A/N- I am SO sorry this wasn't up earlier! I thank all of those who reviewed, alerted, and favourited this!
A special thanks goes out to TheJunebug1218 and MerlinFan1996 for inspiring me and helping me through my writer's block! I really appreciate it!
The last chap had a contest, and TheJunebug1218 won it! Congrats! I already PMed her about the prize, and she has decided that for the two scenes she got to create she wanted Merlin being tortured by magic and Arthur and Merlin hugging. Just to tell you, June, the dagger was forged by magic and was actually nothing but a simple blade. And if that wasn't enough, the rose, as it takes more blood, makes his whole body burn. Sorry I didn't describe that, but it took me over ten hours to type this sense the stupid computer wouldn't save, otherwise I would have. You're just going to have to wait for Merlin and Arthur to hug til a later chapter, m'kay?
So here is the next chapter! I will probably be awhile seeing as I only have a few days left until school starts, and I will be very busy, but I will try as hard as I can!
Let's just say, for all our sakes, that this whole fic will be laced with spoilers. I do value my sanity, folks, and don't want to waste it on trying to remember witch spoiler went with witch episode.
Now, ON WITH THE FIC!
Three. Weeks. Three bloody long weeks.
Arthur was on his bed, staring empty-eyed at Gwaine sitting on his table. That whole time and only about three days worth of sleep. He presumed the other knight had had about the same, judging from his appearance. Instead of his usual, smiling self, Gwaine was depressed and never once looked up from the ground unless he had to. Dark circles hung under his glazed pupils. He had lost a significant amount of weight from being too worried to eat.
The prince himself looked even worse. the bags under his eyes were of a bruise-like quality, and an unhealthy amount of weight had dropped from his body. No longer did he go outside his chambers, except to take his meals left by his door. But then again, it wasn't like he ate alot of it. To save himself from part of his father's wrath Arthur took on the pretense of being ill. It wasn't far from the truth.
The king, surprisingly, had accepted this rather calmly and didn't even send guards to keep the prince safe whilst he was sick. At first he had been suspicious of his father's reaction, but that had passed quickly in the overwhelming guilt that consumed him. He couldn't believe that his last words to a valued friend could possibly be ones of scorn and anger. (Arthur had at least admitted that last week. Not like he'd let word of it rach his father.) The prince was almost completely beyond hope that he'd be found. yet somewhere deep inside him, he refused to believe that. He refused to think his friend was gone.
That Merlin was dead.
Three pain-filled, heart-wrenching, worry-some weeks. For exactly twenty-one days Merlin had been missing. And slowl, day by day, Arthur lost a little bit of hope. but he wasn't alone. Gwaine and all the other knights had been told and sworn to secrecy about it, and were all coping in their own ways.
Suddenly, the prince stood up. Gwaine slowly lifted his gaze from the floor and looked questioningly at Arthur.
"I don't care what the hell what have to do, I am going to convince my father to send out a group of knights to search for him!"
"Arthur, you can't-"
"Just you watch me! I will not believe Merlin is gone forever! You don't have to come Gwaine, but I will either find my friend or die trying!"
The knight stood up. "If you would listen to what I had to say, you would have know I was going to help! As I was saying, you can't fight this battle alone. I'm coming."
Arthur closed his eyes and nodded.
Together, they were going to get Merlin back.
GRUDGEEGDURG
"Leave me. I must think." The king sat heavily on his throne. His son and one of the knights had just demanded to have a search party to find Arthur's manservant.
He knew about his son's disease and, thanks to Gaius, knew who it was. That useless idiot had not been seen for three weeks to the day, causing Arthur to spiral down inside himself. Many times Uther had questioned the physician as to his time he was answered with the same response- I don't know. And the king could tell that he truly hadn't a clue. He had been sent out search for Arthur, yet that clumsy servant hadn't returned. He knew very well if Marlin, or whatever, didn't return, his son's condition wouldn't be cured.
So the king deliberated. Finally reaching a desicion, he sent out a guard to bring the both the knights and Arthur to him. He knew he wouldn't follow through with the last part of his deal, but no one knew that.
IDIOTTOIDI
Merlin's screams were cut short. All his muscles ceased to work, except the ones necessary to live, and his jaw clamped shut.
He tried to yell out, curse, do something, but to no avail.
Instead he fixed his gaze at the glasswork rose hovering near his feet. It was three dimensional, and had an uncharacteristiclly smooth stalk. No thorns adorned the forest green stalk. The actual blossom was a pure white, but as each bit of his blood dripped into the centre, it slowly turned a deep red. It was almost sickening how it soaked up the liquid.
Over the past three weeks, Mordred and Nimueh had done this every night at the Witching Hour. As soon as it was apparent that Merlin wasn't going to give in to their little scheme, they'd stop until the next session. The most confusing thing, however, was that they wound heal his knife wound until not even a scar was left. And each night, Merlin grew weaker.
Soon, the warlock's blood consumed the whole blossom until it was completely red. Then it grew darker, until it was a deep purple. That was the farthest it had ever been.
As his energy faded and darkness crept into his vision, Merlin heard the devil-child chuckle for the first time ever. It was then that he lost consciousness.
PRATTARP
If he hadn't been out of his mind with worry, Arthur would've laughed. Then again, he probably wouldn't have agreed to this harebrained idea if he was in his right mind.
Gwaine and he were heading to the forest to act out there plan, when a guard intercepted them. "The king requests that you join him in his throne room at once," he said.
"Tell him we are on our way."
"Yes sire." With that he left.
PRATTARP
As soon as the doors opened they were greeted by an odd sight. A whole company of knights stood at attention, with the king in front. The knights included Leon, Lancelot, Elyan, Percival, and a few others.
Quite stunned, Arthur asked, "Father! What's going on?"
"Here is a search party as you requested. They are at your disposal. If, and only if, you tell me the reason why you think your servant is worth it when he could easily be replaced."
And the two friends' plan jumped out the window. Looked like they were just going to have to wing it. (Insert mental shrug here.)
To hell with it, thought Arthur. "Because he is my friend. My other so called 'pals' were only after my wealth and power. But Merlin didn't care about about titles or any of those other things. He never called me 'sir' or 'sire'. He treated me like an equal, and I appreciate that. Many times I have sacked him or treated him harshly, and yet he just keeps coming back. Merlin puts up with me and my foul moods. Sometimes he offers useful advice in a crisis. Does he really deserve to be abandoned? Alone and wounded? Left to die?" Arthur's voice cracked on the last word.
Arthur's voice grew soft. "He saved my life, and not for the first time. He has also saved yours in case you have forgotten. You owe him a debt."
Uther did recall when that idiot had stopped his own son from killing him. The king almost felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought. "He saved your life?"
"Yes. A few weeks ago Gwaine and I were out hunting." For Merlin, he added silently. "A bear attacked and had us trapped. Merlin came out of the brush and pushed us out of the way. He killed it with a sword, but unfortunately wasn't quick enough to dogde the beast's paw. He suffered a gash, but ran off into the thick of the forest where we lost his trail. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be standing here today."
Then Uther said the last thing he thought he would ever say. "Very well. They are under your comand. But if he is found and he is not wounded as you say, he will be publicly flogged a full score."
"I understand, sire."
Arthur and the knights started to file out. "And Arthur?"
"Yes, Father?"
"Do not think I would so much as hesitate to give him his punishment."
"Yes, Father."
They headed out.
PRATTARP
"Lets take a break." It was about midday and they still had found no sign of Merlin. As they settled down for a meal of bread, meat, and cheese by a creek, they let their horses rest and get a drink.
Suddenly, Arthur fell to his knees, clutching his head. Lancelot was the first to notice, soon followed by the rest of the knights. "Sire?" he asked. When the prince didn't reply, he became alarmed. "Sire? Sire!" He rushed over to Arthur. He looked as if in pain. Lance tried to get him to respond, but it didn't work.
Then as quickly as it came, it seemed to pass. Arthur shook his head and looked up. He had a determined glint in his eyes. "Sire? Are you alright?' asked Leon.
"I know where, " he responded.
Now Gwaine, less worried than before, replied. "Where what?"
Arthur stood up and mounted his horse. "I know where Merlin is. Come on, follow me!"
The knights stared at each other for a minute, then followed their prince.
IDIOTTOIDI
He didn't know when it happened, but as Merlin slowly woke up he felt the forest floor underneath him. His side was burning, and putting a hand on it, he felt it become slick with blood. He tried to sit up, but his vision swam, forcing the warlock to lie back down.
It seemed like hours before he heard voices coming near. Many voices, getting so loud his head began to pound.
Suddenly, he felt arms around him. Merlin saw a blurry image in front of his face. He focused on it and felt a pang of familiarity run through him at what he saw. He knew he didn't have much strength left, but couldn't help but say that very important name before he passed out again.
"Arthur?"
A/N- Ah, cliffies, how I love thee so! Please review, and I'll give you a virtual knight! Just say which one you want in the review and I will get back to you!
P.S.- Did you guys like the contest in the last chap? I would like to know cuz I am considering doing another one next chapter! Remember- Reviews show you care!