Part 4 The Unsung Hero
(Authors Note: I own nothing. Sorry the last part was so short. This one's longer, I promise. This part gives a little bit of insight into what was going on during that first of winning Camelot back. The first steps to healing are the hardest on everyone.)
Arthur wouldn't show his worry, but Gwaine couldn't hide it.
"We should have found him by now. It's been over an hour and you only gave him a ten minute head start." Gwaine was right, of course. They had tracked Merlin out of the town and into the woods to the north. It had grown rapidly colder. When the fluffy snowflakes started to fall and Roger sneezed, Arthur called the group to a halt.
"It's getting to cold to cold to continue sire." Kay said, his thick Irish accent shivering along with the rest of him. Arthur nodded and thought for a moment.
"Alright, you six head back. Send Lancelot and Percival out to meet us. Tell them to bring an extra cloak. Gwaine you're with me." The six younger knights headed back toward the citadel. Arthur led Gwaine along the rapidly disappearing tracks.
"Merlin?!" Gwaine called out, cupping his hands around his mouth to make his voice carry father. About ten minutes later four figures appeared from the direction of Camelot. When they neared Arthur and Gwaine in the ever thickening snow, they turned out to be Lancelot, Percival, Kay and Bedavier.
"What are you two doing out here?" Gwaine asked before Arthur got the chance.
"We know that Merlin is your friend sire, and we wanted to help find him if that's alright." Bedavier stepped up. He was holding a thick cloak over one arm. Arthur couldn't help but smile. He would never admit to Merlin that he was a treasured friend and adviser but ever since he had helped Arthur win back Camelot everyone had become closer to the charmingly hopeless manservant.
He had spirited Arthur, Gwen, Leon and Elyan out of Camelot when the citadel had been breached. Then after keeping Arthur's hope and fire for his kingdom alive he had spirited them back in to take it back. He was the unsung hero of that battle, but everyone knew he had played a major role in the recovery effort. It had only been two weeks since they had gotten Camelot back, and Merlin had been flitting around doing more than Arthur had ever thought him capable of. When he wasn't serving Arthur or helping Giaus he was doing any job he could find to help rebuild.
Arthur was convinced Merlin hadn't slept at all that first week. Yet he was smiles and reassurances whenever Arthur needed him. Merlin had been there first when Arthur woke with a scream, which he would deny to grave, the day after they had reclaimed Camelot. Yet Arthur wasn't the only one Merlin was helping. The knights, those who had been captives during Morgana's rein, had mentioned to Arthur that Merlin was there for them too.
Bedavier had been hit than most that had survived. He was the youngest knight, and Morgouse had tortured him for her own sadistic revenge on the other knights. Had they not taken Camelot back when they had, Bedavier would have been counted amongst the dead. But thanks to Giaus and Merlin, he had made a miraculous recovery. He had refused to talk to anyone that first week. But Merlin had been there when horrors Arthur shuddered to imagine had woken him. Merlin had held no judgment, no ideas that this made Bedavier weaker, only the earnest desire to help. Because of this Bedavier had told him everything. They had grown quite close and Bedavier looked just as worried as Gwaine, Lancelot, Percival, and even Arthur himself.
"And you?" Arthur raised an eyebrow at Kay.
"You asked us to find him sire." Kay said simply. Arthur nodded. The snow fell heavier. They had to find him soon.