Merlin's early memories were of very happy times living with his mother in the tiny hamlet of Ealdor. It was less than fifty houses and had no shops but it was a happy time in his life. Even without a father figure in his life he was content. He started school in the next village and enjoyed life. Then when Merlin was eight the school closed due to falling numbers and the children were transferred to Camelot, the nearest town. It was that day that Merlin's happy childhood ended. For in the class above him was one Arthur Pendragon and his friends, they were the school bullies. A group of children from the wealthier end of town, used to getting whatever they wanted, Arthur was the worse of the lot. His mother had died when he was a baby and his father's idea of parenthood was to throw money at any problem that came along. Uther Pendragon told his son that the Pendragons were better than anyone else and Arthur believed him.

The day Merlin started Camelot he came to the attention of Arthur and his gang due to his inbuilt clumsiness, he fell over a bag as he walked into the canteen at lunchtime. As Merlin scrambled to his feet trying his best not to attract any more attention, he was greeted by a pair of ice blue eyes and a scowl. He had met Arthur. Arthur was taller and more muscular than the rather gawky Merlin. He was also in the year ahead of Merlin and nearly two years older, being the oldest in his year and Merlin the youngest in his.

"Watch out you idiot" Arthur glowered at Merlin.

Merlin looked at the blonde in front of him and swallowed; the boy was clearly angry and had four friends with him. Merlin immediately apologised, his mother having brought him up with impeccable manners. "I'm sorry"

"You will be if anything is damaged" came the gruff answer, the other boys laughed.

"I said I'm sorry, but you might want to put your bag out of the doorway in future" squeaked Merlin, fear in his voice.

"I'll put my bag where I want Dumbo" Arthur looked round at his mates clearly liking the attention "I think that's what we'll call you, you have the ears for it"

"My name is Merlin!" came the annoyed reply. "I could call you clotpole if were making up names."

Arthur went red with anger and grabbed Merlin's tie and pulled him towards him. "Do you know who I am? Clearly not, I am Arthur Pendragon and you will not talk to me in that manner" Arthur had heard his father speak to people in a similar way and it always seemed to make people listen to him.

"I'd rather not speak to you at all." Merlin pulled away from the other boy and walked away, hearing the other teasing Arthur as he went. Merlin allowed himself a small smile.

It was the last smile Merlin had for many years when at school because from that moment Arthur Pendragon mad Merlin's life hell. Merlin loved his lessons he was a very clever boy and the larger school allowed his to excel, but outside of lessons he was constantly bullied and made to feel worthless by the school bully. Eventually his mother found out and went to see the headmaster but that made matters worse for Merlin. Uther Pendragon held a lot of power in the area and wasn't pleased when he was called and told his son had been accused of bullying. The matter was soon dropped and a few days later Arthur cornered Merlin and threatened him. "If you ever report me again I will beat you up and then me and my mates will go and see your mother, my Father could have her thrown out of her house."

Merlin was terrified, he loved his mother and he didn't want to cause her any problems so he made sure she never found out what happened to him. Arthur for his part made sure that any bruises didn't show and found more and more ingenious ways to make Merlin's life hell.

The only break Merlin had from the bullying was the holidays and in the year after Arthur moved to the senior school. But as soon as Merlin moved up a year later it started all over again. Merlin did his best to avoid Arthur but inevitably he would meet him sometimes and was humiliated in many different ways. As Arthur got older he got crueller. He was having difficulties at home even though he was one of the top in his class his father was constantly on at him to improve, he could never seem to live up to the high expectations of his father. As Arthur's home life got worse Merlin's life suffered. Then Arthur's half sister moved in with them and it was even worse. Uther idolised his daughter and this made Arthur feel even worse. He hadn't even known about her until she moved in.

It got so bad that Merlin even contemplated suicide, but knew he couldn't, it would hurt his beloved mother to much, so he did what he always did he worked harder, and kept his brain so busy he was too tired to worry. His whole life was worked around avoiding the Arthur and his cronies. A couple of the teachers were aware of what was happening and were willing to help him. So Merlin spent most breaks locked in a classroom reading or in the library. That made Arthur come up with a different tactic, and he and his mates started to spread the rumour that Merlin was gay. This made games even more of an ideal for Merlin he hated sports anyway but the constant reference to his supposed sexual preference and going in the showers with him nearly broke the sensitive young man, in the end with his normal determination he worked his way through it and became stronger.

When Arthur and his gang left and went to college Merlin once more had a years break until he to left and enrolled in college, where it started all over again. But this time Merlin escaped as he won a scholarship to Oxford and went to University in peace, he knew Arthur had gone to Cambridge. Merlin thrived in University, he was undertaking a duel degree in Engineering and Physics and loved it. During his research year Merlin developed two new products that were taken up by industry. Merlin showed what a canny business man he would become by refusing to sell the patients and so maintained control and financial benefit.

Within two years of leaving Oxford Merlin had his own thriving company on a purpose built site near his home in Ealdor. Whenever vacancies came up they were hotly contested for, Dragon Enterprises was known as a good company to work for. Whilst his company was well known Merlin himself preferred to keep a low profile and little was known about the boss. He still lived with his mother in the hamlet although in a larger house. Hunith wanted for nothing and was immensely proud of her son.

Now around six foot tall Merlin was still slender, his raven hair had never been tamed and although he wasn't classically handsome he was strikingly good looking in his own way. At twenty five years old he was very successful but had never lost his friendly personality that even years of bullying hadn't destroyed, the only sign of it was his reluctance to let anyone get close to him. If you were lucky enough to call his a friend he was fiercely loyal and would do anything for you. He also had a zero tolerance of bullying in the workplace and would fire anyone who was shown to be a bully.

Merlin had just been told by his business manager that he was handing in his notice. It hadn't come as a surprise Tristan Daniels had recently met and fallen in love with a New Zealander Isolde, they were getting married and moving to New Zealand to live. So Merlin made his was to his Human Resources Managers office. He smiled as he walked it Gwen Smith was his best friend, they had met at Oxford where she had also been a scholarship student and they became instant friends. As soon as he could he recruited her to his company, a decision he knew he would never regret.

"Hi Gwen, Tristan is leaving, could you advertise for a new business manager, I don't think we have anyone in the department that is ready for promotion as yet" Merlin liked to offer internal promotions when he could, but having a young work force did have its draw backs.

"I've already written the advert it's in your email box for approval." Gwen grinned "As is the one for the new apprenticeship scheme"

Merlin wasn't surprised Gwen was very good at her job. "Can I leave it to you to whittle down the applicants to a reasonable number, Tristan will help you." Merlin would interview the final selection but didn't what or need to look at all the applications. "When the apprenticeship applications come in I will look at those. I thought we might offer an open day for them, we could see them all in the flash then."

"Will do" Gwen grinned once more she could read Merlin like a book. The apprenticeships where for the engineering and development section and as such would always be Merlin's first love, where as the business Manager, although important, didn't hold Merlin's interest quite so much.

So a month later Merlin was sitting behind his desk waiting with Gwen to interview for his new manager, he had six people to see out of an application of forty three. Lance, Merlin's PA and Gwen's fiancé, had made sure Merlin had on a decent suit and looked the part for the interviews. Merlin may well be CEO of his own million pound company but he hated what he felt was the necessary evil of office work. He would much rather be in the labs or engineering rooms. Merlin was dressed in a dark blue suit and white shirt with a blue company tie. He looked every inch what he was a sharp and very astute businessman.

As always Merlin hadn't read the CV's of the applicants, he hadn't even looked at their names, he trusted Gwen and always wanted to get a gut feeling about each person, before looking at what was often a skewed view he got from a CV. He did know there were two women and four men. The first five were good but Merlin didn't get that feeling he usually got when someone was perfect for the job. If he didn't get it from the next one he would be forced to choose from what he had seen and heard, but he preferred to have that spark as well.

Gwen looked at Merlin she knew he hadn't found his ideal candidate "I think you'll like this next one, his resume is impressive and he's local. The name is Arthur Pendragon."

Merlin went pale as he heard the name "Don't call him yet" he told the woman at his side. Merlin took a drink of the water in front of him before turning to Gwen once more "You're going to have to send him away"

Gwen looked amazed she had never seen her friend, and boss, go so white, she also notice his hands were shaking. "What's the matter?"

"I can't see him!" Merlin murmured.

"Why not he's the best of the bunch, Cambridge graduate a very sharp mind and half the companies in the country have headhunted him." Gwen said "Do you know him?"

Merlin swallowed several time before turning to Gwen once more "You know I told you how I was bullied for years" he waited for Gwen to nod "Well the leader was Arthur Pendragon!"

"Oh Merlin I'm so sorry if I'd known I would never have short listed him."

"What do I do?" Merlin asked

"Why don't I say you've been called away, I could interview him with Lance or Tristan and send him away" Gwen suggested.

"No … I can't let him beat me …..I'll interview him, just delay him for five minutes"

Gwen stood up and went out to the waiting area, there was only one person sitting there she walked up to him "Mr Pendragon?"

Arthur stood and held out his hand and smiled politely "That's me"

"I'm Ms Smith, Dragon Enterprises Human Resources Manager, The CEO has been called away for a few minutes so I'm afraid your interview will be running late. Please help yourself to a tea or coffee. Is there anything in the meantime you would like to ask?" Gwen wanted to get a feel for the man who had her normally confidant boss in such a state.

"No I don't think so, I've looked very carefully at the company's records, they're exemplary, I can find no one who isn't impressed. I would like to know more about the CEO, he's a hard man to find out about, but then I suppose I will be soon." He smiled at Gwen. Gwen found herself liking the young man in front of her, she was normally a very good judge of character but in this case she must be wrong. He was certainly a looker, with blonde hair and blue eyes, with his muscular frame and chiselled good looks. But the looks obviously hid a flawed character.

Gwen asked one more question that puzzled her "May I ask are you related to Uther Pendragon of Camelot Corporation?"

"You may, and yes I'm his son, and to save you asking I had a personal disagreement with my father three years ago and parted ways with him." Arthur smiled "Everyone assumes I work for him but it's my half sister who is his vice President."

With that Lance came out of the office and called Gwen "The boss would like a word" Then he turned to Arthur "A couple of minutes Sir"

Gwen went into Merlin's office and walked up to Merlin who was looking out of the large window. "I've read his resume Gwen, he is good, on paper at least, so do I employ him and get my own back on him for all the years of hell he gave me, or turn and run?"

"Merlin you would never be that petty, if you hadn't told me I would have liked him, he seems so different than the person you told me about, perhaps he's changed. He tells me he split from his father so perhaps it was problems at home that turned him into a bully. Interview him and make your mind up, but if you do employ him don't let it change you, don't become the bully you so despise"

Merlin looked at Gwen for a few minute and then visibly pulled himself together and took the look of horror of off his face. He nodded to Gwen who walked up to the door and called Arthur in. Merlin was facing the window as Arthur walked in then when he heard the footsteps stop Merlin turned and faced the man he had hoped he would never see again.