A/N- Hello again :) I don't think I have updated for a while... sorry about that :L Thank you again for reviews... keep them coming :) In this chapter Merlin is 11 and Will is 12

Disclaimer- Still don't own Merlin

Merlin and Will headed to the edge of the forest, and axe in Merlin's hand. Merlin found a tree, looking it up and down for a dead branch, before taking a swing at it with his axe. It made no dent in the tree's branch.

"Left me do it Merlin, we'll be here for hours" Will sighed, exasperated

"No, I'm doing it. Mother sent me to go and get the fire wood, not you. I am capable to do this, unlike what you and everyone else believes"

"If this is to prove you can go and work out in the fields, it won't work." Will said. Merlin's ears went bright red, and Will knew he had got the right reason why Merlin was doing this. "Listen, we're too young to work in the fields. Matthew wouldn't allow it even if Hunith did" Will said, putting his hand of Merlin's shoulder.

"He will if we have another harvest like this one. He needs all the help he can. We hardly had any crops this year" Merlin said, shaking off Will's touch and resumed to swinging his axe unsuccessfully.

"Why do you even want to go to work so bad anyway? You're the one person who everyone thought would kick up the most fuss. You love escaping to other worlds by reading, pretending that you're not here. So why on earth do you want to stop that? If you work out in the fields, you will be tired and won't have enough time to do all of that stuff"

"Will, I just need to grow up. Its things like that, that makes me a misfit more than I already am. You and every other boy in this village hate reading and writing. I just want to still fit in"

"No you don't Merlin. You never have. You've always wanted to be yourself, and that's why everybody likes you and respects you. So what's the real reason?"

Merlin shrugged his shoulders and continued to swing. There was only a slight indent, showing someone doing a half hearted first swing, not a full hearted tenth. Merlin cried out in frustration, throwing the axe away from him and Will. He turned and faced Will, and saw Will looking expectantly at him.

"I don't want mother working too hard in the field. If I'm out there, she won't have to work as hard. She comes home every night, exhausted. I'm scared that one day it'll make her ill. Sometimes, she even skips meals so I have enough to eat, when she thinks that I won't notice. And if we have another harvest like the last, we won't survive for long. The more hands out in the field, the more food there will be"

"I never realised it was as bad as that" Will replied. Merlin just shrugged in response and walked over to pick up the axe again "Come on Merlin, why don't you just use your magic?" Will said, exasperated again.

Merlin turned around and smiled sheepishly "I didn't think about that"

"You know Merlin, for all that book reading, your not that bright" Will said jokingly

"Well at least I'm not a cabbage-face" Merlin replied, his smile now reached his eyes. Merlin stared at the tree, and his eyes flashed golden. The tree started to fall and the two boys watched in awe, watching it fall down. It wasn't until it was too late that they saw old man Simmons under the spot the tree was destined to land. Simmons jumped out of the way, with much more agility than a man his age should have.

"I meant the branch Merlin, not the whole bloody tree!" Will said, shocked and amused at the same time. Merlin was about to return with a witty response when Simmons caught his attention. He headed towards Merlin and Will, brandishing his stick in the air and yelling at them.

"Uh-oh" Merlin said, turning to face Will

"Run!" Will said, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. Merlin dropped his axe and followed Will into the forest, leaving the old man unable to catch them.


"Do you think he's stopped following us yet?" Merlin asked, 6 foot up in a tree.

"Probably" Will replied chuckling. He was sat next to Merlin on the branch. "I think maybe next time you should let me cut the firewood"

"Agreed" Merlin said, smiling despite himself.