Author's Note: This story loosely follows the story 'Lancelot and Guinevere' (Series 2: Episode 4), with a few twists and a few added bits of my own. Merthur and Lance/Gwen.
Disclaimer: I don't own the show Merlin. If I did, everything would be enriched in complete happiness and unicorns would probably be flying all over the place.
It was early morning when the four had set out from Camelot. It was a bright, beautiful but chilly morning as Morgana intended to ride out on a pilgrimage to her father's grave. She insisted on bringing her maid Gwen as well as Arthur, which after a little pleading, Arthur gave in and agreed to encounter on the journey. Because of this, Arthur made Merlin ride out as well, thus concluding the party to four. Uther had ordered Arthur beforehand at the castle gates to be back before dusk, which he replied that he will not fail.
Leaving Camelot, the four began their journey. Part of their way through the pilgrimage, Morgana and Gwen led the four, talking about men. Arthur and Merlin followed narrowly behind, when from out of nowhere, a group of bandits launched themselves toward the party.
Arthur automatically jumped from the horse and drew out his sword. "Morgana, Gwen, get behind me," Arthur yelled as he began fighting off the outlaws.
Merlin, staying undercover, tried to use his magic to fight them off, but Arthur's orders were final. "Merlin! Take Morgana and Gwen back toward the lower town and back to the castle."
"What about you?"
"I'll fight them off." Merlin knew that he'd needed to be by Arthur's side protecting him, but at the same time Morgana and Gwen needed protecting, and therefore led them away, leaving Arthur behind.
The trio began to head back, only to find themselves trapped by more outlaws. "Ah, the lady Morgana. How nice to see you."
"I demand you let us go. I am the king's ward and if you don't I'll have your heads off."
"Ah, but I don't want to kill you, or your lovely little friends. It'll be more appreciated if you were to be remain alive." The outlaws took hostage of the three, leading them away.
oOo
Meanwhile, Arthur had managed to fight off the remaining outlaws, a group of guards coming from the lower town in hearing the cries for help. Returning to Camelot, Arthur approached the King.
Uther rose from the chair in the dining hall as Arthur emerged from the doors, carrying himself towards Uther. "Arthur, where is Morgana?"
"We were on our way to her father's grave when a group of outlaws made a sudden attack. I tried to fight them off, where I told Merlin to bring Morgana and Gwen back to Camelot."
Uther was clearly showing a sign of worry hearing Arthur's words. "There's been no sign of her, or either servant." This made Arthur worried as well. He agitated over Gwen, Morgana and Merlin. Morgana was the king's ward and if Morgana wasn't found within short delay, Arthur would be the cause of her disappearance through not properly protecting her, which Uther would be most displeased and might cost him his title as rightful heir to the throne.
"Gather a search party! I want every knight, peasant, whoever looking in the outlying villages for her." Clearly Uther had no interest in the disappearance of Merlin or Gwen, which troubled Arthur even further, but Uther was his father, and he was in no condition to refuse orders. "Right away."
oOo
Simultaneously, Morgana, Gwen and Merlin were with the group of outlaws in some woodland. The one outlaw came to the tent where all three were standing, trying to conduct a plan to escape back to Camelot. The plan was that Morgana wished to bathe, and with Gwen and Merlin also held hostage, they all followed. The problem was that although Morgana supposedly wished to bathe, she weren't allowed any privacy. With the distraction between the outlaws and Morgana, this gave great opportunity to escape.
"Gwen, Merlin. Now!" Morgana called.
"Merlin and Gwen reached for the outlaws swords and began to attack back, running back in the direction towards Camelot. Problem was, part of the way there, Gwen stumbled awkwardly and twisted her ankle. Morgana, in the lead of the other two, stopped and strived to help Merlin get Gwen back on her feet. Morgana was in no position to leave her maid, but also friend behind, but after some convincing words, Morgana saved herself and went to get help, leaving Merlin with Gwen.
oOo
Arthur had returned with a search party back at the location where the three were captured by the outlaws, and moved with the tribe further into the wood to search for the group. With a better look on the artillery left behind, Arthur noticed that the swords were of Mercian type. One of the group found a note saying that they've taken the Lady Morgana hostage.
With sword on guard and others carrying crossbows, Arthur exchanged the sword for crossbow when he rustling noises in the nearby wood, the group staying together, thinking the noises were made by more outlaws. Aiming but automatically withdrawing as soon as the person showed their face when they were mere inches away from a nearby tree Arthur hid behind, he swivelled to find Morgana alone.
"Where's Merlin and Guinevere?" Arthur questioned, the pit of worry growing deeper in his chest. Unfortunately for Morgana, the young lady was too much in a state of shock to answer Arthur's question, already slightly battered and bruised, with slight bleeding to parts of her face.
oOo
The outlaws had captured both Gwen and Merlin, and were back at camp. The main outlaw was furious in Morgana escaping, leaving the two servants behind. "You let her escape? You idiots! Both of these are worthless to us!" He kicked over a bucket of water, his fury soon changing into the mists of another plan, hoping this would smooth over when they completed their journey and returned to Hengist in Mercia. "Although, Hengist has never met the Lady Morgana before." The one outlaw had collected Morgana's clothing, passing them over to the main outlaw, who threw near enough literally into Gwen's face. "Change!"
Gwen was not one to immediately back down though, as many other people would have done. "I will not impersonate my mistress!" "Fine. If you shall not take orders then you will die on the spot." Merlin by now, in many situations such as this, would have used his magic to escape, but with too many around, he didn't want anyone finding out to immediately tell Uther and have himself hung or burned at the stake for being a sorcerer, so he'd have to follow through. Gwen was in no position to die and therefore took the clothing and changed, herself becoming Morgana. The outlaw pointed his sword towards Merlin. "You will be her servant." Merlin tried not to pull a face to cause further hassle, himself thinking 'Why can't I ever leave my own position for once?'
oOo
In the mean time, Morgana, Arthur and the rest of the search part had returned to Camelot. Uther automatically rose from his throne when Morgana passed through the doors, straight into a warm embrace from Uther.
"It's so good to have you back!" Uther began as he was hugging her. "I couldn't bare the thought of anyone hurting you."
"They still have Guinevere and Merlin!" Arthur followed Morgana into the room to join the pair at the side of the throne. "I believe they were Mercian. It appears that Hengist has crossed the border and that's who the outlaws are taking Guinevere and Merlin to."
"I will not have my maid remained in hostage." Morgana began to protest, Uther trying to find a way to say that he's not going to rescue servants, no matter of the cost.
"Morgana. Guinevere and Merlin are just servants. It would take a small army to try and rescue them. How many people are you willing to put at risk."
"As many as it takes to bring them back! Guinevere and Merlin aren't just servants. They're also my friends." Arthur understood Morgana's pain. Arthur and Guinevere were indeed friends, and Arthur at one point had feelings for Gwen, but since she had met Lancelot, it was clear that they both had feelings for each other, but hadn't recognised it yet. At the same time, Merlin might have been Arthur's manservant, but even Arthur had began to have feelings for Merlin, and would do anything to have them back.
"They threw their lives to keep me alive!" By now Morgana's temper had risen, Gaius and Arthur in attendance, trying to stay quiet on matters. Arthur knew he'd have to bring Merlin back anyway as he was Gaius' ward, and felt deeply for Gaius, who was trying to remain calm like the gentle, humble, elderly man he is.
Uther wasn't going to go through with Morgana's protests, and tried to call things off. "Morgana. A servant's life is no value to bandits. They'd probably be dead by now." This made Morgana furious, as it did for Arthur, who tried to show no emotion. "How could say something like that?" Morgana turned to Arthur, her only hope of trying to convince Uther to change matters. "Arthur! You have to do something.." Morgana was cut off by Arthur. "He's right. I'm afraid there is little we can do." Arthur was beginning to lose hope, but was forevermore determined to rescue the pair.
"How can you live yourselves? All of you!" Morgana's voice echoed as she was escorted out of the throne room by Gaius. Arthur had no words for his father, and was about to the inevitable, but would need some help.