Hey :) I know this was going to be a one shot, but Junjou-Angel convinced me to continue

So this one os for you Junjou-Angel :D

Enjoy

Disclaimer applies

Merlin was still missing.

Damn him. The prince swore as he surveyed his chamber. His very untidy chamber, it was obvious that no one had been in there to clean.

Arthur sighed as he thought of his manservant. What if he'd gotten himself into trouble? It certainly wasn't the first time he'd gone somewhere and returned with his idiotic smile; the smile, Arthur noticed; that wasn't always genuine. Merlin has been a lot less bumbling lately, and a lot less talkative, and although this was a lot less annoying, the thought of Merlin hiding something from him made him frown. Because Merlin was hiding something; of that he was certain, he just didn't know what.

Arthur knew that Princes didn't tend to befriend their servants, they certainly didn't become as close as he and Merlin had. But how could they not have done? What with everything they had been through how could they not have been drawn together? On this nameless path, following in an unknown and perilous destiny that somehow led to him becoming King of Camelot.

With an absent servant and no idle prattle to distract him from his musings, he decided to go on a hunt. He wouldn't go very far into the wood, for although he wasn't afraid of the dangerous beasts that dwelled there, it felt wrong without Merlin, for although he would never admit it, and although Merlin was the worst coward he knew, he felt safer with his manservant than with anyone else.

'I guess he's lucky' Arthur chuckled to himself, and it was absurd but true, with Merlin around, (usually cowering behind a tree) an amazing amount of luck befell him in battles, branches fell and fog appeared and his foes always ended up dropping their weapons and failing the fight.

Although Arthur was dependent on his servants for a lot of things, he did know how to saddle and mount a horse by himself, so he did, and he rode into the nearby woods. He went a little ways into the dense foliage before dismounting and tying his horse to a tree, he didn't want the steed to get frightened and bolt.

Creeping in his mail was difficult, but over the years he had mastered stealth, moving silently between the trees, and bow in hand he searched for any other living creatures, dangerous or otherwise, but found none.

Eventually, with no other encounters, his thoughts drifted once again to Merlin.

There was something about him, Arthur concluded, something that made him different, and it wasn't just the luck.

It was him, who he was, Merlin the idiotic dolt who couldn't fight to save his life but would go out of his way to help him. He had never needed to drink that poison, or to push him out of the way of that flying knife, back when they had very first met. But he had, he might be stupid and cowardly but he was brave and kind and compassionate, and it seemed that he would stop at nothing for his friends.

In his musings, the Prince had been walking absent mindedly, journeying deeper into the forest than he had intended, looking around, he wondered if he was lost, but somehow this place looked familiar to him, the trees were thinner although he could not be near the end so soon.

Suddenly, a wail filled the air, inhuman and primal, but not vicious, nevertheless Arthur raised his bow nervously, and inched his way towards the light behind the large oak directly in front of him.

He gasped, the trees gave way to a huge clearing, a small, grey, rocky shore leading smoothly into beautifully clear rippling waters of a fantastic lake, the snow capped mountains seemed to surround it, made it look like a haven.

Another low moan jerked Arthur out of his wondering gaze and drew his eyes to a huddle of brown, right by the waters edge.

Merlin.

So ... What'cha think? Do you like? I will update another chapter but I think that will be the last one, I don't want this to be a full story, just a little cute one

Hope you liked, please please please review, i only got one :'(, i love to let you know what you think. I do allow annonymous reviews so if you're not logged on you can still review, but please don't just review really bad stuff anonymously for the sake of it, I actually would like feedback please :D

Ok so I think that's it :D

Love you

Tibbins xx