When Merlin Went Missing [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER ONE

It wasn't completely unusual for Merlin to disappear every so often, but he'd always come back with a foolish grin and a feeble excuse for where he'd been. It wasn't long before everything would go back to normal. Most of the time.

But this time, Merlin hadn't returned. It had been almost two whole weeks since anyone had seen or heard of the clumsy servant and the last few searches into the surrounding woodland had been unsuccessful. Merlin had vanished without a trace, it seemed, and Arthur was starting to get very concerned.

He gathered a small group of knights (originally consisting of only Leon, Elyan and Percival) for yet another search party that Gwaine had invited to himself last moment. They rode on horseback for hours looking for any sign of Merlin in silence, only pausing to refill their water canteens or to catch some easy game. 

No one felt like talking, not without Merlin there to crack a joke about Arthur's belt or  complain about how much his butt hurt from riding his horse for hours straight. The silence was suffocating.

Gwaine had been sober since the fourth day Merlin had been gone, so there was also no chance of him drunkenly falling off his stallion for a third time that month. The knights didn't make as many jokes amongst each other, not without their friend by their sides to laugh or make fun of them. 

However, Arthur was the one who had visibly changed the most. He got into arguments over the smallest things with anyone, far more irritable than usual. and his room was beginning to resemble a swamp.

They set up camp in a small clearing, still without a word being shared, and it wasn't long before the sun was dipping below the tree line. The knight sat around the small campfire and occasionally someone would poke it with a long fallen tree branch or toss another small log on top to keep the flame going

The rest of the night was peaceful, if you ignored the group of bandits watching the knights with an eager look in their eye.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

When the morning sun rudely awoke Arthur by shining through his eyelids, he immediately sensed something was off. He stood up and wandered around the small camp site. Normally when his knights wandered off they'd wake him or one would stay to keep watch. That wasn't the case. He was alone and he could feel someone watching him from the bushes.

That was one of his last thoughts before someone shoved a bag over him, kicked the back of his legs and rammed the hilt of a dagger into the back of his head.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

When Arthur was shaken awake by Leon and when his eyes opened he saw the rest of the knights standing or kneeling around him. They were relieved that the blow to the head, one similar to what the others had gotten themselves, hadn't killed him. None of them would want to explain how exactly their king died upon returning to Camelot. That is, if they ever managed to return.

"What on earth- Where am I?" Arthur sat up and hissed in pain when the pounding in his head worsened from the movement.

"Thank the gods you're awake," Gwaine let out a breath of relief and leaned against the stone walls of the cave "We have no idea where we are, no one's come through the door to tell us funnily enough." He gestured to the thick metal door. It seemed out of place in the dark cave, much like the single torch hanging on the wall to light up the dismal prison.

"Do you know who did all this?" Arthur asked, accepting a half full canteen of water from Leon.

"My first guess was Morgana but if that were true we'd all be dead already." Elyan pondered.

"Cheerful." Gwaine muttered and returned to throwing small stones at the door, resulting in a small clang each time.

"Perhaps bandits?" Elyan continued, ignoring Gwaine's ever so helpful comment.

"They would of simply looted our stuff, stab us a few times in our sleep then leave them for dead," Arthur shook his head and took another sip of his drink "So it has to be someone else."

Their conversation was cut short by the door being unlocked and swung open. Three men walked in. The one in lead wore oversized clothes, dark ragged clothes that had been patched up from attacks or being caught on thorn bushes. His hair was black as coal, his skin was rough and cut while his eyes stood out. Not many people had green eyes so bright.

The two behind him looked almost identical, the same unshaven faces, unruly hair cut and the same dark red clothes that looked to be stained with blood. Arthur wondered who's blood that was but it wasn't like he'd ever get an answer if he asked.

"Look lads, it seems our esteemed guests are awake?" The green eyed man grinned mischievously "How are you this fine morning m'lord?" He mockingly bowed, making his two lackeys chuckle.

"Who are you people and what do you want from us?" Gwaine asked, the most confident of the knights, and dropped the stone in his hand back onto the filthy ground.

"A few things. We've heard some of the Camelot knights have been looking for someone around these parts with none other than the pratty king at their lead," The man knelt down a meter away from Arthur, grinning like a mad man "A lot of people want you dead, and for the right price they'll be more than happy to shove a blade through your skull."

He frowned and stood up once more "But we're more interested in who you're looking for. The rumors tell me you know Merlin."

"How do you know Merlin?" Arthur frowned, he had no idea what his idiotic servant had done to earn himself a reputation.

"Let's just say I'm not looking for him just to shake his hand," The mans face darkened and the temperature in the cave seemed to drop "I'd rather be cutting it to pieces along with the rest of his body."

That was when the torch blew out and a large crash came from another part of the cave, startling everyone. The two henchmen draw their dull and chipped swords, preparing to fight. One looked unnerved from the sound, it was like he had never fought before.

That noise hadn't come from their boss, begging the question, who else was there and who's side were they on?

A/N

[FIRST EDIT 11/06/2019]

I got bored and altered a few of the sentences, fixing one typo I overlooked.

[SECOND EDIT 14/12/2019]

Man, I missed some stuff that first time. Like, a lot of stuff.

[PUBLISHED 10/04/2019]

Welcome to chapter one of this book. There will be updates twice a week for the next two weeks (that includes this one) as it had been waiting in my unpublished for too long. 

It will not distract me from my work as it will take minimal editing and is already completed. The only bits left are these A/N's.

There is another completed work that will be published in maybe a few weeks, a Miraculous Ladybug vampire AU, and if you're interested keep an eye out.

There is a small amount of hinted Merthur, there is no confession of love, fluffy moments or kisses. This isn't homophobia, you're reading a story published by a bisexual with an account shared with another bisexual, I didn't see it as an important part of the plot.

I hope you enjoy this short story and I'd love to hear your constructive feedback on my writing/plot/portrayal of the characters.

-Beccy