Camelot Citadel, Tuesday Morning
"Merlin!"
There hadn't been a sign of the boy on Monday. Gaius hadn't known where he was, Morgana's maidservant - the one Merlin'd been sweet on years ago, Guinevere - didn't have a clue, and his father had just said something about keeping a better eye on one's servant, as if it were even remotely possible to keep the bloody idiot on a leash.
By Tuesday morning, Arthur was sincerely reconsidering that option. (It was better than being visibly worried, at least)
"Still no sign of him, sire," Gaius said, looking up to meet his eyes. "Perhaps he's ventured too far out into the forest, or gotten some fool idea into his head. You know Merlin-- if his head wasn't attached, it would drift off into the ether."
Arthur made an absolutely frustrated noise, and took a deep breath to remind himself that the physician couldn't help it. (Also, he'd rather not wind up 'accidentally' poked in the wound next time he got hurt) "Right," he said, keeping it short. "Inform me if his useless hide does turn up. My armor needs polishing, my saddle's dirty, my boots need shining--"
He could have gone on (he was not worried, goddammit-- and he was not overcompensating for it).
"Sire," Gaius said, inclining his head. "I have a potion to finish."
"Of course."
He began to turn around.
"And sire?"
He paused.
"Merlin has been dealing with this for far longer without getting caught," Gaius said, idly leaning over his potion. "There is no need to get carried away." A pause. "But I do hope you will look after it, just as well."
Arthur took a deep breath. Nodded.
Then yanked the door shut behind him, and told a passing maidservant to get him some breakfast, now, he was starving. He'd continue his search. Damn the big-eared fool.
[[ for a wizard ]]
There hadn't been a sign of the boy on Monday. Gaius hadn't known where he was, Morgana's maidservant - the one Merlin'd been sweet on years ago, Guinevere - didn't have a clue, and his father had just said something about keeping a better eye on one's servant, as if it were even remotely possible to keep the bloody idiot on a leash.
By Tuesday morning, Arthur was sincerely reconsidering that option. (It was better than being visibly worried, at least)
"Still no sign of him, sire," Gaius said, looking up to meet his eyes. "Perhaps he's ventured too far out into the forest, or gotten some fool idea into his head. You know Merlin-- if his head wasn't attached, it would drift off into the ether."
Arthur made an absolutely frustrated noise, and took a deep breath to remind himself that the physician couldn't help it. (Also, he'd rather not wind up 'accidentally' poked in the wound next time he got hurt) "Right," he said, keeping it short. "Inform me if his useless hide does turn up. My armor needs polishing, my saddle's dirty, my boots need shining--"
He could have gone on (he was not worried, goddammit-- and he was not overcompensating for it).
"Sire," Gaius said, inclining his head. "I have a potion to finish."
"Of course."
He began to turn around.
"And sire?"
He paused.
"Merlin has been dealing with this for far longer without getting caught," Gaius said, idly leaning over his potion. "There is no need to get carried away." A pause. "But I do hope you will look after it, just as well."
Arthur took a deep breath. Nodded.
Then yanked the door shut behind him, and told a passing maidservant to get him some breakfast, now, he was starving. He'd continue his search. Damn the big-eared fool.
[[ for a wizard ]]