A/N: First of all, and I forgot to mention it before, this story is for Steffi Hoffman for all the reviewing does and constant defense of our silly prince/king/shirtless scene. It makes me think. Also, because Steffi Hoffman really likes Arthur whump, so it's only fair to dedicate a story with Arthur whump that-a-way…
I think I have a bit of a better idea where I'm going with this… But I'm still not sure how long I want the chapters to be. Anyone care? Long or short? I'm partial to short myself, unless of course a fic is just that amazing, because they're quicker and easier to read and write, but I want to know what you say. Thanks for reading.
Merlin was in the armory when the warning bells began to ring.
There was something uncanny about the warning bells of Camelot. They had a magic of their own; whoever rang them always knew what was going on and when. And Merlin had learned to pay attention to those bells. They could save you or condemn you. A little like Camelot herself.
Clutching his cleaning rag, Merlin stood and felt his body automatically start towards Arthur's rooms. If the king regent – no, king, Merlin couldn't believe he was still slipping up on that sometimes! – was there, then he would know what was going on.
Merlin climbed the stairs at a pace just below a run, not worried, but aware. He wasn't sure how big of a deal this was just yet, but he knew from experience that it was best to be ready for anything. Wind whipped through his short hair as he reached the top and turned the corner into the hall where Arthur's rooms were.
A small congregation of people was grouped there around the door. Merlin felt that awareness climb up a level into wariness. He picked up the pace and reached the door in a second, turning to the first person he saw—a guard.
"What's wrong?"
The man shrugged. Merlin pushed past him and into the room, very nearly worried now. "What's wrong?" he said again.
Only two people were in the room: Agravaine and Gaius. They were over by Arthur's desk, shaking their heads in that annoying way older people had and muttering. Some papers on the desk had been dropped onto the floor, and others clumsily replaced, like someone had gone through them. The bedspread was neat, but not neat enough to Merlin's servant's eyes. He'd made it better than that this morning, he was sure of it.
"What's going on?" Merlin interrupted, looking at Gaius.
It was Agravaine who answered. "The king is missing."
Merlin's eyebrows drew together. "He's missing? What do you mean, he's missing? Did you check the training fields? The throne room? The lower town?"
"Everywhere has been checked," Agravaine answered, not outwardly annoyed by Merlin's impertinent questions. That was one thing about Agravaine; he was so used to smiling and looking nice and lenient that he kept up the act even around Merlin, whom he knew didn't trust him. After Morgana's smirks of last year, Merlin found it refreshing. But he was not to be put off today.
"How long has he been missing? What happened? Surely someone saw him leave?"
Gaius saw the annoyance flicker across Agravaine's face, and he reprimanded, "Merlin…"
"The boy is just worried, Gaius," Agravaine said. "As am I."
You're worried, my foot.
"The king is no where to be found. We will search."
Merlin opened his mouth to argue… He wasn't sure what he wanted to say. But then his eyes caught on something by the bed. On the floor, several splotches were spread out, and when he narrowed his eyes, Merlin recognized them for what they were: bloodstains.
Arthur's blood, or an attacker's? Merlin couldn't be sure, but the cold pool in his stomach made him think that it was his master's.
Agravaine was talking, jerking Merlin back into reality. "You're his servant," he was saying. "Surely if anyone has any clues to his whereabouts, you do?"
Merlin blinked. "I don't know anything. He would have told me if he was going somewhere…" Which was pretty much a lie. Maybe once upon a time, but since Arthur had become king, he had realized that he could do what he wanted and only tell whom he pleased. If he pleased.
But leaving without any notice at all? For the amount of time it took for everywhere to be searched? That wasn't like Arthur.
Some thing was wrong. Merlin didn't know how he knew, but his gut told him something was wrong. And his gut was rarely wrong.
Agravaine nodded. "We will widen our search. I fear the only way the king could avoid detection so long is by transportation through sorcery… Or if he doesn't want to be found."
Merlin's eyes found the bloodstains again. No, no matter what Agravaine said, Arthur wasn't hiding. That didn't compute. Merlin knew a few places around Camelot that he would search… And then he would accept what he already knew, that some harm had befallen his master. And Agravaine was the main suspect.