Ok, so this is not related to anything but the TV series and takes place after Uther's death. To help Arthur go through it, the knights, Arthur and Merlin go hunting. ( much like the last AU but this isn't a part two of that sorry) While hunting, they run into trouble. Instead if my usual Merlin being kidnapped, Arthur and the knights except for Elyan ( you will fond out why him later) ( also the knights are the round table knights minus Mordred because I can't have his magical evil butt saving them earlier sorry) leaving Merlin and Elyan to travel back to camelot with bruises and Merlin with a minor concussion and a broken leg ( sorry but, for some sick reason I enjoy fanfics where Merlin is hurt- I'M SORRY I CAN'T HELP IT I'M SORRY MY LITTLE CINNAMON ROLL ) OH AND DON'T HATE ME FOR THE PAIRS, DON'T WORRY IT ISN'T FOR DEFINITE THEY'LL STAY
Ok, leggo CAN'T TOUCH ME BYE MERLINIANS

Arthur and almost all his knights were running for their life. They had beeb captured by sorcerers and put in an arena ( imagine the hungar games except it's whole teams that work together, not just one person and there are more than two people per team) where they had to kill to survive. They only ever killed in self defense though. They had no idea how long they were gone, probably only a few months, maybe a year, but defiantly no more than two years. They tried to keep track, the sometimes lost two,three days, a week at most and now, they had finally escaped the Arena. The Arena had walls surrounding it but, there was a gate every once in a while and they managed to open it.

They had no idea if Elyan snd Merlin were safe, if Gwen was alright, if Camelot was even still standing! They needed to get home. While running they ran into a man, maybe in his late forties, with a long-ish dark black beard that was starting to whiten, he had messy black hair that matches his beard. Somehow, it looked strangely familiar but they couldn't place it. He was wearing black trousers, a red tunic that had a brown leather vest. He had worn out black boots and he was carrying a brown leather bag too.

" Sir, excuse us, but we are in need of a little help. We were taken by some sorcerers and well, we aren't sure exactly for how long, if you could please take us to Camelot, there will be no end to our gratefulness and I can assure you there will be rewards" Arthur halfway pleaded with the stranger

" Camelot Eh? Not many vi't t'ere since that king ijeet di'appeared. You say you were taken? Ha'en to meet the king t'ere?" The man asked in a thick irish accent, sounding half joking half hopeful ( NO OFFENSE IRISH PEOPLE)
" I happen to be the king, I am king Arthur of Camelot and these are my knights Leon,Percival, Gwaine,And Lancelot" Arthur introduced them, rising his head proudly before getting an unexpected laughter
" Hah! A' if I'd believe that! Wha' kin' of sick joke do ya t'ink you're playing eh? The king and hi' knights were taken a li'le o'er thirty year' ago! I can take you to Camelot, bu' no talk li'e that!" The man laughed and gestured them to follow
" Hang on! I can prove I'm king Arthur, ask me any question at all!" Arthur yelled, now offended
" Ok, wha' wa' t'e name of hi' Manservant?" The man asked, slowly dropping his accent a little, but not enough the others noticed
" Merlin" they all answered, their chests tightening with remorse as they thought of their friend
" Hmm. Do'nt prove anyt'ing. Wha' wa' a popular name they called Mer'in" The asked
"Idiot" Arthur said immediately
" Hmm, Then again, t'at wa' an ea'y que'tion, li'le basterd ha' alway' been a clumsy ijeet eh?" The man laughed
" Don't. talk.about.Merlin.Like.that" Gwaine said through gritted teeth after slamming the man against the tree
" Wha' you care fer? Li'le rat was alway' ha' no re'pect fer the crown or hi' knights! A'k me, t'ing was righ' to leave" the man said back
"Leave? What do you mean?" Percival asked, still not forgiving the man for what he said about Merlin but, was curious
" T'e bugger le't a'ter 'e wa' all heal' d, let tha' knight tell e'eryone wha' happen" the man laughed " he wa' weak, good riddance"
"DONT TALK ABOUT MERLIN LIKE THAT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW BRAVE HE ACTUALLY WAS! HE WOULD'VE GLADLY DIED FOR ANY OF US AND HE ALMOST DID IN THE PAST!!! HE DOESN'T DESERVE COWARDS LIKE YOU INSULTING HIM LIKE THAT!" Lancelot shouted at the man
" Eh! You lot nee' ter calm down!" The man shouted back, getting out of Gwaine's grasp
" At lea't now, I know yer fer real" the man shrugged
" Wait, what?" Leon asked
" Ah, I knew if I insulted someone you cared about who wasn't the most popular around people or wasn't noble you would defend them" the man explained, dropping his accent entirely
" Wait, what? How would you know we would defend him? And what happened to your accent" Arthur asked
" I haven't changed that much! It's age not a mask!" The man half shouted in disbelief
" Do we know you?" Percival asked
"Yes! How have you not figured it out yet!" The man shouted
" Who are you?" Arthur asked
" Who do you think dollophead!" The man shouted
That was when everything clicked. Merlin. Standing in front if them was Merlin, the scrawny, innocent, idiotic, lovable little kid! Merlin!
" Merlin? It's really you?" arthur asked
" Yes prat! Let's get back to Camelot, I'm sure Gwen will love to talk to you lot, so will Elyan and Gaius and everyone else I'm sure but, Gwen will scare you the most" Merlin said, smiling cheekily At his long lost best friends, wondering how they'll react to the new laws....