Disappearance

"MERLIN!" Arthur shouted down the corridor. "Where are you?"

He had been all around the castle but no one had seen him all morning.

"Uncle!" Arthur shouted when he saw Agravaine, jogging towards him. "You haven't seen my useless servant have you?"

"No Arthur, I am afraid I haven't. I have told you that you should get a new one. The boy seems to let you down time and again."

"I would be nowhere without Merlin." Arthur confessed to his Uncle. "I am going to ask Gaius if he is sure he hasn't seen Merlin then send out a couple of knights to see if they can find him. Knowing Merlin he has problem tripped over and knocked himself out."

Arthur left Agravaine.

Agravaine couldn't believe the affection that the Pendragons had for this servant.

He had suspected that Merlin was still going to Morgana but this was serious.

Agravaine had to stop this now. Mordred would have to do more later.


Morgana woke up in Merlin's arms.

She could hear his soft snores that told her that he was still asleep.

She thought over last night and believed that she had done the correct thing. It was just going to keep building up until it would become awkward to be around him.

But that is one of the reasons she wanted Merlin around.

He did remind her of the better times at Camelot but it also reminded her that she wasn't a black hearted witch, that she could still love.

She managed to get up without waking him.

She knew by now Arthur would notice his absence and it was too late for him to go back.

He could have a day off and think of some excuse. Well she would help him but after all that he done for Arthur, he needed more than a few minutes off.

Morgana couldn't help but be thankful that Merlin was still the gentleman that he always was.

It's not that she would have regretted going any further but it may have got in the way of their plans.

Morgana was preparing breakfast when Merlin wrapped his arms around her.

"Weren't you going to wake me? Your brother is going to be mad at me." Merlin whispered into her ear.

Morgana turned around in his arms.

"I think you deserve a day off."

"Oh do you now?"

"Yes and I don't think my brother will give it to you. We can have a nice day to ourselves. No Camelot and no stupid brother."

Merlin sighed. "Now as you put it like that. I think I will take that day off."


Arthur sat in his study.

He couldn't believe that Merlin was missing again.

But something didn't feel right and if Arthur thought about it, nothing had felt right since Merlin was taken by Morgana.

There was something about Merlin that had changed.

Arthur just thought that it was what Morgana had done to him but he knew that Merlin was stronger than that. All of the jokes about him being a coward were that, jokes.

Arthur could never put into words how brave he thought Merlin was and it was weird to think that this stranger had come into his life and changed it.

He used to be so arrogant and never thought of anyone else but himself.

Merlin had changed him. He wasn't a stranger any more, he was like one of the knights, a brother.

Arthur couldn't bear to lose Merlin, not again.

Morgana had tried to take one of the things that matter to Arthur. He wouldn't be surprised if the whole Lancelot thing had something to do with her as well.

Arthur was scared by what Morgana could have done to Merlin and without Gwen here to confine in, he felt alone in the situation.

Gaius hadn't been himself since Merlin rescued him and Arthur didn't want to worry the old physician any more than he had already.

Arthur thought about what Merlin said beforehand about his Uncle being a traitor.

Even if Arthur didn't want to see it, he couldn't rule his uncle out.

He couldn't believe how oblivious he had been.

Merlin still believed it and Arthur didn't want to believe that Merlin was sneaking out to see Morgana but it was always a nagging feeling in the back of his mind.

A knock at the door brought him from his thoughts.

"Come in." He shouted.

Arthur smiled once he saw Mordred enter.

"Mordred, what can I do for you?"

Mordred sighed. "Milord, I didn't want to tell you but I cannot allow this to happen."

Arthur lent forward. "Have a seat. What do you want to tell me?"

Mordred took the seat. "It's Merlin."

Arthur sighed. "Go on."

"He keeps meeting with Morgana in the woods. I think he has gone against Camelot after he discovered his magic."

Arthur started to laugh.

"What's so funny milord?" Mordred said not understanding what was funny about hat he said.

"Merlin, discovering he has magic. Mordred I know he confessed to it ages ago but that was to help a friend. Merlin doesn't have a magical bone in his body. He trips over the smallest of things. I think if Merlin had magic we would all know by now."

Mordred sighed. "But it is true."

Arthur got up and walked around the table.

"Mordred I am sure if Merlin had magic he would have told me. I would hope he would be able to tell me something like that."

Mordred looked down in defeat. "I am sorry for troubling you milord. I will leave you."

Mordred got up, bowed and left.

Arthur sighed heavily. He didn't want to believe it but what if it was true.

Mordred had now planted another seed of doubt in Arthur's mind.


Mordred left the king's study and walked around the corner.

"He didn't believe me. He thought I was joking."

Agravaine smiled. "Maybe not but I know Arthur. We had got him thinking. We have placed that seed of doubt in his mind. He has already asked me about Merlin."

Mordred sighed. "Just I was meant to help Morgana. This is all against destiny."

Agravaine looked interested. "Destiny? Tell me more."


Mordred left Agravaine's chambers wondering whether he should have said all what he just said.

He was now going back to the drawing board for his own plan.

He was going to get Morgana. He was going to be by Morgana's side when she took the throne.


Agravaine smiled.

He now felt one step further than everyone else now.

This was going to work in his favour.


Merlin led Morgana towards a lake.

Merlin had said that he would take Morgana away from the hovel as she looked as though she spent too much time there.

Morgana wanted to refuse but couldn't. He was right, it was time to get out more.

Where he took her was beautiful and everything was perfect until he said. "Do you want to meet someone?"

Morgana looked towards Merlin. "Depends on who I am meeting."

"She is someone very close to me and I want you to meet her so that you understand more."

Morgana sighed. "Of course, I will meet her."

Merlin stood up and brushed off his trousers.

He offered Morgana his hand, which she took.

"Now I must warn you but she might be a bit tetchy. You seem to have a big hate club."

Morgana looked at Merlin as he led her towards the lake. "Really?"

"Yep, I am pretty sure one of them would try and make the club. You biggest hater is a giant dragon."

Morgana smiled. "Well I hope I will never meet him then."

Merlin stopped and looked at her. "I won't allow it."

Merlin looked out at the lake. "Freya?"

Morgana didn't know what would happen till a voice came from the river.

"Merlin, so good to see you again. Hope you managed to use the sword to defeat Morgana."

Morgana turned to Merlin.

"Ummm, Freya, I wanted to introduce her to you."

Freya looked up to see the woman standing beside Merlin.

"Merlin, can I have a word?"

Morgana knew when she wasn't wanted. "I have things to get done at the hovel."

Morgana walked off. How could I be so stupid?