When a deeply-closeted Arthur Pendragon finally earns a spot in Camelot's first XI, he's dead set on breaking records, not one of sport's last taboos. But life, like football, is a funny old game, and sometimes the only way up is out. Especially once he realises he's arse over tit for the new physio.

Someone tells Arthur about the legends of Emrys, an all-powerful warlock whose destiny is to protect Arthur and his kingdom and help bring about an age of peace. He is told that Emrys is someone close to him, and has hidden his identity and trials over the years to protect himself and make sure he can continue on at Arthur's side. When Arthur asks who it is, the person turns to Arthur and shrewdly asks: "Arthur, who do you want it to be?" ... Arthur's mind automatically goes to Merlin.

Young wizard Merlin must move from Scotland to London after the death of his mother. He gets a job with family friend Gaius working at Buckingham Palace where he begins to discover secrets about his family and his destiny. Oh, he also meets Prince Arthur which sort of complicates things.

Prince Arthur is fine. He enjoys reading and football and spending time with friends. He runs a lot. He'll be King one day but whatever. He's fine. Well, apart from his father trying to set him up with every magic user in the world, but he's fine, really. Just fine... Until that skinny, dark-haired, stupidly attractive Scottish boy shows up and throws a whole bucket load of spanners in the works.

Set in an alternate present where magic is common but still illegal in many countries.

In a world where Arthur and Merlin never went to Ealdor, Merlin is home visiting his mum. People soon are getting annoyed about all his talk about this Arthur chap, they don't believe for a second that Merlin of all people could be close to the king. Until the king pays a visit.

As the precocious heir of a diamond magnate and a famous designer, Arthur lived his entire life sheltered, protected, nurtured and spoiled. He always knew that he would have to step out from behind the scenes and into the limelight to run the family business some day, but he never expected that it would happen so soon or that he would encounter resistance from a board of directors who believe that his disability makes him unfit to lead.

Merlin has stood on every stage in every city in the world, performing to critical acclaim, but after years of globetrotting, he's well and truly burnt out. He didn't quit -- he ran away from stardom, dropping to obscurity in the blink of an eye, forgotten, just another face in the crowd. He's aimless and without purpose until a friend asks him to fill in on a job.

Neither Arthur nor Merlin are looking for salvation. They don't think there's any for them, that things are just too rotten, too far gone. But in the end, Arthur's quiet strength will be a balm to Merlin's broken soul, and it will be in Merlin's steadfast faith that Arthur finds courage.