Hi!

One last bit for today... Nothing graphic in this one!

So, have I inspired a potential Beta?


MERLIN

Merlin found the palace in turmoil when he entered. Servants ran every which way, a patrol of clunking guards nearly ran him down and there was a feeling of tension in the air close to frenzy that made the hair on his arms stand up.

''Gaius.''

Merlin finally found his mentor, hurrying towards the throne room so fast his robes billowed behind him.

''Merlin.''

The response was short and hurried, and not at all accompanied by any visible slowing of the physician's speed.

''Gaius.'' Merlin hissed urgently, trying to catch up with the older man. ''I need… I mean I really… I… have a problem.''

Gaius looked at him over his shoulder, a piercing grey stare that made Merlin blush.

Then he pushed on the heavy wood doors with knotted fingers, marching towards the king. Just before entering the Greatroom, Gaius whispered curtly.

''Not now, Merlin.''

And really, Merlin couldn't argue with him because the King was positively seething. He paced in tight circles before the throne, and the lines in his face were deepened with anxiety. Not that he ever looked soft, but right then Uther looked decidedly terrifying.

So Merlin and his problem moved to stand discreetly by the wall, to Gaius's left.

It turned out that the reason for all the upset was that Arthur had disappeared.

Vanished; vanished without a word or a note or anything.

Just gone.

Idiot.

Merlin clenched his fists at the irrational wave of anger that swamped him at the news.

It was Arthur's fault.

Again.

Merlin had finally decided to get help, but he was stuck waiting for Uther to stop ranting at his mentor.

Because of Arthur.

Merlin didn't mean to growl out loud, he really didn't. But the shocked look a passing maid sent him, wide-eyed-terrified, probably meant he had.

He chalked the incident up as falling into the ''Because of Arthur'' category.

Which, strangely, didn't make Merlin feel any better.

Arthur was missing.

Merlin wasn't worried or anything affectionate like that. No.

He would just have to find his idiot master.

Before the others.

So he could scream at him good and long. Until Arthur begged Merlin for forgiveness.

And then the dreams were intruding again at the thought of a humbled Arthur on his knees before Merlin and surely Arthur wouldn't actually be able to swallow it *all* down and Merlin was –quite- sure Uther would have him beheaded if he guessed even half the impure thoughts running in his servant's dirty mind.

Even if they were because of Arthur.

It just wasn't fair. Merlin sighed and looked out the window at the late-afternoon sun that washed Camelot in gold.

Gold, which was annoying because gold reminded Merlin of Arthur which reminded him of his problem which reminded him that Arthur was missing.

Merlin might have growled for the second time that day. Maybe.

Now if only he could snatch a moment alone with Gaius...


Be back in a day or two with more. I wonder where Arthur is...

If you've never read Alpha-Omega Verse before, wiki has a great article to get you started...