Christmas came quickly. Merlin had used so much time adapting to his new life that he had barely noticed the holiday season creeping to its place. This was quite unusual because he had always loved Christmas. Usually Merlin and his mother would have gone to Wills family house and he would have gotten good time in a loud and goofy way with Will and their mothers would drink some wine and for once let them carry out every single one of their not so intelligent schemes. They would then eat too much and have some neighbours popping by. Usually someone would even get them a Christmas three from the forrest and when Merlin and Will had been little (or not so little) it had been their job to decorate the tree and they used hours on their task.
Christmas was very different experience here. It was quiet and Merlin didn't even try to spend time with Arthur who seemed like even Merlin existing made him annoyed. They had gone to a fancy restaurant to eat and Merlin had been so stressed of which order he was supposed to use his cutlery and how he was supposed to eat the food that looked more like art than actual food that he could barely enjoy it. He even had to dress in a suit Uther had bought for him. To be blunt, he didn't like it. Arthur had acted like he had been born in there and looked Merlin annoyed every time he made a mistake.
The house was decorated by maids and Merlin kind of hoped that he had something to do, even if the ornaments and the decoration looked amazing and far better that he could ever make.
Too soon after that came New year and Merlins birthday. Merlins 14th birthday party wasn't a big party, just his mother and his new family. Will had called him to tell him happy birthday and not to get too arrogant in his city life. Merlin had laughed and told him not to turn into a sheep in his country life.
The best part of Merlin birthday had been when Hunith had given him a necklace she told in secret had belonged to his father. It was three swirls forming a symmetrical pattern in silver, a triskelion. Merlin put it into his neck immediately and told his mother his thanks. He felt a little bit sappy for being so close to his mother, he wasn't a child anymore! But at the same time he couldn't stop looking at the pendant which was one of the few thing they had reminding of his father who had died when Merlin had been two years old. Merlin felt a bit proud that his mother had trusted something this valuable to him.
In the evening Merlin had gotten a cake his mother could never have afforded and a cellphone from Uther. A cellphone! He was so thrilled about his new cellphone! He had always been jealous to Will who had a computer in his house and when they were like ten, they had played some computer games with it when Wills mother hadn't needed it. Merlins mother could barely afford a land line… And now he had a cellphone! With all the latest cadgets and all. He would so rub this on Wills face when he had the change! He also got his own bank account and a card to use for himself. When he saw the amount Merlin had got in it he felt his eyes bulge. He could get anything with that kind of money! "Wow." was the only thing he could say while Uther just laughed. Hunith on the other hand looked displeased and Merlin quickly caught on "Thank you mister Pendragon." he said as politely as he could "Please, Merlin, we are a family now, call me farther or Uther if you feel like it." Merlin just smiled and he felt himself grow fond of his new …father.
From Arthur he got a glare that said that he wished Merlin a rotten birthday and that he himself had gotten a cellphone when he was like three years old.
Merlin chose not to care. He stayed up late just watching the fireworks their neighbours were firing. They were fancier than those he had seen in his home village and the view from his window made him able to see so much. He really liked his window.
After standing up to Arthur, Merlin noticed that he was getting some attention in his new school. It was a bit unnerving for him because he wasn't sure how to react to it all. After the school started again, it hadn't changed that much even if it had toned down. Most of the people talking about him didn't seem to have enough decency not to check if Merlin heard them or not, but not enough nerves to actually come and say what they thought to his face. That was until Merlin met Gwen. Gwen was a prettiest girl Merlin had ever talked to (and who was willingly talking to him). She had curly black hair and copper skin. She didn't wear any make up and she smiled genuinely and seemed smart and funny.
"I saw you when you stood up against Arthur before Christmas." She started when they happened to be waiting for a class to start. "I'm Gwen, by the way." She said and gave Merlin her hand. Merlin smiled at her warmly. He didn't yet have any friends here, not that it had bothered him much, he had so much to get accustomed to. "Right, I'm Merlin." He shook her hand. "But most people call me idiot." He continued. Merlin had heard some of the gossipers call him that and he had heard Arthur definitely call him that. Gwen looked at him denying "Oh, no! I thought you were brave!" Merlin found some humour in her statement. It wasn't like he took offence on the comments and he found Gwens attempt to make him feel better a bit funny. "It was stupid." He said not feeling like he had to defend himself. He had been stupid to challenge Arthur to a physical fight. "I'm clad you walked away, you weren't gonna beat him." Gwen continued catching on with a smile on her face. Merlin looked at her and laughed. That was funny. And with just one comment he felt that they were in the same wave length.
"I could beat him." He said a bit to make her stay and mostly to make her laugh. Gwen laughed and Merlin smiled in triumph. "You think?" Gwen asked him sarcastically which made Merlin laugh too. "Because you don't seem like those big muscly kind of fellows." Gwen continued and Merlins smile faltered. "Thanks…" he said unsure of how to react and Gwen seemed to notice it. "I don't mean that you couldn't beat him… It's just that you don't look like those big, save the world kind of guys… I'm sure you are stronger than you look!" Gwen tried to save herself but Merlin only could look confused. He heard the contradiction in Gwens words even thought he had a feeling that Gwen didn't mean any harm. At most, he still kind of felt that she was funny.
"Anyway, it was great you stood up on him." Gwen finished looking at Merlin sounding a bit careful on her words. Merlin just smiled at her and said "You think so?" Gwen seemed to find a bit more courage and she said enthusiastically "Arthurs a bully. And everybody thought that you were a real hero." Merlin looked at her skeptically but feeling happy inside "Oh really?" He asked and Gwen nodded happily "Mmm-hmm." She just answered. Merlin grinned at her. It was rare that he felt that someone was worth being friends with and now he felt exactly that. Gwen smiled at him and when the class started, they sat next to each others and made silent comments during the class. It seemed that Merlin had made his first friend.
That same day Merlin was reading a book in the living room couch when Arthur arrived home. He looked tired and grumpy and there was a slight limp in his right leg. He didn't seem to notice Merlin who remained still and didn't much more than glance at Arthur. However when Merlin heard Arthurs voice talking with his father, Merlin got interested. The tone of the conversation wasn't nice. It seemed that Arthur had sprained his ankled and Uther was mostly concerned of how that would affect on Arthurs performance in football. Arthur made it clear that this wouldn't affect him in any way and Uther had practically said that then he would except Arthur to become a captain next year. Arthur tried to tell his father that it was rare for someone who wasn't in the final year to become a captain but Uther wouldn't listen "Rare but not unheard of." was his comment.
To Merlin this felt weird and unjust. Arthur was already good with everything. Why was his father demanding him to be exceptional also? And with something like football… It just didn't seem right. WAsn't that supposed to be a hobby? Something for fun and games? Merlin had seen Arthurs temper and he was waiting for Arthur to protest or even start a fight, but none of that came. There was a pause and after that Arthur just simply said "Yes, father."
Merlin had completely forgot his book then. When Arthur walked to the stairs he finally noticed Merlin who was now openly staring. Arthur frowned at him but said nothing. His father would have heard it, Merlin deducted. After Arthur had disappeared upstairs, Merlin couldn't help but think again why Arthur was acting like he was. His life wasn't as easy as Merlin had thought it had been.
After that Merlin watched Arthur and his relationship with his father more closely. He noticed how Arthur seemed to feel some of the pressure build on him was unreasonable and at times he protested or tried to explain himself but every time the conversation would end with a 'yes father'. Merlin also noticed that every time Arthur went somewhere other than to school or football practices, it was to study with his friends or to a library. Merlin started to notice how tired Arthur was at times. Merlin started to feel guilty for thinking that Arthur was a complete jerk. He himself didn't have that kind of problems with Uther. He seemed to understand somewhat that Merlins old school wasn't the best and Merlin was quiet and studied anyway and he really didn't have any extra activities or places he wanted to go, so Uther kind of just let him be.
Merlin called Will a couple of times a week and that was enough for him. He hanged out with Gwen at school and with a huge library in his school and all the books he could loan from there or from Arthurs book shelves (when Arthur wasn't home), he had everything he wanted right here. The only thing he missed was snow and doing stupid things with Will, but there was nothing he could do about that, so he had gotten used of spending time inside with a book in his hands.
One day Merlin was reading a book in the living room (again) when Arthur came home. Apparently he had ran to his father outside and they were arguing about something. "… I have to go out sometimes, father. It's just a birthday party!" Arthur was for once sounding like he wouldn't give up easily "You have a big test coming up, I'm not sure that you have time for that." Uther must have been talking about the test of Shakespeare's 'the Tempest'. That was next monday. Merlin had finished the book and he was all right, but he knew Arthur hadn't even started, he had heard him complain about it to someone from his team. "Sometimes it's not about the test, father. I have to be a part of the team if I want to lead it…" Arthur whined and Uther seemed to falter a bit, but still he continued with a stern tone "The school is more important than football. I want to see you to succeed in the future." Arthur seemed sour and he was ready to argue more when he saw Merlin in the living room watching at them.
Arthur looked at Merlin frowning. "I don't see him getting this kind of treatment. Why is it that he is different?" Arthur asked frustrated and Merlin didn't like that he was pulled into the conversation. "Do not blame others. I was talking about you and your lack of effort. I'll have no more of your complaints. Go to your room and use your time to something useful!" Uther was clearly in a bad mood and in the end Arthur turned on his heels and stomped his way to upstairs. Merlin tried to returne to his book hoping that Uther would be gone soon. He succeeded on it quite well. Uther didn't address Merlin and he soon disappeared into his study and Merlin was alone again.
Merlin couldn't help but think of the way Uther had talked to Arthur. Merlin had alway gotten permissions to go to his friends not just for parties or for special occasions but also whenever he wanted to just have time with them. It felt unfair that Arthur couldn't go to see his friends even though he was working so hard in everything. And Uthers tone... it wasn't like one could be doing something 'useful' all the time.
Merlin kind of felt a need to confort Arthur, even if he had no idea what he was actually going trough. He looked at the book in his hand and realised that it was Arthurs. He could go and return it. Normally he would have returned it when Arthur wasn't home, but now he could use it as an excuse. He made his way upstairs and knocked Arthurs door. It didn't take long for Arthur to open his door looking angry. His expression soon changed to one with annoyance but he still moved from the door, not closing it. Merlin took this as an invitation to come into the room.
"I loaned your book… " He said handing out the book he had been reading. Arthur looked at the book like it was something unpleasant. "It would be polite to ask first if you are going to take my belongings." He said with a bitter tone. Merlin frowned at him "It's not like you were using it anyway…" He said and Arthur rose his eyebrow at him. "Alright, I'm sorry I took it without asking you first." Merlin agreed to Arthurs unsaid words even if a bit- ok, a lot reluctantly.
Arthur just sighed and took the book from his hand and threw it on the shelf with more force than Merlin thought was appropriate for books. After Arthur turned back from the shelf, he spotted Merlin who had not moved and frowned. It seemed that he had expected him to be gone at the time he wasn't looking at him. "Go on. I'm sure you have something more important to do." Arthur said dismissively at him and waved his arm in front of merlin like he was shooing a dog or something. This irritated Merlin to no end. This was no way to treat people.
"Prat." He voiced his opinion which was clearly a mistake. Arthur now glared at him and took a step forward making Merlin to take one back. Arthur looked furious. "I just thought that you could use some help… I have already read the book and I have notes…" Arthurs expression didn't change and he hissed trough glenched teeth at Merlin "I don't need your help." Merlin rose his hands in front of him in defence and tried not to roll his eyes. "Alright, alright, do it yourself then…" He said and he was already planning on leaving when Arthur practically yelled at him "Get out of my room. Now!" pointing at his door. Merlin had to roll his eyes now. He exited the room muttering something about prats and Arthur slammed his door shut just millimetres behind Merlins back. 'So offering help is a no-no… Right.' Merlin made a mental note for himself. The prat could keep his troubles from now on. Merlin just hoped that he wouldn't get dragged to Arthurs and his fathers fights anymore.
It was like every other evening. Merlin was sitting in the living room reading a book and Uther and his mother were watching news "… LGB community has marched in town to raise awareness on sexual freedom. They have started a discussion of legalising same sex marriage and are now here, in front of parliament house to demand someone to speak with them in question they have sent in advance to the members of parliament. "We are here for equality and for those who couldn't come here today for the fear of their jobs, families or even the safety, we are…" At this point Uther changed the channel. "Faggots, what an unstable world this has become."
Merlin looked up from his book. This kind of response was not new to him, he had been raised in a country side after all. Still, he had never had anything against different people. When those in his class had spoken with the words their parent had given them about how niggers were like parasites eating from the table and taking their jobs, Merlin had always thought that they must be stupid if those who came from a country far away and not even speaking the same language could take their jobs. And some of them could spare some of the their food judging by their waist.
But he wasn't used to hearing this kind of talk in his family. He looked at his mother and noticed that she also looked uneasy. Merlin knew that his mother was soft hearted and tented to take the side of the weaker and the sick, so he wasn't too surprised, but still there seemed to be something else… Maybe she didn't want to say anything when they had just moved in? Maybe she would think again if she thought she and Uther were too different? Merlin sure hoped she would not. He was just starting to get used to living in this house that seemed like something out of tv and he had even made a friend in his new school which he loved. Also it would be super embarrassing to move back to the village and meet all of his neighbours and listen to them whisper about how he couldn't make it in the snob world…
Luckily Hunith stayed quiet and she and Uther started to talk about something else. Merlin relaxed again and went back to his book once more. Maybe this luxurious life would continue after all...
The winter was turning into a spring. Merlin, even though he had everything he needed or wanted in a material sense, was getting bored. He still didn't know much about the city he was now living in and it was hard to go anywhere alone. Uther was mostly busy and getting a lift to anywhere was quite hard. Gwens brother, Elyan, would drive his drivers license at summer and after that Gwen said that if their father could afford a car, maybet she could bribe Elyan to drive them somewhere. Merlin couldn't wait that to happen. It wasn't that they never went out, but it was always a family thing, to go to eat or shop or what ever and that mostly meant that it was Merlin and his mother (for example shopping new clothes for Merlin, Uther would just drop them to a shopping centre and pick them up later) or in some occasions the whole family meaning that Merlin had to put up with Arthur, who had made a habit of ignoring him or calling every mistake he made. Hunith had tried to make peace between them, but even Merlin knew she didn't feel confident enough to tell Arthur what he was supposed to do, so it was mainly trying to join their 'conversations' and pacify them.
Merlin missed Will and his company and when he told this to his mother, Hunith had looked sad and confessed that she too, was lonely. She told Merlin that she had started to look for a school for herself seriously. "Uther approves, he also thinks it would be good for me to get myself something to do… It's not much that I can do in the house after all…" The house had a maid and a cook to take care of most of the households work. Merlin had first tidied his belongings out of habit, but soon he had noticed that if he just left his bed unmade or his clothes to a basin in his bathroom, they would do themselves and appear into his closet folded and ironed. The only thing he had to do himself was keep his desk tidy, the maid wouldn't touch his stuff. He never saw the maid that cleaned, she came five times a week when Merlin was at school. Still, Merlin had the school and homework to keep him occupied, Hunith had nothing. His mother must have been bored to death.
"I think it's a great idea! What have you found?" Merlin immediatelly encouraged his mother. They talked a lot after that of what Hunith could do and when were the entrance exams and so on. Merlin even agreed to teach her some chemistry he had learned at school to freshen her memory. Merlin was happy, that would give him something to do and to focus on and his mother was again more animate, like she had been all Merlins life before they moved here.
Unlike Merlin, Arthur seemed like he had so much to do that his time couldn't possibly be enough for it all. Merlin rarely saw him (which he didn't mind…) anymore. Arthur was either in the football practices or in library or holed inside his room or kicking ball around in a small patch of grass in their garden. Merlin had thought couple of times offering his help again, but after he remembered how well that went last time, he had dismissed the idea immediately.
They rarely talked for other purpose than calling each others names when neither of their parents noticed.
That day however, Arthurs was pissed of. Merlin had his door ajar and he heard clearly when Arthur first stomped to his room before opening his door with so much force that it hit the wall. Merlin waited to hear a slam, but it never came. Instead he heard something crash to the floor that sounded an awful lot like a stack of papers and book. Then he heard other noise and he got curious. Uther wasn't at home and Hunith was visiting a bookstore, so Merlin was the only one home and Arthur wouldn't have any need to demonstrate his frustration for Merlin, so Merlin couldn't help but get a little bit worried. He had never been one to leave troubled alone, much like his mother, and even thought he didn't like Arthur very much he still felt obligation to do something.
Arthur was breathing hard his hands on his now clean desk. He had thrown everything around his room in frustration. He had gotten a biology test back today and it wasn't very good to say the least. It didn't help that he had seen Merlin had gotten full marks. After that his football practice had not gone well because he had had trouble to concentrate, his mind trying to find excuses for his father desperately. When he had gotten home, everything had seemed to piss him of. The empty silent house, the overly polished wooden stairs and when Arthur had seen his room, just cleaned and neat and ordered, he had snapped. He hated the growing stack of papers and books on his desk. He couldn't do this all… why did he have to do this all? He had no idea.
"Wow, way to make a mess…" Arthur spun around only to see Merlin in his door way looking puzzled. Seeing Merlin also annoyed Arthur, but he had used all of his energy just now, so he just settled on saying "Go away." And turning back to facing the wall. He hoped that it would be enough, but when he heard Merlins steps coming closer he knew it hadn't. 'How thick can this idiot be?' He thought and his jaw clenched. He spun around ready to yell the idiot to collect his bones and disappear from his sight before he would make that happen, but it all died in his throat when Merlin wasn't standing where he had expected him to stand. Merlin was kneeling on the floor and collecting his books and papers to neat piles. "I know you have a maid, but don't you think it's better to make her day a bit easier too?" Merlin asked calmly not really sounding like he wanted an answer. Arthur didn't have anything to say to that, so he just stared at Merlin who had now moved to collect his couch pillows and gym clothes from the floor.
"I saw you in PE you know." Merlin said calmly while picking stuff from the floor. Arthur didn't know how to answer this either, so he just continued staring. "You were good. Not great but… good." Merlin seemed to pick up Arthurs lack of effort to the conversation. At this comment however Arthur had to turn to face his desk again to hide the smile that tried to form it's way to his lips. He knew he had been great, he was the best in the class, in the whole school even! Something about how Merlin said it made it seem… funny.
Arthur tried to form a comeback based on Merlins performance, but Merlin beat him to it. "I sucked." Arthur smirked. "Of course you did." He said to the desk he was currently leaning to. There was actual humour in his voice. "Hey, I'm sturdier than I look!" Merlin defended himself automatically, but seeming to collect himself soon after. "What I mean is that you could let me have biology if you are going to ace in sports anyway." he said in much softer tone. This made Arthur turn his head and he finaly met Merlins eyes "I mean… do you even like biology?" Merlin asked.
No, Arthur never got very interested in biology. Or any other subject that had essays in it. The answer must have shown in his face because Merlin smiled widely and took the freshly stacked pile of books and lifted on to Arthurs table. "I never liked sports either." Merlin said and dropped the neat pile of books and papers next to Arthur on his desk and with that Merlin walked out of Arthurs room.
Arthur looked at his room just to see that it was the way it has been before his tantrum. Even his couch pillows were in order and door closed and his desk was actually more organised than it had been. He couldn't help but laugh. 'This idiot really made my day huh?' Shaking his head in amusement he took his crumbled test from his pocket and tried to make it presentable to show to his father. He got what Merlin had meant, one couldn't be best with everything. And he could just read better to the next one or even, God forbid, ask Merlin for help. Arthur shuddered at the thought but nevertheless smiled to himself. He was so never going to tell Merlin he thought that.
At the same time in his room, Merlin felt quite sure he had been right, because Arthur hadn't tried to rip his arm off or anything like that. Merlin had to smile to himself. 'Guess that he's not so bad after all'.