Fear of being found drives Merlin out of the last village and back onto the road. While moving through the forest, the young warlock runs across a man in need of help. Merlin doesn't realize this man is the prince of a kingdom who would have him put to death until after he's saved his life. Different first meeting. Merlin never comes to Camelot. Ealdor was destroyed when he was a child and since then, he's been on the run. This is how he meets Arthur.