Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Merlin characters.
AN: (Any and all mistakes are completely my own.)
Read & Review, please.
Nothing's Lost or Forgotten
Chapter 4
"I believe his name is Arthur," Merlin explained, "Arthur Pendragon."
"Pendragon?" Nathaniel asked, his eyes narrow and his voice skeptical, "as in the King's son?"
"Yes," Merlin said, knowing that it was hard to believe this.
"He's a sorcerer?" Caleb asked, not being able to follow all that was happening.
"No," Merlin quickly answered, "four days ago, he was taken by two sorcerers, the ones you met. No one knew where he was or what had happened to him, but now you have seen him and he is alright?"
"But why would they erase his memory?" Nathaniel asked.
"I don't know," Merlin sighed, "but tell me, where is he?"
"I've been harboring the King's son," Nathaniel could only said, throwing his arms into the air in disbelief, "how foolish of me."
"You didn't know," Merlin heard himself say.
"Would you like to talk to him?" Caleb asked.
Merlin nodded, though he didn't know what to expect. If Arthur had lost his memory, then he would not recognize Merlin. How was he even supposed to talk to him or even convince him to come back with him to Camelot?
As Caleb led Merlin outside, Nathaniel staying behind in the house, the young servant was trying to think of ways how he could talk to the Prince. He was shook out of his thoughts by Caleb's voice, however.
"If he is the Prince," he asked as he turned into a small dirt road, "then who are you?"
"His servant," Merlin answered.
"Surely you're not the only one looking for Tristan," Caleb shook his head, " Arthur, I mean."
"No," Merlin said, "I guess I was just lucky to stumble upon you. If that beast hadn't attacked me, I wouldn't have even met you. Does he know?" Merlin asked then, "does Arthur know you have magic?"
"No," Caleb said, looking at the ground as he spoke, "my father thought it was best if he didn't know." Caleb sighed. "He doesn't trust anyone and I guess he was right about trusting Arthur then. If the Prince had known..."
"Your father cares for you," Merlin smiled, "I can see it in his eyes."
"He's a good father," Caleb smiled as well, "he's my only family."
Only now did Merlin see a small house at the end of the road.
"He's in there," Caleb said, pointing towards the house, "if you need anything, you know where to find me."
Merlin thanked Caleb and headed out then, not sure what he would find inside the house. Reaching the front door, he knocked softly. There was no answer and so Merlin pushed open the door. It was dead quiet inside and Merlin could feel the presence of someone who was watching him.
"Hello?" he called out.
"Who are you?" a low voice asked.
Merlin could feel the cold metal of a knife against the back of his neck and the young sorcerer raised his hands, trying to show Arthur that he meant him no harm.
"My name is Merlin," he introduced himself, "I'm here to help you."
The young sorcerer slowly turned his head to see Arthur standing only a step behind him. He still didn't lower his knife and he frowned as if he was trying to find out if Merlin was speaking the truth.
"You know me," Merlin said, "I'm your servant and you can trust me."
"Servant?" Arthur asked.
"Right," Merlin sighed, "you forgot."
"That is my problem, yes," Arthur said, sarcasm in his voice, "the memory-thing."
"Okay," Merlin took a step away from Arthur who slowly lowered his knife, "there is no need to kill me."
"What do you want?" Arthur asked. His voice was still hard.
"I have to take you home," Merlin explained, "to Camelot."
"Is Camelot my home?" Arthur placed the knife away now and closed the door of his new house.
"It is," Merlin smiled, "Arthur, you must come with me."
"Arthur?"
"That's your name," Merlin explained, sighing. There was a lot he would have to explain. "You are Arthur Pendragon."
There was a moment of silence and then Arthur started laughing loudly.
"What?"
"I'm the Prince?" Arthur laughed even louder, "my father is the King?"
"Yes," Merlin simply said, not understanding what was so funny about all this.
"Did Caleb put you up to this?" Arthur asked, trying to contain his laugh.
"No!" Merlin said, feeling very annoyed. "I'm telling you the truth."
"Right," Arthur chuckled, "and you're my servant."
Merlin pressed his lips together. Arthur didn't believe him. Merlin couldn't truly blame him, though, but a little understanding wouldn't hurt, right?
"Listen," he said, not caring that he was talking to the Prince, "two men attacked us while you were hunting. They left me in the forest and they took you. Apparently, they erased your memory and brought you here."
Arthur's eyes became nothing more than two thin lines. "And why would they do that?" he asked.
"Because you are the Prince," Merlin offered as an explanation, throwing his arms into the air in disbelief, "and perhaps, they wanted to hurt you. Maybe they wanted to hurt your father. I don't know! All I know, is that you must come with me to Camelot."
"So whoever brought me here..."
"Wanted you gone," Merlin finished Arthur's sentence, "I don't know why didn't just kill you."
"You think they erased my memory for a reason?" Arthur asked. It was obvious that he wanted to understand all this as well. It couldn't be easy to have no recollection of anything in your life.
"I don't think they erased it," Merlin sighed, coming to understand a part of this, "I think they took it. You must have known something that they needed."
"Like what?" Arthur asked.
"How am I supposed to know?" Merlin snapped.
"You know," Arthur said, placing his hands in his side and rolling his eyes, "I don't think you're allowed to talk to a Prince like that."
Merlin's eyes narrowed. "I see you haven't lost your lovely character."
"Shut up," Arthur scowled.
"We have to get your memory back," Merlin said, ignoring Arthur's statement, "we have to find out what they needed from you."
"And how are we going to do that?" Arthur asked.
"Gaius might know what to do."
Arthur's eyebrows raised in question.
"He's the court's physician," Merlin explained, "you've known him for your whole life."
"And he'll be able to help me?" Arthur asked hopefully.
"I think he might," Merlin smiled.
"Then let's go..." Arthur looked intently into Merlin's eyes.
"Merlin," the young sorcerer sighed, "my name is Merlin."
"It's a strange name," Arthur defended himself, "you can't blame me for not having remembered."
Merlin wanted to snap something back, but he was just able to restrain himself. Pressing his lips together, he turned around and walked out of the little house. "We have a long walk ahead of us," he said when stepping into the sunlight, "and it will be dark soon."
"Then let's not waste time," Arthur stepped outside as well, closing the door behind him of the small house.
-o-o-
They had only briefly said goodbye to Caleb and Nathaniel, but Merlin had been surprised by how much Nathaniel had changed knowing that 'Tristan' was truly Arthur Pendragon. He had hardly dared looking into his eyes. Not because he was the Prince, Merlin knew as much that Nathaniel wasn't a man that was quickly feeling intimated, but because he was Uther's son and because Caleb was a sorcerer.
Merlin wondered how much power Caleb had exactly. He had proven to be skilled when fighting the beast earlier, he had saved Merlin after all, but what did that tell him exactly?
There were close to Camelot now and Merlin was starting to recognize places in the forest.
"If you go a mile south," Merlin said, breaking a silence that had hung between them for almost an hour, "that's were we were attacked."
"What an interesting piece of trivia, Merlin," Arthur said, shrugging his shoulders.
Merlin couldn't believe that even though Arthur had lost his memory, he still had the same character of being a prat.
"Just be grateful that I am willing to lead you the way," Merlin snapped, "or you'd be stuck in that little village forever."
"It wasn't bad there," Arthur sighed, "it was actually nice."
Merlin could understand what Arthur was talking about. That place did seem to have been the exact opposite of Camelot. It had been cozy and lovely and the people there actually knew each other. Who wouldn't like such a place?
"Where did you grow up?" Arthur suddenly asked.
Merlin had not expected that question, but then again, he had forgotten that Arthur knew nothing about him anymore.
"In Ealdor," he answered, smiling. He loved that village and he missed it, as he missed the people there and his mother. "You've been there."
"I'm sure it's lovely," Arthur said.
Merlin was surprised by the honesty in Arthur's voice. It almost appeared like he regretted leaving the small village. They reached the outskirts of the forest and immediately, Merlin felt a sense of relief.
They had made it!
"You're home," he said to the Prince, seeing how he gazed at the large castle in the distance.
"My home," Arthur sighed.
Though it wasn't home, not to Arthur anyway, not anymore. For all that he knew, he had never been here before. He wouldn't even recognize his father or his friends. He wouldn't even know Gwen. Merlin knew now that he needed to help Arthur get his memory back, but the only question was how...
AN: Another chapter is done. I know you had to wait a few days for this one, but life has been very busy! I didn't forget about this story, however, and I promise you, the next chapter will be here soon... In the mean time, let me know what you think of this chapter! :)
