Another Merlin fic. I don't own it, BBC does though. This came to me after much reading of Merlin fanfiction. (I've become obsessed with Merlin fanfiction.) It will be slightly dark, not sure how dark, but there will be some violence and of course lots of smut, though that's later in the story. [sigh] I just love this pairing. Again I don't own these Merlin characters and be warned that this is a YAOI story, so don't read if you don't like that style.
Until Next Time
~Reiya
Chapter 6.
He was awoken by the sound of the door to the room closing. Jerking awake, he saw all four of them standing there, watching him. He gave a sigh and lay back down. They came over and sat around him, except for Gaius who went to his work bench and started to mix something.
"How are you?" Morgana asked him. A small smile curving her lips.
"Fine." He said softly, his voice steady and clear.
She nodded. "Do you want to talk or do you just want to lay there?" She asked him.
"You can ask questions if you want." He said, keeping his voice neutral. He did want to talk, but he knew that the questions they would ask were going to reopen an unhealed wound.
"Well we know who your, and where your from. But we wondered how exactly you got from there to here and than got caught in the trap, the one Arthur set up." Arthur had the grace to at least look kind of sorry, but he kept his eyes on Merlin.
"Let's see, how I got caught in the trap. I wasn't looking and stepped into it. How I got from home to here is still a blur, kind of, I remember some parts, others not so well."
"Than start from the beginning." Gwen said softly her voice gentle, knowing somehow that this was going to be hard.
Nodding he started. "It about ten years ago. We had just gotten the harvest in…"
"Merlin, I need you to go out and get some more wood. We're going to need it for winter."
He nodded to her, grabbing the small hatchet by the door.
Soon he was out of the village, running over newly harvested fields and along dusty trails. Now that the rainy season was over, things had started to dry up. He ran through the woods, excited to be able to get away from his chores long enough to have fun.
Deciding to practice a little bit, he headed for the clearing he'd found the other day. Upon arrival, he let a whistle out, the high pitched notice echoing through the forest. A few minutes later, a shadow detached itself out from under a large bush.
He smiled at the small wolf that came towards him. He befriended it a year ago when he'd helped it after it had gotten hurt. Holding up a hand, the wolf stopped. Turning, he set the hatchet on the ground, leaning it against the tree, than turned back. The wolf pup was sitting there panting, waiting for him to change with a wolf-like smile on it's muzzle.
Laughing, he swiftly took hold of his magic, letting it flow out from his core and engulf him. He felt himself shrinking, his body elongating as it grew fur. Finally, he was on all fours, the shape of wolf taking that of a boy. He jumped at the other pup in joy and they were off racing.
He'd learned this trick at the same time he had found the pup. He'd so wanted to be a wolf like it, and his magic had taken over. It had taken him two days to figure out how to become human again and had gotten an earful from his mother for messing around with magic when he should have been doing his chores. Now he could do it on whim and change back to human just as fast.
He'd been playing for about an hour when the other pup stopped in front of him. Stopping too, he looked ahead. There was the wolf pack that lived in this forest. The alpha stepped forward, hackles raised. "You should not be here warlock. You should be home."
"Why, I'm allowed to play aren't I?" he asked, slightly defensive.
"You should head home now." The wolf came closer, using its head and paws to turn him.
He could see what the wolf had been talking about. In the distance, a large plume of black smoke rose over the trees. It was coming from the village. He ran, using all of his strength and magic to carry him through the trees and towards home.
Yet, even with all the magic in the world, it still wouldn't have been enough to get him there in time or given him enough power to put it out. His house wasn't the only one on fire, but it was the only one he cared about.
Changing back quickly, he stood there staring at the flames engulfing the thatched roof and dried wooden walls. He tried to run into the house, but the flames beat him back, too hot for his body to handle. He just stood there, watching his home and life burn before his eyes.
After awhile, people started to move again, checking on the live stock, other houses. Going through the burnt ones checking for hidden heat spots. They saved his house for last, afraid to break his vigil in front of the house, but when they did, he finally roused himself. He asked if any had seen his mother. None had, she had still been the house when it went up.
He found out what really happened that night. It had been raiders, attacking them for their harvest. His mother had tried to keep them out of the house. They'd struck her down and raided it before locking her inside and setting it alight.
He listened to this in a heavy silence. His mind raging at what had been done. He couldn't even hear them talking anymore, his ears were ringing loudly. After awhile he couldn't take it anymore. He ran from the home he had been invited into, ignoring their yells for him to come back. He just ran and ran, legs pumping as he ran from the one place he had ever called home. He was alone now, and nothing would ever be the same.
He hadn't even noticed when he'd shifted, taking on a shape that was second nature to him. A shape better equipped to run as far and fast as he wanted to. He sensed more than saw the other wolves as they joined him in his run. Each giving him silent support. So he ran, fleeing his now destroyed home, his emotions and his humanity as he took to the wild.
Merlin stared into space as he finished. He told them the basics of what happened, leaving out any parts that involved him using magic or any references to magic. Sometime during the telling, he drawn his knees up, wrapping his arms around them in support. He was surprised though that it didn't hurt as much as he thought it would. It felt more like a huge weight had been lifted off of his chest and he could breath easier now.
The room was silent as they took in everything he'd told them. "You mean, you've lived off the land since you were what, ten?" Gwen asked him. He just nodded.
"That still doesn't explain how you ended up here." Arthur said aloud.
Merlin sighed. "I don't really remember. Most of the time I spent alone is a blur, living from one day to the next. Maybe I don't really want to remember." Merlin added softly.
"Well for now, that will be all. You don't have to tell us anymore Merlin, but thank you for talking to us." She stood up and walked over to him, giving him a brief hug before she left calling for Gwen to follow. She too gave him a small hug before leaving.
Arthur let out a snort. "Girls, always got to get all sentimental over everything." Merlin just smiled. He didn't care, it was the thought that counted. "Well I had better get to bed. See you later Merlin." He walked by him and ruffled his hair before leaving.
Merlin just sat there, staring at the door before rousing himself. He turned to look at Gaius who was still mixing things. "Do you miss her?" he asked him.
Gaius set his things down and turned to look at him. "Yes. She was a dear friend of mine and I was much grieved at her passing, but I am also glad that you survived. She maybe dead Merlin, but she lives on through you and she would be proud of you."
He nodded. "I'm going to bed now." He lay down on the cot, keeping his head turned away from the older man as the tears ran down his cheeks.
xXx
So you all now know what happened to him. Makes me sad, but I must strive forward to finish this fanfiction. I'll get the next chapter up when I can.
Until Next Time
~Reiya
