A 12 year old Merlin walked confidently through the centre of Ealdor. It was a lovely day outside and he had just finished his final chore for the day, so had decided to go and bug Will that afternoon.

He smiled as he passed the rest of the village residents; not minding the normal frosty responses he got from people who subconsciously felt he was different. He had forgone his normal jacket as the day had warmed up more than was usual for that time of the year.

He quickly reached the door of Will's home, pausing and straining his ears to try and figure out what his friend was up to. Not hearing anything Merlin pushed on the door. Feeling it give straight away, he peered inside.

His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness of the room, and he spotted his friend bent almost double over the room's only table, as he concentrated on something that Merlin couldn't see from his current position.

Smirking to himself, Merlin quietly stepped inside the house, he then tiptoed across the room so as to go unnoticed. He stopped when he was directly behind Will, lips twitching as he held back a laugh. He paused for a few seconds, watching intently and trying to stifle his breaths so as not to alert the other boy to his presence.

Almost a minute passed in silence before Merlin shouted.

"Will!" The boy in question jumped where he sat, back going almost rigid and head flying up.

"Merlin!" he said in shock, standing up from where he was still just about sat. "What are you doing?"

Instead of replying Merlin bust into a fit of giggles, arms wrapping around his stomach.

"It's not funny." Will's ears started to redden, and he crossed his own arms, pouting back at the other boy.

"It was extremely funny," Merlin managed to gasp out in between giggles.

Will narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.

Will continued to glare as Merlin slowly got himself back under control. After a moment he said; "What are you doing here anyway?"

Merlin blinked. In his mirth he had almost forgotten why he had come over in the first place. "Um, I finished all my chores and seen as it's such a nice day outside I thought that we could go play in the woods."

"Well I was going to…" Will trailed off, sparing a half-glance back over his shoulder. "That sounds great, Merlin."

Merlin's smile somehow widened even more.

"Follow me. I know the perfect place we can go." He grabbed onto the fabric of Will's shirt, and practically dragged him along behind him as he left the house.

"I can walk by myself, you know. No need to drag me," Will called, while he tried to tug himself free of Merlin's grip. Merlin rolled his eyes, not that the other could see him do so, but released his grip all the same.

The pair quickly entered the forest and within five minutes had reached the place that Merlin was searching for.

"Here we are!" he said excitedly, pointing to a massive tree that stuck out from those surrounding it just because of its sheer size. As well as being massive, the tree also had many branches that split off, twisting about in random shapes as they bent down towards to ground.

"Wow!" Will exclaimed, mouth falling open.

"It's perfect for us to climb," Merlin said with a grin. He then started off towards the tree, stopping off very briefly to look back and wave at Will to join him.

It didn't take long for the pair to find purchase, and begin making their way up the tree.

Small hands gripped tight to the rough bark, and feet scraped noisily against the tree, as both Merlin and Will fought hard to continue pulling themselves upwards.

Merlin wrapped his thin arms around a sturdy branch nearby, resting his head against the wood, and taking a moment to catch his breath.

"Let's get up to that massive branch there and we can stop," Merlin said, attracting Will's attention then nodding his head up to the indicated branch in question.

Will nodded, pulling himself up with a grunt, so he was approximately level with Merlin.

"Bet I can get there first!" the older boy declared, before sticking his tongue out at Merlin. Merlin gaped back momentarily stunned, and thus allowing Will to get a head start on him.

"I am so going to beat you!" Merlin called, unfreezing and continuing upwards.

Ten minutes later only the sounds of panting could be heard as both of the boys clung tiredly to the tree, sweat glistening on their faces.

"Told you… I would… win," Will managed to force out between harsh, quick breaths. Wrinkling his nose Merlin refrained from commenting.

They fell quiet again, before Merlin suddenly sat up.

"I have something to show you." Will's eyebrows rose in surprise at the other's sudden comment.

Merlin straightened up, briefly checking his legs where they were holding securely to the branch, then grinned. Without a moment's pause, he held his right hand out between them, palm up.

Will's eyebrows pinched together in confusion, eyes flicking back and forth from the hand to Merlin's face, waiting eagerly for the other boy to do something.

Merlin trained his eyes on his hand, concentration written across his features. Seconds ticked by, and Merlin's tongue poked out from the corner of his mouth as he focused. Finally, a small flame burst into life in the centre of his palm.

Will almost jumped in shock, before he remembered that they were sat in a tree and that that would be an extremely bad idea.

"Merlin…" He trailed off, never having actually seen magic for himself, but recalling all he had been told.

Merlin's eyes grew wide at the other's uncertain tone, suddenly scared that the other would reject him.

"That's so brilliant!" Will decided, face lighting up.

A smile spread across Merlin's mouth, and he looked back down to his flame, staring hard until it changed from oranges to blue. Will's eyes were now glued on the beautiful flame. Merlin's eyes flashed and the flame became green next. They grinned at each other, the rest of the world all but melting away around them.

They became so absorbed in Merlin's magic that they didn't notice Hunith's arrival. She had come looking for the boys to bring them back home for dinner, but froze where she was once she saw what they were up to.

"Merlin!"

At the sound of his name Merlin's head shot up, and the flame instantly blinked from existence. His face paled.

A second call followed, and both boys turned, recognising the voice this time.

"You both get down here right now." Hunith was no longer shouting, not that she needed to, as the children were suitably abashed and hurrying to follow her instructions.

Hunith stood with her arms crossed as she watched the boys' progress, mentally relieved once they were both firmly back on the ground again.

Without a word, she held out both her hands, and once Will and Merlin had taken hold, she turned and almost dragged them back to their village, and into her house.

Once inside, she closed the door firmly, and made sure that all the windows were covered before she marched over to the two boys, who were almost clinging to each other - their nerves clearly visible.

"Now, Will," she spoke evenly, placing her hands gently on his shoulders. "I need you to promise me that you won't tell anyone what it was that Merlin did, alright?"

Will could only nod, his eyes going wide.

"I need you to promise."

"I promise…" he muttered out, not really understanding the seriousness of what was happening.

"I'd better get you back home now." She straightened back up, and with a gentle hand on his back steered Will out of the house.

Now alone, Merlin's hands twisted into the fabric of his shirt, whilst he bit the edge of his lower lip. His eyes flitted nervously around the house as he waited for the sounds of his mother returning.

Soon enough Hunith was back. Once she had closed the door again, she stood arms crossed, face impassive, at the other side of the room.

Merlin squirmed, not liking that his mother was clearly angry with him, but also unsure of how to correct it.

A few minutes passed by before Hunith decided that her son had suffered enough. She bent down in front of him, eyes locking on his - though his refused to remain focused on any one thing.

"Merlin," his eyes finally stopped their roving, "what have I told you about using magic?"

"That I shouldn't."

Hunith nodded at his reply, about to continue speaking herself when he cut in. "But it's Will, he's not bad."

Hunith exhaled, eyes briefly dropping. "I know Will's not bad, but he's also just a child, and a nosey one. What if he accidently told someone?" Hunith tried to explain.

"But-" Merlin attempted.

"No buts Merlin, I'm sorry. You can't show anyone else."

Merlin nodded, eyes sad, but understanding.

"Now come here." She pulled her son forward into a hug, which he returned fervently.