Chapter One
Prince Arthur awoke to the sound of clattering. When he came to he saw his servant, Merlin setting the wooden table in his chambers and putting out breakfast. "Merlin,do you have any idea what time it is?" Arthur asked sounding irritated."It's early morning." Replied Merlin, Arthur grumbled to himself and dragged his body out of bed. He threw in a pair of soft leather trousers and a red tunic. Arthur stuffed his feet into a pair of soft leather boots. He walked over to the table where his breakfast was. Merlin poured him a goblet of water and then busied himself with restoring Arthur's chambers to some resemblance of order. Arthur didn't notice the flush that was spreading across Merlin's cheeks as he was too busy eating the bowl of porridge that Merlin had placed on the table just moments before.
After Arthur had finished his breakfast he called Merlin over. "Merlin, today my father is having a feast and all of his allies have been invited, so I need you to muck out the stables, feed my horse,polish my sword and clean my best tunic." Arthur said, tossing a red tunic with gold fastenings and adornments at Merlin. "Yes sire." Merlin replied and he then quickly bustled out of Arthur's chambers with his tunic and sword.
Merlin arrived in the chambers of the court physician where Guis was preparing a herbal remedy for King Uther. "Ah Merlin, I'm about to deliver this to the King. Stay out of trouble." He told Merlin. After Guis left, Merlin quickly went into his own small chambers and began cleaning Arthur's tunic. After an hour, Guis came back with a leather pouch stuffed with herbs and found Merlin busy polishing the golden adornments on the tunic. "Merlin, when you've finished whatever Arthur wants you to do, can you pick up a fresh pail of water please?" He asked. "Yes, I'll bring some more once I've cleaned the stables." Merlin replied as he polished the final gold adornment.
Once Merlin had finished polishing Arthur's sword until he could see his own reflection in it, he then set out to Arthur's stable armed with a shovel, wheelbarrow , feed sack and an empty pail. Merlin lead Arthur's horse out of it's stall, tied it to a secure post and gave it the feed bag to keep it occupied, whilst he cleaned the stall. By the time he had finished, Merlin was covered in sweat , his blue tunic was flecked with horse dung and his hands were bloody from many burst blisters. Merlin left the stables and crossed the court yard to the water pump, where he filled the bucket with water. Suddenly a thin from crashed into him and clung to his jacket. "Hey, what's the matter?" Merlin asked gently gazing down at the girl who was clinging to his jacket, she was around a foot smaller than him,her long brown hair was matted and her simple cloth dress was torn. "I've travelled far, from the small village of Estabor and I have nowhere to go, I'm an outcast, my family is dead." She wept, tears falling from her hazel eyes. "What's your name?" Merlin asked gently. "My name is Arlene." the girl replied. "Come on I'll take you somewhere safe." Merlin replied, taking her hand and picking up the pail of water in the other.