Summary: Merlin was a noble. Best friends with a prince of another kingdom. Merlin had been captured when he was young but didn't have away back. Arthur finds out when they go to Estant and the knights are so happy to see Merlin again.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin

Authors note: Please Review but please use good criticism try not to be mean but honest at the same time. Thanks ENJOY.

A Friend Never Forgotten

"Dad, do you think we will catch anything big? Like maybe a elk?" asked Merlin. He was a young boy of fourteen. His father was a noble of great power in Estant. Merlin's mother died two years ago. Him and his dad would go hunting every chance they got. Sometimes they would take his younger brother Nicholas.

Merlin was a skilled hunter, he was trained with the crown prince Mathew and his younger brother Ryland. Prince Ryland was Merlins age and they were best friends. Along with some other noble boys.

"I'm hunting with you aren't I. If you set your mind to something I know you will accomplish it. But we have to return before sunset. I have a meeting with the King," replied Ballo. Merlin smiled then stilled.

"Do you hear anything?" he whispered.

Ballo looked around nervously, it was too quiet.

Just then men jumped out of the foliage around them. Merlin aimed his bow and shot. Ballo drew his sword and fought the man closest to him. They were surrounded. Merlin muttered a spell and several men flew back and were knocked unconscious. There were too many for Merlin to over power. He knew that they were losing.

Ballo's sword was torn from him.

"Run Merlin!" he yelled.

"Not without you?" Merlin yelled back. He kept spells going making men fly in all directions. Merlin turned to look at his father just as he saw a man stick his sword threw his dad.

"No!" he yelled. He couldn't believe it, he wouldn't believe it. He was stunned. He already lost his mom, not his dad to. In that brief moment of distress a man was able to knock him unconscious.

Six years later...

"Walk up lazy daisy," said Merlin cheerfully. Arthur just groaned and turned over.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

"Come on Arthur, Gwen's been up for ever, she is already is the courtroom."

Arthurs only reply was another grunt.

"Fine if you don't want breakfast I'll eat it," Merlin smiled and sat down in Arthurs chair eyeing Arthur.

Arthur turned back over and threw his pillow at Merlin.

"No you won't, that is a King's breakfast not an idiot's."

"Well then all the more reason I should eat it. So the Idiot King doesn't have to eat a good mans meal."

Arthur got up and Merlin smiled and moved out of his way before Arthur could do anything to him. Merlin laid out Arthurs cloths and started cleaning the room.

"Oh Merlin, I forgot to tell you. Last night I got a letter from King Matthew from Estant. It's a faraway kingdom. Anyway's I sent a letter a while ago asking if he would like to make a peace treaty. His letter said he agreed. So we will be leaving tomorrow morning. I will need you to prepare."

Merlin was stunned, he could hardly breathe. Estant, his home. Matthew, Ryland, Nicholas, his friends and bother. Oh so many years ago. Six, six year's seance he had seen them. Would they recognize him? He was going to see them!

Should he tell Arthur? Would he be mad? Well he would find out sooner than later. But it was probably best for him to find out from him.

"Um, Arthur. I need to..." Merlin started but stopped when he realized that Arthur was walking out the room. The door slammed shut in his wake. Later, I'll tell him latter.

The next day...

As much as Merlin wanted to tell Arthur he didn't get the chance. They were both very busy preparing to leave. It would be a four day journey. When they finally were ready Merlin lost his nerve and decided to tell Arthur when they camped for the night. But once again they were all too busy preparing camp to get in a good conversation tell they were laying down on their mats.

"Arthur..." whispered Merlin.

"Shh, Merlin. Tomorrow will be a long day get some sleep," said Arthur, then he turned over cutting off all conversation.

Tomorrow...I'll tell him tomorrow.

Merlin woke to find himself tied to a tree. He felt horrible he could feel blood matted to the side of his face and he could tell that he had a rib either broken or bruised. What happened he thought. Then he remembered, his dad! He looked around as his vision cleared. It was night and his captures were sleeping all except the man on guard duty.

Merlin knew that he had been drugged. They were probably hoping that the drug would keep him asleep till morning. Because in his sleep he couldn't use magic. He had to escape know. He didn't know why they had taken him but he didn't really want to wait and find out. Merlin muttered a spell that sent the guard to sleep. Then he broke the ropes holding him. As quietly as he could he slipped out of the camp. As he moved thru the trees he heard a yell. They had found out he escaped! "Not this soon!" he muttered. Then started to run.

He could hear men pursuing him then an arrow shot past his head. He was still ahead of them. His ribs were killing him. He could hardly breath, but he had to run. All of a sudden he felt a sharp pain in his leg. He stumbled and fell. He was shot by an arrow. He ignored the shooting pain and kept stumbling along.

He soon came upon a cliff. There was a river down below. He did the first thing he could think of. He jumped.

Merlin sat up, breathing hard. Just a dream, just a dream he kept telling himself. But the thing was, it wasn't a dream. It was real. It happened so long ago, but it happened all the same. Merlin looked around, everyone was still asleep. He rubbed his leg where the arrow had pierced him those many years ago. It had left a scar. Everyone thought him clumsy but the truth was that it never truly healed. It would still hurt sometimes.

"Merlin," Gwaine rolled over and looked at him. "You okay mate?"

"Ya, just a dream," Merlin muttered then layed back down.

Gwaine gave a small smile then fell back asleep.

The next night...

"Hey mate, what'd you dream about last night?" said Gwaine as he sat next to Merlin. Merlin was preparing breakfast and the others were packing up camp.

"Oh, just something that happened years ago." muttered Merlin. Looking at Gwaine he knew that Gwaine knew it was more than just a memory. He trusted Gwaine and wanted to tell him. He just wasn't sure how.

Merlian debated about it all that day. When he sat down with his bowl he sat next to Gwaine at dinner he decided it was time to tell someone.

"Gwaine, can I tell you something? And will to promise to forgive me, for not telling you earlier?" Merlin said quickly. Gwaine looked up from his food and gave him a look that told Merlin that he was being an idiot.

"Off course mate, what are friends for?"

"Well it's kind of a long story but I'll summarize. Promise to not interrupt."

"Kay, if it makes you feel better."

"Well along time ago, I lived in a kingdom called Estant." Merlin looked up from his food and met Gwaine's eyes. Letting him know that he wasn't joking. Gwaine looked surprised but just nodded signaling him to continue.

"I was the son of a noble, my mother died when I was twelve. I have a younger brother. One day, when I was fourteen, me and my dad were hunting when we were attacked. He was killed. I was kidnapped, that night I escaped. But I was followed and was wounded but I got away." Now that it was coming out he couldn't stop.

"I fell into a river and washed up on shore unconscious. Hunith found me and helped me heal. I had no way to get back to Estant so I stayed with her tell I was whole. Then I came to Camelot in order to find a job so I could pay my way back to Estant. But then I became friends with Arthur, and you and the knights. Camelot became my new home. I've tried to forget my old life. Ture I miss everyone but if I left Camelot I would miss all of you." he finished lamely. He couldn't met Gwaines eyes, so he stared into his soup.

"Wow, that is quite a story. Does princess know?" Merlin looked up surprised at Gwaines tone. He smiled at Gwaine accepting him.

"No, I've been trying to tell him ever since I found out where we are going."

"Well we will find a way to tell him." Gwaine got up to go talk to Arthur.

"No, let me tell him," Merlin pleaded.

"Fine."

Two days later... And still haven't been able to tell Arthur...Entering Estate's Main road...

Merlin couldn't believe it. It all looked like he never left. So many memories.

Mostly good ones, some not as great. He couldn't believe that he still hadn't told Arthur. He was almost shaking will nerves. Would if someone recognized him? How would Arthur react? These questions ran through his mind as they entered the courtyard of Estant's castle.

They dismounted and a knight walked up to them and said, "King Arthur, it is wonderful to have you. We did not expect you tell tomorrow. Our king is on a hunting trip but will return soon, we sent a messenger telling him of your arrival.. Allow me to show you to your cambers."

Arthur smiled and said, "It is a pleasure to be here, It has been much too long."

The knight smiled and lead the way into the castle. As they walked Merlin looked at all

the people in the courtyard. He was surprised to recognize some, he kept his head down so that no one would recognize him tell he told Arthur.

As they walked five knights watched them. Following without trying to be suspicious looking.

"Mat, don't you think that, the Kings servant looks like Merlin?" said Tyler.
"He does, lets follow and try and get a better look." said Matt as he hit Kevin and John.

Then he pointed to Merlin.

As they walked the more they watched him the more sure they were that it was him. They never found his body only his dad. They spent months searching for him but never did find him. And just because his dad died doesn't mean he did.

"Merlin! Keep up!" Arthur said when he noticed that Merlin was lagging behind. That confirmed it for the knights. This was their Merlin, their friend. They couldn't contain themselves. Matt ran to Merlin knocked him to the ground. The others followed swiftly.

Merlin looked up at Matt and grinded then pulled him into a hug. The knights pulled him up and hugged him.

"Is it really you?"

"We thought you were dead!"

"You are really here!" the knights talked over each other.

In surprise at the knights knocking his friend over Arthur and the knights of the round table all except Gwaine had drawn their swords. As the knights of Estant didn't really notice they were too focused on Merlin. Gwaine held out his hand and said to Arthur, "It's okay, they are friends of his. I think."

Arthur pushed past Gwaine and the Estant knights and grabbed Merlin from Kevin's embrace. Kevin looked at him surprised and immediately reached from Merlin's other arm.

"What do you think you are doing?" asked Arthur to anyone who would answer.

"Um...I can explain." said Merlin looking at Arthur. "But could you let me go." Both Kevin and Arthur let him go. Merlin smoothed out his shirt and said, "I promise I'll tell you everything. Um... I don't really know where to start."

"How about where you left and didn't return!" yelled John.

"I'm sorry, I was kidnapped." said Merlin as he turned to face John who had been standing behind him.

"Who!" said Tyler, he grabbed Merlin's shoulders.

"I don't know, bandits I think. I didn't really stay with them long enough to find out."

"Why don't we take this somewhere else." said the knight who had been leading them. "King Arthurs room's are not far."

Arthur and some of the knights nodded. Then turned and stared following the knight. John put an arm around Merlin's shoulders. He was not letting him out of his sight. Tyler, walked on his other side and the other knights surrounded him protectively. Gwaine winked at Merlin from ahead of them.

Merlin didn't know what to think. He was so glad to be with his friends again but he knew that Arthur and the knights of the round table where feeling betrayed.

The room's ment for Arthur was a big door. In the main room was a sitting area. Then there were doors that lead to Arthur's chambers, then several other room's for nobles and knights that he brought with him. Having the room's close together aloud the visiting king privacy.

Arthur dismissed everyone but the knights of the round table and Merlin. But John kept his arm around Merlin and Tyler, Kevin, and Matt staied.

"Forgive us your majesty but we have not seen our friend for many years. Let us stay and hear him out." said John who was the most level headed of them all. Arthur didn't look happy about it but he nodded his head and took a set. Then motioned for everyone else to do likewise. Merlin sat in a chair across from Arthur and everyone sat around them.

"I'll tell you what happened but Arthur please hear me threw." said Merlin meekly. Arthur nodded his head and motioned for him to continue.

And for the second time Merlin told his story. When he finished he was not sure what everyone was thinking. Arthur looked at the brink of furry but sympathetic at the same time. The Estant knights were furious at the bandages and had guilty looks because they had not found him.

"Arthur...I...I tried to tell you. But you were so busy. I couldn't." Arthur remembered all the times this last week that he had tried to tell him something.

"I need a minute." said Arthur then he walked out to his room.

They all sat deep in thought, tell Tyler asked "So, what is camelot like?" Merlin smiled and told him of his time in Camelot. The knights of the round table silently listened adding little bits and pieces when Merlin forgot something.

The knights of Estant knew that Merlin purposely wasn't mentioning magic. Magic was free is Estant but they all knew Camelot's law so they didn't mention it. But would question Merlin latter about it. After a hour of listening to Merlin a servant knocked on the door. Then entered.

"King Matthew asks if King Arthur and his knights would join him for dinner." Leon got up and when to Arthur's chambers and relayed the message.

"Tell him I am coming." said Arthur. The servant nodded then left.

"So Merlin, I forgive you for not telling me."

"I'm sorry I truly am."

"I know, I know." Merlin smiled and Arthur patted him on the shoulder. "So would King Matthew recognize you?"

Matt answer for Merlin. "Yes he will, as will Prince Ryland."
"Um will Nickolas be their?" asked Merlin.

"No, he is at the summer home. He is returning tomorrow. Oh he will be so happy." said Kevin cheerfully.

Merlin was suddenly very nervous. John patted him on the shoulder and said "Don't worry." And with that said they walked out to see King Matthew.

Arthur walked in front with the knights of the round table behind him. Then the Estant knights following with Merlin in the middle of them.

When they reached the doors to the dining room Merlin felt like he needed to run away he was so nervous but at the same time he was bursting with joy. He was going to see Matthew and Ryland!

John put his arm again around Merlin to hold him in place. Matt gave him an encouraging smile. Arthur turned and gave him one last look before the guards opened the double doors.

Inside Matthew sthood next to Ryland ready to greet his guest.

"Welcome King Arthur." said Matthew with a smile. "I hope your journey was a pleasant one."

"It was, we are grateful to be able to make it here with such speed." replied Arthur with a returning smile as he grasped Matthew's hand then Rylands. He was debating how to reach the topic of Merlin. When it was taken out of his hands.

The knights had pushed Merlin in front of them in the sight of Matthew.

"Matthew, look who we found tagging along with King Arthur." said John happily. Matthew turned his attention to John. Then when he spotted Merlin he stopped breathing for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Merlin." Then he pulled Merlin into a hug.

Ryland stunned by his brother movements. He could not see Merlin. "Brother?" he said in confusion. Matthew pulled away from Merlin then Ryland ran up to Merlin tears in his eyes. Merlin stepped up to Ryland and pulled him into a hug. Merlin found with no shame that he had tears in his eyes to.