthur exclaimed as he stood up bracing his hands on the table. "You know it's a wonder I haven't starved to death yet with a servant like you. I have half a mind to put you in the stocks Merlin."

Merlin shook his head at Arthur as he started tidying the rest of the room, "Well, I wouldn't have been late if someone hadn't ordered me to do all my chores and find a suitable present for the Lady Morgana all in one night." He said frowning.

Arthur raised his eyebrows at his tone, "So you did find her a gift for me to give to her?"

"Yes Sire." Merlin nodded quickly.

Arthur looked impressed for a moment, "So? What is it Merlin? Spit it out."

He nervously shifted his feet as he glanced at the Prince. "It's a cloak."

Arthur scowled, "A cloak? I'm quite sure she has more than enough of those already."

Merlin bit his lip and looked away, "Not like this one."