A quick filler before the next chapter tonight!

Arthur's a bit OC, but he's beginning to go a bit stir crazy with worry, grief and guilt now, so I think we can allow it.

Also... MERLIN IN 1 HOUR! Eeeeeeeepppp!

Enjoy!

XxX

Letters To No-One

Arthur stared at the map in front of him, which was marked with X's, covering half of the villages. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he grabbed his quill and put yet another X through one of the villages; a village where Merlin hadn't been found.

It had become an obsession for the young King, the need to find his friend. Most of the Knights had understood, and took time during their regular patrols to search for the Warlock, but they had all come up empty.

There was no sign of Merlin.

Both Gwen and Gaius had tried to talk to him, that Merlin was just trying to move on with his life, but it had done little to appease the King. Even if Merlin refused to return to Camelot, he needed to know that his friend was OK; it was the least he owed him. He wanted to be able to send him money for food, and to have a good life; the life he had been denied whilst living in Camelot.

And then, of course, there was the letter.

Merlin had sworn, as he'd packed his meagre belongings to flee for his life, that he would let Gaius know when and where he'd settled. And Merlin knew better than to break a promise to Gaius.

Yet there was no letter.

Arthur, despite Gaius' desires that he stopped "lurking", as the Physician had called it, had visited the tower every day, hoping for news on Merlin. He'd written his own letters, and sent them out with Gwaine, but the Knight had always ended up returning them to the King. Gwaine had set out two days ago with the latest one, this time combined with letters from Gaius and Gwen.

And there had been no reply.

The door opened, and Arthur didn't need to look up to know that it was his wife. She walked round the back of the table, placing her hands on his shoulders.

'Any news?'

'Nothing,' Arthur muttered, staring at the map.

'Arthur...' He turned to look at her, her eyes dark with worry. 'Maybe... Maybe you should stop looking.'

'What?' He stood up straight, staring at her incredulously. 'You can't be serious!'

She shook her head, directing him towards the bed, and forcing him to sit down. 'Arthur,' Gwen sat down next to him, taking his hands in hers. 'There have been reports of slavers moving through the country; Alined is demanding that we revise his treaty. The summer is approaching quick, and we need to be preparing the citizens for planting. There are feasts to prepare for, laws to revise, council meetings to arrange... Arthur... You simply don't have the time to spend looking for Merlin.'

'I can't give up on him...' Arthur whispered. 'I can't...'

'You still have Gwaine,' she smiled. 'You know there's no way he'll give up on Merlin. And the patrols will continue to search for him. I just meant that you need to focus on other things now.'

He met her gaze, and held it for a few seconds before he nodded.

Gwen understood the nod for what it was, and gave him a swift kiss before departing.

Arthur sighed, rubbing his face. He looked towards the window, and the setting sun. 'It's been two months, Merlin. Where are you, old friend?..'

XxX

Leave a review please! And I'll be back later tonight!

TTFN
Valkyirexx