Chapter 16
Merlin came back to Arthur's chambers as night fell and once again he wasn't answered when he knocked on the door. Thinking Arthur would still be sleeping, he once again opened the door, willing to wake him up this time so they could have that talk they needed so much.
Merlin frowned when he noticed the empty chambers. He knew Arthur was still not allowed to leave the bed, let alone the room. Although he was recovering as well as could be expected, he was still far from healed, and Merlin doubted he would even have the strength to stand on his feet.
Where was he? Merlin noticed his bed clothes lying on the floor, so that meant he had taken the trouble to get dressed. Had the confinement been too much and he had decided to take a walk around the castle? He hoped he hadn't decided to make it outside: it was far too cold for someone on his condition.
Suddenly getting a bad feeling on his gut, Merlin turned to the closet on the wall and opened it. He knew Arthur's clothes like the back of his own hand, and he could clearly see that he had taken his blue hooded cloak, the one he used whenever he wanted to go unnoticed amongst the people of the village. But why would he feel the need to be invisible?
Merlin's heart sank as he noticed something else missing in the room: Arthur's sword, the one he always kept on top of his chest of drawers. And he needing the protection of a sword could only mean one thing: Arthur had left Camelot.
Feeling as if his lungs couldn't get enough air at the prospect of having lost him, Merlin sat on the bed, trying to convince himself that none of those things proved Arthur had left for good. In fact, he hadn't taken any of his personal stuff, nor his clothes. Not even his mother's ring, which was lying on his bedside table, and Merlin knew how terribly important it was for him. Maybe... maybe he just needed to disappear for a while; Arthur was tremendously responsible, and Merlin knew he wouldn't leave his people in the lurch. Would he?
He needed time? He would give him a day. Just one. And if he was not back by then he would go for him and bring him back. And he wouldn't hesitate to get Kilgharrah to help him, if it came to that.
**********
Morning came and still no sign of Arthur. Not that he had been expecting it so soon, Merlin lamented, but he had cherished hopes of discovering it had all been a misunderstanding and Arthur was sleeping like a baby in his bed, spread all over it and looking adorably childlike in his own unique way. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, and his bed was as empty as Merlin's heart felt at the moment.
The young sorcerer had already given up on the idea of having any work done that day –not that he would have a lot to do, with Arthur gone–, as he would definitely spend it visiting Arthur's chambers every little while, just in case he returned as silently as he had left.
On one of these visits, Merlin saw Leon walking along the corridor leading to Arthur's chambers ahead of him and he knew he was going for their daily reunion to discuss the Kingdom matters. Merlin didn't want anyone to know yet that Arthur had disappeared; he thought he owed him to cover for him for at least one day, as he knew what an scandal the disappearance of the King would be: those not that loyal to Arthur would take that as a chance to prove how untrustworthy he was. And Arthur's friends would worry and instantly organize a search party to bring him home. Either way, Merlin doubted Arthur would appreciate it. If he needed time, Merlin would be sure to give it to him. It was the least he could do for him.
"Leon!" Merlin called after him, hurrying to meet him in the hallway before he could knock on Arthur's door.
"Hey, Merlin. I was going to speak to Arthur, as we do every morning" Leon explained, not stopping his advances.
