After lunch, Arthur was expecting Merlin back for training. His stomach rumbled slightly as he tidied his desk free of papers, grumbling to himself about the mysterious incident with the sausages earlier. He felt like he was going mad.

"Merlin?" He called, sitting down on the bed and unlacing his boots ready to suit up for training.

No reply came, so Arthur shouted a little louder.

"MERLIN!"

He waited for a moment, then stood up and walked briskly to the door of his chambers. Opening it, he peeked outside. A passing guard glanced his way.

"Have you seen Merlin?" Arthur demanded, starting to get annoyed. He was still hungry from his insubstantial lunch and now his useless servant was nowhere to be seen when he needed him.

"No, my Lord," he guard shook his head.

Arthur growled in frustration and left his chambers, stalking down the corridor, presently bumping into Gwen.

"Gwen! I'm looking for Merlin, have you seen him?"

"No, I haven't, sorry Arthur," she said apologetically. "I've just seen the knights heading down to the training field though, aren't you going there too?"

"I am," Arthur said crossly. "But I can't find Merlin anywhere and I need him to help me get suited up."

"Well, if I find him I'll send him your way."

"Thank you."

Arthur pounded through the castle, getting more and more angry, asking everyone he met if they knew where Merlin was. He passed Gaius, hoping desperately that he would know where his ward might be, but Gaius said the last time he saw Merlin was before he had left to collect Arthur's lunch.

Finally Arthur asked a serving girl who told him that she had seen two guards dragging Merlin down to the dungeons, closely followed by Halig.

"WHAT?" Arthur yelled, making the poor girl jump. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

And before waiting for a reply he sprinted away.

Panic and terror rose in Arthur's throat as he ran. He knew what Halig was capable of. He had already remonstrated his father in his allowance of letting the bounty hunter free range of the castle to carry out his search, but to no avail. His father was as determined as Halig to find the Druid girl.

But Arthur was worried about Merlin and his big mouth. What had he done to make Halig suspect him? What had Halig done in return?

Feeling sicker and sicker the closer he reached the stairs, Arthur flew down them and ran slap bang into the guard on duty.

"I was informed-" Arthur panted, after disentangling himself, "that my manservant was brought down here earlier today. Is he here?"

"I'm sorry My Lord, I've only just come on duty."

"Well- what about Halig?" Arthur asked desperately. "Have you seen him?"

"I'm afraid not, Sire."

"I'd better check anyway..." Arthur muttered, more to himself than the guard.

He turned and set off through the dungeons, peering fearfully into each, begging to not find Merlin in any of the cells. Every time he saw that they were either empty or holding a prisoner that was not his beloved- erm, I mean- annoying- manservant, Arthur's heart grew more and more hopeful. Perhaps the maid had been mistaken; perhaps Merlin and Halig had never even crossed paths.

Finally, there was only the last row of cells to check. Arthur felt dread rise in him. He walked slowly down the row, his heart pummelling loudly in his chest. His hands were trembling, his palms slick with sweat.

Please let them be empty, please let them be empty, please let them be empty... he thought desperately.

When he reached to the very end cell, he came to a halt just outside it and peered into the darkness, terrified of what he might find.

And of course.

His stupid nuisance bothersome (beautiful hilarious precious) manservant was in there.