On the way, Merlin's curiosity got the best of him, and he began to ask about Camelot. If he was going, it was good to be prepared. The way that Arthur explained it made it sound like the best place in the world. Merlin decided Arthur was rather biased due to the fact that he lived there. Others might disagree with what Arthur said.

After a long ride, they'd made it to Camelot. Instead of the usual awestruck look that usually fell on newcomers faces, Merlin was rather expressionless.

Multiple times on the ride back, Arthur had noticed how nervous Merlin seemed. Even now, in his thirteen year old state, Arthur found him incredibly difficult to read. Despite this, Merlin wore a look in his eye that he usually had if there was a high possibility of dying. Although, he had no idea why Merlin would be so terrified. Camelot had a fairly good reputation back when Merlin was actually thirteen. Arthur brushed it off when he remembered that he'd just gotten the news that his mother was deceased. That was most likely what the terrified looks were for.

Walking through Camelot, Merlin seemed to assess everything as if his life depended on it. Arthur decided to brush it off again. Thirteen year old Merlin was very different from the one Arthur knew.

Leon strutted over. (For whatever reason, I imagined Leon strutting over like a model, to the two of them on horse back, and I thought I'd share.) "Sire, it's lovely to have you back, but where's Merlin? Not sure if we can survive your attitude without him," Leon joked with an underlying part of seriousness.

"He's right here." Arthur then indicated to the warlock beside him. "A sorcerer got to him, and made him thirteen. He doesn't remember anything that's happened, only what he knew as a thirteen year old. Please alert Gaius immediately Leon."

Leon looked over to Merlin with his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. "Merlin?" He asked.

"Umm... hi?"

"Oh my word!" He spoke breathlessly and stumbled towards the physicians chambers.

In the distance Leon thought to himself, I hope Gwaine doesn't hear about this. That'll be chaos!

Unfortunately for Leon, he was right. When Gwaine did hear about it... it wasn't just chaos. It was mass destruction.

(I over exaggerated. Or maybe I wasn't... read further to find out...)

...........

When Gaius saw Merlin, he began to limp around his chambers faster than Arthur had ever seen him go. Grabbing books, reading the covers, putting some back, and making a collection of books that he thought could be beneficial to the issue.

That was basically all they did for a few days. Eat, study, sleep, and repeat.

Then Merlin began to get restless and annoying. So Arthur brought in Gwaine, and asked him to watch Merlin.

That... was a mistake.

The two wreaked havoc around the castle. They tied guards shoelaces together, splashed people who were asleep with water, scared people and many more. They did many terrible things together. Weirdly enough, Gwaine was smart about all of them and attempted to make sure they didn't getting trouble.

With no real evidence... Arthur couldn't blame Gwaine.

One day, Gwaine was feeling rather devious. The poor boy who had just learned his only parent was dead, needed some cheering up. So Gwaine got everything set up.

"Merlin!" Gwaine whispered. "Merlin, wake up!"

With a groan, Merlin did as told. "What do you wannttt?"

"I want to have fun! You'll be having fun with me! We're going to do some more of the things we've been doing these past few days!" was Gwaine's excited answer.

Merlin smiled. Gwaine acted more like a child then he did.

"You up for it Merlin?"

"What kind of question is that?" Merlin asked while pretending to be offended. "Of course!"

That was the start of an awesome day.

.........

Arthur had been cooped up in Gaius' chambers trying to find a cure. Without one, his friend would remain confused and unhappy.

Stiffly Arthur got up and stretched. He'd been in here for a while. Looking outside, he realized it was already late in the afternoon. The sun was going down.

"I'm going to get some rest Gaius. You should do the same." With a small smile, Arthur headed out.

Truly exhausted mentally, Arthur needed sleep. The short nap he'd had when attempting to read didn't count.

The castle was always a welcoming sight. Although, today, Arthur noticed, there was something amiss.

There were no gaurds.

That was the first of many things amiss.

.........

The castle was in a state of chaos.

The guards were all drunk, the ladies who did laundry had their hands stained ugly colours, there was mud and feathers everywhere.

People were either stumbling around, panicking, or chasing the brood of chickens. There was a lot of screaming among the mix, but the image was far more worrying.

Arthur knew he had to get control of the situation. That's what Uther had taught him to do in situations like these. So far, he was unsure of how to gain control.

Gwaine and Merlin were no where in sight, but Arthur was sure this was their fault. With them not here, they were probably causing more mischief somewhere. That was another reason to hurry.

The guards would have to be delt with later. There wasn't much you can do to make a drunk man sober. Let alone, a group of drunk men.

The mud and feathers would be taken care of by staff later. The chickens on the other hand were already being taken care of. The stable hands and maidens helping to catch them were not having much success, but there was some success. They'd sort it out eventually.

The stained hands couldn't be reversed either. They'd have to fade slowly. The ladies would eventually calm down, and realize this.

There really was no way for him to help, or control what was happening. He'd just have to let it take its course, and prevent anything else from happening.

........

Gwaine and Merlin giggled. The day had gone better than planned. The guards had happily accepted those tarts that they'd filled with a high dose of alcohol. As the laundry was being done, they'd slipped in a bit of dye, and left unnoticed. Then they'd led a group of chickens in, by making a path of food through doors thatnot many went through, and there were no guards because they were all drunk. Great start.

Now they were in the kitchen. Gwaine knew it well.

Well technically, they weren't in the kitchen. They were above it. Percival was with them. Somehow Gwaine had convinced him to help. Luckily Percival hadn't seem anything the two had done that morning, or else it would have been a different answer.

Lowering Merlin, Percival held the rope as Gwaine handed Merlin the vials and objects they'd brought. Silently he added laxatives to the gravy, then added a large amount of salt to the cake mix, before grabbing a pie. Then he was brought back up. The three left giggling.

Percival later regretted helping them.

........

Somehow Arthur had been unsuccessful in finding the two. So he'd decided to help with the chickens after sending someone else to find the two trouble makers.

As he'd suspected, the ladies had calmed down, and began to help them, or get back to their chores.

Unfortunately, the guards were still drunk. There were some who seemed to have a higher alcohol tolerance, and were now hungover.

When they finished bringing the chickens back, Arthur headed over to the dining hall. Still a little grumpy from not having his nap put him in a bad mood. Hopefully supper could cheer him up.

.......

The supper had put him in a good mood. The dessert on the other hand made him rather salty(I love puns, sorry).

Weirdly enough Gwiane and Merlin hadn't been there.

Exhausted, Arthur headed to bed, and fell with a grunt. He'd expected the soft material of his matress. That wasn't what he got though. Instead, the blanket fell right down, and he'd fallen into a tub full of water.

As if his day could get any worse.

.......

It turned out it could. When he began to have diarrhea, he thought he was sick. He didn't feel sick.

Then he'd gotten a report that nearly everyone who had supper with him had diarrhea.

He'd ordered a guard who wasn't drunk to ask Gaius to check his laxative stock. Sure enough, it was empty.

They needed to find a cure and fast.
......

...

.....
Another pranking one, because I love pranking :)