The orphanage was in uproar that day. Uther pendragon had announced that a new boy would be coming to the orphanage to stay with them. All the children were trying to figure out what he would be like.
"I bet he'll be a big lad." Percival commented. Gwaine shook his head.
"Nah, you think we'd all be big lads." Percival scoffed.
"Well a was wrong about you, you scrawny git!" He retorted. Gwaine quickly jumped the care worker diving on top of him yelling. "Take that back you old sod!" He yelled. Percival just kept laughing as Gwaine tackled him to the ground.
"I bet he'll be a cross dresser."Elyan said. Gwen smacked hers brother's arms.
"Elyan don't say that. I'm sure he'll be lovely. Although if our age, you and Arthur'll have your guts up about 'im over your arguments, Lancelot." She said looking towards the older man. Arthur glared at him whilst Lancelot just blushed.
"I'm sure we're all guessing wrong, I bet he's only young." Morgana put in "Besides, Dad didn't even tell us an age, just that he was a boy and he was coming to live with us." They slowly nodded at Morgana's point; they didn't know how old the boy was. He could be Gwaine's age and they would have another prankster on their hands or he could be like Arthur and Lancelot's age.
"Well so long as he's not a prankster, I' think he'll be fine." Arthur noted. The others nodded whilst Gwaine just smirked.
"Oh if he's not, I'll have to introduce him to the ropes." The others pale d at Gwaine's comment. The last thing any of them needed was another prankster. Percival quickly grabbed him in a headlock.
"Well if he is, you'll probably have to teach him the ropes of getting out of your punishments for pulling the pranks. What was it that Uther did to you last time?" He said smirking. Gwaine paled. The last prank he pulled on Uther which involved putting popping candy in his soup turned out hilarious but he was made to do EVERYONE'S chores for a week! They were soon pulled out of their thoughts by Gaius, the orphanage doctor came into the living room to sit with them.
"Are you lot still at it again?" He asked, sighing. The others blushed.
"We can't help it Gaius." Arthur confessed "We just want to try and figure what this boy is going to be like. It'll be easy if father would just tell us anything other that 'he's a boy" I mean that only knocks out half of the world!" He said sarcastically. Morgana clipped him round the head.
"Arthur don't be rude." She reprimanded. Arthur rubbed his aching head and nodded. Gaius sighed sadly and looked at them
"Actually... Uther wanted me to tell you something else he found out just recently about the boy.2 He sounded really sad saying what he was going to. The group all leaned in. "You see that youngster. Well he's going to be the youngest out of all of you for a start but we're not going to tell you by how much just yet. But... the boy's a voluntary mute." The group gasped.
"That's...that's awful." Morgana whispered. "What happened to him?" Gaius sighed.
"He watched his parents get murdered last year, and everyone else who he thought would've helped him has treated him like dirt." Gwaine's face grew red.
"Then it's our job to help him out and make him feel loved. It's the least we could do. What's his name anyway? Can we at least know that?" He asked pleading. Gaius shook his head and Gwaine visibly deflated.
"I'm sorry Gwaine, but no one knows, the boy won't tell us his age or even his name. Uther just wanted me to warn you all ahead so you won't scare him too much." With that he got up and left the group in wonder all alone.
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Upstairs in Uther Pendragon's office, the man was on the phone to the man bringing the new boy there.
"Yes, yes... well my personal doctor has informed the children of the boys...predicament...Yes I understand it will be difficult... but, yes... I'm sure we can manage. Do you have any other details about the boy yet, his name or even his age?" He paused at a knock at the door and let Gaius come in, holding up his finger to hold him a second "No...Well, I'm sure we can find out when he comes...alright thank you...Goodbye." Uther exhaled a breath he didn't even realise he was holding. He looked to Gaius concerned "We still have no more information about the boy, his name, age, hobbies, interests, nothing" He slumped down in the chair. Gaius sat down next to him
"Well I will tell you exactly what I told the children, that we should just wait to find out when he arrives, He'll be here in another hour or so, I'm sure you can all wait." Uther reached for the coffee machine, but Gaius stopped him. "Oh no you don't Uther Pendragon. The last thing this boy needs is you to be over stressed thanks to the caffeine in that thing. Besides I thought you were cutting down after Gwaine's last prank put you off it for a while." Uther cringed at the reminder. Gwaine had secretly switched all the coffee powder for sand painted brown. He didn't go near the coffee machine for a while after that. But sometimes the need for coffee just came up.
"I'm sorry Gaius, you're right as usual. I just can't help thinking that this boy could change so much around here. I mean he doesn't speak, and from what the driver has told us, he's relatively young. Even younger that Gwaine, I mean will that affect what the children can do now. And what if he doesn't get along with them..." Gaius sensed a panic attack coming along so he grabbed Uther hands forcefully and squeezed gently.
"Uther I promise you... no matter what... everything will be alright." He looked to the clock." As soon as 5 o clock rolls around, you'll see that all your worrying was probably for nothing and the boy is just fine." He soothed. Uther just nodded and lay back in the chair, hoping to get a few minutes rest before chaos arose. Gaius smiled and left him to his business. Closing the door he himself wondered what this boy would be like.
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5 o clock soon rolled round and all the children waited eagerly in the foyer of the orphanage for the doorbell to ring. As it did, Uther got there as quick as he could and greeted the driver. Uther looked around him for any sign of the mysterious boy, but the drier said he was still in the car; he was scared to come out. Some of the children immediately 'awed' at this. Then Uther tried to get a good look at the boy. The driver went up to the car and tried to pull the boy out. The group looked slightly shocked and walked over.
"Come on, kid I haven't got all day!" The man yelled. Gwen got up ahead to see the boy. She finally saw him and was shocked at how small he was. His short black hair just covered his eyes and he was wearing a red jumper with brown trousers. (Give you one guess who this is!). The girl looked to the driver.
"Can I try?" She asked. The man threw up his hands and simply said;
"Go ahead" Gwen gently walked forward the boy who had now clambered to the back or the car. She held out a hand
"It's alright, I won't hurt you." She said sweetly. The boy gradually moved closer but he was still afraid to hold the woman's hand. After a while, Gwen resorted to sitting on the seat next to him still holding her hand out. The rest of the group watched in wonder. Elyan was secretly proud of his sister for trying to help like this. The boy eventually weakly took the hand and gripped it softly. Gwen gently eased the boy out of the car and helped him onto the ground slowly so everyone could see him. When Gwen got out and stood next to him putting a hand on his shoulder, the others soon realised how small he was. Gwen noticed the boy looked slightly scared at all the tall people so bent down to his height. "It's ok, they won't hurt you, this is my family." The boy nodded to show her that he understood her. Gwaine then noticed something gold shining on the boys neck
"Hey what's that?" He asked quietly pointing to it. Gwen turned to it and saw it to.
"It looks like some sort of necklace." She noted. She looked to the boy who was holding up his hands protectively. "May I have a look?" She asked gently. The boy slowly raised his hands but then let them drop again and Gwen took that has her cue. Taking it from under the thick red material she did see it was indeed a pendant. "It's got something written on it."
"Well what does it say?" The driver asked impatiently, eager to go away. Gwen glared at him.
"Give me a minute!" She hissed. She gently turned the gold pendant and rolled it round in her hands and could finally get the lettering. "M...Me...Merl...Mel...Merlin, Merlin! It says Merlin." She then turned to the boy who stared at her curiously. "Merlin... Is that your name?" The others held their breath, wondering if it was. The boy slowly nodded his head. The driver gasped but then went to sit back in the car.
"Well, he's your problem now." He said gruffly and drove off, leaving the family, and little Merlin, all alone.