Title: It's Like Magic

Author: Kiki1770

Rating: T for Language

Setting: After 4x05 His Father's Son

Summary: Merlin's been captured by slave traders.

A/N:Whoot, whoot! I'm starting a new arc! This one is going to be filled with drabble short stories. Please keep in mind that I intend for these drabbles to remain as short drabbles, therefore parts of the story will be skipped around or sped up for simplicity sake. This arc will include: Whump, Angst, Brotherhood, Friendship, Magic Reveals, and basically a little bit of everything. I couldn't include them in any one arc and they were becoming a bit too long, so I made it into it's own arc! Enjoy the first!

Short Stories 1: Captured Part I

"Arthur, you need to get some sleep," Leon urged the restless King. Arthur ignored his second in command and continued hacking away at an innocent tree. He growled with every swing of his sword, too angry to feel any remorse as the steel met with bark.

"How do you expect me to sleep, Sir Leon, when my idiot manservant is still with Jarl's men? They could be torturing him for information about Camelot. Merlin's been at my side long enough now. They could be torturing him because of me." Arthur shouted with unintended venom at Leon. He tightened his grip around his sword until his knuckles were painfully stretched across the pommel. He raised the sword again and continued hacking the tree. He had nothing better to do until Elyan and Gwaine returned from scouting the trail they just picked up. He would have gone himself, but his knight's didn't want the king anywhere near the slave trader's men.

Arthur finally cursed and plunged his sword deep into the soft earth. Jarl was notorious for never letting any captives escape. That is, until Gwaine, Arthur, and Merlin had made their reckless getaway on their quest for the Cup of Life. Arthur had foolishly entered Jarl's territory in search of a sorcerer, believing the man to be dead. And he was, Jarl had been slain by the sorceress Morgause, but his men were still loyal to the deceased slave trader. Loyal enough to create rumors of a sorcerer loose in Essetir in order to draw out Arthur and his knights. Despite their valiant fight, there were just too many bandits to fight off. They had Arthur at their mercy when his stupid manservant offered his life for Arthur's.

At first they'd laughed at Merlin, and said, "Why would we want his manservant when we have the King of Camelot himself?" Merlin had stared at them, unfazed by their snide remarks. "Because I am Emrys," He'd quietly responded. The bandits immediately ceased their laughter and stared at Merlin with what Arthur could only describe as fear. He didn't know what the significance of Merlin being "Emrys" (whatever that was) but apparently it was important enough to knock the King out and disappear with Merlin.

Arthur heard the soft crunch of footfalls and jumped to his feet when Gwaine and Elyan finally reappeared. "What have you found?" Arthur demanded. Both Knights shared a grim face and Arthur felt like he'd taken a blow to the gut.

"It's not good Arthur," Elyan said, trying to gently break it to the King. "Jarl's men sold Merlin to King Lot….attacking him would be an act of war." Arthur's heart sank fast.

"I say damn it all! Merlin is our friend! He's one of us. We can't leave him in that miscreant's hands." Gwaine shouted unabashedly.

"Peace Sir Gwaine!" Leon ordered in a deadly voice. "This isn't about Jarl or slave traders anymore. We cannot go to war because of one man."

Arthur tuned his knights out as they argued. On one hand, Leon was right. They couldn't go to war because of one man, even if that man was Merlin. But Gwaine was right as well. Merlin was one of them, and Arthur never left a man behind as long as there was life in his body.

His thoughts went back to the noble smuggler that had fought alongside him during Morgana's second siege: Tristan. He hated King Lot. Tristan said that Lot was a cruel man who beheaded any subjects that disobeyed him. Arthur shuddered; how could he leave Merlin with such a man?

"That's enough." Arthur ordered, and his knight effectively stopped their bantering. "We are going after Merlin."

And that's a wrap! I hope your excited for the next part! I have a huge BAMF ending planned for this short story.

Review, review, review.

Kiki1770