All Arthur had to do was convince his father.
"The beast has since killed ten people. Only attacking travelers in small groups or alone. With the recent unrest caused by the latest tax increase, I believe seeing to the matter personally would restore faith in the crown." Arthur new he almost had his father after that statement. He wished he had more to say. One more key factor and the old man would cave. Before he could go on about it also promoting travel once more along the roads east- his weakest selling point but it was still a point- Uther looked to Gaius. The older man looked at Arthur, before nodding to the King. Arthur could have hugged the physician as Uther shook his head and smiled.
"You amaze me with your insight sometimes Arthur. One would think you are ten years older with three wars under your belt."
Arthur tried not to grin with glee. "Thank you, father. I shall return when the beast is slain and send you reports when I can."
"Take Merlin with you. No reason for you to go servantless for a week or two."
Arthur did not allow himself to flinch. "He is visiting his mother in Ealder, she is sick and I've allowed him to visit. He left just before the attacks started. A caravan has brought a letter stating he made it safely. I shall most likely retrieve him first before looking for the creature." A half truth. He would retrieve Merlin first. Oh yes, and then his ungrateful servant would pay. Might feed him to the beast for his insolence.
Uther nodded, "Well you cannot go alone. I will arrange for a servant to accompany you." Arthur bowed and everyone began to leave to prepare for midday meal.
Gaius stopped him just outside the hall. "The compass he gave you points to home, wherever that may be." With that he wondered down the hall after Uther, leaving Arthur puzzled.
Gwen sat on Merlin's usual horse Penelope, looking far too pleased as they rode away from Camelot. It had been a few hours and Arthur was grumpily staring ahead, ignoring her. "So where do we start looking for Merlin?"
"His mother's."
"But he said in the letter-"
"He wouldn't be there. I know, however would Merlin really leave without giving his own mother his general location?" Gwen appeared to ponder that for a moment but Arthur cut her off, "NO. Merlin would tell Hunith something of his whereabouts."
"And why would Hunith tell you that?"
"Because she ADORES me, Gwen. Where have you been?"
She rolled her eyes, "This doesn't sound like a very good plan."
"Well it's the only one I've got! If you think of a better one, please, enlighten me!" His horse whinnied, distressed by his yelling. He stroked her neck and she calmed down a bit.
Gwen chuckled, "You really are a mess."
"I am NOT a mess!"
Gwen trotted in front and stood in his path, "Deny it all you want, miss him. You care about him and without him you can't decide what to have for breakfast. Since you do not know, you do not eat. You haven't slept much either. The guards hear you pacing your room at night. Why can't you just admit it?"
"I can't!"
"Why not? Is it really so hard to admit you care about him?"
"Who said I care about him? Who's to say that any of this means I care? Just because I think about him all the time and cannot function properly without him around and put his welfare before my own does not mean ANYTHING! I am a prince! Princes do not need annoying dimwitted servants. Besides, admitting something like that, knowing nothing could ever happen... Would- in theory... hurt to much."
He the motioned his horse around hers and she quickly followed at a safe distance behind. It had been an hour of riding before Gwen cleared her throat.
"I am sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's fine."
"I wasn't making fun of you. I know you really care about him… I think it's very sweet." Arthur scuffed at her but she nodded, "It's true. I wish someone cared about me that much."
Arthur laughed, "You don't think I do?"
"You heard I was a sorcerer and threw me in jail."
"That was different. You were-" He stopped, his brow furrowed, "Merlin tried to tell me- all of us- then. He was the one who healed your father."
"Probably." She shrugged.
"Come to think of it… There are a lot of times he- and Will-" Arthur wanted to hit himself. "He's been doing magic under my noise all along."
"He's smarter than you give him credit for. He only does stupid things when it comes to you."
"Then he just runs away!"
"Like you did when he told you?"
"That was-" But just then they heard hoof beats coming their way, and yelling. Lots of yelling.
"Slow down! I beg you, you beautiful creature, please! This hurts!" A horse came into view on the road and it appeared to be dragging a man behind it.
Gwen got off her own horse and stood in the road, "Easy now!" The horse slowed and by the time it got to her it was still. The man did his best to try and untangle himself from the stirrup.
Arthur got off his own horse to help him, "Are you alright?"
"Never better, since you stopped the vile beast." The man sprang to his feet and offered his hand. He was of a lean build, with a round, friendly face. It could be said he was handsome but he had a big goofy grin on his face. "Name is Lanval, at your service."
Arthur studied him, "Lanval? As is SIR Lanval?"
"Aye, so you've heard of me." His grin faltered. "That can't be good."
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "I owe you both a debt of gratitude. I've been dragged all the way here from Hornwood. Borrowed the beast after a bar fight you see. Me and this other man… Draine? Paine? Not important, and this big eared bloke fought off thirteen rouges –"
Arthurs ears perked at that, "Big eared bloke?"
"Aye, right sad he was until Staine got a hold of him… Gwaine! That was his name. Friendly bastard, didn't like me one bit at first. Hates nobles you see. I-"
"You used up half your family's treasury at the Spring Festival last year. Banned from all further celebrations in Camelot."
Lanval blinked at him."My god! Your highness! I- I didn't know it was YOU! I am so sorry you had to see me in this state!"
"Enough of that. Big eared bloke you said. Which way?"
"The bar is back the way I came. I could take you if you like your majesty."
Arthur nodded patiently, "I would like that greatly, thank you… If you assist me in locating him, I might be able to convince my father to let you back to court."
"Aye that is mighty kind of you. Shall we?" He remounted the horse a little wobbly. Gwen got back on Penelope and he got back on…. Damn it how could he remember Merlin's horse but not his own? He was going to skin the bastard alive.
"Alright there, Sire?" Gwen asked softly when he didn't start following.
"I told you I'm fine."
Gwen just smiled like she knew some big secret and kept riding.
It wasn't long after that they arrived at a tavern. Merlin had fled shortly after the fight with the mysterious Gwaine character. Apparently Gwaine was a regular though and stopped in almost every night- bar fight or no. Thus, Arthur and Lanval ended up sharing a room and Gwen had her own next to theirs. Lanval borrowed some money to buy a few rounds- he did not expect to see that money again- and Gwen agreed to supervise, leaving the prince to his thoughts. Arthur sat up in his room staring at the compass Merlin had given him. He'd bet his life it was actually magic and was curious how it worked. Gaius said it pointed to home. But why? How did it always know where Camelot was? Would it point to Camelot for just any one? But staring at gave him no answers. In fact the only thing staring at it accomplished was he missed him more.
That's right, Arthur MISSED him. And there, staring at his present, he allowed himself the one moment of weakness. His chest felt tight and there was a pressure behind his eyes that he could not get rid of.
"God, I miss him." He stared at the compass as it spun. "Merlin." The compass began to spin faster and faster. He thought of all the times Merlin had made him glad beyond words. When Merlin brought Morgana flowers and he complained he had none, Merlin brought him twice as many. Merlin laughed at his jokes, sometimes because he thought they were funny other times because he thought Arthur was an idiot. His meals were always still hot when Merlin brought them. When he was sick Merlin had taken care of him. He took excellent care of him, sick or no. He always felt safe with him to be his true self. The secret self he kept locked away. He missed that feeling of safety. With Merlin, there was nothing he could not do. The arrow came to a dead stop, no longer pointing in the direction Camelot had been. He picked it up and turned with it in his hand, the compass remained pointing in east. "Things… Just got interesting."