Half a year went past. Arthur missed Merlin every day, but he was moving on. He was spending a lot more time with his stepsister, Morgana. She was really nice, and fun to be with, but she wasn't Merlin.

It was a day before Arthur's fourteenth birthday. It would be the first birthday in six years without Merlin. And he didn't like it at all.

His father had bought him the usual stuff, a new sword, and he promised him to build a palace on his island. That was a stupid promise. Arthur did believe that Uther would give him a palace, but he knew he would never see it. Not in next ten years anyway.

Somebody knocked on his door. Merlin? It would be awesome if Merlin would come here, on his birthday. If he told him that he would stay this time, that he didn't want to be without Arthur anymore. And Arthur would kiss Merlin, and then Merlin would kiss him back, and tell him that he loved him.

But no, it was just Gaius. 'Sire, I want you to ask to come to my rooms, there is... I've got something to show you.'

Arthur followed Gaius to his rooms, hoping that it wasn't too bad. He wasn't asked to come to Gaius' rooms often, and if he was, it was never good. It was mostly a dying knight. An important knight.

But when he opened the door, he saw Merlin standing in the middle of the room, with his bags next to him.

'Merlin!' Arthur shouted, happily. He ran to him and threw his arms around Merlin's shoulders.

'Wow, calm down, Arthur. It's just me.' Merlin laughed, but he returned Arthur's embrace.

'You're not just you, Merlin. You're much more than that.' He felt Merlin's mouth twitching into a smile.

'I've missed you.' Merlin whispered.

'Yeah.' Arthur said. 'I've missed you too.'

Gaius cleared his throat audibly. They both had completely forgotten that he was still there.

'So...' Arthur began. 'Why are you back?'

'He's going to help me!' Gaius explained. 'I'm getting older, and I decided I needed some help.'

Merlin nodded confirmative. 'By the way, I got you something. It is your birthday, after all.'

Arthur really had to hold himself back not to tell Merlin that he had already gave him everything he wanted, with coming back.

Merlin gave him a selfmade, wooden shield. He had painted it black, had decorated it with white ink, and had written with big, grey letters 'Arthur' on it. The letters weren't as shaky as the letters on the unicorn, they were graceful. It was beautiful. Merlin was the best friend ever.

'Merlin, it's... It's amazing.'

Merlin laughed. 'Even better than your island?'

'Way better.'

It was definitly Arthur's best birthday ever.

Arthur was fifteen when the fourteen years old Merlin met Freya. Freya was the daughter of Galahad, on of his knights.

Arthur had been training, with his knights, and Merlin had a day off, so he was watching Arthur. As was Freya. She was watching her father.

Freya was without doubt one of the most beautiful girls in Camelot. She had long, black, curling hair, and big, brown eyes. She always looked a little bit scruffy, but for some reason, it made her even more beautiful.

Arthur was watching them. He didn't like the way Merlin was looking at her. He was smiling his beautiful smile. That wasn't right. Arthur felt like Merlin was cheating on him. That smile belonged to Arthur, not to anyone else.

And just one week later, when Arthur just came back from training, he had found Merlin and Freya. In Merlin's room. Kissing.

No. That wasn't good at all. He made a weird sound, walked away as fast as possible, it was almost running.

He fell down on his bed. Angry, sad and jealous on Freya.

The door opened and Merlin came in.

'Why did you run away?' He asked.

'I wasn't running. I just didn't want to interrupt the two of you.'

'Come on, Arthur. You were running. Why on earth were you running? It's not like I'm not your best friend anymore.'

Best friend. He liked Merlin saying that.

But best friend? That wasn't enough. Arthur wanted way more of Merlin.

'Because, Merlin.' He began, but didn't finish. He just pressed their lips together.

He was waiting for Merlin to pull back. But he didn't.

He was actually kissing back. Merlin held him tight, and kissed him light and tentavide.

It was actually Arthur who pulled back. Merlin just looked at him, surprised. But good surprised. Like something unexpected, but really good just happened.

'Where was that for?' Merlin asked.

'I just wanted to make sure that you are mine, and not Freya's.' He explained.

'Well, I am. I thought you'd never do that, because you're the future king and that's why... Freya...'

'It's okay, Merlin.' And he pressed a chaste kiss on Merlin's forehead.

Two days went by. Merlin was really busy with running errands for Gaius, so Arthur and Merlin hadn't really spoke to each other.

Arthur saw Merlin again when he was bringing a potion to the Lady Morgana.

The fifteen and fourteen years old boys both couldn't resist each other. Arthur pressed Merlin against the wall of the long corridor, and kissed him long and deep.

They should've heard the footsteps coming.

Arthur should've let go off Merlin.

But they both didn't notice Uther's footsteps.

They only noticed him when he exclaimed 'Arthur!'

Arthur froze, and turned around as soon as possible. Merlin's eyes widened.

'Arthur! What are you doing?' The question was only rethorical. Uther knew very well what Arthur was doing.

'Arthur. I understand your possible curiosity, but your behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. I forbid it.' Uther said.

'Father! No!' Arthur knew that he shouldn't have said that. Uther raised his eyebrows.

'Merlin will be banished from Camelot. There's nothing you can do to change that.'

Arthur really tried to change it, but it didn't work. Uther kept him in his rooms, and forbade him to say goodbye to Merlin. Morgana had spoke with Gaius, and he had told her that Merlin was going to live in the Ealdor again. He saw Merlin leaving, through his window.

Arthur was sixteen when he had his first fight. His first real fight. He had been ready to fight since he was fourteen (he has been trained to kill since birth, after all), but Uther wanted to make sure the prince wouldn't die. It wasn't an honest fight, Arthur and his knight were the minority. It was also the fight where Arthur had his first nearly-death experience.

It didn't look good for the knights of Camelor. A lot had already died, and the ones still alive were all exhausted and wounded.

'If we're gonna go down, we're gonna go down fighting!' The sixteen years old, brave Arthur shouted.

Only Arthur and Sir Leon were still fighting. Leon was fighting five enemies by himself, and Arthur was trying not to fall down. He was still conscious, but it took him a lot to remain so.

Merlin was helping his mother. He was feeling very strange, like something very bad was going to happen. He couldn't place it, didn't know where it came from.

He walked outside, and saw a lot of villagers standing around something on the ground. Merlin came closer, curious for what was laying there. It wasn't something, it was someone. It was an exhausted knight, covered with sweat and blood. Merlin recognized the knight, it was Owain, one of Camelot's knights. He heard him mutter something about a big fight, in the woods, not more than 3,2 mile away from the Ealdor.

And that's where Merlin realized what the strange feeling had been.

Arthur was in trouble.

Merlin didn't hesitate, but took the knight's horse. The horse seemed healthy, which was probably the reason why the knight had made it to Ealdor.

The horse galloped away, and brought him to the place of the fight in no time.

He was just in time to see Leon defeat the last five knights. And just in time to see Arthur fall down. With a sword in his stomach.

AN: This is what you call a cliffhanger right? I hope you guys like it! Please review, It'd make my day if you like it.