A/N: OK, for those who are following me, know that I am not slacking on My Demons Lay in Wait. This just came to me when I was on the road in South Dakota, and I thought I'd write it down. :
Prologue
Merlin tried to readjust the strap on his shoulder to relieve the ache that had made house and home there. While he did this, he heard the call of an unfamiliar bird, and glanced up into the treetops to see if he could spot it. When he didn't watch where he was going, his foot caught on a root that was so conveniently placed in his path, and he fell forward onto his face. Just as he did so, he heard a loud twanging sound, and felt a whoosh of whistling air, followed by a sharp pain on the back of his head. He cried out as he hit the ground, but spat out the leaves and twigs in his mouth because of it.
"Damn," he muttered, and wasn't surprised to feel a bit of blood trickle down his forehead from what must have been an arrow grazing his scalp. Okay, he was being attacked. Not an issue, if he stayed calm. He yelped as another arrow embedded itself in the dirt a few inches from his face. He scrambled back from the offending weapon, in a rather undignified manner if he was honest with himself, and realized that staying calm might be a bit harder than he had anticipated. Just his luck. Camelot, his soon to be new home, was only about a day away, and he was going to die before seeing its towers. Great, just great. He was going to be found by some traveling circus people, and they'd use his body as a puppet in their show, and his mother would finally find out about his death when they reached Ealdor and did their performance, and then…
Merlin shook his head vigorously and hurried to his feet, leaping to hide behind the trunk of a nearby tree, feeling this was a completely inadequate means of safety. Maybe he should have given in a little bit and bought a dagger. Then again, that probably wouldn't help against a bow and arrow. Unless, of course, he learned how to throw it. He'd have to look into that when he wasn't in a life or death situation.
Suddenly, his would be murderer burst into sight. He was a very large man, with tree-trunk thighs and, most likely, a propensity for skull crushing. He snarled and raised the comically small bow, compared to his size, and let loose another arrow in Merlin's direction. Merlin ducked back behind the tree and yelled out,
"Oi! I don't have any money," which was true, "and there's nothing I have of worth," which was…less true. The bandit reached behind to the makeshift quiver on his back, and growled when he found no more arrows there. Merlin sighed a bit in relief, but immediately ceased when the man glared daggers at him. The man roared and advanced against Merlin, obviously frustrated he'd used up all his weaponry on this supposed weakling. Really, Merlin wasn't that skinny.
He felt a charge of fear surge through him, and turned to run when he realized that this man's legs were worth two of his, so he opted for a different approach. He sprung upwards, grabbing the lowest branch of the tree, and began climbing upwards at a squirrel's pace. The man bellowed in outrage as he reached the base of the tree. Merlin was far above the ground now, and knew he was safe as long as the bandit remained the same size and would break the branches if he tried to climb up.
"You filthy whelp!" the man yelled. Merlin pouted,
"Now, that's not very nice. I bathe regularly," he whined, "Granted, mostly in a river and without soap, but that's not exactly my fau-"
"Shut up!"
Merlin did. From his position about fifteen feet above the man's head, he could see that his hair was very stringy and decidedly oily. Eww, like this guy was one to talk about filthy? Merlin decided to name him Greasy. Greasy glared up at him, then grinned, displaying a fine set of yellow stubs,
"No matter. I'll just wait till ya get 'ungry," he sniffed, as if smelling a roast, "then I'll 'ave my fun with ya," Merlin couldn't hold back a silent gulp. The man chuckled gratingly, then settled himself into a seated position against the trunk.
Okay, maybe Camelot would have to wait a little bit longer.
…...
A/N: Sooooo, what did ya think? Should I continue, and make it a full story? If I do, it'll be a while before the next update. :) Reviews are very much so appreciated, and longed for with an insatiable desire. ;D