I am really excited about the response this story has gotten. I hope that I can keep all my readers interested and coming back for more chapters. Have a wonderful week.
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
"Come on! Come on!" Merlin exclaimed. The little child grabbed Leon's hand again and tugged him into the mouth of the cave. Arthur and the other knights followed. Inside was slightly cooler and more damp than the outside air. The cave was also dark, the only light coming from the entrance where the sun peaked through the forest canopy. While the cave was certainly large enough for someone to live in, there was no evidence that this was the home of anything other than the odd creature seeking shelter from the elements. Arthur looked around and saw no burn marks from a fire, no blankets for keeping warm, and no food to eat. Also, there was no evidence of books. Merlin said he had found the spell in a book, so there should be at least one here. Arthur suspected that a powerful sorcerer might be able to cast spells to hide his existence. However, Merlin didn't seem to have a very good handle on his magic. It was finicky and tied to his emotions. The boy seemed smart and willing to do almost anything to survive. Surely he wouldn't risk being discovered in something as open as this cave. Then again, Merlin did seem to be very trusting towards the knights. They did try to protect him from Drake, but the child didn't seem bothered by them before that.
Arthur wanted to groan and hit his head against the wall. This child was so contradictory. Afraid of everything and nothing. Trusting everyone and no one. Never wanting to fight but always wanting to protect. It was just the sort of innocence and stupidity one would expect from a child. Arthur wanted to keep that innocence in Merlin for as long as possible. It was clear that the boy had been through some sort of trauma. The way he cowered and begged for mercy was evidence enough, but Merlin would never live a normal life if he stayed out here in the woods.
Arthur was drawn out of his thoughts when Merlin let go of Leon's hand and skipped over to the far wall of the cave. The child literally skipped. He was just sobbing on Gwaine's shoulder ten minutes ago, begging not to be sent back to his former master. And now he was back to being carefree and naïve. The boy switched emotions faster than Morgana. Arthur was going to get whiplash if he stayed around the child for much longer. Merlin, meanwhile, started humming and knocking against the wall softly.
"Merlin, sweetheart," Percival called out, "what are you doing?"
"Maybe he's crazy?" Elyan suggested. Percival cuffed the back of Elyan's head and glared at him. Merlin didn't answer either of the men. Instead, he gasped with delight and smiled. His eyes flashed gold and the large boulder rolled away smoothly. In the dark cave the gold was more pronounced than in the brightness of the forest. Little gold rings circled around the pupils, revealing the true power that such a small vessel held. What was perhaps more impressive was the small room that was hidden behind the boulder. Merlin giggled and skipped through the small opening.
"That is brilliant," Gwaine whispered. He stepped through the entrance, ducking so as not to his head on the low-lying rocks. The other knights followed in wordlessly. But the tiny warlock wasn't done with his display yet. He whispered some more words; the familiar circle of gold reappearing for a second before fading. This time, it was not a great feat of strength that was completed. Instead, tiny balls of light began floating at different heights around the room. They gave off a comforting orange glow that helped to light up the cave. Arthur reached for one that was floating at eye level and ran his fingers through it. It felt warm and safe, like thick blankets during a summer storm. Arthur let out a small laugh and pulled his hand out of the light. The little lights were so delicate and beautiful, a complete contrast to the raw power that was forced out of the child today. These lights were made out of comfort and happiness. Arthur could feel it in the hum of the magic. He wondered if the others could feel the warmth as well.
There were hundreds of lights floating around the cave. Some were large and some were small. They were all at different heights to provide the most amount of light available. Each light was placed so that there were very few shadows, save for some corners. The room looked like the sun was shining directly into it.
Arthur took this chance to also look around. He wondered how well off Merlin actually was. The objects in the cave were modest to say the least. There were no tapestries or portraits that hung on the walls. But Arthur could see smooth spots that appeared to have been decorated with charcoal. Though they were a child's drawings, he could tell that most were of animals. There appeared to be deer, wolves, cows, and possibly a dragon or wyvern. Arthur remembered Jeff and wondered if Merlin had ever met any other wyverns. There was also a section of the wall that was just a bunch of handprints. There was no definite pattern. It looked as though Merlin just got bored, smashed some berries, and then spent the next hour slapping his hands against the wall to see what would happen. That seemed like a very Merlin thing to do.
Arthur drew his eyes away from the wall and continued looking at the other objects in the cave. A small fire ring had been set up towards the middle of the cave. There were some soot smudges around the ring, though it did look like Merlin cleaned every so often. Next to the fire lay two tattered blankets. Arthur assumed one was to keep a layer between Merlin and the ground and the other was to keep him covered. Though the boy had magic, it was worrisome to see such a small child with such thin blankets. Arthur didn't think the tattered pieces of cloth would help at all with holding heat in. He decided that was the first thing he was going to give Merlin was a nice, thick blanket. One that the boy could curl up under and fall asleep knowing that its warm weight would help to keep him safe during the long night. Aside from the blankets, there was a wooden bowl, plate, and cup along one wall. The dishes appeared to be drying from a wash. They similarly appeared to be hand carved. Arthur wondered if Merlin used his magic for the task or if he actually carved them with a knife. There was a small knife resting with the other dishes so it was possible Merlin used it to carve.
Arthur stepped forward and felt something tickling the top of his head. He looked up and smiled to see several different herbs, fruits, and meats suspended above his head. They were all floating innocently among the balls of light. Occasionally, two would knock together but otherwise continued moving slowly along a path. Arthur wondered if the plants were continuously floating or only did it when Merlin was in the cave. He was sure there was probably a spell to keep the plants constantly suspended. What this cave had the most of was books. Several tattered tomes littered the floor. Some were in English, but some were in languages Arthur could only guess. Each book was well read. They showed signs of love and joy as a child turned the pages enthusiastically, seeking the new worlds of knowledge that each had hidden within its pages. The crash of wood brought Arthur back to the cave. Merlin had dropped an armful of wood into his meager fire ring.
"Forbearnan," Merlin said. His eyes lit up with joy as the wood caught fire and began to crackle merrily. He turned to Arthur and beamed. He probably wasn't used to showing off his magic to people. He was just like any other child, seeking praise and attention for the things he was good at. Arthur offered him a comforting smile in return, hoping that it was enough for now. Merlin continued grinning and walked towards a particularly large pile of books underneath a picture of something that appeared to have the body of a lion, wings of an eagle, and face of a bear. It was hard to tell if such a creature was from the boy's imagination or if it actually existed.
The young boy seemed to have a pretty comfortable place of dwelling for his hide out. But it still was no place for a child to live, not alone at least. Merlin should be with a family that loved him and cared about him. Even the poorest children of Camelot usually had friends or families that they could turn to in times of need. Granted, Arthur didn't have the most loving father in the world, but even Uther managed to show Morgana and him just how much he cared at times. Merlin literally had no one. As far as Arthur could tell, the boy had something named Rowena and a wyvern named Jeff. Shouldn't a child have friends to share his secrets with, to get into trouble with? It wouldn't be too incredible to believe that Merlin had never been told that he was loved, that he was cared about by someone. Looking at the child now, one would never suspect the dark past he had been forced to endure, that he was still enduring. Merlin needed someone to keep him safe from the nightmares and his past. Arthur had seen just how thin Merlin's emotional barriers were. In the end, Merlin would be consumed by fear and turn into those sorcerers Arthur fought almost weekly. He couldn't let such goodness fall through the cracks. He couldn't let down Merlin.
"I know it's here somewhere," Merlin muttered under his breath. He was carelessly tossing books behind him, searching for the spell that would heal Leon's cut. Lancelot stepped closer to Arthur and Gwaine.
"He can't stay here," Lancelot whispered. Arthur nodded. His internal monologue had convinced the prince that Merlin too precious for this world to lose. He needed to be protected.
"It's too dangerous. He needs to be somewhere safe," Arthur replied in a hushed tone. Merlin didn't appear to be paying attention to the small group, but Arthur didn't want to risk a backlash. He seemed like the kind of person that didn't want to be told he couldn't take care of himself. Elyan and Percival joined the quiet conversation.
"Are we just going to ignore that a powerful warlock is living within the borders of Camelot?" Elyan hissed. There was that too. Arthur shuddered to think of who would get Merlin first: his father's supporters or the wild and unpredictable nature of the forest.
"We are not just ignoring it," Gwaine said. "But we need to figure out some way to protect him. The boy looks like he's starving. I don't think he can last another winter."
"It might be easier to just kill him now, not force him to live in a world with such prejudice," Elyan said.
"If you lay a hand on that boy, so help me God-" Gwaine threatened. Percival put a hand on the knight's shoulder to placate him.
"I think we should do everything in our power to ensure the child is safe," Percival said.
"Thank you," Gwaine muttered. He glared at Elyan, causing the other knight to shrink away.
"But how are we going to bring this up?" Percival asked. "Merlin is a smart boy. He will have looked at all possibilities for ensuring his survival." Arthur and the other knights stared at Percival. The man hardly ever said two words at once, and now he was giving in-depth looks into the psyche of a child. Arthur was completely unaware that Percival was so smart and pensive. Then again, if all you do is listen it's not hard to believe you would get good at understanding the workings of human emotions.
"He's young, and an escaped slave by the looks of it. The idea may have never crossed his mind," Lancelot shrugged.
"Or it may have but was deemed to dangerous for the other party that would be involved. Remember, Merlin looks out for others more than himself," Elyan supplied.
"Here it is!" Merlin cried out in triumph. "I found this journal of a guy named Gwillem of Cambria. He sounds kind of crazy, but the spells I have used so far really work!" Merlin explained. He flipped the book open to the appropriate page and began to read out what he needed. With each ingredient, the corresponding plant fell from the ceiling and into Merlin's bowl. Leon knelt down next to Merlin and smiled. A bundle of sage flew into the back of his head, tangling in his curly hair.
"Merlin, where did you learn how to read?" Leon asked. Merlin bit his lip and looked away from Leon.
"One of the maids taught me. She wasn't supposed to. She's gone now," Merlin sniffed. Leon reached up and stroked Merlin's hair.
"I am so sorry. I'm sure she's proud that you are reading to help someone," Leon said. Merlin looked up and nodded.
"Thank you. She was really nice," Merlin whispered. He grabbed the herbs that had been neatly placed into a bowl and began to grind them into a green paste. Leon continued to pet Merlin's tangled hair, providing the boy with a sense of security and comfort. Merlin leaned into the touch, not fully aware that he was doing so. His tongue stuck out of his mouth, his eyebrows were drown together in concentration. When the paste was done, Merlin reread the spell several times before looking back to Leon. His eyes were slightly red and puffy, but they still held a spark of hope that never seemed to abandon the child. Leon knew in that moment that he never wanted to let Merlin go. These were dangerous thoughts as the child was magic and Leon was a knight of Uther. But even that didn't stop Leon from wanting to keep Merlin safe and by his side.
"Ready?" Leon nodded and mentally prepared himself. While he didn't think Merlin would purposefully hurt him, there was a slight chance the spell would go wrong and possibly injure Leon even further, or rid him of his beard. Leon did not look good without a beard. Merlin smeared the green paste onto Leon's cheek before placing his hand on it and began to chant. "Ahlúttre þá séocnes. Þurhhæle bræd." His eyes flashed gold and he sat back. He looked a bit more fatigued than before. Doing so much magic at once was probably draining the young boy of his strength. Merlin wiped the goop from Leon's cheek and cheered.
"It worked!" he exclaimed. He threw his arms in the air and flopped back.
"Good job." Leon patted the boy's arm before joining the others.
"He needs to be taken somewhere safe," Leon hissed upon reaching his friends.
"That's what we were discussing. He can't stay out here. Someone could find him and use him," Lancelot agreed.
"He may be powerful, but he's still a child. He still scares easily and there's no telling what could happen if someone like Cenred got their hands on him," Percival said. The others nodded in agreement. It was decided, Merlin wasn't going to stay in this cave any longer. He was going to find a proper home with a proper family. Arthur cleared his throat and got Merlin's attention. Merlin sat up and looked at Arthur with a tired smile.
"Merlin, what you did today was amazing," Arthur began.
"Thanks. I love helping people. I sometimes think that I could do really cool things. But I try not to do very big stuff. I don't want him to find me," Merlin rambled, his smile dropping with the last few sentences. Arthur went to kneel down next to him.
"You are very powerful. But, Merlin, you can't stay out here forever." Merlin's smile dropped from his face completely. He furrowed his brow and tried to comprehend what Arthur had just said.
"Why not?" he asked. Arthur looked to the others for reassurance. Percival gave him a weak smile before gesturing for Arthur to continue.
"Merlin, you are just a child. You need someone to take care of you." The change was instantaneous. Merlin ceased looking carefree and instead looked like a cornered animal. He immediately went on the defensive and began backing away from Arthur.
"No I don't. I can take care of myself," Merlin cried. The cave began to rumble and the child's eyes glowed gold. Arthur reminded himself that this was just a scared little boy and not a dangerous sorcerer. Merlin wouldn't hurt Arthur or his men, he hoped.
"I understand that you think-"
"No! I can take care of myself. I have for a year," Merlin snapped. He stood up and walked towards the other end of the cave, crossing his arms and glaring at Arthur and the others. Percival stepped forward.
"Merlin, you are eight. Don't you want a family to live with? Someone who can give you a pleasant childhood? Someone who loves you?" he asked. Merlin bit his bottom lip and Arthur could see tears starting to leak from his eyes. Merlin shook his head furiously.
"I don't need anyone. I am fine," his said. Arthur could hear the slight shake of the child's voice.
"You are doing excellently for yourself. But you need to think long term," Lancelot tried. Outside, the rain began to pour down from the sky.
"I can't. He'll find me," Merlin whimpered. Arthur then understood what the child's fears were. He didn't want his former master to track him down. The forest was the perfect place for hiding out long term. If you could survive long term, that is.
"Tell us who this man is and we'll help you," Leon promised.
"No. I don't need your help," Merlin cried. Outside, a clap of thunder shook the sky, causing the knights to jump at the sudden noise. The little balls of light began to dissipate, turning the cave into something cold and empty.
"Merlin, if you stay out here, you could get sick or seriously injured. Please, come back to Camelot with us and let us find you a home," Lancelot pleaded. Merlin's eyes went wide and he pressed himself against the wall.
"No. No. I'm not going back with you. You won't kill me. I'm not a monster," he sobbed. Arthur stepped forward. Merlin let out a shout and dropped to the floor. Arthur was trying to be as nonthreatening as possible, but he didn't think it was working.
"No, you're not a monster. You are a child and you need help. Merlin, we won't hurt you. We just want to help," Arthur pleaded. Merlin curled into a ball and continued to sob. His arms flew over his head and wrapped around it, trying to block out what was causing so much fear. The sight made Arthur's heart break.
"No. You want to use me. I don't want to be used. I thought you liked me," he cried. The storm continued to rage out of control outside the cave. The thunder began to crash even louder in the sky. Despite being inside, streaks of lightning still lit up the darkened cave in frightening succession. The rain came down even harder, shaking the cave. Thunder caused the ground to vibrate with its power. And in the center of it all, a scared child who wanted nothing more than to be safe from the monsters who haunted him.
"We don't want to use you!" Elyan shouted over the pounding rain. Merlin's only response was to huddle in on himself even more. Leon looked around wildly. All this shouting was only making the situation worse. Merlin wasn't in his right mind. He wouldn't listen to the knights so long as they continued to assault him with pleas and promises. The boy had been taken advantage of one too many times. Now all his fears were being manifested through a ferocious storm that would only further Merlin's fear of his power. It was time for Leon to take control.
"Everyone, calm down," he said in an even tone. He wasn't sure how much everyone heard over the rain, but it still had the same effect. The knights all turned to Leon and stared. The curly haired knight placed his hand on Gwaine's shoulder and pulled him towards the entrance of the cave. He then stepped towards Arthur and repeated the action.
"Leon-" Arthur protested. Leon put a finger to his lips and dragged Arthur through the door.
"We are overwhelming him. He doesn't feel safe, and he never will if we keep pestering him," Leon explained in the calmest voice he could manage. Outside the storm still raged. Leon took a deep breath and thought of how to best calm Merlin down. The child probably would not be fully able to listen for the next few hours, and Uther would probably be waiting for a report from Arthur on the success of his mission. Not to mention Drake needed to be taken back to Camelot and interrogated. As much as Leon didn't want to leave Merlin, especially like this, it was probably the best option. By respecting Merlin's wishes to leave, the knights might be able to forge a stronger bond to Merlin. The child might be more willing to listen to their suggestions. But, even if Merlin wanted them to leave, he was still a child. And children craved the affections of adults. Merlin thought that the knights were people he could trust. He probably still wanted them to stay and protect him. Leon had to show that the knights also wanted to stay and protect him. A simple act might be enough to keep Merlin from becoming too distant. Leon unbuckled his cloak and walked back towards Merlin. Arthur grabbed his forearm. Leon mere shrugged him off and continued towards the child.
"Go away. Get out!" Merlin shouted. "I want you to leave!" Leon knelt down and draped the cloak over Merlin's shaking shoulders. He ran his fingers through Merlin's hair a few times before speaking.
"Merlin, we're going to leave now. If you need anything, you know where Camelot is. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it," Leon said. Merlin didn't respond. He instead gripped the cloak and tugged it tighter around himself. Leon rubbed the boy's back before standing and walking out of the cave.
"We're just going to leave him?" Lancelot hissed.
"He won't survive another week with the state he's in," Percival said. Leon held up a hand to silence the group.
"The boy is scared. He's never had anyone of authority who has cared for his wellbeing. We will let him cool down for a few days and decide how to best hand the situation," Leon explained. Arthur understood what he was trying to get at. There was probably a better way to handle the intervention. Instead the knights had cornered the poor boy and harassed him until he felt as though there was nowhere to go. Arthur would have probably reacted in much the same way if he were a starving child living in a cave. Of course Merlin was scared. Arthur felt like kicking himself for being so stupid.
"What do you suggest we do?" Gwaine asked, trudging through the forest. It was still raining buckets and made it difficult to trek through the tangled forest. The men reached the mercenaries, still unconscious from Merlin's attack earlier. Percival slung Drake over his shoulder and started to carry him back towards Camelot.
"At this rate it's going to take us till nightfall to get back," Elyan groaned.
"Leon, what do you want to do about Merlin?" Lancelot asked. Leon chewed on his lip before responding.
"I think only one or two of us should go to Merlin the next time. We can tell him to come to us with any problems. We can also go once a week to check on him, bring him food, make sure he is healthy, things like that," Leon said. The rain had started to let up ever so slightly. While there was still the occasional clap of thunder, it was nothing compared to the violent storm that had raged just a few moments ago.
"There's a daily patrol that runs by the cave. It shouldn't be too difficult for us to swing by every week to check on the kid," Gwaine affirmed. Everyone nodded with this plan and continued to walk back.
"How long until we meet with him the first time?" Lancelot asked.
"We should wait until the rain stops. Merlin is controlling it so when he calms down, so should the weather," Percival said. Everyone nodded. Arthur hoped that they would still be able to save the tiny child who lay shivering in the cave.
That is the end of this chapter. Don't be afraid to leave comments. I hope you have a wonderful week, and for those of you who are lucky, a wonderful summer vacation.
