Merlin shivered as he lay sopping wet on the ground staring up at the men crowding around him. They were all wet too he noted. Most of them half dressed. Had they been swimming?

Who were they?

"Sire.." one of the men spoke suddenly, addressing the blonde man directly in front of Merlin. "..the sorcerer could return at any moment. We should move somewhere else as soon as possible"

The blonde nodded, his face shifting to look angry as he began barking orders to the other man, clearly in charge. "Sir Elyan, Sir Gwaine, gather the supplies, everyone else get dressed. We'll take the east route back to Camelot. Merlin..." The blondes voice softened as he turned back to the boy "...can you walk?"

Merlin lay frozen in horror. Sire? Sir Elyan? Sir Gwaine?

Blue eyes shifted to watch the men as they began pulling on clothing that had been spread across the shore. Chainmail, red cloaks, swords.

They were knights!

Knights... and this man...this man who was hovering over him with his hand outstretched for Merlin to take, eyes gentle and kind looking...they had called him Sire...he was...he was a King!

Merlin froze in terror. They had mentioned a sorcerer. What had happened? Had he used magic? Did they know it was him? They didn't seem to be angry with him. Maybe they didn't know. Maybe it wasn't him?

But how did they know his name?

Where was he?

Where was his mother?

What was going on?

...

Arthur watched in pity as the young Merlin curled himself in a ball afraid. Clearly he had no idea who they were.

"Hey...hey now it's ok." He tried to sooth.

"Were am I?"

"You're in a forest just west of the kingdom of Camelot. My kingdom. You don't remember right now but you live there."

Confused blue eyes peered up at the prince. "I live in Ealdor" The boy argued weakly, as though he was sure he was right but wasn't sure he was allowed to argue.

Arthur smiled. "You did, but then you moved to Camelot. Something made you forget but it's ok. We are your friends and we are going to ok after you until you remember ok?" He decided not to mention the sorcerer, the child was frightened enough without the threat of magic to worry about too. Even still he could tell the boy was terrified.

Arthur frowned, it wouldn't be good if this younger Merlin tried to run away from them whilst he was in this state. Who knows what would happen? He had to find a way to get the child's trust.

"I'll make you a deal ok? In Camelot we have a physician named Gaius, he's very nice, you'll like him and I believe he can help you remember the things you've forgotten. If you agree to come with us to Camelot to see him, then I promise if he can't help, I will take you home to your mother in Ealdor"

The boy stared up at the man, trying to determine if he was telling the truth.

He considered his options. So far the knights seemed friendly, or at least not threatening. He had no idea where he was and probably couldn't find his way home alone. He didn't want to be alone in the forest at night.

Slowly the boy nodded. The king relaxed and smiled again.

Merlin peered around him. Having finished gathering their things several of the knights were edging closer to look at the child.

One with long hair crouched down beside him. "Hey Merlin" He smiled "Remember me? In Gwaine you and me are best mates we are" His smile was wide and intense. Merlin didn't like it. He stared at the man for a moment then curled back into a ball, not noticing when the smile dropped and the knight called Gwaine deflated in disappointment and moved back away.

"Can you walk?" Arthur asked again. He got no response "Percy" He called to the man who was just pulling his cloak back on "Maybe you could carry him?"

"No!" Merlin shouted in alarm before the knight could respond.

With renewed energy the boy stood up seeming far more alert than before "I...uh...I can walk" he insisted.

Percival frowned slightly trying not to feel hurt and went back to securing his cloak, Merlin was a kid and didn't know who they were at the moment, the knight told himself, plus he was alone and confused in a strange pace, it was perfectly understandable he wouldn't completely trust them right now. It still stung though.

The clothing Merlin had been wearing now hung loose and useless on his small frame. After tripping over with his first step the child decided to abandon the trousers and instead wrap a rope around his waist to secure the top which now hung down to his knees. Shoes that were hopelessly too big were kicked off.

Arthur gathered the discarded clothing and stuffed it into a bag just in case Merlin turned back before they made it back to Camelot. The last thing he needed was a half naked manservant running around the forest.

"Let's go" He ordered.

As the party began to move Merlin quickly positioned himself towards the back and out of the sight of the King and his knights. For the first half hour several of the group attempted to talk to the boy before abandoning the effort when their young (now even younger) friend shied away from them in a way their Merlin never had.

The difference between this child and the young man they all knew was startling. Where their Merlin was outgoing and full of a confidence well beyond typical for a person of his low status, this Merlin was quiet and shy seemingly afraid of every one of them. Even just looking at him was enough to upset the child.

Eventually they all learned to keep their eyes forwards, content to let the young Merlin trail behind them, relying on sound to reassure them he was still following.

With his timid and fearful behaviour no one bothered to turn and look when the sound of gentle sobbing started behind them.

It was something they would all soon regret.

...

The group walked another hour before they finally stopped to make camp.

Leon saw it first.

"Merlin! When did that happen? Oh God are you ok?" He knew the answer before the boy said anything.

Not that Merlin was going to say anything, the volume of the knights shout scared him so much the child was ready to run away, and would have if it wasn't for the jagged twig currently protruding from his foot.

"Heck Merlin! Why didn't you say something!?" Lancelot demanded in horror.

Merlin quickly found himself being grabbed by both arms and manoeuvred into a position that would allow the knights to assess the damage. Percival lifted the child into his arms and held on tight, even as he felt the small frame try to struggle weakly. Elyan took hold of the injured foot and raised it up so it could be seen more easily.

The King was already shouting orders for someone to fetch medical supplies from the bags whilst the other knights all gathered around looking upset.

"Merlin how long has it been like that?" Gwaine asked softly.

Merlin shifted nervously in Percival's grasp, afraid that he was in trouble. "Since...since we passed the river" He tried to answer as honestly as he could.

They all gasped in distress "That was over an hour ago." Percival realised "You've been walking on that foot for an hour? Why didn't you tell us?"

The boy felt hot tears running down his face. He didn't want them to be angry with him.

He wanted to go home to his mother where he was safe.

"I...I didn't want to bother you" He admitted quietly feeling a flush of shame. Why would they care about a stupid peasant boy anyway?

"Don't be stupid Merlin you need to tell us if you're hurt!" Merlin cringed as the King shouted angrily then watched as the long haired knight punched the Kings arm looking annoyed and the two began to bicker.

"Sit him down" Lancelot instructed.

Swiftly Merlin was being lowered to the ground whilst still firmly encased in the largest knights arms and shifted to sit on the man's lap. In front of them Sir Elyan now knelt, gentle hands still holding onto Merlin's foot, having lowered himself down with them to keep the injury from worsening.

Around the clearing a few of the group were setting up camp whilst others prepared medical supplies. Lancelot seemed to have taken charge of the group and was now calling for Leon to build a fire and for Gwaine to collect water to boil and clean some bandages in.

Merlin shuddered as his foot throbbed in pain.

They were going to pull the twig out.

He knew they had to, but he also knew It was going to really, really hurt.

What if they were rough? the child wondered. They were noblemen and knights and royals, he had already slowed them down enough today. Even as they were walking Merlin had noticed that they slowed their pace to wait for him; he couldn't imagine why. What if they were tired of waiting now? What if they just yanked it out?

Once again Merlin wished he was home.

Twisting around the frightened boy took a chance and buried his face in the cloak of the knight who was holding him still, trying to block out the world around him. A part of him wondered if he should try to use magic to get away but he knew it was useless. He wouldn't get far and there were too many of them to fight. Besides, they didn't seem to know he had magic. If he revealed himself now they might burn him like in the stories the older boys in town told him about captured sorcerers. The thought made him cry harder.

For a moment the feel of gentle fingers running through his hair calmed the boy until a burning jolt of pain pushed away everything else.

No no no no no no no! Please don't!

Elyan tightened his grip to keep the foot still and Lancelot pulled his fingers back feeling guilty. He had tried to be gentle, perhaps he should have warned Merlin before touching it?

"Alright, I'm going to try to clean the wound now, just hold still ok Merlin?" The boy whimpered in response but did as he was told. Lancelot gently cupped the foot once more, keeping as far from the wound itself as possible to avoid hurting the boy as he began to slowly dab at the edge of the cut with the sterilised cloth Gwaine handed him, washing away the dirt and grime bit by bit.

Ten minutes and three cloths later he could finally see where the twig was protruding out of the foot, it was deep.

"Alright Merlin" He winced in sympathy "I'm going to pull it out now ok?"

The renewed sobbing he could hear coming from inside Percy's cloak told the knight that he had been heard. Carefully he took hold of the twig with one hand and the foot with the other.

He pulled. Merlin's cries echoed around the camp and the knights all moved closer instinctively, each wishing they could do something more to help.

Slowly but surely it slid, further, further...

It was out.

Percival had begun to rock back a fourth whispering words of comfort to the poor child. "It's ok" he soothed "It's over now"

Is it? Lancelot wondered. He looked down at the hole where the twig had been embedded, using a fourth rag to wash away any lingering bits of mud from inside the wound, cleaning it as best as he could.

Just as he saw the young frame begin to sag in relief the regretful knight reached an unfortunate conclusion.

The next words were said with a heavy heart.

"I'm so sorry Merlin...but this is going to need stitches"

I've decided to split this story down more than originally intended. Chapter three up soon.