"Gwen, what's going on?" Merlin asked as he caught her by the shoulder as she tried to speed past. Everyone in the castle was in an uproar, servants were rushing everywhere, the people were dashing around in the plaza and the sound of excited and edgy voices were drowning out any other sizable noise.
There hadn't been this much of a commotion since Arthur had been kidnapped by a barbaric raid on one of his hunting trips. Merlin had stayed in Camelot for magic related reasons but realized his error too late. By the time he met up with the hunting party, or what was left of them, three soldiers who had managed to escape by the mere luck of having been searching for firewood, Arthur had been taken. He still hadn't forgiven himself.
Gwen smiled at him widely and wrapped her arms around him quickly before replying with a wide grin, "They've found him!"
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
Hey readers! Thanks so much for clicking this and I hope that this story proves not to be a waste of your time. Thanks so much for reading and enjoy!
This will be taking place sometime during season three. Correct me if I get things wrong, I haven't rewatched the seasons in a long time. I can't promise that my timeline will be right, so spoilers for season four will probably be minor if any. Sorry!
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
He felt the wave of relief and happiness before he even processed it completely. They'd found him! "Where is he?!"
"The search party that found him should arrive before nightfall! They're going to hold a big banquet in honor of his return and even the servants are allowed to join in the celebrations!" She picked up the huge basket she had put down earlier and ran down the giant staircase that led to the throne room.
Merlin ran all the way to Gaius's room and burst through the door so recklessly that the door had it been a bit weaker, would've caved in. "Gaius!"
Gaius had been bent over a few beakers of odd colored vials. "What is it Merlin?"
"They found him!" He ran out of the room before Gaius could blink.
He needed to make sure he was there when Arthur returned.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
"It's getting late, shouldn't he be here already?" Merlin demanded impatiently as he watched the horizon darken.
"Patience Merlin," Gaius said even though he also seemed a little worried. The prince and the search party were supposed to have been here a while ago.
Before Merlin could give an excuse as to why patience was irrelevant, the clacking of hooves rang out and the sound was followed a few seconds later with cheers.
Merlin and Gwen shoved their way forward to where Morgana and Uther stood. The horses came into view and they easily picked Arthur out of the foursome of riders. He was covered in dirt, and his high-end clothes had been replaced by dirt colored rags. His hair and skin were so dirty that from the distance he looked like a light brunette and his skin looked tan even though he was pale. His boots had holes everywhere, and two large ones were worn into the heels.
The crowd in the plaza parted so that the horses could pass and Arthur made an effort to wave. He was worn out and had no urges greater than the one to fall asleep right now, but the kingdom didn't needed need to know how worn out their prince was. They didn't need to know the toll that the months had taken on him. Was it months? He hadn't counted the days.
As soon as he reached the plaza staircase he hopped off of his horse and hugged his father. His father criticized him for being taken, but also seemed to have genuinely missed him. He wiped his eyes and Arthur saw he was crying when he pulled away to hug the others. Morgana smiled at him, but Gwen rushed upon him first. He clutched her and for a moment wanted to kneel down and propose right there, just to make sure he would never lose her.
"I thought I'd lost you," she whispered.
"As did I," he replied. He lifted his face from her hair and clutching her tighter for a second released her. Morgana hugged him quickly, and Merlin hugged him next.
Normally he would have denied the embrace, but even though he would never admit it, he missed the clotpole.
He talked to everyone at the feast and avoided the topic of what happened while he was gone as much as possible. He just said that the smugglers had chained him to a cart and tried to sell him to the highest bidder. He was about to be sold to some sorceress when he had escaped. How, he wouldn't say.
He retired early. He was worn out and more than anything, just needed sleep. He had Merlin draw a warm bath and washed himself quickly. The water was murky brown when he finished. And tinged red. Arthur's body ached and burned from the assorted injuries. The belt welts all over his back, the assorted bruises that completely covered him, the angry red burn rings where the cuffs had relentlessly rubbed against his wrists. And the worst, the fresh knife slices from two days ago, when he had refused to obey.
He got dressed before merlin returned from taking his dirty salvageable garments to be washed.
He hopped into bed and fell into a restless and troubling sleep.
{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}
So, how was it? I hope it wasn't too bad! Expect some awesome bromance in the next chapter. And heart filled confessions. What happened to Arthur during his princenapping?
Thanks for reading!
FangirlingFanatic
