Arthur
After leaving Gaius's chambers, Arthur went in search of Leon...he needed to bring Hunith as soon as possible. He found him in the training ground along with other knights
- Leon, I need to talk to you
- Sure Sire
- Come with me - said Arthur, as he began to walk, moving away from the others to prevent anyone else from hearing
- What's going on?
- I need to ask you a very important favor.
- Sure, what do you need?
- First I need you to give me your word that neither my father nor anyone else will find out about this...
- Sure, you have my word - answered Si León, after carefully analyzing Arturo's look
- I need you to go to Ealdor, find Merlin's mother, deliver this note to her - Arthur said, handing her a sealed note he had written in Gaius's chambers - and then escort her to Camelot. But you must do it in the most discreet way possible, I don't want anyone to find out
- Maybe it's better if I don't go as a knight - Leon suggested. "Whatever is happening, it must be really important for Arturo" thought Leon, he didn't want to disappoint him
- Yes, it's a good idea, thank you. I will say that I gave you a few days off to visit a sick relative.
- I understand, I will make arrangements to leave as soon as possible
- Thanks Leon... Something else... Have you seen Merlin?
- No sire, not since yesterday
- Thanks
After speaking with Leon, Arthur went to one of the knights who was training
- I need you to bring me the morning reports from the gates
- Right away Sire
Luckily, every day the guards at the gates of the different entrances to the city made detailed reports of those who entered and left through them. Perhaps someone had seen Merlin pass
While he waited for those reports to arrive, he headed to the stables, looking for the knight patrol that was about to leave town.
- Good morning gentlemen, before you leave I must talk to you
- Sure Sire - the 5 Knights answered, approaching him
- Today I will go with your patrol, but when I leave the city I will separate from you
- Sire?
- I have to carry out an incognito mission, and for the others to lower their guard I need them to believe that I am not in Camelot and that I will return with you in a couple of days. I'll wait a mile from the entrance so we can return together and not raise suspicions.
- Understood sire
- Excellent, wait for me to leave Camelot, I'll be ready as soon as possible
Excellent, he already had at least a couple of days to be able to look for Merlin freely... Now he only need to distract his father
On his way back to the castle he met the knight to whom he entrusted the reports of the gates.
- Sire! I have the reports
- Excellent, thank you very much - said Arturo receiving the reports and heading towards his bedroom
As he walked, Arturo flipped through the various reports, quickly finding what he was looking for. Merlin had been seen leaving the city an hour ago through the west gate.
- Excellent, if I hurry I can still catch up with him - Arthur said, changing course and heading towards Gaius.
- Gaius, I know where he went - Arthur said as he entered the room - he left through the west door an hour ago
- The west gate... I think I have an idea where he could have gone
- Where?
- Lake Avalon... It's probably near there.
- Excellent, I'll go there right away - Arthur said, seeing Gaius's worried face he added - don't worry, I've got everything ready so no one suspects anything. I'll go out with a patrol to avoid suspicion, and then we'll be back with them in a couple of days.
- Take care.. please
- Do not worry
Then he went quickly to his bedroom to change his clothes and prepare to go in search of Merlin... his brother.
The first thing was to make some small changes to the patrol routes, to keep them relatively far from the lake. Luckily the patrols were in charge of him, so his father would never find out if there were changes or not.
Arthur approached his door and looked outside in search of a servant, seeing Gwen pass by, he called her immediately
- Gwen! Please come
- Of course, sire - Gwen answered, maintaining the formalities in case someone was watching.
- I need you to do me a favor, I need you to deliver this immediately to Sir Edwin, who must be in the training field. And then I need you to deliver this to the patrol that is waiting for me in the stables - Arturo said, handing her a scroll with the new patrol routes and his bag with clothes and some groceries
- Ehm, of course there is no problem. Will you go out on patrol?
- That's right... I'll be back in a couple of days
- And Merlin?
-He is doing an errand for Gaius, he will catch up with us later
- Oh now I see. i will go right away
- Thank you Gwen
Excellent, everything was going perfectly...
Arthur knew that right at this time his father was on his way to the council room, so it would be easy to create a "casual encounter" with him in the halls of the castle.
Indeed, in the corridor next to the room where the council met, Arthur met his father by "accident"
- Oh, Arthur... Are you going out? Uther asked, seeing her son with his armor and cloak on.
- Dad. - Arturo greeted - Yes, I'm on my way to the stables to go out with the next patrol, we'll be back in a couple of days
- Excellent, keep the kingdom safe from any intruder
- Of course, father - replied Arthur, saying goodbye.
Now, everything was in order to be able to go in search of Merlin without problems
Arturo quickly went to the stables to meet the patrol that was waiting for him to leave, luckily his horse had already been prepared.