MERLIN
"Well, go on then" the prat orders.
"What do you want me to do?" I have no idea what he expects from me.
"I don't know. You're the one with magic. Come up with something." He demands.
I don't know what to do. Most of the time my magic just happens.
"Hurry up. Are you as bad at magic as you are with manners?" He mocks.
I force myself not to call him a prat, after all he can still turn me in to the king. An idea comes to me. Closing my eyes, I picture the dragon symbol that is all over the castle. I once again feel my magic hum through me. Opening my eyes I see a golden dragon made up of light, the size of my hand, floating in between the prat and me. The boy is staring at the dragon is what can only be amazement. Focusing on the dragon, the dragon starts to move as if he is flying in place. The prat's mouth drops open. He quickly shuts his mouth when he realizes that I'm looking at him.
"Meet me in the courtyard tomorrow in a few hours after dawn."
"Why?" I question.
"Just be there." He turns around and shuts the door before I can question him further.
The next day
ARTHUR
I'm standing in the middle of the courtyard waiting for the idiot to show up. I still have a hard time believing that he of all people has magic. The image of the dragon is clear in my mind. It looked so innocent. Father told me that all magic is evil, but how can a dragon made out of light hurt anyone? Nothing makes sense. That is why I'm meeting the boy here today. I'm going to take him to a clearing that I found a while back, when I snuck out of the castle and went exploring, and find out as much as I can.
"Where is he?" I mutter
I suddenly find myself falling to the ground. There is an elbow in my stomach.
"Oh, sorry" a familiar voice says.
Getting up I start to dust off my clothing.
"Your really are an idiot?"
"I said I'm sorry."
"Yes well, …" looking up I stop and stare at the bruise that is on the boy's face.
"What?"
"What happened to you?"
"uuh, I fell." It sounds more like a question than a statement.
"Your fell? Into what? Someone's hand? " I'm surprised by how angry I feel. I've seen servants with worse marks on them. So why do I feel like punching the person that hurt him?
"I just fell." He sounds determined.
I'll drop it for now, but I will find out.
"Follow me."
"Where are we going?"
I don't answer but continue walking. The whole time the boy is talking. Nothing of importance; first it was about how amazing Camelot is, then it was about what he did in the market since he has been here, now he is going on about some book he is reading.
I still wonder how he learned to read. I'll have to ask later because we're at the clearing. I stop and turn to face uum wait, what is his name? Marlin? or something similar.
"Okay, Marlin how did you know Magic?"
"It's Merlin." He states
"What?"
"My name is Merlin not Marlin."
"Fine then, Merlin. Answer the question."
"I was born with it." He voice is soft and shakes as if any minute guards are going to jump out of the trees to arrest him.
I've never heard of someone being born with magic before. Father told me people chose to learn it.
"Tell me everything."
I spent the next hour learning about magic.
"We'll that's all I know?" Merlin finishes
"We better head back." I need to go to training.
We start heading back to the castle. I'm going over all the information that Merlin told me. He apparently was born with magic. He was literally doing it since the day of his birth. He told me that he does not know any spells, but his magic just happens.
"Watch out." Merlin's voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
I quickly react without thinking and threw myself down to the ground. An arrow hits the tree that was behind me just a second ago.
Three bandits suddenly appear. Two has a sword and the other has the bow and arrow.
"Look what we got here." One of the men sneers
"Get behind me." I order Merlin as I reach for my sword.
He actually obeys.
The men laugh and lunge at us. I quickly take down one of the bandits with a sword and ready myself for the next attack. The other man is somewhat a better swordsman, but is no match for me. I turn towards the last bandit, but it is too late. I just have time to realize an arrow is coming towards me and I don't have time to move out of its path. The arrow suddenly stops midair, just a few cm from my heart. I hear the bandit gasp and turn toward Merlin. His eyes are gold and are starting at the arrow.
The bandit seems to realize he better run because that is what he does. He quickly turns away from Camelot and runs for his life.
"You saved my life." I cannot keep the surprise out of my voice.
"You don't deserve to die, even if you're a prat."
"Arthur."
"What?" He sounds confused
"My name is Arthur."