Merthur/Merlin one shot

Amnesia

A/N In this Uther never banned magic and is tolerant of people using it. As long as they don't use it for evil. He even has his own trusted sorcerer on his side, to make sure that they don't end up punishing innocent people. Morgana and Mordred never ended up evil. But the teen just recently ended up as a knight. Mordred is fifteen and is still a druid. Merlin is 19 years old right now. And a warning that there will be mentioning of human trafficking. With this on ward with the story. :>
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Arthur looked fondly at his knights. They where right now going on a hunt. It was not his decision but his knights as they wanted to get him on different thoughts. As it had been now a few months since Merlin disappeared. He shouldn't disappear like he was just going into the woods near Camelot to get some herbs for Gaius. But he never came back and his thoughts by now were grim.

He was pretty sure that his manservant -by now friend and crush was not alive anymore.  But he still clung on it. In hope that the young adult would come back and being his normal quirky self. But then again something told him that when Merlin would come back then he would never be the same.

"Come on princess don't look so grim."

He gave Gwaine a glance but not saying anything. Not even this made him get on different thoughts. His knights were worried about him. Gwaine was trying to be positive. But from the bags under his eyes, he could tell that the older male was like him. Like him; having nightmares about finding or seeing a tortured Merlin.  Or worse a dead corpse of his crush.

The male had been the closest to Merlin other than himself. His thoughts didn't get any farther as they heard a snap from a branch.

All heads turned to their left just to see a person in front of them. The person had long raven hair, dashing blue piercing eyes. Eyes which were dull yet there was a spark. A spark that showed something akin of hope. They as well wore a dress, a red one. And that person was barefoot.

The dress was loosely, and they looked malnourished. There had as well been some bruises on their arms. He could see that this person went through hell. Even in this state, this person was stunning. There were just no words that could describe how stunning this person looked like. But there was something about this person that he felt familiar with.
They could be mistaken for a female, but he knew better than judge someone's gender. And he soon realized why this person was familiar when Gwaine said a name.

"M-Merlin?"

It was said breathless and cautious. Almost as he wanted to be sure that this person wasn't going to run. Which from the posture it looked like? Almost as they would take off when they would make some sudden movement. Head tilted and brows furrowed but soon a small nod was all they got as an answer.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

The male opened his mouth, but nothing came out. As if that person was mute. So, he saw him look down and looking nervous. Almost as if Merlin was waiting to get hit. Which when you look at the condition of the person in front of him wasn't too far fetched. So, he slowly walked up as no one else dared to move. When being in front of the young adult he paused. What do you do with a male which is that much in distress?

"You want me to help? Do you need me to carry you? Do you need a hug?"

His voice soft and with cautiousness said. Not wanting to startle the young adult more. The male looked like he needed all three things. Which was something that made him want to know what happened and get these bastards who have done this to his friend? But he pushed his anger away. The male right now doesn't need this.

Head snapped up and wide eyes stared at him. And he saw the surprise as well one questioned word- Why?

"You seemed like you...needed it. You seem like you went through hell and we are friends after all."