MERLIN – CONTACT

AN: This is the second chapter of the fic. This chapter focuses on Merlin's upbringing. This is FemMerlin like I warned at the start so if you don't like then you don't have to read. If there's trouble imagining what Merlin looks like then just see the AN at the bottom and I'll describe her as best I can. But if you need more detail then just read the description of her from my fic 'Merlin The Dragon Calls' :) This will continue in another chapter, but only if I get reviews that ask for another one. Reviews are very much loved. So enjoy.

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Compared to Arthur, Merlin was indeed more used to being touched. No shrugging of the shoulder when someone lays their hand on it. No swatting arms away when someone reaches for a hug.

When she used to live in Ealdor, Merlin received a kiss on the cheek from her mother and a hug or two from her friend William every day. The good types of contact. The types that would warm the body when cold, or cheer up the heart when sad. Most children in the village were allowed to wander away and trusted to come back at nightfall. Merlin was smothered. She couldn't stray far from her mother's sight. Not just because Merlin was one of the only children born an only child and her mother was over-protective, although that was true. It was also because the young girl was special.

Being born with magic was obviously a challenge for her, but it was more of a challenge for Hunith. Merlin, being naïve and young, didn't know that when she made fire cover the surface of the table or make objects hover above her cot at night with a flash of golden irises wasn't normal behaviour. Well, it was for a child born the daughter of a Dragon Lord, but others weren't to know that. Magic wasn't technically outlawed in Cendred's Kingdom. Yet with their king's mutual allegiance with the magic hating ruler of Camelot, Hunith couldn't take any chances of anyone finding out about Merlin, in fear of being reported and Cendred handing her over to Uther.

Like any child is/should be raised, their mother showers them with love every minute of the day and only uses harsher actions when needed, like when the child wanders off and leaves the mother worried or when the child loses or breaks something valuable that the mother can't replace. Merlin was treated no differently. Well, treated as normally as possible without a father.

Things that a mother's presence subconsciously teaches her child are love and appreciation, admiration, belief and spirituality, personality, respect, safety and protection.

Things that a father's presence subconsciously teaches his child are beauty, humility, health, strength and defence, modesty, management, coordination, patience, generosity and authority.

Despite all the lessons of life that she missed out on due to the absence of a father, Merlin managed to master and balance them all quite easily by preferring the company of boys during the day, and coming home to her mother in the evenings. The only thing that could not be changed was the girl's coordination. Merlin was naturally clumsy. Sometimes it was even dangerous, both to her and to the fellow Ealdor dwellers.

From her generation born mostly boys, Merlin basically leant to act like a boy, without forgetting her real identity. She found breeches more comfortable to run and climb in then dresses. Her mother would cut her blonde hair before it would get too long, to just above the shoulders. Other little girls of the village would braid eachother's long hair and decorate it with ribbons and flowers while giggling and blushing at watching the boys ride horses and fight eachother, sometimes shirtless. Merlin never understood what was so great about what the boys were doing that made her fellow girls like that. But apparently what she was doing differently to the girls, the boys didn't find attractive.

Now a woman rearing her only daughter on her own was of course frowned apart. Despite out of an unquestioned force to help any single woman who needs it during pregnancy and childbirth, the other women still had their opinions about Hunith.

A woman who laid down with a travelling man, who got what he was after and then left her pregnant.

A woman who was the victim of an incubus' attack in the night, and was doomed to bare its demon child.

A lonely woman so desperate for male company and slept around, and in the end not knowing which of her suitors was her baby's father. In other words, a whore.

The peasant woman never wanted her own bad reputation to touch her daughter, and aside from the magic, she knew her baby was special. A miracle. A blessing. A physical symbol of the love she shared with another.

Despite the rumours, Hunith still had friends. That's how Merlin knew Will.

His mother, Madison had William a year or so before Merlin's birth. Hunith and Madison thought it best to let their children meet 'in the time fate decides', rather than introduce them. Although Ealdor was a small village, the two didn't actually meet until Will was five and Merlin had just turned four.

Merlin, unlike the other children, had learnt how to walk and talk much earlier than average. Whether it was the influence of magic, no-one would know. But that just gave the elders of the village another reason to avoid her.

The only one apart from Hunith and Madison, who didn't look through narrowed eyes at Merlin, was William. Being young and innocent, Merlin didn't fully understand the concept of good and bad people. 'Bad' were most of the children in the village. She had been approached by five slightly older boys on her way home from the well. They started teasing her about her clothes and how her mother had made the mistake of not drowning a twisted thing like her at birth. Harsh words cut through the defenceless and unsuspecting toddler deeply. She had the chance to use her magic that was desperately trying to burst out and teach these bullies a lesson, yet she knew she couldn't. So instead she did what any other child would have done in that situation out of instinct to be heard and protected. She cried, loudly.

Next thing the boys knew they were being pushed around and insulted from behind by a scruffy, mousey-haired lad telling them how picking on someone weaker than them does not make them appear strong, and that they should go stand in the barn where they belong with the rest of the pigs.

Despite his bravery, the thugs did go away, not before punching Will in the stomach and clobbering him round the head, making him falling forward onto the hard, dusty road. Merlin instantly liked him, and thanked Will before helping him into her mother's hut, saying that the 'brave boy saved her life with stupidity'. Hunith only chuckled and got a bowl of water prepared to clean the brave yet stupid boy's cuts while thinking to herself 'well it's about time!'

Merlin and Will were next to inseparable after that. And with close friendship, came the ever increasing number of hugs and cuddles per day.

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AN: Hoped you like this. There will be a bit more on Merlin's life in Ealdor in another chapter coming soon if you want. Then it'll focus on Arthur and Merlin where we know them to be :P Anyway, for more of a description of Merlin, here it goes: Merlin is an small, thin, girl with pale skin, ocean-y/summer sky eyes and very blonde hair (so blonde that it could appear gold in sunlight, and could pass as almost white in moonlight kind of thing). Her features aren't masculine, nor elf-like. Just think of it like a stunning beauty that if dresses right, could pass as a young pretty boy. She wears tunics and breeches and talks quite proper for a peasant, if with a slight village girl accent. The last few points are for later and this description is for a more older Merlin than in this chapter so just remember this for when I go forward in time :) Reviews are much appreciated. Just tell me what you think by clicking that lovely blue button below :D