Hi! Second chapter in one day, that's odd. Don't get used it, although it's altogether possible that there will be another today as well. Crazy, right? Anyway, I hope you like it! I really appreciate reviews, too. Just sayin'.

The apartment Gwen shared with her older brother Elyan was not, strictly speaking, a particular large or even very nice place. But Arthur couldn't help but like it; it looked exactly like it had last time he was there over a year ago. The furniture was mismatched and old and their TV didn't get more a couple channels, and everything was jammed into four small rooms, a kitchen/dining room, living room, and two bedrooms. Even so, Gwen had managed to make it look more like a home than any of the three houses-bordering-on-mansions Arthur had lived in ever could. There were photographs everywhere, mainly of Gwen and Elyan, but he saw one of himself, Gwen, and Morgana together and felt his heart constrict slightly.

He'd explained everything about Morgana as soon as he'd come inside, although Gwen already knew a little of the story from her friends who were still in high school and had noticed Morgana's absence. Gwen herself had graduated with Arthur, but wasn't going to college; she didn't have the money.

"So, Arthur, how are we going to find her?" Gwen asked in a brisk, businesslike voice, setting a chipped cup of tea down in front of him. He took a sip from in and grinned in spite of his worry. Only Gwen ever had this kind of strawberry tea.

"I have no idea," he said honestly. "When was the last time you saw her?"

Gwen frowned, brown eyes crinkling up as she tried to remember. "It was the fourteenth of November. I remember because, well…"

"Why?" Arthur prompted. She immediately turned pink, looking away to try and hide it from him. He grinned. "Come on, Gwen, just tell me."

"It's just…that was the day when Lancelot and I—when Lancelot asked me out."

"What?" Arthur gaped at her. "You never mentioned this!"

"I wanted to tell you when I saw you, but now didn't seem like the right to mention it," Gwen said, doing an admirable job of pretending that she wasn't blushing intensely. "Anyway, I saw her that day, the day she disappeared. She came by the coffee shop—that's where I'm working now—and seemed like she wanted to talk to me, except I was too busy, so she said she'd wait. Halfway through my shift, though, she left with some guy, saying she'd call me later, but she never did."

"Some guy?" Arthur demanded, protective instincts kicking in. "Who?"

"I'm not sure." Gwen set her teacup down on the coffee table, biting her lip. "I'd never seen him before. He wasn't from school, though, I'm sure of that. I think she called him Merlin."

"Merlin? What kind of name is that?" Arthur said, racking his brains, hoping he'd met someone called that before. It didn't ring any bells.

"The most I can tell you about him beyond that is that he's really skinny with black hair," Gwen offered. Behind her, a key turned in the lock and the door opened. A man with short-cropped dark hair and a heavy look in his eyes came inside, starting at the sight of Arthur.

"Hello Elyan," Arthur said, nodding at him. "Er—sorry to just show up like this, but I needed somewhere to stay for a few days and Gwen said I could sleep on the couch. I hope that isn't a problem..."

"No, not at all," Elyan said, despite his uncertain expression. "Hey, Gwen, I need to talk to you about something. Is this a good time?"

"Yeah, it's fine." She got up and turned to Arthur. "You can watch TV or use the computer or whatever if you like."

"Thanks." Arthur went over to the computer, which was a surprisingly recent model. He guessed Elyan had insisted they buy it, since Gwen had never been particularly concerned about technology.

Finding a telephone directory for the town online, Arthur searched 'Merlin', hoping against hope that something would come up and they'd have a solid lead on Morgana. Nothing. Feeling desperate, he googled 'Merlin' as well; only links about the wizard showed up. Useless internet.

Gwen came back in the room, looking worried. Arthur hardly noticed, preoccupied by cursing the computer. She came up behind him, saying, "I doubt you're going to find anything on there."

"There's no record of anyone named Merlin in the phone book," Arthur reported. "I guess he doesn't exist."

"Or he's not from around here or he doesn't have a phone or any number of other explanations." Gwen sighed heavily. "Never mind. I'm going out with Lance tonight, so you'll be on your own, I'm afraid."

"Lance?" Arthur said incredulously. "When did you start calling him that?"

"Shut up, Arthur," Gwen said with an impressive show of disdain. "If you want to go out, you won't be able to get back in until I come home at eleven. Elyan will be sleeping and we don't have an extra key."

"That's alright. I think I'm going to get some dinner and just, I dunno, walk around or something," Arthur said. "Have fun on your date."

"Thanks! Bye!" Gwen left the apartment, pausing only to touch up her lipstick in the mirror and grab her purse. She absent-mindedly turned off the light on the way out.

Sitting alone in the darkness, Arthur didn't know what to think. This wasn't how his Christmas vacation was supposed to go. He had expected to spend the time hanging out with Morgana and catching up with friends from high school, not living at a friend's apartment with no idea of what he was going to do about, well, anything. He blamed Uther for it all, that damn idiot.

With nothing else to do, Arthur walked over to where he'd left his suitcase to get his coat. It was bound to be cold outside. Riffling through his crumpled clothes (he wasn't much for packing), his hand brushed up against something solid. Curious, he pulled it out and felt a lump rise in his throat. It was the Christmas gift he'd bought for Morgana. It had taken him nearly half an hour to wrap it, since he had been set on keeping her from mocking his messiness. Now she wouldn't…

He shook his head sharply, stopping quickly, sure he looked insane. Setting the present back down carefully, his resolve to find Morgana increased tenfold. She would be there for Christmas and he'd give her his present. He didn't care if he had to search the entire country for her. He'd do everything he could to find this Merlin or anyone else who might be able to help find her. There was no way she was missing Christmas, that was for sure.