authors notes: thank you for all of your support! this chapters shoutouts go to Invenire and SkyeMadea, thank you! I do not know Uther's real birthdate but if you know please leave a message and I will edit when I can.
Arthur and Gwaine where able to make a small camp just inside of the forrest line. When they woke in the morning, they found that the sun was streaming through the treetops and not a cloud was in the sky. Arthur began to look around to see how much of Merlin's trail had been covered by the storm. Gwaine was busy packing up the small camp that had been made.
"Merlin's trail has almost fully vanished." Arthur stated.
"We will just have to make do with his general direction- wait... what is today's date?" Gwaine had been out drinking the night before, per-usual, and had forgotten the date.
"it's..." Arthur thought for a second, hesitant to tell gwaine for he knew if they waited any longer, Merlin's trail would be completely lost.
"Ah yes! It's the first of Lunias. Arthur, why does the date sound familiar?" Of course Gwaine wouldn't remember my fathers birthday. They aren't on good terms exactly.
"It is my father's birthday." Gwaine's face lighted with recognition.
"So that's why you didn't want to tell me the date. I'll bet you thought i was going to drag you back to Camelot." Gwaine said as he laughed. "You should probably head back though. I will stay and mark the trail while it is still somewhat fresh. I will return as soon as I can. The king will get suspicious if you miss something like this."
"Fine, but be sure to return to the castle by nightfall."
"Yes, sire." Arthur got onto his horse and rode to the castle of camelot, where Gaius stood waiting for news of merlin, and Uther lied in bed, waiting to be awoken to the festivities of his birth date.
The only reason Arthur agreed to return to Camelot is because he knew Gwaine was marking the trail, and he trusted Gwaine not to be lazy about it. Arthur shook his head in frustration. Ever since he had seen the look on Gaius's face, a thought had been engraved into the front of his mind: it's your fault. He knew the thought was irrational. How could he have known merlin would run to Gaius and be sent on this errand. Still, the thought of loosing merlin without being able to apologize was unthinkable. But why is it unthinkable? Arthur mumbled under his breath. He had not known Merlin for that long, maybe three month's at most. Why did he feel like everything revolved around him apologizing? It game Arthur a headache.
His cape Flourished as he dismounted his stallion. A servant with long brown hair stepped up and began to lead his horse to the stables. Arthur ignored the servant and continued to walk up the steps of the castle's front entrance. Upon arriving at his father's bedroom door, the Lady Morgana appeared beside him.
"Arthur" she said, her voice steady yet concerned. "where were you last night?" Arthur jumped, not expecting the sudden break in the silence.
"out" he replied in a calm voice. he did not want Uther to know where he was and the best way to keep it from Uther was to keep it from Morgana. ]
"out where?" she pressed, clearly not going to drop the issue.
"that is none of your-" Arthur was cut off before he was able to finish his sentence, for Uther had opened his bedroom door.
"father!"Arthur exclaimed, reaching out his arm to embrace him. After Arthur released his father Uther said "My boy, what a pleasant surprise."
"Happy Birthday, Uther!" Morgana said as she presented Uther with a small box she had been holding behind her. "My dear Morgana" He embraced Morgana before accepting her gift.
Merlin sat with his arms around his knees. His headache had subsided, and he wasn't sure if that was good or bad. It could mean that his head had gone numb because of pain and he had a severe concussion or that it was just a headache, no concussion and he was fine. He doubted the latter but tried to convince himself anyway. He sighed and held his head in his hands. how can this get any worse? Merlin thought. Then a thought hit him. Told Gaius that i would be back by nightfall, and it has been at least a day. Gaius might have told Uther, or -or someone! I just have to last until they find me or better yet i find my way back. A fire... the smoke should act like a signal... right? All you need for a fire is... firewood, and kindling, and some sort of spark. I should be able to make a spark with magic, even in this sorry state. merlin knew he needed to make this fire as soon as possible so he slowly inched up the tree, not wanting the nauseous feeling to come back. once fully upright he pushed off the tree and stood (sort of) on his own two feet. He was wobbly and shaking, but somewhat stable. looking around, he spotted a pile of sticks that had been nocked off trees in the storm last night. Merlin walked over to the pile and bent over. His head hated him for it and took revenge by starting up the pain that felt like someone hammering multiple nails into different parts of his skull.
"AAAAAAAAAAGH!" Merlin screamed as he fell to his knees. mental note to self: never get kicked by a horse ever again. After what seemed like forever the pain stopped and Merlin was able to let go of his head and grab the sticks for the fire, as well as a bit of peat moss for kindling. Dropping the sticks he slowly reclined against his tree and started to separate some of the sticks from the rest. He wanted the fuel to last. He was not looking forward to having to go and get more. The wood was wet, so Merlin realized that he would have to dry the wood before he could burn it. He placed his hand bu the wood and whispered "arida" all of the moisture was removed from the wood and evaporated into thin air. Spots danced around Merlin's vision. He knew he had to light the fire quickly before he passed out. Again, with his arn outstretched, he murmured another incantation. "igneous" The wood began to burn. At first it was a small flame but it steadily grew. This time, the effect was greater that harmless spots. He was barely able to get to the nearest bush before his stomach emptied the last of it's contents. Merlin could not breath as he stomach convulsed. Soon it stopped and he crawled back to the fire. he lay down beside it and felt himself drifting of by the steady stream of smoke pouring from the top of the fire.