OK, Here is chapter 3! Thank you to those of you who have read the story and added it to their favourites, but please, review! I would love to get feedback, am I doing a good job? A bad job? Whatever you think of it, I would love to know, even if it is to point out my mistakes, I appreciate all comments, as long as they're not insulting or anything like that.
Chapter 3
They moved into a small town, just inside Camelot's borders, a blacksmith and his son. They stayed there for a year and a half, before the King's men turned up and they disappeared from their forge, leaving a fire behind them that preoccupied the soldiers, giving them time to escape.
The next town they stayed at was only for a few months before the men turned up. Balinor had left the town for herbs, leaving Merlin in their rooms at the inn. The men searched the inn, but Merlin had heard them and climbed out through the window, carrying his backpack and Balinor's. When he landed in the alley way, the blonde prince was there with two men, and they took off after Merlin. Merlin ran, ducking and weaving through alley ways, climbing over roofs, scaling walls and doing all he could to lose his followers. The two men had fallen behind, but the Prince managed to keep up.
They had long since climbed the roofs and were running across rooftops when Merlin jumped a gap between two houses, only making it due to a little help from his magic. The Prince tried to take the jump and fell too short. His fingers brushed the edge of the roof and Merlin watched as the blonde's face tightened with fear and expectant pain. Merlin darted back to the ledge and caught the blonde's wrist just in time. With a lot of struggling, a little help from magic and a lot of swearing and cursing on Merlin's part, the boy managed to pull the blonde back up onto the roof and away from the double story drop.
The two boys stared at each other in shock; Arthur was shocked he was still alive and that the other boy had saved him, while Merlin was in shock about why he had saved the Prince, and was now trying to figure out how to get away without being caught. A yell from the knights from two roofs back brought the two boys out of their staring contest.
"Run, what are you waiting for?" Arthur hissed. "Go, I'll let you get away."
Merlin scrambled to his feet and picked his backpack up from where it had fallen off. "Why?" Merlin asked, confused as to why the blonde prince was letting him go.
"Why do you think? You saved my life, I owe you a debt. This is me repaying it. I'm letting you leave with your life, we're even now." Arthur got to his feet and shoved the boy into moving. "Now run. I'll direct the guards elsewhere, find your father and run."
"Thank you." Merlin told the blonde, before turning to run.
"Next time I won't let you go." Arthur yelled after the boy.
A large city, one of Camelot's main trading cities with Mercia, was where they settled next. The pair worked together, performing in the streets as Players, performing illusions, acrobatic tricks and shows to entertain the people and earn money off of them. They stayed there for two years, but on Merlin's 15th birthday, the King's men turned up, led once again by a blonde boy of 17 years. As Balinor bartered for two horses, Merlin watched from the shadows as Prince Arthur searched with his men for the last Dragon Lord and his son. The father and son were long gone by the time the King's men found the buyer who sold them horses and told them of the pair. Merlin didn't need to see or hear the men and Prince to know they were frustrated and pissed off.
They were in the village for a night when Arthur and one of his knights appeared in the inn where they were staying. The pair sat down and ordered food and wine, while Merlin and Balinor sat in the corner, trying not to draw attention to them. There was no way for them to go up to their room without walking right past the Camelot Prince, so they were stuck.
Balinor got up and managed to get to the bar without being caught, he stood there and talked with the bartender, aware that Merlin by himself may not be recognised. Merlin was watching the pair in red capes talk and laugh and eat. The knight said something then buried his face into the tankard in front of him, drinking down the ale inside. Merlin froze with fear as the Prince looked in Merlin's direction and locked eyes with him. Arthur lowered his head once, in a sort of bow/nod thing and then jerked his head to Balinor, then the stairs, an obvious message to get out of there.
Merlin did so, climbing the stairs quickly, aware his father would follow in a few minutes to avoid suspicion. The pair planned their next route, and agreed to take turns sleeping. In the middle of the night, when Merlin was sitting up while his father slept, he let his mind relax and all the questions in his head clambered for attention. One stood out from the most. Why did Arthur let them go?
The pair continued to run from the soldiers, always managing to stay one step ahead, moving from town to town when the red-caped men caught up to them. The Prince would always be a part of the chase, the one to get closest to catching them, but he never seemed to succeed.
After Merlin had turned 17, and the pair had settled in an isolated cave as their new home, Balinor had called Merlin inside from where he had been fishing in the nearby stream.
"Merlin, I need to talk to you."
"Father? What's wrong?" Merlin asked, seeing the pain and sadness in his father's face.
"I need to tell you about a prophecy. It is to do with you and the Prince Pendragon. You may not like what you are going to hear."
"If it is what I need to hear, I will listen."
"There is a prophecy, from the druids, that talk of a warlock name Emrys, and the Once and Future King."
On the eve of Merlin's 18th birthday, they were ambushed by the Camelot knights and their Prince. The father and son were surrounded, but they refused to give up. They both fought, pulling their swords out and blocking the attacks. Merlin didn't stop to think, spun and cut and blocked without a moment's hesitation, using his father's lessons to fight for his life. A pained cry from Balinor caused Merlin to spin to see his father hunched over in pain, clutching at his stomach where blood was gushing out.
"Father!" Merlin cried out, eyes flashing with gold as he shoved everyone away. All the knights fell to the ground, all unconscious. Merlin ran to his father and knelt by the man's collapsed form.
"My son," Balinor rasped, gripping Merlin's hand. "Listen to me, I don't have long. Remember what I told you, about the Prophecy. Go to Camelot, find Gaius, tell him of me and to prove you are my son, tell him 'Kilgharrah was wrong only once, when he said Gaius would never become court physician'. He will understand then. Tell him everything and trust him, he will help you join the Rebellion and overthrow Uther."
"I promise. I will do everything possible to see it throw, until the Once and Future King is on the throne and we are free, father." Merlin vowed, knowing there was no way to save his father.
"I am proud of you, my son, and I know Hunith would be too." Balinor gasped.
"I love you, father."
"Mer-lin," Balinor's eyes slipped shut and he grew still. Merlin stood and his eyes flashed gold. The knights were all transported to the side, near the trees, all still unconscious. A grave appeared in the ground and Balinor was lowered gently into it. Within seconds the man was buried in the ground, a stone tombstone engraved above his final resting spot.
"Good bye father, I'll do all I can to make the prophecy come true." Merlin vowed, before heading back into their cave where they'd been living. He packed up the important things; books, herbs, healing lotions, food, water and a wooden dragon that Balinor carved for Merlin. He then left, making sure to erase his tracks, leaving the knights and the blonde Prince behind.
TBC
Please review! And I'm sorry for killing Balinor, but it had to happen, I am sorry :(
