Hello. If you've read any of my stories before, you'll know I normally write well ahead and update daily. That is NOT the case with this one. I haven't written anything besides this first chapter. That being said, I tend to write very fast, so while updates won't be on any set schedule, if people are showing interest, they will be frequent. Anyways, this idea simply popped into my head at two AM, and had to be written. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. That being said, I'm not sure anyone can own Merlin. He and Arthur have certainly been around long enough to be in public domain.

Chapter 1- Unexpected

Merlin Ambrosius was a naïve young man in many regards. He was quite aware of this fact, and, in a way, he enjoyed it. His inexperience at life made it seem all the more wondrous. He had seen so few things in his life that whenever he saw something new, it was extraordinary. Yet he was no so naïve as to think that, even if he was well traveled and versed in the world, he could have looked upon the great city of Camelot with anything but wonder. It was huge, sprawling streets, houses of all shapes and sizes crammed next to each other. There were people everywhere, bartering, bantering, brawling. Merlin ducked and weaved just to walk without being hit; if he'd tried going in a simple straight line, the whole city would have collapsed upon him.

Even more impressive than the city itself was the castle of glittering white stone set high above everything else, and reaching towards the sky. It's spires and towers seemed to stretch up towards the clouds. Its walls seemed strong enough to hold back a giant, and so it was legend to have done. (Not that Merlin believed the stories. He was fairly certain giants did not exist, and never had). Still if giants did exist, Merlin knew they wouldn't find their way into The Citadel. It was only a few decades old, built by the sweat of men, and yet with a power entirely beyond the human ability. Merlin could have stood there and marveled at it for days, except he probably would have been trampled by the crowds if he even slowed down for a second.

Still, Merlin was excited, because not only did he get to see The Citadel up close, he was going to live there. He, Merlin Ambrosius, was going to live in the great castle. Jitters of excitement seemed to sizzle across his body, down his arms and legs, up his spine. When he'd left home, he knew he'd find something incredible at the end of his journey, but he'd been completely unable to picture such grandeur. He'd imagined the castle to simply be like his Lord's Manor, if perhaps a bit bigger. Instead it was three times the size, and he was going to live there. It almost made his exile worth it, just to see the great castle, just to touch it.

"Get out of the way, you git!" A man called, and Merlin jumped to the side of the road, just in time to avoid being crushed by a cart. He was half terrified by the near-death experience, and half thrilled. It was certainly more exciting than anything else that had ever happened in his (relatively short) life. Of course if he didn't want that life to end shortly, he figured he had to keep moving, keeping making his way through the city, with his head down, and ears perked up for any signs of trouble.

He made it to the castle gate without further close calls, and was stopped immediately by a guard. Merlin's heart thudded in his chest, even though he knew he wasn't doing anything wrong. Merlin was always terrified around knights of Camelot. He'd been trained well in that regard. They would, after all, kill him the moment they discovered his magic. That tended to make them a bit frightening.

"What's your business here, boy? I see no wares to sell," the knight questioned

"I'm here to see my uncle, Gaius, he'd the court physician," Merlin answered, making sure to keep his gaze just below the knight's. He didn't want to look defiant, or like he was planning trouble. He'd been knocked to the ground by many knights because 'he had a challenge in his eyes'. Since Merlin didn't know how to avoid having a challenging gaze, he just kept his eyes down. The knight didn't bully him, so it must have worked. Instead the knight nodded, and removed his hand, letting Merlin pass into the castle courtyard.

Merlin did not know where he was going, but since there were fewer people in the courtyard than out on the street, he took the moment to just look around. This close to the castle he truly couldn't see where it ended, and the sky began. It just seemed to go on forever. Merlin felt very, very small. He was actually fairly tall, but the castle made him feel a different kind of small. How could a nobody become any more insignificant? Merlin didn't know it was possible before he stood before the castle. It was.

Merlin was roused from his contemplation by shouting coming from the side, and jumped out of the way as three knights rode in, one of them slumped over his saddle. The man had a large gash in his leg, which bled across the courtyard. Merlin watched, transfixed, as they ran by, dragging the man. It was only after they were done that Merlin realized they were probably his best chance of finding his uncle. After all, it only made sense to bring a wounded man to the court physician. Luckily (for Merlin, not the man obviously) there was a clear trail of blood for Merlin to follow. The sight of it didn't bother him, not after years of helping his mother as she worked, but he noticed others making faces at the humor, and carefully stepping around it. Merlin thought that was silly; everyone bled at one point or another. It was what made them human.

The trail of blood led into the castle, and up one of the towers. Merlin was only halfway up the steps when the two uninjured knights came stomping back down, practically pushing him out of the way. Merlin scooted to the side the best he could, and clung to a protruding stone to keep his balance. Once they were gone he finished his assent, and sure enough the door at the top read in fancy script- Court Physician.

Merlin opened the door to find an old man running in circles around the unconscious knight. He hadn't really thought about how this was a bad time to make his introduction to his uncle, but now stood there feeling absurd. His uncle looked up, and shouted, "Boy, can you thread a needle?"

Merlin nodded, running over to where he saw the needle and thread. carefully he ran the needle through the fire, and then he threaded the string, knotting it, and handing it to his uncle. His uncle didn't question it one bit, nor notice the extra step Merlin had taken. He just began wiping at the wound, and sewing it up the best he could. Merlin couldn't help himself; he got closer. The wound wasn't deep, just long, running almost entirely across the man's leg. He was lucky that whoever attacked him hadn't taken the whole leg off.

"Out of my way boy!" His uncle howled. "I'll be with you in a minute."

Sheepishly Merlin backed up, but then he noticed the knight was waking up. He moved over to the knight, and spoke to him. "Keep still. You're going to be fine. It's just a flesh wound."

"I'm gonna kill that bloody prince," the knight growled through gritted teeth.

Merlin didn't know what to say to that, but his uncle did. He turned around, glaring at the knight, "Sir Ewan, look me in the eye and tell me you did not challenge Prince Arthur to another duel. I told you, the King has forbidden me from stitching you fools up!"

The knight said nothing, but Merlin realized his uncle looked very nervous. Would he actually be in trouble for helping the injured knight? Merlin didn't want his uncle in trouble, even if he'd technically never met the man. "I can do it. No one has forbidden me," he suggested.

His uncle looked at Merlin for the first time, actually taking in his appearance. He saw the glistening blue eyes, the stark black hair. He saw the curve of the chin, the slight upturn of the nose, and Merlin could tell his uncle recognized him. (In part because he next said) "Are you Hunith's boy?" Merlin nodded, and his uncle handed over the needle. Carefully he did the stitches, just as his mother had shown him. The knight was grumbling and growling about a meager boy tending to him, but Merlin ignored the knight. He kept his attention focused, and only when he was done and had covered the stitches with bandages, did he turn away.

Despite saying he couldn't help, his uncle double checked the stitches to make sure they were properly done. He must have approved of Merlin's work, because he smiled, "Now, Sir Ewan, thank Merlin for being here to deal with your foolishness and get out of my sight!"

The knight didn't thank Merlin, not that he expected him too. Instead he swung his legs off the table, standing up slowly. His injured leg quivered, and the knight grunted in pain, but he stalked out of the chambers without a word of complaint, limping heavily as he did.

Gaius finally turned towards Merlin, "I see your mother taught you well. You can help me until you find other work, then."

Merlin liked the idea of that. His mother's meager salary had come from healing the people of Ealdor, and he'd always enjoyed helping her. Of course, she'd never let him help to the extent that he truly could, if he used his magic, and Merlin doubted his uncle would let him either. Actually, Merlin wasn't sure what his uncle knew about his magic. Surely his mother had warned him? He was technically harboring a sorcerer, a capital crime, so he at least deserved to know it. Yet Merlin couldn't bring himself to ask. He'd never spoken of his magic to anyone but Will. Even his great-uncle was too much of a stranger for him to bring it up with.

"Here, this is the key to your chambers, they're nothing fancy, but they'll do I'm sure," Gaius told him, tossing him a key. Merlin reached to grab it, and succeeded only in knocking over a whole table of potions. Without thinking, his eyes flashed gold, and the mess froze in place. Merlin blushed bright red, and dared to look up at Gaius.

"You didn't even use a spell," Gaius whispered, looking both horrified, and dangerously intrigued. "How did you do that?"

Merlin went to explain that he didn't know, that he'd always done that, but then the door opened. Immediately he let the everything fall, shattering on the ground. The new arrival, a man about Merlin's age, with dirty blond hair and a tough look. He had to be a knight, for he wore the red cloak that always sent shivers down Merlin's spine. Merlin really hoped the knight hadn't seen anything. Luckily, he didn't appear to have, but he stormed over the mess and grabbed Merlin by the ear, "Are you vandalizing the Court Physician's supplies? I'll have you flogged for wasting valuable medicine."

Merlin tried to pull away, but the knight's grip on his (admittedly large) ear was too tight. Luckily, Gaius came to his defense, "It was an accident Arthur, though I think a beneficial one. Prince Arthur, this is my great-nephew, Merlin. I think I have just found a solution, Arthur, to your revolving door of manservants. Merlin, you see, is a warlock."

Merlin thought his heart would give out that very moment. His great-uncle had just outed him to the literal prince of Camelot. Apparently, family counted for nothing, and now he was going to be killed. Merlin was thinking of all the ways to fight them off and run, when he realized the Prince was not reaching for his sword. No, no he actually was smiling.

"Really? Oh that's fascinating. Well, Merlin, I suppose it is nice to meet you. I am constantly having to find a new manservant to keep any one from getting suspicious."

Merlin opened his mouth, then he shut it. He blinked, once, twice. What? He didn't understand at all what was going on. Gaius was smiling. Prince Arthur was sizing him up, but with a curious look in his eye. No one seemed to be looking to kill him for his magic, which is what should have happened by any known logic. It made no sense at all.

Prince Arthur laughed at him, "You're a bit thick, aren't you? My manservant spends all day with me, you see, so they're far too likely to notice whenever I do magic."