I had been a year away from leaving, the snow had fallen overnight but not enough to the younger students disappointment to allow them a day off. I remember being one of those children that raced to the radio to listen eagerly to the list of names hoping my school would be one of them. It makes me smile to remember simple things like that. The playground had been littered with patches of ice and we had been crossing on the way home. "We" were me and three others...Jennifer, She was so loving and kind. That day she had been bundled up in the grey blazer that was part of the school uniform, a purple scarf and matching gloves, her cheeks flushed from the cold wind. Second was Will, I'd known him for years, we lived next door to each other for a while. That day he had stuffed his blazer into his bag carelessly and was running ahead to skid on patches of ice and then laughing hysterically at near falls. Lance was the sensible one, he was at jen's elbow incase she fell, they had been dating only a month but I liked him well enough, he was good to her. Normally at that time the playground was empty, most people cleared out as early as possible when it was cold. They were off having snowball fights or at friends houses with mugs of hot chocolate. That day however there had been a large group of year elevens gathered around, looking back on it now I wish that I'd just kept walking, or maybe turned around and found another way but oh no, I had to go and play the hero. Because right there in the centre of the larger lads was a year seven being picked on by the leader. I couldn't-can't stand the kind of cowardice that motivates bullying, It's disgusting.

"What's your name boy?"

The guy standing over him was blonde and athletic. Oh and let's not forget arrogant.

"I'm sorry what was that? Speak up?"

The kid infront of him was terrified and had only managed a whimper,

"Greg Morris..."

"Well I'm sorry Gregory but I can't let this go unpunished you know."

The larger boy was patronising and everything about his manner provoked something in me, hs strutted around like he owned the in me was screaming to walk away-and I probably should've done-I spoke up.

Idiot.

"That's enough!"

"I'm sorry?"

His voice raised at the end of the sentence with his eyebrows as he looked through the crowd to find the speaker who challenged him.

"I said that's enough. Leave the poor kid alone."

I took a step towards the group of older kids so that he could see who had spoken, why did I do that? Members of the group had begun to snigger and it was everything I could do not to shake.

"This is none of your business, Mate."

His lackeys parted to let him through and I noticed he had blue eyes to go with the gold hair. Coventionally good looking I suppose. A sports kit bag hung over his shoulder, a red and gold scarf adorned his neck.

"So turn around, take your friends and bugger off. Now."

The boy had gotten quite close and now leant in to prod me as if to emphasise the point. Eyes met if only for a second before he turned around, satisfied he'd scared me enough to make me back off.

I stole a glance at my friends for reassurance, even Will looked slightly worried, that alone should have been a sign. Will was never worried. I caught Jen's eyes and grinned, trying to lighten the atmosphere, she looked a little scared but only because she knew what I could do if I felt like it. Maybe if she'd credit me with a little maturity, I might develop some? Nah.

"No."

"What did you say?"

He'd stopped halfway between his friends and mine.

"Merlin don't."

Jen spoke up behind me.

"Merlin? What a stupid name."

Yeah. My parents had a real sense of humour.

I suppose if I could have kept my gob shut for once I would have been left alone but now the idiot seemed to have decided I deserved what was coming to me, I couldn't make it worse...could I?

"Well, I'd rather have my name than your personality. Tell me does it come naturally or do you have to work at it?"

I grinned, from one big ear to the other as the older boy looked me in the eyes. Blue met blue.

"Are you trying to start a fight? You skinny idiot, I could kick your ass with one arm tied behind my back."

I still can't believe I didn't laugh at him. If you ask me he might have taken that a little too personally.

He looked back at his friends and a mumble of agreement made it's way through the crowd, seemed he might have been the leader for a reason,

"I cound kick yours with both tied behind my back. You arrogant prat."

"Excuse me?"

I grinned at the look on the others boys face, it was disbelief. He obviously wasn't used to people answering back, to people who stood up for themselves.

"You heard me."

If his eyebrows rose any higher they would disappear into the mess of blonde hair.

When he turned to seek assistance from his friends I took my chance, he missed the gold glow in the eyes of his "victim", too busy thinking of a suitable punishment most likely.

"Bring it on then, come on"

I hesitated, I'm not great physically in a fight when it comes down to it. I'm fast but that's about it. A smirk spread over his lips,

"All talk and no action little boy?"

It was only a matter of seconds, all I had to do was pretend I was going to attack and the blonde adjusted his footing appropriately, unfortunately he didn't consider the freshly formed ice underneath him. Arms like windmill blades and he ended up flat on his behind.

Lance laughed loundly behind me before getting a elbow in the ribs from Jen. Laughter swept through the other side of the group too except for one girl who rushed forward to help the bully up, I stopped smiling as worried green eyes met mines, she looked up apologetically before bending to help her friend,

"No" he said, pushing her away,"Stop it, I don't need any help. I can get up on my own."

His tone was irritable and it wasn't surprising, he's just been humiliated infront of all his friends by a "lowly" year ten. I knew enought about him to know that this wasn't over. His pride wouldn't allow it.

"Is there a problem here?"

A female voice asked, they were approached by a figure I recognised as one of the PE teachers,

"Oh! Arthur did you fall over?"

Arthur? So that was his name, as in King? Merlin and Arthur? Cool coincidence if he wasn't such a prat.

"'m fine" he mumbled glaring in my direction, I knew I shouldn't but I grinned wildly back. With that action I decided to defy him further, what the hell, I was screwed anyway. I walked straight over to the boy, Greg, lifted him to his feet and planted him on the rather confused teacher with excuses of how he'd fallen and needed to go to the nurse. The little boy looked up at both of us with gratitude and before the teacher could leave the group, I grabbed the others and rushed them out. Jen had later given me an earful about abuse of power and responsiblity but it had been worth it.

What neither party knew back then was that their encounter had been witnessed by another. In a classroom overlooking the playground the headmaster, an old gentlemen who believed in good manners, discipline and destiny, sighed to himself. They were far from ready, he could only wait he thought to himself, hopefully he wouldn't have to wait too long.

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