A pool and secrets
Chapter Fourteen
When Arthur awoke he sat up in his bed and looked around confused before he noticed that he was awoken by the sun blinding his eyes. "Really Merlin? You had to nearly blind me. You could not wake me up like a normal person?" Arthur complained rubbing his eyes. Arthur paused before looking around the room. "Merlin?" Arthur asked. As the king was getting out of bed he heard a knock on his bedroom door. "Enter." He called expecting it to be his wayward servant running late as usual.
It was Sir Leon who entered looking confused seeing the king still not dressed for the day. "You are not ready my lord? You are late for training with the knights, my lord." Leon said bowing.
"What?! Is it that late already? Why didn't Merlin wake me up?!" Arthur asked as he rushed to the divider he uses to get dressed. When he realised that Merlin had not put out his clothes he rushed back around the divider. Arthur was fumbling trying to remember where his clothes were kept as he mumbled about incompetent servants. When he was dressed he put on his shoes as he looked up at Leon. "You have not happened to see Merlin today have you?" Arthur asked.
"No, my lord." Leon said. "I have not seen him around at all today. Perhaps he has hurt his shoulder again and is being treated by Gaius." Leon suggested.
"Hmm…maybe…I will have to see after training is over." Arthur said rising from his bed. "And if he is not there, I am seriously considering firing him." Arthur said annoyed.
It was midday when Arthur came barging into Gaius's quarters looking very angry. "Is he here?" he asked the older man who sat as his table stunned.
"Who my lord?" Gaius asked trying to sound confused.
"Merlin. You know my servant who is looking like he will be finding new employment soon. He did not arrive this morning to wake me up for training with the knight. This means I woke up late and did not have enough time to eat breakfast this morning. Leon said that maybe he had hurt his shoulder again and you might be treating him. So where is he?" Arthur asked angrily.
"I'm not sure, Sire. I assumed that when he was not here this morning that he was off doing his duties." Gaius said.
"Where could he be?" Arthur contemplated.
"I'm not sure. Have you tried that tavern?" Gaius asked.
"No. Maybe I should. If you see him could you tell him that he is in serious trouble?" Arthur told the old man. When Gaius nodded his head Arthur turned and headed for the tavern. When Arthur arrived he walked over to the owner who was behind the bar. "Have you seen Merlin, my servant, at all today? I cannot find him." Arthur asked.
"No, my lord. I have not seen Merlin for at least two to three months. I'm sorry I could not be of any more help." The tavern owner said.
"Fair enough. Thank you for your time." Arthur said before leaving. He was heading towards the throne room when he bumped into Gwen and her lady in waiting.
"Arthur." Gwen smiled. "I heard that you were late to training this morning due to a wayward servant." Gwen laughed.
"Yes. Merlin is nowhere to be seen. I wish he would stop just disappearing one of these days." Arthur said. He grabbed Gwen's hands, comparing them slightly to Merlin's, and kissed one. "When I find my wayward servant, as you say, did you wish to meet for picnic my future wife?" Arthur asked. Not fully listening to her answer as he was trying to think where Merlin could be. "Sorry? My brain was wondering somewhere else. What was your answer?" Arthur asked.
"I said I would love to but I have court with the women to attend to this afternoon." Gwen said smiling up at her future husband a little but upset that he did not listen to her the first time.
"Of course! How could I forget? This thing with Merlin disappearing has really thrown me out of whack today. Arthur said. "Oh Percival!" Arthur called when he spotted the knight walking down the walkway. "Excuse me Gwen. I must talk to Percival." Arthur said kissing Gwen's cheek goodbye. Gwen sighed then left to attend her meeting. "Percival I need you and some others to look for Merlin I can't find him anywhere." Arthur said as soon as Percival made his way over to the king. Percival nodded before leaving to do as his king asked. Arthur made his way to his throne room to wait for the knights searching results.
Merlin felt so free travelling on the back of Kilgarrah towards his new home. It was so thrilling watching everything go by below them as they flew above. Merlin had never felt so free in his life. This feeling was starting to make Merlin realise that he had never truly been free to live his life during his time at Camelot. Merlin felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. This is the time where he starts to live his life for him and his child. Where he won't have to hide who he truly is, he could truly be himself without fear. Merlin leaned back with his arms raised taking in the wind sweeping through him. He was on cloud nine and he could distinctly hear Kilgarrah laughing along with him.
"We are almost there young warlock. Perhaps you would like to hold on for the decent." The dragon warned.
"Of course. I lost myself for a second there." Merlin said lowering his arms. He started to look around trying to see if he could see the place he will be living for the next few months or maybe even years. Merlin saw a forest of trees with a small field in amongst them. His heart started to race when he noticed that Kilgarrah was flying down to that field. He did not know what to expect considering that nobody had lived there for a very long time. When they landed Merlin took in a deep breath before he slid down from the dragons back.
"Go look at your new home young warlock." Said Kilgarrah.
"You are sure that it is safe?" Asked Merlin with a hand placed over his growing child.
"Yes young one. Nobody has lived there for quite some time." Said the dragon.
"But how do I know it is safe to live there if no one has lived there recently. What if it is totally run down? How can I carry my child in a house that is unliveable?" asked Merlin worriedly.
"You have no need to worry Merlin; I would not bring you to a place that I felt would harm you or your unborn child. Go. Go now and look at the small cottage that you will be staying at." Replied Kilgarrah.
"Okay. Can you please come with me?" Asked Merlin. He noticed that the trees where very tall and spread evenly enough apart that the dragon would have been able to travel through quite easily. Once the dragon had nodded Merlin took the first step towards his new future. They travelled for a few minutes before they came across a small quant cottage. It had foliage along the roof but the door way was clear. "It looks beautiful. How can it still look so good?" asked Merlin in awe.
"Magic young one." Replied Kilgarrah.
Out the front of the cottage was a huge garden of flowers. Merlin breathed in the refreshing smell of the flowers. He then walked up to the front door which was below an arched roof. There were two windows on the front of the cottage both a clear glass. Tentatively Merlin opened the door and walked inside. He gasped; there was a table and chairs to the side of the room near the cauldron and fire pit. The whole house still had everything that he would need; from plates, bowls and cutlery to a lounge sitting area. Merlin was so amazed; he noticed three doors and decided to investigate what was behind them. He found two beautifully decorated rooms that he just fell in love with behind two of the doors. Behind the last door he found that it led to small washing area which led to the back garden. Merlin gasped as he found that there truly was a garden full of fresh growing fruits and vegetables. Although there were a sparse amount of vines overlaying that he would have to get rid of.
"I have never truly loved magic as much as I do right now. Thank you, Kilgarrah, for finding me such a magical place to carry and raise my child." Merlin said to Kilgarrah who had come around the side of the cottage. He had small tears streaming down his face; which he discreetly tried to wipe away.
"You are welcome Merlin. Now we should get all your stuff packed away." Said Kilgarrah.
Arthur sat around the round table discussing the issues in the kingdom with his knights and advisors. He was not paying attention to what was being said so he missed when Leon had asked him a question. When he felt Gwen grab his hand he focused back onto the meeting. "Sorry? I was not focusing on the meeting." Said Arthur. Out the corner of his eye Arthur noticed that Gwen was looking at him in concern.
"King Vincent from Emerald wishes to meet with you to discuss matters he did not divulge to his messenger, my lord." Leon said.
"Right I will have to arrange a time that I can go there or he can come to Camelot." Arthur said just as there was a knock on the door. "Enter." He called. The door opened and Percival and the other knights who were searching for Merlin entered the room. "Did you not find him?" Asked Arthur worriedly.
"No Sire." Percival said with a bow. "We searched everywhere in the citadel. He is not here." Just as Percival finished speaking there was another knock on the door. "Enter." Arthur said distractedly. He was hopeful when Gaius entered until he saw the tears leaving the physicians eyes. "Gaius? What is wrong? Is it Merlin? Have you found him?" Arthur asked panicked.
"He…He has left Camelot." Gaius said in tears.
"Who?" asked Arthur.
"Merlin" Gaius said holding up a letter.
A.N. Well here is another chapter. Life has been hectic lately but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please read and review.