(the next day)

"Sire, the mare Merlin took with him. She's returned."

A thrill of dread swept through Arthur. Gaius wrung his hands together with worry and said "That doesn't really mean anything, Merlin probably sent her back so he wouldn't have another mouth to feed."

"I don't think so, Gaius." Leon said, and for the first time Arthur noticed how very pale he was. "Her coat is covered in blood."

Arthur brushed past Leon and charged out the door, not slowing down for anything. He sprinted to the stables, breathing heavily when he finally arrived. Percival and Gwaine were already there combing over the familiar brown horse for clues.

Arthur blanched at the sight of the red/brown stained mane and coat, which had started to attract a few flies. For once, the horse seemed to be aptly named.

"That's a lot of blood." He commented dryly, all the moisture in his throat having suddenly evaporated. Gwaine glared at him, as if he wanted to say something smart back, but was interrupted by Percival.

"It's not the horse's, she doesn't appear to be harmed at all. This was hanging in her tail though." He held out a broken arrow shaft for Gwaine and Arthur to inspect.

"Are we thinking bandits?" Gwaine asked, brainstorming. Percival sighed an answer;

"It's impossible to tell. It could have come from anywhere."

Arthur continued to hold the arrow in his hands, running over it with his fingers. A million different scenario's raced through his head, each more outrageous and terrifying than the last. He was finally freed from his dark imaginings by Gwaine's frustrated declaration.

"Sod this!" The shaggy haired knight said, and made his way over to an already saddled horse. "I'm going to go get him!"

Gwaine hoped on the horse and spurred her onward before anyone could stop him. Arthur watched him go, traveling the same path Merlin had taken, and his fingers wandered to touch the blue neckerchief still wound around his wrist. He glanced one more time at the blood soaked horse and came to a decision.

"Oh, hell. Merlin you idiot, you better not be dead!" He muttered angrily before rounding on a nearby stable boy.

"You! Prepare my horse and supplies for at least a three day journey. Have them ready by the time I return."

"You're going after Merlin too?" Leon asked, stunned and Percival couldn't keep the smile off his face when the king nodded.

"It's my fault he's out there alone, I've got to go and at least make sure the idiot isn't out there bleeding to death!" Arthur said with a hint of his old fondness for the other man peeking through and masking his worry.

"And when you find him?"

The question stopped Arthur in his tracks. The truth was, he had no idea what to do with Merlin once they found him, his thoughts mostly hinging on if they ever found him. He knew what he wanted to do; he wanted to fall down in front of his manservant and beg for forgiveness and he wanted Merlin to do the same. He wanted to cut the sorcerers head off for lying to him and he wanted to sweep the man up into a long hug and never let go. He wanted to drag him back to the castle and clap him in irons so that he could never leave and he wanted to banish the man even farther away, to some remote island from which he could never escape.

Leon saw the confusion on Arthurs face and placed an understanding hand on his shoulder, a very bold move for the usually boundary conscious knight. It was Percival who rescued him from his thoughts however by stating;

"We're coming with you."

"We did promise Merlin we'd watch your back, after all" Leon grinned mischievously.

"And someone should probably be there to watch Gwaine's back too" The big knight added.

Arthur nodded gratefully to his two knights. "What about Mordred?" he asked, curious about the one missing member of their usual team.

"I haven't seen him in days." Leon admitted with a frown.

"Well, I guess he'll have to sit this one out. We ride in fifteen minutes."

Both knights gave the king a respectful head bob bow before going to prepare their horses and supplies.

Arthur rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time in his hurry and almost literally ran into his wife.

"Arthur, what's happening? I just saw Gwaine riding out of the city?" Gwen asked, searching his face for answers. Arthur took her hands in his, soaking in her beautiful features.

"It's Merlin." He explained. "I'm going after him."

"After him?" she asked, her breathing stopping with dread. Arthur wanted to roll his eyes, but he couldn't exactly blame her for assuming the worst.

"His horse came back without him, and there was blood on her. I have to make sure he's alright."

Gwen stared up at him for a moment, her big brown eyes welling up with unshed tears before she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.

"Arthur Pendragon, it is times like this that I utterly and truly love you." She whispered, just loud enough for him hear. Arthurs face flushed with pleasure at the words and he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight to his body and sinking his nose into her hair. Her confidence in his decision gave him strength and assurance he hadn't known he was craving. After what felt like far too short a time they broke apart, and Arthur made another decision.

"Guinevere, I need you to do something for me." He told her seriously and was heartened by her enthusiastic nod. He slipped his golden ring off his finger and curled her willowy ones around it.

'Arthur…what…..?" She looked up at him with confusion and fear until he explained further.

"While I'm gone, I want you to start working to repeal the ban on magic." He said, ignoring her shocked gasp. "It won't be easy, especially convincing the rest of the council, but if anyone is capable of it, you are."

She smiled sweetly at him and he knew come hell or high water she would fight to repeal the ban in his absence. Gwen stood on her tip-toes and pressed her lips sensually into the corner of his mouth.

"That was for you…." She said, her hands cupping his cheeks and guiding his head down so it was within reach. She then place a much lighter kiss on his forehead with a motherly tenderness. "…and that was for Merlin." She grinned, softly stroking his cheek with her thumb. "Please be careful."

Arthur snorted and wrinkled his nose at her "I'm always careful!"

Gwen rolled her eyes and Arthur stole one last kiss from her before hurrying on his way.

He had a warlock to save.