Thank you for the reviews!
To Azaelle: I plan on doing a flashback either in the next chapter or the one after that.
He didn't show up that morning. Where was he? I waited as long as I could; even cancelling training, just because Merlin could be late almost every day. In my heart, I knew he wasn't coming. Why should he? I had to find him.
The first place I looked was Gaius's quarters. I quietly snuck into the room, knowing if I barged in, either Merlin would be terrified or he would attack me with his magic. I couldn't bear either.
"Merlin?" I called out, but I got no reply, "Merlin!"
"Sire?" Gaius stepped out from his room.
"Ah, Gaius. Where's Merlin?"
"Didn't he tell you sire?" I could see Gaius was confused (AN: remember, Merlin didn't mention anything to Gaius, so he doesn't know it's Arthur's fault).
"Tell me what?" I had a terrible feeling.
"He's gone back to Ealdor,"
"What?" I made for the door.
"Where are you going?" Gaius asked.
"To get back my manservant," well, technically he wasn't my manservant anymore, but who cares about the details. I raced to the stables and had the stable hand ready my horse. I had some things to fix, before it was too late.
I ran, not bothering to stop to get a horse. I ran through the gates and into the forest. I ran until my lungs were burning. The sun was setting, and I prepared to make camp. I shouldn't have stopped. Out from the trees stepped the very man I was running from.
I heard a clashing through the trees as I rode down the path. Getting off my horse, I tied him to the nearest tree and followed the noise. It slowed, and then stopped. There was a clearing up ahead, and I waited on the side of the trees to see who it was before revealing myself. The person stopped then reached to get something from their pack. I saw a glimpse of black hair and blue eyes that should've been shining. Merlin. He was barely recognizable. If I hadn't seen him last night and expected him on the path, I wouldn't have known him. I stepped out of my cover. Time to confront him, no turning back now.