Whew, I managed to update today! Even if it is the end of the day! Anyways, a short peek at what the knights and Arthur are up to, then I promise we will get back to Merlin. Hope you enjoy and thank you all for your reviews, favorites, and follows!

Disclaimer: IDOM

~MERLIN~

Arthur was not having a very good day, to say the least. Not only had he had to track down all his wayward knights after waking up, but his best friend was currently somewhere unknown, and the person who had kidnapped him had seen fit to make an appearance to each of the knights and Arthur himself, planting thoughts in their heads that would not go away and generally making everyone act depressed.

AND, to top it all off, they were lost in a forest. And Arthur NEVER got lost. Arthur kicked a rock out of his way and let out a sigh. His knights, normally talkative, were extremely quiet. It was so unnerving Arthur found himself wishing Merlin were here so he could listen to his useless prattle. At least then it wouldn't seem so gloom and doom. Merlin always had a way of making everyone feel better.

But Merlin wasn't here. And Arthur couldn't stand the silence.

"Will you snap out of it?" he practically yelled, spinning around to face his unsuspecting knights.

"I'm sorry, sire?" Leon said, turning the statement into a question.

"It's too quiet around here," Arthur growled. "Can someone please just say something?"

"About what?" Tristan asked.

"Anything," Arthur said.

"Well," Gwaine began, a smirk forming on his face. "We could always talk about that one time you got drunk in the tavern."

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked warily.

"Oh, you know," Gwaine said. "Course, maybe I shouldn't tell the others…"

"What?" Elyan asked, leaning in.

"Well, it was me, Merlin, and princess here in a tavern, just having a friendly chat. Except princess had a little too much to drink, I think because the next thing I know he starts singing."

"What!" Arthur shouted, ears turning slightly red. "That did not happen!"

"Did too!" Gwaine said. "And then he-"

"Quit making up stories Gwaine," Arthur growled.

"But, I'm not even to the best part yet," Gwaine said.

"What happened?" Leon asked.

Gwaine's smirk widened to a full blown grin. "He got up on the table and started dancing."

"That did NOT happen!" Arthur shouted as his knights burst out laughing.

In the trees above Arthur a couple of squirrels started chittering and Arthur glanced up, glaring at them. "It's not TRUE!" he shouted at the squirrels, before realizing he was talking to animals.

"Arthur, did you just shout at the squirrels?" Percival asked. The knights broke out in peals of laughter again as Arthur stared slack jawed at Percival. The squirrels chattering increased and Arthur was sure they were laughing at him as well. As it was, Arthur couldn't believe it was Percival who had asked that question. He would have expected it from Gwaine, sure. Or Leon even, but not the quiet Percival.

"Oh, mate," Gwaine gasped, wiping his eyes. "You should see your face."

"I'm going to throw you in the stocks for a month!" Arthur said, stalking deeper into the forest. "Now come on, we need to find Merlin."

The knights continued to chuckle as they followed their king, and soon friendly banter broke out within the group. Arthur smiled. It may have come at his expense, but at least his knights were talking again. At least he wasn't searching for his best friend in an atmosphere that practically screamed failure.

No, this was better, with the talking and the laughter. It made the danger seem less dangerous. It made the possibility of never seeing Merlin again vanish. They would find Merlin, because he was their friend, and he belonged with them.

~MERLIN~