Hey guys, I literally haven't written creatively for going on 4 years now since my GCSE days, but recently I've been finding myself getting quite frustrated with the serious lack of Merlin/Mordred fanfiction.

I personally love this pairing and so I have decided to try and see if I have any of the old creative juices left in writing my first ever attempt at fanfiction. I am going to be extremely busy over the next couple of months, however I have surprised myself at how much I enjoyed writing the first chapter and so hopefully it can be something I do as a hobby when I'm having some time off my studies. J

I do not own any of the characters or names unless stated otherwise.

Chapter 1 – On the floor again.

Merlin opened the door to flat 101 with his elbow; barely managing to keep hold of his keys, a rolled up duvet and a very battered old case full of what felt like his entire wardrobe.

"Of all the days for the lift to be out of order, why on earth did it have to be today?" he panted, whilst awquardly shuffling into the hallway, "Oh, and the twenty flights of stairs? Seriously? Were they hoping I'd die on the climb up here so they can just rent the flat out again to someone else?"

As first impressions go, the deep blue carpet and crisply painted white walls of the hallway suggested this wasn't the typical squat-like accommodation most new students were told to expect. It actually had a reasonably modern air about it, which as Camelot Halls had only been built a few years ago due to a generous donation from one Uther Pendragon, was hardly surprising.

"Oh hush now Merlin," laughed Hunith - his mother, "Always with the dramatics!"

"You won't be saying that when you have to take me the hospital with a dislocated shoulder," he grinned looking back at her.

Of course being that he, Merlin Emrys, just so happened to be just over 6ft tall, ridiculously slim and considerably lacking in any form of balance whatsoever, this then presented the perfect opportunity for the duvet he was holding to get caught on the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall beside him.

This was the first instance in which Merlin found himself lying on the hallway floor of flat 101, squinting angrily at the bright spotlights shining down on him.

"Oh really Merlin," sighed Hunith, her mouth twitching as she fought back a smile, "This has to be a new record even for you! What was that: 5...10 seconds before you were flat on the floor?"

She carefully trod over a scowling Merlin and picked his keys off the floor where he had flung them as he fell.

"Well then... looks like we're looking for room D... which is just here!"

She eagerly fitted the key into the lock and wandered into Merlin's new room, the door closing behind her.

"Well I'll just stay down here then shall I?" shouted Merlin, to which he received no response. Groaning as he forced himself to his feet, he mentally took check of the various aches and throbs of his head and limbs. Well, nothing was broken, which today seemed a small mercy.

He picked up his case and duvet, whilst glaring angrily at the fire extinguisher (Why was it even there, it's not like they would ever need to use it?!) before shuffling to the door of his new room and venturing inside.

"Thanks for the help mum!" he spluttered upon making it into the room and dropping his cargo to the floor.

Hunith; a kind, motherly looking woman, with greying light brown hair swept quickly into a bun and blue eyes sparkling with warmth - so much like his own; turned from admiring the sea view out of the window, to place her hands on her hips and echo in a scarily accurate mimic of his own voice – "Oh come on Mum, I'm 18 years old and going to university; I can look after myself!"

"Okay, okay!" laughed Merlin, flinging himself down onto the lumpy looking single mattress that would be his bed for the next year, "I admit that I did indeed say that and I promise not to moan in future, as long as you don't do that voice ever again!"

"Not even in front of any potential boyfriends you may bring home in the future?" she winked.

"Especially in front of a boyfriend or any other general friends for that matter... or even complete strangers!"

Hunith tutted and rolled her eyes comically, "You certainly know how to close all the loopholes and ruin a mother's fun don't you Merlin? Are you sure you shouldn't be studying Law instead of English Literature?"

"I'm definitely sure" he laughed, "God knows it's the only thing I do actually have any talent for! Well apart from the other thing-"

"-Yes that other thing which we both agreed you wouldn't even mention when attending this university," interjected Hunith, her voice hushed and all traces of mirth vanished from her expression, to be replaced by worry and urgency. "You are a student at Camelot University Merlin, which just so happens to be heavily invested in by Uther Pendra –"

"Mum I know!" Merlin exclaimed, jumping up from the bed and running to pull his mother into a hug. "I promise that I won't mention it, or let anyone see me using it. I'll just be normal old Merlin; Mum please don't worry."

Hunith took a few shuddering breaths as she fought to withhold her tears, before prising herself away from her son and giving a shaky smile. She swept his jet black hair out of his eyes and clicked her tongue in mock annoyance.

"Really Merlin you desperately need a haircut; why you couldn't just let me do it I don't know."

Merlin sighed, partially out of relief he had managed to avoid yet another of his mother's wave of university centred anxiety rants and also out of remembrance of what was commonly referred to in his household as the bowl-cut incident. Needless to say this involved a pair of kitchen scissors, a dessert bowl, an unfortunate sneeze by Hunith, a mirror and a mortified expression of Merlin's.

"Now getting a haircut is really something that I can manage on my own now Mum, I'll get to a barber's tomorrow"

Hunith choked out a laugh before straightening her coat and placing her hands on Merlin's shoulders.

"Right, well seeing as we have established that you are in fact a grown (ish) man now at university, I will leave you to it. I'm sure you don't want your old mum cramping your style when your new flat mates arrive"

"Urgh, way to guilt trip me mum" laughed Merlin, pulling her in for yet another hug "But now we're here... I actually really don't want you to go... could you not sleep under my bed and then you can come out and help with my laundry every now and again?"

Hunith pushed her son away slightly and looked up at him, her expression horrified, "And have to listen to all sorts should you bring a lucky chap home one night? What do you young people call it these days... Dogging?"

Now it was Merlin's turn to look horrified. "NO MUM! Oh no no no! Dogging is so not the right word!"

"Hmmm... well that explains why Will looked so mortified when I was speaking to him about it the other day..."

Merlin blanched at this and looked at his mother in disbelief "... Mum, why were you talking – Actually I don't want to know!" He brought his hands to his ears and began humming the theme tune to Eastenders.

His self inflicted isolation was cut short by a chuckling Hunith prising his hands away from his ears, before giving him a kiss on the cheek and one final hug.

"Now I must really be going if I'm to catch the next train back to Ealdor," she said gently, "But I want you to promise me that you will text or call me anytime, anywhere, should you need me... or especially if someone finds out about your... talents."

"I promise mum," whispered Merlin.

Hunith smiled one last time before heading towards the door.

"I've packed you enough food to last you tonight and breakfast tomorrow, but you'll have to fend for yourself in the supermarket after that... and I love you Merlin, please, please keep yourself safe."

"I will Mum, don't worry. I'll be fine... and I love you too."

One last quick smile from Hunith and she was gone.

Merlin was alone in Camelot Halls.