The tournament was glorious.
The Knights proved themselves time and time again throughout the day's competitions and the people of Camelot were thrilled with the sportsmanship that each and every Knight showed. More importantly, they were grateful that their King was there to share in their enjoyment.
Though Arthur was there throughout the day, his mind was elsewhere. Wondering, worrying, about Merlin.
Was his friend alright?
Would he return soon?
Where had he gone and would he need help?
Arthur's mind would have continued to keep straying off to wonder about Merlin if it hadn't been for Gwaine suggesting that the King join in on the 'fun' as he put it. Soon Arthur had been swept up by the thought of besting his men in front of Camelot and he had joined in.
It was all in good fun and he had a great time, but, now that day was over with and a new day was dawning. The day that he was having to leave for his quest.
He thought about delaying it until Merlin returned.
Who would run the Kingdom with him gone?
But Gwen said she felt up to it. She was certain Merlin wouldn't be gone for long and until his return, she could handle things.
Arthur doubted it.
Gwen could barely get out of bed.
Gaius was strongly disagreeing about it all, telling him he should stay a few more days until Merlin returns or leave Gwaine behind to take care of the kingdom.
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Arthur honestly didn't know what to do and it wasn't like he had much time to make a decision.
Could he risk the life of Gwen and their unborn child just so he could go on some quest?
The answer was simple, really.
No. He couldn't.
Arthur made his way out of his and Gwen's room. He stopped only for a moment to tell the guard at his door to go gather the Knights of the Round Table, then he continued on to the great hall. Shortly after he arrived, the others began to show up as well. They were all tired, Leon was limping some from where he had gotten hurt during the tournament, and Percival was sporting a bandaged arm from his own wound that he had managed to recieve.
They all made their way to the table and sat down - even Gaius managed to make it down to sit with them. Of course he would. He liked to be envolved in every conversation they had here.
"I am sorry to wake you all at this late hour." Arthur spoke once everyone was settled, "I thought I could let this wait, but, I'm afraid it cannot. The quest we were set to journey on in the morning will have to be delayed for now."
Gwaine's brow rose. "Why?"
"I have no one here to run the kingdom. No one that I trust. Gwen is due to have our child any day now, Gaius is too old of a man, and I do not leave my Kingdom in the hands of just any Knight. Merlin was to watch over the Kingdom, but, he's gone."
"Gone? Where?" Gwaine spoke up once more, this time, however, he was more alert. "What has happened to him? Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
Arthur held up a hand, "As far as I know, nothing bad has happened to him. We are all aware that Merlin can take care of himself. He left purely to find someone to rule the Kingdom while I'm gone since he felt like the duty was too much for him to bare on his own...and perhaps he was right...he is always busying himself with making sure Camelot is safe and that it's people are well and to add the pressure of sitting in as King was just too much for him. I should have seen that - I should have listened, but, I didn't and now he's gone. But he will return, I just cannot risk leaving on a quest and leaving Camelot with no ruler."
Leon nodded solumly. "Then that is that. A delayed quest shouldn't hurt you in the eyes of the people. They know you are a good King. No quest needs to prove that."
Arthur smiled faintly at his words, 'Thank you for that, Leon. So, we are all in agreeance? We stay here until Merlin returns?"
Many of them nodded their heads, but, Gwaine did not.
"I think we should go follow after Merlin. Just in case." he spoke up after a second or two. "He knew we were going on this quest tomorrow. He knew it was important. If everything went alright, he would have returned on him, right? If something went wrong though..." he trailed off, knowing everyone understood what he was saying.
Arthur's lips pulled into a grim line. "I don't even know where to begin looking for him."
He knew that Merlin had gone to speak with the Great Dragon on the matter of finding someone, but, beyond that? He had no idea where to start looking. He didn't even know how to get in contact with the dragon to ask about Merlin. They had no leads. Merlin's trail would surely be cold by now.
"We should go looking for him. Just to make sure." Gwaine said, his tone suggesting that he wouldn't take no for a answer.
His attitude was exactly how Arthur felt like he should be acting. Merlin was his friend after all. Shouldn't he want more than anything to make sure he was alright?
Yes.
He should...and he did.
"Leon," Arthur glanced over at his faithful Knight. "Can you keep a watch over the Kingdom while we go search for Merlin? I know you would like to come, but with your ankle needing a day to rest, I'm not sure heading out right now would be best for you."
It was easy to see that Leon didn't like the thought of staying behind, but he gave a nod to Arthur. "I will do anything that you ask me to do, Sire."
"Good man." Arthur looked at the others. "While Leon stays here, we'll set out at first light to find Merlin. Agreed?"
"Aye." Gwaine was the first to agree.
Shortly after, everyone else voiced their agreement as well.
Arthur smiled faintly. "Then let's get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us."
Another night had gone.
Another day was approaching.
Merlin wasn't sure how Arthur would feel about all of this. More than likely his friend was angry at him for leaving like he did. He had been asked to watch over Gwen and the Kingdom and he had left the first chance he got to find someone else to do it.
Would Arthur still go on his quest or would he wait?
He had no idea that the King and his knights were already preparing to set out to find him.
"How much further do we have?" Merlin asked Elaine as they continued on.
They would stop here and there for rest, but, Merlin was adamant about continuing on. He couldn't waste any time. He needed to find this man that Kilgharrah spoke of and bring him to Camelot as soon as he possibly could.
"Another hour at the most." Elaine replied, glancing back at him, "Do you need to rest again?"
Merlin shook his head. "I'm good, I'm just worried about the time."
"It won't be long now." Elaine promised, "When we get to my brother, he'll know what to do and then you can set back out to find that man you're looking for. I'm sure you will be no more than a day or two late."
I don't have a day or two to spare. Merlin thought to himself. Arthur surely knows by now that I'm gone and he's either angry and set someone else to take care of the kingdom or he is coming after me to tell me that I'm a idiot and to get back to Camelot.
He just felt like this was something that he had to do though.
This man needed to be found.
Merlin himself could not take care of a Kingdom. Not when he had so many other things on his shoulders. This was a job for someone else, but not for him.
To keep from thinking too much on it, he looked back at Elaine and caught up with her, walking by her side. "So, your brother, how much older is he than you?"
"Actually, he's younger than me by two years, but he looks like he's older. He's seen more battle than I have." Elaine replied with a faint smile. "He always feels like he has to protect me and those he has in his care. He does whatever he can to make sure they are comfortable and safe. Galahad is a good man. Our parents would have been proud to see the man he has become."
"Galahad is his name?"
"Mhm. It means pure, selfless. I believe the name fits him well." Elaine smiled with pride as she thought about her brother. Where so many would normally use people for their will and advantage, her brother took care of the ones who came to stay in their settlement. He took care of them. Loved them as if they were his own family. In her eyes, her brother was better than any King she had met - beside King Arthur whom had turned things around for many in the kingdom.
Merlin's brow creased some as he thought about this 'Galahad' person.
He sounded like a good man.
A respectable man.
...A loyal man.
Could it be that his new found friend, Elaine, was taking him to the very man that he was looking for? Grettir's words came back to him, how it would take heart to find Loyalty. Merlin's gaze fell back onto Elaine. She was a kind person, trustworthy, helpful, and caring. Could she be 'Heart'? Could Grettir have meant that Heart was a person?
He figured all would be revealed once he met Galahad.