Prompts: Greenswood

Summary: Merlin finds a bird of prey while gathering herbs

Bob's Your Merlin

Merlin set off before dawn with a large basket and several burlap sacks. Arthur was away on a hunting trip with Uther. That meant Gaius would give him extra chores to keep him busy.

Merlin's first chore was to gather herbs and medicinal plants for Gaius. He had the list in his pocket along with an apple, if he got hungry.

Merlin trudged through the thick grass and spotted a plant on the list. He made his way over to it and found a large bird sitting under it with a broken wing.

"Hello there." Merlin said to the bird. He lifted it up and put it in the basket out of the dirt. He looked the bird over for other injuries. "You're a merlin like me."

Merlin covered the bird with one of the sack so it wouldn't be afraid and headed back down to Gaius' chambers.

Gaius looked up as Merlin come through the door. "What are you doing back so soon? You shouldn't be back for hours."

"I found something." Merlin put the basket on the table and carefully lifted the sack. "Or should I say someone."

Gaius came over and looked at the bird. "That's a merlin. Where did you find it?"

"In the greenswood under a bunch of mugwort. He has a broken wing. Can you help me heal him?" Merlin asked.

"Yes of course but he most likely belongs to someone. He is a bird of prey used by some for small game. Does he have a tether attached to him? It would have the crest of the owner on it."

"No. There was nothing on him. So people use these birds like hunting dogs?" Merlin scowled. "That doesn't seem right. They are birds not dogs."

"They can be trained to hunt and are very valuable if it's done well. Uther has two such birds. They are falcons not merlins. This one seems too young to be one of his." Gaius said. "I don't think he has a taken them with him on his trip with Arthur either. Go fetch the bandages and two small sticks. Straight ones! You are going to splint his wing."

Merlin nodded and gathered everything. "Now what?"

"Just do as I say. Then you will have to catch him something to eat. A rat out of the barn should do nicely."

"I have to catch a rat?" Merlin squished up his nose. "That is gross. Why can't we just give him some stew?"

"He's a bird of prey not a human. Besides there isn't any meat in the stew this time." Gaius said.

Merlin gave Gaius a look of disappointment. "No meat?"

"You will survive." Gaius chuckled. "Let's get him fixed up then we have to figure out what to do with him when he's well."

"That's easy. Give him to Arthur. That way I can make sure he is treated well." Merlin said.

"I see you have thought this through on the way to our chambers." Gaius grinned. "He will need a name. What shall we call him?"

"Bob." Merlin said with a grin.

"Bob?" Gaius looked at Merlin expecting more of an explanation.

"He looks like a Bob. Arthur will probably change it anyway." Merlin shrugged.

Six months later, Arthur and Merlin were in the greenswod hunting, Bob was flying overhead with a rabbit dangling from his talons.

"Damn it Bob! Stop playing and bring me the rabbit." Arthur yelled into the air. He punched merlin in the arm.

"What was that for?" Merlin rubbed his arm.

"I can't reach one merlin so I hit the one I can reach." Arthur growled.

Just then Bob dropped the dead rabbit on Arthur's head then landed on a limb behind Merlin.

Merlin laughed. "I swear. I didn't teach him that."