Author's Note:Hello everyone! After a review I've had based on this work, I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to edit some of the material in the first few chapters to make the story sound much better so it makes more sense, so if you see something different, then that's why. Cheerio and enjoy!
9th December 11
Rain had struck Ealdor that evening as Merlin and Will were stuck at the dinner table, trying to work out which universities they would apply for whilst Hunith, Merlin's mother and Will's guardian, was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Then again, they did live in Wales, the country which saw nothing but literally rain.
"Mom? Why are you making me put the University of York down? What's wrong with more local universities, such as Glamorgan, Aberystwyth and Bangor? All of them have fantastic courses!"
Although Hunith in general always accepted her boys' options, she had reasons for sending them to York. "Merlin, there is nothing wrong with placing local universities down, but you need five options and there aren't five universities in Wales." Hunith joked, even though there are plenty of universities for such a small country. "Also with York, your uncle Gaius teaches alchemy there, so it would be perfect for you and you'd get in without fail with your perfect grades. The alchemy classes are designed for people who have magic, and you're the best sorcerer known around."
"Yes, but I'd like to read Mythical History, that would tie in quite nicely with myself being a sorcerer."
"But, think of it, at York you could do mythical history as well as alchemy as a joint honours. Also, Will is applying to go there so you're not alone. At least you know somebody then. And you'll make loads of new friends."
The name of Will's voice startled him away from the university prospectus he was reading and allowed to join in with the conversation. "Yes Merlin, she's making me apply there as well, so don't think it's you alone."
"What the hell are you going to study?"
"I'm putting down History, so I'll be with you for the mythical history lessons when we go." The way Will had said 'When we go', made it sound almost as they had already been accepted with honours.
"Who says we're going?"
By then, both Merlin and Will had a good month or so remaining to apply for their, well, four chosen universities as well as add the University of York to their list, making the five. Both, with the help of their college lecturer and Merlin's mother and Will's guardian Hunith, had written up their personal statements, and thus concluded their application. Even though they didn't five universities, their personal tutor advised them to, just in case some declined their offers.
Merlin applied to study History at Glamorgan, Aberystwyth, University of Birmingham, Bath Spa University and the joint honours at the University of York.
Will on the other hand also applied for Glamorgan and the University of York, but added Exeter, Keele and the University of Wales in Newport.
On the other hand, Arthur Pendragon, Britain's finest young actor, had recently been shooting scenes for his latest movie 'The Rising Sun' in France, where at a sunny evening in La Rochelle, Arthur was cooped up in his trailer with his tutor, trying to work out his university options. Although Arthur's tutor had recommended Oxford or Cambridge, Arthur had declined both, saying that he needed to be more at home, so a city that was like London, but not as huge. He had already written down Newman University College in Birmingham and the University of Birmingham.
Arthur loved Birmingham and the history that the city had to offer, known as 'The Second City', which was literally a smaller version of London. He added York to his list, as he'd never been to the city before and would like a place of change. Bath was also a good area and it's universities were among the best in the country, so Bath Spa was added. Now he needed one more, but his thoughts were cut short when there a knock on the door, his father Uther Pendragon behind it.
"George. May I speak to my son in private please." This caused Arthur to turn and face his father with an odd expression to his face. What could his father possibly want at this time of night?
"Of course Sir." George stepped out and guarded the trailer, Uther now sitting at the table with his son.
"Arthur, why are you doing this? You have a whole life ahead of you. You don't need a degree."
"Dad, what makes you think I want to stay in the acting business all my life? Yes I love my job and what it has to offer, but I'd like to be myself for the little time I have remaining. I want to go and study something I enjoy." Arthur knew there was going to be problems over this talk, like many of the talks he and his father had shared.
"Why are you allowing Morgana go to university without having a moan at her?" Arthur thought that since there was two children in the Pendragon family, why must his father have the debate with Arthur and not Morgana.
"She's only a TV actress, and has nothing coming up, such as premiere's, which you have yours in December, where you'll have to be with your co-star Elena to make a good impression."
"I don't even like Elena dad, she's alright as a friend but I'm not attracted to her. I'll find my own partner thank you very much at university! Also, I'll attend the premiere like I said I would."
Uther had some idea in the back of his mind that he'll have no choice but to let his son take a hiatus and go to university. "But if you married Elena, or someone like her, that would improve your status as an actor."
"And what, be some ego-maniac, no dad. I want to marry someone completely normal and very different to me. I think at university I'll meet Mr or Mrs Right."
Uther had no time to listen to his son's rambling, and got up to leave. "Fine, it's your choice. But you'll go to either Oxford or Cambridge."
"I'm not choosing either. I've already made my choices."
"Fine, but you'll regret this. You'll have to get and work through it off your own back. I'm not paying for you to go."
"I never said you were going to. I'll pay for it through the money I've earned so far. I don't care if I end up poor. I'd rather be poor than an arrogant sod! Now if you don't mind I have work to do and I'm not going to achieve four A-Levels just sitting here."
Uther jumped out of the trailer and slammed the door, walking off in a huff to talk with the producers, leaving George the trouble of trying to calm down Mr Pendragon Jr.
24th March 12
Over the next couple of months, it was the more or less wait for the results to come in on whether Merlin and Will had been given conditional offers at their chosen universities, and to apply for student finance.
Living in Ealdor, a village on the Welsh/Worcestershire border, their guardian Hunith worked in the village post office, and single handily rose both children from an early age, Merlin from birth, and Will from about 6, who had been good friends for a few years at the village school, so they felt more like brothers than just friends. Due to the little income that came into the household, both knew that they were going to receive a lot more than others would, and also applied for many scholarships to try and partially slash the heavy costs, especially with the new government in power.
As for college, both had to catch the train from Ealdor train station to Ludlow, Shropshire, where they studied their A-Levels. Both studied History, whereas Will took Politics, Geography and Maths. Merlin chose Chemistry, Drama and Geology.
It was a Saturday morning when Merlin awoke to find Hunith watching some cookery show on the television. Somehow she managed to receive a signal, meanwhile Will had taken to the kitchen to make himself some breakfast.
Merlin didn't feel quite like eating so he joined his mother on the sofa.
"You're not watching that bloody show again."
"Hey, us women nowadays don't get much to watch, it's more for young kids than anyone else. It's my turn and James Martin is a good cook so leave him alone."
"Knowing me they've got some random Z-Listed celebrity on this morning."
"Actually no, it's someone your own age, was talking about his latest role in a movie called 'The Rising Sun' as he is an actor before going to university for three years. He's applied to the same one as you."
"Oh, who is he. I might have heard of him."
"His name is Arthur Pendragon, son of the actor and director Uther Pendragon. He was in a show on the BBC not so long ago. He's doing a final role now before being a normal student for a while. He's the young blonde one on there."
"Hmph, being an actor is a far way from being normal. And I've never heard of him. Heard of his dad though."
Even though he had never heard of Arthur, he continued to watch the show with his mother, Will soon later joining them, listening to what was said on the television.
"So tell us Arthur, what is this movie about?" James was speaking to Arthur as they trying to make some foreign dish.
"Well, it's about this guy called Edwin who is originally from Devon, but migrates to France to live with his uncle. Every day is the same for him until he meets girl called Delphine under the rising sun. I don't want to give any spoilers so I'll leave it there."
"So, it has been said that after this movie has been finished you're taking a hiatus from acting?"
"Well yes. I've already mentioned that I'm going to apply at the University of York, but I've also applied to two uni's in Birmingham, Bath Spa and Canterbury Christ Church, where I've chosen to take on either Sports Studies, History or Mythical History." By now talking to James, Arthur was clearly having problems to chop some tomatoes.
To Merlin, this Arthur guy looked bloody gorgeous, he seemed a bit of prat though. He was probably making a good image for the cameras but deep down looked to be someone largely different. He was the sort of handsome bloke to be getting thousands of girls, and maybe some guys, kneeling at his feet worshiping him like some god, asking him to be their boyfriend when he's probably got some famous girlfriend of his own. Dressed in a green top with blue jeans, trainers and his blonde floppy hair with those indulging blue eyes, how couldn't anyone be attracted? Watching the television, Merlin hadn't realised that by the time the programme had almost finished, Merlin was inches from falling off the sofa from edging closer every minute to the television, being absorbed by the beauty of Arthur Pendragon.
"You're crushing on him." Will said as they made their way to the village library to check for university responses, as they had no computer.
It was plain noticeable that Merlin was indeed crushing on Mr Pendragon, but Merlin was in no position to confirm that. "No I'm not! I saw him on the television for 30 minutes. That is not crushing!"
Without a doubt, Will could tell that Merlin was no good as falsity. "Yes you are. And 30 minutes Merlin, trying to cook some appetising meal, long enough for you to get soaked in, or in your case, edging off the sofa to be soaked up and then almost landing hard on your arse when it finished."
Merlin plainly knew that Arthur was having difficult chopping on the television. "I don't think trying was the word."
"Ah, lighten up Merlin. It's not as if Arthur is actually going to York, becoming your room mate and then cooking for you, which you would adore. Presides, he's probably going to Oxford or Cambridge because he's Arthur bloody Pendragon."
"Yeah I guess you're right. He never probably mentioned them because he doesn't want others to take the wrong idea. Anyway, never mind his uni position. Let's check ours."
Thankfully, both had remembered their library cards in order to log onto the computers. Both having a good 30 minutes to get through to UCAS track, they would be able to find out by now where were giving the chance to prove themselves to be worthy of a student, and to check those that were not satisfied.
To their partial benefit, all the replies had come through, with all five universities accepting both students conditionally, providing that they get the required grades in August. However, between now and May to decide their firm choice, which for them would be York, and then their second choice/back-up option, which both wanted to remain local in the first place, so it was tough to decide.
1st April
It took the boys about a week to decide on the back-up option, where both would go for Glamorgan. Making the firm choice as York, as they would be living away from home they added to the choice that they would be living there, and therefore had the choice on whether in halls, which a place of residence would be guaranteed for them if they were accepted in August, or live in one of the houses that the Uni of York offered, which they would share with roommates. Wanting to get to know people better but in small chunks, they decided on the housing option. As for Glamorgan, they could just get the train there or if they felt like residing there then they could try.
As for Arthur, he checked his tracking through his laptop, which he was accepted at all of the universities. Making a tough decision, he adored the sound of being able to do a joint-honours course in two things which he would devote his life to, and made York as his 1st choice, with Newman University College as his back-up.
August
Throughout the last few months, Will had celebrated his 18th Birthday, receiving, as Merlin did back on his 18th in January, a mobile phone. It wasn't one of those high gadget things, but at least he could keep in contact with old friends from college, as well as stay in touch with Hunith when they would be university, as well as talk to Merlin if they weren't together at the time.
The boys had also around May completed their final A-Level examinations and coursework. As for the summer months of June and July, the boys both got summer jobs to try and earn some income to buy things for when they departed for university. Will worked in the café in the nearest town whilst Merlin partially worked at the florists, having a passion for gardening, as well as helping elderly women with their gardens, with the comments floating out that he was 'an adorable little angel with cute ears.'
The first week of August was the annual Emrys holiday, where they would spend a week in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, before heading back up to Wales, returning back to work until early September, where university shopping and packing will be the main goal.
It was the second week of August, and today was the day of the results. All three of the Emrys household would be catching the train up to Ludlow to find out their grades, and then lunch in Ludlow, a train back into Ealdor, a stop-off to the library to find out which university they were off to, and then finally back home. Unfortunately for Hunith, she would be missing her cookery show this morning, ah, what was one going to hurt?
The boys entered the sports hall of Ludlow Community College and showed their ID Cards to the staff working at the desks. They gave them a number to take to another table, which would contain their results. The number was their student identification number.
Summer 2012 A-Level Examination Results
Name: Merlin Emrys
Subject:Grade:
Geology (GO03) B
Geology (GO04) C
Drama (DR03) A
Drama (DR04) B
History (HY02) A
History (HY04) A
Chemistry (CY03) B
Overall Grades:
Geology – B
Drama – A
History – A
Chemistry - B
Summer 2012 A-Level Examination Results
Name: Will Dempsie
Subject:Grade:
Maths (MA04) B
Politics (PL03) B
Politics (PL04) A
Geography (GE03) C
Geography (GE04) B
History (HY02) A
History (H404) A
Overall Grade:
Maths – B
Politics – B
Geography – C
History – A
As for Arthur, by August, the film had been completed and was now back at home in London with his sister Morgana, who had also applied for York, with Brighton University as her backup. Both attended their former college to collect their A-Level results, which turned out that Arthur had received an A for History, A for P.E., B for French and a A* for Politics. As for Morgana, she received an A* for History, A for Biology, B for Environmental Studies, and another A for Statistics. With extremely excellent grades, both had an idea they had been accepted at both universities, where they would get the first option.
With both incredibly pleased with themselves, and Hunith delighted for her boys, both paid their final moments at college and went for Lunch, which to their surprise was at a small fancy sandwich shop in Ludlow.
Getting off the train back in Ealdor later that afternoon, they made their way to the library. Thankfully they had another 30 minutes before the library would shut up until Monday. So, because they were just checking the results of where they had landed, they would only need the one computer.
Both checked their placements and printed out lists of items that they would need for university, as well as other information that they would need.
Finally, all four college graduates would end up saying to someone, "I'm going to York."