Wow... I never imagined getting so many replies (at least for me). Thank you so much for listening.

So a reviewer commented on Arthur meeting Merlin, I thought that was a GREAT idea! ;)

Merlin and Arthur's age difference in this story is two years, with Arthur the oldest. Merlin is seven years right now and Arthur is nine. What is Merlin's birthday?

So, anyway... here's another chapter. Tell me if I should put this story as T not K+.

Enjoy... ;)

Merlin belongs to BBC

Arthur belongs to BBC

Not many belong to me... :(

Chapter 3

It was blurry. Blurry. All a blur as if a fog had fallen over the face of the earth.

It was hot. Fire started to crawl to his feet. He screamed. Screamed.

Pain

Hurt

So scared

An ax fell beside him. A head rolled by. It was red. Red against white.

Blood

Blood

Red

Death

Uther, with a hand raised,

Shouting

shouting

screaming

ordering

hating

him

Kilgarrah appeared. He roared. Fire. Hot. 'I warned you.'

Warned me what? Warned me about what?

Kilgarrah snapped his teeth. So sharp. One touch, he could die...

He closed his eyes. Fire crept closer. And closer. And closer.

He opened his eyes.

Gaius.

What are you doing here, Gaius?

'I warned you'

What? What? Warned me what?

'You shouldn't have left the caves.'

The caves...

What caves?

Cave...

Oh, the cave.

Darkness.

Sadness.

Pain.

Fire.

Hot.

Screaming.

A woman screaming, 'Nooooo! Meeerrlliiin!'

Who? A villager?

No more words. Useless. Worthless. Punish him...

Sorcerer!

Emrys.

Death.

Fire.

Mother?

Fire had reached him. No.. NOO

"NOOO!" Merlin stood up quickly, panting. He rested his head in his hands. Another nightmare. Three nights in a row. He wiped his tears.

He wanted Kilgarrah or Gaius but Gaius couldn't be here. Kilgarrah probably went to have his meal. Usually takes a while because there aren't much food in the caves. Merlin sighed. He said to himself, "I'm alone."

"No, you're not."

Merlin looked up and saw a boy with blonde hair, slightly rumpled night clothes. The boy was looking curiously at him. Merlin screamed and ran away. He hid behind a rock. The stranger, shocked, stood still and watched Merlin.

"I won't hurt you," the stranger said, slightly scared.

"Who are you?" Merlin narrowed his eyes. "How'd you get here?"

"I couldn't sleep so I was wandering about the castle. I went down the dungeons because I'm brave. I'm not scared of the dark. Then, I heard screams. So, being a brave knight, I came here to observe. I saw you, sleeping, having a nightmare." The boy cocked his head and frowned, "Why are you here?"

Merlin stood up from the rock and glared, "I live here."

The blonde boy shook his head, "No you aren't. This is the caves. No one can live here."

"Well, I do!"

"No, you don't"

"I do!"

"You do not!"

"I do and that's final." There was a silence as the two boys stared at each other.

"What's your name?" said the stranger.

"I'm not allowed to talk to strangers," Merlin replied feeling suspicious.

"Well, I'm Prince Arthur so I'm not a stranger," the stranger said. Merlin held in a gasp. The prince? Son of... Uther? The... prince?

"You... you're the prince?"

"Yes! So, since I'm the prince, you should tell me your name," Arthur stated.

Merlin shook his head, "You shouldn't be here. You shouldn't have come here." He took a step back. Would Merlin get in trouble? He didn't want to die.

Arthur frowned, "Why not? It's part of Camelot, is it not?"

"Well, I suppose."

"Then I'm allowed to be here. Just because I'm nine years old, doesn't mean I still won't rule Camelot," declared Arthur, proudly.

"That sounds a bit arrogant. I'm almost eight," Merlin replied.

Ignoring the arrogant part, Arthur asked him, "What's your name?" Merlin blinked and shook his head. "You better tell me your name. Otherwise, we can't be friends. I need to know your name to be friends."

"F... friends?" Merlin looked up, confused at the word.

"Yes, friends. Haven't you got one?" Merlin shook his head. "What? You must have at least one friend!"

"What... what exactly is a... friend?"

Arthur gasped and leaned forward, "You don't know what a friend is?"

Merlin, feeling stupid, shook his head vigorously, "I know what it is! I just don't know how someone could be someone else's friend."

"Well, first, you have to care for each other. A friend shares things with his friend. A friend helps another friend. They trust each other and they don't ever lie to each other."

"Ever?"

"Ever! You have to trust your friend, don't you?"

"I... I suppose. So, are you my friend?" Merlin asked hopeful for a friend.

"I have to know your name first," Arthur answered.

"Well.. I guess." Merlin pondered. He couldn't give his name to the prince, could he? After a while, he answered, "My name... is Emrys."

Arthur frowned, "Emrys? That's a weird name."

Merlin shouted, "It is NOT!"

The prince took a step back, "Sorry, I was just saying."

The young warlock nodded and bowed his head, "Sorry for shouting."

"That's okay. I shout too sometimes. My father shouts a lot, at me, at the servants, at the lords (sometimes), and a lot of other people. I still like him though. He is my father," Arthur smiled. "Who's your father?"

Merlin swallowed, "I don't have a father."

"Oh... what about your mother?"

"I don't have one."

"I don't have one, either." Arthur pursued his lips, "Who lives with you?"

"A dragon."

Arthur's eyes bulged, "A dragon! A dragon? A.. dragon?"

Merlin shook his head and waved his arms, "He's harmless. He's like a father to me!"

"That's impossible."

"It is possible."

"If you say so," replied Arthur, who was still nervous about a blood thirsty dragon.

Merlin smiled at Arthur, "Would you like to play a game?" Arthur nodded. The two children played many games and developed a friendship. Arthur knew that his father would not approve. Uther only wanted knights and loyalties to be Arthur's friends. Merlin wasn't a loyalty but he was still Arthur's friend. He would keep Merlin a secret. It wasn't lying to his father, more like, saving a friend. Yes, a heroic act. His father would approve of that.

Merlin liked his new friend. He never had a friend, if you don't count Kilgarrah or Gaius. They were mostly family to him. The only friends he had was his books and stupid rocks. Merlin was glad of a friend. Then, he heard wings. Oh no! Kilgarrah!

Merlin whispered to Arthur, "You have to go!"

"What? Why?"

"Because... because you're not supposed to be here and Kilgarrah is coming!"

"Kilgarrah?"

"The dragon!"

"Oh! I'll go then. I'll see you tomorrow!" Arthur waved and started to leave.

Merlin, making a quick and sad decision, replied quietly, "No. Don't... come tomorrow. It's dangerous for the both of us. We could get in big trouble."

"I'm the prince. I'm sure you won't get put in the stocks. You're too young for that."

"No... not the stocks. More like..." Merlin frowned and looked up at Arthur, "Go! Don't come back!"

Arthur bit his lips, "I thought you were my friend."

"You are! But... if anyone finds out, I could... die."

"D... die?"

"Yes."

"Oh. I'll... bye," Arthur left, sadly. At the mouth of the cave, he looked back. Merlin was no where to be seen. Frowning, Arthur ran away holding back tears.

Merlin slipped into the blankets and closed his eyes. Kilgarrah flew down. With a claw, the dragon delicately moved the blankets closer to Merlin. Satisfied, Kilgarrah fell asleep.

When the dragon's snores were heard, Merlin weeped. He hated this. He hated everything. He hated Uther. He hated Arthur for leaving him. He hated Kilgarrah for not understanding. He hated himself for making Arthur go... Arthur, his only friend. Probably his last. With a heavy heart, Merlin fell asleep crying and dreamed of fire and Arthur. With both of them in the same dream.