Title: The Weight Of Losing You
Author: LM_Quin
Summary: Set after 2x12. Morgana's disappearance weights profoundly on Arthur's shoulders. He blames himself for her loss and he will do anything to get her back to Camelot with him again. It's my version of what should have happened after the Fires of Irdisholas.
Word count: 1650 aprox
A/N: This is unbeta-ed so all cute mistakes go to me! (if anyone offers to beta-er he/she will become my heroe) lol xD. Ok, enjoy!
It had been a year. One full year since Morgause had ripped her away from them and every single day of that year, Arthur would wake with the very first vestiges of daylight and lead the search patrol deep not the forest. Each day of those three hundred and sixty five days that a year has Arthur's men would perform the same routine. And every night they would come back to the castle empty handed.
Camelot was weary, the people wounded. Morgana's loss seemed to pierce the Kindom's very own heart right in the middle.
The king was no exception to this feeling of emptiness they were all experiencing. Yes, it was true that, as a king, it was his duty to pull forward whatever power of will he had left to rule the Kingdom but it was at plain sight how the all mighty and unbreakable Uther was precisely that: broken.
They had all changed drastically after Morgana's disappearance. Gwen, who had served her for years, was now having a hard time figuring out where she belonged. Being by Morgana's side all day and helping her out in every way she could –not just as a servant but as a friend as well- kept her going, it gave her a sense of home. She has had that when her father lived but when Uther had him executed, Gwen found another home in Morgana. She belonged by her side and now that she wasn't there anymore, Gwen felt completely lost and was often seen following other servants around the castle, trying to convince them to let her do some of their chores, just so that she would have something to keep her mind busy with.
Merlin, on the other hand, had become extremely shadowy and quiet. Nobody could really get to him anymore. Not even Gaius. It was as if Morgause had not only kidnapped Morgana but Merlin's joy as well. He was practically a living ghost.
The truth was that no one really knew what had happened that day and the guilt he felt was eating him alive.
That was the reason why Merlin joined the search party every morning. Yes, he was the Prince's manservant but that was actually his perfect excuse to tag along. If they were going to find the King's ward, he had to be there.
Arthur.
The young Prince was a different subject and yet not so different at all.
Morgana's loss weighted in a special way on his shoulders. She was his foster sister, he had known her for all his life, he had grown up with her and yet, when all Camelot fell under a fitful sleep, he had jumped on her, even suspected her.
But no, that wasn't all. What weighted on him the most was that he had left her unprotected and she had been kidnapped because of his carefulness. He had been so wrapped up in protecting the King that he had forgotten to protect his father's ward, his sister, and so when the knights toppled lifeless to the floor he had burst into the throne room and called his father's name.
It was only when he received a positive reply that his eyes landed on the figure laying limp on Morgause's arms.
Morgana.
He would never forgive himself for it, for leaving her alone when she needed him most, for thrusting her practically into Morgause's clasp.
Morgana wasn't gone. It was he who had lost her.
And now he found himself leading the search party, giving a few commands here and there, looking everywhere, following even the darkest of shadows to find her.
He wouldn't give up on her. He owed her as much.
He would keep on searching for her even if it meat throwing his life away in vain. It was either that or going mad with grieve and guilt and he would have none of that, no. he would find her.
Night fell on them as it often happened when they went too deep into the forest. Now it was too late to go back to Camelot. Without the sunlight to guide them through the forest the journey back home could be as deadly as jumping off a cliff. Arthur knew that all too well and that was why he gave the order to stop for the night.
They made camp n a small clearing, quite near a nameless lake that Arthur had found rather intriguing. Merlin cooked them dinner as it was expected of him and then, one by one, they all began to retire for the night.
Arthur was the last one to get up from his place by the fire. Ever since Morgana had been missing sleep would elude him and so he learnt to sleep fewer hours during the night.
However, he did need some sleep to carry through the day so he got up and looked for a place near the fire to lay close by.
He rested his head on the hard ground and closed his eyes. The last thought that ran through his mind was the pale green eyes of a certain raven haired young woman.
The rustle of leaves beside him caused Arthur to wake. He opened his eyes groggily and found that the night was as its fullest. He had to adjust his eyes to the dim light coming from the fire in order to see anything.
When his blurry vision cleared somewhat he looked around. His knights were all sleeping soundly and so was Merlin.
"Must have been the wind" he muttered, feeling his eyes beginning to shut closed once more.
His head was about to collide with the ground when the rustling sound made him jump to his feet and adopt a predatory stance. Whatever sleep remained in him was abruptly gone and was now replaced by his full alert. There was something moving in the shadows of their camp and he was going to find out what it was.
Arthur tried to train his ears for other any possible sound as he went about scouting the campsite. He had unsheathed his sword and was now using it as a pointer to lead his way through the bushes.
The sound of footsteps made Arthur spin around in a frantic attempt at finding the source of it. The sound appeared to have come from some behind bushes just at the opposite side of the campsite. The princeling gave a few steps towards the bushes, sword held firmly in his hand.
As he began to approach the place a black figure, covered by the dark veil of night, emerged from its hiding spot and made a run for it.
"Stop!" Arthur half screamed half muttered and broke into a run to chase down the creature.
The intruder was fast but Arthur was faster. It didn't take him long to spot whomever he was chasing heading deep into the forest. And into the lake.
As he chased the intruder through the forest, Arthur cursed himself for not having woken his knights. Yes, it was just one person, and by the look of it he was unarmed but one never knew. What he thought could be a race to trap the intruder could end up in him being the one trapped. It was still dark, probably three or two hours until dawn, and the prospect of having to fight the intruder's allies didn't sound too good to him. He really wished he had warned his men.
The Prince noticed that the trees were wearing thin. That could only mean that they were slowly nearing the border of a clearing or, as Arthur well knew, the lake.
That lake was wide enough, whoever it was that he was running after, would be trapped between the water and his sword. He liked that plan.
Just as Arthur had predicted, the intruder run straight into his trap and found himself with no means of escape. The water extended until the line of the horizon and being outside the protection of the forest meant that the running had ended. Now it was time to face Prince Arthur.
And Arthur's sword.
The princeling knew that his prey couldn't keep on escaping anymore. Unless said escape meant ending impaled in his sword, that is, and so he emerged from the trees a little breathless but finding strength in the idea of putting the chase an end. When he did, he found himself stepping on a narrow sand shore that covered the space between the tree line and the water of the lake.
His eyes immediately met the silhouette of the intruder who was standing with his back to him. Under the moonlight vision wasn't too accurate and so Arthur had to step closer to his enemy to make out his appearance.
The intruder was staring at the lake and was oblivious to his presence, knowing that it would be impossible to swim to the other side without drowning in the process.
Admitting defeat at least, he turned around and slowly came face to face with Prince Arthur.
The sight that met him made him gasp.
"Morgana?"
Okaay guys! So this is the end of chapter one, possibly the first of many others. That is if people want me to continue, of course. So please please, give me some feedback cuz im starving and if im starved then I haz no strength to write the next chapter. Ok that excuse was lame xD just let me know what you think!