Since chapter five was really long, this chapter is fairly short. I think it's a bit shorter than I had planned, but I still had fun writing this chapter. :)

Reviews are beautiful!

"Arthur?"

Arthur closed his book and sighed loudly into his arms. Merlin was at his door again. He couldn't help but to feel a bit annoyed—they were eight years old. Merlin should know that he was busy. Sort of.

Not really.

He just didn't really want to talk to anyone at the moment. Not after the discussion that Arthur's father gave him.

"You need to be careful with who you associate yourself with, Arthur." His father had said.

"Why? Merlin's my best friend." Arthur protested.

"He is a subject, nothing more." The king replied firmly. "You can be friendly towards him, but you cannot see him as a possible equal."

The discussion with his father had left Arthur disturbed. He loved his father very much, but at the same time, he couldn't help but to wonder how he could possibly tell Arthur to stop being friends with Merlin.

After all, they had been friends since they were about five years old—how could Arthur's father expect him to cut off the friendship so easily?

Arthur just wasn't sure who to believe.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Merlin asked hopefully, snapping Arthur out of his thoughts. "Come on, let's go and play!"

When Arthur didn't respond, Merlin went on with, "I never see you anymore! Come out the door, it's like you've gone away!"

True. Arthur thought to himself and flopped onto his bed. But he really didn't want to talk to Merlin right now…

"We used to be best buddies…" Merlin said, his voice quieter now and Arthur heard a small sliding sound. Knowing his friend, Merlin had probably slid to the ground against the door or something.

"And now we're not."

Arthur felt a stab of guilt. No, they were still friends, right?

"I wish you would tell me why!"

I just don't want to play! Arthur thought indignantly and he walked over to his desk, pulling out a book that his tutor had given him to look through. His father had been making sure that he was paying more attention to lessons these days—something to do with being a prince and needing to learn how to become a proper leader.

"Do you wanna build a snowman?" Merlin asked lightly through the door. "It doesn't have to be a snowman!"

Arthur sighed and closed his book. "Go away, Merlin!"

There was a small silence on the other side of the door and Arthur could almost see Merlin's shoulders slumping.

"Okay, bye…" Merlin mumbled and the sound of footsteps told Arthur that his friend had left.

Heavy-hearted, Arthur reopened his book and glared at the black, imprinted letters on the pages. Strangely enough, the corners of the pages were slowly becoming blurred.

xXx

Almost a week later, Merlin had returned to Arthur's door. He knocked cheerfully and sang cheerfully, "Do you wanna build a snowman? Or ride some bikes around the halls?"

Arthur couldn't help but to laugh lightly about the idea—it actually seemed fun. He stood up but suddenly sat back down.

He stared at the door and bit down on his lip. His father had reminded him about the duties that a prince had.

Arthur couldn't talk to Merlin, not now.

"I think some company is overdue—I started talking to the paintings on the walls!" Merlin continued. "It gets a little lonely, all these empty days, just watching the hours pass by!"

There was a small thumping sound and Arthur assumed that his friend had slumped down to the floor again.

The young Pendragon took a deep breath and flopped his head in a pillow. He didn't really want to hurt Merlin's feelings, but at the same time, he wanted to make his father proud.

A few minutes passed and with a start, Arthur realized that Merlin had still not moved from the door. He sighed and slid off his bed.

I'm only going to tell him that I'm busy, he thought to himself as he opened the door.

However, that thought immediately emptied as Merlin bounced to his feet and threw his arms around Arthur's neck.

"There you are!" He said gleefully and Arthur blinked, stunned by his friend's reaction.

For one hazy second, Arthur remembered that he had to tell Merlin that he needed to get back to reviewing and studying for the upcoming lessons.

That doesn't matter now, he thought as he hugged his friend back.

Right now, at this moment, Merlin seemed more important to him than being a prince.

A/N: Before anyone can tell me how being eight years old is awfully young for a boy to begin studying so hard, I read and heard that children of the royal family are usually taught manners and etc. I'm not really sure how much of it is properly true, (some of the info that I got was from a librarian who had a big interest in these sort of things...she might have been exaggerating a bit, but then again, I'm not a big history buff. XD)

In fact, the other night, my mother was telling me how kindergartners in South Korea (as well as other places in the world,) were starting to study until about eleven p.m. Is that insane or what?! O.o

Anyways, I need your help! I really want to continue this story, but I also want to write more of kid!Merlin and kid!Arthur before moving onto the teen!Merlin and teen!Arthur part of the story. If you have an idea for the next chapter, please, please, please write it in the review! :)

And now, to end the chapter, please review and give feedback! Constructive criticism is great, but flames aren't. XP