A Hunting Trip

Forever

Arthur was in another morning council meeting, about Morgana. The knights were talking, asking him questions. He vaguely heard them, answering the ones he heard. The only thing prominent in his mind was Merlin. It'd been a week since Gaius had said he might not wake up. They'd tried everything they could, but Merlin wouldn't even stir.
"Sire!" a servant ran into the council room, throwing the doors wide open.
"What?" Arthur practically jumps out of his seat.
"It's Merlin!"
"What's happened?"
"Just, you need to see for yourself!"
"Meeting dismissed! Now!" Everyone moved out of the King's way, knowing how much he cared for his manservant, even though he'd enever admit it. Arthur ran down the halls faster than he ever had, almost tripping over his long cape. He reached the door to Gaius' chambers, and stopped to knock. He waited a moment before the old physician greeted them.
"Oh... Arthur. I'm sorry, I don't know how or when or even why..." Yet Arthur didn't pay attention to his ramble, all he saw was that behind Gaius, the door to Merlin's bedroom was open. He looked closer at the bundle of sheets, and that's just what it was.
"He... left?"
"It seems so, there are no signs of anyone kidnapping or a break in. The only plausible solution is that he did this himself!"
"No..." Arthur sighed. If Merlin had taken off into the night, he knew that even with his best knights, they wouldn't find him. He'd lost his best friend forever, all because of a single thought. He knew that magic wasn't evil, Merlin never was. He'd saved him, that banquet was something he'd never forget. He couldn't bear to have been the reason to drive his manservant away.

A/N: This chapter was much longer, but I think it'll be better to split it, as it changes dramatically after this. They deserve separate chapters, and the next one will be MUCH longer, just over 500 words. I'm so grateful to the few people who have read my story, it means the world to me that someone read something I wrote! Please comment how you think the story is, do you like it, what can I do to make it better? These are things I want to know, please?
xo