Merlin One-Shots

Merthur - Missing

"Gaius, have you seen Merlin?" Arthur came in asking.
"No Sire. I do not think he returned last night. I sent him for supplies and he had the rest of the night to himself after that."
"What could he have gotten up to?"

"Has anyone seen Merlin?" Arthur called out to the room full of his knights.
"I heard he was in the village last night." Leon said.
"Have you checked the tavern yet?" Gwaine laughed.
Arthur didn't want to check the tavern because it seems the he was there a lot. And Arthur didn't want to talk to his favorite servant about having a drinking problem.
"Sire, I have to go past the tavern later today if you would like me to check for Merlin?" Percival stated questioningly.
All Arthur could do was sigh and nod in disappointment. He hated thinking about where Merlin could be. His thoughts ranged from sleeping in his room, to drunk off mead in the tavern, dead in the mud at the side of a road, or the worst, being tortured by Morgana. 

It had been hours before Arthur finally sat down. He had searched the entire castle top to bottom and there was still no sign of Merlin anywhere. Arthur was ready to give up on the hope that he was still in Camelot. 
"Arthur? Percival said you were looking for me. Is something wrong?"
Arthur jumped up at the voice and went running to the door of the throne room. 

"You are never to do that again. I was so worried about you. Where were you?" Arthur was almost to the point of crying as he wrapped his arms around the slim, pale boy in front of him.
"Um, honestly? I was at the tavern. You gave me the day off, remember?"

Arthur couldn't help but laugh at the words coming out of Merlin's mouth as he nodded.
"Yeah. Just next time, leave me a note with where you are going. Anything could have happened. I was starting to fear that Morgana had gotten to you."
Merlin could only blush at the sentiment coming from the King. Instead of trying to say something he just wrapped his arms around the other man who had yet to let go of him. The two stood there for minutes until they both decided that the following conversation was best to be carried out behind closed doors.