This a collection of drabblessurrounding various prompts from The Heart of Camelot. (Merlin fans, I'd advise you to check that site out. It's amazing.)

The Challenge: Write 100-300 words as a response to this prompt, making sure you don't go above 400 at the absolute maximum.
You may use whatever genre, characters, pairings, ratings you like, but you MUST include the word below in your drabble.

Word: Wistful
Definition: pensive, especially in a melancholy way; longing; yearning

You may also use: wistfully, wistfulness

Category: Gen (Canon)
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Arthur
Rating/Warnings: K+

Wistful

Arthur didn't understand.

It was a typical occurrence that his manservant was late in the morning. If he didn't come in at the correct time, then so be it. Lately, the King had stopped reprehending him for it since the few extra minutes nestled under his red and gold blankets in relaxation was doing him a world of good now a days. If asked, Arthur would count it a blessing to rest – especially after the latest defeat of Morgana was followed by his marriage and Gwen's coronation.

Nonetheless, there were some days that his servant didn't show at all, and those were typical as well save for this one time. He had accepted Merlin's regular trips to the tavern, but when he had proceeded to search the Rising Sun for any trace of the younger man, he was forced to accept that something was abnormal about the servant's disappearance.

He eventually found his friend perched on the battlements of the castle, watching the sunrise with a wistful expression, his blue eyes seeming to peer into the very soul of whoever fell into his gaze. If he looked hard enough, Arthur could see the faint glean of tears and the dried tracks that the salt-water droplets had traveled not long ago. The King couldn't understand it. It was bizarre.

Merlin didn't cry.

Eventually, he joined his friend, staring off into the distance, wondering how to break the silence and question the man, but the servant interrupted his reverie. "What would you do," Merlin asked softly, his voice a mere whisper, "If I ever betrayed you?"

It took a long while for Arthur to reply, unsure of the correct way to handle it and yet still portray the truth. He turned to face his friend and smiled hesitantly. "I don't know, but I know I'll never have to worry about it."

It wasn't the right answer, Arthur realized, as Merlin turned away, another glaze of tears overcoming him, but he would try. Whatever was troubling his friend, Arthur knew he would never have to make a decision like that since Merlin – stupidly loyal Merlin - would never betray him.

If only he knew how wrong he was.