Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter 2: Camelot

Arthur looked around with wide eyes as they entered Camelot. He had lived in a forest his entire life. He had never been anywhere like this.

He received some questioning looks as he was led through the town, people no doubt wondering who this ragged little boy being escorted by three knights was.

Soon they were through the town and entering the palace courtyard. Arthur craned his head back, staring up at the castle.

He felt his stomach clench with nerves as he was led into the castle. Sir Ector stopped before a set of huge doors that must have led into the throne room. The two men standing guard outside the room gave Arthur curious looks.

"Wait here," he instructed Arthur, "I will go tell the king that we have found you."

Arthur nodded silently, too nervous to speak. He watched as the great doors of the throne room were pulled open and Sir Ector entered.

Then he walked over to sink into a sitting position with his back against the wall that the doors were set in. He couldn't believe that he was waiting to meet the king of Camelot… his father. Part of Arthur still felt that this was all some big mistake. He couldn't really be the prince of Camelot.

Maybe he was dreaming. Maybe he would wake up and he'd be back in his tent with his mother sleeping nearby. And then he'd tell her about the dream and she'd laugh and say something sappy and embarrassing like that he was her prince, and then everything would go back to normal.

Arthur sighed. If only that were true. He looked around, wishing for something to distract him from his nerves and his homesickness.

He heard footsteps approaching and turned toward the sound as a girl turned the corner to his right.

She looked to be a little older than Arthur and had long black hair. She was wearing a green dress. She noticed him watching her and walked over to him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"I'm waiting to see the king," Arthur answered.

She gave him a long look, scrutinizing him, and Arthur was sure she was wondering why on Earth someone like him would be coming to see the king.

"Who're you, anyway?" he asked, then realized he probably wasn't supposed to address her like that. She was almost definitely a noblewoman. Then again, he was supposedly the prince.

"I'm Morgana," she said, "I'm the king's ward."

"Oh," Arthur said.

"What's he like?" he blurted out after a moment, "The king, I mean?"

Morgana leaned down, widening her eyes dramatically, "He eats little boys for breakfast!"

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Give me a break. I'm not a little boy."

Before Morgana could respond, the doors to the throne room opened and Sir Ector came out.

He walked over to the two children.

"My lady," he nodded his head in greeting to Morgana, then turned to Arthur, "The king will see you now, Sire."

Arthur scrambled to his feet. He darted a look at Morgana to find her staring at him, her lips forming the word "sire" without sound. He just shrugged and shot her a grin.

Then he followed Sir Ector into the throne room, his heart pounding and his palms slick with sweat.

The throne room was empty, save for a single occupant, who could only be the king. He was not seated on the throne that stood in the center of the room. Instead he stood in front of it, his hands clasped behind his back.

Sir Ector led Arthur to stand in front of him, then stepped back with a bow to the king.

Arthur could feel the king's gaze boring into him. Rather than meeting it, he stared at his feet. Suddenly he felt strong hands gripping his shoulders, but he still didn't raise his gaze.

"Look at me, boy," the king's voice was hoarse and Arthur got the impression that he was restraining some strong emotion.

Slowly, Arthur raised his head and met his eyes. For a moment, boy and king regarded each other in silence.

And then, quite suddenly, the king pulled Arthur into an embrace, "Arthur." His voice was rough with emotion.

Arthur stood quite still, not returning the embrace, but not pulling away either.

After a moment the king released him. Looking up at him, Arthur was astonished to see tears in his eyes.

The king cleared his throat, seemingly making the effort to pull himself together. Arthur got the feeling that it was rare that he displayed such emotion.

"Sir Ector tells me the patrol found you in the forest," he said.

Arthur nodded. He knew what was coming. The king would question him about his life. He also knew he couldn't tell the truth. No matter how happy Uther might be at the return of his son, it didn't change the fact that he had spent years hunting the Druids. Arthur couldn't give him any information that might lead Uther to his camp.

So he told the king the story he had decided upon on the way to Camelot, that the bandits who had captured him as a baby had stopped in a small village to visit a tavern, and had left Arthur outside with a man to guard him. He told the king that a village man had come upon the bandit and the child and realized that Arthur had been kidnapped. He had fought the bandit, and rescued Arthur, who he had taken home, and he and his wife had raised Arthur as their own.

"Where can I find this couple?" the king asked, "They must be rewarded."

Arthur looked down, hoping the king would take this gesture as sorrow, rather than the nervous desire to hide his face, "They died, sire. A few months back, of a fever. I've been on my own since then. I've been living in the woods."

To Arthur's great relief, the king seemed to believe his story.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said to Arthur, "But now a new life will begin for you."

"Come," he clapped Arthur on the shoulder, "I will take you to Gaius, our court physican."

"The physician?" Arthur repeated, "Why? I'm not sick." Then he winced inwardly, realizing he was questioning the king.

But Uther only smiled, "Gaius will just check you over, make sure you're healthy."

The rest of the day was a blur for Arthur. He was taken to the court physician, who checked him over and declared him healthy. Then he was given a new set of clothes, which a servant helped him put on, and attended a meal with the king and Morgana. Over the meal, the king told Arthur that tomorrow he would make an official announcement to the people about Arthur's return and that there would be a feast in his honor the following week. None of it felt quite real.

After the meal Arthur was led to a huge bedroom that he was told would be his. He was given pajamas, and again a servant aided him in undressing and changing. Then Arthur fell into the bed, which was softer than anything he had ever felt before, and was sound asleep within a minute.

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