AN- I am so sorry I left this story so long. I have no good excuses for where this was apart from I haven't written it. But now there's another chapter and hopefully the updates won't be quite as far apart after this. Sorry it's not too long, but I really just needed to get back into it.

Darkness. That was the first thing Merlin found when he tried to open his eyes. Although it probably wasn't night anymore. The only reason Merlin couldn't see was the fact that he was blindfolded. And gagged he realised as he tried to open his dry mouth to cry out. He was about to try and move his arms-bound too- when a heavy hand fell on his shoulder. "He's awake!" A gruff voice said, probably coming from the owner of the hand. The hand moved and Merlin tensed, wondering what was going to happen to him. It wasn't violent though as the blindfold fell to his lap. He blinked a few times, the light of the sun blinding him. When he'd cleared his eyes enough he looked around surveying his surroundings. He was in a forest. He assumed it was the same one he was knocked out in last night. If it was last night he thought to himself. It could have been weeks ago. Some people have particularly good drugs.

Surrounding him in the forest were a few tents; all looking like they'd seen better days. One had a hole in and all were faded in colour. A small whimper caught his attention and he turned his head slightly. A group of about 10 people were all tied together, looking undernourished and terrified. Slaves. Merlin had a sudden thought, why wasn't he tied up with them? Yes he had only just got here but that didn't mean he'd get special treatment. He knew enough about slave traders to realise that.

The man who had approached Merlin walked around to the front of him, blocking his view to the camp but giving Merlin a chance to assess his captors. The man was broad and muscular, his general huge size being a stand out feature. He was almost as big as Percival. But no one's as big as Percival. Before Merlin got to survey him any further, the man crouched down and pulled the ragged piece of cloth from Merlin's mouth. It left behind a foul after taste but at least he could breathe now. Why were they doing this though? If they wanted to sell him on as a slave they would be untying him. Weighing up his options, Merlin thought the best thing was probably to just ask. Especially now they'd given him his mouth back.

"What do you want with me?" He asked, none too quietly. He'd learnt from being around Arthur that people tend not to listen if you don't make your voice loud and heard. Another man came out of a tent. The man who had freed him appeared to have vanished behind him and either didn't hear, or ignored his question. But the new man was heading straight for him and perhaps he would give him some answers. The man got so close to Merlin's face he could taste his potent breath and feel it corrode his throat.

"Emrys," he hissed, eyes fixed on Merlin, "I've got a bone to pick with you."

Merlin had been gone for too long. Not that Arthur had been watching his servant or anything but it just so happened that Merlin had been gone for 13 hours and 12 minutes and all he was supposed to be doing was getting water. Arthur hadn't been counting but he just knew this stuff. He was the king of Camelot he could know what he wanted.

The knights had noticed of course. They were all worried sick. So was Gwen. She was more worried about Merlin than Arthur last night. Arthur was hoping to get somewhere with Gwen on the camping trip and maybe produce an heir. But that didn't happen. Because it was all about Merlin, stupid Merlin ruined everything. He just had to go and disappear on what was supposed to be an amazing night for Arthur.

Although maybe he was worried a bit. The poor idiot probably found an injured deer and decided it nurse it back to health. But Arthur knew deep down something was wrong. The reason he'd put off searching for Merlin for so long was the dread of finding Merlin's body broken and bleeding in some secluded place in the forest. It was stupid, he knew, because the longer he left it, the worse it would be, but he still couldn't bring himself to go looking, just for that reason.

However he'd left it too long now and he knew he had to go looking. He left Elyan with Gwen and him and the knights trekked into the woods, to find his lost manservant.