"Don't," The woman reprimanded the small boy who looked back at her from where he stood, ready to bolt out the door "What did I teach you?"
"I shouldn't play before my studies" The boy sighs, walking back in and sitting on the chair facing a book.
"Good" She smiles at him and he grins, despite his displeasure, because he loves his mother and is happy for something as simple as her worry for his education.
He knows that is not usual for most farm boys, his friends do not know how to read much or eat with the proper utensils. His mother says that is because he is special, and she needs him to be ready for anything that life might require of him.
His ten-year-old brain cannot fathom why life would require of him to know the history of the kingdoms nor math, but he does all that is required because it makes his mother smile and give him more time to play.
There are other reasons for him to be special: he can do things no one else can. It is a well-guarded secret between him and his mother, the need for the secrecy being ingrained into him since he could remember.
One of his friends, an older one, sung a song. It made him sad, because his friend's sister had been special too, like him – a witch –, but the red knights had taken her away. He asked him once why he sung that ugly song and he said it was to remind him of his hate for the king.
Chop, chop, the witch is dead
The king's red knights chopped off her head
They came at night and broke the lock
Now her head is on the chopping block
Shoosh, shoosh, don't make a sound
Or the red knights will have you bound
You had better not play with fire
Unless you are ready for the pyre
So close your eyes, do not be bold
The knights cannot see they shine gold
For if they have the time to dwell
You will soon be drowning in the well
His mother told him about the red knights, she told him to hide if they ever came and be very quiet or they would think he was a bad boy and take him from her. He never told her he knew what they would really do, because he knew what dead was. It's when you don't wake up anymore, like the old man that lived close to them. He did not want the red knights to make him dead, so he never let anyone see.
"Hunith" A man entered the house; approaching the mother, "They are here"
"How long?" She asks, starting to run around their small house and gather all their possessions.
"They breached the forest's limits only a few minutes ago" the boy stopped reading at that, because his mother had taken the book.
"The red knights are coming?" the boy asked, "We need to go, mum!"
"I know, darling. Say goodbye to Francis" She finally had gathered their few belongings that were not borrowed from the friendly townspeople and took her don's hand.
"Can't you come with us?" He looked up at his friend with misty eyes.
"I'm sorry, I can't. Come now, I have two horses ready" He guided them out to the stables
There were hushed goodbyes and soon mother and son were riding on a horse on the opposite direction of the approaching knights.
"I liked it there" The boy leans against his mother on their horse while the one with their belongings came behind.
"I know, Merlin" She kisses his forehead "But you know why we had to go"
"I'm sorry mum," said Merlin
"Don't ever, ever think this is your fault, dear"
"But we're only leaving because the red knights can't see me" he whined
"They didn't even know we were there, love, it was just bad luck" Hunith sighs "Still, it was better to leave then risk anything. I wouldn't forgive myself if they ever hurt you"
"They won't hurt us" The boy assured with a certainty not common to his age. There was silence for a moment until he spoke again "Where are we going now?"
"I heard of a very nice village on the borders of Cenred's kingdom. It's called Ealdor"
I will be alternating between past and present in each chapter, but I think that became clear enough. If not, you have been warned *grin* how about checking out the next chapter?