AN: Okay so this is just an idea I've had for a little while. This is my first fic, but that doesn't mean I want you to go easy on me, hope you like.

Prince of Camelot

Chapter 1: Soldiers in Ealdor

"Hey, Merlin...!"

Merlin stopped and turned around as his friend Will came running up to him. He was careful not to spill any of the water he was carrying, knowing full well what his mother would say if he did. He placed the buckets on the ground slowly and addressed the other brunette boy.

"Hello, Will," he smiled pleasantly at his friend.

Will nudged one of the buckets gently with his foot.

"Where are you taking that?" He asked, though he probably could have guessed.

"Home, where else?" He picked them up again and carried on his way, Will walking along besides him.

"You know, you could get that done a lot faster." he commented, winking.

Merlin looked at the other boy sharply.

"Will, you know mother doesn't like it, and besides, what if everyone found out? I'd have to leave Ealdor." Merlin wondered how many more times they would have this argument, probably quite a few

"Can't see why, your magic could help so many of us,"

"Will, I already stand out here; they know something's not right. If they knew the truth I'd have a harder time fitting in,"

"It's your choice, but I still think—"

"Will." cut in Merlin firmly and Will fell silent.

"Sorry. So how is Hunith?" The subject change was obvious, yet Merlin was relieved, he didn't need a lecture on his magic.

"She's fine,"

Before long the two had slipped into their easy chatter, though Merlin was still brooding about his magic. Wondering yet again why he had it, what purpose did it serve? Did it even have one? He guessed he would just have to wait and find out…

Merlin entered the small house and placed the water on the table. His mother wasn't home; she was probably out helping the villagers. Merlin went back out of the house, where Will was waiting. Will was about to speak when Thor, another village boy a year junior to Merlin and Will, ran at them. The boy skidded to a stop before them and bent over, catching his breath. He was shorter than both of them and had light brown hair and brown eyes.

"Are you alright Thor?" Said Will, raising an eyebrow in askance

The young lad straightened up as Will spoke.

"Soldiers are coming Will, real soldiers, on horses!" The boy sounded both excited and afraid at the same time

"Where are they from?" questioned Merlin and they followed him, jogging towards the entrance to Ealdor.

The younger boy shrugged.

"No idea, their crest wasn't visible from so far away."

Thor was right, when they arrived, along with many other residents, they could see a company of twelve armed soldiers approaching rapidly. Merlin found his mother and stood beside her.

"Where are they from?" He asked again, Merlin had never left Ealdor and so didn't recognise the crest they bore.

"I don't know..." Answered Hunith, not taking her eyes off them; Merlin felt she was hiding something. The soldiers were a metre away so he didn't press the point. He wondered what they wanted.

The leader of the soldiers stopped before the gathered village.

"Where can we find a woman called Hunith?"

Merlin's jaw dropped, they were here for his mother?

Hunith stepped forward, the crowd of villagers parting easily to let her through/

"I am here,"

The guard looked at her.

"Is there somewhere we can talk? We have a matter of great importance to discuss with you."

A few minutes later the leader, who announced himself as Sir Leon of Camelot, stood with Hunith in the kitchen of her and Merlin's home.

"We bring you a request from King Uther Pendragon concerning the child that was placed in your care."

"Yes I thought it might be that…" Hunith replied, sounding mournful.

Merlin wasn't eavesdropping, not really. He was… protecting his mother, yeah, that was right. Or so he told himself. Were they talking about him? How could they be, he wasn't placed in his mother's care, she had borne him. Borne him and raised him. Though his father he didn't know about, though he had often wondered. What sort of man was he? Why had he left?

Merlin shook himself out of such thoughts and returned to 'not listening' at the door.

"So where is the boy?" Sir Leon was asking

"He should be in the other room; I shall get him if you wish?"

"Please do,"

Merlin mentally cursed he turned and ran into the room, closing the door behind him gently. He cast around wildly for something to do, and then he spotted the broom. Throwing some hay on the floor he started to sweep it up.

"Merlin?" the door opened with a creak

Merlin turned "Mother," He saw how pale she had gone "Mother what is it?"

"Sir Leon would like to talk to you,"

"Oh, now…?"

Hunith rolled her eyes "No Merlin, next Wednesday."

"Right," Merlin put the broom down and followed his mother out of the room.

He took a seat opposite Sir Leon.

"What's your name boy?"

"Merlin sir,"

"And how old are you?"

"Eighteen sir,"

"Good, now, I bring a request, from the king of Camelot."

Merlin stared at the man "What would his royal highness want with me?" He gulped; he remembered that Uther had banned magic in his kingdom, punishing anyone who practiced it, with death. Was this why he wanted to see him? But surely not, Ealdor wasn't in Uthers kingdom so why would he?

"It is a request, he wishes to see you, and he has a matter of importance to speak to you about. You are to return with us to Camelot."

Merlin was stunned into silence finding his voice he asked "Do you know what manner of information it concerns?"

Leon shook his head "That I don't know, though what I do know is that if we don't bring you to him within the week, he will not be best pleased, and King Uther is not someone whom you want to anger."

Merlin felt a mixture of emotions; excitement, for he had heard of the great Camelot and had never been anywhere but Ealdor; confusion, what could Uther Pendragon possibly want with him, a village boy; and nervousness, what if it was because of his magic? And if it wasn't, how would he manage to keep it secret?

"Okay," He said "I will come with you and meet King Uther."

What am I letting myself in for?

AN: Okay, so tell me what you think. I won't withhold chapters unless I get a certain amount of reviews, but I would like to know how I did, remember, don't go easy on me, I don't mind

December 2010: This chapter is now improved, :)

S