[Alright, first : I only own shilo. And secondly, let's just pretend this is where Arthur came from, I know it's not right, just pretend. Use your imagination as a fanfictor to deal with the fact that his true origins are not these. Anyways, I know most of my fanfic followers and people I follow mostly have to deal with CATS, but I'm really hoping you read this because it shouldn't be too hard to follow and if you have questions you can ask.
Also, I'm quite debating on a demon bewitching them and making them all sing at some point. Ya, nay?
Anyways, I hope you enjoy!]
Uthur stared at the floor, watching as the suns' rays danced through stained glass and ran across the floor. Everything around him seemed so colorful and bright, but in the empty throne room – he couldn't bring himself to feel vivid and excited as the things around him.
"You majesty," Uthur looked up, a servant bowing deeply. "The horses are ready, as are your things for your travel."
"Wonderful, we shall leave immediately,"
Merlin balanced as well as he could with everything piled on top of him as he rode atop of Jinnie. Jinn flicked her head back, her gold mane slapping Merlin's arm. A slight sting from the course hair ran along his forearm, but he was more focused on making sure nothing fell off.
"Having a hard time there Merlin?" Gaius laughed as his ward nearly fell. "Keep up," He trotted a fair bit ahead nearly in line with a few guardsmen. The forests' canopy let in a few rays of light, dust motes dancing through. The green of the land gave everything a soft glow to it; pure and unearthly. Everything here was different from Camelot, no blocked stone or granite squares, just the dirt of the earth and the smell of the grass and flowers. It was quite peaceful, not having to hear the shouts of people's impatience or the pounding of a blacksmiths mallet.
As they rode further out they began noticing that things turned for the worse. Trees were burnt to a crisp at their roots, logs were over turned, and there were traces of someone's make-shift camp. It was as if there had been a full out battle in some places, with bits of fabric shreds thrown all over. The sun began to set, turning orange first, then pink, then purple, finally the inky black of night. Stars glittered overhead, the moonlight guiding their way into Bayard's land.
Uthur and Arthur exchanged a few hushed words, hissing at each other harshly a few times. They'd been like this on and off for most of the trip, constantly changing their attitude towards each other. Of course, they were always like that though.
They passed ashes of what once was a bit of farmland and the surviving pieces of a cottage. "We'll stop for camp here," Uthur shouted, dismounting his horse. Others followed shortly after, beginning to take their things off of the saddles. A few people began to set up a fire, gathering dry wood and sticks.
"Who's there?" A small voice echoed, startling some of the men. The words bounced off the trees and repeated in a ghostly manner. Merlin got off Jinnie, his wide blue eyes searching for the source of the sound. "What are you doing here?"
His blue eyes dilated as his head snapped around to look at the cottage. A bit of white skirt peeped out from the missing doorway.
"My name is Merlin, what's your name?" He asked, stepping towards the cottage.
"Merlin?" It repeated, a hand sliding around the door frame. It was ghostly white, thin, and bony.
"Yes,"
In a flash of white and black something nearly tackled him to the ground. "Oh Merlin Merlin, I've missed you so much, I thought you wouldn't ever come back," Their thin arms wrapped around his neck, blacks curls pressed against his face. The scent of flowers filled his nose, familiar and reassuring. He pulled back staring into wide aquamarine eyes that sparkled even in the dark of night. He set the young girl back, thinking about his next words wisely. What was he supposed to say?
"Shilo?" She gave a bouncy nod, her smile white and bright as she embraced his hug. "Oh my Lord, Shilo!" He laughed. Others gave him odd looks, not sure what was going on.
"Merlin, do you care to explain your lady friend?" Arthur smirked, leaning up against his own horse.
"This is my cousin, Shilo," He smiled, facing the others. They gave him blank looks. "I used to … well sort of live here I guess, Shilo and her mother – my aunt… Shi's practically my sister," He let go of a breath he hadn't realized he'd been keeping.
"Your… cousin," Uthur repeated.
"Yes your majesty," He turned to his relative, "Where's Aunt Mildred," Her smile flickered away as she gave him a sad look. Her eyes flicked to a small pile of rocks across the way, and she grew silent; no longer bubbly with a high of happiness, she was solemn and dejected. Merlin let realization sink in as he slowly began to speed up his pace towards the make-shift grave.
"I'm so sorry," Gaius laid a hand on her shoulder, making the girl jump slightly. Now that he could see her face more clearly
"I-I'm alright, just… don't mention it again please," She gave him an apologetic look, unused to being surrounded by so many men. For years at a time it was just her and her mother. Never a man in sight, and yet, here she was now, the only girl among a large group of males. She shifted uncomfortable, not sure what to do without Merlin around.
"My dear, have you been living by yourself?" Gaius whispered, getting her attention effectively.
"Would any of you like to eat?" She ignored him, smiling brightly as she looked around at the men. They exchanged glances, a few muttering yes's and please's. She began to walk around the back of the burnt cottage, slowly dragging out a rather large hunk of meat. She easily slid it onto a stake, setting it above a pit and beginning to light the fire. She'd obviously had practice with this. How long had she been on her own, when did her mother die and leave her to fend for herself, why didn't she come to Camelot?
[Okay, yeah I know it's a sucky first chapter, but bear with me.
PLEASE REVIEW! (no flames) ]
