Author's Note: This is a brand new chapter. Enjoy!
July
With Will collecting a set of letters from Arthur for himself to attend Glastonbury and The Scout Trip in the summer holidays, Will waited for Merlin to get dressed into Scout uniform that following Monday night. June had long gone into July and was on their way to the final meeting before the Glastonbury trip, and the second-to-final meeting before the summer. Merlin tried on his new scouts' shirt – now that it had been sewn up – and found himself directed in front of the mirror. You could see where the patchwork had been undertaken and thought he looked a right idiot in it. For one, Merlin had been self-conscious of his own body, ever since he turned fourteen to be exact. He couldn't understand the reason for having friends, yet for anyone to ever to talk to him, or glance at him without giving a displeasing or foul look.
He never found himself attractive, never mind decent or bearable, and found way too many problems with his own features. To Merlin, all one could see was a tall, pale figure, mopped in dark hair with stupidly over-sized ears. He was gangly and couldn't bring himself to think why anyone would see anything in him, not that he'd ever had a partner before. This of course made him even more depressed. What one had failed to notice was that, Merlin hardly ate a thing. Yes, it might seem as if he had decently sized meals at college, but that was the only thing he'd eat all day, hardly touching a meal at home. If he ate something at home, it was because the poor lad had nothing that day at college. Weekends were hard to avoid however. At the coffee shop on Saturday's, Merlin wouldn't a thing until he arrived home, where he'd have a small bite to eat. Hunith of course, as ant caring mother would, was concerned enough about her son as it was, let alone having to worry over Merlin's weakening in magic, and to try and bring himself together, she had suggested that he should go for counselling. Merlin soon declined her offers, implying that there was nothing to be worried over. This was obviously a lie!
"Merlin! Hurry up would you? We've got to be there in 20 minutes, and Camelot is no short stroll from here, even in jogging distance!" Realising the time through his wrist watch, Merlin hopped into his trainers and did up the buttons on his shirt, grabbing his phone and wallet and bombing himself down the stairs to join Will.
Arriving a little earlier than they predicted, Will and Merlin entered the hall, which was full with the other scouts. Valiant was still a member as it seemed, as he was stood in a corner talking to Edwin and Gilli. The girls of the group, who had recently joined the unit, named Beth, Nora and Ada, were in a world of their own. These three ladies had made history by becoming the first female scouts of their division, so in a way, they were local inspirations for younger girls, who by the small talk of Uther, had quite a few girls on the waiting list, who could join once the likes of Arthur and his gang had departed.
Speaking of the said leader, Arthur wasn't to be seen anywhere in the hall, which made Merlin question his absence.
Uther motioned all the scouts to come together and form a circle, a weekly ritual that always took place when the activity for the evening was to be announced, or for them to call it a night, you get the idea. "Evening all. Now you have had letters last week, or have been sent them during the week about our annual camping trip to Torquay at the end of July, and our trip to Glastonbury this coming week, we need to know by Wednesday at the latest of who is coming and who isn't, so if you have monies to pay for either trip, form a line where Tristian and Agravaine will be dealing with them. We'll be giving out medical forms tonight as well as packing lists. Also, next week is our final night before the six weeks, so next week we'll all be going to the Fire Station, where you'll be learning Fire Safety, and a result you'll gain your badge. For those who have already gained this badge, as there are a few of you, this will be your last night. A list will be going around where next to your name, place a tick if you have already gained the badge, so I know how many badges I'll need to order.
After the small discussion, Merlin and Will went to pay their trip monies in, both having enough to attend the Glastonbury as well as annual guide and scout camping trips. Lancelot on the other hand gathered up the remainder of the patrol. Once Merlin had returned, Lancelot took position. "I'm sorry to inform you but Arthur is absent tonight. He's at a birthday party tonight; one of his friends from college."
For Merlin, he had already gained his Fire Safety badge, this being his first to the huge collection. For some reason, the meeting that night went slower than previous meetings, regardless that the night was still enjoyable. Maybe it was due to the absence of Arthur? Things didn't seem right without him there – hold on a minute! When did Merlin care about Arthur's presence?