Okay, here goes. My first Merlin fic, which is of course a missing scene, well, a missing scene montage. This is a result of an attempt on my part to narrow down which story to write first. My new friends on the Merlin Fanfiction Challenges forum responded to my request, although not a lot of them but that okay. Anywho, that's what prompted this series of missing scenes. I hope I did the boys justice. Also, any grammatical errors are mine and mine alone. I have no beta. Feel free to let me know if you see any. Thanks

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. BBC and Syfy have some kind of agreement about that. This story is purely for entertainment and no money is made from its existence.

Merlin stepped back as the other knights crowded around to admire the kill. The unicorn had not survived long with the bolt in his side. A small mercy, that. Arthur was fascinated by the horn on the poor beast and was turning it this way and that, the unicorn's magnificent head lolling about as he turned its head.

Arthur stood up and unsheathed his sword.

"What are you doing?" exclaimed Merlin, as he moved to get between the prince and the fallen creature.

"Collecting a trophy fit for a king. My father will be thrilled!" Arthur said happily as he pushed Merlin out of the way so he could line up the blow.

Merlin staggered back, feeling ill. As Arthur's sword fell, Merlin closed his eyes, not wanting to see the latest horror done to the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. The sickening crunch as the sword met the horn felt like a blow to his own body. He opened his eyes as Arthur lifted the horn to the cheers of the men around him.

Wiping his face of tears, Merlin picked up the prince's gear. The hunting party began to leave the ravine and Merlin looked back at the pitiful sight of the hornless unicorn. Slowly, he turned and walked behind Arthur. Once the banter of the knights died down, Arthur glanced at his manservant and frowned. The usually animate and, frankly, obnoxious man was trudging along behind him with the most melancholy expression Arthur had ever seen.

"Merlin, what has gotten into you?" Arthur said with an exasperated tone as he stopped and turned to confront his friend.

Merlin didn't seem to hear him and nearly walked head long into the prince. He noticed there was someone in front of him just in time and stumbled to a stop only to recoil slightly upon seeing the horn that Arthur held casually in one hand, his crossbow now slung over his shoulder.

"Sorry, sorry, Sire." He stammered as he righted himself and the gear he carried. When he looked up at the young Pendragon, Merlin steeled himself and tried to smile to reassure the prince that he was all right but the resulting grimace didn't do the trick.

"Good Lord, man. I know you don't like hunting but this is really too much. It was an animal, nothing more. Your acting like it's the end of the world." Arthur rolled his eyes and proceeded to leave the ravine, a mournful Merlin in his wake.