So, I take it my second fanfic is tons better than my first.
So, since my first one really sucked, I will rewrite it for you guys, because I just reread it and thought "why did I ever post it up?"
Guys, I love the reviews, I love how nicely this story has turned out.
So thanks for inspiring me to write more.
I am currently changing the plot around as I speak, but I should still get quite a few more chapters out of this.

But wow, chapter twelve so soon?!

oh, and just so you know, whenever I switch between Agnien and Merlin, it just means I'm focusing either on Merlin's view more or someone else's.

Another thanks goes to formerlyknownasyay, for helping me out with some details.
Frui!

Reactions of the Idiot King
Chapter twelve- Missing

Arthur was heading to Gaius's chambers when he heard that a few knights were attacked and mortally wounded. He rounded the corner only to bump into the Agnien kid, who looked out of breath and just plain worn down. This was the second group to be attacked that week, and Arthur couldn't blame him, it was only his second week here. He paused suddenly, confused.
"Sorry, Arthur, did you hear-" His voice was dull, muted. He looked as if he was almost running a temperature.
"The knights were attacked." Arthur said with a nod, a bit worried for the boy's own health. "Are you alright?" He saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Approval maybe? He ducked his head, and backed up as the two realised they were standing oddly close.
"I'm fine Sire." He said tightly.
"No, you aren't." Arthur said. "Last time you said that you fainted."
"It's not your position to worry about my health, Sire." Agnien said, looking at him. Arthur almost had his breath blown away, the look in his eyes... It was so much like M-that traitor's.
Looking away, Merlin took a deep breath, "Sire, I must go back to Gaius, I was sent to fetch you, but since you're on the way-"
"Agnien," Arthur started, "Don't overwork yourself."
"Don't tell me what to do or not, until you can tell me the villager the knights were picking on." Looking into the King's eyes he felt himself start to waver in and out of conscious. He paled even more drastically.
"Agnie-"
"My Lord." Merlin quickly added, interrupting him.
"Agnien, where did you hear that at?" Arthur asked.
"People talk." With that, Merlin started walking past Arthur, only to stumble to his knees. It took all he had to keep the spell together. He quickly stood, looking at the King with almost a panicked expression.
"You should to back to Gaius." He said softly to Merlin, who quickly looked away from him.
"Fine." He forced it out of his lips, his eyes flaring a bright gold. He shut his eyes, biting his lip. He felt the King pick him up carefully, shock and surprise startling the young warlock.
"Ease up." Arthur murmured, "You can hardly walk."
"Gaius is going to kill me." Merlin grumbled.
Arthur was completely shocked. The physician's apprentice seemed so shaken, so weak and tired. It just made Arthur want to care for him, protect this man younger than him. It stunned Arthur that he picked him up. It scared the King, seeing Agnien this ill, his eyes clamped shut as if he was in pain. When he muttered that Gaius would kill him, he pondered how long he's been acting fine.
He carried him to Gaius's chambers, where the knights were slowly recovering, and luckily, none of them died. Gaius glanced over at Arthur waving him over to place the boy on a flat surface when he paused, turning to face Arthur fully to examine the extent of the injuries the boy had. Shock was etched into his face as he noticed it was Merlin.
"What happened to him?" Gaius asked.
"I ran into him, I heard and was coming down here, he looked so worn, so tired and ill-" Arthur trailed as Gaius looked at his ward.
"Arthur," Gaius took a deep breath, "I need you to place him in his bed, and leave him alone. He's sleep deprived and I'd like to examine him."
"Gaius, I can't-" The young warlock muttered, the strain in his voice. "My eyes." He mouthed the word, unable to use the strength to vocalise it.
"Give him to me." Gaius said. Arthur looked at him, shaking his head.
"You can't hardly pick up a child Gaius." Arthur chuckled, walking into Merlin's room and placed the boy on the bed. Merlin kept his eyes closed tightly. His breathing labored.
Arthur took a look around Agnien's room. It used to be Merlin's, and even with Agnien here for a week, it felt wrong to think of it as anyone else's room. Gaius was getting very panicked, all but throwing him out of the boy's room. He walked up to one of the knights, looking at the man's injuries when his stomach dropped.
This group of knights were part of the royal guard. Gaius stepped out of Agnien's room, and it was all Arthur could do to sink down to the floor in silence. Tears swam in his eyes. The unconscious knight in front of him unable to give him the story. Gaius sat down beside the King, waiting for him to speak up.
"You sent Agnien to get me." He said, sounding muted. "I should have known."
"Guinevere was not found with them, Sire." Gaius murmured, "I'm worried for her."
"She's gone." Arthur said. "There's no way they'd have left her alive-"
"We can't assume that just because she wasn't found with them." Gaius said as the knight beside Arthur stirred awake.
"Sir Dal," Gaius said. "Do you feel okay?" Sir Dal looked at the physician then at Arthur.
"My Lord, I tried." He said simply. "They got us from behind-"
"Did they...?" Arthur was too choked up to speak clearly. His wife's guards were all overtaken while she went on her way to a small village to check things out.
"She ran." The knight whispered. "Just took off running. I don't know if they caught the queen, my lord."
Arthur sat there wrapped up in his thoughts, worried, unsure. His mind overworking itself to where he blacked out then and there. When he awoke, he woke to seeing Gwaine, Percival, Leon and Elyan sitting nearby, watching him. They all looked somewhat worried. He sat up.
"You okay?" Elyan asked, looking somewhat upset.
"Guinevere, is she-?" Arthur asked, knowing the answer.
"She's not back." Gwaine said, Arthur surprised that he even spoke.
"We need to search for her." Arthur said.
"It's the middle of the knight, Arthur. You've been out all evening." Leon said. "We can leave in the morning, but first, the man who was leading the group woke and told us what had happened."
"Is he here?" Arthur asked, looking at Leon then to Gwaine, who had a look on his face that gave it all away.
"No, princess." Gwaine said, "He went into a state of shock, and died shortly after."
"Wait, what do you mean a state of shock?" Arthur asked. "Wasn't he recovering?"
"No." Percival spoke. "He had been poisoned. Now be quiet, Gaius is still sleeping."
"Have you guys seen his new apprentice?" Arthur asked, his voice a few octaves lower.
"Not the last few days, seeing as we've been attacked a few times." Leon said, "But I did meet him twice."
"He seems off." Gwaine said. "It's like he watches every word he says. He also looked fairly pale the last time I saw him."
"He collapsed before I did." Arthur said, "Gaius took him to his room, checked him over."
"Hasn't been here for more than a couple weeks and he's already being ran into the ground." Gwaine chuckled. Arthur just sighed, his wife still on his mind.
"Tell me what he told you guys." Arthur said, speaking of the now deceased knight.
"They were on the other side of the darkling woods," Leon started. "They had all been riding, and had slowed down to take a quick break, when all the sudden several men with swords of their own attacked them. Having been thrown off guard, each one of them just slowly dropped down, dead, or injured, when he told Gwen to run."
"Gwen, not wanting to abandon the fight, took a blow from someone, so not only is she lost, she's injured." Elyan grumble. "She took off, and he collapsed before he could see if she got away."
"We'll need to take Gaius." Arthur said, "She'll need the medical help."
"No, he won't be able to defend himself, maybe Agnien?" Leon asked.
"Gaius wouldn't let him go." Arthur said, "He's super ill."
"Is he?" Gwaine asked, sounding concerned.
"I think he hasn't been sleeping much." Arthur said, "I'm not too sure what to think of the kid." He saw Gwaine tense and instantly wished he hadn't said anything.
"It's almost dawn." Gwaine said, "I'll go get the horses, and make sure we have supplied to help Gwen." Arthur looked at him as he walked out of the room.
"I'll make sure he stays out of trouble Sire." Percival stood, standing up before Arthur could.
"Thank you Percival." The blonde murmured. Within the hour the two were back, and they all were ready to set out.