Sorry for the delay, university work ate me. I'm almost finished though, yay.

MM

Merlin sat down, elbows stood against his legs just above his knees, whilst his chin rested lightly against his fingers. The sun beat down on his back from behind, warming his shoulders and head. Merlin adjusted his sitting position, feeling pins and needles starting up in his feet.

Across from him there was a splash as Will tried to catch a frog that had ventured close to the shore, but of course the boy missed and almost ended up in the water for his troubles.

"Watch out you idiot!" Merlin giggled as he watched his friend's antics.

"Oh shut up, Merlin."

"Why should I? At least I'm doing what we're supposed to be doing." Merlin gestured to spear he held in his right hand. Will pouted in response, sending Merlin a disgruntled look. The older boy straightened up from his crouch, eyes fixing themselves back on the water.

"It's not like there's many fish around for us to catch," Will said. He then hopped from the side of the river out onto a large and damp rock that sat a little ways out into the water. "Besides, can't you just use…" He glanced around checking that he and Merlin were alone still, "magic?"

"Will!" Merlin called in indignation, jumping to his feet as he did so. "You know very well I can't do that."

"Relax, Merlin. I was just joking." Will cast his friend a cheeky grin, and waved his own spear out away from Merlin to make his point. Merlin rolled his eyes in return, puffing out a short breath of air as he did so.

The pair lapsed into silence after that, actually attempting what it was they were out there to do - though rather unsuccessfully, until Will piped up.

"So, you know Edda?" He tried to keep his tone casual, but some of his eagerness slipped through.

"Yes?" Merlin's response came out as question as he tried to work out where his friend was going with this.

"Well…" he started, but stopped, eyebrows drawing together as tried to find the right words. "It's just that she's really pretty. Don't you think so?"

Merlin was momentarily shocked by his normally overly confident friend suddenly being unsure of himself. As for the question, he took a moment to recall the girl in question before he answered.

"I suppose she is," he shrugged not really seeing where his friend was going. "Why?"

Will avoided Merlin's gaze, instead focusing on twirling his spear, which he failed abysmally at, as the wooden tool clattered to the floor.

"I want to talk to her, but I don't know what to say," he eventually answered, tone resigned.

"And you're telling me this why?" Will grimaced at Merlin's obliviousness, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the younger boy. He felt his cheeks warm as he explained.

"I want you to help me of course."

"Oh," Merlin said, things finally falling into place. "Of course I can help."

Will's face split into a massive grin at his friend's answer.

"Great, we can go see her now!" He grabbed hold of Merlin's sleeve and started off toward Edda's house.

Merlin nearly tripped in his haste to keep up with Will, but otherwise let the other boy lead him along.

In no time at all the pair had reached the door to Edda's house, where they stopped. Will finally released his grip on Merlin's shirt, and Merlin noticed that in their rush he still had his spear clasped tightly in his hand.

Feeling a little sheepish, he deposited it down next to the front of the house, but out of the way of the door.

After a minute of them both standing silently outside of the house, Merlin piped up.

"Aren't you going to knock?"

"Well… I thought maybe you could?" This strange nervous Will was back. Merlin opened his mouth ready to tell Will that if he wanted to see her, he should knock, but after another couple of seconds staring at his friend's hopeful expression, he relented.

"Fine." He let his exasperation colour his voice, before he knocked twice.

They both found themselves holding their breath as they waited for a response.

A minute dragged by, before someone finally pulled the door open.

As luck would have it, the one who answered the door was exactly who they were looking for.

"Hello?"

Edda was short girl with slightly wavy blond hair, which she had pulled back out of the way so she could go about her chores without it hindering her. Her green eyes, which had initially landed on Merlin, as he was closest to her, flicked over to Will as she waited for either of the boys to speak.

The silence between the three of them stretched, on and on, no one knowing what to say. Merlin shifted his gaze from Edda, to Will, frowning at his lack of reaction. Trying to be subtle, Merlin stuck his elbow out, jabbing sharply into Will's ribs to startle him into action.

"Er- Hello Edda. We, well, I was just wondering if you would like to go for a walk in the forest later today?" He stumbled a little over his words, and he avoided looking at Edda.

She blinded back at Will, surprised at his request, and whilst she processed it, Will's ears started to turn pink at their tips.

"Ummm, sure," was her eventual reply. A smile spread across Will's mouth.

"That's great. I'll, umm. I'll come and get you later."

Edda nodded, then giving a quick wave closed the door.

Once the door was completely closed, Will turned to Merlin, a massive smile on his face.

"She agreed!" he all but shouted.

"Calm down, she can probably hear you." Merlin's admonishment shut him up quickly. "Come on." Merlin bent down to collect his spear, then started back off towards the river. Will stood almost dazed for a few seconds longer, before he hurried to catch up with Merlin.

Merlin remained quite as they walked back, whereas Will hummed happily to himself, a slightly smaller, but no less cheerful smile on his face.

However, before they could reach their destination, Hunith appeared. She had Will's spear held tightly in her hand, and her arms crossed over her chest. A stern expression adorned her face.

"Where have you two been?"

The pair looked away, Merlin shuffling his feet guiltily.

"Well?" Hunith prompted, after a small pause in which no answers were forth coming.

"We… just went to visit Edda," Merlin mumbled, cracking under the gaze of his mother. Beside him Will nodded slowly.

"And what were you supposed to be doing?" Hunith continued, ignoring the guilt that was radiating off of the pair.

"Fishing," said pair replied in unison, eyes on the ground.

"Exactly." The word was said sharply. "Merlin, come with me, and Will you'd better go home now."

"Yes, Hunith," Will said quickly, turning to leave, until Hunith stopped him.

"Your spear, Will." The older boy hurried over, collecting the tool, before turning on his heel and practically running back home.

Now alone with his mother, Merlin peered up from under his fringe. Hunith bent down a little so she was eye level with her son who had been growing rapidly over past year. She made eye contact with him, though she didn't miss that his teeth were working at his lower lip.

"I bet it was Will's idea to go, right?" Merlin didn't answer, but slowly nodded, not wanting to get his friend in trouble, but not wanting to lie either. Hunith sighed at the confirmation. "What am I going to do with you, hey Merlin?"

She put a hand on his shoulder, and steered him around so they could head home themselves.