So it's finally here! Sorry it took so long to post again but it's done because your reading it. Yay! Anyway on to the story.

Chapter 3

"Um, hello," Mary said a bit confused.

"Oh, hello... Mary is that you?" Merlin asked, surprised and confused at the same time.

"Merlin!" She hugged him, "Wow it's been a while hasn't it?"

"Yeah, wow you've changed."

"You too."

The pair walked down to Merlin's tent and sat down.

"So how did you get to Camelot?" Merlin asked.

"Walking," Mary said sarcastically.

"I meant... Didn't you get attacked or anything?"

"Well, you know me. I like to avoid trouble," she said smiling.

"That's not you at all. Can you remember when you snuck round to old guard's house to freak him out just because he told you you were supposed to be growing up and 'learning how to be a lady'?" They both burst out laughing.

"Merlin!" a voice yelled from outside. Arthur walked in "You haven't brought the fire wood back yet and you still need to polish my armour!" He paused, shocked to see Mary there. "Who's this?"

"This is Mary, we used to live in the same village"

"Yes, but now he's answered your question, can I ask you one?" Mary asked, winking at merlin

"Of course," answered Arthur

"Who are you? ...No wait let me guess." A small grin appearing on her face as she stands up and starts walking around Arthur. "Lets see a big camp with about twenty to thirty guards outside, must be for someone important who obviously can't defend him self, other wise why so many guards? And then there's the fact that you have just come in here yelling Merlin and telling him to do jobs which would probably make him your servant so... unless the king looks like a kid; you're his son, Arthur." After she had finished, she sat down and asked: "Did I get it right or did I miss something?"

Arthur looked shocked but mainly annoyed "I'm not a kid."

"Ah but if you'd have listened you would have realised that I said 'looked like a kid' which either means that's what you think people say about you, or you were to busy gawping at me that you weren't listening properly... Now which one is it?" she said as a cocky smile dominated her face

Arthur just stood there for a second before turning and leaving. Just after he left, Merlin started laughing Mary soon joined in.

"You didn't have to do that."

"Well it looked like he deserved it, besides it was the most fun I've had in days!"

"It's been fun but you seem to have a lot of work to do and I need to find a place to stay" Mary said, standing up.

"Why don't you stay here," Merlin offered.

"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to cause a fuss..."

"No, it's fine! You'll make this hunting trip a bit more enjoyable for me."

"Hunting!?"

"Oh no, you want to join in don't you?" Merlin said with the overwhelming feeling that it was not a good idea.

"No, its all right. I'll just sit in this tent bored while your out hunting with someone that's just going to yell at you and you-"

"OK!" Merlin yelled, "I'll ask Arthur for you, but after your performance earlier I don't think he'll let you come."

"Yeah, I didn't think that through..." 'always find out if someone has something to offer you before you insult them,' she thought to her self.

Merlin couldn't help but think that there was something different about Mary. "I'm going to go to sleep, I will talk to Arthur in the morning. Here's your bed," he said pointing to a well made pile of sheets "Is it all right? I have the same."

"Yes, much better than outside... although I will miss the stars," Mary said before sitting on the sheets.

When Merlin had fallen asleep, Mary snuck out and sat by the river next to the camp. She stared at the water the reflections of the moon making the night feel magical. She'd gotten so wrapped up in it, she was shocked when a figure came and sat next to her.

"You still here then?"

She was relieved but confused to hear Arthur's voice. "Yeah, and I'm sorry about earlier, it's just that Merlin is my oldest and best friend and he looks like he had the world's problems to deal with. I wanted to cheer him up. I know you're the prince but I think everyone needs to have fun otherwise they will become bitter and no one will want to be around them... do you know what I mean?"

"Yes. Well sort of. You know your a lot different to most women I know."

"You don't know how many times I have heard that," she said with a giggle.

Mary and Arthur spent another hour talking before going back to there tents.

The next morning when Merlin got up and went to Arthur's tent, he was already up. "You're up early, is there something wrong... Are you ill?" he said sounding a bit patronising.

"No! I just wanted to set off earlier for the hunting," Arthur said while fastening his belt.

"Yes well, while we are on the subject of hunting..." he started, getting prepared for a rant "Can Mary come with us?"

"Yes, it will be fun." The young prince slipped his sword into its hold.

"I'm sorry, you do know who Mary is, don't you? I mean after what happened I thought you would say no," merlin said confused.

"Yes I know who you're talking about! She was just being a good friend to you and if that means she has to insult royalty well, she must a good and brave person."

"... Did something happen I don't know about?"

"No, why?"

"Well your many things Arthur, but a wise prince, not so much," Merlin said while turning his back.

"OW!" he yelled as a shoe came in contact with his head.

"You need to clean those before we go so hurry up." he said adjusting his belt "I bet she'll be better at hunting than you." he said with a smirk appearing on his face.

So yay finally finished the 3rd chapter hopefully I will update much more often next time. Oh, and the story is focusing more on Merlin and Arthur now. [Mary is an introduction to the story-line and will be important later on.