A/N : Hi everyone! *waves* Once again, I want to thank you so much for all the support you've given me, it means the world to me! I really hope you'll like this chapter, and please please please let me know? I'll give you a bunch of cookies!
XO, as always!
Arthur
"Arthur!" He could hear her soft voice calling him before he caught sight of her. She ran towards him through the hallway, the panic she felt crashing into him like a tidal wave. "There's no sign of Merlin, and one of your horses has returned without its rider."
"What do you mean, there's no sign of Merlin? Surely someone must know where to find him." A thought entered his head, but he refused to believe it was true. "Has someone asked his father?"
"No." Her face fell. "Do you think that's where he went? It doesn't explain the unmanned horse, does it?"
It didn't. But there was a possibility Merlin had turned to Garreth when everything had fallen apart, hoping that the stranger might provide some answers… even if they were the wrong ones. He sighed. Asking Garreth if he knew where Merlin was would be humiliating, it would prove to Garreth that he had finally gotten the upper hand, but there was nothing else he could do. No other way to turn.
Damn it. If he hadn't pushed Merlin away, none of this would even be happening. There would be no possibility of Merlin getting hurt – physically or otherwise – and they'd just be…friends again. He made up his mind. "I'll go. It's important not to let him know about Merlin's disappearance."
She nodded, trying to look strong in front of him, trying to be brave and confident – not as if the walls came closing in around her. She almost succeeded.
-
"I don't suppose you've talked to Merlin since that charade you played in the stairwell?" Arthur picked up the potato that lay on the kitchen counter, one lost sheep that had not been discovered, and threw it into the air, catching it again and again. "I won't let you hurt him." He fixed his eyes on the smug face, trying to detect a hint of the truth.
"It won't be long until he reaches me, my lord. Rumour has it he hasn't been your servant since you fought this afternoon." He grabbed at the object Arthur had been toying with, and expertly set his knife to the jacket, peeling it off in one smooth effort. "I have a feeling Merlin's going to need someone to turn to."
"You should check your sources." He said. "Because the only people your son will be turning to have been living in this castle for quite some time now. Gwen and Gaius will be able to comfort him in the way he needs to."
If Garreth had seen Merlin, there was no doubt that he'd tell Arthur not to worry, that his sources were firsthand, and that Merlin had already unpacked in that sad bungalow he called a house. But he didn't, and though Arthur should feel relieved, the only sentiment that grew inside of him was dread, and a clear sense of purpose filled his mind. He was riding out tonight.
-
When he entered the stables and his eyes found the abandoned horse, saddle still in place, he felt overwhelmed. Knowing the image would haunt him every second he was gone, every place he met without his friend, made it feel like all air supply had been denied him, and he had to swallow hard to regain his composure.
"There's no blood on his flank." Gwen sounded almost surprised. She stood in the doorway, a torch in one hand, the other one pulling gently at her dress to make sure it floated slightly above the filthy ground. "If he'd been badly injured, surely there must be some…sign?"
He would lie to her if it would make her fear go away. He couldn't not give her that. So he nodded, knowing it might come back to haunt him, praying that it wouldn't. "I'm sure he'll be fine, Guinevere. Knowing Merlin, he's probably just wandering about the land, confused as to why his horse ran off. "
She smiled slightly. "That does sound like something he'd do." Turning around, she looked over her shoulder one last time. "Please… make sure he gets home safely."
Merlin
He clutched his leg and tried to move it so it lay atop a harsh rock, needing the pain to disappear so he could just go home. He felt the tears well up, desperately trying to escape from the eyes that held them captive. Merlin searched his mind for a hint of a spell that cured leg wounds, but he drew up a blank.
Falling onto his back, that ached as well, he looked up at the sky. The moon had already appeared, beaming a soft light that seemed a million times more powerful than that of the stars. But the moon wasn't sending the light, it was merely the reflection of the sun. The poor dead moon was doing something a heated sun was ordering him to.
It was insane how he tried to make things work – give the world around him explanations that would help him figure out his own mess : the fight he'd had with Arthur, the questions surrounding his father… none of it made sense anymore.
It seemed almost hours later before he heard the man approaching, the steady sound of hooves falling to the earth. "Hello?" He called out, and everything went silent. "I need your help," he tried again. "Please, I'm hurt."
He watched anxiously as the figure broke through the wall of nature (because of course he'd fallen somewhere hidden by plants and trees) and looked down at him. "You about ready to go home, Merlin?"
-
He couldn't believe it. Of all the people who might pass here, it was the one person he didn't want to see that came to his rescue. Great. Now Arthur would really believe Merlin to be incapable of doing anything right without him by his side. Merlin bit his lip, shaking his head resolutely. "Staying here seems like a very good option."
"Right." Arthur feigned understanding. "Because, well, someone will cross this area again in a few days. I'm sure you'll be able to eat a few berries… nurture yourself." He looked angry for some reason and simply because Merlin had decided he didn't have any right to be, he stubbornly refused to answer.
Arthur inhaled deeply, then descended and stood before his injured servant, placing his hand on his hips. "Don't be ridiculous, Merlin. You need to come home." He crouched down and examined the propped up leg. The expression on his face suddenly turned to worry, but Merlin was blind to it. "What else hurts?"
"As you can clearly see, my lord, I'm no longer useful to you. You might as well leave me here, my life is over."
Arthur
Oh, right, and he was the prat? Huffing, he walked over to Merlin and grabbed him beneath the knees and shoulderblades, ignoring the baffled protest, and the fist that pounded on his chest before Merlin cringed in pain, causing him to shut up. "As soon as I'm able to walk, I'll make you pay for this."
"Sure you will. Right now, you need to tell me what hurts, so I don't end up making things worse than they already are. You can be mad at me all you want when you're safe and sound, cuddled up inside your bed."
-
Merlin
He wouldn't forgive Arthur just because he'd been decent enough to go look for him, no doubt because of some reason that was all about himself. But he'd secretly hoped it would be him walking through his bedroom door, checking on him, instead of Garreth.
"I heard you were injured and I wanted to see if you were okay." The smooth voice spoke easily, stating the purpose for his visit. But that wasn't all, it seemed. "And I wanted to ask you if you'd given any thought about giving me a second chance."
"I have." Merlin looked down at his sheets, twisting and turning his finger into the fabric until it was caught. It throbbed. "If you screw up again, I will never forgive you for it, but for now…." He took a breath. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I denied you the chance I would crave if I made a mistake."
Garreth looked pleased, a smile playing on his face, but it faded away, making place for a straight, thin line. "I heard you had a fight with Arthur. I hope it's not because of something I did, or said? I never wanted to come between you. If Arthur's important to you, he's important to me, as well." He paused. "I want to be a part of your life, Merlin. If Camelot is where you belong, then.."
"I don't know." The words slipped past his lips and crazily enough, he believed every word. He cleared his throat to explain and take away Garreth's confusion. "I don't know if I still belong here. Maybe I never did."
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XO, as always - and hugs and cookies!