A/N 'A Servant of Two Masters' is probably my favourite episode of Merlin because you really get to see how much Arthur cares for Merlin (that and it's a hilarious episode). For those that don't know, this is the episode where Merlin is injured in a fight and then captured by Morgana and like enchanted by these snake things (called fomorhas) to try and kill Arthur. One thing I think the episode lacked was bromance! Not slash or anything but good old fashioned Merlin and Arthur insulting each other in a loving way cuteness. So I decided I would take it upon myself to write this as I'm sure I'm not the only one pining for some Merther cuteness. That and this plot bunny has been bouncing around in my head for ages. SO here it is, I hope you enjoy and remember to review to tell me what you thought. Thanks

"Arthur, you must eat. We will find Merlin and bring him home safe and sound but not if you don't have any food in you." Gwen persisted, with Gaius standing quietly in the corner, nodding his agreement. It was obvious Merlin disappearance had been hard for Gaius.

"I'll be fine, I'm just not very hungry." Arthur replied, his voice void of any kind of emotion, except maybe worry, no but he was king of Camelot, he was not worrying about a servant. Defonatly not, whatever gave you that idea?

"Sire, you really should ea-?" Gaius was cut off.

"Why?! Why should I eat when he could out there STARVING? ALONE and starving, or maybe not even alone, maybe Morgana found him, maybe he is being tortured for information on me! Maybe he is dead. Why should I sit here all high and mighty when I couldn't even keep him away from harm, he was my responsibility and now because of my incompetence, he is out there, somewhere, scared and wondering where we are? Wondering why we have not found him yet and why haven't we?! Because I need to stop to EAT!" Arthur bellowed his voice being heard from across the city as all stopped in their tracks, wondering what had made their king lose his temper in such a way. Only the selected few knew that Merlin was the answer.

Arthur looked up, his eyes locking with Gaius'.

"He means more to you, Gaius then any of us could comprehend, he is your son in all but one sense of the word. Don't stand here and tell me you want us to put the search for Merlin on hold while I sit down and have a bloody meal!" Gaius was silent. "If you want us to drop the search for a good hour, tell me, tell me now and it'll be done."

"I do not wish to stop the search my lord but, sire you must eat. You will be of no use in the search if you are weak because you have not eaten."

"He is right, Arthur! We know how much you want to find Merlin, we all want to find him as quickly as possible, but sit down and eat something. Be quick and you can be back out searching in no time."

Arthur sighed, defeated. He felt a stinging behind his eye but refused to let it come to anything. "Okay, please leave me alone to eat. I will be out in ten minutes, if I'm not out by then, come fetch me."

Gaius bowed respectfully before leaving and Gwen went and kissed Arthur before leaving in much the same manner as Gaius. They both stood outside the door, worry etched upon their faces and silence which spoke volumes filling the space between them.

...

As soon as the door clicked closed Arthur lowered himself into his chair and took a deep, shaky breath. He felt something wet trickle down his cheek and that's when he noticed he was crying. He was crying for his manservant, oh for goodness sake! His friend, his best friend, his brother, his Merlin, he was crying for Merlin!

Arthur tried to tell himself that even if Merlin was gone, he would be fine but then he realised he needed Merlin. He couldn't imagine hunting trips without Merlin being there to scare away most of the animals with his natural clumsiness. He couldn't imagine training without Merlin being annoying and sarcastic in the background. He couldn't imagine waking in the morning at the right time with no 'Up and at it lazy daisy'. He couldn't imagine a life worth living without Merlin.

...

(This is when Arthur finds Merlin, I'm doing a little of the dialogue from the show here by memory so it's probably not right but you get the gist)

"Show yourself." Arthur demanded in a rather kingly manner, not that it was unusual for Arthur to speak in such a way; he was the future king after all.

When Merlin came out from behind the tree, mud covering his face, Arthur and Gwaine were both more than ecstatic to see him and came forwards towards him.

"Merlin! I thought we'd lost you!" Arthur said, taking steps towards Merlin before pulling him in for a very brotherly, loving hug. He released his grip and looked Merlin up and down, he looked relatively un-harmed and Arthur felt the relief flow through him when this became evident to him.

He pulled him in for a hug after all and then looked back to Gwaine just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, but Gwaine was stood there, smiling broadly but frozen to the spot.

"Well, c'mon Gwaine, aren't you gonna check if Merlin's okay?" Arthur inquired.

"But of course, princess." Gwaine said as he took bounding steps forward to wrap his only-true-friend-in-the-world-who-he-almost-lost-M erlin in a hug.

Merlin hadn't said anything as of yet and this put both the men slightly on edge although they still couldn't hide their joy and relief.

"Merlin, mate, what happened?!"

"I...eh, don't remember. I think I passed out after the rocks fell and then I woke up somewhere in a wood. It doesn't matter though, I'm back and I've got things to do." Merlin replied before a somewhat creepy smile appeared on his face. Both Gwaine and Arthur notice the creepiness of the grin but put it to the back of their minds; he had just been through an ordeal.

Arthur rested his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "I've been worried and don't say you have things to do, of course I'm giving you a day or two off to recover."

"No need sire." Merlin replied, Arthur knew there was something off but his joy at finding Merlin succumbed his entire being and consumed all his thoughts so nothing could get through to him other then, Merlin is here and safe. Life can go on.

And so it did. And that's why he ignored the fact that Merlin was speaking in a slightly odd manner, why he would randomly disappear to be replaced by Gwen or Gaius and why his once (as he could only assume it to have been) painful mace wound had disappeared. He didn't want to question it because he might lose Merlin again and if that happened, well he would lose himself.

A/N so I hope you enjoyed that, it took me aaaageeees to write which is really bad considering its not exactly long but I just really wanted to get this perfect. So any ideas for more Merthur bromance fics? If so please review telling me them but no slash I'm afraid, I'm not comfortable writing that kind of stuff. Anyway review to tell me what you thought; I hope it may be made you 'aaw' at at least one point Thanks for reading.