CHAPTER 1 : A CHATEAU IN FRANCE

For one month over the summer, a French collegiate, L'Institut Thierry Quentin, opened its doors to English school boys. The Institute as it was commonly referred to, was hosting boys from different areas of the British Isles for five consecutive summers, broken down as a one month course per year. The Institute's current head was Monsieur Le Directeur Dûperrex.

Merlin travelled by himself, he had been put on the Liverpool train in Cardiff by his mother at half past seven in the morning. He was tired and felt out of his depth, he was all of ten years. He had to change trains and had all the tickets in his pocket. Hopefully, if he made his connections, he'd be in London by early afternoon.

Each school district submitted the name of a student no younger than eleven, or older than thirteen with above average academic skills who would benefit from outdoor activities and the studying of the French language and culture.

For Merlin, the age discrepancy was overlooked as he had an adult in France who was willing to supervise him. As a nine-year old, his name had been submitted by his school but the powers-that-be had decided that he needed another year to mature before being awarded the place.

Competition was tough and many a rich family regretted that their sons were not within the twenty boys chosen. All expenses were paid for any pupil with parents unable to pay the transportation, accommodation and tuition. While in France, they were known as Les Elèves Quentin. In total, there would be twenty new boys admitted each year in Level One. The pupils were supervised by an assortment of masters, older students and various other staff. The total enrolment of students for the summer month would be one hundred.

Attendance was mandatory for the first year but following that only pupils who expressed interest in returning were welcomed. No one was forced and surprisingly the returning students each year was close to ninety two percent. Pupils could be expelled and were sent home accompanied by a senior staff member, usually being delivered into the hands of irate and embarrassed parents.

On a specified day, the students would meet at St. Pancras and catch the Eurostar to Paris. They would be accompanied by adult supervisors and former students who after their senior year were offered the opportunity to become supervisors in training. They would be considered as working pupils for one month.

The second month of the summer holidays, the InstitutThierry de Quentin welcomed girls with the same strict admission requirements.

Merlin had found a window seat on the Liverpool-London train. A conductor had assured him it was the correct train. Now he could relax for two and a half hours. The lady opposite him smiled and he smiled back. Then he again checked his tickets, money and passport zipping them back into the inside pocket of his jacket. His mother had impressed upon him the importance of keeping them safe. He had a telephone number for someone in Liverpool in case he missed the connecting train and also one for London. He had a letter in his luggage for someone in France.

Leon was returning as a working pupil. He was travelling alone. His mother had dropped him off outside the station. He had not wanted her to even get out of the car. He kissed her cheek, telling her that yes he would be careful, picked up his rucksack and walked through the doors of Lime Street Station. London would be his destination.

Gawaine had arrived in London two days early directly from his boarding school. His parents found school holidays stressful so he was bundled off to whatever activity offered boarding facilities. True, he was a handful but that was not surprising of an energetic twelve year old with minimal parental interest.

Monsieur Dûperrex's close friend Dr. Gaius had already been on site since his university courses had finished. All summer, he lived at the Institute, had a private apartment in one of the wings and would be the in-house physician for the summer. It was he who was going to vouch for young Merlin's behaviour.

Leon was hurrying to catch the connecting train, as he wanted a window seat. They were all taken so he threw his rucksack on the empty seat opposite him and sat down. Across the table, sitting by the window was a rather rotund lady who seemed to be interrogating the person he was sitting next to. He glanced to his right and figured it was her grandson, small kid with dark hair like his grandmother.

Soon another woman appeared and stood impatiently in the aisle waiting for him to move his baggage. He did removing a book, water and some chips and shoved the bag on the overhead rack. The train started and he settled in.

The young boy beside him was patiently answering all the inane questions imposed by the elderly lady. She was getting on Leon's nerves so he took a second look at the kid. No way was he related to her, he was almost elfin. From the few words he'd heard, he placed him from Wales.

Trying to stop the consistent noise, he opened the chips and offered them to the boy who turned his head, hesitantly took one and smiled. Leon was an only child, never having much to do with boys younger than him but the look of gratitude on the boy's face, made him feel good.

After all, this summer, he would be dealing primarily with twenty students on their first visit for a month at the Institute. He was working on his A levels. This would have been his first summer without visiting France, so when the opportunity had arisen and he had been offered a summer job as a junior supervisor trainee, he had happily accepted it. It was a chance to be trained and he loved Pierrefonds.

Leon said, "Off on your holidays?"

"Well, sort of, I'm on my way to France. But I have to stop in London first to meet up with some other people. I have to get to the station where the Chunnel trains leave." Leon listened and nodded. "Do you know London? Do you think I can walk it?" The lad dropped his head and said, "I'm worried about the Tube but..."

The woman across from him interrupted saying. "Well, I'd never let a youngster of mine be alone in London. You'd better look out, there are all sorts of people around who would be quite happy to grab your bags and take off."

Leon glared at her, "Thank you for your opinion, Madame, but I am sure that not everyone in London is how you describe them!"

He looked again at the boy and said, "You have no problems, this train goes to St. Pancras and the Eurostar leaves from the same station. Are you meeting family there?"

"No, I'm going to school and have to meet the school's travel coordinator at the station."

"Well, as luck would have it, I am also going to France so, I will see safely onto the train."

The woman by the window gave Leon a look of disgust. Pervert! Little did she know that he had noticed a tag on the boy's bag which said ITQ The kid was also going to the Institute.

Merlin grinned, suddenly he felt great, his troubles had disappeared. This train went to the Chunnel train station and there was no need to find his way across London by himself. The older boy would help him.

Leon turned to him and smiled, "My name's Leon. How do you do?"

Merlin shook hands and smiling shyly, "I'm Merlin and I feel much better since I met you!"

Leon thought, 'Possibly one of my charges. One down and nineteen to go…'