So, after rewatching the Lady in the Lake episode, I began to wonder what would have happened if Merlin and Freya actually would've run away together. This is just my humorous take on it, but I believe this would have actually happened. I'm very new at writing Merlin, this is only my second fic so I'm sorry if anyone is OOC or anything like that, it's just it's a very difficult series to write for.

Arthur almost burst down Gaius' door in his fury. The old physician himself was working with some herbs on a counter, but looked up as soon as he observed the prince that had rudely barged into his quarters without an explanation.

"Gaius, have you seen my dim wit servant Merlin recently?" he interrogated, firm upon finding an answer.

"Why, I thought he was you, completing his duties just as he does every morning," Gaius answered, starting to look a bit wary.

"Well, he didn't wake me up on time, didn't serve me breakfast, didn't clean my chambers, didn't sharpen my sword or polish my armor, and has been absent from his duties the entire morning! And still, my father and that bounty hunter are very insistent that I find the druid that escaped whom I have to hunt after this afternoon! And yet, everywhere I have searched, he's nowhere to be found! So tell me Gaius, where is Merlin? Really? I know you're covering for him," Arthur demanded. The old man swallowed once, his eyes darting about nervously.

"I believe—he's in the tavern," Gaius replied.

"I checked," the prince responded.

"The stables?" the physician guessed once more.

"Checked."

"Somewhere in the castle, perhaps assisting the Lady Morgana or Guin—"

Arthur cut across him, "Checked."

Gaius suggested, "The lower town?"

"Already searched there. I would've spotted that stupid red neckerchief he always wears around his neck," Arthur confirmed.

"Perhaps he thought he had to collect herbs for me in the woods."

"The entire morning?" Arthur questioned doubtfully.

"Well, herbs such as rosemary are easy to come by, whereas sage—" Gaius had started, but he was once more interrupted.

"Forgive me if I say this, but I do not believe that theory is true at all. But you have to promise me Gaius that you're telling me the truth, that you honestly do not know where Merlin is. Do you, Gaius?" Arthur asked one last time.

"I swear my word, Sire, that I am telling you the absolute and whole truth," Gaius stated.

"Do you have any idea where he might be?" he inquired.

"Other than the ones I suggested, I am afraid not," Gaius said back.

Arthur stormed out of Gaius' chambers; unsatisfied he had not found any answers. It was starting to worry him. Not that Merlin was the one causing this worry, no, of course not, only the fact that he seemed to have just… vanished from Camelot. And if Arthur knew anything about his servant, the stumbling, bumbling boy who was always an enigma unsolved, he would never leave Camelot or Arthur for that matter. There was a possibility that the boy had gone to Ealdor, his old village, but the chances were slim that he would suddenly leave and not tell anyone about it, including Gaius.

He had reached the courtyard, armor on and all with the assistance of a different servant, and climbed upon his horse, for he had been ordered to find the druid girl at all costs. The bounty hunter had claimed she was cursed. Arthur almost shuddered just thinking about what kind of magical danger she might pose to him and the knights, but it was better than they found her so she could no longer wreak the havoc of her curse on the rural lands of the innocent.

"Are you ready, Sire?" Leon queried, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Yes, of course," he answered.

"My lord, I don't mean to bother you, but where is Merlin? He usually accompanies us on these trips. I don't mean to intrude, I was only curious," Leon asked.

Arthur wasn't sure whether he should reveal that Merlin was officially considered missing as of this morning, so he just left it at, "Merlin is busy, um, with other duties he must attend to. After all, what help could he be out here?" Sir Leon nodded in agreement and the knights took off, riding off into the west. What he had said previously to Leon made him ponder a bit. What importance did Merlin have on all these quests? The man could barely fight, and yet Arthur always expected him to come along or even if the prince didn't really want his servant there, he was defiant, insisting that his place was with him.

Arthur muttered under his breath, "Damn it, Merlin. Now I have to search for two people."

I know that this was incredibly short, it's only two pages, but I decided to make a two-shot just because it's a bit easier and also it's almost two in the morning and I'm running out of the sugar boost I got from eating chocolate earlier today, so I'm getting tired. But I hope you guys enjoyed it and please review!