Arthur woke up to He sound of the larks outside and he grumbled "He's just taking the bloody piss now!" he got out of bed and he dressed himself.
Arthur waited for his breakfast for ten minutes, before he stormed towards Guias's chambers. He opened the door and he stomped over to the door leading to Merlin's bedroom. He opened the door and he marched in.
"You're late again! I'm starving and you are the worst servant that I have ever had!" Arthur shouted, but then he noticed that Merlin's bed was empty and it appeared to have not been slept in.
"He did not come home last night. I thought that he would be back by now, but I have not seen him since he left to collect food and supplies for you from the market" Guias explained.
"When did he leave yesterday?" Arthur asked.
"Dusk. He is normally back before sundown" Guias stated.
"Stay here and inform me if he returns" Arthur turned and walked towards the door. As he walked towards the doors leading into the castle, Arthur began to worry that his harsh words had driven Merlin away.
The room was dark and it was freezing, Merlin lifted his head and he looked around. He was alone in his prison but his captors were in the next room, he hissed in pain because if the cuts that covered his body and he looked at his neckerchief that lay discarded on the floor. He saw the crimson liquid on the blue material and he sniffled.
"He's not coming" Merlin began to cry as he thought of Arthur. He could feel the warm lips of the prince on his cut lips and he could feel the gentle hands on his waist. He wanted the feeling to be real.
The door opened and three of the four men walked in, Merlin started to thrash around and he screamed for help. One of the men gagged Merlin and the other two punched him a few times, until he stopped fighting back.
"Are you going to comply with our demands now?" the first captor asked but it was not an open question.
Merlin shook his head in rebellion, but the second captor grabbed his cheeks with one hand and forced him to nod.
"Good. Now tell us how many guards patrol the palace at night?" the third captor asked as he picked up a cow prod.
Merlin's eyes widened and he thrashed around 'Arthur, please get me out of here. Please save me' he thought.
Things became suspicious as the hour grew late, Arthur could not help but have a bad feeling that something was wrong. Arthur arranged a search party and every house in the village was searched.
The fourth captor ran into the room where Merlin was being imprisoned "The knights are searching the entire village! They're heading this way!" he exclaimed.
The other three captors stopped torturing Merlin and the young man fell into unconsciousness. They did not have time to escape as Gwaine and Percival barged into a house and they immediately called out for back up.
Arthur ran over to where the shouting was coming from and he felt his blood run cold. he saw that between the two guards, Merlin was being carried, shirtless, his lip cut and body battered. Luckily Merlin was breathing and the damage was not too serious, but Arthur was still angered and reeled on the group of thieves who were being hauled out of the house.
"I want them to put in the dungeons! They will be punished... severely!" The angry prince shouted. Arthur ran over and he inspected Merlin's injured body "Get him to Guias and make sure that all of his wounds are tended to".
Gwaine and Percival carried Merlin into the palace as Arthur hurried to the throne room to talk to Uther about what had happened.
Guias looked up when the door swung open, and he sprang to his feet when he saw that Merlin was injured "By the gods! Get him into his room and fetch some water!"
Gwaine and Percival carried Merlin into his room and they laid him down on his bed. Guias rushed in with some medicines and the physician got to work on tending to Merlin's injuries.
Meanwhile, Arthur was pacing back and forth in the throne room, as he tried to convince Uther to take action on the four thieves that had kidnapped Merlin.
"Father, the thieves must be severely punished. He guards found Merlin wounded and unconscious. If he had been left in that situation for another day then who knows what might have happened to him. He could have been left in a worse condition than he is in now or he could have been killed!" Arthur exclaimed.
"Servants are easy to replace" Uther did not look at Arthur.
"Merlin saved me from a dagger flying straight at me and he has been a loyal servant ever since. He is braver and more loyal than every knight in Camalot. Those thieves need to be punished for attacking him and plotting to break into the treasury". Arthur stated.
"They will be punished for plotting to commit robbery from the king. Nothing more" Uther decided.
"Father!" Arthur raised his voice.
"Not another word, Arthur!" Uther shouted.
Arthur turned and he walked out of the throne room, he needed to make sure that Merlin was alright. He had some serious apologising to do and he hope that Merlin would forgive him.
Merlin was asleep in his chambers when the door opened and Arthur walked in. The prince walked over to Merlin's bed and he sat on the bed, he slowly lifted up his servant's shirt and he saw all of the cuts and bruises on Merlin's body.
Merlin stirred from his sleep, and he scrambled to get away from the person that was in the room with him. His heart was racing and panic rose up inside of him, he was scared that his abductors were back for him.
Arthur looked up and he saw the fear in Merlin's eyes "It's just me, Merlin. It's Arthur".
Merlin relaxed and he nodded "Is there anything that you want, Sire?"
Arthur shook his head "No." He looked at Merlin with sorry eyes "What happened when those thieves took you?"
Merlin sat up even though it hurt him "I woke up and I was chained up, there was a cloth over my mouth and they were handy with their fists. As well as some knives". He explained.
"Lie down" Arthur instructed.
Merlin did as he was told and he laid down on the bed.
"Did you mean what you said? Did you mean it when... did you mean it when you said that you loved me?" Arthur asked.
Merlin looked away from Arthur "Yes. I meant it, I'm sorry if I upset you".
Arthur cupped Merlin's face in his hands, he gulped before he leaned down and he kissed Merlin. He felt hands on his shoulders and he ran his fingers through Merlin's hair. He pulled back and he looked at Merlin "I love you, Merlin".
Merlin's breathing hitched "Do you mean that? You're not just whinding me up?"
Arthur stroked Merlin's cheek with his thumb "I mean it. I'm not whinding you up. I don't just share a bed with anyone. I'm sorry for what i said yesterday, I was trying to protect you because being with me puts you in danger".
"It's alright. I'm used to you being prat" Merlin joked.
"I love you" Arthur whispered.
"Uther would be furious" Merlin sighed.
"I don't care. It hurt my heart when I saw the state that those thieves left you in. I promise you that I'll see to it that they're severely punished" Arthur assured.
"Thank you" Merlin smiled. He sat up and he hugged Arthur.
Arthur gently wrapped his arms around Merlin and he held the man he loved. "I'm sorry that I sent you out yesterday".
Merlin held onto Arthur "It's alright. I'm always getting myself into trouble".
Arthur rubbed Merlin's back "I'm sorry".
"It's alright. I'm alright now" Merlin whispered.
Arthur kissed Merlin's shoulder "I was so scared for you. I thought that someone had killed you".
"You can't get rid of me that easily. I'm staying here" Merlin smiled.
"Good" Arthur said as he held Merlin.
Merlin pulled back and he looked at Arthur, the prince looked into Merlin's eyes and their lips met with a kiss. Arthur guided Merlin back so that the servant was lying on the bed, he then leaned over the other man and they continued to kiss. After a few passionate minutes had drifted by, Arthur laid down next to Merlin the other man rolled over and rested his head on Arthur's chest. Arthur smiled and he wrapped one arm around Merlin. He was where he wanted to be and Merlin wanted him.