As the sun sets.
Disclaimer: All of the characters in this belong to BBC Merlin.
Summary: Merlin has the faintest memory of once living in a big castle before being forced to flee with his mother to protect their lives. Now Merlin is older and sets off to begin his life without his mother, eventually reaching Camelot, where his memories become clearer.
*Will contain Merthur.*
Rating: T but might go up in future chapters (not really sure yet)
Hunith clutched her son in her arms, running through the lower town using any shortcuts she knew. It was important that she escaped this place so her and her seven year old son could live in peace without the constant fear of being hunted, so they could start their lives again somewhere they knew they could be accepted for who they are.
She placed her son on the ground, the large cloak sheltering him from the rain that pelted down far too large, kissing him on the forehead.
"Wait here, promise me you won't move!" Hunith asked her son in a calm voice, but to anyone older it had an undercurrent of panic within. She led her son two steps away from the entrance to the stables and kissed his forehead again.
"I won't be long" The woman said as she left, her son staring after her, eyes wide and round with fear. The young boy pulled the cloak he was wearing tighter around him, not from the cold but the fear that now coursed through his body as the warning bells began to echo throughout the town. He did not move an inch until his mother came back out with a large dark horse, grabbing him back up into her arms she lifted the small child up onto the saddle and climbed up behind him. The woman nudged the horses side and it leapt into action, weaving a path through all of the confused villagers who had come out to see what the fuss was about. They were now jumping out of the way, none trying to stop the woman as she escaped through the lower town out onto a pathway that led the mother and son away from the danger.
The further they got away from the place and the quieter the bells seemed Hunith allowed the horse to slow, concerned that the thunder now rolling across the land would make the horse skittish and endanger her and her son. Only when she could be sure they were safe and nobody was following them did Hunith allow the horse to come to a halt so it could get some rest since they had been travelling roughly three hours without stopping once.
The young boy had long ago fallen asleep from the rocking motion of the horse, being relieved of his panic as soon as the sound of the bells had left his ears and his mothers soothing words had replaced them. Both were drenched and the small boy awoke as his mother dismounted the horse behind him, allowing himself to be slipped from the saddle and back into the comfort of his mother's arms as soon as they had reached a clearing in the woods. The child removed the hood from his head revealing scruffy black hair and disproportionately large ears that made him look extremely adorable, the blue of the cloak bringing out that in his eyes.
Hunith tied the horse to a tree on the other side of the clearing, in a dry spot she found and settled on a log pulling her young son into her arms. She rocked him back and forth stroking his hair in a way she knew he found comforting until the boy fell asleep curled up into a ball, one fist clutching at his mother's cloak to prevent her from leaving. As soon as he was asleep she moved herself off of the log and onto the ground, still keeping the boy close and lying down wrapping herself around her child in a protective way, using her cloak as a shield from the wind.
"Good night, Merlin. My brave boy." She muttered as she kissed her son's head one last time before sleep took her.
Fourteen years later...
"Merlin! How many times have I told you, you need to leave Ealdor. Go on an adventure." Hunith told her son as they sat down for dinner one evening after Merlin had been at work in the fields.
"I know mum, but I can't just leave you here all alone!" Merlin countered, bringing up the same argument again.
"Listen, if I didn't want you to go, I wouldn't tell you to. Plus I have Joe now and we are happy together, he will look after me." Hunith pushed his argument aside, she didn't understand why Merlin kept bringing that up when he knew her husband could care for her no problem.
"I suppose..." Merlin trailed off looking past Hunith's shoulder, gaze unfocused. "Fine, fine. I will, just give me a week yeah?" Merlin couldn't help but smile as his mothers face lit up when he agreed.
They ate the rest of their meal talking about everything and nothing; how things were going with the crops and odd jobs that needed to be done around the house. Soon they had finished their meals and after helping his mum clear up Merlin said goodnight. Hunith took her sons face in either hand pulling it down slightly so their eyes were level.
"I love you, never forget that Merlin. I would do anything it takes to get you the life you deserve." Hunith kissed her son's forehead and pulled him into a hug exactly the same way she had done that night fourteen years ago. As her son walked away for bed, she couldn't help the lone tear that left her eye and travelled gently across her cheek at the thought of her son leaving her, but she knew she had to be brave, be as brave as he was that night, and do what was best for Merlin.
Merlin sat their shivering, staring up at his mother, the one person her trusted. It was cold, dark and slightly damp in this strange place he was in. He didn't know what or where he was, he just knew that he didn't like it one bit and just the smell of the place alone terrified him, like decay, blood and sweat. He huddled closer to his mum, hoping to stay a bit warmer and get reassurance from the arm that crept around his waist. He turned away from his mothers smile to look out through the bars at the empty corridor beyond them. There was a loud bang and Hunith rose to her feet stepping infront of her small son in a protective stance, shielding him from whatever was about to come. A small blond boy appeared at the bars, a triumphant smile plastered onto his face which saddened as he saw Merlin shiver.
"Arthur!" Merlin almost called before he remembered to try and keep quieter. He rushed past his mother as she visibly relaxed at the sight of her son's best friend. They pulled each other into the best hug possible through the many bars that separated them. Arthur's smile completely left his face as he felt how cold Merlin was and it was replaced by a look of saddened determination.
"Here. You have to leave now! They are planning something bad and I know it!" Arthur huffed at the thought pouting slightly and unlocking the door. "Your pathway out of the castle should be clear, I made sure. You must hurry though!" Ten year old Arthur now hugged his friend properly as the door swung open. "You don't have much time."
"Thank you Arthur! You will make a great king one day. How did you manage this?" Hunith hugged the small boy who she was eternally grateful for.
"Lets just say it's lucky these cells are so easy to escape from." Arthur would have smiled had it not been for the situation.
"Thanks again Arthur! Come on Merlin quickly!" Hunith pulled at her sons hand who had turned back to Arthur.
"Promise me you'll come back one day!" Arthur asked looking to the floor shuffling his feet.
"Pinky promise!" Beamed Merlin holding out his little finger for Arthur to take hold of, which he did.
Merlin woke panting and sat up, it was still night time by the looks of the moonlight entering the small window above his head. Although the dream he had just woken from was a little fuzzy, he could work out that it was a dream he had in the past, but couldn't understand why.
R&R? It would be much appreciated, don't know if this is any good?