*Merlin* Bonds of Fate

The Search Begins

Arthur stared blankly at the empty clearing where Merlin had been, his mind reeling from the suddenness of it all. One moment, his most loyal companion had been at his side, and in the next, Merlin had been taken—vanished without a trace. It didn't make sense. None of it did. The man, the magic, the name—Emrys.

That name. It echoed in Arthur's mind, as if it held more weight than he could fully grasp. His hands tightened into fists at his sides. There had always been something different about Merlin, something that set him apart from everyone else. But Emrys? Why had the sorcerer called him that?

Arthur couldn't afford to stand still any longer. Merlin was in danger, and there wasn't a second to lose.

"Gwaine!" Arthur barked, his voice filled with urgency. "Get the knights. We leave for Camelot at once."

Gwaine, still reeling from the battle, gave Arthur a sharp look, the usual humor absent from his eyes. "Arthur... Merlin—"

"I know," Arthur interrupted, his voice strained. "But we can't stay here. We'll regroup in Camelot and figure out how to find him. We'll get him back."

Arthur's determination was met with nods of agreement, though the worry was clear in Gwaine's eyes. Without another word, he turned to gather the others, and they set off on their return journey.

The ride back to Camelot was filled with a thick, tense silence. Arthur's mind was racing, piecing together everything he knew about the sorcerer, about the battle—and about Merlin. He had always known Merlin was unusual, brave beyond measure, but the name Emrys had stuck with him. It was as though it held some secret Arthur had never been privy to, some deeper connection to the magic he despised.

And yet, Merlin had always been there for him. He had never faltered in his loyalty, never hesitated to put himself in harm's way for Arthur's sake. He had been a constant in Arthur's life, not just as a servant, but as a friend. That bond was something Arthur couldn't deny, no matter what suspicions crept into his mind.

He remembered how Merlin had fought in the battle, standing in front of him, his determination unwavering. There had been moments when Merlin seemed to be doing more than just fighting—moments that defied explanation. Arthur had brushed it off at the time, too caught up in the heat of the battle. But now, as he replayed those scenes in his mind, he couldn't shake the nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, Merlin had been hiding something.

Arthur cursed under his breath. If Merlin had magic, if he had been keeping it from him all this time... what did that mean for their friendship?

No. He couldn't afford to think like that. Not now. Not when Merlin was in danger.

When they arrived in Camelot, Arthur wasted no time. He dismounted swiftly and marched straight toward Gaius's chambers, his knights close behind. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fear and anger boiling inside him. Merlin had been taken, and the answers seemed to be slipping further from his grasp.

Gaius was already waiting, as if sensing something terrible had happened. The old physician's face was grim, his eyes searching Arthur's for any sign of hope.

"Where's Merlin?" Gaius asked, his voice heavy with concern.

Arthur's expression darkened. "He's gone. A sorcerer took him."

Gaius visibly paled at the news. "A sorcerer? But how—what happened?"

Arthur paced the room, the weight of his failure pressing down on him. "He appeared out of nowhere. He called Merlin... Emrys. And then they both vanished. I tried to stop him, but..." His voice faltered for a moment, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "He used magic. There was nothing I could do."

Gaius's face grew even more grave at the mention of Emrys, and Arthur caught the flicker of recognition in the old man's eyes.

"Do you know what that name means?" Arthur demanded, stepping closer. "You've heard it before. Tell me."

Gaius hesitated, his gaze shifting as if weighing his words carefully. "Arthur, the name Emrys... it is tied to an ancient prophecy. But now is not the time to discuss this. Merlin's life is in danger, and we must focus on finding him."

Arthur's frustration flared, but he knew Gaius was right. They couldn't waste time chasing answers when Merlin needed them. Still, the nagging suspicion about Merlin's magic remained, clawing at the back of his mind. Could Merlin really be Emrys? Was there a part of Merlin that Arthur had never truly known?

But he couldn't dwell on it now. Not when Merlin's life hung in the balance.

"We leave at dawn," Arthur said, his voice hard with resolve. "We'll search every inch of the kingdom if we have to. I won't rest until we find him."

The next morning, the sun barely peeked over the horizon as Arthur and his knights gathered in the courtyard. The tension in the air was palpable, every man ready for what lay ahead. But despite their readiness, Arthur felt a heavy weight in his chest. The fear of losing Merlin, of not finding him in time, gnawed at him.

As they mounted their horses, Arthur's thoughts returned to the moments before Merlin had been taken—the battle, the flashes of something inexplicable surrounding Merlin. Arthur had always trusted Merlin without question, but now, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his friend than he had ever known.

But no matter what secrets Merlin had kept, Arthur was determined to find him. Merlin was more than just a servant; he was family. And Arthur would not let anyone—sorcerer or otherwise—take him away.

The forest loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, as Arthur led his knights deeper into the unknown. The shadows of the trees seemed to close in around them, but Arthur's resolve remained unshaken. He didn't know what they would find, or what dangers awaited them, but he knew one thing for certain.

He would not let Merlin slip away. He would bring him home.