I just hit Merlin.

He had raised his hand.

I just hit Merlin.

He felt her gasp.

I just hit Merlin.

He saw her raise a shaky hand to her face.

I just hit Merlin.

Realization dawned on Arthur. He had hit Merlin in a fit of anger. What type of man was he?

"ARTHUR PENDRAGON!" she screamed, slamming her fist at his nose. "YOU DID NOT JUST HIT ME!"

Blood trickled from where she punched him. "Merlin-"

"NO! JUST NO! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT! I THOUGHT YOU WERE A BETTER MAN!"

"Merlin, I'm sorry."

"SORRY'S NOT GONNA CUT IT, MR. 'I'M KING AND I HIT MY SERVANTS!' NO, SORRY'S NOT GONNA CUT IT!" She punched him again.

"Merlin-" he started quietly. She glared and turned away into the night, darkness consuming her. Arthur felt tears forming. He had hit Merlin, the one person he honestly cared about. He felt his knees give out and they hit the ground. Merlin.

Someone was approaching him, but it mattered not. He felt someone sit next to him. Only when he felt a hand on his shoulder did he move. Turning, he saw a very old man.

"Why did you hit her?" asked the man.

"Because…." Arthur really didn't have a reason.

"C'mon, spit it out."

"Because I was jealous," he whispered. Shame, self-loathing, and sorrow filled him.

"And why were you jealous?" Arthur didn't know the man, yet he kept prodding with these questions, which, surprisingly, Arthur answered.

"Because the other men…."

"That had nothing to do with it. You only feel jealous if you love someone," said the man. His eyes were wise and vaguely familiar. "I saw you two the other day. Love like that doesn't happen to everyone."

"Do you really think she-" Arthur started.

"Loves you? Yes."

"After tonight, do you think she will?" Arthur knew he didn't really deserve Merlin. He always thought that, even when Merlin was a man, and now it became a reality.

"Depends," said the old man. "What would you do for her?"

"I would do anything," said Arthur. And he meant it.

"Let her know that. Make her know. Show you feel sorry for hitting her. You are sorry, right?" the old man gave him a pointed look.

"I would rather face hell's fire than hit her again," said Arthur. He felt so sorry, that he had actual pain in his gut, a result of grief.

"Then tell her. She might not take you back, but she will know. And, trust me, she will take you back. Like I've said, love like yours doesn't happen to everyone," said the man, eyes glowing with something Arthur didn't recognize.

"What should I do now?" asked Arthur, feeling like a small child asking a teacher for help.

"Go to her." With that Arthur stood up and walked away. He turned back again, to thank the man, but he was gone.

Arthur searched all over the castle, starting with her chambers. He didn't find her. Five hours of searching. Merlin was nowhere to be found. He kept getting the strange sense he should check his chambers, but seriously, why would she be there? He searched more. Something was still nagging him to check his room. He ignored it. He searched. That feeling. He searched. That feeling. Searching. That feeling.

Just check your room, prat! Said a voice that vaguely sounded like Merlin, in his head. He sighed and complied. Merlin, however, was not there, just a short note on his table. Hoping it was from her, the king gingerly picked it up. But, reading it, his eyes widened in horror.

Arthur Pendragon,

If you wish to see your servant alive again, come to the dark side of the forest in two hour's time. I have restrained her magic, and have a sword pressed against her throat. Tell anyone of our rendezvous, and my hand might just slip.

-Morgana Pendragon, rightful King of Camelot

"SORRY'S NOT GONNA CUT IT, MR. 'I'M KING AND I HIT MY SERVANTS!' NO, SORRY'S NO GONNA CUT IT!" screamed Merlin, punching the asshole again. Merlin thought he was different from when they met, but apparently not.

"Merlin-" he started feebly, making no attempt to steam the blood flowing out of his nose.

She glared and stalked off. Stupid, jackass, clotpole of a king, she thought, along with some worse insults (many of which involved a word that began with an 'f;' Merlin was really quite profound.) She sped down the corridor leading to her's and Gauis' shared chambers, hoping the age physician wasn't there. Slamming the door open, the servant discovered he wasn't, but some strange was.

"Oh, Hello," said Merlin, trying to regain her cool. She suppressed some tears that had been freely flowing. "Gauis isn't here right now, but I can take a message."

The man turned, facing her full on. He was quite handsome, raven hair like Merlin's, pale porcelain skin that really stuck out against his dark clothing, and piercing green eyes. He was maybe in his mid-twenties and had a very well-muscled body. Something was vaguely familiar about the way he smirked at her.

"Ah, you must be Merlin," he said in an even voice.

"Yes?" She raised an eyebrow. He came closer to her.

"Sfeffin," he said as his eyes flashed gold. Merlin's foggy mind realized it was a sleeping spell just as he caught her nearly unconscious form.

Duh, duh, duh! Can anyone guess who that man is? Hints: smirk, green eyes, dark clothes, rightful KING of Camelot. And thank you to WibblyWobblyGirl, Book-girl-fan, solace24, Don-V, Laura-Ella, and jwolf18791 for their amazing reviews!