And another one :P little Merlin is soooo cute

enjoy -Penny

Why am I different?

Merlin sat on an upturned bucket and glowered at the the other village children playing in the nearby fields. They didn't like him, they'd told him so. He was too clumsy, too goofy and strange things tended to happen around him.

Merlin wanted to hate them but he merely felt lonely. He wanted to play with the other children. He sighed heavily and scuffed a booted toe in the dirt. He knew it was his magic that made them dislike him.

Magic was frowned on in Ealdor. It was not as bad as other places. In some you could be executed for practising magic. Merlin wished he could just be like all the other children, normal.

"Hey look!"

Merlin cringe instinctively at the loud shout. He knew it was Eliot Merns and his gang. Eliot was three whole years older than Merlin's seven summers. Looking up he found himself face to face with the older boy.

Eliot was tall for his age with shocking red hair and a foul temper to match. His four other fiends closed in making a semi-circle around Merlin.

Eliot lent in, "Well, well look what I've found. If it isn't big ears Merlin himself." he turned laughing to his friends, "Fly away little Merlin, if those big ears of yours will carry you."

Merlin's ears flushed with anger and the little boy leaped to his feet, "Shut your mouth!"

Eliot laughed again, "Is little Merlin growing a backbone?" he asked with a sly grin.

At his sides Merlin's hands clenched into fists as he shook, "Go away Eliot," he snapped.

Eliot's grin faded to a scowl and he gave the thin weedy boy in front of him a hard shove. Merlin toppled and fell backwards landing on his bottom. All at once the seven year old let out a piercing wail.

Eliot and his friends took a few steps back and glanced worriedly at each other.

As it happened Merlin's mother Hunith had come looking for Merlin and saw the group of boys and Merlin crying on the ground. Enraged she stormed over, "What in the king's name are you doing?"

Eliot froze, everyone in Ealdor knew Hunith's temper. The young boy scuffed a foot and peered intently at the ground, "Nothing," he mumbled, "We was just playing."

Hunith fixed him with a sharp glare, "Well you'd better be getting on Eliot Merns your mother wants those mushrooms by supper time."

Eliot nodded shakily not wanting in incur Hunith's wrath. He gestured to his friends and the took off at a run sending up a cloud of dust in their wake.

Hunith sighed and knelt down, "What happened this time?"

Merlin wiped his nose on his sleeve and scampered into her outstretched arms, "They hate me," he wailed.

Hunith wrapped her arms around him, "Well they're just a group of pigheaded idiots," she soothed.

"Its not just Eliot," Merlin sniffed, "None of the other children want to play with me either."

Hunith sighed again, "I'm sure that's not true."

"They think I'm too clumsy. I always fall over and give them away."

Hunith hugged him tighter, "I'm sure you'll find some friends of your own. You have a charming personality, always ready to help. Your kind and considerate." she wiped Merlin's tears away with her thumb and set him on his feet, "Come on, lets go home."

Merlin took her hand and nibbled his thumb. Would anyone really want to be friends with the clumsy oaf? And what about the magic? If he did make friends and they found out they would hate him for sure."

Hunith ruffled his raven coloured hair, "Don't worry so."

"I'm not," Merlin protested.

Hunith arched an eyebrow in amusement, "Oh really?"

"Really," Merlin stated firmly but a smile was threatening to destroy his pout.

Hunith's hands shot out and tickled Merlin's sides. Merlin squealed and wriggled out of her arms giggling, "Nu-uh gotta catch me!" he shouted over his shoulder speeding off towards their little cottage.

Hunith laughed and followed him at a more sedate pace. One day Merlin would have friends that would accept him and his magic as they came.