A/N: Hello all! So this is another Merthur fic that I have decided to write. It has no connections to my first Merthur story but is a standalone, with new ideas that I have been wanting to write. If you have any input as to another chapter or idea I should write, please let me know! I am eager to take in new ideas! I hope you enjoy my new Merthur story...Transcend.

Chapter 1

The boy walked around the table, studying the merchant's items longingly. They were beautiful little trinkets, a necklace here, a mirror there. Burnished gold and dark silver shone into his eyes as the sunlight glinted off of precious and old objects. But what really caught his eye was the box. It was purple and small, almost like a jewelry case. The boy walked over to it slowly, checking behind him to find the merchant. He was speaking with another customer. The boy swept one hand through his dark raven hair casually before leaning in towards the purple case. It was velvety smooth and covered in archaic words and ruins. The boy recognized some of them. He whispered them in confusion under his breath, tracing the curved designs carefully.

He reached the lock and frowned. There was no key hole...how did one open it then? The boy looked at the lock, touching the small rune carefully. His eyes flashed gold as he understood the mark. "Chershie," he whispered. There was a click. The boy smiled as he gently lifted the lid.

"Ahem," the merchant coughed. The boy stood up guiltily.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just...looking."

The merchant raised an eyebrow before lumbering away to another customer. While the boy's back was turned, a purple smoke slid out of the box, hovering around the one who had released it. The boy turned back to the box quickly and the smoke touched the back of his neck gently before floating off. He looked at the empty box disappointedly, not suspecting the mysterious fog he had let out from its prison. With a sigh, he closed the lid and walked out of the tent before the merchant could send anymore glares his way.

Once in the bright light, the boy looked up to the castle of Camelot. He had only been here a few days but already he had fallen in love with the place. Gaius, his new caretaker and the Royal Court physician, was a wonderful man who had graciously taken him in at the request of his mother, Hunith. While the boy missed his mother, he knew it was for the best. With his…abilities…Camelot was a safer place to learn how to control his powers, even if it was right under the nose of the judgmental King Uther himself.

The boy took a walk, heading back to Gaius' chambers to see if the old man needed his help with anything. He glanced around, looking at the stalls and other life that bustled in the square. He turned around quickly, hearing his name. He kept walking, not watching the path in front him, and ran into a woman. He stopped, turning to a woman who was on the ground.

"I am so sorry," he apologized quickly, stooping to help her up. She smiled, brushing dirt off of her purple dress.

"Not a problem," she replied, adjusting the basket on her arm. She smiled at him before going on her way.

The boy frowned. "Well that was weird," he mumbled, continuing towards the palace.

Outside of the castle, he heard laughter and someone pleading. The boy frowned and hurried along, curious as to what was going on. In front of the black iron wrought gates were a group of men. A couple of them laughed as a tall, blond haired man threw knives at a boy who ran frantically, carrying a wooden target as a shield. The boy tripped and the target shield rolled to the black haired newcomer.

He stopped it with one worn, brown, leather clad foot, helping the panting boy up. The latter ran without looking back. The group stopped laughing, glancing to the center figure with the blonde hair.

"I think that's quite enough," the raven hair boy said, picking up the target and handing it back to the golden haired man.

He frowned, tossing the board to the side. "Excuse me? Who do you think you are?"

The black hair boy smiled, proffering a hand. "My name's Merlin."

The golden boy smirked at the hand, looking towards his buddies. "Well, Merlin, you've lost me my entertainment. I suggest you start thinking of a way to amuse me or you might be holding that target in my servant's place."

Merlin grinned. "I'm sorry but I will be no one's servant. Especially a prat like you."

Golden boy raised his eyebrows and smiled, looking at his friends who knew that Merlin had made a large mistake. "Is that so? Do you know who I am?"

Merlin shook his head and started walking away. "No and I'm not quite sure I care."

The other man grabbed his arm, stopping him. "You can't talk to me like that!"

Merlin stopped and raised an eyebrow in question. "Oh really? And why's that?"

Golden hair smirked. "Because I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot. I could have you thrown in the stocks for your ignorance."

Merlin's heart almost stopped. Oh no, he thought. My first few days here and I'll already be thrown in jail for something.

Arthur smirked at the look of panic on Merlin's face. "Thinking about that entertainment now, aren't you?"

Merlin frowned at the utter confidence in Arthur's voice. He was not going to let some royal prat boss him around. He was more powerful than anyone in the town! Merlin looked at the broad jaw of the prince. "Actually, I was just thinking that now I definitely don't care, my lord." Merlin glanced up from under thick lashes, speaking slowly.

Arthur's eyes widened, his heart quickening. "Huh." He dropped Merlin's arm, pushing him away. "You'll regret that later. Now leave, before I call my guards."

Merlin took the hint and ran, not wanting to push his luck further. Once he was back in the safety of the corridor outside Gaius' room, he paused, thinking. Arthur…he was different. Merlin just couldn't figure out why.

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Arthur trudged out of the castle. His father had, once again, yelled at him for lacking in some duty or other. He shook his head, glancing up at the setting sun. Tomorrow there was a tournament. At least he had that to look forward to.

He passed the merchant stalls, watching the people pack up and close their homes for the night. He was looking towards the ground, not paying attention to those ahead of him when he bumped into a figure. He grunted and looked to the stumbling person. It was the boy from earlier.

Arthur frowned. "You should really watch where you're going."

Merlin rubbed his shoulder, glaring at the prince. "I should tell you to do the same. Or does running into people come with the royal title?"

Arthur's eyebrows rose. He leaned against a pole of a merchant's stand. "You know most people wouldn't dare talk to me in such a way. And I don't normally let them get away with it if they do."

Merlin turned to go, picking up the basket he had dropped when Arthur had run into him. "Well, your highness, I'm not most people."

Arthur jumped up, following him. "I know that. You're…I can't quite put my finger on it…but you're different."

Merlin stopped. He glanced at the prince. "What do you mean?"

Arthur bit the inside of his cheek, shrugging. "I'm not sure yet."

Merlin's tension visibly relaxed. At least the prince didn't suspect his magic…that would be a true horror. "Yes, well, I could say the same about you."

Arthur cast his eyes to the man beside him. "How do you mean?"

Merlin smiled. "I'm not quite sure yet either."

Arthur rolled his eyes. He truly was a wonder. Annoying and disrespectful to royalty…but in a good way. "Look," Arthur started, "I have a tournament tomorrow…you should go. There will be other knights of the realm. As you're new here…you might enjoy it, meet some people."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. The prince was asking him to attend one of his events? Interesting. "Of course. It's not like I can say no, right? You would have me thrown in the stocks if I did."

"I would not! I just think it would be nice if you came. I believe…uh, that we could be good friends. No one ever stands up to me like you did today. It was….well brave in a way. Idiotic, of course, but kind of brave." Arthur rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Why was he going through so much trouble just to befriend this lowly, and ignorant, peasant? But like Arthur said…Merlin was different.

Merlin laughed. "I'm just joking. It's good for your humility to be tested."

Arthur looked away, frustrated. "Will you be there or not?"

Merlin didn't speak for a moment, thinking. He wasn't sure if it was wise to become connected to the prince…but what harm could it do, really? Arthur glanced to the quiet man, wondering if he really would refuse.

"Yes, I'll be there," Merlin replied. Arthur smiled. He couldn't explain it, but he was glad that Merlin would be going. It had been a while since there was anyone who treated him like a normal person, not the future king he was destined to be.

"Excellent. I will see you tomorrow, then."

Merlin bowed his head slightly and the prince left. As he watched Arthur walk away, he smiled and raced to his room, unexplainable excitement driving him. He gave the basket to a surprised Gaius.

"And what seems to have put a bounce in your step, if I may ask?" Gaius questioned, taking the herbs out of the straw basket.

Merlin turned to the physician, pacing, his smile stretched to his large ears. "I've made a friend. He wants me to see the tournament tomorrow."

Gaius raised a brow in surprise. "Really? Who is this person?"

Merlin looked away. Oh no. If he told Gaius then there would be plenty of warnings and questions and he could not have that. "Um, well, he was in the square this afternoon. He's popular around here, I think, but I don't think you'd know him."

Gaius frowned. "And how exactly did you meet?"

Merlin shrugged. "I…helped him out with something. It was nothing. We just bumped into each other and started talking."

"You didn't use your magic, did you?" the old man asked.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "No! I'm pretty sure I'd be dead by now if I had. Don't worry about it, alright? I can handle this."

Gaius sighed, setting the bag on the table and walking over to merlin slowly. He peered at the boy with steely grey eyes. "Merlin, when your mother sent you to Camelot, it was for more reasons than just your magic, yes?"

Merlin looked away, ears flaming. "Yes Gaius, I know. But I'll be okay, really."

Gaius nodded. "I just don't want you to get your hopes up is all. Not everyone has your...abilities and traits, shall we say. Just be careful."

The warlock gave him a small smile. "I appreciate your concern but I can handle myself. Now, I'm off to bed. It's been a rather interesting day." He yawned for emphasis.

Gaius waved him off, turning to his medicines. "Yes, yes, I suppose you best get to bed."

Merlin smiled. "Night, Gaius."

Gaius looked at him carefully, contemplating the destiny he knew would shadow this boy. "Good night, Merlin."