Nightmares

Chapter 1

A/N So here I go, I love these type of stories so I decided to make one! Hope you enjoy it. Also this story is roughly based off "Nightmares & Knights" by sheElf1999.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, all rights go to BBC
"What is your problem today Merlin!" Arthur yells glaring at his useless manservant.
"You're so useless it's not even funny anymore!" Arthur growls, "You've only managed to drop all my armor TWICE, slipped my breakfast all over the table, and did this!" Arthur motioned to his shirt which Merlin had accidentally put on backwards.
"Sorry Arthur." Merlin muttered closing his eyes before letting out a small sigh. Arthur looked at Merlin for the first time, his face was pale and stretched and he had bags under his eyes.
"Are you alright Merlin?" Arthur asks as he fixes his shirt.
"I'm fine, just haven't been sleeping well, that's all." The servant replies as him and the King leave the room and head to the training ground where the Knights were training with throwing knives. When the pair get to the training field, Merlin takes his normal seat in the stands and watches. Lancelot soon joins him as he prefers hand to hand combat and not long distance, he feels as if it's cheating in combat.
"You look exhausted Merlin, when was the last time you slept?" Lancelot questions the boy who look ready to collapse from tiredness.
"Couple nights ago." He mutters leaning his back against the stands.
"Come on, let's get you back to Gaius then you can sleep." Lancelot says as he helps his friend to his feet. Arthur doesn't say anything about Lancelot and Merlin leaving, which shocked all the knights.
*With Gaius*
Lancelot lead Merlin to his room and pulled up a chair, sitting next to his friends bed.
"Rest." He commands as the servant.
"I can't." Merlin whispers, looking at him. Lancelot can see the small, vulnerable look in Merlin's eyes, which was something that Lancelot had never seen before.
"Try." Lancelot insists gently shoving Merlin back onto the bed.
"You're not gonna let me out of this, are you?" Merlin asks looking up at Lancelot, who shook his head. Merlin sighs and closes his eyes, he fell asleep almost instantly. About an hour later Gaius walks into the small room, to say he was shocked to see Merlin fast asleep would be an understatement. What didn't shock him was Lancelot sitting next to the bed, eyes closed and breathing calm. Gaius smiles and gently shuts the wooden door; careful not to make any noise.
*Four Hours Later*
Lancelot woke at the sound of something crashing to the ground. He looks over to quickly check his surroundings and find his sword when he remembers where he was and why. Merlin, still fast asleep was completely silent, which was something new considering he was always muttering in his sleep. Lancelot ran out of Merlin's small room and into the physician quarters. Gaius was picking up large pieces of glass from a broken beaker.
"Need some help?" Lancelot asks grabbing a broom.
"Yes, thank you." Gaius says stepping back so Lancelot can start sweeping the glass. Lancelot finishes sweeping the up the glass and sticks it in the bin, that's when the yells start. Lancelot and Gaius both turn towards Merlin's room and ran towards it, Gaius opens the door but doesn't enter because Lancelot enters first and the moment Lancelot's next to Merlin's bed, the screaming stopped.
"How?" Gaius asks, "I've tried everything I know and I still couldn't stop the nightmares." He whispers in shock.
"Merlin, wake up." Lancelot whispers to the manservant. He opens eyes and looks over at Lancelot and Gaius. He didn't look completely better but he did look refreshed.
"That's the best I've slept in a long time." Merlin whispers smiling at Lancelot, "Thank you." He looks at Merlin and smiles him again.
"How do you feel?" Gaius asks, looking at Merlin.
"Better thank I have in a while." Merlin whispers sitting up against the bed.
"Good, also Arthur came by earlier demanding to see you. I told him you would be by later, once you woke up." Gaius tells the warlock; who sighs and starts to stand. Lancelot looks worried but at the look Gaius send him he doesn't say anything. Merlin disappears out the door into the physician chambers, there was a faint creak and slam meaning Merlin had left for the room.
"Is he alright Gaius?" Lancelot asks, "Was he cursed?" Lancelot finally looks at Gaius, not sure if he wanted to know the answer. Gaius sighed.
"I think he was cursed by the sorcerer that you and the Knights found last week, when you guys got back that's when the nightmares started. I don't think he knew you guys cared for Merlin." Gaius mutters, going over all the possible causes in his mind.
"So the sorcerer could've been the cause of this, and now that he's dead...do you have any idea how to fix this?" Lancelot asks.
"I'll look into it but for now all we can do is see how he reacts when asleep around the other Knights.
"Alright, I'll go and see what I can do to get the others to try this, Percival and Gwaine will be easy since the both will do anything for Merlin. Elyan probably will be easier that Leon, mostly because Gwen will probably force him. Leon will probably give me the most grief, he's not that close with Merlin." Lancelot says, mostly to himself but also for Gaius, so the elderly physician knows he'll help.
"Thank you Sir Lancelot." Gaius call after the knight, who was already leaving the room.
"Anytime." Lancelot responds, already heading to the training field.