I do not own merlin

Life was to complicated. As a prince they expect so much of me, I am the example. It is supposed to be nice, being able to have anything I want, but that's a lie.

"I'll leave" I screamed at my father "leave and never come back" he just glared at me.

'Guards" my father yelled "take prince Arthur to his chambers and see to it that he stays there" the guards came up to me and pulled me away. I fought them with all my might.

"You can't do this" I yelled as I was pulled away from my father. When I got to my chambers I slumped to the floor in defeat. Lilith my old nursemaid was being executed the next day for helping a sorcerer. She had children my age that would soon be without a mother, And It was my father's fault. He is blinded by his hatred of magic even I can see that and I am only 11. I looked up from my place on the floor with a look of determination on my face. I would not live with such a man any longer. I would leave just as I had said. I quickly got up and packed a bag with some clothes a cloak and a dagger with the Pendragon crest on it that I had been given for my birthday. As a reminder of who I once was.

The next morning Lilith was hanged and the smile on my father's face erased any doubts I was having in a second. The next day just before dawn I made my escape. It was easy sneaking away, and when I got to the edge of the woods I looked back at the place that had been my home for my whole life. For a second I had a feeling of doubt but it was gone almost as soon as it came. I turned back to the forest and ran as fast as I could away from Camelot.

"He's a monster" the old man cried looking down to me where I cowered. He had seen me making rocks fly through the air with my magic. I was Shore there was no one around at the time and really wanted to use my magic. The man had come up right behind me and grabbed my arm. I had tried to fight back but he had a firm grip on my arm and wasn't letting go any time soon. He had then proceeded to drag me back to the village and declare that I was evil and a sorcerer. Everyone began yelling all around me and in the corner of my eye I could see my mother crying. I am the reason my mother is crying. Everyone would be better off if I just left. I thought to my self.

With that thought I pushed through the crowd and towards the forest. There were a few shouts but no one tried to stop me. They already wanted me gone I was just making the task easier for them. I ran as fast as I could tears blurring my vision. I finally stopped when the moon was in the sky. I looked around for a pace to rest and spotted a cave. When I entered the cave I didn't even take the time to look around, I just curled up with my head resting on my knees and cried until I fell into a dreamless sleep.

As it began to grow dark I stopped running I looked around the area and smiled when I saw a cave. After making sure the cave was empty I set my bag down and left to look for some wood to start a fire. I had been on a few hunting trips with my father and new how to set up a camp. I frowned at that thought I did not want to think about my father at the moment. When I got back to the mouth of the cave I froze in fear. There siting against the wall was a dark figure that hadn't been there before. Taking out my knife I slowly walked in moving toward the figure who thankfully hadn't noticed my presence yet. When the figure came in to view I stopped in my tracks. It was a kid around my age with dark black a hair. He was rolled up in a ball and from the looks of it he was sleeping. Putting my knife back I slowly started towards the kid again and kneeled down next to him. I them proceeded to give him I small shake. His head obediently shot up and looked at me with scared blue eyes. He quickly got up from his place on the floor and started backing away from me further into the cave.

"Hey, it's alright. I'm not going to hurt you" I said trying to sound none threating. The last thing I need is a frightened kid who will probably run back to his parents and tell them I was here. I had been running all day and was tired but I couldn't risk being recognized and brought back to Camelot. Thankfully my words seemed to calm him down and boy stopped moving and looked at me curiously but still scared. I took a step towards him and when he didn't react I continued towers him until I was right in front of him. The boy was scrawny and had what looked to be peasant clothes on his eyes were slightly red making it seems like he had cried recently. "I'm Arthur, what's your name" I said

He looked at me cautiously for a second before answering. "I'm merlin" the boy said quietly.

"Are your parents nearby merlin" I asked hoping if they are I would have time to get away before they found me.

"I ran away" he said looking down at his feet. I silently sighed in relief

"me too" I said his head shot up looking at me shocked " you can stay with me tonight if you want I got two blankets so you can have one." He paused for a second to think and then nodded his head. I smiled at him and then walked over to where I had the fire wood and started a fire then went over to my bag and got out some bread and apples I had taken and gave merlin some. We both sat their silently and ate our food. Suddenly Merlin spoke.

"Why did you run away" he said in a voice louder than it had been all night. I looked up to where he was siting and then looked down at the ground.

"I didn't like where I was living. My father… he did something bad and I realized I couldn't stay there anymore so I left." I said we fell into silence again before I looked up at him. Merlin had finished his food and was now staring at the fire with a sad expression on his face. "What about you" I said drawing him out of his thoughts.

"What" he said

"Why did you run away" I said he looked away at this and a tear rolled down his cheek.

"I got caught… doing something I wasn't supposed to. And they dragged me back to the village where everyone was yelling at me and c-calling me a monster… a-and my m-mother was crying a-and it was all my fault s-so I left." By the time he was finished he was sobbing uncontrollably and I let him usually when someone was crying I would tease them for It all my friends back home where nobles and it was unbefitting for nobles to cry, but this was different. Whatever It was that he did must have been awful to make everyone hate him like that. I can't imagine what Merlin could have done he didn't seem bad at all but I had only just met him.

"What did you do" I asked once he was calm enough to talk. He tensed when I said this but didn't look up.

"If I tell you, you'll hate me too" he said quietly still not looking up. I was shocked at this. Why would I hate him I had only just met him.

"No I won't, whatever it is I won't hate you" I said trying to get him to tell me. And I was telling the truth, I don't know what it was but I could feel that no matter what I could never hate merlin. Like hating him would be like hating myself.

"Promise" he said finally looking up at me

"Promise" I said to him he nodded in reply. He was silent for a few seconds trying to prepare himself for what was coming.

"I-I…. I did magic" he said so silently I almost didn't hear him. I sucked in a breath he had magic that means he's evil…right. That's what my father said at least. But my father was wrong about Lilith heck that was the whole reason I had left Camelot. Maybe he was wrong about sorcerers. I accepted that fact easier than I thought I would but I knew deep down that it was true. Merlin did not look evil. He isn't evil I thought my dad was wrong. And now It all made sense, why the villagers had reacted in the way they did. They had been led to believe that magic was evil by my father. I felt I slight pang of guilt and made a silent vow to make it up to him. I might not be able to stop my father but I can try to help the people that have been affected by his hate starting with Merlin. Ending my thoughts I finally looked at Merlin. He wore such a look of fear that made my heart wrench. I had promised not to hate him yet he still looked like I was going to jump up and declare him a monster. I thought about what to say that would show him I am not angry.

"Can you show me" I said he looked at me shocked, I smiled.

"What" he said

"your magic, can you show me" I said he stared at me for a moment letting what I said sink in then gave me a wide smile which in turn made me return the gesture. He then looked around like he was thinking about what he would do; finally his eyes looked on his apple core. He stared at it with a great intensity, and I watched in amassment as his eyes turned gold and the apple core flew out of the cave. He looked at me with wide eyes awaiting my judgment. "That…was amazing" I said letting my excitement show threw my words. Merlin's eyes lit up and he gave another huge smile that lasted until he went to bed.

That night I thought about Merlin we had talked for a long time that night. I had told him I was the prince of Camelot and why I had run away. I was a little frightened of his reaction considering my father was the reason for his running away but he had just smiled and said 'well that's good wouldn't want you turning into any more of a prat then you already are' he was actually amused at the fact that I was the prince and had come to calling me a 'prat' whatever that meant so in return I had called him an idiot which had only made him laugh harder. I smiled at the memory. Merlin hadn't even cared that I was the prince witch even though I hadn't realized it at the time had been another reason for me leaving Camelot. I felt more comfortable around him than anyone else I had ever met.

The next day I woke up and was confident with my thoughts. I walked over to merlin and nudged him with my foot. He opened his eyes and looked at me in confusion before recignison shined in his eyes. he sat up and blinked the sleep out of his eyes before standing up to face me.

"So I was thinking" I said before he had the chance to say anything "well I ran away and you ran away" I gestured to him and he nodded obviously wondering where this was going. "And were both going to have to go somewhere" he nodded again I took in a deep breath "so I was wondering we could I don't know go there together" I said this with hope in my voice. He was silent for a second thinking about what I just said then he smiled.

"of course I'll go with you" he said I smiled "can't have you go dyeing out there all on your own can we"

"And what's that supposed to mean" I said with an offended tone

"well its obvious you wouldn't survived a day out there alone do you even know how to cook." He said with an amused face

"merlin"

"yes"

"shut up"

"ok"