A Forgotten Destiny (Merlin)

Chapter Ten: In Camelot

"He's missing" As Arthur finished his words he could see something break inside of the Physician.

"What happened?!" Gaius demanded, everything had been so peaceful for so long.

"We think he was ambushed, we only saw the after effects..."

"What after effects?"

"Your chambers, they were destroyed by the time we got there, Merlin's blood... it was everywhere."

The old man's stomach felt sick, his ward was always getting himself in trouble but he'd never been gone for this long.

Sensing Gaius' unease the blonde placed a hand on the man "We'll find him Gaius, I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep" The physician returned solemnly before turning and leaving the throne room with no more said.

~~~

With it being over a week since Merlin had gone missing, there was no hope in finding any physical traces of the boy. Arthur and the Knights knew that, but they couldn't stop searching for their friend, not now, not ever.

With Gaius' return, his medical practices had started again and people got their medicines. But one thing the Royal's or Knights could never have predicted was the people's reactions....

A King's audience was a weekly event in which people of Camelot and surrounding towns and villages came to Arthur's court and expressed concerns or worries they wished the royal to look at. Normally this would only take about half an hour as there was only 2 to 3 people wishing to seek audience. But today? Today there was a line of over 50 people wishing to seek the King's help.

When Arthur saw the sheer amount of people queued up as he walked into the throne room, he looked confusingly at Leon who stood by his throne, the knight shrugged, he had no idea why so many people were lining up outside the castle. Gwen strode in with Elyan as her escort, she embraced her Husband as they met.

"Have you seen?" The Queen asked,

Arthur nodded "I don't understand why there are so many, we've never had this amount people before."

Leon leaned over to the pair "Sire, Milady, they are waiting for you..."

"Of course, send them in." Gwen spoke as she and her husband took their seats on the thrones.

The grand doors opened, Gwaine and Percival led a Man and women to the centre of the room.

"Mr and Mrs Talbot" a servant in the room read off a list.

Five hours later and the royal's were still in the throne room, they must have listened to at least 50 people.

As a trader left the room, and the King and Queen awaited the next person, Arthur spoke,

"How many more are there?" He was desperately bored, the issues being brought up were ones he could fix easily, and he had provided remedies for most of the problems. The majority were tedious: fixing roofs, property boarders, and disputes between shop owners. With the sheer amount of people it made everyone wonder why this stuff was only being brought up now.

"Just 3 more left" Leon announced.

"Why today? Why when i have to go out on patrol to look for Merlin does everyone have to come here with all their problems?"

"You are their King" Gwen said softly.

"I know I just... I just want to find him and I'm not going to be able to do that, sat here." Arthur put his hand to his head, massaging his forehead.
"Just send in the next one" The king resigned.