Part 1: link

    Arthur steps out into the cool morning air. He looks over at his two companions. Merlin is sitting on the edge of the cart looking up at the sky and Elyan is lying in the cart, apparently dozing.
    “Guinevere’s sent some breakfast,” Arthur says as he walks over and plunks the basket down next to Elyan’s head, causing him to jump. Merlin laughs, then notices Arthur’s somewhat haunted demeanor.
    “Something wrong?” he asks.
    “Hmm?” replies Arthur, still distracted by recent memories.
    “Does Gwen look that bad first thing in the morning?” Elyan asks with a smirk.
    “What?” answers Arthur, “No; that good.”
    Merlin smiles, happy for his friend and master, but Elyan looks a little troubled. He clears his throat and cautiously says, “Sire, you may be king, but please keep in mind that Gwen is my sister.”
    This seems to snap Arthur out of his reverie, and he quickly recovers. “Oh. Yes. Well remembered, thank you,” he replies, clapping Elyan on the shoulder.
    As they turn their attention to the basket, Merlin notices two small children standing in the street, watching them. He looks up and says, “Hello.”
    The older child, a girl, says, “Hello.”
    “What are you two doing out so early?” asks Merlin.
    “Mother sent us to go gather berries for breakfast,” she says. In one hand she is holding an empty basket. With the other she is holding her brother’s hand.
    “Berries are hardly a fitting breakfast for two growing children,” Arthur says. He removes three apples from the basket, hands them to Merlin, and carries the basket across to the children.
    “What is your name?” Arthur asks the girl.
    “Bronwyn,” she answers, looking him straight in the eye.
    “I’m Arthur,” he tells her.
    “I know who you are, my lord,” she says. This gives the young king pause. “Do you, now?” he asks her with a smile.
    “You’re the king,” she says and smiles back.
    As Arthur transfers the food from Gwen’s basket to Bronwyn’s, he notices the young boy has a battered homemade wooden sword hanging from his belt.
    “I like your sword,” he says. The boy looks down.
    “Marcus,” prompts Bronwyn, “Say ‘thank you.’ That’s the king.”
    “Thank you,” says Marcus.
    “Tell me,” continues Arthur, “do you practice with your sword every day?”
    “Yes. I want to be a knight,” replies Marcus quietly.
    Bronwyn nudges her brother and says, “Father has told you that you can’t be a knight. Why do you keep telling people that?”
    Arthur crouches down, looks at the boy, and then asks, “Marcus, how old are you?”
    “Four,” he says.
    “Well, then. In two years’ time, you come and see me and we’ll start your training.”
    Marcus gasps and his eyes grow wide. Bronwyn looks stunned as well. Arthur stands, having emptied his basket into theirs.
    Elyan steps forward. Putting his hand on Arthur’s shoulder, he says, “He will make an excellent knight, sire.”
    “You know these children?” Arthur asks him.
    “I do.”
    “Very good. This afternoon you will go to their house and tell their parents what we have discussed here. And if there’s anything young Bronwyn wishes to do, make arrangements for her as well.”
    “Yes, sire.”
    Marcus looks up at Arthur and boldly asks, “If you’re the king, what are you doing here?”
    “Marcus!” reprimands Bronwyn, shocked at her normally quiet younger brother’s boldness.
    “They’re waiting for me.” Guinevere is in her doorway, standing with Merlin, who is munching his apple. She has been watching Arthur talk to the children, and both she and Merlin are smiling broadly.
    “I’m going to go live in the castle,” she continues, “and the king has brought my brother and his servant to help me with my things.”
    “I see,” Bronwyn says, looking neither troubled nor surprised by this news.
    “You two had better go back home now,” Elyan tells them.
    As they turn to leave, Gwen calls after them, “Bronwyn, do not forget to tell your mother that Elyan will be paying you all a visit later.”
    Bronwyn turns. “I won’t,” she says solemnly, nodding at Gwen. She looks at Merlin, and when their eyes meet, Merlin sees the briefest flash in her eyes and feels the air vibrate between them.
    Merlin quickly takes a bite of his apple to disguise his shock. He now knows three things: First, Bronwyn will not forget to tell her mother the news. She does not forget anything, ever. Second, he must find a way to accompany Elyan to their house later that day and somehow talk to her alone. And third, he must protect this girl. She has magic; and what’s worse, she may not yet be aware of it.

Part 3: link