Be Careful

Use Caution...

A/N- due to the BOATLOAD of people requesting (very nicely considering I just killed Merlin) for a part 2, I've decided to write it. And while I was writing it THE PLOT BUNNIES ATTACKED! Depending on whether or not they attack again, this could either be a 3-shot (is there a such thing? Hehe) or become pretty long. We'll see.

On with the fic!

Arthur didn't know how, but when he'd woken up that morning to find his manservent missing, he'd known something was terribly wrong. Though it wasn't the first time Merlin'd mysteriously disappeared, something felt different this time. Arthur decided that Merlin's odd behavior combined with his recent disappearance was a sufficient cause to worry, especially since Arthur had said that he wanted to leave "at sunrise". Arthur decided he'd get the horses ready to go so they could leave as soon as he found his idiot servant.

Finding his trail wasn't hard. Merlin must have broken about a dozen branches on his way to wherever he was. Arthur picked his way along until he came to a small clearing with a tall tree in the center. He looked up and saw with a blink of surprise, Merlin standing on a branch. He was standing very high, high enough to make any normal man dizzy; and Arthur didn't like the way Merlin was cocking his head like that.

"Merlin!" He shouted, but didn't get a response.

After calling a few more times with no response Arthur began to climb the tree. Arthur knew he had to be very careful, because one wrong move and Merlin might do something...drastic. Arthur saw Merlin's shoulders tense once he'd finally reached his location, but he didn't turn around.

"Merlin?" Arthur fought to keep his voice calm. "Merlin why don't you come to me?" Just get him down, just get him down, just get him down, the mantra beat a staccato in his mind.

"In a minute." He replied. Get him down.

Arthur paused for a moment and wondered how to proceed. He didn't want to push him too far, but what if not acting led to his friend's death? Just get him down. Get him down and everything will be alright.

Merlin turned around and said, "You know I've been happy, right? Being your servant?"

No, no, no, no. This was not going the way he wanted. He gripped the trunk of the tree and resisted the urge to grab Merlin. Doing that could only make things worse. Just get him down, just get him down.

"Yes. Why don't you come down and we can talk about it?" Just get off this damn tree.

"'I'm happy to be your manservant until the day I die.'"

Arthur's calm facade shattered. Get him down now, his mind told him. "Mer-" he started, but was stopped when Merlin turned around and jumped before he could do anything.

A/N- okay, okay, I know this is a short dinky little chapter, but I wanted to leave it here. I'm going to be writing more so don't worry ;). Just...don't forget those tissues...MUAHAHAHA!

But seriously though, I promise you'll be happy with the ending.