Merlin belongs to the BBC and its creators.

Meeting

Even though they'd been going to the same school for two years they'd never met. Arthur Pendragon was a school favourite and was requested to be in Mrs. Palmer's class for year 5. Guinevere Leodegrance had moved to Camelot in year 4 and while she was clever she was very shy and only had a couple of friends. She was not a teacher's favourite and therefore was never in class with Arthur until year 6. Arthur must have done something in year 5 to not be handpicked by Mrs. Palmer for year 6.

As a result Guinevere ended up being in class with Arthur and sparks flew from the moment they met. It all started in French class when after a test the teacher Madam Florence told the class that the highest results were that of Guinevere Leodegrance and Arthur Pendragon who got the same marks. Gwen could feel Arthur's glare from across the room she kept her head down refusing to react to his stare.

When she left class Arthur was waiting for her he grabbed her by her wrist and swung her around to face him.

'I don't allow anyone to be smarter than me especially not a girl, I'm going to take that test again just to show you that I'm smarter than you and Madam Florence will let me as I'm her favourite.'

'What if I'm smarter than you in other things?'

'You? I highly doubt that!'

'We'll just have to see won't we?'

'Yes we have all of year 6 to see who comes out on top but I warn you that I won't make it easy,' Arthur replied spitefully he had no intention of letting a girl beat him especially not a small socially inept girl.

'What did the gorgeous Arthur Pendragon want?' questioned Gwen's best friend Elaine.

'He didn't like it that I tied with him for first place in French and warned me that he was going to take the test again just to prove he was smarter than me it sounded like he was declaring war on me.'

'Wow what a sexist and Gwen I'd be worried if he said he was going to go after me.'

'Well I'm not afraid we're only competing academically and I know what my strengths and weaknesses are I'll just have to find out what his are and know what subjects I can beat him in and what I'll have to work hard in.'

'What are you good at Gwen?'

'I get high marks for History, Geography, English, Music, Art, Science, French, Politics and Dance. However, I get bad marks in Maths and PE it seems no matter how hard I try I just can't get good marks for them.'

'We'll have to find out what Arthur is good at look we can ask his friend Merlin I'm sure he'll be amused by Arthur and tell us.'

'Hey Merlin,' Elaine caught up with him as they were moving down the hallway back to their home room.

'Hi Elaine and Gwen, what are you up to?'

'Well Arthur has just told Gwen that he doesn't like being tied with a girl and he is going to make it his mission in year 6 to get better marks can you tell us what subjects he's good in and what he's rubbish at?'

'Sure he's really good in Math, Science, PE, History, Politics and French. He's rubbish in English, Geography, Music, Art and Dance. He's really, really bad at English he hates writing.' Merlin snickered at this because he was good at English and Arthur hated that he was better than him in a subject.

Gwen thought about this and knew that she couldn't compete with him in Math or PE as these were her worst subjects. But he couldn't compete with her in English as that was her top mark. The other subjects were secondary subjects so they didn't count too much but she knew he would still compete with her in those subjects. They returned to their home room which was with their class teacher Mr. Morgan. Gwen liked her new teacher he was funny and he always listened whenever you had a problem. Gwen sat with Elaine and Arthur with Merlin as the desks were lined in rows of two.

'How was French who got the top marks?' questioned Mr. Morgan.

Gwen and Arthur put up their hands and Mr. Morgan raised his eyebrows it seemed that Arthur had met his match in Guinevere. Good thought Mr. Morgan it should take Arthur down a peg or two to realize that he couldn't be at the top of everything.

'Well that's interesting you both tied for first place?'

Gwen nodded her head and Arthur glared at her once more. Mr. Morgan could see the animosity that Arthur felt towards Gwen and thought that this year 6 class was going to be entertaining to say the least. Then he announced what he knew would make Arthur even more competitive with Gwen.

'This is an awards sheet,' Mr. Morgan explained holding it up, 'every time you get an A in a subject you get an award sticker for that subject. If you are on a school team you get an award sticker and if you volunteer throughout the school you get a sticker. They will be awarded every half term so I expect you all to work hard. These sheets will be displayed in the classroom so you can take pride in yourself.'

Arthur sat up suddenly and paid attention to this and was already formulating how many stickers he could get and what he could beat Guinevere in. Gwen was staring at her teacher eagerly knowing that she could volunteer for as many positions as she could during her lunchtime and playtime.

Gwen raised her hand, 'Mr. Morgan what can we volunteer for?'

'Good question Gwen, you can volunteer as a reading buddy for the younger children work at reception while the secretary goes for lunch and as a library volunteer.'

Gwen decided that she would do all three while Arthur rolled his eyes he would never do those volunteer positions.

Arthur then raised his hand

'Yes Arthur,'

'Will we get them for intermurals as well as school sport teams?'

'Yes you will and if your team wins you get another sticker underneath saying champion.'

Gwen groaned PE had never been her forte unlike Arthur who was one of the top athletes of the school and played for the school basketball and volleyball teams. However, intermurals sounded like fun and she did enjoy basketball.

'Right moving on its now time for English we'll be studying novels this term and you will have to write a report on each novel.'

Arthur looked down at his desk he hated English it was a subject he was terrible at and no doubt that Miss brain box over there was brilliant at it. She looked like the type who would always have her head buried in a book. He turned to look at her and caught her looking at him with a smug smile.

'Merlin what did you tell Gwen when we were coming to class?' he questioned his friend.

'She asked what subjects you were good in and what you were not so good at.'

'What did you tell her?'

'The truth.'

'Merlin! You told her I was rubbish at English that's why she's sitting there with that smug look.'

'Arthur why are you freaking out just because a girl got the same mark as you.'

'I won't let myself be beaten by a girl I have to get top marks no matter what. You know what my father is like.'

'Well I have some news you might like. While Gwen asked what you were good at I found out what she was good at and what she isn't so good at.'

'Brilliant work, Merlin so tell me what is little miss brain box good and bad at?'

'She gets high marks for History, Geography, English, Music, Art, Science, French, Politics and Dance. She gets low marks in Math and PE. According to Elaine she hates Math and is really terrible at it.'

'Well it seems that we can compete with each other in most subjects so that is what we'll do.'

'Arthur you can't be cruel to her she's shy and quiet don't be nasty.'

Arthur just ignored him as he'd already decided that he was going to show her that he was better in other ways other than academically.

'Arthur and Merlin this is not discussion time is there something you'd like to share with the class?'

'No sir,' they both replied.

'Well your little conversation just cost you your morning break as you will spend it writing out the school rules.'

'Sir!' they both protested.

Arthur looked over at Gwen and saw a smile playing over her lips.

'Mr. Morgan Gwen is laughing at me I think she should have to stay in as well.'

'No, Arthur she won't be she wasn't the one who disrupted the lesson.'

Arthur glared at her once more and she even had the cheek to wave goodbye to him at break time.

'Sir she's making fun of me again,' protested Arthur.

'Sit down and write out the school rules and leave that girl alone.' Mr. Morgan returned in a bored voice. He was privately thinking that he'd never seen Arthur so affected by a girl before and was doing his best to get her into trouble as well.

Arthur sat down with a sulky set to his lips and copied out the school rules over and over again during the twenty minute break that they had. He thought just wait until lunchtime I'm going to get her for making me have to do this and miss my break time. His lips then curved into a smile as he thought of all the different ways he was going to embarrass her.