A/N. I know some of you will have read this before and those of you that have followed this story I am sorry it hasn't being updated in so long. I am currently going through and editing chapters and then will be reposting them. Meaning all of the current chapters will be taken down. it may take me some time to get them back up as my exams start in two weeks time but after that I have three months off so hopefully it will be finished soon! Sorry to those that thought this was an actual update/new chapter I am aware of how frustrating that can be.
Chapter 1
"Yes Father" Arthur mumbled, eyes trained on the floor. Uther nodded "In the future I shouldn't have to ask Arthur I expect you to just listen to me and do as you are told, as any good son would" disappointment was clear in his voice. "Yes father" Arthur mumbled again.
"Now leave me". Arthur shuffled towards the door then into the hallway as it clicked shut behind him, his strides lengthened and his footfalls got louder as he ran through the house towards his bedroom. He hated the disappointment in his father's voice, why hadn't he tried harder to gain his approval? As Arthur reached his bedroom door he forcefully pushed it open before flinging himself onto the bed, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes as he did so.
Arthur's home life was not like the majority of people's, firstly he was both emotionally and physically abused by his father as well as not being able to make his own choices in life but having them made for him by said abusive, overbearing father. He had next to no friends inside and outside of school, one of his only friends was Leon who he had known since he was a young boy, you would think he had more friends considering he was part of his local football team however none of them seemed to want to associate with the weird, lonely Pendragon kid. He often sat alone at lunch, if Leon sat with his other friends. His sister Morgana had moved away when she found out that Igraine (Arthur's mother) wasn't her mother and she was a mistake come about by Uther's affair. She went to live with her other half sibling Morgause and barely spoke to Arthur; though sometimes she did come down and see him.
Arthur's P.O.V
I woke up to my alarm clock blaring at me, it was 6:30 in the morning - too early to be getting up for any sane person. As I pushed myself out of bed I realised that I was still in the clothes I had worn for sixth form yesterday and was not even in the covers. Then I remembered my lovely conversation with my dad the night before and the events that occurred after it. I stumbled over to the bathroom and dragged myself into the shower, as I did this I contemplated on how lonely my life would be today, the only person that ever talked to me in school was Leon and he had other friends to socialise with never mind little old Arthur. Stepping out of the shower I began to get changed before descending the stairs and heading toward the kitchen for breakfast. I realised that I had spent a lot longer in the shower than I had originally thought and would have no time to eat. So I grabbed my bag and legged it out of the front door, not even bothering to shout bye to dad; which was sure to have consequences later tonight.
Looking at my timetable as I walked through the sixth form gates, I realised I had a free and nearly kicked myself for being stupid, now I had had no breakfast for no reason and was likely to get a speech on being a disappointment or get a couple of hits to various parts of my body for not saying goodbye and not being a respectful son. Though to be fair I completely deserve this, I put him through so much pain because I'm not good enough: I embarrass him by saying stupid things infront of his business associates, I'm no good at school and my grades are just a disappointment and I let Morgana get away from him.
As I had nowhere to go for 50 minutes I headed towards the library in hope of some solitude; I may complain about having no-one to talk to for the majority of the time but for mornings like this it was something I definitely needed. I worked my way to the back of the library, my usual spot, in the hopes that no-one would be sat there and that I could at least try and practice some of the topics for the business test I had next. Luckily, when I got there, there was no-one to be seen, I sat down and pulled the needed books out of my bag. I opened the one on the top of the small pile and gave up hope as soon as looked at the words on the page, there was no way I was going to pass this test which meant more trouble for me at home and another disappointing result that my dad would have to suffer through. I had a good half an hour of silence before a boy I had never seen before popped up from behind one of the bookshelves. He noticed me and sent a friendly grin in my direction, "Hi my names Merlin" he announced with an outstretched hand, I didn't take it as what was the point? He was only another person for me to disappoint and push away.
Merlin's P.O.V
I stood there with my hand out in an obvious gesture to shake it, but the blonde before me ignored it. Fine I thought don't bother socialising with the new kid that has slightly scratty clothes you posh git. I stood there a few moments longer before turning on my heel and walking away; if he didn't want to talk I saw no point in staying. I headed towards the front of the library to check out my new book on modern art, as this is what I previously chose to study before having to swap sixth forms due to moving halfway across the country. As I left I bumped into a guy my age with shoulder length dark brown hair that had a natural wave to it, which sent me flying to the floor knocking the book out of my hands once I hit the faded carpet. A callused hand appeared in my vision and I realised it was the guy offering me a hand up, I grabbed it gratefully and locked eyes with him "Thanks I didn't see you, sorry for crashing into you like that" he just chuckled a grin covering his lips "No problem, the names Gwaine, and you are?" I light blush came across my cheeks as I realised I had yet to introduce myself "Oh it's Merlin" after hearing my name Gwaine gave another chuckle. "What?" I questioned rather annoyed that he found my name so funny, I mean yeah it is the name of an ancient sorcerer but that doesn't mean he should laugh about it. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that it's just there seems to be tons of us here with names from Arthurian Legend. Now we have a Merlin to add to the mix, got pretty much the whole set" At this I had to let out a laugh, how could one sixth form end up with so many children with Arthurian names? "Where are you off now then?" Gwaine questioned, I looked down at my timetable which was clutched in my left hand and read out "Art in Room 176"
"Ah no help there then sorry I am off in the opposite direction Chemistry awaits me, but you can meet us at lunch if you're not meeting anyone else?" I nodded in reply and we set off in different directions down the corridor. I met a couple more people in art and then some more in creative writing after that; however I met no more of Gwaine's friends which had Arthurian names. I was looking forward to lunch I had half expected to end up sitting on my own but thanks to my run in with Gwaine this morning that was no longer a problem.
As the bell for lunch rang I made my way towards the dining hall, of course being in sixth form you had the option to eat out and go into the city of Camelot however that was the more expensive choice and I couldn't afford that so I really hoped that Gwaine and his friends stayed in at lunch or at least some of them did. "Merlin over here" Gwaine was shouting from across the other side of the hall he was stood with a small group of people, who I assumed were the people he was talking about earlier. Some of them looked up at him in confusion whereas others just muttered under their breath. This made me think he most likely hadn't told them that I was coming to sit with them, which made me slightly nervous what if they didn't want me sitting with them? I slowly made my way over to them, nerves coiling in my gut. "Hey" Gwaine shouted as he slung one of his arms around my shoulders, my knees buckled slightly under the pressure, what I'm weak! "Guys, this is Merlin", at this the entire group smiled and some broke into small chuckles, presumably because I fit the Arthurian name thing they had going on. Gwaine went around the small group giving out introductions there was a girl with long curly brown hair named Gwen, a tall, broad guy called Percival, a skinny lad similar to myself named Mordred as well as Lancelot and Elyan. "Hi" I said as I raised my hand in a small, shy wave. They all grinned back some muttering their own greetings. They turned and headed towards the lunch hall, which I was grateful for I wouldn't need to spend extra money. "So" I started as we sat down "no King Arthur in this group?" Awkward glances were passed around the table and I wondered just what I had said wrong. Gwen began to explain "Well there is an Arthur in the school even has the same last name as the King, Pendragon. However he doesn't hang around with us". I wondered who this guy was did he not get along with them? As if I had spoken out loud my question was answered "There he is" supplied Gwaine while discreetly pointing at the blonde boy I had seen in the library earlier. He was talking to a curly haired boy of a similar height and build to Gwaine "Oh and that is Leon" Gwen added talking about the boy that Arthur was talking to. The fact that Arthur was talking to him and refused to talk to me earlier cemented my idea that he just wouldn't talk to me because of my clothes; so what if I was poorer than him, why should it matter? I decided I didn't like Arthur Pendragon right there and then.
Arthur's P.O.V
I looked over towards the table in the middle of the hall which was full with people, including the boy who had offered me his hand this morning. He appeared to be glaring at me, I couldn't understand what I had done to piss him off so much, pretty much everyone in my year, no in fact the whole sixth form knows I barely speak to anyone but Leon and the teachers. I turned to Leon and realised he had been speaking the whole time I had been thinking. Sheepishly I rubbed the back of my neck while saying "Sorry, I missed that". He looked over at me and gave me a small smile "Hey its fine it didn't matter that much anyway". I gave a small smile in return before sitting down to eat my lunch, vaguely aware of the pair of blue eyes that flicked over to where I was sitting every couple of seconds.