So, I know this is really quick, but I felt like writing. Bradley and Colin still inspiring me, that and the fact that the Merlin theme is my ringtone, now and forever.

Chapter Two – Of Rotten Fruit and Servants

"Emrys! Answer me!" The voice echoed in Merlin's head as he shot out of bed. He had never heard the voice, nor the word 'Emrys' either. He scrubbed his face with his hands, and frowned. He tried to sleep, but the voice kept calling to him. Dawn slowly broke, and Merlin rose to the sound of Gaius making breakfast. Merlin tied the neckerchief and pulled his tunic over his head. He walked down the stairs and frowned at the bowl that Gaius offered to him. The 'breakfast' was sludge, something that his mother made, but tasteless and lumpy all the same. Merlin swallowed the compound quickly, causing Gaius to frown.

"Did you hear voices last night Gaius?" Merlin asked, looking up from his bowl. Gaius shook his head, and frowned. "I swore I heard voices."

"Are you sure you didn't just imagine them?" Gaius asked, wiping his mouth from his porridge. Merlin just nodded, though he didn't really accept it. Gaius smiled and gathered the bowls. "I hear Lady Helen is singing today at the banquet. As my ward, you should come with me. It might be fun." Merlin just nodded, and went to help Gaius clean. "No, go explore the town boy. It would do you some good." Merlin smiled and thanked Gaius, then ran outside to the Square. He saw Lady Helen arrive, and heard a slight ringing noise, as though bells were chiming close by, but he brushed it off as the chatter of the square became loud. He remembered Gaius saying something about Uther wishing to see him, and sighed. He made his way to the council room, and was stopped by the guards.

"Listen, boy. The King is busy holding council, and you must wait to see him." The stouter guard said gruffly, pushing Merlin back.

"You don't understand, he's expecting me." Merlin said, looking at the guard, his face impassive.

"Why would the king be expecting a peasant boy?" The other guard asked, a bit nicer than the other.

"I'm not a peasant. I'm Lord Balinor's son." Merlin said quietly. The guards looked at him, and laughed.

"Lord Balinor is long dead. He had no son!" Merlin pulled a scroll from his pocket, written in the hand of Geoffrey, Camelot's keeper of records. The guards apologised quickly, and let him in. As Merlin entered, he bowed to the King, and his eyes lingered over Arthur, and he bowed to him as well. The King regarded Merlin angrily, and stood.

"How dare you intrude on my council?" Uther shouted, and Merlin apologised.

"I was told by Gaius you were expecting me." Merlin said in response.

"You're Balinor's son?" Uther asked, and Merlin nodded. Arthur paled and his head dropped. Merlin smiled and looked at Arthur.

"It seems both of us were at a misunderstanding, my lord." Arthur just nodded, and mumbled something that could've been an apology, but Merlin wasn't sure. Turning to Uther, his smile turned to a straight line, as Uther came round, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Balinor was a good man, I appreciated his help those years ago. I can only hope that you can live up to his measure." Uther looked at Merlin's outfit and frowned. "Why are you wearing such filthy clothes?" Uther asked, and Merlin frowned. He rather liked his clothes. Uther called to Geoffrey and he tottered over to them. "Balinor held some gold before he passed, did he not?" Geoffrey nodded, and Uther smiled. "Perfect, give Merlin here his estate, and Merlin, talk to Arthur sometime, we must simply have you trained to be a knight." Arthur nodded, and Merlin went white. "Now, if there's nothing else?" Merlin bowed and left, Arthur trailing after him. Merlin leaned against a wall, his eyes closed.

"Listen, Merlin, if I had known you weren't a peasant-"Arthur began, but Merlin began laughing. "Why are you laughing?" Arthur asked, confused.

"It was fun! I was enjoying myself!" Merlin said, staring at Arthur. He swore he could stare into those pools of blue forever. Arthur caught his gaze, then wiped his face. Merlin bowed his head, and Arthur clapped his hand on Merlin's shoulder, causing a shock to run through Merlin's body.

"The offer for knighthood still stands. I never met your father, but I hear he was a good man. Come join me for training this afternoon, and we shall see to it that you become a-", Arthur looked at Merlin's thin form and chuckled, "strong and brave warrior." Merlin laughed along with him and nodded.

"Thank you, my lord." Merlin said quietly.

"Please Merlin, call me Arthur. Don't treat me for what I am, only who I am. It gets rather lonely here in Camelot. I've never had a friend, really. All the knights say i'm their friend, but if truth be told, i'm really the Prince of Camelot to them." Arthur spoke softly and sadly, and Merlin thought of his friend Will back in Ealdor.

Merlin felt a pang of sadness for Arthur, and smiled. "I'm sure you and I could be friends, Arthur." Arthur looked up at Merlin and smiled too. "I should go, Gaius wanted me to help him." Merlin said, turning. Arthur put his hand on Merlin's shoulder once again, and Merlin turned, Arthur's hand still lingering.

"Thank you, Merlin." Arthur said, taking his hand off of Merlin's shoulder. Merlin nodded and left to explore the town, glad that his lie had worked. Arthur felt a connection to Merlin, a sort of premature camaraderie that he felt he should nurture. Arthur walked back towards the council room, and entered, taking his place by his father.

Merlin knew he couldn't be a knight. From what Gaius had told him, Uther hated sorcery, which Merlin practiced freely. Or did, until he arrived in Camelot. Merlin couldn't risk it, but he had to admit, he did enjoy Arthur's company. He seemed much more humble than Merlin would've guessed, and Merlin made a note of going to training that afternoon. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he ran into a serving girl, knocking her basket of laundry to the ground. She looked up at him and scowled. Merlin offered his hand to her, and helped her up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming." Merlin stammered, hoping she would forgive him. She curtsied, and kept her head down.

"My lord, i'm terribly sorry, It was my fault." Merlin looked shocked, and shook his head.

"Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault." The girl blinked, and began to gather her laundry. "I'm Merlin, by the way."

"I know who you are. I was in the council room." She said, kneeling to out everything in her basket. "My name is Guinevere." Merlin smiled and stood. "I must go, the Lady Morganna is waiting for me."

She scampered down the hallway, and Merlin just rocked on his heels. He made his way to the training grounds, and Arthur smiled at him from across the grassy field, telling his servant to fetch armour and a sword for Merlin. Merlin was beckoned into a tent by the servant, and noticed a fresh pair of clothes, and the servant standing there with the chainmail. He bowed as Merlin entered, and asked Merlin to change into the new clothes. Arthur walked into the tent as Merlin began to pull off his tunic, and promptly turned heel and walked back out. As Merlin was ushered out of the tent, in full chain and plate, Arthur nodded. Raising his sword, he motioned for Merlin to do the same. Merlin looked more than a little confused, but did so nonetheless. Arthur charged Merlin, and Merlin's eyes popped and he ran the other way.

"Merlin! Come back here and fight me!" Arthur shouted, and Merlin skidded to a stop. He sauntered back over, and Arthur laughed. "We're sparring, i'm not going to hurt you, you fool." Arthur said, and Merlin nodded. Merlin, though he had no practice with a sword, instinctively knew to duck, parry and dodge as Arthur swung fast but powerful strikes in Merlin's direction. Merlin blocked a swing from Arthur that set him off balance, and Merlin took the opportunity to strike, jumping on Arthur, pinning him. Guards ran towards Merlin, but Arthur stopped them. He looked at Merlin, who was still on top of him, his knee in his crotch, and Arthur coughed. Merlin jumped, and extended his hand to Arthur. "Well, I doubt you need much training then. The ceremony will be in the next few weeks. First, you have to come on a hunt with me." Arthur said, and Merlin stared at him blankly. "You're knighting ceremony. Idiot." Arthur said, and Merlin nodded, understanding. "But you and I are going hunting first. We shall leave tomorrow." Merlin sighed, and went to take off his armour. His tunic rode up his chest as he took off the chainmail, and Arthur swallowed as he looked at the milky skin of Merlin's abdomen, and then turned to his other knights. "Get on with it! Maces and shields, go!" Merlin smiled, and saw Gaius standing in the field. Merlin walked over to him, and Gaius smiled.

"Well done, my boy. You'll make your father proud." Gaius said, and patted his shoulder. Merlin couldn't help but smile.