Hello readers, I wanted to thank you all so much for the response I got to the first chapter and to DEEPLY apologise for the long wait. Seriously I'm so sorry but it's here now and you will be getting updates way more frequently now. Also I'm sorry this chapter is so short I promise the next ones will be much longer as we get more into the storyline (im still not entirely sure what that is so suggestion are totally welcome) Oh and I changed my screename if anyone was confused (I went to see The Avengers it was AMAZING) Anyway I hope you enjoy

Chapter 2

Arthur continued to go back to the clearing after that first meeting. Merlin was the closest thing he had ever had to a friend besides Morgana. In fact he was a friend, a strange concept to Arthur. In a fit of generosity Arthur had even given Merlin his Pendragon engraved ring.

"Do you really not know when your birthday is?"

"No,"

"Well then it's today, Hallows eve, here, you'll need a present, if it's your birthday"

Merlin didn't care that Arthur was the prince of Camelot and even teased him about it sometimes. So Arthur went back even though he knew his father would be furious if he found out.

"I see I have the pleasure of holding an audience with his highness today"

"Merlin!" A goofy grin spread across the dark haired boys face .

"I'm so sorry….your highness" Arthur rolled his eyes

"You, Merlin, wouldn't last a single day in Camelot"

Merlin's eyes twinkled "You'd be surprised," Arthur gave a short laugh,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I have powers you know not of," Merlin waved his hands mystically for effect. For answer Arthur tackled him to the ground. They rolled around, Merlin, trying and failing to get the upper hand with his thin body. After a minute Arthur relented.

"See, you're not so tough, the only way you could beat me would be with magic, and then you'd be killed because magic is evil," Simple words, so they seemed to Arthur, made Merlin jump up his eyes, shocked. "What?" said Arthur. Merlin didn't answer he just ran, disappearing into the mist. "Merlin! Merlin!" Arthur called and called but Merlin didn't come back. So he sat, in the middle of the clearing for a long time when eventually tears came.

After what seemed like hours he looked up and Merlin was standing there, is big blue eyes filled with sadness.

"Merlin!" Arthur stood up smiling "I thought you weren't coming back!"

"Arthur…" Merlin looked wary as though bracing himself for a blow "What you said, about magic being evil…did you really believe it?"

"Of course, magic is evil everyone knows it"

"Arthur-"

"Merlin? What's gotten into you?" Merlin stretched out is hand slowly and then suddenly, a great orange light sprung around it and his hand was on fire. Arthur looked at Merlin's face just in time to see a tear roll down his cheek from a golden eye. Arthur stepped backwards. Magic. Merlin had Magic. Magic was evil. Merlin was evil.

"Why!" he yelled, his voice breaking

"Arthur, please-"

"No! No, I don't want to hear it! You're evil, you're going to kill me! Magic is evil! I HATE YOU!" And Arthur ran, ran as fast as his small legs would carry him, he didn't understand, didn't understand Merlin, didn't understand what he was feeling. Why would Merlin betray him like that?

He didn't go back to the clearing for a whole month. He sat in silence in his room. His father had Gauis examine him but he couldn't find anything physically wrong. Finally he couldn't bear it any longer. Arthur slipped out and slowly walked back to the clearing.

"Merlin?" His voice was soft "Merlin?" Merlin did not come. He called until his voice was hoarse but still no one but him was in the clearing. So he sat and cried again cried and cried and cried. But this time when he looked up Merlin wasn't there.