Hello all! Welcome to my first fic in the Merlin fandom and also my first fic in a very long time. Hope you enjoy it! I very much enjoy Merlin and I also enjoy the Merthur coupling so for those who that doesn't jive with, leaveth now or forever hold your peace when you reach the end of this story and realize it was a Merthur when you were expecting something else.

This fic is meant to be a series of snapshots in to the relationship that develops between Merlin and Arthur. Some chapters will be long, others will be short. I have a good many chapters written but there's bits that are pivotal that I haven't written yet so I hope I can keep my focus on this fic long enough to write those chapters out. My goal is to finish this fic come hell or high water. So without further ado, the fic. Oh and a word of warning, this fic has a lot of angst in it. I try not to load it on too thick so hopefully it doesn't break anyone's brain too much.

First Meeting

The first time Arthur saw Merlin, Arthur was smitten.

Of course there was very little room for an inappropriate relationship with another man in Arthur's life so he attempted to quash any and all feelings he had for Merlin mercilessly under the hammer of logic and the shield of ass-hattery.

So his first words to Merlin when Lance politely introduced the both of them at orientation day at university had something to do with Merlin's ears and their proportions and wondering at the Art part of Merlin's quite impressive- in Arthur's private-don't-you-ever-dare-say-it-out-loud opinion- Art and Marketing double major plans though Arthur couldn't really remember since he was trying his damnedest not to stare slack-jawed at the gangly beauty that was Merlin.

Need less to say, Arthur was sure Merlin would have burst in to tears or slapped him if he was female.

Instead, the other boy had glared attractively at Arthur and hit him with a burning quip about his prattish up bringing.

And thus their hatred for each other was born- genuine from Merlin's side and a facade on Arthur's who hoped every day that every glare Merlin sent his way would somehow end the absolutely crippling crush he had developed on sight with Merlin.

Short and sweet, hope you like it. Concrit welcomed. Flames will be watered with a hose!