It was just another day in Camelot. The knights were preparing to go out on a hunt. Merlin was preparing Arthur. Gwen, nagging at Arthur for being mean to Merlin. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Before setting off, Arthur put everybody in groups of two. Ellyan and Percival, Merlin and Gwaine, and himself with Leon. Other than Sir Gwaines horse acting up because he was drunk and thought that the horse called his mother a bad name so he thought it necessary to slap its ass, the preparation went smoothly. Gwen wishes Arthur and the other knights' luck and they set off. Percival and Ellyan were the first to report in with two deer. Arthur and Leon came back with a few rabbits. But while Ellyan and Percival were laughing at the two for catching so little, it came across Leons mind that Merlin and Gwaine weren't there yet. Of course he didn't think too much of it being that it's like Merlin babysitting a toddler with a drinking problem.
Merlin and Gwaine were in the heart of the forest with one deer riding on the back of Merlins horse. Gwaine had drunk far too much this morning. Merlin was always wondering why the taverns loved him so much to give him free alcohol when all he does is cause trouble. Gwaine was leading the way back to Camelot when a snake passed in front of Gwaines horse which bucked him off. Merlin hastily jumped off his horse to find Gwaine unconscious on the floor. Merlin sighed but took no delay in dragging over to underneath a thick and tall tree. He used his magic to heal some minor wounds and let time bring him back. While gathering the horses together, Merlin heard something. A sort of scratching. It was coming from underneath a bush about seven feet away from Gwaine. He cautiously walked over. The scratching got louder. Merlin was just at the bush now. He reached to move the leaves, but as he did, the scratching stopped. He moved the leaves to feel that the entire bush wasn't rooted. He moved the bush to fine a hole. The size a human could go down. He was curious but he didn't want to leave Gwaine. But could this be a danger to Camelot? He would be putting his destiny and all of Camelot in danger. He walked over to Gwaine. He said a spell that he learned from an old book that he found in the library, where magic things were being hidden such as the Goblin he hates to remember releasing. The spell was an enchantment in which the subject would be invisible for six hours. Although Merlin had no clue when Gwaine would awake,1 he knew that they were at least four hours out of Camelot. Merlin looked back over at the manhole. He nervously started to climb down, but he lost his foothold and fell four feet. When he looked up, he realized he was in a large system of caves.
"I'm starting to regret this decision."
Arthur and the other knights had been back in Camelot and had already returned to their duties for three hours now. Their evening practice session was to begin soon, but Arthur had realized that Merlin wasn't there to help him change into his armor.
He yelled "Merlin!" He waited for a response.
"Merlin!" Gwen came through the door.
"What's wrong?"
"Merlin is late to help me into my armor!" he said angrily.
"Maybe he's running an errand for Gaius?" Arthur walked over to Gaius' chambers.
"What can I do for you sire?" Gaius asked.
"Have you seen Merlin?"
"I thought he was working for you?" Gaius said a bit concerned.
"I haven't seen him since he went hunting!" Arthur yelled. Arthur walked out of the room pissed. Gaius was now very concerned and decided to go around asking the other servants if they had seen him. After asking two of them, he ran into Gwen, who had also been asking around for Merlin.
"Have you seen Merlin?" Gwen asked.
"I was about to ask you." Gwen said, which now he was just as concerned.
"I've been asking around for him since Arthur told me he wasn't there helping him with his armor." Gaius and Gwen had no idea what to do about the boy.
During the practice session, Leon asked "Where is Gwaine? Has he not returned from the hunting trip?"
"He's probably at the tavern" Arthur replied.
"He's not that bad, not since becoming a knight as least" Leon retorted.
"Well then go ask around, see if anyone has seen him. Find Merlin while you're at it! If he's in the tavern his head is going to be on a pike!" Arthur yelled to Leon who had already been walking away. Leon asked all of the other knights if they had seen Gwaine to have achieved nothing. He figured he'd ask Gaius of the whereabouts of Merlin.
"Have you seen Sir Gwaine? Where is Merlin?"
"I'm sorry Sir Leon but I've been searching for Merlin for hours." Gaius stated
"Perhaps they're still in the forest. I will go search for them." Leon said
"Allow me to join you. I may be old but you can't let me stay here just worrying whether you'll succeed or not." Gaius pleaded. Leon hesitated at first, but Gaius had a point."
"I'll ready the horses. We will not fail." Leon assured.
