Chapter 10

Where are you? I need to see you again. I need to know who you are.

That had been the email he sent early Sunday morning after the party had ended and everyone went home. He waited for hours for a reply, falling asleep at his computer and only waking up when Morgana announced she was leaving for her mother's for the week. Arthur said farewell half-heartedly, upset that Wizard hadn't answered yet. He waited for the rest of Sunday for a reply, waving up invites from friends just so he wouldn't miss it, but one never came.

On Monday Arthur sat down in his English Lit class and pulled out his folder, book and notebook. He had spent all of Sunday wondering who Wizard was but came up short. He tried to think of all the students who might fit Wizard profile but came up short. Then he reminded himself that he didn't know everyone in the university so he could be someone he hadn't "met".

The door to the classroom opened and he looked up to see Merlin walk in, backpack full of books. Arthur watched as Merlin set the bag down and pull out the text book. Was it his imagination, or did Merlin glance at him. Yeah, definitely his imagination.

The teacher walks in and immediately orders the class to settle. For the first time Arthur could remember, the class went painfully slow. When the bell rang, he couldn't get out fast enough.

The next class was just as slow, not only because it was his Business Management class. Even through Arthur never paid much attention in the class, he always made sure to take notes to prove to his dad that he was taking the class. By the time the bell rang, he was more than ready to get out and go to lunch. He joined his friends at the usual lunch table.

"What's up with you?" asked Elyan. "Thought you'd be ecstatic to meet your mystery man."

"I was, but he ran off before I got his name," said Arthur.

Lancelot looked at him in surprise.

"What do you mean he didn't give you his name?" he asked. "Did you give him yours?"

"Actually, he already knew my name."

"Really," said Percival. "He knows you."

Arthur nodded.

"But I don't know his."

"Why not?" asked Elyan.

"He said I didn't earn it yet."

"Oooh, playing hard to get," said Gwaine with glee. Percival slapped him upside the head.

"What did he look like," asked Percival.

"I could only see his eyes and half his face," said Arthur. "He was wearing a mask." He paused at the memory of the man that had plagued his thoughts for the last forty-eight hours. "He had the bluest eyes."

"Wow," said Gwaine. "How long did you spend with the guy?"

"An hour."

"You fell in love with him after an hour?" asked Elyan in surprise.

"I think he feel in love long before that night," said Percival.

Arthur didn't say anything, but he couldn't help silently agreeing with his friend. He did fall in love with Wizard long before that night. Now he only wants to talk to him face to face for more than an hour. To spend every second with him. Call him late night on the phone and talk about everything and nothing. He wanted to do every sappy romantic thing Morgana shoved down his throat.

But now he had nothing to go one except black hair and blue eyes. Even he knew it was foolish to start a search on those aspects alone.

"Maybe we can get Gwen to do a profile sketch," said Elyan. "She's good with that artsy stuff."

"I want to find him, not arrest him," said Arthur.

"What else are you going to do?"

"Tell us about him," said Lancelot. "Maybe we can find out who he is that way."

"Well, he's a student here. And he wants to write music. He likes pizza, music, books, his favorite movie is Robin Hood; The Prince of Thieves and his favorite book is Le Morte de Arthur."

All our friends tried to not fidget in their chairs and give themselves away on knowing who Wizard was. They wanted to tell Arthur that Merlin was Wizard but until they knew how Arthur felt about Merlin, they couldn't say anything.

"So what do I do?" asked Arthur after several minutes of finding out if their two friends were going to live or not.

"Put up posters saying 'Prince Charming seeks Cinderella Man?'" said Gawain with humor. Percival slapped him up side his head. "Ow!"

"I'm thinking something a little less public," said Arthur.

"Well, you said you both connected right? And he knows who you are," said Elyan looking up as Merlin, Gwen and Will walked in. "Maybe he'll come to you."

Arthur thought about that for a moment. He never thought about that before. Maybe Wizard would come to him. It could happen.

"Hey, Merlin," said Gawain as both passed. "Hey, Gwen."

Merlin stopped next to Arthur in surprise, clearing anxious about something. His eyes darted from Arthur to his the Complete Works of William Shakespeare in his hands. Arthur noticed there were sleep deprived bags under Merlin's eyes, suggesting that the man spent the last couple of days in sleeplessness.

"H-Hi," he said nervously.

"How's your mom?" asked Gwaine.

Merlin had spent all of Sunday worrying over his mother praying her cancer wasn't back and had been unable to sleep Sunday night. By the time he had gotten to sleep, he only gotten two hours before his alarm went off. He was also worried on how he would act if he saw Arthur again. He knew he couldn't tell Arthur it was him he had met Saturday night.

He had also been nervous and excite when Gwen and Will came to his house and told him about Helen Mora. He was so excited he nearly threw up. He hadn't called her yet because it was Sunday and he didn't want to seem eager.

He turned to Gwaine.

"The doctors say she's doing better but they're still waiting for the blood work until they have a definite answer," he said.

"I hope she's all right," said Arthur sincerely. Merlin looked at him in surprise.

"Um, thanks," he said. "I'll see you all later."

He turned to go to the table his friends were keeping for him.

"Oh, wait, Merlin," said Arthur calling after him. Merlin turned to look at him curiously. "I'll meet you at the library to study after classes. Is that all right?"

"Okay, I have the day off from work today anyway," said Merlin smiling and turned to leave. Arthur watched for a moment. There was something familiar about Merlin's smile.

"Did I hear it right?' asked Gwaine in fake flabbergast. "Did the great Arthur Pendragon agree to be tutored?"

"I believe he did, dear Gwaine, I believe he did," said Elyan in the same teasing tone.

"Shut up," said Arthur throwing a roll at them.

At the table where Merlin and his friends sat, he was debating on whether to tell Arthur that he was the man he had met two nights before. Gwen and Will were of course adamant that he tell Arthur straight away. He had told his two friends what had occurred Saturday night and they shocked to find out that Arthur that Excalibur.

"Merlin, you have to tell him," said Gwen encouragingly.

"I can't," said Merlin. "We live in two different worlds. There is no way we could possibly be together."

"How do you know," said Will.

"Because a guy like me don't get a fairy tale ending."

"Well, dreams do come true," said Gwen holding up the card from Helen Mora. "Call her."

"Why? To get rejected?" asked Merlin.

"She wouldn't have given me her card if she wanted to reject you. Call her."

Sighing, Merlin grabbed the card, pulled out his old flip phone and dialed in the number. He put the phone to his ear and waited for an answer.

"Helen Mora's office, how may I help you," said a chipper but bored voice of what could only be Helen's secretary.

"This is Merlin Emrys," he said nervously. "I, uh, got a card from Ms. Mora and she asked me to call her. I don't know if it's a bad time or…"

"One moment please," said the secretary and Merlin heard the all too familiar "Hold" music.

"Well?" asked Will.

"I'm on hold," said Merlin.

"Well, she is a busy person," said Gwen. "I'd be surprised if she even answers."

"Mr. Emrys, Ms. Mora will speak with you now," said the secretary.

There was a click on the other end.

"Mr. Emrys, I've been looking forward on hearing from you," said Helen.

"Yes, uh, thank you, Ms. Mora," said Merlin, forcing himself not to stammer but failing horribly. "I'm sorry I didn't meet you on Saturday. I had a family emergency…"

"Say no more, Merlin," said Helen. "From what I hear from your friends, you're a very reliable young man. It must have been very important for you to run off at an important event in a hurry."

"It was," said Merlin, keeping the guilt from his voice. "So, my friends tell me you like my songs?"

"I think they're the liveliest I've heard in a long time," said Helen. "I really would like to hear more."

"Of course, I have disks loaded with songs."

"One will do. When can you come in?"

"I got classes and then I have to tutor a student, but I can come in on Friday. I have a day off from work."

"I can pencil you in for one o'clock," said Helen. "Can you make it then?"

"Yeah," said Merlin excited. He'd miss a couple of classes but he couldn't pass up an opportunity like this.

"Good, I'll see you Friday. My secretary will tell you what you need to bring so you can be prepared. Have a good day, Mr. Emrys."

"You too, Ms. Mora, and thank you," said Merlin before the she hung up. He listened to the secretary tell him what he need to bring and thanked her too. He hung up and stared gobsmacked at his friends.

"Well?" asked Gwen excited.

"She wants to listen to more of my songs," said Merlin shocked.

Gwen's scream of delight could be heard all around the cafeteria. She jumped off her chair and crushed Merlin in a hug. Will was grinning from ear to ear and laughed at his friend's antics.

"Oh, Merlin, this is amazing!" she said. "When?"

"Friday," he said and realization struck him. "Oh God, Helen Mora is going to listen to my songs."

"She heard your songs," said Will. "At the benefit Saturday night. She wouldn't have asked us to give you her card if she didn't like what she heard."

It took a moment for Merlin to get out of his shock and realize that Will was right. Since Merlin made the decision to be a song writer, he always knew that it would probably take years before he even heard one of his songs on the radio. He always knew he wanted to write for Mora Studios. Helen Mora was said to be a fair producer and employees always had good things to say about working there.

He heard laughter and looked over to see Gwaine and Elyan laughing at something. He saw Sophia glaring at Arthur's table with her friends offering support around her. The breakup between Arthur and Sophia became well known not long after it happened. A lot of people gave emotional support to both Arthur and Sophia, telling each that the other was a jerk or a dick or a bitch. Merlin had a feeling he had a feeling what was behind the break up.

Him. Arthur broke up with Sophia to be with him, and while he should be flattered by it, it was Arthur Pendragon. Once he finds out that his "true love" was Merlin Emrys, the shit will hit the fan. They were from two different worlds and no matter how much Gwen wanted him to be, he wasn't Cinderella. There was no fairy godmother changing his rags into a beautiful gown with glass slippers, he didn't have to run home at midnight when the spell ran its course and he didn't have two wicked stepsisters and a stepmother to slave for.

Instead, he's tending to a sick mother, slaving at a hotel for socialites to pay for college and bills, and struggling to write songs. He may have had one night of fantasy, but he knew that it would never last. All he could do now was get through one day at a time.

"What songs are you going to use?" asked Will.

"I have no idea," said Merlin, "but I got a few ideas."

"This is great!" said Gwen. "First you meet Prince Charming and now you get to audition for one of the major music studios in the world. Life is looking up for you."

"Well, something good is happening," said Merlin glancing at Arthur's table before taking a bite from his sandwich.

XXXXXX

Arthur walked to the library still upset on not finding Lonewiard, but somewhat excited to be studying with Merlin. The young man was refreshing. He heard talk around the hotel on how reliant he was and Arthur wanted to know if it was true.

As he neared the library, he noticed a man leaning against the building as if waiting for someone. As he neared he saw that it was Mordred le Fey. He had seen the young man many times at the hotel. As Arthur neared, Mordred pushed off the building and walked toward him. Arthur stopped in confusion.

"Arthur Pendragon," said Mordred smiling.

"Yes?" said Arthur, confused.

"I'm Wizard."

TBC

A/N: So sorry for the long wait. School started and I took some time off writing to get into the swing of things. Hope this makes up for all the lost time.