Hi guys! Just so you are aware, I do not own Merlin or Grim Fandango ( which is the game the rhyme is from) but I would love to.
With bony hands I hold my partner
On soulless feet we cross the floor
The music stops as if to answer
An empty knocking at the door
It seems his skin was sweet as mango
When last I held him to my breast
But now we dance this grim fandango
And will four years before we rest.
Merlin remembered the rhythm well. It was what his mother used to say to him, after his sessions with his father and now, sitting in the damp darkness that was endless, he repeated it, over and over. Even with his voice hoarse from screaming; even when it eventually lost itself. Everyday he was dragged out, strapped to a table and tortured. Sometimes though he was strung up by his wrists and whipped to their hearts content; sometimes they beat him, others they did both. As his voice became quieter, Merlin could feel the madness enter his head and these words were a shield. They reminded his that his torture always ended, that he was always let out. The words were spoken as he was forced out of his home at the age of fifteen; a blessed feeling freedom that came with the words. So Merlin repeated them whilst in his mind, he begged and cried for his friends for Arthur to come and save him. To make him stop saying the words because if he stopped, it could only mean two things. He had either escaped,or he was dead.
Morgana was stood outside the prisoners cell. She had been very surprised that Merlin was this Raven and even more shocked when his shirt was removed. Pale scars almost covered his entire chest. Burn marks created a red skin under the white crosses that marked him. She had wondered for weeks now why he had those marks and sometimes, when she was tired, she wondered why she was adding to them. From the cell, Morgana could hear the words he always muttered when he was alone. She didn't know from where they originated nor did she know there meaning to Merlin. Looking through the small cell window ,that was too small to let any light in, Morgana could just see the outline of Merlin's frail body. It shook was a lot of force but was curled in on itself, making him seem smaller then he actually was. And for some reason, Morgana couldn't understand why a feeling of sadness washed over her.
The following morning, found Merlin, Morgana and a couple of guards outside in the heavy rain. All could hear Merlin's pained whimpers as the rain mashed into his damaged back. The guards through him roughly to the ground and laughed heartedly when the boy screamed loudly at the pain. They picked him up again and found his whimpers silenced. "Well Merlin, it has become obvious to me that you will not talk so I find myself left with no choice other than to kill you." She cried but, to her surprise, Merlin barely reacted. He lifted his head slowly, painfully, and just stared at her with tired eyes. Finding that she couldn't stare at his eyes to long, she turned her head to the makeshift gallows in front of her. Nodding, she watched in fascination as Merlin didn't struggle as he was harshly led towards his death. Morgana's mind stilled though as she heard a soft, broken voice softly sing :
With bony hands I hold my partner
On soulless feet we cross the floor
The music stops as if to answer
An empty knocking at the door
It seems his skin was sweet as mango
When last I held him to my breast
But now we dance this grim fandango
And will four years before we rest.