MERLIN
I glance at Raven again. She is amazingly beautiful, and just looking at her makes my heart skip a beat. The thing I can't fathom though is why she is staying at my mothers? What does she have to gain from Hunith? What kind of magic does she have? It had felt a lot like mine, but much more wild and untamed. So what should I do? Mother seems to like her a lot, but what did she do to me before? It had felt wrong, almost like she was trying to suffocate my magic.
When she came back from the well with my mother though it pulled at my very being. Then I felt safer than I ever have. I look over at her again. She looks younger, and more innocent while she sleeps. She is curled up into as tight a ball as possible. She moves and puts her thumb against her bottom lip. I sigh lightly, before pulling the covers up and rolling over. If I am facing her I get the feeling I will not get much sleep.
RAVEN
I sit up and stretch silently. I look around and relax. Everyone is sleeping, so this will be easier. I stand up, and put away the cot without a sound. After grabbing my bag I head for the door. As I start to walk past Merlin I pause. I look down at his relaxed features. My life is not my own anymore. I kneel in front of him and study him. Lightly I brush his bangs off of his forehead. It might not be all bad, I could have bonded to an arrogant ass like Prince Arthur.
His hair is soft against my fingertips, and I close my eyes. I can take care of him, but at what cost? I look at his face again, and smile. Suddenly I don't mind as much that I will have to care of him. It will be nice to care for someone other than myself. I stand up, and touch the door handle. "Not going to say good bye to us, huh?" I hear Merlin whisper. I turn around and see him looking at me. He is supporting himself with one elbow while removing the blanket with his other hand. I look at the others that are still asleep, and gesture for him to follow me outside. He is up almost immediately.
MERLIN
She closes the door behind us quietly. "Why are you here?" I ask her immediately. She sighs, and starts walking.
"I was stabbed by a burglar, and ran away. Due to blood loss I passed out. I was not aware that I was on the edge of a small village. I was running blindly through the woods. Your mother was nice enough to let me stay at her place until I was all healed," she explains.
"Why were you touching me back there?" I ask her. I can feel my face burning as I ask her, and watch as her cheeks flame as well.
"I thought you were asleep," she mumbles.
"Sorry what was that?" I ask. She glares at me, and I can't help the goofy smile I give her. Her expression softens a little, but she does not answer my question. I decide to ask her another one. "What are you? I know you have magic, but it feels too wild to belong to a human," I ask her. She relaxes. I guess she is a lot more comfortable talking about this then.
"I am a shifter, Merlin. And starting from today onwards, I am your shifter," she smiles at me sweetly. My stomach flips a little. She can do a lot of damage with a simple smile.
"What does that mean?" I ask.
"A shifter is a creature of magic, like dragons. We are born in tune with the earth, and able to become our inner animal at will. My tribe is that of the wolves. That means my inner animal is a wolf. When a shifter gets too close to someone in tune to his or her magic, we are pulled towards him or her, and create a bond with him or her. It is the job of the shifter to look out for the witch or wizard, and keep them safe. If the shifter dies, the witch or wizard dies as well. If the witch or wizard dies, the shifter dies. Therefore it benefits the witch or wizard to look out for the shifter as well. Being bonded lengthens the lives of both, and gives a good reason to want to keep each other alive," she tells me. We walk out of town and closer to the woods.
"So you became bonded to me, because of my magic?" I ask.
"Yes, but only because of your mother. I am strong enough that I could have resisted the pull, but you mother has asked me to look out for you. I owe her for letting me stay in her home. I would have died otherwise," she says. We stop next to a small copse of trees.
"So you were going to run away from here?" I ask.
"Yes, I do not normally concern myself with the affairs of humans," she says with a shrug. "Have you ever wanted an animal, Merlin?" she asks me. Officially changing the subject from the touchy topic.
"Why?" I ask her in confusion. She smiles at me. I get the distinct impression that she is laughing at me.
"If I am going to be able to protect you, my best bet is to shift. It will be better if you actually want a wolf companion. It will be much harder for me to stay with you, and keep you safe if I remain as a human," she tells me.
"Are you able to change anytime you want?" I ask her.
"Weren't you listening to me? I can change at will," she smirks, and I know she is laughing at me.
"What if I have a question for you, but you can't shift to answer it?" I ask.
"Close your eyes, relax, and open your mind for me. I will make sure we can communicate no matter the circumstances," she tells me. I close my eyes, and think about her. "Very good, just like that. Almost there," she whispers softly. I feel her very being in my mind, and my cheeks heat up. Slowly she pulls away, but a small part of her remains at the back of my mind. I can also feel a part of me leaving with her.
"What just happened?" I ask as I open my eyes. She blushes a little. I wonder why?
"I left a part of myself with you, and brought a part of you back with me. That way we can communicate no matter what," she says. I nod my head in understanding. "Also we will be able to tell how the other is feeling, and what condition they are in," she says.
"Well that is useful," I tell her. She nods.
RAVEN
"Stay here, I need to shift," I tell him. He nods and looks back the way we came. I slip behind a tree, and strip down to nothing. I shiver I the cold night air, but stuff my clothes into my bag before tossing it towards Merlin. Accidentally it hits him in the back.
"Hey! What was that for?" he asks. I smile to myself.
"Just making sure that your not peeking at me," I tell him with a small laugh.
"I would not peek at you!" he says sternly. I can feel his blush through our connection, and giggle softly. Wait did I really just giggle? What the hell is wrong with me? A breeze raises goose bumps all along my skin, and I hug myself. I need to shift before I catch a cold or something. I feel my magic stir and pulse as I change from a human to a wolf. Warmth spreads as my fur grows, and my spine cracks. It feels amazing, and I sigh. I have wanted this for a long time. I love being in my wolf form. It is far stronger, and I feel so free.
Wearily I step out from behind the tree, and nudge the back of Merlin's leg. I am glad that he did not try to peek; it is not pretty to watch a shift. No matter how lovely it feels. He looks down at me and his mouth falls open. For a long time he says nothing, and just stares at me. 'Merlin?' I whisper through his mind. He blinks several times, and even shakes his head.
"Sorry, you are just so beautiful," he says. I can hear the awe in his voice, and look away. How embarrassing, but I wag my tail a little anyways.
This is the first time that anyone has ever seen my wolf form. I did not want to shift while in the presence of my tribe. A solid black wolf is not considered a good omen after all. They all thought I was incapable of shifting. After a while my mother banished me from the tribe because she was embarrassed by me.
'Lets head back. You need to sleep while you can. Can you grab that bag?' I ask him. He nods, and we walk back into the village. I make no noise, so that the animals do not make too much of a fuss and wake everyone up. We stop in front of Hunith's house and he holds the door open for me.
"You're not coming in?" he asks softly.
I shake my head from side to side. 'No, Merlin, I am a wolf. I must go sleep in the woods, so I do not frighten anyone,' I tell him gently. He nods his head in understanding.
"Good night Raven," he whispers before closing the door. I head back out into the woods. Once I find a good place, I curl up under a bush and start to fall asleep. 'I think I have an idea about how you can stay with me,' Merlin thinks through the bond. His idea slips through a little, and I growl.
'I am not a dog Merlin! How dare you suggest tying me up like one! What is wrong with you?' I snarl angrily through his mind.
'It would only be until Hunith can explain why you are there. I can tell her hat is going on and I know she will help. If she tells Arthur and the others that you are a gift for me, they will not find it odd that you spend time with me. They will also expect that you will return to Camelot with me as well. How is that not a good idea?' he ask.
'Because I refuse to be tied to a post like a common dog!' I bellow through his mind. I can feel that it hurt him, but how dare he.
'What is I made a fenced in area, that way you are not restrained, but it will look like you are under control?' he offers softly. He is afraid to anger me, which is a good thing.
'That will be fine, but do not ever think about trying to tie me up again Merlin,' I warn softly. I can feel his immediate acceptance to these conditions. 'I am on my way. Be quick and quiet,' I tell him.
I pad silently through the village until I reach Hunith's house. I slip around back, and see Merlin using his magic to create a small fenced in area. I leap up and land against his back. He falls over and looks at me. I growl a little, but let him get back up. "I am sorry Raven. I do not know why I thought it would all right to try tying you up. It was very wrong of me, and I promise not to do it ever again," he says earnestly.
'I know. You would not live long enough to regret going back on that promise,' I tell him. He finishes the fence, and gesture for me to go in. I leap the fence easily, and he smiles a little.
"What should I name you?" he asks.
'What do you mean?' I ask him back.
"Well if I tell them that your name will be Raven, they will remember that the girl that left last night was named Raven. So I should tell them that I would name you something different. Especially if my mother is going to give you to me as a gift," he suggests.
I think about it for a long moment. 'You may call me Shadow, because I will be yours,' I offer. He smiles.
"Good night again Raven," he murmurs, before heading inside once more.
'Good night, Merlin. Sleep well,' I whisper in his mind. I curl up in the pen Merlin made for me, and let sleep take me into the dream land.
