Chapter 9.

“Right Arthur what do you want to know?” Merlin said, facing Arthur.

“I want to know why we didn’t just return to Camelot.” Arthur said. “Amongst other things.”

Merlin sniggered. “Right. Well......hmm I need to break this to you easily. But..... Camelot is no longer standing.”

“What?!!!!! What do you mean it’s no longer standing?!!!!!!” Arthur yelled shocked.

“Well....” Merlin started clearly uncomfortable. “It got torn down many years ago. It was apparently ‘in the way.’”

“W-When did it get torn down?” Arthur asked emotion clear on his face.

“Many years ago. When everyone had d-died. You must believe me Arthur. I tried to stop the people from doing it.” Merlin said. Arthur nodded as though understanding. But Merlin knew better than to believe that mask. He knew that inside, Arthur was hurting really bad. Merlin saw a small tear trail down Arthur’s right cheek. Arthur turned his head to the side to hide it. But it had already done its treachery.

Arthur cleared his throat. “H-How long have you had magic.”

“Since as long as I can remember.” Merlin said, suddenly very interested in the back of his pale hand. “I started showing the signs when I was very little. My mother was scared for me. She didn’t want me to get into danger. I became friends with Will.....”

“The boy who saved my life?”

“The very same. The thing was I always got picked on in Ealdor by the other children. They called me ‘freak’; ‘monster’ and they also said ‘if the knights of Camelot don’t execute you we will.’” Merlin said, tears sparkling in his eyes.

“Really?”

“Yeah. My mother got angry when, Will found out. He found out due to the children in Ealdor. A group came up to me and him when we were playing in the forest. We were pretending to be knights ironically.” Merlin smiled at the memory, “They hit me in the face with a log, which split my lip and eyebrow, and told Will that he shouldn’t hang round with ‘freaks’ like me. I leapt up from the ground, and said I’d make them pay for what they just did. But they rounded on me again. I told Will to grab hold of something and never let go. When he had done that I yelled as loud as I could. The boys surrounding me went flying through the air and most of the trees fell to the ground. One almost crushed old man Simons. We returned back to the village, the boys had already run off and had told all the villagers. When my mother realized that it was no longer safe for me in Ealdor she kept me hidden from the villagers until I grew up and then sent me to Camelot.”

Arthur looked sadly at Merlin. He felt bad for all the hardships Merlin had been through in his life. “I don’t think you’re a freak. Or a monster.”

“You don’t?” Merlin said staring at Arthur.

“No. You’re my friend.” Arthur grinned.

Merlin grinned back. “Yeah. Same here. Oh and you’re a dollophead.” They both laughed.