"I'm so, so, sorry!" Callum sobbed as Merlin set him down on Arthur's bed. "I didn't mean-."

"I know." Merlin murmured distractedly. He whispered a spell and a rag appeared in his hand, with another breathed enchantment, the cloth became cold and moist. Kneeling down, the sorcerer held the cloth to Callum's cheek. The boy was shaking under his touch.

"I didn't mean to spill the drink," Callum sniffed, his head down. "I was looking at Arthur and…and… oh, it all just went so wrong! I'm sorry!" His voice became sharp with agony. "Arthur probably hates me now…"

Merlin's eyes met with Callum's… he still didn't trust this boy, and he was afraid of how close Arthur had grown to him…

But he's so scared right now, Merlin's heart ached. And he's only a little boy…

"Why would Arthur hate you?" He asked, gently.

"I…" Callum gulped in air. "I made a mess, and I almost caused everyone to start fighting! I coulda caused a war!"

"You didn't." Merlin pointed out, pressing the cloth firmly to the boy's face.

"But I could have!" Callum finally looked up, tears trickling down his face. "And Arthur probably thinks I'm…I'm nothing but a clumsy fool now!"

"If he did," Merlin pulled the cloth away and moved to sit on the bed beside the child. "He wouldn't have stood up for you, now would he? If he hated you, why would he risk a war for your sake?"

"Cause he's the greatest king who's ever lived," Callum breathed, eyes glowing with a level of admiration that made Merlin uncomfortable. "He'd do the same for any servant… he sure is nice to you, sir."

Merlin couldn't help the way his lip twitched upward.

Sir, he tossed the word around in his mind. Well… that's not something I thought I'd ever be called.

"Arthur's a good man," he agreed. Merlin glanced towards the window, where moonlight shone into the room. "I've known him a long time now… I can tell when he cares for someone. You're not just another servant to him."

"You think he meant it?" Callum asked. "He's really going to… keep me?"

Merlin looked away, uncomfortable again. He wished Arthur hadn't said that… he wished Arthur wasn't getting so close to this boy.

He didn't wish any harm on the young kid…

He just had a horrible feeling that this child would bring bad times to Camelot.

And he'd learned long ago to trust his instincts.


"How is he?" Arthur demanded, stepping into his chambers. The king had had to sit through the rest of the feast, when all he'd wanted to do was to check on Callum.

"He's fine…" Merlin, who was sitting at his table, nodded towards the bed. Callum was sleeping against the side of it, like he'd fallen out of bed there.

"Why isn't he in the-." Arthur started, frowning.

"I tried," Merlin shrugged helplessly. "He wouldn't sleep in a king's bed…Said he wasn't worthy of it."

Arthur stared at the young boy.

"He's so little," Arthur said, in a tone he'd only dare to use around Gwen or Merlin. "So young to be a servant to a king… how do you suppose Odin came to have him?"

"I don't know." Merlin followed his gaze, glaring down at the little boy. "Maybe you oughta consider why he'd keep him around… what if he's dangerous, Arthur? What if Odin gave him to you so willingly because he's-."

"He's a boy, Merlin." Arthur waved off his friend's concerns. "Your fear of him is completely ridiculous."

"Mordred was-."

"Don't," Arthur growled, beginning to change out of his ceremonial clothes. "I don't want to hear you mention that name around me again… Mordred was… unfortunate. You can't live in fear of every child you see because of what he became, Merlin."

"I'm not scared for me!" Merlin hissed. "I'm scared for you! You've grown attached to this boy."

Arthur scoffed, throwing his belt down on the table beside his old servant.

"Don't be dumb." He sniffed. "He's… he's got potential to be a great warrior one day, I'm only attempting to strengthen Camelot."

"There are plenty of boys in this kingdom with potential!" Merlin shot back. "Why him? Why are you so desperate to see him succeed?"

Why am I? Arthur couldn't help but wonder. Then, as he took in the tiny form curled up against his bed frame, he knew why.

This boy needed him in a way that no one else ever had.

And he wanted to be there for him.

"I don't have to answer to you, Merlin." Arthur growled. Without looking at the sorcerer, he made his way over to Callum and kneeled down. Gently, he shook the boy's shoulder. Callum jolted awake and gazed up at him through bleary eyes.

"King Arthur!" he gasped, sitting up straight. "Sir, I'm sorry-."

"Don't be," Arthur brushed him off. "I'm not angry with you. Listen… I need to know something."

Callum nodded slowly.

"Ok," Arthur sat down beside the child. "Your parents… are they alive? Do they know what you do?"

"My father is." Callum admitted quietly. "He…He owed the king a lot of debt. So, he, you know, made me work for him to pay it off."

Like a slave, Arthur's stomach clenched in fury. How could a father sell off his son to save his own skin? What a coward!

"And your mother?" he prompted.

"She died." Callum said matter of factly.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Arthur droned.

"Don't be," Callum shrugged. "I don't remember her… she died because of me."

Silence stretched out in the room. Merlin was sitting up straight in his chair, staring at the little boy in horror. Arthur's grip on the kid's shoulder grew tight and he bit his lip almost hard enough to draw blood.

"What do you mean?" he demanded. "Why would you be responsible for your mother's death?"

"She died giving birth to me," Callum explained, voice emotionless. "Least, that's what dad says."

Arthur closed his eyes, trying to choke back pain. This kid… was painfully starting to remind him of… well, someone.

"That's…untrue." Arthur cleared his throat and pulled his hand away from the boy. "Many mothers die in childbirth… it's not your fault."

"I never said I believed it was," he pointed out. "I don't blame myself… I guess dad does though."

"I take it you don't want me to send you back to your father then." Arthur mused.

"No!" Callum nearly yelled. He flushed and glanced down. "No…he wouldn't want me back, sire."

Arthur sighed, glancing skyward. So, the kid was pretty much an orphan… What was he going to do with him?

"Sire?" Callum piped in hopefully. "I'm a really good worker! And I'll do whatever you say! Please… can't I stay here, and serve you? Like you told King Odin?"

Arthur wanted to say yes… he wanted to keep this boy around. But he could feel Merlin's pleading stare on his back. No matter how much he may want to keep the kid. Merlin was right…

He was too attached.

Potential or not, the boy couldn't stay with him.

"You're too young." Arthur forced the words out past dry lips. "You… listen, you can stay with me until Odin and his men leave… Then, I'll send you to Ealdor with Merlin. I'm sure he can find someone willing to take in a healthy young boy like you."

If Merlin wanted the kid gone so badly, well, he'd have to be the one to find him a good home.

"But… I don't want to go!" Callum cried out. "I want to stay here! I want to stay with you!"

Arthur looked away.

"You'd be…" he swallowed hard. "Happier growing up in a village, where you can be a normal kid and have a normal family. You'd never have that here." He got to his feet and turned away. "My decision is final. Merlin, he can stay with you until Odin leaves."


"I saw the boy," Thomas Wood grinned, pacing back and forth before a mirror. "Wishlin, I saw him! I only got a glimpse through the crowd! But I could tell he was the one they spoke of! I could sense it!"

"Good!" The mirror, which rippled and pulsed in its center, purred. "You've done well, boy. But our work has only just begun."

"I know." Thomas stopped pacing and let out a sigh. "Things… may be harder than we'd intercepted."

The mirror shook.

"Why's that?" A voice hissed.

"The boy," Thomas admitted. "I saw him with… Arthur… he didn't seem to hate him, quite the opposite, in fact."

"What do you mean, Druid?"

"Arthur was defending him," Thomas growled. "And the boy…the way he looked at him. It's going to be harder than I thought to turn him against the king."

The mirror growled, like a savage animal.

"Well, you'd best stop dawdling and get to it!" Wishlin hissed from the glass. "Do not allow this relationship between the king and that boy to continue! It could ruin everything!"

"What?" Thomas's eyes went wide. "Nothing can stop destiny, that boy is destined to destroy Arthur!"

"You're right." Wishlin muttered. "Nothing can stop destiny… but Destiny is always many paths, not one set in stone. That boy can either be Arthur's demise, or his greatest achievement. Do not allow the latter to become truth. You, Thomas, are the deciding factor on which path the chosen one picks."

"But I-."

"Thomas?" A raspy voice called out from the other side of the door. "Who are you speaking with?"

With a quick wave of his hand, Thomas turned the mirror back to solid glass and crept over to the door to his room, Merlin's old room. He opened it and peered out.

"Uh, Gaius?" He gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry… I was just going over all the herbs I know, reciting them."

The old man nodded slowly.

"Well," he yawned. "It's late, you'd best get off to sleep. I have many tasks for you that will need attending in the morning."

"Sure thing." Thomas said.

Like I'll ever sleep until the king is dead, Thomas thought bitterly, shutting the door. All I see when I sleep is my mother dying in fire…her body going up in smoke…and it's all because of the Pendragons… and Arthur will pay for what he's done.

If it's me who's the deciding factor on what path the boy walks, he will walk the path that leads to the end of Arthur Pendragon.