Author's Note - Thank you very much for the congrats on my results and thank you most of all for reviewing: MagicByMerlin, MegElemental, Ashabagawa, allthenamesiwantedweretaken, MerlinWorld, Vampishelf, The-potato-knows-Merlin, ToiletFacility, laurajslr, brezy bri, writing-at-random, Nikki Diamond, Isis the Sphinx
and Scribe of Aurora.

To Vampishelf, a lorry is a truck in America and the cabin is the bit at the front where the driver sits. You probably have a different name.

The morning was cold and a chilly breeze whipped up goose pimples on Arthur's exposed arms. He was still in the same black t-shirt that he had worn the day before and therefore didn't have much protection. He had wanted to wear his shirt from his own time but, much to his dismay, he discovered that Ellie had thrown it out. She defended her actions saying that it was 'rancid' and there was 'nothing that could have been done to save it'. The same seemed to have gone for all his other clothes. Fortunately, he still had his precious necklace round his neck.

Looking over at Ellie, he saw that she was wrapped up warmly in a black winter coat with a thick scarf around her neck.

"Would there be any chance of me acquiring a coat? It's bloody freezing," Arthur asked through chattering teeth.

Ellie looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Arthur, I'm not made of money. I can't just magic a coat-"

"I'm not asking you to do magic!" Arthur interrupted abruptly.

"It was an expression," Ellie frowned, "Anyway, I would've got one of the boys' jackets but they're all out at lectures and their rooms are locked so I couldn't."

"Fine." The prince shivered, disgruntled.

"You could use your earned money, though," Ellie suddenly suggested.

"Maybe I will."

"Primark will probably be the best bet. We can get you more for less there, considering you need practically a whole new wardrobe. There's one near the park."

The two of them set off at a reasonable pace along the deserted street. They were heading for where Arthur had first come through the supposed 'time portal'. That was a place called Victoria Park. However, in order to get there they would either have to walk several blocks or catch a bus which would drop them off at the gates. Ellie was contemplating taking Arthur on a bus and whether that would actually be a good idea or not. She also had to consider whether she had enough change to spare an extra fare.

They reached the bus stop and Ellie looked at Arthur, seeing that he was still shivering, and decided that it would probably be kinder to the poor man to get on a warm bus. She couldn't help feel it was justice though, for what he'd put her through last night.

Sighing, she fished in her bag for her purse and pulled out a handful of change. That should be enough. Hopefully.

Fortunately, their transport arrived pretty soon and Ellie led Arthur on. She made sure he stayed behind her whilst she did the talking. Then she dragged him along the length of the vehicle to a seat at the back. That way he couldn't embarrass her too much.

"So," Arthur said as they pulled out of the lay-by, "This is a bus."

"Yes."

Arthur nodded, adding that word to his growing bank of vocabulary from this strange century. There was so much to learn and if he was to find Merlin then he needed to fit in as much as possible. No one would help him if he was too odd.

"I did have a car," Ellie said, "But I had an accident last year and totalled it."

"Totalled?"

"Destroyed it so it didn't work anymore."

"Oh…how?" In Arthur's opinion those car things looked pretty tough.

Ellie seemed to have gone slightly pale. The young man wondered what he'd said to provoke such a reaction. She swallowed. "I don't want to talk about it."

Arthur wasn't sure why she had suddenly clammed up considering she had brought up the subject but he shrugged and didn't press further. It wasn't in his nature delve into peoples' pasts or dig up their personal problems. If they wanted to keep them to themselves then that was their decision. Arthur didn't need or particularly want to know. It made things considerably easier.

As an awkward silence had fallen on the pair, Arthur took to staring out of the slightly smeary window. He watched the houses pass by and the shops and the people who were out and about. It was strange to be in this vehicle without knowing how exactly it moved or worked. With a horse you knew it worked because you fed it and then it moved with its legs, using energy from the food. These cars and buses had no visible means of propulsion.

They had to halt several times along the way to pick up people at various bus stops. Each time a person stepped onto the vehicle, Arthur watched them take their seats, analysing their clothes and their voices and their hairstyles. Everyone here was so different. He couldn't believe that it was the future of his kingdom to turn into this.

"This is our stop," Ellie stated.

The bus was slowing down once again. To Arthur's surprise, the woman stood up whilst they were still on the move and began making her way down the aisle. His eyes widened in surprise. He didn't think you were allowed to do that. Did he follow?

He tensed in his seat.

Ellie turned round and beckoned to him. Reluctantly, Arthur stood up and followed her, feeling rather unsteady. He had to grab several chair backs on the way down the small flight of steps which were inexplicably in the middle of the bus. However, once he was on the flat part of the floor he felt safer.

Just as he gained his confidence in standing without holding onto anything, the bus gave an almighty jerk and knocked Arthur completely off his feet. He stumbled and fell into Ellie. She let out a cry of surprise and thumped painfully into the wall. Recovering quickly, the girl sent the young man a exasperated glare and then proceeded to haul him bodily off the vehicle with a quick thank you to the driver.

As soon as they were on solid ground, Arthur felt that he could breathe a sigh of relief. You knew where you were when the ground didn't move.

He looked over at Ellie. "I'm sorry for-"

"Its fine," the young woman sighed, "I didn't know you were quite such an oaf though. I thought you were meant to be a knight of the realm, brilliant horseman and swordsman and all that. Shouldn't you have decent balance and coordination?"

"Hey, don't question my knight skills!" Arthur said, indignantly.

"Knight skills?" Ellie spluttered with laughter. Arthur laughed too, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of his exclamation. "Come on, let's go to the park."

There was a football pitch in the park. Well, that's what Ellie told Arthur it was. On it, some young men were warming up; performing a variety of stretches and jogging up and down in the freezing weather. There were two teams, dressed in different colour strips. One lot were clad in yellow and blue stripes and the others were in red.

As they walked along the path to where Arthur had been found, bleeding profusely from his nose, the prince watched the footballers bring out white balls which they began to kick around. He guessed they were meant to get the balls in the nets at either end of the pitch. It didn't look too hard in his opinion.

However, he couldn't stop to watch it begin as Ellie was chivvying him along in order to get to the cricket pitch beside the pond which is where he had said he came through. Arthur was very good at remembering things and he could track himself to exactly the same spot he had been sat on when he came through. He crouched down and surveyed the world from that position. Yes, this was the place.

"So it was here?" Ellie asked, looking at him observing the scenery. A particularly stiff breeze blew past just at the point and she shivered, wrapping her coat more firmly round her. She sort of felt sorry for Arthur in his flimsy t-shirt but there wasn't much she could've done, short of wrapping him a blanket. Her clothes were way too small.

"I'm certain of it," Arthur stated.

"Ok…right….hmmm….well, if you came through here then, logically, it makes sense that Merlin would've come through at a similar spot."

"I didn't see him though."

"When?"

"When I appeared. He wasn't on this field."

"Oh….well, that puts a spanner in the works." Ellie frowned to herself and spun in a full circle.

Arthur thought that was rather amusing. What did she expect to see? Some glimmering clue that told her exactly where Merlin was? It didn't work like that. He knew from past experience.

Finally she turned back to face him, a despairing expression on her young features.

"I'm already stuck."

Suddenly her phone rang. Arthur jumped and then shook himself angrily for reacting in such a stupid way as she pulled the device from her pocket.

"Hello?" She began but before she could get any further a speeding ball flew from nowhere and struck her, heftily, on the head. The phone was knocked from her hands.

The young prince leapt forwards, concern etched across his face. "Are you all right?" he asked as he checked her head for damage. Ellie looked at him for a moment, looking a little dazed, and then shook her head vigorously. "Don't do that!" he cried, horrified. He may not have much medical training but he felt sure you weren't supposed to do that.

"Its fine," the woman pushed him away, feeling slightly uncomfortable at their proximity. She had found he was surprisingly warm considering his lack of clothes – and woody smelling.

They stood, facing one another, both feeling awkward and not knowing what to say next.

Suddenly, they spotted a boy running up to them, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm so sorry. Are you ok?" He directed the last part at Ellie. She nodded, smiling slightly.

Arthur, however, was not half as forgiving.

"You should be more careful, boy; you could've seriously injured her. In my kingdom, ladies…."

"Arthur, shut up!" Ellie hit the man on his arm and then kicked the fallen ball, gently, back to its master.

Thanking her, the youngster made his escape as swiftly as possible, almost tripping over himself in his attempt. Ellie sighed and turned to Arthur. "You are such an idiot."

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are. Come on, let's go shopping."

"I don't really like the sound of that."

"Yeah, well it's not exactly causing me to jump for joy either. Do you have any idea what size you are because Primark changing rooms are a bitch?"

"Well, the tailor comes and…."

"Oh, forget it."

Primark is just a big very cheap shop for those of you that don't know. Review, even though I know the chapter wasn't that great. I really need more of a plot. Lol. :)