A/N- Sorry this is a short chapter, but I didn't really have time, and I promise I'll make up for it sometime soon.

"Why does the water have to be so cold? It's turning my hands red and raw?" Arthur complained. Merlin turned in bemusement at his new friend.

"Because the creek is cold. And just be lucky it's not fall or winter because then your hands would really be chafing. " They had been cleaning the week's worth of dirty dishes for ten minutes and were about halfway through.

"And why do we have to do this?'

"Because my Mother has her own things to do. We all pitch in to help around here, even the kids."

Merlin couldn't make out what Arthur grumbled next but heard something about "idiotic" "home" and "servants". Merlin could hardly believe Arthur was complaining this much. It was just chores. Everyone had them, and everyone just dealt with it.

"Come on, let's hurry with the dishes, we still need to do some laundry after this." Arthur groaned and continued on with his work. Sometimes he wondered about leaving home. As more and more time passed, he realized how rash of a decision he had made and became homesick and just wanted to go home.

He wanted to be back in his big bed, having his food brought to him by servants and his laundry done for him. He even thought he missed his father a little bit, but just a little. Because he was old enough to take care of himself, wasn't he?

"Arthur!"

"What?"

"You broke another plate!" Arthur looked down to see that he had, indeed, broken the plate he had been scrubbing at only moments before.

"Look, just go take a walk, I can handle things here. Be back in an hour or so, Mother should have dinner ready by then."

Arthur looked at Merlin with a combination of guilt and relief on his face. "Thanks," he said awkwardly, and walked away towards the woods Merlin had shown him earlier.

Merlin watched his new friend's retreating back and sighed. Sometimes he wasn't sure how easy being friends with Arthur would be. He seemed an alright boy at times, but at other moments he felt like he needed to be taught some compassion, some humility.

Merlin came to the decision that he would help change Arthur. Even though he was a few years older than Merlin himself, he thought he could draw out the good person he knew was inside of him.

That night both boys fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the days chores and adventures.

Arthur woke up the next morning to a hand hitting him in the face. Hi battle instincts kicked in and he grabbed the hand threateningly and gave it a hard twist.

"Ow!" The childish yell brought Arthur back to where he was and he quickly let go of the hand.

Merlin rubbed his sore wrist and glowered at Arthur. That was a rude awakening from the pleasant dream he had been having. "What was that for?"

"You hit me in the face."

"You could have just taken my hand off you. You didn't have to bruise my wrist."

Arthur just shrugged, he couldn't explain why he reacted the way he had without bringing up his past as a prince.

"Well, come on then, we have more chores to do today. You can come help out with the farming."

Arthur moaned and turned his head back into his pillow.

Gaius hesitantly entered the throne room. There he found Uther, the normally collected king, in a panic, still sending out search party after search party for his son. Gaius slowly made his way towards the king.

"Sire."

"Gaius, what is it? I hardly have time for anything right now, let alone-"

"Sire, I believe I know where Arthur is."

Uther could hardly believe it. Could his long trusted friend and advisor just given him the news he was so desperately searching for?

"Where? Where is he? Tell me now! Is he in danger?"

"No, to my knowledge he is in no danger. He is in fact staying with a long time acquaintance of mine, in the small village of Ealdor."

"Ealdor? Doesn't that lie within Cenred's kingdom? Why would Arthur be there?"

"I think the boy may have wandered too far away. Maybe he wasn't following a path at all, merely running through the forest until he got somewhere."

"Alright. And this… acquaintance of yours, they can be trusted?'

"Absolutely, sire. She has my utmost trust. She also has a son of her own, and has promised to take care of Arthur as she would her own. She has always been loyal in the past; I see no reason to doubt that loyalty now."

"Fine, then we ride out immediately. Sir Owen, ready five horses. You, Carson, Oswald, Rupert, and I will ride out this afternoon."

Sir Owen nodded and left.

"Do you think it is wise for you to go sire?" Gaius asked the momentarily elated king.

"Of course, why shouldn't it be?"

"Well, it's only that the kingdom can't be without a king. And with both you and the prince gone, people may start to worry." Gaius didn't add his thoughts on how the reason Arthur left in the first place was because he thought his father was being too harsh.

"Don't be ridiculous, Gaius. Camelot will be alright for a few days while I make this journey. No harm will come to me, and I'll be back soon with Arthur."

"Of course, sire." With that Gaius bowed and left.

There, we got Uther's POV in. Let me know if there are any adventures you want Merlin and Arthur to have! And quickly, because the rest of the story that's plotted out is coming up quickly. And thanks for reading!

-princessmelia