VI
Four winters pass and Merlin had long forgotten the encounter with the men and the child before them. At least that's what he told himself. Some nights he would wait just beneath the surface in case the boy or either of the men came back. But they never did. Merlin had all but given up, after reaching eighteenth year, his body had not aged a second later. He had more energy then ideas to compensate, which drove his poor mother crazy. The morning had started as normal, playing chase with the girls and carving pretty things in useful combs or jewellery. Then fading into a lazy lunch of white fish and eel.
Waking from his nap, he drowsily noticed a human male, maybe one or so winters older than his appearance, standing a fair distance from the water's edge. Merlin watched the girls swim past very miffed that their pretty faces or sweet voices couldn't entice him closer. Hiding amongst the reeds, the young Mer kept his head just above the surface to watch as the boy held out his arm and ignited the sun at his fingertips.
'Please, if you're out there Emrys, I need to know that you're safe.'
A plea sounds in his head and scanning the faces of the girls further out in the lake, he could see their confusion. Apparently they could hear the voice too, but more so that no one in the clan held such a name as Emrys. There was an Emillea amongst the girls, still the difference was too great to be a mistake.
The boy continued to visit the lake every day for a week with the same message. His persistence was honourable, but no one would, could answer his call. He stood in the rain and the winds, never faltering. Eventually Merlin become tired of waiting for this 'Emrys', and instead decided to get another close look at the light as he seen those years ago. The moment the boy saw Merlin he smiled and retracted the light. The Mer's face dropped instantly - well, that's boring. He spent all that effort swimming over here, but as he went to turn away a voice sounded too loudly in his head.
'Wait!' And Merlin clasped his hands over his ears hissing.
'I'm sorry, forgive me,' it asked sweetly, and Merlin wasn't sure he trusted all the laid behind the boy's smile.
The Mer curled in the shallow waters, allowing his fins to rub on the smooth stones below. While cool air tickled his wet skin. The air fumed with a pungent, familiar scent; and Merlin's eyes caught the glow of the sun piece on the lake's surface before looking up to meet that boy's unnerving gaze. He knows this human, recognises those colours in his eyes. From all those winters ago, it's the little child who wields sunlight.
Merlin lips fall open in shock just as the voice begins to speak in his head again.
'Hello little one, my name is Mordred...'
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