Slightly quicker update and we're back in Camelot! :)

Chapter 25

The Soldier in the Night

Arthur stormed into the Great Hall just as Uther was eating his dinner. An array of foods spread out across the long table, and the King seemed more interested in what was in front of him than his son. He sipped wine from his goblet casually as if Arthur stormed into the Great Hall like this every day, rage clear in his eyes.

"You're late Arthur," said Uther calmly, he could guess what his son was angry about, and he didn't want to hear it. "Sit down."

But Arthur stood his ground. "Are you planning an invasion father?" He demanded.

Uther looked up at his, bemused. "No, why?"

"Then perhaps you would like to tell me why you have sent more soldiers over the border. Are you trying to make our relationship with other countries worse? They won't stand this for long."

"No Arthur, it seems you're the one who cannot stand it. And you know why I sent soldiers across the border. How can you find someone whose missing if you do not look?"

Arthur's fists clenched in, and he had to stop himself from crying out loud in frustration. "No I don't father, because you haven't told me who you're searching for! You've already looked! You've been looking for weeks, and there has been no sign of this mysterious person, and there still has been no word from you about who we're searching for. Don't you think as a future King of Camelot I should know who this enemy is? They must be pretty dangerous if you're willing to spend so much time and men looking for them."

Uther seemed disinterested in the whole conversation, they had spoken about this many times before, he could think of nothing else he needed to say to his son on the situation, without giving away the truth. "It doesn't concern you Arthur," he said, but there was a dangerous tone in his voice, a warning that Arthur better stop arguing with his father and accept the answer.

Arthur felt like jumping onto the table and kicking everything off it. Did his father not just hear what he had said? He was the future King, he had the right to know! He had always tried hard to please Uther, to do the right thing, and yet suddenly he was being left in the dark while his father sent more men around Camelot and beyond looking for some mysterious person he was so desperate to find it seemed he would never give up. Arthur was the best Knight in the Kingdom, yet he wasn't allowed to go on these expeditions, he was stuck in Camelot, left in the dark and alone because his best friend had disappeared. Uther didn't care about Merlin, he wouldn't search for Merlin, he just gave Arthur a new manservant, and although it had to be said George was much better at the actual job than Merlin ever was, he still wanted his friend back.

And what about what that woman said when she came to Camelot? Only days after Uther started panicking and searching for the mysterious person, Morgause appeared, looking for someone called Morgana.

Could it be possible that it was a coincidence, or was this the same Morgana that Merlin had once tried to convince him was still alive, the King's ward, his long dead childhood friend? Could it be possible this was the woman Uther was searching for?

Once Arthur would have said his father would never have kept such a secret from him, pretend his ward was dead. But now he looked at the smug King and found, with devastation and disappointed in his heart, that it seemed his father could so easily keep such a thing from his son.

And no matter how much Arthur argued with his father, the truth was still kept from him.

He would just have to work it out himself.

"Are you going to sit down and eat something Arthur, or are you just going to stand there and glare at me all evening?" Uther asked.

"No, I've lost my appetite." Arthur grumbled, and he left the Great Hall without another word. For a second his temper got the better of him, and as he turned to leave he purposefully swiped a plate of apples off the table. The silver plates fell with a loud clang and the fruit scattered everywhere, bouncing off the stone floor.

Uther watched the apples roll to a halt and wondered if he had just lost a son as well as a daughter.

Night swept over Camelot, covering the sky like a black curtain, obliterating the sun but dotted with tiny silver specks of far away stars. Not for long though, clouds were brewing, making the world even darker. Soon it would rain, perhaps there would be a storm. Arthur gazed out of his chamber window at the night sky. He better get moving, he didn't want to get caught in the rain as he left.

He dressed himself in his armour. You couldn't be too careful out there, especially where he was going, because he didn't know where he was going, he'd have to learn that on the way. Suddenly he was going to become the mysterious stranger, asking for a name. But he'd find Morgause, because he was sure where that woman yet, so would the truth. Now she had disappeared from Camelot, he couldn't find it here, he'd have to go and look for it himself.

Arthur double checked he had his sword with him, then put on his helmet. He couldn't let anyone know who he was, especially when he was trying to get out the castle, if he was caught he wouldn't be allowed to leave. He had to move quickly and quietly.

At first things were going well. Arthur poked his head out his chamber, and looked up and down the corridor. It was dark, silent and empty. Perfect. It was difficult trying to make silent steps in clunking armour, he had to be careful.

Arthur made his way down the corridor and turned into another one. This one too looked empty. Arthur couldn't help but sigh with relief, it was going well so far, things were looking good, he could get out of the castle without-

"Stop! Who goes there?"

Arthur froze to the spot and cursed himself. The corridor wasn't so empty as he thought, a guard was hiding in the shadows. He couldn't run, he would make too much noise in his armour and he would probably be slower than the guard. A chase would follow, the warning bells would ring, and Arthur wouldn't even get the chance to escape out of the castle. Perhaps if he faced this man, bluffed his way out the situation, make an excuse, or even knock the man out and run if he had to, he could still get away.

He turned to face his opponent, who had lit a torch so he could see better.

Leon was standing there. A fine soldier, Arthur thought, he saw the man improving every day. He was of noble blood, and would surely become a Knight one day. Leon was loyal and true to his word, a good fighter too, and brave. A tricky opponent. A look of surprise crossed the young man's face when he realised who stood before him, beneath the helmet.

"Sire, what-"

"Important business, cannot wait." Arthur said curtly, hoping his urgent and demanding voice would be enough to make Leon step aside. But he didn't move.

"I don't believe you." Leon replied. Arthur appreciated how brave this man was being, talking to the Prince in such a way, blocking his path. "I'll have to ask the King-"

"No don't!" Arthur said quickly, and then realised these very words had blown away any chance of him trying to leave the castle without a fuss. He sighed, he might as well tell the truth before Leon got too suspicious. "There are too many secrets in this castle now Leon, haven't you noticed? Secrets that should not be kept from me, about the person my father is so desperate to find, and maybe even a childhood friend, a sister to me, I thought was long dead. I cannot stay here idle, I have to look for answers, and answers cannot be found here. I must look for someone who will tell me the truth, and I have to go alone without the King knowing, or else I may never find my answers."

Leon paused, his expression changed. Arthur wondered if the soldier was thinking he had grown paranoid, that really there weren't any secrets, and it was foolish for him to run away in the middle of the night. The game was up, unless he decided to fight his way out.

But then something very strange happened. Leon stood aside. "You're right, there are too many secrets here, and I cannot create another one by pretending I have not seen you disappear into the night. But I can give you time, I can give you until dawn."

Arthur stared, not quite knowing what to think. "Thank you Leon, I will not forget this. When I come back from this journey, I'll talk to my father, see if we can make you a Knight."

"Just be careful," added Leon as Arthur was about to leave, "I heard rumours only a few hours ago of magical beasts spotted in the forests of Camelot, they will not let you pass so easily."

Arthur nodded. At least that would be something else to keep his father distracted from the fact his son had disappeared.

Without another word Arthur left the corridor, and within a few minutes he was out of the castle. He didn't find any more trouble on the way, and Leon kept his word, the warning bell did not come screaming through the silent night.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Arthur ran to the stable and fetched his horse.

The night was growing darker as the clouds extinguished the light of the stars, and no one could see who the soldier was that galloped through the streets of Camelot, disappearing into the night in the search for answers, just as it began to rain.