Tonight Balinor was particularly brutal in "disciplining" Merlin. Leveling punch after punch on poor Merlin until Merlin slumped to the ground unconscious.
Merlin was a good, kid but anytime his Father Balinor went to the tavern he would come back and dream up some excuse to beat his son. Merlin's mother Hunith was powerless to stop him. She loved Merlin so much and she tried several times each time she almost died, tonight after seeing her only son fall to the ground unconscious she swore to herself she would not allow this to go on any longer.
Merlin was sitting on his bedroll curled up in a ball trying not to cry too loud so not to wake his father. Hunith approached her son with a packed satchel with whatever food she could pack and a letter to her brother Gaius about Merlin and why she is sending him away and the special gifts that Merlin had. She helped Merlin up to his feet and handed him the bag and told him to hurry to Camelot.
He protested not wanting to leave his mother at the hands of an abuser but Hunith's mind was made up. She had spent the last three years watching her son being beaten nearly to death and she couldn't stand it anymore. She put the letter in his hands and told him to hurry through the woods. He needs to get as far away from his father as possible.
He refused to go at first vowing to protect his mother no matter what. Hunith grabbed his shoulders and said, "Merlin, you are my son, you are the most important thing in my life and I cannot sit her and watch this man take out his frustration on you an longer. If I were to die tomorrow and I knew you were safe and with some one who will love you and help you develop your gifts then I will die happy. Now son do as I say and leave for Camelot at once!"
Merlin kissed his Mother on the forehead and told her to be careful and he departed for Camelot. It took Merlin 3 days walking to get to Camelot. He ran into a lot of things traveling through the woods none of which were as terrifying as his father was.
He made it to Camelot on the fourth day. He walked through the gates and couldn't help but smile at the crowds of people shuffling about. He went to one of the Palace Guards and asked him where he might find Gaius? The guard pointed him in the direction of the court Physician home. He walked to the door and saw a sign that read 'court physician, Gaius' so he knew he was in the right place.
He walked in to the home and he saw an old man about to fall through the railings of his upstairs book shelf and without even thinking he magically moved the small cot in the corner to directly under the old man just in time to cushion his fall.
The small old man got off the cot furious, "How did you do that? What spell did you use? Who did you study magic with?"
Merlin was shocked at his reaction given the fact he did just save his life. Merlin said, "I have never studied magic before, I have always been able to move things at will since I was a child. I promise."
Gaius looked at him weird, "You never studied magic? (Merlin shook his head no) You were born with it that is impossible; no one has been born with magic since the times of the old religion. Uther has outlawed magic in Camelot so if you value your head you better keep you powers to yourself, okay?"
Merlin shook his head yes while rubbing his neck. Gaius then looked back at him, "Now who are you?" Merlin snapped back to his original thoughts and handed Gaius the letter from his Mother. Merlin said, "This is from my mother, Hunith it should tell you all you need to know." Gaius looked at him with a smile, "So your Hunith's boy?" Merlin smiled and said, "Yes sir, I am"
Gaius took the letter and told the young man that he could put his stuff in the room over there and settle in while he sits and reads the letter.
My Dearest brother Gaius,
Please accept my son Merlin in to your home. He is a very special boy. He has had the gift of Magic since he was a baby. His Father has magic and I hoped, that would be an area they could bond over, but the only thing that he wanted to bond with is a tankered of ale. He has beaten Merlin daily for the past few years and the night I wrote this letter the beating was so severe I knew Merlin would have to leave for Camelot at once. Please accept my boy into your home and treat him as your own and help him to develop the skills he needs to fulfill his destiny.
Yours truly,
Your sister, Hunith
Gaius rolled the scroll back up as soon as Merlin made it through the doorway. He looked at him and said, "Well my boy, if you are going to be staying with me, we need to get you a job. Follow me and lets see if I might be able to get you a place as a servant at the feast this week."
They set out to the Castle but were blocked by a crowed of people gathered in the square to witness and execution. Merlin jumped as the drums started to pound and the prisoner was walked out. The King appeared on the balcony and read the charges against the man. Merlin looked at Gaius with fear in his eyes when the only charge against the man was that of sorcery. The king read the punishment of death that was given and then the soldier in the mask took his sword and chopped off the accused sorcerers head.
Merlin stood there shocked at what he just witnessed. He looked at Gaius for some sort of explanation that might explain why this happened but Gaius just leaned over and whispered, "That is why I told you no one could know about your magic." Merlin couldn't say anything else there than shaking his head in agreement.
Before they could move on this wrinkle and haggard looking woman stepped up to the place where the body laid. She screamed at the king that her boy was a good boy. He used is powers for good not evil and then she began to issue a warning to the king, "Before the week of feasting is up you will know the pain of loosing your only son Uther Pendragon." The knights tried to capture the old woman but she disappeared into a puff of smoke.
They proceeded to the Castle and thanks to Gaius and his connections Merlin had a job filling glasses at the banquet that night.
Little did they know the night working at the Banquet would be the beginning of Merlin's destiny?
