I'm back here with the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only my OCs and this storyline.

Hope you enjoy.

Rebellion

Dearest Hunith,

It has been far too long my friend since I last read your words, and even longer since I've heard your voice. I received your letter this morning, which will be a day ago when you read this. I'm glad to hear that Merlin is doing well and not getting into too much trouble. Keep him away from the fire. He seems too curious about it.

Things are going well here. My lodgers are well and so am I. We had a new visitor come to us about a week ago. He isn't like the others, normal in a sense. I'd guess that he's a little older then Merlin. He's recovering from an ailment but will soon be back on his feet.

Maybe they will meet someday, Merlin and the boy. I feel that they will. Merlin's future will not be complete without him. Destiny will not be fulfilled. It seems I have met both sides of the coin now. One day you will as well. I am sure.

We're off to the market today to sell the pots I've made. Should be a good trip to get out of the house. I hope all is still well with you and Ealdor. I miss it and you so much. Give Merlin a kiss from me.

Your dear friend,

Joone

I rolled up the short letter and tied it with a little piece of string I had lying around. Then I tucked it into the pocket of my jacket. I tightened the scarf around my head.

"Are you all ready?" I asked, looking at the others. Jasper was still having a hard time with his cloak.

"Oh let me." Aida smacked his hands away and tied the knot herself. I saw his cheeks flush when she closed the space between them and I secretly smiled to myself. They're both seventeen now. I guess it's about that time. I was about there age when Magnus came falling out of the sky.

"Can I ride on the cart?" A small voice asked beside me.

Arthur had his hood up so that it was blocking his face. I laughed and knelt down in front of him, pushing it back so he could see. "The cart is full of the pots we're going to sell at the market today. There won't be room for you."

He looked disappointed but didn't complain any further. He had spent a week with us now and was almost completely healed. Over that time he had become used to the way we lived around here. We didn't give orders and we treated everyone with respect, as equals.

"Come on." I took his hand. "We better hurry or we'll miss the rush."

The market was in the next town over. It wasn't too long of a walk. Aida and Jasper had been wishing for this moment for a very long time but now they looked hesitant and nervous. I took hold of Aida's hand and squeezed lightly. Together we walked out the front door.

Our small cart was filled with my pots. I had been working late into the night so we would have enough to sell to get the money we needed for food. Jasper took the handle of the cart. It was small enough for one person to pull. I told him I would do it but he insisted, saying he would be representing the man of the house.

I hurried over to the messenger who was about to ride out. Eadlor was on his route so I handed him my letter. He gave me a smile and was on his way.

We had prepared the night before incase anyone asked questions. The story would be that Jasper, Aida, and Arthur are all orphans who have come to stay with me because they have nowhere else. A lie laced with truth is easier to tell convincingly. If they asked how they became orphaned then we decided on a fire for Jasper, a collapsing house for Aida, and illness for Arthur. We also shortened Arthur's name to Art so no one would become suspicious.

We were leaving for the market quite early in the morning so we would arrive when it was just beginning. I needed time to set up my stall as well. After a short time we could finally see the town in the distance. Our legs ached and we sighed with relief.

"I can't go any further." Arthur complained. He was still getting back on his feet, so I scooped him into my arms and he wrapped his short arms around my neck.

"You look tired Jasper." Aida noticed. "I'll help." She took hold of the handle of the cart next to him.

"Really I can do it." Jasper insisted.

"Don't try to act macho. You can't pull it off anyways." She laughed. "You're sweating like a hog and these pots are quite heavy."

"Sorry." I called over to them.

"Don't even try to argue." Aida spoke before Jasper could find a good rebuttal. "I'm just as strong as you. Anyways, you look like you're about to run yourself into the ground."

"Fine." He finally gave in and moved over slightly so Aida could get a good grip on the cart.

We arrived just as customers were beginning to show up. Our stall wasn't up more then a few minutes before the street was packed with people trying to buy and sell. People yelled over the crowd to be heard and to convince people to buy their merchandise. Aida used her loud voice to attract attention, which in any other situation I would have forbidden, but this was the market and it had been four years since anyone had seen Jasper and Aida's faces. No one would recognize them, not here. Arthur was only four and, because of his paranoid father, barely anyone knew what he looked like, the only upside to this situation. He stuck close to my side the whole time, suspicious of everyone who passed by, everyone who bought one of my pots.

We were down to our last couple pots when it happened. The first we knew about it were shouts from the far side of the crowd that filled the market. My head shot up and looked over the top of the crowd but could see nothing yet. People became agitated, moving this way and that as the shouts forced them out of the road to make way for whatever or whoever was coming through. Many people fled the market when they saw what was coming. Others froze and for a moment everything became silent.

My heart almost stopped when I saw what the horses were pulling along behind them. Two large cages, but the cages weren't empty. They were full. We heard the cries coming from within. Some people covered their ears or the ears of their children as they turned them away so they would not see. Instinctively I pulled Arthur close to me, turning his face away.

"What's happening?" He whispered.

I was too shocked to answer him. Never had I seen them take so many at one time. They must have found one of their camps in the woods and taken as many as they could. The ones who struggled and fought too much…I don't want to think about what might have happened to them. Those caught had lost hope, their mud smeared faces stared out at the rest of us.

The first cage was full of the elderly and some young men and woman. It's when the second cart pulled in that the shouting and yelling began. The shouting moved through the crowd as the cage made its way down the road. Under the cover of the uproar I quickly turned to Jasper and Aida. Their eyes were wide with fear.

"You cannot stay here." I told them, handing Arthur's little hand to Jasper. "Take Arthur and find a safe place to hide."

"What about you?" Aida stepped forward.

"I'm going to stay. I'll find you when this all dies down and we'll all go home together." I promised.

"We're not leaving you." Aida began to cry. I pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Shhh, my songbird." I whispered in her ear. "Your tears aren't going to help anyone. Now go." I pushed her away.

They hesitated, even Arthur looked like he didn't want to just leave. "Go!" I said sternly, giving them a little push. They were swallowed by the crowd. I saw their fearful faces disappear from sight and I hoped they'd be safe. I would have gone with them but I had to know what was happening here.

I pushed my way to the front of the crowd just as the second cage was going by. My hands flew to my mouth and I heard a few women around me begin to scream. Mothers clung to their children more fiercely as if to protect them.

"Murderers!" Someone shouted.

"Slaughterers!" Another one yelled.

A woman stumbled forward out of the crowd and grabbed one of the soldier's arms. Her eyes were filled with tears. "Please." She wept. "Please, they're only children. What bad have they done?"

The soldier shoved her away, roughly pushing her to the ground. Without a word he returned to his place along side the wagons. He may not have had any words but the rest of us had many.

"Children killers!"

"Let them go!"

"You should be in the cages, not them!"

"They're only children!"

"What harm have any of them done?"

The loudest of the voices were the protestors but I'm sure somewhere in the crowd there was someone who believed that what was happening here was just and for good reason.

Soldiers walked along side the wagons, sword and spear in hand, to prevent anyone from getting close. They were also cautious, if one of the prisoners should happen to escape. None of these people were powerful sorcerers. They all looked so weak and small.

One of the women next to me fell to her knees and wailed, her friend knelt down beside her to try and calm her crying. Others in the crowd shouted insults at the soldiers, who appeared unfazed.

"They're mad." Another woman next to me spat.

One of the wheels of the second cart hit a rock, jostling everyone inside. One of the women was thrown against the bars. A young man leaned over to try and help her. Her pale face turned to look out over the crowd and I nearly fainted as I saw her mournful, hopeless, familiar eyes. Her dark hair was matted and it fell over her face, but I knew her.

Before I knew what I was doing, I ran forward, dodging the soldiers who grabbed for me. I spun on my nimble feet to avoid the hands that reached out to pull me back. The rest of the crowd seemed to fall silent then, watching me do my dance toward the cages. The woman saw me coming and she reached out through the bars toward me.

"Lavania!" I called her name as I clasped her hand.

"Joone." She cried pulling me in closer to the bars so she could speak quickly to me in private. We didn't have much time; soon the soldiers would be upon us. Lavania swiftly took a small folded piece of paper from her pocket and stuffed into my hand. "Please take this quickly. Deliver it to my brother."

Others in the cage leant forward and stuffed more paper into my hands to deliver to their loved ones. I took them all, hiding them in my pockets before the soldiers could see. My eyes connected one last time with Lavania's before I was roughly torn away from her. My fingers slipped from her hand. Her arm still reached out for me as tears stained her cheeks, making tracks through the dirt and mud that covered her skin.

"No!" I screamed, trying to get back to her. "Lavania!"

One of the soldiers hit me hard in the gut to silence me. That set off the crowd as men and women ran forward to pull me away from them. The people outnumbered the soldiers, but they were skilled with their swords and spears. The most the people were able to do was gain a small victory by saving me.

"You're alright." A woman took me into her arms as I cried. I buried my face into her shoulder. Her embrace was that of a mother's. But I wouldn't be all right. I would never all right again. The crowd followed behind the wagons as they made their way through the city. Just on the edge, before they left the wagons stopped for a moment.

One of the soldiers stepped forward. He had an air of authority about him, probably a knight, most loyal to the king. Nobility. Always thinking they're higher and better then the rest of us. He cleared his throat.

"People, this world has been plagued by magic for too long. King Uther is wise and has finally taken action against the vile creators." He spoke loudly. "Stand behind your king and declare the vermin that inhabit your very town."

The people were silent for a moment. They looked around to see if anyone would speak. No one did, then an elderly man stepped forward, a young woman held his arm to support him.

"I declare…" He began. Everyone held their breaths. He razed his bony finger and pointed it straight at the knight. "You. I declare you."

"How dare you." The knight looked insulted. "I am no sorcerer."

"No." The old man's voice was gravely. "But you're the only vermin I see here."

The crowd roared in approval. "Silence!" The knight bellowed, but could barely be heard above the crowd.

It was the sound of marching feet and the whinnying of horses that finally silenced the town's people. Out of the woods behind the two wagons came what seemed like an army, but not that big, all wearing the same red of Camelot. The people backed away and the knight from before smiled maliciously.

"This isn't the first time this town has rebelled." He stated. "We were going to give you one last chance to follow your king but it seems you have cast that chance aside. We have our orders."

One of the men atop the horses that came from the woods whistled very loudly, signaling to the rest of his men. The order had been sent out and now nothing could stop them. They marched on the town with torches and swords.

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!

I was watching "La Rafle" and it inspired this chapter.

I'm trying to finish up as quick as I can so I can start writing "The Old Mother". Part 4 of the teaser will be at the end of this story.

Hope you keep following and see you next time.