Merlin didn't want much in life, just for his mother and his older brother Gwaine to be safe and happy. They didn't have much money and were constantly scrapping by but Merlin didn't mind, he was happy providing they were happy and safe. It was hard though and sometimes Merlin wished he could be different.

Today was one such day, he felt restless, not at peace with himself. Gwaine had left before him, having got a small job working in the fields. The pay wasn't much but it was better than nothing. His mother Hunith was still sleeping, Merlin crept out not wanting to wake her. The woman worked harder than anyone else he knew to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Merlin hated the fact that people looked down their nose at them, calling him a street rat. It wasn't their fault their father had disappeared without a moment's notice.

After he had left the sleeping Hunith, Merlin made his way to a secret hiding place he had discovered recently. Somewhere where there were no prying eyes, somewhere where he could let of some steam. Somewhere where he could practice his magic.

Magic was illegal not just in Ealdor but across the whole land of Arabia. The Sultan Uther had declared magic illegal for over twenty years, after the death of his Queen. Rumors were abound that the Prince Arthur was trapped in the palace of Camelot, unable to leave for fear of death. The Sultan Uther had launched a purge on all magicians and fearful of an attack on his only son had apparently stopped him from leaving. Merlin knew enough not to openly display his magic but it itched within him wanting to be set free. Today in particular it was drawing him towards his hiding place, a lake on the way to Camelot but one set back from the road. He set out, his magic humming underneath him.

Once Merlin had arrived at the lake, checking on the way that he wasn't be followed, he let out a deep sigh of relief. His magic was telling him he needed to let off some steam, whispering a spell he had learnt years ago, he conjured a small dragon out of fire, smiling as the now golden dragon was dancing in from of him. He stretched out his hands and the dragon disappeared in a gust of wind, wind now caressing the young wizards cheeks. Merlin could feel his magic settling after being let out. He laid down in the grass, idly creating butterflies from his hand and setting them free, he allowed himself to close his eyes for a second.

Gwaine was having a good day, the work was hard for most people , but for him and his strength he knew ploughing fields was easier for him than most. He had managed to get lunch included and speak to a pretty farm girl. All in all a good day, he had enough coin to visit the tavern, but not before he gave his mother money for food first. He might like drinking as much as the next man but he had a responsibility to look after his mother and little brother. Well, he chuckled, Merlin was hardly little being the same height as him, but he was skinny and Gwaine worried. He was only one of two people to know about Merlin's secret, well unless you counted Merlin's monkey Will, but the monkey didn't count, not really despite Merlin's doting on him. Gwaine had seen enough of the world to know that if Merlin's magic was ever discovered it would be a disaster and he had vowed to protect his brother will all of his might.

With thoughts of Merlin in his head, Gwaine set off back for him, he had enough time he reckoned for dinner with his family before meeting his friends Percival and Lancelot. All three of them had grown up together, both Percival and Lancelot were orphans so of course Hunith had practically adopted them and they of course had adopted Merlin as their little brother too. Gwaine opened the door unsurprised to find Lancelot and Percival sitting at a table while Hunith was cooking, it was as if they didn't have their own homes to go to.

"Mum, I'm home."

"Good, here can you take this?" Hunith giving him a big bowl of soup. "It's for the table."

Hunith then stopped, "Where's Merlin?"

"He's not with me, I thought he'd be here?" Gwaine said, slightly surprised.

"I haven't seen him all day, I thought he had got up with you. I had hoped you had managed to get him work."

Gwaine felt bad, he did want to get Merlin work but Merlin, well Merlin wasn't built the same way. Gwaine instead had taught Merlin how to steal. Hunith would have a fit if she knew and Gwaine had convinced Merlin it wasn't stealing if it was from rich people. Merlin was fast, agile and had the gift of magic, he could pause time if need be, not that Gwaine wanted him to do that a lot. Last time Merlin had been out for the count for days with a fever.

"I haven't mother, it's hard work. There's just enough for me."

Hunith nodded, she knew Gwaine was being protective. "Well I'm worried now."

Lancelot and Percival jumped up from the bench, "We will go look for him, come on Gwaine." Leaving a smiling if slightly worried Hunith behind. Merlin hadn't disappeared for this length of time for a long while. But with Gwaine and her two adopted sons on the case he'd be brought back quickly. There was no way the three of them wouldn't rest until they brought him back safe. The love they had for Merlin was something that made her heart warm.

Merlin woke to the sound of rustling, he jumped up, looking around but couldn't see anything. His magic though was telling him something was up. Suddenly an arrow came flying past him and he jumped out the way as he heard the sounds of an animal in pain. "Who's there?" he shouted.

"State your business" came the response.

"State my business? I'm not the one attacking people with arrows."

"I wasn't attacking you, I was hunting a deer . Idiot." Came a deep voice, followed by what Merlin thought was an attractive if not arrogant man."

"Well I don't appreciate arrows being fired. And now you've killed the deer so you've had your fun my friend."

The blonde stranger looked at him. "Do I know you?"

"No, you don't." Merlin said, arms now folded defensively.

"Yet you called me friend."

"My mistake, I couldn't be a friend with an arse like you. "

"I couldn't be friends with a buffoon like you. I bet you don't have many friends."

Merlin looked the blonde prat up and down. "Well I bet I have more than you. With that arrogance and your odd nose, it'd be a wonder if anyone was friends with you at all."

Arthur stilled, this pasty boy needed a lesson, but he was meant to be in disguise. If word got out he had been fighting with a peasant after escaping from the Castle his father would be furious. But those words stung. Stung deep.

Merlin smirked, "I was right. You have no friends I bet. No one could be friends with a prat like you."

"I, I, I" The blond prat was now stuttering and suddenly Merlin felt a bit bad and a bit relieved he hadn't turned him into a toad. Though it had been tempting, what with him murdering innocent animals. See how he liked it he thought.

Merlin put an arm out, "I'm sorry if you are. Shake hands?" He was relieved that after a minute the blond returned the hand offered and shook his hand firmly. Merlin smiled.

"So why are you out here on your own hunting?"

"Why are you out here on your own sleeping?"

Merlin rolled his eyes, "Are you always this annoying?"

"Could ask the same of you." The blonde said, smirking.

"So I'm Merlin, and you are."

"I'm er, Leon." Arthur's mind raced and gave him the first name in his head, that of his tiger. Pathetic really being a Prince and having no friends. He couldn't even count Morgana as a friend; she was his half-sister after all and a harpy to boot. He had no friends, no one to talk to or confide in. Only allowed to practice with his knights on a small training field within the castle walls. When he was younger he had been allowed into the lower town but with Uther becoming more and more fearful of magic, even that small treat had been withdrawn.

"So Leon, nice to meet you Merlin is what you should say next."

"Well, I don't know if it is. Like I said I don't know you."

"Shame, if you did know me you'd probably like me."

Arthur laughed, "Pretty sure of yourself aren't you?" He was amused that someone was talking to him like a normal adult for once and not a baby covered up in cotton wool.

"Pretty sure I'm likable. I do have friends who like me, indeed a whole village."

"Oh where you from?" Arthur asked, wanting to know more about this mysterious boy, he reckoned he must be roughly the same age as him.

"Ealdor, do you know it? It's about two hours from Camelot?"

"No, never heard of it." Arthur lied.

"So, you're from?"

"Oh, er Camelot. "

Merlin picked up on the other man's nerves. "Hey you don't have to tell me, you seem a bit nervous for someone so confident just minutes before."

Arthur was shocked, the man was getting under his skin already, how had he worked that out already?

"Well, I er, I am not nervous, was just not expecting to meet anyone today and certainly not someone like you."

Merlin smiled, "Like what you see?" Before blushing at the choice of words.

"You seem alright Merlin, thought clearly someone lazy considering you were sleeping."

"I'm not lazy! I was just resting my eyes."

"More like daydreaming." Arthur said smiling.

A comfortable silence fell as both men relaxed. Merlin got out his water pouch and some bread from his bag. "Did you want anything?"

"I'm not used to such kindness, I brought my own water but thank you."

"Sure. So what are you going to do with the deer?"

"Take it back."

Merlin's eyes widened, "How? There's only you. You need two people. I could, I could help?"

Damn Arthur thought how would he creep back with a random boy in tow and a dead deer? He could hardly store the deer in his chambers. "Erm on second thoughts, I, I don't need the deer and Camelot is a bit further from Ealdor. Why don't we take the deer back to yours? Think of it as an apology for you know, shooting arrows at you."

"That's very generous. Are you sure? My mother will be so pleased. We don't often get to eat deer."

Arthur knew he had made the right decision, even if he was going to be out for longer than he wanted to, there was something about Merlin that made him want to give him a deer. In fact he would hunt several of them if he could. "Of course, now lead on Merlin."

The journey towards Ealdor was one of the most exhilarating of Arthur's life and one of the most stressful. Merlin was very chatty and very eager to know more about "Leon's" life. Arthur had had to think on his feet and explain that he was training to become a Knight hence why he had been hunting alone as he needed practice. Merlin had bought that story and then had promptly asked him all about Camelot and whether the rumors were true that the Prince was trapped inside the castle. Arthur had gone quiet at that, not knowing how widespread the rumors where and sad, sad that he couldn't be truthful to this man who clearly wanted to become his friend. Even if he had nearly shot him with an arrow, a fact Merlin had used twice in an argument that was still going on. Well until it was interrupted and everything went to hell.

"Merlin? MERLIN?" A voice shouted.

"Gwaine? Is that you?"

"Yes! Merlin, where are you?"

"Over here."

Merlin saw the worry on Arthur's face. "Don't worry it's my brother Gwaine, he's probably been sent to look for me. It's fine, Leon. He's just a bit overprotective of me being the eldest."

"And with good reason!" Gwaine said as he appeared in front of them. Arthur took a moment to really look at him. He was good looking, tall, broad. Arthur thought he was built like a Knight, then two more men came into view.

"Merlin!"

"Perce, Lance, what are you doing here?"

"Well we couldn't let Gwaine come on his own, besides."

Merlin smiled, "Oh you were all worried about me? Well not to worry. I'm fine. Leon here almost killed me with an arrow but apart from that all good."

"WHAT?" Came the shout in unison as Gwaine withdrew his sword.

"GWAINE! Put that down. It was an accident. Honestly!" Merlin said exasperated noticing Leon had withdrawn his sword too. "Both of you put them down. I am fine, no harm done. Besides Leon shot this deer here and as an apology has helped me bring it back for Mum."

Lancelot put a hand on Gwaine's shoulder, "Calm down. Come on."

Gwaine growled, "If you have hurt my brother, even so much as a scratch."

Leon put his sword back and raised his hands in mock surrender. Yes he could fight but taking on three strapping men clearly worried about their brother was not going to work. "I want no trouble and I am sorry to all three of you for any offense caused. I didn't try and shoot your brother on purpose!"

"We believe you." The tall one with the shaved head said. "I'm Percival, Percy. And this, is Lancelot. We're not actually Merlin's brothers, well not by birth but I guess we are all family."

"I'm Leon."

"Where you from Leon?" Gwaine asked him, eyeing him up.

"Camelot."

"Leon is training to become a Knight!" Merlin said beaming. Gwaine knew in that moment Merlin had probably developed a crush on the stranger already. Honestly he was too trusting for his own good. And this Leon, well he did look like a Knight and Knights were meant to be honourable and he had offered Merlin a deer. Gwaine told himself he was going soft, Merlin's influence no doubt.

"Good for him, well we had better get you back before Mum goes ballistic."

Merlin shook his head, "I didn't mean to worry her."

"You never do brother!" Gwaine said smiling.

The party started moving, all except Arthur. He felt rooted to the spot, he wasn't needed. Merlin had is brother and his two friends. He didn't need his new Knight anymore.

"Leon are you coming?" Merlin asked.

"I, I was going to go back."

"Nonsense." Gwaine found himself saying. "If you're a friend of Merlin's, you're a friend of ours."

Something was telling Arthur to turn back but he bit that down and ignored it. A deer was still heavy to carry and he was a bit hungry. His stomach illness his father thought he had would cover him for another day and Gaius wasn't going to let him down.

"Well, lead on then Gwaine." Arthur said, a small smile passing his lips.