Merlin and Arthur in Lockdown

Two

A chill went through Merlin's arms.

The world was going through a shift, and if enough people were like Uther, those like Merlin would be pursued as its cause.

Merlin didn't feel a chill like this since the words of the Dragon.

He had just turned eighteen and started having these recurring dreams of the Dragon speaking to him. They were lucid enough that he remembered the Dragon's main message.

You must help Arthur become king

Unite Albion

He will rise in Albion's hour of need

Merlin found the dreams odd but didn't think much of them. Didn't really connect them to the crown prince of Albion. Until the day he met the prince in person, by way of offending him.

It was Merlin's first semester at university when he caught a bunch of lads having a laugh at the expense of another kid at one of the sports ovals. Merlin told the main perpetrator to stop. Only for him to turn around and reveal himself to be prince Arthur Pendragon.

Long story short, Merlin and Arthur did not start off on the right foot. Though, at the end of it, Arthur was more bemused by Merlin instead of handing him over to his security.

More alarmingly, the Dragon visions became more clear and confirmed Merlin's role to protect Arthur with his magic, a destiny Merlin tried very hard to deny, but in vain.

Merlin had interviewed for a part-time job to be someone's personal assistant, sort out their daily appointments etc. Loads of students at the uni applied too. Reports went around that the position was to be the assistant to Prince Arthur, who had been attending the uni for two years, creating a surge in applications from ladies on the campus. Merlin immediately regretted applying.

As luck would have it, Merlin was told he had gotten the job. The Dragon dreams were more lucid than ever. This was his destiny, whether he thought it was ludicrous or not that he had to 'serve' that prat of a prince he met some days ago.

A couple of weeks into sorting out Arthur's schedule Merlin understood this was all Arthur's idea of rebelling against his father.

The prince -unintentionally- confided in Merlin that he didn't appreciate being followed by a whole team of royal staff while he stayed at the university student halls. Arthur wanted something that resembled a normal twenty-one-year-old's life. When he proposed to Uther to live away from Campus, if it will mean less spotlight on him, the king had refused. Uther wasn't just worried about Arthur being hounded by paparazzi. There were always threats from sorcerers. Very rare occasions, Arthur had said.

And what about all the royal duties and events that Arthur had on his plate? Surly he needed some staff around those?

Arthur calmly kept negotiating until Uther finally agreed his son could move out, given he had some body guards with him while he was out (no more than two, Arthur requested, only to follow him discreetly) and he was in regular contact with an assistant who took care of his schedule (only if Arthur got to employ the person himself). Uther finally budged.

Arthur picked that obnoxious Merlin kid as his assistant.