Chapter 9. - Homework.

Merlin was in Gaius's chambers searching through his numerous spell books that he had obtained from Gaius over the years. He sighed. 'I need to help Gwen and I can't even find the right spell!' he thought exasperatedly. He closed his eyes and the pages flipped over quickly as thought caught in a strong breeze. Merlin's eyes snapped open as he heard the door open. But it was only Gaius. "Merlin? What are you doing?" the old physician asked.

"I'm trying to find a spell to get Arthur back to his normal self before it's too late." he replied, turning the pages over manually. After turning a few more pages, he cried out in anguish. "This is hopeless!!!!" he slammed the book shut and punched the table in frustration. He threw his head into his hands. "I've been through two hundred and fifty different spells and still can't find the right one!!!!"

"Then there is only one course of action for you to take." Gaius said, "You must call the Great Dragon."

"No! I can't leave Camelot again while everyone is preparing for the wedding. Whether I like it or not, Arthur will expect me to be there." Merlin complained.

"Well you either call the Great Dragon or you let Arthur make the biggest mistake of his life and lose the truest love he will ever have." Gaius replied. Merlin knew Gaius was right. He couldn't let Arthur make this mistake and he couldn't let Gwen suffer for Arthur's ignorance and his infatuation. "What makes you so sure that he's been enchanted anyway?" Gaius added curiously.

"Well...." Merlin trailed off his ears turning red with embarrassment. No doubt he would get a reprimand from Gaius for eavesdropping. "I overheard Morgana and King Golau talking and King Golau said that Princess Tylluan is casting a spell over Arthur to make him fall in love with her, and she's only doing it because she doesn't know that Arthur loves Gwen. And when I went to tell her about Arthur loving Gwen, Arthur beat me to it and so Princess Tylluan never found out about Gwen and also I ended up being beaten black and blue by Arthur." he said, hardly stopping his rant to breath. Gaius sighed and thought for a while. "You must do what you think to be right Merlin." Merlin stared at Gaius in shock. That was it?!!! No telling off about eavesdropping, no wise words about knowing what is yet to come is a curse as much as it is a blessing?!!!!! Merlin reopened the book and flicked through the pages, still hoping to find the spell in there.