Destiny: The First Meeting

Originally, this was going to be a one-shot, but then, I realised it would be way too long. So, now, it is going to be a series of one-shots as more plot bunnies popped up! They will be chronological order and will be based on key events in Will's life. I won't be updating as daily as with othe fics, however, as I am very busy at the moment, plus, I've just come back from France.

Pairings: At first, it will just be friendship between Merlin and Will, but it will progress to Merlin/Will. This is, however, non-physical and completely emotional, as I call it.

Non-AU, a.k.a. canon. Slash. Angsty in some chapters and character deaths. Gosh, how formal is all this?? XD Enjoy, and don't forget to review x

Autumn was his favourite time of year. Not because the lush, minty canopy around his village – that usually bather his home in a mystical emerald light, a unique beauty in the dull landscape – that was bleached crispy maroon and scarlet, with burning bronze and sun-kissed ivory.

Not because it was the time of year when the harvest was ripe and fresh for picking, so food was always on the table. Great feasts would also be held in the streets, with music and dancing, right up until morning.

Not because the weather would rapidly chill, a brittle wind making its entrance, and staying until summer danced from across the horizon. And not because he would sit in front of a blazing fire, letting it lick warmth into his icy feet and while he listened to tales of other lands from his father, the travelling merchant.

Will loved autumn because he could climb up the primeval oaks, shaking away a fountain of leaves as he did. Because he could round up all the other children in the village. Because he could have a fight with the leaves. Because autumn meant fun.

Giggling, the children stopped what they were playing as they were too out of breath. Will, however, managed to aim another blow and hit a dark-eyed boy square in the face. Blinking them away, the boy pouted,

"I think we should play another game" he murmured, but William just grinned,

"Great idea!" he exclaimed, and the children all gazed at him, "Lets play hide and seek".

The dark-eyes boy blinked in surprise for a moment before jumping up with a big childish grin. The issue was forgiven and forgotten, in a way only children do.

"Okay! You're seeking first, though!" cried the child, pointing a finger at Will and causing an eruption in the other boys and girls as they scampered about, running off into the surrounding forest in an attempt to find the best hiding place. Scaring the animals, squeals and calls could be heard in various place, while the constant shuffle, as leaves were thrown out of the way by charging feet, rang about noisily.

Grinning, Will leant his arms against the nearest tree, using them to cover his eyes as he counted. The sound of giggling and the calling of people's names as children hid together sang along side his voice,

"One! Two! Three! Four! Five!"

………………………………………………

Running, his breath coming in rushed gasps, Will kept going. Twisting around trees, and jumping over roots that stuck out of the ground, desperate to trip him up, he grinned. Dragging his feet through the leaves, forcing them onwards, and scanning the surrounding area, he grinned. He could hear them as they scattered away form him, their laughter echoing around the ancient place. Occasionally, a bird would squawk in surprise and a child's startled scream would catch Will's attention and he could pin-point where they where.

As he ran into an opening in the trees, identical to all the other, he froze in surprise. He'd found somebody he didn't intend to. Opposite him, a tree had fallen in a storm or vicious wind long ago and now lay along the ground, moss covering its barky appearance, and creating a comfortable seat. Being so perfect, it was that a boy – his eyes downcast, but visible as blazing sapphire and his cheekbones high and thin with long, dark locks framing his pale visage – perched on it, his legs crossed and his elbows leaning on them while his chin was in his palm.

He looked extremely bored. And slightly annoyed.

Frowning, Will began to approach the boy, worried that his game with the other children had been too noisy and had upset the strange boy. The noise of Will's feet caught the boy's attention, and his eyes shifted up sharply, alarm apparent on his face when he noticed his visitor.

Composing his face carefully, the dark-haired boy looked equally scared as shy. When Will was virtually in front of hi, he held out his hand in a friendly manner, offering for the boy to shake it. However, the stranger on the log merely stared at Will's outstretched hand, blinking.

"Hi. My name's Will" greeted William with his stormy blue eyes glancing at the boy in front of him, "I've seen you around the village with your mummy".

The other boy was unresponsive for a moment, shocked that William was actually being nice. The other children were always so…cold to him. They ignored him, or whispered about him to other children. Even the parents had begun to do the same. After his brief pause, he reached out and shook the feisty boy's hand. Grinning, Will saw a smile finally creep onto his new friend's face, especially in his eyes, which positively glowed.

"My name's Merlin" replied the young warlock. Beaming at each other like idiots, Will unexpectedly dragged Merlin to his feet by his hand that Will still held. The dark-haired boy stumbled slightly in a very clumsy manner.

"Come play!"

Merlin's smile faded and he diverted his eyes while rubbing his elbow in a uncomfortable, self-conscious manner,

"They-they don't like me…" he said awkwardly and Will chortled with laughter, thinking it a joke until he saw Merlin wasn't,

"Who? The other kids?" and Merlin nodded, "Why not?" The other children had always liked Will; he was the most popular kid in the village. He didn't know any different.

"I don't know" Merlin replied quietly, "I think they're scared of me…" Now Will really laughed, the throw-your-head-back really childish kind of laugh,

"What's so scary about you? Are you a monster or something?" he joked lightly. Merlin felt himself grin, Will beginning to rub off on him.

"I guess I must be" he murmured quietly, but Will didn't hear. Grabbing the warlock's hand again, Will pulled Merlin through the leafy world, a canvas of colour flying past them in a blur of beauty,

"Come on, Merlin!"

…………………………………….

Will first noticed something was wrong when an eerie silence descended around him and Merlin. What happened to the giggling? And the shuffling? What had happened to the children?

As the two boys carefully walked to the edge of the great wood, intending to head back to the village. An angry voice, however, startled them both and stopped them in their tracks,

"You!"

Turning, they saw that it was a frizzy-haired farmer's wife, pointing her plump finger directly at Will. Swallowing, that very boy suddenly became timid. He was in trouble. Again. He knew that a lot of shouting and some form of horrid punishment was ahead. Only, this time, what had he done wrong?

More people trailed towards them, some field workers that were curious, other were more parents, looking equally angry, and some were dragging the children that had been in the wood, who looked pale and slightly frustrated. They subconsciously began to form in a circle around the two boys.

That was when Will began to mould around Merlin, hiding behind him and shrinking. Go away, he thought, please, go away, go away! The warlock glanced behind at his new friend, and seeing the dilation of the red-head's pupils, he jerked his head back round to the shouting woman with a glare.

"How dare you take my child into the woods! It is forbidden to go in that damned place!" she screamed, and suddenly a male voice added,

"Even if you go in there all the time, they don't! You left them alone and completely lost! My girls were in tears when I found them!" More joined in, all closing in on the boys,

"Anything could have happened?"

"Who do you think you are?"

"You shouldn't be so careless!"

"Why didn't you tell us first?"

Merlin felt as Will's shaky hand clawed at his sleeve, desperate for proof he wasn't alone. For a supportive touch. He needed Merlin to keep him where he stood instead of running away. Why were the people being this way? That was the point when Merlin snapped. He had had enough.

"We were just playing" he said quietly, but it was louder then all the other voices. Everyone stopped in surprise, a silence falling around them like a slap in the face. What were they doing? Shouting at a stupid child? What did that make them? They glanced at each other, shame flooding throughout their system. Merlin continued, "We didn't mean to hurt anybody!"

The other children, still held tightly in their parents arms, glanced from one another and back to Merlin, shocked that the boy had spoke let alone against a gang of shouting parents. He was always so quiet. So alone. They grinned, all chorusing together,

"Yeah! We were just having fun!"

That was when the parents scoffed, and instead of apologising, they simply turned around and strutted off, pulling their little boys and girls with them. Occasionally, a steaming adult would mutter 'trouble-maker' as they left the circle. Smiling at the two boys, the other children thanked Will with their eyes for the fun game. The villagers shook their heads, some at Will, others at the appalling adults, before turning back and continuing with their work. Eventually, it was just Will and Merlin.

The red head turned his cloudy blue eyes, full of gratitude and fear, to meet a pair of sapphires, both full of compassion and fear. Passing between them was a bond, snaking wider and wider, a bond of trust and of friendship. It wouldn't be too far in the future when that bond would be all that mattered to the boys.

"Thanks…" Will muttered, shyly, with a big, crooked grin. Shrugging, Merlin looked at his feet, blushing slightly in a Merlin way. He'd never had a real friend. It was, kind of, nice.

"Merlin?" cried the voice Merlin would recognise anywhere. Turning, he saw his mother shuffling up the muddy road, glaring at any passing adults, with a fearful look in her eyes which occasionally locked on the warlock. She had heard what had happened after one of the witnesses had told her. Dropping to her son's level, she put a hand on his cheek and he smiled, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine…" Merlin murmured, gazing at Will who suddenly found his fingernails fascinating,

"Hello, William" Hunith greeted and Will flushed, glancing at her,

"Hello…" he replied. The warlock again said loudly,

"We were just playing, mother! He- I- He found me in the woods, and-and we were just having fun…" Grinning, the woman nodded, a few strands of her hair falling in front of hr eyes in the same way Merlin's did. She was so happy. Because Merlin was happy,

"That's lovely" she said finally, and her son caught her proud gaze, "Well, you two have fun".

Grabbing Will's hand, it was Merlin's turn to pull the giggling boy. He was too busy dragging a chuckling Will and laughing himself to reply to Hunith, but she didn't care. A feeling of joy burning inside her as she watched her son run off. He wasn't different. Not anymore.

Finally, he was happy. And so was Will.