(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) Chapter 3 (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

Next morning he and Merlin went around the city looking for this person but didn't find him, they searched for three weeks until Arthur gave up on it deciding that it must have been a dream.

Merlin was extra careful after that night. Sending Prongs (he had finally got his patronus working again – using a memory of him, Gwen, Arthur and Morgana laughing and enjoying life) out on patrol. Prongs would warn him if someone was coming. It also drained him of some of his energy but as he was getting used to fighting without it, it just meant in a real fight he would be even quicker and had more energy so he could probably last longer as well.

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All Hallows Eve came too quickly for Merlin. The weather seemed to agree with him as it was cloudy and overcast it, had rained the night before and there was still black clouds hovering over Camelot.

Just as Merlin had told Gwen he didn't bother going to work that day. He knew he would get severely told off but he really didn't care. All Hallows Eve was the one day he allowed himself to mourn all he had lost and cry for them. Arthur could do whatever he wanted, he could get by without a manservant for a day; but, Merlin could not get by without having this day to himself. He needed it.

He heard Arthur storming about the castle calling for him, but he did not move. He just sat there staring into space, thinking about his past and his future. Thinking about Hogwarts, his friends, Dumbledore and many others. He even missed the potion master's sarcastic comments.

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Arthur was not happy. Merlin had not turned up this morning- he was used to that, Merlin was often late but when he went to go fetch him. Gaius said that Merlin wasn't in bed. That he had left early that morning. He hurried around the castle seeing if anyone knew where Merlin was. No one did.

Gwen said that even if they found him. Merlin would not go into work that day he'd rather be in the dungeons than work on All Hallows Eve. Morgana and Arthur pestered her on it. But she refused to let them know where he was. Only that he would be back at work tomorrow ready to accept his punishment.

He had mentioned this to Gaius later, when Gaius remembered something.

"You know sire. The last time I went to Eledor to see Hunith it was All Hallows Eve. Will was running around the village like normal. But there was no Merlin with him. When I asked Hunith about it she just said. That it was the only day in the year when no one saw Merlin. If it was any other day she would be worried. But every All Hallows Eve he would take himself somewhere and no one would see him till the next day when he acted as though nothing was wrong. Before he was old enough he would just sit in his room and not move all day, even when he was a baby.

I think, sire, that this is going to be something you'll have to get used to. All Hallows Eve seems to be special to Merlin for some reason. I really don't think that there is anything to worry about. If he doesn't turn up tomorrow then we should send out a search party, but not before then"

Arthur agreed and went to leave, but Gaius stopped him.

"Oh and Arthur?"

"What?"

"Don't push him on it. What ever the reason he disappears once a year is personal, don't push him into telling you why. Because if he told you because he was forced, he would never forgive you."

Arthur nodded and replied "Don't worry Gaius. I would never forgive myself either. I shall see you tomorrow when I come to get him"

Gaius laughed and Arthur left the room thinking about what had been said

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Arthur spent the rest of the day wondering why Merlin was separate himself on that day of all days. What was so significant to Merlin about the 31st October?

(*_*) (*_*) (*_*) End of Chapter 3 (*_*) (*_*) (*_*)

AN: Ok so I lied when I said chapter 1 was the shortest chapter but this truly was the best place to cut it off. This REALLY is the shortest chapter I have written so far though. I pwomise