Douxie was living a dream come true. Not very long ago, Merlin rescued him from being executed in the street. It was a terrifying start regardless of how it ended. Since then Archie and Douxie had been living with the great Merlin. Most of the time he was nothing but a grouchy old man but with life so far for the two strays. The old man was heaven in comparison.
So far they did not want for food or warmth. Training had not exactly started yet but Merlin made sure to keep the pair busy while he worked during the day. Archie thought the chores were to distract them while Douxie thought training had already begun. As far as Archie was concerned, if they had a place to sleep, it did not matter what they did. Right now they were safe.
After a few days of pondering on Merlin's part, he gave Douxie a test of sorts. It was very difficult since Douxie could not do most of the things Merlin could do. He did not have a wand and he could not move things with his mind. His reading was poor at best and his handwriting was nonexistent. It was a skill hard to master while on the street and on the run.
He had a vague idea what letters were suppose to look like and had memorized some from the streets. Sometimes just matching a word to picture off a sign did wonders. Merlin seemed disappointed about all the areas his new apprentice was lacking. Douxie was clumsy and had no clue what his own magic was capable of. From what Merlin could sense from the boy, he shone so bright. How to drag out this talent was another story.
Another day or two had Douxie doing chores and reading lessons. Apparently the book keeper owed Merlin a few favors so he would be Douxie's teacher. The rest of his day was filled with menial tasks that he was happy to do for the old wizard. He would wake up early and sit and eat with his new guardian.
After he ate, he was to report for reading lessons. The amount of information the boy consumed was jaw dropping. He devoured the letters in a matter of weeks and was beginning to pick up other languages as well. When questioned, he admitted to knowing some of several languages from his travels. So languages and reading were his morning duties.
The lessons alone were exhausting and most of the others tasks were simple. Such as cleaning Merlin's tower or delivering medicine for his master. His master would have him memorize what each medicine was, what it was for, and who he would be delivering it too before he would let him out of his sight.
The transition to teaching was so subtle that they were well on their way by the time either Archie or Douxie knew what was happening. Another chore was added today that was a little boring. Reading was exciting for Douxie and he was quick. Merlin should have known it would be easy because of the runes the young one used, but writing was not the only skill of a wizard.
As Merlin lead Douxie to some stables far away from the horse. He explained one of the new chores to him. The slorr was a temperamental creature that did not allow many to approach it. Unfortunately it's milk was use for many spells and basic alchemy so it was vital to collect it. Douxie swore that Merlin looked amused as he watched his apprentice struggle to milk the creature.
Merlin watched straight faced as Douxie managed to get some milk from the slorr. He explained the process of getting it would be Douxie's job everyday from now on before he came back for deliveries in the mornings. A little disheartened, Douxie agreed to his new task and the two went up for some lunch.
Mealtimes were usually quiet affair except for supper. Lunch was more of a break for both master and apprentice. Usually prepared and enjoyed in silence either separate or together depending on Merlin's schedule. Sometimes Merlin was so involved in his magic, he completely forgot to eat lunch and Douxie had to have a small lunch of cheese and bread.
Not today though. Since his chores were being added to, Merlin was spending the whole day with him, aside from his morning lesson which went as usual. It was very exciting but a little scary to see Merlin waiting for him at the end of lesson. He then told him why today would be different than the last few weeks.
That's when he was taken to the slorr and that was not really a lesson so much as a figure it out type of moment. When Merlin explained it, he said working with magical creatures was something the young boy would get more use to with time. Lunch today is leftover stew from the night before and some bread.
Even with the smell of the creature on him, Douxie and Archie always ate like they were both animals instead of just one of them. Merlin was working on some manners but those kind of habits take time. Douxie did the cleanup himself as Merlin's apprentice. It was his job after all. Merlin got down a book from the shelf while the young man finished cleaning.
Curiously, the boy peeked over his masters shoulders and saw pictures. Some of the words were easy to read because of his lessons while others were completely out of his league. He also did not realize until Merlin pointed it out but there were several languages being written on one page. His afternoon chore was to gather herbs and special stones to cast spells.
For the next hour, Merlin went over some of the most common plants found in the kingdom and what they were for. He told Douxie he was to read this book in the mornings and gather after lunch. After some reading they went out. Merlin was discussing more about the plants as they walked in the woods near the castle.
It took quit some time to go over all the areas he wanted to cover today but Merlin and Douxie made good time. Now that the apprentice knew how to gather the herbs, he would do this every day as well although what kind he gathered was dependent on what Merlin told him was running low that day.
All herbs had to be approved by Merlin before they were dried. This was mostly so the young man would not poison anyone in the castle. Now the gathering was over and the two collected lunch from the common area downstairs with the knights.
Merlin did not like coming down here to gather his meal but Douxie could not bring it to him. The kitchen staff or any of the knights did not recognize the boy yet. Likely he would need to send him out on more deliveries so nobody killed him thinking him an assassin.
Douxie was very outspoken with his instructors but very shy around new people. Likely to protect himself from discovery but here he was safe. The idea was not fully ingrained in his mind but only time would heal that particular scar. For now he hid behind his teacher and meekly accepted the tray from the kitchen staff with a quick look from Merlin.
Accepting his own, he ushered the boy toward the exit when he was stopped by Lancelot. This is the main reason he did not like coming here. The food was good but everyone wanted to talk to him. In his youth, when he did not have as much to do, it was a welcome distraction. Now that he's older, it was just a distraction.
Merlin could feel his apprentice getting tenser and tenser as he attempted to fuse with the back of Merlin's robes, where he had not moved from since coming in here. Lancelot chattered away unaware of the stress building behind the wizard. If not for the tray, one would be hard-pressed to see the young man.
Well all the stress was bound to go somewhere. Merlin watched as a light fixture on the other side of the room gave way under seemingly it's own weight. Everyone's eyes turned to where it fell on the table. Knowing the cause of the fall was standing behind him, Merlin took the distraction to make a hasty retreat.
Safe in the tower again, Douxie untangled himself from his teachers robe with an apologetic smile. Not one to take apologizes, Merlin waived it off with a sigh and they finished their meal. After Supper was free time for both apprentice and master.
Douxie usually spent his time with Archie in his room and rarely went out to explore. Honestly Douxie was afraid to go to far right now. The whole situation still felt like a dream to him. He worried if he got to far away, someone would recognize that he did not belong here and kick him out or worse, decide to execute him.
Merlin suspected this but could not be sure. One thing he is though is patient. Today would be the first day of a new routine. Once Douxie got use to a routine, the child would come out of his shell more. After all, they had all the time in the world to get use to the new arrangement.