Alright. Gonna upload this and see what kind of response I can get. I've recently become obsessed with Merlin. So here we go with my first attempt at writing these characters. I hope you guys enjoy and remember that this is only a teaser chapter to see if people will enjoy it. If you like it, please leave a review otherwise I may not continue it.
Screams echoed throughout the small valley town. Smoke created a curtain. A curtain that hid not the pain and agony, but intensified it and made the whole scene more grim. Bodies were strewn across the road, the lawns, fences, gardens. Each bleeding horrifically from arrow and sword wounds. Metallic steps clanged their way down the main street, the formation of knights coming to a stop before a man on horseback. This man bore no mark, wore no colors. But he congratulated the knights on their slaughter as if he was a fine king who'd set out to rid his kingdom of evil and conspirators. The man turned his horse and began a slow trot out of the valley, his knights following behind on foot.
None of them saw the young woman. She was bloody but still alive. Her leggings wrapped her legs lightly and were tucked into knee boots. Her tunic was one normally crafted for a male. Across her back was a bone-white longbow; at her hip hung a quiver of arrows. She quickly ran from the shelter of a building to a body hanging haphazardly from a fence post. She gripped the man's collar, knuckles white. Her body quivered with sadness, anger, hopelessness. Her hand traveled up to the man's neck and found the leather cord that had always hung around his neck since she could remember. In it's pristine days, the cord was of white leather and held a clear dewdrop of crystal. Now the cord was stained crimson and the pendant, pale pink. With a tug, the girl took the necklace and tucked it into a pocket. A few heart wrenching sobs later, the girl stood, said goodbye to her father and walked out of the village.
She heard the banter and laughter in the distance coupled with an orange glow from a campfire. Somehow she'd stumbled across the knights' camp. She'd made to step backwards and take another route but was stopped by the wall she'd backed into. No, not a wall. A plate metal encased knight. The scream died in her throat.
"Dun' be scared, now." The knight's voice was like a whet stone being drug over iron and made her shiver. "We may have a job for a witch such as y'self."
The girl only stood there, her back against this mountain of a man, trying to calm her breaths. She waited.
After what seemed like hours, the knight finally made the mistake she was waiting on. He lowered his hand from her shoulder. The moment she felt his weight lift she spun, fire already wrapping around her hand. It struck him hard in the face and his gurgled scream rang through the trees. Shouts could be heard followed by stomping and snapping of branches as the rest of the formation closed in. The girl spat on the man's fallen form before turning and stopping short. More knights blocked her path but still she ran. She had to escape, had to be free. Not expecting her flight, the knights were slow to follow. The men more quick on their feet had already began lobbing arrows into the darkness, hoping the fates would let them strike home.
"So what is the point of hunting if you don't bring back your kills?"
Arthur had heard similar queries from his raven haired manservant throughout the trek. He'd tried explaining the thrill of the hunt and glory of the kill, but the soft hearted Merlin wanted nothing to do with his answers. The prince only sighed and kept walking.
"I just find it to be a waste if you leave the animals to rot." Another sigh from Arthur. "I think that-"
"Merlin!" Arthur hissed. "Now is not the time for you to preach to me about the rights and wrongs of hunting. Now be quiet."
The young warlock rolled his eyes but did as his master requested. Arthur dropped down to one knee behind a fallen tree, his crossbow resting on the rotten wood. Merlin knew this pose. The Prince would be here for at the least an hour, waiting and hoping on some defenseless creature to walk past. With the knowledge that Arthur would remain stationary, Merlin quietly wandered off. If the Prince became agitated, he could merely say that he was trying to flush out the wildlife.
No one has ever made the claim that Merlin was coordinated. Merlin himself knew better than to assume that he was light on his feet. So it didn't surprise him in the least when he tripped (he would later say that the root ripped from the ground and made to trip him) and landed face first. As with anyone, his first reaction was to quickly glance around, making sure no one saw his clumsiness. He chuckled to himself, knowing that he was quite far from Arthur and that no one had in fact... wait. He glanced back to what had just halted his thoughts.
Hair.
Leaves had fallen since the body did and they were obscuring most of his view. He drew closer and saw the small shoulders, slim waist. This was no creature. It was a young woman. He had just reached the body when the hairs on his neck stood on end and every fiber of his being told him to duck. Just as he dropped to the ground he heard the tale-tell 'zzthpp' of Arthur's arrow zipping through the air, just where Merlin's head had been.
"Hey!" The brunette yelled, stretching the simple word into three syllables. Shortly after the Prince came into view, a scowl already on his face.
"Merlin." Arthur started. "Do you really have to go frolicking through the woods when
I'm hunting?"
Merlin said nothing. Instead he leaned forward and touched the still body. Arthur, now noticing the figure dropped to his knees and stroked back the blood-caked hair, allowing the boys to see, as Merlin expected, the face of a girl. Arthur's heart stilled as he saw the arrow protruding from the girl's arm. His manservant noticed this at the same time.
"You... shot her."
The Prince's face paled and he started shaking his head. "I shot but once."
"Then-" Merlin began but was interrupted by the Prince picking up the girl.
"We must get her to Gaius." He said as he placed the girl on his horse and mounted behind her. Merlin quickly mounted his own horse and the pair rode swiftly back to the castle.