Arthur often tried his best to pay complete attention whilst in a council meeting, knowing full well that questions would be thrown his way out of nowhere and his immediate response would be required. However this time, the man's focus was on several other things.

One of which was the absence of his father, with the king's chair at the head of the table sitting empty while all around him the elders spoke as if nothing were wrong. The next was that Arthur's stomach would not quit rumbling, making unpleasant noises each time he thought too hard about his missed breakfast. And the third was the reason why he missed his breakfast.

Merlin hadn't shown up that morning to wake him, to bring him his food, to help him go over his busy schedule for the day, or to be his usual annoying self. It wasn't as if Arthur missed him or anything as foolish as that, but the prince had been filling in for his father more and more, and Merlin's idiocy always provided a nice break for the man.

Tapping two of his fingers against his thigh, Arthur tried again to focus, but found his eyes darting around the room in search of a boy he knew wouldn't be appearing. It wasn't as if Merlin was ever there during these tedious meetings anyway, but his gaze kept traveling to the doors regardless, expecting to see him at any moment. Preferably with some kind of food along with his apology.

"Sire?" A voice interrupted his thoughts, and Arthur glanced around to place it.

"Yes?"

"Shall I repeat my question?"

"Yes, if you would." The prince nodded, straightening his shoulders and returning his focus to the men around him.

That was how the rest of the man's day passed, with his mind flitting between his work, his missing servant, and his anger towards his missing servant. By the time evening came and his dinner was brought by someone else, Arthur was fed up.

He didn't have time to be worrying or wondering where the boy was, he was still trying to navigate all of the work his father normally did, all while rallying and training his knights. Even so, he decided to visit Gaius to see if he knew where his useless servant had gone off to, which was how he'd ended up sitting at one of the tables in the physician's tower instead of doing his work.

"So, you've no idea where he's gone then?" Arthur pressed, watching the older man's back as he stirred something in a pot over his fire.

"I haven't seen him all day I'm afraid, Arthur. I'm a bit worried, if I'm to be honest."

"Where would he have gone off to by himself?" The prince asked while Gaius turned back around and stared at the blond with a frown.

"I've been wondering the same, but he was gone when I awoke this morning, so he could have left at any point during the night after I fell asleep."

"So, he what, snuck out?" Arthur stared, surprise washing over him at the thought. Merlin was a lot of things, but if anything had been proven in their years together, him being sneaky was not one of them.

"That's how it appears." Gaius sighed, sitting across from the prince who ran his fingers across his forehead.

"Gaius, you don't think this has anything to do with.. Morgana, do you?" He asked quietly, hating the way his stomach flipped around at her name.

"I'm not sure, Sire. I cannot see why it would, but I suppose nothing can be ruled out as of yet."

"I was afraid of that." Arthur muttered. "If he isn't back by tomorrow, we will discuss a search for him then. Though I'm certain he's simply gone off somewhere to avoid his work. I certainly wouldn't put it past him." He declared, rising from his seat while Gaius nodded once in silence.

It was clear the elder didn't believe the same, but Arthur liked to think he knew Merlin a bit better than the physician did. After all, there were many a secret the two shared that no one knew but them.

Arthur had just returned to his own chambers a while later when a knock sounded at his door. For a moment he was half inclined to believe that Merlin was finally going to show his face, but the boy never knocked even on his best day.

Calling for the visitor to enter, Arthur sat down behind his desk and looked up to see Gwaine stepping inside. It was still strange to see the man dressed up in the knight's attire, but the other men had taken an immediate liking to him, so the prince supposed that counted for something.

"Your royal Sireness." Gwaine inclined his head before glancing to the left and right. "Is Merlin in here somewhere?"

"Do you see him?" The prince asked dryly as the knight blinked and looked around again.

"A simple no would have sufficed. Strange, I thought he might be here."

"Yes, well, I haven't seen all day and neither has Gaius. If you do happen to find him, tell him the amount of work I have for him after this will keep him awake and busy for days." Arthur muttered, sifting through a few scrolls in front of him as Gwaine frowned and took a step closer.

"If no one has seen him, could he be in trouble?"

"Oh, he's most definitely in trouble."

"Should we go search for him?" Gwaine pushed, resting a hand on Arthur's desk and drawing the man's attention back up to him.

"I'm sure he's fine, Gwaine. He's probably off hiding or napping or something."

"All day?" The knight questioned with a shake of his head. "He doesn't normally do this, does he?"

"You'd be surprised by how often he doesn't show up to do his work. Honestly, I don't know why I haven't found someone to replace him by now."

"So, you're not worried then?"

"Not in the slightest." Arthur stated, setting a leaflet down and meeting the knight's eye.

The two stared at each other in silence for a few moments, during which time the prince felt a nagging weight pressing further down on top of him. It wasn't like Merlin to disappear for so long without anyone knowing where he'd gone off to, and Gaius had seemed fairly worried. Even so, he was sure they were all over reacting.

Finally, Gwaine turned around and walked off, leaving Arthur to stare at his back as he disappeared through the door. The prince was certain that Merlin was fine. He probably went for a walk and just got distracted. Perhaps he went home and didn't think to tell Arthur he was leaving for a few days. Or Gaius. Or anyone. Damn.

Getting up and stalking to his door, Arthur pulled it open and stuck his head out, spotting the knight down the hall. "Gwaine!" He called, watching as the man turned in surprise. "Take a few of the knights and search the forest nearby, see if you can find any sign of him."

The knight blinked at the prince before he began to grin. "Planned to anyway." At that, Arthur arched a brow, irritation surfacing as Gwaine's expression turned sheepish. "At your command of course, Sire."

He turned away then, walking around a corner and leaving the prince to heave a sigh. Returning to his desk, Arthur slid back into his seat and tried to focus once again on his work, ignoring the pit in his stomach telling him that something wasn't right about all of this.

Night had fallen at least an hour before, and Arthur was slumped over at his desk, half reading one of his texts and half sleeping on it. He'd been waiting for Gwaine to return with his drunken and ashamed servant, but the more time that passed, the more unlikely that outcome had seemed.

Perhaps Merlin had already returned home himself and was fast asleep in his bed in the physician's tower. Perhaps the boy was at the tavern, laughing and singing songs with the men who stayed there far too late. Perhaps he was out in the forest, captured by bandits, and had a sword to his throat at that very moment.

Jolting awake at that final thought, Arthur peeled away a page from off his cheek and was rubbing his face when another knock sounded at his door. This time, however, Gwaine did not wait for his command before he was stepping inside, looking tired and worried.

"What did you find?" The prince asked, sitting up straight as the knight stepped forward.

"Signs of a struggle near the stream."

"What?" Arthur gaped, pushing himself up as Gwaine stretched out his hand and held a piece of fabric out to the prince.

"As well as this."

Taking the blue scarf offered to him, Arthur turned it over in his hands and felt his heart drop at the blood that was soaked into one side of it. It was undeniably one of those ridiculous neckerchiefs that Merlin always insisted on wearing, and Arthur had no doubt that the blood stains were the boy's as well.

"Where did you find this?" He demanded, clutching the scarf in his fist as Gwaine pressed his lips tightly together.

"On the East side of the forest, not far from the stream. But.."

"But what?" Arthur pushed after the man trailed off.

"Where I found it, there were no other signs of distress or blood or even a fight in that spot. Around it, sure, but not right there."

"What are you saying?" The prince asked, eyeing his knight who drew in a deep breath.

"I'm saying it looked as if it were dropped, like an afterthought."

"You think it was placed on purpose."

"I do." Gwaine nodded. "The question is if it was dropped by Merlin or the person who attacked him."

"We can't do anything about this in the dark." Arthur scowled, gripping the scarf tighter. "At first light I will send a few men out, see if they can find a trail to follow.

"First light? He could be in danger right now, he could be hurt, Arthur." Gwaine objected, thrusting his hand towards the scarf that the prince still held.

"I'm aware." Arthur spoke tightly, glancing to the knight who scoffed.

"You can't just leave him out there!"

"I also can't risk sending my men out on a futile quest in the forest at night either, you know that Gwaine. Not with everything that's happened." The blond snapped, dropping the scarf onto his desk.

"So, what then? We just leave him to die? Is that it?"

"What would you have me do? Merlin can take care of himself, and he'll just have to keep doing so a bit longer."

"Let's go," Gwaine countered. "You and I, together. If you won't send the knights or the guard, fine. We'll go just the two of us."

The suggestion shocked the prince, and Arthur's head slowly began to shake. "I can't just leave, Gwaine. I don't have that luxury anymore."

"Fine, I'll go by myself then." The man stated, glaring hard at the blond before he turned to leave.

"Gwaine—"

"You can't stop me, Arthur. I will not leave Merlin alone to die."

"Gwaine!" Arthur shouted, his door slamming shut as the knight left him standing alone in his room with Merlin's bloodied scarf staring up at him from his desk.

"Damn you!" He shouted into the empty room.

He wasn't entirely sure who he was cursing however; Gwaine, his servant, or himself. Either way, the prince snatched up the scarf and strode to his wardrobe where he pulled free his cloak.

A few hours. They would search only for a few hours, and then he would return to the citadel for another day of work, sleep deprived though he may be after. Storming through the halls, it wasn't long before he caught up to Gwaine and passed him, shaking his head as he did.

"We stop by the armory first." He stated, not saying another word and refusing to look back at the knight who was no doubt beaming behind him.

All he knew was that he'd better find Merlin, and once he did, the boy was going to receive the scolding of a lifetime.

The night air was bitter and cold, stinging Arthur's face as he gripped the reins tighter in one hand and lifted his torch high with the other. He could hear the stream and he knew they were close. As he and Gwaine both stopped, Arthur jerked his head to the right.

"Go around that way and circle back, see if you can find any more signs of a struggle. Meet back here in an hour and don't be late. I'll go the other way and see what I can find. Shout if you find trouble."

Gwaine voiced his compliance before he turned his stallion around and headed off, leaving Arthur alone in the dark. Heaving a soft sigh to himself, Arthur turned his own horse and began trekking the opposite way.

The darkness was heavy, with any light from the moon hidden away behind clouds, and it seemed to be growing colder with each passing minute. The only light he had to work by was the torch he carried, and even that flame flickered occasionally with a strong gust of wind.

It was beyond stupid, the two of them out in the forest like they were, but Gwaine's words kept echoing in the back of his mind every time he thought about turning back. "So, what then? We just leave him to die?"

Concern raced through Arthur, for his own wellbeing as much as Merlin's. This wasn't just any other quest he'd been on, Camelot had no one else to protect it now if something were to happen to him. His father barely spoke or ate, and who knew how much worse off he would be if something were to happen to his only son and heir.

Still, Arthur found himself justifying riding on a little bit further, staying within earshot of the stream while he went. After a few minutes had passed and the prince had paused to study his surroundings, Arthur heard an owl crying out above him, and a shiver ran down his spine. The night creatures were getting braver, no longer scared of his presence in their home.

Urging his horse on, Arthur lifted the torch high and looked to the ground, still unable to find any trace of life other than his own and the creatures around him. A moment later the owl's call sounded again, though much closer this time, and Arthur nearly jumped out of his skin when a large, white bird landed on a tree branch no more than a few feet in front of him.

"What the hell," The man whispered to himself, beginning to turn his mare away when he suddenly paused, staring into the too intelligent eyes of the bird. "Archimedes?" The man gasped, watching as the owl nuzzled one of its wings before turning back to the man.

He often forgot that Merlin still cared for the bird, as it usually stayed out in the forest since it had grown in size. The owl continued to sit before him, staring, until finally it took off, flying to a tree only a few feet away. Its head swiveled back to look at him, and Arthur frowned.

"You don't know where Merlin is, do you?" He asked slowly, feeling immensely foolish for even considering the idea as the owl gave another hoot and nuzzled at its wing again.

Spurring his horse forward, Arthur grew close to the bird before it flew off again, stopping once more at another tree just on the edge of his line of sight.

"I must be going mad to be following an owl." The prince muttered to himself, keeping his horse at a steady pace while the owl moved slowly ahead of him, soaring from tree to tree and always staying where he could see him.

Several minutes later, Archimedes landed on the bent branch of a towering tree that curved in towards a hidden cave. Even as Arthur approached the base of the tree near him, all the owl did was watch him with unblinking eyes.

"Alright then, what is here for me to find?" The prince questioned, dismounting from his horse and carrying his torch towards the cave.

It was nothing special, with its entrance half caved in and empty of life. As Arthur took another step, a flake of snow drifted down into his line of sight, and the man's eyes turned to the sky where snow began to gently fall around him.

It was rather early in the season for such weather, and Arthur huddled further into his cloak as he refocused on the cave where the owl continued to stare. It didn't look like much, though if Merlin were hurt and hiding inside he would make sure he wouldn't be seen straight away.

"Merlin?" Arthur called out, stepping up to the mouth of the cave and shining the torch light inside. "Merlin!" He shouted again, but no answer came from inside aside from the echo of his own voice.

Sighing, Arthur moved back towards his horse when the owl suddenly let out a high pitched screech. "He's not there." The prince snapped, turning to glare at the bird, angry that he'd gotten his hopes up and furious that he'd thought a creature like that could actually help him.

Despite his harsh tone, the owl continued to stare, his feathers ruffling with another gust of wind. Suddenly the bird stepped forward on the branch, spread his wings, and let out a soft hoot.

"Fine! I'll go inside!" Arthur threw up his hands, marching back to the cave and beginning to climb over a few loose stones that rolled under his feet.

Holding up the torch as he moved further inside, Arthur was just beginning to wonder when he'd lost his sanity when a dust covered arm came into view. The skin was scratched and bruised and carried a bluish tinge to it as the prince's breath caught.

"Merlin?" He called, hurrying forward and rolling a stone away.

As he did, a familiar tunic came into view, and Arthur's heart began to race. Carefully propping the torch between a few of the larger stones, he began to push and pull the rocks away, quickly unburying his motionless servant.

"Oh, God." Arthur grimaced, lifting the back of his hand to his mouth in disgust at the mess in front of him.

Merlin was covered in more cuts and bruises than he had clean skin, with his torn tunic and trousers sticking to the dried wounds. A large gash on the back of his head was sticky with blood, and his skin was pale and sallow, practically lifeless.

Pushing himself forward, Arthur felt for his breath and nearly cried out in relief at the faint movement that still stirred inside his friend. He needed help, and soon, or he wasn't going to make it. All Arthur needed was to get him on his horse, then to Gaius, and then surely the physician would be able to help him from there.

Removing the last boulder near Merlin's foot, Arthur stood, beginning to survey how exactly he was going to get the boy out, when a deafening crack sounded above him. Without thinking, Arthur thew himself over the unconscious boy, shielding as much of his body as he could with his own as another boulder and a few smaller stones fell from above.

Thankfully the rocks fell clear of both of them, but the noise had been thunderous, and Arthur looked out of the cave in dismay as the sound of his panicking horse disappeared into the trees. His mare had bolted, leaving both himself, and his injured servant, without an easy way home.

"Gwaine!" Arthur shouted, pushing himself up and hurrying to the mouth of the cave. "Gwaine!" His yell echoed throughout the trees, but he was far from their meeting point, and he'd taken a path he was unfamiliar with when he'd been following Archimedes. Wait, the bird.

"Archimedes!" Arthur shouted, looking to the branches where the owl had been perched, only to find them empty as well.

Cursing, Arthur strode back inside, feeling the wind at his back as the snow began to pick up. There was no way he could get Merlin back without Gwaine's help, and the storm brewing was only going to make things worse.

Kneeling next to Merlin once again, the prince reached out and touched his freezing cheek, attempting to wake him up. "Merlin? Come on, Merlin."

When the boy didn't respond, Arthur grabbed the torch and stepped further into the cave. If they couldn't leave, he at least needed to try and warm the boy and treat some of his injuries. If he could get him stable, the prince knew he could walk back to the citadel and return with help that way.

Rounding a small corner, Arthur stopped in his tracks, staring in surprise at the gathered firewood and two logs sitting around it. What exactly had Merlin been doing out here?

The cave stopped at a rough looking wall near the back, and after making sure there was no one else around, Arthur worked to light the campfire. It didn't take him long, and soon heat and light washed over him as the prince returned to where his friend still laid.

Taking off and spreading out his cloak, Arthur carefully slid his arms under Merlin's and dragged him onto the fabric. In doing so, the boy's clothes pulled free from some of the cuts, causing blood to begin dripping from his wounds again. The only positive to come from it was the soft groan that Merlin let out, which showed he at least had a little life left in him.

Once Merlin was fully on his cloak, Arthur grabbed hold of one end and began to carefully drag him across the ground, sending a silent thanks to whatever had caused the rocks to only fall near the mouth of the cave.

Settling the boy by the fire, Arthur stoked the flames and knelt down again. Instead of studying Merlin's injuries, as he'd intended, something else caught the prince's eye. Near the fire, so close that it was almost burning, was a small, leatherbound journal.

Reaching out, Arthur pulled it to safety and carefully brought it up to the light. Something about it was familiar, though he couldn't place what. Opening the cover, the written name inside sent a wave of ice rushing through Arthur's veins. The book, it had belonged to Ralcade, the old court sorcerer. The man had stolen back all his things from his tower, so why was this book here, in a cave?

Looking down at the helpless boy before him, Arthur's spine stiffened. The only reason the book would be there was if Ralcade himself had been as well. And here was Merlin, sneaking away in the night. Swallowing down the immediate distrust and suspicion, Arthur closed the book and set it down beside him.

"What exactly were you doing out here with him? Why were you meeting a sorcerer in the middle of the night?" Pausing, Arthur's next breath stuttered on its way out and he clenched his fists together tightly. "What were you doing messing about with magic, Merlin?"

A/N

Oof. Betrayal, distrust, a snarky owl, this chapter had it all. The next one will probably be LONG so it may or may not actually be out in the two weeks span the others have been.

I've officially moved into the most beautiful hotel room in Minnesota for the next three months, and hopefully I'll have a job soon! Thanks for all the well wishes on my move, after a fifteen hour drive it went well!

Hope you guys enjoyed, and I'll see you soon for the conclusion of this arc and the official end of season three!