Merric's Troubles:
Disclaimer: It's amazing how my name isn't Tamora Pierce and yet I like to play with her characters. Too bad that I only own Eriko and her family but what are you going to do when all you have is an overactive imagination and proudly make no money from this.
A/N: The wheels were turning and here's a Christmas present to you readers. Merry Christmas!
It hurts. To have her laugh at him and then say that. Rejection definitely hurts, although, Merric can't deny that he was actually expecting it somewhere in the dark crevices of his mind. Turning in bed, Merric tried to get comfortable but couldn't sleep. Sitting up, Merric ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply.
But it did hurt, Merric thought again before lying down.
It's true to say that he's never felt this way about a girl, much less one as stubborn as Eri. She was spunky and lived her life by finding as many loop holes as she could, which made Merric like her even more. She wasn't confined by her role as a lady and it certainly didn't stop her from doing whatever she wanted. He could feel his heart flutter at the thought of her smile that he would say was her best feature.
Getting up, Merric looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn't that bad looking and he was handsome...at least that's what his mother told him when he saw her. He was in shape and built from all of that regular practices and it wasn't like he was short. Sure he wasn't as tall as Neal or Dom, hell even Owen was starting to get taller than him, but he still topped Eri by three inches. His hair was a nice dark red, at least a shade darker than Alanna's and it was tame at least, when it didn't decide to come out messy. Merric's eyes were a nice shade of blue, like the sea, as his mother would sa-
Enough with what mother says is nice, Merric scolded himself.
Yeah think about what the other ladies say about you, Merric heard his logic tell him.
Hmm... they did say I was handsome.
And lucky to have you court them, his logic added.
Yeah but...
But...
I want Eri to say that.
What?
Did you not hear her rejection at all tonight?
Well she did just end it with that other knight. So maybe she needs time to adjust, Merric thought hopefully.
Damn. I can't work like this when you're head over heels in love, his logic grumbled...grumbled?
I am, aren't I?
You are what?
I love her.
Hey it was just a figure of speech; you can't be in love yet.
Why not?
Because you idiot, you've just met her.
Yeah four months ago, Merric though sarcastically.
Really? Has it been that long already?
And you're my logic why?
I don't know. You're the one talking to yourself, you figure it out genius.
Realizing what had just happened Merric banged his head onto a nearby table.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Merric mumbled angrily to himself.
Trying to hit his head one last time, Merric's grip slipped from the table he was holding and fell forward instead.
"OW!" Merric half yelled, half hissed.
Rubbing his forehead, Merric stumbled his way back to his bed without another mishap and laid down.
vvvvvvvv
Merric wasn't happy the next morning when he got up. The day was looking gloomy as he looked outside at the many grey clouds. Already he had stubbed his toe, fell over a chair, and found a bruise on his forehead before getting changed. Standing in front of the mirror once more, Merric messed his hair to cover the bruise but only accomplished it making it look messier than it already was. Giving up, he left his rooms and headed towards the Mess Hall. Fumbling once more when he entered, Merric quickly grabbed his meal and sat down with Dom, Faleron, Kel, Eric, and Eri. Taking a seat by Dom, Merric cautiously looked up to catch Eri looking at him. Merric hoped that she had changed her mind but thought otherwise when he saw her trying to cover her giggles. Merric was actually glad when Eric pinched her to be quiet and probably told her not to stare because she quickly bowed her head. However, he groaned inwardly when he heard Faleron talk.
"Rough night Merric?" Faleron asked conversationally.
"You have no idea," he answered as Kel placed more fruits onto his plate.
Looking around he noticed that Neal, Seaver, Esmond, and Owen were nowhere to be seen. He was wondering where they were when Kel answered for him.
"Neal and Seaver left this morning on errands with Roald. Esmond and Owen are probably still asleep in their rooms."
"Thanks Kel."
"No problem, now eat your fruits before I shove them down your throat for putting them in your napkins."
Blushing sheepishly, Merric ate all of his fruits under Kel's watchful eye before she left him alone. Hearing chairs screech, Merric glanced up to see Eri leaving with Eric right behind her, red in the face. Catching Eric's gaze at Kel, Merric understood and gave him a nod of sympathy. Whether Eric saw it or not, Kel did and got up as well to leave.
"Girls," Merric muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Dom asked.
"Nothing. I'm done," with that said Merric picked up his tray and left Faleron and Dom behind.
Making his way back to his rooms, Merric changed into his practice clothes before heading towards the practice courts. Thinking that he would be alone, Merric almost wet his breeches when he saw Kai. Slowing down, Merric tried to make a hasty retreat when he heard Kai call out to him.
"Hey!" (Although it sounded more like a bark to him.)
"Um...yes?"
Watching Kai beckon him, Merric automatically obeyed but not before taking a staff with him.
Just in case I need to live, Merric thought nervously.
"Merric right?" Kai asked.
"Uh yeah," Merric squeaked.
"You want to be my sparring partner? All my friends are on duty right now," Kai inquired.
"Sure," Merric quipped but not before mentally smacking himself for agreeing.
That's it. I'm dead, Merric thought before readying himself in front of Kai.
Without a signal, Kai struck forward while Merric barely defended himself. He could barely get in a blow while Kai was furiously taking him down without effort or hurting him at all.
"Come on kid! Where's your training?" Kai barked.
Taking a chance, Merric struck back when Kai was talking and to give himself some room, Merric stepped back before trying to strike. They had a good run before Kai knocked Merric onto his back. Admitting defeat, Kai stuck his hand out and helped Merric up. Merric wavered a bit before sitting down, while Kai took their staffs and put it aside. Gathering his breath, Merric realized that Kai was studying with a hard gaze that made him feel like the world's smallest person.
"You've got a good defense but don't expect it to get you anywhere," Kai said finally.
"Huh?" Merric asked confused.
"You need to work on your offense instead of hiding behind that staff."
"I wasn't hiding behind the staff," Merric growled angrily.
Regretting his tone and choice of words, Merric grew afraid of what Kai could do to him but was surprised when Kai started to laugh. He was confused but was relieved that Kai didn't retaliate.
"I knew you had a temper in there somewhere," Kai told him.
"Uh, right."
"So my sister rejected you huh?"
"What? How did you- you're not going to kill me are you?"
Kai gave another bark of a laugh before speaking, "Kill you? Nah. Just wanted to scare the wits out of you...although now that you ment-"
"Never mind!"
They sat in silence again as both tried to gather their thoughts.
"So, uh, how did you hear about that?"
"Eric was there."
"Oh," Merric said wincing.
"Don't worry about it kid. You're not the first guy she reje-oh wait. No, no. Well...okay so you are the first guy she rejected," Kai thought aloud.
"Thanks for the boost of confidence," Merric spat.
"Look, it's her life, her decision. Frankly you're not very high on my list either but you're not half bad as some of the other guys that tried courting her, so cheer up."
"Does that mean I can court her?"
"If you didn't ask me the first time what makes you think I'll let you the second time?"
"Eh...hehe, sorry about that."
"Ki-Merric, I'm not going to lie to you and say I like you. I just don't want Eri to get hurt or lose focus. She's got a bright future ahead of her and if it turns out that you're the one who makes her take a detour, I'll tar and feather you. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Good."
Getting up, Kai dusted off his practice clothing and picked up his staff.
"Oh and by the way, try not to hide behind your staff."
"I don't hide!" Merric yelled out to but Kai just laughed him off.
vvvvvvvv
Neal and Seaver were walking around when they ran in Merric, who walked by in a daze. Neal wanted to go see Yuki but at Seaver's insisting they followed Merric around the city. Getting impatient of following, Neal ran up to Merric and scared him out of his thoughts. Catching up with them, Seaver noted the glare that Merric wore.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Merric spat.
"I don't get why you're mad when all I did was said hi," Neal commented.
"You jumped me from behind and screamed in my ear," Merric explained.
"Oh that? I thought you were Dom."
"I have red hair."
"So Merric, what are you doing out here?" Seaver asked before Neal could dig himself a deeper hole.
"Huh? I was just walking around," Merric said.
"Why?" Neal inquired.
"I don't know. Just needed to get out," Merric shrugged.
"Well then do you want to come eat with us at the Sunrise Tavern," Seaver invited.
Merric seemed to think about it for a minute before nodding his head and following them past the Armory shops, they entered a brightly colored tavern. Ordering their meal, Seaver and Neal told Merric about their morning before they realized that Merric was distracted again.
"And you wanted to stop him," Neal muttered.
"Before he walks to his death?" Seaver snorted and started to wave his hand in Merric's face.
"What?" Merric snapped.
"Is there something you would like to share with the class?" Neal joked.
"Why are girls so complicated?" Merric thought aloud before blushing at his own stupidity.
Seaver looked at Neal confused before he explained, "He got rejected by a girl."
Seaver made a small 'o' when he asked, "By who?"
"Lady Eriko of Heathercoves," Neal told him.
"The one with the dark hair and dark blue eyes? With the crazy brothers?" Seaver asked.
"That's the one. Although you have to remember that Eric is the normal one," Neal confirmed.
"When did this happen?" Seaver questioned Merric.
"Last night after dinner," Merric said tiredly.
"You mean she socked you?" Seaver asked.
"Huh?"
Merric looked up from his food to see Seaver pointing to his forehead.
"Nah, she just laughed and said she'd rather marry a Scanran than him," Neal spoke up before pointing to Merric's bruise, "That is a result of Mer-"
"I rammed my head against the table in my room," Merric explained cutting off Neal's remark.
"I'm not even going to ask," Seaver said.
"Anyways, why do you want to know that girls are complicated?" Neal asked Merric.
"I don't know. I mean there's nothing wrong with me is there? So why would she hate me?"
"Let's see...it could be because you called her tart," Neal quipped.
"You called her a tart?" Seaver questioned.
"Well it wasn't intentional," Merric muttered.
"But she's nice and sweet. Not to mention that she's comfortable to be with and she's very pretty as well," Seaver reasoned.
"I kn- hey! What are you trying to say?" Merric accused.
"I'm not going to court her if that's what you mean, besides it doesn't really matter seeing as how she rejected you anyways."
"Which is why I want to know what's wrong with me?"
"Did you even hear what I said?" Neal demanded.
"What? Oh right...I called her ta- Damn. I'm doomed to be alone forever aren't I?" Merric questioned before banging his head onto the table.
Neal and Seaver sat there a bit shocked, just watching Merric while shaking their own heads at him.
"How much ale did you give him?" Seaver whispered to Neal.
"Me? How much did you let him drink?" Neal retorted.
"Never mind, let's just take him back before he decides he'll die alone with five hundred cats."
"Five hundred cats? Where did you get that?" Neal questioned.
"It's something that people say back home when they declare they're going to die alone," Seaver explained.
By the time they got back to the Palace, Merric had become tired. Waving to the others, he made his way towards his rooms for a nap.
vvvvvvvv
At first Merric thought that it was his headache that was making all of the pounding noise but waking up, he heard Faleron yelling on the other side of the door. Getting up, he saw that his bruise has gotten bigger when he stretched in front of the mirror. Swearing, Merric tried once again to cover it before he opened the door.
"What do you want now?" Merric asked through a yawn.
"It's almost dinner, aren't you hungry?"
"Right. Dinner."
Following Merric, he closed the door behind him and they made their way to the Mess Hall. Wishing he was more awake, Merric groaned when he entered the bright Mess Hall. Gathering their food Merric and Faleron plopped themselves down at a table that Seaver was gesturing from. He felt someone stiffen automatically and looked to his right to see Eri. She didn't look at him but rather scooted to her right and into Eric. Even though the table was quiet, the room was noisy and Merric was embarrassed but it t was quiet enough that he heard Eric telling her to be nice. Eri sighed with defeat before Eric pushed her into him. The brief brush of their hands had Merric wishing that the ground beneath him would open up and swallow him while she was calm and normal. She didn't talk to him the whole evening but he could see the sympathetic glances directed at him from his friends. Eri actually left earlier than they did, excusing herself to go back to her room.
"Don't worry about it," Eric told him as soon as she was out of hearing distance.
"What do you mean?"
"I know Kai talked to you this morning."
"Uh yeah."
"He told you about his list, right?"
"Yeah."
"Eri's bright future?"
"Yeah."
"The detour?"
"Yeah."
"And the consequences of a detour?"
"Right."
"Look at it this way, you're getting closer," Eric told him with a smile.
"I am?"
"Sure. Now you just have to win over Eri, Mako, Matt, and my father. I'm sure my mother will like you right away but maybe you'll need to win her over too," Eric thought.
"Um. That many?"
"Well, it's two down and about five to go? Not that bad really. Well see you later."
Merric only nodded when he realized that he was the only one left at the table. Merric sat there to finish his meal before getting up and leaving. He wandered the halls for a bell or two just thinking. Sighing, Merric made his way back to his rooms to go to sleep. He became frustrated when he remembered that he was supposed to see Duke Baird when he felt something heavy in his pocket. Taking out the small container, Merric found a note attached to it. Curious, he opened the note and read it.
Even I'm not that heartless but you still have a long way to go.
-Eri
Opening the container, he noticed that it was full of bruise balm. Smiling, Merric used it before putting it away.
