In Camelot, the king, Uther pendragon and his wife, Ygraïne, were discussing their son, for he had run of AGAIN. Little did they know that the young prince, Arthur, had heard them talking about his future as the king and needing a wife. Arthur didn't agree with them, he knew that as heir to the throne he should be interested in girls but he simply wasn't. After hearing his parents talk he went hunting, to clear his mind. He was going after a deer when he tripped, for the first time.

"I just can't concentrate today… I'll go for a ride."

He walked back to where he left his horse and mounted it. He went north, far north. He got in a part of the woods where he hadn't been before, which meant something for he had spent a lot of time in the woods hunting and, believe it or not, thinking. He was about to turn back home, when he heard a voice, a singing voice. Someone was singing, somewhere in this dark place of the woods someone was actually singing. He got curious and followed the voice, stumbling upon a tower where by the window a young man was sitting. High in the tower, Merlin had no idea that anyone, let alone the prince, was listening, or rather said, spying. Arthur had left his horse by the edge of the open space and was currently hiding in the bushes, intrigued by the boy in the tower. He didn't notice the woman walking towards the tower until he heard her yell to the boy upstairs.

"Merlin! Let your hair down so I can climb up the tower!"

"Yes, mother!"

Huh? … Is THAT his mother? She must have been very young when she became his mother.

The boy let his hair down, quite long if you asked anyone, but Arthur thought it looked good on him. The woman climbed up to the tower by his hair and Arthur could see the boy felt it. He decided he would come back tomorrow. He's leave immediately after breakfast. He had to see this wonderful boy again. Finally in the tower, Nimueh hadn't noticed the prince either.

"Merlin, my son. I have brought you food from my garden and berries from the woods. Here."

"Thank you, mother. I feel bad for you to have to climb the tower all the time, shouldn't it be better if I come live with you mother? And not in this tower?"

"Never! Merlin, I want you to stay here, where you are safe from the world out there."

"But mother, I've lived with you out there before, why can't I live with you now?"

"Merlin, I've been telling you this for 3 years now. When will you understand that you won't leave this tower? Not until the time is ripe for you to step in my footsteps."

"… Yes, mother, I understand, but I would just like to see the world out there before that time arrives. I want to explore the world out there."

"You will do none of the sort. You will stay here!"

Merlin felt his cheek burn of the slap Nimueh had given him. He felt tears burn in his eyes but he kept strong, not wanting to disappoint her. She noticed and her expression softened.

"I'm sorry, Merlin, I shouldn't have hit you. I want to protect you, my son."

"Yes, mother. I understand. I'll stay here as long until the time comes."

"I have to go now, my dear. I'll be back in two days."

She went down the tower again and waved at him before disappearing into the woods.