Year One

"Hey. Boy. Hey." Arthur shook the boy who finally roused, bleary eyed. "Time to leave."

Merlin sat up, blinking and rubbing at the top of his head. Arthur handed him a bowl.

"Eat quickly."

Merlin accepted the bowl, spooning a grainy porridge into his mouth. Arthur moved to his horse, packing up. "Where are we going?"

"We?" Arthur asked. "I'm going back home. You should, too."

Merlin dropped the spoon in the bowl. "I'm going with you." His heart battered his ribs. He'd just said he was going to Camelot.

"You are not."

"I have no where to go."

"Ealdor."

Merlin looked down at the bowl. "I can't go home."

Arthur felt sudden realization. "They hurt you?"

"No!" Merlin spoke so forcefully, Arthur raised his eyebrows.

"What then?"

"I just...I can't go back."

Arthur shook his head, still packing.

"I can help you," Merlin said, jumping up. "I'm good at chores." He moved to roll up Arthur's pallet, but tumbled over his own feet.

Arthur laughed and pulled Merlin up by his arm. "I don't think I need a servant like you."

"Please, don't leave me here."

Arthur sighed. He could see his father now, lecturing about dragging useless waifs home. What would he do with a child? Arthur searched his mind. Gaius! The old physician hadn't had a helper in years, and he would certainly never turn down anyone in need.

Arthur stared at the boy looking hopefully at him. I can't believe I'm even considering this! But, the boy had saved his life. "Roll that pallet up," Arthur instructed. "And don't fall over this time."

"I will, yes, thank you."

"Sire."

The boy cocked his head.

"When you address royalty, you say 'sire.'"

"Oh. Okay. Sire."

Arthur turned back to his horse. Heaven help the boy if he ever ran into his father!


Merlin rolled the prince's pallet up as carefully as he could, hoping to please him enough to be useful. Every so often he looked sideways at the Dragon Man. Why do I have to go with him? He thought the voice might answer, but it had been silent ever since he'd left Ealdor.

Merlin handed Arthur the rolled up pallet then gobbled up his porridge and rinsed his bowl. He began to feel glad his mother had insisted he do chores without magic. Hard work came easily to him.

When everything was ready, Arthur picked him up under the arms and set him on his horse, then swung up himself. Merlin threw his arms around the prince's waist.

"Oi!" Arthur exclaimed. "Haven't you ever ridden before?"

"Y-Yes," Merlin stammered. He felt so high up. "A...pony."

Arthur laughed loudly. "Loosen up a little."

Merlin tried to slacken his hold.

"Picked up a stray, have you?" one of the knights chided as he passed by Arthur.

Arthur ignored him and followed after, beginning the journey home. "What's your name?"

"Name?" Merlin asked, still a bit frightened.

"If I'm taking you all the way to Camelot, I'd like to know your name."

"Merlin."

"Merlin," Arthur said. "I don't think I've ever met anyone with that name."

"M-mother named me."

"Did she? What about your father?"

"I don't have a father."

Arthur didn't reply for a moment. Merlin thought he'd felt the prince tense up. "I don't have a mother."

"What happened to her?"

"She died." His voice was quiet.

"Oh. Sorry."

"What about your father?"

"I don't know. Mother doesn't talk about him." He wished she would. He'd always wondered where his magic came from. His mother didn't have any. She claimed she didn't know where he'd gotten it from, but he thought it must have something to do with the father he'd never known.

"Well, Merlin, I want you to listen closely."

"Yes...sire."

"Very good. When we get to Camelot, I'm going to take you to Gaius. He's a good man. I've known him my whole life. He'll take care of you."

"Thank you," Merlin effused, though a large part of him was scared to be heading towards a place he'd never seen where he'd be dropped in the hands of someone he'd never met.


The trip back to Camelot took a day and a half. In that time, Arthur found Merlin overly eager to please him. He didn't get much more information out of the boy concerning himself. And although he enjoyed the company, he was going to be glad when he could hand Merlin over to someone else. A child was too much of a burden.

They reached Camelot late in the afternoon. As they neared the courtyard, Arthur heard his father giving a speech. The courtyard was packed with people. Must be another execution. Nothing brought out the people more than a gory display.

When they entered the courtyard, Merlin shifted behind him. Arthur looked over his shoulder to see the boy craning his neck to look. Arthur stopped his horse as the crowd became too thick to navigate. He looked up at his father standing on a balcony.

"This man is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. By the laws of Camelot, such practices are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass."

Arthur moved his gaze to the criminal, kneeling and laying his head across a block. He heard Merlin gasp. The boy's arms tightened around Arthur's waist, and his head pressed hard into his back. Arthur glanced behind again to see Merlin's face turned away. He heard the heavy thud of an axe.

The people began to disperse, their entertainment over. Arthur tapped his heels into his horse's sides, directing it to the steps that led into the castle. He glanced up. His father had noticed him and raised his hand in greeting. Arthur raised his own hand in return. He dismounted and reached up for Merlin. The boy let himself be pulled down, but his head was bowed. Arthur noticed tears on his pale cheeks.

How stupid of me! Arthur chided himself. The boy had probably never witnessed an execution. "Hey, come on," he said, reaching down to flick the tears off the boy's face with a gloved hand. "He was a sorcerer."

Merlin raised his eyes and Arthur felt a little disconcerted for a moment. Those blue depths seemed to almost be accusing him. "He was killed because he had magic."

"Magic is evil. Magic almost destroyed Camelot." How could this boy not know magic couldn't be tolerated? Cenred didn't approve of magic either as far as Arthur knew. "He deserved to die," Arthur concluded.

The boy lowered his head once more. He'd better toughen up if he ever wants to get by in this world, Arthur thought to himself.

King Uther appeared on the steps. He descended them as fast as he could, greeting his son with a warm embrace. "Arthur! Welcome home!"

"Hello, father," Arthur greeted.

Uther pulled back, clasping Arthur's shoulders. "Did you complete your mission?"

Arthur nodded. "The Druid camp was destroyed."

"Good," Uther declared. He looked downwards. Arthur felt someone pressing close to him. "Who is this?"

"A boy, father. I found him in the woods."

"And you brought him here?"

Arthur decided to leave out the fact the boy had taken a blow meant for him. He didn't really want to admit to his father he'd needed to be saved in battle by a child. "He's alone."

"We don't have room for stray children."

They had more than enough room, but Arthur heard what his father really meant: poor stray children don't belong in the castle. "I plan to take him to Gaius."

"Gaius?" Uther looked thoughtful. He nodded. "He might appreciate a messenger boy."

"If anything," Arthur added, "it will keep the boy off the streets and out of trouble."

"Yes. Good thinking, Arthur."

Arthur felt relieved. He'd avoided a lecture and received praise from his father.

"Take him to Gaius, wash up, then come see me to report."

"Yes, father."

Uther turned, climbing back up the steps.


Merlin followed close to Arthur as the prince led him through the halls of the castle. He stared every which way. He'd never seen such splendor. The castle was so white and clean. Decorative banners and statues caught his eyes as they walked. He could hardly take it all in.

They came to a spiral staircase. They weaved around and around until they reached the top, then walked a short distance to a door. Arthur knocked loudly.

"Come in," a voice called out.

Arthur pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Gaius."

"Arthur. Welcome back."

"Thank you."

Merlin stood behind Arthur, peering around at an old man in a robe. His arm was suddenly gripped tightly as Arthur pulled him in front.

"I found this on the expedition."

The old man raised his right eyebrow in interest and surprise.

"He didn't have anywhere to go, and I thought you might be able to use him."

Merlin's heart thumped as the old man moved towards him. He stopped and reached down to tip Merlin's chin up. He turned his face back and forth to get a good look at him, then dropped his hand.

"I suppose I could," Gaius said. "Can you keep your nose clean and be quiet, boy?"

Merlin swallowed and nodded.

Gaius pointed to a set of stairs. "You can take the room there. Wash up and come back to me."

Merlin craned his neck up at Arthur.

"Go on," Arthur said.

Merlin ambled across the room, staring at the clutter of bottles, parchments, books, and trinkets of all kinds. He heard them talking about him.

"He'll need clothing. I can arrange that and send it to you," Arthur said.

"What do you know about him?"

"He's from Ealdor in Cenred's kingdom."

"Ealdor?" Gaius sounded intrigued.

"I don't know much more. He's a hard worker. I think you'll find him satisfactory."

Merlin climbed the set of stairs, then pushed open a door. A small room met his eyes, and yet, it was far bigger and more luxurious than home. He paced around the room. There was a bed and a washstand. Other than that, it seemed the old man, Gaius, used it for storage; much of what he'd seen in the main room was repeated here.

Merlin moved to the window. He peered out at a breathtaking view.

Welcome to Camelot, Merlin.

Merlin whirled around. No one was in the room. He put a hand to his head. The voice had returned.


Gaius closed the door behind Arthur, then turned to stare at the steps to the storage room. His last assistant had left six years ago. He hadn't bothered to replace him, finding the quiet to his liking. Still, if the child could behave himself, he certainly wouldn't turn away a good messenger, or someone to do the chores he lacked the time to complete. He'd been feeling achier and slower these days.

Gaius ambled over to the steps, climbing them slowly. Arthur had told him the boy's name. "Merlin?" He pushed open the door to find the boy laying on the bed, arms wrapped around himself. He looked up, and Gaius saw fear in his eyes.

Gaius tried to smile as kindly as possible. He walked into the room and sat at the end of the bed, placing a hand on one of the boy's legs. "I won't harm you. I promise."

The boy nodded, but didn't speak. Gaius stared at his face. It was lean with high cheekbones. His hair was raven black. He reminded Gaius of someone he'd known long ago, but that man he assumed dead.

"Did you wash?"

The boy pulled himself up. "I forgot."

"It's alright. You can do it now."

Merlin stood and walked to the washstand. He stared at it uncertainly. Gaius moved over to him. "Here." He picked up a cloth laying next to a bowl. "You do it like this." He poured some water from a pitcher into the bowl, then dipped the cloth in. He wrung it out and pressed the cloth to Merlin's face, rubbing back and froth and behind his neck.

"We only have a rain barrel at home," Merlin commented.

"You'll find Camelot much different compared to Ealdor." Gaius handed the cloth to Merlin. "Are you hungry?" He moved back towards the door. Merlin trailed after him.

"A little."

"Then," Gaius stopped at the door. "Take off your shirt and wash up. I'll have something waiting for you."

Merlin grinned at him and Gaius noted the boy's easy smile. He smiled back, then began to descend the stairs.

Gaius was never really sure later what happened, but he somehow tripped and began to fall down the stairs. His mind readied himself for a crash and pain, but then he found himself floating in the air, hovering above the steps. He hardly had a moment to register the golden gleam in the boy's eyes as he landed upright on the last step.

Gaius whipped his head to the boy. Merlin stared at him wide eyed.

"You have magic," Gaius whispered in awe.

Merlin seemed to suddenly understand what he'd done. He sank to the floor, pulling his knees into his chest, and burying his head in his hands. "Please don't kill me," his shaky voice pleaded.