So here it is, part 2. You can tell I have no life, but I really enjoyed writing this one. I have never had so many ideas in my head at one time. I really hope I didn't disappoint anyone after all those amazing reviews! Oh, theres a point, thank you! I was stunned by some of those compliments! Hope the paragraphs aren't too long this time...
"Merlin!" Hunith called, and as she did, she ran into Merlin's room to see his eyes blazing gold. "Merlin? What do you think you're doing?" Hunith wasn't mad at him, no not mad, but she did like seeing him flutter in confusion trying to come up with some excuse. Because when he couldn't think of one, he would flash one of those goofy grins she adored so much. "I-I e-err… W-well" He struggled, and lost. A smile tore across his face, reaching his ears- much to Hunith's pleasure. She giggled at her gangly son with pride, and Merlin couldn't help but rejoice at his mother's childlike laugh. This mere, small moment was perfect.
Only to be interrupted by Gareth, one of the village elders. His wife was having a baby, and Hunith was the only midwife is Eldore. "HUNITH. It's her time! W-what do I-I do?" The normally brave, wise man was a nervous wreck. "You, calm down. Elaine will be fine, and soon you will have a beautiful baby. Merlin, don't get into trouble, please?" Hunith pleaded, anyone would have thought she was just joking with her son; But Merlin saw the dread in her eyes and nodded. "Me trouble? Never" Merlin teased, keeping the charade in place. And with that Hunith gathered some herbs and ran out the door.
Merlin cleaned for a while. But that easily bored him, so he abandoned the half scrubbed floor and traipsed outside. He went to call on Will, but his father had said he was busy. Great. just great. Now what would he do? He had no other friends. People liked Merlin, but no one really accepted him- he was weird. And these people were nothing if not suspicious, damming everything and everyone that they didn't understand. Sure, they were friendly, but only to a point.
He walked for a while when he came across a child reaching for an apple. *Stealing an apple. The old man selling the fruit caught him and started to shake the poor boy violently. The young warlock could see the little one was hungry, and decided to intervene- and NOT with magic.
Merlin simply tossed a coin towards the old man and grabbed the little boys hand, when at a safe distance he smiled. "T-thank you-u" the boy stammered, with a genuine smile on his face. "You're welcome! But don't steal next time… You can always find honey and berries on the outskirts of the forest at this time of year" Merlin beamed. The boy nodded fiercely- Merlin thought his head would come of his shoulders- and ran off.
On his way back home, Merlin glanced over at the fruit seller- he was already glaring at merlin. Weird. But everything else seemed normal enough, people stepping out of Merlin's way, normal. People selling and buying things, normal. People running around worrying if they have enough harvest for Kanen, normal.
The next day Merlin awoke with confusion, his mother was stood in front of him with one finger over her mouth, eyes wide. He didn't speak as he looked around trying to collect his thoughts. Kanen. Shit. Merlin jumped up, but he still didn't make a sound as he peered out of the tiny hole he called a window. It looked as though the raiders were just about to leave.
When an old man, the old fruit seller from yesterday, whispered something in Kanen's ear. Suddenly all the riders jumped down of their horses with a loud thud and started terrorizing the village, screaming for more. Merlin glanced in Kanen's direction, he saw him grabbing one of the villagers in a chokehold. It was Will, Will. Merlin moved faster than he ever had before. Hunith cried her sons name, begged him not to interfere, but even she knew there was no stopping him. Compassionate fool, Her compassionate fool. And she was so proud of him.
As Merlin shouted back for his mother to stay inside, he ran as fast as his legs would carry him. Will was Merlin's first and only friend, and aside from his mother, no one else WANTED to talk to Merlin- or even go close. He would protect his friend with his life.
He grabbed a piece of firewood as he ran out. No one seemed to notice him running towards the two men. When he got close enough he pulled the firewood above his head and shoved all his strength into his throw. It worked, crap it worked! Kanen was now marching with anger towards Merlin! Merlin hadn't thought up the rest of the plan yet. Magic was a no- he couldn't in full view of all these people! No, no, no NO!
Merlin's senses were screaming in protest- DEFEND YOURSELF. Before he could comply with what was going on, Kanen was dragging him to the floor, punching his torso and chest with iron fists. Out of fear Merlin kicked out, and Kanen in shock from this sudden rebellion from the runt, stumbled backwards. Soon Will was behind Merlin dragging him away, whilst one of Kanen's men helped him up. "You will pay! I promise you will suffer!" Kanen spat, holding his head. He stomped off towards his horse, and was soon gone.
"Merlin, mate, what the hell were you thinking?" Will coughed, still recovering from the heavy arms that had clamped themselves around his neck. Merlin simply patted his back and forced himself up off the dirt, holding his stomach- he felt like someone was messing around with his intestines, trying to make mash potato out of them.
He didn't know how but his mother was soon by his side shoving him towards his house. "I don't think it's too bad dear… MERLIN, stay still, Merl-Merlin!" Hunith's voice obvious with irritation. Merlin was squirming, and Will just sat there wincing at his best friends pain, unable to do anything. "Merlin don't do that a-again" Will whispered, pain in his voice making it crack, and then he left. Just left, stalked out of the room with tears in his eyes. Merlin consider going after him, "leave him be" Hunith warned, she could read the boys mind.
That night there was an explosion of noise in the room: first, Merlin heard the door slam, then his mothers scream, and before he knew it- five bulky men came crashing in, took his arms and legs and dragged him out. Merlin was squealing with pain, as Hunith was held there helpless. The young warlocks struggles simply annoyed the men, then blackness. Merlin was drawn under, into the deep and dark abyss of nothingness- and no way back.
When he woke up, he had completely forgot about the situation at hand. Eyes fluttering with ignorance. What the hell? Why am I chained? Why does my stomach feel like its on fire? Why does my head hurt? Where's my shirt? And with one fleeting look up, his head reminded him of all the answers. Stood around him as Kanen, the 5 men that had captured him, and some more bandits. All with knife like glares pointing at him. Kanen was showing his teeth, dirty yellow and brown rectangles with chips and gaps- absolutely disgusting. My god! Do you ever brush? Merlin considered saying it out loud, but he didn't think it would help him with whatever was to come. Nahh- what the hell? "My god! Do you ever brush?" Kanen would make sure Merlin would regret that one.
"I have you now boy. You're not getting out of this one. I promised you would suffer!" His words stung, and Merlin knew pain was coming. He had just aggravated Kanen futher. Merlin knew lots of pain was coming.
That's when he saw it, the slippery black snake that was entwined in Kanen's hand. Something any sane man dreaded when dragged to a torture chamber. The long flesh eating evil could make even the most loyal talk. And that's what Merlin feared the most, he had no bargaining tool, nothing to persuade Kanen to end his pain. Kanen didn't want to end his pain, Kanen wanted to hear Merlin scream and cry until he was unconscious. For Will was the only thing that gave him a hint of comfort.
The young warlock could not understand why any other human would want to harm another like this. All Merlin had done was help a friend out of a tight spot, and now he was condemned to this? The evil of some people could not be comprehended or explained and that what how Merlin was different, even with this foul man in front of him- who was beyond help- he tried to understand. Merlin's purity matched that of no other man on earth and even this terrible affliction could not change that. Little did Merlin know, the only thing that could ever change that was a betrayal from Arthur Pendragon- a name he had only heard tales of.
Kanen's harsh voice snapped him from his reprieve "Time to scream" and that's when the first crack of the whip bit at his bare back. A blood-curdling scream was wrenched from him as the blood trickled down his back. Skin ripped apart like paper, torn like the bottom of woman's corset when its been stood on. More screams erupted from a now gasping Merlin as the whip was pummeled towards his body with brute force, again and again and again. Soon there was no part of his back left in tact, and still Kanen brought down the whip upon his back. The wounds with dried up blood sealing them screamed in protest, as they were re-opened, again and again and again.
But Merlin did not resort to begging, no, he already gave Kanen the satisfactory of his screams- he would not give him this! And soon, whether he wanted to beg or not he could not speak, damn, he could hardly breathe. Blackness took him again, except- this time- he had welcomed it with open arms and eagerness.
Hunith had been searching for hours- and even though Merlin had never been accepted in Eldore- along with all those able bodied that lived in Ealdore. What they had found, dumped by the edge of the forest like garbage was something that to this day, still haunts Hunith's dreams…
Da daaa! I was thinking about doing a third chapter with Arthur and the knights again, or should I leave it? Please review and any pointers for future stories and stuff would be much appreciated! as always! And again sorry if I disappointed anyone!