Don't shoot the messenger
The rider arrived just an hour after dawn. Arthur spotted him riding fast through the castle gates from his chamber's window, he was dressed in black and carried the crest of Cenred`s kingdom - the black and emerald serpent. Arthur had stood sentinel at the window for most of the night, brooding and stewing in his own anger, unable to sleep due to the disturbing thoughts plaguing him as to Merlin's fate.
The guards at the gate all ran forward to stand, with spears facing the rider as Arthur strode down to the courtyard. However, the rider simply halted his dark mount just in front of the guards raised weapons, and observed the king with a look of obvious disdain; he threw a tightly furled scroll, bearing a black wax seal to Arthur.
Arthur caught the scroll and tore it open without even looking at the seal - he already knew who it would be from. There was no signature or name as to who it was meant for, it simply said in spiky black handwriting. "It seems you've lost something little Pendragon. Come and claim him." Arthur balled up the note in one fist. Cenred had Merlin, and he was holding him hostage - it was obviously a trap. It was no doubt an attempt to capture or kill him in order to overthrow Camelot. But he couldn't leave Merlin at the mercy of that monster... Could he? Even if his kingdom and life were likely at stake?
"My king said to give you this, if you seemed unsure of anything." The rider laughed nastily and threw something that fluttered in the breeze to come skittering to near Arthur's feet. The king picked it up with a frown, it appeared to be a piece of sky blue cloth . . . oh no. It was Merlin's neckerchief. It had a large dark red smear over the length of it however, which Arthur soon realized was blood. Merlin must be hurt, and quite badly to get this amount of blood on his neckerchief.
Cenred obviously had no qualms with hurting his captive, he wouldn't hold much value to a man like Cenred - except as leverage... what if Merlin were tortured? What if Merlin were permanently disfigured or killed? All in an attempt to get to Arthur? It wouldn't be right that the misplaced, stupidly loyal idiot who fell into Arthur's life by accident and circumstance suffered for his king in such a way. Arthur felt a red, hot rage flow through him at the thought; he bunched the material up in his fist and glared fiercely up at the messenger.
"You can tell your master that I'm not as stupid as he seems to think, I'm not going to walk straight into such an obvious trap." Arthur's tone was dripping venom and his gaze held flint and steel. If he was going to go after Merlin, he at least wanted to try to get an element of surprise, though it didn't seem very likely from where he was standing.
"The king also said to tell you that if you don't answer within three days, then your little servant will die a slow and painful death." The messenger's laugh was pure malicious contempt "Though I can't guarantee that my lord won't have a bit of fun with him in the meantime." He pulled on his reigns and turned his horse to ride back away from the castle, towards the forest.
Arthur ground his teeth together and then gestured imperiously to one of the guards, who moved over at his king's command. "Give me your crossbow." The guard did as he was told with a confused look on his face and watched as Arthur expertly set the bow and fired. The bolt soared through the air and struck the rider hard in the leg, pinning him to the saddle. Arthur felt a sick sort of justification as he heard the man yell out in pain and spur the horse on faster. Arthur was furious and he was going to prepare the knights as soon as possible. "Gather Sirs Gwaine, Lancelot and Leon, we're going on a hunt."