Leaving the shop, Gregory went seperate ways to Arthur and Sophia, leaving the pair alone to make their way back to Camelot. Sophia started making a quick step, Arthur trying to keep up, Sophia gragging her heels across the gravel-tarmac of the pavement "Arthur, you are never taking me to that cafe again. The people are rude and uncouth and I don't want any more to do with them, and I want you to stay away from that Merlin dude."

Arthur corrected the blonde bombshell. "I never took you to the cafe; that was Gregory's idea, so don't you come moaning to me about that. Also, as for Merlin, if I want to see him then I shall. We're at scouts and college together so there is no avoiding that. So what did you presume Merlin and I were up to in the library then?"

Sophia stopped midway on the pavement and looked at Arthur, confused and disgusted. "You heard all of that?"

"Yes. I told you earlier to stop being mean towards Merlin."

"You've changed Arthur. It's him isn't it? You've changed because of him!"

"Sophia. I don't even like Merlin in that way, but I won't have my girlfriend be a bully to others. It just isn't on. Maybe I have changed, but for the better."

"Oh don't make it any more obvious. In other words, stop being a prude Arthur!"

"No!" Arthur stilled, directly looking at Sophia. "Maybe this relationship isn't working out for us. I mean, I'm looking for someone who's to be honest, down to earth, friendly, cares for others, isn't afraid to be themselves, and I can't see those qualities in you. I'll see you around." Arthur continued on walking towards the town, leaving Sophia standing in shock. She'd soon have someone falling at her knees.

Arthur wouldn't see Merlin until the following Monday night at scouts. As for during the day, he did manage to find Will. Arthur was sitting at a table alone in the canteen with his lunch, as Will was paying up for his and looking for a table to dine at. "Will! Over here!"

Arthur caught Will's eye, who was waving at him, motioning him to join the lonely blond. Pulling out the chair to take a seat, Arthur was drawing a pattern in the baked bean sauce with his chip, currently stabbed to the end of his fork. "Will. How long have you known Merlin?"

Will took a gulp of his coke and soon replied, short and simple. "Since high school, why?"

"You might be a good hand then. I'm trying to get to know Merlin a bit better. The problem is, from what I know of Merlin already, he has no interests which match mine, so what can I talk to him over other than scouts? I don't want to push the boundaries and be too personal, as I know Merlin is very private about his personal life. What does Merlin like or give me a few hints on what not to talk about."

"Okay, well yes, you're right on one thing. Merlin is very private about his personal life. There are reasons for why, but I'm not going in to it. He can't stand football for one, or any televised sports, so forget about rugby, cricket and tennis. He does like gymnastics and figure skating, he's good at them as well. People thought he was a girl in high school, because of his interests. He does a lot of charity work, as you do, so there's a match. He also likes photography, so there's another match. See, you do have some things in common. Also, I think maybe if you apologise to Merlin about leaving him in the dark on the first night of scouts, that might help. Show that you care for him just as much as the other patrol members, and that you want to know him better and be his friend."

"Thank you." They ate for the next twenty odd minutes in silence, until the clock was showing 1:45. "So, shall I see you tonight then?"

"Afraid not." Will began his confession. "I've got a doctor's appointment later this evening, and won't make it on time, so maybe I'll see you later in the week?"

"Sure thing." Both emptied their trays, and went in different directions to class.

Arriving earlier than usual, Arthur waited atop of the wall nearest the community hall doors for the other scouts and leaders. Some of the other scouts had arrived, gathered up in a corner as they soaked up the evening summer sun, chatting away. Arthur had brought along with him a ball, but wasn't intending to use it for football. Arthur took Will's advice as a cue to encourage Merlin to play with him in games, but of something that was different to Merlin's distastes. Merlin made his way past the church gates towards the community centre. Sitting on the wall near Arthur, Merlin remained quiet, until Arthur turned to the youngster and made the first move.

"Merlin. About Saturday," Arthur began, soon short to be cut off by Merlin. "It's fine," Merlin soon replied.

"No it's not." Arthur tried once more, Merlin finally grasping his attention. "Sophia shouldn't of acted like that towards you and I should of stopped her. So, I'm sorry for my actions and for her's. Please forgive me."

"Okay." Merlin forgave Arthur.

"Thank you. Also, I apologise for the way I've treated you over the last few weeks. I shouldn't of left you alone as if you were a ghost and that's not being a leader, which I'm shameful for, so I apologise for that as well."

"It's ok. Just promise me one thing though. Don't shove in a corner again tonight."

"I promise. You'll stay with me the whole time and I won't leave your side."

"Even if I need the loo?"

"Shut up Merlin!" Arthur joked teasingly.

"You won't have to deal with Sophia anymore. She needs to one stop being a paranoid girlfriend and two show some respect towards others."

"She's your girlfriend?" Merlin turned to question, wondering why would of all people, Arthur would pick her.

"Ex-girlfriend. Dumped her on Saturday after her encounter with you."

"Sorry." Merlin muttered.

"Why are you apologising?"

"I don't know. I tend to do that when something's happened to someone I know." Clearly, Arthur and Merlin had more in common than they first thought. "Me too!" Arthur soon replied, a smile forming at the corners of his lips.

With Aglain taking in the subs for that week, Arthur got his ball and formed a game, with him and Leon being the team captains. Merlin thought it would be football or something, which is what Arthur would usually play. For Merlin's sake though, this game would be different.

"Come on Merlin." Arthur pulled Merlin over to the group once he had paid.

"I don't do football Arthur."

"It's not football, nor basketball or volleyball. It's benchball, but in a different form."

"Ugh, all right then. How does this work then?"

"Two teams. One from each team stands on a chair. Okay, it's like basketball, but not with the basket and not dribbling the ball either. People throw the ball to their teammates, trying to get the ball to the one on the chair without it being intercepted by the other team. If they catch it, a point goes to their team. At the end of the game, the team with most points wins."

"Oh, okay, I'll join in."

"That's the spirit! Everyone form a line so we can pick teams." Arthur called to the other scouts. 'Oh lordy,' Merlin thought as the other joined Merlin and faced Arthur and Leon. This sort of thing happened back in high school during physical education. Every time teams were picked, Merlin was always to be the last. Why did Merlin even bother then joining this one? Merlin was doing this only for Arthur's sake so that Arthur couldn't moan at Merlin.

A coin was tossed, which landed on tails, thus allowing Arthur to take the first pick. "Merlin." Arthur immediately announced.

Merlin was flabbergasted. Not just as that he was the first to be picked, but Arthur had picked him. Arthur was showing good leadership skills and not ignoring Merlin. Merlin beamed and joined Arthur, nudging him part of the way through the sorting. "Picking me first eh, what's that all about?"

Arthur turned to Merlin and smiled. "It's called keeping my word."

After a good game and a much happier Merlin, the patrols set out to play teamwork games, which kept Arthur and Merlin together. The final game of dodgeball caused havoc though. With a small but practically unnoticeable breeze, the group were running and dodging the ball from hitting them. Valiant took the ball and tried to aim for a scout, not looking where his feet were carring him and collided into Merlin, who took it at a great deal to cause trouble. "Merlin you fool! Look where you're going!"

Valiant used the ball to aim at Merlin instead, where the latex ball thumped Merlin in the back of head, causing the weaker scout to land fast first into the grass beneath. Arthur witnessed the encounter - he might as well career in becoming a private eye - and dropped to Merlin's side. "Valiant you cow! What was that for?"

Valiant took no sympathy for the wounded scout in front of him. "He got in my way!"

The livid Arthur eased Merlin off the ground into his arms, staring face to face with Valiant. "Didn't mean you had to thump him with the ball! You're meant to lightly throw at the ball at them. Not knock them unconcious! Leon, Uther, deal with Valiant. Lancelot, get the first aid box."

Arthur carried Merlin back inside to the hall, trying to find something comfortable to prop Merlin on as the others continued to play outside. Arthur was qualified to treat a patient, gaining his First Aid badge two years ago. Even if he wasn't, he'd still treat him anyway. Finding nothing suitable, Arthur gently placed Merlin down onto the wooden floor and grabbed the keys to his dad's car. Inside were a couple of pillows from their trips out and a blanket in the boot. Carrying the essentials back inside, Lancelot lifted Merlin so that they could prop him on the blanket, his head hitting the cushions. Lancelot returned back to the game outside, leaving Arthur with Merlin.

Checking over the patient, Arthur found Merlin to have a small cut on the forehead and a few cuts across his arms, having small rips through his shirt. Cleaning up the wounds to Merlin, Merlin finally awoke.

"Mpphh. Where am I?"

"It's alright Merlin. You're safe."

"What happened. All I know is I collided into Valiant, I was hit in the head and I went down..." Merlin looked directly at Arthur, who had one hand on Merlin's forehead, stroking the soft strands of hair back, as the other was dabbing at the wound to remove all the dirt to prevent infection.

"Recorrection Merlin. Valiant collided into you, got angry, threw a ball at your head and you went down. I carried you in here whilst Lancelot got the first aid kit. I then - well - still am patching you up. You've got a few cuts on your arms, which I've taken care of already. You've also got a few small rips on your shirt, which can be soon sewn up."

"Where are the others?"

"Gone home."

Merlin then bolted up from the blanket and almost into Arthur. "I need to get back to Ealdor!"

Arthur ushered him back down onto the blanket. "I know. We'll give you a lift, we have to wait for the Guides to finish anyway, which they'll be done in 10 or so minutes. The others left early but quietly, so they didn't disturb you."

"So you took your time then."

"I didn't want to hurt you Merlin."

"Dodgeball isn't my thing."

Arthur raised his head to meet Merlin's eyes, his gaze warm and curious. "So what is your thing?"

"You should see me at archery, that's something I'm good at. Oh and don't laugh, but I like gymnastics and figure skating."

"Why would I laugh?"

"Because people think I'm a right girl!"

"It's okay to be a guy and like that, Who knows, maybe I'll get to see you perform some day."

"You'd like that?"

"I'd love to see you shine and do your magic." Both smiled at that, saving those moments to make future memories with.

Uther and Morgana then joined the pair in the hall, Morgana growing concerned, joining Arthur by his side. "Arthur, what happened?"

"I'll tell you later. Come on, let's get him home." Arthur lifted Merlin back up, finishing the patchwork on Merlin, as Morgana collected the blanket and pillows.

Knocking on the door, Arthur held Merlin in his arms and Morgana waited for the door to open. Hunith was growing more worried by the minute that something had happened to her son, knowing that Will couldn't mention anything as he weren't there that night. Will had tried getting through to Merlin but no reply came, although his phone was switched on. Opening the door, Hunith found a young lady in a Girl Guide uniform behind it. "How can I help you."

"Your son. He was knocked out by another scout."

"Oh my goodness. Where is he?" Hunith began to panic.

"We've brought him home." Arthur moved past Morgana and entered the house with Merlin. "I've patched him up back at the hall and brought him home. He fell into unconciousness back in the car home. A good night's rest is what he needs." Instead of easing Merlin onto the sofa, Arthur carried the man upstairs to his room and placed him onto his bed. Hunith followed the blond man into her son's room. "Sorry, I never introduced myself. I'm Arthur Pendragon, Merlin's patrol leader."

"Oh so you're the pain in the ass Merlin was telling me about?"

"I've apologised to Merlin for being a pain, which we were getting on well, until in dodgeball, one of the scouts collided with Merlin, which he shouted abuse at and threw the ball into his head, causing Merlin to fall face first. He'll most likely have a headache in the morning and might ask for me. If he doesn't come into college tomorrow then I understand. I'll leave my number on the bedside table if you have some paper so I can write it down. He can then text me and I'll let his lecturers know of his absence. At least then with two people telling the college, the message will get through."

"Thank you Arthur."

"No problem..."

"Hunith. Hunith Emrys." Hunith shook Arthur's hand, Morgana giving Arthur the letters from the night. "Oh, I should give you these. One is for church parade on Sunday coming up. The second is for a trip in two weeks time to go to Glastonbury, and the other is go for a week away camping in the six weeks off."

"Well, he'll have to save up if he wants to go to them then."

"Well, we better be going. Goodnight Hunith, and can you let me know if anything different happens?"

"Of course. There's paper on Merlin's desk. Feel free to use it." Arthur picked a pen and paper up and wrote his number down, leaving it by Merlin's phone on his bedside table. Arthur went to Merlin and stroked his hair, leaning down to whisper in his ear. "Get well soon my magic skating gymnast!"

The three headed back downstairs as Morgana and Arthur got back into their dad's car and drove down the lane, leaving a tearful Hunith to see to her son.