Chapter Three - The Red Sky Incident
Merlin was vaguely aware of Sofia moving away from the bench into the house but his attention was mainly transfixed on something else. He stood up without realising and craned his neck to look at the sky. The stars were glowing red. Their bright lights had taken on a eerie red colour, it was unnatural. And Merlin could think of only one thing that could cause the stars to do that and that was magic.
Hurtling through the garden gate Merlin found himself on the road outside the house. Shaking his head he continued to stare up at the sky in confusion. But suddenly within a blink of an eye the stars had returned to normal and were no longer red. Merlin didn't and couldn't understand it.
Magic had to have caused this strange occurrence but he knew he was the only person left on this earth who had any knowledge of sorcery. First he needed to find out how that kind of magic was even possible and as he had no dragon or Gaius to ask, he would have to do what he had become use to doing over the past few hundred years and that was to search a book for the answers he needed.
Hurrying down the road, peering through the dark as he went for the sight of his car. He needed to get to his house, to search his library. He needed his car, he needed his books. Struggling to find his car Merlin briefly considered lighting his way with magic before realising what a stupid idea it was. What if someone was to walk around the corner and see him? They would think themselves crazy, they would think him mad as of course to them magic didn't exist.
A crunch of gravel caused Merlin to turn around and he saw a plump middle aged man in a suit standing just metres away. The man's face became a look a glee when Merlin turned to meet his gaze. "So you must be Emrys" the man stated. Blinking bewilderedly Merlin didn't answer right away still in shock over the use of a name that he had not heard for a long, long time.
"I don't' know why but I thought you would have looked older" the man stated jovially. Merlin didn't speak he was still trying to process the situation after the red sky incident.
"Sorry how rude I am, I have not introduced myself. The name's Beaumont Tanner pleased to make you acquaintance" The man grinned as he threw out his hand for Merlin to shake. Glancing down at the suited man's large hand Merlin didn't move.
"Who are you?" he asked instead.
"I've just told you" the man said smiling his toothy smile. "Now don't be ill-mannered boy shake my hand, we are gentleman after all" the man insisted. Merlin hesitated for a moment before thinking what the hell as he reached out and shook the man's hand.
As their skin made contact a feeling of trepidation crossed Merlin's mind as this was probably a bad idea. Beaumont Tanner latched onto Merlin's hand so tightly that Merlin could not pull it back before he even had time to think of what to do. Tanner eyes had shifted colour as he growled out a spell in a gruff low voice.
Merlin felt like he had been plunged in a cold bucket of ice and his knees gave away. Crashing to the floor Merlin's eyes closed automatically and when they re-opened he could remember nothing of what had just happened. He could not remember why he was on the floor and he could not remember having ever processing even an ounce of magical ability. Getting to his feet he looked around and there was no one to be seen.
He stumbled backwards when he saw a bright flash of white light. The light receded as quickly as it had come but on the other side of the road now stood a group of people dressed strangely. They wore armour, red cloaks and had swords which were not the wooden kind. After a moment the group turned to face him and a big man called out to him "Merlin!"
But Merlin shook his head, how did this man know his name as he was sure he had never seen such odd people in his life. They must be some of Sofia friends, here for the Halloween fancy dress party. Yes that must be the explanation. Merlin didn't want to interact with any on these people they were probably all idiots like Jamey. The big man and his group began to walk towards him.
Merlin didn't want to speak to them so he turned on his heel and went back into the garden. Wrenching open the back door he pushed his way through the crowded kitchen. A few drunks asked him where his fancy dress costume was and the few who knew his name asked him why he hadn't come dressed as a wizard but he ignored them. He made his way up the three flights of stairs and stopped only to get past the couples who were lurking on the landings. Once inside his room he locked and bolted the door, wishing he could somehow also block out the noise from the party as well as its annoying people.
AN: Hi I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's read, followed and favorited this story, it means a lot to me that some people find my story ideas readable. BTW in case anyone's wondering, the Merlin in my story looks young and not old as he's seen at the end of the last episode.
