This was written for the 'Meaning in a Kiss' drabble challenge on the Heart of Camelot website:
Write about the emotions/meaning behind a kiss between two characters. This can be a romantic kiss, or you can write about a platonic kiss between friends, a familial gesture of affection, whatever you like! Just make sure it's about kissing.
A/N My usual thanks to my beta LyricalSinger
Hunith was furious at herself for not having known that a witchfinder had come into Ealdor. They were rare, and not particularly welcome in the village due to the fear they and their cargos caused to the simple peasants. Still, she had vowed to be vigilant against them. Partly this was to protect Merlin from discovery, but also, as a mother she simply wanted to put off the time when her little boy had to face the cruel reality that awaited those caught using magic so close to Camelot.
This witchfinder had entered Ealdor before noon, apparently in need of a repair to a wheel on the cart he was pulling. She found out about it in late afternoon only because Merlin came running, terrified, into their hut.
"Mam, there is a man and he is taking a lady and a girl to Camelot in a cage," the horrified six year old boy choked out. "He says they have magic and there is a King who pays so he can burn them." Tears of shock and fright began to fill the child's eyes. "Will he take me and burn me too?" he sobbed. "I don't want to go."
Hunith pulled her son into a tight hug, tucking his head under her chin and wrapping her arms around him to hold him close. "Hush, no, sweetling; I would never let him take you," she said, trying to be comforting although inwardly she felt an icy dread.
Finally the little boy's sobbing eased, but still Hunith did not release him. Instead she hugged him even tighter, and tenderly kissed the top of the dark head, pouring into it strength and protectiveness, but most of all a mother's love for her special child.