"So Merlin shows up at the bar in the evening, but he left my chambers first thing in the morning. What did he do before going to the tavern?"
"I don't know Arthur, but maybe if hadn't been such a royal ass he wouldn't be missing now would he!"
"Look Gwaine, I've told you that it was a mistake okay! I just want to find him and tell him that now."
They had been forced to tell Gwaine everything, starting with Killer the pink chicken, who was still perched on Arthurs head glaring at things and such. He had been furious when Arthur had repeated what he said, and completely baffled when he heard how Merlin had been retorting. It wasn't his usual mocking self.
Gaius had given Gwaine something to help with the headache, and true to his super drinker abilities his hangover seemed to start to disappear almost instantly. Arthur could almost swear he heard Gaius mutter something about it taking an hour to kick in.
After Gaius had been picking up potions and packing his medicine bag as they talked. There had been a bout of flu in the lower town and quite a few children required attention daily. He had left the Merlin hunting to them, though the worry had been evident on the old mans face. That had crushed Arthur a little, he knew he was the one who had caused this. He said his good byes and left the two men to figure things out for themselves.
When he was gone Arthur prompted Gwaine to continue his retelling of that knight. "Well he came into the tavern that night looking really tired, and I wanted to invite him over to join me but he was called over by someone else."
"Did you recognize the person."
"No princess, that's why I just called him someone else, I don't think Merlin knew him either because I remember he looked shocked when the man called out. So then Merlin went and sat by him and I turned back to my drinking buddies. I don't know maybe ten minutes later Merlin and the guy walk up and join us. We get to drinking games and it all goes blurry from there; all I know is for a boy who doesn't drink he put me to shame. It was unnatural, I would've sworn he was drinking coloured water but he switched glasses with me and it was ale alright."
"So you get drunk and then what?"
"I don't know, like I said it gets blurry. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a chair some where's and I get out before I remember if it's a good thing or a bad thing."
"That's not exactly helpful!" Arthur cried growing increasingly frustrated. Gwaine had repeated the story at least twice and the guilt that Arthur felt grew larger every time.
"Well we wouldn't be in this problem if it wasn't for you!" Gwaine glared at Arthur, Arthur glared back, Killer glared at a book about common herbs. "Maybe the Inn keeper knows something, we could go ask him. She pays attention to customers who suddenly start drinking heavy, she's a real worrier."
"What is that about anyway. You kept mentioning Merlin like he's never been to a tavern before. He stops there regularly according to some people."
"Merlin? You've got to be joking, once in a blue moon for a mug maybe but this was the first time he ever really drank. You really believed he was a drunk Arthur?"
"Yeah well I got told that a lot."
"Well it's not true, and the bar keep will prove it, plus he might know something more then we do. May as well work together and try and find him quickly. If we're lucky we'll find him nursing a painful reminder of why he shouldn't be like me in some random house in the city. Let's just get out and ask around, Merlin is well liked I'm sure someone saw him, or me, last night."
"Fine. Let's go to the tavern first." Arthur started towards the door and Gwaine cleared his throat.
"What about your duties?"
"The council will manage for a day."
"But are you going with the chicken on your head?" Arthur tentatively raised his hand towards the chicken, it was meet with a harsh peck as soon as he got in range.
"Yes."
Killer squawked angrily at Gwaine for suggesting such a ludicrous idea.
Somewhere, Same time
Merlin finished throwing up and was almost instantly faced with another glass of green drink. This time it was in a normal cup.
"If I keep drinking alcohol I'll die, or pass out, or both. I can't stay drunk forever."
"I know, which is why I'm giving you this." He said thrusting the cup back into Merlin's face.
"I just said," Merlin groaned, he was starting to sober up, "that more drink won't help me."
"It's magic wine Merlin, my own creation. 'sides this trip ain't gonna be any fun alone or with a sober person. So take a shot and let's get going. You'll be having fun for the next five hours or so."
Merlin looked at the drink, somewhere he remembered something about Dion. The drink was thrust even further into his face until the cup was resting on his lip. What ever it was he couldn't remember it clearly and it probably wasn't important. He took the cup and swallowed the liquid. It went down like ale but tasted like banana.
Which was disgusting as it sounded.
He probably would've thrown up if he hadn't spent the last five minutes doing just that.
"How long until it-" Merlin was suddenly cloaked in a warm alcohol induced buzz, he giggled. "Wor's real fassst." He chuckled.
"Ready to start the journey."
"Sure I's am."
They didn't have to walk very far to reach the first step. They both stood side by side, toeing the edge of a huge cliff. It towered over a raging river below.