It was an average day in Camelot. Merlin was late to wake up Arthur, again and had a few things chucked at him as he ran out the door, calling back to Arthur,

"Stop being such a prat!"

"Shut up Merlin!" Arthur replied annoyed. Lancelot and Leon had to fight to keep a strait face as Arthur and Merlin showed up late for training as Gwaine rolled his eyes in annoyance. The two where bickering, again.

"I see someone's in a good mood this morning" Lancelot commented quietly to Leon, who nodded his head as Arthur started barking orders,

"You can say that again." Arthur had been a particularly sour mood since the day before after he got out of the meeting with the council, but he wouldn't explain why, so Merlin and the knights where forced to put up with Arthur while silently wondering what had made him so irritable.

Merlin secretly wondered if it was Arthur's father that was causing Arthurs attitude. Ever since Morgana's betrayal, he hadn't been the same. He was more paranoid then ever and didn't even trust his own son anymore. He was irrational took out all of his anger on Arthur, who in turn, took it out on his servant, Merlin. Arthur was using Merlin to hold up the target as he bashed it mercilessly, and only got angrier when Merlin dropped the shield and it went off rolling.

"Can't you at least hold onto a shield Merlin?" Arthur asked furiously.

"Sorry I just lost my grip on it Arthur…" Merlin apologized.

"You can't get anything right can you?" Arthur snapped. Merlin glared at Arthur's back, wanting to tell him how dead he would be if it weren't for Merlin, but that would mean telling Arthur about his magic, and Arthur loathed magic, especially after what happened to Morgana. Because of her, he now believed magic could corrupt anyone, and that it would corrupt everyone unless it was stopped, making Merlin once again question his supposed 'destiny'.

"If only he knew" Lancelot whispered to Merlin.

"If only" Merlin sighed.

"I'm sure he'll be in a better mood tomorrow" Gwaine piped in.

"That's what you said yesterday" Merlin sighed.

"Merlin come on!" Arthur snapped.

"The Princess awaits" Gwaine informed Merlin when he didn't move. Merlin groaned and followed dutifully behind Arthur, wishing the day would end quickly.

Merlin silently went around Arthur's room putting out all of the candles. Merlin had taken to not speaking to Arthur since everything Merlin had said only seemed to make him angrier. Arthur watched Merlin his face void of emotion.

"Merlin?" Arthur asked. Merlin froze before taking a deep breath and turned around slowly while asking through gritted teeth,

"Yes Sire?"

"Make sure to polish my armor for tomorrow, and be on time" Arthur ordered. Merlin stifled a groan and replied,

"Of course sire." Merlin bent down and picked up all of the armor at once and awkwardly made his way out of the room. Merlin decided to go down to the armory to polish the armor so he wouldn't disturb Gaius.

Merlin had made the trip down to the armory so many times he didn't really even pay attention to were he was going he just went. As he started down the stairs, Merlin stumbled slightly and flung out his arms to try and steady himself, sending all of Arthur's armor clamoring to the floor. Merlin stepped down only to step onto another piece of armor making him tumble down the stairs. Merlin shouted out in surprise as he tumbled and felt a burning pain in his forehead before darkness consumed him.

"I just wish Arthur would lay off Merlin a little" Lancelot was telling Percival as they headed back to there rooms from training. The castle was eerily quiet as they walked, "I mean he didn't really do anything wrong and he is always getting the brunt of Arthurs anger. " Percival nodded in agreement and was about to say something when he heard a crash, followed by a shout.

"Merlin" Lancelot breathed, heading in the direction the crash had come from. Merlin was sprawled at the foot of the staircase, Arthur's armor scattered down the steps.

"Merlin? You ok?" Percival asked worriedly. When Merlin didn't stir they both began to worry about there friend and hurried over to his side. Although Percival hadn't known Merlin for very long, he'd been starting to get closer to him throughout his time in Camelot and hoped that he was alright.

"Merlin!" Lancelot shouted shaking him slightly, that's when he noticed the blood, and inspected him further, noticing a deep gash on his forehead. "We need to get him to Gaius!" Lancelot was saying, but Percival was already scooping up Merlin in his arms and then the two nights raced to the Physicians chambers as if death was on there heels.