Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter three: What happened in Ismere?

Merlin run towards the physicians' chamber as soon as Arthur ended the meeting. He ducked past servants and castle staff, much like he had earlier that morning. As he hurried through the castle, he was greeted by most of the servants and only had time to yell a cheery hello over his shoulder as he zoomed past. Running up the steps two at a time, Merlin was at the door to the physicians' chamber in a matter of seconds.

"Morning Alice." Merlin greets, as he crashes through the door.

Alice turns from her work with a smile. "Good morning, my child."

Since Hunith's death, Gaius and Alice had taken the roles as Merlin parental figures and Alice happily accepted the family she found herself a part of. Freya and Merlins' triplets even called her grandmother, that alone made her smile. She and Gaius felt themselves blessed to gain a family so late in life and Gaius's bound with Merlin was that of a father would have with his son, even if Gaius had a hard time expressing his feelings.

Merlin quickly made his way over to the door which led to his work room in Peryglus. He stopped by the door and thought for a second.

"Alice," Merlin speaks up. "If Arthur passes by, could you tell him, you haven't seen me since this morning."

Alice raises an eyebrow at him. "What have you done now?"

"Why do you think it's always me who's done something?" Merlin gapes, in mock horror.

"Because when ever you come crashing through that door, at that speed," Alice answers. "Your usually running away from Arthur and his wrath."

Merlin grinned. "What can I say, playing pranks on the king of Camelot is my favourite past time... I swear I haven't done anything, well least not yet."

"Go." Alice laughs, waving her hand.

"Thanks, Alice." Merlin yells, as he disappears through the door to his work room.

Alator and Ruadan stood waiting for Merlin as he entered and shut the door. Alator of the Catha was one of Merlin's most trusted advisors and had been a great support when Merlin had first restored Peryglus to what it is now. Ruadan, a druid elder, and his daughter, Sefa, had also been a great help. Sefa had fought along side Merlin many times and her skills with a long bow were a match to none. And during the battle with Mordred the dark, Ruadan had saved the lives of many.

"So it's true?" Ruadan questions. "The Camelot patrol disappeared near Ismere?"

Merlin nodes. "They have... It was as you feared, Morgana is planning something and what ever she's doing she doesn't want anyone getting close."

"You fear the patrol is dead." Alator speaks, noticing the look in Merlin's eyes.

"I fear they may be," Merlin answers. "No one who has gone missing there, has returned... Unless Morgana wants them for something, I doubt she'll keep a Camelot patrol alive, she hates Arthur and Camelot more than she hates anything and everything else."

"What does the king of Camelot plan on doing?" Ruadan asks.

Merlin smiles. "Knowing Arthur, he and a large group of knights, will set out tomorrow at dawn and head for Ismere, the safest route would be through Queen Annis' kingdom... And I intend on going with them."

"Would that be wise?" Alator asks. "Zafira has yet to return... This could be a trap."

"Then I must go," Merlin answers. "No one else is going to be able to protect the royal part against Morgana."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Merlin sprinted down the steps leading away from the physicians' chamber, he skidded round the corner and run along the corridor. As he turned the next corner, he crashed into a servant and set the bowl of apples they were carrying, crashing across the floor. Apples rolled in all directions, as the bowl rattled on a halt on the floor.

"Lorna!" Merlin exclaimed, upon seeing who he had crashed into.

Lorna looked up. "Merlin?"

Merlin smiled slightly. Lorna was a druid who's parents had been killed in a fire in the lower town two years ago, Merlin had called in a few favours with the cook and Lorna had been given a job in the kitchen and Freya also allowed Lorna to work as her maidservant when Arthur held royal talks.

Merlin and Freya had both refused to have a servant, both had been bought up poor and Merlin had once worked as Arthur's manservant. But Arthur had demanded they have servants present when the royal talks were being held, something to do with being royal.

"Sorry..." Merlin mutters, as he kneels down and begins picking up the apples.

"It's fine, really." Lorna answers, as she joins Merlin on the floor picking up the apples. "I should be the one apologising."

"What for?" Merlin asks, slightly confused.

Lorna smiles, slightly sheepishly. "I keep getting you into trouble.

"I'm used to it." Merlin laughs, knowing what Lorna was talking about, it was only last week she'd got Merlin into trouble with the cook.

"George was looking for you," Lorna suddenly remembers. "He said Arthur was looking for you."

"I know, George found me not five minutes ago... I'm sure Arthur is on his way to find me and I'm sure his mood is anything but pleasant."

"Merlin!" Arthur's angry voice echoes from along the corridor.

Merlin grins. "You should hear him when he's really angry."

"MERLIN!"

"Like now." Merlin answers, getting to his feet and handing Lorna the last apple. "If you need help with anything, let me know."

Lorna smiles. "Thank you."

Merlin grins, before running off along the corridor once more. If any of the servants in the castle needed help, Merlin always offered his aid... Even if it was no longer his line of work.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Arthur was fuming. George had returned to his chamber and had quickly informed him: 'Merlin was busy, could he come back another time?'. He was the king of Camelot, for god sake! He shouldn't be kept waiting by the king of the druids! He was the king of kings! The man who had united almost all of Albion! He was the high king of Albion! And one useless warlock-king-of-the-druids couldn't be bothered to turn up to one small meeting!

Servant quickly ducked out of the way, as they saw their furious king storming down the corridor. Merlin had been the only servant in the history of Arthur's rein, who was brave enough to endure his wrath. Merlin was no coward, but he could often be seen running away from the fuming Pendragon, grinning from ear to ear, as Arthur had fallen prey to yet another prank.

"Do you really think Gwaine and Percival could still be alive?" Merlin asks, suddenly falling into step beside Arthur.

Jumping in shock at Merlin's sudden appearance, Arthur forgets about his anger. "I have to find out. They're knights of the round table. It's a bound we share."

"I understand." Merlin answers, knowing if Arthur hadn't decided to go, he himself would have gone to try and save them.

"If it was you who had disappeared, Merlin," Arthur answers, finally regaining some of his anger. "I wouldn't bother."

Merlin grins. "Is this about me missing the private meeting?"

"Yes, this is about you missing the private meeting," Arthur snaps back. "Where the hell were you!?"

"I was busy." Merlin answers, like the answers was obvious.

"BUSY!" Arthur yells. "You were busy! Merlin that meeting was important!"

"Important?" Merlin questions. "Like the fact Gwaine and Percival have gone missing weeks ago is important? When were you going to tell me Gwaine and Percival had gone missing during a patrol near Ismere?"

"Don't change the subject, Merlin!" Arthur snaps. "You missed an important private meeting, and I want to know what you were doing which was more important than attending the meeting."

Merlin shakes his head. "I missed one meeting! I'm not even an official member of the court Arthur! What I was doing was sorting out this."

Merlin holds out his hands, his eyes flash gold and a small pile of papers and scrolls appear seconds later.

"Am I supposed to know what this is?" Arthur demands, his anger slowing fading away.

"These," Merlin explains. "Are the reports and records of everyone who has gone missing in Ismere over the last year... Even a couple of villages close to the border were raided. I didn't think I had to worry about Camelot, you never normally send patrols that far north."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Arthur asks, taking the pile of papers and scrolls and looking through them, anger completely forgotten.

"I have," Merlin explained. "I've told you every other day, but as usual, you didn't listen."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Hey, hope you liked that chapter. Next chapter should be up soon.

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.