It didn't take Merlin very long to realise he was in big, big trouble. It had started out innocently enough, a childish prank with the discarded vegetables of the market, that he and Will could easily pull off as a tribute to their many mischievous collaborations when they were children. But when one has suspended half-rotten produce over a gateway to rain over the next passer-by, and the next passer-by happens to be the king and his guards, things are not going to turn out very well. Will was probably going to get away with it, he did not live within the city, but in an outlying village by the name of Ealdor, the place where Merlin was born. There, he would easily be blamed for any kind of trouble, whether he was involved or not - and he usually was. In the actual capital of Essetir, though, he was an anonymous nobody. The same could not be said for Merlin, who had lived there for most of his life and was well known as the Dragonlord's son. Of course, he was also an exceptionally skilled magician in his own right, but few knew that. Magic was not outlawed in Essetir, unlike other kingdoms - especially Camelot to the south, where the king not only punished but burned sorcerers on a daily basis - but it was generally a place where you made sure to keep your head down as much as possible. Pelting king Cenred with stinking cabbages from above was just about the opposite of that - not only the opposite of keeping your head down, but quite possibly the opposite of keeping it on.

They got out of there quite quickly, darting off at great speed. Merlin was sure someone had seen him, though, they had been sneaking around the crowded market for a good while, and the vegetables had been held up by magic. Surely someone would put two and two together and end up with four; or in this case, Merlin. After darting through alleyways and streets, they finally both came to a halt behind a derelict mill by the river. They were both heaving for breath. Will was giggling uncontrollably - he had not recognised Cenred and still believed that the prank had gone exactly to plan. Merlin scowled at him. He was his best friend, but right now he was very irritated with him. He failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation, and he was likely to avoid trouble, which was jarring as the whole thing had been his idea. Well, that wasn't really much of an excuse. Merlin had gone along with it, even planned most of it, and at the age of eighteen he really should have gotten over the urge to pull tricks like these. He knew Will had probably matured also, but they had a dangerous effect on each other, resulting in disasters like this.

Will's laughter brought him out of his distressing thoughts.

"Oh, that was a laugh! I'm twelve years old again I swear! Did you see the look on his - I've missed something, haven't I."

Merlin's face made it quite clear that their actions were no laughing matter anymore.

"That man with the hilarious look of rage on his face was King Cenred. Unusually violent and proud man. Unusually likely to cut off hands and ears of children who are out of line. As for adults… Well, let's just say if anyone noticed who the culprits were, you had better get your arse back to Ealdor post haste."

"…And you?"

Merlin shook his head.

"I don't know. I'd have to get away too, I guess."

They were of a more serious mood as they made their way back to Merlin's parents' home. He dreaded the looks in their eyes, he realised, more than whatever consequence awaited him for his actions. The moment the door opened, Hunith's voice sounded.

"Finally! Where have you two - "

Seeing their faces as she turned around, she got up from her seat by the table and walked over to them with hurried steps.

"What's wrong?" she asked sternly.

They got an earful from both of Merlin's parents. Hunith was on the verge of tears several times, and Balinor utilised a stern, disappointed look that he had perfected to inspire the most exquisite guilt in his son's gut. It was agreed, not that the boys had any say in the matter having proved themselves so much younger than their age, that William's visit should be cut short, and he would return to Ealdor in the morning. They would send with him a letter to his mother explaining his actions and expecting her to punish him as she saw fit. As for Merlin, his punishment would be decided in the morning.

He didn't sleep that night. He had a feeling that Will, lying a few feet away, was awake as well, but neither of them spoke. He could just kick himself for getting into this mess. He knew the difficulty his family would always have, wherever they lived, and if his actions proved to send them away from the city of Essetir, he would never forgive himself. Where could they go? To the druids? They had always been friends of the Dragonlords, true, and would likely take them in, but they were hard to find and always on the move, hunted in all the kingdoms of Albion. And his parents had settled into such a good life here, Hunith as a seamstress and Balinor as an assistant to the blacksmith. He hoped with all his heart that if he had been seen and punishment from authority higher than parental should come along, it would be only him that was targeted.

That was a wish that was granted, but rather sooner than he had expected. He felt as if he had just drifted off into an uneasy dream when he was shaken awake by Hunith's hand. Gone from her face was the anger and disappointment, replaced with fear and urgency.

"You must leave now, both of you. They are coming."

they needed no ore words, having both lain awake conjuring dreaded scenarios like this in their heads most of the night. Will's few possessions were already packed in preparation for him to leave. Merlin gathered together a bundle of necessities. A change of clothes, a couple of apples from the pantry. Hunith whisperingly instructed him all the while.

"When you get to Ealdor, you can stay there for no more than a day. Cenred has a temper, and if you've offended him, he'll be looking for you, and too many know where we came from. You must continue to into the kingdom of Camelot, and from there to the city itself. I've an old friend there who I am sure would take you in for just the while it takes for this to blow over."

Merlin's eyes widened in fear.

"Camelot?"

"I know, my love, be careful. But it's the only place you can go on such short notice. Do not mention your magic to anyone, and do not speak of your father." she handed him a folded up piece of paper she had been writing on earlier.

"Find Gaius, the court physician, and hand him this letter. He is the only one you can trust."

There were so many more things to ask, but there was so little time. The boys were ushered around the back of the house, where Hunith hugged them both. Balinor took his son by the shoulders.

"I would have thought you had learned to be careful, Merlin," he said, with great sadness, "Especially with that incident with the cobbler's well not a fortnight passed."

"That was an accident," Merlin meekly pointed out.

"I know, son. I know. But you cannot afford any accidents like that in Camelot. One slip-up, and king Uther will have your head. They say he is a fairer king than Cenred, and I suppose I am inclined to agree, but when it comes to magic of any kind, he sees no reason."

Merlin nodded. His father knew better than most of king Uther's blind rage and of his treachery, as it had nearly gotten him killed many years ago.

Balinor hugged Merlin tightly.

"Take care of yourself, boy," he said, "If the fates are willing, it will not be too long until we meet again."

Merlin felt a lump in his throat as he and William set off, careful to move in the shadows of the houses. Soon, the building that had been his home for half a dozen years was out of sight, and he had no idea how long it would be before he would see it again, if ever.

When the soldiers came to the Dragonlord's residence, Hunith and Balinor informed them that their son had not come home that evening, and that they were worried of where he and his friend had gotten to. When they were informed of their personal crimes against the king, they acted shocked and appalled enough for the soldiers to pardon them as not to blame for the filial disobedience, but they were sternly informed to consider Merlin a son to them no more, as he was now a fugitive. When they were gone, Hunith collapsed into her husband's arms and sobbed. He ran his hand through her hair and shushed her comfortingly, though he himself was just as broken up, his cheeks glistening.

"Gaius will take him in," he reassured her, "He has helped many over the years, and he'll be glad of an assistant for a few months."

Or years, his mind suggested, but he did not want to think of that possibility.

"And think of how Merlin will enjoy all of his old books, if they have not been burned. Perhaps this could be good for him, he'll learn some things and come home more mature. In a few months, out child will be home with us, you'll see."

In his mind, he was far from confident, though. If Cenred would put a price on the head of a boy, hardly more than a child, for a joke of this insignificance, then he was also unlikely to relent unless he realised the folly of his ways, which was not likely. But he would hold out hope for as long as he could, and if Merlin could not return to them, then he would find a way to take action. All was not lost.